I was reading the Atlethic draft guide ("The Beast") on the picks, and I thought some people might be interested.

Chop Robinson - EDGE - Penn State - 6'2" - 254 lbs - Round 1 - Pick 21

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
35	60	20.0	11.5	3	3	0

 
GRADE: 1st-2nd Round (No. 26 overall - No. 4 EDGEs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Exceptional get-off quickness to win at the snap;
• Upfield burst sustains through second, third and fourth strides;
• Displays the lateral quickness to cross the face of blockers without resistance;
• Uses athletic maneuverability over the guard or center to slip blocks and find the ball in the gap;
• Creates forward lean/mom entum and slams both hands into blockers to create speed-to-power rush;
• Active hands help free himself from blocks;
• Extends reach with bent knees at the point of attack to create leverage as an edge setter;
• Able to stop on a dime and find balance as a tackler to pounce and finish;
• Athleticism translates well when dropping into coverage zones;
• Didn’t take long for him to become a team leader after transferring to State College;
• Ranked top 10 in the FBS in pass rush win percentage (20.8%) in 2023;
• Penn State’s co-MVP (with Olu Fashanu) in 2023.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Lean-muscled body type and doesn’t have ideal armor on his frame;
• Doesn’t have the raw power to create an effective bull rush without a few steps of momentum;
• Can be steered past the pocket because of average body strength;
• Will be driven from his spot in the run game and will be challenged by wham/mash blocks in the NFL;
• Missed two games as a junior because of concussion symptoms (November 2023);
• Modest volume production (averaged less than two tackles per game in his career);
• Only one season as a full-time starter and was part of a rotation (averaged 30.3 defensive snaps per game in 2023).

 

SUMMARY:

• Was a wide-aligned pass rusher in former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s scheme;
• Transferred to Penn State partly because he wanted to remain a pass rusher instead of moving to linebacker;
• Was one of the most disruptive players in the country 42.7% of his tackles the past two seasons came in the backfield;
• Accelerates 0-to-60 in a blink, creating instant suddenness from his spot to shoot gaps or win races to the corner;
• Shows natural rush instincts and uses a variety of swats, swipes and dips to evade blocks;
• Counters need further development;
• Is a tougher run defender than expected;
• Is slightly undersized and could use additional bulk to better match up with NFL blockers;
• Needs to continue developing to prove he isn’t a one-trick pony;
• First-step explosiveness and aggressive hands give him the potential to be the most dynamic pass rusher in this class;
• Is ideally suited as a wide-nine defender who can be schemed across the front.

 
 

Patrick Paul - OT - Houston - 6'7" - 331 lbs - Round 2 - Pick 55

 
GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 59 overall - No. 8 OTs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Looks the part with his large frame and rare overall body length;
• Aggressive striking skills and relies on his natural size to overwhelm defenders once engaged;
• Displays the quickness and bend out of his stance to answer explosive rushers all the way around the arc;
• Generally sees things quickly enough to answer stunts and blitzes;
• Flashes the upper-body strength to latch and drive in the run game;
• Benefited from the “older brother theory” (both of his older brothers played high school and college football);
• Voted a two-time team captain, and NFL scouts say he cares about his craft;
• Started 44 games at left tackle in college, including the final 39 straight.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Plays high and needs to keep his cleats in the ground;
• Creates momentum with his outside kick-slide, which leaves him susceptible to inside moves;
• Late to recover with his lower body and reset his hands to answer power;
• Inconsistent rhythm out of his stance and hands tend to stray wide, inviting bull rushers to uproot him;
• Subpar technique as a run blocker, ducking his head and l osing balance;
• Did a much better job avoiding holding calls in 2023 but still caught grabbing more than you want;
• Suffered a sprained ankle and torn ligament in his foot (October 2020), which required season-ending tightrope procedure;
• Unproven positional flexibility with 100% of his 2,968 college snaps coming at left tackle.

 

SUMMARY:

• Was a left tackle only in former head coach Dana Holgorsen’s version of the Air Raid zone-blocking scheme;
• Started every game for the Cougars over the last three seasons and earned first team All-Conference honors each time;
• Is an athletic and competitive big man, and his long arms are tough to escape in the run game and pass protection;
• His length becomes a detriment when he misses, and his pad level and timing are still in the developmental phase;
• Has the size and length to keep defenders occupied, but his rhythm breaks down quickly;
• Opponents will find success until he improves his rudimentary recovery technique and hand usage;
• Similar in ways to Chukwuma Okorafor, he has the tools to develop into a functional NFL starter, but he might require a redshirt year.

 
 

Jaylen Wright - RB - Tennessee - 5'10" - 210 lbs - Round 4 - Pick 120

 

G	CAR	YDS	TDS	REC	YDS	TD
34	368	2,297	18	30	171	0

 
GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 83 overall - No. 4 RBs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Muscular build with defined arms and quads;
• Gives his blockers a chance to do their jobs before using his burst to accelerate through holes;
• Has track speed, but his ability to cut away from pursuit angles at full speed and create missed tackles is more impressive;
• Most of his explosives came on the outside, where he could bounce and find a runway (three carries of 50-plus yards in 2023);
• Keeps his shoulders square and his feet underneath him for quick lateral cuts;
• Runs with balance and run strength, and he averaged 4.35 yards after contact in 2023 (third best in the FBS among backs with 130-plus carries);
• Willing to step up and stone linebackers in pass-pro;
• Only 30 career catches, but he caught the ball well when targeted;
• Plenty of tread left — fewer than 400 offensive touches in college;
• Produced when given the opportunity, averaging 6.24 yards per carry over the last two seasons.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Prefers to step/spin out of contact and doesn’t consistently drop his pads into contact or fall forward;
• Inside vision is inconsistent and will leave some meat on the bone;
• Needs to be quicker adjusting his tempo to attack daylight as it opens;
• Wide base helps his balance mid-cut but also hinders some of his lateral explosiveness at times;
• Anticipation in pass protection is still developing;
• Fumbled five times over the last two seasons, although only once in 2023;
• Minimal special-teams experience and wasn’t used as a returner in college;
• Scored just four times in 2023;
• Wasn’t asked to carry the offense (12 or fewer offensive touches in half of his games in 2023);
• Underwent a procedure on his left thumb after the 2023 season.

 

SUMMARY:

• Was the lead back in head coach Josh Heupel’s version of the Air Raid spread scheme;
• Led the Volunteers in rushing each of the last two seasons and finished No. 1 among all FBS running backs in yards per carry in 2023 (7.39);
• Is a good-sized back with the foot quickness and speed bursts that leads to explosive plays;
• 25.74% of his carries in 2023 went for 10-plus yards, No. 1 in the FBS;
• Though his pace and patience must improve for more controlled runs, he showed a lot of promise with his receiving skills and pass-pro reps on his 2023 film;
• Wright needs to develop a better feel for using tempo to maximize what is there, but his run strength, balance and ability to cut/weave at top speed make him dangerous with the ball in his hands;
• He projects as a scheme-versatile back (stylistically similar to Jerome Ford) who can handle work on all three downs.

 
 

Mohamed Kamara - EDGE - Colorado State - 6'1" - 248 lbs - Round 5 - Pick 158

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
49	179	45.5	30.5	5	2	0

 
GRADE: 5th-6th Round (No. 18 EDGEs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Intense competitor and rushes with a touch of craziness to him;
• Launches out of stance and disrupts protections with his relentless steps;
• Keeps hips and feet in sync and dips shoulder to get underneath blocks;
• Plays with outstanding physicality to generate force and work his way through bodies;
• Never shuts things down and proudly makes plays in pursuit;
• Voted a team captain and universally respected in the program;
• Described as a “no-nonsense” player by his coaches who also said, he “inspires” teammates with intense work ethic;
• Highly productive final two seasons in college, becoming just the second player in school history to surpass 30 career sacks.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Undersized with a nearly maxed-out frame and below-average arm length;
• Flashes power but doesn’t have the body strength to match blockers once locked up and can be flattened out in the run game;
• Slightly stiff and lacks efficiency at the top of his rush;
• Hands are more violent than timely, and he relies too much on effort instead of technique when attempting to counter;
• Sacrifices balance and spends too much time on the ground;
• Inconsistent finishing skills and misses too many tackles while playing in overdrive;
• Often finds himself out of control, which leads to offsides or undisciplined penalties;
• Doesn’t offer experience dropping in coverage;
• Will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie.

 

SUMMARY:

• Kamara lined up as an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Freddie Banks’ 4-2-5 base scheme;
• After an encouraging junior season, he put together an All-America senior campaign as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year;
• Finished his career second in school history in sacks (30.5) and third in tackles for loss (45.5);
• A compact, face-up rusher, Kamara has outstanding play speed, along with aggressive hands and body control through contact, which directly leads to production;
• Though he raises the level of his teammates with his intensity, he needs to better balance his menacing play style without sacrificing his discipline and technique;
• Kamara doesn’t have the ideal size or length, but his physicality and energetic athleticism shouldn’t be discounted for the right role;
• He projects as a high-effort rotational edge rusher and a poor man’s Ogbo Okoronkwo.

 
 

Malik Washington - WR - Virginia - 5'8" - 191 lbs - Round 6 - Pick 184

 

G	REC	YDS	TD	DROP
52	230	2,774	12	6

 
GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 90 overall - No. 15 WRs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Twitched-up athlete with the initial quickness to shake press;
• Rapidly accelerates to top gear;
• Impressive adjustment skills are possible because of his high-level body control and tracking ability;
• Strong, confident hands, and drops were rare on his film;
• Better finishing skills through contact than his size would suggest;
• Uses subtle body/head fakes at the stem to entice coverage and create separation;
• Pulls a rabbit out of his hat with the ball in his hands (ranked No. 1 among FBS wide receivers with 35 forced missed tackles in 2023);
• Added kick-return duties in 2023 and averaged 19.5 yards per return (14/273/0);
• Voted a team captain for the 2023 season;
• Posted elite production as a super senior, setting Virginia’s single-season records for catches (110), receiving yards (1,426) and 100-yard receiving games (10).

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Undersized and underpowered with short arms;
• Initial speed is better than his long speed;
• Lack of play strength shows as a blocker and when he can’t escape the jam;
• Lacks refinement with his route pacing and steps;
• Guilty of unnecessarily jumping and using his body to finish catches;
• Had five career fumbles;
• Inexperienced on special teams, outside of kick returns;
• Suffered a torn ACL midway through his junior season of high school (October 2017);
• Only one season of high-level production;
• Worked primarily out of the slot in college.

 

SUMMARY:

• Worked mostly out of the slot in head coach Tony Elliott’s offensive scheme (87.9% of his snaps came at inside receiver);
• His receiving production improved each of his four seasons at Northwestern, but he exploded in his one season for the Cavaliers, setting a new ACC record with 110 catches and leading the FBS with 10 games of 100-plus yards;
• Has extraordinary quickness and gets up to top speed in a hurry to immediately put cornerbacks in conflict;
• Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze are the only players in this draft class who had more catches of 20-plus yards in 2023;
• Is a playmaker at the catch point (miniscule 2.5% drop rate in his career);
• His catch radius is average, and he needs to prove that he can handle a larger route-running menu;
• Washington is undersized and needs to continue refining his route steps, but his explosive movements, rugged toughness and catchpoint skills will make him a factor in the slot for an NFL offense;
• He also has the skill set to immediately contribute in the return game.

 
 

Patrick McMorris - S - California - 6'0" - 207 lbs - Round 6 - Pick 198

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
55	252	11.0	1.0	2	25	6

 
GRADE: Priority Free Agent (No. 28 Ss)
 

SUMMARY:

• A three-star recruit, McMorris signed with San Diego State as a defensive back and was a two-year starter at the “Aztec” safety position;
• For his final season, he transferred to Cal, where his two brothers (Malik, Hakim) ran track. He finished second on the team in tackles in 2023;
• McMorris is a loose mover with the feet and physicality of a former running back;
• He is a fast-flow player, which can help him make plays on the ball, but it also moves him off the post and disrupts his drive angles;
• Against the run, he struggles finding his balance and streaky technique leads to missed tackles;
• McMorris lacks high-end range and needs to become a more reliable tackler, but NFL teams understandably like his play recognition and physicality.

 
 

Tahj Washington - WR - USC - 5'9" - 174 lbs - Round 7 - Pick 241

 

G	REC	YDS	TD	DROP
54	209	3,224	21	14

 
GRADE: 5th-6th Round (No. 27 WRs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Speedy, sudden athlete;
• Runs with controlled urgency to escape the jam and quickly accelerate vertically (led the Pac-12 with five catches of 50-plus yards in 2023);
• Tracks the ball exceptionally well in flight for late adjustments;
• Registered just one drop on 74 targets in 2023, while making one-handed grabs when needed;
• Catch-point focus doesn’t suffer with bodies around him;
• Understands defensive-back leverage and attacks at the top of his stem;
• Competitive before and after the catch with the balance and vision to elude the first tackler;
• Averaged 19.0 yards per kick return (23/438/0);
• Was a gunner on punt coverages his last two seasons at USC;
• Soft-spoken, but his coaches speak highly of his “all-in” mentality and football toughness;
• Durable, especially for his size, and didn’t miss a game because of injury the last four seasons (50 games played);
• One of six Pac-12 wide receivers to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in 2023.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Undersized with slight bone structure and marginal definition;
• Doesn’t have the body power to run through NFL contact;
• Physical coverage can bully him off his route path;
• Short arms, small hands and underwhelming plucking radius to consistently stretch and make grabs outside his frame;
• Doesn’t have the frame to shield defenders from the catch point;
• His routes are fast, but he could benefit from more pacing and patience to keep corners honest;
• Worked primarily out of the slot the last two seasons at USC;
• Only 6.2% of his snaps came on the outside in 2022-23.

 

SUMMARY:

• Washington was a slot receiver in head coach Lincoln Riley’s RPO, spread scheme with heavy motions;
• Despite playing for four different head coaches in his five college seasons, Washington was productive when on the field, including a career year as a senior in 2023;
• Led the Trojans in catches, receiving yards, first-down grabs and contested catches;
• A fluid athlete, Washington is determined and urgent as a route runner with small but strong hands and nifty after-the-catch ability;
• He knows how to beat press and separate at the stem, although NFL length and physicality will raise the level of difficulty for him;
• Washington’s size will immediately turnoff some teams, but his competitive focus and playmaking instincts are the “make-it” qualities evaluators desire at the receiver position;
• He will push for slot and special-teams snaps during his rookie season.

 
 

Mark Perry - S - TCU - 6'0" - 213 lbs - UFA

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
53	233	15.5	2.0	1	13	3

 
GRADE: 6th-7th Round (No. 19 Ss)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Good-sized athlete with above-average straight-line speed;
• Has the range to cover wide areas and the athletic balance to handle tight quarters;
• Recovers well vertically to regain phase and turn to locate the football;
• Balances his vision to feel his surroundings and match receivers underneath with his quick feet;
• Didn’t draw a flag during his two seasons in Fort Worth;
• Fills with better authority than expected;
• Able to elude blocks mid-pursuit without taking his eyes off the main prize;
• Open-field burst pops when he drives down in the run game;
• Was used in multiple roles and played for three different defensive coordinators in college, which helped expand his versatility.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Didn’t record an interception in his 27 games at TCU (All 3 came from one season in Colorado);
• Inconsistent ability to track over the top or quickly find the football deep;
• Has cornerback speed, but his transitions get herky-jerky in attempts to stay attached to speedy NFL slots;
• Feet are a tad delayed when matching releases near the line of scrimmage, forcing him to play catch up;
• Overaggressive tendencies and will take the cheese on play fakes and misdirection;
• Route recognition can run hot and cold;
• Tends to attack from angles in run support and is too willing to make ankle-diving tackles, allowing ball carriers to spin out or pick up extra yardage;
• Wasn’t used as a blitzer at TCU.

 

SUMMARY:

• Perry was the strong safety in defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie’s 3-3-5 base scheme, playing primarily in off coverage;
• After three seasons at Colorado (football and track), he transferred to the Horned Frogs for his final two seasons and combined for 142 tackles;
• His ball production wasn’t nearly as impressive (six passes defended and zero interceptions in 27 games);
• Perry reacts with natural twitch and field range to cover a lot of ground, but he needs improved route recognition to better put himself in position to make plays on the ball;
• He plays gap sound in the alley and can finish one-on-one when he uses proper technique and timing;
• Perry will occasionally lose his man when left on an island, but his explosive athleticism allows for quick recoveries and shows in the run game;
• He projects as an NFL reserve with upside to see the field in subpackages and on special teams.

 
 

Grayson Murphy - EDGE - UCLA - 6'2" - 249 lbs - UFA

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
51	115	34.5	21.5	4	4	0

 
GRADE: Priority Free Agent (No. 30 EDGEs)
 

STRENGTHS:

• Above-average first-step quickness to keep blockers on their toes;
• Uses natural leverage to dip inside and shoot gaps;
• Loose-hipped mover for quick recoveries to get back on track once knocked off his path;
• Flashes twitch in his hands to defeat the hands of the tackle;
• Slams his hands into blockers with an upward motion to create movement;
• Has enough power in his upper body to force his way through the outside shoulder of tackles once he plants the corner;
• His effort pops on each game tape, and he has the same dependable character as his brother;
• Durable and played in every game the past three seasons with steady production each year.

 

WEAKNESSES:

• Undersized frame with T-rex arms and limited growth potential;
• Caught in between positions and won’t be a fit for every NFL scheme;
• Average lower-body strength;
• Average stack-and-shed skills and struggles to break free once engulfed and locked up by blockers;
• Looks great against the run on some reps because of his hustle but can be sealed and washed too easily, disappearing from his gap;
• Urgency to make tackles will leave him off balance as a finisher;
• Rarely asked to drop and make plays in coverage on tape;
• Charged with 26 penalties over the past four seasons, including a career-high nine flags in 2023;
• Seldomly used on kick or punt coverages at UCLA.

 

SUMMARY:

• Murphy was an outside edge rusher in former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s scheme, splitting his time standing up and rushing with his hand on the ground;
• Despite not being an official starter in 2023, he played starter-level snaps and combined for 108 pressures over his two seasons with the Bruins, which ranked third (behind Bralen Trice and Laiatu Latu) in the FBS over that span;
• Despite not receiving a combine invite like his twin brother, Grayson delivered the better 40-yard dash and three-cone times at UCLA’s pro day, and there is no question about the juice he plays with on film;
• He can pin his ears back and create pressure from different angles, but the main issue will be his struggles in the run game;
• Murphy has the compact size of a linebacker, but the athletic urgency and active hands of a pass rusher, which will earn him the “tweener” label from NFL teams;
• He projects as a “DPR” (designated pass rusher) who will need the right situation to make an NFL roster.

 
 

Gavin Hardison - QB - UTEP - 6'1" - 206 lbs - UFA

 

G	CP	ATT	CP%	YDS	TD	INT	CAR	YDS	TD
38	570	1,061	53.7	7,963	40	33	185	-15	3

 
GRADE: Priority Free Agent (No. 19 QBs)
 

SUMMARY:

• Attended Hobbs High and had a breakout senior season with a school-record 5,347 passing yards and 58 touchdown passes;
• NFL scouts had lofty expectations for his 2023 season, but it ended after one month because of elbow surgery to repair a UCL ligament;
• Hardison has an NFL arm, and the ball pops out of his hand;
• He is more of a “see it” thrower and tends to get happy feet when things aren’t well-defined in coverage;
• He is comfortable running zone-read/RPO concepts;
• Hardison didn’t put consistent ball placement on film, but he shows immense trust in his arm — which is both a strength and weakness to his game.

 

Storm Duck - CB - Louisville - 6'0" - 195 lbs - UFA

 

G	TKLS	TFL	SACK	FF	PD	INT
46	135	4.5	1.0	1	29	5

 
GRADE: Priority Free Agent (No. 53 CBs)
 

SUMMARY:

• Was named after a soap opera character;
• A three-star recruit, he committed to North Carolina and made an immediate impact as a true freshman;
• He missed a combined 17 games the next two years but became an All-ACC corner in 2022;
• He transferred to Louisville for his final season and was part of a rotation;
• Duck shows awareness as a cloud corner and plays the catch point well, when in position;
• He will surrender separation to crisp route runners at the break point, especially in man-to-man;
• He won’t shrink as a tackler, but he is inconsistent in the run game;
• Most importantly, he needs to stay off the injury list;
• Duck (aside from having a first-round name) has NFL-level athleticism and ball skills, but spacing issues often lead to him grabbing or allowing completions.

 

Matthew Jones - G - Ohio State - 6'3" - 316 lbs - UFA

 
GRADE: Priority Free Agent (No. 25 Gs)
 

SUMMARY:

• A four-year starter at defensive tackle, he was recruited on defense by some (had a Power 5 offer as a freshman, from Rutgers), but he signed with Ohio State as an offensive lineman;
• After backing up Jonah Jackson and filling in as a sixth offensive lineman, he started a combined 25 games over his final two seasons (and showed his versatility at center);
• Has good size with slide quickness and short-pull range, although his recovery movements aren’t as controlled and stem from inconsistent hand placement;
• Can be walked back by powerful nose guards and is more of a body blocker, struggling to generate movement;
• Jones has inconsistent sustain skills because of average balance and core strength, but he offers the functional movements to earn his way onto a roster in the right situation.

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First Previous Next Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Patreon Newsletter
Cannoli’s heart hammered against her chest. She wanted so badly to look behind her and make sure that Buttons and Freckles went unseen. That the blanket hiding them hadn’t moved. But even the tiniest glance could mean their capture—if Muzhira hadn’t spotted the blazards already.
“S-Sister Cecilia,” Rozalyn stammered, then bowed deeply. “My apologies.”
Sister Cecilia had blue hair the color of the sky that tumbled over the dazzling white and gold of her robes. Dozens of sapphires sparkled from their tendrils, wrapped and twined in mindful placements where none touched the others. Her soft features would suggest a kind face, but her silver eyes glimmered with disappointment. She stood just as tall as Muzhira, and her slender ears and thick tail ended in white tufts of fur.
“Cannoli, you were late to your lesson on your first day,” Sister Cecilia chided. “This is unwise and a bleak look for your future.”
“I’m so sorry, Sister Cecilia! I think my nerves got the best of me.” Cannoli mirrored Rozalyn’s bow. Tears burned in the backs of her eyes, and she forced them down. I will not be a disappointment! “Rozalyn was very kind in showing me this room as a place to catch my breath.”
“There are correctly sanctioned areas of the temple for which you may regain composure, Cannoli. Rozalyn, in your three weeks of attendance, you should very well be accustomed to them by now.” Sister Cecilia’s voice lost its edge.
Cannoli caught her breath. They hadn’t seen the blazards. “I will familiarize myself with them immediately, Sister Cecilia. Outside of my lesson time, of course.” She rose, cautiously searching Cecilia’s face. The pink on the sister’s cheeks had vanished, and her eyes warmed.
“Pardon my interference, Sister Cecilia, but I’m certain I overheard them speaking of hiding something,” Muzhira said, pitching her tone toward curious innocence.
Cannoli’s heart skipped. She forced her features to stay blank. Muzhira had been following them in the shadows.
Rozalyn straightened. “Ourselves,” she replied. “It is as Cannoli says. Such a drastic change in our lives feels overwhelming at times. Not all of us have taken to our path as adeptly as you have, Muzhira.”
For a split second, Muzhira furrowed her brows and frowned. It vanished when Sister Cecilia turned to look at her.
“We are wasting valuable time, ladies. I would ask you to refrain from visiting this wing of the temple and utilizing acceptable resources in the future,” Cecilia instructed. “Now, Cannoli will come with me, and I trust you two will return to your studies?”
“Yes, Sister Cecilia,” Rozalyn and Muzhira replied in unison.
“Very good. Cannoli? If you will?”
“O-of course!” Cannoli skipped forward, forgetting her attempts to soften her steps. After the first two fell like boulders crashing into the ocean, she remembered herself and slowed. Now that Buttons was safe, she couldn’t let her excitement get the better of her.
Sister Cecilia smiled—a warm, genuine reaction that reached her eyes. “Let this be our first lesson.” She gestured to their feet as they entered the cool hallway. “Silent steps require a sound mind and prepared body. We must first be aware of our surroundings and steady our breathing.” Raising her hands to the height of her chest, Cecilia took a deep breath in, then slowly exhaled, lowering her hands with it. “We will walk as we breathe. Let us start there. Try to match your steps with mine.”
It sounded simple in practice, but Cannoli realized it required her to pay close attention to the cadence of her breathing alongside the timing of her steps, and that was outside of keeping up with Cecilia. She was so focused on the task that she didn’t see Rozalyn or Muzhira pass her. They reached the hallways and continued around the storage boxes. Cecilia was a patient teacher, offering tidbits of advice here and there, a much different approach to the streams of information Cannoli had seen in the Venicia School of Etiquette.
Cecilia stopped at the double doors to the library and raised a hand. “Very good, Cannoli. We will work on this first thing each afternoon.” She opened the doors and gestured for Cannoli to enter.
When Cannoli stepped across the threshold, her eyes widened, and her breath caught. “Oh my goodness,” she murmured.
Multiple shelves flanked by golden columns protruded from the walls, each housing six rows of polished wood and filled from edge to edge with books. The design continued to the second story, where smooth railings protected curious initiates from stepping over the edge. Painted murals of Saoirse and her masked prophets appeared in detailed circles on the ceiling, surrounded by ivory sculptures and gold filigree flecked with sapphires. The tiled floor featured floral mosaics among the alternating gold and white squares.
Inside the alcoves created by bookshelves were initiates poring over books and taking notes. Others with two thick tomes open seemed to be copying scripts and hymns. A few read for pleasure, curled up in a corner chair with their tails tucked around their ankles.
“Marvelous, isn’t it?” Cecilia asked.
“Yes. Oh my, yes. How many books are here?”
“Fifteen hundred. It is Nyarlea’s largest collection to date.”
Cannoli gaped. “This feels like a dream.” It seemed impossible to have so many books in one building. As a kitten, Mother returning home with a book was a cause for celebration. Cannoli had treasured her small collection of reading material and read them so many times that the ink was beginning to fade.
“Let us hope you feel the same way while you study.” A knowing smile twitched at the corners of Cecilia’s lips. “You will spend much time with these tomes.”
“I look forward to it,” Cannoli replied honestly.
“Good. Today, however, we must attune you to a weapon.” Sister Cecilia marched forward before Cannoli could ask what she meant.
Cannoli skipped to catch up, then focused again on her breathing and keeping time with Cecilia. Her steps had quieted just a little, but it was a start. They made their way to the back of the library, where Cecilia unlocked a white door with a key around her wrist. Cannoli moved inside, and Cecilia locked the door behind them.
“This is the armory,” Cecilia said. “You are only to come here with an instructor, regardless of whether your peer has found an errant key.” A hint of humor touched her words, but Cannoli blushed all the same. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cannoli said with a nod.
“Excellent. Over here, then.”
Cannoli crossed the circular room, noting the different weapons on the walls, the complicated sigils and diagrams sketched on aging pieces of parchment, and the Enchanted lamps that flickered to life as they passed.
“Please shift to [Combat Mode], Cannoli,” Cecilia instructed.
Cannoli recalled so long ago when she’d found so much joy in changing into her [Combat Mode]. The idea of saving her friends and helping her Party had made her truly feel magical. Matt and Keke had teased her, but she still loved turning the routine into a spectacle.
Now, changing into her offensive gear twisted her stomach. It meant something, or someone, was about to die. And there was nothing she could do about it.
“Cannoli?” Cecilia repeated.
“S-sorry. [Combat Mode].” Cannoli watched as the white robes vanished, replaced by the resplendent silks and satins Cailu had purchased for her. The gear was stunning, perfect, and beautiful. Cannoli still didn’t feel like she deserved a single piece of it.
A look of stunned surprise widened Cecilia’s eyes and mouth. “Where do you hail from, child?”
“Ni Island.” Cannoli’s blush deepend. “I’ve been with Matt— …with my island’s man since his birth. We were in a lot of fights, so San Island’s man, Cailu, bought us all armor.”
“They work together? The men?” Cecilia remarked.
“Well, Cailu’s trying to get them all to work together.” Cannoli’s stomach twisted. The duel between Cailu and Magni flashed in her mind’s eye. It felt blasphemous to say what they’d done out loud, especially inside of Saoirse’s temple. “Does…uniting the men go against Saoirse’s teachings, Sister Cecilia?”
“I see you carry difficult questions.” Cecilia observed Cannoli for a long time, eyes thoughtfully searching her face. “While there is not a set precedent for the men uniting, we will make it a lesson for another day. Can you summon your weapon for me?”
Cannoli did as Cecilia asked. Her armor may have been luxurious, but she wielded the same scepter she’d held since she could first access [Combat Mode].
Cecilia held out her hand, and Cannoli passed the scepter over for inspection. “Quite a dichotomy in quality.” Cecilia chuckled.
“I’ve never tried anything else,” Cannoli admitted. “I wouldn’t know what weapon to ask for.”
Cecilia nodded and turned toward the wall of weapons. “This Level of equipment is what I’m more accustomed to seeing from new initiates. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“You will still gain benefits for using a scepter if you so choose, but it is best to test them all and find what fits you. Your weapon serves as an extension of yourself and thus an extension of Saoirse.” Cecilia selected a hammer and held it across both hands in a display. “Hammers will grant you great Strength and fortitude. They are an excellent choice for those seeking the best protection for themselves or those who journey alone.” She passed it to Cannoli.
Cannoli accepted the handle and was surprised by the weight when she lifted it. Her arm drooped as she choked up toward the carved metal block. “So I would, um, attack things with this?”
“Yes. There are multiple Spells to imbue the end with the holy element. It would also require you to allocate a section of your Stats to Strength.”
Matt cleaving Encroacher after Encroacher came to mind. Cannoli shook her head furiously and held out the hammer. “I can’t use this.”
Cecilia nodded and accepted the weapon before returning it to the wall. She lifted a staff lying horizontally on its two prongs, then turned to Cannoli. “Staves are for those who seek to attack from afar, granting the wielder a fiery offensive holy magic that is incredibly potent against the Defiled.”
The staff was lighter in Cannoli’s grasp, and she found it most comfortable if she held it in both hands. Fiery offensive… But they already had Ravyn’s unmatched fire Spells. Besides, Cannoli didn’t want to hurt anyone anymore. She wanted to heal them. Help them. “I don’t think this one is for me, either.”
“Understood.” Cecilia replaced the staff, then reached for the final weapon—a golden scepter imbued with glittering sapphires. “This scepter is of a higher quality, so it may feel different in your hands.” She passed it to Cannoli. “Scepters will grant you additional healing abilities, as well as assistance to your Sigil Spells, which you will discuss with Sister Madeleine in your evening lessons.”
The balance of the golden scepter was perfect, and the grip in Cannoli’s hand felt right. “This is it, Sister Cecilia. This is the weapon I want.”
“Very good, then. Once you’ve passed my initial training, we will forge you one just like it.” Cecilia exchanged the golden scepter for Cannoli’s with a nod. “It seems you’ve had much experience traveling in your Party, Cannoli. I look forward to your sessions.”
“Thank you, Sister Cecilia. I do, too.”
For just a few heartbeats, Cannoli imagined her [Combat Mode] routine again, and she smiled.
​
Cannoli Pro Tip: I'm glad that scepters will help me heal more efficiently. They feel the most natural to me now. This one's so pretty!
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First of all, all credit goes to the original developers of these designs. All I did was change the pdf/png files and poke around in the code for a minute because I couldn't find any other skins like this anywhere. If either of you want me to remove this just let me know.
PIX3L's (zhang_33 on reddit) original post:
https://www.reddit.com/Delta_Emulatocomments/1cdfesn/skin_that_simulates_real_nds_screen_pixel_effects/
PIX3L's buymeacoffee:
https://buymeacoffee.com/pix3l
It looks like u/failyx hasn't posted on reddit for a while but if he's not cool with this either just let me know. Not sure if he's got a similar buymeacoffee link or what, unfortunately.
So yeah, like I said in the title, I often switch between the two controller modes and my muscle memory can get all confused with how A/B and X/Y are mirrored between the two control schemes, so I just took these two awesome skins and flipped those buttons. Thought I'd share it in case there's anyone else out there looking for something like this. Unfortunately because I don't really know what I'm doing, I believe these will overwrite the original versions of the skins, if present in your Delta. You'll probably have to remove these versions and re-add the original versions if you want to switch back to them.
The one by PIX3L is for NDS and the one by failyx is for GBA.
Here's a google drive link to a folder containing the two skins and two screenshots of the skins:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_Fxh5ZAnnM1UKO1Ar6ZXyAZF5k-DURpa?usp=drive_link
If anyone wants to try this themself it really doesn't take much know-how. You basically (from my layman's perspective):

1. open the .deltaskin file in 7zip and extract the files inside to a folder
   
2. edit the pdfs using something like Adobe Acrobat. If they come as pngs you can just use paint. Button PLACEMENT must remain the same unless you wanna go deeper into editing the code than I did. So like - you should place the x over where the y was, vice versa, and then do the same deal with the a/b buttons
   
3. open the .json file and replace the lines of code containing just "a" with "b," vice versa, and again, the same with "x" and "y". If there's an ab button where both are held down you'll see something reflecting that in the code too; just do the same thing as before and replace "a" with "b" and vice versa there as well
   
4. rezip the files within the folder you're working in (not the folder itself) to a .zip file type. Make sure you're changing the file type - you might wanna google how to make sure you're doing so on your OS
   
5. change the .zip extension on the zip you just made to .deltaskin
   
6. get it on your phone, and you should be set!
   

Note that if the originals are pdfs and not pngs, some pdf editors may not work. I was messing around with GIMP to try and get them edited there but it wasn't working. I don't know why, lol. Acrobat has a free 7 day trial, though. Thanks again to the original creators!

Hello! I am looking for a WP group for the upcoming Dawntrail expansion. Currently I am a melee DPS player but I am willing to play other DPS roles or pick up Healing as well. I am looking for a long-term group that is interested in racing both savages and ultimates and is aiming to improve and work towards placing top 10 or better throughout 7.0.
A little about myself: I started playing at the start of ShB and joined an FC static in Eden's Verse. I have been clearing savage week 1 consistently since then. I have cleared all Ultimates with TEA/DSTOP on content with midcore hours. I have alarm clocked and done HC hours for all savage tiers during EW with my best current placement being World 30th for Anabaseios last tier with a new group that I joined. I also did week 1 another aloala island savage with some friends which was a ton of fun!
Current Raid History

• Week 1 savage clears since Eden's Verse
• Week 4 TEA
• Week 4 DSR
• Week 8 TOP
• World 30th for Anabaseios
• Day 5 Another Aloala Island Savage

I am able to play any role needed at a high level after some practice, with my most comfort being DPS, specifically melee. Considering the upcoming new expansion and time before next tier, I am willing to learn and practice Healing or another DPS role that would fit best with my future group. I would consider myself consistent during prog and am able to play for long hours while staying focused. I am very fast at learning mechanics and am able to communicate effectively with the group while being receptive of criticism. I am also comfortable shotcalling if needed and have experience coming up with strats/diagrams and making mitigation sheets for my previous statics.
My Ideal Group

• Long term commitment to preparing for raid tiers and performing our best during raid
• Ability to alarm clock for racing and take PTO as necessary
• Previous alarm clock/racing/HC experience
• Ability to optimize and flex jobs within your role
• Consistent gameplay, ability to adapt, and strong mental during prog
• Overall positive vibes and ability to find enjoyment raiding in the game
• Alts for splits for faster gearing and desires to speedkill and optimize after week 1 would be optimal but not required

I primarily play this game to enjoy new raiding content and to complete it as fast as possible. As new raid content is few and far in between, I am looking for a group of players that shares this sentiment. An ideal group for me would share my drive to improve and be willing to put in the time and effort to place high in upcoming races. Overall I am looking for a long term group of players that enjoys raiding and doing content - optimization runs/speeds/ultimates - and tackling new content together with the goal to do as best as we can.
FFlogs: https://www.fflogs.com/charactena/leviathan/yuffie%20jewffie
If you have any inquiries for me or feel as though I could be a good fit for your group, please contact me on discord: caneocan to discuss further. Thank you!

I - II - III - IV
The fleshy centers in both of Teresa’s palms were starting to bruise.
Diggs’ spiel had somehow transported them outside the Entodome, out to an open field not far from the facility parking lot. He was now directing her attention to the mobile “Dragondrone hangar” (which still looked more like a barbecue than anything else), where Cesar held his hands above the latch.
“Now this. This is one of my favorite parts.” Diggs smirked, his arms held behind his lab coat. “It’s what fills seats at every expo.”
Teresa fought the urge to groan. Oh, just get on with it. She watched as Cesar opened their little “hangar” and unleashed a cloud of bewildered dragonflies into the air. It was a mass of confused movement.
Well, here goes. This is where they all fly off. Bye Bye.
But to Teresa’s surprise, The dragonfly horde swirled into one precise shape, unifying and shooting forward like a directed puff of smoke.
Diggs stepped in front of the now-empty barbecue. “You see that pole they’re aiming for?” He pointed at a metallic pylon in the distance. “They’ll be upon it shortly. We program their transceivers to fly back and forth between these two points.” He motioned again to the barbecue. “It allows us to perform some baseline inspection. Quality control.”
Teresa nodded slowly, not really in awe, but in a bemused sort of devastation. How on earth could this be sustainable? The enemy might as well release children with fly swatters. Or frogs. She tried to think of something to ask, to convince herself this afternoon hadn’t been a huge waste of her time. She turned to Cesar with an open palm. “So … how long do they live for?”
The assistant clearly hadn’t been expecting to talk. “Um. Well it depends,” he said. “Most of them? Twelve months.”
Only a year? Teresa bit her tongue. “Can they handle extreme climates?”
“Well, it depends.” His eyes stared at the ground. “What kind?”
She fought the urge to face-palm. We’re fighting in the arctic, what kind do you think?
Devlin quickly intervened. “We can breed them to survive near anything. And the beauty is, they’ll always feed themselves! Infinite battery power.”
Teresa’s mind kept finding more holes to poke. “And if there isn’t any food? What then?”
“Oh they’ll hunt anywhere,” Diggs said with a certainty. “Flies and mosquitoes exist on every continent, which makes our Dragondrones extremely versatile. All terrain.”
Is he trying to sell me a car? She turned before her annoyance could show and pretended to watch the line of insects returning from the shiny pylon.
On second thought, a car wouldn’t be so bad. I could drive it straight to the airport, instead of waiting for the courtesy vehicle after this flea circus.
***
“Use your wings!” Flax yelled, swaying the tail that Ollo gripped. “It only works if you flap in tandem with me!”
Ollo tried, but he was having trouble synchronizing his muscles. He panicked as they sputtered awkwardly, beginning to plunge. The shadows of the three Envoys stood tall and still in the distance: judging on behalf of The Ancestor.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no.
Ollo focused and very quickly discovered his panic doubled as an effective metronome.
Oh - no. Up - down. Oh - no. Up - down.
“Keh! That’s more like it!” Flax yanked them toward the tail-end of the racers. They lined up behind a pair of large duskhawkers, whose freckled wings cut through the air. Suddenly, the endeavor became much easier.
“Oh wow,” Ollo said, “have I gotten better?”
“No, we're in their slipstream, dullard. They’re breaking the air for us.”
Ollo raised his feeler and could indeed feel a displaced draft.
“Just don’t tail them too closely,” Flax said, “or they’ll switch and slipstream us.”
They kept at a following distance, and Ollo used the moment to catch his breath and admire this new universe. He couldn’t believe it. He was here. The Outside.
There were rocky immensities in the distance and vast fields of green. The atmosphere contained a breeze that contoured all flight, and an open humidity that filtered freshness into his being. Ollo took a deep inhalation. This is what adulthood is supposed to be.
“It tastes good, right?” Flax said, mostly gliding now.
“It does,” Ollo admitted. “It’s incredible.”
“For me, the racing doesn’t matter half as much as just being out here,” Flax said. “That’s all the reward I need.”
“You’ve never ranked well?”
“How can I? See these hairs on my thorax?”
Ollo looked beyond the tail he gripped. There flailed hundreds of tiny black fibers.
“Too much drag. Not to mention an entire body frame that’s off-balance.” Flax flexed his front two nubs. “No, I’ve accepted that I’ll be bringing up the rear for the rest of my life. But there are advantages to last place; you’ll see. Plus, it’s better than being stuck in that pond, am I right?”
Ollo nodded, though he was unsure if he agreed. Suddenly, the two duskhawkers ahead of them shifted.
“You want to stay away from where their wings shed air,” Flax said. “Especially during this turn. It’s easy to get caught up in vortices.”
Ollo watched the duskhawkers pull a U-turn around the shiny pole ahead of them.
“Steady,” Flax said. “Steady …”
The lights in Ollo’s vision swam, beckoning him to turn. The lights gently abated as he rounded the beacon carefully.
Dozens of small air cyclones dithered around Ollo. The shed vortices felt weak where they were in last place, but Ollo saw one of the duskhawkers spin out of control.
The poor duskhawker’s wings had twisted the wrong way, and he spiraled down to the earth. Ollo wasn’t sure what had happened, but he could swear, in the periphery of his vision, that something exploded.
***
“What was that?” Teresa asked. Blue sparks popped among the line of dragonflies like a firecracker.
“Oh yes: if they swerve too far from alignment, we can self-destruct their transceivers.” Diggs whirled his hand around a touch-device. “It’s a quick way to weed out any mistakes before the mission starts. It’s also how we prevent valuable flyers from getting into the wrong hands.” He shot Teresa a look that said: bet you didn’t think of that!
She didn’t like his bizarrely jovial attitude, especially considering these bugs were meant to be used for conflict areas. His whole sales approach seemed to forget that she was with the Air Force, not Amazon.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking.” Diggs walked backwards, pocketing his device. “These flyers are all very well and efficient, but how can I see them in action? True recon missions travel great distances over several days, do they not?”
Teresa didn’t say anything, She followed at half speed towards the parking lot, where Cesar now sat inside a golf cart.
“Well in honor of your visit, Sarge, we’ve prepared a little surprise.” Diggs gave a thumbs-up and Cesar bumbled the vehicle over the curb, pulling it onto the grass.
“Hop in.”
Good lord. What more is there to see? Theresa tried to think of something to end this joke. This carnival ride. But her mind was too encumbered by annoyance. A military rep could not be seen as weak.
She sat in the rear two seats, wondering if Diggs could read her resentment. The director leaned in from the front. “We’ll be going uphill, so buckle up!”
She grabbed a ceiling handle. He can’t read me at all. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.
The car throttled up a knoll, and the lack of shocks became evident as the wheels bounced over every pebble and crack.
Christ, what was the Major thinking when he sent me here?
She could hear his old, French cadence jabbering in her head. “It’s a showcase of living drones, Zhao! Made a huge splash at the expo. One of us should be there—and I think it should be you. It’s the forefront of its industry, and it needs someone of your expertise.” But all Teresa could see at this ‘forefront’ was glorified gnats: bird food. How could he have taken this all so seriously?
Then it occurred to her. Maybe he hadn’t.
Maybe she had been sent here as a farce. The more she thought about it, the more the whole visit began to reek of the same passive-aggression that had lingered since her days as a drone pilot: where lieutenants would assign her the latest night shift, or somehow leave her with the rattiest equipment or chair.
Could they be pranking her now? Some petty jab for becoming sergeant in place of someone else? Christ almighty. Even now, at the turn of the 22nd century, the military is a petulant boys’ club.
She watched the two scientists navigate their golf cart, its two-wheel-drive struggling. How much longer am I expected to sit through this? All afternoon? All night?
Being senior air force, Teresa did have access to an evac order. It was something she could theoretically request. But calling it here would be absurd. Wouldn’t it?
No more absurd than being sent to watch bug theatre.
She considered the idea. Wouldn’t it be funny? If they were going to waste her time, she could waste theirs. With her cellphone’s GPS, dispatch could locate her without a hitch. The request would only be a text away. A twenty-year official should be treated with respect.
The golf cart wheezed to the top of the neighboring hill to reveal a large, stylish-looking gazebo. Cesar pulled the E-brake and stopped in front of its glass entrance.
“What’s this?” Teresa stared.
“Oh, you’ll see.” Diggs stepped off the cart and lit a long, thin cigarette. “We’re just getting started.”
Upon approach, the doors slid open, revealing blue-glowing screens. A padded interior ushered comfort, and Teresa could soon hear the familiar hum of something refrigerating. The room contained several monitors that hung below a beautiful, three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the valley. It felt newly renovated, but old enough to have a few mugs lying around.
Diggs smoked outside as Cesar rapidly began tapping on the screens, activating icons and plotting lines across some kind of map. The map kept resizing across the monitors, and as Teresa glanced back and forth, she could faintly see the shine of other metal pylons across the valley. Their placement corresponded to the markers on-screen.
“What is this? Some kind of watchtower?”
Diggs faced away, taking a drag with one arm on the door to prevent it from closing. “Well, you saw our little NASCAR warm-up where we started, right?”
Teresa looked at the field they had left, where a thin oval of dragonflies still circled.
Diggs exhaled. “Well, let’s just say from now on, we’ll be watching Formula One.”
His ember pointed at the cushy seats in the center. Teresa gawked at the chairs, but couldn’t bring herself to sit. Just when the bar on absurdity has been set—it somehow manages to skyrocket further.
***
On their fourth lap, the lights in Ollo’s head began to shimmer, beckoning a new trajectory. Before the colors turned piercingly bright, Flax broke from their path, pulling Ollo to the right.
“Finally,” the damselfly said, “prelim’s over.” In front of them, the linear plume of racers all travelled north, away from the established circuit.
“Wait … what’s going on?” “Can’t you sense her lights? The race has officially started, Ollie. And it looks like a new course.”
“It’s only started now?”
“That’s right. We’ve never flown north before. Lady Meganeura has carved us something special.”
Ollo gripped Flax’s tail and focused on his tandem wing-work. They had entered a steady rate of acceleration, with their wings fluttering in near-perfect opposites.
“Keh. Keep this up and we won’t need to rely on slipstreams.”
Ollo’s mandibles flashed a smile. He enjoyed seeing the grass blur quicker than before. Perhaps this racing does hold some purpose...
The lights guided them far away, towards a strange dirt field. It was strange because it was home to dozens of evenly-dispersed pillars, all about the height and size of an Envoy. They were white, square-shaped, and as Ollo passed the first row, he noticed a beaten, wood-like texture to them. They were full of dents and scratches, as if the pillars somehow rose and bumped each other from time to time.
“What are those things?” Ollo asked.
“Like I said, new course. No idea what Mega’s thinking.”
They flew straight and trailed behind the plume of racers, watching their shimmering wings toss blades of light. As they flew in deeper amongst the white pillars, a muffled buzzing grew louder from all directions. Ollo noticed the hairs on Flax’s thorax grow stiff.
The shimmers up front stopped progressing, and instead oscillated in circles. The distant racers then dispersed around the monoliths.
“Slow down,” Flax said.
“What’s going on?”
“Something’s not right.”
Out from the pillars came flying blue shapes, all buzzing loud and fierce. Thick streams of them gave chase to the racers ahead.
“We need to disengage,” Flax said.
As Ollo let go, they both witnessed one of the racers return their way: it was grey flatwing. The poor dragon was screaming, chased by two blue insects who dove in and out, taking bites of his tail.
“Get offa me! Get off!” The flatwing rapidly turned, tossing vortices at his assailants. The spinning air was powerful enough to sway Ollo and twist the blue bugs’ wings.
“Scramble!” Flax revved his thorax and dived into the cover of the weeds below.
Ollo watched the blue flyers steady their flight, lifting their black-and-blue striped bodies. Each of their abdomens ended in a long, black barb. Ollo had seen a few of these above the pond: bees.
***
“You’re making them fly through your bee farm?” From the window Teresa could no longer make out the drones, but she saw the little hives in the distance. Like tiny white bricks.
“Yes, well, earlier you were asking how they might feed.” Diggs rose from his seat and opened a mini-fridge. “I thought I’d let the drones snack on some of our other products. Like our signature blue bees.”
He grabbed some glass bottles that contained a gold-ish liquid and placed them on the side. “This makes for a nice segue actually—I’d like to introduce some of our artisanal mead, derived from those very bees. It’s smooth, not-too-sweet, with a unique, tangy aftertaste.”
The sergeant glanced from the off-topic drink to the screen Cesar was manipulating. This hive complex was labeled Marker Two on the very large map.
Marker two out of thirty. Good lord.
“The bees are one of the main branches of our company.” Devlin raised his glass and offered the others to Teresa and Cesar. “We are a self-sustaining business, after all, and invested in pollination, which, as you may know, is an extremely profitable endeavor. Our bees are among the few that can still do it.”
So he’s pitching his bees now? It seemed like this Diggs truly lived in his own reality.
“I know you probably assume some grants might’ve paid for our facility”—Diggs giggled—“but grants wouldn’t allow for such extravagance.” His fingers drummed along the gazebo walls, the tops of two monitors, and then the on-screen hive icons.
“It is our bees—which we’ve bred to be a bit more aggressive than others—that ensure we stay on top of the market. It’s what funds our dragonflies, our silkworms, our termites...”
Teresa could not handle whatever this was turning into. There was no way she could stomach hours of this derailed demo and keep a straight face.
Damn you, Major. Never again.
With her hand in her pocket, Teresa sent the text she had prepared. Screw it.
Emergency evac requested. If she was going to have her leg pulled all day, she might as well pull back.
Diggs continued to sip and gasconade, mead swirling in his hand. Teresa nodded along, grabbed her own glass and allowed herself to drink.

I - II - III - IV
The fleshy centers in both of Teresa’s palms were starting to bruise.
Diggs’ spiel had somehow transported them outside the Entodome, out to an open field not far from the facility parking lot. He was now directing her attention to the mobile “Dragondrone hangar” (which still looked more like a barbecue than anything else), where Cesar held his hands above the latch.
“Now this. This is one of my favorite parts.” Diggs smirked, his arms held behind his lab coat. “It’s what fills seats at every expo.”
Teresa fought the urge to groan. Oh, just get on with it. She watched as Cesar opened their little “hangar” and unleashed a cloud of bewildered dragonflies into the air. It was a mass of confused movement.
Well, here goes. This is where they all fly off. Bye Bye.
But to Teresa’s surprise, The dragonfly horde swirled into one precise shape, unifying and shooting forward like a directed puff of smoke.
Diggs stepped in front of the now-empty barbecue. “You see that pole they’re aiming for?” He pointed at a metallic pylon in the distance. “They’ll be upon it shortly. We program their transceivers to fly back and forth between these two points.” He motioned again to the barbecue. “It allows us to perform some baseline inspection. Quality control.”
Teresa nodded slowly, not really in awe, but in a bemused sort of devastation. How on earth could this be sustainable? The enemy might as well release children with fly swatters. Or frogs. She tried to think of something to ask, to convince herself this afternoon hadn’t been a huge waste of her time. She turned to Cesar with an open palm. “So … how long do they live for?”
The assistant clearly hadn’t been expecting to talk. “Um. Well it depends,” he said. “Most of them? Twelve months.”
Only a year? Teresa bit her tongue. “Can they handle extreme climates?”
“Well, it depends.” His eyes stared at the ground. “What kind?”
She fought the urge to face-palm. We’re fighting in the arctic, what kind do you think?
Devlin quickly intervened. “We can breed them to survive near anything. And the beauty is, they’ll always feed themselves! Infinite battery power.”
Teresa’s mind kept finding more holes to poke. “And if there isn’t any food? What then?”
“Oh they’ll hunt anywhere,” Diggs said with a certainty. “Flies and mosquitoes exist on every continent, which makes our Dragondrones extremely versatile. All terrain.”
Is he trying to sell me a car? She turned before her annoyance could show and pretended to watch the line of insects returning from the shiny pylon.
On second thought, a car wouldn’t be so bad. I could drive it straight to the airport, instead of waiting for the courtesy vehicle after this flea circus.
***
“Use your wings!” Flax yelled, swaying the tail that Ollo gripped. “It only works if you flap in tandem with me!”
Ollo tried, but he was having trouble synchronizing his muscles. He panicked as they sputtered awkwardly, beginning to plunge. The shadows of the three Envoys stood tall and still in the distance: judging on behalf of The Ancestor.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no.
Ollo focused and very quickly discovered his panic doubled as an effective metronome.
Oh - no. Up - down. Oh - no. Up - down.
“Keh! That’s more like it!” Flax yanked them toward the tail-end of the racers. They lined up behind a pair of large duskhawkers, whose freckled wings cut through the air. Suddenly, the endeavor became much easier.
“Oh wow,” Ollo said, “have I gotten better?”
“No, we're in their slipstream, dullard. They’re breaking the air for us.”
Ollo raised his feeler and could indeed feel a displaced draft.
“Just don’t tail them too closely,” Flax said, “or they’ll switch and slipstream us.”
They kept at a following distance, and Ollo used the moment to catch his breath and admire this new universe. He couldn’t believe it. He was here. The Outside.
There were rocky immensities in the distance and vast fields of green. The atmosphere contained a breeze that contoured all flight, and an open humidity that filtered freshness into his being. Ollo took a deep inhalation. This is what adulthood is supposed to be.
“It tastes good, right?” Flax said, mostly gliding now.
“It does,” Ollo admitted. “It’s incredible.”
“For me, the racing doesn’t matter half as much as just being out here,” Flax said. “That’s all the reward I need.”
“You’ve never ranked well?”
“How can I? See these hairs on my thorax?”
Ollo looked beyond the tail he gripped. There flailed hundreds of tiny black fibers.
“Too much drag. Not to mention an entire body frame that’s off-balance.” Flax flexed his front two nubs. “No, I’ve accepted that I’ll be bringing up the rear for the rest of my life. But there are advantages to last place; you’ll see. Plus, it’s better than being stuck in that pond, am I right?”
Ollo nodded, though he was unsure if he agreed. Suddenly, the two duskhawkers ahead of them shifted.
“You want to stay away from where their wings shed air,” Flax said. “Especially during this turn. It’s easy to get caught up in vortices.”
Ollo watched the duskhawkers pull a U-turn around the shiny pole ahead of them.
“Steady,” Flax said. “Steady …”
The lights in Ollo’s vision swam, beckoning him to turn. The lights gently abated as he rounded the beacon carefully.
Dozens of small air cyclones dithered around Ollo. The shed vortices felt weak where they were in last place, but Ollo saw one of the duskhawkers spin out of control.
The poor duskhawker’s wings had twisted the wrong way, and he spiraled down to the earth. Ollo wasn’t sure what had happened, but he could swear, in the periphery of his vision, that something exploded.
***
“What was that?” Teresa asked. Blue sparks popped among the line of dragonflies like a firecracker.
“Oh yes: if they swerve too far from alignment, we can self-destruct their transceivers.” Diggs whirled his hand around a touch-device. “It’s a quick way to weed out any mistakes before the mission starts. It’s also how we prevent valuable flyers from getting into the wrong hands.” He shot Teresa a look that said: bet you didn’t think of that!
She didn’t like his bizarrely jovial attitude, especially considering these bugs were meant to be used for conflict areas. His whole sales approach seemed to forget that she was with the Air Force, not Amazon.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking.” Diggs walked backwards, pocketing his device. “These flyers are all very well and efficient, but how can I see them in action? True recon missions travel great distances over several days, do they not?”
Teresa didn’t say anything, She followed at half speed towards the parking lot, where Cesar now sat inside a golf cart.
“Well in honor of your visit, Sarge, we’ve prepared a little surprise.” Diggs gave a thumbs-up and Cesar bumbled the vehicle over the curb, pulling it onto the grass.
“Hop in.”
Good lord. What more is there to see? Theresa tried to think of something to end this joke. This carnival ride. But her mind was too encumbered by annoyance. A military rep could not be seen as weak.
She sat in the rear two seats, wondering if Diggs could read her resentment. The director leaned in from the front. “We’ll be going uphill, so buckle up!”
She grabbed a ceiling handle. He can’t read me at all. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.
The car throttled up a knoll, and the lack of shocks became evident as the wheels bounced over every pebble and crack.
Christ, what was the Major thinking when he sent me here?
She could hear his old, French cadence jabbering in her head. “It’s a showcase of living drones, Zhao! Made a huge splash at the expo. One of us should be there—and I think it should be you. It’s the forefront of its industry, and it needs someone of your expertise.” But all Teresa could see at this ‘forefront’ was glorified gnats: bird food. How could he have taken this all so seriously?
Then it occurred to her. Maybe he hadn’t.
Maybe she had been sent here as a farce. The more she thought about it, the more the whole visit began to reek of the same passive-aggression that had lingered since her days as a drone pilot: where lieutenants would assign her the latest night shift, or somehow leave her with the rattiest equipment or chair.
Could they be pranking her now? Some petty jab for becoming sergeant in place of someone else? Christ almighty. Even now, at the turn of the 22nd century, the military is a petulant boys’ club.
She watched the two scientists navigate their golf cart, its two-wheel-drive struggling. How much longer am I expected to sit through this? All afternoon? All night?
Being senior air force, Teresa did have access to an evac order. It was something she could theoretically request. But calling it here would be absurd. Wouldn’t it?
No more absurd than being sent to watch bug theatre.
She considered the idea. Wouldn’t it be funny? If they were going to waste her time, she could waste theirs. With her cellphone’s GPS, dispatch could locate her without a hitch. The request would only be a text away. A twenty-year official should be treated with respect.
The golf cart wheezed to the top of the neighboring hill to reveal a large, stylish-looking gazebo. Cesar pulled the E-brake and stopped in front of its glass entrance.
“What’s this?” Teresa stared.
“Oh, you’ll see.” Diggs stepped off the cart and lit a long, thin cigarette. “We’re just getting started.”
Upon approach, the doors slid open, revealing blue-glowing screens. A padded interior ushered comfort, and Teresa could soon hear the familiar hum of something refrigerating. The room contained several monitors that hung below a beautiful, three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the valley. It felt newly renovated, but old enough to have a few mugs lying around.
Diggs smoked outside as Cesar rapidly began tapping on the screens, activating icons and plotting lines across some kind of map. The map kept resizing across the monitors, and as Teresa glanced back and forth, she could faintly see the shine of other metal pylons across the valley. Their placement corresponded to the markers on-screen.
“What is this? Some kind of watchtower?”
Diggs faced away, taking a drag with one arm on the door to prevent it from closing. “Well, you saw our little NASCAR warm-up where we started, right?”
Teresa looked at the field they had left, where a thin oval of dragonflies still circled.
Diggs exhaled. “Well, let’s just say from now on, we’ll be watching Formula One.”
His ember pointed at the cushy seats in the center. Teresa gawked at the chairs, but couldn’t bring herself to sit. Just when the bar on absurdity has been set—it somehow manages to skyrocket further.
***
On their fourth lap, the lights in Ollo’s head began to shimmer, beckoning a new trajectory. Before the colors turned piercingly bright, Flax broke from their path, pulling Ollo to the right.
“Finally,” the damselfly said, “prelim’s over.” In front of them, the linear plume of racers all travelled north, away from the established circuit.
“Wait … what’s going on?” “Can’t you sense her lights? The race has officially started, Ollie. And it looks like a new course.”
“It’s only started now?”
“That’s right. We’ve never flown north before. Lady Meganeura has carved us something special.”
Ollo gripped Flax’s tail and focused on his tandem wing-work. They had entered a steady rate of acceleration, with their wings fluttering in near-perfect opposites.
“Keh. Keep this up and we won’t need to rely on slipstreams.”
Ollo’s mandibles flashed a smile. He enjoyed seeing the grass blur quicker than before. Perhaps this racing does hold some purpose...
The lights guided them far away, towards a strange dirt field. It was strange because it was home to dozens of evenly-dispersed pillars, all about the height and size of an Envoy. They were white, square-shaped, and as Ollo passed the first row, he noticed a beaten, wood-like texture to them. They were full of dents and scratches, as if the pillars somehow rose and bumped each other from time to time.
“What are those things?” Ollo asked.
“Like I said, new course. No idea what Mega’s thinking.”
They flew straight and trailed behind the plume of racers, watching their shimmering wings toss blades of light. As they flew in deeper amongst the white pillars, a muffled buzzing grew louder from all directions. Ollo noticed the hairs on Flax’s thorax grow stiff.
The shimmers up front stopped progressing, and instead oscillated in circles. The distant racers then dispersed around the monoliths.
“Slow down,” Flax said.
“What’s going on?”
“Something’s not right.”
Out from the pillars came flying blue shapes, all buzzing loud and fierce. Thick streams of them gave chase to the racers ahead.
“We need to disengage,” Flax said.
As Ollo let go, they both witnessed one of the racers return their way: it was grey flatwing. The poor dragon was screaming, chased by two blue insects who dove in and out, taking bites of his tail.
“Get offa me! Get off!” The flatwing rapidly turned, tossing vortices at his assailants. The spinning air was powerful enough to sway Ollo and twist the blue bugs’ wings.
“Scramble!” Flax revved his thorax and dived into the cover of the weeds below.
Ollo watched the blue flyers steady their flight, lifting their black-and-blue striped bodies. Each of their abdomens ended in a long, black barb. Ollo had seen a few of these above the pond: bees.
***
“You’re making them fly through your bee farm?” From the window Teresa could no longer make out the drones, but she saw the little hives in the distance. Like tiny white bricks.
“Yes, well, earlier you were asking how they might feed.” Diggs rose from his seat and opened a mini-fridge. “I thought I’d let the drones snack on some of our other products. Like our signature blue bees.”
He grabbed some glass bottles that contained a gold-ish liquid and placed them on the side. “This makes for a nice segue actually—I’d like to introduce some of our artisanal mead, derived from those very bees. It’s smooth, not-too-sweet, with a unique, tangy aftertaste.”
The sergeant glanced from the off-topic drink to the screen Cesar was manipulating. This hive complex was labeled Marker Two on the very large map.
Marker two out of thirty. Good lord.
“The bees are one of the main branches of our company.” Devlin raised his glass and offered the others to Teresa and Cesar. “We are a self-sustaining business, after all, and invested in pollination, which, as you may know, is an extremely profitable endeavor. Our bees are among the few that can still do it.”
So he’s pitching his bees now? It seemed like this Diggs truly lived in his own reality.
“I know you probably assume some grants might’ve paid for our facility”—Diggs giggled—“but grants wouldn’t allow for such extravagance.” His fingers drummed along the gazebo walls, the tops of two monitors, and then the on-screen hive icons.
“It is our bees—which we’ve bred to be a bit more aggressive than others—that ensure we stay on top of the market. It’s what funds our dragonflies, our silkworms, our termites...”
Teresa could not handle whatever this was turning into. There was no way she could stomach hours of this derailed demo and keep a straight face.
Damn you, Major. Never again.
With her hand in her pocket, Teresa sent the text she had prepared. Screw it.
Emergency evac requested. If she was going to have her leg pulled all day, she might as well pull back.
Diggs continued to sip and gasconade, mead swirling in his hand. Teresa nodded along, grabbed her own glass and allowed herself to drink.

I - II - III - IV
The fleshy centers in both of Teresa’s palms were starting to bruise.
Diggs’ spiel had somehow transported them outside the Entodome, out to an open field not far from the facility parking lot. He was now directing her attention to the mobile “Dragondrone hangar” (which still looked more like a barbecue than anything else), where Cesar held his hands above the latch.
“Now this. This is one of my favorite parts.” Diggs smirked, his arms held behind his lab coat. “It’s what fills seats at every expo.”
Teresa fought the urge to groan. Oh, just get on with it. She watched as Cesar opened their little “hangar” and unleashed a cloud of bewildered dragonflies into the air. It was a mass of confused movement.
Well, here goes. This is where they all fly off. Bye Bye.
But to Teresa’s surprise, The dragonfly horde swirled into one precise shape, unifying and shooting forward like a directed puff of smoke.
Diggs stepped in front of the now-empty barbecue. “You see that pole they’re aiming for?” He pointed at a metallic pylon in the distance. “They’ll be upon it shortly. We program their transceivers to fly back and forth between these two points.” He motioned again to the barbecue. “It allows us to perform some baseline inspection. Quality control.”
Teresa nodded slowly, not really in awe, but in a bemused sort of devastation. How on earth could this be sustainable? The enemy might as well release children with fly swatters. Or frogs. She tried to think of something to ask, to convince herself this afternoon hadn’t been a huge waste of her time. She turned to Cesar with an open palm. “So … how long do they live for?”
The assistant clearly hadn’t been expecting to talk. “Um. Well it depends,” he said. “Most of them? Twelve months.”
Only a year? Teresa bit her tongue. “Can they handle extreme climates?”
“Well, it depends.” His eyes stared at the ground. “What kind?”
She fought the urge to face-palm. We’re fighting in the arctic, what kind do you think?
Devlin quickly intervened. “We can breed them to survive near anything. And the beauty is, they’ll always feed themselves! Infinite battery power.”
Teresa’s mind kept finding more holes to poke. “And if there isn’t any food? What then?”
“Oh they’ll hunt anywhere,” Diggs said with a certainty. “Flies and mosquitoes exist on every continent, which makes our Dragondrones extremely versatile. All terrain.”
Is he trying to sell me a car? She turned before her annoyance could show and pretended to watch the line of insects returning from the shiny pylon.
On second thought, a car wouldn’t be so bad. I could drive it straight to the airport, instead of waiting for the courtesy vehicle after this flea circus.
***
“Use your wings!” Flax yelled, swaying the tail that Ollo gripped. “It only works if you flap in tandem with me!”
Ollo tried, but he was having trouble synchronizing his muscles. He panicked as they sputtered awkwardly, beginning to plunge. The shadows of the three Envoys stood tall and still in the distance: judging on behalf of The Ancestor.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no.
Ollo focused and very quickly discovered his panic doubled as an effective metronome.
Oh - no. Up - down. Oh - no. Up - down.
“Keh! That’s more like it!” Flax yanked them toward the tail-end of the racers. They lined up behind a pair of large duskhawkers, whose freckled wings cut through the air. Suddenly, the endeavor became much easier.
“Oh wow,” Ollo said, “have I gotten better?”
“No, we're in their slipstream, dullard. They’re breaking the air for us.”
Ollo raised his feeler and could indeed feel a displaced draft.
“Just don’t tail them too closely,” Flax said, “or they’ll switch and slipstream us.”
They kept at a following distance, and Ollo used the moment to catch his breath and admire this new universe. He couldn’t believe it. He was here. The Outside.
There were rocky immensities in the distance and vast fields of green. The atmosphere contained a breeze that contoured all flight, and an open humidity that filtered freshness into his being. Ollo took a deep inhalation. This is what adulthood is supposed to be.
“It tastes good, right?” Flax said, mostly gliding now.
“It does,” Ollo admitted. “It’s incredible.”
“For me, the racing doesn’t matter half as much as just being out here,” Flax said. “That’s all the reward I need.”
“You’ve never ranked well?”
“How can I? See these hairs on my thorax?”
Ollo looked beyond the tail he gripped. There flailed hundreds of tiny black fibers.
“Too much drag. Not to mention an entire body frame that’s off-balance.” Flax flexed his front two nubs. “No, I’ve accepted that I’ll be bringing up the rear for the rest of my life. But there are advantages to last place; you’ll see. Plus, it’s better than being stuck in that pond, am I right?”
Ollo nodded, though he was unsure if he agreed. Suddenly, the two duskhawkers ahead of them shifted.
“You want to stay away from where their wings shed air,” Flax said. “Especially during this turn. It’s easy to get caught up in vortices.”
Ollo watched the duskhawkers pull a U-turn around the shiny pole ahead of them.
“Steady,” Flax said. “Steady …”
The lights in Ollo’s vision swam, beckoning him to turn. The lights gently abated as he rounded the beacon carefully.
Dozens of small air cyclones dithered around Ollo. The shed vortices felt weak where they were in last place, but Ollo saw one of the duskhawkers spin out of control.
The poor duskhawker’s wings had twisted the wrong way, and he spiraled down to the earth. Ollo wasn’t sure what had happened, but he could swear, in the periphery of his vision, that something exploded.
***
“What was that?” Teresa asked. Blue sparks popped among the line of dragonflies like a firecracker.
“Oh yes: if they swerve too far from alignment, we can self-destruct their transceivers.” Diggs whirled his hand around a touch-device. “It’s a quick way to weed out any mistakes before the mission starts. It’s also how we prevent valuable flyers from getting into the wrong hands.” He shot Teresa a look that said: bet you didn’t think of that!
She didn’t like his bizarrely jovial attitude, especially considering these bugs were meant to be used for conflict areas. His whole sales approach seemed to forget that she was with the Air Force, not Amazon.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking.” Diggs walked backwards, pocketing his device. “These flyers are all very well and efficient, but how can I see them in action? True recon missions travel great distances over several days, do they not?”
Teresa didn’t say anything, She followed at half speed towards the parking lot, where Cesar now sat inside a golf cart.
“Well in honor of your visit, Sarge, we’ve prepared a little surprise.” Diggs gave a thumbs-up and Cesar bumbled the vehicle over the curb, pulling it onto the grass.
“Hop in.”
Good lord. What more is there to see? Theresa tried to think of something to end this joke. This carnival ride. But her mind was too encumbered by annoyance. A military rep could not be seen as weak.
She sat in the rear two seats, wondering if Diggs could read her resentment. The director leaned in from the front. “We’ll be going uphill, so buckle up!”
She grabbed a ceiling handle. He can’t read me at all. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.
The car throttled up a knoll, and the lack of shocks became evident as the wheels bounced over every pebble and crack.
Christ, what was the Major thinking when he sent me here?
She could hear his old, French cadence jabbering in her head. “It’s a showcase of living drones, Zhao! Made a huge splash at the expo. One of us should be there—and I think it should be you. It’s the forefront of its industry, and it needs someone of your expertise.” But all Teresa could see at this ‘forefront’ was glorified gnats: bird food. How could he have taken this all so seriously?
Then it occurred to her. Maybe he hadn’t.
Maybe she had been sent here as a farce. The more she thought about it, the more the whole visit began to reek of the same passive-aggression that had lingered since her days as a drone pilot: where lieutenants would assign her the latest night shift, or somehow leave her with the rattiest equipment or chair.
Could they be pranking her now? Some petty jab for becoming sergeant in place of someone else? Christ almighty. Even now, at the turn of the 22nd century, the military is a petulant boys’ club.
She watched the two scientists navigate their golf cart, its two-wheel-drive struggling. How much longer am I expected to sit through this? All afternoon? All night?
Being senior air force, Teresa did have access to an evac order. It was something she could theoretically request. But calling it here would be absurd. Wouldn’t it?
No more absurd than being sent to watch bug theatre.
She considered the idea. Wouldn’t it be funny? If they were going to waste her time, she could waste theirs. With her cellphone’s GPS, dispatch could locate her without a hitch. The request would only be a text away. A twenty-year official should be treated with respect.
The golf cart wheezed to the top of the neighboring hill to reveal a large, stylish-looking gazebo. Cesar pulled the E-brake and stopped in front of its glass entrance.
“What’s this?” Teresa stared.
“Oh, you’ll see.” Diggs stepped off the cart and lit a long, thin cigarette. “We’re just getting started.”
Upon approach, the doors slid open, revealing blue-glowing screens. A padded interior ushered comfort, and Teresa could soon hear the familiar hum of something refrigerating. The room contained several monitors that hung below a beautiful, three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the valley. It felt newly renovated, but old enough to have a few mugs lying around.
Diggs smoked outside as Cesar rapidly began tapping on the screens, activating icons and plotting lines across some kind of map. The map kept resizing across the monitors, and as Teresa glanced back and forth, she could faintly see the shine of other metal pylons across the valley. Their placement corresponded to the markers on-screen.
“What is this? Some kind of watchtower?”
Diggs faced away, taking a drag with one arm on the door to prevent it from closing. “Well, you saw our little NASCAR warm-up where we started, right?”
Teresa looked at the field they had left, where a thin oval of dragonflies still circled.
Diggs exhaled. “Well, let’s just say from now on, we’ll be watching Formula One.”
His ember pointed at the cushy seats in the center. Teresa gawked at the chairs, but couldn’t bring herself to sit. Just when the bar on absurdity has been set—it somehow manages to skyrocket further.
***
On their fourth lap, the lights in Ollo’s head began to shimmer, beckoning a new trajectory. Before the colors turned piercingly bright, Flax broke from their path, pulling Ollo to the right.
“Finally,” the damselfly said, “prelim’s over.” In front of them, the linear plume of racers all travelled north, away from the established circuit.
“Wait … what’s going on?” “Can’t you sense her lights? The race has officially started, Ollie. And it looks like a new course.”
“It’s only started now?”
“That’s right. We’ve never flown north before. Lady Meganeura has carved us something special.”
Ollo gripped Flax’s tail and focused on his tandem wing-work. They had entered a steady rate of acceleration, with their wings fluttering in near-perfect opposites.
“Keh. Keep this up and we won’t need to rely on slipstreams.”
Ollo’s mandibles flashed a smile. He enjoyed seeing the grass blur quicker than before. Perhaps this racing does hold some purpose...
The lights guided them far away, towards a strange dirt field. It was strange because it was home to dozens of evenly-dispersed pillars, all about the height and size of an Envoy. They were white, square-shaped, and as Ollo passed the first row, he noticed a beaten, wood-like texture to them. They were full of dents and scratches, as if the pillars somehow rose and bumped each other from time to time.
“What are those things?” Ollo asked.
“Like I said, new course. No idea what Mega’s thinking.”
They flew straight and trailed behind the plume of racers, watching their shimmering wings toss blades of light. As they flew in deeper amongst the white pillars, a muffled buzzing grew louder from all directions. Ollo noticed the hairs on Flax’s thorax grow stiff.
The shimmers up front stopped progressing, and instead oscillated in circles. The distant racers then dispersed around the monoliths.
“Slow down,” Flax said.
“What’s going on?”
“Something’s not right.”
Out from the pillars came flying blue shapes, all buzzing loud and fierce. Thick streams of them gave chase to the racers ahead.
“We need to disengage,” Flax said.
As Ollo let go, they both witnessed one of the racers return their way: it was grey flatwing. The poor dragon was screaming, chased by two blue insects who dove in and out, taking bites of his tail.
“Get offa me! Get off!” The flatwing rapidly turned, tossing vortices at his assailants. The spinning air was powerful enough to sway Ollo and twist the blue bugs’ wings.
“Scramble!” Flax revved his thorax and dived into the cover of the weeds below.
Ollo watched the blue flyers steady their flight, lifting their black-and-blue striped bodies. Each of their abdomens ended in a long, black barb. Ollo had seen a few of these above the pond: bees.
***
“You’re making them fly through your bee farm?” From the window Teresa could no longer make out the drones, but she saw the little hives in the distance. Like tiny white bricks.
“Yes, well, earlier you were asking how they might feed.” Diggs rose from his seat and opened a mini-fridge. “I thought I’d let the drones snack on some of our other products. Like our signature blue bees.”
He grabbed some glass bottles that contained a gold-ish liquid and placed them on the side. “This makes for a nice segue actually—I’d like to introduce some of our artisanal mead, derived from those very bees. It’s smooth, not-too-sweet, with a unique, tangy aftertaste.”
The sergeant glanced from the off-topic drink to the screen Cesar was manipulating. This hive complex was labeled Marker Two on the very large map.
Marker two out of thirty. Good lord.
“The bees are one of the main branches of our company.” Devlin raised his glass and offered the others to Teresa and Cesar. “We are a self-sustaining business, after all, and invested in pollination, which, as you may know, is an extremely profitable endeavor. Our bees are among the few that can still do it.”
So he’s pitching his bees now? It seemed like this Diggs truly lived in his own reality.
“I know you probably assume some grants might’ve paid for our facility”—Diggs giggled—“but grants wouldn’t allow for such extravagance.” His fingers drummed along the gazebo walls, the tops of two monitors, and then the on-screen hive icons.
“It is our bees—which we’ve bred to be a bit more aggressive than others—that ensure we stay on top of the market. It’s what funds our dragonflies, our silkworms, our termites...”
Teresa could not handle whatever this was turning into. There was no way she could stomach hours of this derailed demo and keep a straight face.
Damn you, Major. Never again.
With her hand in her pocket, Teresa sent the text she had prepared. Screw it.
Emergency evac requested. If she was going to have her leg pulled all day, she might as well pull back.
Diggs continued to sip and gasconade, mead swirling in his hand. Teresa nodded along, grabbed her own glass and allowed herself to drink.

Hey folks, ready to level up your fitness game without leaving your home? Let's talk about folding exercise bikes – the ultimate space-saving solution for getting fit. Imagine having all the benefits of cycling right at your fingertips, without worrying about clutter or limited space. With a folding exercise bike, you can pedal towards your fitness goals with ease. So, let's explore the top picks together and find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.
The 5 Most Reliable Folding Exercise Bike for Home Use - Recommend by Redditors

Exercise Bike	Main Features
EXERPEUTIC EXERWORK 2000i	Work platform for multitasking, 24 preset workout programs, 24-level magnetic tension system, Bluetooth Smart Technology, adjustable desktop, sturdy steel frame, comfortable AIRSOFT seat
Caromix Folding Exercise Bike	Versatile fitness solution with resistance bands, adjustable seat, LCD monitor, quiet magnetic resistance, sturdy steel frame
pooboo Folding Exercise Bike	Total body workout with cardio and upper body exercises, eight resistance settings, easy-to-read display screen, ergonomic design, padded seat, foldable design, front wheels for easy transportation
YOSUDA Folding Exercise Bike	Three-in-one workout experience with cycling, arm, and leg exercises, easy-to-use display, adjustable resistance levels, foldable design, smooth operation, sturdy frame
ATIVAFIT Folding Exercise Bike	Budget-friendly option with adjustable features, quiet magnetic resistance, digital monitor, tablet bracket, sturdy frame, compact design

EXERPEUTIC EXERWORK 2000i Stay active while you work with the EXERPEUTIC EXERWORK 2000i Folding Exercise Bike. It's not just a bike—it's also a handy work platform. With 24 preset programs and Bluetooth Smart Technology, you can customize your workouts and track your progress with ease. Plus, its sturdy steel frame and comfortable seat ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. Stay fit and productive with this smart exercise bike.
Caromix Folding Exercise Bike The Caromix Folding Exercise Bike is a versatile fitness solution with built-in resistance bands for upper body workouts. Its adjustable seat and LCD monitor make it easy to customize your workouts and track your progress. Enjoy a smooth and stable ride every time with its quiet magnetic resistance and sturdy steel frame. Get fit and stay healthy with this convenient and comfortable exercise bike.
pooboo Folding Exercise Bike The pooboo Folding Exercise Bike offers a total body workout with its cardio and upper body exercises. With eight resistance settings and an easy-to-read display screen, you can customize your workouts and track your progress effortlessly. Its ergonomic design and padded seat ensure comfort during long workouts. Plus, its foldable design and front wheels make storage and transportation a breeze. Get in shape with this versatile and convenient exercise bike.
YOSUDA Folding Exercise Bike The YOSUDA Folding Exercise Bike offers a three-in-one workout experience with cycling, arm, and leg exercises. Its easy-to-use display and smooth operation make tracking your progress a breeze. With adjustable resistance levels and a foldable design, you can customize your workouts and store the bike with ease. Upgrade your home gym with this versatile and efficient exercise bike.
ATIVAFIT Folding Exercise Bike The ATIVAFIT Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike is a budget-friendly option with adjustable features and customizable workouts. Its quiet magnetic resistance and sturdy frame ensure a smooth and stable ride. Although it lacks onboard program options, its digital monitor and tablet bracket make it easy to track your progress and stay entertained while cycling. Get fit on a budget with this practical and efficient exercise bike.

How We Picked the Best Folding Exercise Bikes

In selecting our top folding exercise bikes, we aimed to cover features that appeal to users of all levels while being thorough in evaluating what didn't impress us.
Our choices considered factors like size, setup, durability, adjustability, and technological features. We understand that exercise bike users range from seasoned athletes to beginners, so we included bikes suitable for anyone.
Footprint and Portability
Space was a key consideration in our selection process. We provided the dimensions of each bike to help you gauge how well it fits your space. Folding bikes typically increase in height as they decrease in length, with width staying relatively consistent. Our picks fold down to around 50 to 60 inches in height, 16 to 25 inches in length, and 10 to 20 inches in width. Each bike scored at least 4 out of 5 for ease of mobility.
Price
Our list offers options for various budgets, ranging from $179 to $350. Higher-priced bikes often have smaller footprints or more advanced tech features, while lower-priced ones offer fewer features. Our picks are all budget-friendly.
Adjustments
Customization is crucial for a comfortable workout, so we chose bikes with adjustable seat height, backrest angle, handlebar placement, and resistance levels. Our goal was to accommodate users of different heights, sizes, and abilities.

Benefits of Folding Exercise Bikes

Folding exercise bikes are a game-changer for those living in small spaces or tight home gyms. Their compact design makes them easy to store behind furniture, under desks, or in closets.
Easy to Move
These bikes are designed with portability in mind, making them effortless to move around. With lighter weights and built-in wheels, you won't struggle to find the perfect workout spot.
Low-Impact Cardio
Aside from their foldable design, these bikes offer significant health benefits. They provide low-impact cardio, which is gentle on joints and reduces the risk of injury. Plus, cycling improves flexibility, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and boosts mood.
At-Home Workout
Working out at home saves time and money compared to going to a gym. Cycling indoors protects you from bad weather and allows you to enjoy your favorite TV shows while getting fit. Plus, it's a great way to stay motivated—I've been cycling while binge-watching Lost, and the suspense keeps me pedaling.

Things to Think About Before Buying a Folding Exercise Bike

Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro in the folding exercise bike world, there are a few important factors to consider before making a purchase. Here's what to keep in mind:
Space Requirements
Measure the space where you plan to set up and store your bike. Our list includes dimensions to help you find the right fit.
Durability
Folding bikes are convenient but may lack stability compared to non-folding ones, especially for heavy users. Consider your riding habits when choosing a bike.
Recumbent vs. Upright
Think about your fitness goals and comfort level. Upright bikes engage the core and provide a more intense workout, while recumbent bikes offer better back support and are easier on the joints.
Intensity
Foldable bikes may not offer as much resistance as non-folding ones, but they're great for beginners or casual riders. Consider your fitness goals and choose a bike that meets your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are folding exercise bikes effective for workouts?
Absolutely! Folding exercise bikes offer a convenient way to boost your activity levels, aiding in weight management, enhancing brain health, boosting mood, and strengthening various muscle groups like your heart, lungs, legs, and glutes. Some models even engage your core and arms, providing a full-body workout. Ultimately, the best workout is one you enjoy, and if indoor cycling fits the bill, you're more likely to stick with it.
What are the drawbacks of folding exercise bikes?
While folding bikes are space-saving, some may experience rocking or shaking due to their compact design. Additionally, many models have limited magnetic tension control levels, which might not provide enough challenge for experienced cyclists seeking intense workouts.
Can folding exercise bikes help with weight loss?
Certainly! Cycling is an excellent calorie-burning activity, making folding exercise bikes effective for weight loss goals. Look for models with tech features like mileage tracking, heart rate monitoring, and calorie counting to aid your weight loss journey. Remember, weight loss is about maintaining a calorie deficit, so while the bike can assist, diet and overall activity levels also play crucial roles.

Can you help me understand why the appearance of the pec on a muscly chest has a clear horizontal-ish cutoff, whereas diagrams of the pectoralis major muscle seem to show a much ‘pointier’, fan-shaped muscle? I'm not great with me anatomical terms. Thankya!

Hi everyone. I’m 37, with my first pregnancy that has last this long at 18w3d. I’m looking for advice or similar experiences for some ongoing groin pain I’ve had for the past week. I have a feeling this is “normal” - I’m just struggling to identify exactly what it is.
I’ve had a constant pain the lower right side of my groin for almost a week now. It’s hard to pin point the exact spot butI tried to draw it onto this anatomy diagram. It feels like it’s maybe my pelvic bone, but not quite. Best way I can describe it is that it feels like a deep bruise or a badly pulled muscle.
When it started last week, my first thought was “round ligament pain” since I see that posted all the time, but I googled it and (supposedly) that’s more of a sharp sudden pain that goes away soon. This is a constant ache that feels more like an injury, and is definitely disruptive and making some daily activities harder to accomplish.
I kept googling and found symphisis pubic dysfunction, and that sounds a lot more like what I’m feeling, except I see that described as pain in the middle of the pelvis. Mine is definitely on the right side of the pubic area, not center. And a little higher up I think.
It hurts all the time unless I’m sitting or laying in a very specific position. The pain activates any time I do anything that involves moving or putting weight on my right leg -like getting in and out of bed, sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending over.
For added context, I have fibromyalgia (placeholder diagnosis I think) and years of chronic pain which has gotten worse since I’ve been pregnant. In recent years I started to suspect I might actually have a connective tissue disorder, especially since pregnancy has amplified all my symptoms and joint pain and I know pregnancy causes everything to get looser.
Long story short, I’m wondering if the pain I’ve had does indeed sound like SPD or round ligament pain - or maybe instead I wonder if I just injured myself/dislocated something due to being pregnant and my loose joints?
Anyone experienced something similar?

I've recently taken up golf as a past time, and I've been having an absolute blast with it so far. The sport and the things that surround it have gotten me hook, like, and sinker.
In the first few months, I feel like I've learned a lot.
First and foremost, when to use each club. The first few rounds, I actually created a cheat sheet for myself, as one of the courses has GPS on the carts that show distance to the hole. I was able to research the correct distance for each club, take away some courtesy distance on each one for my skill level, and have a reference for what to use until I got comfortable with my ranges.
The second biggest thing for me was simply letting the club do the work. I had to come to peace quickly with the fact that it will be quite a while before I'll be able to put a decent amount of muscle behind my swing and still hit consistently. Most of my best strokes are just letting the weight of the club fall. Most of my worst strokes are when I try to murder the ball.
I've gotten to a point where I can fairly consistently play a regularly paced round of golf, without losing an entire bucket of balls. I still have some questions though, and I'm hoping some of the vets here may have some decent tips.
Most of my bad shots right now are either hard slices right from opening my club face, or topping the ball and watching it go a couple feet forward.
I know it's hard to constructively criticize without seeing my swing, but I am so new to the sport I'm hoping there are still some tried and true fundamentals I'm just still unaware of.
At the moment my ball placement is almost always near dead center. I know that isn't fundamentally correct, but I see mixed opinions on where to place the ball for each club, or how to change ball placement to correct trajectory. Maybe one of you has a tip that's pretty well agreed upon.
And lastly, what are some inside-the-house things I can use to improve my swing? Are the divot mats any useful? Are there any decent simulators that I don't need a mortgage to pay for?
Any help would be much appreciated. Even the things that are so second nature to you that you rarely think of them, I may not have heard of before. Even just spitballing the things you've learned are all probably new information for me.

Got a band style tattoo around my entire arm so goes around bicep and tricep. Today is day #10 with no gym. Tattoo has peeled and flaked almost all off, and now I am in the onion/silver skin period. I continue to wash and moisturize 2-3 times a day with unscented soap and lotion (lubriderm). Do I need to wait even longer ? It's been an extremely confusing thing understanding when I can lift again, as so many people say so many different things, and my artist told me I could within 48 hours of the tattoo, but when I asked about if the working out (mainly the stretching it causes) can distort a tattoo, he said I could wait a few weeks If i wanted.
Overall, I'm just really confused, I don't know what to do. I don't want to mess my tattoo up and I've been taking such good care of it the past 10 days and although I love going to the gym, I've been sacrificing it for the healing process out of tattoo care.
If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them; my main concern is I've HEARD working out especially if you work a muscle your tattoo is over too soon it can cause ink to bleed or blowout. Has this ever happened to anyone ? Should I be in the clear now after 10 days? Thoughts?
Thanks much
(BTW for tattoo size and placement- 13 inches by 3 inches, wraps around arm. Placed slightly above elbow at the lower part of bicep and tricep )
Thanks much!

I had posted here awhile back asking for guidance on my bloodwork. Due to suggestions I went to a hematologist and oncologist and they ran new bloodwork which has left them confused on what could be going on. Can anyone here help?
History: I drink AT MOST 2X a year which is on Christmas (wine) and if I have a night out on vacation. Overall I have a healthy diet and not by choice. If I eat anything that does not fall within these limits I have a 85% chance of laying on my bathroom floor throwing up, sweating, nearly passing out, and having labor contraction like pain until 1.5-2 hours pass and I finally have a BM. When I was younger this would happen aprx 2x a year but now it happens when I go outside a diet of- grilled chk, grilled steak, veggies, fruit, sweet potatoes and the stomach pains will start within 3 minutes of eating anything outside of those lines. I do drink 1 soda, sweet tea, or chia tea latte per day. I do have a apt set with a gastrointestinal dr. I have had a few Kidney infections in my life time along with a recent hospital stay due to kidney stones. I have had Shingles 2x in my life over the past 5 years.
FAMILY HISTORY- Heart Disease Multiple Heart Attacks first attack by age of 40 requiring Stent placement Diabetes High BP Mother passed of cancer at age 58 6 months after diagnoses Father 65 and still living
SURGERY- 2010- Breast Augmentation
STATS: 37 y/o F 147 5'5 Mother of 3 Workout 3x week Consistently high resting BP avg: 131/94 Consistently high resting PR avg: 108 BPM
CURRENT MEDICATIONS: Adderall 20mg 1x/day Sertraline 12.5 mg 1x/day
Symptoms: Purple body "rash" (livedo reticularis?) Muscle/joint pain stiffness soreness Random sharp chest pain Shoulder blade pain Headaches Hair thinning Red face flushing Palpitations High BP High pulse Fatigue Digestion issues with terrible stomach pain, light headed, sweating (Vagal Nerve Synopsis?) Mouth ulcers Gum recession Back pain Heavy periods- under 1 hour super+ Low immune system- I will catch anything and everything my children get and it will be 10x worse and take weeks to get over.
BLOOD RESULTS- High EO%- 3.2 High MCH- 31.2 High PLT- 424 Low MCHC-32.7
*Everything else tested has shown to be within normal limits: Vit D, B12, Iron, Westgreen, ANA Negative, so on. Platelets have been High since 2020. Lymphocytes have been High since 2023 and are increasing.
PERIPHERAL SMEAR- White blood cells are within normal limits. Red blood cells are within normal limits. Platelets are increased.