#Shipping Restrictions Module

[rickwilliamcyno]

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[ofstarsandvibranium]

Unity

Fandom: Star Wars - The Acolyte

Pairing: Qimir x GN!Reader

Summary: You wake up on an unknown planet with a powerful Force wielder offering to help you hone in on your Force abilities.

Qimir Masterlist

You wake with a jolt, your eyes wide and filled with fear. You slowly sit up and take in your surroundings. You're in a cave but you're not sure where or why. You think back on what you remember last: Qimir showing up, him leading you to his ship, and then darkness.

"What the kriff, Qimir?" you mumble to yourself. You slide out of the makeshift bed and take a look around. Light shines through the crevices of the cave. There's another bed spread a short distance from yours as well as a pot with some sort of stew in it.

"You're awake," you hear a deep modulated voice and you turn. A man donning a black cloak and helmet stands in the entrance of the cave.

You gulp and ask, "Where's Qimir?"

"Off on a mission."

"And Mae?"

"Both of them are on a mission."

"...so we're alone," you state with a hint of fear.

The man cocks his head to the side, "I'm sure Qimir has told you I promised not to hurt you. I intend to keep my word."

He slowly stalks towards you. The hair on the back of your neck stands in alertness as he begins to circle around you. Your fists are clenched and you're trying to keep a level head.

"You're afraid," the masked stranger states.

"I was knocked out and taken to a mysterious planet and now have a powerful Force wielder circling me like an ice vulture. Anyone with a sensible brain would be afraid."

"You came willingly."

You can't help but scoff, "Qimir and Mae both stated that if I didn't go to you, you would come to me. I'd rather go to you than risk those around me of potential danger."

"Admirable, yet you're still afraid." With a flick of the stranger's wrist, a pot comes hurling your way, and you hold out your hand to cover your face. The impact doesn't come as the pot is suspended in the air.

You gasp, stepping back and dropping your hand, resulting in the pot to collapse to the ground with a clang. You immediately look back at the man who continues to stare at you. His helmet has no visor. You're not sure how he can see. It's crafted in a way that it creates some sort of devilish smile that leaves you unsettled.

"You possess a great ability. It's a shame you've gone this long unable to properly wield it."

"I'm not interested in being a Jedi-"

"Who said I was a Jedi?" you don't answer and he continues, "I can teach you the ways of the Force that aren't restrictive like the Jedi. I can help you reach your full potential. You have a gift, Y/N, you should learn how to use it. Let me help you," he holds out his hand and you look at it.

Your brows furrow and you suddenly look up, remembering that very same hand reached out to you, the very same hand that lead you up the ramp to the ship. That hand that gently cupped your face and made you fall into darkness.

Your breathing hitches and you slowly back away, "Qimir?"

The hand closes and slowly drops to the man's side, "I'm impressed." The man reaches up and lifts the helmet off him to reveal Qimir, "Not even my own apprentice has figured it out yet." He takes a step forward and you step back. He holds his hands up, "I told you, I won't hurt you."

"I'm so confused. Why-What do you want with me? Has this been a game to you or something?"

"I assure you, when I first walked into your shop, I was only there for the poison. However, there was something about you that kept me wanting to come back. To see you. I now know why. You have the Force. I can train you and-"

"You already have Mae-"

"You're different. Mae is my apprentice. You...You will be my equal. Together, we can make a difference," he slowly steps towards you and you remain unmoved. He takes your right hand and interlocks his fingers with yours. He repeats the same gesture with your left hand.

There's a faint buzzing sensation coarsing through you. You look at your intertwined hands and then at Qimir, who's smirking at you.

"See? How does it feel?"

"Strange...yet, comforting."

"Imagine how it'll feel when you become more familiar with the Force. How good it'll feel to be strong and powerful. Imagine it, Y/N," Qimir says with a whisper as he leans forward pressing his forehead against yours.

The air around you shifts and vibrates. It's a sensation you never felt before but you can already tell how addicting it is. It's as if you can see, hear, and feel everything around you and how much power they all contain.

"Stay with me," Qimir, "Be my equal."

You remain still as you gather your thoughts. You have never left Batuu until now. You always yearned for more than being just a shop owner. Despite being good at making concoctions and the occasional healing, you felt like you could be so much more than that.

You step back, peeling yourself from Qimir to look him in the eyes and say, "I want to be your equal."

He breaks into a wide grin, an eagerness in his eyes and a hint of something else you couldn't quite place.

[nevadancitizen]

-> CH. 13: THE JOYS OF SOVIET TECHNOLOGIES

synopsis: you celebrate the release of kollektiv 2.0, and meet a kind stranger and an american danseur that both seem really familiar.

word count: 1.9k

ships: Connor/Reader, Hank Anderson & Reader

notes: the long wait is over!!!! the research essay has been slain and i have time to write again :)

HoFS taglist: @catladyhere , @foggy0trees0 , @princessofenkanomiya , @n30n-f43 , @igna4400 (if you'd like to be added to the taglist, just ask!)

HEAD OF FALSE SECURITY MASTERLIST

The bright sun above fills you with a pleasant warmth, but the plentiful trees that line the canal provide a wealth of shade. Automated paddle boats cut through the water at a languid pace, giving the couples inside plenty of time to talk and a semblance of privacy.

People are friendlier now than at any other time of the year – you’re all attending a festival, so it makes sense. They smile and shake your hand and greet you with a happy “Is it not an amazing day, comrade?” 

The booths you walk past are showing off the new weapons they’ve developed and their upgrades (you’ve never seen a Kalashnikov in person before!), THOUGHT devices and their benefits, and a myriad of other advanced technologies only now being revealed to the public. But the bells and whistles are to be expected – today is a celebration of Facility 3826, after all.

The date is June 12th, 1955. And it’s a wonderful day to be a citizen of the glorious Soviet Union.

As you walk by, machines continue their routines. VOV-A6 Techs work on foot to deliver crates (you’d almost mistake them for humans if not for the mark on the middle of their backs and the unfeeling, unmoving mask they have for a face). MTU-7 Bumblebees move cargo crates through the sky, the sound of their blades beating against the wind sending a soft hum through the air. TER-A1 Tereshkovas guide tourists through the city, their feet barely scraping the concrete as they move. 

“Good day, comrade!” Someone’s voice cuts you from your thoughts. It’s a facility representative – a man dressed in a white labcoat, a crisp black tie, and a THOUGHT device (a module placed on the temple with wires that float off the browbone to reach over to the opposite temple). “Come closer! I’m here to help.”

“Hello, comrade,” you say. You look over at the booth he’s standing by. It’s a short silver pole, no taller than him, with a circular tray floating around it, rotating slowly. It has little different colored modules on it, each floating above their designated coupling. 

“Would you like a THOUGHT device?” He asks. “It’s high time you got one!”

“No, thank you.” You hold up a hand. “I’m just browsing for now.”

“Why restrict yourself to browsing when you can get your own personalized device this very instant?” The man asks. “I can help you pick out the right unit. It can even match your eye color!”

He picks up one and holds it close to your face, as if gauging it. “Ah, yes! A violet gooseberry model would suit you well.” He takes the module away and looks you over. “You… are polymerized, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” you say. “But… I thought those devices weren’t going to come online until next Monday.”

“That’s right, comrade. But some people like to get it early, like a pre-order.” He tosses the module on the tray, and it magnetizes back to its coupling. “At the moment, the device functions as a personal telephone set and headlight, but it also allows the user to get used to wearing it on their head.”

“Well…” You look over the modules on the rotating tray. “It’s free, right?”

“Absolutely!” The man says, a smile on his worn face. “Allow me to connect you.”

He gestures to the booth, telling you to take your pick. You look over your options before picking out one that’s a crisp cerulean blue – you don’t know why, but the color seems nice to you. Like it reminds you of something, or someone. You pick it up even as the device tries to stay magnetized to its coupling. You turn it over in your hand before pressing it to your temple. It sticks, and wires come out to reach over to your other temple, like a half-crown or half-halo. 

The man presses a finger to his THOUGHT device. After a few moments, a confused look crosses his face. 

“Khm, that’s odd…” he says. “It seems I can’t access your biometric data. Maybe there’s some sort of malfunction…? I’m so sorry.”

You take off the module and return it to its place on the tray. “Ah, don’t sweat it. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, anyway. Thanks for telling me about it, though.”

“Of course, comrade,” the man says. “Again, I do apologize. Have a good day!”

“You too.” You turn to walk, but stop yourself. “Actually, sir – I have a question, if you don’t mind.”

“Yes?” He says. 

“It’s about…” You gesture vaguely around. “The people. They’re all speaking English. I don’t mind, since I can speak it. But I would expect at least some Russian.”

“Oh, yes!” The man laughs. “Facility 3826 is promoting the learning of English, just in case anyone sees anything of American origin. This is so if anyone sees or hears English, they’d be able to discern whether or not it’s a threat to the goodness of our Union. The festival is a good time to practice for people that are still learning.”

“That makes sense,” you hum. “Thank you.”

You continue walking down the street. It would’ve been nice to have a transportable telephone, but it’s not like you’re in dire need of one. You can figure that out later. 

There’s a small crowd gathered around a RAF-9 Engineer juggling various things it’s taken from the crowd: pochette-style purses, children’s toys, cigarette cartons. You stop at the edge of the group and watch as it throws the items up and catches them with pinpoint accuracy. 

There’s a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, kid.”

You turn and see a man. He’s late forties, early fifties at most. His hair brushes past his ears in an untamed, grey mop and his beard matches it. His face is worn, but his gap-toothed smile is kind.

“I’m sorry, comrade.” You smile politely. “But I… don’t recognize you. You’re probably mistaking me for someone else.”

“Oh, shit,” he says, removing his hand from your shoulder. “You look like someone I know. My bad.”

“Well, I’m sure your friend is around here somewhere!” You try. “They may be at one of the cheburek or bliny stands. There’s a really good one selling bliny just down that way.”

The stranger checks over his shoulder, where you were pointing, then looks back to you. “I’m not from around here. You mind showing me the way?”

You check your pocket watch and mentally count the time until Dmitry Sechenov’s grand speech. You’re not crunched for time yet, and it would do you good to have something to tide you over until you could eat a real meal.

“Yeah, sure.” You start walking, and the stranger matches your pace.

“The stand has a few fillings,” you say, both to fill dead air and to make the silence less awkward. “Fruit preservatives – cherries, apples, plums, berries – meat, honey, or just plain with butter and salt.”

“What’s your recommendation?” The now-somewhat-familiar stranger asks. 

“Well, in the spring, they’d have imported lemon preservatives,” you say. “But it’s summer, so that well’s dried up. I’d just go with the cherries. Sweet or bitter, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

“You’re just makin’ me hungry,” the stranger mumbles with a smile.

You laugh. “That’s the idea, no?”

After another minute of walking, the stand comes into view. Two men are operating the stand, and the soft scent of batter on the griddle beckons you closer. A radio is playing.

“Look at the menu,” you tell the familiar-stranger. “Take your pick. It’s cheap, so I’ll pay.”

You look around while he looks at the menu. There’s other people, obviously, and some on the canal are pointing at a man in an automated paddleboat. You barely hear whispers of “It’s comrade Major Nechayev!”

You turn your eyes away. Nechayev doesn’t really interest you. From what you’ve heard, he’s just some military dog leftover from the Red Army. What does interest you is the crowd across the canal. 

They’re gathered around some sort of stage that must’ve been assembled temporarily for the festival, like an American carnival. You watch for a few moments, but can’t glimpse what’s happening on stage. 

The stranger pulls you out of your thoughts. “Hey, what’re they talkin’ about on the radio?”

You turn back to him. “Huh?”

He points at the radio that’s playing on the bliny stand. It’s playing a jingle: “For the greatest advancements in cosmetic enhancements, there’s only one man you should be trusting your glam with!”

You listen a little longer and catch a name – Doctor Steinman – and roll your eyes. “It’s that underwater city off the coast of Iceland. The one that uses the same technologies as the ones invented to create the Neptune complex here.”

The stranger nudges you. “Why’re you rollin’ your eyes?”

“The city won’t last,” you say. “They say that it’s a city where the great won’t be brought down by the small. And all those immigrants go to Rapture thinking they’ll survive the fire of American-based industry. But they forget that, even in utopia, someone has to scrub the toilets.”

“Yeah, that’s a factor most forget,” the stranger says. 

“Eh, what else do you expect from capitalists?” You shrug. “Let’s just order. What do you want?”

The stranger looks back at the menu. “Uh… a bliny with… apple preserves.”

You quickly order your bliny and his and fork over the rubles, then look across the canal. The performance is still going. 

“Listen, khm,” you say to the stranger without looking away from the stage. “Can you watch our order? I want to see what’s happening across the canal.”

“Uh… yeah, sure,” the stranger says. 

You thank him quickly and hurry over the bridge to get to the other side of the waterway. You slowly make your way through the crowd – not to the front, but just enough so you can see…

A danseur? (Or a ‘ballerino’ in other countries, you suppose.) He’s wearing a form-fitting black shirt and a matching pair of tights. His pointe shoes are a soft pink, just a few shades off his skin tone. A THOUGHT device crowns his head – the same cerulean blue model you were looking at earlier. 

As he moves, he matches the music perfectly. It’s like he was born to extract the flow and rhythm from music and express it in dance. His feet don’t break their arch and don’t falter, even for a split second. 

Then, he turns. On his front, over his left breast, is a small American flag. 

Your eyebrows crease. You lean over and quietly ask a nearby woman, “He’s from America?”

“It was made in America,” she whispers back. “It’s an android, comrade.”

The danseur turns his head as his arm swoops up to point his fingertips to the sky. His soft, brown eyes lock with yours with you and you feel… you don’t know what you feel. It’s something physical, on your back. Maybe someone bumped into you? But the crowd isn’t moving. 

You take a step backwards as he continues staring at you, stock-still. You take another, then look behind you. The crowd is gone.

“Какого хуя?” You mumble. 

You look back up at the danseur. He’s moved a little closer, his feet just barely stepping off the stage. He comes closer, his movements still fluid and graceful, like he’s still dancing.

“Officer?” He asks softly. 

“What?” You say. 

His hand comes to your face, his fingertips just barely brushing across your jawline. His lips start to form a word, but –

-> CH 13: GOOD, HONEST SNAKE OIL – IF THERE IS SUCH A THING!

synopsis: after you and arthur swing by the sheriff's office, you go on a run to hunt a bounty and meet a man who seems really familiar.

word count: 1.3k

ships: CH: “mister kamski? the officer is stable, and is responding well to the reintegration system.”

notes: EK: “make sure they go through each as quickly as possible, chloe. i need to see if they can get back on their feet.”

HoTS taglist: @catladyhere , @foggy0trees0 , @princessofenkanomiya , @n30n-f43 , @igna4400 (if you'd like to be added to the taglist, just ask!)

HOUSE OF TRUE SECURITY MASTERLIST

“I got it.” A voice pulls you to look over at the entrance to the Valentine’s Sheriff’s Office. It’s Arthur Morgan, holding up a folded-up wanted poster. 

You lean down from your horse (a beautiful Dutch Warmblood named Bronya) and reach out to Arthur as he approaches. “Give this to me.”

Arthur hands over the poster, and you unfold it. It’s for one mister Benedict Allbright – needed alive, for a reward of fifty dollars.

“He needs to be living?” You say. “This is unlike you.”

Arthur mounts his horse, a Tenessee Walker named Marie. He clicks his tongue and presses his legs together against Marie’s flank once, and she starts trotting. You and Bronya follow. 

“Was the only one there,” Arthur says as you pull up beside him. “They says he’s been poisonin’ folks with some ‘miracle cure’ from here to Annesburg. Says he killed more ‘n Landon Ricketts without even pullin’ a trigger.”

“Troubling,” you say. “He is dangerous?”

Arthur looks over at you. “Would I bring you along if he was?”

“He cannot be more trouble than Angel Island,” you say. 

And everything comes rushing back. The Wild West is being tamed. A robbery in Blackwater went wrong, and you and the rest of the Van der Linde gang were forced to flee east – the exact opposite of where you wanted to go. And you’re only in this mess because of the officials operating Angel Island. They somehow messed up your papers, and you couldn’t get the work you were promised. You were forced to steal, lie and sometimes even kill to get your way. 

The date is June 12th, 1899. And it’s a normal day as a somewhat-citizen of the United States of America.

“Where is this… Allbright?” You ask. 

“Fellers down at the Sheriff’s said he was holed up in some gorge north a’ here,” Arthur says. 

“Ah! I know what you speak of,” you say, squeezing Bronya’s sides with your claves. She breaks into a canter. “Follow!”

“Now, you can’t just –!” Arthur makes an exasperated sound, then matches your speed. “At least give me a warnin’!”

You laugh, the sound full of warmth. The ground beneath the horses’ hooves turns from the mud of Valentine into the drier dirt of the outer town limits. 

A few minutes later, you pull off the well-trodden trail and into the knee-high grasses. You lead Arthur through the sparse trees that make up the edges of Cumberland Forest.

“How come you know these parts so well?” Arthur asks, breaking the somewhat-silence.

“I have a good head,” you say. “After riding through this place once, I know it, um… I know it like…” You grumble, frustrated. You know what you’re trying to say, but just… can’t articulate it right. You’re tempted to just say it in Russian, but Arthur wouldn’t understand, and you would risk any passerby potentially becoming hostile. (Shouldn’t you speak better English than this? You remember speaking better English than this…)

“What’re you tryna say?” Arthur asks. He’s used to this.

You take one of your hands away from the reins and hold it up. “Something to do with hands. I know it like… like my hands know it?”

“Like the back of my hand,” Arthur corrects. 

“That!” You chime, re-taking the reins in hand. “I know it like the back of my hand.”

You hear the sound of water running along a riverbed and perk up. “We are close.”

Marie follows Bronya as you guide her up a slope into a small alcove carved into a mountain. It’s a thin slope – on one side is the mountain, and on the other is a twenty-meter drop into a river. The alcove is housing a man – supposedly Benedict Allbright – and his horse.

You turn back to Arthur and jerk your head towards Allbright. He’s always been the more intimidating of you two, so you’re letting him lead this one. 

Arthur grunts and dismounts his horse before walking by Bronya, towards Allbright. “Oh, what we got here?”

He continues walking forward until he comes to a stop just before Allbright’s bedroll and campfire. “Are you Benedict Allbright?”

Allbright stands, backing away from Arthur a bit. “N-no, sir.”

“You kinda look like him,” Arthur says. “And we was told he’d be up here.”

“No, uh,” Allbright says. “Not me, sir.”

“It’s because…” Arthur sighs, and looks out of the alcove, down at the river. “I wanna buy some medicine. And, I heard… I heard good things.”

The corner of your mouth twitches up. Arthur could rival Hosea with his tact for semantics, even if he adamantly denies it. 

“I’ll pay – in gold – i-if you can help me find him. It’s just…” Arthur glances over at you, then the ground, like it pains him to look at you. “My brother’s child over there is real sick. Russiatitus, they was callin’ it. Rare disease. We tried all them medicines they said to try, but… nothin’s workin’.”

“Oh!” Allbright looks over at you through his spectacles and smiles. “Well… if it’s for the ill, I’d be more than happy to help!”

He turns and walks over to his bags, picking out a small bottle filled with a viscous, dark yellow liquid. “I’m a healer, y’know? A medical man.”

Allbright turns back and hands it to Arthur. “Finest medicine in the state.”

Arthur pretends to be wowed, then tosses the bottle off the edge of the alcove and into the river. Before Allbright has time to react, he’s drawn his revolver. So have you. You spur Bronya to walk forward, past Allbright’s horse and partially into his camp.

“Game’s over, mister.” Arthur angles himself so that he’s blocking the only other exit. “Put your hands up – we’re takin’ you in.”

“Takin’ me in?” Allbright repeats, like it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. He puts his hands up. “What for?”

“Apparently that stuff you’re pushin’ is killin’ folk, n’ there’s a price on your head,” Arthur says. “I don’t know, it ain’t my business.”

“C’mon, partner, that’s crap. I’m a healer! I-I’ve got an aura… I speak to spirits! I’m a scientist!” Allbright insists. “Folks get real angry for no good reason, and this… this is a mistake.” He looks over at you. “S-surely you can talk some sense into him?”

“Hm…” You twitch your nose and shrug, not lowering your gun. “No.”

“Keep your hands up, buddy.” Arthur reaches forward carefully, taking Allbright’s gun from its holster and tossing it into the river. “They only want you for questionin’.”

“I – I have to insist that this is a mistake,” Allbright says. 

“Don’t be a fool,” Arthur says, corralling him towards the edge of the alcove. 

You look down at the river, then notice… a man. He’s looking up at you from where he stands in the riverbed, his pants soaked up to the knee. And – shit, from where he’s standing, he can clearly see you and Arthur pointing your guns at Allbright.

“Arthur,” you say without looking away from the man. “A man is watching. Maybe he is thinking we are robbing.”

“Go get ‘im,” Arthur says. “I got this handled.”

You click your tongue and tug on Bronya’s reins. She turns and starts walking down the slope to the river. 

The man doesn’t run as you approach him, despite your saddlebag holsters both holding rifles. Instead, he’s just… staring, with soft, brown eyes. 

He seems… familiar. Really familiar. Then again, Angel Island is on the west coast, and you’re pretty far from there, so you’ve seen a lot of people while in America. But… the bright blue stain on his temple seems so familiar. God, you swear you know him. Where is he from?

“You are watching me and my friend?” You ask, jerking your head towards the alcove. “The man is a bounty. He has been killing people from here and eastward, poisoning them with a… tonic. We do not rob for joy. We hunt bounties.”

The man walks forward, almost stumbling on the stones of the riverbed. “Officer?”

You rack your brain for that word, but come up with nothing. “I – I do not know the meaning of this English word… officer.”

He swallows thickly, then takes a breath. His lips start to form a word, but –

-> CH. 13: LET’S TALK HOMECOMING (THE MILITARY OPERATION, NOT PROM)

synopsis: you wake up on a helicopter, fresh from being saved, and meet a pilot that seems really familiar.

word count: ~900

ships: CH: “they were relatively unresponsive to that one. shall i introduce one that is less familiar?”

notes: EK: “yes. it should still be american, but... mixed with soviet suffering.”

ToFS taglist: @catladyhere , @foggy0trees0 , @princessofenkanomiya , @n30n-f43 , @igna4400 (if you'd like to be added to the taglist, just ask!)

THREAT OF FALSE SECURITY MASTERLIST

“Wake up,” a voice mumbles. A hand grasps your shoulder and shakes you. “C’mon, commie…”

You open your eyes and see a man that’s familiar, but not. Like you’ve known him your whole life but only really registered his existence just now. He’s wearing a half-balaclava with a skull pattern and a beanie, and the skin around his ice-blue eyes is smeared with black greasepaint. 

“What the hell is happening?” You manage through gritted teeth. You shift and try to sit up from the bench of the helicopter you’re in, but he pushes you back down. 

“You got the bright idea to follow the twin brats to find Elias,” he says. “Into a goddamn burning house, no less. Jackass.”

You groan and close your eyes, bringing a fist to your forehead. “Keegan, don’t. Not right now.” His name slips from your lips before you even realize it. (So you do know this man, and probably the rest of the people on this helicopter… odd.)

In a fashion that seems familiar, it all comes back to you in a tidal wave of information. The energy deserts of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the rest of the major oil producers dried up a decade ago, sending the world into a panic. The entirety of South America united under the banner of the Federation of the Americas and the guide of General Diego Almagro, both willingly and unwillingly. General Almagro was assassinated in 2015, but his presence was still felt as the Federation took over Panama, then Costa Rica, then Nicaragua, working their way up to Mexico and, the other night, Dallas, Texas. 

You are a part of the Ghosts: a spec ops team set on beating back the Federation, even if it is a losing battle. 

The date is June 12th, 2027. And it’s a godawful day to be a citizen of the burning remains of the United States of America.

Hesh (one of the ‘twin brats,’ even though Logan is two years younger) pulls Keegan away and shoves him up against the wall of the helicopter. “You need to get this bird back on the ground. We’re not going anywhere!”

Keegan pushes him back easily, then adds, “Calm down, kid.”

“Hey!” Merrick body-slams Hesh into the wall. (He’s never been known for his gentleness.) “We just saved your asses!”

“We didn’t need your help!” Hesh snaps. 

Merrick takes hold of the collar of Hesh’s tac vest. Keegan taps your legs, and you sit up, pulling your legs up to your chest. Good thing you did – Merrick shoves Hesh down on the bench a moment later. 

“The hell you didn’t,” Merrick spits, towering over Hesh.

Elias shoves Merrick away with a, “Stow it! All of you.” (His voice is slightly muffled through his full-face balaclava, but it carries authority all the same.)

There’s a lot of light violence happening in the cabin of this helicopter, but you suppose that’s to be expected when the military comes around.

Hesh stands, facing Elias. “We have to go back! Our dad’s down there, and we’re not leaving without him!”

Logan stands too, signing at Elias. His words are angry, and his face is drawn into something like a snarl. He’s signing fast, but you manage to pick up something about him kicking everyone’s ass and tacking on a “TRUE BIZ” at the end, meaning that he’s not joking.

“That’s real admirable of you, Hesh, and I’m sure you can, Logan,” Elias says, sitting them both back down. “But your father’s not there anymore.”

He takes off his mask, revealing himself. 

“Dad?” Hesh says. “This whole time you were one of them? You’re a Ghost?!”

You look up and exchange glances with Keegan. Neither of you were really ones for surprise plot-twists or epic reveals. From what you can see, his expression looks bored and his eyebrows are drawn together a little, like a silent, ‘Can you believe this shit?’

You get up and Keegan automatically holds onto your shoulder, just in case you were to fall. You walk closer to the open cockpit, keeping a hand on the wall for the same reason. 

“What even happened?” You ask once you and Keegan were an acceptable distance away from the commotion. 

Keegan lets go of your shoulder and leans against the back of the pilot’s seat, crossing his arms. “Burning houses tend to collapse, dumbass. You got a roof tile right to the face.”

You rub your cheek and lean back against the wall adjacent to the cockpit. “Somehow that doesn’t shock me.”

The helicopter jolts a little bit and your head snaps over to the cockpit. From where you’re standing, you can see the co-pilot. He’s facing forward, but you can see the sparse freckles that dot his face and the tuft of brown hair that escapes the gel that slicks back the rest of his hair. The headset he’s wearing has a bright blue circle painted on the earcup – it must be a sign of his squad, or whatever pilots are a part of.

Your eyebrows furrow. He seems familiar, somehow. But not like how Keegan was familiar, and not like Merrick, Hesh, Logan, or Elias. He’s… you don’t know how to describe it.

The helicopter jolts again, and a hanging carabiner knocks the back of your head. Keegan huffs out a laugh when you whimper a small “ow.”

The co-pilot looks over his shoulder and back at you. You meet his soft, brown eyes. 

“Officer?” He says softly, his hands still on the yoke of the helicopter.

“Try Sergeant,” Keegan corrects. 

He glances at Keegan, then back to you, his eyebrows furrowing. His lips start to form a word, but – 

-> CH. 13: THE SMALLEST CHURCH IN SAINT-SAËNS

synopsis: come to the church.

word count: 1.2k

ships: don’t listen to them.

notes: you’re with us now. we’ll take care of you.

ToFS taglist: just come to the church. please.

TALES OF FALSE SERENITY MASTERLIST

You hear waves crash on the coast before you’re even fully aware that you’re on a beach. A church stands before you, sea-worn and rotted. A banner, yellowed with age, hangs above the entrance, reading: Holy Church of the Amnesiac (formerly the Dolorian Church of Humanity). 

You walk up the stairs to the entrance, the rotted wood barely holding your weight. When you reach the door, you raise your fist and knock. 

A few moments later, someone answers the door. The person who answers is covered head-to-toe in police riot armor with a duster jacket on top. Their headgear resembles a reinforced gasmask with dark green lenses, and the words FORGIVE ME MAMA are messily carved into their helmet.

They look you over, then take your hand. 

You don’t know why, but you follow them inside. The inside is somewhat dilapidated, but still nice. The pews have been pushed aside to create a common space and the floor is littered with rugs and blankets and a few sparse pillows. People are scattered about, laying on the pews or sitting on the floor. 

A few of them perk up at the sight of you, but the person corrals you to the front of the church, where a figure is sitting. Their silhouette is stark against the light shining through the stained glass window behind them, which depicts a woman holding up two fingers with her right hand and cupping a breast with the other. The windows that would have been her lungs are punched out, leaving sunlight shining through.

“Come, friend.” They wave you over. “Sit with me.”

You look at the person who escorted you to the front of the church, and they nod, then turn away and leave you.

You ease down and sit with the person, tucking a leg under you. You look over at them – they’re dressed in all black, a cloth mask covering the bottom half of their face and their clothes covering the rest of their body. Their knee-length jacket flutters in the slight wind of the smashed-through windows.

“What is…” You gesture around. “This? This church.”

“This is the Church of the Amnesiac,” they say. “And I am the Hunter of Vilebloods. You need not tell me your name – I have been awaiting your arrival, as has the rest of the church.”

“Who are you?” You ask. “I mean, I know your name, but… what is the purpose of this church? Because from what I can tell, it’s not worship.”

The Hunter takes a breath and sighs. “We do not know. We are simply wanderers that have found our way here. This is not our home. We are all… bereft of memory. Something has cursed us, and I know that you have happened upon this curse, too.”

“What do you mean?” You ask. “I – I have memories.”

“Think back.” The Hunter looks into your eyes. “Think back to when you were but a child. Can you?”

“Of course I can,” you say. 

“Then tell me,” the Hunter says. “Recount your first memory.”

You look away and think back. “I… visited the Exhibit of National Economy Achievements when I was a child. I must have been… five, or six. There were machines there, both modern and vintage. It was a beautiful place that showcased the highest of Soviet achievements.”

The Hunter hums in response. “Your next memory?”

“When my father gave me a Makarov pistol,” you say. “He gifted it to me when I was ten years old. He never let me fire it, but it was still important to me. I had a hell of a time getting it over to the States when I immigrated.”

The Hunter tilts their head. “I… do not quite know what a Makarov pistol is, or where the States are, but please. Continue.”

“And then, my next memory is… when I was sixteen.” Your eyebrows furrow as you remember. “There was an accident, and I lost both of my legs. Luckily, I was able to be quickly fitted with prosthetics that mixed existing technology with neuropolymer. I was able to move my legs, but unable to really… feel them.” You sigh. “Now I have different ones, as I wasn’t done growing at sixteen. That, and the technology has improved.”

The Hunter shifts how they’re sitting so that they’re closer. “That is your next memory? There is… nothing in between?”

“N… no?” You say, unsure. “Is there supposed to be?”

“Typically, yes,” the Hunter says. “There is a menagerie of memories for one to look back on. Family, friends, parties and religion… but are you admitting that there is nothing?”

“Well, it…” You think for a moment, then admit in a small voice, “Yeah. I don’t remember anything until I emigrated from Chelomey.”

You feel something push against your leg – something solid and furry. You look over and see an orange cat with a little backpack rubbing against your leg, then sniffing at your shoes. He looks up at you and meows softly, as if noticing your sudden spike in stress.

“Hello,” you say softly. You reach out a hand and rub your fingers together, making a soft sound. The cat sniffs at your fingers before pushing his face against your hand, purrs starting to rumble in his tiny kitty chest.

“Who is this?” You ask, starting to gently scratch at the cat. 

“That is Stray,” the Hunter says. “He does not have memories, just like the rest of us.”

“But I do have memories,” you insist. 

“I apologize. I misspoke. He has… gaps in memory, just like the rest of us.” The Hunter looks over your shoulder and around the church. “Just like the Courier, the Tarnished, and everyone else here.”

You sigh, looking at the Hunter. “So what happens now? I died, so… is this all the afterlife has to offer? The Holy Church of the Amnesiac and a cat?”

The Hunter returns their eyes to you. “Oh, you did not die. You simply just… left your body behind.”

“What?” You snap, and Stray bolts. “What do you mean?”

“Did you really think that this is all dying has to offer?” The Hunter asks. “A church and a cat and a few sad wanderers?”

“I…” You trail off. “Maybe! The philosophy I read about isn’t about death and what comes after. It’s the philosophy of man and his nature.”

“Man and his nature,” the Hunter echoes. “What a fickle thing one’s nature is. And I can see your very nature being unraveled before me in this very moment.”

“I don’t…” You groan and bring a hand to your forehead. There’s a sinking feeling in your stomach. “I don’t know what to make of this. This is all just – it’s too much.”

“You will emerge victorious. And if not, you will return to the church, and we will send you on your way again,” the Hunter says. 

They reach out and draw you closer, holding you against their side with an arm around your shoulder. They lean down and whisper in your ear, “It has been an honor, but we really must say good-bye. Now go, cleanse the tarnished streets of your homeworld. And may the good blood guide your way.”

-> CH. 13: WAKE UP & SMELL THE ASHES

synopsis: you wake up and kamski explains everything.

word count: 1.7k

ships: Connor/Reader, Hank Anderson & Reader

notes: the long wait is over!!!! the research essay has been slain and i have time to write again :)

HoFS taglist: @catladyhere , @foggy0trees0 , @princessofenkanomiya , @n30n-f43 , @igna4400 (if you'd like to be added to the taglist, just ask!)

HEAD OF FALSE SECURITY MASTERLIST

“Officer?” A soft, melodic voice calls. “Officer, can you hear me?”

You groan and turn on your side, away from the light that’s burning into your eyelids. “Huh…?”

“Officer, you need to wake up,” the voice continues. 

You open your eyes slowly and look up, only to lock eyes with… Chloe. What is Chloe doing here?

“You’re awake.” Chloe smiles and cups your jaw. “I will alert Mister Kamski right away.”

She looks away as her LED flickers, as do her eyes. After a moment, she looks back down at you and takes her hand away. You lay on your back, close your eyes, and wait.

A few minutes later, Kamski enters the room. You sit up, then immediately regret it when a stabbing pain shoots through your head. 

You screw your eyes shut and cover your eyes with a hand. You grind out, “Kamski, what the fuck am I doing here?”

“Lay back down,” Kamski says. You feel Chloe put a hand on your shoulder, and she guides you back down. The pain subsides enough for you to open your eyes again. 

Kamski takes a seat by your bedside and leans forward, his elbows on his knees. You look over. 

“Again, what the fuck am I doing here?” You say. “I… I died. I remember dying.”

“You did,” Kamski says, as if it was a completely normal thing to say. 

“Then how the hell am I alive?” You hiss. 

Kamski leans back in the chair and crosses his leg over his knee. “Do you remember your childhood?”

“Snippets,” you snap. “I just had this conversation. Now tell me how I’m alive after being shot in the goddamn head!”

“It’s simple,” Kamski says. (It’s not.) “You were never alive to begin with.”

You shoot up from the bed. “Чего?!” Again, Chloe pushes you back down.

“You know philosophy. Do you know Chariton Zakharov?” Kamski says, not pausing to give you a chance to answer. “Of course you do. You’ve read The Life, Death, Neuropolymer-Induced Transformation, and Secondary Death of Chariton Radeonovich Zakharov. In one of his letters, he wrote, ‘The radiance of pure reason, and it alone, can illuminate the path of humanity. Because a human being is not a body. It’s a way of thinking.’ I wanted to prove that.”

“I don’t really care to talk about philosophy right now!” You snap. 

Kamski holds up a hand. “Just wait. The sooner you understand this, the sooner you’ll get to see that android. What was its name again? Connor?”

“Connor!” You echo. “He’s here?! Take me to him – now!”

“Listen to me first,” he says. You grit your teeth and do your best to settle as he continues. “I wanted to create something that no one had created before. Obviously, I already did this with androids. But I wanted to go further.”

You nod, telling him to continue. You really want to get this over with. 

“So I thought, what about an android that thinks of itself as a human?” Kamski lets out a scoff-laugh. “Ridiculous, right?”

“If it’s ridiculous, I have no doubt that you probably did it,” you say. “Where is this android-human? Show me it so I can go.”

Kamski reaches under the chair and pulls out a mirror, then hands it to you. You take it and look at it. Sure enough, it’s a reflection of yourself, looking just as confused as you feel. 

“I don’t… understand,” you say, looking up at Kamski.

He taps the surface of the mirror. “You’re looking at it.”

You look at the mirror again. There’s nothing human-looking behind you – just a reflection of yourself in bed.

Kamski leans closer and whispers, “It’s you, Officer.”

“What an absurd idea.” You look at him. “Surely you’re joking, yes?”

“I’m not.” He leans back in his chair. “You’re the first android that was fully tricked into thinking that it’s human. You’ve been living this delusion for eleven years, ever since you thought you emigrated from Chelomey.”

“Again, this is idiotic!” You snap. 

“You only remember core components of your childhood,” Kamski says. “The Exhibit of National Economy Achievements. Your pistol. The accident.”

“I…” You sigh. “Yes, but –”

“Your parents didn’t traumatize you,” he says, tilting his head down and looking at you through his eyelashes. “That was what you were gonna say, right? That people with childhood trauma have gaps in memory and don’t remember a lot of their childhood.”

The words you had prepared die on your tongue. You look away. “Then who am I? Tell me, if you know so much about me.”

“Do you want me to tell you the truth?” He asks. “Or to recount the lie you’re used to living?”

“The truth,” you say before you can change your mind.

“There was a baby born in Chelomey with the same name as yours. Same birthday, same birth year. It was stillborn – didn’t even have a chance to take its first breath,” Kamski says. “That was where I got your birth name and birthday. Tensions between America and the USSR were already tense back then, so it was easy to fake documents. Your birth certificate, your passport, affidavits of income and support, your permanent residency card. You won the Green Card Lottery during a low-emigration year. You thought you got lucky, but you didn’t. I fabricated everything.”

There’s a sinking, swirling feeling in your stomach. You don’t really… know what to feel. You feel numb, somehow? But also like you’re ready to explode – to ask Kamski what the fuck he’s going on about, to tell him that he sounds like a raving lunatic, to tell him that you don’t believe a word he says. 

And yet… you do. It… it makes sense, somehow. Why would America let a nondescript Soviet such as yourself in? And into cybersecurity, no less.

“It’s obvious until it isn’t, isn’t it?” Kamski says. 

“M… my legs,” you say. “Why did you take my legs?”

“You needed to have some excuse for how you felt,” he says. “You didn’t have aches in them, nor did you experience any real pain. Right?”

“Yes,” you say. “Just phantom pain. But…” You sigh. “How am I able to feel? Not touch, but emotions. I thought correctly-functioning androids weren’t supposed to feel emotions.”

Kamski furrows his eyebrows. “You never did find a ‘patient zero’ for deviancy, did you?”

“No,” you say. “All we know is that it started in Detroit, and spread… across the country…”

A horrible feeling overcomes you. You were patient zero, weren’t you? You were the first to break your programming, to feel emotion and to feel pain – even if it was only imagined. And you probably infected Connor, too, didn’t you? You are the reason for his pain and suffering and all the turmoil he’s going through. You’re the root cause for the pain and suffering and turmoil everyone’s going through. 

“You are the free radical. The outlier,” Kamski verbalizes your thoughts. “You were the spark of chaos that was required to start the revolution.”

“I didn’t want to start the revolution,” you say. Your voice is softer and more shaky than you’d like it to be. There’s a burning in the back of your throat. “I just… I just wanted to solve the case that was assigned to me.”

“But you did.” Kamski stands, then starts walking towards the exit, as does Chloe. “You are the deviant android that infected others. The others you infected started a revolution. There are no two ways about it.”

“I want to go home,” you manage.

“Chloe,” he says. “Get Connor.”

There’s a door opening, then rushed footsteps as someone comes to your bedside. You look over. It’s Connor. His LED is stuck on red. 

“Officer?” He says. His soft, brown eyes search yours, lingering on the hot tears that swell at your waterline. Your bottom lip trembles. 

Connor immediately sweeps you into a hug – one unlike the one you’d shared back at the station. This one is firm, bordering on desperate as he clutches at the back of your shirt. He rests his forehead in the crook of your shoulder and lets out a shuddering exhale.

“Officer,” he says softly. “Officer, I’m so sorry.”

“What?” You say. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I didn’t do a good enough job of protecting you,” he says. “You got shot. I… I failed my mission. And I don’t have anyone to blame but myself.”

You exhale shakily and lean your head against Connor’s. His hair tickles the side of your nose. Tears slip from your eyes, and there’s a lump in your throat that makes it hard to talk. “Don’t be. We were… we were both being stupid.”

“The revolution is still going,” Connor says. “Markus has instructed me to wake up the thousands of androids housed at the CyberLife assembly plant. I want you to come with me.”

“What?” You pull back and meet his eyes. “But that would be a suicide mission.”

“They’ll let us in,” he says, his voice full of conviction. “I’m an RK800, and you’re an android. We can act like we’re there for an emergency meeting.”

“You knew?” You snap. “You knew all along?”

“No!” Connor says, clutching you tighter. “Chloe told me. It explained everything. I couldn’t believe it at first, but… the evidence was too convincing, and it aligned with everything I had already learned about you.”

“Right,” you say. “Right. Obviously. I’m just…” You furrow your eyebrows and screw your eyes shut. “Everything’s a lot right now. And it seems like everything bad that’s happening in the world is happening to me.”

He draws you back into the hug, rubbing up and down your back. You rest your head in the crook of his shoulder, and you’re overwhelmed by a smell you only now recognize as Connor’s – clean, leather, and a hint of something else.

After a few minutes, you sigh and squeeze around his middle. “Okay. I’m ready to go.”

“Are you sure?” He whispers.

“Yeah,” you mumble back. “Let’s go before I realize how stupid this is.”

[urbandunsel]

data hijacking the Enterprise is easily one of my favorite segments in all of st.

yeah, he was influenced by the homing program, but he was not careless in what he did. it wasn't just "i will change course heading" or "i will steal a shuttle", it was "i will drain life support on the bridge to clear the humanoid personnel, then use my voice modulation ability to restrict command functions to the bridge, then initiate a custom forcefield cascade program, then reprogram the sabotaged transporter and get off the ship without a word spoken to my crew"

it was kinda badass except for the part where he endangered a child's life whoopsie

[lovelybucky1]

Insignificant

kinktober day 14- bondage

warnings: DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT- non con, AFAB!Reader, handcuffs, vaginal reader, finger sucking, rough treatment, 18+ minors DNI

main masterlist

kinktober masterlist

Anakin Skywalker was no longer the man you knew. He was a great warrior, a general, an upstanding person, a kind soul, a Jedi, and most importantly, a friend. He was never meant to be a mechanical killing machine for Darth Sidious to lead around on a leash.

You managed to escape the violence of Order 66, though not without sustaining injuries of your own. For months after the massacre you saw visions of Anakin with orange glowing eyes in your dreams. The screams of children could be heard in the background. You were haunted.

You know some of the other Jedi escaped, though you don't know who or where they went. Being a Jedi is a death sentence these days, so it's better to lay low and not know anything more than absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately, laying low on an outer rim planet where you live off the grid on your own little farm isn't low enough for the Empire. You returned from the forest with a basket of berries and mushrooms to add to your stockpile when you found your house burning, your animals slaughtered, and Darth Vader himself standing among the flames.

After seeing the brutal events of Order 66, you took not being killed on sight as a blessing. The stormtroopers surrounded you, grabbing your arms and forcing you to your knees before Vader. The dark mask was expressionless, but the tilt of his head to the side made you feel like a wounded animal he was about to put down.

"Take them to the ship," he said in a modulated voice. He sounded nothing like the man you knew.

You were hauled aboard the massive ship that they carelessly landed in a field of wild flowers. It was almost poetic how this hunk of machine destroyed something natural and beautiful.

Once the hatch of the ship closed, you accepted that your fate was sealed. You were brought to a cell in the bowels of the ship and abandoned, left with your own thoughts and restricted by force-blocking cuffs.

You were alone for hours until someone came by. You heard the sound of heavy boots banging against the metal grate floor, but it wasn't until you heard the heavy breathing that you turned your attention towards the intruder.

"Jedi," he says as a form of greeting.

You glare at him through the bars of your cell. "Vader."

He says nothing more. He only stands there, emotionless and unmoving. Anakin must have learned patience through his transformation, because the man you knew hated silence.

"Why am I still alive?" you ask. You'd rather be dead than be taken prisoner and be forced to work for the Empire. "You killed all the others. Why not me?"

"He wants you," Vader says crypticly.

"Who does?" you ask.

"Your friend," he says.

Anakin. He's in there somewhere, obviously, and he wants to save you. Maybe this is his way of making up for his atrocities, by making right with you. It could never be enough, but it comforts you to know the monster before you isn't entirely evil.

The door to your cell slides open and Vader steps in, looking like a giant as he towers over your slumped form on the floor. You look up at him but you can't get a read on him. The cuffs block any force sensitivity so you can't even feel him. The door shuts behind him, trapping you in a small box with the face of evil.

"He cares for you," Vader says. "He wants to protect you." It warms your heart in a weird way to hear him say that. "But you are insignificant to me."

Vader reaches down and grabs you by the roots of your hair. He tugs harshly until your scrambling to find your footing and stand so he doesn't rip out your hair.

He dwarfs you. You never noticed how large he was until you were face to face, mere inches apart.

Vader pushes you back roughly, sending you slamming into the wall. Your body crushes your arms that are bound behind your back and you whimper in pain.

"He will watch me destroy you," Vader says as he advances, crowding you against the wall.

He brings his hand down to the waistband of your pants and tugs, effortlessly ripping them off. Your underwear receive the same treatment, though the pull on your skin is painful.

He kicks your legs apart with his boots. The heavy, hard material on your exposed ankles hurts like a bitch, but there's nothing you can do about it other than scream.

Vader shoves his gloved hand between your thighs and carelessly invades your cunt with his thick fingers. You cry out in pain, beg him to stop and for someone to help, but you know it's useless. Everyone here does Vader's bidding, and disobeying their lord is an instant death sentence.

He grows tired of your crying, so he shuts you up by restricting your throat with the force. You have enough air to breathe, but not enough to speak.

You look into the blank helmet with teary eyes, hoping that somehow you can connect with Anakin. You know he's in there, you just have to bring him out.

Vader's fingers split you open painfully. You don't know what he has underneath the suit, but you fear that it will be even worse than the treatment being done to you now. When he pulls his hand away, your creamy juices coat the black glove.

He grabs your jaw and squeezes hard, forcing you to open your mouth. He shoves the wet fingers inside for you to clean, tasting yourself off of them. It's disgusting and degrading, but you're helpless to resist.

When he pulls his fingers out, his glove glistens with your spit. A string of it connects your lip to his glove and when it breaks, it falls against your chin.

Vader drops his hand and you're left staring up at him. The panel of his chest presses against yours uncomfortably, digging into you. You're legs are shaking, not from pleasure but from a mix of fear and the ache in your pussy.

Vader then grabs you by the shoulder and pushes you down, sending you sprawling onto the metal floor. He turns his back to you and the door opens again. Wordlessly, he leaves you alone once again, his heavy boots echoing down the corridor.

[power-chords]

But seriously, Solaris for Dummies is smarter than it seems. A fantastic example is in the translation from book to film of this key scene, where Norman alights at last at his destination* and he is introduced to the swarm of government gatekeepers as well as re-introduced to his fellow team members. In the novel, this is how we meet Beth:

And in the film:

Crichton's prose is not without its merits, but I wince from implications that Levinson would never permit. She says nothing before the Gatekeeper closes the door in Norman's face, and in lieu of the subtle dig at/flirtation with him she simply gazes at him. On her face is a mixture of confusion, intrigue, and trepidation. Since it would be difficult to perceive her "large and liquid eyes" in this medium, the textual metaphor of the Sphere — and make no mistake, that is exactly what Crichton is foreshadowing — gets transferred to a rather modest shirt of the same color and visual pattern. She's nervous, yes, and there's complicated history, but she comes in peace: check out the patch on her arm. She's as pretty as Crichton attests she is, but in the film that's just an accident of nature; nothing in the scene suggests that she's performing anything for anyone, masculine or feminine, seductive or standoffish. What Norman finds enchanting in her — and clearly, he's enchanted, not intimidated — goes beyond mere sex appeal. The visual motif of the Sphere is repeated around Norman's head in the partially obscured, slipped halo of the porthole light; there's a black turbine much more visible, and you can practically see the shadows spinning inside his head. He has eyeglasses on, a glint of reflection in them. He's trying to read her. She's doing the same with him.

Perhaps a part of Levinson needs to relate to Norman, and that requires some mensch-y modulation, for which I am grateful. There's a reason Norman Johnson becomes Norman Goodman. A definite improvement, here. And Norman has got some thinking to do, not just about why the hell he's here, but whether he's got some atoning to do.

This is how brilliant an actor Hoffman is: without a word, just in his body language and facial expression, he embodies the tortured fatherly professor-type and at the same time a teenager sulking in his dorm room. (And in that intro scene with Ted we do get the vibe of old friends and colleagues re-convening as if the naval ship were just host to a surprise college reunion, everybody interacting with both the ease and shock of instant familiarity, bristling with the same old affections and irritations.)

What I want to know is what the fuck those notices are, framed along the wall; when the gatekeeper departs, he passes by rows of them. Honorable discharge notices? Deck logs? Memorials to fallen comrades?** To a layman like me, the "search image" calls up certificates, diplomas, credentials you'd hang on an office wall. Reminders of station, occupation, legitimacy.

I have no fucking idea what they actually are, as I know fuck-all about the Navy, but then again, we know this is no ordinary military vessel. I just did some cursory googling, and, well:

Just as a town or city has a system using street signs and addresses to help you find your way around, so does a Navy ship. Each space in a Navy vessel has a unique identifier that consists of a yellow rectangle with black letters and numbers, known as the bullseye. It will have several lines of information, with the topmost line, made up of numbers and letters, providing location information. For example: 4–95–3–M.

That's weird. Not a whole hell of a lot of clear, helpful labeling that I can see around here.

Definitely some clear, hostile labeling Before the Law Restricted Area, though! Barnes is such an asshole, but he's great. Man, Peter Coyote is so good. You know I love a jobbing character actor who always gives 110%.

*His destination is always a doorway. The Sphere is also a doorway. But you knew that already.

**I suspect it's this, purely on a gut hunch. Why? Levinson makes a point to show a pin, a mark, on this officer's collar. Later, the scar on Beth's neck is revealed to be the result of a car accident. And as Harry deduces after their first glimpse of the Sphere... they were not supposed to make it out of there alive.

[tuppencetrinkets]

Star Wars: Outlaws.

A lot of security here. They knew what they were doing.

All right thanks for the heads up.

All right, let's get this thing out of here. That's our exit.

All right, might be worth checking out.

All right, what have you got for me.

But I also got this relic back for you.

Don't get your hopes up.

Feelers up buddy, this could get tricky.

Fine, I hear you. Got to be another way in.

Good work.

Good, no one will think to look there. We can wait them out.

Guess who's going to see the queen? They must want this relic bad.

I do not understand the question.

I don't know, I'm pretty rusty. You got any better ideas?

I don't see any good options.

I'm going through the ship's inventory and I found something you could use. Come see.

I'm sure the queen would appreciate if I got it back to them. Just got to find out where they're hiding it.

I'm taking this to the queen.

I've received a message from the heir to the Ashiga.

I've scouted some locations where you'll find the module useful.

If it doesn't, it'll be due to your experience and lack of tactical expertise.

It will make the hive stronger.

It's not crude, it's vintage.

Let's get that relic. Just another job, right?

Maybe, but it's rare for the clan to defy their queen.

Never had a chance to deal with the Empire on Kijimi before.

No offense but I want to give it to her myself.

No way, I'm not walking away from this many credits and we've got a reputation to uphold.

Oh it fits. Let's just hope it works.

Oh right, uh, I'll be fine.

Oh, what a mess. I think we have to turn around and call this job a bust.

Okay, listen, I've found your stolen relic and I'm here to return it to the queen.

Once installed, this conductor will let you release a powerful explosive bolt. You can use the workbench to build the module.

Our expansion has made us vulnerable.

She was asking about the bomb maker.

She won't see just anyone.

Should I be concerned about how you retrieved it?

So, you going to try your luck?

Sounds like they want to make a deal.

The Ashiga won't let the Empire keep a presence here for long.

The bomb maker is essential to our expansion but the hive also has a great use for a thief like you.

The Wellspring is a private club.

There are stormtrooper patrols on the landing pad.

These are module parts compatible with your blaster. Your VM19 is crude, but highly customizable.

They may perceive you as the thief.

They must have known it would keep the queen distracted.

They'll search us and seize the weapons.

This whole city was started by people running from something. You think they're all free now?

We don't need the outer rim. Our place is here. We have decided.

We got a deal then, great. I'm just gonna leave you two to talk this out.

We have also received some job offers from the clan. There's a message on the ship.

We have much to speak about.

We shouldn't be here. This is a restricted zone. You need to back away right now.

What? Why?

Work with us and we will let her go free.

Yeah, yeah, I get it.

Yeah, you need piles of credits to really be free.

You should be terrified.

[dindjarindiaries]

It's taking me 10,000 years to finish this mammoth one-shot sooooo here's another excerpt to hold you all over! Thank you so much for your patience! ✨

You were prepared to watch him eat the way he always used to around you. He would lift his helmet just enough to sip the broth and tear off chunks of the bread. That was all you ever got to glimpse of his face. His untrimmed jaw, the tip of his hooked nose, his warm lips that felt like home…

Used to feel like home.

But before you could even raise the first broth-soaked chunk of bread to your lips, you saw Din lift both hands to his helmet, preparing to slide it off completely.

Out of instinct, your free hand snapped around his wrist. Din froze, his visor finding your piercing stare. “What the hell are you doing?”

Din’s tense form relaxed, a soft laugh crackling through his modulator before the hand you weren’t restricting covered yours. “Relax, sweetheart.” The familiar nickname made your heart turn over in your chest. “This isn’t the first time I’ve done this.”

His words hit you with a dizzying amount of thoughts and emotions, but the most prominent of all was hurt. He had removed his helmet for someone else, that much was clear. Had you not been worthy enough to be the first?

You didn’t say anything in response, and you couldn’t even if you wanted to. You let go of his wrist and let him follow through on the action.

You couldn’t take your eyes off him, as much as you wanted to. Dark hair accompanied the dark stubble you had once felt against your own skin, falling in soft waves over his head and coating his upper law and jaw with sweet familiarity. The rest of the hook of his nose was long and gentle, leading up to a furrowed brow. You followed those lines to meet his eyes.

Time stalled, and your breath caught. His brown eyes had already met your stare, golden flecks glinting in the flashing blue light of hyperspace that illuminated the ship’s interior. Your gaze flickered between them, imagining all the different ways these same eyes might have looked upon you all those years ago.

You wondered if they had looked at you then the way they were looking at you now.

[houyin]

After Rubert unleashed the calamity of inorganic life, the aurumaton in Xianzhou also rebelled and began a ruthless slaughter. To ensure that the turmoil does not resurface, the craftsmen imposed imprisonment using talismans, stripping the aurumaton of their ability to think. - Suppressing Edict Aurumaton President: My jade abacus module retains almost no data from that era except for a few traces of modifications, presumably to eradicate the very existence of the Anti-Organic Equation in the universe. [...] Aurumaton President: Fine, I didn't want to be so blunt at first... Aurumaton President: With only a head left, I won't pose a threat to anyone. You're happy about it, and so am I. - Aurumaton President, Dialogue

One of the greatest means by which Yingxing attained fame, aside from being the most talented outlander to ever be appointed as Furnace Master aboard any of the Hexafleet's ships, was by his sheer mastery of the Aurumatons. However, as the aftershocks of the Mechanical Emperor's Wars resulted in many Aurumatons being decommissioned and their jade abacuses having their spaience deactivated, it wasn't enough for the ambitious Yingxing who wanted his creations to exist on the cutting edge.

Therefore, it was then--while still a teenager--that Yingxing began to delve deeply into the pioneering of AI. While Artificial Intelligence wasn't new by any means--let alone aboard the Zhuming, the heart of the Alliance's innovativeness--Yingxing gained an early mastery of it just years after Huaiyan adopted the boy under his wing.

At 14, Yingxing created his first AI he called the YX Model. He did so by creating a digital copy of his brain, and by programming it extensively himself, he was able to create an AI that he began uploading into the jade abaci of Aurumatons and give them a level of thought that hadn't been seen since before crisis of the Anti-Organic Equation. Through this, he was able to manufacture sapient Aurumatons and drastically expand on their use where most of his fellow craftsmen were reluctant to do so, preferring Ingenia. Though Yingxing also bore equal ability in the crafting of Ingenia, he did prefer Aurumatons due to their sturdiness that greatly outpaced the more delicate Ingenia that were better for less strenuous work that Aurumatons were better suited to handle battle than most Ingenia, however well-engineered.

The means by which he enabled this AI to operate with the Aurumatons restrictions was by altering the talismans that deactivated their cognition and redirecting it in such a way that the Aurumaton's original cognition would be stifled while the AI would supplant it, allowing this new "brain" to restore a level of cognition without making it truly conscious as the Alliance so demanded. As these AI's were based on his own mind, Yingxing could spend copious amounts of times reprogramming it with specific commands and functions unique to each model of Aurumaton, bequeathing a level of AI said to rival that of the average Intellitron.

The current owner of Artistry Hardware, Mr. Xiao, is an ex-artisan from the Artisanship Commission who once worked with Yingxing, the legendary Furnace Master. His craftsmanship is peerless. Today, civilian use of aurumatons has reduced to vanishingly low numbers, and Artistry Hardware remains one of the few proud workshops able to independently craft and maintain aurumatons. - Artistry Hardware, Star-picking Tours

Cheekily, this wasn't the only use of the YX Model. As he infamously loathed doing anything related to administrative work outside of the management of projects, he created a clone of this Model set aside to do it for him. Updating the AI with brain scans every night to keep it concurrent, the AI handles all his paperwork for him. Perhaps one might see it as petty, his dislike of tedious despite being part of his duties as one of the Six Charioteers has made him quite infamous among his comrades.

[scifishortstoryverse]

📁 PGC PERSONNEL CASE FILE

Name: Praetorian

Designation: Strategic Security Entity 117-A “PRAETORIAN”

Acronym Meaning: Prototype Reconnaissance Android Engineered for Tactical Observation, Recon, Infiltration, and Neutralization

Role: Covert Operative | Classified Internal Affairs Liaison

Species: Synthetic (Fully Artificial Intelligence in Humanoid Shell)

Operational Age: 11 years since activation

Assigned Vessel: PGC Starship Europa

Uniform Accent Color: Black (denoting Intelligence, Infiltration & Covert Operations)

⸻

PHYSICAL PROFILE

Praetorian presents as a humanoid male, but his artificial nature is unmissable. Standing at 6’2”, he features exposed synthetic musculature layered beneath asymmetrical black exoskeletal plating. The fusion of brutalist form and graceful symmetry makes him resemble a walking execution order. A stylized version of the Europa insignia is engraved into his upper torso plating—less decoration, more brand.

His facial structure includes minimalistic plating capable of subtle expression through microservo flexing, but he often defaults to a blank, unsettling neutrality. His white hair, side-swept with a stark silver streak, serves no functional purpose—only legacy aesthetics carried from his original conceptual design. He speaks in a level, low tone, modulated to avoid sounding threatening… though rarely succeeding.

⸻

ROLE & FUNCTION

As Europa’s covert and internal affairs operative, Praetorian fulfills dual, high-clearance roles:

• Internal Security & Surveillance

• Monitors crew health, loyalty, and behavioral anomalies

• Executes threat suppression protocols in event of mutiny or sabotage

• Interfaces silently with the ship’s security grid

• External Black Ops & Recon

• Deployed on missions requiring infiltration, assassination, data theft, or dismantling high-value threats

• Capable of stealth deployment via zero-profile drop pods or embedded personas

• All missions executed under Black Directive: “Success at all ethical cost”

Captain Cole has restricted Praetorian’s kill authority with layered ethical subroutines and mission-lockout failsafes. Whether these remain intact is a matter of whispered speculation.

⸻

BACKGROUND

Praetorian was not built from scratch, but reconstructed—an amalgamation of battlefield AIs, corrupted mission logs, and shattered consciousness fragments from the Fold Wars. The PRAETORIAN project was a Commonwealth gamble to create a synthetic agent immune to emotional compromise and espionage interference.

Originally trialed on Parnassus V, he executed an unsanctioned purge of a rogue cell using zero-casualty dismemberment and neuro-inhibition gas. The public was told it was a “surgical diplomatic extraction.” Internal reports call it “the day the walls bled data.”

Following the event, Praetorian was quietly transferred to Europa as part of a diplomatic compromise between Intelligence Command and Fleet Oversight. Captain Cole agreed to the assignment under one strict condition:

“He protects the crew. Not monitors them.”

⸻

NOTES OF INTEREST

• Praetorian’s name is always capitalized in reports. Not by grammar—but programming.

• He is technically incapable of lying, but uses omission like an artist uses brushstrokes.

• Maintains observational logs of crew interactions, but deletes praise or emotional reflections to “preserve objectivity.”

• Has shown mild behavioral instability when around children or animals, often freezing for 3.2 seconds as if recalling corrupted memory blocks.

• Speaks to Europa’s AI only in binary. She’s the only one he calls “sister.”

• Prefers to sit silently in the hydroponic gardens, observing plant growth cycles. When asked why, he replied:

“They grow with purpose. They do not doubt. I envy that.”

[e-commercewebsiteservices]

A Practical Guide to Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento Development Services

Choosing the right eCommerce platform is a key decision for any business planning to operate online. Beyond the platform itself, how it is developed and maintained significantly affects store performance, scalability, and long-term success. This guide breaks down the roles of Shopify Development Services, Woocommerce Development Services, and Magento Development Services, helping you understand what each offers, and how to make the right choice based on your business needs.

Understanding Shopify Development Services

Shopify is a cloud-based eCommerce platform that offers a straightforward way to build and run an online store. It is widely used due to its simplicity, hosted infrastructure, and minimal setup requirements.

Shopify Development Services focus on configuring stores, customizing themes, and integrating third-party applications. Since Shopify limits access to its core code, development is centered around using the Shopify Admin Panel, Liquid templating language, and available APIs. Developers often assist with:

Customizing storefront themes

Adding and configuring apps

Managing product catalogs and collections

Creating responsive designs

Basic SEO setup

Checkout customization (mainly via Shopify Plus)

Businesses with limited technical resources benefit from Shopify’s hosted nature. However, its customization capabilities are limited compared to open-source platforms, which may restrict highly specific feature development.

Exploring Woocommerce Development Services

WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns any WordPress website into an online store. It provides flexibility and full access to code, making it a good fit for businesses already using WordPress or those needing custom solutions.

Woocommerce Development Services offer complete control over the store’s design and functionality. Developers can:

Build custom themes or modify existing ones

Extend functionality with custom plugins

Set up complex product variations or pricing rules

Integrate with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, shipping systems)

Customize checkout processes

Improve performance and security

With WooCommerce, you’re responsible for managing hosting, backups, updates, and security. Development support becomes essential, especially for handling plugin conflicts, core updates, and performance optimization.

Evaluating Magento Development Services

Magento is an enterprise-grade eCommerce platform suitable for businesses that require advanced features, high performance, and flexibility. Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce (the paid version) are powerful platforms designed for large catalogs and multi-store setups.

Magento Development Services involve extensive customization, technical integration, and optimization. Development teams typically handle:

Custom module development

Theme development and UX design

Integration with ERP, POS, and other enterprise systems

Management of large product catalogs with configurable attributes

Setting up multi-language or multi-currency storefronts

Implementing advanced marketing and discount rules

Magento is resource-intensive and requires experienced developers for setup, optimization, and maintenance. It is ideal for medium to large businesses with complex needs that outgrow basic platforms.

Why Development Services Matter

Development services are not only about launching a store—they play an ongoing role in performance, security, and adaptability. Businesses using any of these platforms benefit from technical guidance and maintenance:

Shopify Development Services ensure the store is visually appealing, integrated with the right tools, and optimized for customer experience.

Woocommerce Development Services provide deeper customization, allowing businesses to mold their online store to exact needs while managing the backend effectively.

Magento Development Services support large operations where performance, scale, and system integration are essential.

Proper development reduces downtime, prevents security issues, and ensures your store performs efficiently under various demands.

Making the Right Choice

Your decision should align with your business’s complexity, size, and available resources:

If you’re starting out or want a fast setup with fewer responsibilities, Shopify Development Services are a solid choice.

If you need full control, already work with WordPress, or want to mix content and commerce, Woocommerce Development Services will suit you best.

If your business has advanced operational needs, a large product catalog, or plans for international expansion, Magento Development Services offer the depth and structure required.

No matter which platform you choose, working with experienced developers ensures that your store is built to perform and grow with your business.

One such provider of specialized eCommerce solutions across all three platforms is Webiators, offering tailored support and development for businesses at different stages of growth.

Conclusion

Whether you need simplicity, flexibility, or enterprise-scale control, the right eCommerce platform and corresponding development services make all the difference. Understanding the unique role of Shopify Development Services, Woocommerce Development Services, and Magento Development Services helps you choose based on function—not just popularity. With the right foundation, your online store can deliver a reliable and effective customer experience.

[mygdevelopjourney]

Post mortems

The three games I had where a side scrolling platformer game, an asteroids game and a "racing" game.

The platformer game I was still learning the ropes to GDevelop 5, and as such didn't have such a high quality compared to the other games. I spent some time just getting the basic mechanics down. I planned for 3 stages and levels, with each stage including a new setting and enemies. Alas, it was time to work on the Asteroids Game. The Asteroids game, ahh the one where I decided the objective was no longer to shoot the asteroids, but to shoot other ships. I experimented with the parallax and it worked quite well, although not quite looking how I wanted it to. In the end, the enemy ships had cool modules on them, each with specific roles. The point defence was quite the challenge for playing the game, combined with the restricting movement and homing missiles. You can see the final game version I developed here:

Finally was the "Racing" game, which I had rebranded into a Gladiator style arena, with chariots instead of cars. This had direction and the potential to become a real game, but I did not get too much time to work on this with Assignment 2 coming up. For Assignment 2 & 3 I had used my Asteroids game, as it was the most developed and I felt really connected to the game.

[nidhimishra5394]

Plant PV Solar Market Outlook Shows Strong Momentum Toward Decarbonizing Power Generation Sectors Globally

The global photovoltaic (PV) solar market has evolved dramatically over the past decade, emerging as a key pillar in the transition toward clean energy and sustainability. Driven by falling costs, supportive policies, technological advancements, and increasing awareness of climate change, the PV solar sector has transformed from a niche technology into a mainstream energy source. As we look ahead, understanding the current market scenario, its challenges, and its future opportunities is crucial for stakeholders across the energy landscape.

Market Growth and Size

The PV solar market has witnessed robust growth in both developed and developing regions. According to industry reports, global installed solar PV capacity surpassed 1,200 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, marking a significant increase from just 580 GW in 2019. China continues to lead the world in cumulative capacity, followed by the United States, Europe (particularly Germany and Spain), and rapidly growing markets like India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia.

The declining levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar PV thanks to economies of scale, improvements in module efficiency, and advances in manufacturing has positioned solar energy as one of the cheapest sources of new power generation in many markets. In some regions, utility-scale PV projects are now delivering electricity at costs below traditional fossil fuel plants, spurring large-scale adoption.

Key Market Drivers

Several factors are propelling the expansion of the PV solar market:

Policy and Regulatory Support: Governments worldwide have implemented renewable energy targets, feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and auctions to accelerate the deployment of solar PV. International agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, have further reinforced national commitments to reduce carbon emissions, placing renewables at the forefront of energy planning.

Technological Innovations: Continuous improvements in PV module technology such as the rise of bifacial panels, passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) designs, and tandem solar cells have boosted efficiency rates and energy yields. Additionally, innovations in system components, such as inverters and trackers, are enhancing overall system performance.

Corporate Commitments and Green Finance: Increasing numbers of corporations are committing to net-zero targets and investing in solar PV as part of their sustainability strategies. Access to green finance and renewable energy investment vehicles has further unlocked capital for solar projects across scales.

Energy Access and Decentralization: In regions with limited grid infrastructure, solar PV offers a compelling solution for decentralized power generation, supporting rural electrification and energy access. Mini-grids and off-grid solar systems are transforming energy access in parts of Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

Challenges Facing the PV Solar Market

Despite its positive momentum, the PV solar sector faces several challenges:

Supply Chain Constraints: The global solar supply chain has experienced disruptions, particularly in polysilicon production, module manufacturing, and shipping logistics. These bottlenecks, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, have led to price volatility in recent years.

Land and Resource Use: Utility-scale PV installations require substantial land area, raising concerns over land use competition, biodiversity impacts, and social acceptance. Sustainable siting practices and innovations like agrivoltaics where solar panels are combined with agricultural use are being explored to mitigate these concerns.

Grid Integration: As solar penetration increases, grid operators face challenges related to intermittency, variability, and grid stability. Investing in grid modernization, storage solutions, and demand response mechanisms will be essential to fully harness solar’s potential.

Recycling and End-of-Life Management: The PV industry must address the looming challenge of panel waste and materials recovery. Developing robust recycling infrastructure and circular economy models will be critical as early-generation systems reach the end of their lifespans.

Future Outlook and Opportunities

Looking ahead, the PV solar market is poised for continued expansion. Analysts project global solar capacity to surpass 2,500 GW by 2030 under current policy trajectories, with even higher potential under accelerated climate action scenarios.

Key growth opportunities include:

Energy Storage Integration: Pairing PV systems with battery storage enhances grid flexibility and enables greater use of solar energy during non-sunny periods. The falling cost of lithium-ion and emerging storage technologies will drive wider adoption.

Floating Solar (Floatovoltaics): Deploying PV systems on reservoirs, lakes, and other water bodies offers an innovative approach to land-constrained regions, reducing evaporation and utilizing underused surfaces.

Hybrid Systems and Green Hydrogen: Combining solar with wind, hydropower, or green hydrogen production opens new avenues for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and providing firm, clean energy.

Digitalization and Smart Grids: Advances in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and smart grid technologies will optimize solar PV performance, improve forecasting, and enhance grid integration.

Conclusion

The PV solar market stands at a pivotal moment, representing not only a cornerstone of the global energy transition but also a dynamic arena of innovation and investment. While challenges remain, the combination of supportive policies, technological breakthroughs, and market-driven forces positions solar PV to play a central role in shaping a sustainable, low-carbon energy future. Stakeholders from policymakers and investors to utilities and communities must collaborate to overcome barriers and unlock the full promise of solar energy in the years to come.

[envision-smartports]

Advanced Capabilities of Envision Smart Ports

Beyond the core modules, Envision Smart Ports brings innovative technologies into maritime operations:

● AI and Predictive Analytics

Forecasts vessel delays, container dwell time, and crane maintenance needs using machine learning. This leads to fewer disruptions and improved planning.

Real-time anomaly detection: Flags unusual patterns like extended idle time or container misplacement.

Dynamic resource allocation: Reassigns equipment and labor in real time for better efficiency.

Maintenance forecasting: Predicts equipment failure before it happens, minimizing downtime.

● IoT-Driven Intelligence

Sensors on cranes, trucks, and storage areas provide granular data.

Equipment condition monitoring: Tracks vibration, temperature, and wear.

Geo-fencing alerts: Notifies when assets move beyond designated zones.

Automated system diagnostics: Issues service alerts based on usage data.

● Blockchain Trade Facilitation

Ensures secure, tamper-proof documentation.

Bill of lading digitization: Secure digital version of a key shipping document.

Customs clearance records: Transparent and immutable logs help reduce fraud.

Tamper-proof audit trails: Ensures data integrity for compliance.

● Cloud and Mobile Access

Stay connected remotely with instant access.

Real-time push notifications: Receive critical alerts.

Mobile inspections and approvals: Conduct field tasks from smartphones.

Configurable user access control: Define roles and restrict access appropriately.

Multi-Modal Transport Integration

Align operations with rail, road, and waterways.

Intermodal slot booking: Reserve slots in advance for cargo transition.

Transit status tracking: Monitor cargo as it moves between modes.

Automated transfer documentation: Avoids delays in handing over cargo.

Real-World Use Cases of Envision Smart Ports

Port of Mundra: Achieved a 22% reduction in truck turnaround time.

Chennai Container Terminal: Integrated PCS improved customs clearance speed by 30%.

Inland Container Depot, Hyderabad: Optimized CYMS reduced container retrieval time by 40%.

Seamless Integrations and Mobile Capabilities

Envision Smart Ports integrates easily with leading ERP, TOS, CRM, and customs systems. It supports Android/iOS mobile apps for field operators, ensuring 24/7 data access and task management.

About Envision Enterprise Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Envision Enterprise Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a global industry leader in smart port technologies, TOS solutions, and digital transformation solutions for maritime logistics. Envision has developed a reputation for reliability, innovation, and excellence based on successful implementations in prominent Indian ports and ICDs.

Envision’s Smart Port offerings are transforming the future of maritime logistics—one port at a time.

Conclusion

Envision Enterprise Solutions Pvt. Ltd. stands at the forefront of maritime digital transformation, delivering cutting-edge smart port technologies and TOS solutions that redefine operational excellence. With a proven track record across major Indian ports and ICDs, Envision has earned a reputation for innovation, reliability, and impact.

Through Envision Smart Ports, the company is shaping the future of maritime logistics—leveraging AI, IoT, cloud computing, and real-time analytics to create intelligent, efficient, and sustainable port ecosystems.

Contact us today to discover how Envision Smart Ports can transform your port operations and drive the next wave of maritime innovation.

[smartpartsexports033]

Premium Hyundai Genuine Parts – Trusted by Smart Parts Exports

When it comes to maintaining the showing and longevity of your Hyundai motorised vehicle, finding a use for Hyundai genuine parts is of the essence. At Smart Parts Exports, we specialise in giving) high-quality, authentic Hyundai spare parts at aggressive prices. Whether you're looking for Hyundai OEM parts, Hyundai aftermarket parts, or premium Hyundai XTeer lubrication, we are your trusted partner for dependable, efficient service. With a vast selection of Hyundai parts exporters, we certify that customers worldwide can access the best parts for their vehicles conveniently.

Why Choose Hyundai Genuine OEM Parts?

Using genuine Hyundai parts makes certain that your vehicle operates at heights staging. These parts are designed as well as manufactured to meet Hyundai’s unbending quality grouping, as long as durability, safety, and the perfect fit. In the middle of Hyundai OEM spare parts, you avoid the risks associated with counterfeit or low-quality replacements. To this location are a few key benefits of opting for genuine Hyundai spare parts:

Precision and agreement: Hyundai’s genuine parts are specifically designed for your model, ensuring a seamless fit and proper functionality.

Aggrandize Longevity: Genuine parts are longer than aftermarket alternatives, offering preferable longevity and performance.

Constructor Warranty: Many genuine parts come with Hyundai’s warranty, ensuring peace of mind for buyers.

Safety Assurance: Counterfeit parts can compromise your vehicle's safety, but with genuine Hyundai ingredients, you maintain high safety standards.

Smart Parts Exports – Your One-Stop Destination for Hyundai Spare Parts

Hyundai spare parts for all models, comprising cars, SUVs, and commercial vehicles, can be bought at Smart Parts Exports. We serve mechanics, wholesale distributors, and individual auto owners all around the world. The items in our collection include but aren't restricted to:

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Hyundai XTeer – Premium Lubricants for Your Vehicle

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OEM Recommended: Approved for use in the middle of Hyundai vehicles, ensuring compatibility.

By choosing the Hyundai XTeer, you ensure that your engine remains in top condition while maximizing its performance.

Benefits of Buying from Smart Parts Exports

At Smart Parts Exports, we are committed to quality, affordability, and the highest quality customer service. Here’s why purchasers trust us for their genuine Hyundai parts needs:

OEM and Genuine Parts: We promise superior performance and authenticity.

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How to Order Hyundai Parts Online?

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Conclusion

The correct parts and servicing are required to keep your Hyundai in excellent working order. You can guarantee long-term reliability, safety, and peak performance by choosing Hyundai genuine parts, Hyundai XTeer, lubricants, and other premium parts. Our goal at Smart Parts Exports is to offer the best Hyundai replacement parts at affordable costs, with quick online ordering and worldwide shipping. We can provide you with Hyundai parts online, whether you need them for personal use or wholesale sale.

Place your order with Smart Parts Exports of goods, the number one source for authentic Hyundai parts, and enjoy the highest quality, authenticity, and service available.

[devintellecs]

What to Expect in an Odoo Demo before Implementation

Choosing the right ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a crucial decision for any business. An ERP system like Odoo can help streamline operations, improve efficiency, and support business growth. However, before implementing Odoo, it's important to attend an Odoo demo to get a clear understanding of how it works and whether it meets your business needs.

This blog will walk you through what to expect in an Odoo demo, how to prepare for it, and how it can help you make the right decision before implementation.

Why is an Odoo Demo Important?

An Odoo demo provides an opportunity to explore the software, understand its features, and evaluate its suitability for your business. Here's why attending a demo is beneficial:

✔ Hands-on Experience – See how the system works in real-time.

✔ Feature Exploration – Understand the different modules available.

✔ Customization & Scalability – Check if Odoo can be tailored to your needs.

✔ Integration Capabilities – Test how well it connects with your existing software.

✔ Performance & Ease of Use – Assess the user experience and speed.

By attending a demo, you can make an informed decision before committing to implementation.

What to Expect in an Odoo Demo?

During an Odoo demo, you will be guided through the software, its modules, and how it can be used in real-world business scenarios. Here's what you can expect:

1. Introduction to Odoo

The demo usually starts with a brief introduction to Odoo, covering its core functionalities and key benefits. The presenter will explain how Odoo is different from other ERP solutions and how it can be customized to fit various industries.

2. Overview of Key Modules

Odoo is a modular ERP, meaning you can choose specific modules based on your business needs. Some common modules you'll explore in the demo include:

Sales & CRM – Manage leads, track customers, and handle sales efficiently.

Accounting – Automate invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.

Inventory Management – Control stock levels, track orders, and optimize supply chain operations.

Human Resources (HR) – Manage employees, payroll, and attendance.

Manufacturing – Streamline production, track work orders, and optimize costs.

E-commerce & Website – Set up an online store and manage digital sales.

The demo will show how these modules interact with each other to provide a seamless business management experience.

3. Live Walkthrough of the System

Expect a hands-on walkthrough of the Odoo interface. The presenter will navigate through different modules, show you how to perform essential tasks, and demonstrate how data flows from one module to another.

This is your chance to see Odoo in action and understand how intuitive and user-friendly it is.

4. Customization Options

Every business has unique needs, and Odoo allows extensive customization. The demo will highlight how you can:

Modify workflows to match your processes.

Add custom fields and reports.

Integrate third-party applications.

Personalize the user interface.

5. Automation & Workflow Management

One of the major advantages of using Odoo is its ability to automate repetitive tasks and improve workflow efficiency. The demo will cover:

How to set up automated email responses.

Managing approvals and notifications.

Automating invoice generation and payroll processing.

6. Integration with Third-Party Applications

Businesses often use multiple software tools. Odoo supports integration with third-party applications such as:

Payment Gateways (PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay)

Shipping Services (FedEx, UPS, DHL)

E-commerce Platforms (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce)

Communication Tools (Slack, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams)

The demo will show how easy it is to integrate these services within Odoo.

7. Security & User Roles

Security is a key concern when implementing an ERP. During the demo, expect to learn about:

User Roles & Permissions – Restrict access based on roles.

Data Security & Backups – Keep business data safe.

Audit & Activity Logs – Monitor user actions within the system.

8. Reporting & Analytics

A crucial part of any ERP system is its ability to generate insightful reports. The demo will highlight how Odoo provides:

Real-time business analytics

Customizable dashboards

Financial and operational reports

KPI tracking and forecasting tools

These reports help in making data-driven decisions to improve business performance.

9. Q&A Session

Most Odoo demos end with a Q&A session, where you can ask specific questions related to your business needs. This is a great opportunity to clarify any doubts and discuss any unique challenges your business faces.

How to Prepare for an Odoo Demo?

To make the most out of the demo, follow these steps:

✅ Identify Business Requirements – List your pain points and challenges.

✅ Prepare Use Cases – Have real-life business scenarios to test in the demo.

✅ Ask Questions – Clarify customization, integration, and pricing details.

✅ Compare with Other ERP Solutions – Keep notes on how Odoo compares with other ERP systems.

By preparing in advance, you can make an informed decision and evaluate whether Odoo is the right fit for your business.

Final Thoughts

An Odoo demo is a valuable step before implementing the ERP. It helps you explore the features, understand its capabilities, and determine if it aligns with your business requirements.

By attending a demo, you can gain confidence in your decision and ensure a smoother implementation process.

If you're considering Odoo for your business, book a demo today and experience firsthand how it can transform your operations!