Chapter 23 - Sometimes You Gotta Die A Little

Desert Skies

In the Season 3 premiere of Desert Skies, Cash returns from the physical plane, bringing news and secrets that unsettle her companions. As s

Key takeaways

• Cash reveals that her name is actually Lily, a secret she had been keeping since her return.
• Corson has been secretly reconstructing Cash's old humanoid frame using parts from an old register.

Main topics

• Return from the physical plane
• Identity and secrets

Notable quotes

Sometimes you gotta die a little before you can truly live.

Conclusion

A high-stakes premiere that transitions the series from static existen

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:00) Jared here. You know what I love about fall besides Halloween? I never have to worry about what shirt I'm gonna wear because I can always wear my favorite sweater over it. And you know who has some great sweaters and everything else to get you ready for the season? Quince. Friends, a 100 % Mongolian cashmere sweater from Quince starts at just $60, giving you the softness and quality you'd expect from a luxury brand without the luxury price tag. Everything they sell is priced 50 to 80 % lower than similar brands. They work with ethical factories and cut out the middleman so you're getting great quality at a great price without brand markups i'm wearing one of their belts right now i've never been excited about a clothing accessory as simple as a belt but i love this one from quince because it's so comfy and such high quality and i'm a big fan of candles and my experience with theirs has been great coastal dunes smell so nice and i'm thinking about picking up a pumpkin cardamom candle this season find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at quince download the quince app for app exclusive offers or go to quince.com Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash Desert Skies. Speaker 4 (1:12) Hi friends, it's Jared. Welcome to the third season of Desert Skies. I can't tell you how good it is to be back with you. Can you believe it's been 10 months? Isn't that wild? A few very quick things before we start the episode. First, I want to invite you to join the wonderful Desert Skies community of fans, who I affectionately refer to as Skylarkians, in the many places we exist online. These days, I'm currently active on Instagram, Blue Sky, Facebook, and you can also join our Discord community. We take turns watering a digital tree there. His name's Piney. Find links to all of our socials in the show notes. Second, if you want to learn more about the show, visit DesertSkiesPodcast.com. And while you're there, sign the guest book. I love it when people sign my guest book. Third, I'd encourage you to join Club 86. It's a great way to support the show, and depending on the tier you join at, You get new episodes early as available. You get access to exclusive episodes and miniseries including Game Night and The Grief Train. You can also get ad-free episodes of Burrito Cookbook, commentaries, and more. Just visit patreon.com forward slash desert skies or find the link in the show notes below. And last, this weird little announcement. I get so many wonderful Spotify comments on episodes. And I read them all. I cherish them. Some of them are so heartfelt, but I can't reply to or publish them if they contain spoilers. So just please keep that in mind when you're leaving a comment because I hate to leave anything out. That's it. I'm done talking. Welcome back to the astral plane. Enjoy chapter 23. Sometimes you gotta die a little. Speaker 4 (3:02) Previously Speaker 6 (3:02) on Desert Skies. It won't hurt anything if you humor me by just trying to go to the register, will it? Speaker 2 (3:08) I'm in the register. This is impossible. You can step out of the frame. Speaker 6 (3:12) Any frame. Is it a good ending? A marvelous one. Speaker 2 (3:16) You said that friendship was one of the three greatest powers in existence. What are the other two? The love of a mother and Speaker 6 (3:24) the bond of siblinghood. I'm coming, Cece. She's banished herself. to the physical plane. Here Speaker 3 (3:32) it is. Your favorite place. Is Speaker 4 (3:34) that a house? Cash, why is there a house in your memory? It's Speaker 2 (3:38) not from here. Speaker 5 (3:40) It's from the physical plane. Speaker 2 (3:42) Olenus said that I'm either dying or I'm waking up. Which is it? A Speaker 6 (3:45) little of both. Olenus, I hand over my responsibilities to you. You are the mover of the sphere. Seven snake brain rabbit. 01979MM115. The gate opens. Forge and Flora. Speaker 2 (4:02) Forge and Flora. Speaker 6 (4:04) You have an invitation. That needs delivering. Don't just leave Speaker 5 (4:07) her laying here. We gotta help her. She's not Speaker 6 (4:09) here, Mac. Speaker 5 (4:10) What do you mean? Bolts and thunder. Is that... I Speaker 6 (4:14) don't know that I did her justice. But yes, it's meant to be her. Speaker 4 (4:19) Travelers don't usually start with the hug. Why are you smiling like that? Speaker 6 (4:26) Cash. Speaker 4 (4:28) For the best listening experience, headphones are recommended. Speaker 2 (4:40) Hi, Oliver. It's so nice to meet you, sweetie. I know you're scared and angry. And that's okay. I've been scared and angry too. But Oliver, look at me. You don't know me, but I'm going to tell you something. And I want you to believe it with your whole heart. Do you want to hear what I have to say? Yeah? You're safe now. And you know why? Because I love you with my whole heart. I've been waiting for you my whole life. Isn't that crazy? I didn't even know who you were. But there was this big old hole in my heart. And guess what, Oliver? It was shaped just like you. Speaker 2 (5:42) My name is Stella. And you can call me Stella, or Mommy, or Stinky Butt Dorkface. Oh wow, what a handsome smile you have. I'm gonna take care of you now. And I'm gonna take care of you forever and ever. Oh sweetie, it's okay, come here. Five, four, three, two, one. There. Come on, there's someone I want you to meet. Come here. Don't be scared. She won't bite. Now, would you believe it? She just came here yesterday. And you know what? I think she came here because she knew you were coming. Look, Oliver. She likes you. You want to hold her hand? It's okay. There. Would you look at that? She thinks you're gonna be a great big brother. Do you think she's gonna be a good little sister? You do? Lily and Oliver. You two are gonna be good friends. Come on, sweetie. Let's go to the kitchen. I made cookies. Oh. You wanna stay here? Well, that's a-okay. I'll bring them to you. Oliver, sweetie. Welcome home. There's a way home. Speaker 6 (7:31) Cash? Cash? Speaker 3 (8:09) Let me look at you. You're the same, but you're different somehow. There's still something under the surface. The storm. But it's muted. Kind of beautiful, in a way. Speaker 5 (8:29) What are you talking about? Ow! What did you do that for? Did Speaker 3 (8:35) it hurt? Speaker 5 (8:35) I'm not sure I can even lift my arm now. Speaker 3 (8:37) Don't be such a baby. Come here. Closer. Lean in. I love you, you big dork. Speaker 5 (8:48) I... I Speaker 2 (8:50) love you too. Where's my hug, Robo Girl? Speaker 3 (8:53) It's right here. Oh, Nani. Thank you for being there for us exactly when we needed you. For loving us the way you do. There's no one like you, you know? I Speaker 2 (9:05) mean, I assumed. Thank you, Cash. And you. Cash. Speaker 3 (9:12) It's me, Mac. Speaker 5 (9:13) But, uh... You don't look or sound like Cash. Speaker 3 (9:21) I'm no longer an amalgamation of soul and processing you. Speaker 5 (9:24) Yep, you're Cash. Speaker 3 (9:26) And you're the sweetest man who ever lived. And you always have been. Someone tried to beat it out of you, but they lost. They didn't count on how strong you were. Speaker 6 (9:40) Cash. Speaker 3 (9:41) I know, Mac. I can see it. The transition from grief is difficult to navigate. Take your time. I know you're happy to see me. Come here. I always knew you'd be cuddly. Speaker 5 (10:00) Like Winnie the Pooh on steroids? Speaker 3 (10:04) Exactly, Mac. Exactly like that. Speaker 6 (10:09) Right on. Are you bitches ready to play, or who's this? You're... you're... Speaker 3 (10:20) I'm your friend, Corson. In the flesh. The bitch is back. Speaker 6 (10:26) My dear, may I? Speaker 3 (10:29) May you what? Speaker 6 (10:30) Forgive me. Speaker 3 (10:32) Oh, Corson, my cheek. Speaker 6 (10:34) You're really home. You're home. This isn't a game. Speaker 3 (10:39) I thought you loved games. Can I give you a hug? Speaker 6 (10:43) I hate hugs. But for this, I'll make an exception. Speaker 6 (10:49) That's long enough. Speaker 3 (10:51) Okay. Speaker 6 (10:52) Would you care to join us for a game of Bald Dash? Speaker 3 (10:57) There's something I have to do first. Something very important. Speaker 4 (11:01) What is it? Speaker 3 (11:03) Follow me. Oh my god, these burritos are amazing. I can't believe this is what I've been missing out on. Speaker 5 (11:11) I can't believe I'm the one that's saying this, but maybe slow down a little. Speaking as someone who choked on one of these things for a very, very long time, it's an unpleasant experience. One of the only times I wish dead people could die. Speaker 3 (11:26) I'll try to slow down, Mac. They're just so good. And Speaker 5 (11:29) it's so good to see you finally enjoying them. Speaker 3 (11:32) Which one should I try next? Speaker 5 (11:33) I think you're ready for Lawrence and Debbie. Salty and sweet, and even better when you toss on a little thought sauce. Speaker 3 (11:40) You mean hot sauce? I Speaker 5 (11:41) do not. You know about thought sauce, Cash. Helps you remember where you left your keys, but also deliciously caliente. Speaker 1 (11:50) Cash, Speaker 6 (11:51) as much as your chewing sounds disgust me, I too am enjoying witnessing your enjoyment. Same, but... Cash, as you can imagine, we Speaker 5 (12:02)