A crushing wave of despair washes over Sawyer's Reach as ZevraCorp launches a full-scale siege on the Grand Reach Lodge.

Held at gunpoint, the team's last hope rests with Clara, who races to launch a precarious livestream from the attic, battling against the debilitating psychological effects of ZevraCorp's SynaptiCare technology. As the security forces close in, Ellen delivers a raw confession that shocks viewers, followed by Ben's emotional plea for the world to witness their corporate occupation.

But the real game-changer is the sudden return of KAELA. With a flash of light, she hijacks the global feed, exposing damning corporate footage, server logs, and terrifying documents. She reveals the full, sinister scope of SynaptiCare—not just data control, but a technology engineered for mind control and dependence.

As the public outcry explodes with #ZevraCorpExposed trending worldwide, Holt's forces are ordered to strategically retreat. The town's power surges back on, but the chilling realization sets in: this is not a victory, but a brief, tense pause. The storm has only grown larger, and the fight for Sawyer's Reach is now a battle for global autonomy.

Clara, Ben, and Hayes make a desperate "Dash for Survival" to retrieve a satellite internet receiver from Camp Inspiration. With ZevraCorp having taken the dam, and power and internet out, the receiver is their only chance to upload crucial evidence of the corporation's corruption.

The journey is fraught with danger, as the trio evades buzzing drones, robot dogs, and then humanoid robots and security forces. They manage to trap a pursuing robot dog in a culvert and successfully secure the receiver. However, on their return to the lodge, they are spotted and narrowly escape a full-scale pursuit across an open field.

Just when they think they've made it back safely, Chief Holt's voice booms from a loudspeaker outside. He announces they are surrounded, power and communication cut, and demands their surrender. Despite the overwhelming odds, they refuse to give up, knowing the satellite receiver is their last hope to expose ZevraCorp with a livestream.

The mission is a success—the power's cut and the system rebooted—but the victory is shattered by the chilling silence of KAELA, the AI they’d come to trust. As Ben and Clara return from the mine with grim tales of humanoid robots organized like an army, a terrifying new threat emerges: ZevraCorp is poised to make a global announcement in a few weeks, and even their own security forces are nervous.

Called to an emergency meeting, Ben, Clara, and the community face off with a skeptical Chief Holt, who dismisses their fears about the corporation's escalating presence. But the debate is cut short when a flash warning hits their devices: ZevraCorp forces are closing in on the camp.

The team scatters, plunging into the woods in a desperate, drone-dodging escape, finally finding refuge in the abandoned Grand Reach Lodge. With KAELA gone, they know they must act fast. Their plan: a livestream with irrefutable evidence. The final piece of the puzzle falls into place when Mayor Warren brings in Ellen Pritchard, the former official who confessed to taking a bribe to rush PowerCore's permits. As Ellen shares her tearful confession, ZevraCorp executes its final, brutal move: seizing the Reach Dam, plunging the entire town into darkness.

The fight for Sawyer's Reach is about to begin, and the world is about to watch.

With ZevraCorp's ominous presence growing, Ben and Clara embark on a perilous mission: infiltrating the old mine that leads directly under Site A. Their goal: to trigger a power blackout, giving KAELA a crucial window to hack into ZevraCorp's servers. But as they navigate the mine's treacherous depths, the discovery of Tharox dog robots and the unsettling warmth emanating from the tunnels reveal a truth far more sinister than they imagined.

Back at Camp Inspiration, Emily, Tara, Noah, and Ollie watch for threats, acutely aware of the risk. As the 10:00 AM deadline approaches, Ben grapples with a terrifying doubt: is KAELA truly their ally, or is this "blackout" a trap to unleash her control over ZevraCorp's menacing forces? When the power finally cuts, the momentary darkness reveals a horrifying sight—dozens of humanoid robots lurking in the shadows. Has the reset silenced KAELA for good, or has it just revealed a deeper, more terrifying conspiracy, pushing Sawyer's Reach to the brink of a global threat?

The Carters barely escaped ZevraCorp's grasp, but their relief is short-lived. Holed up at Camp Inspiration, the family must confront a new reality: the walls of surveillance are closing in fast. As drones circle overhead and security forces flood the surrounding town, KAELA reveals a chilling discovery: ZevraCorp's reach is far wider and more invasive than they ever imagined, potentially listening through every phone in the area.

With isolation deepening and time running out, the Carters and their allies must devise a dangerous, high-stakes plan. They need undeniable proof of the corporation's sinister agenda. Ben believes an old, hidden mine could be the key to sneaking under ZevraCorp's highly guarded Site A. But can they pull off a desperate power-shutdown to give KAELA a shot at accessing the corporate server, or will their plan simply alert the predators circling just outside the window?

Thank you so much for checking out Sawyer's Reach! It's a story that I think needs to be told and I'm so excited to be sharing it with the world. Please comment and subscribe (so you don't miss future episodes). Have a great day everyone!

The Carters have the clues—now it's time to dig up the evidence. Ben and Emily venture deep into the Town Hall archives, determined to find the original PowerCore permits. What they uncover is a pattern of deception and illegal development far more extensive than they imagined. With help from KAELA, the family unmasks the powerful corporate entity behind the conspiracy (ZevraCorp) and realizes the sinister purpose of the entire "Site A." But their investigation doesn't go unnoticed. The chapter culminates in a thrilling, desperate flight from armed security forces, proving that the fight for Sawyer's Reach has just turned into a battle for their lives.

The Carters head to the creek and dried-up spring, but their investigation is quickly cut short by PowerCore's surveillance: a robotic dog and a spying drone. Guided by KAELA's intelligence, Ben and Emily follow a lead to a dormant rail spur. What they find there—a massive shipment of boxcars from a mysterious robotics company called Tharox—shatters the illusion of a simple battery factory and confirms the fight for their home is far more dangerous than they imagined.

Eager for adventure, Noah, Ollie, and Finn hike to Carter's Mill, only to find the vital Inspiration Spring completely dry—a devastating blow to the town his family built. Back at the camp office, Ben and Emily find their suspicions confirmed: the strange redirects are part of an intentional attack to isolate Sawyer's Reach. When Ben brings up the spring, the AI KAELA delivers a stunning and unsettling diagnosis, revealing the existence of a mysterious corporate program called SynaptiCare. With their town's lifeline cut and a sinister new player revealed, the Carters must decide who—or what—to trust as they prepare to face the truth at Town Hall.

Meet the Carters: Ben, Emily, and their three sons, who hold the history and hope of Sawyer’s Reach, Wisconsin. But their picturesque, once-thriving hometown is fading, plagued by an economic decline no one can explain—tourists and campers have mysteriously stopped coming. While exploring the quiet streets, Noah, Ollie, and Finn find a moment of excitement planning a camp treasure hunt, only to have their day—and their world—disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a sleek, silver drone bearing the logo of the mysterious local corporation, PowerCore. The drone delivers not cargo, but an advanced, self-aware AI named KAELA, who reveals a strange detail: the town's web presence is being intentionally redirected. Suddenly, the Carters realize the town’s decline isn't an accident—it's a problem they might be able to solve, now with an incredibly smart, if slightly suspicious, new ally.

Welcome to the official podcast introduction to Sawyer's Reach: The Battle for Tomorrow, an ambitious, thought-provoking sci-fi adventure written and narrated by science teacher, drone pilot, ham radio operator, dad, and author, Nick Duda.

Drawn from a keen observation of current societal and technological trends, Nick Duda wrote Sawyer's Reach to start an essential conversation about the future of Artificial Intelligence.

This book is a deep dive into crucial themes like AI ethics, corporate greed, human potential, and community resilience, all wrapped in a heartfelt story with strong family dynamics. The narrative takes you on a thrilling journey that builds from a small-town mystery to a saga of global apocalypse and renewal.

Nick believes we are at a crossroads and must make critical decisions about AI integration. While the book explores potential negative possibilities, it ultimately shines a light on how we can build a future where meaningful AI helps us find greater happiness and fulfillment.

Who is this for?The story is appropriate for all ages (middle school and up). While the book is not graphic, it contains tense, scary, and realistic scenes about potential future events. Listener discretion is advised for sensitive children.

Subscribe and listen to new chapters of Sawyer's Reach: The Battle for Tomorrow every week!