#online ethical hacking course

[hackercomputerschoolus-blog]

Learn ethical hacking online with Hacker computer school: the definitive guide

Cybersecurity is an essential in this digital world. Cyberattacks, data breaches, and hacking incidents have increased manifold, and along with these rising incidents, there has been a significant rise in the demand for ethical hackers. If you are a one who loves entering into such an exciting field, learning ethical hacking is an outstanding place to start from. Hacker Computer School stands tall, providing live classes, as well as recorded classes that you can access from anywhere in the world.

Why Learn Ethical Hacking? Before diving into the specifics of the Hacker Computer School, let’s quickly explore why ethical hacking is a valuable skill in today’s world.

Cybersecurity Jobs are in Demand: Just as technology evolves, so do the methods of cybercriminals. Ethical hackers, also known as white-hat hackers, identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. Therefore, this is a very sought-after skill.

Lucrative Career Opportunities: Ethical hackers receive a very good salary in financial, healthcare, government, and technology sectors. An ethical hacker with the right set of skills and proper certification can command some very excellent remunerations and enjoy job stability.

Hands-on Training: Ethical hacking is much more than just a theoretical science; it’s much more about practical skills and experiences. Training in ethical hacking means experiencing real-world scenarios and practicing the art of spotting vulnerabilities, securing networks, and protecting sensitive data. Why Hacker Computer School for Ethical Hacking? Hacker Computer School is one of the best online websites to learn ethical hacking. Here’s why: 1. Live Classes with Expert Instructors Hacker Computer School allows you to enjoy live classes in which you can interact with your instructors in real time. Such instructors are not only teachers; they are experienced cybersecurity professionals who have worked on hacking projects. The live classes allow you to ask questions, clear doubts, and participate in discussions that improve your understanding of the course. There are many benefits offered through live classes.

Interaktive learning: Interaktion with lecturers und fellow students in real time Personalized attention: Address the questions and troubleshoot issues live

Dynamic learning: On the latest trends in the field of cybersecurity and ethical hacking

2. Pre-recorded classes for adaptive learning Hacker Computer School also provides you with recorded classes so you can learn at your own time. If you could not attend a class session or you want to hear it again, you can watch the recorded sessions. In this case, this style is very ideal for persons with other commitments or personal preferences that make them study at one’s own pace.

The advantages of the recorded classes are:

One can learn at any convenient time and place. Replay and review: Replay the lessons as many times you need to ensure that the most important concepts are in your head. Self-directed learning: Your learning experience is based on your schedule.

3. Hands-On Practical Experience Ethical hacking is more practical and not just a theory. Hacker Computer School has labs, virtual environments, and real-life scenarios that will put your skills to the test. Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, ethical hacking tools, and network security protocols will be learned in this curriculum.

4. Broad Curriculum Hacker Computer School has an all-rounded curriculum which is inclusive of all aspects necessary for ethical hacking. Whether just starting, or you find yourself in the need to heighten already existing skills. The programs at the computer school are streamlined to ensure not only that you get where you are, but also take them through various advanced levels.

Some key topics you can expect in your studies consist of;

Introduction to Ethical Hacking: understanding the basics, legal implications, and ethical considerations.

Networking fundamentals: Learn about IP addresses, TCP/IP protocols, DNS, firewalls, and much more.

Footprinting and reconnaissance: Techniques for collecting information on a target.

Penetration testing: Testing network security by simulating cyberattacks

Web application security: learn how vulnerabilities in web applications occur and how to strengthen it

Cryptography: Learn about encryption and decryption techniques that can protect information.

Security tools: Master industry-standard tools like Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, and Burp Suite.

5. Learn from Anywhere The best aspect of Hacker Computer School is that you can learn anywhere in the world. You don’t need to be at any specific location; you may be sitting at home, inside a coffee shop, or on a vacation, yet you’ll just need a connection to the internet. This means you can then access live classes, recordings of lessons, and hand-on labs. It really is suitable for students and professionals, or anyone desiring a career change towards cybersecurity. Course format and Certification The courses at Hacker Computer School are designed to take you from beginner to advanced level. Upon completion of the course, you will be rewarded with certification, which is quite helpful in your resume and proof of your expertise in ethical hacking.

Certification benefits you in the following aspects:

Gain credibility in the cybersecurity industry.

Your chances of getting a job are improved, and your potential for salary increases. Show off your skills to potential employers. Why Online Learning is the Future of Ethical Hacking

While there is much to be said for the traditional classroom, online learning offers flexibility, accessibility, and an awful lot of resources that can meet the needs of the students interested in ethical hacking. On such online platforms as Hacker Computer School, students can:

Learn at their own pace: Online courses enable one to learn at their pace, hence it becomes easier to balance other commitments. Global access to experts: You get to learn from the best teachers and security experts in the world. Connect with others: There usually are forums and discussion boards on the online platform where you can connect with other learners, share your ideas, and seek assistance.

Ethical hacking is among the most valuable skills in the ever-growing field of cybersecurity. Hacker Computer School’s live and recorded classes will bring you flexibility and expert guidance that will help you master ethical hacking and drive a successful career in cybersecurity.

Hacker Computer School offers practical, hands-on experience and full curriculum at the feet of top-flight instructors. That makes it extremely easy to learn ethical hacking from anywhere in the globe. Whether you are a professional or just an amateur, there always is something to learn there in ethical hacking.

Getting started today can be achieved by taking that first stride towards becoming an ethical hacker with Hacker Computer School.

Official website - Online Cyber Secyrity Training Live - CEEH | KLSFP | MCSD | Black Hat | Python 101

Official website - Home | Cyber Security Course

[jollyfurynerd]

Ethical Hacking Online Course

Protect digital systems with Ethical Hacking Online Course by 4Achievers! Learn network security, penetration testing, and ethical hacking tools. Get practical knowledge, certification, and 100% placement assistance through online expert-led sessions.

[smartzett]

Best Cyber Security Courses in UAE – Smartzett Academy

 Upskill your career with Cyber Security Courses in UAE at Smartzett Academy. Our training by industry experts includes ethical hacking, network security, and risk management, imparting you with coveted skills. Obtain industry-recognized certifications and practical experience to lead the digital security industry. Join now!

[olivergisttv]

The Best Online Platforms for Learning Ethical Hacking (Legally Becoming the Sherlock Holmes of Cybersecurity)

Want to learn how to hack… for good? Ethical hacking is your ticket to being the cool cyber-whiz that saves the day rather than causes chaos. If the idea of spotting security weaknesses and preventing breaches makes you feel like a digital superhero, you’re in the right place. But before you go all Mr. Robot, you need to get some serious training under your belt. The good news? There are tons of…

[fated-normal-767]

important thing to understand about me is that I am completely fucking unhinged. Many forget this. It might surprise you but people forget this Often.

[itcourses-stuff]

Join Cloud computing Course and get 100% Job click here www.jetking.com

[brillica-design]

Cyber Security Training in Dehradun

Looking to delve into the world of cybersecurity? Brillica Services in Dehradun offers top-notch Cyber Security Training in Dehradun, including online courses. Elevate your skills with our Ethical Hacking Course in Dehradun, recognized as the best in the region. Explore the realm of cybersecurity with us and gain expertise in ethical hacking tools. Secure your future in this dynamic field by enrolling in the best Cyber Security Course in Dehradun with Brillica Services. Your gateway to a secure and rewarding career awaits!

[eduvatechdm]

“To beat a hacker, think like one” Ethical hacker Not leaves behind any evidence that they were there. Ethical hackers earn ₹3,18,370 and above per month. We prepare for (CEH), (OSCP), (and CPT) Certification for newbies to professionals. Get hold of us today.

Contact us: +91 9315519124 / +91 8287266809 Email: eduvatechofficial@gmail.com Website: https://www.eduvatech.com/

#learningopportunity#studynoida#learning #learningindias

[akhilamidhun]

[ccasociety66]

Ethical Hacking Course Online In Jaipur -

If you are searching for an Ethical Hackers Academy then you should be join Cyber Crime Awareness Society. Cyber Crime Awareness Society is one of the Best Ethical Hacking Course Online In Jaipur. Cyber Crime Awareness Society is IT Consulting Company managed by Ethical Hackers & IT professionals, working with Police Agencies and Cyber Crime Cell of Government in India. It is also backed by a team of Experts working with RAW, CBI, ATS, IB and Cyber Crime Cell with an aim to create India the safest place of internet in the World.

[samavetah]

Empower Your Cybersecurity Career with an Ethical Hacking Course in Kolkata

Introduction: In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for businesses and organizations. To counter the rising tide of cyber threats, there's a growing demand for ethical hackers, also known as white-hat hackers, who can identify vulnerabilities in systems and help strengthen digital defenses. If you're looking to enter the exciting world of ethical hacking, enrolling in an ethical hacking course in Kolkata could be your key to a promising career.

Why Choose Ethical Hacking Training in Kolkata?

Thriving IT Industry: Kolkata is emerging as a significant player in India's Information Technology (IT) landscape. With numerous IT companies and startups operating in the city, the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals is on the rise. By undertaking ethical hacking training in Kolkata, you position yourself advantageously in this thriving job market.

Comprehensive Curriculum: Ethical hacking courses in Kolkata are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats effectively. The curriculum typically covers areas such as penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, network security, and ethical hacking tools and techniques.

Expert Instructors: Reputable ethical hacking training institutes in Kolkata employ seasoned instructors who are certified ethical hackers themselves. Their industry experience and expertise ensure that you receive top-notch training and practical insights into the world of cybersecurity.

Hands-On Learning: Ethical hacking is a highly practical field. Therefore, ethical hacking courses in Kolkata emphasize hands-on learning experiences. You'll have the opportunity to conduct real-world penetration tests, simulate cyberattacks, and learn how to secure networks and systems effectively.

Certification and Career Support: Upon successful completion of your ethical hacking course, you can obtain industry-recognized certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). These certifications significantly enhance your credibility as a cybersecurity professional. Many training institutes also offer career support services, including job placement assistance, interview preparation, and resume building.

Conclusion: The field of ethical hacking offers an exciting and rewarding career path, and Kolkata provides an ideal setting to embark on this journey. With a booming IT industry, comprehensive training programs, experienced instructors, and a commitment to hands-on learning, ethical hacking courses in Kolkata are your gateway to a successful career in cybersecurity. Protecting digital assets has never been more critical, and ethical hackers play a crucial role in securing our digital world. Enroll in an ethical hacking course in Kolkata today and become a guardian of the digital realm.

[ethicalhackinghub121]

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Bluesky and enshittification

NEXT WEEKEND (November 8-10), I'll be in TUCSON, AZ: I'm the GUEST OF HONOR at the TUSCON SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION.

I would like to use Bluesky. They've done a bunch of seriously interesting technical work on moderation and ranking that I truly admire, and I've got lots of friends there who really enjoy it.

But I'm not on Bluesky and I don't have any plans to join it anytime soon. I wrote about this in 2023: I will never again devote my energies to building up an audience on a platform whose management can sever my relationship to that audience at will:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/06/fool-me-twice-we-dont-get-fooled-again/

When a platform can hold the people you care about or rely upon hostage – when it can credibly threaten you with disconnection and exile – that platform can abuse you in lots of ways without losing your business. In other words, they can enshittify their service:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/17/hack-the-planet/#how-about-a-nice-game-of-chess

I appreciate that the CEO of Bluesky, Jay Graber, has evinced her sincere intention never to enshittify Bluesky and I believe she is totally sincere:

https://www.wired.com/story/bluesky-ceo-jay-graber-wont-enshittify-ads/

But here's the thing: all those other platforms, the ones where I unwisely allowed myself to get locked in, where today I find myself trapped by the professional, personal and political costs of leaving them, they were all started by people who swore they'd never sell out. I know those people, the old blogger mafia who started the CMSes, social media services, and publishing platforms where I find myself trapped. I considered they friends (I still consider most of them friends), and I knew them well enough to believe that they really cared about their users.

They did care about their users. They just cared about other stuff, too, and, when push came to shove, they chose the worsening of their services as the lesser of two evils.

Like: when your service is on the brink of being shut down by its investors, who demand that you compromise on privacy, or integrity, or quality, in some relatively small way, are you really going to stand on principle? What about all the users who won't be harmed by the compromise, but will have their communities and online lives shattered if you shut down the company? What about all the workers who trusted you, whose family finances will be critically imperilled if you don't compromise, just a little. What about the "ecosystem" partners who've bet on your service, building plug-ins, add-ons and services that make your product better? What about their employees and their employees' families?

Maybe you tell yourself, "If I do this, I'll live to fight another day. I can only make the service better for its users if the service still exists." Of course you tell yourself that.

I have watched virtually every service I relied on, gave my time and attention to, and trusted, go through this process. It happened with services run by people I knew well and thought highly of.

Enshittification can be thought of as the result of a lack of consequences. Whether you are tempted by greed or pressured by people who have lower ethics than you, the more it costs to compromise, the fewer compromises you'll make.

In other words, to resist enshittification, you have to impose switching costs on yourself.

That's where federation comes in. On Mastodon (and other services based on Activitypub), you can easily leave one server and go to another, and everyone you follow and everyone who follows you will move over to the new server. If the person who runs your server turns out to be imperfect in a way that you can't endure, you can find another server, spend five minutes moving your account over, and you're back up and running on the new server:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/04/pick-all-three/#agonism

Any system where users can leave without pain is a system whose owners have high switching costs and whose users have none. An owner who makes a bad call – like removing the block function say, or opting every user into AI training – will lose a lot of users. Not just those users who price these downgrades highly enough that they outweigh the costs of leaving the service. If leaving the service is free, then tormenting your users in this way will visit in swift and devastating pain upon you.

That not only helps you steer clear of rationalizing your way into a bad compromise: it also stops your investors and other people with leverage over you from pressuring you into taking actions that harm your users. These devils only sit on your shoulder, whispering temptations and threats, because they think that you can make things worse without spoiling their investment. They're not cruel, they're greedy. They will only insist on enshittification that they believe they can profit from. If they understand that forcing you to enshittify the service will send all your users packing and leave them with nothing, they will very likely not force you to wreck your service.

And of course, if they are so greedy that they force your hand anyway, then your users will be able to escape. Your service will be wrecked and you'll be broke, which sucks for you, but you're just one person and your pain is vastly outweighed by the relief for the millions of people who escape your service when it goes sour.

There's a name for this dynamic, from the world of behavioral economics. It's called a "Ulysses Pact." It's named for the ancient hacker Ulysses, who ignored the normal protocol for sailing through the sirens' sea. While normie sailors resisted the sirens' song by filling their ears with wax, Ulysses instead had himself lashed to the mast, so that he could hear the sirens' song, but could not be tempted into leaping into the sea, to be drowned by the sirens.

Whenever you take a measure during a moment of strength that guards against your own future self's weakness, you enter into a Ulysses Pact – think throwing away the Oreos when you start your diet.

There is no such thing as a person who is immune to rationalization or pressure. I'm certainly not. Anyone who believes that they will never be tempted is a danger to themselves and the people who rely on them. A belief you can never be tempted or coerced is like a belief that you can never be conned – it makes you more of a mark, not less.

Bluesky has many federated features that I find technically admirable. I only know the CEO there slightly, but I have nothing but good opinions of her. At least one of the board members there, Mike Masnick, is one of my oldest friends and comrades in the fights for user rights. We don't agree on everything, but I trust him implicitly and would happily give him the keys to my house if he needed a place to stay or even the password for my computer before I had major surgery.

But even the best boards can make bad calls. It was just a couple years ago that we had to picket to stop the board of ISOC – where I had several dear old friends and comrades – from selling control of every .ORG domain to a shadowy hedge-fund run by mustache-twirling evil billionaires:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/how-we-saved-org-2020-review

Bluesky lacks the one federated feature that is absolutely necessary for me to trust it: the ability to leave Bluesky and go to another host and continue to talk to the people I've entered into community with there. While there are many independently maintained servers that provide services to Bluesky and its users, there is only one Bluesky server. A federation of multiple servers, each a peer to the other, has been on Bluesky's roadmap for as long as I've been following it, but they haven't (yet) delivered it.

That was worrying when Bluesky was a scrappy, bootstrapped startup with a few million users. Now it has grown to over 13 million users, and it has taken on a large tranche of outside capital:

https://fediversereport.com/on-bluesky-and-enshittification/

Plenty of people have commented that now that a VC is holding Bluesky's purse-strings, enshittification will surely follow (doubly so because the VC is called "Blockchain Capital," which, at this point, might as well be "Grifty Scam Caveat Emptor Capital"). But I don't agree with this at all. It's not outside capital that leads to enshittification, it's leverage that enshittifies a service.

A VC that understands that they can force you to wreck your users' lives is always in danger of doing so. A VC who understands that doing this will make your service into an empty – and thus worthless – server is far less likely to do so (and if they do, at least your users can escape).

My publishing process is a lot of work and adding another service to it represents a huge amount of future labor:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/13/two-decades/#hfbd

But I would leap into Bluesky and gladly taken on all that extra work, every day – if I knew that I couldn't get trapped there.

I don't know why Bluesky hasn't added the federation systems that would enable freedom of exit to its service. Perhaps there are excellent technical reasons to prioritize rolling out the other systems they've created so far. Frankly, it doesn't matter. So long as Bluesky can be a trap, I won't let myself be tempted. My rule – I don't join a service that I can't leave without switching costs – is my Ulysses Pact, and it's keeping me safe from danger I've sailed into too many times before.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/ulysses-pacts/#tie-yourself-to-a-federated-mast

[emrikae]

aot cast modern au jobs in my head:

eren: cybersecurity specialist. i feel like erens one of those kids that suck in subjects like lang-lit or fucking geography but have an impressive talent in anything techi. i think growing up eren was a competitive gamer and i imagine him being pretty rich in the sense where doctor daddy grisha and also big bro zeke are always spoiling his brat ass with the latest technology. he gets so good, he initially goes into uni wanting to become a game designer but after a brief fallout with his dad when he dropped out and eventually had his allowance cut (a period where i think eren dips into underground hacking and also modelling?) he falls upon the sexy salary in cybersecurity (and saw how thrilling- and damn easy !for him! - the job is) he changed course. i think eren eventually builds his own successful company and becomes one of those rich folks who say that school aint shit.

mikasa: president of a major sports team. mikasa takes over pretty young (like early 30s) after old uncle kenny was involved in some ‘reiss scandal’. initially mikasa was labelled ‘princess’ (derogatory) by dumb angry hooligans who thought a woman would curse their current standing, jokes on them cus that same season the club broke their 20 year curse by reaching the championships. i also think old pictures of gothkasa gets leaked on the internet but it only brought her more praise. but i actually dont think mikasa stays in this job for very long, shes always wanted a quiet simple form of income anyway so when her baby brother comes of right age and maturity she passes the baton to him and lays back as just a shareholder before shes even 40. i also believe mikasa in another universe wouldve loved to be an archivist.

armin: celebrity marine biologist/activist that went viral online during lockdown. he gets his own fanbase and is termed ‘biologist bae’ cus of his cute looks. a tv producer who fell into his corner pretty much fell in love with him after seeing armin deliver a spiel about endangered dugongs. invites him to a bunch of talk shows and the viewership goes so high (a large portion of it being teenage fangirls who want to ‘save the ocean’ too!) he manages to score his own show where he eventually meets his future wife.

annie: senior tv writer who got with armin after working with him on his show. she usually works on sporty reality shows and competitions even though shes a big time introvert. known for her sharp dont fuck with me work ethic, annie gags at how easily she fell into ‘biologist baes’ charm, hates how shes just like the 14 year old fangirls who try to sneak into their shoots. but anyways, annies the ace at her job been going hard for about 15 years but ultimately decides to retire early after having her second child and really liking how ‘biologist bae’ was making enough dough for the whole family.

sasha: influencer cus shes so pretty and fun. was a design major so all her vids have a ‘aesthetic’. now she prettily promotes lifestyle hacks for all the girlies. she also has a set of vids called “what my chef husband cooked for me today” . i think also further on she ends up being one of those moms who shoots vlogs and reviews with their kids.

jean: jeans a classy guy with artistic talents so i imagine him being a successful automotive designer for a luxurious car company. a mommas boy, he used his first fat pay-check to buy his mom a sleek ride thats a little too fast for someone her age. dudes insta page is what you’d expect from a posh car enthusiast with flashy posts of either him, his car, his mom or all 3.

connie: real estate party man. he really climbed his way up and becomes a man of many stories, friends with everyone and plenty of connections. the old hustle got him familiar with the best locations in the city, and now with his excellent salesmanship dude manages to sell at least 3 huge properties a week. i also feel like connies one of those dudes to finally settle down in his 40s -50s (with someone half his age).

historia: i believe queenbee was made for wedding planning. she has her own company before her first job ever but damn is she good at it. being brought up filthy rich, historia is familiar with the highest quality of things, knows whats on the market that only the small percentage of rich people know and will get clients their dream wedding to a t. moreover, she also loves to play cupid (canon!) and is always up to planning her friends weddings (and baby showers, and birthdays parties, and…)

ymir: i imagine ymir being on the board of directors for a bunch of ngos. she had a tough upbringing, was probably moved around from one home to another and could see how hard life is for anyone working at minimum wage. she grew up to be a little spitfire in school, hadnt taken it seriously until she reached senior year and bonded with a school staff named Ms Ymir Fritz. With the wisdom and kindness she learnt from her old teacher, ymir wanted to pay it forward and decided to make a living helping those in need.

reiner: idk why, but i feel like reiners a softie at heart and i imagine him having a nice cozy candy shop. probably fighting old childhood demons and the parental neglect he faced, his cute little shop comes as part of his healing journey to compensate what he missed out on in his youth. its sweet (but a little heartbreaking) that reiners favourite part about his job is getting to witness and be a part of the joy that emerges between families when they enter his shop.

bertholdt: a nurse just cus i think bertholdt would know how to be gentle with the patients. hes got a soft way of speaking that makes vulnerable people feel safe and comfortable. hes also wildly knowledgeable in flexibility and keeping your muscles in good shape that he conducts morning stretches and sometimes yoga in one of their recreational halls.

[merryfortune]

Nepo Babies and Ethics in Academia

Written for the Femslashfete on Dreamwidth

Prompt: Jealous

Title: Nepo Babies and Ethics in Academia: Unsuccessfully Leveraging Such Allegations Against a Genuinely Kind and Intelligent Researcher (a report by Cara Liss)

Ship: Cara Liss/Sonia

Fandom: Pokemon

Word Count: 3,424

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Tags: Developing Relationship, One-Sided Relationship, Rivalry, Jealousy

   The annual Academic Pokemon Conventional, or AcaMon Con as it is called to its hardcore fans, is the most prestigious and exciting weekend of the year for ivory wall academics and dime a dozen nerds alike. 

   Cara Liss was certainly excited. She had fantastic ideas which could shake up the status quo. She was going to dust off the ideas of old which were dated and generally considered stuffy or fuddy-duddy. She just needed someone to listen, to give her a book deal or at least a microphone and a stage.

   Of which there were plenty. Especially at the AcaMon Con. 

   Cara Liss wandered the convention hall with her arms folded, her nose turned up, and her lower lip extended in a critical pout. She had so many opinions. There were so many hacks and jobbers out here. It was terrible. It was all slop. Where was the intellectual wonderland gone? She remembered it as being from childhood.

   She had dreamed about attending AcaMon Con since she was a child and this year, she could finally afford a ticket.

   Yes, afford. Turns out getting a bunch of totally legitimate degrees online through distance education is not the economically wise decision some would make it out to be versus traditional, sit-down, in-person classes. But the outcome was the same. It was a tough job market out there for anyone, let alone those with Masters and Bachelors behind them.

   Of course, Cara Liss had tried other avenues, too, in order to secure her attendance to AcaMon Con, too. There was more than one way to get the foot in the door, after all. However, they didn’t hand out freebies to anybody. Trust, Cara Liss had tried. She tried to get a stall holding ticket but her application was rejected. She tried to get in as a volunteer, too, but they were at capacity for that, too. 

   So, an ordinary ticket like every other plebeian. Which sucked. Because Cara Liss had the most superior opinions out of anywhere, she could have been running this place like it was the Navy if they had taken her upon any of her offers to help out. 

   That stall over there was trite. Everyone knows Staryu came from space so there’s no point investigating which ocean depths they live at. And this one here was pedestrian. Obviously it’s bad to expose Aggron to seawater. That one may as well be child’s play. Berry growth rates have little to no bearing on the attraction of Burmy species. It was utterly insulting, that a woman like her was rejected just so these glue eaters could have a place at the table. These sites and shows were all headed by men, too, that wasn’t lost on Cara Liss as she walked around. Misogyny never sleeps. 

   And when it didn’t? Well, it was a clear nepotism hire.

   Cara Liss had done well to evade this particular stall as she went up and down the various corridors inside of the big, grey warehouse that they hosted AcaMon Con in. The different stalls livened it up with their catchy slogans and educational wares. But there was one listed stall in the map which made Cara Liss’ stomach turn when she saw who was spearheading it.

   Sonia’s stall on, well, everything that had transpired last year at the height of the Pokemon League. 

   It was flashy. It was current. It was incredibly popular given that there were still so many unanswered questions about Legendary Pokemon to investigate. Cara Liss certainly had her theories about what had happened that day. Sure, she was all the way over in Stow-On-Side when it went down on live television but no one wanted to hear what she had noticed about it because she hadn’t been there in person. Stupid. It just made her unbiased.

   Especially since the leading expert on that event was, gasp, shock and horror, was Sonia Magnolia. The proof of how nepotism shaded her popularity in this budding field of historical and scientific significance was in her family name: Magnolia.

   Cara Liss saw it so clearly and it drove her mad. How did no one else see it? Putting two and two together? Sonia Magnolia was a rising star in the world of peer reviewed research papers purely because she was an industry plant. Her grandmother’s influence was obvious. She nefariously put her granddaughter there close to the day everything blew up to give her something to do.

   She was so ditsy and green behind the ears. It made Cara Liss sick in every TV interview that she did. She had such Unovan influence, too, that it had ruined her good old Galar accent. Gross! She wore clothes totally inappropriate for a white collar setting, too, with garish acrylic fingernails and hair accessories. Stick to trousers and blouses like everyone else, lady.

   And getting away from picking apart her appearance and speech, her writing simply was not very good. It was full of purple prose and absurd leaps in logic. Cara Liss couldn’t get through any of her essays without some copious drinking. Her research was shallow at best and her conclusions were trivial. She didn’t push the envelope whatsoever, just pandering to the masses and the broadest audience possible. It lacked risk and ergo, lacked resolve. Cara Liss truly couldn’t stand that. 

   Yet somehow, Galar was starstruck by her. Sonia had captivated academics, researchers, and even the average layperson alike.

   The very same people who turned their backs on Cara Liss. The people who laughed at her and made fun of her. It really got underneath Cara Liss’ skin. But she wasn’t jealous. She just wanted ethics in academics. 

   Sonia’s stall was everything that Cara Liss predicted it would be. Overpopulated and overrated.

   She had her little assistant, the drop-out little brother of the previous Champion, scurried about like her Skwovet. She had a stack of papers that she was reading from as she gave a lecture. Like everyone else in the building. She had her own spin, of course. 

   The topic of her lecture was, of course, what put her on the map. She was the foremost expert in it - as the only person in it. Something Cara Liss knew a thing or two about. She was recounting her experience of the day, corroborating it to the various mythology of Galar and marrying superstition to science by drawing upon electrical surge reports and more. She weaved a tale which, to the undiscerning eye, was masterful and exhilarating.

   But Cara Liss knew better. She just knew she did.

   Cara Liss stood in the crowd. This was, by far, the stall which had attracted the most amount of attention. She was just another face in the crowd as Sonia spoke passionately, mostly from memory and only occasionally glancing at her notes - or at people. Her gaze bounced around and even landed at Cara Liss’ judgemental stare. That didn’t last long. She got scared off.

   Her voice was thrown off kilter ever so slightly from how intense Cara Liss’ gaze was. But no one seemed to notice. Sonia recovered just fine, too, so she could even blame it on interference from a microphone. It was a moment with no deeper meaning.

   In the tank of her own head, however, Cara Liss was blowing it well out of proportion as she kept up with Sonia’s lecture. She had come in late but got the gist pretty easily from the context that Sonia provided with her stall decoration. She had photos up of last year and different graphs of electricity usage.

   Cara Liss ran the simulations and crunching the numbers, comparing Sonia’s speech to her own theories. She disagreed with that, maybe could compromise on this. She chewed her lip. Her brow furrowed. Everything about Sonia’s presentation irritated Cara Liss.

   Sonia’s stall was bubbly and cutesy. Just like her turtleneck underneath her lab coat. Give her a few more years and maybe she would have earned the prestige that she had come into. No, had been born into. Cara Liss would like to see Sonia do something actually impressive first. For now, they were just getting the air puffed up versions of her diary.

   Boring. 

   Everything just irritated Cara Liss. Sonia. The over-priced convention food. The amount of people here. How dull and dreary most the stalls were. This wasn’t at all the exciting and prestigious Pokemon Academic Convention that she had dreamed of. Full of like-minded people and enthralling ideas to be shared and debated. It was over-commercialised and clearly played favourites. 

   Cara Liss sighed. She needed some air.

   So she gave up. She had spent the best part of the day here, had seen everything worth seeing. There was no point dragging her heels. She had seen most of the conventional floor. She hated half of what she saw and was indifferent to everything else.

   Outside, the weather was plain and wintry. It wasn’t necessarily miserable but compared to inside the conventional hall, it was cold and dull. Cara Liss found a little spot to stand and watch the world go by from in the parking lot. The white lines on the asphalt were faded, it got a decent view of the twilight that encroached over a skyline full of trees and blocky buildings.

   Lonely, Cara Liss rummaged through her bag so she could find her PokeBalls. They were all haphazardly labelled with which of her partners were inside. Everything was loose and disorganised and she clicked her tongue at her own messiness. She chose more or less at random. She loved all her little scientific subjects dearly and equally.

   Dracovish appeared out of the red light of a PokeBall. It cooed its name and did a little dance in front of her. A smile tugged on her lips. She knew she could count on her Pokemon to at least make her a little happy.

   Dracovish looked up at her with big, goofy eyes, “Vish…?”

   “It’s been a long day, Dracovish.” Cara Liss began with a dramatic sigh.

   She needed a drink. That was the only conclusion she could draw from the sound of her own voice. She opened up her coat and after checking three different pockets, she found her flask. It was lukewarm to the touch but icy inside as she unplugged it. She took a sip and stared off into the distance. Dracovish looked that way, too, but it couldn’t see what she did.

   Though what she saw was something intangible. All she could think about was Sonia. It annoyed her.

   “What’s her problem?” Cara Liss complained to her Dracovish. “What does she have that I don’t?”

   Her Dracovish looked at her pitifully whilst Cara Liss pouted. She sipped from her flask: iced green tea spiked with an energy drink. It tasted like battery acid mixed with grass cuttings. Her favourite. Especially when consumed outside a convention centre, at dusk and in the chill of a bitter cold wind.

   “People only like her because she’s pretty, you know.” Cara Liss continued to bitch and moan. “And because her grandmother is the Professor Magnolia. No one would listen to her if she wasn't born lucky with good looks and rich family members. I had to build my research from the ground up. And look! I brought new species of Pokemon to life. Like you, my cutie-patootie. So… I don’t get why…”

   Cara Liss trailed off. She fumed at herself. She didn’t get it. Why she was dirty and destitute in the pursuit that she loved most and had contributed her blood, sweat, and tears to.

   Dracovish stumbled closer and begged for attention that Cara Liss was all too happy to give to it. She petted the top of its scaly head and gave it a good scratch. Dracovish made happy noises and that, in turn, made Cara Liss happy.

  At least a little bit, and a little distracted, too. 

   Besides, there was so much coming and going. She wasn’t the only one getting bored of the endless parade of homework and brown nosing. So, Cara Liss didn’t pay much attention to the sound of someone passing her and Dracovish by whilst she pampered her darling creation.

   “I thought I saw you lurking around the crowds.” 

   Cara Liss squeaked in surprise and her flask almost went flying in the process. Her hand flicked upwards with an involuntary jerk. Her flask left her fingers and Cara Liss composed herself whilst Sonia watched her fumble. She caught it again with a sigh of relief.

   She looked around, frantic, and saw Sonia standing nearby. She gave her an affable salute and a hello.

   Cara Liss bristled. What in the world did Sonia want with her? They were practically strangers. Sure, they had emailed here and there, ran in more or less the same circles but they were just people who were more aware of each other than acquainted with one another.

    Suspicious of Sonia’s presence, Cara Liss held her flask preciously in her hands, so she wouldn’t drop it again, and gave Sonia a customary glare. Dracovish tilted its head in confusion, however. It, for one, saw no reason to be hostile to Sonia. And was especially confused since Cara Liss scuttled closer to it, as though looking for protection.

   “I-It’s a free region.” Cara Liss replied with a crack in her voice.

   “Never said it wasn’t.” Sonia shrugged and she slid her hands in her skin-tight jean pockets. “Never said it was even a bad thing that you were hanging around. I’m glad.”

   Cara Liss didn’t believe her ears. Sonia was… glad that she was hanging around?

   “What?” Sonia shrugged again and she smushed her lips together, acting clueless. “It’s nice not being the only young woman around. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but there’s a lot of old, greying men here. It’s nice.”

   Cara Liss made an unbelievable face. Sonia laughed awkwardly. She toed her boot into a loose piece of gravel and the atmosphere was tense. It was weird. Cara Liss knew all that was entirely on her onus. She was just so suspicious of Sonia, determined not to like her but there was a remote possibility beginning to unfold in front of Cara Liss.

   Sonia Magnolia might, for all her faults as an overt nepo baby and terrible writer, be a kind-hearted woman. She was, at the very least, trying to extend Cara Liss an olive branch. Even though Cara Liss was determined to not like her and make that apparent to her.

   “So, um, Champion Gloria… She told me all about you, by the way. That’s why I recognised you.”

   Huh? Cara Liss’ eyes went wide. There was no flipping way. Champion Gloria? Had spoken to Sonia, about her? The Champion was basically a child and yet, Cara Liss felt herself flood with pride that her work had had such an effect on her and so, would speak good about her behind her back. A rare thing.

   “Yeah, um, she loves her Dracozolt that you revived for her. She had it on her winning team, did you know that?” Sonia said. “And that’s a, um, Dracovish, correct?”

   Sonia gestured to Cara Liss’ companion Pokemon with her hand. Dracovish stumbled closer and nudged up against Sonia the same way it did for Cara Liss. Her heart seized. Mostly with jealousy but partially because her Dracovish was so, so cute. Even when it was canoodling with the enemy.

   It bumped up against Sonia’s hand and coaxed her into petting it. Its eyes closed and it made a contented snort through its nostrils. Its tail thumped on the asphalt, too.

   “Yes, that is correct.” Cara Liss replied. “One of four species that I have discovered.”

   Sonia giggled, “I think you mean created.”

   “Discovered.” Cara Liss corrected her. She folded her arms and tapped her foot. There was a difference and that difference was very important to Cara Liss.

   Sonia smiled through gritted teeth, “Got it.”

   Another beat passed. Sonia looked at Cara Liss. Cara Liss looked at her back. Then they looked away and Sonia started to fidget. She began to curl her finger around a tuft of her shiny, orange hair. Cara Liss bounced on the spot. Then both stopped. Their conversation was clearly going nowhere but so were the both of them as they procrastinated doing something (anything!) to alleviate the awkward tension that was thick between them.

   So, they just stood there in the parking lot. In the cold. It was getting dark. Neither of them knew what they were doing here. It was weird and awkward and Cara Liss really wanted to be anywhere but here but Sonia was determined. She came here to make friends and she was going to do it whether Cara Liss liked it or not. 

   “So, um, at Gloria’s suggestion, I looked into your background and I read some of your papers on fossil Pokemon. It’s hard to hack it as an independent, but you’ve done so well. You really did it, the old “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” thing. I could never.” Sonia added. “I hope you can table at AcaMon next year. I, for one, would love to return the favour since you listened to mine and Hop’s lecture today.”

   “Thank you.” Cara Liss replied and she forced herself to unfold her arms. Though, her demeanour was stiff and prickly as she returned them to her sides. “I’m very passionate about what I do. It’s nice to be recognised for my work ethic every so often.”

   Sonia’s lips twitched. Then she smiled, a touch smug. Bingo. Cara Liss could feel it. Sonia had broken through all her defences. Life really was easy when you were a rich, pretty woman. Even Cara Liss couldn’t help herself and found herself succumbing to Sonia’s charms. She was just so easygoing and… free of jealousy.

   Gosh, that made Cara Liss even madder about her and pretty, aquamarine-coloured fingernails and peachy, juicy lips. Stop it! Stop it, now! It’s unfair to both beauty and brains and little miss congeniality. 

   Was it possible…? That all the animosity that Cara Liss had built up, this entirely one-sided rivalry was all in Cara Liss’ head. Surely not.

   Cara Liss had to test the hypothesis. She needed to put her theory to the test: Sonia Magnolia was a no-good nepo baby who got into the good graces of the world on her grandmother’s coattails. It was now or never.

   “What’s your deal?” Cara Liss asked. “What’s your angle?”

   “Pardon?” Sonia blinked.

   Their tension snapped. It was terse and uncomfortable and Cara Liss put her foot in it. Literally. She stepped closer. She got into Sonia’s face and poor Dracovish waved its flippers around, sensing disaster that Cara Liss was determined to see through.

   “You act all cutesy and demure,” Cara Liss made fun of her, “pretending that you care about my work. Puh-lease. It took me years to get into some of the journals that you go into overnight. It just reeks of nepotism. I already smell it, the scandal brewing: give me one good reason to believe that it’s all your own hard work.”

   Cara Liss sounded vile. She felt vile but it was cathartic. To crucify this young woman for being everything that she wasn’t except for one thing: a hard worker.

   Sonia stood there. Offended out of her mind and holding back some kind of hysteric. Tears? Crying? Her fists balled, her hackles raised and her lower lip wobbled but nothing happened. There was no calamity, no waterworks. She handled the situation maturely.

   “You're just going to have to take my word for it.” Sonia said. “I worked hard. I deserve my place amongst the laurels. I-It’s fine if you don’t believe me. I’m not an idiot, I see how you’ve been treated by our peers. You, of all people, know the lesson that you can’t be everyone’s cup of tea and sunshine.”

   Cara Liss was stunned. Starstruck. She growled and groaned and carried on like a sausage. To the embarrassment of both Sonia and her Dracovish. She gave up. She huffed and sighed, kicked the dirt.

   “Fine. I believe you.” Cara Liss said.

   The integrity! The grace! Sonia exemplified it and for that, Cara Liss would drop the topic. Fine. Maybe she could buy what Sonia was selling. It would just be cruel to lie to her face directly and having had that happened countless times, Cara Liss learned to see the signs. She saw none of them in Sonia’s face but she saw a few in what kept her so tense.

   It was stupid, vain, self-important jealousy. Cara Liss cursed herself and began to shed all the prejudice she had uselessly leveraged against Sonia only to have it crumble in front of her. She could relent. She was a big enough person to admit that having first hand knowledge, research, and experience was invaluable. Take her own research as an example. Perhaps Cara Liss should reread Sonia’s journals with fresher eyes. It couldn’t hurt. 

   Sonia breathed a sigh of relief. She placed her hand over her breast and smiled.

   “Thank you for believing me.” Sonia said. “I have so much potential, so much to give to science. All of it off my own back. Sure, I’m helped by many people, including my grandmother, but no person is an island… Even you, right, Cara Liss?”

   “Yeah…” Cara Liss mumbled.

   Sonia smiled brightly, satisfied that she and Cara Liss had made peace. Then Sonia did the truly unbelievable. Not only did she implicitly forgive Cara Liss for her outburst, she further nullified it with a token of friendship.

   “We should, uh, get coffee sometime. Wouldn’t that be nice?” Sonia said. 

   Cara Liss’ heart could have jumped out of her chest. Sonia’s expression was sweet and genuine. But Cara Liss had been fooled before.

   “This isn’t… an elaborate set-up, is it?” Cara Liss asked.

    She shrank away. She’d had business partners do a flip on her before; mean girl high school bullies’ the lot. She didn’t want to get in on over head only to have the wool brought down over her eyes.

   “What? Absolutely not.” Sonia denied.

   Denial that Cara Liss looked closely at. Her offended expression, her open demeanour. She continued to shine with integrity and sincerity. She said what she meant and meant what she said. A rare combination in this day and age. Especially with folks like Cara Liss.

   So, more unbelievable still was that for how pent up and beat out of shape Cara Liss was, she didn’t find herself rejecting the offer. The hatchet was entirely imagined on Cara Liss’ half, after all and two heads were better than one or something like that. She accepted that Sonia’s heart was in the right place.

   “Alright. I-I’d like that.” Cara Liss decided. She tried to sound nonchalant about it, though. She awkwardly shoved her flask back into her coat pocket: whichever one it would fit in.

   “Thank you, Cara Liss. I think it’ll be really fun to get to know you better.” Sonia replied with a grin.

   Her teeth practically sparkled. Her eyes were alight with joy at Cara Liss’ response. Excited, Sonia took her finger out of the curl of ginger hair that she was toying with then offered her whole hand to Cara Liss. Cara Liss wiped her hands, instinctively, on her sullied trousers. Then, she shook Sonia’s hand. Her grip was firm but feminine. They gave it a bounce and that sealed it. 

   Whatever it was. 

   A coffee shop date. Some kind of partnership. One which would be mutually beneficial, at least ideally.

   Maybe Cara Liss could score some work as Sonia’s editor. She needed it, after all. She definitely needed it and Cara Liss was not mad at all that what she actually recalled of Sonia’s writing was how beautiful it was. Pristine. Her turns of phrase inspired and the perfect blend of jargon and accessible narration. Her recount and analysis of the events was insightful and in-depth, backed by a wide variety of research. That Sonia had simply been victimised by Cara Liss on a personal affront because of a hyper-individualistic lens of us versus them tribal mentality. And so, it was entirely possible that Cara Liss was wrong and Sonia was a darling to the academic scene for a good reason, on her own merit. Though Cara Liss was insistent that she would be the judge of that.

   Simply put: further investigation into these allegations that she had wanted to leverage against Sonia was needed since, for now at least, they were doomed to be unsuccessful but to actually find out, spending time with Sonia was going to be extremely necessary if Cara Liss wanted to write an accurate report on the Magnolia granddaughter.