#Secure data disposal

[securedatadestruction]

The Importance of Secure Data Destruction

 Introduction

ऐसे युग में जहां डेटा व्यवसायों और व्यक्तियों दोनों के लिए जीवनरेखा है, संवेदनशील जानकारी का सुरक्षित निपटान सुनिश्चित करना सर्वोपरि है। यह लेख सुरक्षित डेटा विनाश के महत्व और तरीकों, सेवाओं, नीतियों और लाभों सहित इसके विभिन्न पहलुओं की पड़ताल करता है।

Understanding Secure Data Destruction

Data Destruction Services

Data destruction services are specialized solutions designed to securely and irreversibly eliminate data stored on various media devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, tapes, and more. These services are essential to safeguard sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Methods of Secure Data Destruction

There are several methods of secure data destruction, each with its strengths and applications. Common methods include data erasure, hard drive destruction, and degaussing. Choosing the right method depends on the type of media and the level of security required.

The Need for Secure Data Destruction

Protecting Confidential Information

Secure data destruction ensures that confidential and proprietary data is permanently removed, reducing the risk of data breaches, identity theft, and corporate espionage.

Compliance with Regulations

Many industries and regions have strict data protection regulations that mandate the secure disposal of sensitive data. Compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid legal consequences.

Preventing Data Resale

Even discarded electronic devices can contain recoverable data. Secure data destruction prevents data from being resold or reused after disposal, preserving your privacy.

Secure Data Destruction Services

Data Destruction Companies

Numerous specialized data destruction companies offer professional services for secure data disposal. These companies use certified methods to ensure data irreversibility.

Hard Drive Destruction Services

Hard drive destruction services physically destroy storage devices, rendering them unusable. This method is effective for preventing data recovery.

Implementing a Data Destruction Policy

Importance of a Data Destruction Policy

A data destruction policy is a formal document that outlines how an organization handles data disposal. It is a crucial component of data security and compliance efforts.

Components of a Data Destruction Policy

Clear guidelines on which data should be destroyed and when.

Procedures for selecting appropriate data destruction methods.

Employee training on data disposal best practices.

Compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations.

डेटा विनाश मानक

NIST Guidelines

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines for secure data destruction, including data erasure and destruction methods.

ISO Standards

ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 standards offer comprehensive guidance on information security management systems, including secure data destruction.

Benefits of Secure Data Destruction

Enhanced Security

The primary benefit is enhanced security. Secure data destruction minimizes the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Adherence to data protection regulations helps organizations avoid hefty fines and legal troubles.

Protection of Reputation

Proper data disposal protects an organization's reputation and customer trust by demonstrating a commitment to data security.

Environmental Responsibility

Many secure data destruction methods are environmentally responsible, promoting sustainability and reducing e-waste.

Conclusion

In a world where data is a valuable commodity, secure data destruction is not optional—it's a necessity. Whether you're a business handling customer data or an individual safeguarding personal information, understanding the importance of secure data destruction and implementing best practices is vital for protecting yourself, your organization, and your clients from the potentially devastating consequences of data breaches and leaks. Make secure data destruction an integral part of your data management strategy, and you'll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is truly secure, even in its disposal.

Read More:-

[shredlogixinc]

Shredlogix, Inc- San Jose

Shredlogix is a Bay Area based document shredding and hard-drive destruction company with over 25 years of combined shredding experience. We are AAA NAID Certified for on-site destruction. Our offerings include: routine document shredding, purges, drop off shredding, hard-drive and media destruction and shred events.

We provide trusted, reliable paper shredding and hard drive destruction services throughout the Bay Area.

[technicallysizzlingsoul]

HK e-Waste – Reliable E-Waste Recycling Services in India

HK e-Waste is a leading provider of e-waste recycling services with 15+ years of experience. We offer free e-waste pickup and eco-friendly disposal solutions for businesses, ensuring responsible recycling and landfill diversion.

Our Services:

✔ Certified E-Waste Recycling✔ Free E-Waste Pickup for Businesses✔ Secure IT Asset Disposal & Data Destruction

Service Locations:

We provide e-waste recycling services in: ✅ Mumbai | ✅ Delhi | ✅ Noida | ✅ Gurgaon | ✅ Bangalore | ✅ Pune | ✅ Surat | ✅ Jaipur | ✅ Lucknow | ✅ Hyderabad | ✅ Chennai

Join the sustainability movement! Contact us today to schedule your free e-waste pickup with HK e-Waste. 

[omikasingh]

Secure data destruction and hard disk disposal

Data can be erased from hard drives using three methods: wiping, degaussing, and shredding, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The process of data wiping, also known as data sanitization, involves overwriting the entire hard drive with random data, making it impossible to retrieve the original information.

[3rtechnology]

E-Waste Recycling: A Process of Responsible Disposal

E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to any discarded electronic or electrical equipment. This includes items like computers, laptops, smartphones, televisions, printers, and household appliances. As technology continues to evolve, the volume of e-waste will likely increase. By adopting effective e-waste recycling practices, we can minimize the environmental and health risks associated with this growing waste stream.

3R Technology

8002 S 208th St E105, Kent, WA 98032, United States

(206) 582-7100

[cyanissimo]

Entry 8:

The Art of Data Disposal: A Guide to Data Disposal Protocol

In the digital age, data is everywhere. While much attention is given to the collection and use of data, an equally important aspect is often overlooked: data disposal. Proper data disposal is crucial for maintaining privacy and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Understanding Data Disposal

Data disposal refers to the process of discarding or getting rid of data that is no longer needed. This can include anything from deleting files on a computer to physically destroying hard drives. The goal is to ensure that the data cannot be recovered or accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Why is Data Disposal Important?

Proper data disposal is crucial for several reasons:

Privacy: Data often contains sensitive information. If not disposed of properly, this information could fall into the wrong hands, leading to privacy breaches.

Legal Compliance: Many jurisdictions have laws and regulations that require businesses to properly dispose of certain types of data.

Efficiency: Proper data disposal can help improve the efficiency of your data storage systems by freeing up space.

Implementing a Data Disposal Protocol

Here are some steps to consider when implementing a data disposal protocol:

Identify the Data: The first step is to identify the data that needs to be disposed of. This could include outdated customer information, old financial records, or obsolete business documents.

Choose a Disposal Method: The method of disposal will depend on the type of data. Digital data can often be deleted or wiped using software tools. Physical data may need to be shredded or incinerated.

Verify the Disposal: After the data has been disposed of, it’s important to verify that the process was successful. This could involve checking that files have been deleted or inspecting physical media for damage.

Document the Process: Keep a record of what data was disposed of, when, and how. This can be important for legal compliance and for tracking your data management practices.

Remember, data disposal is an important part of data management. By implementing a robust data disposal protocol, you can help protect your privacy, comply with the law, and improve your data management practices.

[headlinehorizon]

Protect Your Data: Resetting Your Old Router Before Disposal

Learn why it's crucial to reset your old router before disposing of it. By doing so, you can safeguard your personal information and prevent hackers from accessing your network and devices.

[trombonesinspace]

In defense of book!Gurathin

So, I haven’t seen the Murderbot show so far, but I’ve been reading through the tag to see what other people think of it.

And I’m noticing something that kind of baffles me—the way people are talking about Gurathin. I’ve seen show!Gurathin described as pathetic, cringe, hostile, menacing (or trying and failing to be menacing), and generally a loser…by people who also say he’s perfect, spot-on, just like the book.

And of course, different people will interpret a character in different ways. But I’m just…really? That’s what you think he was like in the book?

Because here’s how I see him. Early on in All Systems Red, we’re told that he is less talkative than the rest of PresAux, but he seems to like them and they clearly like him. He is described as having a small, quiet smile. An introvert, cool!

As the book goes on, he is shown to be more cynical/skeptical/suspicious than the rest of the team. But there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. After all, SecUnit definitely thinks that various members of PresAux are naive, due to living outside the corporation rim.

Gurathin is also shown to be intelligent and competent, and even SecUnit calls him brave.

The trouble is, of course, that Gurathin becomes an antagonist to SecUnit, our beloved protagonist. And because it’s SecUnit itself who is describing all their interactions, that pre-disposes the reader to dislike him.

But look at the situation. The survey has been forced to take along a corporate-branded security consultant that they did not want, that (they think) must obey the company’s orders. Gurathin notices some anomalies in that consultant, amid mounting evidence that their survey mission is being sabotaged.

Of course he suspects SecUnit.

The fact that he goes into its personal systems and reads its logs while it’s shut down is absolutely an invasion of privacy. But a) by this point they know the DeltFall group was murdered, and he’s trying to make sure that doesn’t happen to PresAux, and b) I think he would have done the same thing if the unwanted corporate security consultant had been human. He would have snooped into whatever private information was available, because he doesn’t trust the company, and because all their lives are in danger.

Violating someone’s privacy to keep them all alive is…maybe not great? But I don’t think it means that he doesn’t see SecUnit as a person. And it’s also no worse than every morally grey character ever who does the questionable but necessary thing that the other members of the team wouldn’t.

And what he finds out is a real oh shit moment: this SecUnit has a non-functional governor module, and it has killed clients in the past. The first fact means it doesn’t have to follow company orders after all, but the second fact kind of outweighs that.

Maybe he should have been more convinced by SecUnit risking itself to keep them all alive, when it didn’t have to—that’s a pretty solid argument in its favor.

But on the other hand, he saw SecUnit’s abject horror when Mensah invited it to hang out in the crew area. He’s experienced the way SecUnit avoids looking at or talking to anyone unless circumstances make it necessary. To someone who is already suspicious, SecUnit’s outward presentation must look like someone who doesn’t care about its clients at all. Especially given, you know, the murder.

Ultimately, though, when the rest of the group decides to trust SecUnit, he doesn’t try to stop them. He just…keeps a watchful eye out. Takes the opportunity to test it for outside influence, questions it about it’s functioning, asking if it blames humans for how it’s been treated. Seeking data to prove or disprove a hypothesis, like the scientist he is.

And he also works with SecUnit despite his misgivings, helping it analyze the data from the drones, and telling it (correctly) where the weak point is in its plan to launch the beacon.

The reader, of course, sees all this through SecUnit’s eyes, so it’s easy to accept all of its opinions as fact. But the fandom seems happy to acknowledge that SecUnit is an unreliable narrator in other areas of the story, so why accept its perspective without question when it comes to Gurathin?

I think it’s fair to say that he’s more abrasive than strictly necessary in his interactions with SecUnit. A bit of an asshole, sure. But essentially a smart, competent scientist, who likes and is liked by his colleagues, like the rest of PresAux. Not a pathetic, cringe, wet cat of a man, or a hostile, malevolent weirdo.

Am I the only one reading him this way? Does everyone else really think book!Gurathin is…like that?

To be clear, I have no problem with people liking show!Gurathin. Again, I have not seen the show, and obviously it’s too soon to say how he’ll develop over the course of the season. But the way I’m seeing show!Gurathin described after the first two episodes really does not match my reading of the book. And it doesn’t have to—I’m just surprised by how many people are saying he’s book-accurate.

Honestly, maybe I just wanted an excuse to dive into the character, and look past SecUnit’s (understandably!) jaundiced opinion of him. I actually have more thoughts about how the Gurathin-SecUnit dynamic develops in later books, but I think I’ll write that up separately so this post doesn’t get any longer!

[littlestpersimmon]

Am unable to draw.

My iPad has once again reached full capacity. My external storage drive is full :c

I have only one more painting to finish before my work debt is complete. If anyone with any disposable income could please.. please help me get a new flash drive so I can finish my next batch of commissions and this one big painting that is overdue.. I'd be eternally grateful. Each of my procreate paintings are extremely hefty in data unfortunately as they are very large canvases :c

All my work is directly related to drawing rn and I am stuck without more data- (cannot take in more work). Would have just opened commissions to do this if I had more storage, I am very sorry

Desperate for help, I'm not sure what to do..

[willowwindss]

100 Inventions by Women

LIFE-SAVING/MEDICAL/GLOBAL IMPACT:

Artificial Heart Valve – Nina Starr Braunwald

Stem Cell Isolation from Bone Marrow – Ann Tsukamoto

Chemotherapy Drug Research – Gertrude Elion

Antifungal Antibiotic (Nystatin) – Rachel Fuller Brown & Elizabeth Lee Hazen

Apgar Score (Newborn Health Assessment) – Virginia Apgar

Vaccination Distribution Logistics – Sara Josephine Baker

Hand-Held Laser Device for Cataracts – Patricia Bath

Portable Life-Saving Heart Monitor – Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig

Medical Mask Design – Ellen Ochoa

Dental Filling Techniques – Lucy Hobbs Taylor

Radiation Treatment Research – Cécile Vogt

Ultrasound Advancements – Denise Grey

Biodegradable Sanitary Pads – Arunachalam Muruganantham (with women-led testing teams)

First Computer Algorithm – Ada Lovelace

COBOL Programming Language – Grace Hopper

Computer Compiler – Grace Hopper

FORTRAN/FORUMAC Language Development – Jean E. Sammet

Caller ID and Call Waiting – Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – Marian Croak

Wireless Transmission Technology – Hedy Lamarr

Polaroid Camera Chemistry / Digital Projection Optics – Edith Clarke

Jet Propulsion Systems Work – Yvonne Brill

Infrared Astronomy Tech – Nancy Roman

Astronomical Data Archiving – Henrietta Swan Leavitt

Nuclear Physics Research Tools – Chien-Shiung Wu

Protein Folding Software – Eleanor Dodson

Global Network for Earthquake Detection – Inge Lehmann

Earthquake Resistant Structures – Edith Clarke

Water Distillation Device – Maria Telkes

Portable Water Filtration Devices – Theresa Dankovich

Solar Thermal Storage System – Maria Telkes

Solar-Powered House – Mária Telkes

Solar Cooker Advancements – Barbara Kerr

Microbiome Research – Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello

Marine Navigation System – Ida Hyde

Anti-Malarial Drug Work – Tu Youyou

Digital Payment Security Algorithms – Radia Perlman

Wireless Transmitters for Aviation – Harriet Quimby

Contributions to Touchscreen Tech – Dr. Annette V. Simmonds

Robotic Surgery Systems – Paula Hammond

Battery-Powered Baby Stroller – Ann Moore

Smart Textile Sensor Fabric – Leah Buechley

Voice-Activated Devices – Kimberly Bryant

Artificial Limb Enhancements – Aimee Mullins

Crash Test Dummies for Women – Astrid Linder

Shark Repellent – Julia Child

3D Illusionary Display Tech – Valerie Thomas

Biodegradable Plastics – Julia F. Carney

Ink Chemistry for Inkjet Printers – Margaret Wu

Computerised Telephone Switching – Erna Hoover

Word Processor Innovations – Evelyn Berezin

Braille Printer Software – Carol Shaw

⸻

HOUSEHOLD & SAFETY INNOVATIONS:

Home Security System – Marie Van Brittan Brown

Fire Escape – Anna Connelly

Life Raft – Maria Beasley

Windshield Wiper – Mary Anderson

Car Heater – Margaret Wilcox

Toilet Paper Holder – Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner

Foot-Pedal Trash Can – Lillian Moller Gilbreth

Retractable Dog Leash – Mary A. Delaney

Disposable Diaper Cover – Marion Donovan

Disposable Glove Design – Kathryn Croft

Ice Cream Maker – Nancy Johnson

Electric Refrigerator Improvements – Florence Parpart

Fold-Out Bed – Sarah E. Goode

Flat-Bottomed Paper Bag Machine – Margaret Knight

Square-Bottomed Paper Bag – Margaret Knight

Street-Cleaning Machine – Florence Parpart

Improved Ironing Board – Sarah Boone

Underwater Telescope – Sarah Mather

Clothes Wringer – Ellene Alice Bailey

Coffee Filter – Melitta Bentz

Scotchgard (Fabric Protector) – Patsy Sherman

Liquid Paper (Correction Fluid) – Bette Nesmith Graham

Leak-Proof Diapers – Valerie Hunter Gordon

FOOD/CONVENIENCE/CULTURAL IMPACT:

Chocolate Chip Cookie – Ruth Graves Wakefield

Monopoly (The Landlord’s Game) – Elizabeth Magie

Snugli Baby Carrier – Ann Moore

Barrel-Style Curling Iron – Theora Stephens

Natural Hair Product Line – Madame C.J. Walker

Virtual Reality Journalism – Nonny de la Peña

Digital Camera Sensor Contributions – Edith Clarke

Textile Color Processing – Beulah Henry

Ice Cream Freezer – Nancy Johnson

Spray-On Skin (ReCell) – Fiona Wood

Langmuir-Blodgett Film – Katharine Burr Blodgett

Fish & Marine Signal Flares – Martha Coston

Windshield Washer System – Charlotte Bridgwood

Smart Clothing / Sensor Integration – Leah Buechley

Fibre Optic Pressure Sensors – Mary Lou Jepsen

[jtargaryen18]

Under His Skin ~ Chapter 6

Series Masterlist

Words: 6k

Pairing: Jonathan Crane aka Scarecrow (Nolanverse Batman) x F Reader

Warnings: Stalking, gaslighting, coveting, drugging, voyeurism, manipulation, veiled threats, fear of intimacy, plans to falsely imprison.

After texting Jonathan, you decide to show up at Arkham and when no one stops you, you think maybe you could find Ares room. Your plan goes horribly wrong.

Jonathan reinforces that you must follow his orders, watching you become further ensnared in his trap. But when Henri Ducard shows up, the League of Shadows behind him, Jonathan's hand is forced. He must now speed up his timeline for you -- to protect you.

Disclaimer:The author of this work claims no ownership of characters aside from the reader, and original secondary characters mentioned. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content and darker themes. By reading this work or any works on my blog (jtargaryen18), you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I do not consent to have my work hosted on any third party app or site.

Sunday mornings were quiet and predictable. That’s what made them useful. There was little noise, no interruptions or oversight. Jonathan had the time and space he needed to do his important work. 

And today, work meant testing the next phase of his fear toxin. He stood in the observation chamber, sleeves rolled to his forearms, the filtered mask hanging loose around his neck as he watched through the two-way glass. Bound to a chair in the room sat a man in his late twenties. He was strong, height above average, and misdiagnosed. Ares had diagnosed him some time ago as bipola,r but he was actually schizoeffective with a tendency towards violent hallucinations and he had a long history of aggression. Restraints were required.

Jonathan had chosen him deliberately. Not for compliance, but data. And fear from the strong? That was the cleanest kind.

He administered the toxin eight minutes ago. The subject twitched and grunted. When he screamed and started thrashing violently, he nearly tipped the reinforced chair over. His pupils were dilated and sweat broke out across his smooth brow. The patient's voice changed as he started to beg, fragmented and guttural. Jonathan stepped closer to the observation glass. 

"They’re inside me," he wailed. "Get them out... Get them out!”

Perfect. Making notes on his observations, Jonathan was satisfied. He managed to speed up onset, get paranoia at a lower dose, and noticed the strength response sustained beyond peak. It was still not fully where he wanted it to be. Not yet. But he would continue the work until it was perfect.

He could make that happen now. Arkham was finally becoming what it was always meant to be. His laboratory. His machine. 

The patient had his back to the door so Jonathan came in behind him with the sedative. Once the patient was under, he removed the restraints and left him to recover. Disposing of his gloves, he moved down the corridor, doing the usual rounds. A couple of hours had passed by the time he entered the secured wing with a quiet hiss of hydraulics.

Ares’s room. He unlocked the biometric panel. Entered in silence. Ares was seated near the back wall, eyes unfocused. Jonathan watched him for a full minute before the change happened. First there was a subtle shift in posture. A flicker of something behind his eyes.

“Crane," came out in a rough whisper, slurred but direct.

Jonathan didn’t move, continued to watch.

Not gone. Not silent. Just... trapped. And worse, trying to claw his way out.

Then Ares spoke her name. It was garbled and muddied but he heard it.

Jonathan forced down the anger welling up in him. 

You shouldn’t be able to say her name. Not with that calm certainty. Not like you’d earned the right.

That name belonged to him now.

You hadn’t held her when she was trembling. You hadn’t earned her trust, her dependency, her sleep-soaked voice whispering thank you before the tears gave out.

And yet, you’re drifting upward. Resurfacing. Finding coherence again.

That won’t do.

It wasn’t just the mention of her that had his pulse quickening, it was the inference. His system could still unravel, and the trauma hadn’t held. The effects of the toxin weren't permanent yet. That was the only flaw. His toxin worked brilliantly. But it wore off. Even in its most concentrated form, the hallucinations eventually faded. Cognitive function returned and memories reconnected.

With time, and a bit of luck, a patient could recover over weeks, months. But recovery was a possibility. That was unacceptable.

Jonathan turned sharply, but didn't sedate him. Ares would need to vanish cleanly. There were too many eyes and records for carelessness. This needed patience and a curated end.

Stepped into the hallway, his fingers tapped against his wrist. The silence was intact. Heading back to his office, he glanced through the narrow window above the main gate and stopped. Her car was in the lot, parked with its engine off. 

Jonathan stared, his thoughts stilling. No. You’re not supposed to be here. Not today. Not without me.

Turning, Jonathan headed for the security office. Now, control would need to be demonstrated.

You hadn’t planned to go to Arkham today. It was Sunday and you were still so tired from everything that had happened with Ares. You told yourself last night that you’d wait until Monday to return, and rest until then.

But then you read Jonathan's text message again from last night. If anything anchors him... it will be you.

And you couldn’t stop wondering... What if that was true? What if just being near him could help bring Ares back? What if he needed something familiar, someone, to hold on to?

You drove without deciding to and found yourself in the parking lot without even remembering the last turn. Arkham loomed ahead, gray and still. No one was at the security desk when you walked in. It was a first, but then you'd only shown up on a couple of weekends before. Both were times Ares needed you to bring him something he forgot. 

You should’ve stopped there, and waited. Or got back in your car and gone home. But you wandered from the front desk. Jonathan wasn’t in his office, and that was disappointing because you would have liked to talk to him, ask if there was any change. 

And then you got the idea... A misguided one, maybe. But it felt right at the time. 

What if I could just find Ares’s room? Not to talk. Just… to see him. To let him know I was still there.

You passed through the wrong hallway before you realized it. The lights were dimmer in the corridor where you were. It was colder, even with the cozy sweater you wore with your jeans. 

You moved slowly, checking doors for anything familiar. But the layout twisted and changed. And then came the voices. Not calling to you. Not even really speaking words. Just sounds. Soft scraping and whispered things. Laughter that didn’t match any expression you saw. Eyes watched you through narrow slats in steel-reinforced doors. Some called to you like they were coaxing a cat. Others hissed things you didn’t catch, but felt.

Your heartbeat climbed and you wrapped your arms around yourself, colder now. Still, you pressed forward. It didn't take you long to realize, you were lost. 

Every door you passed looked the same. Every hallway branched like a decision you weren’t sure you should’ve made.  And then the fear, not just of where you were, but of who might find you. Not a stranger. Jonathan. Your steps faltered. You didn’t tell him you were coming. You didn’t ask for help or wait in his office like you were supposed to. What if he’s angry?

What if he saw this as a breach of trust? What if he thought you were interfering?

What if… he didn’t help you next time?

That thought rooted deep in your chest. You didn’t want to lose Jonathan, too. Not now.

Jonathan stood inside the security room, arms folded, watching the cameras cycle. The desk chair spun slightly, empty. The security guard on duty wasn't where he was supposed to be. The monitor screen showed her wandering alone through the asylum. Not in the administrative wing and nowhere near his office. No, she was on the wrong side of the asylum. 

She had no badge or clearance. What are you doing? Who told you this was safe?

He switched cameras, angles flashing past until one caught her from overhead. She was walking slower now. He could see it in the lines of her body, the way she moved stiff and anxious. 

Good. Fear is appropriate here.

But fear wouldn’t keep her safe. And he hadn’t authorized this risk. Stepping away from the monitors, he fought back his rising anger at the entire situation. The guard was gone, nowhere to be found. Another variable to clean up.

But first, he'd deal with her. Pulling out his phone, he checked the status feed. Subject 41, today's test subject was awake now or at least somewhat awake from the sedation. Shoving his phone back into his coat pocket, Jonathan navigated to that cell on the computer screen using the controls in front of him. Jonathan’s finger hovered over the mouse before hitting manual override to open the door of Subject 41's room. The sounds of the door being unlocked got the subject's attention, and of course, he wandered right out. His gait was unsteady, his aggitation from the dose he'd been given obvious and lingering.

Jonathan retrieved sedatives from his office before heading out of the administrative wing. He moved in silence. 

If you won’t stay where it’s safe… You’ll learn what happens when I’m not there to protect you. 

You were just about to try and find your way back. You had no idea where you were anymore, but the halls had grown much quieter now. You couldn't hear the voices or taps behind doors. Just an eerie stillness that made you afraid. The overhead lights buzzed faintly, blinking here and there to escalate your unease. You reached a corner and stopped, no longer sure which way you’d come from. You felt like someone was watching you.

And then he was there. A tall, young man with broad shoulders and his hair in random spikes all over his head. His eyes were wild, unfocused, and his hands twitched at his sides.

You froze in place. He didn’t see you. Like Ares, he saw something else. Something worse.

When he rushed toward you, you screamed and bolted in the opposite direction. His footsteps thundered behind you. You ran blindly, hand skimming the wall, and your breath catching in your throat. You turned, turned again... Then to your absolute horror, you met a dead end, slamming into the far wall. And that man was right behind you. 

Your breath was ragged and your chest hurt. Your fists clenched, as if that was going to help you. 

The man muttered something, you couldn't make it out, he raised something--a bar, a pipe, you couldn’t tell. You threw your hands up...

Just before he could land the blow, you heard a sharp hiss. You noticed a shape behind him. You saw the needle plunge into his neck, fast and smooth. The man dropped instantly. 

It was Jonathan.

You stumbled back as the man fell. Jonathan stepped forward, appearing perfectly calm. 

You didn’t think to ask or look for help, and you didn't hesitate. You ran straight to him, choking on a sob with your vision blurring at the edges. Your hands found his coat before your brain could form a single thought. Your fingers curled tight into the fabric like it might hold you upright.

There was only a second's hesitation before his arms closed around you, strong and certain. Like they’d been waiting for this exact moment. You felt safer and warm, like the world had tilted, and only he remained steady. And you were shaking so hard you couldn’t speak.

You couldn't get your mind around the silent truth that something bad had almost happened. And if it weren’t for him, it would have.

She was clinging to him, trembling. Her breath rushing against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. He didn’t move or speak. Just wrapped his arms around her, steady and calm. But she was pressed fully against him now. Her face tucked into his chest, her breath catching against his shirt.

And for the first time since this all began, Jonathan felt the closeness not as theory or leverage, but as heat. She was warm, and her frame curved naturally into his side like it belonged there. Like she’d been designed to fit him. The scent of her, of summer rain, rose with every shaky breath she took. And now it was all over him. The scent of her on his coat and collar. His skin.

This is the closest I’ve gotten to either of you. And you gave it to me freely. Not in lust, rebellion, or fear. In need. 

Jonathan didn’t close his eyes, but he held her tighter. Because this? This he would remember.

You ran to me. You didn’t hesitate. You gave no thought of who caused this. Only who could stop it.

Footsteps came up behind him, quick and uneven. The security guard, red-faced and sweating, rounded the corner. And behind him, a nurse with wide eyes, already assessing the scene.

Jonathan supressed his anger at the fact that they interrupted his moment, but he didn't let go of her.

He glared at the guard, cold and sharp. “Where were you?”

The guard stammered something about checking the north hallway because of a patient out of place. His voice faltered when he saw the body on the floor, caught in his lie. That patient hadn't been out until Jonathan deliberately let him out. 

“She was unaccompanied in a restricted wing. You weren’t at your post. This patient was unsupervised.”

He said it evenly. For the record.

Then he looked to the nurse. “Make a report. Timestamp everything. I want to know how long he was out. And how this door was accessed.”

The nurse nodded quickly and knelt beside the sedated patient.

Jonathan turned back to the guard.

“You and I will speak later.”

The guard paled.

Jonathan turned slightly, guiding her through the hallways leading back to his office. Her grip on him never loosened. 

Let them see it. Let them all witness it. You trust me with your life. And now everyone knows.

Jonathan unlocked his office door without speaking. Ushered her inside with a gentle hand on her back. She moved like someone sleepwalking, numb and wide-eyed. It took him a minute to get her to loosen her grip. He didn’t ask if she wanted to sit, but guided her to the chair. 

He crouched in front of her, lowering himself instead of towering above her.

“You’re safe,” he said quietly. “He can’t hurt you. I made sure of that.”

She nodded. But it was mechanical. Her hands trembled.

“How did that even happen?” she whispered finally, her voice hoarse. “Why was he out?”

Jonathan exhaled slowly and sat back on his heels, keeping himself in control. “There are procedures in place to prevent this,” he said. “And they weren’t followed.” He let her take that in before he continued. “That’s why it happened. That’s what I’ll be correcting.”

She rubbed her hands against her face, trying to hide the tears. “I shouldn’t have come here today,” she muttered.

He rose slowly, calculating each motion as if he were stepping through glass. One wrong movement and something inside him would crack. 

She didn’t notice or see the way his breath hitched at the base of his throat. She didn’t feel the tremor that started in his fingers and traveled upward before he caught it, contained it. She'd clung to him like he was safe. That was the part that shook him.

Jonathan stepped back, his movements the same as usual. But inside, he was scrambling. She’d run to him, because in that moment, she believed he was the only safe place left. And now his body was betraying him with the aftershock. Her breath had hit his collar. Her hands had twisted into the front of his coat, and her entire body shook against him. And his body had reacted. It wasn't just arousal. No, there was something else. Longing. For more than touch, for possession.

For absolute psychological intimacy. Jonathan wanted more than her skin. He wanted her complete loyalty, her need. He wanted her devotion, not because he earned it, but because he designed it. He built the room she was standing in, and taught her to look at the lock like it was a window.

But now, Jonathan wasn’t in control of his own reaction, and that was dangerous. Turning from her, he kept his face neutral, filling the kettle with water and putting it on the small electrical heating device he now kept in his office. The task steadied him, making tea. The tea he'd laced for her, to calm her and reinforce her safety in his presence. It was a way to pull himself back from the intensity of that moment.

Jonathan needed to keep talking to her. “You came because you care. Because you want to help him.”

She didn’t argue or try to defend it. She just lowered her hands and stared at the floor.

Her tea took six minutes, and when it was ready, he sat again in the chair beside her. “I’m going to take care of all of it,” he said softly. “The patient. The breach. The guard.”

His gaze met hers. “And you.”

She didn’t drink the tea at first, holding it between her palms like it might anchor her. Her voice, when it came, was barely audible. “I’m so sorry.”

He said nothing. Let her fill the silence.

“I knew better. I should’ve called or waited for you... I was going to. I just thought…” Her eyes brimmed again, and she looked away. “I thought if I could just see Ares, even for a second, maybe it would help him.”

Jonathan turned slightly toward her, his posture calm. “I understand.” He kept his tone low, neutral. “You were trying to help. That’s never a mistake.”

But now you’ve learned. You don’t move without me. You don’t act unless I say so. And you blame yourself for forgetting that.

He let a beat pass. “Next time… we’ll do it together.”

His words settled in silence as she enjoyed her tea, not seeming in a rush to leave, but not as scared as she was. It was a comfortable silence. And the addition to her drink had her relaxing nicely without questioning how or why. It was warranted considering how the last three days had gone for her. 

She stood slowly, setting the cup on the desk with shaking hands. Her eyes were softer now. There were no tears, but she looked exhausted. But there was something else there now--resolve.

She looked at him, small and sincere. “I’ll listen from now on.” A promise unwrapped in slow, deliberate words. “I’ll do what you say, Jonathan. I know you’ll protect him… and me.”

Reaching out, lightly, her fingers grazed his sleeve. “I trust you.”

Then she was gone, closing the door softly behind her. 

Jonathan rose from his seat but he didn’t move for a full minute. His hands hung loosely at his sides, his posture still.

But inside? Pure chaos. She had no idea what she’d just said. What she’d given him or those three words meant, spoken in his office, in his space, after he’d saved her. It wasn't gratitude, no, it went deeper than that. Her words were binding. 

His chest rose sharply, a breath he didn’t want. Didn’t like.

Trust.

He’d manufactured it in others before, had watched it bloom in test subjects and patients too broken to question him.

But this? This was different. This was her choosing him. And now he was shaking again. Jonathan kept himself quiet and controlled but it was unmistakable.

You touched me. You clung to me. Gave me your weight. Spoke my name with trust. A complete absence of performance or manipulation. It was real.

His body knew what it wanted. It had responded the second she pressed into him, fit into his side like soft fire, like it had always belonged there. He hadn’t imagined the scent of her, warm and salt-sweet from fear. He didn't miss the brush of her thigh against his as she stepped into him. Her scent was all over him, lingering on his coat, collar, and skin. 

What did he do with something that wasn't theoretical? Wasn't academic?

Turning away from his desk, he walked slowly back to the sink in the corner of his office. Rolling up his sleeves, he washed his hands in cold water, using repetitive motions. He desperately needed to recapture some semblance of control. 

But he couldn't get her out of his head. Jonathan had slept with people before. Brief, emotionless encounters that were mostly curiosity though some he did to mimic normalcy. Some were useful to him. 

He’d never wanted someone like this. She was not them. She was caring, loving, creative with no displays of artifice in the entire time he'd known her. She'd been with Ares a few years and he'd been unable to find any traces of another lover and he'd searched thoroughly. She'd never take a stranger back to her hotel room at a conference or proposition a man for any reason. Intelligent? She was. Very emotionally intelligent and that was his blind spot. 

What if I break her? What if she can’t take it?

His mind had never once doubted his own restraint. But now with her words still echoing in the room, with her scent in his lungs and her warmth still in his coat, he wasn't so sure he could restrain himself with her. 

Jonathan's desires weren’t soft, and they never had been. They weren't about sex for the sake of release. No, for him it was all about dominance and obsession. Consumption and reprogramming. Not just her body, but her entire self. 

I want her to belong to me so completely that she forgets she ever belonged to anyone else. I want her to thank me for rewriting her. I want to devour her and call it devotion.

But Jonathan had no roadmap for this. No experience in intimacy with someone who meant something. He didn’t know how to take what he wanted when he cared if it scared her. Oh, the irony in that. 

Jonathan leaned his palms on the counter and bowed his head. His breath was steady, but his pulse was erratic. His fingers curled against the porcelain.

He couldn’t touch her until he was completely sure she wouldn't flinch. Wouldn't pull away from him. He couldn't have her seeing him as anything but what he needed her to see, her protector and anchor. 

When it happened, and he needed her soon, he needed her to want him. It couldn't be some unscripted encounter like today. No, he needed to be ready for it, and he needed her to come to him, initiate things.

Walking to the door, he locked it. With his heart finally slowing, he slid into the chair she’d been sitting in. The space still smelled like her. Pulling out his phone, he tapped open the mirrored interface to access hers. Not because he doubted her, he just needed to understand. He scrolled past today. Jonathan went weeks back, to around the time he arrived at Arkham. Back to when Ares Katsaros was still functioning as chief administrator, when he was still in the way.

The texts were easy and familiar. But there was distance, and it grew with each conversation. A hesitation in tone. A routine, not a rhythm.

Jonathan read them each carefully. A repeated use of “Sorry I missed you" from Ares. '"We’ll find time soon" was also a repeated phrase.  Finally, Ares was beginning to admit defeat.

Ares: I just don’t feel like myself lately. I don’t want to take it out on you.

Her: “I miss you. I miss us. But I understand.”

Then nothing for four days.

Her: Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll be here.

Jonathan sat back, taking it all in. They weren’t living together, which was curious since they were engaged. They hadn't been intimate in weeks. And it wasn’t her choice.

She was waiting. Loyal even then. Holding space for a man who wasn’t holding her.

​And now that space is empty. And I’ve stepped into it. 

​She’s grieving something that was already broken.

That wasn’t a vulnerability. It was an invitation. 

Jonathan wouldn't move recklessly. He never did. But their messages confirmed something he'd suspected. There’s room to rewrite her. To redefine what love feels like, and what safety looks like. There was an opportunity to give her something stronger than what she had with Ares. Something inevitable.

Yes. He could work with this. And she would never even realize it was happening. Not until she woke up one day and couldn’t remember why she ever loved anyone but him.

Jonathan had just finished his rounds, was logging his results from the experiment today, and trying not to think about what happened with her earlier today for the hundredth time. 

He didn’t hear his office door open, but he heard it close.

Jonathan looked up from his desk, instinct narrowing his breath. A man stood across from him, mid-fifties, lean, composed, dressed in black. His clothes were expensive, his wool coat and leather gloves. The man had sharp grey eyes, and had a military posture without the uniform. 

There was no warnign or security -- that guard was getting fired first thing in the morning. The man had no badge or clearance. 

The man offered him no fear either. 

“Dr. Crane,” the man spoke calmly like a greeting.

Jonathan didn’t stand. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“No... But you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

The man stepped forward and placed a small black case on Jonathan’s desk, right over the journal where he'd been making notes. He unsnapped the latches, and opened it.

The glass vial was the first thing that got his attention. It was filled with a translucent liquid and soft fragments of blue petals, suspended like they were floating in ice water. The scent was strong to reach him from the sealed container. It smelled strangley herbal and mineral rich. 

And beneath it, the case was filled with thick stacks of banded cash. 

Jonathan said nothing. Somehow he sensed the man preferred it that way. 

“Himalayan Blue Poppy,” the man said. “Used for centuries. We’ve refined it.”

He didn’t touch the vial. Just looked at it like it belonged here.

“The mind opens when it breathes fear. But this flower… It digs deeper.”

Jonathan glanced up, narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?”

The man gave a faint smile, then offered something worse than an answer. “A student. A teacher. A keeper of thresholds. We open the doors others won’t touch.”

Jonathan hated riddles. “What do you want?”

“To help you.” The man’s voice was smooth. “We’ve followed your work for some time. It's impressive, if a bit underfed.”

He motioned toward the money in the case.

“Now that the previous administrator is… no longer a concern, we thought it time to invest properly in your vision.”

That stilled Jonathan. “What do you know about that?”

The man tilted his head. “We know what you did.” His voice was calm and devoid of judgment. Almost like he was reading it from a file he’d already memorized. “And we know why.”

Jonathan didn’t react outwardly, but internally, something narrowed. Why. Not just opportunity or power. Not a career move. They understood the emotional calculus.

The man took a measured step forward. “I had a wife once,” he said. "She died in a way that left questions. Holes that never quite closed. I lost more than a partner, I lost order.” He glanced down at the case again, then back at Crane with unsettling calm. “When you find something worth protecting… you understand what you’re capable of. And what must be done to preserve it.”

Jonathan’s breath cooled in his chest.

There was no subtlety in the man’s next words. “You’d do anything for her.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. One that shouldn’t have been said aloud.

The space between them shrank, not physically, but conceptually. For a single moment, his visitor stood where Jonathan stood. Not as a rival but as a mirror. And mirrors, Jonathan knew, were dangerous.

You see yourself in them. But you don’t control what they reflect. And now he’s looking at me like he’s already counted the cracks in my foundation.

“That’s none of your concern," Jonathan said flatly.

The man’s smile didn’t change. “Everything about her is our concern, Dr. Crane."

Jonathan didn’t move. But his entire internal world contracted into one singular thought. I need to get to her. Now. Before they do, and take what’s mine.

He reached into his coat and retrieved a folded envelope, laying it beside the file. There was no name or seal. But Jonathan understood. It was leverage.

Jonathan leaned back slightly. “This isn’t an offer.”

The man nodded. “It’s a gift. For now.” He turned toward the door. “We’ll be in touch, Dr. Crane.”

And with that, the man was gone. He stepped into the hallway and disappeared without another word. He didn't hear an echo of his footsteps, nor see a shadow in the glass. Just gone.

Jonathan kept his eyes on the closed door, chest rising slowly, mechanically. Then his gaze dropped to the case and the vial it held. To the black envelope that he opened without ceremony, and inside he found one photograph. 

It was small and cleanly printed. It was a picture of her. It captured her mid-stride, walking down the street near her gallery. It wasn’t recent. The angle of light, the coat she wore, the small gallery tote in her hand all pointed to weeks ago. But what mattered wasn’t the when. It was the who, and how close they'd been. Blurred in the background, half in frame, barely distinguishable, was a man in a long coat. He was facing her, following with no expression or interaction. But he'd been close enough to touch her. 

Jonathan's breath caught, sharp and cold. It wasn't fear but violation. The picture felt like someone had reached into his ribcage and brushed their fingers against something sacred. She'd been completely unaware, walking and smiling. And they’d been watching. They could have done anything, taken her, hurt her. Ended her. 

Their restraint was the message. They wanted him to know. 

His hand closed around the slip of paper folded beneath the photo. Cream-colored parchment unfolded with a whisper. On it was a single line, handwritten in careful ink.

She is lovely. Be sure you keep her.

His vision pulsed at the edges, heat, rising not from panic but from something colder. Claim. They were reminding him that she wasn’t his, and that she was only alive because they allowed it.

Jonathan stood slowly, took a deep breath. He set the envelope down with surgical precision, and closed the case over the vial and the cash. 

He reached into his coat pocket, retrieving his private phone and unlocked it. He accessed the mirrored connection again. Her phone loaded immediately.

There was a text exchange two hours old with Lexi, the other co-owner of the gallery. 

Lexi: Hey, are you okay? What’s going on?

Her: Just tired. Ares… it’s been a lot. I’m trying to hold it together. He's had a mental breakdown of some kind. 

Her: I miss him. And now I can't even see him.

Jonathan's hand tightened around the phone until the case creaked. She still loved Ares. Even now, even after everything, a part of her is waiting for him to return. And if they knew that, if they’d followed her this closely, seen that ache in her... They could use it.

No. Absolutely not. I took him from her to protect her. To make space for something better. Something safe.

I can’t leave her out there. I can’t let them near her again. Not when they’ve already shown they could touch her if they wanted.

Jonathan slipped the phone into his coat and picked up his keys, stepping into the hall without a sound. He didn’t alert the staff. He'd just been about to leave anyway, it was after midnight. He didn’t activate the gate. He just exited through the lower-level exit reserved for faculty on overnight shift.

He reached her apartment in fourteen minutes. Using the spare key he’d taken Friday night, he entered without noise. Her apartment was dark and quiet, but it still smelled the same. He moved through each room like a breath until he reached her bedroom.

She was asleep. One arm was thrown over her head, and the bedding bunched around her feet. She wore a T-shirt that had ridden up to her ribcage and a tiny pair of red panties. Fuck. 

Her phone was charging on the nightstand, and there was no sign of intrusion. No sign of fear. Everything was untouched and safe. For now.

Jonathan stood in her doorway and exhaled, barely audible. And in that breath was everything he was drowning in, relief, obsession, resolve.

This can't happen again. She can't stay here alone or be out of my reach.

I need to move her, and reframe this life. I need her with me, not just for her protection. For mine.

Jonathan stood at the threshold of her bedroom, completely still. One hand braced lightly against the doorframe. His other still curled loosely at his side.

She shifted slightly in her sleep, a breath escaping against her pillow, soft and human. She was oblivious to the wolves circling her, to the man standing in her doorway. The one who let himself in, who knew every inch of her layout now. Who could predict how long she’d sleep? What time she’d stir? What her next ten messages would be?

And yet, despite all his preparation, the mystery man had beaten him here. Weeks ago. He'd been close enough to take her and didn’t, just to prove he could.

Jonathan ground his teeth together for a moment before he unclenched. This wasn’t about anger. No, anger was noisy and wasteful.

This was about recalibration. The plan he’d built, his original timeline, was now too slow. He'd intended for her to slowly gravitate into his orbit as Ares slipped away. He'd let her feel safe in his office, dependent on him for comfort. He'd meant for her to ask for more, little by little, until the idea of staying with him became her own.

But that luxury was gone.

Outside variables had entered the system, leaving her too exposed. She leaves this apartment. Talks to too many people. She has a gallery she’s emotionally tethered to with contacts I don’t control. Too many open ends. Too many loose permissions.

He glanced around her room again as his mind began to turn.

Jonathan would start with severance from the gallery. He'd introduce uncertainty.  A patron incident? A break-in? Something small, but rattling. Something that makes her question the safety of that space. He would suggest she take a leave of absence for her mental health. Maybe he'd even insist. She'd been through so much between Friday and today. It would be good for her mental health to have a break from the gallery following whatever plan he devised. He had plenty of money now, staging something would be fairly easy.

Then he'd reinforce the fragility of her current situation. Jonathan needed to increase the illusion of threat without making her the target. Let her feel the weight of the danger again. The kind that makes her reach for him.

He'd create dependence at home, using a message like the one he'd received tonight. Jonathan could suggest those behind the message could be responsible for what was happening to Ares. It would be delivered somewhere she wouldn't expect. She'd realize that her apartment was no longer safe, and Ares couldn't help her. But Jonathan could. 

And he'd offer temporary shelter, a guest room. Security with no pressure at all, just concern for her well-being. 

But once she entered his house, she wouldn't be leaving. 

Jonathan stepped back from the bedroom, the shadows swallowing him again. In one week's time, she would be in his home by her own request. He'd make sure of it. 

And when she arrived, there’d be no gallery to pull her back. No friends who weren’t vetted first. There would be no space that wasn’t under his control.

[sanctuary-sonic-au]

My friend wanted to keep Neo Metal Sonic the same for the AU. Thought it was funny to think about but I realized it wouldn’t fit the vibe of the AU and would make him look out of place. (Metal Sonic, Neo Metal Sonic, and Metal Overlord are different entities in this AU btw. They are Security systems. Metal Overlord being the biggest form of security on the ARK actually)

Anyway, this is my attempt at a work around of making their idea work without it feeling out of place.

This is only a first attempt at a design btw, I’ll probably redesign him or make tweaks later.

Like regular Metal, he ends up developing a personality after a while. Neo specifically being a very dignified lad who would totally participate in tea parties with Helen in his spare time LOL.

-Regular Metal was made as a security system for Sonic specifically (read here):

-Neo is the main security robot keeping tabs on all the animals on the ARK and the leader of all the smaller security drones (which there are a lot of and also includes regular Metal Sonic). He has data on all the animals onboard and uses it to help capture them if any where to ever theoretically go crazy (or if they are found in places they are very much NOT ALLOWED to be in). If he has to, he will use this data to his advantage to morph in ways that will help him against who he’s facing. He has tranq darts and nets at his disposal as well (but these are usually a last ditch effort as he is programmed to capture animals humanly)! Naturally, with Neo being the head of the security robots and Tom being the head of security in general, the two interact often business wise and answer to eachother when something’s up.

-Metal Overlord is the highest form of security the ARK has, only used if there’s a disaster so bad the ARK has to go into complete lockdown. Me and my friend joke that he’s super lazy and sleeps 24/7 because he rarely ever has to do his job LMAO.

[sillygoofyqueer]

Oh, you want to know more about any of the other AUs I've done??? You want to know more lore about those AUs that you're interested in? Actually fuck you instead take the MDZS AU based off a dream I've had for two nights in a row. Okay so it starts with Wei Wuxian in a Wen corporation building - it's got heavy security and a practical death sentence if he gets caught, but there's a party going on downstairs and he used that as a distraction to get up. He needs this data (probably on something to do with the Wen family or proof of their crimes). However, he was given slightly false information and has ended up in the wrong room, with different ancient artefacts displayed on the walls and on every kind of shelf around the room. He gets frustrated and kicks a shelf, leading to an artefact that was perched precariously on the edge smashing onto the floor. Lan Wangji, who has been trapped inside this artefact by the Wen for far too long, is immediately thankful to whomever has freed him. He stares down at this mortal man and gives his hand in marriage (as was the custom back in his time) with the benefits that go along with it (immortality, kewl powers, a hot husband). Wei Wuxian, who didn't mean to accidentally awaken a god, is like "yes please, give me a magic husband - oh but uh...I do really need this data, though." Lan Wangji is like "aight bet" but he needs to regain his strength so he can't just magic it into existence. However, he has been sentient throughout his time in the artefact and knows where everything is - because Wen Chao (the one in charge of this corporation) liked to carry around his artefact (an amulet of sorts) everywhere as a brag because yes, he does wear this priceless Lan artefact like a bit of cheap jewellery! So, he can guide Wei Wuxian around this place and tell him where the data he needs is. Wei Wuxian knows that even two's a crowd when sneaking around, so gives Lan Wangji a earpiece (he carries a spare because well...he can lose his) and tells him to get somewhere safe so he can tell him where to go. Lan Wangji takes initiative and sneaks into the security room (disposes of any guards in his way and then steals their clothes because he may be a respectful god but hey. He knows what the Wen have done and he's not happy.) Now he can assist his heroic malewife (he decided that Wei Wuxian was the wife a long time ago) in his quest to take down the nefarious Wen from the inside! Cut to Wei Wuxian pulling himself through a shaft because there were guards coming and Lan Wangji told him to go up that way. (Okay can you tell that my dreams are really weird? I had a whole three act dream, and woke up and was like "wangxian." If you want to hear more about this heist/god and mortal love story dream I had, there's still more from my dream, I just got a little distracted when writing this post and now have to go to sleep.)

[fearfulfertility]

CONFIDENTIAL REPORT

DRC, Security Office, Internal Security Division

To: Director [REDACTED]

From: Assistant Director [REDACTED]

Subject: Analysis of Quarterly Surrogate Escape Attempts

Date: [REDACTED]

Prepared for: Director [REDACTED]

Executive Summary

Surrogates attempting to escape from paternity compounds represent a futile but ultimately recurring security concern. While first-tour handlers often express alarm when an escape attempt is in progress, historical data confirms that out of [REDACTED] escape attempts, no surrogate has ever successfully fled beyond a manageable distance. This report examines the average distance surrogates make it before they collapse under their weight, factors contributing to these failed escapes, and the notable case of a surrogate who managed to steal a vehicle—only to discover he was too heavy for it to move.

The findings outlined here show that pursuit is generally unnecessary and that escape attempts often resolve themselves naturally within minutes.

I. Escape Distance Analysis

Security footage from the past [REDACTED] was analyzed to assess the maximum distance surrogates can travel before exhaustion sets in. The following data presents the average escape distances categorized by fetal load and total pregnancy weight.

Surrogate #S111-172-H - Octuplets (8)

Abdominal Circumference: 71 in.

Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 155 lbs

Current Weight: 310-350 lbs

Total Escape Distance: 61 ft

Surrogate #S121-132-L - Dodecuplets (12)

Abdominal Circumference: 84 in.

Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 162 lbs

Current Total Weight: 380-420 lbs

Total Escape Distance: 38 ft

Surrogate #S138-116-O - Quindecuplets (15)

Abdominal Circumference: 91 in.

Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 167 lbs

Current Total Weight: 440-475 lbs

Total Escape Distance: 21 ft

Surrogate #S132-162-Q - Septendecuplets (17)

Abdominal Circumference: 95 in.

Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 183 lbs

Current Total Weight: 480-520 lbs

Total Escape Distance: 9 ft 

Surrogate #S127-189-S - Nonodecuplets (19)

Abdominal Circumference: 102 in. (259 cm)

Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 147 lbs

Current Total Weight: 530+ lbs

Total Escape Distance: [REDACTED] (Became Stuck in Doorway)

The data shows no surrogate has ever managed to travel more than [REDACTED] before succumbing to exhaustion, weight burden, or pregnancy-related complications triggered by excessive movement. The most significant factor in these collapses is the overwhelming strain on the cardiovascular and [REDACTED] systems, combined with the rapid depletion of available oxygen due to [REDACTED].

II. Case Studies

Case Study #1

One of the most notable escape attempts occurred at Paternity Compound 117 (Atlanta, GA, FEMA Zone 4), in which Surrogate S312-102-N (14 fetuses, +460 lbs) successfully made it to an unattended van.

Security footage showed the surrogate waddling at maximum speed ([REDACTED] mph) for approximately [REDACTED] feet before reaching an unlocked package delivery vehicle.

The surrogate opened the driver-side door, seated himself inside, and attempted to start the engine.

Due to the weight distribution shift inside the vehicle, the van’s front suspension immediately bottomed out, lifting the rear tires off the ground.

At this point, the vehicle was completely immobilized. The surrogate was then apprehended before further disruption could occur.

Extraction required four staff members and a medical lubricant to free the surrogate from the driver’s seat.

The delivery vehicle suffered damage due to excessive weight and had to be disposed of.

The entire escape attempt lasted a total of 4 minutes and 17 seconds.

"I saw him waddle for the van and just stood there with my arms crossed. What was I supposed to do—run? The guy barely made it ten steps without gasping for air. Then he sat down, and that van dipped like a seesaw. Funniest thing I’ve seen all week." - Security Officer [REDACTED]

Case Study #2

Another memorable escape attempt occurred at Paternity Compound 131 (Medford, OR, FEMA Zone 10), in which Surrogate S131-564-R (Quindecuplets (15), +485 lbs) grossly underestimated his stamina.

Security footage from the delivery ward showed the doctor and nurse leaving to attend to a [REDACTED] matter, leaving the surrogate unsupervised.

The surrogate managed to roll off his bed and waddled [REDACTED] steps.

The surrogate was then seized by a contraction, causing him to collapse onto all fours.

The movement accelerated his delivery as he started crowning. 

At this point, the doctor and nurse returned in time to deliver the baby and then restrained the surrogate from further disruptions.

The surrogate continued to labor through eight more births before he was light enough to return to his bed.

The delivery suite required extra cleaning to deal with unplanned [REDACTED] discharge.

The entire escape attempt lasted a total of 1 minute and 37 seconds.

"I stepped out for two minutes, and when I came back, he was down on the floor, halfway through delivery. He thought he was running? Honey, you weren’t escaping—you were just inducing labor the hard way!" - Doctor [REDACTED]

Case Study #3

A final escape attempt occurred at Paternity Compound 127 (Columbus, OH, FEMA Zone 5), in which Surrogate S127-882-R (Quindecuplets (15), +515 lbs) attempted to flee while locked into caloric feeding machines.

Security footage from the feeding ward showed three handlers becoming distracted when one caloric feeding machine sprung a leak, spilling [REDACTED] gallons of nutritional slurry onto the ground. 

The surrogate rose from his seat and attempted to waddle to the exit but forgot the feeding tube was still in his mouth. 

The aforementioned feeding tube only had 5 feet of tether before it yanked the surrogate backward.

The surrogate lost balance and collapsed onto his back, pinned by his belly.

At this point, the handlers noticed the escape attempt and intervened.

Handlers restrained the surrogate on the ground while increasing the volume of nutritional slurry from the caloric feeding machine. 

Within six hours, rapid weight gain rendered him immobile, with futile attempts to stand independently.

The entire escape attempt lasted a total of 57 seconds.

"I should’ve taken the stupid mask off! One second I was moving, the next—BAM—flat on my back, belly sticking straight up like a damn overturned turtle. Then they just left me there, still hooked up to the feeder, stuffing me until I was too fat to even roll over." - Surrogate S127-882-R

III. Key Takeaways & Security Recommendations

No Need for High-Speed Pursuits

All surrogates experienced severe exhaustion within [REDACTED] seconds, making pursuit entirely unnecessary.

Security officers should conserve energy and approach at a casual walking pace.

"Rolling Method" for Surrogate Retrieval

When surrogates collapse on their backs, they become functionally incapacitated.

Rather than attempting direct lifting, security should gently roll them sideways to reposition them before transport.

Discourage Vehicle Access, But Not Too Much

Given the abysmal damage rates amongst vehicle-based escape attempts, staff should lock vehicles when not in use.

Optimize Flooring to Accelerate Fatigue

Security recommends installing padded flooring in escape-prone corridors to accelerate surrogate exhaustion and reduce resistance without direct intervention.

Conclusion

Escape attempts, while frequent, remain an entirely self-defeating endeavor. The average surrogate collapses within seconds to minutes or quickly finds their size impossible to manage independently.

As a result, additional security measures are deemed unnecessary. Instead, compounds should continue allowing surrogates to exhaust themselves, retrieve them when ready, and maintain their focus rather than worrying about "successful" escapes.

This report confirms that surrogates are their worst enemies when it comes to escape and that a policy of minimal intervention will continue to be the most cost-effective approach.

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

Click Here to return to DRC Report Archives

[3rtechnology]

Benefits of Data Shredding: Why Data Shredding is Essential for Ultimate Security

We all know the importance of online security these days, but what about the physical devices we use? Just deleting files isn't enough. Data, especially sensitive information, can often be recovered from seemingly "erased" devices. This is where data shredding comes in, offering a powerful and secure way to dispose of unwanted information.

Benefits and Advantages of Data Shredding:

Ironclad Security: Shredding physically destroys data storage devices, making it impossible for anyone to recover the information they held. This is crucial for protecting sensitive data like social security numbers, financial records, or intellectual property.

Compliance Champion: Many industries have strict regulations regarding data disposal. Data shredding ensures you comply with these laws, avoiding hefty fines and legal trouble.

Peace of Mind: Knowing your data is truly gone brings immense peace of mind. Whether you're a business owner, a freelancer, or simply someone looking to declutter their electronics, shredding provides a layer of security that simple deletion can't match.

Customer and Employee Protection: Businesses hold a wealth of sensitive information about both customers and employees. Data shredding safeguards this data, preventing a data breach that could expose personal details and damage your reputation.

Environmental Hero: E-waste, including old hard drives and devices, can be harmful to the environment. Data shredding paves the way for responsible e-recycling, as shredded devices can be safely dismantled and their materials reused.

Shredding Methods:

There are two main ways to shred data:

Software Overwriting: This method uses specialized software to overwrite existing data with random characters, making it virtually unrecoverable.

Physical Destruction: This involves physically shredding the storage device into tiny pieces, ensuring complete data destruction.

Choosing a Shredding Service:

For maximum security and convenience, consider using a professional data shredding service. They offer certified asset destruction processes, often with options for on-site shredding for added peace of mind.

Data Shredding: A Smart Choice for a Secure Future

In today's digital world, data security is paramount. Data shredding offers a powerful solution, safeguarding sensitive information, ensuring compliance, and promoting environmental responsibility. So, don't just delete - shred your data for ultimate security!

3R Technology

8002 S 208th St E105, Kent, WA 98032, United States

(206) 582-7100

[primus-why]

Okay okay just a real quick: MegOp Bodyguard Affair within an Arranged Marriage AU???

Imagine Orion Pax is very very very distantly related to one of the lineages of the Primes, and though he goes about his life practically a mid-caste, the fact remains that he is technically considered high-caste.

He maintains a job as an Archivist, living out a modest, unassuming life, and generally doesn't care for the pomp and circumstance of high-caste affairs. The flashiness just isn't in his nature, and there is something he can't quite place his digit on when he attended those soirees-- something unsettling and almost invisible.

The key word here being almost. He is not ignorant to the way higher-castes handle their lower-caste staff-- in his youth he'd overheard his fair share of unjust punishments over minuscule offenses or listened to someone brag about withholding payment as a means to pinch a few credits. Though Orion doesn't exist in that sphere any more, he can't shake the sense that things have just gotten worse. His friend Jazz is an upper mid-caste who has a knack for keeping an audial to the ground thanks to his security work, and has told him many times there is a growing unrest all over Cybertron-- that it's only a matter of time before it bursts into something ugly.

Orion already sees ugliness; as the slum areas continue to expand, as mechs and their homes fall into disrepair, the Senate and Council of Primes don't appear to care at all about the wellbeing of Cybertronian citizens. He sees what Jazz is referring to-- there is a looming darkness, and their people are disconnected. But what can Orion, a mere data clerk, possibly do about it?

He does what he's best at: cataloging whatever data he can find to educate himself of the stories he cannot see or fathom.

Through his research he discovered some of the gruesome ways mechs in castes below him have been treated, but even then he knew his findings were only scratching the surface. He wanted to learn more-- to speak with others who had direct experiences. He first began with Ratchet, a dear friend who was also high-caste, who used his vast medical knowledge to attend to anyone who came to him. In fact, Ratchet purposefully divides his time between high-caste hospitals and a clinic he created in Rodion in order to give lower-castes access to his skill. The lack of opportunities for maintenance and even basic medical care horrified Orion, and it only urged him to look deeper.

That was how he had eventually discovered the forums-- large, categorized, virtual assemblies of mechs from all walks of life, interacting anonymously under pseudonyms. He absorbed as much as he could-- even the uglier sides he couldn't stomach on the first read. It felt important that he saw these things, as it confirmed his suspicions that the high-castes who operated the Senate were willfully allowing people to suffer for their own benefit and comfort.

In time, he learned of the works of Megatronus-- a gladiator who fought in the Pits of Kaon, but who was also an impressive orator and author. He would publish transcribed speeches and essays under a pseudonym, though Orion quickly learned the mech's true identity from others who followed his work. His words spoke plainly of the inequalities and injustices present in society, shedding light on the lives of unnamed Disposables, and wove a dream of a world without a caste system, without Functionism. In short, it was revolutionary, and captured Orion so intensely that he became uncharacteristically emboldened one cycle and sent Megatronus a direct message.

Of course, while Orion had already been chatting with a few mechs here and there to learn of their accounts, something about reaching out to Megatronus felt... different. A much bigger step. Perhaps it was because he was something of a celebrity, being a public figure in the blood sport he championed as well as being a talented writer. Orion was nervous and excited all at once-- though he reminded himself he really ought not to be, seeing as Megatronus would be understandably far too busy to even read his message... surely he gets hundreds of those a cycle...

But then something miraculous happened-- Megatronus actually responded!!!

And thus began their fervent exchange of ideas. Megatronus was as captivating as Orion had suspected-- an enlightening philosopher wrapped within the charms of his quick wit and forward nature. Eventually-- though they had never even seen each other-- a deep mutual friendship bloomed, and Orion longed to visit Megatronus in Kaon... to meet and hear him speak in person...

(He longed for other things as well, but dare not voice them aloud for he knew how outlandish it was to want them. Orion knew he could not monopolize Megatronus' time in the selfish way he would like-- not when he was so important to the revolutionary movement he had started...)

However, everything changed when Orion's cousin Sentinel was named a Prime.

There hadn't been a new Prime in ages. Zeta and Vector had been serving for many vorns, while Alpha Trion came well before them and was by far the oldest; Sentinel would likely be replacing him on their Council of Primes. This, Orion knew, would be devastating news to Megatronus-- he knew the gladiator had hoped to one day ascend to the title of Prime as demonstration of overcoming the oppression of the caste system. Now, it seemed they would have to wait even longer for the next rare chance of a new Prime being named.

Secondary to all that, Orion was facing his own personal troubles. He, who was content to live an unassuming life, had been thrust into the spotlight for having an even closer lineage to the Primes. Now he had strangers sending him gifts, even showing up at his place of work, vying for his good graces so he might put in a word to Sentinel on their behalf. Or worse, they attempted to seduce him in a blatant attempt to ascend the social ladder through a conjux bond. It all made Orion deeply uncomfortable, and he thanked Alpha Trion profusely for letting him use a private workstation at the Archives, otherwise he would have lost his mind (or his temper.)

For folks desperate to recieve acknowledgment from the new Prime to boost their social standing, they were shockingly naive about Orion's relationship to Sentinel. They had been estranged for over half his function by now, in part because they existed in different circles, but also because Orion could hardly stand the mech. Sentinel had been pompous and cocky as a sparkling, and unfortunately it was a not a phase he grew out of. He was, quite frankly, a classic example of the type of leader people were growing to despise-- an arrogant and over-polished politician who made decisions to only benefit himself and crush the rest beneath his pedes.

That train of thought led him back to Megatronus; Orion hadn't heard from him in a while. At first he had been terrified that his dear friend had finally been overtaken in the Pit, killed by his fellow mech or by some massive beast stolen from a foreign planet. But after scanning the Kaon news for joors, he found no recounting of such an event-- surely the champion's defeat would have made a headline? Orion concluded he must be held up by something, and so after not receiving a response for quite some time, he ventured to ask another gladiator who worked closely with Megatronus-- Soundwave. He knew the silent mech didn't like to be bothered, but he had hoped to convey his concerns well enough that he could be forgiven just this once.

Orion: Hello, Soundwave. I am sorry to disturb you with the same question I'm sure countless others have been wondering, but do you know where Megatronus is?

Soundwave: ... Affirmative. Many have wondered. However, Orion Pax first to ask.

Orion: Oh! I would have assumed your inbox would be flooded by inquiries to his whereabouts...

Soundwave: Others afraid to ask.

Orion: ... Afraid to ask you or afraid to ask what has become of him? Did something bad happen?? Is he alright???

Soundwave: ... Inconclusive. Not good, not bad. Confirmed: Megatronus is unharmed.

Orion: That is such a relief to hear!! In that case, may I inquire further as to what situation prevents him from communicating? That is to say, I noticed he hasn't been posting to the forums as of late...

Soundwave: ... Megatronus: loaned to high-caste buyer. Unable to establish contact until further notice. Contract duration: one stellar cycle. Megatronus: will post as soon as able.

Orion: Oh... is that a common situation you find yourselves in?

Soundwave: Uncommon, but not rare.

Orion: I see... thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Soundwave. It was most illuminating. In the meantime, I will endeavor to be patient a while longer for Megatronus' return to the forums. Farewell for now, and please stay safe.

Soundwave abruptly exited their chat without a departing remark, not that Orion expected him to do anything else.

It had been hard as of late to see his friends in Iacon with all the new attention he had been attracting. Now, without even his dear online companion to talk to, Orion felt a bit isolated... lonely, even. But he knew the buzz around Sentinel's Primacy ceremony would die down eventually, so all he had to do was persevere.

Still, as much as he enjoyed the company of mechs like Ratchet and Jazz over a com channel, there was something about those text-based messages between himself and Megatronus that he craved. The gladiator provided intellectual stimulation that he found in no one else, and it was intoxicating...

Unfortunately the universe decided it would not let Orion Pax stew in isolation for long. No, it had other plans... which involved Sentinel suddenly deciding to send for him, so that they might meet at his grand estate and "become reacquainted".

Upon arriving, Orion was not impressed by the splendor as he now saw it as a terrible waste. He politely listened to all the history the estate manager waxed on about as they pointed to various highlights during their tour, even asking thoughtful questions along the way (which they seemed to appreciate.) Still, all he could think of is what these resources might've been able to do for literally anyone else on the planet aside from boosting his cousin's vanity.

Finally he is led to meet Sentinel in one of the drawing rooms. He greets Orion uncharacteristically warmly at first, throwing Orion off for a moment. But in a klik, Sentinel's facade slips away and he is back to his petty, backhanded remarks-- now there's the Sentinel Orion remembered.

As it turns out, Sentinel has pawned him off to be bonded to a Senator who was tantamount in securing the Prime seat for him. Orion is outraged!! How dare he make such a promise without consulting him!?!

"I refuse." Orion said, his voice cold, "The Senator may certainly try to court me, and I will honestly take their attempt into consideration-- as a courtesy to your arrangement-- but I will make no promise to be bonded by the end of it." Orion hoped the concession to at least let the mech have a fair go at courting would be enough.

But Sentinel just laughed-- laughed.

"Oh! You think you have a choice! Ha ha ha!" He wiped away some stray coolant from his optic before resetting his vocalizer, "As you may recall, tomorrow I will be named Prime. And as the highest living member of our lineage, I will oversee all of our clan's affairs. I suggest you learn your place this cycle, Orion... I may not be so forgiving henceforth."

"I don't care what you have to say on the matter, today or otherwise." Orion said, turning to leave, "I refuse to be a pawn in this game. Pick another estranged family member to entertain you, I'm going home."

"Oh, poor Orion. Didn't I mention? You are home."

"I... what?"

"I took the liberty of gathering all your things and relocated them here," Sentinel said with a dismissive wave, as though upending his entire life was as easy as ordering fuel, "and I've asked Alpha Trion place you on sabbatical from the Archives, starting immediately."

"Wh-- why?! When?!?"

"Shortly after my chauffeur picked you up." Sentinel regarded him smugly from over a shoulder pauldron, "I couldn't allow your betrothed to be seen visiting that hovel you called a home, so I graciously offered to house you until the conjux ritus was complete."

'This can't be happening.' Orion was too stunned to speak, panic creeping up as the reality of his situation sunk in. 'My job, my friends, my home... this is archaic!'

"The courting and subsequent ritus is expected to take approximately a stellar cycle," Sentinel continued, glancing at his digits and looking rather bored, "hence your sabbatical. And after that you will move into your bonded's estate. From there, I don't care what you do."

A knock on the door interrupted Sentinel's servo grooming and Orion's mental spiral. The estate manager had returned with a large silver mech following close behind, saying something about fuel being ready for them in another parlour.

"Ah! Excellent timing." Sentinel clapped his servos and turned to Orion. "Care to join me for a snack?"

Orion said nothing, still trying to calm his racing processor.

"No?" Sentinel began to approach him. "We could toast to a new chapter in our functions!"

Finally no longer on the verge of a glitch, Orion turned his helm away, deliberately not looking at Sentinel.

"No, thank you," he said sullenly, "My tanks are satisfactory."

Suddenly Sentinel cupped his chin with one servo and yanked so that their optics met.

"Are you sure? I am a very busy mech, and I might otherwise forget to feed you later." He leaned in even closer, "It would be unwise to make a habit of spurning my generosity, as I alone have the power to make your stay here more... comfortable."

"I will survive." Said Orion-- gaze firm and unwavering, a cold fire in his optics.

'I will survive this... I will survive you.'

Sentinel released him with a sneer and marched over to the door. "Come!" he barked at the silver mech, causing the estate manager to jolt. However the larger mech hardly stirred, save to plod towards the spot Sentinel had gestured to. Orion noticed his helm was bowed, red optics casts towards the floor... which meant he was almost certainly a low-caste and had to show deference to the higher-castes around him. The sight made Orion's spark twist.

Despite the submissive posture, the silver mech was large and imposing; he even had to duck and turn slightly to fit his helm and broad, spiked shoulders through the doorframe. When he was able to stand at his full height, Orion could see he wore a carefully blank expression. 'Reticence is a common self-preservation tactic for mechs in his position... I can plainly see why.'

"Meet your new bodyguard, Orion Pax!" Sentinel clapped the silver mech on the shoulder with vicious glee as red optics widened minutely before returning to their previous setting. "He'll be here to keep an optic on you at all times while you're being courted."

'Not so much for my safety as he is to deter me from running away, no doubt.' Orion speculated. Nothing he holds against the big mech personally, he knows it's just his job. Still, his presence will complicate any of Orion's future plans...

Sentinel started to walk away then, but seemed to think of something else. "Ah-- despite his frame size, he should blend into your periphery. You'll hardly notice he's there. But do let me or my estate manager know if he gets to be too chatty."

And with that, Sentinel and the estate manager finally left him alone with his new keeper. Orion let out a long, shaky sigh. He knew Sentinel could have a cruel and ruthless streak, but this was beyond the pale. 'Primus below, I shudder to imagine how will he act once he actually is a Prime...'

Shaking those disturbing thoughts for now he turned towards the other mech in the room, only to be met with red optics flicking up to look right at him. The silver mech's helm was still downcast, so it was difficult to see his expression, but Orion surmised he must be feeling wary of his new charge.

'Well, that won't do.' Orion gathered himself and strode over to make introductions.

"Hello. My designation is Orion Pax." As he spoke the silver mech's helm began to slowly rise, red optics still glued him. "Despite what Sentinel implied, I'd much prefer you speak as often as you'd like... at least in my company. It seems we will be spending a lot of time together, and it would be a shame to spend its entirety in silence."

He held out his servo as an offered greeting. Eventually, after a brief hesitation, the looming silver mech reached out with his own (clawed?!) servo and shook it, being even more gentle than Orion thought possible.

"... Orion Pax." The mech ventured, looking him up and down. "Would you happen to be from Iacon?"

'Oh my,' thought Orion, feeling his faceplates heat up a bit, 'I could certainly get used to hearing his voice...'

"Ah, yes! I am!" Orion said a bit too bright, which only increased his blush, "I work as an Archivist, doing anything clerical, really. My focus is generally on the origins and development of Cybertronian cultures and societies. Recently I've been reading more about philosophy, and how it's shaped-- Oh!" Orion's train of thought came to screeching halt. He was being rude!

"Please forgive me, but I have not even asked you for your designation! And Sentinel made no mention of it before... who might you be, my keeper? Are you part of the estate's sentry?"

The silver mech gave a low chuckle, visibly more relaxed than he had been earlier. The sound sent a tingle down Orion's struts.

"Only temporarily. I am a gladiator-- plucked fresh from the Pits to be your humble guardsmech." The mech grinned and did a mock bow. Orion was utterly charmed... but wait!

"... Do you by chance know the Champion of Kaon?" 'Could it be...?'

Another rumbling chuckle, and Orion found himself hanging on every word.

"I am the Champion, little Archivist. My designation is Megatronus."