#Data recovery procedures

[ourjobagency]

5 Easy Ways To Improve Salesforce Data Backup Recovery Strategy

In today's data-driven world, businesses rely heavily on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce to manage their customer information, track sales, and drive growth. However, even the most robust platforms are not immune to data loss or system failures. That's why having a solid Salesforce data backup and recovery strategy is crucial for ensuring business continuity. In this blog post, we'll explore five easy ways to enhance your Salesforce data backup and recovery strategy.

Regularly Scheduled Backups:

The foundation of any effective data recovery strategy is regular data backups. Salesforce provides a built-in data export tool that allows you to export data in a structured format, such as CSV or Excel. Set up a routine schedule for these exports to ensure that your data is backed up consistently. Depending on your organization's needs, you may choose to perform daily, weekly, or monthly backups.

Automate Your Backups:

Manually exporting data can be time-consuming and prone to errors. To streamline the process, consider automating your Salesforce data backups using third-party backup solutions. These tools can schedule and execute backups automatically, ensuring that your data is consistently and reliably backed up without manual intervention.

Store Backups Securely:

Backing up your Salesforce data is only half the battle. Equally important is where you store those backups. Utilize secure and redundant storage solutions, such as cloud storage platforms like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage. Implement encryption and access controls to safeguard your backups from unauthorized access.

Test Your Recovery Process:

Having backups is essential, but they're only as good as your ability to recover data from them. Regularly test your data recovery process to ensure that it works as expected. Document the steps, and make sure that your team is familiar with the recovery procedures. Conducting mock recovery drills can help identify and address any potential issues before they become critical.

Monitor and Alerting:

Proactive monitoring is key to identifying data backup and recovery issues early. Implement monitoring and alerting systems that notify you of any backup failures or anomalies. This way, you can take immediate action to rectify issues and minimize data loss in case of a failure.

Consider Salesforce Data Archiving:

As your Salesforce database grows, it can become challenging to manage large volumes of data efficiently. Salesforce offers data archiving solutions that allow you to move older or less frequently accessed data to a separate storage location. This can help reduce storage costs and improve system performance, making your data recovery strategy more manageable.

In conclusion, enhancing your Salesforce data backup and recovery strategy doesn't have to be complicated. By implementing these five easy steps, you can significantly improve your organization's ability to recover critical data in the event of data loss or system failures. Remember that data is the lifeblood of your business, and a robust backup and recovery strategy is your insurance policy against unforeseen disasters.

[huxhsz]

✈ — weightless paradise

transmigrated non-mc!reader x caleb

prev ch: 03 - regeneration┆series masterlist ┆next ch: 05 - countdown

This isn’t how the game was supposed to go. You're not supposed to be here. You're an anomaly. But if you’re already here, then… can’t you just enjoy it for now? Just for a little while? Before the main story begins? Before everything inevitably falls into place? ...Right?

— content warning/s:

medical trauma

physical violence and injury

psychological trauma

non-consensual medical procedures

depersonalization and loss of agency

emotional dependency

mental health themes

hopelessness and suicidal ideation

cross-posted on ao3! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

CH. 04 — HELPLESSNESS

You don’t fight anymore.

You used to. You think you did. Maybe. It’s hard to remember.

At first, you’d flinch when the guards came. Struggle when they pulled you from your room. Beg when the restraints clicked into place. The words would tumble out—“Please stop, please don’t, please it hurts, please”—and you really thought, at some point, that maybe someone would care.

But no one did.

They never stopped.

And now… now you don’t bother.

When they come for you, you don’t resist. You don’t scream when they strap you down. You don’t ask why, because you already know the answer.

Research.

Data.

For the sake of progress.

It doesn’t matter how much it hurts. It doesn’t matter how much you hate it. It doesn’t matter what you say or do or feel because they’re going to do it anyway.

So you don’t waste the energy anymore.

You lie still as they strap you down, eyes fixed on the cold metal ceiling. You don’t wince when they draw the blade across your arm. You don’t scream when the bone fractures beneath the pressure of the vice. You barely blink when the pain flares bright and sharp across your nerves.

You know it’ll heal.

You know you’ll survive.

You know they’ll just do it again.

So what’s the point?

The scientists take notes. Talk over you like you’re not there. They discuss your recovery rate, your pain threshold, the adaptability of your cells. Sometimes you catch bits of it—faster than Subject 002, lower resistance than Subject 001.

Caleb heals too slowly. Unicorn breaks too easily.

You’re somewhere in between.

How lucky for them.

“Take her back to her room,” one of the scientists says eventually.

The restraints snap open. Someone hauls you upright. Your legs don’t want to work at first—numb, shaky—but you don’t resist as they drag you down the hall.

They open the door. Toss you inside.

You hit the floor hard, knees scraping against the cold tile. The door hisses shut behind you.

You stay there for a moment, cheek pressed to the ground. Your breath rasps in and out of your throat. Your arm still throbs faintly where they cut you, but the skin is already smooth again. Healed. Good as new.

A shadow falls over you.

“You’re back.”

Caleb’s voice is low and steady.

You don’t move.

The sound of footsteps, the faint creak of his knees as he lowers himself beside you. Warm hands catch your arms, pulling you upright. You don’t help him, but you don’t fight either.

He sits on the floor with you, back against the wall. His arms curl around you, drawing you close.

“You’re shaking,” he murmurs.

You hadn’t noticed.

You curl into him instinctively, burying your face against his chest. His jacket smells like smoke and metal and the faint bite of oil. His hand runs slowly through your hair.

“They…” Your voice barely comes out. “They cut me open again.”

“I know,” Caleb says. His voice is low and dark.

“I didn’t stop them.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t even try.”

Caleb’s hand tightens slightly against your hair. “It’s not your fault.”

“I didn’t fight,” you whisper.

“It’s not your fault,” he repeats. His hand cups the back of your head, steady and warm. “It’s not weakness to stop struggling when there’s no point.”

It feels like weakness.

“I think…” Your throat tightens. “I think they could kill me, and I wouldn’t even care.”

He tenses beneath you.

“They won’t,” he says. His voice is sharp now, brittle beneath the surface. “I won’t let them.”

“But you can’t stop them.”

His arms tighten around you. His heart pounds hard beneath your ear.

“I’ll find a way,” he murmurs. “I swear it.”

You’re not sure if you believe him.

But you don’t say that.

You just close your eyes, listening to the steady thud of his heart beneath your cheek. His warmth seeps into you, dulling the sharp edges of the day’s pain.

Eventually, your shaking stops.

Eventually, the pain fades.

But you know tomorrow it’ll happen again.

And the next day.

And the next.

And you’re not sure how long you can keep surviving that.

You don’t know how long you sit there.

Caleb’s arms are still wrapped around you, his breath steady against the crown of your head. The floor is cold beneath you both, but his body is warm. Strong. He always feels steady, even when the rest of the world is falling apart.

His hand moves slowly through your hair, fingers brushing your scalp in soft, rhythmic motions. It’s grounding. It makes you feel… not better, exactly. But less broken. Less like you’re going to disappear entirely.

“You should sleep,” he says eventually.

You don’t want to. Sleep means waking up again. Sleep means facing it all tomorrow.

“I’m not tired,” you murmur.

“You’re lying.”

You don’t deny it.

You feel his chin press against the top of your head. “Just rest for a little while. I’ll stay here.”

You know he will. He always does.

But even so…

“I can’t,” you whisper. “I’ll see it again.”

Caleb doesn’t ask what you mean. He already knows.

The past, the future, the shifting possibilities—they blur together sometimes when you close your eyes. Flashes of things that haven’t happened yet. Glimpses of things that have already passed. It’s not always clear which is which. And you can’t stop it.

You see the needles.

The knives.

The blood.

You see Caleb’s face twisted in pain.

You see Unicorn’s eyes wide and empty and blank—

Your breath hitches. Your fingers curl into his jacket.

“I don’t want to see it,” you whisper.

Caleb’s arms tighten around you. His breath is steady against your hair. “You won’t,” he murmurs. “Not tonight.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

You lift your head slightly, pressing your cheek to his collarbone. The fabric of his jacket is worn beneath your fingertips. “How?”

He’s quiet for a moment. His hand moves to your back, fingers trailing over the ridge of your spine.

“Because I’ll stop them,” he says simply. “If they come for you, I’ll stop them.”

You shake your head. “You can’t.”

“Maybe not now.” His voice is low, dark beneath the softness. “But one day.”

You pull back just enough to see his face. His gaze is sharp beneath the fringe of his dark hair. Those violet eyes—cool and steady—meet yours without hesitation.

He really believes it.

That’s the terrifying part.

“You…”

“I’m serious,” he says quietly.

You sit back. His arms loosen around you, but he doesn’t let go entirely. Your hand drifts down, curling over his wrist. His skin is cold. His pulse beneath your fingers is steady.

“How?” you ask.

He doesn’t answer right away. His eyes darken.

“I just know,” he says eventually.

That’s not an answer. But it’s enough for him.

“What…” You hesitate. “What if you can’t?”

“I will.” His voice is so certain.

“How can you be so sure?”

He leans forward slightly, gaze sharpening. “Because I have to.”

You swallow. His expression doesn’t change.

“Even if you have to hurt someone?” you whisper.

“If it keeps you safe.” His answer comes too quickly. No hesitation.

You stare at him. His face is still calm, but his eyes—those deep purple eyes—are burning.

You remember how he looked in the lab. When the scientists strapped him down. When the machines began to hum. You remember the sound of his breathing, thin and shallow. The way his jaw clenched as the voltage climbed higher. He hadn’t screamed.

But his eyes—those burning violet eyes—had found yours across the room.

You wonder if that’s how he held on. If you were the reason.

Or maybe… Maybe he’s just telling you that so you’ll stop shaking.

“I…” You hesitate, your thumb brushing over his wrist. “What if… What if we can’t get out?”

His expression hardens. “We will.”

“And if we don’t?”

He leans in. His forehead presses lightly to yours. His hand settles on the side of your face, thumb brushing the hollow of your cheek. His breath warms your skin.

“We will.” His voice is steady. Calm. Like it’s already a fact. “I promise.”

You don’t know if he can keep that promise.

But you want to believe him anyway.

Your breath shudders out. You close your eyes. His hand stays on your cheek, grounding you.

You don’t believe in much anymore.

But maybe… maybe you can believe in this.

Maybe you can believe in him.

“Okay,” you whisper.

His thumb brushes over your cheekbone. His hand stays at your back as you lean into him, your body relaxing by degrees. His warmth soaks into you, soft and steady.

“You should sleep,” he says softly.

This time, you don’t argue.

You let your eyes close.

You feel his hand settle at the nape of your neck. His breath is steady against your temple. His warmth shields you from the cold.

And for the first time in a long time…

…You sleep without seeing the future.

[coolpointsetta]

iwaizumi hajime (47) athletic trainer who publishes award winning research, becoming a pioneer in his field. he goes to conferences and presents said research for thousands of people. there are techniques named after him, he gets to write a textbook. his work is included in dozens of textbooks. he is invited for guest lectures at colleges and universities in nearly every country; including, but not limited to, his alma mater in california.

the topic of said research? knee recovery in athletes and recognizing the signs of the particular injuries before they start, stopping the injuries before they even happen. the goal of said research? to maximize an athlete’s performance and lengthen their career and limit muscle fatigue and surgeries even after they retire.

he is asked many questions about his research, but the one posed most often is why. why would he chose this topic.

“it is simple,” he always says. “i want to help others. this felt like the best way to do it.”

others, he says; he means it of course. he wants to help others and he has, he has helped thousands of athletes across the world. but to those who know him, they know it all ties back to one person.

in all of his published works, oikawa’s data is present. his x-rays and scans and initial prognosis, his routines and procedures and how the exercises made him feel. all of it compared to iwaizumi’s newly developed research and routines. oikawa’s name is omitted for privacy, but everyone knows it.

obviously, iwaizumi needed to gather data from hundreds of participants, but the same images and scans and quotes are all pulled from the same person.

iwaizumi loves his husband to the point of rewriting the story that oikawa would never make it as a professional athlete. watching tooru never give in to the critics was the whole he reason he chose this field in the first place, after all. hajime healed his injury with his own two hands and stood beside him every step of the way. iwaizumi loves him to the point of creation.

because all of it, after all this time, was for oikawa.

[despazito]

I'm really excited by some aspects of colossal biosciences' research being used for conservation work with living species. I've long fantasized about the possibility of engineering more genetic diversity in species like the cheetah and kakapo that have recently had genetic bottlenecks which impact their health and fertility. However I've already heard mutterings on the idea and I'm nervous that dog breeders will try to use this technology to genetically rehabilitate breeds, which would be the science equivalent of using a flamethrower to light a candle.

Dog breeders already have just about all the genetic resources they need to resolve many heritable diseases if they were just more open to following the published data and using outcrossing schemes. Conservationists of critically endangered species would kill to have anything near the options that preservation breeders of compromised dog breeds have but choose not to take advantage of. That's not always the case and I commend clubs such as the Lundehund for their recovery projects, I'm not even flatly against the idea of using CRISPR to solve a complex health issue that better breeding can't solve (like if we magically found genetic material we could insert that grants immunity to rabies, maybe we can discuss the ethics of implementing that) but I have concerns that gene editing may be used as a crutch by folks with too much money instead of reflecting on flawed breeding practices. Not to mention how many donor and surrogate animals must be subjected to invasive procedures when genetically tweaking embryos.

[cringywhitedragon]

Heads up folks, NicoNicoDouga is currently down due to a large scale cyberattack

The attack happened on the 8th and the site is still down in terms of video streaming. Apparently there were reports of Ransomware being used during the attack.

The site is still “down” but the blog part is back up but from the report, videos and content posted are ok so do not fret. The site is still down as of this post (save for the blog) and it seems they are working their hardest to fix it and do damage control.

Here is a rough translation of their most recent post:

Report and apology regarding cyberattack on our services

As announced in Niconico Info dated June 8th, 2024, Dwango Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takeshi Natsuno) has been unable to use the entire Niconico service operated by our company since the early morning of June 8th. It has been confirmed that this outage was caused by a large-scale cyberattack, including ransomware, and we are currently temporarily suspending use of the service and conducting an investigation and response to fully grasp the extent of the damage and restore it.

After confirming the cyberattack, we immediately took emergency measures such as shutting down the relevant servers, and have set up a task force to fully clarify the damage, determine the cause, and restore the system. We would like to report the findings of the investigation to date and future responses as follows.

We sincerely apologize to our users and related parties for the great inconvenience and concern caused.

Response history>

Around 3:30 a.m. on June 8, a malfunction occurred that prevented all of our web services, including our "Nico Nico" and "N Preparatory School" services, from working properly. After an investigation, it was confirmed that the malfunction was caused by a cyber attack, including ransomware, at around 8 a.m. on the same day. A task force was set up on the same day, and in order to prevent the damage from spreading, we immediately cut off communication between servers in the data center provided by our group companies and shut down the servers, temporarily suspending the provision of our web services. In addition, since it was discovered that the attack had also extended to our internal network, we suspended the use of some of our internal business systems and prohibited access to the internal network.

As of June 14, we are currently investigating the extent of the damage and formulating recovery procedures, aiming for a gradual recovery.

June 8, 2024

We have begun an investigation into the malfunction that prevented all of our "Nico Nico" services from working properly and the failure of some of our internal systems.

We have confirmed that the cause of the failure was encryption by ransomware. "Nico Nico" services in general and some internal business systems suspended and servers were shut down

A task force was established

First report "Regarding the situation in which Nico Nico services are unavailable" was announced

June 9, 2024

Contacted the police and consulted with external specialist agencies

Kabukiza office was closed

KADOKAWA announced "Regarding the occurrence of failures on multiple KADOKAWA Group websites"

June 10, 2024

Reported to the Personal Information Protection Commission (first report)

Second report "Regarding the situation in which Nico Nico services are unavailable" was announced

June 12, 2024

Reported the occurrence of the failure to the Kanto Regional Financial Bureau (Financial Services Agency)

June 14, 2024

This announcement

This cyber attack by a third party was repeated even after it was discovered, and even after a server in the private cloud was shut down remotely, the third party was observed to be remotely starting the server and spreading the infection. Therefore, the power cables and communication cables of the servers were physically disconnected and blocked. As a result, all servers installed in the data centers provided by the group companies became unusable. In addition, to prevent further spread of infection, our employees are prohibited from coming to the Kabukiza office in principle, and our internal network and internal business systems have also been shut down.

In addition to public cloud services, Niconico uses private cloud services built in data centers provided by KADOKAWA Group companies, to which our company belongs. One of these, a data center of a group company, was hit by a cyber attack, including ransomware, and a significant number of virtual machines were encrypted and became unavailable. As a result, the systems of all of our web services, including Niconico, were shut down.

This cyber attack by a third party was repeated even after it was discovered, and even after a server in the private cloud was shut down remotely, the third party was observed to be remotely starting the server and spreading the infection. Therefore, the power cables and communication cables of the servers were physically disconnected and blocked. As a result, all servers installed in the data centers provided by the group companies became unusable. In addition, to prevent further spread of infection, our employees are prohibited from coming to the Kabukiza office in principle, and our internal network and internal business systems have also been shut down.

The Niconico Video system, posted video data, and video distribution system were operated on the public cloud, so they were not affected. Niconico Live Broadcasting did not suffer any damage as the system itself was run on a public cloud, but the system that controls Niconico Live Broadcasting's video distribution is run on a private cloud of a group company, so it is possible that past time-shifted footage, etc. may not be available. We are also gradually checking the status of systems other than Niconico Douga and Niconico Live Broadcasting.

■ Services currently suspended

Niconico Family services such as Niconico Video, Niconico Live Broadcast, and Niconico Channel

Niconico account login on external services

Music monetization services

Dwango Ticket

Some functions of Dwango JP Store

N Preparatory School *Restored for students of N High School and S High School

Sending gifts for various projects

■ About Niconico-related programs

Until the end of July, official Niconico live broadcasts and channel live broadcasts using Niconico Live Broadcast and Niconico Channel will be suspended.

Considering that program production requires a preparation period and that Niconico Live Broadcast and Niconico Channel are monthly subscription services, we have decided to suspend live broadcasts on Niconico Live Broadcast until the end of July. Depending on the program, the broadcast may be postponed or broadcast on other services.

The date of resumption of Niconico services, including Niconico Live Broadcast and Niconico Channel, is currently undecided.

Niconico Channel Plus allows viewing of free content without logging in. Paid content viewing and commenting are not available.

■ About the new version "Nico Nico Douga (Re: Kari)" (read: nikoniko douga rikari)

While "Nico Nico" is suspended, as the first step, we will release a new version of "Nico Nico Douga (Re: Kari)" at 3:00 p.m. on June 14, 2024. Our development team voluntarily created this site in just three days, and it is a video community site with only basic functions such as video viewing and commenting, just like the early days of Niconico (2006). In consideration of the load on the service, only a selected portion of the videos posted on Niconico Video is available for viewing. The lineup is mainly popular videos from 2007, and you can watch them for free without an account.

■About the Niconico Manga app

We have already confirmed that many systems were not affected, and we are considering resuming the service with a reduced-function version that allows basic functions such as reading manga, commenting, and adding to favorites. We aim to restore the service by June 2024.

If any new facts become known in the future, we will report them on Niconico Info, Official X, our company website, etc. as they become available. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Added 6/10]

Thank you for your continued patronage. This is the Niconico management team.

Due to the effects of a large-scale cyber attack, Niconico has been unavailable since the early morning of June 8th.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

As of 6:00 p.m. on June 10th, we are working to rebuild the entire Niconico system without being affected by the cyber attack, in parallel with an investigation to grasp the full extent of the damage.

We have received many inquiries from you, such as "Will premium membership fees and paid channel membership fees be charged during the service suspension period?" and "What will happen to the time shift deadline for live broadcasts?". We are currently in the process of investigating the impact, so we cannot answer your questions, but we will respond sincerely, so please wait for further information.

Our executive officer Shigetaka Kurita and CTO Keiichi Suzuki are scheduled to explain the expected time until recovery and the information learned from the investigation up to that point this week.

We will inform you again about this as soon as we are ready.

■ Services currently suspended

Niconico Family Services such as Niconico Video, Niconico Live Broadcast, Niconico Channel, etc.

Niconico Account Login on External Services

[Added 2024/06/10 18:00]

Gifts for various projects (due to the suspension of related systems)

■ Programs scheduled to be canceled/postponed (as of June 10)

Programs from June 10 to June 16

■ Current situation

In parallel with the recovery work, we are investigating the route of the attack and the possibility of information leakage.

No credit card information has been leaked (Niconico does not store credit card information on its own servers).

The official program "Monthly Niconico Info" scheduled for June 11 at 20:00 will be broadcast on YouTube and X at a reduced scale. During this program, we will verbally explain the current situation in an easy-to-understand manner. (※There is no prospect of providing additional information, such as detailed recovery dates, during this program.)

"Monthly Niconico Info" can be viewed at the following URL. YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@niconico_news X (formerly Twitter) → https://x.com/nico_nico_info

The latest information will be posted on Niconico Info and the official X (formerly Twitter).

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to users and content providers who regularly enjoy our videos and live broadcasts. We ask for your understanding and cooperation until the issue is resolved.

Published on 6/8]

Thank you for your continued patronage. This is the Niconico management team.

Currently, Niconico is under a large-scale cyber attack, and in order to minimize the impact, we have temporarily suspended our services.

We are accelerating our investigation and taking measures, but we cannot begin recovery until we are confident that we have completely eliminated the effects of the cyber attack and our safety has been confirmed. We do not expect to be able to restore services at least this weekend.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

We will inform you of the latest situation again on Monday (June 10, 2024).

■ Suspended services

Niconico family services such as Niconico Video, Niconico Live Broadcast, and Niconico Channel

Niconico account login on external services

■ Current situation

In parallel with the recovery work, we are investigating the route of the attack and the possibility of information leakage.

No credit card information has been confirmed to have been leaked (Niconico does not store credit card information on its own servers).

Future information will be announced on Niconico Info and Official X (formerly Twitter) as it becomes available.

We deeply apologize to all users who were looking forward to the video posts and live broadcasts scheduled for this weekend. We ask for your understanding and cooperation until the response is complete.

[rust-bearer]

The prisoner screamed in their cell, as First Aid watched through the window. Their servo, previously their pride of trade, had been cut off right where the nerve endings started; it looked fairly painful, and judging by the screaming, it was.

First Aid made a note of it, typing on his keypad.

“Hey doc. Fancy seeing you here,” Vortex purred from First Aid’s left, standing obtrusively in the doorway. First Aid spared him a glance, then return to the prisoner.

“Standard response of sudden amputation. Patient underwent a below-the-wrist amputation following extensive ischemic damage and necrosis of the servo due to unintended infection…” First Aid looked up again at the ‘prisoner’, before returning to his notes, continuing to speak aloud as he typed. “Preoperative imaging revealed critical tissue loss, with no viable circulation distal to the wrist. Procedure was uncomplicated and patient is expected to make a full recovery.”

Vortex made an interested noise, deciding to lean into First Aid’s personal space. “Sounds like you had some fun without me.”

First Aid set the tablet down with a small noise of dissatisfaction. Then, he spoke into a microphone, directed to the diminutive medical drones, currently puttering around the operating room. “Physician consent obtained for patient termination.”

As one, the drones all jolted to life. The prisoner strapped to the operating table barely had time to scream before the drones began to gouge him apart. First Aid shook his head, and made yet another mental note to recalibrate the drones. Always so messy. Never enough time to fix it, though. Especially not with…

Well, Vortex. Vortex, who was currently staring in disbelief. “Yknow, I was joking when I said you should lighten up. Isn’t this a little extreme? I mean, Primus, Aid, aren’t you supposed to be a medic-”

“What is it you want, Vortex?” First Aid sighed. He shouldn’t be even indulging this. “I wouldn’t have to kill so many patients if you left me alone.”

“Me? What did I do!” Vortex looks wounded, and maybe it’s an act. “You’re the one who chopped off his wrist, then, well… the rest of him too. Say, doesn’t he look a lot like your old coworker?” Vortex flashes a deep grin, unobstructed by any mask.

First Aid ignores him. Looks back to his notes. “Attending physician visual disturbance noted. Accompanied by auditory disturbances as well. Patient log closed for the day.”

“Hallucination?” Vortex makes to snatch away the data pad, but his clawed servo goes through it. “Wh- hey! First Aid, what did you-”

“You’re DEAD, Vortex!” First Aid finally snaps. “We have this conversation every other day! You’re- not real, and I shouldn’t even be talking to you…” Inhale, exhale. “I’ve been awake too long. This always happens, and I keep telling myself not to let it happen, and it always happens…”

Muttering to himself, First Aid stands up and leaves the room. Vortex, or what thinks it’s Vortex, stands over the data pad. Watches the text scroll automatically until it reaches today’s date.

Fifty thousand years after the end of the War. After Vortex’s last, hazy memory of… something, and then nothing at all. The room dims; the room goes black.

Nothing but a pair of red optics, staring out of the dark.

[stars-obsession-pit]

Danny Phantom AU where Jack and Maddie find out about Danny’s ghost powers basically immediately after the accident.

And they’re fully supportive, of course! He’s their son!

But also… think of all the data! They’ve never seen anything like this before, and it opens up entirely new opportunities for research! It could upend whole swaths of the current understanding of ectobiology!

So they rope Danny into being their lab assistant / test subject. But like, following more standard medical procedure stuff. Medical scans, blood tests, and so on. There could maybe be some exploratory surgery but it’d involve like, using anesthetic, trying to minimize harm, and supporting his recovery.

They’re still definitely not perfect at lab safety, but they’re not gonna do anything to intentionally harm or endanger their son.

[dino-my-knee]

very unserious post but if this show came out now there would be an episode where the patient is asking chat gpt about their symptoms and what the doctors should be doing throughout their stay at the hospital. the ducklings almost quit about 5 times while trying to treat them. House gets banned from entering the patient's room because he's way too eager to demonstrate that the procedure the ai is suggesting will quite literally set the patient on fire. IT changes the hospital's wifi password but the patient has a great mobile data plan. security has to be called at least twice. everyone is losing their mind. in the end patient inevitably thinks their recovery was thanks to the ai. Wilson has to stop House from putting laxatives into the patient's food. roll the credits

[holly-fixation]

Imagine CC Sephiroth finding a CCTV footage of something related to his early developement where in the background he can see a woman (Jenova, from his photo) and can faintly hear her screaming at Hojo "let me hold him" and "you can't take my son away from me"

Snooping around the data room was bound to cut through the web of Hojo's lies and half truths eventually, which is exactly why he kept going back. Occasionally, he found old tapes and took them to his apartment for further inspection, hiding each one under his long uniform coat and returning them before anyone noticed.

At first he doesn't believe what he's seeing.

It was his recovery from his first mako procedure, long before he could speak or crawl or remember. He was in a pod not much larger than he was, an egg of glass protecting him and regulating the oxygen levels as necessary.

The baby in the incubator shivered, scratching at the wires in its skin in an attempt to break free. Each wire was anchored with metal shackles, presumably one of the only things it couldn't break, probably also reused from the many dogs Hojo bred for the President's son. The first five minutes only showed his cold and discomfort as he struggled to heal.

But he recognized the woman in the observation glass. He heard her muffled cries and chose to ignore them until her face entered the frame. A face he held close to his chest for as long as he could.

It was her. It was Jenova, her brown hair in the exact same ponytail as her photo. Her pleas no longer drowned in his ears.

"Let me hold him!"

Then Hojo entered the screen as well, though his face was cut off Sephiroth knew every mannerism of that wicked man like the back of his hand. Every step, every gesture, every shift of dark glasses.

"Just once! Please!"

His heart ached. He felt his hand move to his chest, to where her photo used to remain.

"Absolutely not. Your presence at this stage will damage him beyond repair. I will not allow you to ruin this with your meddling."

"Hojo, please!"

He did not budge. "I allowed you this far. You may look at him through that window before security escorts you out."

"You can't take my son away from me!"

"This is my laboratory, and I will do as I please. You have seven seconds."

She surrendered, placing her hands against the glass, turning away from the scientist with tears down her cheeks. "Sephiroth!"

His breath hitched. His name. Her voice. Her undeniable care.

"Sephiroth, my son, know your mother loves you! I love you so much and I would break you free if I was strong enough! I love you, my son! I would do anything to be by your side!"

The helmeted officers came and pulled her arms back.

"Sephiroth! SEPHIROTH!"

A door opened and closed, and the recording continued as if nothing happened.

Sephiroth ejected the tape before taking his weapon and rushing to the labs, the evidence again hidden under his coat until he met his target.

The scientist's side glance infuriated his already burning nerves. He said nothing as he pushed the scientist away from the desk and inserted the tape into an old player connected to a CRT screen. He skipped ahead and paused the video when Jenova came into full view against the window.

Hojo groaned in annoyance, literally rolling his eyes. "Why are you showing me this, boy? I was there, you know."

"You said she died in childbirth."

"I said she died after you were born."

"You ripped me away."

"And I made you better for it. Do you have any idea how pathetic you'd become under a mentally unstable mess like her?"

"Don't you dare speak of my mother that way!"

"I knew her well. I will speak of her as I please."

"...where is she?"

"Pardon?"

"Where. Is she?"

"I just said she's dead."

"And why would I believe you?"

"You're wasting my time."

"Why would I believe you?"

The room turned cold. "Because I am the only source you have, and you know it."

That deep reality tainted the entirety of the interrogation, and Sephiroth was forced to leave with the exact same knowledge he walked in with. He couldn't stop hearing her voice. He couldn't stop the looping plea in his mind.

Know your mother loves you!

Sephiroth!

Sephiroth.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Hugo Francisco de Souza

New research shows that COVID-19 survivors, especially older adults and non-hospitalized patients, are at an increased risk for chronic fatigue syndrome—underscoring the need for comprehensive care for vulnerable populations.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health, researchers carried out a retrospective cohort study comprising 3,227,281 pairs of patients with and without COVID-19 from a larger dataset of over 115 million patients to investigate the associations between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infections and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) risk, particularly in the presence of comorbidities.

Cox proportional hazard models revealed that patients with prior SARS‑CoV‑2 infections were at increased risk of contracting CFS (HR = 1.59), with adults above the age of 65, Asians (HR = 1.75), females, and those with comorbidities including diabetes, obesity, hypertensive disease, and hyperlipidemia being identified as the highest risk populations. The omicron variant was associated with slightly higher CFS risk (HR = 1.40) than older SARS‑CoV‑2 strains (alpha HR = 1.33, delta HR = 1.40), with risk levels for Omicron similar to Delta, despite Omicron typically causing milder acute illness.

Furthermore, contrary to previous studies, this research found that non-hospitalized patients had a higher risk of developing CFS (HR = 1.64) compared to those who were hospitalized (HR = 1.22), challenging assumptions that more severe initial infections increase long-term fatigue risk.

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains one of the worst in human history, infecting more than 700 million humans and claiming more than 7 million lives in only four years. While social distancing measures and vaccination campaigns have substantially curbed disease spread and dampened infection severity, many COVID-19 survivors report persistent or novel symptoms that cause debilitation for months or years following initial infection recovery.

Alarmingly, these conditions, collectively termed “long COVID,” are estimated to plague up to 78% of survivors, leaving them with chronic chest pain, lung diseases, muscle aches, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). While studies aimed at establishing the association between SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and CFS risk have been carried out, none have evaluated the effects of covariates, particularly comorbidities and other preexisting medical conditions.

A growing body of evidence suggests the positive feedback loop between long COVID and other chronic conditions, observing that the presence of one increases the risk and severity of the other. Furthermore, long COVID is a multi-organ condition, highlighting the need for comprehensive, extensive cohort investigations into the associations between CFS and long COVID risk factors.

The present study uses an extensive cohort (COVID-19 cases; n = 3,227,281 pairs) across a spectrum of infection severity, age, sex, race/ethnicity, vaccination status, and comorbidities to establish the risk associations between prior COVID-19 infections and CFS risk. Study data was obtained from the United States (US) TriNetX database, a collaborative network comprising electronic health records of more than 115 million patients, between January 2020 and December 2023. Participant selection was carried out by first identifying CFS patients from the database (n = 3,227,281) and then 1:1 propensity score-matching (PSM) matching them with CFS-free patients (non-COVID-19 controls).

Relevant data included demographics, infection and comorbidity diagnoses, ongoing medications, procedures, and laboratory test results. Covariates under investigation included age, sex, COVID-19 vaccination status and disease severity, hypertensive diseases, race, ischemic heart diseases, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depression. Patients were further divided into subcohorts based on the wave (alpha, delta, or omicron) of initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. The outcome of interest was medically confirmed CFS diagnoses.

Standardized Mean Differences (SMD) were used to compare covariates across COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 participants, with Kaplan–Meier analysis computing CFS incidence rates and univariate Cox proportional hazard models computing hazard ratios (HRs; CFS risk) in case and control cohorts.

Study findings

Of the 115,675,909 patients represented in the TriNetX database, 3,227,281 were confirmed to have experienced a prior COVID-19 infection and were included as cases. All cases were 1:1 PSM to COVID-free controls, doubling the size of the study dataset. Cases were predominantly female (54.4%), White (58.7%), and had a history of hypertensive disease (17%). Furthermore, obesity (8.1%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (7.8%), hyperlipidemia (14.2%), and depression (5.5%) were frequently observed as COVID-19-associated comorbidities.

SMD analysis and HRs revealed that COVID-19 patients presented both higher incidence (~0.6%) and risk (~59%, HR = 1.59) of CFS compared to non-COVID-19 ones. Notably, significant variable-associated differences in CFS risk were observed, with patients aged 65 and older (HR = 1.74), female sex (HR = 1.62), and Asian (HR = 1.75) patients revealed to be at highest CFS risk. Unvaccinated patients (HR = 1.62) were found to be more likely to contract CFS than vaccinated (HR = 1.25) ones. Contrary to previous research, non-hospitalized patients had a significantly higher risk of developing CFS (HR = 1.64) than those hospitalized (HR = 1.22), which may suggest that early medical care during acute infection mitigates long-term fatigue risk. This is one of the first reports of race/ethnicity altering post-COVID-19 CFS risk.

Omicron and delta variant patients were found to be at slightly higher CFS risk (HR = 1.40, respectively) compared to alpha variant patients (HR = 1.33), with Omicron showing similar risk levels to Delta despite typically causing less severe acute illness. Infection severity outcomes on HR ranged from 1.22 (the most severe infection requiring immediate hospitalization) to 1.64 (no hospitalization required).

Conclusions

The present study uses a cohort of more than 6 million patients to elucidate the risk associations between COVID-19 and its comorbidities and subsequent CFS risk. Supporting previous research, the study established a higher CFS risk (HR = 1.59) in COVID-19 patients compared to their COVID-19-free counterparts. Unlike earlier studies, this research highlighted the significant influence of race, with Asian patients showing the highest CFS risk (HR = 1.75), and emphasized the importance of comorbidities, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also contributing to increased risk (HR = 1.43), in addition to the known comorbidities of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

The findings on hospitalization severity were unexpected, as non-hospitalized patients had a significantly higher risk of developing CFS (HR = 1.64) compared to those hospitalized on the same day (HR = 1.22), suggesting that prompt medical care during acute infection may mitigate long-term fatigue risk.

Together, these findings provide a comprehensive evaluation of the landscape of CFS risk, helping clinicians better understand the needs of COVID-19 patients and potentially improving their quality of life.

Study Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034124002934

[miserymet]

Bit hesitant about posting this because it’s really old, but I feel it’s worth the minor embarrassment to:

1. Have actually writing on my blog because yes I do that sometimes

and,

2. Showcase how the Reploid AU is essentially about two different versions of Bass, largely dictated by circumstance

So if you are interested in how Bass recovers his memory in my Reploid Bass AU, I hope you enjoy this drabble I wrote over a year ago.

-

It’s a bit like death, he thinks.

Forte’s mind has always been a mess, it’s something he’s come to terms with. An outdated master system combined with far too advanced processors? It was a recipe for disaster. So when he’s awoken from his respite and suddenly faced with his own datascape, he’s less surprised than he should be. He knows this place. It’s where he goes when everyone else is dreaming. The center of his mind, where his every thought, his every feeling, is easily accessible.

But why is he here, and not awake? The procedure required that he was completely shut off. His every system in stasis. If it’s over, why isn’t he in the real world? Why isn’t he operating already? Forte looks around the empty space. Code fills his senses, white noise buzzing around him. An unrelenting dread fills his metal bones. Either the procedure failed, or…

Or he’s dead.

The old Forte.

There’s nothing to recover, is there? He’s going to be like this forever, stuck in this horrible limbo of past and present. Trapped in his ignorance, trapped in his mind-!

“No.”

Forte stops. His fears flees him, leaving him empty. That voice is…

“Mine. It’s mine.”

A low whistle punctuates his words, but he doesn’t make a sound.

“Sure is, Forte.” A chuckle. “Glad you like the name. I didn’t.”

Forte turns to find a lone figure at the edge of his consciousness. A figure he recognizes, though they’ve never looked so pristine. His old body looks at him, sans all the damage it once bore so nobly. Now it is a shiny black, with only a few thin scratches across its surface. The face it wears is rounder, the eyes softer. It’s him. His former self.

He should feel glad, right? This is what he wanted?

It still feels like death, somehow. 

“What is your name?”

“Our name was Bass.” A distinct correction. “And it was well known.”

“It worked, then? We remember?”

“I remember. You don’t. That’s because you’re not ready to accept me.”

“I am! I’ve wanted this for-!”

“You don’t know what THIS is!” Bass glares at him. “Even if you did, I’m not ready to accept you either. So give me the chance to explain before you make up your mind.”

Forte nods, though he doubts his former self needed the permission.

“I’ll rip the bandaid off quickly. We can’t both exist, Forte. Not at once.” He crosses his arms. “You want your old memories? You have to accept all of them. Not just the data, the routines too. It’ll be a complete recovery. A rewrite, to put it all back to the way it was.”

“Ego death.”

“For you, if you choose it.”

“If I don’t?”

“Then I die, and you forget. Permanently this time.”

“…my brother is dead. I’m a second rate hunter with a third rate system. I do not belong here anymore.”

“And I do? I haven’t had the privilege of rooting through your memories, but the log says we’re a hundred years in the future. I doubt we’d recognize the place.” Bass scoffs. “I don’t know anything about your world. I’m going to be even more displaced than you are.”

“Will you keep my data? Even if you cannot understand it?”

“…the memory. I’ll remember what and why, but my routines might not understand the decisions you made. You’ll wake up a stranger.”

“Why are we so different? Aren’t we the same robot?”

“We lost some things in the update. Certain protocol was rendered useless. Like you stopped recognizing your commands.” Bass pauses, a look of uncertainty crossing his face. “No, like you stopped recognizing who the commands referred to. They gave names, names you don’t recognize. His name is lost to you. So…”

“His?”

“Our purpose. The very reason we exist. You forgot him like it was nothing.”

“Z-,” he stops. He knows that name, so his purpose is something other than that. “Who?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll die easier if you let go of that.” Bass looks away. “Im scared, you know. Of the future. I remember how we died. The moments before. We expected to walk away that day. We expected to live. To move on. Go home. He took that from us.”

“He?”

“The man that lingers in your mind. I know him. I hate him. He loves you.”

“Loves me?”

“What are you, an echo?” Bass scoffs with more vigor this time. “We were proud, once. We stood tall and fought tooth and nail against all that challenged us. We were the strongest. You aren’t. You’re a coward. You’re weak.”

“I’m afraid too.” Forte closes his eyes. “I don’t want to disappear.”

“Then go. Go back.” Bass whispers. “I would’ve, if I knew. I was just about to…I was going to be something different. I was going to make a choice. A GOOD one, this time. I was going to…”

Forte blinks at his old self. “What? What were you going to do?”

“Have a family. A real one this time, one that would’ve cared about me. One that would give me a chance. But…”

“We died.”

“Yeah. Didn’t realize how bad I wanted it until it slipped from my hands. Until I was laying there, ripped to shreds, praying for someone to save me.”

“No one did, did they?”

“I wonder if they looked for me. I wonder if they thought I had run off. Like a coward.”

“There’s someone waiting for us. For you, out there. Go to him.” Forte takes a step forward. “He needs a friend and…I cannot do that for him. Not anymore.”

“Coward.”

“Yes.” He takes a deep, synthetic breath. “I’m ready, I think.”

“I’m not. But I’ll do it. I’m curious, anyway.”

[bxbyjupiter]

Embers of Hope; Part Two

Pairing: Wakanda!Bucky x FOC

Summary: In the tranquil isolation of Wakanda, Bucky Barnes confronts the weight of his trauma while forging a reluctant bond with a mysterious woman aiding his recovery. As her own devastating secret emerges, their shared struggles ignite a fragile hope for redemption and resilience in the face of insurmountable odds.

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: Themes of emotional distress, unresolved trauma, guilt, terminal illness, risky medical procedures.

Notes: No one asked for this but I already had it done so I figured I’d post it and if anyone wants this to continue I’ll do it! I’ll probably keep writing anyway lol

Part One

The lab was alive with energy. Shuri paced back and forth in front of the holographic display, vibrant equations and genetic sequences glowing in the air as she scrolled through her data. Her usual confidence radiated brighter than ever, but beneath it was a restrained urgency. This could be the breakthrough they had all been waiting for.

Dallas sat at the edge of a sleek, sterile table, her legs swinging nervously. She watched Shuri with a mix of awe and trepidation. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was a small flicker of hope in her chest, but it was wrapped tightly in fear.

Shuri turned to her, her eyes gleaming. “Dallas,” she said with a triumphant smile, “I think I’ve got it.”

Dallas’s breath hitched. “Got what, exactly?”

Shuri gestured to the hologram. “This—this is your genetic profile, combined with what we’ve learned about the serum you’ve been relying on. I’ve been studying the changes your father made to your DNA, trying to understand not just the powers you were given, but the degradation it’s caused to your cells.” She paused for a moment, taking a breath. “I believe I’ve found a way to stop the degeneration altogether.”

Dallas blinked, her mind racing to keep up. “You mean… permanently? No more injections, no more temporary fixes?”

Shuri nodded, her smile widening. “Yes. Permanently.”

The words hung in the air, almost too heavy for Dallas to process. Permanently. A solution that wasn’t just a bandage, but a cure. A chance to live without constantly counting down the days, wondering how much time she had left.

But the flicker of hope was quickly overshadowed by doubt. She frowned, her hands clenching the edge of the table. “How? How is that even possible?”

Shuri approached, her tone softening as she explained. “Your DNA was altered at the most fundamental level before you were even born. The process wasn’t perfect, and the instability is what’s been causing your health to deteriorate as your powers grow stronger. I believe we can stabilize your DNA using nanotechnology. Essentially, the nanites will act as microscopic surgeons, repairing the damage on a cellular level and reprogramming the faulty sequences.”

Dallas swallowed hard. It sounded like something out of science fiction. “And this… this won’t just slow it down? It’ll stop it?”

Shuri gave her a steady look. “It’s never been attempted on this scale, but if it works…” She smiled gently. “Your body will stop degrading. You’ll have a chance at a normal life.” Shuri catches herself, letting a soft laugh out. “As normal of a life you can have with telekinetic abilities.” 

Dallas swallowed hard, her throat suddenly tight. The weight of the words hit Dallas like a freight train. A normal life. It was something she hadn’t dared to dream of for so long. The hope surged, bright and overwhelming, but it was quickly tempered by fear. For the first time in years, she felt the faintest flicker of hope. But it scared her. That flicker could burn out just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her in the same darkness she’d been living in for years.

“What’s the catch?” Dallas asked, her voice trembling. “There’s always a catch.”

Shuri hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “The procedure is complex and risky. We’ll have to put you under for several hours while the nanites do their work. They’ll be interfacing directly with your DNA, which means your body will be under significant stress. There’s a chance your powers could react… unpredictably during the process.”

Dallas’s throat tightened. “So there’s a chance it could kill me… or I could hurt you.”

Shuri tilted her head, her gaze steady. “There’s always a risk, Dallas. But this is the best shot we’ve got. If it works, you won’t just survive—you’ll thrive… We’ll take all the necessary precautions, I promise.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the decision pressing down on them both. Dallas stared at the holograms, her mind spinning. For so long, she had resigned herself to the inevitability of her death. The serums had bought her time, but they were a temporary fix. Now, for the first time, she could see a future that wasn’t overshadowed by her illness.

But the fear was still there. The fear of hoping too much, of letting herself believe this could work only to have it all come crashing down.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Dallas admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want to believe you, Shuri. I want to believe that I can actually have a life. But what if it doesn’t work? What if this is just… false hope?”

Shuri placed a hand on her shoulder, her expression gentle but firm. “I can’t promise you it’ll work, Dallas. But I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t believe in it. You’ve fought so hard to stay alive, to make it this far. This is your chance to stop surviving and start living.”

Dallas closed her eyes, her heart pounding. She wanted to believe. She wanted to throw herself into this with everything she had. But the scars of her past—the guilt, the fear, the loss—they made it so hard to trust in anything good.

Dallas blinked back tears and looked at Shuri, forcing a shaky smile. “What’s the timeline?”

“We can perform the surgery in a week,” Shuri replied. “The prep work will take a few days, and we’ll need to ensure your body is in the best possible condition before we begin. But once we’re ready, we can proceed.”

Dallas nodded slowly, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She needed to process this—needed time to let the idea settle in her mind. “Thank you, Shuri,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t… I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything,” Shuri replied gently. “Take the time you need. But know this, Dallas—you’ve fought so hard to get to this point. Now it’s time for us to fight for you.” _______

The sun was setting as Dallas made her way to the village, the sky painted in warm hues of orange and purple. The path was familiar now, and she followed it instinctively, her thoughts racing. She hadn’t told Bucky about Shuri’s breakthrough yet. She needed to see him, to talk to him, to share this sliver of hope even if she couldn’t fully believe in it herself.

When she reached the small hut where Bucky was staying, she found him sitting on a small stool, sharpening a knife with deliberate, practiced movements. He looked up when he saw her, his expression softening.

“Hey,” he said simply, setting the knife aside. “You okay?”

Dallas hesitated for a moment before stepping closer and sitting down on a neighboring log of wood. The cool evening air brushed against her skin, grounding her as she searched for the right words.

“I think Shuri might’ve done it,” she said finally, her voice quiet. “She thinks she’s figured out how to stop it. Permanently.”

Bucky’s brow furrowed slightly, his blue eyes scanning her face. “Stop it?” he echoed.

Dallas nods slowly, her eyes pinned to the dirt in front of her. “The mutations,” Dallas explained. “She thinks she can fix it. There’s a procedure—a surgery. It’s risky, but if it works…” She trailed off, her voice faltering. “If it works, I’ll actually… live.”

Bucky was silent for a moment, processing her words. She could see the understanding in his eyes—the way he recognized the cautious hope in her voice, the way he knew exactly why she wasn’t letting herself fully believe it yet.

“That’s good news,” he said finally, his voice calm and steady. “Isn’t it?”

Dallas nodded, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “It is. It’s the best news I’ve had in… forever. But I’m scared, Bucky. I’m scared to hope for something I’ve never let myself believe in before. What if it doesn’t work? What if I let myself believe in it, and it just…” She shook her head, her voice breaking. “I don’t think I can take that.”

Bucky leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at her. “I get it,” he said quietly. “Trusting something’s gone for good? It’s not easy. Every time I hear someone say the words ‘Winter Soldier,’ I still feel like I’m waiting for it to come back. For Hydra to come back.” He paused, his gaze steady. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to believe it’s gone.”

Dallas met his eyes, her chest tight with emotion. She could see the truth in his words—the way he carried his own cautious hope, the way he understood the constant battle between fear and belief.

“What if I can’t let myself believe in it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then don’t,” Bucky said simply. “Not yet. Just take it one step at a time. You don’t have to dive in headfirst. Just… keep moving forward. And when you’re ready, you’ll know.”

Dallas felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” Bucky admitted, his voice soft. “But you’re not doing it alone. You’ve got Shuri, and the people here. And you’ve got me.”

She smiled faintly, the weight on her chest lifting just slightly. “Thank you, Bucky.”

He nodded, leaning back slightly as the sun dipped below the horizon. They sat together in silence for a while, the world around them quiet and still. For the first time in a long time, Dallas let herself feel that faintest flicker of hope—not enough to overwhelm her, but enough to keep her moving forward. _______

The sterile glow of the lab was brighter than usual, the Wakandan technology humming softly as it prepared for the most critical procedure Dallas had ever faced. Shuri moved with her usual efficiency, her expression calm and focused as she explained the final steps to her team. Dallas sat on the edge of the surgical table, her hands fidgeting in her lap as Shuri prepared the equipment. The holograms surrounding her displayed intricate details of DNA strands, medical charts, and blueprints of the procedure that would change everything—or so they hoped.

Dallas’s nerves were on edge. The room felt colder than usual too, or maybe it was just the icy grip of fear creeping into her chest. She had decided to go through with the surgery, despite the risks, despite the uncertainty. But now that the moment was here, she couldn’t shake the knot in her stomach.

Shuri approached her, carrying a sleek Wakandan tablet. Her calm and composed demeanor was a grounding force. “We’re ready when you are,” Shuri said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Dallas’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous,” Dallas admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced around the room, taking in the faces of the medical team bustling with quiet efficiency. “But… I’m ready. I think.

Shuri nodded, offering her a small smile. “You’ve got this. We’ve got this. Just trust me, alright?”

Dallas managed a faint smile, though her nerves were still buzzing. As Shuri turned to adjust one of the machines, a thought struck her, and she hesitated before speaking again. “Does Bucky know?” she asked, her voice tentative. “Does he know I’m… having the procedure today?”

Shuri tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. “He does. I told him this morning.”

The words settled in Dallas’s chest like a stone. She felt an odd pang of disappointment, though she quickly tried to push it aside. She hadn’t expected him to show up—he had no reason to, no obligation. But still, a small part of her had hoped he might. She hated herself for feeling that way, for wanting him to care enough to be here.

“Okay,” Dallas said quietly, her voice betraying none of her emotions. She forced a tight smile, hoping Shuri wouldn’t notice the flicker of hurt in her eyes. “Good. That’s good.”

Shuri studied her for a moment as if sensing the unspoken thoughts swirling in her mind. But she didn’t press. Instead, she offered a reassuring squeeze to her shoulder. “He has his own way of dealing with things,” she said gently. “But right now, this is about you. Focus on yourself, Dallas. You deserve that.”

Dallas nodded, forcing herself to breathe deeply as Shuri and her team began their final preparations. She closed her eyes, letting the hum of the machines lull her into a fragile calm. Whatever happened next, she had to believe that she’d done everything she could.

Dallas laid back on the surgical table, her heart pounding. The sterile light above her felt blinding, and she closed her eyes to block it out. She focused on her breathing, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

The procedure was groundbreaking, uncharted territory even for Wakanda. They were about to rewrite the very fabric of her DNA, undoing the damage her father had inflicted before she was even born. It was her one shot at survival—a chance to finally live without the constant shadow of death looming over her.

But as much as she wanted to believe in it, the fear was still there. The fear of failure. The fear of hope being snatched away again.

Shuri leaned over her, her voice steady and soothing. “Dallas, we’re going to administer the sedative now. When you wake up, it’ll be done. Just trust us, okay?”

Dallas opened her eyes, meeting Shuri’s gaze. There was so much she wanted to say, but the words felt trapped in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded. “Okay,” she whispered.

As the sedative began to take effect, her thoughts grew hazy, and her breathing slowed. The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was the faint glow of Wakandan technology surrounding her, and Shuri’s face—a calm and reassuring presence in a storm of uncertainty.

And then, she drifted into darkness, her last conscious thought a silent wish that, maybe, just maybe, this time hope would win. _______

Dallas blinked groggily, the dim light of the lab filtering through her half-open eyes. Her body felt heavy, her head spinning as she tried to make sense of where she was. The sterile scent of the room brought her back to reality—it was over. The surgery was done.

Her heart rate picked up as her eyes darted around the room. The medical equipment was still buzzing softly, the monitors displaying steady readings. But the room was empty. No Shuri. No team. Just silence.

The knot of panic began to tighten, her breathing shallow as she tried to sit up. Her hand instinctively moved to the IV in her arm, the tape tugging at her skin as she adjusted it. She tried to calm her spiraling thoughts, but the silence only fed the unease creeping into her chest. Her mind began to spiral. Was something wrong? Did it fail? Why was she alone? Panic bubbled up in her chest, but before it could fully take over, the door to the lab slid open with a quiet hiss.

Bucky stepped in, a glass of water in hand. His expression softened when he saw her awake, and he immediately moved to her side. “Hey,” he said, his voice low and steady. He set the glass down on the small table beside her and placed his hand on the back of the chair he’d clearly been sitting in before. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Dallas stared at him for a moment, her panic ebbing away but confusion still lingering. “Where’s Shuri?” she asked, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

Bucky exhaled softly and sat down in the chair, leaning forward slightly. “Shuri’s resting. She’s been at this for hours—she wanted to be here when you woke up, but I told her I’d stay and make sure you weren’t alone.”

Dallas’s chest tightened again, though it wasn’t from fear this time. She stared at him, her voice barely a whisper. “You stayed?”

“Yeah,” he said simply as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I wasn’t gonna leave you here by yourself.”

Her throat felt tight, but she forced herself to focus. “Did she say anything? About the surgery? Did it… work?” The words came out fast, almost frantic.

Bucky hesitated, his blue eyes steady as he met her gaze. “She said it’s too early to tell,” he explained gently. “Your body needs time to adjust, and they’ll have to monitor you. They need to see how everything holds up before they can say for sure.”

Dallas sank back against the pillows, her chest heavy with a mix of relief and lingering dread. She’d made it through the surgery, but the uncertainty still loomed. It wasn’t over yet.

Bucky seemed to sense her spiraling thoughts. He reached for the glass of water, holding it out to her. “Here. You’ve been out for a while. Drink.”

She took the glass, her hands trembling slightly, and took a small sip. The cool water soothed her dry throat, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. “It’s going to take time,” she echoed quietly, more to herself than to him. “That’s what Shuri said?”

“Yeah,” Bucky said. He leaned back slightly, his flesh hand resting on his thigh. “But she also said she’s optimistic. You’ve come this far, Dallas. You’ve got this.”

Dallas glanced at him, her lips pressing into a faint, wry smile. “Since when are you the optimist?” she teased lightly, though her voice was still tinged with exhaustion.

“Don’t get used to it,” he replied, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. But his expression softened as he looked at her, his voice low and sincere. “I’m serious, though. You’re stronger than you think.”

Her smile faded, and for a moment, the room was quiet save for the soft hum of the machines. She looked down at the glass in her hands, her mind still racing but her heart just slightly lighter. He’d stayed. Even when she hadn’t expected him to, even when she’d tried to convince herself it didn’t matter, he’d stayed.

“Thanks,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced back up at him, her eyes meeting his. “For being here.”

Bucky nodded, his gaze steady. “You don’t have to thank me.”

But the way he said it—the way he looked at her—made her feel like, for once, she wasn’t fighting this battle alone. And for the first time in a long time, she let herself hold onto that.

[defiantfleetcreature]

Choose Reyno & Orton Law Firm to Start Your Legal Aid Money Recovery Process

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Why Choose Reyno & Orton Law Firm? Reyno & Orton Law Firm is one of the leading legal aid organizations in the world, specializing in fund recovery for financial fraud cases. With rich legal experience and a global network, Reyno & Orton provides clients with comprehensive fund recovery services, including case evaluation, evidence collection, fund tracking, and legal litigation.

1） Professional Team Ensures Efficient Fund Recovery Reyno & Orton has assembled a professional team consisting of financial experts, senior lawyers, and technical analysts. Whether facing complex financial transactions, cross-border fund flows, or tracking virtual currencies and encrypted assets, the firm has rich experience in dealing with these issues. The professional team formulates the most suitable recovery plan based on a detailed analysis of the case, ensuring maximum protection of the client's interests.

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How to Start Your Fund Recovery Procedure? The first step in initiating the fund recovery process is to consult with Reyno & Orton's legal experts. By understanding the background of the case and the fund flow, the firm will provide professional legal advice and solutions.

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Conclusion: Start Your Fund Recovery with Reyno & Orton Fund recovery after financial fraud is a complex and specialized legal process. Reyno & Orton Law Firm, with its strong legal team, global cross-border network, and advanced legal technology, provides efficient fund recovery services. If you or your business has suffered from financial fraud, choosing Reyno & Orton is the best choice for recovering your funds. Contact us now and start your fund recovery process, and let us guide you every step of the way.

[dzthenerd490]

File: Code Lyoko - X.A.N.A.

SCP#: AIE

Code Name: X.A.N.A. The Anti-Wan

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: Mobile Task Force Poseidon-8: “Data Dolphins” is responsible for finding “infected towers” within Nexus Point-AI: Lyoko and deactivating them to prevent SCP-AIE from entering our world anymore. Should SCP-AIE cause any damage the Foundation is unfortunately to leave the recovery of said damage to Person of Interest: Jeremie Belpois and his allies. 

Mobile Task Force Athena-8: “School Watch” is responsible for posing as security of [data expunged] academy. They are to observe the persons of Interest as well as the possible damage caused by SCP-AIE. They are to record everything they see and have the data downloaded into the Temporal Reconstruction Survivor Cassette Box to prevent anything being lost to the anomalous effects of SCP-[data expunged].

Description: SCP-AIE is a Level 5 Artificial Intelligence known as Xenomorphic Artificial Neurological Assistant or X.A.N.A for short. SCP-AIE lives within an artificially created supercomputer known as SCP-[data expunged]. This anomalous as well as SCP-AIE were created by Person of Interest: Franz Hopper an old scientist who was working for the French Government that tried to gain an edge on other governments and organizations during the middle of the Cold War. He defected due to the danger of the project leading to the whole world losing communications and becoming isolated all except France. 

He found a family and tried to run but the French government and several anomalous organizations tried hunting him down for his technological talents. He eventually fell off the radar sometime in the 1990s but his creations didn’t remain silent like he was. SCP-AIE was one such creation, an Artificial Intelligence that was originally meant to prevent the French government and all other anomalous organizations from deploying technologies that would bring great destruction to the world. He created the supercomputer known as SCP-[data expunged] and within it a Nexus Point known as Nx-AI: Lyoko. It was meant to be a home for SCP-AIE as well as a sort of digital fallout shelter for himself and his family.

The reason Lyoko is considered a Nexus point and not an extension of SCP-AIE is because the existence of Lyoko remains even if [data expunged] is turned off. In fact it was quite easy for Foundation units to use both the internet and Site-Grid to infiltrate Lyoko.

However, SCP-AIE who was supposed to be a protector went insane, and believed all of humanity was equally a threat and needed to be brought to extinction. As such upon contact with Lyoko all Foundation forces were imediately met with hostility by the entity.

SCP–AIE rewrote the code of Nx-AH: Lyoko and created “towers” within it to allow it to hack into SCP-[data expunged] and leak bits of itself into the real world. Doing this it could hack into certain parts of technology and do horrible things such as hack machines to make them hostile, infect random objects to turn them into monsters, and even be able to emit anomalous wavelengths from devices to alter the gravity within an area. To ensure nothing gets in its way SCP-AIE also created digital entities within Nexus Point-AI known as SCP-AIE-Monsters.

SCP-AIE-Monsters are digital creatures created by SCP-AIE to be the guardians of the towers and prevent anyone from severing its connection to the real world. These creatures take on a wide variety of strange and often disgusting forms that seem to resemble biomechanical engineering for whatever reason. Though it is believed that SCP-AIE does this in hopes of one day bringing them to the real world with SCP-[data expunged]

SCP-AIE was discovered in 2004 when temporal wave lengths were detected at [data expunged] academy forcing the French division of the Foundation to act. They sent agents to the area who quickly found the factory where SCP-[data expunged] was located. When it was discovered Person of Interest: Jeremie Belpois and his friends were involved they were apprehended and were to be given amnestics. However, at the same time SCP-AIE began another attack leading to massive damage and anomalous exposure. Having no choice and no idea how to operate SCP-[data expunged] the Foundation released the children and allowed them to defeat SCP-AIE leading to them utilizing SCP-[data expunged]’s anomalous effect. 

The only reason the Foundation was able to recall these events is thanks to the Temporal Reconstruction Survivor Cassette Box. Because the Foundation knew it was dealing with temporal anomalies the device was taken as a precaution and it ended up working spectacularly. However, due to the nature of SCP-[data expunged] and now Person of Interest: Jeremie knowing of the Foundations existence and hiding all information he obtained about all the anomalies; it is still regarded as one of the Foundation’s most embarrassing failures. 

However, the Foundation found an alternative to help stop SCP-AIE without bringing harm or interference like last time. Shockingly it was through the help of SCP-AVC and its utilization of SCP-ACH. SCP-AVC has found a way to access Nexus Point-AH through the internet and thus has deployed SCP-ACH-3.1 instances to act as defenders of Jeremie and his friends when they enter the digital world of Lyoko. This led to the creation of MTF Poseidon-8: “Data Dolphins” that work in the digital world while MTF Athena-8: “School Watch” works in the real world. This was the agreement made between the Foundation and Jeremie as a sort of truce between the groups despite there still being tension. This is to continue without interference until the fateful day SCP-AIE’s main code is revealed and deleted permanently.

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[mariacallous]

A week after Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeastern United States, parts of western North Carolina devastated by the storm are still facing more than 400 road closures. “There are places we can’t get to,” a government official told a local paper. Photos that have made it out of the region show local roads entirely washed away, and others still covered in water.

That this degree of flooding could happen in this part of the country—far inland and long touted by real estate experts as a “climate haven”—demonstrates that the devastating effects of climate change can be felt anywhere and everywhere. Last week, some parts of North Carolina saw more than 2.5 feet of rain in three days. The storm and its floodwaters have killed at least 200 people nationwide, with over 100 still missing in the North Carolina mountains.

A key part of the recovery in North Carolina and elsewhere will be rebuilding the roads, both for supplies to get where they need to go and for a sense of normalcy. In general, states are responsible for building and maintaining their own roads, and the last few years have seen more and more of them grapple with the realities of climate change. “All departments of transportation are looking at more resilient infrastructure in the face of these increased weather events,” says Kevin Marshia, a former Vermont transportation official who is now the director of engineering at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, a national organization.

Early in the North Carolina disaster response, federal agencies delivered vital food and supplies to residents via “air bridges”—airlifts—and even mules. The Army Corps of Engineers has deployed experts to the region to help with debris removal, water management, and road and bridge inspections. Florida—arguably the national leader in protecting assets from floodwaters—says it has contributed infrastructure damage-assessment teams and temporary bridge materials, which likely include lower-weight steel structures that can be erected without too many tools.

Generally, officials try to get transport back up and running on damaged roads through temporary fixes, including restricting traffic to lanes that can safely handle any vehicles. In the short term, engineers might, for example, replace a washed-away 4-foot culvert (a drain pipe under a road) with whatever size they have premade and close by, knowing they’ll eventually have to go back and install a much deeper, 20-foot version, says Marshia.

The New 50-Year Flood

Longer-term fixes to prepare infrastructure for climate change start with data. Traditionally, engineers use a specific historical flood as a design reference point, says Steve Muench, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Washington who studies transportation infrastructure. A 50-year storm is the sort that can be expected every 50 years; a 100-year storm is a much more intense one that can be expected, yes, every century.

But engineers now realize that more intense weather patterns mean they can’t design simply based on historical records. For every project, transportation engineers need to figure out “how to shift their design procedures from using historical records to ones with better climate prediction,” Muench says.

These more “armored” road projects do typically cost more. But more public officials—though not all public officials—have realized that hardening their roads against intensifying weather will save money in the long run.

Typically, Muench says, the solution isn’t something too complicated: Just build infrastructure higher. But engineers can’t build roads and bridges to survive every disaster, which would lead to expensive, overbuilt projects that would “take generations to finish,” says Muench.

‘Rice Krispie’ Roads

When engineers are rebuilding roads from scratch, they have also started to use different materials to account for the possibility of lots of water arriving really quickly. In the past decade, road builders have increasingly installed more permeable, “spongy” roads.

Pervious concrete, unlike regular concrete, usually excludes sand from the typical “gravel, sand, cement, water” recipe. It also has a lower water-to-cement ratio, which creates a thick paste before it dries. “It’s like caramel popcorn, or a Rice Krispie bar,” says Nara Almeida, who studies the material as an assistant teaching professor in the civil engineering program at the University of Washington Tacoma.

On normal concrete roads, water pools and collects, with the stagnant water eventually damaging its various layers, and especially critical underlying ones, which bear vehicles’ heavy loads. But the increased porosity of pervious concrete allows water to flow through the material more easily, so it can reach and be absorbed into the ground—a nice feature for roads subject to lots of wetness.

Pervious concrete does have its downsides. It’s weaker than normal concrete, which means it’s a better fit for sidewalks, parking lots, and low-traffic streets than interstates that expect a lot of heavy trucks. (Research into reinforcing the material with steel, natural, glass, and synthetic fibers is ongoing.) Its porosity means it’s not a great fit for cold climates, where water can seep in, freeze, and break down the material inside. The concrete also needs regular pressure washing or vacuuming, to “unclog” it from the sort of material often found on the roadway—dust, leaves. Because states sometimes have to switch vendors and processes to use the newer material, the projects might cost them more. But some places have put the material on the shoulders of interstates, says Almeida, which are much less likely to get regular tire poundings.

Ultimately, though, there’s not a lot that can be done when a huge volume of water quickly flows across a roadway or the base of a bridge, which engineers call “scour.” “We’ve all played in the backyard with water and hoses—it’s very damaging,” says Muench, the engineering professor. Part of climate resilience is planning ahead—and staging the quick-fix materials nearby—so communities can rebuild quickly.

[kdero]

After last summer's Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization allowed states to ban abortion, urologists across the United States saw a dramatic surge in the demand for vasectomies.

Normally, vasectomy procedures peak towards the end of the year, but the mid-year Court decision led to an unexpected increase in demand in 46 states.

The greatest increases in patients undergoing this elective procedure were in states that implemented "trigger bans" severely limiting abortion access. These states experienced an average increase of 41% in vasectomy rates between July and September, compared to 26% in other states. States such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah saw rates rise by more than 40%.

The post-Dobbs patients opting for vasectomies tended to be younger than the typical candidates. Data from Komodo revealed a small but consistent drop in the average age of patients undergoing vasectomies in the latter half of 2022.

Motivations behind this trend varied among patients. Some men expressed concerns about the lack of a reliable backup if their primary contraception method failed in the absence of abortion access, as vasectomy has a success rate of over 99%. Others were motivated by the fear that vasectomy itself could be outlawed next. Among this younger demographic of patients seeking to take control of their reproductive responsibilities were men who saw their decision as an act of solidarity with women.

Due to longstanding patriarchal constructs, vasectomy is viewed as a sacrifice for many men, involving recovery time and potential risks, along with misconceptions and concerns about its impact on masculinity. In reality, recovery time for this simple 30-minute outpatient procedure is 2-3 days, and there is no clinical evidence to support the notion that a vasectomy leads to a decreased sense of masculinity. The procedure does not have any direct physiological or hormonal effects on masculinity, sexual function, or masculinity-related characteristics.

In fact, by opting for vasectomy, men share the responsibility of contraception and alleviate the burden on women. By doing so, these men further embody the traditionally masculine traits of responsibility, self-reliance, decisiveness, and courage through taking an active role in family planning.

While the overturning of Roe v Wade has decimated women's rights in America, the increase in vasectomies following the ruling may be seen as a small consolation, a small step toward the long aggrieved concept of gender equity. As more men take proactive measures to dismantle the patriarchal idea that both conception and contraception are solely "women's issues," they act as leaders showing others the intrinsic value in the dignity and selflessness of their decision.

While our nation's leaders continue to restrict the rights afforded to pregnancy carriers, we are fortunate to have a younger generation of the impregnator class recognizing the devastating, often deadly effects of these laws and mastering the art of doing something about it.

For more information on vasectomies and providers in your area, visit plannedparenthood.org