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owoeyeoseroghokijawft · 1 month ago

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There's a fox in the chicken coop! Investigation reveals US Agency for International Development provides non-military related funds to Ukraine

The picture shows the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. (Photo: Reuters)

[Voice of Hope, February 26, 2025] (Voice of Hope reporter Chen Wenyun compiled) Investigators revealed to the North American Epoch Times that officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) repeatedly refused investigators from the Senate #DOGE Caucus Chair, Senator Joni Erns (Joni Erns) working group to review documents related to US tax funds allegedly used to help #Ukraine resist Russian invasion.

When investigators were finally allowed to view the documents, they were "stored in a highly secure room at USAID headquarters and strictly monitored," even though "nothing shared by USAID was confidential."

During the investigation, Ernst discovered that USAID's multi-million dollar project "exists in secret funds to put millions of American taxpayers' money into Ukraine for questionable purposes unrelated to our national interests."

“Funds that should have been used to ease the war-torn country’s economic woes were instead used for unimportant activities, such as sending Ukrainian models and designers to New York, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas,” investigators said.

One of the secret funds provided $114,000 to purchase a “high-end limited edition furniture line” and another $91,000 to fund a “trade mission for a Scandinavian-style furniture line.”

Investigators found that USAID also provided $148,000 in grants to “a pickle maker,” $255,000 to “an organic tea and coffee producer,” $104,000 to “an artisanal fruit tea company,” and $89,000 in support to “a Ukrainian vineyard.”

USAID also provided $300,000 each to a dog collar manufacturer and a company that sells pet tracking apps, $161,000 to "a modern knitwear supplier," $126,000 to "a photographer for a fashion design publication," and $84,000 in support to "a luxury bridal brand."

Ernst first began investigating USAID in November 2023, when he wrote a letter to then-USAID Administrator Samantha Power.

“I firmly support providing weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian militants to fight Putin,” Ernst told Power, “but I am not willing to spend nearly $25 billion of hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars on so-called economic aid to Ukraine, including subsidies for overseas businesses like a ‘luxury contemporary knit fashion store’ in Kyiv.”

In a Feb. 4 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ernst said that “USAID has deliberately abused a system designed to protect the security of our nation’s classified information in order to limit congressional oversight of public information.”

Rubio replaced Power as acting administrator of USAID earlier this month. Most of the agency’s employees are on administrative leave, and layoffs are underway that could eliminate as many as 2,000 positions within the agency.

The Epoch Times obtained information about Ernst’s investigation the same day the House DOGE subcommittee prepared to hold a hearing focused on how USAID officials allocated at least $122 million in U.S. tax dollars to multiple organizations operating in the Middle East with documented ties to Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda terrorist groups.

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum (MEF), told The Epoch Times on Tuesday (25th) that he would testify before the hearing panel that “there is a fox in the henhouse of our foreign aid system!”

Roman said, “This problem started under the Obama administration, intensified under the Biden administration, and now requires immediate action to stop the dangerous mismanagement and deadly ethical chaos.” “We are not just talking about waste, fraud, and abuse, this is a national security issue. Every dollar misused destabilizes conflict zones and endangers American lives.”

MEF investigators confirmed the evidence of terrorist links through U.S. government documents, USAID records, and other public sources of information.

The House DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, is part of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer. The House DOGE Panel, like the Senate DOGE Panel, was created in response to President Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

DOGE is conducting a forensic audit of federal spending across all federal departments and agencies. One of the first agencies to be reviewed is USAID.

“The revelations that the DOGE team uncovered together with USAID are shocking, but this is just the tip of the iceberg!” Greene said in a statement announcing the hearing on Wednesday (26th).

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reasonsforhope · 2 years ago

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"Namibia is the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, and home to two of the world’s most ancient deserts, the Kalahari and the Namib. The capital, Windhoek, is sandwiched between them, 400 miles away from the nearest perennial river and more than 300 miles away from the coast. Water is in short supply.

It’s hard to imagine life thriving in Windhoek, yet 477,000 people call it home, and 99 per cent of them have access to drinking water thanks to technology pioneered 55 years ago on the outskirts of the city. Now, some of the world’s biggest cities are embracing this technology as they adapt to the harshest impacts of climate change. But Namibia leads the way.

How did this come about? In the 1950s, Windhoek’s natural resources struggled to cope with a rapidly growing population, and severe water shortages gripped the city. But disaster forced innovation, and in 1968 the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant in Windhoek became the first place in the world to produce drinking water directly from sewage, a process known as direct potable reuse (DPR).

That may sound revolting, but it’s completely safe. Dr Lucas van Vuuren, who was among those who pioneered Windhoek’s reclamation system, once said that “water should not be judged by its history, but by its quality”. And DPR ensures quality.

This is done using a continuous multi-barrier treatment devised in Windhoek during eight years of pilot studies in the 1960s. This process – which has been upgraded four times since 1968 – eliminates pollutants and safeguards against pathogens by harnessing bacteria to digest the human waste and remove it from the water. This partly mimics what happens when water is recycled in nature, but Windhoek does it all in under 24 hours...

Pictured: These ultrafiltration membranes help to remove bacteria, viruses and pathogens. Image: Margaret Courtney-Clarke

“We know that we have antibiotics in the water, preservatives from cosmetics, anti-corrosion prevention chemicals from the dishwasher,” Honer explains. “We find them and we remove them.”

Honer adds that online instruments monitor the water continuously, and staff ensure that only drinking water that meets World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines is sent to homes. If any inconsistencies are detected, the plant goes into recycle mode and distribution is halted until correct values are restored.

“The most important rule is, and was, and always will be ‘safety first’,” says Honer. The facility has never been linked to an outbreak of waterborne disease, and now produces up to 5.5m gallons of drinking water every day – up to 35 per cent of the city’s consumption.

Namibians couldn’t survive without it, and as water shortages grip the planet, Windhoek’s insights and experience are more important than ever.

Interest from superpowers across the globe

In recent years, delegations from the US, France, Germany, India, Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates have visited Windhoek seeking solutions to water shortages in their own countries.

Megadrought conditions have gripped the US since 2001, and the Colorado River – which provides 40 million people with drinking water – has been running at just 50 per cent of its traditional flow. As a result, several states including Texas, California, Arizona and Colorado are beginning to embrace DPR.

Troy Walker is a water reuse practice leader at Hazen and Sawyer, an environmental engineering firm helping Arizona to develop its DPR regulations. He visited Windhoek last year. “It was about being able to see the success of their system, and then looking at some of the technical details and how that might look in a US facility or an Australian facility,” he said. “[Windhoek] has helped drive a lot of discussion in industry. [Innovation] doesn’t all have to come out of California or Texas.”

Pictured: The internal pipes and workings of Namibia's DPR plant. As water becomes scarcer in some parts, countries are looking to DPR for solutions. Image: Margaret Courtney-Clarke

Namibia has also helped overcome the biggest obstacle to DPR – public acceptance. Disgust is a powerful emotion, and sensationalist ‘toilet to tap’ headlines have dismantled support for water reuse projects in the past. Unfortunately, DPR’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness, as the speed at which water can re-enter the system makes it especially vulnerable to prejudice, causing regulators to hesitate. “Technology has never been the reason why these projects don’t get built – it’s always public or political opposition,” says Patsy Tennyson, vice president of Katz and Associates, an American firm that specialises in public outreach and communications.

That’s why just a handful of facilities worldwide are currently doing DPR, with Windhoek standing alongside smaller schemes in the Philippines, South Africa and a hybrid facility in Big Spring, Texas. But that’s all changing. Drought and increased water scarcity worldwide are forcing us to change the way we think about water.

Now, the US is ready to take the plunge, and in 2025, El Paso Water will begin operating the first ‘direct to distribution’ DPR facility in North America, turning up to 10m gallons of wasterwater per day into purified drinking water – twice as much as Windhoek. San Diego, Los Angeles, California, as well as Phoenix, Arizona are also exploring the technology."

Of course, DPR is not a silver bullet in the fight against climate change. It cannot create water out of thin air, and it will not facilitate endless growth. But it does help cities become more climate resilient by reducing their reliance on natural sources, such as the Colorado River.

As other nations follow in Namibia’s footsteps, Windhoek may no longer take the lead after almost six decades in front.

“But Windhoek was the first,” Honer reminds me. “No one can take that away.”"

-via Positive.News, August 30, 2023

#namibia #africa #desert #water shortage #water conservation #dpr #potable water #water recycling #clean water #drought #united states #colorado river #science and technology #sanitation #good news #hope

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reveryfics · 2 months ago

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Neighbors pt.2

Frank Castle "The Punisher" x Male Reader

Summary: It's been almost a year since Frank walked into your apartment, revealing his life as The Punisher. You'd settled into a demanding routine as an overnight ER nurse, navigating that world alongside your relationship with Frank. Little did you know, those two worlds were about to collide.

A/N: I got a couple comments asking for a second part to the Neighbors fic, uh I wasn't exactly sure what to do with this so hopefully this is okay. Male nurse reader as well, cause we all know Frank would end up dead without you.

TW: Blood - Broken arm - Injury - Comfort

The automatic doors of the emergency room shrieked open, a violent gust of air preceding a surge of hurried footsteps and the staccato bursts of clipped radio chatter. Two EMTs, their faces etched with grim urgency, propelled a gurney through the opening. The insistent, rhythmic beeping of a cardiac monitor sliced through the already buzzing chaos, an electronic heartbeat in the pandemonium. "Thirty-something male, found unresponsive at the scene, possible overdose," one of the EMTs barked, his voice barely cutting through the din.

Across the crowded bay, a different kind of drama unfolded. Another pair of EMTs struggled to transfer a screaming elderly woman onto a hospital bed, her cries of pain echoing off the unforgiving linoleum floors. A young resident, his face pale and drawn under the harsh fluorescent lights, scribbled furiously on a chart, barking orders to a harried-looking nurse whose movements were a study in controlled frenzy.

You navigated this swirling vortex of controlled pandemonium, your own adrenaline still thrumming from the relentless stream of patients that had flooded in since your shift began what felt like an eternity ago. Just moments before, you had finished meticulously suturing a nasty, jagged gash on a construction worker’s forearm, the thick smell of antiseptic clinging to the air. Then the call came in – a multi-car pile-up on the highway. Now, you were heading towards the trauma bay, a knot of apprehension tightening in your stomach as you mentally braced yourself for whatever awaited.

The waiting room, visible through the smeared sliding glass doors, was a tableau of escalating anxiety. A young mother bounced a restless toddler on her knee, her eyes darting nervously towards the triage desk, a silent plea for information in their depths. An elderly man with a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his head sat hunched over in a plastic chair, his face a roadmap of worry lines. The air in the waiting room hung thick and heavy, a cloying mix of antiseptic and raw fear, punctuated by the occasional, frustrated sigh that spoke volumes of unspoken dread. They didn't see the frantic ballet unfolding behind those closed doors, the life-and-death decisions being made in split seconds, the raw, visceral energy of a system stretched to its breaking point.

It felt like just moments ago, you had managed to coax a distraught teenager out of a full-blown panic attack, her rapid, shallow breaths and racing pulse fueled by pure, unadulterated fear of a phantom heart attack. Before that, it was a belligerent drunk, swinging wildly at anyone who dared to approach, requiring every ounce of your patience and a gentle yet firm hand to finally gain his cooperation. Each case, each individual, demanded a different kind of focus, a different wellspring of emotional and physical energy, leaving you feeling like a tightly wound spring threatening to snap.

As you pushed through the heavy swinging doors into the trauma bay, the scene intensified, the air crackling with a raw, visceral energy that made the hairs on your arms stand on end. The trauma team was already a well-oiled machine, each member moving with practiced precision, their movements economical and purposeful. A quick, sweeping glance told you the grim story: multiple injuries, a shocking amount of blood staining the sterile white sheets, the urgent, rhythmic whirring of suction machines battling to keep airways clear. You took a deep, steadying breath, pushing the gnawing fatigue that tugged at the edges of your awareness. Another life, or perhaps multiple lives, hung precariously in the balance, and in this moment, amidst the chaos, that was the only thing that mattered.

But before you could fully immerse yourself in the unfolding trauma, a hand clamped down on your arm, pulling you away from the organized chaos. It was Sarah, a newer nurse whose usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by wide, panicked eyes. "Hey! Can you come take a look at Mr. Wilson in room three? He's refusing his IV, and he's getting really agitated. I can't seem to get anywhere with him."

You let out a silent sigh. You knew the car crash victims were in capable hands for the moment, the experienced trauma team already orchestrating their care with practiced efficiency. Reluctantly, you nodded. "Okay, Sarah, let's go."

You walked down the quieter hallway towards room three, the frantic energy of the trauma bay fading slightly with each step. As you approached the open doorway, the distinct sound of a raised voice reached you. An older man sat propped up in the hospital bed, his face flushed with anger as he argued vehemently with another nurse, who held a saline-filled syringe aloft, looking increasingly frustrated.

You recognized the patient instantly. Mr. Wilson. A local elderly gentleman who was a frequent visitor to the ER, his unmanaged diabetes often landing him back in a hospital bed. He looked in your direction, his eyes, usually twinkling with a mischievous glint, now narrowed with annoyance, watching as you approached the hand sanitizer dispenser and meticulously washed your hands before pulling on a fresh pair of gloves.

"Oh, thank heavens you're here, Nurse," he huffed, his voice still carrying a note of indignation. "These youngsters don't got a clue what they're doing." He shot an accusatory glance at the two other nurses in the room.

You couldn't help but chuckle softly as you stepped closer to the bed. "They're doing their best, Mr. Wilson," you said gently, your tone calm and reassuring. You took the syringe from the other nurse. "Let's get this IV started, shall we?" Your practiced hands made quick work of locating a vein, the insertion smooth and efficient. Mr. Wilson barely flinched. "See? All done."

You shook your head slightly, turning around to grab his chart from the bedside table. "High blood sugar again?" You glanced over the recent lab results, noting the alarming number well over four hundred.

He waved a dismissive hand at you. "Nonsense, Nurse. I'll be right as rain, just like I always am."

You didn't respond immediately, taking a moment to ensure the IV was running smoothly before meeting his gaze. "I'll be back to check on you later, Mr. Wilson. Try to relax."

Hours bled into each other, the relentless tide of patients ebbing and flowing. Finally, as the first hint of dawn painted the sky outside the grimy windows, the ER began to quiet. You managed to steal a precious moment of respite in the cramped nurses' lounge.

Standing near the industrial-sized coffee maker, you pulled out your phone, a small beacon of normalcy in the chaotic day. A message from Frank, sent at the very beginning of your shift, greeted you. He often sent these little digital breadcrumbs – a silly meme, a brief update on his day, the occasional picture of him and your beloved pit bull, Frankie, their goofy faces a welcome distraction during your long, grueling hours. You tucked your phone back into your scrub pocket, the image of Frankie’s slobbery grin a momentary balm. You took the now-full coffee pitcher and poured yourself a much-needed cup, the rich aroma a small comfort.

You sank into a worn chair at one of the small, cluttered tables, barely managing a single, precious sip before the insistent buzz of your pager vibrated against your hip. With a heavy sigh, you pushed yourself to your feet, the brief moment of peace shattered. You headed back out to the bustling nurses' station, managing a tired smile for your coworker who handed you a chart. Your smile instantly froze, your blood running cold as you saw the name scrawled across the top: "Castle, Frank."

Without a word, your heart pounding a frantic rhythm against your ribs, you walked down the hall and into the designated exam room. The doctor was just hanging up a series of x-rays, the stark white images revealing the sharp break in Frank's arm. Another nurse was gently dabbing at a series of cuts and abrasions on his face and torso.

Frank's head snapped in your direction as the door creaked open, his eyes widening in surprise, then something akin to fear, as he registered the look on your face – a mixture of shock, disbelief, and a dawning anger. He watched, helpless, as the other nurse offered you a small, knowing smile and quietly slipped out of the room.

"You can't just leave me here with him," Frank pleaded, his voice laced with a theatrical desperation that didn't quite mask the underlying anxiety. "Common, babe." He groaned dramatically, leaning back against the pillows.

You didn't say a word, your mind still reeling. You simply set his chart down on the counter with a decisive thud and moved to the sink, the harsh fluorescent light reflecting off the cool metal as you meticulously washed your hands and pulled on a fresh pair of gloves, your movements stiff and deliberate. You picked up where the previous nurse had left off, gently cleaning the numerous cuts across his face and abdomen, your touch perhaps a little less gentle than it usually was.

Frank hissed, biting his lip as you carefully cleaned around a particularly deep gash on his side, the edges raw and angry-looking. "Fancy seeing you here," he attempted a weak joke, but instantly stopped when your eyes, usually warm and full of affection, now glinted with a sharp, almost dangerous light as you briefly glared up at him.

You listened in stony silence as the doctor began explaining the next steps, his voice calm and professional. "Alright, Frank, we're going to have to set that bone before we can put a cast on it. Looks like a clean fracture, but it needs to be realigned." He gestured to the x-rays. "We'll give you some local anesthetic for these cuts, and then we'll get started on the arm."

The doctor excused himself to gather the necessary supplies, leaving you alone with a very uncomfortable and apologetic-looking Frank. You picked up a syringe from the medical tray, the needle glinting under the bright lights, stopping just before taking the cap off.

"I've had a real shit day so far," you finally rasped, your voice tight with suppressed emotion. "Do you have any idea what was going through my mind when I saw your name on that chart?" You didn't wait for an answer, your silence hanging heavy in the air.

Frank let out a long, weary sigh, wishing he had just listened to his gut and insisted they not contact you. "I'm sorry, trust me, baby, I didn't mean to worry you." He groaned, shifting uncomfortably on the examination table.

You finally took the cap off the syringe, your movements precise and efficient despite the turmoil churning within you. You swabbed the area around the deep laceration on Frank's side with a cold alcohol wipe. "It's gonna sting," you whispered, your voice barely audible, before carefully pushing the tip of the needle into various points around the wound, injecting the numbing solution. Your chest tightened almost imperceptibly as he occasionally hissed in pain, his free hand instinctively reaching out to grip the sleeve of your scrubs, his knuckles white.

With the local anesthetic administered, you began to meticulously stitch the wound, your movements quick and precise, years of training taking over despite the emotional turmoil. Each careful stitch pulled the edges of the laceration together, closing the angry red gash. Once finished, you applied a clean bandage over the area.

You stood up straight, disposing of the used needle and other medical supplies with a sharp, efficient clink into the biohazard bin. Your back was to Frank as you bent over the sink to wash your hands, the sound of running water filling the brief silence. You heard a low whistle from behind you, a familiar sound that couldn't help but tug the corner of your lips into a small, involuntary smile.

You turned around, one eyebrow cocked in amusement. "Incredibly unprofessional, Mr. Castle," you quipped, a hint of your usual playful tone finally breaking through the tension.

"Can't help that my nurse looks incredibly hot in his scrubs," Frank hummed, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

You walked back over to the side of the bed, leaning down to press a quick, chaste kiss to his lips. Frank’s hand, no longer gripping the mattress, came to rest gently on the small of your back, pulling you a fraction closer as he returned the kiss. You quickly pulled away when the door creaked open again, the doctor returning with a tray of casting materials.

He simply shrugged, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "If kissing your boyfriend at work was illegal, half the staff here would be unemployed by now."

You couldn't help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation finally breaking the tension. You walked around the bed to help the doctor, a familiar camaraderie settling between you as you assisted him in the procedure.

The doctor explained the process as he worked, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. You carefully stabilized Frank's arm above and below the fracture site as the doctor applied traction and expertly manipulated the bone back into alignment. Frank winced but remained relatively still, his gaze locked on yours. The sickening thunk of the bone resetting made you flinch, but relief washed over Frank’s face. The doctor then carefully wrapped Frank's arm in layers of padding and wet plaster, molding it into a supportive cast.

Once the cast was securely in place, the doctor gave Frank instructions on how to care for it and left the two of you alone again. You stayed behind in the quiet exam room with Frank, pulling a couple of warm blankets over him and double-checking that his IV was running smoothly. He watched your every move, his eyes soft and full of affection. Just as you were about to leave, his hand reached out, his fingers gently closing around your wrist.

You turned back, leaning down to press a tender kiss to his lips. "I'll take you home once my shift's over," you murmured against his mouth. "Just get some rest for now."

Frank kissed you back, his grip on your wrist loosening slightly. "I love you," he whispered, his voice thick with exhaustion and perhaps a touch of lingering pain medication.

"I love you too," you replied softly, stroking his cheek. "But please, for the love of all that is holy, don't show up at my work again unless it's to bring me food." You managed a weak joke, and Frank chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that eased some of the tightness in your chest.

#frank castle #frank castle x male reader #the punisher #the punisher x male reader #marvel frank castle #marvel x male reader #marvel #mlm #fanfic #fanfiction #x male reader #xmalereader #requested

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liquidcrystalsky · 7 days ago

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top ways to know that a tumblr post about tech software and shit is bullshit:

The stuff they recommend is incredibly out of date. Hey here's a version of microsoft office from fuckin 8 years ago, no. stop. This also includes recommending people to stay on out of date operating systems !

They recommend using like 13 different things all at once, when 1 or 2 is able to do the exact same. Privacy related firefox addons, you only need ublock that's it. More is not better. any time it's like here's a list of things which do [ONE THING] you only need One Thing, not a whole list.

They tell you to edit shit in the registry. only if you are for sure that there is no other option, you should use some front-end like Winaero Tweaker, or often there may be a built in script in windows. The BYPASSNRO is now "start ms-cxh:localonly" no registry needed to avoid connecting a microsoft account.

They tell you to edit the system itself. Editing the windows installation ISO is a really bad idea! A lot of debloating tools will delete actually important system files! there's a reason you can't delete edge (yes it sucks it's been like this for ages though). There are ways to safely remove bloat and telemetry from base windows without sacrificing security afterwards. again, uninstall what you can normally, and use Winaero Tweaker for the rest.

Just "new bad old good, retvn" bullshit man can we get over this. While yes the Default experience of everything is getting worse and worse and that's awful. you can also just not lie down and take it. You can uninstall things you dont like and use Different Things. you can change settings. you can actually Do Things to Make Things Better. I like windows 11 more than 10. Yes there's copiliot (you can turn it off), telemetry (in windows 10 already, and you can turn it off), the new right click menu (winaero tweaker to put it back, again this app is beautiful), recall (99% of computers cant even run it in the first place), but it's also got a better file manager, settings menu, multi-monitor support, UI (i said it), snipping tool, task manager, WSL, Terminal Shell, window management, WPA3 and NVME support, and security. but new thing you can turn off easily is a deal breaker i guess. You can just disable it. oh notepad sucks cuz copilot, uninstall it and use something else, notepad++ is good as hell. Just change things! also i dont even use windows anymore don't call me a shill windows 11 sucked less than 10 but it still sucked and i use linux.

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nowimjustastranger · 1 month ago

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Has Watchdog Ford ever come across another Ford that also learned multi dimensional travel in his grief over losing his Stan?

Like, an accident happened or even a situation similar to Watchdogs Stan occurs and this Stanford just, goes crazy with grief and regret and tries opening a portal to take another Stan? Maybe even succeeds in opening one and almost taking an alternate Stan?

I feel like Watchdog would be sympathetic deep down inside but would most likely sock the other Stanford in the nose and lecture him about being so entitled and stupid.

Would Watchdog try to find a Stan that needed relocation for him, or leave him to wallow in his grief as punishment?

While sympathetic, Watchdog would absolutely deck the Ford for the audacity of trying to seal another Stan to replace their own. Though he's just as willing to help them too, detaining them in a safehouse so they can be monitored and eventually returned to their dimension.

There are several factors that are taken into consideration before a Ford is given a Stan, so the Ford would be given a thorough background check and psychological evaluation. If the Ford checks all the necessary boxes, Watchdog will put him into The Polymath's system to hopefully pair him up sooner rather than later since he would be well into the process of devolving considering that he was desperate enough to take a Stan from the multiverse.

#gravity falls #side quest #somebody to call my own au #stcmo au #ford pines #stanford pines #stan twins #ask box

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its-in-the-woods · 5 days ago

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Reach For Me

Masterlist

-Part 1 , Part 2

Pairing: James Buchanan Barnes/Bucky x You/x reader (afab) no use of y/n

Word count: 3.1k

Synopsis: You are starting a new job, courtesy of one Tony Stark. Tasked with becoming the head of medical and research for the Avengers and their companions. What you don't expect is to get under the skin of one ex assassin turned good guy, James Barnes.

Author notes: Hi 👋 I've never written MCU... so umm here we go...Nothing I write is short, this will be multi-chapter. Slow slow slow burn, they may not even like each other that much to start. Any characters from the MCU may appear. I will not note them cause there are too many, k. I will also not tag spoilers... be warned. This will be graphic, sad, and tragic... but there will be sparks I promise.

MINORS and AI dickbags GET OUT.

Rating/Warning: Missing limbs, prosthetic, wounds, ptsd, long silences, brooding, Bucky (you know why), mentions of past torture, physical and mental.

All mistakes, grammar, and plot holes are my own.

You sit in your Corolla looking up at the massive building a block away. There was parking under the building for you, had your name on it and everything. Least that’s what Stark told you, Tony Goddamn Stark. He’d rolled into your lab one day and tossed your whole world upside down. You’d had no idea he had been funding the university's research into neurolink prosthetics, or that he was the one that had backed your grant to get you through medical school. Now he wants you to be the head of medical at his infamous Stark Tower, keep an eye on the health of the Avengers.

Well it was more complicated than that. He wanted you specifically because you were a jack of all trades, you’d served in the military as a medic, done several years in New York's largest ER, before you’d decided to go back to your roots in neuro-science specifically to do with prosthetics bio-connections. That’s what he needed. Also someone who wasn’t scared to stare super-soldiers down and not flinch.

The last part you’d assumed to be a joke, but now sitting here you weren’t as sure. Drumming your fingers over the steering wheel you debated whether you should go in or not. How had you even ended up here? A doctor to the Avengers? It sounded comical just thinking about it.

How was it possible that you were more nervous than when you were jumping out of the back of a plane? Maybe you’d get to do that here too.

“Fuck it,” You murmur, shifting the car into drive you head to your new job.

***

It was a whirl of paperwork, most of it you didn’t understand, really should have brought it to a lawyer. The non-disclosure agreements were lengthy and in depth, but Pepper had summed them up as ‘What happens in the tower stays in the tower’. It felt vaguely threatening, but the paperwork was almost soothing at this point. The tower is massive, it has full medical facilities, dozens of labs, lawyers on payroll, and then there was the Avenger’s end of things. You have been given a special pass to work up there. You have a small team of medical professionals you would be working with. Along with the team of assistance and crew of speciality staff that kept everyone from fighting with each other.

The first day is just that, paperwork, here is your clinic, this is the labs, please file things here and here. This is how the emergency system works, if you see an alien no you didn’t.

You rubbed at your face as you sat in the small ‘clinic room’.White walls, that mix with metal paneling, behind you was a large glass window that looks out over the city. Beside you is your home monitor, the back would be facing the patient. Beside you were four others that you could use to pull up any images or information you needed to show the patient. You’d already decide that you need at least one or two plants here, yes it was a clinical setting but it wasn’t a jail cell either.

To your right was a door that leads into a small medical bay. It has a patient bed, and enough supplies for a full operation if needed. It was overkill really. You were dealing with gods, super soldiers, a green hulk, and the occasional super spy. Besides, there is already an operating theatre on this level that could be staffed within minutes; but it wasn’t your money to burn.

Closing out your computer you grab the tablet that had all your new patients information. Most of it was standard, blood test, x-rays, ct-scan, injury lists and more. All neatly packaged inside a metal and glass case, with an encrypt password and fingerprint scan. You want to go over all the notes in detail, make sure there was nothing that was a miss.

Keys, and bag in hand you close up the clinic door and head towards the elevator. The place was quiet for such a large building, you would occasionally see agents, assistance, and others but for the most part it was empty. You were sure when the world was being threatened by alien invaders it was a hot spot, but right now it just felt cold.

The doors to the elevator open up and you come face to face with Captain America himself and The Winter Soldier. Your heart pounds for a moment, but you quickly push that down, the mask of professionalism slipping on as you walk in. They stood in running gear, Captain in all blue, and Soldier in all black.

“Hi, I am Steven Rogers,” Captain America, Steve, said with a grin holding out his hand. “Hi,” You reply, giving him your title and shaking his hand firmly, before turning to The Winter Soldier. Steve gestures with his thumb. “That’s James Barnes, we are just heading out for a run,” Steve smiles, Bucky nodding at you but keeping his hands firmly folded across his chest.

“Nice to meet you,” You nod at James, who stays silent, just staring back at you. Shuffling over you stand by the far side of the door, you remember the headlines about what happened to him. HYDRA, you’d heard enough about them to wonder how James was still standing upright.

You mentally note to go over his file in detail this evening. The elevator shifts into a mostly comfortable silence, you don’t force conservation, and both men seem more than okay with that. You can’t help that your heart is hammering. Would be difficult for anyone to stand in a small box with two Super Soldiers at their back. Least that’s what you tell yourself. A chime at the main floor and the two men go to get off.

“Nice to meet you,” Steve says, with his signature smile. “We’ll see you around.”

“Have a good evening,” You reply, resisting the urge to slam the close door button. James looks over his shoulder once, his eyes connecting with yours before turning back to Steve. You tell yourself that it was just a silent acknowledgement, but it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like he is making sure you know that you’re being watched.

***

The room was small white, with the smell of metal and disinfectant hanging everywhere. One wall has four monitors, a small 3D model of him spun on one, another had his health stats, some just blank. He was interested in the one that showed what was left of his left arm and the one of his socket that attached the metal arm. He squints trying to read the little text boxes that hover over each point as they spin. Some highlight damages, others things that could be upgraded. The Doc had done her homework.

Looking at the images made him feel itchy, his hand going up to rub along where the metal seamed to his flesh. He mentally braces for pain to shoot through his neck, surprised when nothing happens, he'd gotten so used to them stopping him from touching it. The amount of times he'd tried to peel it off, ripe it out of his flesh, had led them to add tech that made it even more painful to try and remove.

He wasn’t pleased to be there, why did he need some doctor to tell him what he already knew? The arm had been acting up yes, but he was sure Stark with all his money and tech could fix it.

Yet here he was sitting in a chair with no exit strategy, beside jumping out the window. Fingers tapping along the arm rest of the chair, hoping that things could be over soon.

A quiet knock on the door has him sitting up straight. He adjusts his shirt, hoping the wrinkles didn't show where he'd been rubbing.

“Hi, James,” You say, slowly opening the door and walking in. Giving him a small smile as you walk over to the chair in front of the monitors. “Do you like James? Or would you prefer a different name?”

“Uh- James, James is fine,” He mumbles, just loud enough to be heard. Unsure how to feel now that you are standing in front of him.

He'd seen you a few times since the first meeting in the elevator. You mostly kept to yourself, saying ‘hi’ to anyone that crossed your path, making polite conversation, and generally fitting in. He'd also spotted you hanging with Tony going over tech, and helping him modify different gear. You always smile at him and say hello, even if he barely replies. Never treating him any differently than anyone else. It was refreshing.

Steve had said you had a good air about you. Natasha hadn't scoffed, even called you pleasant. So after nearly a month of you requesting him to come by he had caved and come down.

“Alright, so Mr. Stark has asked me to take a look at the arm you've had installed.” You chatter away, you wear casual clothes, a button-up purple shirt, and black slacks. No white coat or name tag. “He noted that it was uncomfortable, and wasn’t operating as smoothly. Do you want to tell me about that?”

Swallowing, he held his breath as you looked at him. There was no intention behind your eyes, you weren't mining for intel or assessing if he was going to explode, just a simple question. Yet he could barely find words to say.

“It's not bad, just needs some maintenance.” Bucky said flatly, his jaw clicking as he kept himself stiff. He wasn't going to go into detail to some stranger, despite how calm and cordial you were.

Or tell you that the pain kept him up at night, how it aches like it was frozen, or the nightmares. Shifting, he pushes those thoughts down, bringing him back to the present.

You nod, typing a few things into the computer. Not pressing him to answer or bombarding him with more questions.

“James, I know this is all still really new. You're still settling in and learning about us, and well probably whether you can trust us.” You take a breath, his eyes watching you look at the screen. A small wrinkle appears between your brows as you focus. It shouldn’t make his skin tingle when you look like that. “Plus I am new here, so it’s all new.”

You hesitate, lip worrying between your teeth, Bucky was definitely not filing all the little quirks you had, cause there was no reason for that. “I don't work for anyone, but you. Technically Stark pays me, but he doesn't meddle with what I do, there is no overreach. If you're not comfortable with the prosthetic I want to know.”

Bucky sits there, his eyes moving to yours, his body still as rigid as ever. “It's fine.”

It wasn't fine, but he had dealt with it long enough and didn't need anyone's help.

“Okay,” You reply, he can see you holding back a sigh. Disappointment flickering under the uncertainty. Why the hell did you care so much?

“Could I take a look at your arm? Please, tell me no if you're uncomfortable.”

Bucky shifts a little, his face scrunching at the words, he wasn’t used to someone giving him space. No one had pressed him to do anything he didn't want in the tower, but there were expectations of him. With you though, that didn't seem to be the case.

He shifts to the side, moving his right hand over to his left arm, the metal reacting to his touch. Gripping the metal he shifts and twists it so that it pops off the joint. Taking the arm he lays it out gently on the glass table with a clunk.

You roll over on your chair, not looking at the prosthetic, instead coming to look at the compression sleeve.

“Are you okay if I manipulate your arm?”He nods, but winces when you touch over the residual limb. The skin is sensitive, sore, and has deep bruises, he forces himself to stay still and not move away.

You carefully look over the shoulder joint. The sleeve on it was worn, and he knew you could feel the swelling happening underneath it. “I am going to remove the sleeve, take a closer look at the skin.”

You talk to him, despite his limited replies. He watches as you carefully pull the cuff down. The joint is swollen, covered with crude scarring, there are several pressure sores that ache.

You grab gloves and carefully feeling the joint and bone, fingers feeling the rigid metal that has been used to reinforce the bone.

Bucky shifts a little as your hand pushes against one of the sores. He can feel the line of his shoulders tightening up, as you continue to palpate it.

“I would like to do a scan of the joint,” You say, as you lift and move the arm. Carefully watching how it rotates and moves. As if you hadn’t just dropped a bomb on him.

“The socket shouldn't leave these pressure sores. Especially with the advanced healing you have, I have a feeling the bone and metal are causing the discomfort."

“I can’t do scans,” He swallows, his right hand shaking without his consent. The sound of the magnets flying around his head start to echo around him. Stomach twisting and tightening as he tries to suppress the urge to run.

You blink, sliding back just a little, giving him some space. “Okay.”

He watches the way you shift, how you carefully take off your gloves and toss them into the bin. “You are not going to want to talk about it, which is fine. I am going to talk through some steps we could take so we could get scans.”

His right hand clenches into a fist, sweat breaking out on the back of his neck. Using everything in his power to stay seated. You’re speaking but the worlds are not sinking in. He shakes his head, he wants to say something but all the words have been trapped somewhere in his throat. The panic is rising up the back of his neck like fire, he feels encased, stuck, breath and heart rate elevating.

“James,” You say quietly, moving so that you were directly in front of him. “We don’t need to do anything right now. Or even in a week.”

He looks right at you, trying to see past any mask you might be hiding behind. “I can get you a new sleeve, we don’t need scans for that.”

Trying to relax, he nods his head, hoping that you will keep to your word. His eyes move away staring at the floor, the pattern of the swirling speckled vinyl. His mind is a mess of images and sounds, the thumping of the magnets, the pulse of the electrical surge. The feeling of it buzzing through his head, the pain surging passed his skin and up his neck, how his molars ground against the mouth guard.

You move away rolling over to the prosthetic, looking down into where his arm latches. Examining internal workings, you go to pick it up and struggle. For some reason it snaps him out of his daze.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be that heavy,” You squint at it, rolling it over the glass surface with a clunk. Bucky picks it up and holds it out for you to look closer at.

You look surprised for a moment but then take the moment to place your hand inside where his nub goes in.

“Oh, yeah there are latches in here.” You move over to where he is sitting, you don’t touch him just exam, lining up where his pressure sores are and the latches.

“That should actually be a relatively easy fix. Would you mind coming to the lab-” You roll back to the computer, humming as you look at it. “Let’s do next Tuesday, Lab C, it’s on level seventy-eight.”

“Sure,” Buck says, his voice a gruff whisper. He takes his arm and clicks it back into place, rotating it and twisting it.

***

The door clicks and you slump into the chair, rubbing your hand over your face. That had gone as well as could be expected, the man was a ball of trauma wrapped in stone, and dipped in concrete.

Steve had warned you that Bucky was leery of new people, and took a long time to warm up. At least he hadn’t gone running the moment you asked a question.

Taking a breath you go back to your notes, you put in to have an assistant with you next Tuesday to adjust Bucky’s arm. It should be relatively easy, something that should have been caught weeks ago. Though, judging by the lack of notes from any previous Doctors, on James Barnes, they hadn’t spent much time with him.

You plug away sipping on coffee, you need to reread the notes that had been gathered about James. Well, if they could even be called notes.

You had seen the few videos that had been found. Had taken a good chunk of first week to sit and force yourself to watch them. To see what had been done to him. Stark had warned you, everyone had, but you wanted to know. To understand why James was the way he was, this was something you took pride in. Knowing who your patients were, what they had been through, and how it affected their day to day life mattered.

The videos ended up being the worst thing you’d ever seen, they had purposefully kept him partially aware of what was happening. They had used the pain to help brainwash him, making his body be in a constant state of fight, while not being able to fight at all. As they peeled open his body, shoving metal and wires into him over and over.

Then without any recovery time they’d freeze him, putting him under for an undetermined length of time.

Didn’t even cover the neuro trauma that had happened, the machine that used a combination of electric pulse and sound waves to affect memory. No wonder he didn’t want anything to do with CT scans, you shouldn’t have even brought it up. Groaning, you try not to beat yourself up over the misstep.

The machine they used wasn’t even completely understood, Hydra had of course destroyed it before anyone could get their hands on it. Maybe if you had it you could have worked at undoing the damage. Instead you were left with half ass notes, and grainy videos.

Pushing away from the computer, you decide it was time to go home. It had been a long day already, and you wanted to be in your own space. The drive back should be uneventful, meaning you could get to the lengthy amount of notes to spill over in your mind. Hopefully it would give you enough info to help James.

Part 2

~☆~☆~

If you liked it let me know below! Reblog to let others know.

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@hiddlebatchedloki

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quirkwizard · 5 months ago

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It’s kinda funny how much 1B got ignored in the final arc, and from a narrative perspective it makes sense not to clutter things up to much but aside from a few brief appearances the arguably best attention they get is for monoma for copying warpgate and eraser. With that being said assuming anyone cared enough what do you think the class B “Iron Might” items would be like?

That just makes me think that All Might just has another car full of tech just for the 1-B kids. All For One thinks he's got Toshinori dead to rights and his second car, Heracles, comes out of nowhere with another suit like it's the second stage of a boss fight.

-Awase: Giant metal pillars that fire out and sear themselves onto the target to deal damage and weight them down.

-Kamakiri: A giant sword. Would it be more fitting to have swords pop out of him? Yes, but I want him carrying a buster sword.

-Kuroiro: A cape-like extension meant to camouflage with it's surroundings to hide the user.

-Kendo: Giant fists. Just a ton of armor all coming together to make a giant set of meaty claws.

-Kosei: Sets of floating plates that act as both platforms and shields as All Might needs them.

-Komori: Sprays that activate a fast growing mold meant to fester in wounds and inhibit breathing.

-Manga: A series of marked grenades around the suit that can disperse various effects, such as a flames or electricity.

-Juzo: A set of drills from the hands that can help him rapidly dig underground.

-Reiko: A series of drones meant to latch onto and control anything All Might sicks them on.

-Rin: A set of tiny, jagged plates that can stab anyone the user grapples and be fire out like bullets.

-Shoda: Pilebunker. Just a giant hydraulics system meant to add some extra punch to his fist attacks.

-Ibara: A series of cables to coming from the back of the suit to tangle and bind with.

-Tetsutetsu: It's a giant suit of armor that helps protect All Might from bigger attacks. It's literally the same as Kirishima's.

-Bondo: A cannon near the upper back of the suit that fires out the same face acting concrete used in the License Exam.

-Sen: Various gyros around the suit to make parts of the armor spin and help improve the damage of the other weapons systems.

-Jutora: An additional layer of armor meant to augment the user's natural strength and give a more beastly appearance.

-Pony: Missiles. Just a bunch of homing missiles centered on whomever is unlucky enough to be in his line of sight.

-Setsuna: A series of small, multi-purpose drones linked up to the suit's sensory system. Maybe they could double as quick replacement parts.

-Kodai: Various pieces of micro tech that's meant to unfold and expand into larger weapons. Possibly used in tandem with ome of the other weapon systems.

-Monoma: An operating system meant to monitor and redeploy the various tools in play, effectively acting as the reserve for all the other gadgets.

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fictionfanatic-wren · 24 days ago

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The robin games, part 1.

chapter 1/7.

“Who’s the best Robin? Me, obviously,” Dick declared with a grin, arms crossed over his chest. His Nightwing suit gleamed faintly under the Batcave lights. Jason snorted from where he leaned on a couch in the cave, polishing one of his guns. “You’ve been riding that ‘firstborn’ privilege for too long, Grayson.” “Yeah, well, the best Robin doesn’t turn into a walking midlife crisis in red leather, nor does he die by a crowbar,” Tim chimed in, earning a growl from Jason. “Silence,” Damian cut in smoothly. “You’re all delusional. I was bred to be superior. The best Robin is the current Robin. Obviously.” Batman had barely looked up from the Batcomputer. In fact, Bruce had endured this same argument every day for the past month. But today, he’d reached his limit. So, Batman did what any rational man with four hyper-competitive vigilante children would do: he weaponized their nonsense into a peacekeeping strategy. He turned in his chair, cape swishing dramatically behind him and like the diva he was, asked. “You want to know who the best Robin is?” All four stared at him. “Prove it,” Bruce said. “You get one challenge. Break into the Watchtower. Stay hidden. Longest undetected wins.” “Wins what?” Dick asked suspiciously. “Bragging rights,” Bruce answered. Then, after a beat: “And Alfred’s triple-chocolate cookies. The whole batch.” The room went silent. Jason immediately straightened. “I’m in.” “Me too,” said Tim. “Tt. Prepare to be humiliated,” Damian said, already reaching for his sword. Bruce tapped a few keys and turned back to the screen. “You’ll be given a 30 minute window to begin. All at once. Entry clearance for five minutes. After that, the Watchtower security system goes live.” “And you won’t help us?” Dick asked, raising an eyebrow. “Absolutely not,” Bruce replied. “I’ll act like i dont know you’re there, unless the other Leaguers have discovered you.”

And so the game was on. The rules? Winner is whoever stays hidden the longest. sabotaging others is allowed as long as you havent been found. you may mess with the league to your heart's desires. Bruce wont take action or even acknowledge them unless other leaguers do.

Dick POV. The zeta tube opened silently beside the Justice League’s Watchtower, and the robins dropped in, all running off in different directions. The massive space station hummed with quiet power, sensors and monitors blinking in blue and green. They’ve only gotten thirty minutes before the alarms would reactivate. Enough time, Dick thought with a smirk. First order of business: find a secure spot. With years of experience as Nightwing, and a history of infiltrating high-security facilities, Dick moved swiftly, scanning for blind spots in camera feeds and sensor fields. The Watchtower’s security protocols were sophisticated, designed to detect even a single unauthorized microchip, Tim made sure of that. But he wasn’t just any intruder. Batman’s override meant he had limited access and a short window to disable as much as he could before systems rebooted. In a quiet hallway near the Justice League’s common area, Dick found the security hub, a wall of consoles and displays constantly flickering with data streams. Using his wrist computer, he quickly interfaced with the terminal, fingers flying over the virtual keyboard. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with,” he muttered. The Watchtower’s AI security system was impressive, with multi-layered firewalls and encrypted protocols that even Batman respected. But Dick had his own tricks, an amalgam of hacking skills learned from Oracle and Tim. Within minutes, he was rerouting some camera feeds to loop previous footage and injecting false sensor data to mask his movement. “Should keep them guessing for a while,” he said with a grin. Next came the tricky part: setting up camp. The Watchtower wasn’t designed for stealth camping, but Dick was adaptable. He slipped into the ventilation ducts, finding a tight crawlspace above the main observation deck. It was cramped but perfect for hiding and monitoring the activity below. He set up his comms receiver on a low power mode, just enough to listen but not give away his position. Time to wait and watch the chaos unfold. He chuckled quietly. “Let the games begin.”

Jason POV.

Jason Todd’s lips curled into a crooked grin the moment he materialized through the zeta tube. The Watchtower was a fortress of order and high-tech sophistication, but Jason saw it as a playground ripe for chaos. Thirty minutes before the alarms kick back on. Plenty of time to make things interesting. He flexed his fingers, itching to leave his mark. Jason moved like a shadow, his footsteps silent on the sleek floors. The Justice League was out on a mission, leaving the Watchtower eerily empty. Perfect. First order of business? Set some minor traps. He darted to the kitchen, grinning as he eyed the pristine food prep area. With a flick of his wrist, he swapped the labels on some juice containers and scattered a handful of salt where the sugar normally sat. A couple of coffee mugs he rearranged, one just slightly off balance, ready to fall off the counter if nudged, and so much more. Nothing that would cause real damage, but definitely enough to raise eyebrows. Next, he snuck into the common area. He moved some of the furniture just a few inches, chairs slightly askew, cushions flipped upside down, and rigged a small trip wire with a piece of spare cable from the maintenance closet. Nothing lethal, just a mild surprise for whoever wandered through next. Jason smirked. A little chaos goes a long way. But Jason’s favorite bit was saved for last. Wonder Woman’s quarters. He approached the door, heart beating a little faster than usual, not from nerves, but from a strange mix of admiration and excitement. Diana was his favorite hero. Her strength, honor, and no-nonsense attitude always fascinated him. Careful to avoid the pressure sensors, Jason cracked the door open just a sliver and peeked inside. The room was exactly how he imagined, a blend of ancient warrior’s simplicity and modern sophistication. A polished spear rested against the wall, the iconic tiara and bracelets glinting under the soft light. The smell of sandalwood lingered faintly in the air. Jason lingered for a moment, taking it all in. Then, he slipped away without a trace. Now, to find a hiding spot. Jason scouted the upper decks and found a storage bay filled with old League gear and unused supplies. Dark, cluttered, and with multiple exit points, perfect for a quick escape or setting traps if needed. He ducked inside, settling in behind a stack of crates. “Let them come find me,” he whispered, already plotting how to mess with the league andd his brother.

Tim POV. Tim Drake slipped through the zeta tube with barely a sound, landing softly on the metallic floor of the Watchtower’s lower level. A compact bag hung over one shoulder, meticulously packed with everything he’d need: energy drinks, snacks, his trusty toolkit, and, of course, a sleek laptop. “Thirty minutes before security kicks back in. Should be plenty of time,” Tim thought, already running through his plan. Unlike his brothers, Tim wasn’t just relying on stealth or sabotage. He knew the Watchtower’s security system inside and out, after all, he had been the one who helped code many of its protocols. The system was a masterpiece of layered encryption, but no system was perfect. He made his way quickly but cautiously to the maintenance room, tucked deep in a rarely accessed corner of the station. The room was filled with cables, panels, and emergency controls, the perfect hidden spot and a strategic advantage point. As he settled in, Tim pulled out his laptop, fingers flying over the keyboard. Screens popped up as he accessed the Watchtower’s security matrix. “Let’s see... disable the motion sensors in my vicinity, loop camera feeds in adjacent corridors, and set a few false positives to keep them chasing ghosts,” he muttered, systematically dismantling the surveillance around him. The hacking felt like second nature. The familiar rhythms of code and commands were a comforting contrast to the chaos his brothers would be causing elsewhere. Snacking on a protein bar and sipping an energy drink, Tim settled in to monitor the system, ready to respond if anyone got close. “Precision and patience,” he reminded himself. “The best Robin doesn’t just fight, he outthinks.” And with that, Tim vanished into the digital shadows of the Watchtower.

Damian POV.

Damian Wayne didn’t waste time. The zeta tube shimmered around him for only a moment before he was moving, sleek, silent, and purposeful. Unlike his brothers, who probably wasted precious minutes indulging in petty games or nostalgia, Damian had a clear objective. Victory. He slipped into the shadows, immediately identifying the overhead vent grating near the hallway junction. It took him less than six seconds to reach it, unscrew the bolts with a compact tool, and vanish into the ductwork like a phantom. “Only fools camp on the ground,” he thought with disdain. The Watchtower’s ventilation system was extensive, a labyrinthine network that wove above and between every major area of the station. Most importantly, it was outside the range of most biometric sensors and offered clear vantage points for observation and, when needed, sabotage. As he crawled deeper into the vents, Damian passed over the common area and glimpsed a flicker of movement below. Probably Todd, doing something immature. No doubt he'd leave evidence. “Amateur,” Damian muttered, unimpressed. Deeper still, he found what he was looking for: a wide junction above the Watchtower’s central data core. The duct opened up into a cross-section of airways, allowing easy escape in any direction. He unfolded a compact mat, securing it with suction clips inside the metal walls, and arranged his gear in orderly fashion. Smoke pellets, flash bombs, sleeping darts, a wristpad to monitor security feeds, and, more importantly, a small, encrypted communicator linked to the Watchtower’s maintenance channels. He activated a localized white-noise emitter, just strong enough to confuse nearby audio sensors. With everything in place, Damian sat cross-legged in the duct and exhaled slowly. “Let them play their little games. I will simply outlast them all.”

#ao3 #batman #dc comics #justice league #dick grayson #jason todd #tim drake #damian wayne #diana prince #clark kent #arthur curry #oliver queen #hal jordan #barry allen #dinah lance #bruce wayne #fanfic #batfam #dc robin

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vodika-vibes · 10 months ago

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Wait holy shit, anon from 2 seconds ago, hi!, I suddenly had another alpha-17 thought, imagine comforting him after his capture by Ventress and again a few weeks later after being wounded by Grievous. He puts up an impenetrable front but behind it he’s in pain and filled with self doubt and you remind him that it’s all worth it, he’s worth it in the end.

As You Are

Summary: After being tortured by Ventress, and then badly wounded by Grievous, Alpha-17 is confined to a bed under your care. Badly injured and convinced that he’s about to be Decommissioned for being unable to continue his duties, he’s lashing out at everyone trying to help him. Luckily, you’ve never been a shrinking violet.

Pairing: Pre Alpha-17 x F!Reader

Word Count: 775

Warnings: Medical stuff, but not detailed

A/N: I'm still not sure if this was a request, but I turned it into one because it's Alpha, lol.

Click HERE to be added to my Taglist

“Doctor,” You pause, your hand hovering over the door panel to Alpha-17’s hospital room when you’re stopped by one of your nurses. She’s an older woman, much older than you, and she seems to be fretting over something.

“Something wrong?” You ask.

“It’s…well,” She motions to the door you’re about to pass through, “He’s in a foul mood.”

You arch a single brow, “Well, yes. I would be too if I had been tortured, and then badly wounded. How are his cybernetics?”

“I…well, I’m not sure. He wouldn’t let me check.”

Your other brow raises to join the first, “He wouldn’t let you.”

“No, Doctor. When I tried he snapped at me.”

“So he’s probably in pain then.”

She shrugs, “Perhaps we should leave him to the Kaminoans?”

You shoot her a look dirty enough that she flinches away from you, “Thank you, Nurse. I can take it from here.”

“Uh…Yes, doctor.” You wait until she hurries away before you type in the door code and enter the room.

“I hear you’re terrorizing my nurses.” You announce as the door slides shut behind you, “Knock it off.”

“I don’t want your medical care.” Alpha bites out, pinning you with a fierce glare.

“Tough shit, you’re getting it anyway.” You walk over to him, and glance at the monitors to check his vitals, “How’s your pain?”

“Awful.”

“I need a number, Alpha.”

“You’re annoying.”

“Thanks, it was covered in medical school between cardiology and pulmonology.”

He shifts in the bed and winces, and you frown at him, “I’m fine.”

“Alpha, you currently have cybernetics running the length of your spine that will allow you to walk. You’re not fine.” You place a gentle hand on his shoulder, knowing that he’s going to hate it, but also knowing that he won’t lash out at you. “Let me take care of you.”

“Why bother?” He grouses, “They’re just going to decommission me.”

You sigh heavily. “They are not.”

He scowls at you, “I’ve known the longnecks my whole life—”

You hold up three fingers, “Point 1, Shaak Ti has forbidden decommissions. Point 2, even if she didn’t, the Kaminoans don’t decommission Alpha class clones. Point 3, even if you ignore those two points, they never would have allowed me to put a multi-million credit cybernetic system in you if they were going to decommission you.”

“...how many credits?”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re not paying for it.” You lightly tap his shoulder, “Anyway, will you let me take a look now?”

“I’m fine.” He repeats.

“Why are you being so difficult?”

A muscle in his jaw clenches, “What if I can’t do my job properly even with the cybernetics?”

“You will. As I understand it, Shaak Ti wants you training ARC Troopers.”

He scoffs, “So I can’t fight anymore.”

“Training the ARCs is an important job, Alpha.” You remind him, “They are the best, after all.” You step around the bed so you’re able to get a look at the cybernetics implanted in his spine.

“It’s not the same.”

“It is important though.” You lightly touch his skin and frown when you see the skin is inflamed. Quickly you put in an order for more antibiotics, and then you scan the cybernetics themselves, “Do you think lesser of Commander Colt for being an ARC trainer?”

He scoffs but doesn’t answer.

You walk back around him so that he’s facing you, “You just have to remember, this is all worth it in the end. It has to be.”

Alpha scans your face for a moment, “No one is going to thank you for this, you know that right?”

“I don’t do this for the accolades, Alpha. I do it because it’s the right thing to do.” You flash a wry smile, “Before all else, do no harm.”

Alpha sighs and sinks his head into his pillow, “I’m not worth all this.”

“You are to me.” You reach out and take his fingers in your hand and you squeeze them gently, “Will you let me help you?”

He’s quiet for a long moment, and then he squeezes your hand, “Yeah, I guess. Just you, though.”

“Spoiled.” You chide, “But fine, I’ll make a note that you refuse all medical care unless I’m the one giving it.” You untangle your hand from his and make a note in his chart, “Now. Are you in any pain?”

“Yeah, and my back feels hot.” He admits.

“Thank you, Alpha.” You turn your back to grab some pain medicine.

“I love you.” He mumbles.

“What was that?”

“I said you’re annoying.”

You laugh softly, and favor him with a warm smile, “So are you.”

@imabeautifulbutterfly @n0vqni @bad4amficideas @justiceandwar98 @Mira-Loves-Star-Wars

@tiredbi-peach @dukeoftheblackstar @trixie2023 @kimiheartblade @padawancat97

@falconfeather23435 @etod @bb8-99 @kiss-anon @continous-mistakes

@yoitsjay @liz-stat @cc--2224

#star wars #tcw #alpha-17 x reader #star wars fanfiction #x reader fanfiction #f!reader fic #answered asks

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crystalas · 3 months ago

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The Dad Alliance part 2

Eclipse was catching up on Parts and Service paper work and emails while keeping an eye on the boys’ readings, things seem to looking good with nothing outside of expected parameters. He paused for a moment when he noticed that Andy’s stress levels were spiking and then he got a warning of mild abrasions on his legs and arms.

“Huh?” he muttered he better check on that, might just be some rough play.

Then he heard it.

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!”

Eclipse did not realise he was moving until he found himself vaulting over a fence to follow Andy’s voice. There he found Jake and Andrew huddled together and a Moon Model Halloween decoration walking away with Andy over their shoulder with the poor kid looking like he was about to have a panic attack.

“GET YOUR HALLOWEEN REJECTED LOOKING ASS AWAY FROM MY KIDS!” he roared.

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Solar and Sun were standing nearby happily watching Dazzle as she ran around cooing over the castle before declaring that she will the princess of the forest and clambered inside to stake her birthright. Sun checked their cooler to make sure that they had everything for their picnic before pulling out two sodas and handing one to Solar.

“This is nice” Solar said. “I can see why you do this often with Dazzle”

“Heh, yeah Jack looked like he was having fun though we might need to tell him that he can’t climb up the trees with his dagger hands” Sun said.

“Or jump up on equipment, I’m going to have to check to see if the bridge’s brackets are ok after that…” Solar mused.

“None of that, we are having a family day out. You are not on the clock” Sun declared.

“Says the guy monitoring the children in the castle play area?”

“I help one kid find their mummy…” Sun began only to see Solar give him a look “Look being a responsible parent is different from being on the job. We can inform the park owners if it looks like Jack’s damaged anything ok?”

“Ok” they both took a sip of their soda and enjoyed the relaxed playful atmosphere of the park, for a grand total of two minutes.

“GET YOUR HALLOWEEN REJECTED LOOKING ASS AWAY FROM MY KIDS!” they heard someone roar and Solar sighed giving the soda back to Sun.

“That’ll be my son” he sighed wearily “Better get Dazzle in case we are going to be evicted from the premises” Sun smiled sadly and turned towards the castle. Solar followed Jack’s tracker to the big play structure to see a very strange sight, Eclipse holding a boy who was hugging him like he was a life preserver on open ocean, two boys huddled behind him and Jack standing there looking very confused. Even stranger was Eclipse seem to be comforting said clinging boy.

“I…I thought…he was gonna…gonna take me away…” the boy said between shaky breathes “I thought I was gonna…be…t…tra...trapped again…I don’t wanna…not again…please not again…”

“You’re safe, just breathe can you breathe for me? You need to let your systems cool down, ok?” Eclipse said softly one hand rubbing the boys back in a soothing pattern. “Now listen to me…” the boy looked up at him.

“I am NOT losing any of you again do you hear me? Did you really think after everything I haven’t put precautions in place in case you got taken? Let me tell you something I have twelve plans in place if anything happened to any of you, fourteen more for if you were taken off world. Each of you have an interdimensional tracker placed in your bodies, you could be on the other side of the multi-verse and I will still find you” he explained.

“I’m sorry” the boy blubbered.

“You’re okay, everyone is okay” he then glared at Jack. “Now what the hell is your problem? Why did you grab him?”

“I wanted to ask questions!” Jack exclaimed.

“By manhandling him?!”

“He kept running away!”

“Cos you were scaring him!”

“Not my fault!!!”

“Jack!” Solar called out and Jack turned to him,

“Hi DAD!” he declared happily.

“Can you please tell me what happened?”

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Dazzle had clambered into the castle giggling with glee at all the pretty carvings on the wall showing fairies, flowers, and all sort of forest creatures. She looked around and saw a throne and beamed happily already imagining the fantastic adventures Princess Daring Deer and her Pumpkin Knight could do.

“Oooh this castle is so pretty!” she heard someone coo and saw a black and white puppet walk in and rub one of the carvings she then turned to Dazzle. “Heeeeeey!”

Dazzle waved shyly.

“My name is Charlie what’s yours?”

“My name is Dazzle; I like your hair it’s all sparkly”

“Why thank you” she beamed putting her hand through her hair “I like your ribbons”

“Wanna play?” Dazzle asked.

“Yeah!”

“Ok I was thinking princesses and knights my friend Jack was gonna be the knight but he went off somewhere…” Dazzle explained.

“My dad…well not my real dad he’s my adoptive dad said that Princesses don’t really have any power in royal courts they’re kinda just there to be married off and look pretty…” Charlie said “We could be queens! They can do all sort of important stuff!”

“Yeah, but we can’t both be queens!” Dazzle retorted.

“Then I won’t be a queen I’ll be…your court magician!” Charlie declared.

“Yeah, I like that! That sounds cool”

“But I can only do pretend cos Eclipse says I’m not allowed to do magic without an adult around” Charlie stated

“Pretend is just as good!” Dazzle exclaimed “Wait you can do magic too?”

“Yeah. Can you do magic?”

“No but my daddy can!”

Charlie perked up at that, she had not heard of anyone else capable with magic so maybe this was her chance to she could find a teacher! That would one less thing for Eclipse to worry about and that would make him less grumpy!

“GET YOUR HALLOWEEN REJECTED LOOKING ASS AWAY FROM MY KIDS!” she heard Eclipse roar, speaking of grumpy she thought I better go see what that was about.

“Dazzle!” a voice called and Sun crawled in “Hey sweetie can you come with me for a minute?”

“Sunshine what are you doing here?” Charlie asked.

“Sunshine?” the Sunny Model replied.

“Never mind I have to go cos I think Eclipse is mad at someone”

“Eclipse?!”

And with that Charlie teleported away, leaving a very confused Sun and an amazed Dazzle.

“She really could do magic!” Dazzle gasped.

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“So, Dazzle mentioned that they were like her so you just decided to kidnap them?” Solar said trying to keep his composure after Jack just happily admitted in a public area that he wanted to take a child away for questioning.

“I was going to bring them to Sun and see if they were a relative” Jack stated, “They could be siblings or cousins to Dazzle, I needed to confirm with Sun”

Andy had calmed down at this point but was keeping a firm grip on Eclipse’s arm, the other boys were now just watching out of curiosity and to see if Eclipse was still going to rip this Jack o’ Moon a new one.

“There are better ways of going about that Jack you should have come to us first, now I think you need to do something don’t you?” Solar declared his arms crossed and giving him the dreaded dad look of disappointment.

“Okay…” he mumbled before walking over to Andy and Eclipse and knelt so he looked as non-threatening as possible. “I am sorry for scaring you, I was only going to ask you a question but then you started running and I thought we were playing tag… I did not mean to frighten you.”

“You’re not going to take me away?” Andy asked.

“What? No!” Jack cried out. “I mean it would depend on the circumstances, like if you were in danger or something!”

“Did you call that Eclipse guy your dad?” Jake asked.

“That guy is Solar” Eclipse exclaimed loudly. “And no, we are not related, he is a dimensional variant of me”

Sun and Dazzle then came running up and Jack skittered over to her.

“So, are we getting kicked out?” Sun asked.

“Aaaw Daddy, I want to stay here for a little while longer, we didn’t even get to have our picnic!” Dazzle cried out pulling at Sun’s jumper.

“Daddy?” Eclipse demanded looking at Jack and Dazzle and then at Sun and Solar. “Never thought you were the sort to want kids of your own, then again you did have a habit of never separating your home and work life” he chuckled, but before he could comment further Charlie suddenly appeared albeit on top of the swing set.

“Heeeeeey Eclipse, I heard you shouting everything okay?” she asked, Sun ran over gave a worried yelp before helping her down and Charlie smiled happily at him in thanks. She then saw Dazzle and the boys; Charlie tilted her head as she looked at Dazzle and then at her brothers giving each group a good stare.

“I thought so you’re a ghost kid too ain’t ya Dazzle?” she exclaimed happily.

“How did you…” Sun stuttered.

“I have super powers I can sense ghosts and stuff!” Charlie declared proudly.

“Wait a second…you said Dazzle is a ghost kid too. That would imply there are others” Solar said cautiously with Sun and Solar now staring at Eclipse with a silent demand for answers, Eclipse stared right back with no intention of giving the two anything.

“Okay you caught us; me, Andy and Jake are ghost kids happy?” Andrew declared in annoyance.

“Andrew!” Eclipse snapped.

“What? They have one of their own, they can’t give you any shit over it unless they want their own kid to be taken away” the boy stated calmly.

“He has a point dad” Jack admitted.

“Okay let’s start things over” Sun declared clapping his hands once to get everyone’s attention. “I’m Sun, this is Solar. The one that chased you and is very sorry about doing so is Jack and the faun and totally not a ghost kid is Dazzle”

“I’m Jake this one is Andrew and the one holding on to Eclipse is Andy, and Charlie is the black and white magic puppet we are also totally not ghost kids” Jake said pointing to each of them in turn.

“Are you guys like triplets? Which one is evil one?” Jack asked bluntly causing Solar to give a soft groan of embarrassment.

“Andrew” Jake and Andy said without hesitation to which Andrew just gave a shrug.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you all, how about in the way of an apology I treat everyone to ice cream, how does that sound?” Sun said which cause Dazzle and Charlie to bounce up and down with excitement.

“Hey if you’re paying” Eclipse muttered before looking down to Andy “Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah, I mean he didn’t mean to scare me so I guess I’m okay with it” Andy said softly.

“HORAY!” Jack shouted and with that they left the play area to the food court, it was not anything huge it was more aimed for people to bring picnics but there were a few food shacks one of which sold locally sourced ice-cream.

“So, what flavours does everyone want?” Sun asked cheerfully but paused and looked to Eclipse “Do they have any allergies I need to know about?”

“Not that I know about” he murmured.

“Can we even eat?” Jake asked.

“Let me check, hey Solar how is your stomach? Any issues?” Eclipse demanded, Solar who was reading out the options to Jack turned to look at him confused.

“Fine…why do you ask?”

“Then yeah you guys are able to eat, there shouldn’t be any problems” Eclipses said to Jake, he beamed happily at Eclipse before trotting off to go with Sun and the other to make their orders.

“Why did you ask me though?”

“I used you as a prototype for a working nano stomach in case I ever needed another source of energy.” He explained and Solar gave an angry growl.

“Why am I not surprised you used me as a guinea pig?” he growled.

“Consider it payment for bringing you back from the dead, given the circumstances you got a pretty good deal!”

There was an awkward silence between the two as the watch the others get their ice cream.

“So…Jack calls you dad and Dazzle calls Sun Daddy?” Eclipse asked.

“Yup”

“Never thought you were the sort to start a family, didn’t think Sun was your type either” he smirked.

“Oh, fuck off!” Solar snarled “it’s not like that!”

“Suuure” Eclipse chuckled.

“What about you? I can’t wait to hear the explanation as to why you have brought three boys and a child puppet to an adventure park!” Solar demanded, with that Eclipse just glared off into the distance.

“I did not adopt them; I did not take them they just…I don’t know came to me and before I knew it, I was looking after them. It all started when Andrew showed up and demanded I made him a body, I then found Andy and Jake stuck inside our dimension’s version of Stitch Wraith and well…Charlie is her own long story.” He grumbled watching each kid excitedly get their ice cream and Sun herding them back towards them. “Why did Sun ask if any of them had allergies? Their ghosts, not like they are going to die of an allergic reaction.”

“You’d be surprised” Solar said, “We found out that sometimes a soul will still react to those stimuli, Dazzle is like that with peanuts. Even though she does not have lungs she would still start wheezing and struggle to breathe if she eats anything with peanuts in it. God poor Sun was so freaked out that day”

“How does that work?” Eclipse asked his scientific mind and concerned father instincts both demanding more information.

“My guess, either she was constantly told that peanuts were bad for her or she might have had an extremely bad reaction when she was younger and it just stuck with her so much it imprinted not only on her mind but her soul as well. Which tracks when you think of how ghosts tend to cling to stuff from their previous lives.” Solar explained. “And as much as Moon and I would love to study that phenomena further Sun would kill us if we tried.”

“A pity”

“Look Eclipse I got a strawberry and cream cone!” Charlie declared showing him the said treat “It’s got bits of actual strawberry in it!”

“Nice” he said, he noted that Andy and Andrew both got chocolate mint and Jake got caramel, Dazzle was already tucking into her vanilla ice cream that was coated in rainbow sprinkles and Jack had something purple?

“Look Dad I got lavender ice cream!” Jack explained as Sun handed Solar his ice cream as well.

“Sounds…tasty?”

“Turns out the ice cream makers here like to experiment now and again” Sun stated before handing Eclipse a vanilla ice cream who took it tentatively. They all sat down watching the world go by eating their treats while all three solar models thinking about how weird their lives had turned out despite their completely different views on life and roads they have taken in said lives they had somehow all ended up adopting kids and finding themselves here, now united by their kids love to climb on stuff and eat frozen treats. If you had asked Sun if he could see himself sitting with Eclipse eating an ice cream two years ago, he would have probably slapped you.

But now…

“Andrew what’s wrong?” Dazzle asked quietly “Why are you crying?”

That got Eclipse’s attention and he turned to see Andrew hunched over trying to hide the fact that he had tears streaming down his face. He checked his monitoring programmes and there was no indications of pain or malfunction, he started to check all the readings to try and find the cause of the problem when Andrew spoke up quietly.

“I know it’s just ice cream…just average ice cream…but, it’s been so long since I’ve eaten anything, tasted anything…” he whispered. “I don’t know I just got really happy about it”

“That’s okay!” Dazzle chirped up and gently patted him on the back “I felt like that too after I had mac and cheese at Sun’s house”

“Yeah, I can’t believe I forgot how good food taste and feels” Jake added, this started a whole conversation about food and what their favourites were.

“My favourite is sponges!” Jack said.

“Yeah, Sponge cakes are nice, I like the chocolate fudge myself what’s your favourite flavour?” Andy asked.

“I like gristle” Jack said and no he did not elaborate.

The three dads watched this with interest, Sun and Solar happy that their kids had found like minded friends and Eclipse was now dreading the fact his kids were probably going to start asking him to cook stuff. This fear was further put in place when Charlie declared that she wanted to try Sun’s amazing Mac and Cheese to the agreement of the others.

“Well, we’ll discuss that later but right now why don’t you finish your ice creams and go play?” Solar said, Jack all but inhaled his and bounced up and down while waiting for the others to finish. Once they had they all ran off back into the play area Charlie and Dazzle planning on playing in castle and the boys playing Tag with Jack.

“Socialising is important for children’s development” Eclipse mused out-loud.

“Yup its why we came out here” Sun said.

“I would like to propose an exchange”

Solar and Sun looked at him confused as Eclipse turned to them.

“I propose that my children go to your house and try this Mac and Cheese and engage with activities with your two kids, in exchange you can bring them to my dimension and I will set up some activities for them and my children there. What time would best suit your schedules?” he said, there was a pause before Sun burst out laughing.

“What?” Eclipse demanded angrily he had tried his best to sound respectful and polite!

“You made a playdate sound like a business deal!” Sun chuckled.

“But what Sun is trying to say is that yes, we would love for Charlie and the boys to come over for a play date, and if things go well we could make it a regular thing. I can understand having four kids makes it hard to get stuff done?”

“You have no idea” Eclipse grumbled.

“So, we can make an arrangement of regular play dates so each parent gets some time to themselves, we can work out a rota later” Solar said. Eclipse thought out it, this deal would work out for him as it would give the kids times to explore stuff that he did not have the experience or knowledge in like cooked food and games and it would allow him time to work on projects that require strict concentration.

“Very well I believe this alliance can work”

“We can call it the Dad Alliance!” Sun chuckled.

#daycare attendant #sun and moon fnaf #sun and moon show #eclipse and puppet show #dazzlethedeer

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