Bit of a longer post, sorry bout that, but I felt it was time, perhaps once again, to point out the flaws and limitations in the CDC’s stats on sexual violence, specifically as they relate to the National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), which is the source of all the fun stats on sexual violence that get thrown around by the 451 percenters. Who are the 451 percenters? Those the folks who believe and spread the lies bout sexual violence being endemic to society. Everyone’s a sexual predator! All 451 percent of women are violated, and all 451 percent of men are violators.
TL;DR: An analysis and rebuttal to the CDC and NISVS’s statistics on sexual violence. The CDC uses NISVS to generate the stats on punny sexual violence that make wild claims, like one third of all women, etc… the 451 percenters’ claims bout punny sexual violence. They use a ‘yes means yes’ method of determining what counts as punny sexual violence, which is aesthetics based. Elevating aesthetical concerns to ethically obligatory concerns is fascistic, and a grave moral fallacy. ‘Yes means yes’ is also puritanical, meaning it overly moralizes sexuality. Putting puritanical fascists in charge of determining how many punny sexual offenses are happening is like putting the KKK in charge of determining how many jews are sexual predators. “All 451 percent of them, obviously!”
Body Of The Post
‘Yes means yes’ is an aesthetical ethical concern, ‘Do I want it or not’. This is what the National Intimate Partner Violence Survey (NISVS) and the CDC use and reflect in their stats on sexual violence. Vibes. They are the ‘emmitt till got what he deserved’ crowd. Whistling at a lady is a criminalizable offense to these folks, a ‘punny sexual violence’.
‘No means no’ is an ethically obligatory concern, ‘Did I refuse it or not’. This is what the criminal stats on sexual violence use and reflect in their stats on sexual violence. Hard data. They are the ‘emmit till did nothing wrong’ crowd. Whistling at a lady is at most tasteless, emmitt till could do far better.
‘Wanting’ or ‘Not Wanting’ something does not consent make. I can want to fuck someone, but not consent to do so. I could not want to fuck someone, but nonetheless consent to do so. The former perhaps because I think it is a bad idea to fuck ‘em even tho I want to. The latter, perhaps because I think it is a good idea to fuck ‘em even tho I don’t want to.
The ‘yes means yes’ folks, the CDC & NISVS stats on sexual violence all mistake ‘wanting’ and ‘not wanting’ for ‘consenting’ and ‘not consenting’; these are not the same things. This is deliberate on their part too. They believe that ‘yes means yes’ is what ought to constitute a determination of sexual violence. Regardless of how y’all view that, it is a deeply controversial notion, and not necessarily reflective of what most people think of when they think of sexual violence.
‘Unwanted’ essentially means ‘I don’t like it’. It is a complaint bout the aesthetical qualities of the sexual encounter, not its consensualism. If this is at all unclear, the simplest method to understand why this is so is to note two unrelated aspects.
One is racism. People regularly ‘feel fearful’ of men for no reason at all, but they also feel fearful of men because of racism all the time. That fear factor ™ is what makes the encounter ‘coercion’ or ‘unwanted’. The person literally does nothing wrong, *just exists* and the other person freaks out.
Note in the quoted sections at the end of this post how much of the stats rely on fear and feelings to generate their numbers.
Two is the person came on too strong or in an undesirable way. The person flirts in a normal and perfectly fine way, but the other person freaks out. Think bout it people, for the love of god think bout it. ‘Coming on too strong’ and ‘an undesirable flirtation’ are being counted as ‘punny sexual violence’ in these stats.
It’s entirely puritanical, and entirely a concern bout aesthetics.
There are other sorts of coercive methods, but the point here is that the terms ‘unwanted’ and ‘coercion’ only really cash out as ‘I don’t like it for some reason or another’ in the CDC’s and NISVS’s stats.
When you see that lady spouting off bout her fears of mexican rapists, she’s reflected in these stats folks. They’re just surveys. People who lock their car doors in ‘bad neighborhoods’ are reflected in those stats.
These all translate to ‘I felt threatened’ (big black boy vibes) or ‘felt pressured’ (scary white guy vibes), or ‘felt in danger’ (native american coming to get you vibes), or ‘felt uncertain if you wanted it’ (arab terrorist vibes) or 'felt like I was being manipulated' (angry asian martial artists vibes) . Doesn’t have to be racism at play here either, women can be irrationally fearful of any man. Vibes.
The actions themselves are not criminalizable.
Non p-hacked stats try to avoid these kinds of obvious ambiguities in the language used to generate the 451 percenters’ stats. These folks however lean into the lies and deceptions, and deliberately use language designed to deceive people reading the stats into thinking that people have been harmed. They take language that means literally ‘I like or don’t like it’ and translate that to mean ‘I was sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, or even raped’.
This is how they inflate the numbers, so we get to the 451 percenters’ wacky ass beliefs; ‘451 percent of women will suffer egregious sexual violence to them at least fifty times in their lives’. All this means is vibes. 451 percent of women get some bad vibes bout some dudes.
You can hear it echoed in the bear or man discourse. Why do women choose the bear? Vibes and irrational fears. ‘We choose the bear because we don’t feel safe!’ translates directly to ‘Emmitt till whistled at me, and he’s a big black boy, that’s scary’ and ‘the mexican rapists are swarming over the border to get me’.
These are the stats that people point to when they try to justify their misandristic hot ass takes. They are self-referential to that same fear based aesthetic the stats are. The stats are reflective of peoples’ irrational fears, and people use those stats to justify their irrational fears, and people spread those fear based stats thereby spreading their unjustified fears. It’s a circle rub.
To criminalize these kinds of things is to be fascistic (treating aesthetics as if they were of obligatory concern), to believe that they are morally reprehensible is to be a puritan (overly moralizing sexuality).
The folks deriving these stats translate ‘unwanted’ (aesthetical ethics) to ‘sexual assault’, ‘sexual harassment’, or ‘rape’ (obligatory ethics), then lump everything together as ‘punny sexual violence’ to get the big numbers used to scare people and terrorize men. That’s called fascism.
“[T]here remains a likelihood of underreporting due to the sensitive nature of SV”.
This justification means that they do not trust people to report SV, ‘don’t believe women when they say they haven’t suffered any SV, manipulate the questions so they say yes to something they don’t think is SV, or which simply isn’t SV, and we’ll just call it SV of this or that sort. Later we’ll propagandize people so they too come to believe our puritanical misandristic hot ass takes.’
There is no lie nor hyperbole in what I am saying here. That is the rationale and the method. If you bone up on your academic lit in the topic, this is, well not verbatim what they say, I am lambasting them here, but this is the crux of what their argument and justifications are, and they explicitly hold that they ought be propagandizing people to their puritanical beliefs.
They push the fascistic (aesthetical ethical) and puritanical (overly moralized sexual ethics) discourse into the public by presenting stats that merely reflect fears and pretend that they are reflective of sexual violence. People then come to believe that those kinds of fear based concerns are actually sexual violence. An ‘unwanted flirtation’ becomes in their minds and only in their minds a sexual violence.
Emmitt till got lynched for whistling at a lady. They only disagree bout the racism, but he definitely deserved to be punished in some way like all men do for whistling at someone they think is hot af. Puritanism.
All just vibes, all but aesthetics, and all fascistically raised to a level of ethically obligatory concern.
“Just as SV is not limited to physically forced penetration, its perpetrators are not limited to strangers. Indeed, perpetrators of SV are more likely to be someone known to the victim. Sexual violence is a problem embedded in our society and includes unwanted acts perpetrated by persons very well known (e.g., family members, intimate partners, and friends), generally known (e.g., acquaintances), not known well or just known by sight (e.g., someone in your neighborhood, person just met) and unknown to the victim (e.g., strangers). “
Be afraid of everyone, any man out there could be your next rapist! That’s right ladies and gents, you’ve been raped several times already, you just didn’t know it. But don’t worry, the statisticians know better. They asked you an unrelated question you said yes to since you were too dumb to know that you were raped, and counted it as rape. Then they informed you that you ought be afraid of everyone in your community, lest they also rape you, unbeknownst to you of course. But again, don’t worry, the statistician will count those too.
As a measure of fear the 451 percenters capture, well or worse who knows, all the racism, sexism, bigotry, and various phobias in the society, and how those fears are transferred onto masculine bodies as imaginary perpetrators of punny sexual offenses. None of it is real, there are not 451 percent of sexual violences happening, 451 percent of men are not sexual predators, and 451 percent of women are not victims of sexual violence.
‘Safety culture’ mostly reflects irrational fears.
Ask the kkk how many black people are rapists, you’re gonna get a high number. Ask puritans how many people are punny sexual offenders, you’re going to get a very high number. Such is the most tame interpretation of what is going on. The 451 percenters are puritans, they’ve overly moralized sexuality, counting offenses to their sensibility rather than criminal actions.
Puritans informing you how ‘vile and wicked’ your sexual ways are; advocating to make their puritanical beliefs bout punny sexual offenses into legally enforceable laws. These are the same kinds of concerns bout a someone dressing too provocatively, such is a ‘punny sexual violation’ to the sensibilities of others.
The less tame version of this is that it is exactly what fascists do. Lie to people especially bout punny sexual offenses in order to ratchet up the fear levels in the population, so they run to them to solve the ‘problem’.
Could be both tho.
Either way, their misandry murders little boys. They celebrate terrorizing men, and rejoice in lynching folks. They’re despicable people.
Solutions?
Ruthlessly love them. Write them love poems, show them kindness and generosity of spirit, but give them not a dime in money, nor ever relent to their irrational fears. Extol their beauty and virtues, make love with them, utterly ruthlessly. Be overtly sexual bout it, in this give them no quarter, bring to an end their puritanism by giving them no plausible cause to be thus. No one under the duress of loves’ enticements and sexual pleasures be puritans. Be relentless, show them masculine sexuality; give them nothing to complain bout, but give them masculine sexuality. Don’t fall for their puritanism, be the boys of summer.
Respect a ‘no means no’ ethic as a code of obligatory actions. Use aesthetical ethics towards good sex with mutual respect given; don’t ever take that as a one way thing. Do not conflate the aesthetics of good sex, 'enthusiastic yeses’ with those of the ethics of obligation ‘no means no’. Don’t be puritans, don’t be fascists, be sex positivists.
Call out the stats when folks bring them up, refer people to these points, feel free to refer people to this post and/or the attached video. ‘But the CDC said’ is not a valid argument; they have put puritans in charge of determining punny sexual offenses. They find punny sexual offenses everywhere they look.
If you’re super coolio, start advocating against the CDC’s use of NISVS to determine what constitutes sexual violence. It doesn’t match with criminal data’s methods, it doesn’t utilize the metrics of ‘no means no’ which are the proper metrics to use, instead it utilizes what amounts to peculiar beliefs bout the aesthetics of sex as a means of measure for punny sexual offenses.
They are spreading a puritanical belief system bout punny sexual offenses, nothing more, and they are causing public health problems by spreading their lies. They are not counting sexual offenses, they are not a criminal justice system, they aren’t technically even in the business of understanding sexual violence. They are the Center For Disease Control, not the ‘center for social engineering sexual practices control’.
Original video on the topic, with some additional resources for understanding these issues in the description.
The Rest Of This Post Is References To The CDC, NISVS, And Crime Data Reports, Along With Some Quotes Thereof With Short Specific Retorts Highlighting The Relevant Info In The Quotes As It Pertains To The Post. This Is But A Small Sample Of How They Use Language Of Aesthetics To Make Their Ethical Claims, And How Their Language Is Misandristic.
sv_surveillance_definitionsl-2009-a.pdf (cdc.gov)
Fast Facts: Preventing Sexual Violence Violence Prevention Injury Center CDC
Key Terms & FAQs National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)Funded
Programs Violence Prevention Injury Center CDC
Some key quotes from this, Bolded text hereafter are coded for ‘yes means yes’ methods of understanding sexual violence, and sometimes misandristic language. Italicized text are quotes from the sources:
“Rape is defined as any completed or attempted unwanted [unwanted is an aesthetic criteria, not a consent criteria which is ‘a no was stated’ attempted while a real thing allows for further insertion of scary vibes to pad the stats, e.g. the blackness of the lover] ...includes times when the victim was drunk, high*, drugged, or passed out and unable to consent.* [puritanical belief bout drinking and drugs, e.g. one cannot consent if drunk or high. Note that it is separate from being drugged or passed out and unable to consent, and that criminally speaking being drunk or high is not indicative of a lack of capacity to consent, also note this is de facto applied to women only].
“Sexual coercion is defined as unwanted sexual penetration that occurs after a person is pressured in a nonphysical way. In NISVS, sexual coercion refers to unwanted vaginal, oral, or anal sex after being pressured in ways that include being worn down by someone who repeatedly asked for sex or showed they were unhappy; feeling pressured by being lied to, being told promises that were untrue, having someone threaten to end a relationship or spread rumors; and sexual pressure due to someone using their influence or authority.”
Unwanted is an aesthetic category, not a consent category. ‘Sexual coercion’ is not a criminal offense either. It is a puritanical belief bout sexuality that is based on a sex negative view, e.g. that sex is a bad unless and until magical words are said to make it into a good. Calling it ‘sexual violence’ is just lying. Coercion is defined misandristically to only be bout penetration, which precludes all the ways that women use sex and sexuality to manipulate, use, abuse, and harm people; note that there are essentially zero surveys done that include some ‘feminine coded coercive behavior’ into these stats. That is by design. Including not incidentally the way that women have historically and currently used irrational fears over their sexuality to terrorize men and get people murdered.
“Unwanted sexual contact is defined as unwanted sexual experiences involving touch but not sexual penetration, such as being kissed in a sexual way, or having sexual body parts fondled, groped, or grabbed.”
Unwanted is aesthetics, not consent. Also this literally describes flirting. I know they want to try and capture some other sort of notion, grossy mcgrosser pinning someone down and groping them, but all this describes here, and all the stats can possibly reflect, is flirting.
“Non-contact unwanted sexual experiences is defined as those unwanted experiences that do not involve any touching or penetration, including someone exposing their sexual body parts, flashing, or masturbating in front of the victim, someone making a victim show his or her body parts, someone making a victim look at or participate in sexual photos or movies*, or* someone harassing the victim in a public place in a way that made the victim feel unsafe.”
This category is quite broad and puritanical in its disposition, as it assumes there is something wrong with seeing naked images unless and until expressed verbal consent is given, and undoubtedly ignores the en masse flood of naked images of women online to which basically every guy is exposed to. Compare again to people who claim that women ought not be allowed to show their ankles as it causes a ‘harm’ to those who are ‘forced’ to see it. Exact same shite. Aesthetical concerns of wanted or unwantedness, and also notice the expressly stated vibes check ‘victim feel unsafe’. Look out for the black boys, they make them feel unsafe!
Crime/Law Enforcement Stats (UCR Program) — FBI
Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses (ussc.gov)
It’s worth mentioning that statistically speaking, if one uses the stats derived from crime data as opposed to statisticians making numbers up, the percentages of men who do sexual violence, depending a bit on how you count it, are: 0.0516% or .478% or .0957%. Although the video goes over this all in pretty good depth, just do a little sniff test here; are .478% of the male population sexually violating a third of all women, 55.5 million women?

Hey Redditors! What's up?
I'm relatively new here, but better late than never. However, haven't been oblivious to the community support on Reddit.
So, I'm here to ask for a small favour.
I'm currently involved in a critical fintech project at a growth-stage startup, and we're exploring opportunities in the Indian credit card market. The specifics of what, how, and when are still under scrutiny, but for now, we're focused on conducting user research in this domain.
I'm sharing a brief survey (maximum 2 minutes) about credit card usage. Please fill that. I am hoping this community will surprise me with a good response rate. (It is an anonymous survey, no personal information will be collected)
I come bearing gifts for the favour. I've been consolidating a list of credit card hacks as part of my research and I will post the list once it's done.
*I promise not to include false tips but only well-researched, meaningful hacks all in one place.
Link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciVwRGv3IdK3HTI5ktc-J9GtWdQJNqCLIZxRJMDwrkJCn93g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hey Redditors! What's up?
I'm relatively new here, but better late than never. However, haven't been oblivious to the community support on Reddit.
So, I'm here to ask for a small favour.
I'm currently involved in a critical fintech project at a growth-stage startup, and we're exploring opportunities in the Indian credit card market. The specifics of what, how, and when are still under scrutiny, but for now, we're focused on conducting user research in this domain.
I'm sharing a brief survey (maximum 2 minutes) about credit card usage. Please fill that. I am hoping this community will surprise me with a good response rate. (It is an anonymous survey, no personal information will be collected)
I come bearing gifts for the favour. I've been consolidating a list of credit card hacks as part of my research and I will post the list once it's done.
*I promise not to include false tips but only well-researched, meaningful hacks all in one place.
Link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciVwRGv3IdK3HTI5ktc-J9GtWdQJNqCLIZxRJMDwrkJCn93g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hey Redditors! What's up?
I'm relatively new here, but better late than never. However, haven't been oblivious to the community support on Reddit.
So, I'm here to ask for a small favour.
I'm currently involved in a critical fintech project at a growth-stage startup, and we're exploring opportunities in the Indian credit card market. The specifics of what, how, and when are still under scrutiny, but for now, we're focused on conducting user research in this domain.
I'm sharing a brief survey (maximum 2 minutes) about credit card usage. Please fill that. I am hoping this community will surprise me with a good response rate. (It is an anonymous survey, no personal information will be collected)
I come bearing gifts for the favour. I've been consolidating a list of credit card hacks as part of my research and I will post the list once it's done.
*I promise not to include false tips but only well-researched, meaningful hacks all in one place.
Link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciVwRGv3IdK3HTI5ktc-J9GtWdQJNqCLIZxRJMDwrkJCn93g/viewform?usp=sf_link

OK, for those of you coming back, I've done a few posts about "the perfect Money/XP base," but wanted to cover Getting through an NG+ as fast as possible for getting you your starborn powers and bugging the hell out:
So follow along :)
1) Land on Vectera 2) Run down to where you pulled the artifact, hitting Elemental Pull all along the way -- depending on how much you did for geology, you'll have a nice cache of Calumite and Beryllium. 3) Grab the digipick in the side room. 4) Fast Travel to your ship, and off to the Lodge! 5) Do a quicksave before you enter the lodge -- you can save scum and reset the weapon Sarah's about to give you as well as the inventory downstairs -- once you enter the lodge they're fixed for the rest of the playthrough. 6) Talk to Sarah, get your cutter, weapon and 25K credits. Put her in your ship as crew, do the same for Vasco. You can get Sarah to follow you if you want, or you can just solo everything -- either way. 7) Go downstairs, collect everything, unlock the Mark 1 Spacesuit, and grab it, grab the book from Cora's room 8) While you're there, hit the stove and the pharma lab -- you can't make anything yet, but go ahead and "Track the items" for the following - I usually plan on making 10-20 of each, and then combining bandages/healpaste/antibiotic into the Analgesic Poultice, so only one thing to cure most: Bandages Heal Paste Immobilizer Antibiotic Injector All the "hearts" - Black Hole, Giant etc... Panopticon Paramour
Go to the stove and track: Galaxy Lo Mein Nebula Wat Papardelle Bolognese Stellar Kebabs Star Cluster Marsala 5 of each should be plenty - for me I only really ever use them on Buried Temple.
9) Go to the Eye - Talk to Vlad, get the "assigned" temple, and the list of artifact locations -- it's ALWAYS the same six locations. 10) Go to the Bessel III-a location, but DO NOT LAND THERE 11) Bessel III-b's Temple will spawn (unless of course, it's the one that was assigned already) 12) Go do the temple on Bessel III-b 13) Go to an anomaly if it didn't "autodetect" and scan it, and grab up all the calumite with Elemental Pull 14) Use my "Free Money Guide" Post to find and build the outpost here -- at this point you probably won't build the base quite yet, as you haven't done any shopping yet. 15) If you go to Neon to shop, and you haven't done any detours, you will probably spawn Sigma on Volii Epsilon -- hit it and grab that power while you're nearby, to make sure it doesn't bug 16) I usually go to Gagarin as Clint often has all the materials necessary. He carries (not TOO rarely) Aldumite Drilling Rigs, which are the key to fast money. Sieghart, Outland, and Jae in New Homestead also carry them sometimes. 17) Build the base 18) Sleep and sell - aim for about 2 Million Creds - if you've built our 6 robots, have max surveying, max outpost stuff, this is 1 24 hour sleep cycle, depending on the mods you may or may not play with, selling all this stuff may take time -- Neon will have your best vendor density for dumping. Remember that you can carry everything in your ship, by dropping it on the floor 19) Time to get the Razorleaf -- why?? because it has a fun mechanic where spacers will freak out, and more importantly, it will ALWAYS have the same ship ID -- this is important if you're willing to use the console to fix shield and target lockon bugs -- you can use a text file and just "bat rlfix" if you always know the ship ID. 20) Go to Sirius Ib -- it will have the HE3 extraction site, and will *almost* always have spacers. One of them SHOULD drop "Secret Outpost" which will start the Mantis questline 21) Go to Denebola 1a and clear the Lair of the Mantis, and claim the Razorleaf - make sure you're looting along the way, even though you don't need creds any more, you still need digipicks to go mo fast. 22) Finish shopping, and get the AGM and Quark Degen from Sieghart in Neon, run next door to Newill for the Gastro D. 23) Go back to your outpost and rebuild the Razorleaf into a dreadnaught24) Make your food and meds -- you'll want 5-10 of each, no more, you won't be here long enough to use them now 25) GOGOGOOGOGO FAST! 26) Go gather the artifacts from the remaining locations. Most of these spots will have a skill magazine, unless you did a perfect, complete NG0, you'll probably be adding a little bit of power by picking each of them up. 27) I use a spreadsheet to track what temple spawns on what planet -- cuz I'm a nerd :) BUT as soon as you pick up an artifact, go grab the power - Alpha, Eta and Sigma are ALWAYS gonna be in this first set, the rest are random. 28) At this point you can go back to the lodge and re-recruit Sam, Barrett and Andreja 27) Oborum -> Masada -> Temple -- all the consumables are nice to make the fight go smoother -- Phased Time is totally your best friend use it early and often, and when you have the Heart consumable you can use it pretty much whenever you want. Panopticon is awesome, and the Nebula Wat makes you go noticeably faster. 28) Talk the Hunter and Emissary down -- ain't nobody got time for that fight! -- Use a Paramour before you open the temple door. 29) Go grab the rest of the temples 30) Off to Unity, rinse and repeat!

I'm German and woke up on Sunday morning in Munich just to find out that at 05:30 pm PST (02:30am local time) somebody hacked my HHonors account and booked a room in the SF Hilton Union Square using 48,000 of my points. He/she immediately checked in online and requested a digital key, so I was not longer able to cancel the reservation. I called the hotel's front desk around midnight PST and told them what happend and that I am going to involve law enforcement. They told me that indeed somebody checked in and the room is occupied. With that information at hand I filed an IC3 case with the FBI for wire fraud. I also called SFPD, told the story and asked for the next steps. Well, they gave me a quick lesson about the US consitution (4th amendment) and told me I shall call the fraud department on Monday. Phew, interesting to learn that a cop knocking on a hotel door violates the US consitution. I also filed a complaint on the Hilton website ( as Diamond service hotline is NOT available on Sundays...) - they responded within three hours (Kudos!), opened a fresh account, transferred all of my personal information, reimbursed the 48,000 points, gifted 10,000 points extra and shut down my old account). Minutes later I received my "invoice" ...apparently my alter ego checked out at 05:30am PST and paid the city tax by credit card.
The story could've ended here, but I cannot help myself: I'm curious to find out how they managed to steal the points (I had 2FA enabled!), if they checked out voluntarily at 05:30am and if Hilton called the police on them (city taxes appeared two times, so I'm assuming there were two persons involved). I'm also surprised that they could avoid showing up at the reception..remember: I'm a German national and they checked in under my name/data. I also had no credit card on file, so how did they avoid the upfront pe-authorization?!
What would you do?
P.S.: I just received an email survey from Hilton asking about my recent stay in SF :-)

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Yes but its related to exchange I cannot check this for you so please allow me to transfer to them and they will sort this issue for you. Info at 17:59, May 14: You are being transfered to another agent Info at 17:59, May 14: This is Alexandra and I will be looking after your query today. I will aim to reply within 2 minutes. You at 18:00, May 14: Let me know when’s you’ve got this sorted out Read You at 18:00, May 14: this an absolute joke of a service Read Alexandra at 18:02, May 14:
Hi there Craig, I hope you are doing well today . My apologies as it seems you have been incorrectly connected, Please do bear with me whilst I pass you through accordingly. Info at 18:02, May 14: You are being transfered to another agent You at 18:02, May 14: Is it home time am I getting transferred again…? Read Info at 18:02, May 14: This is Yasmine and I will be looking after your query today. I will aim to reply within 2 minutes. Yasmine at 18:03, May 14:
Hey Craig, hope you are doing well today!
Thank you for the above, Please give me around 5 minutes to read the above and look at what issue you are having. You at 18:04, May 14: My phone runs on electric…. And it’s been 30 mins with my screen left unlocked for this jokes… any paying my electric bill for this “chat”? Read You at 18:04, May 14: carbon foot print very big…? Read You at 18:06, May 14: Is it home time at wherever you’re messaging me from… am I getting transferred again..? Read You at 18:08, May 14: Time spent can never be refunded… Read You at 18:09, May 14: how do I make a complaint about this please..? Read You at 18:10, May 14: I’m happy to just share this conversation with social platforms… there is plenty of dirt on Betfair… I was hoping it was wrong Read You at 18:11, May 14: 40 minutes… + 40 minutes… + Read Yasmine at 18:12, May 14:
I am sorry for taking long as I was looking into it for you however I can see that you are asking as to why you are not able to use the bonus.
I can see that the offer you have in the screenshot is not on your account as the bonuses came from 2 different offers:
The £3 bonus came from the link below:
https://promos.betfair.com/promotion?promoCode=CASTARALL150424P
And the other £2 bonus came from the link below:
https://promos.betfair.com/promotion?promoCode=CASBFSELMID You at 18:12, May 14: Agent is waiting to clock off for the day Read You at 18:13, May 14: Right this isn’t helpful at all… Read You at 18:13, May 14: and what you’re saying in incorrect Read You at 18:14, May 14: It came from the promotions page on the casino tab of the sportsbook apple iPhone app.. Read You at 18:15, May 14: It was to spend £20 on gods storm wind.. Read You at 18:16, May 14: for a £5 bonus free bets on the sportsbook Read You at 18:17, May 14: i have screenshots of the terms and conditions specific for the offer…. And obviously I have the general promotion terms.. Read You at 18:17, May 14: this I feel with what you are saying must be some sort of false advertising Read Yasmine at 18:17, May 14:
I am sorry however from our side it shows that the bonus came from those offers.
In that case I will need a link please of the offer to look further into it for you. You at 18:18, May 14: really? ok… Thank you for the above, Please give me around 5 minutes to read the above and look at what issue you are having Read You at 18:20, May 14: https://promos.betfair.com/promotion?promoCode=GAMXSB20G50905 Read You at 18:21, May 14: Hello…? I’ve have taken the time to point you to the promotional offer offered by the company you work for… and yet I’m still being made to wait…? Read You at 18:22, May 14: Is this a scam..? Read You at 18:22, May 14: I’m feeling like it’s a scam… Read You at 18:22, May 14: are you really working for Betfair..? Or am I being hacked? Read Yasmine at 18:23, May 14:
Thank you for that. Can you please send me a screenshot of the betslip that you are trying to use the bonus on?
Make sure that you are trying to use it on a bet builder.
And yes I am sure that I work at Betfair, That is why I am trying my best to help you. You at 18:25, May 14: you’re not helping you’re making continue to do a job that I’m not paid for.. i will not be jumping through any more hoops for you. I’m copying and screenshotting this absolute joke that you call “helping” Delivered Conversation closed by you at 18:25, May 14: Survey Bot at 18:25, May 14: Your conversation is now closed. Survey Bot at 18:25, May 14: We would love to get your feedback with one quick question 😊 Survey Bot at 18:25, May 14: Based on your experience today, how likely would you be to recommend Betfair to a friend? (Where 10 is most likely and 0 is not at all likely.) You at 18:26, May 14: 0 😒 Read Survey Bot at 18:26, May 14: We’re sorry to hear that, please let us know how we can improve? You at 18:26, May 14: You could get some helpful people…? Read Survey Bot at 18:26, May 14: Thank you for your time. You at 18:26, May 14: Complaints department please? Sent Betfair at 18:27, May 14:
You will now be transferred to a customer service agent who can help. Betfair at 18:27, May 14:
Please be aware it may take a moment or two for our agents to get

Ruby groaned as the alarm went off signaling that one of her charges had arrived back from their mission. While troublesome in its own right, what really got under her skin was that she only had one charge at the moment, and that edge lord piece of shit wasn’t supposed to complete his task for AT LEAST another 4 deca-cycles according to the prediction algorithm. Grumbling to herself, she rolled out of bed and poured herself a glass of water to offset the hangover she was trying to recover from.

A few moments later she was gliding down the hall to the meeting room. She knew Jason was going to pitch a fit that she had left him waiting, the self-entitled brat always did think the world revolved around him; but perhaps he should have thought about that before freaking dying so early. If he wanted her to be there to meet him upon death, he could at least have the decency to not die the morning after one of her binges.

Other staff members gave her a wide berth, even if it was a hollow title, she was still technically far above basically anyone else in the pecking order, at least those who had a physical presence within the Agency. She knew they all mocked her behind her back, even divine beings were sadly prone towards gossip. She put the anger at her subordinates/coworkers out of her mind for now; even if she didn’t particularly LIKE Jason, he still didn’t deserve her coming in with baggage.

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that she’d arrived in front of the conference room door. She had been mulling over her thoughts, just staring into nothingness, for several minutes before she finally snapped back to the present. With a soft rap on the door, she opened it and floated inside. Jason was lounging, sprawled out on the regally padded chair throne he so fancied.

They exchanged pleasantries before she sat down to go over the mission summary. Upon seeing the cause of death, she had regrettably lost her composure and started to laugh uncontrollably. Her mighty subordinate had been felled by a goblin?! The mighty Jason Alexander Coyle, “mercenary extraordinaire”, had gotten his shit kicked in by a lowly goblin using what looked like a shiny butter knife. Oh, it was just too rich to not laugh at the absurdity.

It took her much longer than she would like to admit, to stop laughing. Jason of course wore a sour look through the entire endeavor. She shrugged it off, she had little doubt that if the same thing had happened to someone else, he would have been right beside her doubled over in laughter. Hell, once he was in a less pissy mood, she might even be able to get him to laugh about it later.

As luck would have it, it appeared that Jason’s actions had been enough to alter the tides of the war. The kingdom, and its divinity, would still lose many to the battles ahead, but Jason had done enough that the Agency could still bill the client for services rendered. As she spoke, she could see the disdain the man had for her, he always complained that she was drunk and reeked of liquor. Sure, that was often true, but he didn’t need to be such a stick in the mud about it all.

She went ahead and authorized the transfer of credits to Jason’s account. As soon as she did so, he opened up the store page and tuned her out. She watched him open up the back-channel site and purchase something, a small part of her wondered who was going to get roasted over the coals this time for allowing their admin privileges to be hacked. She toyed with the idea of bringing up his illegal actions, but truth be told she didn’t really give a shit. The other divinities were far too lax with their security, it had been child's play for one of her previous wards to hack into the Agency’s system and build the black site.

She’d ask him once about the whole thing, didn’t really grasp as much as she would have liked, but basically it functioned by spoofing a handler's credentials. This allowed the user to gain access to encrypted parts of the network, specifically access to certain privileged services that handlers enjoyed and most importantly, access to the mission assignment database. Users could buy and sell restricted or banned goods, and a part of the profits would be siphoned off to her ward’s personal account.

With Jason’s attention otherwise occupied, Ruby went ahead and reviewed the logs for his previous mission. Something about it was nagging at her. She couldn’t put it into words; however, the whole series of events just didn’t feel like ‘bad luck’. Using her divine authority, she rewound events, watching Jason’s lungs unfill with blood and refill with air.

The goblin skulked back to its den of corpses, resheathing the dagger at its hips, and reburied itself underneath the bodies. She let it rewind another few moments before stopping the feed and letting it run at normal time. She watched the goblin, slowly shifting the bodies out of the way, making sure they made no noise when it moved them. Slowly, carefully, it began to creep towards Jason’s exposed back. It drew the blade, again slowly and quietly. It closed the distance making sure to never let Jason see it or to give him any reason to think someone was behind him. Then in a flash of movement it leapt, burying the dagger right into a joint in Jason’s armor. The placement was perfect, no resistance, so the blade sank to the hilt. Allowing it to puncture Jason’s right lung.

Ruby rewound the log once more. This was wrong, very wrong. The goblin was way too good to just be some random grunt. Its movements were too smooth, its aim too precise. No, she was sure of it now, this was not a normal goblin. She focused her attention on the thing, aiming to scan the goblin for abnormalities, the dust covering it offering a surprising level of resistance to her scan. Not enough to stop her from doing what she wanted, but more resistance than she felt was reasonable for the anti-magic powder.

When she finally gained access to the monster’s stat block, her suspicions were proven correct. That was no normal goblin, that was a Redcap, a Redcap assassin no less. What in the dozen hells was a Redcap assassin doing in the middle of a freaking battlefield?! Such a valuable unit wouldn’t be used on the front lines, their skill set was terribly suited for the chaos that was an active battle. No, something was very wrong here and Ruby was going to figure out what.

As her mind raced trying to puzzle out what the actual fuck was going on, something else about the goblin flagged in her mind. It had come out of the corpse pile with the dagger already in its possession. She highlighted the various bodies that had made up the goblin's hidey hole, and then rewound the scene back. Every time one of the highlighted bodies met their fate, she froze the moment and pulled the scene into a separate window. It took a few minutes, but she eventually had all of the corpses frozen in the heartbeat before their deaths. She went through and scanned every single individual. Not a single one had been equipped with a magic disruptor blade. “So, where the fuck did the Redcap get a kingdom issued disruptor?”

Looking up, she saw that Jason was still fiddling with whatever it was that he bought. She tried to make idle conversation with the man, but he had gone full auto pilot, giving curt one-to-two word answers when asked a question or having to respond to a comment. She rolled her eyes, as much as she and him butted heads, she did have to admit that she did kind of like the guy. He had been going a little too hard into the whole dark and brooding edge lord thing recently, but that was hardly his fault. The human soul was ill suited to withstand the trauma of death, much less multiple deaths. The Agency usually did a memory scrub every couple missions, to prevent that kind of issue, but Jason had been dodging the screenings. For a moment she considered just letting sleeping dogs lie. Jason was dead and the mission was over regardless of what she might find, but the whole thing just rubbed her the wrong way.

Taking a little nip from her pocket flask, she once more focuses her attention on the Redcap. After scrubbing through the last several months of the creature’s life, she finally finds what she was looking for. The blade had come from one of Jason’s personal guards.

Ruby did a deep dive on the guard, and what came back made her blood run cold. The man had recently lost his lover. Jason had ordered a company to mop up a fleeing enemy force, before it could regroup and cause more issues. The entire thing had been a ruse and the company had been slaughtered to the last. The guard's lover had been part of that company. The loss had hit the man hard, driving him to the only rock left in his life. His deep belief in the kingdom’s divinity.

And wouldn’t you know it, apparently the kingdom’s divinity had some issues with Jason that it couldn’t be bothered to address through the proper channels. So instead of letting Ruby handle the trainwreck that was Jason’s social skills, this little scum lord of a God, had taken upon themself to deal with the issue. Several months of holy visions were enough to convince the grieving widow to betray everyone and everything he had ever known.

Once the guard had been properly brainwashed into turning his coat, it had been a simple matter to worm his way on to all of Jason’s post-fight surveys of the battlefield. The magic scanners that were exclusive to Jason’s retinue, had allowed him to see that Jason’s inhuman ability to avoid taking damage was really just a creative use of high-level magic. High-level magic that could have easily been used to save many of the kingdom’s soldiers. But of course, Jason believed himself too good to give the common man a means to protect themselves and those they loved. All this knowledge was of course worthless to the guard, he was nowhere near skilled enough to actually challenge Jason. But wouldn’t you know it, the divinity had thought of that too.

The podunk worm had brokered a secret deal with the enemy he’d contracted the Agency to deal with. In exchange for getting rid of a thorn in the God’s side, it would use its powers to scale back the war. Instead of facing a war of eradication, the enemy would be allowed to keep some of the land it had conquered.

At the urging of his God, the guard held a series of clandestine meetings with the Redcap. Imparting all the information he had learned in the months of shadowing Jason. He also gave the beast two gifts, the first was a Disruptor blade the guard had swiped from a fellow honor guard; when Jason’s corpse was found the blade would be traced back to the unfortunate guard instead of the traitor. The second was a satchel of Grarothian powder that had been blessed by the divinity, to ensure that Jason wouldn’t see the attack coming. It had worked of course; Jason hadn’t even known he was in danger till the blade was already buried in his lung. Oh, she was going to have the wannabe God’s head on a pike after this.

It pained her to admit it, but Jason deserved the final say in how this was all going to go down. She attempted to grab his attention, but the man was lost in his own little world. She tried waving her hands, ignored. She tried snapping her fingers in his ears, ignored. She even went so far as to beat her wings, blasting his face with the wind force of just under a category 1 hurricane; again ignored. Her rage was starting to reach fever pitch. So, she defaulted to the most tried and true method of stress reduction she had in her arsenal. She decided the only way for herself and Jason, once he knew the truth, to calm down would be to relax with a drink of the finest Earth treats.

With a heavy heart she opened up her most beloved extra planer storage space. This place was used for the only two things Ruby really cared about anymore. It was where she kept her most prized and coveted liquor, and where she kept the last few mementos, she possessed of her fallen wards. Her eyes scanned the room, she needed to pick the right apology gift. As she carefully made her way towards the back, she saw it. Tucked in about two thirds of the way to the back wall, stood a single hogshead of ancient scotch whiskey. The second to last gift she had received from one of her dearest friends, all those years ago.

Yes, this was the correct one. She felt it deep within her chest, a proper atonement requires a proper level of sacrifice. With a heavy heart she lifted the barrel over her head and began to stride out of the extra dimensional space. As she neared the opening, the soft clink of something falling and a flash of gold caught her eye. Sitting on a tiny end table was a small pouch of coins, one of which had somehow gotten loose and tumbled face up onto the polished table face.

For a moment she hesitated, she knew exactly what those coins were; and knew how much trouble she would get into if upper management found out she had them. That said, she also knew a sign when she saw one. The artifacts that she held within this place were the last remnants of those she had failed most of all. She pondered the meaning behind the fact that two of her previous charges seemed to have taken a shine to Jason, offering up to him their most precious of gifts. With a heavy heart and a plea to those long lost, she grabbed the coin before closing the pocket dimension.

With a loud *CLUNK* She set the hogshead down. Apparently, the sound of the barrel had finally made enough noise to draw Jason’s attention away from his screen. From a much smaller storage pocket she produced two crystal glasses. Pouring a hefty serving into each glass, she set one down in front of herself and the other in front of Jason. Locking eyes with the man, she said a single word.

“Drink”

The man twisted his face up in disgust at the sight of the liquor.

“Thanks, but no thanks, I’m not inclined to degr...”

“I said, DRINK!” Ruby growl bellows, casting the Command spell on the last word. Jason, despite his best efforts to ignore the compulsion, is forced to do as he is told, and takes a hearty swig of his hundred-year-old Scotch. With a smile on her lips, Ruby takes the opportunity to sip the illustrious gift. The hours melt away as they both sip and savor the deep complex flavors of this legendary brew.

As the drink flows her recollection of events becomes just a tad bit hazy. She can’t really remember how long it takes, but she does eventually come clean about the reason for this impromptu bout of drinking. It comes as little shock that Jason is... less than pleased to learn about the events that led to his death. He downs the rest of his drink in a single gulp, a waste of grand booze in Ruby’s opinion, and demands she fill his next one to the brim. For the first time in FAR too long, Ruby gets to see the Jason she had known all those years ago was still in there.

As the festivities carried on, she would occasionally catch him fiddling with the token he had bought. Curiosity finally getting the better of her, she decided to ask him about it, deciding to NOT mention that she knew it was illicitly purchased. He was cagey about it at first, but eventually loosened up and told her the truth.

He had grown bored with the usual missions that he had been assigned. He was sick of always having to play support, always cleaning up someone else’s messes, always laying the groundwork for someone else’s story. So, he had decided to cash in his points, and finally make use of the vacation time he had accrued. He had picked out what looked to be a pretty basic Isekai mission. Ruby suggested not mentioning his luck to anyone else, even she was aware how rare and coveted those missions were.

As the night wound to a close, they said their goodbyes. Before taking her leave, Ruby remembered the other present she had for Jason. A sharp whistle was the only warning she gave him before flicking the coin at his head. Even drunk, the man’s senses were still a thing to marvel at as he caught it in midair .

“The fuck is this?”

“Think of it as a gift.” She snorts.

“Oh, how generous of you. A whole gold coin, whatever will I spend it on.” Jason responds as he jangles the large coin pouch at his hip.

“Oh, fuck off. I’ll take it back if you’re going to be a brat about it.”

Jason drops the coin into his wallet and shakes it again for good measure. “Oops, too late now. Guess you’ll just have to let me keep it.” He gives her a smug grin.

She scoffed before turning around and making for the door. She could hear him activate the token as she closed the door behind her. As she wandered down the hallways back to her room, she pondered the events of the day. The rogue client would need to be dealt with, but she still wasn’t sure if burying him in legal paperwork for the next millennia or two, or just giving him a good old fashion human curb stomping, was the better punishment for his actions.

The choices bounced around in her head till she finally reached her residence. Having made no real progress in deciding her actions, she elected to just table the decision till she woke up next. The God was small time, so it wasn’t like it was going anywhere.

She took her time getting ready to sleep. Being a divine being herself, she didn’t actually NEED to sleep, but she did so enjoy the human customs surrounding the whole process. She took a long hot bath to unwind, before summoning a pair of adorable pajamas. Her body clean, and her mind at peace she laid down in her oversized excessively fluffy bed.

She had barely closed her eyes and began to drift off to blissful sleep, before she was awoken once again by the sound of her alarm going off.

“You have got to be shitting me. HOW?!?!”

Link to original nosleep post:
https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/1atvnh2/i_ended_up_in_the_lost_and_found_at_the_end_of/
It was around 2am on a Thursday, when I must have dozed off on the subway, after a double shift at work.
I had done it a few times before, always waking up to the bright lights of the subway car just a few stops too far, only to have to hop off and wait for a train going back in the other direction.
But this time, I woke up to...
...Darkness.
What the? Where am I? I thought to myself, before inspecting my surroundings.
And as my eyes adjusted, I realized that I was still on the train car, its lights turned off, parked at the end of the line.
Fuck!
I hopped out of my seat and ran to the doors, but they were all locked.
So I started pounding on them and screaming, "Help! Help!"
And after a minute of silence...
...I saw a bouncing light approaching.
To my relief, it was a train worker, wearing a yellow vest and carrying a flashlight, as he walked along the platform outside.
I kept yelling louder and louder, until he must have finally noticed me, shining his flashlight through the window and directly into my face.
"Help! Please!" I called out, as he reached into his pocket, removed a set of keys, and opened the doors.
"Thank you!" I cried out, so happy to be rescued that I nearly gave him a great big hug.
"Got yourself lost, did you?" The train worker asked, as he finished relocking the doors and turned back to me.
He was a tall, older man, with a heavy build and a weathered face.
"Yeah, I must have fallen asleep." I replied, before surveying my surroundings...
...Sure enough, I was at the end of the line after all. All around us, I saw countless darkened trains lined up along different tracks, and not a soul in sight.
"Wow, I've never seen the end of the line before." I said, distracted by the sight.
"Not many have. No reason to really." He replied.
"Fair point. So... what's the best way to get out of here?"
"Oh , don't worry, I'll escort you out. Wouldn't want you getting lost twice in one night." He chuckled.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"Right this way." The train worker said, as he guided me down the platform and into an adjacent building that presumably led to the street.
But when we got inside, it started to feel as though he was leading me further into the structure.
"Um, isn't that the way out?" I asked nervously, pointing to a hallway with a neon red exit sign.
"Last I checked, you were the one who got lost. Trust me." He reassured me.
A minute or so later, when we still hadn't left the building, I stopped and asked, "Seriously. Where are you taking me?"
"To the lost and found." He said, his face betraying no emotion.
"Lost and found?"
"Trust me. You'll see."
In that moment, I knew something was off, and, looking back at it, I should have made a run for it right then and there...
...But for some reason, I wanted to know what he meant, and decided to keep following him.
And when we arrived at our destination, I finally understood what he meant by "lost and found."
There, at the end of the hallway, was a large cage, containing about ten poor souls, each of which looking sickly, emaciated, and exhausted.
"This is the lost and found." The train worker said, before opening the door and gesturing for me to enter.
A wave of panic washed over me, and I tried to run away...
...But he immediately caught my shoulder, dragged me back over, and tossed me into the cage...
SLAM.
...Before slamming its door and walking away.
I looked around at the others, to find them simply sitting there in silence, staring at me.
Only one of them had the energy to greet me. "Welcome to the end."
He was a thin, bald man, wearing a suit that must have been new when he got here, but was now tattered.
"The end of what?" I asked.
"Of the train tracks. And, well... everything else, I suppose." He explained.
"What in the world goes on here?" I asked, still shaking in fear.
"All we know is that every day or two, he brings someone to the cage, and they pick one of us to take away. What happens after that, is anyone's guess... because no one's ever come back."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, and I'm Phil by the way."
"Ryan."
"Nice to meet you, Ryan. Sorry it had to be under these circumstances."
I spent the rest of the night lying silently in the cage, curled up in its far corner in fetal position, until I eventually passed out from exhaustion.
Sure enough, when I woke up the next day, the train worker had returned with a stranger, just as Phil had warned.
"Pick one." Our captor said to the nondescript man, who turned to the cage, and took a good look at every single one of its prisoners...
...Before taking a moment to decide.
Please not me. Please not me. I thought to myself, as I tried to lessen my posture, and did my best to hide away in the back of the cage.
And then, the stranger made his decision...
"I'll take that one."
...Pointing to someone in the front.
Phew. I thought to myself, before feeling sorry for the poor sucker.
The train worker then opened the door to the cage, pulled the unlucky prisoner out, locked the door again, and carried the chosen man off down the hallway.
My strategy of hiding myself away in the back of the cage, and thus avoiding getting picked, had worked.
So I stuck to that plan, every couple days or so, when the train worker returned with a new stranger.
But eventually, the number of prisoners began to dwindle, and one night, one of the men that the train worker brought to the cage...
...Chose me.
At least I'll finally know where they've been taking them. I thought to myself, before the train worker grabbed me by the collar, and dragged me down the hallway with the man.
A little while later, we arrived at a small room, which at first, appeared to be covered in paint...
...But I quickly realized that it wasn't paint at all, but instead a collage of splattered blood, caked on to its once white walls.
The room was otherwise quite sparse, containing only a table at its center...
...And what appeared to be a rack full of weapons in one corner.
Fuck. This is the end.
"Now what?" The stranger asked the train worker, as he gave me a strange look.
"You kill him. That's what." My captor replied.
"But I've never done this before." The man said, nervously.
"Here," The train worker said, before grabbing an ax from the rack and handing it to him. "Try this. It's a favorite."
The stranger took the ax in both of his hands, then looked back at me.
He was a short, rather unimposing man, with glasses and a bald spot.
Had he not already volunteered it was his first time, I would have guessed it anyway, as I could see his teeth chattering, and his hands shaking.
"Here let me get him for you." The train worker said, noticing the stranger's hesitation. He then walked over, picked me up, and threw my torso down onto the table, holding me down, as I flailed my arms, attempting to break free. "Well go on. Do it!"
"Uh... I don't know if I can." The man replied.
"Well just start with one body part then. It'll warm you up. You'll be surprised."
The stranger hesitated for a moment, before taking a step back, then running over, swinging the ax high above his head, and bringing it down on my arm... hacking it clean off.
"AAARGHHHH!"
I started screaming and wailing, as the train work nodded in approval. "Great job. Now finish him off!"
But when he turned back, the stranger was just standing there with wide eyes, in disbelief of what he had just done, ax dangling from his hands. "I... I... I... can't do it."
"Of course you can!" The train worker encouraged, a hint of frustration in his voice, as I nearly passed out on the table, blood pouring out of my amputated arm.
"I'm sorry I can't." The stranger replied, dropping the ax to the floor.
"What do you mean you can't? You paid for this. He's yours. Do it!"
"No, just give me my money back, I don't want to do it anymore."
"But he's no good to me now! You cut his arm off. He's used goods! No one's gonna pick him now." The train worker screamed.
"I don't know." The man whimpered, still torn about what to do next.
"Well make a decision, he's bleeding out all over the table!"
"I'm sorry, I can't! Keep the money!" The stranger finally said, before letting himself out of the room and running off down the hallway.
"Motherfucker." The train worker said to himself, before looking down at me.
But rather than kill me, he instead removed a flamethrower from the rack and torched my arm, cauterizing the wound and knocking me out in the process.
I woke up the next day in the back of the cage with gauze wrapped around what was left of my arm, in the most extreme pain I'd ever felt, save for the pain that I'd felt the day before.
"Take these." The train worker said, tossing me a bag of painkillers through the bars of the cage.
And then it was...
...Back to business as usual, as he continued to bring strangers to the cage every couple days.
But from that point forward, just as the train worker had suspected, whenever he brought them by...
...No one wanted me.
"What about that one?" He would always suggest to the stranger, pointing to me, as I lay there, lifeless and armless in the back.
But every time, the strangers would always decline, saying things like, "No thanks. Looks like someone already had a go at him. I want a fresh one."
As time went on, and more and more people got picked, eventually only Phil and I remained.
"We made it pretty far." My best, and now only, friend in the cage said one night. "Looks like I'm next."
"Don't say that." I said, "There's still hope."
"Hope?" Phil replied.
I stood up, walked over to the cage door, and began to push as hard as I could, before calling back to him. "Help me push it!"
Phil did as I asked, and together, we tried our best to push and push, but the lock was too strong, and ultimately, the door never budged from its hinges.
The next day, when the train worker brought a stranger by and asked him to choose between Phil and myself, I raised my hand and volunteered to go, attempting to buy Phil another day.
But they scoffed at the unsettling condition of my body, and chose my best friend instead, dragging him away down the hallway as he looked back at me and smiled.
And then it was down to me. The one that no one wanted.
I was so unwanted, in fact, that it nearly drove the train worker mad, after having repeatedly failed to get rid of me, over and over and over again.
On one such day, after a stranger had stopped by and left empty handed, the train worker started screaming at me from outside the cage. "You're a pathetic and useless excuse for a prisoner! I should have let you die that day, instead of saving you."
"Well if you had others, you wouldn't have to blame me now would you?" I replied. "What happened to your once steady supply of victims?"
"Beats me. Maybe someone figured it out. Or maybe victims just ain't in season right now."
"Sounds like a supply chain issue to me."
"Maybe. But I'm still left with the question. What do I do with you?"
"Let me go."
"Well I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"'Cause you know too much. Where this place is. What I look like."
"I promise, if you let me go, I won't turn you in. I'll just forget about it."
"Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say. Easy to say now. Then once you're free you start thinking about this place. Thinking of me. And want retribution for what happened to you. Next thing I know, there's a swat team at my door."
"Please."
"Besides, I can't just let you go. The bosses wouldn't be too happy about that."
"Bosses?"
"You know, the people that hired me."
"Hired you? Someone hired you to do this? Who?"
"You think I know? And even if I did, they made me sign an NDA."
"Okay fine don't tell me. Just let me go."
"Nope. If no one takes you in the next week, I'm gonna do it myself."
Sure enough, a week went by without any takers, and the train worker came walking up to the cage, with a smile on his face.
"I'm a man of my word. It's time to put you out of your misery." He said, opening the door and dragging me off, down the hallway, and back into the small room with the table and weapons rack.
When we stepped inside, the train worker instructed me to sit on the table in the center of the room, facing a very specific direction.
"Now don't look back. But the security camera behind you is recording everything. But only video. So if you want to get out of here, I want you to do exactly as I say." He began.
"Um... okay." I replied, not entirely sure where he was going with it.
"Now I'm going to grab a knife from the rack. Then I'm gonna come back over here, and pretend to stab you. After that happens, all I need you to do is play dead. And then I'll carry you out of here, and leave you in the dumpster. You'll wait until dark, at which point in time you can crawl out of it and run away from here. Understood?"
"I guess. But wait. Why are you doing this?"
I shouldn't have asked, but I needed to know.
"Cause I'm getting transferred." The train worker replied, "This lost and found's not meeting their quota. They’re sending me to another and decommissioning this one."
"Wait. There's more of these?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around what he had just said.
"Yeah. Lots of them."
"But why not just free me? What's with the theatrics?"
"Cause they told me to finish you off. And they're watching."
"And why not just kill me then? Not that I want that."
"Cause I ain't no killer, kid. A facilitator maybe, but I don't got it in me to go through with it myself."
"Uh... I don't know what to say. Thank you?"
"Don't mention it. Now, before we commence. Any other questions."
"Yeah," I said, looking him in the eye. "What's your name?"
"Dave." He said, with a smile.
"Ryan."
"Nice to meet ya, Ryan. And apologies for the arm, and what you went through here. It's just business."
"Sure," I said with a smile of my own, as I began to realize that I probably had Stockholm Syndrome.
Nevertheless, I trusted him, and went along the plan in full, and he was, as he had promised, a man of his word.
Later that day, as soon as I saw the daylight turn to darkness through the crack between the garbage bin and its lid, I did as he instructed, crawling out of the dumpster and running as fast as I could to the nearest sign of civilization... a gas station a few streets away.
After I told my story to the police, they raided the building at the end of the line, but just as my captor had told me, the place had been fully decommissioned, its cage removed and blood-splattered room now clean.
It took me a little while to get readjusted to the outside world, the real world again, and acclimated to life with just one arm, but I got good at typing with one hand pretty quick.
Now whenever I take the train, I set an alarm for the time it'll take me to get to my stop, even though I know I could never fall asleep on the train again.
And every now and then, when I look at the subway map and see the last stop, I think about Dave, and wonder where all those other lost and found locations might be.

Seniors although this is a rant but is balak ki kuch madad kar paye toh aapka abhari rahunga. So 12th Commerce with Applied Maths student 11th me hopefully barbad nhi kari ache se padhi and scored somewhat 87% disappointed but okay. Now 12th maine 14 March se shuri kari because coaching shuru hogayi and this is a new coaching which I joined I was in other back in 11th. But 14 tareek se mere officially ghand hi mare ja rhi hain teachers badhiya hain no doubt friends circle bhi devlop hua do mahino but accounts me pta nhi kya ho rha hain main padhke jta hun practice karta lekin test ke din hug deta bilkul diarrhea hi ho jta hain. Humara abhi accounts me retirment shuru hone wala hain lekin pta nhi kyn eak motivation nhi aa rhi hain ki maine shi se padh liya sab kuch. Kabhi khayal ata hain ki sunil panda ke lectures dekh lun but itna time hi nhi milta upar se school. Kisi din accounts jyada din padh lu toh math bura man jati hain. Math wale sir toh bhai light ki speed sebhag rhe rat 1-2 baje jag kar gaur classes ke lecture dekhta hun taki agle din maths ka test de saku lekin wah bhi chud gaye guru momint ho jata hain. Rat ko ganda wala self doubt frustration aur anxiety me hi so rha hun pehle mai 11th me main subah uthke mediation karta tha workout karta tha lekin ab body stiff ho chuki hain gandi wali. Upar se is coaching me hoghly competitve logo ke sath ameeri bhi kuch jyada hi dekhne ko milti hain bsdk Maths ki classs sale starbucks ki coffee lake questions solve karte hain yah khali time me snap pe snap banate rehte hain but fir bhi pta nhi kaun se nashe karte hain number aa jate hain. On the other side school me mera acedamic comeback chal rha hain teachers kush hain recently paper hue usme bhi no ache aye thodi ego bhi feed hui crush se congrats bola kukki maine eco me top kara. Lekin MKC mere coaching self respect ki amma behn nani ka threesome ho rakha hain sala aisa lag rha hain logo ne aur teachers ne joh expectation rakhi thi woh hi puri nhi kar paya. Social Anxiety, Academic Downfall aur career ki tension ne dimag ka bhosda kar rakha hain kuch ho sake to hacks yah suggestions do taki mere mental helath me sudhar aye...
PS: Maine IPMAT ki coaching bhi join kar Sturaday Sunday toh time ki toh ab Foursome ho rha hain. Bs vacation ka intezar hain

Hey Redditors! What's up?
I'm relatively new here, but better late than never. However, haven't been oblivious to the community support on Reddit.
So, I'm here to ask for a small favour.
I'm currently involved in a critical fintech project at a growth-stage startup, and we're exploring opportunities in the Indian credit card market. The specifics of what, how, and when are still under scrutiny, but for now, we're focused on conducting user research in this domain.
I'm sharing a brief survey (maximum 2 minutes) about credit card usage. Please fill that. I am hoping this community will surprise me with a good response rate. (It is an anonymous survey, no personal information will be collected)
I come bearing gifts for the favour. I've been consolidating a list of credit card hacks as part of my research and I will post the list once it's done.
*I promise not to include false tips but only well-researched, meaningful hacks all in one place.
Link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciVwRGv3IdK3HTI5ktc-J9GtWdQJNqCLIZxRJMDwrkJCn93g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hi guys, I'm new to writing, and I decided to write down how one of my villains got their powers. I should say this to preface, I'm not expecting this to be God tier writing, but I would love any and all criticism, how well it flows, quality of writing and descriptiveness, anything helps. Hope you enjoy.
One more thing, just to clarify, Anwir is the son of the earl Courtenay, he tried helping out the poor in his area, and got rejected due to bad history with the earl, this what happened shortly after attempting to take his life.
Amazing Grace:
Anwir limped along the dense thicket of the forest, with his foot dragging behind him, leaving a dull trail as it disturbed the dry, cracked earth beneath him. Anwir winces and groans in pain as foliage would brush against the noble’s tattered, burned clothing and disturb his wounds.
The food and clothing I’ve provided, the hospital I opened. Did it mean nothing to them?
Anwir thought to himself as he began to sob, the tears that streamed pricked and stung his open wounds. Anwir didn’t care, the mental pain was too great to keep bottled up.
“Over Here!! There is a small line heading this way!!”
Fear pierced through his heart as Anwir heard voices far off behind him. Anwir turned back and saw the faint light of torches making their way towards the disfigured noble, making his heart race faster, sweat dripping down his forehead. To Anwir’s horror, he realized that the peasants were not yet finished with him, they were not satisfied with tearing down burning everything he had given them, they wanted his blood. Quickly, Anwir decided to hide in a thick bush, he curls into a ball, and covers his head in his cloak. The setting sun’s lack of rays helped shroud the forest floor, helping cloak Anwir in the shadows of the forest.
“The bastard really thought he could escape us?”
As the footsteps neared Anwir’s location, a wave of dread swept over Anwir, it would be a miracle for Anwir to make it out with his life.
My Gods, haven’t I been punished enough? Please, spare me; I beg of you.
Anwir’s thoughts came to a halt as they arrived in proximity to his bush. Anwir launched one last prayer, and began to hold his breath, to minimize any sounds from him. The torchlights tore through any darkness the forest had to offer within a certain radius, voices and laughter could be heard all around him as they searched for him.
“Drinks for a week when we hang the wretch!”
“I call dibs on his trinkets! They’re mine!”
“No way he didn’t see this coming, did the Courtenay’s really think we’d fall for their deceit again?”
Torchlights reached their peak, Anwir could see wispy, menacing shadows dance across his bush, twigs and leaves snapping at a consistent rate. Anwir’s heart sank, he had nowhere left to run, nowhere to hide, if they found him, his fate would be sealed. Time seemed to stand still as Anwir could hear the voices and footsteps begin to recede, continuing forward ahead of him. Too afraid to come out, Anwir stayed for several more moments, before finally crawling out of the bush. Nothing but silence, save for the odd scurrying of a critter, or the flap of wings from a bird. Stunned by their words and death threats, Anwir mindlessly hobbled through the foliage, he wouldn’t react to the pain anymore, for their words had stung deeper than any blade or wound could. Although Anwir is a Courtenay, he is not his father, he only wanted help those he could for the peasants who faced constant injustice, and this was his thanks? As Anwir reached a clearing, he stopped to gaze at the sunset, taking in its final rays before it disappeared into the night.
Beautiful as always. I should take in what little I can, for I may not live to see the dawn press her lips against the earth once more.
Anwir stood there and gazed as the great ball of fire descended into nothing. Swallowed up by the darkness, Anwir stumbles around, grabbing leaves and soft brush to lie on. The constant, searing pain flares whenever Anwir bends down or makes sudden movements, causing his eyes to glisten as tears would form. Biting his lower lip, he slowly squats down, evenly spreading his findings beneath a tree, and lies down. The son of Lord Courtenay expected to hear silence and was surprised to hear the opposite. The pitter patter of critters could be heard all around him, rustling the leaves that littered the forest floor. Howls could be heard reciprocated in the distance, and the continuous buzz of insects was everywhere.
Its…peaceful. If only my situation could allow me to enjoy this in its entirety.
Anwir succumbed to the pulsating pain, and closed his eyes, uncertain of what the dawn may bring.
____________
As a new day began, the dawn touched the sky leaving its golden rays streaked upon the earth’s ever reaching cerulean canvas, poking through the thin wispy clouds that lay scattered across the sky. Birds all across the woodland landscape sang praise in honor of the dawn. Tiny creatures of the woodland floor hopped and crawled about the dew-covered ground, imprinting their tiny feet upon the earth’s moist soil. Crawling in and around his hair, up and down his neck, and flittering in and out of Anwir’s clothing, he was given a rude awakening when a small millipede attempted to crawl into his damp mouth, seeking food.
“Arrgh!”
Anwir swiped away the multi legged freak, and got on his knees, weaving his encrusted, scarred hands through his matted and knotted hair. Anwir took hold of his ragged, grimy overcoat, and ripped it off, he brushed off various creepy crawlies meandering across his singed torso, some even feasting on his mottled dead skin. Picking up his overcoat, he violently shook it, a shower of bugs rained to the ground. After slipping his coat over himself again Anwir lifted his left leg, he tore off his crisped shoe, and shook out the bugs that had once claimed it and did the same for his right. Searing pain shot through his body, his muscles and torso screaming at him as he lifted himself from the ground. Anwir couldn’t remember a time when he had felt anything like this. Anwir scanned his surroundings, and laid his eyes upon a small, unassuming plant. No more than a foot tall, with several small bundles of jet-black berries with small beads of water clinging to its dark exterior. Desperate for anything, Anwir bent down and grabbed the top of the plant and reached inside his pocket only to find his hand protruding through a small hole.
Will nothing be in my favor from now on?
With his knife gone, Anwir made do with placing his hand at the base of the plant, and yanking it from the ground. Shoving the fruit inside his mouth, the purple juices flowing down his chin, further staining his already soiled shirt as he chews furiously. Swallowing and reaching for more, Anwir puts the cluster of berries into his mouth and chews slower this time. Taking his time to savor the juicy, tart flavor the berries provided. Never did he believe that something as simple as fruit could be so inviting. Anwir tossed the remainder of the plant to the ground, and scanned his surroundings, attempting to determine his next move. It was through the plants and trees hindering his sight that Anwir found his next goal. In the middle of a clearing, Anwir could make out a well. Anwir trudged along towards the edge of the forest that led to the clearing, pushing and moving through any plants that made contact with his broken and charred body, his muscles and body voicing their complaints with every limp and accidental contact the Courtenay took and had respectively.
Perhaps I spoke too soon.
Stumbling through the dense overgrowth, Anwir breached the forest’s edge and found himself in a clearing. The sun’s rays were shown in full force, thanks to the lack of trees blocking its path. Small shrubs and minor vegetation littering the clearing. As Anwir inched his way closer to the well, the woodland’s tiny inhabitants took notice of him. Some simply gazed at him with their heads poking through the shrubbery, others would flee in fear of a perceived threat. Anwir smiled at this, knowing he is the least of their worries.
Just how exactly old is this well? Is there even any water?
The aged well had a stone base, its bricks weathered by time and nature, patches of glistening dark green moss strewn all around the base, topped off with a gray, porous ridden wellhead. A gray, rusted bucket, hung on a tarnished iron hook. Anwir leaned his body over the edge of the well, and laid eyes with the bottom. Darkness. A pure, undisturbed abyss was all that stared back at him, not even the slight reflection of water could be seen. Taken aback, and even a bit scared, Anwir took the bucket, and tossed it into the well. for a second, nothing happened, until an audible splash was heard, confirming the presence of water. It was at this moment that Anwir noticed the eerie silence of the clearing and the forest that surrounded it. No longer had he heard birds sing, nor the flap of their wings, the rustle of leaves and brush was nowhere to be heard either. A shiver went down the unsuspecting noble’s spine, before drawing the bucket, he surveyed the clearing. Nothing. Anwir saw nothing but greenery as far as the eye could see. As Anwir drew the bucket up from the depths of the well, a sudden chill ran down his spine, sending a shiver through his entire body. The eerie silence of the clearing heightened his senses, making him acutely aware of his surroundings. With a trembling hand, he grasped the handle of the bucket tightly, preparing to lift it out of the darkness below. Before he could fully pull the bucket out, a horrifying sight greeted him. A grotesque clawed hand shot up from the depths of the well, its twisted fingers reaching out towards Anwir with malicious intent. Anwir's heart pounded in his chest as fear gripped him, paralyzing his muscles.
He stumbled backward, falling to the ground in terror, his eyes wide with horror as he watched the demonic creature emerge from the depths. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but his body refused to obey, leaving him helpless against the approaching menace.
Before he could fully pull the bucket out, a horrifying sight greeted him. A grotesque, sinewy arm shot up from the abyss of the well, its twisted fingers cupping the edge in an attempt to free itself. The wellhead splintered into pieces as the long, crooked being pulled itself out. Anwir's heart pounded in his chest as fear gripped him, paralyzing his muscles. He stumbled backward, falling to the ground in terror, his eyes wide with horror as he watched the demonic creature emerge from the depths. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but his body refused to obey, leaving him helpless against the approaching menace. But then to Anwir's astonishment, the creature spoke. Its voice was dark and sinister.
"I thank you, friend" it hissed, its red eyes gleaming with malevolence. "I have been trapped there for what seems like an eternity"
The tall, crooked being began to stand up, its feet slowly sinking into the mud beneath him. The crooked being set his sight on his savior.
"by the looks of you, you're a noble, yet your clothing is in disrepair." The Crooked Man
stepped closer to Anwir, to get a closer look "Ahh, I see now, Courtenay's son. What are you doing here? Who did this to you?"
The Crooked Man offered hand to the Noble's son, but Anwir, still processing the events, said nothing. The Crooked Man lowered his eyes.
"Have you no words? Son of Courtenay?"
Finally coming to his senses, Anwir stood up, and backed away several feet.
"I-I-I did this to myself. No one else."
Faster than the eye could see, The Crooked Man grabbed Anwir by the throat, and pulled him closer to his face.
"Foolish Courtenay. Lie to me again, and I'll cut out your stomach and feed it to you."
"The...peasants I...Was attempting to h...Help." Anwir said, his body screaming for air.
The Crooked Man chuckled and put down Anwir.
"So, the poor Son of Courtenay attempted to play savior, and paid dearly for it."
Anwir, still apprehensive of the Man asked him "Who are you? Why were you in there?"
"I am your savior, and that is my business alone." The Crooked Man reached a hand out to Anwir "Allow me to give you a gift, so to speak. A chance to punish your tormentors."
Anwir eyed the hand, not sure what his offer entailed "In exchange for what? How will I know that you won't bend me to your will?
The Crooked Man smiled "I have no intention of doing such things to you, for I merely want to repay a debt I owe you. So...What is your answer?”
Temptation swirled in Anwir, a part of him wanted to take his offer, but a small part in his heart held out.
"No, they don't deserve death, nor punishment, they knew not what they did."
The Crooked Man bellowed a raspy, malicious laugh "The flames of their hatred mark your body, singe your soul, and yet...You still defend them? You are one of a kind, Courtenay."
The Crooked Man begins to hack, and spits out a small black stone "Take this, Courtenay. If you seek your revenge, crush this stone in your hand, and eat its dust."
The Crooked Man handed him the stone and crouched down. His back was bulging, the Man began to shriek, his piercing cry so loud, that Anwirs ears were ringing. Flesh tears, blood splatters everywhere as The Crooked Man's wings sprouted from his back, and he began to stand.
"Tell no one of our encounter, Courtenay."
With those final words, The Crooked Man took his leave, laughing maniacally as he flew upwards, staining the sky with his presence.

Chapter 24 - The Race
Previous Chapter
The Seventh competitor took her place before the assembled crowd on the ground, raising a fist into the air as she did so. The crowd roared at the display as the car’s turbines kicked in and began to raise her up into the sky. Her car had been modified as well, the control surfaces on it were noticeably shorter and the turbine was actually jutting several inches out from the back.
“Those previous cars didn’t appear to be modified much. Is that uncommon?” Alex pointed at the clearly modified car. The control surfaces didn’t even match the rest of the frame in color, let alone style.
“Not uncommon, really. It’s just a bit difficult to often sink any serious amount of time and money into them. Winning the challenges is a goal that brings with it fame, respect, and glory but otherwise it isn’t exactly lucrative. It is up to each competitor to decide how much of their own resources to put into each vehicle, with the knowledge that they may not recoup the costs.” Borala glanced down at a paper in front of her. “That particular car is from a rather well-known Teff called the Veshika. They manage a particularly rich mining operation in the M’rit lands.”
At first the competitor seemed much more skilled than the others. Alex watched as she poured on the speed, her car tilting and curving around the track, narrowly dodging each projectile while maintaining a fairly high speed. Still her handling of the car seemed somewhat spotty. She was rocketing ahead of the shots, sure, but whenever she DID have to change direction she did so almost awkwardly.
Despite her lack of skill, her car was still quite capable. She made it past the first two Flame sections into the third far quicker than the others, but it was quickly apparent that it wouldn’t be enough here. She’d finally started dodging but it was clear she was having troubles controlling the vehicle at the speeds she was going. Her turns were all over the place, both over and under correcting as she tried to make up for the fact that speed alone wasn’t going to be enough to get her through unscathed.
She was fast approaching the triple cannon area that had taken out the first challenger when a cannon shot tracked her perfectly, landing its soft projectile directly into one of the four stabilizing thrusters that kept the vehicle aloft.
Immediately the thruster cut out, spewing sparks and smoke as the car began to tilt wildly, losing altitude rapidly as the pilot fought the controls. For a moment it looked like they were about to witness a disaster on the track before the other 3 thrusters compensated, and the car slowly regained control. The spotter car was already roaring up to her aid, but it appeared to be mostly unnecessary after all. Alex could hear the audience breathing a sigh of relief as they saw her land safely.
“My, that was a close one.” Borala tapped a finger on the armrest of her chair. “The thrusters can normally take a hit without failing like that. It must have come in at just the right angle to damage it.”
“I’m glad she made it OK. When I saw the car tumble, I was certain we were about to witness a tragedy.” Alex took a deep breath. “I’m still a bit surprised by how dangerous this seems.”
Borala sighed at this, and nodded her head. “It is dangerous. But it’s popular. We used to drive ground cars across a large course with ramps, obstacles, debris, and so on. But over time the people grew bored of watching it. One of my predecessors attempted to spice up the events shortly after the Bunters arrived and sold us the first group of aircars. We’ve been trying to make it safer, to scale it back, but every time we do interest wanes. People want to watch the thrills and the danger.”
“That sounds remarkably like our people.” Josh gazed out at the scene of the Spotter attaching cables to the damaged aircar, prepping it to return back to the starting point. “Throughout our history there’s endless examples of things that were small spectacles or events that grew more and more complex over time. Even when the cars were so fast they would virtually disintegrate on the track if someone made a wrong turn or another car caused them to lose control and crash. Plenty of people won’t admit it but they watch those races hoping for something to happen, because it’s just that much more exciting.”
Borala shuddered as she imagined the carnage of a ground car crashing and breaking apart. “In the thirty-eight years I have been managing this event as the head of the Nof, there have been three fatal accidents. I still often find myself wishing we could keep the excitement and entertainment of the challenges without as much danger, yet whenever we try there’s an outcry. I can’t deny that a part of the thrill comes from the challengers being exposed as they fly.”
Alex immediately saw the opportunity and jumped in. “That’s actually fairly doable. I’m no engineer like Ji and Min, but I know for a fact there’s a number of safeguards we could help you implement to prevent a worst-case scenario. Granted, it would take time and resources we don’t have in abundance - yet.”
Borala smiled, and patted Alex on the shoulder. “Save the effort for the Presh. I already fully support our two species working together. Kyshe wishes to trust in you, I believe. Yet it was her mother who signed the agreements with the Bunters. Kyshe was present as heir and witness to it all. All five of the major Teffs agreed to the deal, yet because it was signed by the Presh they bore the weight of the blame when it was revealed what the Bunters had done. We try to tell our people that the Presh did not act on their own, but…” She sighed and shook her head.
“Well, once we get things turned around, if we can emphasize Kyshe’s role in it all that should help a great deal.”
“You’re speaking as though it can’t fail.” Borala smiled widely at this. “You’re that certain that your plans will succeed?”
Alex nodded emphatically. “I’m an optimist. I always hope for the best.” He glanced up at the display. “And now it looks like our girl’s ready to show her stuff.”
—--
Trix had the thrusters on low as she walked the car out to the starting area. Unlike the others she didn’t have it wheeled out unpowered, but already had the car started as she guided it out, floating only a few feet off the ground. Many competitors didn’t do this,opting instead to sit astride the car before engaging the thrusters, but Ji suggested it as a way to present both herself and the car together, and she didn’t really have any reason to say no. Ji himself was walking out with her, on the opposite side of the car.
Initially he hadn’t wanted to. He wanted her to be the one in the spotlight and he knew that his presence would be immediately distracting, but she had insisted. “You helped me prepare for this, you get to show it off with me!” she’d stated.
What she HADN’T stated was her nervousness at this. She’d been a fan of the races since she was young, and now she was finally going to compete herself. Winning the competition didn’t result in any significant change to anyone’s life. There was no massive prize pool, no source of regular income afterwards. It wasn’t going to lead to new opportunities in her life. It was just a source of fun, a point of pride, and a way to show off one’s skills - and that alone made it a worthwhile goal to many. Worthwhile to Trix, and to the friends she often spoke with over the multivids.
Buying the Soranet Ten was a major undertaking for her that had required long extra hours of working over two years to save up for. Most of her Teff had thought it was a waste of time and effort but it was her time, and her effort so none had done much more than making an off hand remark. And look where she was now! She was competing in front of over a thousand people here, and she knew that the remote broadcasts of this were viewed by at least ten times that amount, if not more. And once people realized the Humans’ involvement in this challenge, that number would grow by leaps and bounds. That was more than enough to get in her head, both for the better and for the worse.
Still, she was too far in now. Backing out now would be an embarrassment in front of god only knows how many, and she could live with failure better than she could with the humiliation of cowardice. So she steeled herself as she moved in unison with Ji out to the center of the staging area. Mounting an already-engaged aircar could often be tricky without the friction of the ground to stabilize it against, but Ji was there and held it for her as she swung her leg over the body, gripping the frame between her thighs tightly. The two of them attached each of the safety restraint cables around the frame to her, and she let her wings relax and droop a bit in anticipation.
As they finished, Ji slapped her arm lightly and walked away. She took a huge breath, then slid her helmet on and started to circle upward to reach the starting height.
—--
“That doesn’t look anything LIKE a Soranet Ten!” Borala protested, and Min made a dismissive noise.
“It started as a ten, we just modified it. There were some redundant systems in there that served no reasonable purpose that we removed. If you’re flying at a reasonable speed there’s no use in having THREE separate cooling systems. Just one radiator and one cooling line to each thruster is more than enough. And if you’re not trying to strafe left or right then there’s no need for all those ridiculous control surfaces. The Turbine only faces one way after all. So we removed most of those, which lowered the weight a substantial amount. That gave the thrusters extra power compared to before, so we added a small gimbal that lets them angle slightly backwards, to use that extra power to thrust forward faster. Everything was done on planet with local resources. The only thing we fully manufactured was the frame, and that was for style and not for performance.”
Borala took all this in as she stared at the modified aircar. “She’s also not wearing armored sheathes over her wings.”
This time all of the humans did a double take towards the screen. “Huh. That’s true. I didn’t hear anything about that from her.” Min thought back to their previous conversations. “Maybe she’s trying to cut the weight even more? The less weight the more power the thrusters can use…”
“Perhaps. But if a shot hits the wings, it will punch through those feathers with ease. And if it strikes a bone, it WILL shatter.” Borala motioned out towards the turrets. “The wing sheathes can blunt the worst of the impact, though wings do still get broken when hit with them on. It’s still a great deal better than going out unprotected.”
Ji ran up into the pavilion as Trix moved into starting position. The first of the four hammer strikes rang out. “Looks like it’s time. Min, how’s Telemetry looking?”
“A-OK here. Battery’s at max, Turbine’s clean, thrusters are all reading nominal.”
Ji ran over to the chair he’d vacated earlier. “Par, remotes in position?”
“Yes, Ji. Both the transmitter remotes and the recorder remotes are positioned along the track.”
Alex glanced over at Ji. “Transmitters?”
“Yeah, man. You think you’re the only one who can put on a show?” Ji grinned and lifted up the quickboard. The second the fourth gong of the bell rang out, Ji pressed the button on the quickboard and a thumping noise filled the area as Trix’ aircar shot forward.
—--
“Not even five seconds in and it’s already hitting problems.” Trix cursed under her breath. The car had performed perfectly on every single test flight in the last week, and every diagnostic had shown it was in perfect shape for this race. Yet right after she started, she could feel a harsh rhythmic buzz and thump against her thighs.
Her heart had leapt up into her throat at first, when she felt the unfamiliar sensations on the vehicle. She’d spent hours in the air on the back of the machine, and thought she’d known every single one of its quirks and sensations, but this one was new and new was almost always bad.
Almost. After a few seconds of the odd sensations, it intensified into something much more familiar. She continued to curse, now at Ji, for the surprise. The music they’d listened to so often while working on the car grew in intensity until it was all she could hear, and she goosed the throttle to pour on extra speed as the music filled her ears and her panic was replaced with the excitement the beat filled her with. Her heartbeat throbbed in her chest in time with the music as she leaned into the intense wind rushing past.
The car shot forward with a speed that none of the others could match, right as the music kicked in - electrifying the entire crowd who shot up from their seats. They’d known from the start this wouldn’t be like the other races just from the strange look that the Aircar brought in had (Not to mention the fact that a Human was walking it in alongside its rider) but this easily went beyond expectations.
The first flame was absolutely nothing. None of the turrets were calibrated to track the vehicle as it rocketed forward and it reached the second flame section without even needing to dodge. Even there the turrets struggled to keep up, with almost every single shot falling behind the vehicle. Trix had barely had to do more than go into a curve to avoid most of the shots on the second flame, as it too had been calibrated for a much slower car.
Entering the third flame was where the action started. The turrets in this section not only could track her far more effectively, but were leading their shots. Where the other competitors attempting the challenge focused more on acrobatics and using nimble and quick changes in velocity and vector to throw off the tracking, Trix opted to continue to pour on the speed. In lieu of strafing, she began to weave side to side while arcing up or down, moving in an almost erratic corkscrew pattern. Unlike the previous attempt, she had perfect control in the air - her arcs were smooth, she didn’t oversteer and every rapid change of vector was done without excessive movement to conserve as much speed as possible. In the blink of an eye she reached the same triple-volley that had taken out the first challenger, and as the three turrets fired as one, Trix’ car went into a steep dive, gaining speed as it used gravity along with the turbine to boost it past the tricky section. As the crowd roared out, nearly drowning out the thumping rhythmic music, she flew past the third flame into the last section of the course.
The last section was by far the trickiest. The turrets here would not simply fire at a competitor, not simply lead their shots, but occasionally fired off shots designed to miss by close margins, to frighten competitors into dodging and lead them into other turrets line of fire. And it was for this section that Trix had been practicing frantically for the past week.
The moment she’d crossed into the fourth flame, she immediately made a hard bank left, as two turrets that had been waiting for this fired as one, narrowly missing the back of the car. The two swept around, thumping out their shots as they swiveled to chase her but she completed a tight hairpin turn, returning to her original position before rocketing forward. As she did she completed a rapid ascent followed by another dive, before air braking hard. Her velocity dropped from 250 kilometers per hour to a mere hundred in a move that left Ji wincing. He knew that it couldn’t have felt good taking that slap of deceleration. It was effective, as a round that would have easily impacted her sailed several feet ahead, the computer clearly thinking she was going to use speed to dodge.
Another pair of turrets fired, with one shot sizzling so close to her helmet she had to fight the urge to drop the car down another dozen feet. Instead she ripped open the throttle to full, feeling the straps straining against the sudden intense surge of acceleration. She began to dodge and weave back and forth in a slalom motion as she gained speed, returning back up to 250 kph and above - all the way to 290 as she saw the silver streaks of shots bracketing the vehicle.
The fourth flame was the shortest but it was also the most intense, and she could see the final braziers lit to signal the end of the course ahead - and directly in front of it, another trio of turrets waiting to unload a triple volley to smash down any challengers that made it to the end. The intensity of the barrage around her was growing, however, and as her heart hammered away in her chest she realized there was only one way she could possibly get over that finish line without being tagged.
Shoving all of her fear and nervousness aside, she swept her wings out widely on either side of the car, and threw into the hardest right turn she could. Her vision immediately began to swim and her back ached with the strain as the g-forces as she fought to use every ounce of thrust the car could produce along with the aerodynamics nature had given her all into creating the tightest possible turn she could. She fought against the overwhelming G-forces as she completely the tight turn at a frankly ridiculous speed, before finally straightening out to make a mad dash for the finish.
Miraculously, it seemed to work. The turrets’ software had seen how tight she could turn from earlier in the track, and were adjusting based on the larger turning radius the car could make on its own. Adding in her own wings to the mix tightened it by just enough that the final few shots on her went wide, and she threw caution to the wind as she used the tiniest opening that maneuver had given her to soar forward across the final flame. Just as she thought she was in the clear, she felt a sudden impact against the side of the frame, as a shot finally landed and smashed into the underside of the car.
—--
Borala was absolutely awestruck by what she’d seen. The capabilities of the car were one thing; spreading wings in the race was just risky but not unheard of, nor was using wings as an extra control surface. But she’d never seen a turn THAT tight at THAT ridiculous speed before. It had nearly worked, and she was staring at the screen as the vehicle passed over the flame.
Alex was on his feet cheering at the last section, and his cheers turned to groans as they saw the final impact of the shot successfully connect, the bright silver splotch against the vibrant green of the aircar’s frame. “Did she make it? Does that count?”
Borala turned to the race organizer, who shook her head. “We’re reviewing right now, both the video and the rules. I can’t recall ever hearing about anyone being shot AS they crossed the final flame, so we’re checking history now.”
Alex turned over to Par. “You were recording. Did she make it past?”
“The replay shows that the car was almost exactly centered over the braziers when the final shot landed. I have done a local data search for what constitutes ‘finishing’ the challenge but there is a lack of sufficient detail for me to be able to say for sure whether or not that counts as a victory or an elimination.” One of Par’s remotes moved over to the large display. “If you’ll allow me to elaborate…”
The huge display screen blanked out as a technician on the other side of the pavilion cried out. Immediately it lit back up, this time showing the scene from the remote Par had placed out in the track. The remote hovered right near the exit, and all assembled watched as it slowed down to a couple hundred frames per second. The car crawled forward on the screen, and the audience gasped as the shot suddenly appeared from below, racing upwards several times faster than the car itself. Just as the car reached the center point of the braziers, the shot made impact and the frame could be seen bouncing oh so slowly to the side as it did.
Ji whistled at the shot. “Damn, right at the end. Does that stuff come off?”
“It is not a permanent application, no. It is designed to make hits quite obvious, as some contestants have used badly battered cars in the past and claimed that dents were present before the races.” Borala sat back in her chair and watched as the organizers ran around trying to determine whether or not the run was considered complete or not. “It is safe to say that she has won today’s challenges, whether or not the final flame was completed.”
“Well, sure. Still would be nice to know if she did manage to complete it. Has any challenger before done a full complete on their first try?” Ji wandered over to Min to look over her shoulder as he spoke.
“Not on their first try, no. I am quite certain that for a first time racer this is easily a record.”
“Well then it’s important to know if it counts or not, since it looks like she just made history.” Ji looked down at the telemetry that the aircar’s sensors was sending to Min’s quickboard. It looked like nothing had been damaged when the impact happened, and all four thrusters and the turbine were showing zero abnormalities.
Trix was much more leisurely as she returned to the staging area, coming down to land back in the center as the crowd cheered her on. Whether or not she’d completed the course they didn’t particularly care, they simply saw a phenomenal racer on a unique vehicle blast through some of the most intense barrages of the day while thumping music had heightened the entire experience. As they roared out their approval, Trix raised a fist in their direction before walking the car back towards the shuttle she’d arrived from.
—--
Trix threw the multivid screen down on her bed with exasperation. In the week since her attempt at the firelands challenge, things had all seemed to go entirely wrong for her.
The Nof organizers could not find any clarification about what exactly constituted a victory, since the rules were rather vague. The section on victory states “When a challenger passes the final flame before being struck” which would indicate that she’d succeeded. But the section on elimination stated that “Challengers would be eliminated if they or their vehicle is struck before reaching the final flame”. She had REACHED the final flame but not PASSED it, and thus far nobody had been able to reach a valid conclusion on what that meant.
Or rather, nobody actually in charge had reached one. In reality there were throngs of people who thought that her performance had been valid and she deserved to be recorded as the first instance of a full completion on their very first attempt. Of course, there were just as many who believed that she had been eliminated before completion. She herself didn’t particularly care about either of those groups, as completion or not she drove her best and was proud of how well she did. What got under her skin was the third group, the one that claimed she was a mediocre driver who was simply gifted an exceptional aircar by the humans that did all of the work.
At first she ignored those people. Yes, the car itself was phenomenal but at its core it was still the same Soranet Ten she’d purchased a month ago. They’d modified it absolutely. They had removed components, adjusted others, and the frame itself was swapped out mainly for aesthetics. But there was no reason at all that the changes couldn’t have been made by anyone else out there. In fact, a conversation between Min and the Nof matriarch detailing the changes made was public for those interested in trying it themselves.
That hadn’t silenced the detractors. Nor had offering to let other racers use her car to attempt the challenge - the arguments they made were exhaustive. From custom programming allowing only her to use it effectively, to claims that the car was controlled remotely, to claims that the Humans had hacked the turrets to improve her chances of winning. Even despite all of that, she could perhaps have still ignored it and been happy after her run if not for the fact that her friends, the ones she’d hoped the most would side with her, had joined in on accusing her of cheating. No matter how she protested they refused to listen, up until the point when she’d given up and just disconnected from the chat.
Her own Teff was also firmly on her side (Fohn in particular seemed to always be staring at her with huge adoring eyes of late) that was simply natural. They were Teff and that meant they were always on her side. But truly the bright spot in all of this was the Humans themselves, who had supported her from the beginning. More than just Ji and Min who were friendly with her from the start, all of the others had been sympathetic and supportive. The entire crew had their say on the cameras and screens on multiple occasions supporting her. Lately she spent as much time in Min’s room as her own. It helped not feeling quite as alone.
Today, however, the brief knock on Min’s door went unanswered. As did Ji’s. After a brief bit of searching, and being pointed out the door by a few members of the Teff who’d seen the Humans earlier, she found them assembled just outside their shuttle. The day was bright and warm and apparently they’d decided to lounge around outside on the grass.
Ji smiled and raised a hand as she walked over to join them. “Yo. Any word from the Nof?”
“None.” Trix walked over and collapsed down on the grass, laying down next to where Min was sitting. “The last I heard, they want to hold a vote with every still-living challenger participating to clarify the two conflicting sections. Honestly though I don’t even care anymore.”
“What’s the matter, feathers? You sound down.” Ma’et had been leaning on a tree nearby, but came over to lay down next to the larger avian.
“Just… sick of it. I wanted to challenge the Firelands since I was ten. And when I did it was the most incredible thing ever. But it seems like nobody out there cares. All my friends are pissed off at me and think I cheated, thousands of strangers keep trying to get in touch with me to tell me how awful or wonderful I am.”
Alex took a sip out of the can he was holding. “What’d you expect to happen? I’m not criticizing. Just don’t know what would have been a normal reaction for your people.”
“I dunno. I get out there and race, I come in comfortably in the middle of the pack, I practice a lot more, I race again and again and eventually complete the challenge. Then I find some cute guy and we spend a couple years exploring before we become accepted.” Trix pulled at the grass as she spoke, letting the breeze blow away the thin, soft blades. “Kinda lame when I say it out loud.”
“Not at all.” Josh gazed up at the sky wistfully, watching the clouds passing by slowly. “There’s nothing in the world wrong with dreaming about finding happiness in what you do and who you’re with. So long as you’re happy and healthy then the details don’t really matter much, do they?”
“Agreed. I’m curious though.” Alex tilted his head as he looked over at Trix. “What did you want to explore? Space?”
“Huh? No, no. Exploring a relationship. When couples get together we explore each other and the bond between us. It’s important to explore because once we’re accepted we can’t go back.” Trix crushed a blade of grass between her fingers, idly rolling them back and forth. “I’m not sure if Humans have the same thing or not.”
“Sort of. Al, it’s sort of like dating and Marriage.” Min piped up. “We talked about it while working on the car a bit. Exploration is like dating. You learn about each other, all of a person’s strengths and flaws. Their likes and dislikes. And if both sides are willing they marry. For life. Accepted isn’t quite as formal as marriage but it’s very, very permanent.”
“It’s not permanent for Humans?” Trix looked up and over at Min. “You said that people who got ‘Married’ stayed together.”
“They do, often. But sometimes people make a mistake. They rush into a relationship without exploring as well as you guys do. Or over time, they change and find that instead of being pulled closer together, they get pushed apart.” Min gestured at her brother. “Our folks were inseparable for decades, but Dad started to focus too much on work and not enough on Mom. They grew distant and unhappy and split up.”
“That’s horrible.” Trix shuddered at the thought. “Acceptance is… I mean, to think that two people who come together could be split apart? Just that easily?”
“Dunno what to say to that. Some humans join together for life, sure, but others just can’t make that same choice. They get together for the wrong reasons, they get enamored with one another and miss or ignore the warning signs that things might not go well.” Min glanced around. “These guys might explain it better.”
Ma’et cleared her throat. “There’s a saying I saw way the hell back when. I don’t remember where. It was something like, “Sometimes we need to fall in love with the wrong person so we know how it feels when we meet the right one”? I guess it’s sorta like, it’s easy to think something’s good because you don’t know what bad is. But if you get in a bad relationship it shows you what you need in a good one.”
Josh looked thoughtful about that. “I think that might be a little accurate. But I also think there’s a lot more to it than that. Ultimately I think it’s mostly just about being willing to put in the work. If one or both sides of the relationship aren’t willing to actually work at it, then it’s gonna fail. You gotta be able to give as well as take, so to speak.”
Alex took another sip from the can. “I also think communication’s the big thing. Gotta actually be willing to say when you’re unhappy and why, so that problems can be addressed. Too many people let things that bother them sit and fester and that just makes the problems worse over time.”
“Yeah but you get all your romantic advice from movies and vids.” Ma’et snickered. “And those have to have shitty communication in order for the plots to make any sense. Can you imagine how boring they’d be if they were realistic? ‘Honey all the time you spend away from me makes me feel unwanted and like you’re cheating on me.’ ‘Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. I’m spending all my time away from you because I’m a spy infiltrating a pirate group that’s been harassing merchants out near Verdine. The redheaded lady I spend my time with is actually going to be arrested and hung once I’m done, there’s no romance there!’ ”
“Hey, that ain’t true. Entirely.” Alex took another long sip from the can, and tossed the empty container at Ma’et. “I mean, yeah, you’re right about how shitty communication makes movies more interesting. Just not right about that being where I get all my romance ideas from.”
Ma’et grabbed the can out of the air and crushed it in her hand. “Sure, sure. Remind me how long it’s been since you were in a relationship?”
“Bad example. I’ve spent most of the last few decades doing these scouting and survey missions. The asteroid dating scene isn’t exactly overflowing with prospective partners.”
“Well, you cozied up to the big bird on the station quickly enough.” Min grinned over at the Captain. “Maybe the reasons your love life is crap is because you never decided to date far enough outside of your species?”
Trix couldn’t help but snicker at that one. “Ew, come on. No offense but you guys don’t really hold a candle to a properly cute guy. How can you hope to compete with some gorgeous Rectrices?”
“Uhhh… Rectrices?”
Trix pointed at the back of her legs. “Big feathers back here. Very attractive on males.”
“Gotcha. Well, you’re right that I don’t have those. I do have a sparkling personality though. Surely that counts for SOMETHING?”
Trix just shrugged, and shook her head. “Sorry, Captain. Humans just aren’t attractive. Not to me, or my friends…” The sudden reminder brought back all the negative emotions from earlier.
Min saw her friend’s face fall, and reached out and put her hand on Trix’s arm. “What happened?”
“Nothing. They’re just being obnoxious.” She shook her head again, and grabbed a handful of the grass. “They think you guys conspired to make me win. Or almost win.”
“Betcha they’re just jealous.” Min stood up and stretched her arms out. “You said they were in disbelief after you told them you were our guide, right? Same thing. They’re mad that they couldn’t be the one here instead of you.”
“Yeah, but they’re my friends! Shouldn’t they be happy for me?” She angrily threw the fistful of grass away from her.
“Yeah, they should.” Alex stood up himself, walking over to take the crushed can from Ma’et. “And I dunno whether that just means they’re bad friends or if it’s just really bothering them. Either way, maybe some time doing something else would help. Want to go flying?”
“Not particularly. I don’t even want to SEE an aircar right now.”
Alex grinned, and jerked his thumb behind him at the shuttle. “Oh, I wasn’t talking about the aircar. Three hundred KPH is impressive. Want to try going a bit faster? Like, I dunno, how’s Mach 5 sound?”
“Uh, Al, flying a shuttle isn’t even REMOTELY like flying an Aircar.” Josh pointed out.
“Nope, it’s not. But god knows if I can learn how to fly one, she can. There’s at least three experts assembled here that can teach her, and on a planet with over 80% water coverage there’s no shortage of places we can go to learn without causing a disruption.”
He walked over to the shuttle and slapped the access panel, and the boarding door slid open immediately. “What do you say, Trix? Care to fly the friendly skies?”
—--

Wing and a Prayer part 1
Atodine Space Academy, West Wing
Zrieri made her way down the academy hallway. The feathers around her neck were ruffled with annoyance. It was bad enough for a student to show up late for class, but for a professor it was even worse. Still, it was unavoidable given the situation. Zrieri paused to smooth down her feathers before entering the classroom. The chattering between the students quickly fell off as she walked into the room. Zrieri walked with purpose to the podium in front of the class.
“My apologies for my tardiness.” Zrieri said after switching the large display behind her from idle to the presentation file she had prepared. “Let us begin with today’s lesson.”
The Rachanit, an advanced spacefaring species, marked the first contact between the Atodine people and an alien civilization. These insectoid beings, despite their initially unsettling appearance, exuded an apparent friendliness that led to a request for trade and the establishment of an embassy on Atodine Prime. Though the leaders initially hesitated, they eventually consented, allowing the Rachanits to settle into an embassy with minimal disruption. However, as time progressed, a chilling realization began to seep through the cracks of diplomatic pretense.
People began mysteriously disappearing in the vicinity of the Rachanit embassy, prompting suspicions of foul play. These suspicions were confirmed when a civilian inadvertently stumbled upon undeniable evidence of the Rachanits' true nature as a carnivorous species. It became abundantly clear that the embassy had served as a sinister testing ground for assessing their efficacy at hunting and consuming Atodine flesh.
Shortly after this alarming discovery, the Rachanits discarded any lingering pretense and declared a full-blown war against us. In the face of this unforeseen aggression, the Atodine were thrust into a protracted and grueling defensive battle. However, throughout the course of this conflict, a glimmer of hope emerged.
The Atodine, tenacious and resourceful, managed to acquire first hand knowledge of the Rachanits' spacecraft technology. Each skirmish and engagement became an invaluable lesson in the art of combating these formidable adversaries. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Atodine successfully repelled the Rachanits' attacks, preventing them from reaching their vulnerable homeworld.
An unintended consequence of their resistance would prove enlightening, if somewhat terrifying. Upon salvaging the wreckage of Rachanit spacecraft, it became apparent that their empire sprawled across vast reaches of space, far eclipsing anything the Atodine could fathom. The asymmetry in size and power was stunningly conspicuous, rendering the Atodine acutely aware of the inevitable disparity they faced.
Nevertheless, the Rachanits remained unwavering in their singular focus: the utter annihilation of Atodine fleets. It was unmistakable that their intent was to obliterate any possibility of retaliation or counterattack. The Atodine, fully cognizant of their limitations, dedicated themselves to fortifying their defenses with renewed fervor, continually refining their strategies and capabilities.
At the heart of this epic cosmic struggle laid Atodine Prime, the cherished nest world of the Atodines. Suspended in the delicate balance between preservation and potential devastation, it has become both a symbol and a stronghold where the fate of an entire civilization hung in the balance. The echoes of battle reverberated through its valleys and mountains, its cities, and countryside, as the Atodine brace themselves against the relentless onslaught of their enigmatic and carnivorous foe.
After meticulously sifting through an extensive array of data harvested from numerous Rachanit ship databases, a comprehensive star map has emerged, painting a detailed picture of the systems strategically occupied by these enigmatic beings and the array of species they subjugated under their oppressive rule. Amidst the disturbing revelations, one unsettling discovery stood out among all others; the de-sentience and complete objectification of certain species that were tragically reduced to nothing more than mere livestock, subjected to unimaginable suffering and exploitation at the hands of their Rachanit overlords.
However, the latest influx of information procured directly from the Rachanits themselves shed light on particular systems that starkly diverged from their controlled territories. These exceptional star systems were distinctly demarcated as a desolate dead zone, an eerie aberration within the otherwise vast web of domains firmly under Rachanit control.
The absence of their iron grip in this particular region raised eyebrows among the Atodine research team, prompting a flurry of questions and stirring curiosity about the secrets it may hold. Why were these particular systems omitted from the domineering reach of the Rachanits? What significance did it hold in the grand tapestry of their galactic conquest? Such queries fueled the Atodine determination to dig deeper into this enigmatic anomaly, propelling us further into uncharted territory where answers awaited our unwavering investigation.
Atodine Orbital Station, Hangar 3
“This is the ship?” Zrieri's concern was evident in her voice as she confronted the chief scientist about the makeshift spacecraft.
With a mix of curiosity and skepticism, she questioned whether this mixture of Rachanit scrap and their own technology would truly suffice for the journey to the Dead Zone. As Zrieri ran her feathered hands across the hull, one couldn't help but sense her apprehension. Krenuk, the lead researcher, was slightly irritated by Zrieri's doubt, puffed up his feathers in annoyance before responding.
“I assure you, the ship is completely space worthy. Yes there has been extensive use of recycled materials, but do not doubt my personal expertise in shipbuilding.”
Zrieri chuckled at his indignation, but bowed slightly in apology.
“This ship is not just a crude amalgamation of resources.” Krenuk continued. “It is a carefully crafted vessel. What's more, it is equipped with a functioning faster than light, or FTL drive.”
Zrieri looked back to the ship. “I wasn’t aware we had finally unlocked that secret from the Rachanit.”
The chief scientist shifted his stance. “We have come to an understanding of the underlying fundamentals of FTL travel. In this case, however, the ship is utilizing a drive salvaged from a Rachanit craft. We are hopeful with the maiden flight to gather enough data to construct our own FTL drives moving forward.” Krenuk's expression turned grave. “This is, however, more than just a test flight. The purpose of venturing into this so-called Dead Zone is to unravel the mystery surrounding it.” He smoothed down the feathers around his neck before continuing. “The Rachanits, either out of fear or some deliberate choice, avoid this area altogether. It’s crucial to investigate why.”
“Do we know anything at all about this area of space other than the Rachanit avoid it like an irradiated wasteland?”
“The truth is, our knowledge of this system is limited beyond major celestial bodies. The dead zone has remained shrouded in enigma despite our attempts to probe the area.”
“Thus, the decision to construct the spacecraft using any salvageable materials we could find.”
“We are making do with what we have. Materials are scarce with the war effort and the loss of most of our off-world resources.” Krenuk folded his feathered hands behind his back. “At the very least, it’s a more robust vehicle than our first star-fliers boarded to enter space.”
Zrieri was raised as a chick on the stories of the early star-fliers. It was part of the reason she had joined the Starcorps. Zrieri was also aware that not all of those brave pathfinders returned home to Atodine Prime. She realized she was now taking the same kind of risks as her predecessors, not simply for knowledge and technological advancement, but to save her people.
“I just hope that this improbable combination of Rachanit scrap and our own technology will get us the answers we need.” she said, gently patting the hull of the ship. “So, what is the ship’s name?”
***
Three hours later the experimental craft, freshy christened Voidflyer, lifted out the hangar bay and made its first flight into space.
Zrieri worked through the controls making sure everything was in working order. She could trust the main proposition systems at least. The station crew had stocked up Voidflyer with plenty of supplies, enough to last her months out in space if necessary. Zrieri meticulously performed her routine checks on the myriad of controls in the cockpit. She was familiar with the controls as it had been ripped right out of a VF-70, the Atodine main-line fighter craft. With her checks complete, Zrieri reached out to command to request the necessary clearance for her imminent departure.
All systems seemed to be functioning optimally, or at least all of the systems that originated from her own civilization. Something was wrong with the FTL navigation system. Zrieri was puzzled by the unexpected errors that began to populate the display screen after entering the coordinates. Her curiosity was further peaked when she realized that the information was being presented in the intricate and alien Rachanit script. The computer was supposed to translate any information into the Atodine language, yet for some reason the error messages seemed to be bypassing the translation subsystems. She was completely unfamiliar with Rachanit, meaning she couldn’t easily diagnose whatever the problem was.
That didn’t mean she was about to give up. The determined pilot carefully retrieved the dataslate of documents Krenuk had provided earlier. Leafing through them diligently, she sought to extract any useful insights that might shed light on this perplexing predicament. Each line and every cryptic symbol on those ancient pages demanded her complete attention and scrutiny. Guided by a resolute spirit, Zrieri cautiously maneuvered through the constrained confines of the spacecraft, making her way towards the heart of its technological prowess, the FTL drive.
A testament to Atodine ingenuity, this intricate piece of alien machinery was somehow interfaced with their own spacefaring technology. It was far from a simple hack-job, but it was obvious a lot of improvising had been done in the integration of disparate technologies. But beyond the integration into the Voidflyer, There was an entire custom built monitoring system added on to observe it in action and gather as much data as possible. It held the key to hyper-dimensional travel capabilities for the Atodine civilization.
With utmost care, she unscrewed a side panel from its sturdy casing. Zrieri was aware how rarely any drive system survived the destruction of the ship it was housed in. The fact the FTL drive had been recovered intact was almost enough to make the Atodine thank the long abandoned gods of her people, because it was a miracle. After exposing the complex network of circuitry and delicate crystalline cards that lay within, Zrieri placed a data slate adjacent to the humming drive.
She concentrated her focused gaze upon each of the crystalline cards, meticulously examining their arrangement and configuration. Taking solace in Krenuk's meticulous notes that he had shared, which documented his extensive research on the craft's inner workings, Zrieri embarked on an arduous task of ascertaining the precise function of each card and testing them. Weighing each possibility with both caution and precision, she soon encountered one card that baffled even the seasoned researcher.
Summoning her audacity and expertise, Zrieri delicately removed this enigmatic card from its designated slot. Strangely, this caused no obvious change in the gentle humming of the drive. She ran a diagnostic, or at least that’s what the program was labeled as. According to Krenuk's notes, the readouts indicated the drive was in working order.
The Rachanit went as far as to put a lock-out chip in the drive itself to keep away from the Dead Zone. I wonder, is it because of some kind of suicidal curiosity in their warriors, or is it really that dangerous?
Zrieri pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind as she closed the access panel. She placed the crystalline card into a padded box and stored it in a nearby equipment locker before retreating back to the familiar comfort of her seat. Zrieri’s feathered hands flowed over the control console, preparing the ship once more for the jump to FTL. She cautiously reentered the complex matrix of coordinates that would lead them to the elusive enemy-free expanse of space.
Before hitting the final conformation, Zrieri looked out at her home of Atodine Prime, then out into the starry void. She thought back to Janaria , the first Atodine to enter space, whose pod ultimately did not survive reentry. Now Zrieri found herself about to take the same kind of risk.
One way or another, I’ll be joining you in the history files, Janaria. Zrieri reached out and engaged the FTL drive.
This time, to her immense relief and satisfaction, the powerful FTL drive seamlessly spooled up, producing a mesmerizing cascade of energy that gracefully enveloped the small craft. With a surge of anticipation, Zrieri expertly guided her vessel through the dazzling vortices of swirling cosmic energies, initiating the seamless transition into the space fold. As the ship disappeared into the rippling fabric of the universe, an exhilarating wave of accomplishment washed over Zrieri.
Was this what it felt like when Janaria first pushed past the atmosphere and looked down on Atodine Prime? She wondered.
Dead Zone, System 001
The Voidflyer emerged from Hyperspace, only to be greeted with the sudden blare of the proximity alarm. The klaxon reverberated through the cockpit, causing Zrieri's heart to lurch. Her instincts kicked in immediately, the adrenaline-fueled surge urging her into swift action. Looking at the main screen, she found herself face to face with a colossal object, ominously positioned right at her Hyperspace lane exit point. A collision seemed inevitable, a disaster looming on the horizon. However, Zrieri was chosen for this mission for a reason. Her years of piloting experience and natural dexterity came to the fore as she deftly maneuvered the ship, skillfully navigating her way around the massive obstacle. With mere centimeters to spare, she managed to avert catastrophe, her pulse still racing with the close call.
But little did she know that the challenge was far from over. As she glided further through the cosmic expanse, her sensors pinged multiple objects all in close proximity to her small ship. This time, Zrieri knew she couldn't rely solely on her reflexes and luck to navigate what had to be a debris field. Instead she had to execute precise calculations and strategic movements to avoid a potentially devastating impact. Mid-action, countless variables raced through her mind as Zrieri quickly mapped out a course, but didn’t have time for the computer to double check it. She carefully dodged and weaved through the treacherous path, desperately seeking a clear passage to safety. Finally, Zrieri managed to break free from the seemingly endless maze of debris that had been her welcoming committee.
Zrieri took a moment to collect herself, before gently guiding the ship away from the wreckage. This allowed her to survey the scene with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. A thorough scan followed, revealing a disconcerting sight. Much of the shattered fragments and twisted metal matched the unmistakable signature of Rachanit ships. The distinctive marks and faded insignias were evident, signifying the remnants of what must have once been a formidable fleet. However, some of the debris appeared significantly older, betraying the passage of time and hinting at past encounters. It was as though Zrieri had stumbled upon a graveyard of battles long forgotten.
Yet, amidst the mangled wreckage of Rachanit derelicts, the scan brought forth an unsettling revelation. Interspersed among their battered Rachanit ships, were vessels of an entirely unknown origin. Even in their destroyed state, these unidentified ships possessed an air of mystique and promise. Unlike their counterparts, they seemed remarkably intact, their hulls still retaining a semblance of functionality. They were enigmas within the chaos, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the already intricate tapestry of cosmic intrigue that enshrouded Zrieri's surroundings.
With a careful hand, Zrieri adjusted the heading of her vessel. She maneuvered the sleek and agile Voidflyer back into the sprawling debris field, if at a much reduced velocity. Her desire for a closer examination of the mysterious unknown derelicts overwhelmed her, urging her to explore the unknown. As Zrieri drew closer, she flicked a switch, activating the floodlights that adorned the exterior of the Voindflyer. The resulting luminosity revealed a distinctively boxy design amidst the dilapidated wreckage, catching her attention instantly.
However, it was not just the peculiar shape that captured Zrieri's focus; it was a symbol etched onto the hull that truly intrigued her. It depicted a blue sphere covered with equally vibrant green shapes, all of which was accentuated by bold and striking white markings. Puzzled, Zrieri directed her scrutiny towards the battered and scored black hull, contemplating its origins and purpose. Seeking answers, she turned her gaze towards the consoles of the Voidflyer, hoping that her ship's computer could assist her in uncovering the enigmatic text adorning the derelict.
To her surprise, the ship's computer managed to decipher and translate the cryptic message emblazoned on the hull, revealing two significant pieces of information. First, the text read "UNSD Providence," a name that indicated the derelict was once a formidable heavy cruiser. Fascinated by this unexpected revelation, Zrieri felt her curiosity deepen even further. Delving into her thoughts, she contemplated the implications of discovering a seemingly abandoned spaceship amidst the wreckage-filled void.
Despite her enthusiasm, a hint of caution tinged Zrieri's decisions as she carefully piloted the Voidflyer closer to the drifting hulk. Her gaze fixed upon what appeared to be a docking port, offering a potential connection point between the two vessels. However, her uncertainty regarding the compatibility of the Voidflyer's own docking port with that of the Providence caused a momentary hesitation to grip her. The last thing she desired was to initiate a risky and potentially hazardous docking process. Yet, as Zrieri observed the Providence more attentively, she noticed an intriguing detail — the seemingly dormant vessel still retained a glimmer of power. This revelation sparked a flicker of hope within her adventurous spirit. Against her initial reservations, Zrieri's gaze fixated upon the extended docking port of the Providence, reaching out as if inviting the Voidflyer to establish a connection. The juxtaposition of uncertainty and possibility warred within her as she weighed the risks and rewards, ultimately poised to make a daring decision that could potentially reshape her journey.
As Zrieri expertly maneuvered the sleek Voidflyer closer to the Providence docking port, her eyes widened with surprise as she noticed that the aliens' docking mechanism perfectly aligned with her ship's. It was a rare stroke of luck amidst the inhospitable reaches of space. Strapping on her trusty space suit and securing her helmet, she prepared herself for the treacherous journey ahead. With a resolute determination, Zrieri made her way towards the airlock, the gateway into the unidentified vessel. As she stepped inside the airlock, her eyes immediately fixed upon the readout, which displayed alarming details. Multiple breaches in the hull of the Providence had resulted in a vacuum and complete absence of gravity within its confines. However given how long the derelict had been adrift neither condition was altogether surprising.
A sense of inconvenience filled the air, as Zrieri grumbled to herself about her distaste for weightlessness while deftly cycling the airlock. She remembered how unpleasant that part of her training had been at the academy. The airlock opened, revealing a disconcerting spectacle before her. The interior of the ship was shrouded in blinking red emergency lighting, amplifying the eerie atmosphere that enveloped her. The fact that there was still reserve power left spoke volumes of the ship design. Uncertain of the path that lay ahead, Zrieri cautiously embarked upon the red-lit corridor, her senses heightened with each tentative step of her gravtalons.
Along her journey through the labyrinthine passageway, she encountered various rooms, some preserved in a state of integrity while others ominously opened up to the unforgiving empty void of space. Each room silently bearing witness to the mysterious events that had unfolded within the bowels of the derelict vessel. Finally, reaching the end of the corridor, Zrieri's keen eyes caught sight of a vertical shaft ascending above her. An upward path beckoned her, promising a potential answer to the enigmatic depths of the ship.
Caution prevailing over curiosity, Zrieri meticulously marked her previous locations, ensuring that she wouldn't succumb to the disorienting expanse of this forsaken place. Her determination echoed through the corridor as she muttered to herself, vowing not to lose her way amidst this derelict maze. She turned off her gravtalons and began to ascend the shaft with a blend of nimbleness and concentration.
Zrieri eventually reached the pinnacle, only to be confronted by a formidable pair of sealed doors. A glimmer of frustration danced across her features as she tirelessly attempted to budge them, employing every ounce of her strength. Yet, fate seemed to conspire against her, refusing to grant access to the secrets that lay beyond those imposing barriers. Undeterred by this setback, resolve surged through her being as she descended back down the shaft, propelled by an unwavering determination to discover a tool that could pry open those obstinate doors.
Zreini retraced her steps down the cold, dimly lit shaft, her mind focused on finding a solution to the sealed doors blocking her path. Every step echoed against the metallic walls as she scanned her surroundings, desperately seeking an object that could serve as a makeshift pry bar. After what felt like an eternity, her eyes caught a glimmer of hope, a long piece of metal hidden among the debris. Without hesitation, she snatched it up, feeling the weight and sturdiness it held. Ascending the shaft once again, Zreini's determination grew as she approached the sealed doors.
With a determined expression, she inserted the metal bar between the unforgiving panels, channeling every ounce of her strength into prying them apart. The doors resisted stubbornly, as if mocking her efforts.
Frustration bubbling inside her, she muttered aloud, "Stubborn doors!" her words swallowed by the vast emptiness of the ship's corridors.
Yet, Zreini refused to yield. Summoning her resolve, she persisted, pouring all her energy into forcing the doors open. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of exertion, the doors relented, reluctantly sliding apart. Yet, victory came at a price. Caught off guard by their sudden movement, Zreini stumbled, crashing into the cold bulkhead opposite the opening. The impact sent the metal bar flying in the opposite direction, clattering noiselessly as it bounced against the floor and out into the void.
Ignoring the ache in her shoulder and the taste of defeat lingering in her beak, Zreini straightened herself, reaching up to adjust her helmet. Her gaze fixed upon the widened door opening, curiosity mingling with anticipation as she peered into the darkness beyond. It didn't take long for realization to dawn upon her. She had discovered the bridge of the Providence, or rather, what was left of it. The telltale signs of Rachanit weaponry ravaged the room, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
Undeterred by the destruction, Zreini carefully maneuvered her way into the bridge. Her eyes scanned the remnants of what once was a bustling hub of activity, finally settling on the raised seat at its center. There, she found the remains of the Providence's captain, preserved in his breached spacesuit, desiccated but in-tact. The space mummy was still strapped into the seat. A sense of melancholy washed over her, dying to the void was a fear in every spacer’s heart. At the same time, she felt a sense of awe at the silent dedication displayed by the fallen leader, standing watch eternally as his ship drifted.
Approaching the seat with reverence, Zreini examined the captain's final resting place. Despite her eagerness to gather information, she vowed to disturb the scene as little as possible. Zreini had no clue what this species’ burial rites were, but she wanted to show nothing but respect to the fallen spacer. With delicate movements, she gently pushed the captain's arm aside, revealing a functioning screen nestled in the seat's armrest. The ship's mainframe was still functioning, at least somewhat. The last remnants of the Providence's technological spirit flickered on the screen.
Without wasting another moment, Zreini retrieved her scanner, her nimble fingers deftly navigating its interface. Its soft blue light illuminated her face as she aimed it towards the mainframe, hoping to extract any fragment of valuable information, a lifeline of knowledge hidden within the ship's core. To her surprise and relief, the scanner successfully retrieved an abundance of data, promising a glimpse into the Providence's secrets and history.
As Zreini meticulously sifted through the retrieved information, her gaze inadvertently wandered to the badge adorning the captain's chest area. Illuminated by the flickering lights, the insignia held a profound significance. She directed her scanner towards it, her curiosity demanding answers. In an instant, the translation software swiftly deciphered the inscription etched upon the badge: "Rory Parks, Commanding Officer, UNSD Providence."
The discovery sent a shiver down her spine. Names became more than mere words or titles. They embodied lives, stories, and sacrifices. Zreini couldn't help but wonder about the brave souls who once inhabited this ship, each with their own tale, now buried deep within its steel and circuitry. Motivated by preservation and a duty to honor those who came before, she transmitted the gathered data to the Voidflyers' computer, ensuring that the legacy of the UNSD Providence would not fade into oblivion.
Zreini, her expression somber and contemplative, crossed her arms as she slowly lowered herself down in front of the fallen commander. Her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy, she spoke in a hushed yet confident voice, addressing Commander Rory Parker.
"I must admit, dear Commander, that I haven't had the opportunity to encounter your kind or, indeed, any being quite like you before," Zreini's voice carried an air of respect and reverence, as she acknowledged the uniqueness of their encounter. "But now, in this moment, fate has brought us together. From this void, you shall watch over and protect your people, forever enshrined in their collective memory, Commander Rory Parker."
With these words of farewell hanging in the air, Zreini gracefully rose from her bowed position and set off towards her trusted Voidflyer. As she made her way back, there was an uncanny synchronicity to the scene that unfolded before her. It appeared as though the UNSD Providence, the massive spacecraft that had been her destination, had been awaiting her visit. Its presence was a testament to the peculiarities of the universe, always finding ways to manifest remarkable coincidences. However, it was at this very moment, upon entering the airlock, that a disconcerting disruption shattered the tranquility.
The emergency lighting within the vessel flickered erratically, casting eerie shadows and sending shivers down Zreini's spine. A surge of anticipation coursed through her veins, hinting at something extraordinary about to unfold. Outside the confines of the airlock, Zreini's eyes widened with disbelieving awe. It seemed as though Commander Rory Parker himself stood summing near, his ghostly figure illuminated by the tumultuous illumination of the faltering emergency lights. In a poetic gesture, he raised his arm in a quiet salute, characterizing a final farewell before the lighting altogether faded into darkness, leaving Zreini alone in her bewilderment.
Startled and perplexed by what she had just witnessed, Zreini reached for her trusty light, the beam of its illumination slicing through the pervasive darkness. She meticulously scanned her surroundings, eager to uncover any trace of the enigmatic Commander Rory. But alas, there was nothingness. No signs, no traces; simply an impenetrable void. Craving answers, doubts began to swirl within her mind like a chaotic maelstrom. She checked her life support systems for any issues, but they came back all green. Was she just tired, or was it something more?
"What was that…apparition? Was it just my imagination, or was it actually the fleeting specter of the departed commander?" Zreini questioned herself amid the solitude of the airlock.
The implications of such an encounter with the ethereal world sent shivers down her spine, making her question the boundaries of reality itself. One thing she was sure of, there would be no mention of it in her report. Gathering her wits and wrestling her emotions under control, Zreini closed the airlock behind her, sealing off the mysteries that lay beyond. Stepping back into the familiar confines of her ship, she activated the cycle sequence, disconnecting from the Providence.
Slowly but surely, the Voidflyer broke free from the gravitational grip of the human vessel, propelling itself out carefully from the debris field. After the ship was safely out of any immediate danger, Zrieri engaged with the data she had meticulously gathered from the ship. She knew now the race called themselves humans and they originated on the third planet of this very system. Zreini's star charts underwent a transformation. The seamless integration of the acquired information initiated an update, revealing new cosmic coordinates within the vast tapestry of the universe.
And then, facilitated by the translation software, an unexpected revelation emerged, a message intended for the Providence, concealed amidst the data. Anchored to the coordinates that had materialized before her, a message finally unraveled, demanding her attention.
"Earth has fallen, fall back to Alpha Centauri."
The words struck at the core of Zreini's being, triggering a surge of empathy and concern. She turned her ship's sensors towards the third planet of the system. Even with the horrors of the war with the Rachanit fresh in her mind, Zrieri was not ready for what she saw. The planet was destroyed, Not just glassed from an orbital bombardment, the planet had been cracked in two, all the way to its core. Earth’s once life-giving atmosphere had been stripped away by the solar winds of its own star when its magnetic field collapsed.
“Monsters…” Zrieri whispered. With clenched fists and a resolute expression, Zreini punched in the coded star system coordinates, her voice filled with a measured determination. "I pray that this Alpha Centauri still exists, that something remains of these people! The universe needs some measure of hope at least."
Zrieri was well aware that the message she had unveiled was distressingly dated, possibly an echo from a bygone era. But it didn’t matter, she needed to know. Without hesitation, driven by the yearning for answers and the spark of hope, Zreini once again activated the FTL drive, plunging herself and her vessel into the abyssal depths of interstellar travel. The destination lay before her, shrouded in mystery
Dead Zone, System 002 (Alpha Centauri)
As the Voidflyer hurtled through hyper-dimensional space, its sophisticated translation software strained to piece together a comprehensive Lexicon from the fragments of data Zreini had managed to extract from the human spaceship. Nonetheless, before the system could complete its task, Zreini's attention was abruptly yanked away by the blaring of the proximity alarm at the hyperlane exit, signaling a looming threat.
“Not again!” she chirped as she took hold of the controls tightly.
An immense and ominous presence awaited her, and Zreini instinctively exerted all her strength, desperately maneuvering to dodge the colossal object. Even with the maneuverability of the Voidflyer and her own skill and experience, an inevitable disaster struck with full force. The Voidflyer collided with the object, scraping along her underside. Alarms and claxons rang in Zrieri’s ears before her head collided with her console, plunging her into unconsciousness.
***
When Zreini finally regained consciousness and surveyed her surroundings, she was met with a bewildering revelation: she was miraculously alive.
“I guess I won’t be meeting Janaria today after all.” She muttered as she rubbed her forehead gently.
However, the same fate could not be claimed for the crippled Voidflyer, which now lay dormant and powerless in the enshrouding darkness of the cockpit. There were numerous hull breaches, but the cockpit was still fully pressurized. Emergency power was keeping the life support systems online for the time being, but every other system seemed to be offline. Peering through the cockpit windows, her gaze fell upon a disheartening sight; a trail of coolant and vapors spiraling from her damaged vessel.
And there, in stark defiance against the backdrop of the cold celestial abyss, loomed the cause of her misfortune: an enormous, angular, obsidian ship. Its design bore a striking resemblance to that of the UNSD Providence, but what sent a shiver down Zreini's spine was the sight of the behemoth's menacing turrets trained directly upon her vulnerable craft. As if it would take more than one shot to vaporize the Voidflyer.
The implications of this encounter fueled a fearful realization within her; humanity still lingered in the cosmos. As Zreini intently studied the illuminated lettering adorning the side of the imposing vessel, She had been on smaller space stations than this singular ship. It was reminiscent in certain design elements to the Providence, and a sudden surge of urgency propelled her to hastily employ her scanner in an attempt to decipher the meaning. With bated breath, she witnessed the screen illuminate with its translation: "UNSD Relentless."
The humans were indeed present; evoking a maelstrom of emotions within her already frayed nerves. In that critical moment, the Relentless maneuvered itself alongside her ship, looming large and casting a daunting shadow over her world. Peering over the edge of her cockpit, Zreini's eyes widened as she beheld a mammoth bay door slowly creaking open, revealing a glimpse into the depths of the unknown. However, before her curiosity could be sated, she was startled by resounding thudding sounds reverberating through the wounded hull of the Voidflyer; a vivid auditory reminder of her predicament. In a matter of moments she found herself being inexorably drawn towards the embrace of the gargantuan Relentless.
The sensation of gravity returning to her body was comforting as she came under the sway of the Relentless’ gravity generators. The flood of bay lights cut through the darkness like beacons, illuminating the once-desolate interior of the cockpit and exposing a bustling hive of activity within the bay. Zreini swiftly deduced that her unintended collision with the Relentless had triggered an alarm within its crew, setting in motion their rescue efforts. Without delay or fanfare, the distorted remnants of the Voidflyer were delicately lowered onto the solid floor of the bay; an act of careful precision amid the tumultuous events unfolding.
Zreini gingerly unstrapped herself from her seat, a jolt of pain coursing through her as she realized that something was painfully broken. Waves of discomfort radiated from her ribcage, making it excruciating to take even the slightest breath, while her right leg throbbed mercilessly, rendering it unable to bear any weight. Determined to escape her crippled vessel, she mustered all the strength she could find and stumbled towards the airlock. Summoning the last vestiges of her energy, Zreini desperately pulled off a side panel, revealing the emergency locks securing the doors. With trembling fingers, she released them, the clunking sound echoing in the confined space. Gritting her teeth against the pain, Zreini exerted what little force she could muster to push open the inner door.
The dank air of the airlock greeted her as she did the same with the outer door, its resistance ultimately giving way to a pneumatic hiss. Peering into the expansive bay beyond, Zreini's eyes widened at the sight that met her gaze. A group of humans, clad in formidable armored spacesuits, stood before her, their weapons ominously trained on her battered form. A rush of adrenaline coiled within her, propelling her senses to heightened alertness. Just as panic threatened to consume her, a voice pierced through the tense silence, commanding the armed human contingent to stand down. Instantly obeying the authoritative command, they lowered their weapons, revealing a glimmer of hope within Zreini's battered soul. Yet, before she could extend her gratitude or even gather her thoughts coherently, Zreini succumbed to the relentless darkness tugging at the edges of her consciousness. Her frail form succumbed to the physical and emotional trauma, surrendering to oblivion.

Hi all,
Just looking for a bit of advice. Moved into our home in February 2023, we had a couple of concerns with cracked ceilings which we highlighted before instructing a Level 2 RICS survey, I know in hindsight we should have had a level 3... The survey came back rather positive with a mention of historic structural movement with no signs of subsidence spiel. They noted due to the nature of the subsoil (all heavy clay around here), that seasonal movement was to be expected. The only thing to note was we have a 35 foot Eucalyptus at the back of our garden roughly 9m from the house and this should be pruned. A coal mining search showed that the under the estate seams had been mined at depths of 150 - 200m below the surface, to people who live in our lovely area its difficult to find houses that arn't above mined areas in the past so this is extremely common.
Background to the house it's a 1970's build with a mix of thermalites and clinker blocks on internal skins, a brick external skin with a section at the front that appears to be thermalites with a stone tile veneeclad. The front of the house is South facing and soaks up a lot of sun.
When we moved in I discovered a large crack on the bedroom wall. After hacking off the plaster it showed to go through the Thermalite block vertically, following the mortar line that separated the thermalite block from the blocks used on the built-in flue. This wall is the party wall between us and our joined neighbours, this is the worst crack we found and it measured 3mm at its widest. I haven't yet uploaded this photo as it's on an old phone I need to dig out. We had our family member over who is a builder, who has had a lot of past experience dealing with subsidence and structural issues. His opinion was it was typical of thermalites to crack, the heat from the flue or escaping gases could have caused this and he wouldnt worry about it and to dot and dab over it. He went around the rest of the house to look at my other concerns and said it looks quite typical of 70's build and bonding is losing key and shrinkage cracks in the thermalites could be causing cracks elsewhere and it just looks neglected cosmetically and needs updating.
The floors throughout the house are uneven with gaps between 5-10mm under skirting boards (although these boards look like the original ones). Under the carpet in the living room is vinyl tiles directly over a bitumen like substance. The floor is covered in dents again we were told these were probably from early softness of the bitumen and were from furniture feet sinking in, again apparantly common. The floor as a whole dips down where there was once a fireplace.
We also had a drain survey done of which the company said they werent concerned with any of the drains. The only thing they noted was that the drains were full of gravel that had washed down from the carport roof over the years. They mentioned some displacement of the clay pipes but were not concerned, but surely the displacement could be causing excess water in the ground?
Cracking externally is limited to the south facing front of the house. Below the front window in the mortar I have been monitoring over the last 12 months and has not changed at all. The cracks in the stone veneer mortar seemed to appear last year after we removed the plastebonding from the bedroom, an sds drill with a chisel bit was used to try and speed up the process and weve been told this could be the cause of this. The porch crack in the corner has been on google maps for the past 10 years and judging by a chip out of the brick looks like its been hit by a car in the past, however the hairline stair crack down to it seems to have appeared recently.
None of the rest of my family, partner included are concerned in the slightest. I, on the other hand can't help but worry over it to point it became quite the obsession. My worry has calmed down over the last 6 months but as more and more hairline cracks appear I find myself concerned.
Please see the link to a folder full of photos named with where they are in the house. There are more hairline cracks all over the place but are difficult to photo. I'm at a loss on what to do and need some advice whether this should be investigated more or not. Everyone who has seen first hand seems to think it's normal and others say they have worse in there own homes.

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By utilizing these online resources carefully, you can continue to enjoy My Pizza Story with a replenished stock of Rubies, enhancing your gaming sessions significantly.

Using Gift Card Apps

Another practical way to earn free Rubies in My Pizza Story is through gift card apps. These apps reward you with gift cards for completing various tasks like surveys, watching videos, or even shopping. You can then use these gift cards to purchase Rubies directly in the game. Here are a few legitimate gift card apps that you might find useful:

• Swagbucks: By doing simple tasks such as taking surveys or watching videos, you can earn points that are redeemable for gift cards usable on Google Play or the App Store.
• Google Opinion Rewards: Answer quick surveys from Google to earn Google Play credits, which you can directly use to buy Rubies in My Pizza Story.
• FeaturePoints: With activities like downloading apps, completing offers, and participating in surveys, you earn points that can be exchanged for gift cards.

By dedicating some time to these apps, you can accumulate enough credits to boost your Ruby stash significantly, all at no additional cost.

Contacting Game Developers

A less conventional but potentially rewarding approach is to directly contact the developers of My Pizza Story. Developers often run promotions, contests, or giveaways where you can earn free Rubies just by participating. Here’s how you can engage:

• Follow the official My Pizza Story social media pages to stay updated on contests and events.
• Participate in community and beta testing events where developers might reward you with Rubies for helping them out.
• Send a polite message expressing your enthusiasm for the game; sometimes, developers reward active and passionate community members with in-game bonuses.

Getting involved with the game’s community can not only enhance your playing experience but also increase your chances of scoring free Rubies directly from the developers.
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So, there you have it! Whether you’re utilizing efficient online generators, tapping into the potential of gift card apps, or getting directly in touch with the game developers, there are several ways to enhance your My Pizza Story experience without spending real money.
Dive into these strategies, and watch your Rubies collection grow. Happy gaming!

Are you on the hunt for free coins in Aliens Drive Me Crazy for your Android or iOS device? If yes, then you've landed in the right place! This post is your ultimate guide to scoring those elusive free coins without having to spend a dime. We'll walk you through several tried and tested methods that not only enhance your gaming experience but also keep your wallet happy.
Let’s dive into the world of Aliens Drive Me Crazy and unlock the secrets to acquiring free coins!

Online Generators - Unlimited Coins Hack for Android & iOS

When looking to boost your stash of coins in Aliens Drive Me Crazy, online generators can be a real game-changer. It's understandable to be a bit wary about using such tools; however, some players have found genuine ones that are both effective and secure. These platforms can offer a quick and straightforward way to get your hands on free coins, which is especially great when you’re looking to advance quickly in the game.
For instance, here's a link to a recommended generator that's compatible with both Android and iOS devices. It’s garnered positive feedback from many gamers for its reliability and ease of use.
Check out this popular generator to see if it can help you level up your gameplay.
The perks of using these tools are pretty clear:

• Quick Results: You can obtain a significant amount of coins in just a short amount of time—perfect for when you’re eager to progress in the game.
• User-Friendly: Typically, these generators require only your username and how many coins you want. No complex steps or technical know-how needed!
• Safe to Use: While it's crucial to steer clear of sketchy sites, the trustworthy ones ensure your data isn’t misused and your privacy remains intact. Remember, never share your password.

By taking advantage of such resources, you can enjoy more gameplay without the usual grind or financial investment. Just be sure to choose wisely and use them responsibly!

Utilize Gift Card Apps

Another fantastic way to gather free coins in Aliens Drive Me Crazy is by using gift card apps. These apps allow you to earn gift cards by completing simple tasks like surveys, watching videos, or trying new apps. You can then use these gift cards to purchase in-game coins. Here are a few real apps that you can download and start using today:

• Swagbucks: This app offers a variety of ways to earn points, which you can convert into gift cards for Google Play or the App Store.
• Google Opinion Rewards: Complete quick surveys to earn Google Play credits, which you can directly spend on in-game coins.
• Mistplay: Specifically designed for gamers, Mistplay lets you earn points by playing new games. These points can be exchanged for gift cards to use in your favorite games.

These apps are not only legitimate but also add a bit of fun to the process of earning free in-game currency.

Reach Out to Game Developers

Sometimes, the direct approach can be surprisingly effective. Consider reaching out to the developers of Aliens Drive Me Crazy. Game developers often appreciate feedback and might offer coins or other in-game bonuses as a thank you for your input. You can contact them through their official website or social media channels.
Express your enjoyment of the game and any feedback you might have. Be polite and constructive with your comments—this increases your chances of a positive response. Also, keep an eye on their social media for contests and giveaways where free coins are offered.
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And there you have it! Using online generators, leveraging gift card apps, and contacting the game developers are all viable strategies to help you earn free coins in Aliens Drive Me Crazy. Try these tips out, and you'll see how much more enjoyable your gaming experience can be without spending extra money. Happy gaming!

Ever found yourself running low on caps or wishing you had more postcards in #DRIVE? You're definitely not alone. Caps and postcards can enhance your gameplay experience by unlocking new features and adding excitement. Luckily, there are several legitimate ways to boost your collection without spending a dime, whether you're using Android or iOS.
This post will guide you through some of the best strategies to acquire these items for free, ensuring you get the most out of your game time!

Online Generators - Unlimited Caps and Postcards Hack for Android & iOS

While exploring ways to enhance your #DRIVE gameplay with free caps and postcards, you might come across online generators. These tools can be quite handy, providing you with a quick boost in game resources. For instance, certain trusted generators are designed specifically for #DRIVE and are compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Here is the link for a generator that simply asks for your username and the number of caps or postcards you desire.
It’s quick and user-friendly, often delivering your freebies in just a few minutes. This can save you a lot of time compared to other methods that require much more effort and time investment.
However, it's crucial to use these generators wisely. Although many are reliable and safe, there's always a risk of stumbling upon a less trustworthy site. Always ensure that the generator does not ask for sensitive information like your password. Stick to well-reviewed and community-approved generators to keep your account and personal data secure.
By approaching online generators with caution and common sense, you can safely add to your #DRIVE collection and continue enjoying your game with a few extra perks!

Earning Caps and Postcards through Gift Card Apps

Another fantastic method for earning free caps and postcards in #DRIVE is through gift card apps. These apps reward you with gift cards for completing various tasks, such as answering surveys, watching videos, or trying new apps. You can then use these gift cards to purchase caps and postcards directly in the game. Here are a few reputable gift card apps you might consider:

• Google Opinion Rewards: Complete quick surveys to earn Google Play credits, which you can spend on #DRIVE caps and postcards.
• Swagbucks: Earn points for shopping online, watching videos, or completing surveys. Points can be exchanged for gift cards to major retailers or Google Play credits.
• FeaturePoints: By trying out new apps, taking surveys, and shopping online, you can earn points redeemable for iTunes and Google Play gift cards.

These apps not only offer a legitimate way to gain free game resources but also let you discover new products and give feedback on them.

Reaching Out to Game Developers

Sometimes, the simplest way to get free caps and postcards is to go directly to the source—#DRIVE's developers. Game developers often provide free promotional codes during special events, updates, or through social media contests. Here’s how you can stay connected:

• Follow #DRIVE on Social Media: Keep an eye on their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter pages for any giveaways or contests.
• Sign Up for Newsletters: Occasionally, the developers send out newsletters that may contain free codes or exclusive offers.
• Participate in Community Events: Be active in the game’s community forums and events where developers sometimes reward active participants.

Engaging with the developers not only keeps you updated on the latest game news but also puts you in a good position to receive freebies as they become available.
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That wraps it up! Whether it’s trying out online generators cautiously, using gift card apps, or staying connected with the game’s developers, there are plenty of ways to snag some free caps and postcards for #DRIVE. Give these tips a go, and you’ll be adding to your collection in no time.
Happy gaming!