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[motorsportbarbie13]

A Package Deal

In which Lando befriends a single mom without even realizing it.

Warnings: single mom. talk of parental death (no death featured on page), lando being a judgey jerk at first, kinda? Pairing: Lando Norris x SingleMom!Reader Word Count: 5.4k words

Master List

yourusername (private) posted

109 likes liked by yourdad, BFFsarah, McLaren, and others yourusername Work holiday party with my mini me! yourdad my two favorite girls! >>>yourusername thanks dad! <3

The fairy lights that stretched back and forth across the ceiling of the McLaren Technology Center sparkle down at you, a soft glow illuminating the spacious front lobby. Half a dozen 12 foot Christmas trees dot the cavernous room and tables decorated with rich red, green, and silver accents create intimate seating areas throughout. The only things indicating that the offices were home to McLaren's Formula 1 team were the seven or so F1 cars from past and present, all put on display for tonight's party.

The events team had certainly outdone themselves this year, that was for sure. If there was anything the McLaren events team went hard for every single time, it was the MTC's annual family holiday party. This year though, the entire team had extra reason to celebrate: earlier in the month, the team had brought home the Constructor's Championship for the first time in years.

"Momma, where's Aunt Sarah?" Your six year old daughter Stella asks softly, her little hand tucked securely in yours as she looks around, eyes wide in awe at all the decorations.

"I don't know, munchkin." You reply, grinning down at her. "Do you want to see if we can find her?"

Your best friend Sarah was surely already here as she was one of the heads of the events team. She'd been planning this party for months now, the added pressure from the championship win had nearly driven her mad. A quick text is answered even quicker and you lead Stella towards the massive ballroom that sits on the opposite side of the sleek modern building.

As you walk down the hall, the heels of your stilettos clicking softly, you're surprised to be hit with a wave of nostalgia. You'd been working for McLaren for almost two years now, after Sarah had given the head of product development your resume when you graduated uni with a degree in computer science and data analytics. Marshall, the man who ran the department, had offered you a job as a data analyst on the spot when you came into interview the following week. It had all felt like divine intervention, going from getting pregnant so young and having no other choice but to navigate parenthood alone to finding yourself employed within weeks of graduating. McLaren truly felt like your second home now.

"There's my Stelly Belly!" Sarah cries when she sees Stella and you walking towards her. Without a second thought, your daughter drops your hand and flings herself into the waiting arms of your best friend, one of the few adults the little girl trusts enough to open up to.

"Don't you look pretty tonight?" Sarah coos, nuzzling her head into Stella neck, eliciting a squeal and a cascade of giggles from your little girl. "And your mama looks stunning too!"

Rolling your eyes, you smooth down the front of the red satin dress you'd bought last week. "Are you sure it's not too much?"

Your brows knit together in uncertainty. Ever since having Stella at 19, your life had revolved around the little girl. Everything you did and every choice you made was made because of her and with her best interest in mind. Going to university when she was a newborn had been for her benefit and the time spent away from her while you studied and attended classes were paying off now with your secure job and hefty paycheck. But you weren't used to calling attention to yourself, totally content with working behind a computer screen in your quiet office tucked in the back of the MTC. You came to work, socialized very little, and went home to your daughter. This kind of event was very much out of your comfort zone.

"Stop that." Sarah scolds as she sets Stella down. "You look so good you're going have the mechanics breaking their necks all night long."

"Okay, that's enough." You huff.

"Momma, Sarah says there's holiday crafts over there!" Stella points vaguely towards the other side of the room. "Can we go? Please?"

"Of course, sweetheart. Let's go."

"I'll take her!" Sarah volunteers, capturing Stella's little hand in hers before giving you a look. "Go get a drink or something. Have some fun. Stelly Belly and I will go make all the crafts!"

You watch after your best friend and the other half of your heart as they scamper away, Stella's red velvet dress fluttering behind her. Somewhere deep in the pit of your stomach, a painful clenching feeling takes root. For the past six years, your entire universe has revolved around that little blonde headed girl. Even now, though you spent more time apart from Stella than you cared for because of school for her and work for you, whenever she was out of sight it felt like a bit of you was missing.

Once you see her settle at the table right next to Sarah and begin coloring something in front of her, you turn away and wander towards the open bar. If there was one thing McLaren did right at these kinds of parties, it was provide top tier food and drinks for the employees.

You order a glass of what smells like the most heavenly mulled wine you've ever encountered and find a spot away from the crowd, leaning against a pillar in the shadows of the room. You weren't used to being around so many people and while you were glad Stella seemed to be enjoying herself, you could feel your social battery already draining.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite McLaren employee." A smooth voice interrupts your anxious thoughts.

You blush into your glass of wine, knowing who it was sneaking up behind you before you even turned around. "I'm telling Oscar you said that."

Lando slips in beside you, caramel colored cashmere jumper brushing against your bare arm. "You wouldn't dare." He says, bumping your shoulder gently. You can hear the smile in his voice without even looking.

When you say you don't socialize much at work, there is always going to be one exception to that rule: Lando Norris. He had wandered into your office one day about six months ago looking for the legal department of all places. Lando had sheepishly admitted he may have accidentally signed a contract to be the spokesman for a bank in Singapore while drunk on holiday and needed to see what how mad everyone was going to be. You then had to admit you were, in fact, just a software engineer and not a solicitor and he was not, in fact, anywhere near the legal department.

An unlikely friendship had been born that day though because instead of turning around and scampering away out of sheer embarrassment, Lando had plopped himself down in the chair opposite your desk and spent nearly an hour and a half peppering you with questions about your job.

Lando liked those moments he got to slip away during his busy days at the MTC to see you. It seemed like lately, he would find himself carving out time during his day to make a special visit to your office no matter what else he had scheduled that day. He liked the way you talked to him like he was a normal person and how easily you laughed at his jokes. You never made him feel stupid or inferior for asking questions about whatever project you were working on that day and you never asked him about racing. Not once. You were also the prettiest girl he'd ever seen and he was embarrassingly addicted to making you smile.

"You look stunning tonight." Lando says in a hushed voice. "Red is your color."

Although he's next to you still, Lando manages to steal little looks at you out of the corner of his eye. The red dress you've got on tonight should be illegal and it's showing off every dip and curve of your body. You pride yourself on how well you dress at the office but tended to stick with neutral colors and classic, conservative shapes that weren't jarring and allowed you to fade into the noise of a busy office a bit. The red was totally out of character for you and Lando found himself wanting to buy you an entire closet full of colorful dresses.

Your cheeks go crimson and you're thankful for the dim lights that hide it. "Thank you."

The other thing you're not used to is attention from men. Like your social life, any semblance of a dating life had been put on the back burner when you became a single mom. You didn't much miss it, if you were bing quite honest. Spending time with Stella was better than wasting a night on a man that would only end up disappointing you.

So when someone like Lando complimented you on the dress you wore you don't quite know how to react.

"Momma! Momma, look what Auntie Sarah and I made!" Stella interrupts anything that's about to come out of Lando's mouth when she runs up brandishing what looks to be a fairy wand tied with dozens of glittery ribbons.

You crouch down, not missing the way Lando stiffens beside you, and take the plastic wand out of Stella's hand. "Is this a magic wand?" You ask, voice breathy with awe.

"Yeah! Aunt Sarah helped tie the ribbons on after I picked them. They're all glittery and match Elsa's ice queen dress."

You smile, Elsa had always been Stella's favorite Disney princess. "That is so special, Stelly Belly."

A few feet away, Sarah takes in how close you and Lando were before Stella interrupted and smirks. "Come on, Stella. I think I saw a cookie decorating contest starting over by the wands!"

You stand, eyeing your best friend. "I can take her, Sarah. I'm sure you want to mingle."

"Nope! Stay. Talk. Be merry!" Sarah's eyes bounce between you and Lando and your cheeks heat at the implication.

Beside you, Lando rubs at his jaw trying to process the information he's just learned. Momma? This girl, cute as a button, was calling you mom? He rifles through his memory, trying to think of any time you'd ever mentioned being a mom and he can't come up with a single thing. And he's pretty sure he remembers everything you've ever said to him.

"You have a daughter." Lando says it more as a statement than a question and you wince.

This was always the part where you tended to lose people. Being as young as you were, you were used to people being put off by the fact that you had a daughter. A lot of people your age weren't ready for kids yet and had a hard time figuring you out because you had such radically different priorities. Neither set of priorities was better than the other, just different.

"I do. Her name is Stella." You respond, leaning against the pillar once again. The cool marble sends shivers down your back as you prepare to lose someone who had made more of an impact on you than you realized.

"You never said anything about her." He observes, his tone unreadable.

"You never asked." You shrug, trying not to get defensive. "Her pictures are all over my office, Lan. I've never hid the fact that I have Stella."

Lando thinks back, recalling the office he's spent so much time in lately. You're right, of course. There are bits of Stella all over the place in the drawings on your desk to the school picture that sits near the spider plant close to the window. But somehow Lando had never noticed anything else other than you.

He rubs at the back of his neck, "I guess I just assumed she was your niece or something."

"Nope. She's all mine."

"And her dad?" The moment the question slips from Lando's mouth, he regrets it. His eyes shutter closed but not before he catches a glimpse of the way you flinch.

He hates himself for thinking he deserves to be privy to this information. For being so bold as to ask for the sordid details of your life when all you are to each other is a casual work flirtation. He hates himself for implying that you'd ever flirt with him when there was someone else in the picture. Or worse, that you now have to relive a painful story behind why there wasn't.

"You don't have to answer that." God, he was so good at speaking before thinking, wasn't he? It had gotten him into so much hot water with the press this year during the championship run and here he was again, putting his foot in his mouth like an idiot.

"It's fine." You sigh, knowing that anyone who wants to be in your life is going to have to hear the story at some point. You just hadn't anticipated it happening with Lando, having been perfectly content with the safety of your innocent work flirtation.

"I had Stella when I was 19, her dad was killed in a car accident when she was eight months old. She turned six in September.”

The silence that stretches between you is heavy, clashing with the light and festive mood that swirls around you.

"Christ. I'm sorry, love."

You hate how painful that tugging sensation on your heart is when Lando calls you 'love'.

Shrugging, you hope you feign nonchalance well enough to fool him. You know it doesn’t.

“Listen, I should go check on Sarah and Stella, make sure Stella doesn't sweet talk Sarah into a puppy or something. Those two together is how I ended up with a kitten last year."

The brightness in your voice is all for show but Lando sees right through it.

You're gone before he can get a word in though.

yourusername (private) posted

102 likes liked by BFFsarah, yourdad, yoursister, and others yourusername Quick trip into London for some last minute pressies! yourdad I'm a size Rolex in silver and gold please! >>>yourusername Ha Ha Ha, very funny father BFFsarah Brave brave girl! >>>yourusername brave or stupid, you decide!!!

"Come on, sweet girl, let's find your Papa a Christmas present so we can get out of this mad house."

You tug at Stella's hand, who was currently practically drooling over a display of sparkly gold and diamond jewelry in Harrods jewelry department. Around you, crowds swirl and people jostle each other as they all hustle to pick out their precious gifts before Santa's big night. Why you had chosen to come into London the weekend before Christmas was a mystery, but you were fully convinced that you had lost it when you had agreed to come to Harrods at Stella's request.

"But this necklace is so pretty, Momma!" Stella whines, eyes dragging over the diamond necklace on display in front of her.

"Yes, I know but I don't think your grandpa wants a diamond necklace for Christmas. Let's go up to the fifth floor where the kitchen gadgets are! You know how much he loves to cook!"

Stella rolls her eyes, which you choose to ignore. For all of her attitude today, Stella wasn't usually an ornery child. She was very well behaved and quite reserved so you gave her extra grace when it was crowded and loud like this. You knew she got overstimulated easily, just like you did.

"Fine." She sighs, casting one last longing look at the display. "Maybe Santa will bring me the necklace." She mutters and you have to tamp down a laugh.

You take Stella's hand in yours, despite her giving you another look of contempt. She was much too big of a girl to be holding her mother's hand, thank you very much. You ignored the glare and squeezed at your daughter's hand, knowing that she's not really angry at you.

Up on the fifth floor, the homewares section is significantly quieter than where you just were. Stella spots a display of colorful Kitchen Aid mixers that she scampers over to while you wander over to the espresso machines while reminding her to stick close. Out of the corner of your eye, you keep watch over her while debating the merits of different coffee machines.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite McLaren employee out in the wild." A velvety smooth voice sends familiar shivers down your spine.

"Favorite? You've been avoiding me since the holiday party." You quip without taking your eyes off the silver machine in front of you, knowing exactly who it is beside you without even looking.

Ever since the holiday party nearly two weeks ago, you hand't seen Lando at all despite knowing that he was at the MTC at least a few days. You hated that you knew that most of that time he had been out of the country, skiing in France then golfing in Spain. You also hated that you kept track of the amount of times you had known he was in Woking at the MTC and hadn't even bothered to stop in and say 'hi' to you.

Lando's hand rubs at the back of his neck. "I know. I'm sorry." His voice is low, tinged with guilt.

"Listen, it's fine." You turn to face him for the first time and your traitorous heart thuds a little harder in your chest. That mullet you teased him about so much at first had really grown on you and boy did it look good today.

"It's not like we're friends, Lando." You don't work as hard as you probably should to keep the frustration out of your voice. "You don't owe me anything and it's the off season for you. I shouldn't have said anything."

Lando frowns at you, confusion knitting his brow together. "We...we aren’t friends?" The hurt in his voice was unmistakable, tugging painfully at something in the pit of your stomach.

Your eyes shutter close at the look on his face. Lando might play the lovable goofball for the public and in the press but you knew better. You knew that he was a pretty big softie at heart and you immediately regretted your words, knowing that they would have struck him deep.

"What was I supposed to think, Lan? You seemed pretty put off when you found out about Stella and then you just..." You pause, unsure of where this anger was coming from. You hadn't really realized how hurt you had bene by his sudden ghosting until this very moment. "You just sort of disappeared. It's fine. I'm totally used to it."

The vulnerability in your voice makes Lando's heart clench painfully. He had been spooked initially about you having a daughter and he knew his reaction probably left a lot to be desired. He just had been so blindsided by the appearance of your little girl that night that he hadn't handled it well. Lando had been unwilling to admit before that night during the holiday party that he had been becoming more and more attached to you and he didn't know where Stella fell into place between you and him. It scared him, adding an entirely new layer to the budding friendship that you two had struck up. A friendship that he had been wanting to see if it could have progressed into more but now...now he didn't know.

"Momma, can we get Papa a mixer so he can make me more cakes next year?" Stella's small voice interrupts that awkward silence that had fallen between you and Lando.

You can't help the chuckle that leaves your lips despite yourself. "Stella, I don't think that's a very good reason to gift someone something."

"I don't know, sounds like solid reasoning to me." Lando chimes in, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he looks down at Stella. "Hi, I'm Lando." He crouches down so he's eye level with your daughter.

"That's a funny name." Stella regards Lando with a suspicious look. Stella is a quiet little mouse of a child most of the time and doesn't easily trust adults. There are very few people she's comfortable which is why her comment catches you off guard.

"Stella!" You scold, face going crimson at the lack of filter on her.

To your relief, Lando just chuckles. "I guess you're right, it is kind of a funny name. But I think Stella is a funny name too."

Stella' narrows her eyes but then she seems to realize he's just teasing her and she smiles. "I like you." She declares simply, as if deciding to be Lando's friend is the easiest thing in the world.

A fact that you already know is true.

"I'm hungry. Can we go get dinner now?" Stella turns back to you now and you startle a bit when you realize what time it is.

"Let me take you two to dinner. There's a place down the street that has some of the best chicken nuggets in all of England." Lando's offer throws you off for a moment you're so surprised. "As an apology for making you question our friendship."

Stella gasps as if that is the most exciting suggestion she's ever heard in her life. Your stomach does a quick swoop at spending more time with the driver outside of the office. You are a bit hesitant, pride still stinging from when he ignored you after the holiday party, but Stella looks so excited you find yourself nodding.

Twenty minutes and one espresso machine later, you have the giant package shipped off to your house before walking towards a cozy pub that Lando suggests. It's strange to you, walking down the crowded streets with Stella tucked between you and Lando, listening to her prattle away. Once in a while, Lando shoots you a look over the top of your daughter's head that is all amusement and happiness.

Meanwhile, you're reduced to silence, listening in awe to Stella's babbling. She has always been a reserved little girl, following in her mother's footsteps of being an introvert. She doesn't open up to just anyone and even when she does find an adult she likes, it takes her quite a bit of time to talk to them the way she's talking to Lando as he navigates the three of you towards your destination.

Around you, people bustle up and down the sidewalk, the streets of London an absolute hive of activity and it's a bit overwhelming. You're momentarily worried about Stella, knowing she doesn't do very good in crowds just like you but then something catches your eye that has your heart leaping into your throat. Captured in Lando's large hand is Stella's tiny one, a silent gesture of affection from your six-year-old. The way your chest squeezes at the sight has tears pricking at the corner of your eyes.

Lando catches the look on your face, full of awe and something else he can't quite place, and when your gaze snags on his moments later he gives you a dazzling smile. When Stella had reached out to take Lando's hand a few blocks ago, he had panicked a bit. He wasn't too experienced with kids, his niece’s being much younger than Stella, but he felt something deep in his chest that told him when the little girl beside him reached for his hand, it was a sincere sign of trust from her.

"Here we are." Lando says once you're safely across the road. "I hope you're ready for the best chicken nuggets in all of London."

Dinner is a loud affair, Stella peppering questions left and right to Lando and Lando expertly fielding them. He even gets some questions in edgewise and has both you and Stella laughing the entire meal. It's the most relaxed Lando's seen you the entire time he's known you. Despite his initial reservations at spending time with someone who has a child, he finds himself not wanting the evening to end. He's never been so thankful for last minute gift requests in his entire life.

Your bellies are full when you spill out onto the sidewalk, the chilly London air biting at your cheeks. It was going to be a cold train ride home. You reach into your tote bag to pull out a scarf and hat, tugging both on Stella despite her yowls of displeasure.

"Stella." You sigh, finally getting her to leave her hat on her head after a tense few moments as Lando watched on, smile sitting at the edge of his lips. "Come on, it's cold tonight and you know the train isn't much better."

"Train?" Lando asks, frown appearing on his face.

"We took the train into the city today. Someone wanted an adventure." You look pointedly at your daughter, who just shrugs, totally unfazed by the chilly evening air.

"That's like, a forty-five minute trip! On the train? At night? Alone?"

Something twists in Lando's stomach at the thought of you and Stella all alone on the train at night. He knows the trains are, objectively, safe and you'd probably be fine but it just doesn't sit right with him knowing that he'd have to leave both of you at a train station unable to be with you in case something happened.

"I know." You breathe, knowing that the moment Stella sits down on the train she's going to be out like a light and you're going to have a very grumpy six-year-old on your hands on the other end of the line. "I don't have a choice, I'm not ordering an Uber home. It'll be fine, Lando. We do this all the time."

The thought of you navigating the crowded train alone with the tiny wisp of a girl that tucked her hand back into his as soon as she got close enough to him hurts a surprising amount. It's a jarring feeling, one that he's totally unprepared for. His memory darts back to the night he found out you had a daughter. He thought for sure the budding chemistry between you would fizzle out. He had thought that he wasn't interested in getting involved with someone who had a child because it complicated things to a degree he wasn't sure he was ready for. He still struggled with looking after himself successfully sometimes. Dating someone with a child? Up until this very moment, Lando thought that was completely off the table.

"You're not taking the train home. I'll drive you." Lando's voice has an edge of finality in it that tells you this is going to be a fight, one that you're not sure you're prepared to fight.

You blink up at him, unable to form a response for several moments. Beside you, Stella cheers. "Yes! No boring train!"

"Woah, slow down." You warn, shaking your head. "Lando, I appreciate the offer but we can't." Stella looks absolutely crestfallen next to you as she yanks her hand out of Lando's grasp and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Why not?" Lando's frown mirrors Stella's and you nearly laugh.

Beside the fact that he couldn't stand the thought of you on the train by yourself with Stella this late at night, Lando didn't really want the night to end. He had sat across from you at dinner and there were several moments while Stella chattered on that he caught your gaze and you had given him the most prettiest smile he'd ever seen.

"Well, for one, Stella needs a booster seat to ride in a car and I don't think those come standard in Ferrari's or McLaren's."

"For the record, I drove my Range Rover into the city." Lando retorts before glancing around the crowded city street. "Look! There's a Mamas & Papas across the street! That's where my brother got my niece’s carseat a few months ago. I'm sure they sell booster seats too."

You can't help but stare at Lando, a bit dumbfounded. When you had started getting to know the driver months ago, you had what you had thought was a pretty accurate idea of who he was off the track: young, sinfully good looking, deeply unserious, and only interested in partying and having a good time. But voluntarily spending an evening with you and your daughter? Offering to buy Stella a booster so he could drive you home? The way Lando surprised you in that moment had you swaying on your feet a bit.

"Can we, Momma? Please! I want to drive home with Lando!"

There are two sets of big puppy dog eyes turned on you and you find yourself tossing your hands up in the air in defeat. "That's not fair! You two can't team up against me!"

Lando looks down at Stella, mischievous grin overtaking his handsome face. "I think we won, Stelly Belly." He shout-whispers, eyes sliding over to you, giving you a wink.

"You two are going to be trouble together, aren't you?" Is the last thing you say before Lando grabs your hand and drags you towards the shop to buy your daughter a booster seat.

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(As always if you want to be added or removed, send me a message!! ❤️)

[cleoselene]

from facebook of all places

posted by Jay Michaelson, and sourced by him as well:

Hello! I'm posting in response to the many sincerely anguished claims that not enough is being done to stop Trump. This is not reflected in the facts. - Represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group and State Democracy Defenders Fund, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) filed suit on Monday against the Treasury Department “for sharing confidential data with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by Elon Musk.” Go to Public Citizen's website to learn all about this lawsuit, which is very likely to prevail. - On USAID, appearing with other Democratic lawmakers outside USAID offices on Monday, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) shouted, “Elon Musk, you didn't create USAID. The United States Congress did for the American people … like Elon Musk did not create USAID, he doesn't have the power to destroy it. And who's going to stop him? We are... This a constitutional crisis that we are in today.” Lawsuits have also been filed in this matter, and are also likely to prevail. - Hakeem Jeffries has announced lawsuits have been filed regarding the firings of inspectors general. - On Jan 21, Democracy Forward, was filed at 12:01 p.m. ET on Monday and accused Elon Musk's DOGE of being a "shadow operation led by unelected billionaires" that flouts federal transparency rules. That should win. - National Security Counselors filed a suit arguing that DOGE meets the requirements to be a federal advisory committee and is therefore legally required to have "fairly balanced" representation, keep regular minutes of meetings and allow public access to meetings. Clearly accurate. - Eighteen state attorneys general and a slew of immigrants' rights groups brought swift legal action against Trump after he signed his executive order seeking to ban birthright citizenship for some children born in the U.S., arguing that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Obviously, clearly unconstitutional. - "Schedule F" has been challenged in court by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents employees in 37 agencies and departments. - Several immigrant rights groups in the United States, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s ban on asylum claims. - GLAD Law and the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have sued to stop Trump's ban on trans people in the military. And there are many more - I'll link to a great list of them in the comments. Yes, there are Trump judges in the courts, and if Aileen Cannon types get these cases, Trump may prevail. But most judges are not like her. These actions are clearly illegal and/or unconstitutional, and they WILL be stopped. Just like the tariffs were not meant to prevail -- Trump won that round, "forcing" Canada and Mexico to take "action" on fentanyl -- these actions are not meant to prevail. They're meant to flood the zone with shit, confuse and immobilize us. They said they'd do "Shock and Awe" and that's what they've done. Nothing here should be surprising. Shock and Awe is up to YOU. I am not shocked, I am not in awe. Oh, and the "mainstream media" has reported on all of these. The info above has come from Newsweek, the NY Times, and other mainstream sources. Please stop attacking journalists when we are being threatened by the FBI. Who do you think you're helping by doing that? Stop it with the doomsaying and gloomsaying. Want to make a difference? Give thousands of dollars to Public Citizen, the ACLU, and similar groups. Show up at marches. Put your ass on the line and help protect people from ICE. If you're safe, do simple symbolic things (like changing your social media pictures) to support people who are not safe. Just like we should not obey in advance, we should not panic in advance either. This is not the end of democracy. That is just what the bad guys want you to think. Get over it and fight.

I don't know how many times I've heard "Dems do nothing!" when they are in fact doing a lot of things. You just don't hear about it because the mainstream news doesn't pay attention or you don't see out news beyond your social media feeds.

The other thing is, Dems don't break laws in their fights the way Republicans do. Your desire to turn every Dem POTUS into the Dick Cheney Version of the Executive but then screaming injustice! when the GOP does it -- you see the problem there?

[tgrailwar-zero]

....do you guys think, whatever did this, may have tried to plant a virus or something in Berserker?

The Attack Program we saw in the hallway, or something very much like it, did do something to Valkyrie that one time. What if they are trying to do something similiar to Berserker? That Attack Program was allied with one of Sabers proxies back then. Plus, they left Berserker here instead of securing a kill. Hmm...

Lots of conjecture, true, but it's worth to think of the possibilities. Gil, you're like super smart, and also way knowledgable about all kinds of things, what's your read on the situation?

GIL: "That seems… pointless. There's clear benefit to taking the Valkyrie, they're a hive-mind. You snag one, you snag them all. A random rogue Servant? I mean…"

He trailed off as you finished casting the healing spell on the BERSERKER, watching the wounds fade. Off in the distance, you heard the sounds of footsteps echoing.

???: "You're as well-informed as they say, King of Heroes. Surely, you would be welcomed within the All-Father's hallowed halls."

GIL: "I'm flattered, but aren't you a bit far from your standard patrol area?"

He turned to the sound of the voice, and you followed his gaze.

It was a VALKYRIE.

It was hard to tell the difference between them, considering that all of the VALKYRIE had the same face and the only real differences seemed to be in their hair and voices, but taking in a closer look at her appearance.

Oh. Yeah.

That was the one that saw you crying into your pillow about AVENGER, and who had given you the request to help THRUD with finding that viral signal back in the Nameless City.

ORTLINDE.

Now she had a gun aimed on you, and she didn't seem nearly as reserved.

How things change.

ORTLINDE: "I received a report that there were unauthorized individuals within the facility. Trespassers are to be eliminated."

You heard a rush of movement, as one more VALKYRIE swooped in, landing and raising her spear, and you heard the metallic hum of an Attack Program following.

The sights of the weapon she held aimed on you, before you felt a heavy hand grab you by the shoulder and yank you backwards, as a darkened form stepped in front of you. You saw the broad, armored back of the healed BERSERKER as it ripped a hunk of metal from the data center, the metal blackening.

LANCELOT: "Aaaarrr...."

GIL: "I guess it's showtime! This is a Nordic Divine Spirit, keep your guard up!"

Berserker LANCELOT will attack enemies at random!

GIL's Stats:

ENDURANCE GAUGE: [X/X/X/X/X]

MANA CHARGES: [ X / X / X / X ]

KING'S TABLET: [ X || X || X ]

The King's Tablet can be used to boost actions, heal GIL, or restore mana. They function as 'pseudo-Command Spells'.

[mariacallous]

The global backlash against the second Donald Trump administration keeps on growing. Canadians have boycotted US-made products, anti–Elon Musk posters have appeared across London amid widespread Tesla protests, and European officials have drastically increased military spending as US support for Ukraine falters. Dominant US tech services may be the next focus.

There are early signs that some European companies and governments are souring on their use of American cloud services provided by the three so-called hyperscalers. Between them, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) host vast swathes of the internet and keep thousands of businesses running. However, some organizations appear to be reconsidering their use of these companies’ cloud services—including servers, storage, and databases—citing uncertainties around privacy and data access fears under the Trump administration.

“There’s a huge appetite in Europe to de-risk or decouple the over-dependence on US tech companies, because there is a concern that they could be weaponized against European interests,” says Marietje Schaake, a nonresident fellow at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center and a former, decade-long member of the European Parliament.

The moves may already be underway. On March 18, politicians in the Netherlands House of Representatives passed eight motions asking the government to reduce reliance on US tech companies and move to European alternatives. Days before, more than 100 organizations signed an open letter to European officials calling for the continent to become “more technologically independent” and saying the status quo creates “security and reliability risks.”

Two European-based cloud service companies, Exoscale and Elastx, tell WIRED they have seen an uptick in potential customers looking to abandon US cloud providers over the last two weeks—with some already starting to make the jump. Multiple technology advisers say they are having widespread discussions about what it would take to uproot services, data, and systems.

“We have more demand from across Europe,” says Mathias Nöbauer, the CEO of Swiss-based hosting provider Exoscale, adding there has been an increase in new customers seeking to move away from cloud giants. “Some customers were very explicit,” Nöbauer says. “Especially customers from Denmark being very explicit that they want to move away from US hyperscalers because of the US administration and what they said about Greenland.”

“It's a big worry about the uncertainty around everything. And from the Europeans’ perspective—that the US is maybe not on the same team as us any longer,” says Joakim Öhman, the CEO of Swedish cloud provider Elastx. “Those are the drivers that bring people or organizations to look at alternatives.”

Concerns have been raised about the current data-sharing agreement between the EU and US, which is designed to allow information to move between the two continents while protecting people’s rights. Multiple previous versions of the agreement have been struck down by European courts. At the end of January, Trump fired three Democrats from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), which helps manage the current agreement. The move could undermine or increase uncertainty around the agreement. In addition, Öhman says, he has heard concerns from firms about the CLOUD Act, which can allow US law enforcement to subpoena user data from tech companies, potentially including data that is stored in systems outside of the US.

Dave Cottlehuber, the founder of SkunkWerks, a small tech infrastructure firm in Austria, says he has been moving the company’s few servers and databases away from US providers to European services since the start of the year. “First and foremost, it’s about values,” Cottlehuber says. “For me, privacy is a right not a privilege.” Cottlehuber says the decision to move is easier for a small business such as his, but he argues it removes some taxes that are paid to the Trump administration. “The best thing I can do is to remove that small contribution of mine, and also at the same time, make sure that my customers’ privacy is respected and preserved,” Cottlehuber says.

Steffen Schmidt, the CEO of Medicusdata, a company that provides text-to-speech services to doctors and hospitals in Europe, says that having data in Europe has always “been a must,” but his customers have been asking for more in recent weeks. “Since the beginning of 2025, in addition to data residency guarantees, customers have actively asked us to use cloud providers that are natively European companies,” Schmidt says, adding that some of his services have been moved to Nöbauer’s Exoscale.

Harry Staight, a spokesperson for AWS, says it is “not accurate” that customers are moving from AWS to EU alternatives. “Our customers have control over where they store their data and how it is encrypted, and we make the AWS Cloud sovereign-by-design,” Straight says. “AWS services support encryption with customer managed keys that are inaccessible to AWS, which means customers have complete control of who accesses their data.” Staight says the membership of the PCLOB “does not impact” the agreements around EU-US data sharing and that the CLOUD Act has “additional safeguards for cloud content.” Google and Microsoft declined to comment.

The potential shift away from US tech firms is not just linked to cloud providers. Since January 15, visitors to the European Alternatives website increased more than 1,200 percent. The site lists everything from music streaming services to DDoS protection tools, says Marko Saric, a cofounder of European cloud analytics service Plausible. “We can certainly feel that something is going on,” Saric says, claiming that during the first 18 days of March the company has “beaten” the net recurring revenue growth it saw in January and February. “This is organic growth which cannot be explained by any seasonality or our activities,” he says.

While there are signs of movement, the impact is likely to be small—at least for now. Around the world, governments and businesses use multiple cloud services—such as authentication measures, hosting, data storage, and increasingly data centers providing AI processing—from the big three cloud and tech service providers. Cottlehuber says that, for large businesses, it may take many months, if not longer, to consider what needs to be moved, the risks involved, plus actually changing systems. “What happens if you have a hundred petabytes of storage, it's going to take years to move over the internet,” he says.

For years, European companies have struggled to compete with the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon’s cloud services and technical infrastructure, which make billions every year. It may also be difficult to find similar services on the scale of those provided by alternative European cloud firms.

“If you are deep into the hyperscaler cloud ecosystem, you’ll struggle to find equivalent services elsewhere,” says Bert Hubert, an entrepreneur and former government regulator, who says he has heard of multiple new cloud migrations to US firms being put on hold or reconsidered. Hubert has argued that it is no longer “safe” for European governments to be moved to US clouds and that European alternatives can’t properly compete. “We sell a lot of fine wood here in Europe. But not that much furniture,” he says. However, that too could change.

Schaake, the former member of the European Parliament, says a combination of new investments, a different approach to buying public services, and a Europe-first approach or investing in a European technology stack could help to stimulate any wider moves on the continent. “The dramatic shift of the Trump administration is very tangible,” Schaake says. “The idea that anything could happen and that Europe should fend for itself is clear. Now we need to see the same kind of pace and leadership that we see with defense to actually turn this into meaningful action.”

[aotopmha]

The FF14 community has a sarcastic saying along the lines of "great community btw", which is used in cases whenever someone or some group of awful people pop up doing something shitty and which I find annoying.

I think it is really obnoxious because having a great community does not mean there will never be any awful people in that community.

Especially when you get an award for stuff like having a great community – something that in many spaces is usually based on popularity or earned via nebulous committee vote.

That's just not how people work. And putting that strange standard on every single person in that community is really unrealistic.

In fact, I think it would be creepier if occasional assholes didn't pop up. Actual cult behaviour entails a situation where nobody is frustrated, critical or says anything bad about each other ever.

And this is doubly so for stuff that is popular.

We have 30 million accounts in the game now. Do you honestly expect not one of them to be made by an awful person?

The second frustration I have is tying social media with the community. Yoshi-P and his team, don't, even in fact, straight-up can't really, moderate what happens on social media, on Twitter, Reddit, Discord etc.

And as far as I know their official accounts keep it pretty basic and chill.

So, a lot of the bad stuff is just the nature of social media and the internet.

Now, this actually does not mean the dev team bears no responsibility because what they can do is minimise the poison within the game itself.

FF14 is probably the cleanest multiplayer community I've been apart of ever. The most I've gotten is generic insults in French.

The lack of gamerwords in my 3 months of time surprised me the most, and so did the occasional actual compliments. We just either talk about the game or what issues there are with us doing the mechs or disband when stuff isn't working out and time is getting wasted.

But I also know many haven't been as lucky and some of the security features were dated even by the time the game re-released back in 2013.

The friendlist is a mess because it doesn't block properly, and I know stories of people who had to go to another region to escape their stalker.

The GMs, while preferrable to any automated moderation, still don't catch everything, sometimes for years, especially whistleblowers who signal stuff in specific codewords and technically aren't breaking the rules.

Unjust massreportings can happen.

Reporting can be clunky and from what I've explored is hidden behind some menuing instead of just being an open option like in many other online games.

So they kinda can't control Twitter or Reddit at all and they can't change human nature, but I think they can modernise a bunch of the social tab.

I also haven't experienced the game as a non-sprout/at endgame yet, which I'm told can make a difference. Part of the reason why I find the game so rewarding is because you find so many different experiences and opinions in just Duty Finder and you just sometimes get to talking with them about the game and then various other things.

Recently, many gathered to honor Akira Toriyama in many of the data centers and people were just kind of talking to each other about DB and other series.

And I've never seen anything like this in any other MMO or any multiplayer games. I know it happened for Kentaro Miura, too, when he died.

So clearly, the social element is a huge part of the identity of an MMO, so if they mean they're improving the MMO in the MMO, I hope this also includes the social tab features.

[ashes-2-ashes57cba]

The Bad Batch: Valkyrie

Episode 3: The Solitary Clone (part 2)

The conclusion to my first original episode with Specter! *shebs'palons: "assholes", Mando'a warnings: references to The Great Gatsby, references to jazz, canonical violence, almost swearing

“Did she find it yet? Is it there?” Omega eagerly asked, running back inside after lighting the fireworks with Wrecker.

“She went quiet, we have no clue what’s happening,” Hunter updated. He paced behind Tech at the console, who read the data from the droid they commandeered.

“Oh, shi-”

“Language,” Echo stopped Tech from swearing in Omega’s presence.

“It appears the diamond was removed from the vault.” Tech’s hands slowly moved away from the controls.

“What? Where is it now?” Wrecker exclaimed. 

“On display… in the middle of the ballroom for all to see,” Tech said, defeated. “Do you copy, Specter?”

“Yeah,” she sounded equally defeated. “I want to guess you don’t have a backup plan for getting the diamond out of there?” Tech didn’t reply, only pinching the bridge of his nose while racking his brain for an idea.

“What if we got the people out of there?” Omega suggested. 

“...That is not a bad idea,” Tech thought.

“In fact, it’s a great idea!” Specter exclaimed over the comms. “Tech, can you change the droid’s security parameters so it sees everyone as a threat?”

“Already on it. I shall wait for your signal. Echo?” he nodded Echo over to join him, working together. 

“Please be careful,” Hunter asked.

“Don’t worry, Hunt. Besides, you know what they say, ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’.”

Specter slipped back into the ballroom, drifting toward the hors d’oeuvres table and slipping the axe underneath, as well as taking a treat for herself to fuel her for the upcoming excitement.

“Tech, Echo, you ready with the droid?” she whispered, wiping the corners of her mouth.

“Ready when you are,” Echo replied.

“Good. Wait for my signal, I’m going to get a closer look at the diamond.” Specter made her way into the crowd, looking for a way to see what kind of defenses the jewel was under. It was up on display on the center dais, replacing the musicians. However the crowd surrounding the dais was too thick, and even with the high heels, Specter wasn’t that tall. Someone tapped her shoulder, she turned to find her dance partner from earlier. 

“Oh, it’s you,” she said with a smile. 

“Miss Pierce,” he smiled, nodding his head, “are you enjoying the party?”

“Well, I’d enjoy it a lot more if I could actually see the diamond,” she giggled. He offered his hand to her again. 

“Then shall I escort you up to see my diamond?”

“Your diamond?” she puzzled over his phrasing until she gasped and realized “You! You’re Jaerono Gatsaebyn!” He laughed aloud.

“Call me Jay.” She smiled and took his hand, letting him push past the crowd and up to the dais.

“Oh, wow…” Specter breathed, in genuine awe of it. 

The Heart of the Eternal White Point Star was said to have fallen out of the center of a white dwarf star and estimated to be the most valuable gemstone to date. Not only was it a rather large stone, but it emitted its own natural glow. Specter smiled at the display, knowing it was a fake and knowing the real one was kept safe by the native people who discovered the diamond.

She saw her reflection in the glass case and tried not to double take; her confidence was the biggest change she saw, other than the beautiful outfit she rented for the night. 

She still didn’t feel like a Valkyrie, nothing felt quite right yet, but she felt better, which was improvement enough. Still, as comforting as the confidence was, it felt foreign to her. Her sisters had guided her to this moment, whispering in her ear, counting down until the right moment to unleash the droid.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jay whispered next to her. “3,700 carats, uncut, and flawless. The pinnacle of my collection, worth 1.73 million credits.”

“I can see why. Oh, Jay…” she trailed off, still enraptured by its beauty, synthetic or not. “And it’s truly the real thing?”

“Of course it is!” He was a poor fool.

“Now,” Specter whispered into her comm before turning back to Jay, “with a collection like this, your mistress must be a very lucky woman.”

“She will be, once I find the right one.” He gazed at her, intently; Specter hardly let it phase her, but made sure she blushed and fluttered her lashes. 

“Well, if she just so happens to-”

“Look out!” someone yelled. The droid burst into the ballroom, pushing aside staff and guests in its way.

“Multiple intruders detected!” it announced in a deep voice, charging at a group of screaming party-goers.

“My droid!” Jay exclaimed, tangling his fingers in his hair.

“Everybody get out!” the guard at the door shouted, opening the doors wide to let the stampede of frightened guests escape.

“I can distract it. Get the diamond!” Specter ordered before Jay could argue, weaving through the panicked crowd and sliding under the hors d'oeuvres table and grabbing her axe. “Nicely done, Tech,” she complimented.

“Thank you, but there is a slight problem. I cannot regain control of the droid.”

“Oh.” Specter turned to watch as Jay opened the case and clutched the diamond, fearfully watching the droid as it stalked and attacked guests. “I’ll make do.”

Specter, wielding the axe, marched to the middle of the ballroom, facing the droid. It caught sight of her and the weapon. Its eyes turned red.

“Your droid doesn’t happen to have any blaster attachments, would it?” she asked Jay, who was cowering behind an overturned table.

“Uh-” The droid lifted its arm and lowered its hand, firing from hidden blaster barrels.

“Nevermind,” Specter scoffed, dodging fire, darting around the droid to test its range—even in heels her speed and reflexes were quick enough to stay out of range.

Specter launched herself toward it, swinging her axe with wild abandon. The blade lodged into its arm cannon, disarming it completely. The droid stumbled back from her attack but easily adjusted for close combat. It pushed away, blocked, and redirected her swings, causing her to stumble with the weapon. She found it frustrating; the axe-head was too heavy and she couldn’t find a balance or rhythm with it, throwing off her footing and strength distribution. The Valkyries were screaming in her head, telling her to find the balance, get it together, be sure of her footing, hope her team is okay—focus! Dodge!—pull more of her strength, worry for Hunter and Omega, make sure Jay is okay.

It was too much. The droid caught her off guard and kicked her back. She yelped as she landed on the floor, her weapon sliding next to her. She struggled to push herself up, keeping an eye on the droid as it assessed the damage on its arm cannon. Specter’s breath was caught in her throat, held back by frustration and embarrassment. She caught her tired and disheveled reflection in the blade of the axe. 

CT-9905 grunted as she fell onto her back, her panicked breath fogging up her helmet and watching as blaster fire flew overhead. 

“You alright, 05?” 01 shouted from the other side of the simulation room.

“She’s fine,” her twin sneered, kneeling beside his downed sister to cover her. The other four managed to take down the training droids before she had a chance to get up; but she was already disappointed in her performance. Her brother turned to her, observing her slowly sit up and slouch.

“Why can’t I get it right?” she mumbled. “Every time I think I’m clear, I just end up in another one’s range.”

“You improved significantly compared to last time. We all have,” encouraged 02 as he and 03 came around. 05 took off her helmet—in a split second, 03 ruffled her hair with his large hand. She playfully swatted him away but still frowned. 

“You need to let us back you up,” CT-9901 said as he came around, taking off his helmet as well. His tied-back hair was only a little messy; she was sure the Kaminoans would insist he cut it. 04 helped her up. 

“I know,” she sighed as they began to leave the room. “I trust you guys.”

“You have to trust yourself too, sister,” CT-9904 added. She looked up at her twin with curiosity. 

“He’s right. We can give all the support we can, but if you don’t trust in yourself and your abilities, it’s useless,” 01 explained.

“Zero multiplied by four is still zero,” emphasized CT-9902. 

“Hah! She doesn’t need equations, 02,” 03 said, bumping into him. “You’ll be great, 05, you’ll see. Soon, we’ll reach our prime, get out of this stuffy training armor, and be the best squad anyone has ever seen,” he cheered, grinning wide. She couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm. She took a moment to pause and take in the atmosphere around her, her team talking and laughing and encouraging each other. She smiled. 

Having spent her entire, albeit short, life feeling wrong, as though something was missing, this—this moment of belonging and purpose in her family—felt right.

The memory came and went, but its effect remained, echoing in her bones. Whether it was the Bad Batch or the Valkyries, she would be supported. She was the exception; alone, she was a strong fighter, but with the support of her team—family—her strength grew exponentially. Specter forced herself to get up, though it felt like the arms of her sisters and absent team were lifting her on her feet. She grabbed the axe, staring down the droid, finding her grip on the handle until it seemed to click into place in her hand. The droid made an approach toward her.

Her heart was beating fast, so fast she barely felt it; she entered a state she couldn’t describe. She wasn’t just fast, the world around her was slow. She seemed to know exactly how and where to position herself. Ducking under the extended fist of the droid; using the axe handle to jab into its abdomen. Swinging the blade at its chest; twisting out of the way of a kick. Specter executed it all precisely. The axe became an extension of her, cutting into the droid and disabling it before it could process what was happening. Specter moved like never before, fluidly dodging and attacking.

Her breath caught up to her. The remains of the droid crumbled at her feet. Specter was shocked to see such damage done, by her hand especially, with an unfamiliar weapon. It frightened her, she embraced it. Her heart slowed to its normal pace, yet the adrenaline before had somehow been soothing. This is what a Valkyrie could be—what she could be.

“Are you alright, Jay?” she turned and called to his hiding spot. He peeked over the table and crawled out, still holding the diamond close to his chest. 

“Is it over?” he asked. “How the hell did you do that?” 

“I took self defense classes,”  she shrugged. “Now about the diamond-”

“Yes, well, that’s the problem isn’t it?” Jay interrupted her, his demeanor shifting. “Valentine can barely lift a rifle, let alone an axe.”

“Jay, listen to me,” she carefully said, “the diamond-”

“Is mine and will stay mine,” he growled, pulling out a small blaster pistol and aiming it at her. “How does the song go? ‘My funny Valentine. Sweet, comic, Valentine.’ You’re a fool if you think you can take this from me.” Specter scowled, unsure how she would be able to get the diamond now. “I’ve worked too damn hard to get to where I am—to own a treasure such as this—to let some girl take it from me now. So, what I’m going to do is-”

“Shut up,” someone behind him said, stunning him. Jay fell on his face, revealing Hunter with a smoking gun. “And she’s not just ‘some girl’,” he said to the unconscious body, kicking it a little. Specter snorted.

“My hero,” she teased, slinging the axe over her shoulder. 

“Saving you from monologuing shebs’palons since day one,” he said, bowing his head. Specter knelt down, shoved Jay onto his back, and pried the diamond from his hand. “That’s it?”

“Yup. All that work, just to take it from his hands,” she said, feeling the weight of the jewel.

“We should go before any other security arrives,” Hunter suggested, nodding toward the door. Specter stood up and blew Jaerono Gatsabyn a kiss before stepping over him and walking with Hunter back to the Marauder. 

Specter kicked off her heels and tossed aside her fur wrap and lounged in the seat behind Wrecker, just as they entered hyperspace back to Ord Mantell. 

“So, was it fun?” he asked, turning around.

“It was alright. I had some champagne, danced, snuck around; honestly, Wrecker, you would have been bored in two minutes. But hey, you and Omega were great with the fireworks!” she said.

“It was so fun!” Omega came running in, hopping into the seat across from Specter. 

“How about that axe? Hunter said the droid looked like nothing but a bunch of scraps when he got there,” Echo added, pointing to the weapon leaning up by her seat. Specter ran her hand over the solid wood handle. It still felt “correct”; the Valkyries were calm, keeping to a low hum. She was, for the first time in a long while, proud of herself.

“I think I’ll keep it,” she said, fondly. Tech and Hunter then entered the room, holding the Heart. 

“This is a rather excellent synthetic diamond. The chemical compound used to emulate the glow is quite ingenious,” Tech commented, letting Omega hold and ogle at the jewel.

“I can’t imagine how much the real one is worth,” Wrecker crossed his arms. 

“It means more to the native people who found it than any monetary value could meet,” Specter said. 

Hunter watched them all from the doorway; he was curious about Specter, her confidence was… different, and she had a glow about her. Much like the diamond Echo was now holding, a soft but prominent light came from within. 

“But, this is a really good copy,” Specter continued as Wrecker took it from Echo.

“I don’t think it’s a copy, anymore,” Hunter’s voice broke out. He turned back to Specter, who had met his gaze. “I think it’s something else. Something new.” Specter smiled, heart warm and full.

He smiled too.

Omega quietly hopped down from her room in the rear gun, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she was drawn to the glow of Specter’s datapad from the cockpit.

“Specter?” The woman looked up from her cross-legged position on the floor, tired, but happy to see the girl.

“Hey there. Couldn’t sleep?” Omega shook her head. Specter opened her arm to her, the girl drew near and sat next to her, leaning into her embrace.

“I was just thinking,” started Omega. Specter hummed in response. “I’m sorry you’re not who you thought you were. It must have been really scary and I know it’s made you upset.” The woman gently kissed the top of her head.

“It’s alright, Omega. I promise you it is. In fact, I feel much better about the fact now,” said Specter. She stretched out her legs and leaned back against the wall. “Do you think you can help me with something?”

“Yeah!”

“It’s these designations for the Valkyries, I can’t make sense of them. Can you help me think of their names? Like mine; Valkyrie-101sdne,” Specter tilted the screen towards her. 

“Hmm… oh! How about Sidne?” said Omega. The name rang throughout Specter’s head, her sisters sang it. It felt correct.

“Sidne… I like it!”

The two named the rest of the Valkyries and read through as much as they could, discovering secrets of what abilities the Kaminoans were looking for, development plans and training modules. Omega eventually drifted back to sleep and Specter paused her reading to let her mind wander.

The Valkyries sang lullabies around the sleeping girl, but the beginnings of turmoil stirred within Specter again. She accepted her Valkyrie heritage, accepted she was different and embraced the ideas of what she could have been. Yet she still didn’t know who she was. Who is Sidne? Who is Specter now? 

Wrecker entered the room, coming to take over for watch, interrupting her internal chaos. 

“Switch,” he whispered, being careful not to wake Omega.

“I can stay up,” Specter insisted, wanting to be nice to her teammate. Wrecker, surprisingly, shook his head.

“Nope. Hunter’s orders,” he insisted. Specter quietly huffed a laugh, smiling to herself.

Of course he did. She carefully adjusted herself and picked up the sleeping girl. Wrecker patted her shoulder as she passed by into the hold. After placing Omega back in her makeshift bed, Specter went to climb into her own bunk, pausing to glance at Hunter’s peacefully sleeping form. She was grateful for him, smiling and hoping he got good rest before settling down on her own bunk, waiting for dreams of her sisters. The Valkyries welcomed her into the battles of the night. 

And that's the end of my original episode! I really hope you liked it; a little behind-the-scenes fact... this is my third version of this story. The episode may be over, but it seems as though our dear Specter is still troubled... perhaps a more concrete resolution is needed... ;)

[joanhermann]

The Role of CCNP in Multi-Cloud Networking

We live in a time where everything is connected—our phones, laptops, TVs, watches, even our refrigerators. But have you ever wondered how all this connection actually works? Behind the scenes, there are large computer networks that make this possible. Now, take it one step further and imagine companies using not just one but many cloud services—like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure—all at the same time. This is called multi-cloud networking. And to manage this kind of advanced setup, skilled professionals are needed. That’s where CCNP comes in.

Let’s break this down in a very simple way so that even a school student can understand it.

What Is Multi-Cloud Networking?

Imagine you’re at a school event. You have food coming from one stall, water from another, and sweets from a third. Now, imagine someone needs to manage everything—make sure food is hot, water is cool, and sweets arrive on time. That manager is like a multi-cloud network engineer. Instead of food stalls, though, they're managing cloud services.

So, multi-cloud networking means using different cloud platforms to store data, run apps, or provide services—and making sure all these platforms work together without any confusion or delay.

So, Where Does CCNP Fit In?

CCNP, which stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional, teaches you how to build, manage, and protect networks at a professional level. If CCNA is the beginner level, CCNP is the next big step.

When we say someone has completed CCNP training, it means they’ve learned advanced networking skills—skills that are super important for multi-cloud setups. Whether it’s connecting a company’s private network to cloud services or making sure all their apps work smoothly between AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, a CCNP-certified person can do it.

Why Is CCNP Important for Multi-Cloud?

Here are a few simple reasons why CCNP plays a big role in this new world of multi-cloud networking:

Connecting Different Platforms: Each cloud service is like a different language. CCNP helps you understand how to make them talk to each other.

Security and Safety: In multi-cloud networks, data moves in many directions. CCNP-certified professionals learn how to keep that data safe.

Speed and Performance: If apps run slowly, users get frustrated. CCNP training teaches you how to make networks fast and efficient.

Troubleshooting Problems: When something breaks in a multi-cloud system, it can be tricky to fix. With CCNP skills, you’ll know how to find the issue and solve it quickly.

What You Learn in CCNP That Helps in Multi-Cloud

Let’s look at some topics covered in CCNP certification that directly help with multi-cloud work:

Routing and Switching: This means directing traffic between different networks smoothly, which is needed in a multi-cloud setup.

Network Automation: You learn how to make systems work automatically, which is super helpful when managing multiple clouds.

Security: You’re trained to spot and stop threats, even if they come from different cloud platforms.

Virtual Networking: Since cloud networks are often virtual (not physical wires and cables), CCNP teaches you how to work with them too.

Can I Learn CCNP Online?

Yes, you can! Thanks to digital learning, you can take a CCNP online class from anywhere—even your home. You don’t need to travel or sit in a classroom. Just a good internet connection and the will to learn is enough.

An online class is perfect for students or working professionals who want to upgrade their skills in their free time. It also helps you learn at your own speed. You can pause, repeat, or review topics anytime.

What Happens After You Get Certified?

Once you finish your CCNP certification, you’ll find many doors open for you. Especially in companies that use multiple cloud platforms, your skills will be in high demand. You could work in roles like:

Cloud Network Engineer

Network Security Analyst

IT Infrastructure Manager

Data Center Specialist

And the best part? These roles come with good pay and long-term career growth.

Where Can I Learn CCNP?

You can take CCNP training from many places, but it's important to choose a center that gives you hands-on practice and teaches in simple language. One such place is Network Rhinos, which is known for making difficult topics easy to understand. Whether you’re learning online or in-person, the focus should always be on real-world skills, not just theory.

Final Thoughts

The world is moving fast toward cloud-based technology, and multi-cloud setups are becoming the new normal. But with more clouds come more challenges. That’s why companies are looking for smart, trained professionals who can handle the job.

CCNP training prepares you for exactly that. Whether you're just starting your career or want to move to the next level, CCNP gives you the skills to stay relevant and in demand.

With options like a CCNP online class, you don’t even have to leave your house to become an expert. And once you complete your CCNP certification, you're not just learning about networks—you’re becoming someone who can shape the future of cloud technology.

So yes, if you’re thinking about CCNP in a world that’s quickly moving to the cloud, the answer is simple: go for it.

[nexustechnoware]

Why AWS is the Best Cloud Hosting Partner for Your Organization – Proven Benefits and Features

More entrepreneurs like e-store owners prefer Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting services this year. This article will single out countless reasons to consider this partner for efficient AWS hosting today.

5 Enticing Features of AWS that Make It Perfect for You

The following are the main characteristics of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2024.

Scalable

The beauty of AWS is that a client can raise or lower their computing capability based on business demands.

Highly Secure

Secondly, AWS implements countless security measures to ensure the safety of a client’s data. For example, AWS complies with all the set data safety standards to avoid getting lawsuits from disgruntled clients.

Amazon secures all its data centers to ensure no criminal can access them for a nefarious purpose.

Free Calculator

Interestingly, AWS proffers this tool to help new clients get an estimate of the total hosting cost based on their business needs. The business owner only needs to indicate their location, interested services, and their zone.

Pay-As-You-Go Pricing Option

New clients prefer this company for AWS hosting services because this option lets them pay based on the resources they add to this platform.

User-Friendly

AWS is the best hosting platform because it has a user-oriented interface. For example, the provider has multiple navigation links plus instructional videos to enable the clients to use this platform.

Clients can edit updated data whenever they choose or add new company data to their accounts.

Unexpected Advantages of Seeking AWS Hosting Services

Below are the scientific merits of relying on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for web design and cloud computing services.

Relatively Fair Pricing Models

Firstly, the AWS hosting service provider offers well-thought-out pricing options to ensure the client only pays for the resources they utilize. For example, you can get a monthly option if you have many long-term projects.

Limitless Server Capacity

AWS offers a reasonable hosting capacity to each client to enable them to store as much company data as possible. Therefore, this cloud hosting partner ensures that employees can access crucial files to complete activities conveniently.

Upholds Confidentiality

AWS has at least twelve (12) data centers in different parts of the world. Further, this provider’s system is relatively robust and secure to safeguard sensitive clients’ data 24/7.

High-Performance Computing

Unlike other cloud hosting sites, AWS can process meta-data within seconds, enabling employees to meet their daily goals.

Highly Reliable

Unknown to some, over 1M clients in various countries rely on AWS for web development or hosting services. Additionally, AWS is available in over 200 countries spread across different continents.

Finally, AWS’s technical team spares no effort to implement new technologies to safeguard their clients’ data and woo new ones.

Summary

In closing, the beauty of considering this partner for AWS hosting is that it has a simple layout-hence ideal for everyone, including non-techies. Additionally, the fact that this partner is elastic ensures that this system can shrink or expand based on the files you add.

At its core, AWS offers various cloud services, such as storage options, computing power, and networking through advanced technology. NTSPL Hosting offers various features on AWS hosting aimed at improving the scalability of cloud infrastructure for less downtimes. Some of the services NTSPL Hosting offers include pioneering server administration, version control, and system patching. Given that it offers round the clock customer service; it is a good option for those looking for a solid AWS hosting solution.

Source: NTSPL Hosting

[jatinbansalblog]

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[teqful]

How-To IT

Topic: Core areas of IT

1. Hardware

• Computers (Desktops, Laptops, Workstations)

• Servers and Data Centers

• Networking Devices (Routers, Switches, Modems)

• Storage Devices (HDDs, SSDs, NAS)

• Peripheral Devices (Printers, Scanners, Monitors)

2. Software

• Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)

• Application Software (Office Suites, ERP, CRM)

• Development Software (IDEs, Code Libraries, APIs)

• Middleware (Integration Tools)

• Security Software (Antivirus, Firewalls, SIEM)

3. Networking and Telecommunications

• LAN/WAN Infrastructure

• Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi, 5G)

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

• Communication Systems (VoIP, Email Servers)

• Internet Services

4. Data Management

• Databases (SQL, NoSQL)

• Data Warehousing

• Big Data Technologies (Hadoop, Spark)

• Backup and Recovery Systems

• Data Integration Tools

5. Cybersecurity

• Network Security

• Endpoint Protection

• Identity and Access Management (IAM)

• Threat Detection and Incident Response

• Encryption and Data Privacy

6. Software Development

• Front-End Development (UI/UX Design)

• Back-End Development

• DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines

• Mobile App Development

• Cloud-Native Development

7. Cloud Computing

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Serverless Computing

• Cloud Storage and Management

8. IT Support and Services

• Help Desk Support

• IT Service Management (ITSM)

• System Administration

• Hardware and Software Troubleshooting

• End-User Training

9. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• AI Algorithms and Frameworks

• Natural Language Processing (NLP)

• Computer Vision

• Robotics

• Predictive Analytics

10. Business Intelligence and Analytics

• Reporting Tools (Tableau, Power BI)

• Data Visualization

• Business Analytics Platforms

• Predictive Modeling

11. Internet of Things (IoT)

• IoT Devices and Sensors

• IoT Platforms

• Edge Computing

• Smart Systems (Homes, Cities, Vehicles)

12. Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

• Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)

• Supply Chain Management Systems

13. IT Governance and Compliance

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

• COBIT (Control Objectives for Information Technologies)

• ISO/IEC Standards

• Regulatory Compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX)

14. Emerging Technologies

• Blockchain

• Quantum Computing

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

• 3D Printing

• Digital Twins

15. IT Project Management

• Agile, Scrum, and Kanban

• Waterfall Methodology

• Resource Allocation

• Risk Management

16. IT Infrastructure

• Data Centers

• Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)

• Disaster Recovery Planning

• Load Balancing

17. IT Education and Certifications

• Vendor Certifications (Microsoft, Cisco, AWS)

• Training and Development Programs

• Online Learning Platforms

18. IT Operations and Monitoring

• Performance Monitoring (APM, Network Monitoring)

• IT Asset Management

• Event and Incident Management

19. Software Testing

• Manual Testing: Human testers evaluate software by executing test cases without using automation tools.

• Automated Testing: Use of testing tools (e.g., Selenium, JUnit) to run automated scripts and check software behavior.

• Functional Testing: Validating that the software performs its intended functions.

• Non-Functional Testing: Assessing non-functional aspects such as performance, usability, and security.

• Unit Testing: Testing individual components or units of code for correctness.

• Integration Testing: Ensuring that different modules or systems work together as expected.

• System Testing: Verifying the complete software system’s behavior against requirements.

• Acceptance Testing: Conducting tests to confirm that the software meets business requirements (including UAT - User Acceptance Testing).

• Regression Testing: Ensuring that new changes or features do not negatively affect existing functionalities.

• Performance Testing: Testing software performance under various conditions (load, stress, scalability).

• Security Testing: Identifying vulnerabilities and assessing the software’s ability to protect data.

• Compatibility Testing: Ensuring the software works on different operating systems, browsers, or devices.

• Continuous Testing: Integrating testing into the development lifecycle to provide quick feedback and minimize bugs.

• Test Automation Frameworks: Tools and structures used to automate testing processes (e.g., TestNG, Appium).

19. VoIP (Voice over IP)

VoIP Protocols & Standards

• SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)

• H.323

• RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol)

• MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol)

VoIP Hardware

• IP Phones (Desk Phones, Mobile Clients)

• VoIP Gateways

• Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs)

• VoIP Servers

• Network Switches/ Routers for VoIP

VoIP Software

• Softphones (e.g., Zoiper, X-Lite)

• PBX (Private Branch Exchange) Systems

• VoIP Management Software

• Call Center Solutions (e.g., Asterisk, 3CX)

VoIP Network Infrastructure

• Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for VoIP

• VoIP Traffic Shaping & Bandwidth Management

• Firewall and Security Configurations for VoIP

• Network Monitoring & Optimization Tools

VoIP Security

• Encryption (SRTP, TLS)

• Authentication and Authorization

• Firewall & Intrusion Detection Systems

• VoIP Fraud DetectionVoIP Providers

• Hosted VoIP Services (e.g., RingCentral, Vonage)

• SIP Trunking Providers

• PBX Hosting & Managed Services

VoIP Quality and Testing

• Call Quality Monitoring

• Latency, Jitter, and Packet Loss Testing

• VoIP Performance Metrics and Reporting Tools

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for VoIP Systems

Integration with Other Systems

• CRM Integration (e.g., Salesforce with VoIP)

• Unified Communications (UC) Solutions

• Contact Center Integration

• Email, Chat, and Video Communication Integration

[govindhtech]

Amazon DCV 2024.0 Supports Ubuntu 24.04 LTS With Security

NICE DCV is a different entity now. Along with improvements and bug fixes, NICE DCV is now known as Amazon DCV with the 2024.0 release.

The DCV protocol that powers Amazon Web Services(AWS) managed services like Amazon AppStream 2.0 and Amazon WorkSpaces is now regularly referred to by its new moniker.

What’s new with version 2024.0?

A number of improvements and updates are included in Amazon DCV 2024.0 for better usability, security, and performance. The most recent Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is now supported by the 2024.0 release, which also offers extended long-term support to ease system maintenance and the most recent security patches. Wayland support is incorporated into the DCV client on Ubuntu 24.04, which improves application isolation and graphical rendering efficiency. Furthermore, DCV 2024.0 now activates the QUIC UDP protocol by default, providing clients with optimal streaming performance. Additionally, when a remote user connects, the update adds the option to wipe the Linux host screen, blocking local access and interaction with the distant session.

What is Amazon DCV?

Customers may securely provide remote desktops and application streaming from any cloud or data center to any device, over a variety of network conditions, with Amazon DCV, a high-performance remote display protocol. Customers can run graphic-intensive programs remotely on EC2 instances and stream their user interface to less complex client PCs, doing away with the requirement for pricey dedicated workstations, thanks to Amazon DCV and Amazon EC2. Customers use Amazon DCV for their remote visualization needs across a wide spectrum of HPC workloads. Moreover, well-known services like Amazon Appstream 2.0, AWS Nimble Studio, and AWS RoboMaker use the Amazon DCV streaming protocol.

Advantages

Elevated Efficiency

You don’t have to pick between responsiveness and visual quality when using Amazon DCV. With no loss of image accuracy, it can respond to your apps almost instantly thanks to the bandwidth-adaptive streaming protocol.

Reduced Costs

Customers may run graphics-intensive apps remotely and avoid spending a lot of money on dedicated workstations or moving big volumes of data from the cloud to client PCs thanks to a very responsive streaming experience. It also allows several sessions to share a single GPU on Linux servers, which further reduces server infrastructure expenses for clients.

Adaptable Implementations

Service providers have access to a reliable and adaptable protocol for streaming apps that supports both on-premises and cloud usage thanks to browser-based access and cross-OS interoperability.

Entire Security

To protect customer data privacy, it sends pixels rather than geometry. To further guarantee the security of client data, it uses TLS protocol to secure end-user inputs as well as pixels.

Features

In addition to native clients for Windows, Linux, and MacOS and an HTML5 client for web browser access, it supports remote environments running both Windows and Linux. Multiple displays, 4K resolution, USB devices, multi-channel audio, smart cards, stylus/touch capabilities, and file redirection are all supported by native clients.

The lifecycle of it session may be easily created and managed programmatically across a fleet of servers with the help of DCV Session Manager. Developers can create personalized Amazon DCV web browser client applications with the help of the Amazon DCV web client SDK.

How to Install DCV on Amazon EC2?

Implement:

Sign up for an AWS account and activate it.

Open the AWS Management Console and log in.

Either download and install the relevant Amazon DCV server on your EC2 instance, or choose the proper Amazon DCV AMI from the Amazon Web Services  Marketplace, then create an AMI using your application stack.

After confirming that traffic on port 8443 is permitted by your security group’s inbound rules, deploy EC2 instances with the Amazon DCV server installed.

Link:

On your device, download and install the relevant Amazon DCV native client.

Use the web client or native Amazon DCV client to connect to your distant computer at https://:8443.

Stream:

Use AmazonDCV to stream your graphics apps across several devices.

Use cases

Visualization of 3D Graphics

HPC workloads are becoming more complicated and consuming enormous volumes of data in a variety of industrial verticals, including Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, and Design & Engineering. The streaming protocol offered by Amazon DCV makes it unnecessary to send output files to client devices and offers a seamless, bandwidth-efficient remote streaming experience for HPC 3D graphics.

Application Access via a Browser

The Web Client for Amazon DCV is compatible with all HTML5 browsers and offers a mobile device-portable streaming experience. By removing the need to manage native clients without sacrificing streaming speed, the Web Client significantly lessens the operational pressure on IT departments. With the Amazon DCV Web Client SDK, you can create your own DCV Web Client.

Personalized Remote Apps

The simplicity with which it offers streaming protocol integration might be advantageous for custom remote applications and managed services. With native clients that support up to 4 monitors at 4K resolution each, Amazon DCV uses end-to-end AES-256 encryption to safeguard both pixels and end-user inputs.

Amazon DCV Pricing

Amazon Entire Cloud:

Using Amazon DCV on AWS does not incur any additional fees. Clients only have to pay for the EC2 resources they really utilize.

On-site and third-party cloud computing

Please get in touch with DCV distributors or resellers in your area here for more information about licensing and pricing for Amazon DCV.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[talentfolder]

The Future of Jobs in IT: Which Skills You Should Learn.

With changes in the industries due to technological changes, the demand for IT professionals will be in a constant evolution mode. New technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing are increasingly being integrated into core business operations, which will soon make jobs in IT not just about coding but about mastering new technologies and developing versatile skills. Here, we cover what is waiting to take over the IT landscape and how you can prepare for this future.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):

AI and ML are the things that are currently revolutionizing industries by making machines learn from data, automate processes, and predict outcomes. Thus, jobs for the future will be very much centered around these fields of AI and ML, and the professionals can expect to get work as AI engineers, data scientists, and automation specialists.

2. Cloud Computing:

With all operations now moving online, architects, developers, and security experts are in high demand for cloud work. It is very important to have skills on platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud for those who wish to work on cloud infrastructure and services.

3. Cybersecurity:

As dependence on digital mediums continues to increase, so must cybersecurity measures. Cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and network security would be skills everyone must use to protect data and systems from all the continuous threats.

4. Data Science and Analytics:

As they say, the new oil in this era is data. Therefore, organisations require professionals who would be able to analyze humongous datasets and infer actionable insights. Data science, data engineering, as well as advanced analytics tools, will be your cornucopia for thriving industries in the near future.

5. DevOps and Automation:

DevOps engineers are the ones who ensure that continuous integration and deployment work as smoothly and automatically as possible. Your knowledge of the business/operations will orient you well on that terrain, depending on how that applies to your needs.

Conclusion

IT job prospects rely heavily on AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and automation. It means that IT professionals must constantly innovate and update their skills to stay in competition. Whether an expert with years of experience or a newcomer, focusing on the following in-demand skills will gather success in this diverse land of IT evolution.

You might also like: How to crack interview in MNC IT

[mariacallous]

In the days since four Tajikistani citizens were arrested in connection with Friday’s terrorist attack at a Moscow concert hall, people with Central Asian ancestry, already frequent targets of racism in Russia, have been facing a new wave of hatred and aggression. The country’s security forces have reportedly begun treating people with “Asian features” with increased suspicion, while some Russian citizens have started refusing to ride with taxi drivers from Tajikistan. Meanwhile, according to the Telegram channel Baza, Tajik community leaders have advised diaspora members to avoid going outside at night for their own safety, and employees of a barbershop where one of the alleged terrorists worked for less than three months have received a flood of threats. Meduza shares examples of this unwarranted hostility.

‘I’m pregnant and I don’t know what to do’

On the day after the terrorist attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert venue, Telegram channels began posting the names of suspects who had been arrested while allegedly trying to flee to Ukraine. One of them, 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Fayzov, had worked for several months at a barbershop in the town of Teykovo in Russia’s Ivanovo region. As soon as town residents learned of this, they began bombarding the barbershop’s employees with threats.

Screenshots shared by the Telegram channel Baza show users calling on people to storm the shop and burn down the homes of its employees. It’s unclear where these messages were left, but they appear to have been posted on an unofficial community page for the barbershop and later deleted.

On Sunday, the barbershop’s official page on the Russian platform VKontakte posted a message saying that a “wild hatred” had been “unleashed” on the establishment. “The manager and the owner are getting threatening phone calls, and people are leaving bad ratings and writing awful reviews,” read the post. According to the shop’s employees, Fayzov only worked there for a few weeks before he disappeared and stopped responding to its management. The message was later deleted, and the page is now private.

The barbershop’s director, Yamina Safiyeva, told journalists that its managers’ phones have been “ringing nonstop” with people calling with threats. “People are calling and wishing for my death. I’m pregnant and I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid to go outside,” she said. Safiyeva also said the shop’s employees didn’t notice anything unusual about Fayzov during his time there.

‘I’m not going with you’

In Yekaterinburg, according to the local news outlet It’s My City, police have begun conducting routine stops of men with “Asian features,” and the administration of at least one shopping center has asked its tenants for information about store employees from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Additionally, some taxi service users have been refusing to ride in vehicles with drivers from Tajikistan. Telegram channels and social media pages have published screenshots from taxi apps in which customers tell their assigned drivers to cancel the ride if they are from Tajikistan. “Hello, if you are Tajik, cancel the order, I’m not going with you,” reads one message.

The Telegram channel Baza has reported that Tajik community leaders in Russia have been advising diaspora members not to go outside at night and to avoid large public events. At the same time, according to the channel, some employers have asked workers from Tajikistan to provide them with updated personal information, including their passport data and residence.

On Monday, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning citizens against traveling to Russia and recommending that citizens currently in Russia keep their documents with them at all times.

Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin has said that anybody calling for “pogroms and lynching” in the wake of the terrorist attack should be prosecuted for “provoking destabilization inside the country.” He warned that “dealing with migrants in this way” will “inevitably lead to escalation.”

[darkjanet2]

Sonic Adventure 2: Sonadow

Chapter 18: Shadow's Pain, Sonic's Comforting

The team separated in the ARK to find different ways of stopping the energy before it impacted the Earth. Amy was left behind and told to play Bejeweled Blitz on the computer with a disappointed and bored look on her face. She wanted to help them and be useful, but Eggman forced her to play computer games because she had no power or battle tactics. 

‘Man, this isn’t fair. Why can’t I help and join the team? I felt like I did nothing!’ Amy groaned as she laid her down on the computer desk, ‘Why do they have to keep me out when they need me most?’

*ARK Base*

Tails opened the panels to reveal the wires inside. He started his analysis of all the circuits in front of him while looking for anything that could stop the blast. Rouge watched in awe of his genius mind.

“Wow, Tails, you are really good at this…” said Rouge in an impressed tone as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Thanks! This is just what I always dreamed of doing… I wonder how Sonic would react if he knew how much I had to learn from him to get to this point.” He thought for a moment as his mind went back to the days when they were kids and they played together. Tails carefully cut the wire, his hands steady and precise. The room held its breath as everyone watched, hoping that this would be the solution they needed. As the wire was severed, a surge of electricity sparked and crackled, causing the lights to flicker momentarily.

Suddenly, a low hum resonated throughout the base, signaling that something had changed. Tails cautiously glanced at the control panel, his eyes widening in disbelief. The countdown had stopped. The imminent threat of destruction had been averted. Tails breathed a sigh of relief and Rouge patted his shoulder.

“Well done, Tails! You saved the day!” Rouge exclaimed, giving Tails a huge smile.

“Thank you, Rouge! It really means a lot to me! But we have to look for Sonic and the others now,” he said quickly as he jumped to his feet and walked towards the door. “Right behind you!” Rouge replied with a nod before following him out the door.

*At the Security System*

Eggman was cutting the circuit wires to turn off the energy, which worked perfectly. Now all the danger from that explosion would be nullified and the planet wouldn't suffer any damage from the force. “Perfect! Everything should work fine now,” he said triumphantly, “Just one more thing to add to my list of inventions to improve upon!” 

He communicated Tails with a walkie-talkie to let him know the plan was working. 

“Tails, everything’s working. How does it go?” he asked. A few seconds later Tails’ voice came through, “Everything’s good. We’re still trying to locate the others. We’ll try to communicate again in a bit.”

 After hearing that, Eggman frowned slightly; he hoped Tails had found Sonic before the energy ran out. “Roger. I’ll be counting on you,” he replied as he began to communicate with Rouge, “Alright, Rouge, once I've finished, you'll have to go to the core and drain the liquid energy for Sonic and Knuckles so they can proceed.”

“Roger,” she answered before turning to leave the room. Eggman turned towards the main computer, where he had already placed the new data. “There we go. All ready to go to work! And I hope to see your face soon enough,” said Eggman.

*At the Core System*

As Rouge hurried towards the Core System, her footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor. The air was heavy with anticipation as she approached her destination. The Core System, the heart of Dr. Eggman's operation, was a massive, pulsating chamber filled with intricate machinery and glowing energy conduits.

As she entered the Core System, the sound of humming machinery surrounded her. The room was bathed in an eerie blue glow, casting elongated shadows on the walls. Rouge's eyes darted around, searching for any signs of buttons and switches.

She spotted two transparent containment chambers at the center of the chamber. Inside each, she found the control panels, buttons, and switches. Determination surged within Rouge as she moved closer to the chambers.

With her gloved hand, Rouge reached out to a control panel nearby. She examined the complex interface, analyzing the intricate codes and symbols. She knew she had to drain the liquid energy from the chambers, allowing Sonic and Knuckles to enter the ARK base.

Her fingers danced across the buttons and switches, her movements precise and deliberate. As the liquid energy started to drain out from the chambers, Rouge watched as Sonic and Knuckles began to proceed to the base.

"Nice work, Rouge," complimented Sonic.

"Thanks. Now go ahead and find your way, we're going to need their energy to shut down the system," said Rouge.

Sonic nodded, "Copy that." Sonic turned to Knuckles, "Let's go." Knuckles nodded.

*At the Fuse System*

Sonic and Knuckles had arrived at the Fuse System

Sonic and Knuckles stood in awe as they entered the Fuse System, a massive chamber filled with intricate machinery and pulsating energy. The room hummed with power, and the air crackled with anticipation. The duo knew that this was a crucial moment in their mission to shut down the ARK base.

As they approached the central control console, Sonic couldn't help but crack a confident smile. "Alright, Knuckles, let's do this!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with determination.

Knuckles nodded, his fists clenched tightly. "No problem, Sonic. We've faced tougher challenges than this before," he replied, his voice resonating with unwavering resolve.

Together, they assessed the control console, its array of buttons, levers, and switches stretching out before them. The console emitted a soft glow, guiding their eyes to the areas that needed their attention.

Sonic's nimble fingers flew across the buttons, intuitively deciphering the intricate sequence required to shut down the Fuse System. Knuckles, with his immense strength, positioned himself strategically, ready to pull any necessary levers or switches with precision.

As they worked in perfect sync, the Fuse System began to respond. Sparks erupted from the machinery, and the room trembled with the impending release of power. Sonic and Knuckles remained focused, undeterred by the intensity of the situation.

With each successful maneuver, the energy in the room shifted, gradually reducing the Fuse System's potency. Sonic's speed and Knuckles' brute force were a formidable combination, their teamwork proving to be their greatest asset.

As the final moments approached, the chamber seemed to hold its breath. The energy crackled and surged one last time before gradually subsiding. The once thunderous room now fell into an eerie silence, signifying the successful shutdown of the Fuse System.

Sonic and Knuckles exchanged triumphant looks, their smiles wide and contagious. "We did it!" Sonic exclaimed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Now let's regroup with Rouge and ensure the ARK base is fully deactivated."

Together, they hurriedly made their way back to Rouge and others, the satisfaction of their accomplishment fueling their steps. The journey ahead may still be challenging, but with their combined skills and determination, Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge were ready to face whatever lay ahead in their mission to save the day. 

*Meanwhile the Main Control Room*

"Looks like ARK is stable," said Orbot. 

"That's good," Cubot said. "But there seems to be a small problem. We haven't received word from them since they left the control room about five minutes ago."

"What small problem?" asked Orbot curiously. 

"The Energy Wave has taken its toll. There's very little power left in the core, and all the systems are shutting down. We have no choice but to destroy the core now," said Cubot.

"You're right, but we need Shadow to help us do that. Do you think he'll notice?" asked Orbot.

"I'm not sure. But even if he doesn't, the core will eventually self-destruct," Cubot replied.

Orbot nodded, a frown appearing on his face. Suddenly, a door opened to reveal Sonic, and the others entered the room. Cubot looked at them in surprise, wondering what they were up to. Sonic strode forward, his emerald eyes fixed on Orbot as he spoke.

"Hey, Orbot, how's it going?" asked Sonic.

"The ARK's is stable, but we don't have much power left. You have to help us get rid of this core before it self-destructs," Cubot replied.

"How are we going to do that?" Sonic asked.

Orbot gestured toward the core monitor screen, which showed the core's status: "The core is still powering down, but it isn't completely done yet," he explained. "We've only got about 19 minutes before it shuts down completely."

"Okay. What do we need to do to make sure that happens?" questioned Sonic.

"Well, we could try to remove the core," suggested Orbot.

Cubot nodded in agreement. "Yes. We need Shadow to help us out,” he said.

Sonic glanced over at Knuckles. His friend was staring at the screen with an intense look of concentration. "What do you think, Knux? Can you take care of the core and use the Emerald?"

Knuckles thought for a second and then replied, "Yeah, I think I can."

Amy entered the room with a scorned look on her face feeling useless for playing Bejeweled Blitz for a long hour. She hated being left behind.

"So, Amy, have you finished your game?" asked Eggman.

"Why do let me play this stupid game when I was trying to help? I could have been more useful than just sitting here and doing nothing! Besides, everyone else is supposed to be helping, too! Why am I only getting treated like this?!" complained Amy.

Eggman shrugged indifferently. "Because you're not an actual member of our organization, remember? It doesn't matter what you do outside of work." 

Amy growled.

"We have no time to waste. You have to get Shadow," said Orbot.

"Okay, I'll go talk to him," said Sonic.

"Are you sure, Sonic?" asked Tails.

"I'll go with you," said Amy.

"No, Amy. You stay here," said Sonic firmly.

"But--" 

"No, Ames. I've got this. You stay back with them, alright?" Sonic pleaded.

Amy frowned, but she reluctantly nodded. Sonic stepped out of the control room, leaving Amy alone with Orbot and others. He walked past the corridor leading away from the main chamber, heading deeper into the facility. He came to a halt and opened the door to see Shadow staring at the window with his crossed arms over his chest. Sonic entered the room and tried to talk to Shadow.

"Shadow,"  he called out.

Shadow didn't turn around, he could see the reflection of Sonic in the window. "Go away, Sonic," he muttered.

"Come on, bro. You know I won't leave you alone if you aren't talking to me," said Sonic.

Sonic walked toward Shadow, hoping that his counterpart would understand what he was about to say. He stopped a few feet away, unsure of how to begin. He took a deep breath and looked Shadow in the eyes, his expression serious. 

"I know you've had some disagreements in the past, but I need your help. I need you to believe me. Shadow, we're a team," Sonic said, his voice filled with concern. "We've been through too much together to let something like this tear us apart."

Shadow finally turned to face Sonic, his crimson eyes burning with a mix of anger and pain. "You don't understand, Sonic. You can't possibly comprehend the weight that I carry."

Sonic took a step closer, his emerald eyes reflecting his determination. "Then help me understand, Shadow. Talk to me. Tell me what's eating you."

Shadow clenched his fists, the tension in the room growing thicker. "I've spent my whole life fighting against the darkness within me. I've embraced my past, my pain, and turned it into strength. But lately, it feels like I'm losing that battle. I can feel the darkness creeping back, consuming me from within."

Sonic listened intently, his heart aching for his friend. "Shadow, you're not alone in this. We're here for you, every step of the way."

Sonic clenched his fists. "Tell me what happened during the invasion, Shadow. Wasn't there some kind of plan to end it all?"

Shadow closed his eyes, his head bowed, his brow furrowed. "It's none of your concern, hedgehog. And why bother do I have to help you? Just go and fix things by yourself."

Shadow walked past Sonic, bumped into his shoulder, and pushed past him as he headed toward the exit. But Sonic stopped him, reaching out and grabbing his wrist.

"Shadow… please," Sonic pleaded.

Shadow released Sonic's grasp, "Let go of me!"

As Sonic's grip tightened on Shadow's wrist, both hedgehogs locked eyes, their expressions filled with frustration and hurt. The room seemed to buzz with tension, their emotions palpable.

"Shadow, you can't just walk away," Sonic said, his voice tinged with desperation. "Please, we have to the best of help."

"Why the hell should I trust you?!" Shadow shouted angrily, wrenching his arm free from Sonic's grasp.

"Because you promised! What about the promise made to Maria and her wish?! Don't you want to fulfill it!? Do you, Shadow?!" yelled Sonic.

Shadow growled angrily, baring his fangs as he glared at Sonic, and threw himself at the blue speedster. 

"Don't you dare say her name!" roared Shadow. "I don't need to hear your voice saying her name again! I told you that I wasn't interested in stupid friendship! But you wouldn't listen!"

Sonic reacted with his emotional pain, and Shadow continued.

"I just...  I just can't stand it anymore. All these years the one thing I wanted was to protect her, I wanted her to live! She pushed me to the pod, locked in. I was trying to save her, but I failed! I couldn't save her! I couldn't fucking save her!  All because I couldn't even save her, then she was murdered! I was so helpless that day....and yet she still wanted me to promise to protect humanity..." Shadow shed those tears from his eyes, and Sonic's eyes welled up the tears.

"Even if  I could have saved her, I couldn't have prevented her death!  And now I have to live with the fact that it was because of me that she died!" Shadow gritted his teeth, his tears flowed freely down Sonic's face.

"I... I couldn't save her and now she's gone. She's gone, she's gone! Oh, God..." Shadow sobbed.

Sonic stood up and hugged Shadow, the ebony hedgehog clinging onto him desperately, burying his face in his shoulder. Sonic rubbed his back, whispering words of comfort.

"Shhh. I know, I know. It's alright, bro. I've got you. I'm right here. Nothing bad's gonna happen. I promise. Everything's gonna be fine," whispered Sonic, soothing Shadow to calm down.

'He had so much pain in his past. Maria lost her life because he was unable to protect her,' thought Sonic. 

Sonic hugged Shadow deeply while stroking his back, letting him know that he was there for him. Eventually, he felt Shadow relax slightly against him. After he calmed down, Shadow wiped his tears away with the backs of his hands.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah. Sorry for being riled up," apologized Shadow.

Sonic shook his head. "Don't be. It's okay to cry. Nobody blames you or thinks less of you for it. They know you're hurting inside. Just don't blame yourself."

Shadow gave him a slight nod. "Sonic?"

"Yeah?" he responded.

Shadow stared at him for a moment and Sonic wondered what was going on with him. 

"What?" asked Sonic innocently.

Shadow kissed Sonic on the lips, and Sonic's eyes widened. Then he closed his eyes and kissed him back passionately. Sonic's heart raced as he felt Shadow's lips against his own. He felt a warmth spread from his chest and knew that he had finally found the one he had been searching for. His hands moved to Shadow's waist and he deepened the kiss. His heart pounded as he explored Shadow's mouth, feeling the intensity of their connection and the love they shared. 

'He kissed me again. Just like back in the jungle,' thought Sonic.

Shadow pressed his lips to his and his hands explored his body eagerly. He felt a thrill of excitement as his strong fingers caressed his athletic body. He pulled him closer, deepening the kiss as he explored further. His touch ignited a passion within Sonic, and he felt a warmth coursing through his veins. He wanted him, and the intensity of his desire was almost overwhelming. Sonic wrapped his arms around his neck, responding eagerly to his touch.

Shadow laid the azure hedgehog down on the floor, and smiled down at him lovingly. He leaned down and gently kissed Sonic's neck, eliciting soft moans and gasps from the blue hedgehog. Shadow continued kissing along Sonic's neck, making his way lower until he reached his collarbone, raked his fangs across the sensitive skin beneath it, and then licked the spot. Sonic shuddered and let out a low moan, his hands gripping his shoulders tightly. Shadow felt a thrill of satisfaction course through him as Sonic leaned into the touch, and he continued his attentions, finding the spot that made Sonic squirm and moan with pleasure. 

[monisha1199]

The AWS Advantage: Exploring the Key Reasons Behind Its Dominance

In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing and web services, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has emerged as a true juggernaut. Its dominance transcends industries, making it the preferred choice for businesses, startups, and individuals alike. AWS's meteoric rise can be attributed to a potent combination of factors that have revolutionized the way organizations approach IT infrastructure and software development. In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve into the multifaceted reasons behind AWS's widespread popularity. We'll dissect how scalability, reliability, cost-effectiveness, a vast service portfolio, unwavering security, global reach, relentless innovation, and hybrid/multi-cloud capabilities have all played crucial roles in cementing AWS's position at the forefront of cloud computing.

The AWS Revolution: Unpacking the Reasons Behind Its Popularity:

1. Scalability: Fueling Growth and Flexibility AWS's unparalleled scalability is one of its defining features. This capability allows businesses to start with minimal resources and effortlessly scale their infrastructure up or down based on demand. Whether you're a startup experiencing rapid growth or an enterprise dealing with fluctuating workloads, AWS offers the flexibility to align resources with your evolving requirements. This "pay-as-you-go" model ensures that you only pay for what you use, eliminating the need for costly upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure.

2. Reliability: The Backbone of Mission-Critical Operations AWS's reputation for reliability is second to none. With a highly resilient infrastructure and a robust global network, AWS delivers on its promise of high availability. It offers a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees impressive uptime percentages, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical applications. Businesses can rely on AWS to keep their services up and running, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

3. Cost-Effectiveness: A Game-Changer for Businesses of All Sizes The cost-effectiveness of AWS is a game-changer. Its pay-as-you-go pricing model enables organizations to avoid hefty upfront capital expenditures. Startups can launch their ventures with minimal financial barriers, while enterprises can optimize costs by only paying for the resources they consume. This cost flexibility is a driving force behind AWS's widespread adoption across diverse industries.

4. Wide Range of Services: A One-Stop Cloud Ecosystem AWS offers a vast ecosystem of services that cover virtually every aspect of cloud computing. From computing and storage to databases, machine learning, analytics, and more, AWS provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources. This breadth of services allows businesses to address various IT needs within a single platform, simplifying management and reducing the complexity of multi-cloud environments.

5. Security: Fortifying the Cloud Environment Security is a paramount concern in the digital age, and AWS takes it seriously. The platform offers a myriad of security tools and features designed to protect data and applications. AWS complies with various industry standards and certifications, providing a secure environment for sensitive workloads. This commitment to security has earned AWS the trust of organizations handling critical data and applications.

6. Global Reach: Bringing Services Closer to Users With data centers strategically located in multiple regions worldwide, AWS enables businesses to deploy applications and services closer to their end-users. This reduces latency and enhances the overall user experience, a crucial advantage in today's global marketplace. AWS's global presence ensures that your services can reach users wherever they are, ensuring optimal performance and responsiveness.

7. Innovation: Staying Ahead of the Curve AWS's culture of innovation keeps businesses at the forefront of technology. The platform continually introduces new services and features, allowing organizations to leverage the latest advancements without the need for significant internal development efforts. This innovation-driven approach empowers businesses to remain agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

8. Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Capabilities: Embracing Diverse IT Environments AWS recognizes that not all organizations operate solely in the cloud. Many have on-premises infrastructure and may choose to adopt a multi-cloud strategy. AWS provides solutions for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate their existing infrastructure with the cloud or even leverage multiple cloud providers. This flexibility ensures that AWS can adapt to the unique requirements of each organization.

Amazon Web Services has risen to unprecedented popularity by offering unmatched scalability, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and a comprehensive service portfolio. Its commitment to security, global reach, relentless innovation, and support for hybrid/multi-cloud environments make it the preferred choice for businesses worldwide. ACTE Technologies plays a crucial role in ensuring that professionals can harness the full potential of AWS through its comprehensive training programs. As AWS continues to shape the future of cloud computing, those equipped with the knowledge and skills provided by ACTE Technologies are poised to excel in this ever-evolving landscape.