#Best voice recognition software

[bogleech]

All the science fiction I grew up on told me some day there would be adorable quirky robots in every home and business that could hold at least a passably realistic conversation with you and help you out with little tasks and kid-me daydreamed endlessly about what that whimsical utopian life might be like. I even had an ongoing little kid daydream about being in the robot biz designing them my own way, maybe having a weird house full of my wacky machine creature family.

Now we have chatbots convincing enough that people get as hooked on interacting with them as they can any real person, we have near perfect voice synthesis and visual recognition software, we have actual robots that can jump around and dance with better balance than a human, we are RIGHT on the edge of little robot buddy world.

But absolutely none of that fiction framed robots as a heartless corporate product that would really just take opportunities from poor people and gather your data for advertising algorithms. Anyone who did not like the robots was supposed to just be mean and quite often a stand in for a *racist.*

Now that it's likely going to happen in the next 20 years I'm just ready to be one of those villains. If you send me a real functioning C-3p0 or Johnny 5 or Data and I see a Tesla or Google logo I am going to gouge out his eyes with a claw hammer and drink his microplastic blood.

This is probably a lie and at best I'd be crying the entire time but I hope you understand the sentiment behind the hyperbole

[iconicstoner]

i found you

gn!reader x spencer reid (fluff)

words: 1778

summary: You and Spencer have been friends for years, so it only makes sense you went to a local St. Patrick’s Day parade together. However, when he loses you at the parade he realizes how important it is that you know how much he loves you, so of course he confesses.

Spencer pushed through the crowd, fighting to find you. You had been his best friend for years. You’d helped him through the fear his work caused, and you were even there during his addiction. He thought of you as his whole world. You reminded him of why it was worth it to deal with the horrors he saw every day. You were his light in the darkness, and now you were lost in a giant crowd of people. It was packed, and there had to be thousands of people around. It was one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the entire country. 

Spencer’s mind started to race with different ideas. You could’ve been kidnapped, or even killed. He knew the statistics on that, but he tried not to think about them for his own sanity. His mind flashed with different victims he’d seen over the years. You could be in the same situation as any of them right now, but he prayed you weren’t. 

He called out your name as loud as he could, trying to make himself see above the crowd, but the only response he got was a disapproving side eye from a mother carrying her child. He felt embarrassed but knew he couldn’t stop till he found you. His heart was beating in his ears, and his breathing was shallow. He knew this could turn into a panic attack at any second, and as much as he wanted to break down he knew it wouldn’t help him find you. 

He quickly turned around, thinking he heard your voice, but instead found a visibly drunk man. 

“Sorry about that,” the man said as he stumbled, spilling beer all over Spencer’s shirt. The beer smelled awful, and now his shirt was uncomfortably sticky, but the thought of finding you kept him together.

“It’s fine,” Spencer responded before quickly darting off, still set on finding you unharmed. He tried to clear out the horrific images in his mind, but there was little he could do. He rushed back to where he’d last seen you, deciding maybe you hadn’t gone that far after all. The sun was starting to set, and it put him on edge. When it went dark it’d be so much harder to find you. 

He regretted walking away from you earlier. He told you that he had to go to the bathroom, but he actually wanted to surprise you with a drink he noticed you eyeing at one of the drink carts. He had to wait in an excruciatingly long line, but he thought it would be worth it because it meant getting to see your beautiful smile. When he returned to where you were supposed to be waiting for him you were already gone. Looking back, it was stupid, but in the moment he didn’t think twice. He was an intelligent and trained FBI agent who was carrying a gun, so he felt safe, but he didn’t think twice about the fact you didn’t have any experience with dangerous criminals. 

He pushed through people, standing once again in front of the drink cart. He looked around, but there was no one there. He considered calling Garcia. Maybe she’d be able to hack into the security footage and use facial recognition software to see where you went and who you were with, but Spencer knew that would take too much time. Besides, it would be way too embarrassing to admit he was freaking out so much over losing you for 20 minutes. Garcia knew all about his feelings for you, and he wasn’t sure he could handle her teasing at a time like this.

Spencer noticed the street lamps starting to flicker on. They were the only light left now that the sun had set. As embarrassing as it was, he decided maybe it actually would be a good idea to call the BAU. Or Garcia at least. 

He noticed the diner sitting on the road’s edge in front of him and decided to wait there while he called. Running around in a packed crowd clearly wouldn’t help him find you, and it definitely wasn’t making him feel better. 

The diner had a muted brown roof with big white letters that spelled out Tony’s Place. It hardly had walls at all, as most of the sides were large glass windows. There was a quaint wooden bench outside of it facing the street. It was unsuspecting and matched every other building on the street.

Spencer Walked through the door, hearing a bell ring as he did. The place was crowded, but much less crowded than the parade was. The interior looked something straight out of the ’50s. There were black and white checkered tiles, booths with red leather seats, and a bar where people sat sipping their drinks. He could smell french fries and apple pie coming from the kitchen. 

“How can I help ya, sugar?” An older waitress with dirty blonde curls asked him. She looked tired, and Spencer noticed the pack of cigarettes in her apron. Her name tag read Darlene. 

“I just need a place to sit,” he told her nervously. She smiled at him with an understanding, motherly smile. 

“Sounds great,” she told him as she ushered him over to a booth. It was next to a giant window that faced the parade. He looked around, but there was no one who even looked like you. “Can I get you anything to drink?” She asked sympathetically. It was obvious to anyone who saw him that he was upset. 

“Coffee please,” he responded quickly. She nodded and quickly left to get him a cup. He fished his phone out of his pocket and let out a sigh. He anxiously dialed Garcia’s number, almost hitting the wrong keys in a rush.

“Hello, Mighty Professor. It’s not like you to call me like this when you’re not at work,” she said joyfully. Spencer wasn’t sure how to respond. He almost felt bad telling her what was wrong. She loved you too. “What can I help you with, sweetie?” She asked again. Spencer was usually eager to ask questions and get her help, but now he wasn’t saying anything at all. 

“Well, it’s just-“ he stopped himself, not sure how to even explain it. His leg was anxiously bouncing, and every second that passed felt like an hour. Before he got the chance to explain it all to Garcia the waitress had come back with his cup of coffee. He could see the steam emitting from it and he thanked her. 

“Just doin’ my job baby,” she told him in a reassuring voice. He could tell she was used to dealing with people who were upset, and just this once he didn’t mind being treated like a kid. 

“Who’s that?” Garcia questioned from the phone.

“It’s no one, just a waitress,” he responded. “That’s not the point. I need your help, Garcia.” Even from over the phone, Garcia could tell Spencer was anxiously biting his lip.

“What’s up?” She asked.

“I need help finding-” Spencer quickly cut himself off. Across the diner he noticed you. Even though your back was to him, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind it was you. He knew everything about you like the back of his hand. It was your hair, your clothes, your body. 

“Nevermind. Thanks, Garcia. Gotta go,” he told her before quickly hanging up. He stood up and quickly ran across the diner to you. He didn’t even realize it, but he was starting to cry. “Thank God it’s you,” he said. You quickly turned around and he wrapped his arms around you.

“Spencer, what’s wrong?” You asked, feeling one of his hands around your waist and the other on the back of your head. He held onto you tightly, not ready to ever let you go. 

“I couldn’t find you,” he breathed out. “I thought you were gone forever.”

“Spencer, I’d never leave you,” you respond. He nods and you look at him to see the tears running down his face. 

“I just couldn’t stop thinking about all the abduction cases I’ve seen before. All those people who died. I wasn’t ready to lose you too,” he tells you. You’ve never seen him so upset before. Working at the BAU wasn’t easy, and he was finally letting it show. You hold onto him, trying to let him know that you’re safe now. You hear his heartbeat, and it’s pounding quickly. His hands are shaky as they hold you, and his breathing is still shallow. 

“I found you,” he whispers in your ear. He pulls away from you just enough to kiss you. He keeps one hand on your waist and moves the other to your jaw, holding onto it as he kisses you passionately. He slowly pulls away, wanting to be as close to you as possible. 

“Take it outside!” An older man sitting at the bar playfully exclaimed, causing Spencer’s face to flush. He grabbed onto your hand, leaving a twenty on the table for Darlene, and led you outside to the wooden bench in front of the diner. The two of you sat down together, the soft glow from the street lamp illuminating him. A few stars could be seen shining brightly above you. There was a chilly breeze, but with how close Spencer was keeping you the two of you were plenty warm. He wasn’t crying anymore. He just sat next to you, admiring your presence. 

“I need to tell you something,” he says, gently squeezing your hand.

“What’s up?” you ask. 

“When I lost you, I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the bad things I’ve seen. I didn’t know what I’d ever do without you, and because of that, I don’t ever wanna be without you again. I know dating can be really complicated when you’re in the BAU. Plenty of relationships fail. But I love you so much, and I really think if you gave me a chance this might work, even if it’s statistically unli-” You interrupt him, softly kissing his lips. He leans into the kiss, and you can smell the aroma of coffee and leather that lingers on him. Reluctantly, you both pull away, but only by a few centimeters. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispers against your skin, “did you do that because I was rambling again?”

“I did that because I love you too,” you whisper back. 

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear that,” he mumbles before kissing you again.

He didn’t let go of your hand the entire time. He hoped he’d never have to.

------------------------------------------------------------

a/n: Special St. Patrick's Day post lol! Also, I know I’ve been getting a lot of Twilight requests- and I’m so happy about it!! (and I am working on them)- but I wanted to take a break to write a fun Spencer Reid oneshot bc I love him sm lol

[drefear]

Hail to the King

Chapter 5: Distractions

Summary: Miguel O’Hara is the head of the biggest mafia family in Nueva York, scaring almost all of its citizens. Except you. And that’s exactly what he needs. 

TW: mentions of smut, reader is a lot ruder now, Miguel's still kinda annoying, stalking, lying.

A/N: This chapter is not very horny, I know, but it’s a lot of story for the plot, so bare with me (there’s a little bit of sexy in the next part tho so don’t worry)

The days at Gwen’s were peaceful and calming, having someone around to help you mentally sort through your mess. She was sweet and honest about everything, and you couldn’t help but love having a friend through all of this insanity. 

Lyla visited the second day and brought some sort of news, although you weren’t so sure if it was good or bad. 

“So there was a man coming to my fire escape?” You cleared up and Lyla nodded, big sunglasses on the top of her head now. Her eyes glanced between you and Gwen before she spoke again. 

“I had facial recognition software identify him, and he seems to be a part of another mob in Nueva York.” She opened her laptop and activated the holographic spectating, using a special glove that only covered three of her fingers and poking at the holograms. Expanding to one area, she showed you his face closer. Your eyes scanned something before your eyes widened. “Stop.” You touched her shoulder, “That… that was Eddie’s best friend, he was at our wedding.” You mumbled, thinking to yourself about the guest list you’d worked so hard on. The two women stared at you as you pulled out your phone and scrolled through many photos, landing on one and zooming in. You were right. In the far left corner, smiling, was that man. 

“What was his name?” Gwen asked, and you and Lyla both answered at the same time. 

“William Baker.” The two of you looked at each other and you just sighed. 

“Listen, I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but you need to stay somewhere else for a few days.” Lyla continued and Gwen just nodded along, but you slumped your shoulders. 

“I can’t keep staying here, what if they find me here? I’d be putting Gwen in danger.” You frantically looked between Lyla and Gwen, and Lyla bit her lip. 

“Stay with one of the guys. Hoobie used to let me stay over all the time-” Gwen spoke, but your brows furrowed. 

“How do you know Hobie?” You asked and Gwen’s eyes snapped to yours, then to Lyla’s. Something was wrong again, you could feel it. You repeated your question, this time much more firm. “Gwen. How do you know Hobie?” 

“He’s… he would come into the restaurant sometimes, he’s a lot closer to Miles than he is with me-” She smiled, but you weren’t buying it. They were all keeping something from you. 

“He was closer to Miles, but he used to let you sleep over?” You clarified, and she scratched her head. 

“Yeah, well, it was only once or twice, I was just exaggerating.” 

“Uh-huh.” You stared her down before hearing your cell phone ring, MIguel’s name popping up as you shot her a warning glance once more. “I’m going to answer him, and then you’re going to tell me what you’re hiding.” A look of relief crossed Gwen’s face before you stood up and moved to go talk in the kitchen. “Yes?” You answered, now annoyed. 

“Has Lyla filled you in yet?” He spoke with finality. 

“Yeah, and I know him. He was friends with Eddie, and he was at my wedding, so I guess you were right about the outside help.” Your lips hated how the conversation tasted as you admitted he was right. 

“Miggy, come back to bed.” A feminine voice spoke from Miguel’s end of the phone and you just scrunched your eyes together. 

“I’m busy.” He answered, and you could hear the irritation in how he spoke. 

“You sound like you’ve had a good morning so far.” You shot at him and he groaned. 

“Not in the slightest. These women are too clingy, I can’t stand it.” He explained in frustration and you could hear a door slam shut. 

“Well, as much as I’d love to discuss your personal problems, I have other issues to ask about.” “Shoot.” 

“What is Gwen hiding from me?” You asked and his side fell quiet, something you weren’t used to. He always had some sarcastic one liners to shut you up, or shut you down with. His silence usually meant that the truth was bad. 

“In this line of business, if you’re not being told something, it’s almost always for your own good. Try not to meddle too deep, or you might not like what you find.” 

“Don’t try to say some hero shit, I want the truth if I can’t even sleep in my own bed.” You demanded and he just sighed. 

“Fine. Come to my apartment in two hours.” He concluded and hung up, leaving you without a solid answer once more. The bastard. 

Time felt like it was moving slower than normal as you got ready, Lyla sitting on Gwen’s bed as you got dressed.

“I feel like Miguel just needs a woman to put him in his place, ya know?” Lyla rambled on about how your boss was just a big softie with female problems, but you weren’t buying it. 

“He needs to see a therapist for his sex addiction, actually.” You answered, which made Lyla laugh as Gwen sat quietly. She’d looked guilty ever since you’d come back from your phone call with Miguel. Who could blame her? She was lying about your safety, hiding crucial information from you while you were staying under her roof. It felt awful. 

“Maybe he’s lonely?” Gwen chimed in, making both you and Lyla answer at the same time once more. 

“Definitely not.” The synchronization made you all laugh. Gwen was a wonderful friend, that was for sure, but Lyla was a whole other level of bonding. It was as if she was programmed to be your best friend, and she was doing an incredible job. 

The three of you gabbed on for a while until a car arrived in the lobby of Gwen’s apartment building to take you to see Miguel. 

Your feet felt like lead as you begrudgingly walked into the elevator and hit the button for the penthouse. A buzz rang through the wall of the elevator and a feminine voice answered. “Can I help you?” 

“Lyla.” You spoke and there was a laugh. 

“Yeah, I know! I just thought it’d be funny.” A ding sound indicated that she had let you bypass the security system for his apartment and the elevator moved. You leaned your head to the back of the elevator and sighed, closing your eyes. The exhaustion of the past few days had finally hit you like a ton of bricks, made your body want to bend over and curl into a ball. You wanted a nap. 

The doors opened again and your eyes darted around in surprise. You’d known Miguel was rich and organized, but his apartment was something you saw in a magazine. Nothing could have prepared you for how his personal space might look. 

He walked down a flight of stairs towards where you stood in the center of his living room, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. You wondered if this man only owned suits and sweats. 

“You’re late.” 

“Nice to see you, too.” You answered his blunt rudeness as he gestured for you to sit on his couch. “Ok, answers.” You stated and he rolled his eyes, grabbing two bottles of water and handing you one. 

“Let’s start with the most important part. Your ex has been working with Kingpin, my biggest rival and one of the worst mobs in the city. He directly works with sex trades and child labor.” He sat next to you and leaned back into the soft cushions, as if he was just speaking about his day. You immediately hated this Kingpin guy. “We’ve found that your ex has been intertwined with Kingpin for a very long time, and even has some pull with Kingpin. His title among Kingpin is Venom, and he specializes in making people disappear.” 

“Disappear?” You asked, as if you didn’t know the answer already, and Miguel brought his hands up to make air quotes, confirming your assumption. 

“This is more of a newer specialty of his, in the last year. How long has it been since you two were living together?” You clear your throat, fear catching onto your tongue and making it feel heavy. “A-About a year. We were separated for a bit and I’d come home on and off, or he’d leave for long periods of time.” You touched your throat, imagining what he could have been doing while he was gone. “Was I- Did I marry a murderer?” Miguel just stared down towards the floor, expression unreadable and almost stoic except for the small crinkle between his eyebrows. 

“You’re surrounded by murderers, technically.” He answered and your breath caught in your throat, but he continued, “Something you should remember is that everyone has the ability to be a killer, and many people use that ability, but few people use that ability for the good of the world.” He spoke softly and you nodded, a chill creeping up the back of your neck. 

“Where do you fall?” Your voice was barely above a whisper, and he leaned forward onto his elbows, bowing his head. 

“I like to think everything I do is for the better of everyone, even if I go down in the process.” The gravel of his voice makes you feel warm and a flame sparks in your stomach, a new feeling. You scoot closer to him and continue to listen. “Those I train, or who work for me, they don’t just join for fame or notoriety. A lot of them were wronged by life, innocent until they were forced to learn how to see in the dark. That includes Gwen.” His eyes flash to you and it’s as if they turn you to stone, not being able to move on your own accord. “And that now includes you.” 

“What if I don’t want to?” “Then you can turn around and try to survive blindly. You can pretend nothing ever happened, and hope that it doesn’t follow you around for the rest of your life.” He stares into your eyes harder, more serious, and you begin to wonder when he got so close. “But that hope doesn’t usually last long.” 

Silence drips down the length of the walls as you two sit, inches from one another, smelling his breath and feeling the heat of his body so close to yours. As you're both about to collide, a loud ding sounds around the apartment and you jump backwards from the sudden interruption. Miguel barely even reacts, a deep frown on his features now as he turns to the elevator. 

“Hey!” A friendly voice echoes off of the walls and footsteps follow as you turn to see Peter walking towards you both. He stops at the sight of Miguel’s angry face and flashes a look between the two of you. “Am I bothering you?” 

“The answer is always yes, Peter.” Miguel stands and makes his way towards the other. 

“Jeez, I was just here to pick up the tech and lists for the event, but if I’m such a bother-” 

“Shut up and take it.” The larger of the two demands and you stand up, finally getting your bearings and coming to your senses. Your mind thought about Miguel saying those words to you in a very different scenario, but you quickly snapped out of it. He was your boss. Your whorish, annoying, rude boss with a taste for organized crime. 

That’s going to be a hard no. 

Standing up, you looked away and waited for him to be done. Peter’s eyes found your form and he launched over to you in a hurry. “How are you? It’s been so long, Miles says he misses you all the time, always making jokes you’d laugh at.” He rambles and you nod, smiling wide at the thought of being around Peter and Miles again. Miguel stands behind Peter, scowling at his distracted nature and folding his arms angrily. 

“I miss you all too.” You concluded. 

God, did you want to escape already. 

Peter finally left after going on and on about his daughter for around 10 minutes, to which Miguel finally snapped and started yelling in spanish. You just stood there and watched the interaction as they bickered and Miguel forced Peter out. He sighed once the elevator doors closed and leaned on the wall for a moment. As he stood there, almost statuesque, you took in his size and it finally hit you. How large he is. You bit your lip and thought about the seconds before Peter walked in unannounced. 

What would have happened if he didn’t break you two out of that seductive trance? Your cheeks began to heat up and you turned to look out the window. 

“Are you prepared for the gala?” His voice broke you from your trance, and you nodded, not meeting his eyes as he spoke. This seemed to irritate him. “You picked a dress? I want to see it.” He announced, and you finally looked up, now giving him a dirty look. “I don’t trust your sense of style.” 

“Too bad. Beggars can’t be choosers.” You hissed and he stalked to you in a few steps, showing his size from how few strides he had to take to walk across his wide apartment to meet you. 

His head bent down to give you a dark look. “I never beg.” He stated as a fact and you felt a shiver move through your spine. Shaking your head, you still refused. “You’re making me go, I’m picking the dress.” This seemed to be a battle of wills and neither of you were breaking. “Is that all?” You asked and placed your hands on your hips, attitude obvious in the snark of your words. He clicked his tongue. 

“That’s all, for now, but I might need to teach you manners soon if you keep this spoiled brat act up.” His words made your eyes go wide with anger. 

“Spoiled brat?” You barked and he smirked, enjoying getting a rise out of you. “Now, get out. I have someone coming soon, since my morning release didn’t work out.” He turned his back to you once more, and you admired how broad his shoulders were, how his back muscles rippled and shifted. He exuded power, and you’d be damned if you let him get the best of you. 

The words Gwen said echoed in your head. ‘Maybe he’s just lonely.’ 

“Maybe your morning release would be more satisfying if you didn’t get head at random times of day.” When he didn’t react, you continued, not fully understanding where this annoyance about his sex life was coming from anymore. “Maybe you’re just lonely.” The words came out before you could stop them and he finally turned back to face you, an incredulous look on his face from your audacity. “Either way, I don’t want to lay witness to whatever stupid married woman you convince to jerk you off with tweezers.” You stomped towards the elevator and pouted for a second before his hand shot out and grabbed your wrist. 

“Hijo de su-” You could barely hear the rest of whatever he said as he yanked your body towards him. He glowered down at your shocked face as he picked up his phone and listened to it ring. 

“Yo.” Lyla answered and Miguel stared down into your eyes. “Cancel the girl. There’s something I need to fix right now.”

Chapter 4

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[amir-hassan]

My AS-Level & A-Level Curriculum Mastery Plan For This Summer

Here's what I've got to do over this summer holiday if I want to catch up on work, flip my grades around, and not fail all my subjects:

Mathematics 🧮

Watch all MathsGenie videos on AS-Level Pure Mathematics and make a start on watching A-Level Pure Mathematics, as well as completing the in-video questions for both.

Complete all Integral Maths sections for AS-Level Pure, and make a start on completing A-Level Pure, including watching the videos and completing EL-1 (Exercise Level 1) and EL-2 (Exercise Level 2) for both.

Economics 💵

Complete all UpLearn AQA Microeconomics and Macroeconomics sections for Year 12, and if possible, make a start on Year 13 content too.

Watch all of Year 12 - and maybe even Year 13 - Microeconomics and Macroeconomics videos from EconplusDal, and copy the summarised notes from them.

Computer Science 🖥

Complete all incomplete worksheets and homework on Google Classroom, and make sure that all answers are correct from Gemini or ChatGPT.

Complete all lessons from Sections 1-4 on Seneca Learning OCR A-Level Computer Science.

Complete all incomplete coursework and make a solid start on, if not finish, the programming project.

E.P.Q (Extended Project Qualification) 🗂

Read through and perfect the essay, double-check the references, and order the bibliography.

Complete all of ProjectQ to the best of your ability, and make sure that everything is documented in both the Gantt Chart and Project Journal.

Neatly organise the folder, ready to submit, and ensure that everything is where it's meant to be.

M.E.F (Mark Evison Foundation) 🤖

Create multiple versions of the software, including the voice assistant, live object tracking, and facial recognition features for Pi-Bot AI (more about my robot in future posts), and choose the best one.

Complete assembling the hardware for the robot, and combine it with the software for the finished build.

Write a short report about the project, and attach 6 high-quality JPEG images, ready to submit.

So yeah, an incredibly heavy workload. ☠

I don't even know if it's even possible to complete all this in just under two months, but I guess the best I can do is to give it all I got. 🤷

[spinchip]

NEVER THE DARK

CHAPTER 13

Read on Ao3

Prologue - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12

!WARNING: refrences to ancient, non graphic child loss!

NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN LOST. // ALL IS TRUTH AND WAY.

“Gravis, Griffin, and I just arrived on scene, Pix.” Skylors voice crackles through her radio, “The civilian reports weren’t exaggerating- there’s a giant, er, slug-like animal here. In fact, ‘giant’ might even be an understatement.” Her girlfriend sounds openly bewildered.

Pix frowns, “Is it hostile?”

“Not on purpose. It keeps picking up cars and uprooting traffic lights, but it doesn't seem aware it’s doing it. It’s just bumping into things and they’re sticking.” Skylor reports, “The trail of slime it’s leaving is smoking, though, but it doesn’t look like it’s eating at the road.”

“Have Gravis move it to a less densely populated area- out of town completely would be best if at all possible.”

“Already on it. I’ll call Warden Nobel and have him bring us another containment cell.”

Skylor was always on the ball in the field, and Pixal was grateful she was by her side, “Thank you, Sky. Can you alert Commissioner McLane to the possible hazardous materials and have him block off the street until we can have Tox examine it?”

“I’ll send speedster over now.”

At Skylors affirmative, Pixal sets her radio to the side and continues looking through her extensive set of videos pulled from all over Ninjago city. She trusted her father had done what he could to get a hit on Dixie with his facial recognition software, but she wanted to be extra certain she couldn’t find the other woman the same way. She’d started with the cameras around the museum in an attempt to find the escape route the other thief had taken after defeating the ninja, but had come up with nothing. Despite having the technology to feed these videos into and get results in a matter of seconds, Pixal chose to go through the cameras with her own eyes. Her pattern and facial recognition was leagues above any of the market value programs, and if anyone was going to catch the woman’s face in the background of a walmart CCTV feed it would be her. The woman was incredibly skilled at avoiding cameras, apparently, because Pixal was coming up with nothing, nothing, and more nothing. She even had video archives open from years and years ago, hoping to comb through them all and find a facial match for her, to at least give her something to go off of. No luck there, either.

The last set of camera feeds on her upper set of screens is current security footage from several different vantage points throughout Ninjago- these weren’t monitoring for the thief. She’d tapped these in order to monitor the streets of Ninjago which were quickly becoming overrun with monsters she’d never seen before. The slug incident today was the latest in a long line of beasts that seemed to just… appear and begin wrecking havoc. The other elemental masters had been up to their ears in emergency situations, evacuations, and damage control. Today, it was a slug, a skittering weevil-like creature that crashed into several storefronts before dying in downtown Ninjago with no warning, and a flock of birds with bony protrusions on their back and acid spit. The past week has been much the same.

It was sheer good luck that Kryptarium prisons' deeper, more fortified cells were able to contain these animals.

As Pixal flicks through the camera feeds, there’s a familiar chime from her phone. She snatches it up and punches the answer button before the second ring, “Ronin.” She greets briskly, keeping her eyes on the screen as she leans back and crosses her arms.

“You called?” He drawls through the phone, and she can clearly envision him leaned back with his feet propped upon his desk. The very picture of relaxed.

“I need you in Ninjago yesterday. Your expertise is required.” She says immediately, not bothering to beat around the bush.

“Yeah, Yeah, I got your voicemail.” There’s a shuffle on his end, as if he’ sitting up in interest at the topic, “What’s in it for me?”

“You will have a hand in saving Ninjago.” She says flatly. He makes a noncommittal grunt and she barely resists rolling her eyes, “Fine.” She slaps her keyboard and pulls up his criminal record, “You have three unpaid fines here that have put out a warrant for your arrest for- really? Those are huge fines for… illegal parking?”

“I know!”

“Consider them paid off… if you come to Borg tower.” She bargains.

There’s another grunt, this time a winded cough of exertion as he gets to his feet. “What do you need me for anyway?” He grumbles, yawning into the phone.

Pixal slumps a little, “There is a new villain in town- he is working with bounty hunters. I need your help identifying one of the girls working for him.”

“You know not every bounty hunter knows each other, right?”

“I am aware that you and her have spent several years in this profession at the same time.” She says coolly, “If anyone were to know her, it would be you. Will you come?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming to Borg tower. It’ll be a few hours.” She hears the jangle of keys on the other line, “Don’t forget to take care of my fines.”

With one hand, Pixal infiltrates the police database and erases the marks off his criminal record entirely. There was no hint that he’d ever so much as looked at an illegal parking space. It takes ten seconds at most,  “Done.” She says simply, and hangs up the phone.

Another hour of nothing passes by, with a brief update from Skylor about the slug and no further activity on the cameras to be concerned about. She checks her email a few times and shoots Wu another text that he doesn’t respond to- he’d gone out to Misakos current archeological dig site to discuss the gauntlet with her, and was completely off the grid because of it. Or he was ignoring her texts. Pixal has a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that he was hiding something, but there’s no proof other than her gut feeling. She wouldn't start anything over a bad vibe.

She does another useless search for the gauntlet and once again comes up empty- there was nothing about the artifact on the internet or in any digitized academic databases she checked. There were mentions of gauntlets or sets of armor, but nothing that matched up with the powers they’d seen so far. The longer Wu went without checking in, the more certain Pixal became that he’d hit a wall too. All Misakos encyclopedic history knowledge, and even she hadn't heard of this thing… Where were they supposed to go from here?

She’s so lost in thought that the sudden screech of the red panic alarm above her head causes her to launch up out of her chair and to her feet, staggering with the surge of pseudo-adrenaline that floods her processor. She scrambles for her radio and flips it to the correct frequency just in time to hear Dareth's panicked voice shouting from the line, “-taking him to the roof!”

“Dareth! What’s going on?” Pixal demands, reaching out and turning off the alarm with the keypad next to the wall before taking off towards the elevator.

“The thief is back, and she’s stealing your father!” Dareth wails through the radio.

Pixal punches the elevator call button four times in a panic despite the fact the extra pushes won’t will it to get here any faster. This is exactly why she advocated for stairs in the ninja's private penthouse- a project the others continually put off. (“We can just jump out the window and airjitzu down. No big deal!” Well what about if you need to go up!) Stupid! “What?” She demands, squeezing through the elevator doors before they’ve fully opened.

“I’ll explain later- right now you need to get to the roof!” He says urgently, his cartoony voice uncharacteristically serious.

“I am headed that way now. I will meet you there-”

“Sorry, Pix, but you’re on your own here.” His voice comes through with a wince, “I’m down for the count.”

She feels a cold chill sweep over her body, “Are you okay?”

“I’m not dying. Get to the roof, save your father, and we’ll worry about me later.” His voice comes through firm and gentle- there’d been a time where Pixal had written Dareth off as someone she’d always need to protect, but moments like this remind Pixal that Dareth was steady and solid. He’d been training ever since her Father asked him to stay by his side, his skills had grown and he’d become a formidable opponent. It had to have been someone strong to put him down- and he definitely didn't get benched without putting up a fight.

She had to be ready when these doors opened.

“Call Skylor.” She orders, the act of taking control offering her a calm she desperately needed, “She was on her way back to the tower, she can get to you quicker than I can. Do not die.”

“Ten-four, Boss.”

There’s no more time to talk. The elevator doors open up to the roof with a ding! And immediately Pixal is assaulted by whipping wind and the loud roar of helicopter blades slicing the air into pieces. She rushes out onto the tarmac, sprinting straight for the group of people loading her struggling father into the helicopter. Standing out from the black clad ensemble is a shock of bright pink hair. The thief, the woman who took her friends away, looks back at her with a bored, neutral expression. Pixels coolant feels like it’s boiling. The other woman turns towards another member of her crew and says something Pixal can’t hear through all the noise and motions to the sky as if to say shoo!

Then, without a second of hesitation, she spins around and charges at Pixal in return. She’s fast, putting a significant amount of space between Pixal and her father when the two women meet in a clash of fists on the middle of the roof. Pixal has to keep her head on straight, but she can feel her calm, controlled mask rapidly deteriorating each time she catches a glimpse of her father getting strapped into the Helicopters back seat.

He’s looking at her with fear in his eyes, but there’s a calm reassurance there- he knows she won’t get to him in time. It’s okay, Pixal.

A pang of heartbreak bruises her power core. She feels her fighting turn vicious, jabs and punches hitting and hitting hard, until she finally slams the woman face down against the roof. She whips out a set of cuffs from her jumpsuit and slaps them on her wrists- They activate with a hum and Pixal jabs the power button frantically. The cuff link beeps and Pixal slams the woman's wrists down on the rooftop beneath her, the cuffs latching onto the roof and rendering her immobile.

Pixal leaps to her feet and spins around- the helicopter is off the roof, probably has been for a while, and it’s flying across Ninjago faster than Pixal could feasibly catch. She’d have to race down the stairs to the sub basement, gear up, and then give chase- they’d be gone by then. They were already gone.

Her chest feels like it’s caving in. Why? Why can’t she save the people she loves? Why is she always on the sidelines, just a second too late?

Pull yourself together. She takes a deep, shuddering breath just to move air through her circuits. The thick smell of asphalt brings her mind back to the current issue- she turns around to find the thief still cuffed to the roof, her mouth and nose covered with blood and that infuriating bored expression on her face.

A ringing fills Pixal head and she feels disconnected from her body, pushing away her despair so hard she distances herself from her own processor.

Pixal hauls her up and takes her down the stairs to the ninjas level, not caring when she stumbles to keep up with Pixals rapid pace. She can’t care about anything right now. They rarely use the actual interrogation room, but Pixal fishes out the key for it now. On one side is the classic one-way glass and a few metal chairs seated at a metal table securely fastened to the floor. Pixal uncuffs the restrictive suppression bonds and switches them out for classic metal cuffs, weaving the chain through another padlock and chain attached to the table so she doesn’t get any funny ideas. She’s moving on autopilot, clicking locks together with practiced, robotic movements. She has to keep herself together, everyone is relying on her. Once she’s secure, Pixal washes her hands. After that she politely hands her a box of tissues so she can mop up her bloody face and gets her a glass of water and an ice pack.

She doesn’t say anything to the thief, who matches her silence quietly. Pixal observes her behind the one-way glass for several long minutes.

The bubble around her pops, and reality rushes back in. She sucks in a sharp breath and turns away, whipping her radio out and hitting the button frantically, “Dareth?” She questions. No response, “Dareth, status report.”

A long pause.

The radio crackles, “He’s alright, Pix.” Skylor’s voice comes through from Dareths radio, “He’s with the medic now. A few broken bones, but nothing life threatening.”

Pixal closes her eyes and presses the radio to her forehead, relief so deep she can almost feel it in her circuits. “Stay with him, please, and ask him what happened once he is cleared for visitors.” She glances over at the pink haired woman, who looks completely at ease as she balls up a blood soaked tissue and sets it on a clean tissue to avoid getting blood on the table top, “I caught our mystery thief from the museum break in.” Two mismatched eyes glance up and seem to meet Pixals green ones before skating away to look around the empty room, “I’m going to see what I can find out.”

The woman smiles serenely and settles back, unconcerned.

“Good luck. Call me if you need me, okay?”

“I will.”

The room is still deafeningly quiet when Pixal goes back inside. The click of the door closing behind her feels harsh on her audio processor. It’s sterile, with gray floors and white walls and fluorescent lights strung across the ceiling. Pixal sits at one of the available chairs on the other side of the table,  “My name is Pixal borg. I have a few questions for you.”

The woman smiles wider.

“Hello, Miss Borg. Ask whatever you like.”

She spends the next hour asking questions to a brick wall. The thief is listening and attentive to every one of Pixar’s words, but at the end of each question or statement is pointed and resolute silence. She doesn’t rise to any bait Pixal sets out- she doesn’t get angry or scoff when Pixal slips in subtle insults, she doesn’t preen over praise, she doesn’t even look tired or annoyed as the questioning continues on and on. She’s the picture perfect image of poise, and Pixal can’t gain an inch.

Her phone rings at the hour and fifteen minute mark. She answers it with a palpable relief to have something else to do other than fail at questioning her only lead about this kidnapping, “Pixal speaking.” She greets briskly, stepping out of the room and rolling imaginary soreness from her shoulders.

“What’s with all the blood on the roof?” Ronin asks curiously.

Pixal winces- she’d handed out a few good left hooks during their scuffle, “The thief I needed you to identify made an appearance today. I caught her.”

“Damn, did you break her nose or something?”

“Her employer kidnapped my father.” She reveals bluntly.

Ronin sucks a hiss of air through his teeth at that, “…Okay, well, send me up the elevator and I’ll come down.”

Pixal calls the elevator and once it arrives she steps inside and rides it back up to the roof. She’s beginning to hate this thing. She clicks her radio just to be doing something, “Any news, Sky?”

“Dareth is sleeping off anesthesia right now, sorry.”

“Thank you. Ronin has just arrived, I believe he will be able to help.”

“Keep me updated.” Skylor says pointedly.

“I will.” Pixal holsters her radio, staring at the closed doors in front of her. She felt so useless- she couldn’t get a peep out of either of their two leads, she was stuck inside doing futile research while random monsters were running wild through Ninjago, and she couldn’t stop her father from getting kidnapped from right under her nose.

The doors open to Ronin leaning casually against the wall waiting for it. He whistles low, eyebrows shooting up to his hairline, “You look like shit.” Are the first words out of his mouth.

“It has been a rough week.” She says tightly.

“It’s Tuesday.”

“Get in the elevator.”

He obliges and she takes them back down to the Ninjas floor, filing him in on the situation as they ride down. He’s rubbing his scruff in thought as the doors open up and they step out, thinking hard, “There are two possible options I’m thinking of, Maybe Milena or Raven. Both of them color their hair regularly, and they’re sloppy enough to get caught like that.” He muses, “I’ve never heard of a Dixie Samson though, which makes sense if she’s a rookie.”

Pixal heads straight towards the interrogation room, feeling an inkling of dread- part of her is convinced the woman would have vanished in the time it took her to bring Ronin back here. She feels a line of tension leave her shoulders when she walks back inside to see her still sitting there casually on the other side of the glass.

Ronin stops dead in his tracks, “By the first master- You have got to be kidding me.” He groans, reaching up to run a hand down his face. He looks back up at the woman and does a full body wince.

“Do you know her?” Pixal cant help the amused curve of her lips at Ronins dramatics.

“Do I know her…” He grumbles darkly, dragging his feet up to the window, “She’s my ex sister in law.”

Pixals checklist of questions on the woman is immediately derailed in surprise, “You were married?”

“Everyone makes mistakes.” He defends.

“Who would agree to- no, it is not important right now. What can you tell me about her?”

“I can tell you she’s only in those cuffs because she wants to be.” He grimaces, “Her name is Stella and I doubt there's a set of restraints good enough to hold her short of strapping her down like Hannibal Lecter, and I’m skeptical if even that would work. If she’s still here, she has ulterior motives. She wants something from you, or she wants something in this building.”

“She already took everything.” Pixal barely resists baring her teeth. She sighs, “I need to get information from her.”

“Sorry, but you’re out of luck there. I can promise you she won't speak a word of her employer. You couldn’t waterboard info out of her if she doesn’t want to tell you.” He delivers the bad news bluntly.

“So this is another dead end.”

“Not exactly.” Ronin crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the glass, “Stella isn’t cheap to hire and if we throw in who exactly she’s dealing with- Borg, the ninja, you- that’ll only make this job that much more expensive. So we can confidently narrow down her employer to Ninjagos one percent.” He grins at Pixals shocked expression, “She does damn good work- the best work- but it’ll cost ya. That big paycheck is what ensures her loyalty. As long as her employer is supplementing her bank account, her lips are sealed- even in the face of torture.”

“She’s all about money…” Pixal turns that over in her mind, looking for the piece she needs to unravel Stella's loyalty.

Ronin shrugs, “All mercenaries are, Stella just has the status and reputation to be bought out by the richest of the rich. With that amount of cash backing her up, You wouldn't be able to even threaten anything out of her.”

Pixal holds up her hand, stopping Ronins words as she carefully considers his words. “I don’t need to threaten her.” As if she’d had an epiphany, Pixal immediately takes off around the corner. Ronin ends up scrambling after her, Following her into Stella's interrogation room just barely before the door closes.

Stella looks relaxed and unconcerned, that same bored expression she's always wearing on her face. She’s got her chair kicked back and her feet on the table, her cuffed hands folded over her belly as she observed them come inside. She raises a brow at Ronin and opens her mouth to speak but Pixal beats her to it.

Pixal yanks out a leather wallet from her jumpsuit and grabs a pen from her from breast pocket, “I am aware you will not speak against your employer, and I am also aware he is paying you a lot of money to keep his secrets.” She sits down in front of Stella, slamming her pocket book and pen to the table, “But I’m Pixal fucking Borg.”

She opens the book and pulls out a stack of checks, signing one and sliding it across the table blank, “Are you interested in new employment?”

Heartbeats pass. Ronin is staring at the check so hard Pixals half sure his eyes are about to pop out of his head, but Stella looks as cool and collected as ever. If Pixal had to breathe she’d be holding it, praying that the gamble works. Stella carefully takes each foot off the table and sits up straight, scooting her chair forward and resting her elbows on the table. She studies the check for a long moment before her lips twitch, the scar at the corner of her mouth pulling her lips into a pleased smile.

“I don’t want your money, Pixal Borg.” She gently, strangely respectfully, tears the check in half and slides the pieces across the table towards the two. Ronin makes a sound like a wounded animal at the action.

Pixals heart plummets.

“But there is something I do want.” Stella continues before Pixal can feel the full weight of failure. Stella looks at Pixal with a firm, intense furrow to her brow. “I will tell you everything I know if you do me a favor. I don’t know what or when that will be. This is what I do know: You are the most powerful woman in Ninjago, Pixal Borg, and I want you to owe me.”

“Deal.” Pixal hold out her hand for Stella to shake without a second of hesitation. Her friends, her family, her father- everyone was relying on her, and she needed this information because right now they had nothing.

But as Stella takes her hand in a firm grip, Pixal can’t help but feel like she’s made a deal with the devil.

Sella sits back, bored expression sinking over her features once more, “His name is Broden Voss, the CEO of Voss Technologies.” She gets right down to business. Pixal recognizes the name in flashes of memory- a place card at a table during a charity event, investors threats to take their money elsewhere when her fathers quarterly review is lower than expected, a flash of red hair and a shark-like smile as a towering man shakes her hand at a high brow cocktail party, “He hired me to infiltrate Ninjago Citys Museum of History after his previous hire, Dixie Samson, failed. I was tasked with finding and retrieving a gauntlet forged by one of Voss’s ancestors, a warlord by the name of Utano whose armor had mystical powers. I was paid to do whatever possible to return this gauntlet to him, and as such I used one of the abilities in the gauntlet to send the ninja to another Realm. The only other ability I've seen... I have witnessed Voss change the gauntlet configuration with a thought. Essentially shapeshifting, though I can't be certain how far that particular gift goes.

“Voss’s plan always centered around Cyrus Borg. Ever since Voss Technology was usurped as Ninjagos main technology company by Borg Industries, he’s felt cheated and wronged. Now that he has this powerful artifact, he intends on using it to tear Ninjago apart and rebuild it with Voss tech, installing himself back in the forefront of tech manufacturing,” She pins Pixal with a pointed look, “He’s obsessed with defeating Cyrus Borg- but your father is not in any immediate danger.”

Pixal feels a bit of tension leave her shoulders, “I have time to save him?”

“Voss wants Borg to have a front row seat to the fall of his empire. He wants Cyrus alive to see the rubble of Borg Tower and after that, I don’t know. Now that he has Borg, though, his plan will be entering the final phase. He will use the power of the gauntlet to open portals throughout downtown ninjago- I know several of the locations he’s planning on placing them that I can pass along. He’s targeting centralized, high traffic areas so he can flood the streets with monsters as quickly and effectively as possible. He is aiming for the absolute maximum amount of destruction in every inch of the city.” She steeples her fingers, “Evacuate the city. Now.”

She doesn’t hesitate on this, raising her Borg radio to her mouth, “Sky, I am officially ordering a full evacuation of the city. I will explain everything later, but right now I need you and the others mobilized.” At Skylors confirmation, Pixal turns her attention back to Stella, “Monsters from where, exactly? Where do these portal lead?”

Where did you send my friends?

Stella pauses on this question, aware the answer will not be one Pixal is thrilled to hear, “The Realm of Madness.” She reveals. “What’s going to come through that portal are some of the most terrifying monsters Ninjago has ever seen, and if I’m any good at reading people- and I am the very best- I can tell you that Broden Voss will not be able to control the chaos he creates. If you can’t stop this, it could lead to more destruction than Ninjago has ever seen.”

“Well,” Pixal says tersely, “Maybe I would have a better chance stopping him if the ninja had not been sent to the Realm of madness and unable to help.”

“Yeah, my bad.”

Ronin trails Pixal as she goes back to the computers, sitting down roughly and opening up a new tab to start another bout of research. Now she had a name- Utano, a great warlord. Pixal could work with that. She pauses and glances at Ronin, curiosity picking at her, “Your sister in law, eh?”

He lets out a put upon sigh and crosses his arms, “Ex sister in law, I’ll remind you.”

“Who became a bounty hunter first?”

“...She was,” He admits grudgingly, “She’s been in the game longer than most.”

Pixal frowns, “I went through countless security feeds and crime reports- That long and she hasn’t gotten caught on camera anywhere? Not even during a trip to the grocery store?”

“Oh, she definitely has. You just don’t know where to look.” He sits down next to her, “She changes her appearance just as seamlessly as Chamille- hair dye, prosthetics, contacts… her eyes aren’t actually blue and brown, you know. She’s evaded any and all facial recognition with clever makeup and smoke-and-mirror tricks.” Pixal opens her mouth, “-And no, I am not going to tell you what to look for. Even if I wasn't a fellow mercenary following the mercenary code, Stella is not an enemy anyone wants to have.”

“Okay.” Pixal relents, “Do you know what this favor could be?”

“No clue.” He shrugs and peeks over her shoulder, “You looking up that warlord guy?”

“Girl.” Pixal corrects as she scans over the basic wikipedia page she’d pulled up. There was… little here, “No parents listed, no spouse. She had one child later in life, but there is no information on them, Not even a name. She was married to a powerful lord in her twenties, but he died a year after they wed. She rose to power through extremist political lobbying and strategic battles with her personal militia until she had conquered over half of ninjago.”

Ronin quirks a brow, “No mention of her magic armor?”

“None here. All it says is she was killed by the elemental masters of creation during her final battle.” Pixal goes back to her original search, “But that was just wikipedia, I’m sure there’s more information somewhere.”

Spoiler alert: There was not more information anywhere.

Pixal scours the internet, following dead end academic papers and documentaries- she even got desperate and checked reddit, of all places. Even after using her status to get into parts of the internet usually barred from the general public, she still came up with nothing. “There are scrolls referenced in all of these papers, but I cannot find the scrolls. They were never digitalized, and apparently no one knows where they went.” She sits back roughly, pushing herself away from the monitor so she doesn’t have to look at it anymore.

Ronin startles awake where he’d fallen asleep on the couch after he got bored, peeking up at her over the arm of it, “Maybe Stella is lying about Utano.”

It’s at that moment that the elevator door dings open and Misako comes striding out with Wu trailing slowly behind her. She’s dressed in thick pants and a button up covered in a thin layer of sand and dirt, her hair much the same in its bun sitting on top of her head, “Did I hear you say Utano?” She asks, shrugging off her satchel and tossing it aside with a cloud of dust, “I came straight from the dig site once Wu informed me of the situation. If you already know about Utano, then we’re on the right track.”

“Misako!” Pixal stands with a smile, moving to hug the woman, “It is good to see you. We know the name, but there’s not much else on the internet to go off of.” She admits.

“I know.” Misako says with a wince, “When Wu told me about the gauntlet, I had a feeling I knew what it was. The scrolls that had any record of Utano were all under the Explorers Club’s lock and key- When I called Cecil and asked about them, he confessed that several artifacts in the clubs collection went missing the day they were all transferred to the museum's custody, apparently lost in the shuffle.”

Pixal feels her expression darken, “He is saying the explorers club lost artifacts? I find that difficult to believe.”

“I looked into it on the way here. Underhill sticks out as the most suspicious- he took off to the other side of the country and bought himself a nice, expensive house on the beach, but the rest of the club members all seem to have come into some money with similar luxury purchases as well.” Misako confirms grimly. “That doesn’t matter right now. What do you know about Utano?”

Pixal relays all the information Stella had told them and what little else she’d gleaned from the internet. Misako nods thoughtfully, “Her reign over Ninjago started hundreds and hundreds of years ago, before we were even aware the sixteen realms existed- She was part of Ninjago and the Cloud Kingdom, a parent from either realm. We refer to her armor in modern times as the Allied Armor of Azure, said to call on different realms to aid its wearer, and scholars presume she received a gift from her Cloud Kingdom parent that allowed this type of enchantment. The only pieces that were meant to survive the armor's destruction were the Helmet that we passed on to the Cloud Kingdom, and the chest plate, which we studied.”

“Is there a way to neutralize its abilities?”

“If there was a way, it would be in the stolen scrolls. As I see it, there is none.” Misako says apologetically, wincing. “Even the Elemental Masters were not able to defeat her at her most powerful.”

Pixal frowns, “The elemental masters did defeat her.”

There’s a pause, “Yes… they did, but it… wasn’t a fair fight.”

“What does that mean?” Ronin pipes up, “Did they get her while she was sleeping or something?”

Misako sighs, “You said you read she had one child, yes?” Pixal nods and Misako shakes her head, “She had three. We have private scrolls written by Utano detailing her three children and how much she loved them. The Elemental Masters of the time made a decision. They needed leverage- They needed bargaining chips. Only one child survived, and Utano was defeated.”

a heartbeat passes.

Pixal swallows down her horror, “The only way they stopped her was by going after something she cared about.”

“And from what Stella is saying, it sounds like Broden Voss doesn’t care about anything-” Ronin snorts, “Except maybe killing your dad.”

“You are not helpful.” Pixal snaps immediately.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any good news.” Misako bows her head.

“Thank you for coming, Misako, but this has been a huge waste of time.” Pixal says bitterly, turning away.

Misako doesn’t flinch at the words, knowing what stress Pixal must be under. She almost doesn’t want to say what she needs to say next. She takes a step forward and opens her mouth anyway, “I didn’t come here to tell you about Utano. Wu could have passed along that message for me.” She says softly.

Pixal looks back at her with a questioning frown, “What did you come here for?” She asks.

Misako steps to the side so Wu is standing in front of Pixal now. He looks miserable and ashamed, staring down at the floor, “I came to make sure he told you.”

Pixal feels a lightning flash of alarm go through her, “Told me what?” she swallows roughly. From where he’s laying on the couch, Ronin sits up in curiosity. There’s a pregnant pause, “I do not have time for this.” She says sharply, refusing to let her voice shake. She turns back to the computers, moving away from them. The tension in the room feels different and wrong- She doesn’t want him to say anything.

“It’s about Zane.” Wu manages to whisper, still looking at the floor.

Pixal freezes in her tracks. Her core seems to tighten painfully, icy fingers wrapping around her insides and tangling her carefully sorted wiring into knots. She slowly spins on her heel to face him again, “What about him?” She asks carefully. The question is laced with grief.

He’s going to break her heart.

Misako makes a go on gesture with her head that Wu sees out of the corner of his eye. He takes another moment to build up his nerve and looks up, meeting Pixal eye for the first time since he’d walked through that door, “Three years ago-'' He begins.

“Master Wu, I don’t need a recap,” She says tightly.

“Three years ago,” He presses on, “After we caught Aspheera, I went to see her in Kryptarium. There were questions I needed answered. When I saw her, I asked why she chose to kill him when I was the one-” He swallows and pauses for a moment, “She told me he was not dead.”

Pixal stares at him, “She did not kill him?”

Wu takes a tentative step forward, “No, she merely banished him… To the Never Realm, a realm impossible to return from.”

“He is… alive?” She breathes softly, shock rendering her dumb for several long moments. Joy and hope bubbles up her chest, “Zane is alive. We can bring him home. We just need to figure out a way to get back to Ninjago- there has to be some way to make it back.”

“Pixal…” Misako’s voice is heavy with sadness.

“Why did you keep this from us, Master Wu?” She’s trying to be angry, but the happiness spreading through her fights the frown on her face, “We could have figured it out together, all of us, and brought him home!”

Wu looks at her with wet, sorrowful eyes. Pixels smile dims.

“There is a way back from the Never Realm,” He says gravely, “The fruit of the travelers tree, high in the mountains.” Her circuits tie themselves together, she can tell another shoe is about to drop, “I discovered it three years ago, when I traveled to the Never Realm to get him.”

She’s not smiling anymore. The room is silent. The glow from the computer monitors illuminates Wu’s robe in pale blue light. It’s so, so quiet.

Her voice is steady, “Why is he not home?”

“Pixal…” He begins.

“Do not patronize me!” She shouts, tears springing to her eyes, “Why tell me this? Why bring up the past and get my hopes up just to crush them again? I have already accepted that he is dead, I did not need you to yank my feelings around like-”

“He’s not dead.” Wu cuts in, and Pixal stops mid-rant, her hands loosening from the fists she’d balled them into.

“I do not understand.” She says blankly, slumping into herself. She tries to put the pieces together, to fit the tragedy into a story that makes sense in the absence of an explaination, “He… chose to stay there?”

“No,” Wu says sadly, and then proceeds to tell her about the worst moment of his life. He tells her about coming to a land unnaturally cold and barren, snow drifts and ice that suffocated the crops and froze people whole. He tells her about the handful of towns still alive who lived under constant fear of their supernaturally powerful emperor, a man who controlled every snowflake in the land. He tells her about making the trek across the mountain and stumbling upon a species of beast hunted to near extinction by the Emperor's samurai, and finding the travelers tree. He tells her about finally coming upon the palace gates, through the Emperor's throne room doors, and who he’d found sitting atop the dais.

“It was Zane, his body, but the man we know and loved was gone.” He tells her, voice thick with pain, “He was violent and angry, and passive to the struggle and pain of others. He did not respond to my voice, he did not react to reminders of who he once was, and he did not hesitate to attempt to strike me down.”

Pixal is silent, leaning against the communications console as if her legs had no strength. She says nothing, face twisted up in aching raw grief and sadness.

“Zane… I believe he was gone, truly. He would have been horrified at what he’d become… You must understand, I did what I did to respect the man I loved as my own son.”

“What did you do?” Pixals voice cracks.

“I could not kill him,” Wu closes his eyes, “I used the fruit of the travelers tree to open a portal to the Realm of Madness… where I banished the Ice Emperor, and freed the Never Realm from his grasp.”

She bows her head, hiding her face in shadows.

“I told you all of that to tell you this… the longer the Ninja haven't returned, the more I fear there is something… or someone keeping them there. They should have made it to the Mountain of madness by now. I have the utmost faith in them, but not only am I afraid of what they might find there, I am afraid of what- or who- may find them. The Ice Emperor was a formidable foe-”

“Stop talking.” Pixal interrupts him icily, voice hard as steel.

He goes silent, staring at her.

“Master Wu… for all of your age… for every ounce of wisdom you have… you are still one of the most foolish people I have ever met.” She looks up at him and her eyes burn, hot pinpricks of fire and pain and rage. “You should have dragged him home. We would have helped him- we would have helped him! We could have saved him-! And- and you better hope the ninja run into him, and do what you failed to do and bring him back to Ninjago- or else when this blows over I am dragging you to the Realm of Madness myself and we are combing every inch of that realm until we find him ourselves!”

He shrinks with shame and guilt under her ire as she advances upon him, rage making her fans kick into high gear, “You knew he was there, you knew the- the Ice Emperor was in the Realm of Madness and you knew he could have posed a serious threat to the ninja, yet you told me they would be okay! That there was nothing to worry about! And now- I cannot go after them! I have to stay here and protect Ninjago, I cannot leave these innocent people behind like I could have a few days ago when my friends first vanished-!” She chokes on a sob, swiping hot tears out of her eyes.

“Pixal, I didn't know-" He looks gutted, "… I’m so sorry-” He starts, reaching out, but she takes a step away from him and bares her teeth.

“Do not-” She snaps, jerking a hand down to keep him away from her, “-Apologize to me. Apologize to Zane when we get him back, apologize to the ninja for keeping this from them, and then never speak to me again. That’s the only thing you can do for me, Master Wu. We’ll work together now because the city needs everyone it can get, but after that... “ She shakes her head, condemnation in her eyes.

He nods, cowed, “If that is what you want… I understand.”

She takes a deep breath, centers herself, and picks up the communicator again. She needs to talk to Skylor, Her face is grim as she raises it to her lips.

“Pixal?” He hesitantly says, before she can speak, “What are we going to do about the ninja?”

“We are going to trust they can make it home,” She says, “And we are going to do our best to make sure there is still a home to come back to.”

The first thing Cyrus smells is the thick scent of designer perfume- he was born into money, raised in the lap of luxury, expensive colognes have always been a part of his life. With the blindfold wrapped around his eyes, the smell becomes stronger and sharper. He narrows the other occupant in the room to a handful of other high society socialites. If he were in the upscale, posh parfumerie in downtown Ninjago he could appreciate the sweet earthy scent of tahitian vanilla, ylang-ylang, rosa centerfoils, italian cinnamon, jasmine, osiris root, and rose oil. An expensive bottle worn only for special occasions- he might even recognize it. As a recently kidnapped prisoner trying to figure out how to untie his wrists from the railings on his wheelchair, some of the intricacies of the scent are lost on him.

“You’ll won’t get away with this.” It feels cliche the moment it comes out of his mouth, but he can’t help but break the silence. The other person in the room is just… staring at him. Cyrus can feel the satisfied, smug gaze weighing on his shoulders. He knows he’s being watched.

“Yes, I will.” The voice is deep and smooth, effortlessly confident.

He doesn’t know what to say.

Shifting sounds in front of him, then the soft click of a wooden box closing. The sharp flick of a lighter. The smell of burning tobacco and whiskey seeps into the air.

“Would you like a cigar, Cyrus?”

“I never acquired a taste for them.” He responds stiffly. He knows that voice, doesn’t he? From where?

“Oh, I’m sure you’d like these if you tried it. Two thousand dollars, retail.” He pauses to taste the smoke, probably. Cyrus can’t see him to tell, “Could I offer you a drink, then? What’s a man of your status’s drink of choice?” He humms in thought, gravely and low, and taps his fingers on a table (desk?) in front of him. It’s more for show than any actual thinking, “Louis XIII cognac? Chateau Cheval Blanc, 1947? Or maybe you go for something a bit pricier, hm? D’Amalfi Limoncello Supreme?”

“I’m not thirsty.” 

“I recommend the cognac, personally. It’s a celebration, after all.”

The hair raises on the back of Cyrus’s neck, “A celebration of what?”

“My victory, of course.” He laughs like that was a silly question, “I won.”

Swallowing thickly, Cyrus tries again to wiggle his wrists out from his bindings. “The ninja-”

“-are gone.” The man responds and Cyrus freezes. The voice was no longer across the room, but right in front of him. He’d move silently across the floor, crouching down to speak directly to Cyrus, “The ninja are gone. No one will be able to save you.”

He leans in, his breath hot on the shell of Cyrus’s ear, “I suggest you have a glass, Cyrus. It will be the last drink you ever have.” He promises.

Cyrus jerks back and slams his head forward before he can think about it. There’s a sharp crack and something warm and wet splatters on his cheek. The man swears loudly and he can hear him stumble away.

“You son of a-” He snarls, smooth confidence immediately bleeding into red hot rage.

“That- ow- Well, that hurts.” Cyrus winced, head pounding.

“I am going to enjoy destroying you!” His voice is thick with hatred.

Cyrus doesn’t know what to think. Who are you?

His wheelchair is kicked roughly and he tips over. He falls hard and he could have braced himself and been just fine if not for the edge of a coffee table sitting perfectly at concussion height.

The world turns black.

[nividawebsolutions]

How to Choose the Right Web Design for Your Brand

Imagine walking into a store with flickering lights, chaotic shelves, and no one to guide you. You’d probably walk out, right? Your website is no different. In the digital world, your website is your storefront, your first handshake, your 24/7 brand ambassador. At Nivida Software, recognised as the Best Website Design Company in Gujarat, we understand that web design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about aligning visuals with values, purpose with presence, and design with direction.

So, how do you choose the right web design for your brand? Here’s a thought-provoking guide to help you decode that puzzle—with insight, not just information.

Understand Your Brand’s DNA:

Before you pick fonts and colours, you must know who you are. Is your brand bold or subtle? Youthful or sophisticated? Playful or professional? You should design your logo considering all the above factors.

Start by defining your brand’s tone, mission, and unique selling points. When we, as a Web Design Company in Gujarat, take on a project, we dig deep to understand what drives your business. A well-defined brand voice makes design decisions far more intuitive and authentic.

Know Your Audience Like You Know Your Product:

Your website should speak your audience’s language—visually and functionally. Designing with interaction, minimalism, and mobile in mind is essential if you want to attract tech-savvy millennials. Targeting B2B clients? Your site should inspire trust, credibility, and professionalism.

At Nivida Software, one of the Best Web Design Agencies in Vadodara, we conduct extensive user profiling to ensure your website design connects with the right emotions and expectations of your audience. Because relevance is the real design currency.

Prioritise User Experience (UX), Not Just Decoration:

You may fall in love with a particular layout or animation, but if it confuses your user or slows down their journey, it’s a liability, not an asset. Building a house without doors is the same of web design without user experience.

As a forward-thinking Web Design Agency in Vadodara, we follow a user-first approach. We map the customer journey, define intuitive navigation paths, and ensure that every scroll, swipe, and click contributes to conversions.

Design for Mobile—Not as an Option, but as a Rule:

We live in a pocket-first world. More than 60% of users will visit your website on a mobile device. If your design isn’t responsive, you’re practically invisible to half your audience.

Being a Best Website Design Company in Vadodara, our responsive design philosophy ensures your website adapts seamlessly across devices—whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop—without compromising on speed or quality.

Stay Consistent, but Never Boring:

Brand consistency builds recognition, but that doesn’t mean being repetitive. It means using cohesive colour palettes, typography, and imagery that align with your brand guidelines while still allowing creative expression in layouts and content blocks.

We at Nivida Software, a leading Web Design Agency in Gujarat, blend innovation with identity, ensuring your design remains fresh without straying from the core brand essence.

Content and Design Must Work Like a Duet:

A stunning design without engaging content is like a concert with no music. Your design must support your message, not distract from it.

We ensure that copy and visuals work hand-in-hand. Our collaborative approach makes us stand out as one of the Best Website Design Agencies in Vadodara. Every button, headline, and image placement is intentional, crafted to guide the visitor naturally toward action.

SEO-Optimised Design Is Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity:

Search engines don’t care if your site looks like a masterpiece. They care about structure, speed, tags, responsiveness, and accessibility.

As a highly experienced Web Design Company in Gujarat, we bake SEO into the foundation of our designs. Clean code, proper heading hierarchy, optimised images, and fast loading speeds are non-negotiables in our workflow.

Scalability: Design Today with Tomorrow in Mind

Whether it’s adding new product lines, integrating with CRM tools, or including multilingual capabilities, a scalable architecture is crucial.

That’s why our design frameworks at Nivida Software, the Best Website Design Company in Gujarat, are built to be modular and flexible—so your site can evolve as your brand does.

Choose the Right Design Partner:

At the end of the day, choosing the right web design comes down to choosing the right people to build it. A team that listens, understands, advises, and executes with precision.

At Nivida Software, we’re not just designers—we’re digital storytellers, strategists, and brand builders. As one of the Best Web Design Agencies in Vadodara, we bring years of industry experience, a robust creative process, and an obsession with pixel-perfect delivery.

We don’t just build websites. We craft experiences that help brands stand out, sell more, and stay memorable.

Look Beyond the Portfolio, Seek the Process:

Many agencies flaunt flashy portfolios. A well-thought-out plan, however, is essential to its success. Always ask about their process—how do they understand your business, plan your sitemap, choose your design direction, or test user journeys?

Our proven design methodology, backed by extensive market research and conversion insights, has made us the go-to Web Design Agency in Vadodara for businesses that want more than just a pretty face—they want performance.

Closing Thoughts:

Choosing the right web design for your brand is not a checkbox—it’s a commitment to crafting a digital presence that reflects who you are, resonates with your audience, and drives results.

At Nivida Software, the Best Website Design Company in Vadodara, we walk that path with you—from ideation to implementation. With a blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and aesthetic excellence, we help brands come alive online. 

[theriverspath]

Ineffable May 2024, Day 5: Retirement

Rated General Audience

There was more salt than pepper in Nina’s locs these days, and she was beginning to appreciate a mug of something hot less for the caffeine content and more for the soothing warmth on the overworked joints of her hands. Today, though, her hands were empty as she waved one over the small black screen installed on the wall just inside the kitchen door of Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death. The movement woke the alarm system’s AI and a cheerfully neutral voice addressed her.

“Hello, Nina. Leaving for the day?” The face recognition software had records of all of the shop’s employees, and was programmed to know who was due to open and close based on the work schedule. Or rather, it had been programmed with that information until about a week ago. Currently, the only person it had on file was Nina. Soon, it wouldn’t even recognize her. Her smile was a little sad as she answered the now-glowing screen.

“Yes. Lock up after I’ve left, please.”

“Sure thing! Have a good night!”

“Thanks.” Nina exited the swinging door that separated the kitchen from the dining area. She paused before crossing to the front door, and could almost hear the bustle of a morning rush around her. She had spent decades behind a counter, offering the people of Soho the best drinks and pastries she could muster. During that time she'd seen old friends come together to enjoy each other's company, stressed students pounding away at keyboards, couples falling in love, and families grow. There had been so much life, both hers and others, lived within these walls.

When she was finally ready to leave, Nina’s steps echoed in the empty space. The next tennant was converting the storefront into a salon, and hadn’t wanted any of the furnishings. So, Nina had sold or donated it all. She’d kept the miniature Statue of Liberty, though, and it now held pride of place on the fireplace mantle in the little flat Maggie and she had just downsized to. Everything else had gone within the last few days.

The doorknob felt so familiar in her grip, and it seemed odd to think that this would be the last time she would turn it. Turn it she did, then stepped onto the pavement and let the door close behind her. She heard the snick of the lock sliding into place and knew that the system had done its job.

“Ready?” Maggie’s voice was soft, and there was no rush or ugrency behind it. Nina took in a breath and nodded.

“All done. I just need to leave the keys with the estate agent on the way home.” She slipped her hand into her wife’s, and they began the walk that would take them past the office and to their flat. Maggie’s eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile when they passed The Small Back Room. Through the big window, she could see Tony helping a customer sort through a selection of vinyls. Nina didn’t have to hear him to know that he was expounding how you just can’t get the same sound from digital, and isn’t it amazing how physical media really connects us to music in such a tactile way. Their son had inherited Maggie’s love of the record shop, and had happily taken on the responsibility of the day-to-day running of it when she’d decided to take a step back from the business.

As they approached the estate agent’s office, Nina realized that she really didn’t feel like going in and doing the whole smile-and-shake-hands-and-small-talk ordeal that inevitably came with these sorts of interactions. Fortunately, the building had a little brass flap on the exterior for people to deposit paperwork and what-not after closing. So, she just dropped the keys in that, and heard them clank into the little box that caught them.

“I don’t feel like cooking tonight. How about we pick something up?” The two women took their time strolling down the busy street, discussing the merits of the various restaurants between here and their flat. The air was cool, but not quite cold enough to make them want to quicken their pace. They eventually settled on a new Italian place and, once home, enjoyed the steaming containers of pasta in front of a warm, crackling fire.

-----

Want to play along? Check out the prompt list from @blairamok.

[wherechaoswins]

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[friendsfan04]

Blog Post #6

How are humans increasingly becoming more similar to cyborgs in this day and age?

Humans are definitely becoming more like cyborgs every single day. We all depend on technology to help us on a daily basis, even if it’s just completing a simple task. People also spend a lot of time on their phones and other electronic devices each day, and it’s like we’re attached to our phones now. Some may feel like they can’t live without their phones and that they would be completely lost without this small piece of technology. We are so dependent on our devices nowadays that it really makes us wonder what the difference is between us and cyborgs, and quite frankly, there isn’t much of a difference. 

2. Why are cyborgs usually thought of as feminine or having a female voice?

Cyborgs or people that are designed for video games are usually imagined as women because it’s more appealing to the general population, or men in particular. For example, when we looked at the Mavis Beacon documentary in class, we saw that this sort of cyborg was modeled after a woman. This is because she presents a more motherly figure when teaching people how to type. To take it one step further, when we think about our early school years, most if not all of our teachers were female because teachers are seen as more of a mother figure. So when developing the Mavis Beacon typing software, the creators thought it best to make it a woman that teaches the typing program because it’s more comforting. 

3. Why are men favored in most fields of work, and what does this have to do with the concept of white supremacy? 

Men are thought of as stronger and more able and willing to work hard and provide for the family, which is why they are often favored in most fields of work. Women are seen as weak in terms of labor and are thought of as stay-at-home mothers. Taking this back to the days of slavery, black women were made to stay in the house and do laundry, cook, clean, and take care of the children while the men did the hard labor. White men, specifically, would usually be the head of the household and would be wealthy and powerful, which would put them even higher than black men. So there’s sort of a class system in a sense when looking at our history when it comes to labor and white supremacy. 

4. Why is the feminine presence so popular in today’s gaming culture?

The feminine presence is so popular, specifically in video games today, because women are sadly seen as objects sometimes and often not taken seriously. For example, in GTA, women are seen as prostitutes and are not really seen as tough. I’m not one to play video games, but from what I’ve gathered, a lot of other games are like this, in that they portray women as something to be earned or some sort of object, while the men are doing all the “manly” things such as driving the cars, acting as soldiers, defending the land, etc. 

5. Do you think female figures being created for video games through the male gaze is similar to how facial recognition software fails when looking at people of color?

I think female figures being created through the male gaze is sort of similar in some ways to how facial recognition software fails to correctly identify people of color. In both scenarios, one party is being disadvantaged because they are seen as “less-than” citizens. The designers of the facial recognition software failed to fix the errors in the codes that mistakenly convict the wrong people of color. Like I mentioned before, women are often seen in the eyes of men as “objects” or some sort of prize to be won, which makes it even worse when women in video games are designed by men because the women they design are oftentimes inaccurate. Both of these issues can have big consequences, and problems continue to arise in terms of each of these situations. 

Daniels, Jesse. (2019). Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet. 

Haraway, D. (2019). A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781912453269

Jones, Jazmin. Seeking Mavis Beacon. (2024). [Film]. United States. 

O’Riordan, K. (2022). Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture. Critical Cyberculture Studies, 243–254. https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814708903.003.0025

[toasterthievery]

I READ MERE APPENDIX AND I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT IT

The real gravity of Professor Honeycutt's situation doesn't get explored too often since everyone has bigger things to worry about when they're bring chased by Triceratons, and the identity crisis that goes down in this issue is just heartbreaking and really a sight to behold since he tends to get so little focus. It says a lot about him as a character in the best way possible.

Something that I really like is that time has passed since the accident that cost him his humanity in the first place, but that it's something that still affects him deeply. It's something he's come to terms with on a surface level so that he can continue to function day to day, but it weighs on him heavily.

You can feel his horror the moment when he realizes he never installed the component that would allow for a real transfer. He states later in this issue that he's been asking himself for years whether he's really Honeycutt or not, but speculation and evidence are two different things and his worst fear looks to be coming true.

And the idea that Fugitoid does not equal Honeycutt is pervasive. It comes up again and again, making it impossible for him to ignore. Even small things, like his voice recognition software not recognizing him, keeps him at arm's length from the "real" Professor Honeycutt. It's so uncomfortable, like a constant ache, to not be recognizable as the person you are in any capacity.

To wonder if your existence is even a scientific possibility.

And I know he's dealing with the damage he sustained at the beginning of the issue, but it obviously goes deeper than that and everything is being exacerbated by it since he's been experiencing hallucinations and memory loss. It makes it kind of all come at him at once in a way that's impossible to deal with and brings all that pain fresh into his mind.

It makes him feel less human than ever, which is a hard pill to swallow. This side by side panel (that hurts me immensely) is just a great illustration of the identity problems that he's dealing with.

He's reaching his limit and there's nothing that can really be done to fix his situation. It's a really cool thing to see Honeycutt's thoughts and feelings that haven't been filtered through the viewpoint of the turtles, and to see how acutely he feels the shockwave of everything that's happened to him. Where does the line lie between man and machine? How can he say with certainty that he's a real person when he's so familiar with the technology that caused the accident?

The part right after this has my FAVORITE set of panels in this entire thing.

It's very ironic that in having this crisis, he's proving he's more than just an unthinking object, but that's hard to see when everything is coming crashing down. I genuinely can't express enough how much I love that that he's reached this low where he can't think of himself as real, and because of that, it's fine if he simply takes himself apart until it's not a problem anymore. And in a way, it's easier for him to see himself that way because machines can be fixed; they don't deal with the messy, nonlinear recovery that real people have to face.

THIS IS BRILLIANT and I'm in love with the ship of Theseus dilemma that's at play here.

Even though Honeycutt comes out of it all right...there is still no easy solution for him, and the rock and hard place he finds himself wedged between won't give so easily. His struggles are fascinating and compelling, and getting to see them so up close and personal was a serious treat. Actually one of my favorite comics I've ever read. I'm never going to be normal again.

[ymishraofficial]

Top 10 Projects for BE Electrical Engineering Students

Embarking on a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering opens up a world of innovation and creativity. One of the best ways to apply theoretical knowledge is through practical projects that not only enhance your skills but also boost your resume. Here are the top 10 projects for BE Electrical Engineering students, designed to challenge you and showcase your talents.

1. Smart Home Automation System

Overview: Develop a system that allows users to control home appliances remotely using a smartphone app or voice commands.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module

Sensors (temperature, motion, light)

Learning Outcome: Understand IoT concepts and the integration of hardware and software.

2. Solar Power Generation System

Overview: Create a solar panel system that converts sunlight into electricity, suitable for powering small devices or homes.

Key Components:

Solar panels

Charge controller

Inverter

Battery storage

Learning Outcome: Gain insights into renewable energy sources and energy conversion.

3. Automated Irrigation System

Overview: Design a system that automates the watering of plants based on soil moisture levels.

Key Components:

Soil moisture sensor

Water pump

Microcontroller

Relay module

Learning Outcome: Learn about sensor integration and automation in agriculture.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Overview: Build a prototype for an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that monitors and controls charging processes.

Key Components:

Power electronics (rectifier, inverter)

Microcontroller

LCD display

Safety features (fuses, circuit breakers)

Learning Outcome: Explore the fundamentals of electric vehicles and charging technologies.

5. Gesture-Controlled Robot

Overview: Develop a robot that can be controlled using hand gestures via sensors or cameras.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

Motors and wheels

Ultrasonic or infrared sensors

Gesture recognition module

Learning Outcome: Understand robotics, programming, and sensor technologies.

6. Power Factor Correction System

Overview: Create a system that improves the power factor in electrical circuits to enhance efficiency.

Key Components:

Capacitors

Microcontroller

Current and voltage sensors

Relay for switching

Learning Outcome: Learn about power quality and its importance in electrical systems.

7. Wireless Power Transmission

Overview: Experiment with transmitting power wirelessly over short distances.

Key Components:

Resonant inductive coupling setup

Power source

Load (LED, small motor)

Learning Outcome: Explore concepts of electromagnetic fields and energy transfer.

8. Voice-Controlled Home Assistant

Overview: Build a home assistant that can respond to voice commands to control devices or provide information.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Raspberry Pi preferred)

Voice recognition module

Wi-Fi module

Connected devices (lights, speakers)

Learning Outcome: Gain experience in natural language processing and AI integration.

9. Traffic Light Control System Using Microcontroller

Overview: Design a smart traffic light system that optimizes traffic flow based on real-time data.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

LED lights

Sensors (for vehicle detection)

Timer module

Learning Outcome: Understand traffic management systems and embedded programming.

10. Data Acquisition System

Overview: Develop a system that collects and analyzes data from various sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.).

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Multiple sensors

Data logging software

Display (LCD or web interface)

Learning Outcome: Learn about data collection, processing, and analysis.

Conclusion

Engaging in these projects not only enhances your practical skills but also reinforces your theoretical knowledge. Whether you aim to develop sustainable technologies, innovate in robotics, or contribute to smart cities, these projects can serve as stepping stones in your journey as an electrical engineer. Choose a project that aligns with your interests, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your professors and peers. Happy engineering!

[nagito-kissmaeda]

tbh wanting your face and voice off the internet is very understandable esp with all the tracking and recognition software out there these days. stay safe <3

Hey thanks for being cool about it, it was a pretty hard decision to make, but i think it's what's best for me right now. I'll keep on writing, but you wont be seeing my face around anymore, except in my terrible art, you will still see terrible drawings of my face.

[gmtasoftware]

AI Video Generator Like Synthesia

How to create it and how much it cost?

The need for customized media is on the rise. People prefer methods of video production that require minimal effort on their part. With the help of Synthesia, an AI-powered video generator, creating unique music videos is a breeze.

Synthesia can generate video content featuring humanoid characters playing music in real-time by employing machine learning algorithms. It’s a fresh approach to making interesting videos. How to Create an AI-Based Video Generator Like Synthesia and how much it costare the Subject of This Article. First, though, let’s define Synthesia.

Synthesia: what is it, and how does it work?

Synthesia is a software program that, using artificial intelligence, can generate videos. Using machine learning (ML) algorithms, Synthesia can instantly generate videos like any other AI software. Synthesia is an AI that creates videos based on your provided information in a script box. Regarding pre-AI video templates, this software’s AI video generator has some of the best options available.

Two simple actions — adding content and selecting a template — are required to make an AI-generated video. It takes what you provide, combines it with the AI video, and outputs a stunning result. Use the Synthesia AI video generator to create an advertisement or any other type of video. Synthesia is only the beginning of your adventure.

Features of Your Synthesia-Style Artificial Intelligence Video Creation Application

Here are some features to think about including in your AI-powered video generator:

· Recognizing images and videos: To generate relevant content, your AI video maker needs to be able to identify various image and video file formats.

· Processing of natural language: To make your AI video maker capable of comprehending and acting upon user text input, you should equip it with natural language processing (NLP) capabilities.

· Voice recognition: To generate videos with suitable voiceovers, your AI video generator should be able to recognize a wide variety of voices, accents, and languages.

· Audio components: Suppose you want your AI video generator to be able to make exciting and interesting videos. In that case, you should give it access to a large music and sound effects library.

· Personalization: Your AI video maker should be able to tailor its output to each user, considering their demographics, interests, and other data.

· Capability to make changes: The generated content from your AI video maker should be editable in terms of length, fonts, colours, and the addition of captions or subtitles.

· Multi-OS compatibility: Your AI video maker must produce content suitable for use on various websites, social media channels, and video hosting services.

· Simple incorporation: Integration with CMSes, MA tools, and social media sites is essential, and your AI video maker shouldn’t make that difficult.

How to Create an AI-Powered Video Maker That Competes with Synthesia

· Realize the Foundations of ML

Building an AI-powered video maker requires a deep familiarity with machine learning algorithms. AI video creators are based on machine learning algorithms. They aid computers in gaining insights from data and enhancing their functionality over time.

· Data Collection and Preprocessing

A significant quantity of data is required to train your machine-learning model — Utilise data related to that if you wish to create music videos, for instance. You can use pre-existing datasets as well as custom-built ones. To have clean and ready-to-train data, preprocessing is essential.

· Construct the Model’s Core Architecture

Your model’s efficiency relies heavily on its structure. Your model’s success relies on selecting an appropriate machine learning algorithm and carefully structuring its underlying data structures. Convolutional, pooling, and fully connected layers are all possible components of an architecture when training with a CNN.

· Model Training

Training the model comes after data collection, preprocessing, and model architecture design. Machine learning model training involves iteratively adjusting parameters to reduce error. This could take hours or days based on dataset size and model complexity.

· Put the Model to the Test

If you want to know how well your model did in practice, you can’t just stop with training. The model’s efficacy measures include accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. If the model doesn’t perform well enough, you should start over at Step 3 and alter its structure.

· Model Deployment

You can deploy your model when it meets your expectations. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure can produce your model. Depending on your needs, local servers or mobile devices can run your model.

What You Need to Know About the Tech Behind Synthesia to Create Your AI-Powered Video Generator

· Frontend Technologies

Use current frontend web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create AI video generator software like Synthesia.

· Backend Technologies

To create an AI-powered video generator, you’ll need server-side scripting from Node.js, a server-side framework like Express.js, and a database like MongoDB.

· Artificial Intelligence Languages

Programming languages for artificial intelligence (AI) development include Python, Lisp, Java, JavaScript, Rust, C++, and R.

· Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud integration requires AWS, Azure, or GCP. Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) lets you host your web-based AI video generator software, store user data in S3, and distribute files with CloudFront.

· Video Engineering Tools

AI video generator software development requires both Web RTC for real-time communication and video conferencing and FFmpeg, an open-source video editing software for processing and editing videos.

To create an AI video generator similar to Synthesia, how much would it cost?

It can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 or more to create an artificial intelligence video generator like Synthesia. The development of the AI algorithms alone contributes significantly to the overall price tag. The development of basic software for an AI video generator will cost at least $6,000 to $8,000, as it relies heavily on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Software development costs for sophisticated AI video generators can easily exceed $80,000.

These are, of course, just estimates, and the true development cost depends on several factors. A few examples of things that can drive up the price of creating AI-powered video generation software are:

· ML Video Maker Genre

· Customization Degree

· Productivity Quality

· Complexity of Datasets and Their Size

· Expenditures for Both Production and Upkeep

· Cost of Licences

These are the main drivers of the high price tag associated with creating an AI-powered video maker. A reliable development firm, however, can help you cut costs and save time.

AI has great potential, so many companies use it to boost profits. Furthermore, now is the time to grow your business into artificial intelligence by creating AI Video generator software like Synthesia.

The total price tag for developing an artificial intelligence video generator like Synthesia can fluctuate widely depending on several factors, such as the sophistication of the AI model, the features and functionalities sought after, the size and cost of the development team, and the need for ongoing server maintenance and upkeep. A ballpark figure for this kind of undertaking could be anywhere from hundreds to millions.

[himanshu123]

Native Mobile Development in 2025: Everything You Need to Know 

Native app development has come a long way since its inception. With the world becoming more digitally dependent and mobile-first, native apps have become an essential part of businesses, serving both functional and experiential needs. If you're planning to build a native app for your business in 2025, it's crucial to stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. In this guide, we will explore the process of native app development, focusing specifically on native iPhone app development, the emerging trends, and the tools that are making this journey smoother. 

What is Native App Development? 

Native app development refers to the process of building an application specifically for a particular operating system (OS) and device. For instance, a native iPhone app development involves building applications that are designed to run on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. These apps are built using platform-specific programming languages such as Swift and Objective-C for iOS. Unlike web apps or hybrid apps, native apps can fully utilize the device's hardware and software capabilities, offering better performance, enhanced user experience, and access to a wide range of system features. 

In the context of iOS, native apps run directly on the Apple devices without any intermediary. This allows them to offer a smoother, faster, and more responsive experience compared to other types of apps. With Apple continuing to evolve its mobile OS with regular updates and new features, developing a native iPhone app ensures your application remains cutting-edge. 

Key Trends in Native App Development for 2025 

As we approach 2025, native app development is witnessing significant changes. Developers and businesses must stay on top of these trends to build applications that are both innovative and future-proof. Here are some of the trends that will shape the future of native app development: 

AI and Machine Learning Integration  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are no longer buzzwords; they’re essential tools that enhance app functionalities. In 2025, we will see native apps incorporate more advanced AI capabilities to improve user personalization, automate repetitive tasks, and provide real-time insights. From voice recognition in iOS apps to predictive text and image recognition, the possibilities are endless.   

5G and Improved Connectivity  The rollout of 5G technology will revolutionize how native apps interact with cloud services and other connected devices. Apps will be able to handle larger amounts of data and provide faster, more reliable connectivity, enabling better real-time functionality and multimedia experiences. Native apps optimized for 5G will be able to perform faster and more efficiently. 

Wearable and IoT Integration  With the rise of wearables like the Apple Watch and the increasing prevalence of the Internet of Things (IoT), developers are focusing on creating apps that integrate seamlessly with these devices. Native apps will be able to sync data between iPhones, wearables, and smart home devices to provide a unified experience that can monitor health, control smart home devices, or even make real-time decisions based on sensor data. 

Enhanced Security Features  With an increasing focus on user privacy and data security, native apps in 2025 will incorporate enhanced security features such as biometric authentication, end-to-end encryption, and more granular control over app permissions. Apple’s continued push for privacy, through features like App Tracking Transparency, will influence how apps handle user data, making security a critical focus for developers. 

Why Choose Native App Development? 

The debate between native apps and other types of apps, like hybrid or cross-platform, often comes down to performance and user experience. Native apps are built for a specific platform, offering a tailored experience that’s hard to match. The iPhone’s iOS is a highly optimized system, and native iPhone app development ensures your app works seamlessly with iOS’s core functionalities. By leveraging platform-specific APIs and SDKs, developers can create apps that are faster, more stable, and provide better integration with the device’s hardware. 

Moreover, since native apps are optimized for performance, they are the preferred choice for applications that require high performance, such as gaming, financial apps, or apps that handle complex data. They also provide offline access, something that hybrid apps or web apps often struggle with. 

Mobile App Cost Calculator: Plan Your Budget Effectively 

Building a native app, especially for iPhone, can be a significant investment. Factors such as the complexity of the app, the number of features, and the development team’s expertise can all influence the final cost. To plan your budget effectively, using a mobile app cost calculator can be incredibly helpful. This tool allows you to estimate how much it will cost to develop your app based on different parameters like app type, features, and platforms. It can also help you compare the costs between native app development and other options, so you can make an informed decision. 

If you're interested in exploring the benefits of Ios app development services for your business, we encourage you to book an appointment with our team of experts.  Book an Appointment     The Future of iOS App Development 

Looking ahead to 2025, iOS app development is expected to continue evolving with even more advanced tools and frameworks provided by Apple. SwiftUI, Apple’s declarative UI framework, is already becoming a game-changer for developers, making it easier to design beautiful, responsive UIs across all Apple devices. With the continuous enhancements in hardware and software from Apple, native iPhone apps will have even more powerful capabilities to leverage. 

Additionally, app stores will become more refined, with a stronger emphasis on app discoverability, performance metrics, and user ratings. This makes it crucial for developers to not only focus on the technical side but also on providing a superior user experience. 

In conclusion, native app development in 2025 is poised to be more dynamic, faster, and richer than ever before. Whether you are focusing on native iPhone app development or expanding into other platforms, the trends and technologies emerging will allow you to create groundbreaking apps that captivate users. Staying updated with the latest tools and best practices will be essential to ensuring the success of your app. By following these trends and leveraging advanced technologies, you can build an app that stands the test of time in a rapidly changing digital landscape. 

[webpinosoftware]

Future of AI in App Development

Welcome to WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company! As a forward-thinking technology partner, we believe innovation is the key to sustainable business growth. From custom websites to powerful software and strategic digital marketing, our team is committed to helping clients thrive in a competitive landscape.

One of the most important trends transforming our industry is Artificial Intelligence (AI). The future of AI in app development promises revolutionary changes, delivering smarter, more engaging, and highly efficient applications for users and businesses alike.

In this post, WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company explains what AI means for app development, the key trends to watch, and how you can leverage these innovations to gain a competitive edge.

🌟 What is AI in App Development?

AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence — like understanding natural language, recognizing images, making predictions, and learning from data.

For app development, AI doesn’t just mean a feature or tool — it’s a fundamental shift in how apps are designed, built, and delivered.

At WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company, we see AI as the key to delivering highly personalized, intuitive, and efficient user experiences that truly set your business apart.

💡 Key AI Trends in App Development

As the Best IT Company in Jaipur, WebPino continuously tracks the latest AI trends that are shaping the future of app development:

1️⃣ Hyper-Personalization AI enables apps to analyze user behavior and preferences, delivering customized content, product recommendations, and adaptive interfaces that boost engagement and retention.

2️⃣ Advanced Chatbots and Virtual Assistants AI-powered chatbots are revolutionizing customer service with 24/7 support, instant responses, and the ability to handle complex queries. At WebPino, we develop intelligent chatbot solutions tailored to our clients’ needs.

3️⃣ Predictive Analytics AI can forecast user behavior, sales trends, and app usage patterns. This helps businesses make data-driven decisions, improve retention, and plan marketing campaigns effectively.

4️⃣ Voice and Image Recognition AI enables seamless voice commands, facial logins, and image searches — making apps more user-friendly, secure, and accessible.

5️⃣ Automated Testing and Quality Assurance AI-powered testing tools accelerate the development process, catching bugs and performance issues faster while reducing costs.

6️⃣ Smart Search and Recommendations AI improves in-app search functionality, delivering relevant results and personalized recommendations that keep users engaged.

🚀 Why AI is Crucial for App Development

At WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company, we believe AI is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Here’s why: ✅ Enhanced User Experience — Make your app smarter, faster, and more intuitive. ✅ Increased Engagement — Personalization keeps users coming back. ✅ Cost Reduction — Automating tasks reduces the need for human intervention. ✅ Competitive Advantage — Stand out in a crowded market. ✅ Actionable Insights — Gain a deeper understanding of your users.

🔍 How to Integrate AI Into Your App

As a leading Software Development Company in Jaipur, WebPino helps businesses adopt AI with a structured, strategic approach:

✅ Define Clear Goals Identify what you want to achieve with AI — better customer support, higher sales, stronger engagement.

✅ Start with Proven Use Cases Begin with features like chatbots or personalized recommendations to deliver measurable ROI quickly.

✅ Leverage Established AI Platforms Use tools from Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or IBM Watson to integrate AI features cost-effectively.

✅ Develop Custom AI Solutions For businesses with unique needs, WebPino builds custom AI models tailored to their goals.

✅ Ensure Data Quality and Privacy AI thrives on data — ensure you collect, store, and use it responsibly, prioritizing user privacy.

🌐 Why Choose WebPino for AI-Enabled Development?

WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company isn’t just a developer. We’re your growth partner.

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✅ Real-World AI Use Cases

⭐ E-commerce — Personalized recommendations, smart search, dynamic pricing. ⭐ Healthcare — AI diagnostics, appointment scheduling. ⭐ Finance — Fraud detection, customer service bots. ⭐ Education — Adaptive learning systems. ⭐ Travel — Voice search, smart itinerary planning.

📈 The Future of AI in App Development

AI will redefine how we build and use apps. Instead of static, one-size-fits-all experiences, apps will become dynamic, context-aware, and highly personalized.

Businesses that adopt AI now will lead tomorrow — delivering better customer experiences, reducing costs, and staying ahead of the competition.

At WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company, we’re committed to helping you navigate this transformation with expert strategy, design, and development.

📌 Ready to Build the Future?

AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Don’t get left behind.

👉 Contact WebPino — Top Website | Software Development Company today for a free consultation. Let’s build intelligent, AI-powered apps that deliver real results for your business.

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