I'm Greg Taylor, and welcome to the Dakota Ring Theater Summer Showcase,

a summer anthology program featuring works from different writers in different styles,

and featuring members of the Decoder Ring Ensemble,

whom you've come to know so well. This installment of our showcase was written by

me. Did you miss me? This script was one of my rare attempts at science fiction, and it took about

six seconds for it to turn into a mystery. In the end, we hope it does a pretty good job of being both.

Adapted from a story originally written for a video project,

it brings the elements of the noir detective's story into a dystopian future.

And now Stephen Burley Star says Decoder Ring Theatre proudly presents ID Zero.

I don't know how long I sat there,

reading the name on the door until my scrambled brains could make sense of it.

Drake Finn Investigations.

My skull throbbed like I was coming off a three-day bender,

and the state of the office said that just might be the case.

So did the gaping hole where my memory used to be.

The impact wound on the side of my head said otherwise.

Whoever sat me had known what they were doing all right.

But who were they?

Never mind why they did it.

How would have been enough for me? Did I just sit behind my desk and let them waltz right up to me?'

"'The plasma burns by the door suggested I hadn't.

"'My guts churned as I rose to my feet and lurched across the room.

...