THE COMBINE PODCAST - EPISODE 4 - TESTIMONY OF A METROCOP SURVIVOR
24/02/2050
You're driving down I606. They just made this app called spotify, and on it, thousands of podcasts are stored. Many of them explore the now vanquished Combine. One such interests you.
"Julian Fischer; how I escaped the brainwashing"
You open it, and resume your drive. It's 40 miles to the next gas station. The presenter begins, giving you basic details; this officer had been imprisoned for twenty-five years post occupation. They're retirement age now. One of the enlisted men. Former cultist.
"I'd like to thank you for having me on this show. It's good to give my story."
"It's good to have you, Julian - Julian was formerly King-One in City-Seven."
"A title I regret. I thought we were doing the right thing, you know."
"Of course, so, Julian, tell us - what was it like, being in the Order? I'm sure we've all read about it in modern history."
"Horrible. They had a focus, a focus on the perennial. I don't know what it was. Our rage was directed at
the people we thought were our enemies. My Rank Leader, Alma Geyer - or, Defender-Four as she was
known, would make me do sickly things. She ordered me to - - and - - they were orders - - to cull
an entire district on my own."
"It must've been hard for you. When did you realise that you were on the wrong side?"
"They put us in City Twenty Four. I'd always convinced myself - in my illness, I think
that the Combine were just a natural part of our evolution. That I was doing the
right thing. I couldn't grasp it - I - maybe they still were, right? I don't know.
It was when the Security Council worked against us, threatened us, executed my
brothers in arms; who I had grown fond of. That was when I changed. Changed,
you know - for the better - I'm so thankful to the UN for giving me another
chance. I'm so thankful."
"You were quite involved with the occult prior, how did you escape your brainwashing?"
"As the war waged on, I realised that the people above cared less and less.
Our future was insecure in the hands of these people. I had thought, hoped,
that I'd be apart of the Empire whole - but it turns out it was just a front
for meandering bureaucrats. It was hard. I found myself unconvinced
by the Sublunary - I mean - shit - rebellion plots, but, as they grew on and
on, as I hated the armistice, more and more - I don't know. It just, clicked
- maybe I was truly a victim, not the powerful man I thought I was.
I thought I had power."
"My true fear, was always that I'd be hung, and I am thankful to the UN for
sparing my life. I am glad Alma Geyer is dead. I am thankful Alma Geyer is dead.
I don't know if she's dead - I hope she isn't. I miss my life. I can't be in this
place anymore, right? I need to go. I need to get out of here. Get out of my face,
Lambdan!"
In the background of the podcast, you hear a door bashed open, and men yelling as boots crunch the floor in a swift invasion of the studio.
Afterwards, Julian is nowhere to be found. Taken. The host concludes, thanking the listeners. How hasn't this been taken down?
