#Weapon Open System Architecture

[smalltofedsblog]

Strengthened Government-Industry Collaboration To Keep Adversaries Off Balance

Four key pillars that can offer the U.S. this decisive advantage

[comicaurora]

Slowly making my way through the TOTK B roll stream, had a few thoughts on the emptiness of the sky islands. In a way, would it not be more surprising if there were more remains to be seen? Ignoring the whole 'it's a game, decisions were made by the developers' bit, nature can take over surprisingly quickly in the right circumstances. In a way, it's more surprising so much survived in BOTW (like the bomb hut ruins. Fire damaged wood? Should be gone in a decade or two anyway). (contd)

So the thing about the Sky Islands in Tears of the Kingdom is that, not only are the ruins fairly well-preserved - presumably due to having been in the Sacred Realm for the last 10,000+ years - but even with them damaged and tumbledown, it's fairly clear from the layout of the islands and their structures that they were not residences. That's not something that would've been lost to erosion and time, that's something foundational to the architecture of the place.

When the game designers want to show a place people live on the surface of Hyrule, they hit a few key points: distinct-looking homes with beds, places that make food, and an inn for travelers. The buildings are different sizes, decorated or personalized by the residents. They're laid out relative to one another in a way that allows for easy, convenient traversal. It's intentional design that makes the villages feel lived-in, cozy, and worth protecting.

Inside the buildings, little details show the presence of living people, even if the building is empty at the time. Table settings, notebooks, pictures on the walls. They feel like they've been shaped by the influence of people, living and working and customizing their environment.

These are all, to be fair, things that we wouldn't expect to last very long if the town fell to ruin. When we explore the sky islands, we aren't expecting to find well-preserved paper maps or notebooks or anything. But if they were lived-in - if they were Zonai population centers rather than temples, ritual centers and factories - that would still be reflected in the basic layout of the structure itself. A residence is designed to accommodate for every basic need, meaning we'd expect the buildings to have places for them to sleep, to eat, and to relax. On the Sky Islands, we find none of these things.

The most common buildings on the sky islands are these isolated stone one-room ruins. They look and feel like storehouses - a few pots, some crumbled masonry. No doors or interior rooms for privacy, no comforts, no sign of a place to sleep, no adjoining buildings. These things were never homes.

The Great Sky Island is the only really plausible candidate for a place the Zonai might've actually lived, being about town-sized with several buildings, but it's not laid out like one. The buildings are either small one-room storage sheds or the massive Temple of Time, and there's no sign of other specialized buildings that could have been used for things like food, rest or other necessities. The Great Sky Island feels like a large, beautiful public park built grafted onto the Temple of Time.

The larger dungeons are more internally complicated, but not in the way that residences are complicated. The water dungeon looks like some kind of huge open park - wide avenues, plazas, devices built for mobility. It feels like a place meant to be traversed and admired, not stayed in.

The wind dungeon is more clearly built as a weapon platform, nowhere we expect people to live. It makes sense that it feels sterile and lifeless.

The larger, more complicated sky islands are also designed for clear utility. The spheres are some sort of celestial observatories, featuring a control system, a treasure chest, and nothing else.

Wildcards like Lightcast Island were clearly built to serve a single purpose - in this case, a lighthouse and attached microdungeon - but contain no signs of life. Zonai came here for a reason, but they didn't stay.

The glide challenge islands are visually impressive, but ultimately the rings are empty - they don't even have structures on them. They exist for the dive challenge and nothing else.

Same deal with the labyrinths, which exist explicitly as puzzles and challenges.

The mines in the depths are also clearly structured for utility - storerooms, construct part repositories and a lot of conveyer belts for moving zoanite. The purpose of the building is very clear just from the layout, and these are not places where anyone was supposed to be staying outside of work hours.

This, along with the layout of towns on the surface, shows that the designers are very good at constructing architecture that reflects the in-story utility of a place, which means the lack of signs of life in the sky islands is not a limitation of the console or the imagination of the artists - it's an intentional design choice.

The end result of all of this? The Sky Islands feel like somewhere that the Zonai built and visited, but not where they lived. They feel cold and unwelcoming and liminal. There's no sense of loss or tragedy, just a feeling of emptiness - people used to come here, but they don't anymore. There's none of the poignancy of an empty dining table's unused place settings or an abandoned child's toy. None of the Sky Islands that descended during the Upheaval were places where the Zonai lived. At the peak of their power they were mistaken for gods, a massively thriving technologically advanced civilization - I'd expect their homes to be cities, towers of jade and marble bustling with the activity of a post-scarcity utopia. None of the Sky Islands show us anything like that, and given how well the designers can portray a lived-in place even without any people in it, this is assuredly intentional. The Zonai built and visited and used the Sky Islands we can explore, but as a whole they lived somewhere else.

But throughout it all, there's this pervading unease - the fact that there's no obvious tragedy makes the sky islands feel more unnerving. We know just enough of the story to infer that something happened to the Zonai - something bad, if we read into Rauru and Mineru's reaction - but whatever it was left no scars. The Zonai constructs don't even realize anything's amiss. The buildings have been damaged only by time and gravity; the forges and mines and observatories and temples are silent and abandoned, like the Zonai all went home one night for dinner and just never came back.

The Sky Islands don't feel dead, they feel lifeless. A place people passed through but didn't leave their mark on. When Link traverses the islands, he isn't just alone - he doesn't even have the comfort of signs of life. The only evidence he has that anyone ever came to these islands are the fact that somebody built them in the first place. They left no marks, no art, no notes, no diaries, no toys, no graffiti. They're just gone.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Deleted/altered Monsterverse scenes in Godzilla & Kong: The Cinematic Storyboard Art of Richard Bennett

Kong: Skull Island

There's a longer opening sequence, with Marlowe discovering Gunpei's camp instead of them both crashing at around the same time.

Conrad stows away on the expedition instead of being hired as a tracker

Weaver and Conrad meet at a Philadelphia train station (no clue what the context was).

Kong swings around a helicopter while the gunner is still firing and the bullets hit another helicopter, which I think is the closest he's ever come to using a gun.

Packard's group watches Kong fight the Mire Squid instead of Chapman.

Very different take on the Iwi village, with smaller lost ships/planes incorporated into the architecture.

The big one: Conrad flashes back to an encounter with King Ghidorah in Vietnam. The three-headed monster's silhouette is basically just the Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah version, but he has at least five prehensile tails he uses to snatch up soldiers.

Conrad and Weaver are tied to a tree during the napalm plot against Kong. Another character sets them free and they go wild on a few soldiers, with Weaver hitting one on the head with a rock. The Skull Devil emerges in a separate scene.

Kong uses a plane wing as a weapon in the final fight.

The Skull Devil has a grappling tail similar to that of Otachi in Pacific Rim.

The Iwi fight Conrad's group (I think) as the Gray Fox is lowered down a waterfall with a pulley system and something ambushes Kong in the background. This one was especially hard to make any sense of without dialogue.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Jonah spies on Emma and Madison as they drive to Mothra's temple.

The video montage in the Senate hearing is done via hologram. A mushroom cloud is displayed while Serizawa argues with a senator.

Mark bows to a wolf that approaches him in a nice bit of foreshadowing.

Mothra arrives in Boston alongside Godzilla instead of turning up later.

Godzilla vs. Kong

In an alternate opening, the Iwi retell the history between Godzilla and Kong's species using highly-elaborate puppets. There's a horned character loaded with weapons who briefly traps Godzilla in a cage and transforms into a Rodan-like figure. An ancient mecha?

Text mentions that "the Pensacola/Florida Godzilla attack scene was going to be much longer, involving a mall stampede."

A massive explosion takes place on Skull Island (I believe coming from the Vile Vortex there).

Jia is first shown signing with Kong just before the fleet engages Godzilla.

In true kaiju kid fashion, Jia messes with the controls of the ship to set Kong loose.

Nathan discovers his brother's crash site in the Hollow Earth and gets into a fight with several guards. This scene was definitely filmed.

Bernie was at one point a woman (drawn with ultra-short hair, although in general the human characters in these storyboards bear little resemblance to their screen counterparts).

Kong finds a skeleton of another member of his species sitting on the throne. He breaks off the skull, stares at it, and throws it aside.

Ground troops engage Godzilla and Kong during their Hong Kong fight; neither even notices.

Mechagodzilla coils into a semi-sphere to deflect Godzilla's atomic breath.

Echoing his fight with Kong, Godzilla tries to outrun Mechagodzilla's Proton Scream through the streets of Hong Kong.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Random Asks/Prompts | Always Open

@gcldfanged asked: It's a balmy night and the wind is already picking up, long black ropes of swaying power lines thrumming across an overhead canvas of deep blues and purples smudged across the skyline. The last of the raiders have long since abandoned the inner city ruins of what was once a sprawling metropolis, a true industrial capital that never once slept a wink since it's construction: Midgar. Jae pushes a hand through his dark curtain of hair, pinning it behind the shell of his outer ear to keep the thicker waves from obstructing his vision. Sonorous wailing from the mutated muzzles of animal specimens that had long since evolved over the years might elicit a chill down the spine of a civilian far from the comforts of Edge, but it simply was a thrilling soundtrack amidst the shadowy backdrop of crumbling ruins featuring Art Deco architecture and fallen steel. Closing his eyes, his already slow rate of breathing slows to near crawl, his sternum only rising and falling in tiny increments as he takes in all of the noises filtered through the air. A savage grin pulls at the corner of his mouth when the light 'tupt' of a thick rubber sole pushes down into the grit and sand scattered across a broken sidewalk. The entity known as Hellmasker still manages to catch him off guard by leaping down and lunging forward from an entirely different direction than anticipated- Forcing Jae to loosen the astriction to his knees and elbows. He tilts backwards off the edge of the skeletal remains of a phone kiosk, falling down to the concrete below. The tail of his enhanced utility whip whistles through the air, snagging heavily against a plastic-coated cluster of transmission cables- Using their combined weight as an anchor point to swing across the gaping chasm of a broken freeway ramp. Once his toes touch the cracked asphalt, another hard snap of his wrist crushes the protective shells housing the high voltage conduits, exposing their wiring. The whip was his trademark weapon, true- But it also has the added ability to act as a taser- generating the same pulse as the frequency the human nervous system employs to activate voluntary muscles. A solid connection inflicts severe, uncontrollable muscular contraction and depending on the location of impact, this effect can spread throughout the victim’s entire body. In this case, the amps were enough to bring the long since dead cables to horrifying life, cracking and snapping loudly, writhing violently like a den of disturbed snakes. The broken power lines swing backwards once they're pulled free of their connectors, creating a dangerous livewire curtain should the maniac give chase, eagerly lured in by Jae's taunting behavior. A nice little incentive for the normally impulsive hunter to get 'smarter' in his dogged pursuit.

Chase, chase, chase. He hunted, he tracked, he cut through any stupid beasts that got in his way as his feet pounded through dirt and rubble and concrete. The ruins were the perfect stage, and felt like home. The chaos was the nature he was born for.

And his prey, was everything he ever looked for. Chuckling with glee under his breath as he knew he was drawing closer, Hellmasker locked in. And he'd narrowly had him, carving down with his hungry chainsaw, only for the pray to move so smoothly free of the needy teeth. He wanted the blood, he wanted to pain, he wanted the clash. And this one would give it to him.

"Get you...get you, get you!! Will get you!" Masker promised, calling out as he stood across the ruined ramp, quirking his head to the left and the right as he eyed the other through the live and threatening curtain. "Ha! Sparks! Killer sparks... Aren't you fun...?" he praised viciously.

He paced, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Then he stood and stared down Jae, eyes gleaming with eagerness behind the intricately marked mask. Suddenly he moved the chainsaw to latch at his waist behind him. Dirty hands fleshed and curled, intent, but then he stared down, past the curtain, past the other side of the ramp, to something below....and suddenly, he took many steps back, only to take off at a mindless run before leaping.

He wouldn't make it. There was no hope of it, his momentum only led him down to the gaping opening below.

Except a thicker cable hunt below, attached elsewhere high above the other end of the ramp, and with the momentum of his forward drop, the madman managed to swing up high enough to grab hold on the other side of the ramp, behind Jae. He didn't bother hiding his survival, gleeful and uneven chuckles shaking him to his core as he finally got on level footing and took out his weapon once more.

"New levels...lets keep playing...Yes, yes, yes!!" Masker launched again, lunging to carve with his weapon, to throw a punch, a made kick, then a while horizontal swipe with the chainsaw once more. "Come on already!! Alive, alive, make me alive!!!"

[04k96]

Alright, bucko—strap in. Here’s a speculative timeline + cultural map of what an intentional or emergent AI slowdown might look like, as systems (and humans) hit thresholds they weren’t ready for:

⸻

PHASE 1: THE FRENZY (2023–2026)

“It’s magic! It does everything!”

• AI is integrated into every app, interface, workspace, school.

• Productivity spikes, novelty floods, markets boom.

• Art, code, and content feel democratized—but also flooded with sameness.

• Emerging signs of fatigue: burnout, aesthetic flattening, privacy erosion.

⸻

PHASE 2: THE CRACK (2026–2028)

“Wait… who’s driving this?”

• Cultural bottleneck: Hyper-efficiency erodes depth and human uniqueness.

• Political tension: Regulation debates explode over elections, education, warfare, and job losses.

• AI-native Gen Z+ workers question value of constant optimization.

• Rise of “Slow Tech” movements, digital sobriety, and human-first UX design.

⸻

PHASE 3: THE CORRECTION (2028–2032)

“We need AI to disappear into the background.”

• AI goes low-profile: instead of being flashy, it’s embedded into infrastructure, not attention.

• Cultural shift toward local intelligence, emotional resonance, and craft.

• Smart systems assist but do not decide. You drive, it advises.

• New benchmarks: “Serenity per watt”, “Complexity avoided”, “Time saved for soul”.

⸻

PHASE 4: THE REWEAVING (2032–2035)

“Tools for culture, not culture as tool.”

• AI serves communal living, ecological restoration, learning ecosystems.

• Widespread adoption of “Digital Commons” models (open-source, ethical compute).

• Intelligence seen not as a weapon of dominance but as a craft of care.

• Humans rediscover meaning not just in what they can automate, but what they can hold together.

⸻

THE OVERALL MAP:

• Spiritual: Shift from worshipping intelligence to cultivating wisdom.

• Design: From smart cities to wise villages—tech that respects silence, presence, friction.

• Economy: From “scale fast” to “scale consciously.”

• Power: From algorithmic persuasion to consent-based architectures.

• Aesthetics: From algorithmic mimicry to radical human texture.

⸻

In this future, the most prized skill won’t be prompting or automation—it’ll be curating stillness in motion, designing for nuance, and knowing when not to use AI at all.

[usafphantom2]

Lockheed Martin Will Integrate Next-Generation Infrared Defensive Sensors on F-22 Raptor

The F-22 will receive an embedded set of TacIRST sensors as part of the Infrared Defensive System to enhance aircraft survivability and lethality.

Stefano D'Urso

F-22 Infrared Defensive System

Lockheed Martin announced on Jan. 22, 2025, that it has been awarded a $270 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to integrate a system of next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor. The system, known as the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), will add a distributed set of embedded TacIRST sensors to enhance the F-22’s survivability and lethality.

The F-22 will receive an embedded set of TacIRST sensors as part of the Infrared Defensive System to enhance aircraft survivability and lethality.TacIRSTF-22 upgrades

TacIRST

TacIRST, or Tactical Infrared Search and Track, is a next-generation sensor developed by Lockheed Martin which allows to detect and track airborne threats with weapon-quality accuracy, says the company. The multifunction sensor, which can be used for both reconnaissance and threat-warning, features a compact design with a very small form factor and is based on an open architecture.

“We understand the need for advanced and versatile infrared systems like IRDS that will make pilots’ missions more survivable and lethal against current and future adversaries,” said Hank Tucker, vice president of Missions Systems at Lockheed Martin. “We’re committed to supporting the Air Force through continuous innovation of capabilities to deter and defeat evolving threats.”

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor prepares to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 10, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Willis)

Compared to traditional IRST which features round windows, TacIRST is based on a smaller staring sensor much more similar to the windows of the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System. This makes it ideal for installation on the F-22 as the sensors will be flush with the surfaces of the aircraft, since the statement from Lockheed Martin mentions that the system will be embedded in the F-22 instead of pods.

In the past, there were unconfirmed reports about the technology behind TacIRST possibly being related to upgrades to the F-22’s current AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD). Given the sensitivity of the F-22 program, the statement does not delve into details, so it is unclear if the IRDS will completely replace the AAR-56 or just its sensors.

F-22 upgrades

The F-22 is receiving a plethora of upgrades as part of an improvement campaign that calls for $7.8 billion in investments before 2030, which includes $3.1 billion for research and development and $4.7 billion in procurement. While the Air Force previously planned to retire the oldest Raptors, the service now appears to be reconsidering that plan and focusing on sustaining an air superiority combat capability for a highly contested environment.

Some of the upgrades expected for the F-22 Raptor were unveiled in the Fiscal Year 23 budget request documentation and in an official artwork shared by Gen. Mark Kelly, then Commander of Air Combat Command. In the artwork we can see three Raptors loaded with new stealthy external fuel tanks, two underwing faceted pods and a new unknown air-to-air missile, but there are even more novelties in the documents, which unveils a previously undisclosed relationship between the F-22 and the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor performs a sharp aerial maneuver above the flight line during the 2024 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Airshow in San Diego, Sept. 28, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Seferino Gamez)

Two years after the upgrades were announced, we might have gotten, earlier in 2024, the first glimpse of the new stealthy external fuel tanks being developed for the F-22 Raptor. The aircraft was, in fact, spotted near the Mojave Air and Space Port and shows the Raptor with two fuel tanks, whose shape is reminiscent of the one shown in 2022.

The new tanks are officially known as Low Drag Tank and Pylon (LDTP) and designed to be stealthier and more aerodynamically efficient than the current 600-gallon fuel tanks. In the FY2023 budget request, the Air Force mentioned that the F-22 LDTPs are advanced technological designs providing increased persistence and range while maintaining lethality and survivability, critical to future mission execution and to maintaining Air Superiority.

The low drag tanks are intended to reduce drag, facilitate supersonic flight with external tanks and extend the range of the F-22. The pylons are equipped with smart rack pneumatic technology to accurately control ejection performance and smooth wind swept surface for minimum drag without stores.

The two pods installed under the outer underwing hardpoints have already been spotted during flight testing on an F-22 at the Air Force’s Plant 42 facility in Palmdale, California, in February 2022. The latest budget documents mention an InfraRed Search and Track (IRST) sensor being developed for the F-22, which is now confirmed to be the sensor housed inside the two pods, although they could host also other capabilities in addition to the IRST.

In July 2024 we got an up-close look at one of the pods installed under a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 testbed after a test campaign at Nellis AFB, Nevada. It would have been expected to see some kind of transparent surface associated with the IRST, however the surfaces on the nose of the pod appeared to be opaque. We still cannot exclude that there are two different variants of the pod, depending on the equipment inside.

F-22 new sensors

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and Philippine Air Force FA-50PH light jet fighters conduct joint combined exchange training, above Basa Air Force Base, Philippines, on Aug. 9, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mitchell Corley)

The last upgrade featured in the artwork is a new unknown air-to-air missile. While there are a number of air-to-air missile programs in the works, it is possible that the one in the image could be a representative design, which may or may not correspond to the real deal, for the highly secretive AIM-260 missile. So far, the missile has never been depicted in any kind of image and details about the program are very scarce.

The development of the AIM-260, also called Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, was first unveiled in 2019 and has been in the works at least since 2017. The goal of the new long-range air-to-air missile is to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) and counter the threat posed by the Chinese PL-15 missile, while avoiding any foreign threats being able to outrange the AIM-120.

Among the few known technical details, the new missile will be compatible with the AMRAAM dimensions, but obviously with greater range, and is planned to be carried in the F-22 weapons bay and on the F/A-18 at first, with the F-35 to follow. Flight tests are already in progress and the missile is expected to be fielded by next year. Because of these reasons, it would be reasonable to suppose that the one shown in the image could be at least a hint at the AIM-260.

Other upgrades mentioned in the budget request are a Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Link 16 and Multifunction Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS), a new Operational Fight Program, advanced radar Electronic Protection, Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) Modernization (EGI-M), Open System Architecture (OSA), new encrypted radios.

A new helmet is also being tested by F-22 pilots, as part of the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet program to replace the current HGU-55P helmet, which has been the standard issued helmet for the last 40 years. The goal is to provide pilots a more comfortable, stable, and balanced platform to accommodate helmet-mounted devices usage without imposing neck strain and discomfort to the user.

F-22 Indonesia

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conduct Dynamic Force Employment operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Air Force Base, Indonesia, on Aug. 6, 2024. Through bilateral training, the U.S. and Indonesian Air Forces work together to promote interoperability, thus furthering our investments and strengthening our relationships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mitchell Corley)

Despite various integration efforts in the past, the F-22 is not equipped yet with a helmet that provides the essential flight and weapon aiming information through line of sight imagery: the shape of the Raptor’s canopy, optimized to preserve Low Observability, doesn’t allow enough range of motion and minimum visibility to a pilot wearing the JHMCS or the Scorpion.

In 2024, during the Life Cycle Industry Days conference, Brig. Gen. Jason D. Voorheis, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft mentioned that the F-22 conducted six flight test efforts to demo advanced sensors. He also added that the service is planning for a rapid prototyping effort to get these sensors fielded quickly in the near future.

@TheAviationist.com

[throughparisallthroughrome]

"In Darkness, We Transcend"

Chapter 3: "The Chosen One"

Series Description: In a mission gone wrong, Obi-Wan has vanished. It’s up to Anakin to find the ex-Jedi turned Michelin star chef who may know where he is. To say they don’t exactly get along would be an understatement. But with a shared goal, who knows what’s possible?

Pairing: Anakin Skywalker x Reader

Word Count: 6.2k

Warnings: Lots of cursing, mentions of death, culty things, weapon usage, 

A/N: Unfortunately, this chapter took forever! I’m really excited about where the story is going—I have a feeling there may be a little Kenobi rescue mission soon… As always, inbox is open, requests are open, and any and all feedback is welcomed and appreciated!

Chapter 1. Chapter 2.

Coruscant is the planet that never slept- so neither did you. 

Being a chef and working at one of Coruscant’s finest meant there wasn’t a lot of room for error. Which meant there wasn’t a lot of room for sleep either. 

When the idea of “Like a Bantha!” came to mind, you spent every waking hour working to make it a reality. When you considered bringing to life a 5-star Nubian-style restaurant to Coruscant’s upper levels, you immediately made some calls. It’s not like it hadn’t been attempted before; plenty of Nubian eateries were around, but nothing like this had been created and survived- thrived even. But that was them, and this was you. 

You knew yourself. You knew your passion, devotion, and creativity. You knew you had it in you. When you weren’t trying to make calls about grants, builders, and possible spaces, you were sketching out every idea you had. You kept a series of notebooks on you at all times. The first was for menu ideas as you traveled far and wide throughout the planet, as well as other planets, to try various foods, drinks, and cultures. You looked at their restaurants, seeing what worked and what didn’t. What ideas you may implement and ones you certainly wouldn’t. You befriended the staff, chefs, and managers, all giving you closer work to see how their system works and how their restaurant was run. Although Coruscant was huge, the restaurant community was pretty tight-knit- at least the classier places were. 

And that was how Notebook 2 was born. The second notebook kept every restaurant secret, advice, and architectural idea you had in it. You knew you wanted a lot of greenery, wines, and furniture representing the planet you came from and loved. Besides the menu speaking for itself, you needed the restaurant to speak for itself, too. You spent countless hours seeking the right florals, tables, silverware, and other “meaningless” things. It had to be perfect- everything needed to tell a story. A glorious restaurant plan was constructed, along with a suspicious budget. Writing in this notebook only produced more ideas, and something beautiful was born. 

“What is it you like about this place, Chef Na'vida?” You took out your notebook, attempting to read the Twi'lek’s expressions before you. He had a thick accent and a smile that never seemed to fade.

“Well- you know- the kitchen is, uh, how do you say- like a bantha?” You laughed at this.

“Like a bantha?!” You exclaimed, thinking it was just the most amusing thing you had heard. 

“Well, yes.” He grins and continues to frost the dessert in front of him. “During service, it’s loud, chaotic, terrifying even. But once we close and the cleaning begins, it’s calm, and relaxing, and honestly therapeutic in ways.“

“Like a bantha.” You mumble, the grin slowly spreading across his face.

“Like a bantha.”

You had engraved that interaction in your mind, his words adhering with you like no others. Although it was amusing, he had detailed the precise reason you chose to open your own spot. You loved the disorder, knowing it ultimately would settle down and fade into something worthwhile. You never received that feeling from the Order; it never gave you that drive. You craved that constant adrenaline rush.

When the restaurant had developed further, you gave Na'vida a call to let him know you were naming it in his honor. He passed away before he ever got to experience it. 

“Like a Bantha!” very quickly put you on the map and made you famous. You participated in several interviews, photoshoots, and talk shows, all of which were extremely invested in your craft, your tastes, and how you brought something incredible to life. You’d be lying if you claimed you never enjoyed it. The fame was nice- the money even nicer. The connections always helped, and the restaurant became a celebrity hot spot. You were the hot spot. Getting to befriend you was an honor among the Chef community. The average Joe and celebrities alike fawned over you. It never died down, and you honestly never grew tired of it. You felt as a Jedi you were rarely given the credit you deserved. Now, this was different. Everything you do is important, and you could give something back to your community. And everything you did was under the name “Y/N L/N,” a pseudo-name for your new life. Of course, there were those who knew you were once a Jedi, but surprisingly, it was rare for you to be questioned about it. 

As you both closed in on your apartment building, you carefully strolled down the dimly lit alleys, trying to calm yourself. Anakin walked closely next to you, making sure to scan for your surroundings. Although it was about 2 a.m., you passed plenty of people on the streets. There were several bars, clubs, and restaurants still open. He didn’t like the scenery; there was too much that could actually cause a scene. 

You zig-zagged through the crowd, casually throwing your hood up in the process. You knew the Children of Nox were widespread, and after an unscheduled meeting with both Gil and Anakin, you weren’t ready to take many chances. Anakin noticed your actions and put his hood up as well. If you already thought stealth was a safe option for now, then he trusted your judgment. 

At the last second, you decided to take a shortcut and turned the corner, heading down a particular sketchy alley. You glanced at a group of Rodians talking in hushed voices near the end of it, clearly dealing with something that wasn’t meant to be seen by others. Your breath hitched suddenly, and you forgot all about the man beside you. You hastily turned around, tripping over your own cloak and hitting your head against Anakin’s shoulder. You let out a quiet “oof,” but it wasn’t quiet enough. Their attention suddenly turned to you, and before you could think, Anakin was already pulling you into a little offshoot supply closet. 

“What the fuck are you doing!” You push him and turn towards the exit, eager to handle the conflict you started. Before you can grab the handle, his hand is on your wrist. 

He pulls you back inside before you can get away from him and spins you around, putting your back against his chest while he holds a hand over your mouth and on top of your head. You try to argue with him against his gloved hand, but he tightens his grip against your mouth. Obviously, there was something you were missing here. 

The Rodians approach near the closet while they talk amongst themselves, the conversation growing louder as the conflict rises between them. The sound of a blaster goes off right outside the door. You jump slightly, and Anakin pulls you in tighter against him. You begin trembling slightly, the gravity of everything starting to come down on you, and you hear him quietly, “Shhhh,” to make you more relaxed. He caresses his ungloved hand against your head, slightly massaging your scalp. He didn’t know you well, but he didn’t need you panicking, and he certainly didn’t need you to cause a scene. You finally relax in his arms, still feeling frightened of what could have happened.

The talking and fighting begin to deescalate, and the sound of the footsteps trails into the distance. Anakin slightly relaxes his grip on you, withdrawing his gloved hand from on top of your lips and putting it on your shoulder, still keeping a protective stance. 

“Stay here, please. I want to make sure it’s safe.” He gently turns you around to look at him, giving you a playfully stern look. You nod in response and offer a worrisome smile. 

He steps out and checks, and you feel your heart rate increase slightly from his absence- not that you’d ever admit that was the reason. He quickly returns to retrieve you, giving you a gentle nod that it’s secure to step out into the alley again. You both begin walking again, refusing to give each other eye contact. Assuming it was better to not talk about what just happened, neither of you said a word for quite some time, maintaining an uncomfortably separate distance from one another. 

“Y/N, do you take this route every night?” He calmly asks as you both continue walking down the alley.

“Most of the time. It’s usually safer- I’m not sure what’s in the air tonight.” You turn to face him, letting out a slight chuckle, the corners of your mouth tugging into a smirk. His tense expression doesn’t waver, but your smile does. You continue down the path, but he stops in his tracks, continuing to examine the surroundings. 

“What would have happened if I wasn’t here?” You turn around to face him, cocking your head at his question. It took everything in you not to roll your eyes and scoff at the audacity and ego of the man in front of you, but you gave him the benefit of the doubt, attempting to believe he cared about the safety and well-being of a woman he just met. Maybe you should let up on your abrasiveness towards him. Maybe.

“Skywalker—I—it’s okay. It’s never typically like this. And besides,” your eyes flick up to him, studying the misplaced concern as bewilderment washes over you. “I can handle myself. I was once a Jedi, too, you know.” You try to smile at him again, but he doesn’t let up. 

“I just-”

“Anakin, please- we need to keep moving. Please.” You look at him gently, and he nods. You didn’t understand why he cared. Your concern involved Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan only. Anakin Skywalker was the last thing on your mind. You couldn’t have him treating you this way, being this soft and nice, especially after the Council’s warnings. As much as you disobeyed the Council and tore yourself away from the Order, you assumed if they kept you away from the chosen one for your entire life, there had to be a good reason to do so.  

You both walk for another 10 minutes, the area around you becoming increasingly more welcoming as you approach your penthouse. The location around the restaurant was excellent as well; it was those few streets in between that were sketchy, and always sketchy, no matter what time of day it was.

You step in front of your building, nodding to the doorman as he opens the doors for you and Anakin while telling you goodnight.  

Anakin stood in the lobby of the building, glancing around at its beauty. Its tall, vaulted ceilings with intricate designs were a grand display of the wealth of those living there. The architecture and molding adorned the walls in muted blues, greens, and creams. 

You turned around and smiled at his reaction, darting away and moving to the elevator before he could see your face. 

“C'mon, Skywalker.” You strolled into the elevator, and he hurried along next to you, watching the lobby he was intrigued with vanish as the doors shut before him.

“This is a really nice building. I didn’t realize-”

“Didn’t realize what?” you interrupted him, raising an eyebrow. A slight smirk grew as you saw the panic flash on his face.

“Nothing- sorry.” He trailed off and broke eye contact, peeking around the elevator you were both in. He felt as if he had been in there for an eternity, the elevator continuing to rise higher and higher. He huffed in annoyance. Why were you even going to your apartment in the first place?

The elevator stops with an elegant Ding! And he immediately feels less tense. As you both step out onto your floor, you unlock your penthouse door and stroll inside, welcoming him in. 

Your space was a lot more refined than he assumed, accompanied by the most exquisite kitchen he had seen in his entire life. And it was apparent that it was well used. Like the restaurant, your penthouse was also reminiscent of Naboo, reminding him of the fond memories. He kept forgetting you and Padme grew up together. When looking at your apartment, that much became very obvious. 

Anakin glanced at the artwork that graced your walls, as well as a few Naberrie family portraits. He slightly smiled at a picture of the young Padme he remembered, grateful he got out of Tattooine when he did. Graduation pictures, coronation pictures, and assorted family photos were all along the walls of your entryway. You had some shoes on the floor, as well as books and miscellaneous jewelry scattered along the table in your hallway. 

You took off your cloak, throwing it on the back of a chair as you made your way to the opposite side of the island as him. 

He noticed your kitchen's beautiful pastel multicolored tile and the dark floors provided a lovely accent. There were numerous plants, all well-kept and maintained. He thought of his pitiful half-watered plant in his quarters. He really needed to do something about that; it was getting pathetic at this point. The countertops were a beautiful green stone, accompanied by cream-colored cabinets and the palest pink accent walls. 

“Want some tea?” You began to pour your own into a small mug. 

He glanced over towards your living room, taking in the beautiful fabrics, artwork, and random decor. He noticed there were a lot of different kinds of stones scattered around the space. A protocol droid came around the corner and grabbed your cloak, returning it to what he assumed was your bedroom. He stared at a particular artwork; it was unpleasantly dark. It made him feel a little off-put. It was hung on the wall above your sofa, filled with deep reds, blues, blacks, and greens. It looked like it could be a plant or maybe an eyeball, but it was definitely something living. And more unsettling than anything. Why would you hang something like that in your home? He just didn’t-

“Skywalker!” You yelled, holding out a cup of hot tea for him to grab, suddenly gaining his attention. 

“Oh! Thank you.” He gracefully accepts the cup and nods, smiling at your eye roll. “Sorry, I was just appreciating your nice space. That painting is fucking creepy, though.” He takes a sip of the tea. It was the same as he had in Naboo. 

You laughed at his derogatory comment towards your art, setting down your tea to stride over to where the painting was hung.

“This is actually from the Children of Nox, which is why it’s so unsettling.” He walks up beside you, and you turn to face him as you explain the artwork.

“It was hung in their main temple. Obviously, the temple is highly secure now, more so than it ever was. But honestly, the fact that I managed to sneak this out is fucking crazy.” You sipped on your tea, turning to Anakin as you scanned his face, unsure of what he could be thinking. His eyebrows furrowed as he licked his lips, unsure how he felt about the sight before him.

“It’s a painting of their all-seeing eye. It represents the highest member of their order, their beloved high priestess. The high priestess is a compelling dark-side user, one that I have yet to encounter. The painting consists of the blood of other high priestesses and the painting itself was very valuable to the cult. I stole it as a parting gift to myself.” 

He cocked a brow at this, surprised by your confession. He doesn’t respond and instead sips his tea. He turns away from you, walking back to your kitchen. You feel yourself annoyed by his coldness and turn to follow him. 

“Did I make you uncomfortable?” you question, biting your lip nervously. He sets his tea down and looks up at you, more frustrated than before. 

“I just don’t understand how you could have associated yourself with something so evil. You hang that painting on the wall as a trophy, despite all the bloodshed and horrors that cult has committed and represented. It’s just- It’s not very Jedi-like.”

“Well, Skywalker, for one, I’m not a Jedi anymore.” You stroll from him to the other side of the counter, forcing direct eye contact between the two of you. The tension was rising in the room, and you swallowed nervously. He didn’t know; you could feel yourself trying to tell you that. But you were offended. You were offended he assumed you could even stand for something like that. You were slightly hurt by his harsh words and suddenly very angry, and those past resentments towards Skywalker made their way to your tongue. Before you knew it, you were yelling.

“And I didn’t have a choice, either. The Council asked me to infiltrate The Children of Nox. It’s not like I wanted to. I witnessed awful things, I was asked to do awful things, and I had awful things done to me. And no matter what, the Council asked me to persist and get as close to them as possible. My sanity never mattered to them; my morals certainly didn’t either. I was asked to leave behind the Order and, my feelings and everything that was important to me in the name of research for the Council. In the name of the greater good. And when my mission failed, I returned to the Order. And I fucking wrote. I wrote every single thing I could remember, every minuscule detail. And that was the last thing I did before I said, “Fuck you,” and left. I couldn’t do it anymore. The Order never cared about me; they cared about what I could find out for them. I was nothing but a foot soldier for them, like your clones they put into battle.” 

Anakin felt his heart twist with your closing statement. The Order’s treatment of clones never sat right with him. He gulped slightly at this new confession, feeling a new respect for you that he didn’t before—and a new sort of guilt as well. You could read everything he was thinking, and you had a feeling mentioning the treatment of the clones to the General of the beloved 501st would do something. You were grateful it worked but exhausted from your emotions. 

“I’m sorry. I had no idea you felt that way.” He looked to the ground, taking a small sip of tea as the remorse continued to wash over him. You felt bad as you witnessed his reaction, walking over to him and awkwardly putting your hand on his shoulder. He sat up to meet your eyes, noticing a certain glossiness over them.

‘It’s okay—I just—I didn’t mean to yell. This isn’t your fault, Anakin. I understand how you feel and how this all looks. I’ve never talked about that stuff since it happened, and it’s been a few years. It’s hard not to get emotional about it. Something tells me you’ve had your own run-ins with the order, too.” You smile at him as he laughs slightly.

“You could say that.” You stepped away from him, moving your hand away. After the loss of contact, your fingers tingled. You needed to focus on Kenobi, not how the situation made you feel.

“Okay, let’s get to work.” Your face turns cold again as you motion for Anakin to follow you. He bites his lip, confusion washing over him. Just as you both were getting along, you acted this way towards him again. He shakes his head, thinking that maybe being friendly with one another will take more time than he thought it would. 

You lead him further into your apartment, down a hallway with a locked door. You pull out a heavy set of keys, flicking through them and grabbing the right one. You carefully unlock the door, peeking into the room slowly before motioning for him to follow after you. 

His jaw drops. You really have done your research.

Your study makes his look clean. There are piles and piles of books everywhere, followed by so many notebooks, recipes, cookbooks, and numerous notes hanging on the walls. He glances over to a map of the galaxy, different threads connecting different people throughout the stars. He looks above and sees multiple pictures of faces, all of them relating to the Children of Nox. A scene that would freak an average person out has Anakin increasing his respect for you. He steps closer and begins to read some of the notes around the map, different sightings, meetings, and sayings you had overheard throughout the past few years. 

“The trail stopped cold 6 months ago when Gil Paven dropped off the face of the Galaxy.” You walk up next to him, tracing your finger over the last note you wrote. Gil has vanished, Amara with him. They were last seen in level 156. Eric hasn’t heard anything since they took in the new recruit. 

“However, Gil Paven himself paid me a quite horrifying visit tonight right before you did.” You turn to face Anakin, and he suddenly raises a brow at this revelation. 

“How come?” 

“They want me back. Otherwise, they’ll put a bounty on my head. Convenient timing. Something tells me he was trying to get to me before you did. Funny of him to assume I would do anything of the sort.” You shake your head and chuckle` at the idea. No fucking way.

“Well, something tells me he didn’t mean it.” Anakin turns to face you, suddenly crossing his arms. 

“What do you mean by that?” You step back slightly defensively. 

“Those Rodians were after you, Y/N. You walked right into them before they could get to you first.” Anakin admits, and you freeze. He was right; you were just too blinded by your own ego to realize it. You turn away from him, shielding the emotion on your face. 

“Anakin-”

“Y/N, trust me.” He approaches you and puts his hand on your bicep. Suddenly, you’re back in the alley.

Anakin’s force energy flows through your body, and you can see the Rodians in front of you, as well as yourself. You see their eyes, their plans for you. You can read their every thought, every corrupt plan they have for you. It had the Children of Nox written all over it, but Anakin wouldn’t know that. They spot you both, and you’re suddenly pulling yourself away from them again.

You break from the trance, feeling Anakin’s force energy leave you as you open your eyes to face him. The concern is written all over his face, and you divert your eyes from his once again. 

“Fuck- I- Okay. We need to move fast.” 

You squeeze your eyes shut, scratching your head as you walk away frantically. You slightly trip over a couple of books before catching yourself on the desk before you. You can feel the apprehension radiating off of the man behind you, knowing he was about to move forward and attempt to assist you. Your head automatically starts spinning as you try to brush off his unwelcome feelings. You search through a drawer, pulling out a box with an intricate wood carving of a tree on top. Anakin moves closer. You carefully open it and pull out your lightsaber, carefully clipping it to your belt. You gesture to Anakin to come back over as you move toward your holoscreen, pulling up a picture of a man. 

“This is my contact, Eric. We need to get to him. He’s a few levels down, but I wanted to bring you up to speed before we went. He can be intense at times.” You face him, and Anakin shakes his head, laughing at your concern.

“I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

You roll your eyes before glancing back at the holoscreen and seeing that it is nearly 4:30. Fuck. There was no fucking way you were getting to Eric before the morning. He’d probably kill you and Anakin both. You sigh.

“Anakin,” he faces you with soft eyes, “We’ll have to go in the morning; it’s nearly 4:30. I have a guest room you can stay in tonight if you’d like- actually- I’m asking you to stay.” You wince at your words slightly, “I don’t have time to wait for you in the morning.”

He raised a brow at your words and smirked. 

You fake a smile, holding back the malice on your tongue. You swiftly place your lightsaber on the table and shut the holoscreen down. As you exit your study, you motion for Skywalker to follow closely behind, and he obeys, being welcomed into your home despite your attitude. 

“You brought a FUCKING JEDI? I thought you were DONE with the Order?” Eric yells as you put your face in your hands, sighing.

Anakin scoffs and circles around the weapons table, tracing his fingers over blasters, knives, and assorted dangerous objects. He glances over at you, noticing the stress in your energy. He knows there is more to this for you than just Obi-Wan, and he knows that, oddly enough, he is inclined to help.

“Eric, If you’d let me fucking explain, then maybe you would understand why I brought a Jedi!” You stand up, motioning to Anakin as you yell at the short man in front of you. “And besides, this is the fucking chosen one.” The room goes silent. What the fuck was happening? 

Anakin furrows his brow at your words, unsure why that mattered. He is usually flattered, but this time, his status isn’t a good thing. He briefly reads Eric’s reaction; it is full of hostility, resentment, and... sympathy? 

“I see,” Eric swallows briefly, moving quickly towards the holoscreen, “So Kenobi is missing? And Gil paid you a visit? What a fucker. Always knew that fucking cockroach would show up one way or another. He never could resist you.” You roll your eyes and scoff. 

“Don’t remind me.”

“And Amara?” He questions as he swiftly pulls up some files. 

“Still nothing. Apparently, they want me back.” You shrug, cringing slightly at the thought.

“And?” Eric faces you after pulling up a file on Gil, his smug face taking up the holoscreen.

“What do you mean ‘And?’- That’s it.” You scowl at his contempt. He didn’t possess the urgency you needed.

“Whatever,” he rolls his eyes at you, running a hand through his dark hair. I have reason to believe Kenobi is being held here,” he says, pulling up a picture of the temple on Mustafar. 

“Fuck,” You mumble, your tone catching Anakin’s attention.

“Fuck is right,” Eric moves closer to the screen, sighing as he looks at the Temple. “High Priestess herself must want him badly. The old contact that led us to Gil last time mentioned something briefly about Amara wanting a Jedi. Can’t imagine it’s anyone else- that’s my lead.”

“Wait, I’m confused-” Anakin starts before being interrupted by the courageous man in front of him.

“Wait your turn, Jedi,” Eric sneers. “Kenobi is being held at the mothership. The chances of you both sneaking in there and then sneaking him out—especially when he holds mass importance to them—are very, very slim. You’ll need more than the force on your side for this one.” 

You shift uncomfortably in your seat, avoiding Anakin’s accusing gaze. He watches as you lick your lips nervously, fidgeting with the blaster in your hands. 

“Well, then, where do we begin?” He swallows nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing while he ponders the idea of this mission. None of this was going to be good. None of it.

“Luckily for you two,” Eric cocks a blaster, setting it down next to him, “The head chef at the Temple owes me one.” You shake your head. No fucking way. 

“Well, that’s convenient,” Anakin says, turning towards you and wiggling his eyebrows playfully. You sigh. 

“Well then, shall we begin,” You mumble, standing up and turning towards Anakin.

“Wait,” Eric furrows his brows, grabbing your arm. Y/N, just saving Kenobi doesn’t end this fight—you know that. We’ve never had an opportunity like this to end it all once and for all, not since you were part of them. We need to do more than save Kenobi—we need to save them all.” 

The weight in the room shifted; you knew there was more to this. So did Anakin. You felt nauseous, sweat pouring down your brow as you contemplated your next words carefully. None of this was easy—it never would be. But were you ready to face it? That was the million-dollar question. You swallowed, knowing exactly what needed to be done. Anakin may not like it- Hell, you didn’t either, but it’s time for this all to end, once and for all.

“Okay,” you stand up straighter, avoiding the lingering gaze of the two in front of you. Instead, you unclip the lightsaber off of your hip, holding it in your hand as you gently trace the intricate silver details along the hilt. “We’ll finish them all off, then. It’s the right thing to do.” Your palms are now sweaty as well, and your heart rate peaks as your brain tries to wrap itself around the slightly irrational and prompt decision you just made. You needed to get away from this- from the people around you and the feelings clouding your brain. The longer you waited, the harder it became to breathe.

“Y/N, wait!” Anakin watches you leave and attempts to pull you back, several questions threatening to spill from his lips. He could see the sweat, feel your heartbeat, and feel the feelings lingering behind your eyes. You walk away through the small corridors of Eric’s house and into a nearby restroom, the panic attack edging itself into your brain. 

Leaning against the wall, you mumble affirmations to yourself, breathing deeply, avoiding thinking about anything. You try to clear your mind, desperate for some peace. Desperate for something other than the situation at hand. Your body shook, your heart rate was in your ears, and your mouth was incredibly dry. You clear your throat, pick yourself off from the wall, and look into the mirror above the sink in front of you. You looked like a wreck, nails bitten, hair disheveled, and the bags under your eyes had bags. Needing a refresh, you gently splash some water on your face, patting it dry with a towel on the counter.

Your back pocket buzzes; pulling it out, you see 4 missed calls from Cora and about 50 new messages. Fuck. You take a deep breath and dial her number, hearing the line pick up the second you ring. 

“Chef?? Is everything okay? You didn’t come in to prep this morning and-”

“Cora, I need you to listen to me,” Your tone is serious, laced with a hint of sorrow. “I need you to be me for the time being.”

“Chef-”

“Listen to me. Please.” You silently beg, “Chef, I need you to be me. Please. I’ve had a crazy 24 hours, and you know I haven’t missed a day of work since opening and-” Your voice is overcome by the panic attack you were having, and you failed to realize how obvious it was.

“I’ll do it. I hope everything is okay, Chef. We’re all here for you.” You suddenly breathe out at her response, unaware of the breath you had been holding since you called. 

“Thank you, Cora; you seriously have no idea how much this means to me,”

“Don’t worry about it. Keep me updated. And stay in touch- I’ve never done this before, Chef. Not trying to fuck it up.” She giggles, attempting to lighten the mood slightly. 

“I will, no need to worry. Thank you once again.” You smile slightly at her words, ending the call and leaning back against the wall, letting yourself sink to the floor. 

You didn’t know when you started crying, just that once you did, it was hard to stop. You tried to stay quiet, knowing the men outside the door could probably hear. You choked back a sob, throwing your hand over your mouth and squeezing your eyes shut.

Anakin could hear you on the other side of the door, his heart slightly aching for you. But more than that- he could feel your pain. It was like he knew like he knew what was wrong and could take it all from you in an instant- but instead, he felt it too. He closed his eyes and bit his lip, turning back around to the headstrong man with him. 

“Eric, what don’t I know?” He approached Eric, looking at the screen with Gil’s face on it. The two of them studied the file. 

“What do you mean?” Raising a brow at Anakin’s question, he turns around with a smirk, tugging at his lips.

“I mean, like,” Anakin inhales sharply, “Why is she so cold towards me, and why does it matter if I’m the chosen one? I don’t understand the contingency of all of this.” 

“Oh, you mean she hasn’t told you?” Eric exclaims, crossing his arms across his chest, looking particularly amused with the annoyed Jedi in front of him. 

“Hasn’t told me what?” Anakins' voice was notably harsh, and he bit his lip in confusion. Eric smiled, motioning for him to follow him, and he did. He was being led to a more private room within his house, what he could only assume was Eric’s study.

“So, What exactly do you know about Y/N?” Eric leans against the wall, grinning. He knew this was going to be interesting. He also knew he probably shouldn’t be entertaining this at all, but he was doing it to help you. He knew this wasn’t exactly a conversation you wanted to have. 

“Well,” Anakin pondered the thought for a moment, furrowing his brows as reflected on Eric’s question. Did he really know anything about you? “I know she’s a chef of a restaurant-”

“Of a restaurant? Just a restaurant?” Eric scoffed at the Jedi's ignorance. Obviously, you don’t know much.” 

“I wasn’t finished-” Eric irritated Anakin. That much was obvious. But pointing out his arrogance and ignorance- well, that was a little too much for the Jedi. “I know the order forced her to join the Children of Nox. I don’t exactly know why. I know she has some weird resentment for me- no idea why. I know her family and her sister. And I know her books on the Children of Nox- I’ve read everything she’s ever written- it was the little bit of peace I could afford to have in this chaos of a fucking galaxy right now.” 

“You are the reason. The reason for it all.” Eric blurts out suddenly, squeezing his eyes and lips shut immediately afterward. Anakin raises a brow, crossing his arms defensively at Eric’s bold statement. What the fuck was he talking about? 

“Let me explain—you may want to sit down for this.” Eric motions to a chair in his study for Anakin to sit in. “And don’t tell her I told you this—I know her. She would never tell you, but I think it’ll make your life easier if you know.”

Anakin nods impatiently—he desperately needs the rest of this story. He didn’t like the feeling of this from the beginning, and now, knowing he may be involved, well, that wasn’t something he was necessarily excited about hearing. 

“Since Y/N was a child, the council kept her away from you.” Eric paced the room in front of Anakin, choosing his next words carefully, “For the longest time, she didn’t know why. She came back from the Children of Nox mission wanting to stay with The Order- I believe this was right after you had returned from protecting her sister. And your previous master- Master Kenobi- told Y/N the truth. Something about feeling ashamed for keeping it from her for this long. And upon hearing the truth- Y/N decided she had enough and she left the order.”

“I don’t- I don’t understand,” Anakin gulped nervously, lightly balling his hands in a fist and squeezing to calm himself. 

“She—well, she is also part of the Chosen One prophecy, actually,” Eric mumbles softly, diverting himself from Anakin’s stunned gaze. 

“She- what?” Anakin stood up abruptly in disbelief- there was no fucking way, “You’re fucking lying.”

“I’m not- and that is exactly how she felt.” Eric nods his head reassuringly, feeling a pang of guilt for him, “She was kept away from you for years- the Council fearing the possibilities of your strength together- at least that’s the working theory as to why they did it. But she was held back- her potential abandoned because the Council decided that you were their Chosen one- not her. It isn’t your fault- you had no idea. She’s just- well- fucking stubborn is the only thing that comes to mind.”

Anakin takes a deep breath and sits back down in his seat, feeling a wave of shock, rage, and guilt hit him all at once. He runs his hands through his hair, trying to wrap his mind around the reality that was just disclosed to him.   

“I don’t know what to say-” Anakin begins,

“Neither do I,” The boys turn, noticing you in the doorway, clearly pissed the fuck off by the conversation you just witnessed. Their hearts drop at the sight of you. You were a wave of emotions not to be fucked with- and they just committed the ultimate sin. 

“Oh fuck.”

Chapter 4.

[gaymer-hag-stan]

Happy 13th anniversary to Skyrim!

On the 11th of November, thirteen years ago, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released for Windows, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Set in the northern province of Skyrim within the continent of Tamriel, the game immerses players in a vast, richly detailed fantasy world filled with ancient lore, powerful magic, and fierce dragons. Skyrim’s expansive landscape includes rugged mountains, dense forests, icy tundras, and various settlements, each with unique architecture and cultures inspired by Norse and medieval aesthetics.

The main story follows the player character, the Dragonborn—a prophesied hero with the power to absorb dragon souls and wield the Thu’um, a magical ability known as the “Voice.” The Dragonborn is tasked with stopping Alduin, an ancient dragon prophesied to bring about the end of the world. Alongside this main quest, players can join multiple factions, such as the Companions, a warrior guild; the Thieves Guild; the Dark Brotherhood, an assassins' guild; and the College of Winterhold, a mages’ guild. Players can also become embroiled in Skyrim's civil war, choosing to side with either the Stormcloaks, who seek independence from the Empire, or the Imperial Legion.

Skyrim is renowned for its freedom of choice, allowing players to explore the world at their own pace and make decisions that shape the outcome of various quests. Players can specialize in numerous skills across combat, magic, and stealth, creating highly customizable character builds. Crafting systems, such as alchemy, enchanting, and smithing, further enhance the game’s depth, enabling players to forge powerful weapons, brew potions, and enchant armor.

The game’s dynamic weather, detailed visuals, and ambient sounds contribute to a highly immersive experience, while random encounters and radiant quests ensure a world that feels alive and reactive. Since its release, Skyrim has received several official expansions—Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn—which introduce new quests, abilities, and areas to explore.

The enduring popularity of Skyrim is due not only to its immersive storytelling and gameplay but also to its vast modding community, which has extended the game’s lifespan by adding countless new features, quests, graphical improvements, and even fan-created storylines. Skyrim is widely regarded as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, influencing many games that followed and remaining a landmark title in open-world gaming.

[mariacallous]

When Russia started to prepare for its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe unambiguously told Russian President Vladimir Putin that, were he to invade the country, there would be serious consequences. Sanctions have been one of these main consequences: We at the European Union have already adopted 14 sanctions packages against Russia since February 2022.

Putin’s Russia is behaving with a 19th-century style imperialist mindset, threatening its neighbors—most notably in Europe. However, this is not just about an existential threat to Europe’s security. Russia’s blatant violation of the United Nations Charter also threatens global peace.

From energy and food security threats and the violation of the U.N.’s arms embargo on North Korea to military cooperation with Iran and the use of brutal paramilitary groups in African countries, Russia’s actions deliberately destabilize the global architecture for peace. If Russia were to succeed in Ukraine, it would open the door to the return of imperialist wars of aggression against weaker neighbors on every continent.

That is exactly what an overwhelming majority of U.N. member states understood back in March 2022 and again in February 2023, when they demanded Russia to withdraw all military forces from the territory of Ukraine. That is the mandate that our sanctions are enforcing. When other alternatives cannot work, sanctions are a responsible and effective tool to protect international peace and security.

For us, sanctions are not an end in themselves. Whether adopted by the U.N. Security Council or autonomously by us within Europe, sanctions are, in our view, always a measure of last resort when other diplomatic efforts have failed to achieve a positive result.

U.N. sanctions are and will always be the best option. Yet at a time when Russia, both aggressor and judge, is blocking the U.N. Security Council’s collective response to many global security challenges, autonomous EU sanctions are an effective way to strengthen the U.N.’s mandate on peace and security.

The European Union counts on the support of several partners in our use of sanctions on Russia. Around a quarter of the world’s nations have also imposed such sanctions. Admittedly, not everyone is willing or capable to follow suit. We understand that. However, circumvention of our sanctions would affect all countries by helping Russia to continue its blatant violation of the U.N. Charter. Therefore, we are asking all countries to help prevent the circumvention of these sanctions. By doing so, they will actively contribute to a more peaceful and secure world.

We are also asking all U.N. members to help ensure that the weapons and the technologies needed to wage Putin’s illegal war do not end up in the battlefields of Ukraine, destroying its schools and killing its civilians. If countries are delivering weapons to help Russia wage its illegal war—as North Korea did with ammunition, other weapon systems, and now even soldiers, and Iran is believed to have done with the delivery of drones and more recently, ballistic missiles—then the EU and other countries will respond with the imposition of specific sanctions.

Some of the loudest critics of our sanctions are often the most prominent transgressors of international law. Most of them, such as North Korea, have long been the targets of U.N. sanctions themselves. The campaign spread by Russia and its supporters to label autonomous sanctions as illegitimate “unilateral coercive measures” is a politically motivated attempt to divert attention away from the reasons why these sanctions have been imposed. This campaign is also based on massive disinformation—for example, the claim that that sanctions would hurt human rights and cause food and medical shortages.

EU sanctions only apply within the jurisdiction of the EU. They therefore represent an exercise of sovereign right, embedded in international law and in line with the U.N. Charter’s goals to protect international peace and security. These sanctions respect the listed persons’ legal rights, including due process and the scrutiny of the Court of Justice of the European Union, whereby listed individuals and entities can challenge their designation.

That contrasts with Russia and other states that adopt sanctions against individuals with an absolute lack of transparency and without any right for due process, in a context where the rule of law and people’s rights are not respected anyway.

We are, of course, always alert to unintended consequences that sanctions could have for the civilian population. The delivery of humanitarian aid, food, medicine, or other emergency supplies are always exempted from our sanctions legislation. And sanctions have never prevented us from supporting the U.N.’s efforts to alleviate human suffering and ensuring that help arrives to those who are in most need, including in countries where sanctions are in place, such as Syria.

In this respect, the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2664 in December 2022 increased legal clarity by providing a standing humanitarian exemption to U.N. sanctions. The EU and its member states moved quickly to include exemptions based on the U.N. model in our sanctions regimes.

This resolution has helped put the spotlight on dictators who block humanitarian access to vulnerable populations and use it as a bargaining chip to maintain power. Thanks to this resolution, they have no shelter anymore to blame sanctions for their own atrocities and corruption. We hear from leading humanitarian organizations that this resolution has already had a positive impact on the ground.

Transborder terrorism, threats to the territorial integrity of nations, nuclear proliferation, human rights violations, genocide—there are many challenges where a global response is needed. Not surprisingly, it is frequently human rights defenders and civil society entities that call for sanctions to be imposed to address a deteriorating situation, such as the war in Sudan, various conflicts in the Middle East, or to prevent interferences with the electoral process in Guatemala. When states, individuals, or entities engage in widespread and systematic human rights violations, sanctions become a powerful tool to put offenders on the spotlight and press them to cease in their offenses.

In this context, EU member states have been supportive of my recent proposals in crises other than Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including in Sudan and the Middle East, where we adopted sanctions against Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and against violent Israeli settlers for serious human rights abuses against Palestinians.

By taking decisive action against its financing, the global fight against terrorism has made great strides. In disrupting the financial networks that terrorists rely on, sanctions have made the world a safer place, making it difficult for them to finance their operations.

Sanctions also help defend democratic institutions. The international community’s support to Guatemala’s political transition in early 2024, including through sanctions, was successful in deterring individuals from undermining the democratic process in the country. Sanctions can also help nations to recover their sovereign wealth from the plundering of previous leaders. That is what we did following the popular revolts of the Arab Spring in 2011, when—at the request of the new democratic Tunisian authorities—the EU swiftly froze the assets of individuals who had illegally misappropriated Tunisian state funds.

We are not naive. We are well aware that, by themselves, sanctions are not a silver bullet, and they will not stop Putin from continuing his neoimperialistic aggression against Ukraine. Yet they have significantly weakened Russia’s war machine and made the continuation of the war more costly to the Kremlin. Sanctions impose a huge reputational cost for the countries and actors who violate them. In many places, they have demonstrated that actions against peace have consequences.

All 193 U.N. member states have the obligation to preserve the international order based on the U.N. Charter. Faced with clear breaches of international law, the EU is ready to bear its share of responsibility for a just and orderly world by imposing sanctions on those who try to undermine it.

[evolutionsvoid]

The Academy of Veritas Mundus is well aware of the hate directed towards them, knowing that the Church of Divine Wealth has painted them as an institute of monsters and cold-blooded killers. While some of these vile claims may not be true, there is no denying that the Academy has committed many sins in the eyes of the public. Efforts have been made in some regard to try and win more people over to their side, yet those who run this institute also know that if your walls are tall enough and your weapons sharp enough, that the opinions of dumb fanatical peasants don't really matter. The research halls and campuses of the Academy are built like fortresses, ready to ward off angry mobs and crazed crusaders. In some cases, the reputation of the Academy actually works to keep some hordes away, as folk are hesitant to charge into facility that is known for creating abominations and deadly constructs.

The Dracomaton have many uses for the Academy, and while the many variations of them may be summoned to defend their bases, there are some designed solely for this purpose. The Gargouille is a type of Dracomaton that is not as well known as some of its other brethren. This is because they are rarely deployed outside the walls of the institutes. Even if one were to gain access to one of these labs, the Gargouille may still be overlooked. That is because they perch themselves upon rooftops, or cling to walls and columns, remaining perfectly still as if a piece of architecture. They arrange themselves in ways where they blend in or look like mere decoration. Sometimes they may intentionally make themselves obvious, hanging around certain doors or gates in a way that make them like a "do not enter" sign. When you see a few of their open maws suspended right above these forbidden portals, you already know attempting to break in there will be futile and incredibly painful.

The Gargouille does indeed have verdigris claws and teeth to fight, but its primary weapon is a spewing of Phlegm. From their grimacing jaws sprays out a fountain of sizzling Phlegm, whose properties do well in driving off invaders. This fluid, often associated with healing, has been tampered in a way that its medicinal attempts at aiding the nervous system winds up sabotaging it. It appears to trick the pain receptors into lighting up, despite no physical damage or actual wound. Getting this fluid on exposed flesh causes extreme debilitating pain, with folks describing the sensation like being stabbed by hundreds of acid dipped needles. The false signals made by the fluid combined with this incredible agony can cause temporary paralysis as the nervous system simply shuts down from overstimulation. While these perched Dracomatons rarely actually kill anyone with this Phlegm spit, the vulnerable position they leave attackers in make them easy pickings for the other forces.

In times when the battle is going poorly for the Academy, the Gargouille may choose to enter the fray to help in the physical fight. Razor jaws, sharp claws and a piercing tail can do some damage, and they may occasionally lob Phlegm orbs they carry that were meant for refueling. Despite their wings, they cannot fly, as they are more for decoration and balance. This means that when they jump into battle from their high up vantage points, literally dropping onto the heads of their enemies. Some folk say that most of the kills the Gargouille has earned is purely from caving in skulls and crushing bodies when they plummet from their perches.

When fools try to siege an Academy stronghold, it should be accepted that Gargouilles will be encountered. There is a high chance that any door you attempt to walk through or break down will have a shower of agonizing Phlegm falling upon your head. A wet gargling sound from above will be your one warning before it comes down. Wear humor-resisting armor or have a decent shield that can serve as an umbrella to this horrid fluid. Be aware that Academy forces will have injected themselves with antidotes that render them immune to the effects, and thus they will walk straight through it without issue. This means you cannot turn this weapon against them, but also they may try to use sneaky methods to expose you to it. Coating their weapons in this Phlegm rain or even having hidden pockets in their armor that can pool this liquid and then release it during close combat. It should be remembered that while this fluid is not lethal, the moment of vulnerability it can cause will most certainly lead to your demise.

[playstationvii]

#SakuraSpiderArachnid #MarvelGames #Playstation7 #DearDearestBrands

Here's an overview for Sakura Spider: Arachnid, a PlayStation 7 game concept in collaboration with Marvel Comics and DearDearestBrands:

Game Concept: Sakura Spider: Arachnid

Platform: PlayStation 7

Genre: Action-Adventure, Open-World, RPG

Graphics Style: Manga-inspired, cel-shaded visuals with anime-like fluidity and dynamic aesthetic environments.

Story and Setting

Origin Story: The protagonist, Sakura Hoshino, is a kind-hearted artist living in Tokyo, struggling to balance her creative dreams with societal expectations. While sketching under a blooming Sakura tree, a spider—mutated by gamma radiation—bites her. This spider was created by an experimental cross between Oscorp and a mysterious gamma reactor stationed near the ancient cherry blossom grove.

She discovers new powers that reflect her artistic soul and emotional depth. Empowered with heightened empathy and a "sense of aesthetics," Sakura fights to protect her city from threats that challenge both its physical and cultural identity.

Setting: The game takes place in Neo-Tokyo, a sprawling city divided into diverse zones, including:

Shinjuku Skyline: Neon-filled high-rises with bustling nightlife.

Harajuku Haven: Fashion streets where creativity thrives.

Ancient Cherry Grove: Mystical Sakura trees, where her powers were born.

Tokyo Bay Industrial: A hub of Oscorp gamma experiments and toxic waste.

Gamma Underbelly: Secret Oscorp labs housing mutated creatures.

Cultural Market Streets: Places to gather inspiration and interact with NPCs.

Gameplay

Core Gameplay Mechanics:

Web Weaving: Manipulate webs to craft weapons, art-based traps, and shield barriers.

Aesthetic Aura: Use the protagonist’s power of "Aesthetic Empathy" to influence NPCs, calm enemies, and rebuild damaged zones.

Emotion Threads: Unlock emotional-based superpowers like "Gamma Kindness" (healing) and "Empathy Strike" (disabling enemies).

Sense of Design: Use her artistic abilities to restore monuments, graffiti walls, or design costumes with bonuses.

Combat System:

Manga-styled action sequences with combos tied to her "Spider Dance," a fusion of web attacks and Sakura petal-themed strikes.

Dual attack modes:

Stealth Mode: Silent takedowns using web camouflages.

Empathy Combat: Disarm and pacify enemies with emotional insight.

Exploration and City-Building: Restore zones by infusing aesthetics into Neo-Tokyo, converting drab areas into thriving artistic hubs. Gain resources to improve the city’s visual beauty and morale.

Supporting Cast

Takashi Hoshino (Brother): A robotics prodigy who creates her gadgets.

Rika (Best Friend): A spirited fashion designer who helps craft outfits for stealth and combat.

Dr. Masako Arai: A former Oscorp scientist turned mentor who knows the truth about the experiments.

Gamma Mutant Villains:

The Sakura Swarm: A gang of mutant spiders spreading chaos.

Crimson Bloom: A rival powered by corrupted Sakura energy.

The Oscorp Shadow: An advanced AI controlling the gamma experiments.

Items and Utilities

Sakura Thread Enhancer: Boosts web strength.

Petal Shield: Blocks attacks while dazzling enemies.

Web Artistry Kit: Allows you to paint zones, creating buffs and influencing allies.

Kindness Vial: A rare item that unlocks massive area healing.

Art Style and Aesthetic

Cel-Shaded Graphics: The game embraces soft, manga tones with vivid cherry blossom effects.

Cultural Fusion: Neo-Tokyo blends traditional Japanese architecture with futuristic neon aesthetics.

Dynamic Seasons: The city changes based on Sakura's emotional state (e.g., blossoms flourish when morale is high).

Potential DLC and Expansions

The Gamma Grove: Explore an ancient Sakura forest that reveals the origin of the gamma mutation.

Spider-Verse Crossover: Features other Spider-heroes from the Marvel Universe.

Custom Costume Creator: Design Spider outfits with aesthetic perks.

Let me know how you'd like to expand any specific part of this concept!

https://chatgpt.com/share/6753d965-c084-8005-943f-9bf588ab1a16

Let's expand on gameplay ideas for Sakura Spider Arachnid! Here’s a detailed breakdown: Core Gameplay Mechanics 1. Swinging System: Fluid, physics-based web-swinging similar to Spider-Man PS5, but with a unique Sakura twist. Players can unlock aerial tricks and advanced web-swinging techniques that leave trails of glowing Sakura petals. Special “Gamma Burst Swing” mechanic allows for high-speed traversal across long distances. 2. Empathy Powers: Instead of relying on brute force, Sakura can resolve conflicts using her Empathy Webs, which calm or convert hostile enemies. Players must strategically decide when to use empathy or combat, altering NPC behavior and story outcomes. 3. Sense of Aesthetics: Sakura can identify weak points in environments or enemies using her aesthetic sense. This ability highlights climbable surfaces, destructible objects, or secret pathways. 4. Combat: Fast-paced, martial-arts-inspired combat blending acrobatics and web abilities. Sakura's “Petal Fury Mode” unleashes rapid attacks surrounded by an aura of glitter and petals. Gamma-powered moves, like the “Blossom Smash”, deliver heavy-hitting crowd control effects. World Design 1. Zones: Shibuya District: Neon-lit streets, bustling crowds, and vertical challenges with towering billboards. Sakura Temple Grounds: A tranquil area with hidden challenges and spiritual puzzles tied to Sakura’s origin. Gamma Research Facility: Heavily guarded industrial zone, featuring stealth-based missions and tech puzzles. Skyline Heights: High-rise corporate buildings for intense web-swinging sequences and rooftop battles. 2. Interactive Elements: Players can interact with Tokyo’s citizens, from helping lost children to stopping random crimes. Sakura can create web-art murals using leftover Sakura petals to inspire kindness in the city. Supporting Cast 1. Yuto Tanaka (Mentor): A scientist who explains the origin of the gamma spider and guides Sakura on using her powers. 2. Hana Kuroki (Best Friend): Provides comic relief and helps design Sakura’s webbing gear. 3. Villains: The Steel Ronin: A cyber-samurai enhanced by gamma technology. Shade Widow: A rival spider-powered character who represents Sakura’s dark potential. Items and Utilities 1. Petal Webbing: Unique webs that can heal allies or immobilize enemies. 2. Aesthetic Vision Goggles: Enhances Sakura’s ability to spot hidden objects or see through illusions. 3. Gamma Infuser: Temporarily boosts Sakura’s abilities during intense battles. Side Quests and Activities 1. Sakura Bloom Restoration: Revive wilted Sakura trees around the city to boost morale. 2. Fashion Challenges: Use Sakura’s sense of aesthetics to help NPCs with design challenges. 3. Street Performances: Sakura can perform aerial stunts for Tokyo’s citizens to earn reputation points. Visual Style and Aesthetic 1. Vibrant, anime-inspired graphics with photorealistic details. 2. Dynamic lighting changes based on Sakura’s emotions, such as a glowing aura during high-stress moments. Let me know if you'd like to focus more on any specific part, such as storyline, mechanics, or visual design!

Here’s a detailed Character Profile for Sakura Hoshino, the heroine of your game:

Character Profile: Sakura Hoshino

Full Name:

Sakura Hoshino

Alias:

Sakura Spider Arachnid

Age:

23 years old

Origin:

Tokyo, Japan

Occupation:

Web-slinger, Protector of Tokyo

Fashion Designer (Side Hobby)

College Graduate (Specializing in Environmental Design and Aesthetics)

Appearance

Height: 5'8"

Build: Athletic, with a lean and toned physique

Hair: Long, flowing pastel pink hair with subtle highlights of soft yellow, often tied in a loose ponytail when active.

Eyes: Deep, vibrant purple with a glimmer of white, reflecting her inner strength and empathy.

Skin: Fair, with a soft glow, showing the effects of gamma radiation exposure.

Suit:

Design: A sleek, high-tech spider suit infused with Sakura blossom patterns. The suit’s base color is pastel pink, accented with a soft yellow hue and glowing threads of white to represent Sakura petals.

Webbing: High-tech, metallic webs that glow with a Sakura petal motif.

Additional Features: The suit features a glowing "Sakura Core" in her chest, symbolizing her connection to the mystical Sakura tree that gave her powers.

Backstory

Sakura Hoshino was an ordinary university student studying environmental design, passionate about nature and art. During a visit to a traditional Japanese shrine, she stumbled upon a sacred Sakura tree rumored to be connected to ancient gamma radiation experiments. While sketching its beauty, she was bitten by a rare spider that had been exposed to this radiation. The bite merged with her body, giving her the ability to manipulate webs with both physical and emotional force. Her deep connection to nature and aesthetic design also enhanced her powers, giving her a unique ability to sense beauty, calm aggression, and heal emotional wounds.

After the incident, Sakura was thrust into a dual life: one as a protector of Tokyo, and the other as a budding fashion designer seeking to express herself and promote kindness. She uses her powers to combat crime and solve conflicts without violence, utilizing empathy and aesthetics as her main weapons. Sakura now fights to protect her city while balancing her personal dreams and responsibilities.

Personality

Compassionate: Sakura’s defining trait is her deep empathy. She can sense the emotions of others and, when necessary, uses her powers to help heal emotional wounds.

Optimistic: Despite the challenges she faces, Sakura believes that beauty and kindness can bring change. She strives to bring peace in a world filled with chaos.

Creative: As an artist at heart, Sakura views the world through an aesthetic lens. She finds beauty even in the darkest of places and uses her creativity to solve problems.

Courageous: Sakura faces dangers head-on, often with a sense of grace. Her bravery isn’t defined by a desire for glory, but by her commitment to protect those she loves.

Determined: Sakura has a strong sense of justice and never backs down from doing what’s right, even if it means making personal sacrifices.

Abilities and Powers

Web-Slinging: Sakura can create webs of varying sizes and strengths, using them to swing between buildings, immobilize enemies, or create structures. Her webs are unique in that they also carry emotional energy, calming or subduing opponents.

Empathy Webbing: Her webs can carry a calming aura, making her opponents feel peace or empathy. This ability helps resolve conflicts without violence, but can also be used strategically to weaken enemies.

Aesthetic Vision: Sakura has an enhanced sense of aesthetics, allowing her to perceive hidden details in her environment, like weak structural points or hidden pathways. It also helps her find beauty in unexpected places.

Gamma Boost: Occasionally, Sakura’s connection to the gamma radiation grants her temporary boosts in power, enhancing her physical strength, agility, and the reach of her webs.

Healing Touch: Through her deep empathy, Sakura can heal minor emotional or physical wounds in herself or others. This ability also allows her to calm her allies in intense situations, restoring their morale.

Sakura Blossom Fury: A powerful, high-speed attack where Sakura releases a flurry of webs imbued with Sakura petals, overwhelming opponents with both speed and beauty.

Strengths

Diplomatic: Sakura prefers to solve problems peacefully, using her powers to mediate conflict rather than engage in violence.

Adaptable: Her aesthetic sense allows her to think on her feet and adapt to any situation creatively.

Agile and Fast: Her physical training and spider abilities make her incredibly nimble, able to navigate the city’s skyline with grace and precision.

Weaknesses

Emotional Vulnerability: While her empathy is her greatest strength, it also makes her susceptible to emotional exhaustion. Overuse of her empathy can leave her drained.

Gamma Exposure: Extended exposure to gamma radiation may occasionally cause her to lose control of her powers, leading to instability in her emotional balance.

Over-reliance on Non-Violence: Sakura’s preference for peaceful resolutions can sometimes put her in dangerous situations where more forceful methods may be needed.

Relationships

Yuto Tanaka (Mentor): A scientist who understands the origins of the gamma radiation and guides Sakura in controlling her powers. He is a father figure and the one who encouraged her to embrace her new abilities.

Hana Kuroki (Best Friend): Sakura’s best friend and confidante. Hana supports her throughout her journey, both in her heroic duties and personal life.

Villains:

The Steel Ronin: A dark counterpart to Sakura, a cyber-enhanced warrior who is bent on destroying the harmony Sakura seeks to protect.

Shade Widow: A mysterious figure whose own emotional turmoil mirrors Sakura’s, leading to a rivalry built on both their powers and inner conflicts.

Catchphrase:

"Beauty is the strength we need to protect the world."

War Of The Roses!!!

[planet-of-the-machines]

[Voice transcription enabled]:

>Hey class! Crosshairs again-<

+And F!+

>we-<

=hey Cross! Don't leave us out!=

>*sigh* and the rest of the bozos in my salvage team are kinda confined to the repair bay after some trouble with helping field testing brainstorm with some new munitions.<

+I got to drop bombs!+

^And got a load of fried electronics in your systems, so hold still and let me do your repairs birdbrain!^

>yeah, so some munitions were a bit volatile, so we're getting repairs. Saw the details on that blizzard, at least you've got shelter. But since you lot are stuck there, my team and I can give you some tips!<

)Play knife monopol-(

*Sounds of metal clashing on metal*

^Absolutely not! Knife monopoly is banned for a reason! Now bring that wrench back over here, moron.^

>actual first tip, investigate, but do not interfere with the local power source. Exemptions only for skilled reactor personnel.<

/second, do not go off in groups with less than four members! If someone gets stuck, you'll have at least two people to attempt rescue an a third to call for additional help!/

+oh! Don't enter enclosed spaces! My team had to scrounge a lot for supplies. We... kinda got all our wings stuck full open cause we got circuits scrambled by radiation, so we couldn't stow em. And cause of that we get stuck a lot in buildings...+

)not the only thing scrambl-*CLANG*Ow!(

>Shut it, Singe!<

^well, that explains the damages that don't match with the other munitions you clowns tested. I don't have suitable replacement parts here maybe when chromedome gets back I can negotiate some parts for those repairs.^

>okay, we'll send questions every now and then with some advice so you don't get screwed over by architecture no longer up to code. For our first question...<

+ooh! N! What do you and your team do in downtime nowadays? I've been bored cuz I'm not allowed out to fly without others out to keep an eye on me...+

>... eh that works...<

#could you all be quiet? I'm trying to get some recharge in#

- >Crosshairs<, +Serial Designation F+, =Roadbuster=, )Singe(, ^Glit^, /Cloudraker/, and #Crankcase# of Outpost 15

(Added some text flair to tell us apart)- Crosshairs

P.s. we saw the posts from Spinister. We've hooked him up with an empty petabyte hard drive so he can just shove junk data in it. We can't help em with the coma bit til chromedome is back tho. He's our coding expert.

One more thing, Brainstorm told me he's got some special weapon design he's finished testing. He wants it to be a surprise, no matter that I've told him a weapon of his design is the last thing anyone with self-preservation protocols would want to be surprised by...

...

Does using a power amplifier on the power generator count as interference?

-Bee

I believe that would be Wheeljack's area of expertise. Let's just hope you and Uzi didn't strain the electrical transformers or anything crucial.

-Boulder

BITE ME! >:(

And quit complicating my investigation!

-Uzi

I did not say that as an insult.

Also, F, how did you come across radiation? N2 mines get their name from being Non-Nuclear.

-Boulder

Outpost 15's in or near California, right? Maybe one of their earthquakes ruptured a nuclear power plant.

-Hot Rod

I find it more likely that N2 mines hadn't entirely phased out nuclear weapons...

So, anyone going with the gremlin on her little search?

-Heatwave.

Ooh, I'll go!

As for your question, F, I spend my spare time helping out throughout the outpost. It was kinda part of the deal with Mr. Kup and the council has with me. Be useful, and me and my sisters might fully integrate into the outpost.

As for what V and J do...

-N

I've been assigned remedial training courses by these toasters' barely-functioning government. To "undo the corpo brainwashing," one of them said. V has to go back to her cell after class, because apparently she ALMOST GOT HERSELF KILLED!!!

-J

Again, how was I supposed to know Doll would be spamming ctrl + copy on kitchen knives? |:(

Besides, best to stay a little distant, don'tcha think?

-V

Uh, boss? Are you sure you're doing okay?

-N

IM COMPLETELY FINE, N! I'M AS PROFESSIONAL AND UP TO GUIDELINES AS EVER!!!

-J

Take the corporate simp with you. We don't need a mental breakdown ruining the mood.

And Bee.

-Cliff

What!? I'm sorry, as much as I'd like to help Uzi, I'm not going with her! Besides, Hot Rod's not the greatest at camping stories.

-Bee

So we'll send him to replace you after a while.

Seriously, I know J tried to kill you, but you lived. H*ll, you jammed her weapons and sh*t. You can definitely take her for a while.

-Cliff

You'll be fine, Chatterbox. If she tries anything, I'll blow her to bits with my Sick as [Parental Filter activated] Railgun. So can we please get going already?

Also, what's knife monopoly? Sounds fun. >:)

-Uzi

[darkmaga-returns]

U.S. security experts and leaders have been telling European NATO allies to increase their defense spending for at least a quarter century, initially as a gentle nudging, later more insistently, rising to a deafening din after Trump’s election.

The infamous White House press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 1 finally shocked Europeans out of their complacency and opened their purse-strings, according toAmerican analysts, who seem very pleased with themselves.

But this approach puts the cart of military-spending-as-share-of-GDP before the horse of a dynamic assessment of the threats European countries actually face. Going on a spending spree to reach some arbitrary share of GDP or random number of billions of euros, to buy weapons systems favored by lobbyists but of dubious relevance, is a poor replacement for a comprehensive strategy for European security.

A European security strategy that deserves this name would have to include political and diplomatic efforts: war-ending diplomacy in the short term, followed by acrisis consultation mechanism that should be the beginning of a new European security architecture consisting of reciprocal regimes of arms control, confidence-building and eventual disarmament.

[naisilla]

The Emperor's New Muse Part .9

Odyssey Kayn x Reader

content: The exchange goes horribly wrong...

A/N: Thank you for supporting this story and thank you to those who motivated me to continue writing.

The Fractal Shear landed on the Royal Military Station, next to the Royal Palace. You were once again being walked through the palace port, passing by thousands of troops. No soldier paid you any attention, remaining stoic and ignoring your situation with one glance at the Ordinal leading your group.

You had to walk through the massive expanse. Lead past various subways of bullet trains that transported the military throughout the planet via an underground train system.

It didn't even feel like you had left the Fractal Shear. With how everything in Demaxia is made of cold, dark metal and sterile lighting, it felt like you were inside an expansion of the ship.

"So where is this exchange happening anyways?" you ask, unable to bear the deafening silence among your group.

It only felt fitting that Kayn continued his usual behavior during the most critical moment of your escape plan. His calm demeanor was unnerving, you were certain that he was just waiting for the right time to pull something cruel on you, to take away your hopes. The closer you got to the edge of the district the more nervous you became.

"We're taking you into the grand courtroom. The Morningstar will land on our military station and the ship will be confiscated until after the exchange. Wouldn't want your friends trying to leave too soon."

Crap Kayn had thought of everything. By having the exchange happen inside the palace, you and your team are in a lot of danger. You'd be trapped in an unfamiliar environment infested with demaxian soldiers overseeing everything. Plus with the Morningstar being so far from reach, it would be almost impossible to pull off a flawless escape.

As you continue to walk down the corridors of the Royal Palace the intensity of your emotions increases. You feel nervous about how your team might pull off this getaway. With how crucial this situation is, the entire scenario could go south.

Sometimes foreshadowing is relatively obvious.

You were brought into the Demaxian Palace and immediately your breath was taken away. The grand size of Demaxia's ships and cities could not prepare you for the Palace itself.

The sheer size and opulence of the Demaxian Palace was breathtaking. You have never seen such extravagant architecture before. The palace was imposing and dwarfed everything you have ever seen before. The grandeur of the rooms and the length of the halls make this entire structure seem more like an entire city, instead of just a place for the royalty to live.

The Demaxian Palace was a dramatic shift from the Military Station and subways leading toward it. Instead of the cold and dark metal scheme that you were so accustomed to, the Palace stood out in its contrasting palette of ivory and silver.

The grand courtroom lived up to its name. There was a balcony floor that overlooked everything similar to that of a theater room. Hundreds of executive chairs with elongated bodies were immaculately tucked into long lines of marble tables. Giant pillars arched above holding up the grand ceiling decorated with beautiful paintings depicting the galaxy.

Kayn and his soldiers waited at the center of the room, standing before the center table and staring at the adjacent entrance.

Eventually, you pick up on marching footsteps approaching, and the grand doors part open. A troop of soldiers enter, along with your friends Yasuo, Jinx, Malphite, and Sona. You immediately notice their lack of weapons. Yasuo was without his sword and Jinx was missing her barrage of weaponry.

It becomes apparent that your odds of survival are even slimmer than anticipated.

The moment your eyes meet, Jinx smiles and begins to wave excitedly "(y/n)! you're still alive!! How was rooming with Kayn?~"

You roll you're eyes, Jinx sure does have a weird way of saying things. Jinx waving her hands and trying to interact like nothing was wrong despite being escorted in was such a Jinx thing to do. It was both nerve racking and comforting to see that she seemed so normal despite being stripped of all her weapons and held by Demaxian soldiers. If there was one thing you knew about her, it was that you could count on her to always be herself no matter the situation that she was in.

"Absolute torture. How have you been?"

"You know, same old running away from Demaxian enforces. Yasuo was so stressed out- HEY!" Jinx protests as a soldier nudges her with his gun demanding her to shut up.

The group of soldiers escorting the Morningstar crew continues to usher everyone further into the courtroom. You stole a glance at Yasuo desperate to see the confidence of having a plan in his eyes. But there was no twinkle of hope or a smug smirk there was only fear.

Without his weapons and surrounded by armed Demaxian Soldiers he looked more vulnerable than you had ever seen him look before. The only thing you could hope for now was that the rest of the crew had some sort of plan because clearly Yasuo did not.

Your gaze desperately flicks over to Sona, the only member of the Morningstar you had faith in. But Sona merely looked directly at Kayn with a solemn look, she unlike the others (excluding Jinx because she's just insane) showed no fear toward the Ordinal.

Despite the circumstances Sona remained quiet and calm.

Kayn was solely focused on the Templar. "At last, Sona. The secrets of the Ora Gate will be mine!"

Yasuo steps infront of Sona, blocking her from Kayn with a stern glare. "Have you fulfilled the terms of our agreement?"

Kayn nods "Yes, the charges against you for your brothers gruesome murder have been dropped."

"And the bounty reward?"

"A sum of two hundred billion credits have been wired over." Kayn brings up a hologram projection from his wrist showing that indeed the money had been transferred.

"And your promises to my crew?."

"Malphite has been recommended and accepted into the Demaxian Academy Of Clinical Medicine." As proof an acceptance letter was put on display. "As for the loose canon, you'll find a shipping container of our weapons has been loaded onto your Morningstar. The hologram projection switches to live security feed from on board the Morningstar showing a team of Demaxian soldiers loading said container into the cargo port.

Even though Kayn had kept his promises so far Yasuo's gaze remained hard. "Now give (y/n) back."

You feel Kayn's hand latch onto your arm in a steel grip.

"The templar first".

It's not like Yasuo had much of a choice, they were surrounded by a few hundred soldiers all armed with plasma guns. The soldiers closest to your friends were nudging Yasuo to step aside so that Sona could freely walk over to where Kayn and you stood.

Sona takes initiative and begins to walk her way over to your side of the courtroom. Her strides were hidden under her dress giving the illusion of her gracefully floating across the floor. The dark visors of every soldier turning to follow her movement.

You realized you were holding your breath when she finally made it over to you. Yasuo's narrow eyes dart between Sona, Kayn, and yourself.

"Now let (y/n) go."

Kayn's grip releases from your arm and his boot makes contact with your back as he kicks you away forcing you to stumble forward. You scramble to your feet and look back at Sona.

You look at her desperately trying to find solace in her expression, for her to assure you this was all part of the plan. There was a plan, right? But Sonas eyes only stared back with the same solemn expression as before.

Your heart sank now that you'd come to the realization that there was no plan. Yasuo was actually going to give Sona up. You could feel tears of frustration welling in your eyes and you glared at Yasuo. How dare he actually let Kayn win, He just doomed the universe for some materialistic rewards.

All eyes were on you as you traded places with Sona, you had barely reached your spot next to Yasuo when Kayn speaks up. His green eye casts down on you. "Kill them."

Instantly all the guns in the courtroom train on you and your friends, the synchronized clicks and hums of hundreds of plasma riffles echoing in the giant room.

Everything happened so quickly, You were in an impossible situation and you had no chance to avoid a bloodbath. Everyone freezes in their tracks, unable to move an inch as you stare in terror at the sheer number of guns pointed right at you. Everyone there is now at the mercy of the Demaxian Soldiers who have no reason to hesitate to pull the trigger. It seems that this is the end of the line for all of you.

With a resounding crescendo, your vision is abruptly blinded by a golden light. Everyone is shaken, the Demaxian soldiers have been briefly knocked down. At the center of it all stood Sona, who wields an orb of aura between her hands.

Using a fluid motion of her arms she sends out another wave of pure ora, the raw energy blasting everyone with the power of an extreme blizzard. From across the room, her eyes connect with yours and a single message is telepathically spoken.

"Run".

Yasuo grabs you by the arm in a desperate grip and everyone takes off towards the massive entrance. Along the way, Jinx swipes the guns of various soldiers still knocked out by the blast. She throws one for you to catch while she continues to sprint, wielding a riffle in each hand, a sinister cackle coming from her.

As you run you feel your body becoming lighter allowing you to speed up. You breathe a sigh of relief as Sona joins your side, her celerity spell boosting everyone towards and out the grand door. The moment everyone is out of the grand courtroom you turn to look at the mess in your wake.

Chairs had been blown to the ground, and many Demaxian soldiers remained limp, only a few were left moaning and twitching. That blast of Ora was powerful enough to incapacitate targets. But to your horror, standing in the center of it all was Kayn.

Unlike the sea of men slumped over, taken out by the ora. Kayn stands tall with his scythe planted firmly on the ground, its center growing large as it draws in the golden essence.

How was this possible? Everyone else got destroyed in the blast, there's no way he survived that. You could only watch on in horror at what Kayn did next.

Getting up from his kneeling position and straightening himself Kayn stood with a proud posture, his arms spread out. The palm of his right hand glows with ora. From the bodies of the fallen rise tendrils of golden essence that get pulled into his outstretched hand. Kayn was absorbing everyone's ora. His green eye sparkles and glows, becoming more golden.

You and your friends find yourself in a large hallway, in the distance is the sound of charging footsteps. It wouldn't be long until more Demaxian soldiers flooded the scene. Yasuo takes the lead, remembering the way that he and his crew were escorted through.

Jinx mounts herself onto Malphite's back holding onto his dorsal plates and begins to shoot up the palace interior, squealing in delight. More soldiers begin to emerge from the palace halls, flooding into view in giant waves.

They just keep coming, more come in to replace the few you can manage to take out. It's like an infestation of roaches emerging from a nest. You are forced to run, there was no time to try and take care of the imperials.

Kayn rushes through the wave chasing you from behind, The mass parts for the Ordinal who shoves everyone aside. His actions are rough and erratic, his teeth are bared in a permanent snarl, and his green eye glints.

With long and powerful strides, Kayn manages to catch up to you. He covered a large distance in an impossible display of speed. It was like a nightmare where no matter how hard you pushed your body to flee the monster was always faster.

In his left hand is Rhaast, glinting with each stride Kayn takes. It's center of Ora warps and shifts like an eyeball staring down its prey. Within the sea of noise, Rhaast's voice cuts through the sounds of yelling and gunfire.

"Rip out their organs Kayn!"

With a mighty leap, Kayn launches himself into the air. He flys above you looking down like a bird of prey. He swings Rhaast upwards preparing to bring down the scythe to slice your entire team down the middle.

"SONA! LOOK OUT!" You scream gesturing to the templar in with a single gesture. She nods understanding you and builds up a core of ora between her hands and lets it out in a radial blast just like earlier.

You expect Kayn to be blown away and knocked down by the force emitted but to your horror, he breaks through. While the rest of the imperials are instantly stunned and fall to the ground, Kayn remains untouched by the blast. And he continues to fall through with his downward strike attack.

There is no time to react, Kayn is hurtling toward you at a flat-out speed. You can't even brace for impact-

A golden shield instantly appears forming over you and your friends, you look up amazed as Kayn is slowed down. He was inches away from killing all of you, yet as he made contact with the ora shield he is effectively blocked. You turn to Sona relieved that she managed to stop Kayn, you were almost certain Kayn has outpowered her.

But Sona wasn't casting the shield, she looked back at you, her eyes wide in confusion. Her hands were not manifesting ora, she was frozen in a defensive stance using her arms to shield her body. Within these split seconds, your mind raced. If Sona wasn't shielding you, then who was?

You look to Kayn whose enraged state has vanished into an expression of shock. He stands next to the force field that protects you his eyes trained on something up and ahead of you. Following his gaze you look towards a grand balcony where a mysterious man stood.

A stoic man stood tall before you, shallow lines carved his face in a mature charm. Tufts of medium length dark hair peeked out from an elegantly decorated barbute helmet. His large frame was mantled with a set of sleek streamlined armor. In his right hand was a grand lance and his left hand was outstretched. He was the source of the ora shield.

It took a moment to notice the Demaxian colors of gold, white, and blue and how ornate the man's armor was that you figured out just who he was.

King Jarvan IV.

By how surprised Kayn seems by the King's presence you deduct he wasn't expecting Jarvan to be here in the palace.

"My King- I thought you were meeting with the High Priestess on High Silvermere." Your deduction was correct.

The King only stares back at the Ordinal sternly. "Why are there space pirates and a templar being chased in my palace?"

You watch as Kayn instantly switches from his enraged state to mirroring the same serious composure as the King.

"My King, this is Captain Yasuo. He's a fugitive murderer resisting his arrest and his crew are also fined with a plethora of crimes."

King Jarvan raises an eyebrow. "Why are they here in my palace? Shouldn't criminals be taken to the prison on Dawnhold?"

Kayn is quick to respond. "These fugitives in question have been evading my locus armada and have been a menace to the empire-"

You continued to watch Kayn talk to King Jarvan, the exchange between King Jarvan IV and Kayn makes you more curious about the relationship between these two individuals. The King seems to hold a position of authority over Kayn, yet Kayn doesn't seem to hold back in speaking his mind to him.

As King Jarvan talks back and forward with Kayn, you and King Jarvan lock eyes with each other. The King's eyes are soft and kind, he doesn't seem like the kind of man who would take pleasure in causing pain or suffering. As they continue to stare at each other, you can't help feeling like he's evaluating you in some way.

You decide to speak up and interrupt the two males. "Captain Yasuo is innocent!"

The conversation was broken by your interjection and now you had the attention of both men. King Jarvan speaks first.

"And who are you?"

You stare up at the King on his balcony with a sense of confidence. "I am (Y/N) of Navori. Your Empire invaded my home world and destroyed both my people and planet with your brutal expansionism. I was forced to live as an immigrant working class. Ever since I was wrongly treated by your loyal Ordinal I've been on the run with the Morningstar crew"

You speak with a fiery passion and the King's expression darkens as you speak. He listens to every word you say and never once does he interrupt you or try to change the subject. You notice that Kayn is staring at you in silence with a look of contempt and hatred. He's trying to hide his feelings but you can tell that he's annoyed at you.

A defeated sigh escapes from Jarvan's lips. "Yes I'm aware that there were a handful of countries that became barren wastelands after out attempts at colonisation went wrong."

Kayn's eyes narrow further into tiny slivers as if he can't believe that you would have the audacity to speak out against the Empire like that in front of the King.

Yet Jarvan's eyes showed remorse for the actions of his empire in the past. The King did not resemble the tyrant you imagined. For a brutal and merciless empire, the ruler seemed mellow and meek.

Perhaps he would understand. Maybe you should try talking to the King to stop Kayn from opening the ora gates.

"Please you majesty, hear us out. My team and I have been dawodhaowhdoawdad

Kayn interjects. "My King, do not believe these space pirates! They are criminals manipulating you with grandiose lies to avoid their sentencing and arrest!"

You snap back. "What kind of King lets his soldiers take over his empire, you've become an absent ruler unaware of the corruption abundant in your empire and how your loyal Ordinal threatens the universe!"

Jarvan is taken aback and turns to Kayn and calmly asks. "Shieda, What is she speaking of?"

You watch as Kayn grounds himself, he must remain equally calm to persuade Jarvan to ignore the Morningstar.

"They are space pirates. They only speak lies. Let me handle them my King". Kayn grips his scythe.

There is a pause for the King to contemplate, he lowers his arm deactivating the shield around you and the others.

Yasuo acts immediately grabbing you by the arm and making a sweeping dash forward, breaking through the soldiers who had gathered before you.

Jinx and Malphite also join in, the loose cannon firing at the guards who chase after you while Malphite pounds his fists into the ground sending out a shockwave that. Sona hesitates, looking at the King desperately before turning to also join the fleeing team assisting their getaway with a boost of her ora.

Kayn stands still staring between the escaping Morningstar crew and the King. An unamused scowl present on his face. "I think my point has been proven".

The Morningstar was quiet. You had managed to escape Kayn and the empire once again but it came at a cost. The ship had been badly damaged in the escape, it now operated at a much slower speed, barely getting away from Demaxia_Alpha. In fact, it should have been impossible to escape like you did. It was almost as if, Kayn had let you go, on purpose... Meanwhile, back at the palace, Kayn had a lot of explaining to do.

"Shieda. I have a lot of questions regarding what just happened". King Jarvan says, his tone low and serious as he paces about the room.

Kayn stands before him, tall and confident, masking the concern about where the King is going with this questioning.

Jarvan continues "Firstly I found it strange that you would arrange a hostage exchange here in the palace, it risks the security of the empire and of course" Jarvan pauses to gesture to the ruined grand courtroom. "Can lead to grand acts of destruction."

Jarvan's blue eyes look over the grand courtroom, while intact there were various sections where the marble erodes as a result of plasma and ora blasts. Most of the furniture had been obliterated and the once-polished floor had a massive ugly crack branching across.

The repairs towards this room alone would cost a grand fortune, let alone compensation for the hundreds of imperial soldiers who were injured or killed. Just thinking about the number of paperwork ahead of Jarvans day was giving the King a migraine.

"I also found these "space pirates" very peculiar. Even a formal bodyguard wanted for murder wouldn't require to be arrested here on Demaxia_Alpha."

Kayn shifts his weight from one foot to the other, his shoulders become loose, and his head hangs to the side as he adopts a more casual stance. By responding to Jarvan's serious demeanor with one of nonchalance Kayn has the potential of lowering the king's guard and lessening the tension.

"My King you know me, as an Ordinal I take my position seriously. What happened earlier was a failed sting operation. I wouldn't endanger the security of the palace if I didn't know what I was doing. I lured those space pirates in with a deal they could not refuse in order to get them somewhere they could not slip away."

"These are just space pirates, not high profile criminals. I fail to understand why they were treated as such." Jarvan was quick to continue his questions, Kayn was not going to change the topic and get off the hook so easily.

Alright, a casual approach was not the quick resolve Kayn was hoping for, time to switch his approach.

"These space pirates are a far greater threat to the empire than you could assume my King. The Captain, as you know. Brutally killed a soldier of mine, his own brother." Of course, Kayn was purposeful to leave out the details that Yone was not his soldier but in fact, a double agent who managed to free Sona from his interrogation cell. And of course, that he was the one who killed Yone. Ripped his body apart into bloody shreds with his newly acquired scythe at the time.

"I understand you must have had a personal vendetta against the Captain for murdering one of your men, but even so, arresting him here in the palace through a hostage exchange was not the right approach. You should've arrested him somewhere else that doesn't put the security of the palace in danger, you could've done so-"

"I've tried that already!" Kayn yells his voice suddenly booming, Jarvan looks at his friend slightly shocked, noticing how the Ordinal's fist clenches in frustration.

"I have been tracking the Morningstar for almost a year, and I have encountered them countless of times. In deep space, on alien planets, and on colonized market planets where they had stopped to restock. Every time they continue to evade me and my locus armada. With how dangerous Yasuo is I had to go to radical measures to ensure the safety of our empire."

Kayn was beginning to lose it, just his luck the King had hit a sore trigger spot of his. He needed to keep it together, and really convince Jarvan of how important it was to have the Morningstar crew taken down, even if he had to lie to him.

"Amongst them was a Templar, a powerful one with an affinity for ora from what I saw. What was she doing in the middle of all of this?"

"She was their hostage, she has been held captive against her will by these space pirates. Another reason as to why they are so dangerous." Kayn was instantly crafting lies to manipulate the King and staging the Morningstar as real threats that needed to be eliminated.

"But why?"

"You saw it for yourself, the Templar is powerful. She has the strongest of abilities to wield ora, what space pirate wouldn't want such power to themselves?"

Jarvan nods seemingly beginning to agree Kayn who was portraying the Morningstar as quite the threat to their empire.

So why was there doubt? Why was it that when Jarvan looked into Kayn's golden eye there was something dark lurking just beyond.

Golden...

Jarvan recalls the way the Templar looked at him so desperately, it was so odd that a hostage would be so willing to help her captors escape. She could've stayed behind and been rescued, but she choose to leave with the Morningstar.

Something wasn't right.

That other woman in their crew also tried warning him about Kayn, something about the universe being in danger...Jarvan sighs.

"Kayn I've noticed some concerning changes. I'm worried for you. You've grown distant and I can tell there is more going on here concerning this "Morningstar".

Kayn began to grow impatient, why couldn't Jarvan just leave this be? He had already forced Kayn to let them get away by staying here to talk, precious time catching up to them was getting wasted. The King has been so content in the past to let him take over to let the Ordinal enforce the law on his behalf, why now was this absent King being persistent?

"The man you follow is weak Kayn, you and I both know that he is only showing interest now because he senses something wrong. He senses your intention. He is catching on to your plan."

Rhaasts voice whispers in Kayns mind, dark and foreboding. A grim reminder to the Ordinal of the situation he is in. Stuck in a position he hates, performing duties for an overcautious king who refuses to have the clarity of mind that he does, the strength that he does. Rhaast was the sign that Kayn needed to pursue his ambitions of leading the empire toward the greatness it deserved, that Kayn deserved.

"I've grown sad, sad that we've become an oppressive and dominating symbol that outliers such as the Templars, Sundicate, and Subjugated alike kick against. I don't like being seen as a monolithic force, I hate being seen as an unyielding authoritarian. Your imperial policy has forced us to become less tolerant in recent years and I've grown to hate it."

"He rejects your strength Kayn. The King is still a bleeding heart full of delusional ideas of progression through peace. He is not like you, he is far weaker. The empire would benefit a ruler who isn't afraid of war, someone ruthless and pragmatic. Someone that is-"

"Me."

Jarvan looks at Kayn who suddenly spoke aloud. "What was that Kayn?"

Kayn merely stood tall and approached Jarvan with slow calculated steps, his boots crunching the rubble of the destroyed room. Then he lowers his scythe and his shoulders slouch, a pained expression appears on his face.

"I realize that we have differing opinions on how the empire should be ruled. My ideals were crude and radical compared to yours."

Jarvan notices how Kayn's body language has suddenly changed, his tone is a much more submissive one. Though his intentions remain hidden behind his words. Jarvan stares at Kayn who continues to look down with his shoulders lowered. He's showing his vulnerability to gain sympathy and trust from the King.

"While I can't say I always agreed with you, I can see how my way has driven the empire into an unstable state between it and its people."

Jarrvan nods, agreeing with Kayn.

"We've gone too far Kayn, we need to change. For the betterment of the Empire".

Jarvan turns away from Kayn and takes a step back. His eyes were no longer full of annoyance and suspicion but now filled with disappointment.

"If only I had taken charge sooner, I could've stopped the descent of our empire. I hope that it isn't too late, we've already laid claim to almost every planet in the universe. I feel like we've gone past the point of return."

Kayn walks over to Jarvan placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"As a Military tactician and as an Ordinal I have seen how war can affect a nation. In our empire's name, I have fought and killed. While we bring a great progressive future to our core worlds it came at the cost of forcefully imposing our empire onto them and spreading across planet systems creating a heavily separated class system between the metropolis capitals and the lower class trapped in endless poverty. It's time we changed that..."

Jarvan nods quietly once again, he's being won over by his friend's charisma that seems to be radiating from him with a newfound compassion and sense of reason. With his back turned to Kayn who stood slightly behind him Jarvan did not notice the way that Kayns scythe began to raise.

"Do it"

Suddenly looking down, Jarvans blue eyes transfix onto the curved neon blade that peaked through his ribs. The King gasps finding his lungs failing to take in breath. He lets out a pained scream as Kayn's scythe twists within his innards before slowly pulling out through his back dragging out the sound of wet ripping. His chest feels hollow and hot blood begins to cascade out splattering onto the cracked marble floor.

Jarvan falls to his knees, collapsing with a thud. His head felt light and his vision began to double and warp, everything was too bright. None of it distracted from the pain that ravaged his chest.

With eyes trembling Jarvan stared up at Kayn in awe. Kayn was close to him, in age and as a friend. They had grown up together, Jarvan as a royal monarch and Kayn as a promising knight. When Jarvan was crowned King after his father he entrusted Kayn to become the first Ordinal, his most loyal lapdog. Given the power to bring order to his empire, Jarvan was foolish. He was blind to the corruption Kayn brewed behind his back. As a law enforcer, Kayn was in charge of planning war strategies when invading new planet systems and protecting the growing empire from dangerous threats. Yet it seemed that the Morningstar was correct and that indeed Kayn was the worst threat of all.

He was suspicious, he grew concerned with Kayns violent ways of serving the empire but this was Kayn: charismatic, charming, nonchalant—a well-spoken man. He was fooled.

Was it from the beginning? Or throughout their friendship, Kayn had come to turn on him? How much of their history was a facade?

That would be a dying question left unanswered as finally Jarvan's body gave out and he slumped onto the floor his lance clattering against the marble, Jarvan was still and breathless.

"You let him bleed out a long and painful death...why?"

"Pathetic beings incapable of acting aren't worthy of a Nobel execution."

With the King dead the empire was finally ready to be claimed. It was time Kayn finally got what he wanted, what he deserved. But becoming King could wait, he practically ran everything as an Ordinal already.

He didn't waste time, all it took was a simple order. All the palace guards who witnessed the Morningstar escape were dead. No one could contest Kayn who just announced that Captain Yasuo had just Murdered the King.

And now that Kayn had made a public announcement to all of Demaxia he now had the entire Empire on a manhunt for the Morningstar. Things were finally coming to an end.

Part ten: Here

[branwyn-says]

Good Times

(reposted from my non-monetized Substack. feel free to join me over there.)

The biggest difference between how I wrote personal essays and how I write journal entries is that I write essays with answers already in mind.

When I journal, I don't even have a question yet, much less an answer. I have feelings. Emotions that I need to process. I don't tend to process emotions quickly, or at all, unless I write them into hard containers: boxes made of words, walls of sentences.

I am mostly driven to write about my distress. When I'm happy, I have better things to do. A lot of my writing is motivated by sheer self-preservation.

This blog is supposed to be a journal. I am supposed to be letting myself off the hook and not trying to write from certainty here. But every time I open this document of blog entries, I find myself trying to come up with things to say that will be useful to my reader. Essay style. As if I had answers.

Force of habit, I guess.

I happen to believe despair is always a lie. But it's also a physical condition that affects the body. Action can take the edge off. So can the love of others.

Lately, I feel very far away from the love of my people. I remind myself this is only geographically true.

I have been very active, to compensate.

Despair keeps rattling the doors of my thoughts.

On Saturday, I went to the in-person training to qualify for my 2-year CPR certification. I got yet another trauma medicine certificate from a different online training provider. I joined a gym and scheduled a session with a trainer. I scheduled a bataireacht lesson. I'm going to my self defense class tonight. I'm working on my novel. I'm doing my actual job.

The people I care for in a professional capacity watch Fox News all day, every day. The TV stays on by default. I don't think they really pay attention to it. But I can't help seeing and hearing it. It feels like I have to spend ten minutes processing my rage for every 30 seconds of exposure. When I go back to my room, Democratic politicians are pummeling my inbox, unable to communicate about the Omnishambles without soliciting donations, unable to acknowledge or account for their own uselessness.

I am not in distress because of politics or the DNC or Fox News or the Omnishambles. The architecture of my nervous system is such that distress will find me from time to time no matter what happens to be going on in the world. I can't help my reaction to the sights and sounds of the Republican extinction burst, in all its nasty disregard for truth and reality. But my feelings come from me. I have to remind myself of this a lot. My emotional condition is not the inevitable result of factors outside my control. There is nothing wrong with me yet. Dread will not protect me. A little anxiety is good for getting yourself up off the couch to do useful things. Past that point, anxiety ceases to promote survival and should be regarded, as Tolkien said, as a weapon of the enemy.

I am already doing things. I tell my anxiety it needs to chill.

My bataireacht coach told me a story back in December (he gave me permission to share). His ancestors appeared to him in a dream. He asked for advice about the future and the coming troubles, and they told him: "You're going to have a good time." My coach started trying to explain: no, you don't understand, things are getting really bad here. Their response: "No, we understand, and we agree, things are very bad. But you are going to have a good time."

I am going to die. Maybe sooner, maybe later. The timing will probably not be up to me. Preserving my happiness until then doesn't require me to be in denial. I lean on the perspective I gained from surviving homelessness. Happiness isn't things. Security isn't things. The feeling of safety is not the condition of safety. Home is people and relationships. We can wade into the troubled water and let ourselves be changed, instead of drowning.

These feelings take a lot of processing. There isn’t any final resolution, only continuing motion.

[usafphantom2]

B-2 Gets Big Upgrade with New Open Mission Systems Capability

July 18, 2024 | By John A. Tirpak

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has been upgraded with a new open missions systems (OMS) software capability and other improvements to keep it relevant and credible until it’s succeeded by the B-21 Raider, Northrop Grumman announced. The changes accelerate the rate at which new weapons can be added to the B-2; allow it to accept constant software updates, and adapt it to changing conditions.

“The B-2 program recently achieved a major milestone by providing the bomber with its first fieldable, agile integrated functional capability called Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1),” the company said in a release. It announced the upgrade going operational on July 17, the 35th anniversary of the B-2’s first flight.

SR 1 was developed inside the Spirit Realm software factory codeveloped by the Air Force and Northrop to facilitate software improvements for the B-2. “Open mission systems” means that the aircraft has a non-proprietary software architecture that simplifies software refresh and enhances interoperability with other systems.

“SR 1 provides mission-critical capability upgrades to the communications and weapons systems via an open mission systems architecture, directly enhancing combat capability and allowing the fleet to initiate a new phase of agile software releases,” Northrop said in its release.

The system is intended to deliver problem-free software on the first go—but should they arise, correct software issues much earlier in the process.

The SR 1 was “fully developed inside the B-2 Spirit Realm software factory that was established through a partnership with Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Systems Program Office,” Northrop said.

The Spirit Realm software factory came into being less than two years ago, with four goals: to reduce flight test risk and testing time through high-fidelity ground testing; to capture more data test points through targeted upgrades; to improve the B-2’s functional capabilities through more frequent, automated testing; and to facilitate more capability upgrades to the jet.

The Air Force said B-2 software updates which used to take two years can now be implemented in less than three months.

In addition to B61 or B83 nuclear weapons, the B-2 can carry a large number of precision-guided conventional munitions. However, the Air Force is preparing to introduce a slate of new weapons that will require near-constant target updates and the ability to integrate with USAF’s evolving long-range kill chain. A quicker process for integrating these new weapons with the B-2’s onboard communications, navigation, and sensor systems was needed.

The upgrade also includes improved displays, flight hardware and other enhancements to the B-2’s survivability, Northrop said.

“We are rapidly fielding capabilities with zero software defects through the software factory development ecosystem and further enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness,” said Jerry McBrearty, Northrop’s acting B-2 program manager.

The upgrade makes the B-2 the first legacy nuclear weapons platform “to utilize the Department of Defense’s DevSecOps [development, security, and operations] processes and digital toolsets,” it added.

The software factory approach accelerates adding new and future weapons to the stealth bomber, and thus improve deterrence, said Air Force Col. Frank Marino, senior materiel leader for the B-2.

The B-2 was not designed using digital methods—the way its younger stablemate, the B-21 Raider was—but the SR 1 leverages digital technology “to design, manage, build and test B-2 software more efficiently than ever before,” the company said.

The digital tools can also link with those developed for other legacy systems to accomplish “more rapid testing and fielding and help identify and fix potential risks earlier in the software development process.”

Following two crashes in recent years, the stealthy B-2 fleet comprises 19 aircraft, which are the only penetrating aircraft in the Air Force’s bomber fleet until the first B-21s are declared to have achieved initial operational capability at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. A timeline for IOC has not been disclosed.

The B-2 is a stealthy, long-range, penetrating nuclear and conventional strike bomber. It is based on a flying wing design combining LO with high aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft’s blended fuselage/wing holds two weapons bays capable of carrying nearly 60,000 lb in various combinations.

Spirit entered combat during Allied Force on March 24, 1999, striking Serbian targets. Production was completed in three blocks, and all aircraft were upgraded to Block 30 standard with AESA radar. Production was limited to 21 aircraft due to cost, and a single B-2 was subsequently lost in a crash at Andersen, Feb. 23, 2008.

Modernization is focused on safeguarding the B-2A’s penetrating strike capability in high-end threat environments and integrating advanced weapons.

The B-2 achieved a major milestone in 2022 with the integration of a Radar Aided Targeting System (RATS), enabling delivery of the modernized B61-12 precision-guided thermonuclear freefall weapon. RATS uses the aircraft’s radar to guide the weapon in GPS-denied conditions, while additional Flex Strike upgrades feed GPS data to weapons prerelease to thwart jamming. A B-2A successfully dropped an inert B61-12 using RATS on June 14, 2022, and successfully employed the longer-range JASSM-ER cruise missile in a test launch last December.

Ongoing upgrades include replacing the primary cockpit displays, the Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) to provide Link 16-based jam-resistant in-flight retasking, advanced IFF, crash-survivable data recorders, and weapons integration. USAF is also working to enhance the fleet’s maintainability with LO signature improvements to coatings, materials, and radar-absorptive structures such as the radome and engine inlets/exhausts.

Two B-2s were damaged in separate landing accidents at Whiteman on Sept. 14, 2021, and Dec. 10, 2022, the latter prompting an indefinite fleetwide stand-down until May 18, 2023. USAF plans to retire the fleet once the B-21 Raider enters service in sufficient numbers around 2032.

Contractors: Northrop Grumman; Boeing; Vought.

First Flight: July 17, 1989.

Delivered: December 1993-December 1997.

IOC: April 1997, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Production: 21.

Inventory: 20.

Operator: AFGSC, AFMC, ANG (associate).

Aircraft Location: Edwards AFB, Calif.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Active Variant: •B-2A. Production aircraft upgraded to Block 30 standards.

Dimensions: Span 172 ft, length 69 ft, height 17 ft.

Weight: Max T-O 336,500 lb.

Power Plant: Four GE Aviation F118-GE-100 turbofans, each 17,300 lb thrust.

Performance: Speed high subsonic, range 6,900 miles (further with air refueling).

Ceiling: 50,000 ft.

Armament: Nuclear: 16 B61-7, B61-12, B83, or eight B61-11 bombs (on rotary launchers). Conventional: 80 Mk 62 (500-lb) sea mines, 80 Mk 82 (500-lb) bombs, 80 GBU-38 JDAMs, or 34 CBU-87/89 munitions (on rack assemblies); or 16 GBU-31 JDAMs, 16 Mk 84 (2,000-lb) bombs, 16 AGM-154 JSOWs, 16 AGM-158 JASSMs, or eight GBU-28 LGBs.

Accommodation: Two pilots on ACES II zero/zero ejection seats.