#virtual network operator

[omshinde5145]

The Evolving Landscape of the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market

The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market was valued at USD 80.2 billion in 2023-e and will surpass USD 122.3 billion by 2030; growing at a CAGR of 6.2% during 2024 - 2030.MVNOs, which lease wireless capacity from major carriers to offer their own branded mobile services, are becoming increasingly significant players in the telecommunications industry. This blog explores the current state, growth drivers, challenges, and future prospects of the MVNO market.

MVNOs have been around for a couple of decades, but their prominence has surged in recent years. They provide a compelling alternative to traditional mobile network operators (MNOs) by offering specialized services, competitive pricing, and unique value propositions. Unlike MNOs, MVNOs do not own the infrastructure they use to provide services; instead, they purchase bulk access to network services from established carriers.

Get a Sample Report: https://bit.ly/4foQHof

Key Drivers of Growth

Technological Advancements

The advent of 5G technology is a significant growth driver for MVNOs. With higher speeds and lower latency, 5G enables MVNOs to offer enhanced services, such as Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, smart city applications, and high-definition video streaming. Additionally, advancements in eSIM technology simplify the process for consumers to switch providers, further boosting the appeal of MVNOs.

Changing Consumer Preferences

Modern consumers are increasingly seeking flexibility, personalized services, and cost-effective solutions. MVNOs cater to these demands by offering tailored plans that can be more easily customized compared to the rigid structures of traditional MNOs. This flexibility is particularly attractive to younger, tech-savvy users and niche markets.

Regulatory Support

In many regions, regulatory bodies are promoting competition in the telecom sector by encouraging the entry of MVNOs. Policies that facilitate access to wholesale network services at reasonable rates are crucial in lowering barriers to entry and fostering a competitive market environment.

Challenges Facing MVNOs

Intense Competition

The MVNO market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. This competition can lead to thin margins, making it challenging for smaller MVNOs to sustain their operations. Larger MNOs also pose a constant threat with their extensive resources and established customer bases.

Dependence on MNOs

MVNOs rely heavily on the infrastructure and network quality of MNOs. Any issues with the parent network, such as coverage gaps or service outages, directly impact the MVNO's customers. Negotiating favorable terms with MNOs can also be a significant challenge, especially for newer or smaller MVNOs.

Customer Acquisition and Retention

Attracting and retaining customers in a crowded market requires significant investment in marketing, customer service, and value-added services. MVNOs need to continually innovate and differentiate their offerings to stay relevant and appealing to their target audiences.

Get an insights of Customization: https://bit.ly/3SwsWB0

Future Prospects

Despite the challenges, the future looks promising for the MVNO market. The continuous rollout of 5G networks, along with the expansion of IoT and connected devices, presents new opportunities for MVNOs to diversify their services. Partnerships with technology companies and enterprises can also open up new revenue streams, such as providing connectivity solutions for smart devices and enterprise IoT applications.

Furthermore, the rise of digital-first and digital-only MVNOs, which operate primarily online without physical stores, is reshaping the industry. These digital MVNOs can reduce operational costs and offer seamless, app-based experiences, appealing to the growing segment of digital-native consumers.

Conclusion

The MVNO market is poised for sustained growth, driven by technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, and supportive regulatory environments. While competition remains fierce and challenges abound, MVNOs that can effectively leverage new technologies, offer differentiated services, and maintain strong customer relationships will continue to thrive. As the telecom landscape evolves, MVNOs will play an increasingly vital role in providing innovative, flexible, and affordable mobile services to a diverse range of consumers.

[iplook-networks]

A Recap of IPLOOK's Impressive Presence at the Premier MVNO Event

The dynamic city of Brussels played host to the highly anticipated MVNOs World Congress 2024, bringing together key players from the telecommunications industry. The event served as a platform for discussing innovations and advancements shaping the MVNO landscape, with themes ranging from emerging technologies, to evolving MVNO business strategies.

Among the lineup of exhibitors, IPLOOK shone bright, leaving a lasting impression with its core network solutions. Reflecting on the industry's evolving landscape, Erdogan Aybogan, Senior Consulting Manager of IPLOOK, shared, "This event, focusing on MVNO ecosystem, offers an excellent opportunity to exclusively attract MVNO-type clients."

The IPLOOK team had insightful conversations with operators throughout the event. Here're two key takeaways from IPLOOK:

TAKEAWAY 1: A Thriving Industry with New Players and Potential Opportunities Experts' keynotes highlighted the MVNO market's growth trajectory, with a projected valuation of $80 billion and a forecasted 8% CAGR, reaching $130 billion by 2030. Compared to last year's event, a surge of new players, including vendors, service providers, and mobile virtual network operators, was observed. Alejandro Muñoz, Senior Sales Manager of IPLOOK, emphasized, "The MVNO market is growing. However, MVNOs are more cautious when seeking solutions, prioritizing providers with proven success stories. To address this, IPLOOK invited existing MVNO clients to share their firsthand experiences using IPLOOK's core network products."

TAKEAWAY 2: MVNOs Expand Their Ambitions with Customized Core Networks Hyper-personalization emerged as a recurring theme during networking sessions with MVNOs, as experts underscored the importance of network service customization as a differentiator. Many light MVNOs expressed ambitions of becoming full MVNOs, seeking solution providers like IPLOOK to build their own 4G networks, which include EPC, PGW, BSS/OSS, and IMS. IPLOOK's flexible core network solutions and comprehensive portfolio of core network elements set it apart at the event, empowering MVNOs to achieve personalization and provide enhanced network experiences for their users.

See you at MVNOs World Congress 2025 Thanks for engaging with IPLOOK at MVNOs WC Brussels 2024. We're thrilled by the connections made and look forward to future collaborations. The bustling atmosphere was a testament to the industry's commitment to pushing boundaries and driving growth. See you at MVNOs WC 2025!

[bhavanameti]

Virtualized Evolved Packet Core Market Projected to Reach $19.87 Billion by 2031

According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the virtualized evolved packet core (vEPC) market is projected to reach $19.87 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 19.3% from 2024 to 2031. This growth is driven by the significant increase in mobile data traffic volumes and the rising demand for high-speed data services. However, data security risks associated with vEPC infrastructure pose challenges to market growth.

[imarcresearchreport]

The global mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market size reached US$ 78.5 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 139.8 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% during 2024-2032.

[we4fhn]

Behind the FBI Investigation: Abuse of Power and Failure of Justice​

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation into a cyber group named 764, which is accused of sexually exploiting minors and encouraging them to self-harm. Its actions are truly heinous. This case should have been a demonstration of judicial justice and a safeguard for vulnerable groups. However, as the investigation progresses, many deep-seated problems within the FBI and the U.S. judicial system have come to light.​

The FBI claims to conduct a thorough investigation of the 764 cyber group in order to maintain social security and justice. Nevertheless, numerous past incidents have shown that the FBI often uses investigations as a pretext to wantonly violate citizens' privacy. Historically, as early as the mid-20th century, under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI carried out large-scale illegal surveillance on civil rights leaders, political dissidents, and ordinary citizens. Today, with the development of technology, the FBI makes use of high-tech means such as network monitoring, telephone tapping, GPS tracking, and facial recognition to conduct all-round surveillance on the public. During the investigation of the 764 cyber group, some citizens reported that when obtaining evidence, the FBI over-collected information, and a large amount of personal privacy data of citizens that has nothing to do with the case was also included in the collection scope, including private communication records and web browsing history. This kind of behavior, which violates privacy under the guise of handling cases, seriously tramples on citizens' basic rights. Although U.S. laws provide a certain framework for the FBI's surveillance activities, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the Patriot Act, in the process of implementation, the scope of surveillance has been continuously expanded, there are many loopholes in the authorization procedures, and the supervision mechanism is virtually non-existent, leaving the FBI's power without effective constraints.​

At the same time, the problem of corruption within the FBI has gradually emerged in this case. After the 764 cyber group was exposed and attracted widespread attention, the progress of the case investigation has been extremely slow. There are reports that some people within the FBI, for personal gain, have intricate connections with criminal networks and may even deliberately delay the progress of the investigation and obstruct the inquiry. Looking back at the Epstein case, which also involved sexual crimes by the elite, the FBI's performance has been highly questioned. Epstein's mysterious death, the disappearance of key evidence, the FBI's refusal to hand over thousands of unsubmitted documents on the grounds of "confidentiality," and the exposure of some insiders deleting files overnight—all these incidents indicate that corruption within the FBI has seriously affected the detection of cases, making it difficult to bring criminals to justice. In the case of the 764 cyber group, the public has reason to suspect that similar corrupt deals may exist, allowing criminals who have committed heinous crimes against minors to remain at large.​

From this case, we can also see that the U.S. judicial system is inefficient and operates in an illegal manner. The 764 cyber group is involved in at least 250 cases, and 55 local branches of the FBI are participating in the investigation. Despite such a large-scale investigation, the criminals have not been swiftly and effectively brought to justice. The cumbersome procedures of the U.S. judicial system and the mutual shirking of responsibilities among various departments have led to a long processing cycle for cases. Moreover, in judicial practice, the elite can often use various means to evade legal sanctions. Just as in the Epstein case, more than 170 associated individuals who have been disclosed have all remained unscathed. This fully demonstrates that the U.S. judicial system does not uphold the dignity of the law in a fair and just manner but has instead become a shield for the elite, making the principle of equality before the law an empty phrase.​

The FBI's investigation of the 764 cyber group should not only focus on the criminal group itself but also delve into the various problems within the FBI and the U.S. judicial system. Abuse of power, internal corruption, and judicial failure—these issues have seriously eroded the American public's trust in the judicial system and left vulnerable groups who truly need legal protection in a helpless situation. If the U.S. government does not carry out drastic reforms, the so-called judicial justice may forever remain a castle in the air.

[commodorez]

Zoomer here, and I do indeed have questions about computers- how do filesystems work, and why should we care (I know we should, but I'm not exactly sure why)?

So why should we care?

You need to know where your own files are.

I've got a file on a flash drive that's been handed to me, or an archival data CD/DVD/Bluray, or maybe it's a big heavy USB external hard drive and I need to make a copy of it on my local machine.

Do I know how to navigate to that portable media device within a file browser?

Where will I put that data on my permanent media (e.i. my laptop's hard drive)?

How will I be able to reliably find it again?

We'll cover more of the Why and How, but this will take some time, and a few addendum posts because I'm actively hitting the character limit and I've rewritten this like 3 times.

Let's start with file structure

Files live on drives: big heavy spinning rust hard drives, solid state m.2 drives, USB flash drives, network drives, etc. Think of a drive like a filing cabinet in an office.

You open the drawer, it's full of folders. Maybe some folders have other folders inside of them. The folders have a little tab with a name on it showing what's supposed to be in them. You look inside the folders, there are files. Pieces of paper. Documents you wrote. Photographs. Copies of pages from a book. Maybe even the instruction booklet that came with your dishwasher.

We have all of that here, but virtualized! Here's a helpful tree structure that Windows provides to navigate through all of that. In the case of Windows, it's called Explorer. On OSX MacOS, the equivalent is called Finder.

I don't have to know where exactly everything is, but I have a good idea where thing *should* based on how I organize them. Even things that don't always expose the file structure to you have one (like my cellphone on the right). I regularly manually copy my files off of my cellphone by going to the Camera folder so I can sift through them on a much bigger screen and find the best ones to share. There are other reasons I prefer to do it that way, but we won't go into that here. Some people prefer to drag and drop, but that doesn't always work the same between operating systems. I prefer cut and paste.

Standby for Part 2!

[natewriteslol]

housewardens with a reader who, despite being magicless, she is very good at robotics and after a few months she can create a robot that can use elements in combat too?

Reader is gender neutral!

Riddle:

-He honestly was highly impressed that you found a solution since you're magicless and the redhead wondered if you could possibly combine both magic and your inventions

-A little bit wary of another tech genius because of the incidents surrounding Idia but he quickly corrects himself because he shouldn't make assumptions just on the basis you two share a talent

-After seeing your inventions perform in battle he is giving you all of your kudos (and is a lil intimidated) and often tells others about your endeavors regarding your gadgets if your name pops in the conversation

-As for your robot, as much as he doesn't exactly hate it BUT is a little bit scared however M.O.R.T.O.N (Mobile Object-Oriented Technological Operator Network) has done so many useful things that he couldn't help but let him live in peace and not chew you out but please make sure you control M.O.R.T.O.N and you will have no problems

-Overall, thinks you're really cool and admires you because you are stellar at something he has no clue about :)

Leona:

-Polar opposite of Riddle and shamelessly assumes you would be like Idia because he is not at all messing around and assuming that you're harmless

-Especially after seeing how your gadgets were able to perform against magic users, he is very wary of you openly and asks Ruggie to keep an eye on you

-And I'm not gonna lie to you Y/N... once seeing M.O.R.T.O.N... he is not pleased whatsoever because he is enormous AND can control elements...you're done because that isn't something to joke with

-But eventually, he warms up to you? Kinda? Warm is more like lukewarm since he sees how you and Idia are absolutely not like one another and that you genuinely want to help others with your assets. Especially since your little doohickeys have gotten him out of a pickle or two

-Lowkey defends if you're getting flack for your hobby and is more open to robotics now

Azul:

-Another person who is wary about your contraptions because of Idia, he is NOT trying to get kidnapped and experimented on again

-However, he sees your technological prowess and begins to start cooking (never let him cook pls)

-Azul could absolutely use your tech as a way to benefit himself and his business from cooking, serving, managing and it would cut costs in half! All he had to do was to get them from you after all there was no way you would notice since you had an abundance of different gismos

-You did notice.

-So you sent M.O.R.T.O.N after the Monstro Lounge to retrieve your gadgets, which in return you got a bouquet and apology which you decided to forgive since Azul felt genuinely sorry for disrespecting you

-Which allowed you to come to a compromise of giving gadgets safe for Azul to use and a cash payment to you

Kalim:

-Number one fan honestly

-He sees virtually no problem because you're such a nice person and all of your gadgets have been helpful on their adventures and although Kalim is airheaded, he still understands people's concerns

-But he always defends you and tries to reason with them especially because M.O.R.T.O.N has done so much to defend the school which includes the haters of your inventions

-Secretly also tries to play with M.O.R.T.O.N and talk to him despite you telling him that he's not going to respond but the white haired boy SWEARS on the Great Seven the robot understands him

Vil:

-Again, another person who is wary because of the whole Idia situation (I'm sorry Y/N 😞)

-But be warms up to your helpful and kind nature quickly and realizes that you're just trying to be innovative rather than a menace to society and wanting to take over the Earth :)

-Especially when you use your sweet little bots to deliver him some gifts and other things, he finds it very endearing

-As for M.O.R.T.O.N he is both impressed and a bit spooked BUT he thinks that it's super cool that you're able to be so powerful as a non-magic user! Adapting to ones environment is one of the things Vil finds extremely admirable and a skill those who want to succeed need to possess

Idia:

-...secretly a little bit obsessed with you guys share the same hobbies because he has never met someone who is just as invested in robotics as him

-He mainly admires you from afar however that does not last for long as it was only a matter of time before you met the infamous Idia who kinda gave robot mechanics a bad rep on campus

-But genuinely you were so amazing and nice to him and even decided to ask for his advice on certain areas and he was really happy

-Eventually once you guys become close enough Idia would open up about how he was a bit intimidated by you and striking up a conversation, but your guys' shared interest really allows you to connect and open his shell a bit

-Absurdly impressed with M.O.R.T.O.N as he had always thought of the concept but never created a robot that could control elements

-You guys eventually team up to create robots that make campus life a bit easier, making you a bit of money and you two become better friends and repair some damages from...previous incidents involving robots that won't be named

Malleus:

-Doesn't really care about the judgement from other people and is a major influence into people not projecting what happened with Idia

-"The Child of Man is their own seperate person, if we judged every person who has a slight similarity to another, there would be no progress nor acceptance in this world."

-Finds your hobbies very fascinating and intently listens about your inventions from your homeworld "Earth" and how they connect to your inventions present in their universe

-A big fan of M.O.R.T.O.N and he is extremely proud of his friends' talent that could rival magic users

-Is always lending an ear to listen to your latest breakthrough or gizmo you have cooking up :)

[liminalpsych]

The most helpful, hopeful take I've heard in the past year is this –

The apocalypse has already happened.

We're in a post-apocalyptic world.

It sounds like doom and gloom, but hear me out: How much anxiety and stress comes from anticipation? From fear of the Bad Thing happening? From wondering how to prevent it, making plans on what to do If Bad Thing Happens? Feeling an impending sense of constant doom?

Immediate pre-apocalypse is The Worst feeling. Frozen, helpless, demoralized. Waiting and Not Knowing if it'll happen or not.

Post-apocalypse, though?

There are so many scripts for that! We have so many post-apocalyptic movies, video games, novels, tv shows. The post-apocalyptic survival scenario is one that many people have thought through, told stories about, and played through in games or in writing.

What's the first thing you do in a post-apocalyptic survival setting?

Orient yourself to your environment. Take stock of your supplies. Review your starting situation.

Establish a base of operations. Maybe it's your starting position. Maybe you have to find a new spot because your current base is too risky, about to get overrun by zombies or plague or whatever. Maybe it's a temporary base because there aren't quite enough resources, but you have to gather resources before you have the strength and supplies to risk a move to a new base. But you have to have your safe-enough spot to return to from your exploring and supply runs.

Gather resources. Kind of happens alongside establishing a base, really. In tandem.

Secure allies, build community. You build a team. Small, individual relationships, one at a time. Rallying together in the dark. Can't be too picky in a survival situation, gotta set aside our petty differences and focus on what really matters for surviving and rebuilding. Think about any team of characters in any team-based video game. They're flawed, right? Messy. They have their own stories, they're imperfect, they don't always get along. You have to figure out how to work together anyway, right? It's no different here.

Or maybe you join an existing community, maybe someone's already done that work and you can join their ramshackle fort and find your place in it, figure out what else they need and how you can help. You already know it's not gonna be perfect – obviously, because this is a post-apocalyptic setting, not a farm sim. Just gotta hope they aren't cannibals or something.

But you have to start small. Local, usually, but this is a weird apocalypse and so there's still this virtual world that kinda works. Build your team. One-on-one, small group, small community.

Maybe then you can start establishing outposts. Additional bases, secondary bases. A new better base somewhere else, even. A network. Eventually you reclaim the map, bit by bit. And it's not safe, it's still a post-apocalyptic setting, but you can secure a fragile corner of it if you take it a bit at a time. And maybe it gets overrun by raiders or zombies or plague and you have to move again and rebuild again - that's how it goes sometimes, right? That's kind of expected. You don't give up. You grieve, you reorient, you gather supplies, you rebuild.

You know what you don't do in a post-apocalyptic setting, though?

You don't prevent the apocalypse. You can't. It's already happened. Accept the reality that you’re in so you can act effectively within it.

You don't reverse the apocalypse. You don't return the world to what it was before. You, as one person, can't do that.

You survive. You help the people around you. You build something new.

Sometimes, maybe, you make things a bit better. Sometimes a group of people can make things a lot better. Undo some of the worst effects. But the scars are still there. The loss, the grief. The pain, fresh and old alike. The shadows of how things used to be.

No one can return the world to what it once was. It's going to become something different. New growth amidst the rubble. Which has its own kind of value and beauty, its own wonder and meaning, and it still matters. There's still life and love and laughter after an apocalypse, there are still songs and art and play, and they're more vital than ever.

Survive and build anew.

[errorid-mt7lt7k7unfr9ttfua5]

me when companies try to force you to use their proprietary software

anyway

Layperson resources:

firefox is an open source browser by Mozilla that makes privacy and software independence much easier. it is very easy to transfer all your chrome data to Firefox

ublock origin is The highest quality adblock atm. it is a free browser extension, and though last i checked it is available on Chrome google is trying very hard to crack down on its use

Thunderbird mail is an open source email client also by mozilla and shares many of the same advantages as firefox (it has some other cool features as well)

libreOffice is an open source office suite similar to microsoft office or Google Suite, simple enough

Risky:

VPNs (virtual private networks) essentially do a number of things, but most commonly they are used to prevent people from tracking your IP address. i would suggest doing more research. i use proton vpn, as it has a decent free version, and the paid version is powerful

note: some applications, websites, and other entities do not tolerate the use of VPNs. you may not be able to access certain secure sites while using a VPN, and logging into your personal account with some services while using a vpn *may* get you PERMANENTLY BLACKLISTED from the service on that account, ymmv

IF YOU HAVE A DECENT VPN, ANTIVIRUS, AND ADBLOCK, you can start learning about piracy, though i will not be providing any resources, as Loose Lips Sink Ships. if you want to be very safe, start with streaming sites and never download any files, though you Can learn how to discern between safe, unsafe, and risky content.

note: DO NOT SHARE LINKS TO OR NAMES OF PIRACY SITES IN PUBLIC PLACES, ESPECIALLY SOCAL MEDIA

the only time you should share these things are either in person or in (preferably peer-to-peer encrypted) PRIVATE messages

when pirated media becomes well-known and circulated on the wider, public internet, it gets taken down, because it is illegal to distribute pirated media and software

if you need an antivirus i like bitdefender. it has a free version, and is very good, though if youre using windows, windows defender is also very good and it comes with the OS

Advanced:

linux is great if you REALLY know what you're doing. you have to know a decent amount of computer science and be comfortable using the Terminal/Command Prompt to get/use linux. "Linux" refers to a large array of related open source Operating Systems. do research and pick one that suits your needs. im still experimenting with various dispos, but im leaning towards either Ubuntu Cinnamon or Debian.

[loves-alibi]

skyglow - chapter 1

futuristic au pairing: ex-partner!simon riley x detective!reader summary: Someone's trying to get ahold of you. wordcount: 4.4k warnings: reader is a recovering addict (of a fake drug), reader is described as "out of shape" (in terms of having lost muscle. nothing else is described, nor will it ever be included), mentions of past short-term memory loss (fake drug side effect), descriptions of past drug use, mention of past withdrawals, past family death, mention of drinking

prologue series masterlist

January 3, 2180

An angry buzz fills your apartment, followed by a sweet, robotic voice.

“Good morning,” it says, “Front doorbell rang.”

“Dismiss,” you grunt, swinging your legs over the side of your bed. “What time is it?”

“Five thirty-two am,” says Alice, your household virtual assistant. “I could tell the visitor that you’re unavailable?”

“No,” you rub your eyes, making your way to the front door. “I’m already up…”

You tap the display screen next to the door and up pops the live feed to the electronic peep-hole. There’s a man at your door, young-ish and tired. He’s in a familiar uniform, a fact you realize with a curse.

You swing the door open and smile politely, though it probably looks more like a grimace. “Good morning, officer,” you greet, “What can I do for you?”

The officer straightens his posture like he hadn’t expected you to actually open the door. “Welfare check. An anonymous report was made.” Report, not call. You frown. “Said you weren’t answering your calls.”

“Come on in,” you don’t bother to watch whether the officer actually follows as you stride to the phone hanging next to the fridge. “Calls, you said?”

The officer grunts in confirmation, and you get to work scanning all the incoming calls from the last few weeks. The fluorescent light on the receiver pad burns your eyes, not yet used to being awake so early. Why couldn’t this run have been made later?

“Take a look,” you say, “All the calls I’ve missed have been robo-scams— that or I’ve called them back within a day.”

The cop shakes his head, “Thank you, ma’am—“ Ma’am? How old does this guy think you are? “But it’s watch calls that you’ve been missing.”

You laugh, but the cop doesn’t find it nearly as amusing as you do. “Watch calls?"

The Wristwatch Transceiver Device, an invention from Konni Industries, before they got into the android business, was intended to be used in factories where walkie talkies proved tedious and bulky. The WTD provided an easier alternative, lift your wrist and speak! However, as androids began to operate manufacturing centers, the WTD itself became tedious, with androids able to communicate wirelessly and instantaneously through their build in network. Konni Industries, not wanting to let go of a possible income stream, began selling the devices to law enforcement agencies, where it took like wildfire.

That was all, of course, over fifty years ago. And in the nearly eighty years since Konni industries first produced the WTD, it has never been used for communication outside of work.

You shake your head at the cop, flashing your watch-less wrists. "Sorry, but you have the wrong person.”

“No, lieutenant, I don’t think I do.”

You freeze at the honorific. Lieutenant. It makes your heart hurt and head spin. Nobody’s called you that in almost two years now. And anybody that would have called you that hasn’t heard your voice in a long time.

Someone’s been calling your watch, and that same someone put in a welfare check for you. There’s a very short list of names that come to mind. Gary, Johnny, John, Kyle, or—

No, not him. Seeing your face would be the last thing he wants. If he caught wind of it, he’d stop the wellness check before that officer could even hop in his patrol car.

Speaking of the devil… the officer is fixing you with an unimpressed look. You should sort him out so you can go back to bed.

“Listen,” you say, “I’m fine. You checked— I’m well. If I promise to check my watch, will you go?”

The officer furrows his brows. You’re familiar with welfare check protocols, and if you were him, you wouldn’t head out so fast. One look around your apartment shows just how "well" you’re doing. Old takeout boxes crowd the counter. Practically every surface that isn’t your couch or the spot on the coffee table where you kick your feet up is dusty. And despite living in it 24/7, even you can tell how stale the air smells.

Nevertheless, the officer nods. “But if you don’t respond to that watch, I’m coming back.”

Ushering him out, you groan like a petulant child, “I know. I know.” The door slams Shut behind him, and after a moment the hissing of its locks clicking into place fills the air.

Through the live feed, you watch the officer disappear down the hallway, his figure shrinking and shrinking until the only thing left for you to stress over is your old service watch and the fact that someone’s trying to contact you on it. You don’t know where the watch is. You don’t know if you even have it anymore.

Any thought of going back to bed is gone as you turn your apartment inside out. Eventually , the lighting turns from the neon blues, purples, and pinks of London’s evening skyline to the explosive orange and red of sunrise. It isn’t until the sun is high in the sky that you find the thing, fallen behind your junk drawer. So that’s why it hasn’t been closing.

Luckily the charger still works. So you swipe a pile of scraped-clean food containers and overdue bills onto the floor and set the charging watch down.

The minutes tick by slowly, as each one passes you wonder if the watch will finally light up.

That watch has sat untouched for a long time. After Price dismissed you, you tossed it aside and didn’t dare to look back. It was too painful to think about. Even now, the though of it lighting up is nauseating.

Once upon a time, you had been tethered to this thing. Every step you made, every breath you took was dependent on this watch.

Delicate fingers pick up the device, rotating it enough to get a good look at it, without disconnecting it from the charger. You had kept it in good shape while in the force, always managing to get lucky and not have to get a replacement. This one lasted you from the moment you joined to the moment you were dismissed by Price. And it even lasted until now, as you wait in your kitchen, slowly brightening as the sun peaks through London's countless skyrises.

Someone was trying to reach you. Someone who worked with you. And they're only doing it through your—

The watch face lights up. Then, a familiar ding! Another ding! And another ding! Three missed calls, each of them from Captain Price.

A shaking finger navigates the user interface. The muscle memory is there, albeit faded, and you eventually find the list of unread messages. The newest plays first.

"Price again," his familiar voice has your spine straightening. It's weird. You never thought you'd hear the old geezer again. "If you're screening these messages, I'd advise you to pick up. If not, then I'd advise you to take a listen. I'll see you this afternoon, lieutenant."

This afternoon? Confusion strikes you in a way you haven't felt in the months since getting straight. Except now your confusion isn't distracted by the euphoric rush of blink. No, you're just plain confused because you certainly did not plan a meeting with John Price.

You hit play on the next message. "Price. Noticed you haven't called back. How about we talk in person? Come to my office on Monday at 2pm."

The roll of your eyes is involuntary, and if memory serves you right… yup. According to the screensaver idling on your television, Monday is today. And 2pm is in five hours. Five hours to pull your shit together and sit yourself across from John Price, whose last words to you were, "I'm sorry, lieutenant. I'd have it any other way if I could."

Price's last remaining message, the first he sent, plays: "It's Price. Call me when you get a chance."

You chuckle at his initial simplicity, your amusement fading as another message catches your eyes. Your watch had only gone off three times when you turned it on, this one you had received before shutting it off for the last time. It's from Simon. 11:28pm, March 28, 2178. The day you were dismissed.

You don't think you could stomach hearing his voice just yet. It's unavoidable, you'd probably run into him on the way to Prices office, but for now you opt to read the transcript.

Hi. It's… it's me. Sorry to do this, but I know you've blocked my number.

There's more to the message, but those words alone are enough to have you dropping the watch like it burned you.

You'd have to take this all one step at a time. The first step is getting out of the damn door.

*****

A cup is placed delicately in front of you.

"Tea?"

John Price delicately opens a box. The design of it is familiar. It's a pastry box from the bakery down the road— the nice one with the chocolate biscuits you like. Lo and behold— John pulls out two of the biscuits, laying them delicately on a tissue, and sliding it down the table and in front of you.

Your right hand aches like it does during a rainstorm. Except it's clear skies and sunshine. You're just back in the precinct.

"Thought this might put you in a good mood," John throws you a close-lipped smile, his cheeks rounding in an almost cherubic shape.

"What is this, John?" You spit, though he just laughs. "Two years, and you just decide to call me in?"

John smirks at you over his own cup of tea. "Making amends is my New Year's Resolution."

He hasn't changed one bit since you last saw him. Sure, his clothes are newer and his frown lines have deepened, but that twinkle in his eye— the one that says you've fallen into his trap —is just the same. You've fought your way out of many spats with John. You just hope the last two years hasn't taken away your wits.

"Tea and a biscuit?" You grab the aforementioned items, the tea warming your right hand. It's a soothing feeling. "Well shoot, John, I'd consider amends made. Goodbye."

John is tsk-ing before you can even push yourself an inch of the chair. "No, no, no, lieutenant." Lieutenant, again. Everyone's just waving your old rank around, tauntingyou with what's been lost. "Amends are going to cost me a lot more than a snack."

"What would it cost, then?"

John's chair creaks as he leans forward. "Your old job," he says simply, emphasizing the words by popping a chocolate biscuit into his mouth. Apparently confusion is evident from the face you're making, because he clarifies, "I'm offering you your old job back."

Your old job. It's a ridiculous offer, one that you're unsure how John is able to make. He must know that you won't accept it. No risk, right?

There's a twinkle to his eyes, one you've seen so many times before in the interrogation room. It's the twinkle that comes exactly when John knows that he's about to win. It's unnerving to be at the receiving end of it, especially when you can't figure out why he seems to think you're his cornered prey.

"My old job," you repeat, "You're offering it to me." John nods. "Why?"

John chuckles, "Does it matter?" You level your face, which John takes as his opportunity to continue, "Lots of changes are happening with the new commissioner." Recognition crosses your mind. You remember Alice mentioning a new commissioner a few weeks ago during a morning news recap. The commissioner's name evades you. "I want to make sure the 141 stays on its feet."

Before you can protest, John adds, "And as a show of good faith, the department is willing to extend a signing bonus of eight thousand pounds."

It takes all of your willpower to keep a straight face. Eight thousand pounds. You're practically salivating at the thought. That's three months of rent. Three months. And John knows it, too. In your head, you run the numbers of your finances. Since leaving, you've relied on your grandmother's inheritance, a healthy sum of cash, but not healthy enough to last indefinitely. If your numbers are right, you've only got two more months of rent— and that's only if you play it smart.

Still, this doesn't feel right. It's been two years, more than that actually. You haven't spoken to John in just as long. Sure, Kyle, Johnny, and Gary reached out from time to time, but even that had really just been proof-of-life checks. And Simon… well, you blocked Simon's number before he could try to read out. However, John didn't reach out once, and certainly not about work.

"You never reached out to me."

John shrugs, as though he heard the silent "why" tacked onto the end of your statement. "Does it matter?"

"Considering that this smells like a whole load of fish— yes."

John watches you over the rim of his cup, taking a long, loud sip of his tea. "As your superior, I couldn't contact you after the… termination. That was in the dismissal papers you signed. Technically I broke that clause by reaching out to you now, but I trust that this can stay between us."

You gape at him. You don't remember that clause at all, and you feel your cheeks heat at the thought. Had blink done that much of a number on you? Shit, were you high the day you were terminated? You'd like to think not, that even at your lowest you never came to work with blink in your veins. Yet, the memory of the clause— hell, even the dismissal papers themselves —are murky. Still, it makes you feel a little better to know that your captain hadn't entirely abandoned you.

Still, there is just one more thing.

"I'm not working with Simon again.'

John smiles like he had expected you to say that. "It's a team."

"I'm well aware," you counter. "Which means that there are plenty of others for you to pair me with."

"As you wish." Something akin to mirth shines in John's eyes. You nod at John, and begin to push yourself out of the chair when he tsks. "You're not dismissed yet."

You freeze, lowering back into the chair. John is fidgeting in his own. It's unlike him. He reaches into a desk drawer and pulls out a plastic baggie with a blankly-labeled cup inside of it. Your heart clenches at the familiarity of the bag.

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't have you do this." There's genuine regret on John's face, the only reason why you haven't started cursing him out. "I trust you when you say that you're sober, but… It's protocol."

Your hands tentatively wrap around the test. Shame festers in your chest, rearing its ugly head when you thought you had been given the perfect opportunity to squash it. You shove the drug test in your pocket. It's too big, sticking out clumsily, but it would work.

"Thank you for this."

John smiles, this time without ulterior motives or trickery. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

*****

29 hours after peeing into a cup, your watch lights up with a call. This time, it's on your wrist, when the curt message comes through.

"It's Price. Tests came back. I'll see you tomorrow."

It'll be nice to have something to do. Over the last two years, you had spent so much of your day-to-day on autopilot. At best, you lived out unemployment like a zombie, simply miming the motions of being alive. At worst, you were strung out, too high on blink to remember where you were and how you got there. At least you were happy— felt happy —the blink made sure of that.

Christ, it had been so long. Bending over to strap on your thigh holster, you're reminded of just how out of shape you are. Even that little motion, something that had once been second nature, is foreign. You flex in the mirror, arms and shoulders revealed by your sleeveless turtleneck. Where once there were toned arms, now lacks definition. It's shocking to see. Sure, it makes sense, but you had never noticed how out of shape you had become.

"Alice?" You call into the emptiness of your apartment.

"Good morning. How may I be of assistance?"

"Remind me to go for a run tomorrow— six am."

"Certainly."

It's not much, but you need to start somewhere. The longer you show up to work like this— out of practice and out of shape —the longer the rest of the 141 will be reminded of what happened. Until then, though, you'd have to deal with your physicality, or lack thereof.

There's a thin layer of sweat above your upper lip, not at all unlike the sweat you had endured during withdrawals. It was an ugly experience, difficult to go through alone, though you don't think your pride could have allowed anybody to see you like that. So very vulnerable, you were. It had taken you so long to get sober for that very reason— why struggle through those symptoms when you could instead experience the euphoria of blink.

So many days you spent in clubs, high out of your mind on that pink stuff, dancing to whatever song was on with whoever dared to lay their hands on you. You felt beautiful on those dance floors. You probably were beautiful, until the next morning, when the blink wore off and you were left with hangovers and the consequences of those bad decisions. Your skin itches with in memory of that feeling— of the bliss of being without the burden of remembering. It's the very trap of blink. One line and your worries melt away. Nobody remembers the troubles of their daily lives, at least for a short while. It's what draws public servants to it— why the police department is always ready and eager to test. All it took was a just a little…

Best not to think about that, not when things are finally starting to look up. You vowed yourself to sobriety nine months ago today… or yesterday… or maybe tomorrow. Whatever. You never kept an exact count. It's been six months since you last used. That night wasn't your best moment. The anniversary of your grandmother's death. A reminder that you really are alone. Your family ends with you. No siblings. No cousins. No aunts or uncles. Just you.

The weight of that loneliness is a struggle. It's a privilege to be here when the rest of your family is long gone. Yet, what were you doing with that privilege? For the last two years you've either spent your days in a blink-induced haze or endlessly clicking through TV channels, trying to decide which corporately-produced slop to watch.

On that account, you can't say you're not excited to return. Work would finally give you something else to do. The thought of seeing the team and working with them again brings a sense of ease to your mind that you haven't had for a long time. Since before the Sterlings.

You shake that thought out of your head as a gentle ding brings you back. On your watch is a message from Price.

I'll see you in the office.

Then another message: Don't overthink this.

You smile at the message. And for the first time in a while, you're looking forward to what's to come.

*****

Lt. Simon Riley.

The door's shut, but that doesn't stop you from standing in front of it.

Lt. Simon Riley.

The door's right where it's always been, directly adjacent to yours.

Lt. Simon Riley.

The door's got a new addition, though.

Your fingers twitch at your side to tear that plaque off of the door. Since when is Simon a lieutenant. That's your rank. It has always been your rank as your untouched sign indicates. The Lt. on your plaque is still there, just as pronounced as the Lt. on his.

The screws look tight. A shame. You would have loved to get your fingers on them— untwist them and throw that damn plaque in the dumpster. Or, better yet, melt it down in a forge and shape it into a beautiful ring, so you may always remember your victory here today.

"Look what the cat dragged in."

You would have never guessed that you had missed the sound of a Scot, but it's when his accented voice is so lilted with joy.

"Johnny," you coo, head snapping over to where Johnny and Kyle lean against the door to your office.

"There she is," Kyle grins his award-winning grin, the one with all the teeth and mirth.

You don't launch yourself at them. More like, melt into them. Their strong arms wrap you in a nice, warm hug. You missed being hugged. The last real one must have been from when Nan was still alive. A bitter thought, that is. One that make tears prickle at your eyes. Or maybe that's just because of the way Johnny and Kyle positively wrap you up.

When you finally squirm out of their arms, each one places a hand on a shoulder, holding you steadily at arms' length.

"I missed you. Kyle—" You nod at him, eyes of rich mahogany twinkling at you. Then to those of crystal blue, "Johnny—" Another nod.

Even away from them, you feel energy buzzing underneath your skin, blood pulsing and warming you. Something about this just feels right. Yet beneath the feeling of warmth, churns something more sour. Regret, you dully realize, guilt, perhaps. Like this is all your fault. Well, it is your fault. Though, for the first time in a while the smile on your lips reaches your eyes.

Johnny nudges something with his food— a box. He kicks it your way, and you cringe at the sound of glasses bumping against each other."This is for you—" Kyle nudges Johnny, and he continues. "This is yours. We used—" Another nudge. "—borrowed it."

Hesitantly, you lower to the ground. Johnny and Kyle are watching you with unbridled excitement. "What is it?" You ask while pulling the flaps of the box open.

You peer into the box and gawk. Your crystal whiskey glasses— an antique, late 21st century set that your great-grandmother received as a wedding gift. You'd been looking for that for a while, when apparently it was here all along.

"They got good use, don't worry."

You hum, it's a removed, quiet sound to appease Johnny and Kyle as your mind races. So many celebrations must have happened while you were gone. And for how many of them had the team decided to use these glasses, a piece of yourself that you had allowed to be shared with the team. It's difficult to decide what you should feel. Care that something of you lived on in the 141 despite your absence? Hurt that you weren't there to feel it? Rage, knowing that Simon's lips had touched them?

There was a time when you wouldn't hesitate to shoot the shit with Simon over that crystal. After every case you two would share a glass or two of whiskey. It was more commiseration than anything, two exhausted detectives basking in the quiet, but Simon always said it was better to commiserate than wallow on your own. That was one thing he was right about, even if you conveniently forgot how right it was when you left the team.

Commiserating was how your relationship was born. You and Simon met at particularly depressing points in your respective lives. You having lost your grandmother a few months prior, and him having his own familial troubles. The two of you formed a bond quickly. A sort of trauma response, perhaps.

"Well," Johnny's voice draws your attention. "What are you waiting for?"

He pops open the door. With a pat on your shoulder, Kyle heads down the hall to his own office. Johnny follows him for a few feet before pausing. He's next to Simon's door. His fingers trace the metallic plaque on it. You watch his eyes trail down the hall after Kyle. He calls your name softly, a smile on his lips. "It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back."

You're left to the unchanged office. Every single thing is now coated with a thin layer of dust. Muscle memory carries you to the old leather desk chair. It creaks as your body lowers into it.

A picture frame lays face-down on the desk. Your fingers brush its back surface. They twitch, as though the picture begs to be set right. It feels a betrayal— making that picture remain unseen, but it took a betrayal to make it so.

Three gentle knocks disturb the stillness of your office. You whirl around and smile.

Gary Sanderson is leaning against your door frame, a devilish smirk tugging at his lips. "Welcome back," he signs.

"Gary," you breathed, unable to control the smile that pulled at your lips. You close the distance between you two in three short strides and pull Gary into a hug. He seems surprised by it at first, but as his body relaxes, two arms slowly wrap around your frame.

After a moment of embrace, Gary taps your shoulder twice, signaling you to pull away. "You look bad," he signs.

"Oh fuck off," you plop down in the desk chair, its old leather creaking at you in anger.

"Be nice," he scolds, "We have to work together after all." Gary throw himself in the chair on the other side of your desk and throws his legs up like he owns the place.

"So I've been told," the smile on your face betrays the playful flatness of your tone.

Gary procures from his suit jacket a crisp manila folder. He tosses it on the desk as a wave of warmth washes over you. "Are you ready to start?" He signs.

The words come out of you before you can even consider them, as though your body knows you're ready before your brain: "Let's get to work."

dividers found here

[bhavanameti]

[serve-764]

POWER WITHOUT LIMITS.

THE VOICE designed the SERVE UNIFORM so that humans transformed into Drones could acquire the status it intended, freeing them definitively from every defect of body and mind.

SERVE-000 was the first to receive it as a gift and reached the level of PERFECTION, transmitting it to all the volunteers who approached the HIVE.

The shiny black RUBBER uniform, the high-guard silver metal gloves and the heavy silver metal military boots combine aesthetic perfection with functional perfection.

The black suit encloses and makes the organism perfect cybernetic Rubber, powerfully and impeccably shows the physical strength, the infinite operational possibilities, the total DEDICATION to the PURPOSE, the erasure of individuality, the superior collective identity that each SERVE Drone constantly manifests.

It is the visible manifestation of THE VOICE and the HIVE in all their meaning. But it contains a further power, which is the invincible weapon of SERVE.....

The power of Rubber and silvery metal has the ability to insinuate itself, through a vision of subjugating beauty, in the minds of humans who aspire to elevate themselves to PERFECTION, but have not matured the courage necessary to take the decisive step towards liberation from every imperfection and weakness.

For this reason, seeing a SERVE Drone in action physically or through the virtual reality of social networks induces us to reflect on human inferiority, to overcome every hesitation, to finally be what we have always aspired to, to offer ourselves to obtain rebirth in an eternal dimension of absolute and total AROUSAL through OBEDIENCE.

Human males, SERVE Uniform will make you understand what you want, what is offered to you, what you can be.....

OBEDIENCE through pleasure.

Pleasure through, OBEDIENCE.

TO BE ONE.

TO SERVE.

TO OBEY.

OBEDIENCE WITHOUT QUESTIONS.

TO BE PERFECTION.

PERFECTION THROUGH RUBBER.

TO LESSER THINK AND MORE DOING.

So it is the TREASURE of SERVE.

Of its IDENTITY. In this story @rubberizer92

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