Ballistic knifes

hello! i (f) recently turned 18 two months ago. and parang ngayon na conscious na ako, i can see yung issues talaga ng mama ko.
i have been diagnosed with depression, severe anxiety, and bipolar ii disorder, along with the eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia. all from last 2022 lang.
i always knew i had a problem na simula noong elementary pa lang. but my mom was dismissive and denial noon.
a short background.
i was an unplanned pregnancy. hindi kasal ang parents ko noon and malala raw yung nareceive na treatment ng mama ko nung nalaman na buntis siya. with what she told us magkakapatid, i can say na she was slut-shamed, lalo na’t ayaw talaga panagutan ng tatay ko.
you can say na marami talaga akong nakukuhang compliments noon regarding my appearance ever since. marami nagka-“crush” and marami rin nan-“ligaw” agad. but of course, mama was always angry at me and i always understood it na protective lang siya. like what she always says. pero dati, napapagbuhatan niya ako ng kamay, sampal, sapak, and sabunot. heck, she even pointed a knife at me noon while saying na “huwag ka muna magbboyfriend! huwag kang pokpok!”. she was also controlling of who i interacted with as my friends, tinatakot niya sila noon and i grew shy as a kid. “bad influence yang mga classmate mo!”. i was 6 years old.
growing up, i grew as someone na very timid and fearful of anyone of opposite sex i see. i started getting anxious around men, including my dad. i was very uncomfortable sa lahat ng lalaki. since ganun ako pinalaki ni mama. maybe dala na rin ng “trauma” niya sa papa ko na talagang hindi naman talaga siya raw ang mahal. he only married her daw because of me who was growing in her womb.
i had my very first serious crush noong grade 3. crush na crush ko siya noon na i even wrote him handwritten letters. then i got my facebook account. we became facebook friends and we talked. pero ayun, of course my mom saw that na i confessed and shit happened. i got all of my toys, books, and even yung pc confiscated noon. “hindi ganyan ang isang matinong babae!”.
of course, i was a good girl dapat sa paningin ni mama. i wanted to please her. i was a consistent academic achiever. pero alam ko na i was also looking for the feeling of kilig. i had a number of crushes turned manliligaws before entering junior high school. lahat nireject ko, because i didn’t want to “hurt” my mom. i tore their handwritten letters and threw all of the roses they gave. pero i had this crush talaga noon, and ako yung nagmmove talaga to pursue him. and guess what, of course nalaman ng mom ko. she was angry, and i got physically, verbally, and emotionally attacked. i started to think na i was a bad daughter for her. she even talked doon sa guy na “huwag daw ako turuan ng masama”. i turned severely anxious since bawat galaw ko tinitignan ni mama. i was starting to doubt yung pagiging “protective” ni mama. i lost my friends because my mom was just “protecting” me from influence. siya na rin nagoopen ng messenger and facebook ko noon na paggising ko blocked na lahat ng classmates na friends ko with last chats from my account, typed by my mom. i started to learn to hide things from my mom.
i grew up being used sa catcalls and harassment. but i learned to hide it din from my mom. dakilang victim blamer din ang mama ko. i admit, i have a large bust and large backside. kaya mahirap talaga na hindi masexualize considering na maraming gagong manyak. i never confided sa mama ko, since kahit nakauniform ako at nabastos ako? sa akin ang sisi. “nagpapaattract ka kasi kaya ka nababastos! pokpok!”.
i entered science high school. high school, marami rin nanligaw. but lahat nireject din, kasi magagalit si mama. lahat din ng friends, kinikilala talaga ni mama. i lost my best friend kasi “maiinfluence” daw ako. never ako pinayagan gumala, until one time pumayag, pero kailangan kasama siya. so i grew as someone na hindi palalabas ng bahay—homebody and sobrang anxious sa social settings. then, as someone na natuto na magtago, i started to “rebel”. nakakasama na ako sa galaan after extracurricular activities na sinalihan ko para hindi lang makauwi agad. i even had my first “almost-boyfriend”. pandemic came, i lost my virginity. he sexually abused me. no one knew. i then started to understand yung sexuality ko. i wanted to explore.
until after pandemic, senior high school came. i was severely depressed and anxious. lagi nasa bahay, grabe anger issues ng nanay, and lack of interaction. totoo pala talaga na no man is an island.
sobrang depressed ko nun and i had to stop for a year pagkabalik ng face to face classes. sa sobrang bad ng nangyari, my school recommended na ipatreat muna ako sa psych. my mom was hesitant kasi “nakakahiya” na may “baliw” siyang anak. but we pushed and nalaman lahat ng nadiagnose. i was so unwell. gusto kong patayin sarili ko, dahil nakakasakal. i thought na yung academic pressure yung nakakasakal pero yung nanay ko mismo pala. people even said na kaya raw ganito kasi “kinukulong” sa bahay.
until kinaya ko na ulit mag-aral. however, i also turned to explore my social network again. i met my so online. we were good and nakapagdates na rin kami noon. my mom never knew. until noong i had chances na to interact sa labas which i assumed freedom. i admit, i was very adventurous and may boundaries na “naoverstep” (as per my mom’s standards). she then knew about us. i was sexually active (but doing it safely, i’m on birth control and using condoms). hinding hindi ko makakalimutan how she went ballistic na wala na raw “tatanggap” sa akin kasi “marumi” na akong babae. it was absolute hell. i was a slut sa paningin ng nanay ko. lahat na, “pokpok”, “gaga”, “pariwara”, at “puta”. everyday ko narinig yan. wala raw kwenta na “matalino” ako kung isa naman akong puta. everyday, sinasapak ako, sinasampal, and even kinakaladkad while sinasabunutan. after nun, my so and i then had to stop our relationship since grabe yung pagiging “paranoid” ng mama ko at siya raw mismo papatay sa akin pag tinuloy ko pa rin yung relationship namin. bantay-sarado ako ngayon. hindi pwede lumabas unless school and gadgets ko chinecheck pa rin. grabe yung paranoia niya na nakakahawa, i feel like i’m back sa shithole na pinagmulan ko before treatment. sobrang paranoid niya na magpapaano na lang daw ako sa mga kung sino-sinong lalaki.
parang nawalan ako ng value kay mama dahil hindi na ako yung “good girl” niya na pure, untouched, at masunurin.
i just want to leave this house. hindi ko alam kung abusive ba talaga si mama or deserve ko lang talaga.
please help me dahil hindi ko na kaya yung torment na nakukuha ko.
edit: my lola (mama’s mother) was also diagnosed with depression. and may link kaya yun sa pagiging genetic ng depression kaya ganito rin siya? she refuses to get psych testing or check up.

First / Previous / Royal Road / Patreon (Read 12 Chapters Ahead)
The two of them stepped off the boat, treading lightly upon the sand underneath their feet. Pale did a quick gear check, making sure both her weapons were fully loaded, before looking back to Kayla and nodding.
"We should be good to go," she announced. "I will likely need some heavier firepower if we are to directly assault wherever they're holding your father, which I presume will be a main camp of some kind. If that's truly the case, then I would expect to see heavy resistance. And this time, I will not be able to pull that same trick with the pod."
"You won't?" Kayla asked, fear creeping into her voice.
Pale shook her head. "I have a limited amount of pods, I cannot afford to sacrifice too many of them. Not to mention, this is supposed to be a rescue mission – I cannot very well rescue a dead man."
Kayla's expression tightened, but she nodded all the same. "Very well…" She cast a glance around, her gaze landing on the nearby forest. "I don't have even the faintest idea of where we're going at this point, Pale."
"Then we're both blind, I guess," Pale surmised. "So be it. We aren't turning back at this point, so might as well pick a direction and start walking."
"Okay… through the trees, then."
Pale nodded, then followed after Kayla as she took up the lead. Together, they both pushed their way through the foliage and underbrush, carefully moving as quietly as they could to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Of course, it only took a few moments for Pale to realize something was very wrong.

"Kayla," she said softly.

"Yes?"

"Listen. What do you hear?"
Kayla's ears perked up. After a moment, she looked at Pale over her shoulder. "Nothing."

"Exactly. I think we may have picked the right direction unintentionally."
"Okay… what do you want to do?"

"Keep advancing," Pale said. "Stick to the treeline. I want to get in close and do some scouting before we push in at night. Once we've gotten a read on what kind of opposition we'll be facing, we fall back, I'll resupply from a pod and switch weapons if need be, and then we'll come back when night falls. Understand?"

"I get it," Kayla confirmed.
"Good. Keep moving, let's hurry up and end this."

With their plan now set, both girls continued moving through the forest. Eventually, they reached the edge of the treeline, and from there, they were both able to see a large camp made up of log longhouses and tents. Several large fire pits had been dug across the camp, upon which hunks of meat were roasting. And through it all, people milled about – men, women, and children dressed in thick furs to insulate them from the winter chill. All the men and some of the women had bladed or blunt weapons on them, while a rare few were dressed in thicker furs or robes and did not carry large weapons, signifying them as mages.
"I count at least a hundred," Pale confirmed.
Kayla blanched at that number. "A hundred…? How are we supposed to deal with that kind of opposition?!"
"Easy," Pale urged. "A fair few of that number are children – not harmless, but nowhere as dangerous as the adults are. If we're going by just the combat-ready adults, then that number seems to be more like seventy. Still a lot, but not insurmountable." She looked around the camp, a frown crossing her face. "Where is the warrior-king?"
"Sven? I don't know. I would guess that his home is the largest and most ornate one in the back, however."

"Probably a safe bet…" Pale turned towards the house, but there was no activity around it; it didn't appear as if anyone was home, at least from what she could see. After a moment, she turned back to Kayla. "What do you think?"
"I think we're going to have to be careful."
"That's an understatement. This is extremely dangerous, Kayla. Now, I have no problem doing this, but you-"
"Stop," she said firmly. "I'm with you, Pale. I'm not letting you go in there by yourself."
"Somehow, I knew you'd say that." Pale shrugged. "Very well, then. I may have an idea."

"Let's hear it."
She began to gesture, pointing around the camp. "The back part seems relatively unguarded, for some reason; it's likely they aren't expecting any kind of attack on their home territory like this. I say we wait until nightfall, then sneak in and start silently eliminating anyone who gets in our way. Don't worry," she added, noticing Kayla's disdainful expression, "I'll do the dirty work there. Anyway, once we get in the camp, all we need to do is find where they're holding the slaves, get your father, and then get out."

"And the others?"
"I'm still working on that, but rest assured, we are not leaving them there," Pale insisted. "Does that sound good to you?"
Slowly, Kayla nodded. "I think that's the best we're going to get… okay, what do you need from me?"

"Come with me," Pale said. "We're going back to the beach; something tells me my current weapon isn't going to be sufficient for what we have planned."

"You're going to call down a pod?" Kayla asked as the two of them began to double back. "Won't that attract attention?"
"That's exactly what I'm counting on, actually," was all Pale had to say.
Several minutes later, and they were back on the beach. Pale wasted no time in calling down a pod; the moment it touched the ground, she threw open the door and swapped out her shotgun for a new weapon, a semi-automatic .308-caliber battle rifle with a suppressor and low-power scope, plus a new chest rig filled with enough spare ammunition to kill the entire camp three times over. Just as well, she also grabbed a suppressor for her .45-caliber pistol.
As soon as she'd armed herself, Pale sent the pod back into the atmosphere, then motioned for Kayla to follow her back to the foliage. They both double-timed it to the forest, and then hunkered down and waited. Sure enough, just like Pale expected, several bandits emerged from another part of the forest closer to the beach, weapons already drawn and at the ready. They all congregated around the newly-formed blackened crater in the sand, looking around for what could have caused it.
The moment Pale was convinced everyone in the group was there, she spun out from behind cover, her rifle barking. Shot after shot came pouring out of the end of its barrel, coming as fast as she could pull the trigger; five bandits had come to investigate the noise, and in a matter of seconds, all five were lying on the sand, blood and gray matter congealing beneath their heads as their eyes stared lifelessly at the skies above.
Pale dropped her newly-empty magazine and replaced it with a fresh one, then smacked the bolt release to chamber a round as she advanced, sweeping the area. Once she was confident it was clear, she lowered her rifle, then motioned with her head for Kayla to come out.
"Should be safe," she announced.
Tentatively, Kayla stepped out from behind cover, doing her best not to look at the five men Pale had just killed. "W-won't they come looking for those guys?"

"They will, but we'll be long gone by that point. Follow me; looks like night is about to fall."

Kayla nodded, then the two of them began to head for the forest once more, Pale leading the way slightly, the stock of her weapon firmly tucked into her shoulder as she moved. By the time they got back to the bandit camp, the sun had already started to set, but to Pale's surprise, there was hardly anyone on the outskirts. Confused, she looked around, before a large commotion near the warrior-king's home caught her attention. She peered through her weapon's scope, watching as a crowd gathered around it.
"What's going on?" Kayla asked, trying to peer out from around her.
"No idea," Pale said, continuing to stare down her scope. "Wait, hang on – something's happening…"
As she watched, a large man dressed in far more ornate furs than the others stepped through the crowd, all the people parting to allow him passage. This had to be Sven Greymane, she realized, if only because of the respect the other bandits were showing to him. He was big, standing just under seven feet tall, and was very well-muscled; coupled with a head of flowing blonde hair, steely blue eyes, and a jawline that looked like it was carved from stone, and he looked every bit the part of a royal.
He moved to the front of the crowd and held up a hand, and everyone present fell silent. Pale was tempted to put a bullet through his head then and there, but she held herself back – he wasn't the mission, Kayla's father was, and she couldn't risk compromising their position just yet. And besides that, they still needed answers from Sven with regards to the letter they'd pulled from the bandits who assault Evie's caravan.
Reluctantly, Pale kept herself from squeezing the trigger, instead listening in as Sven cleared his throat and began to address the crowd, his voice loud enough to carry even over to their hiding spot.
"My people, it would seem we have underestimated the enemy," he announced. "I am afraid to say that the five men we sent to investigate the beach earlier have not yet returned. I can only assume this means they are dead."
A few women in the crowd suddenly began to wail, but Sven silenced them with a wave of his hand. "Fear not; they shall all be avenged, and soon at that."
A wicked grin cracked his face, and he turned towards the forest. "I know you are out there, listening to me. I must say, it's very brave of you to have come all this way. It will make killing you all the more sweet."
"How does he-" Kayla began, only for Pale to shake her head.

"He's trying to draw us out," Pale whispered. "Don't fall for it."

"Ah, but what made you come this far, I wonder?" Sven mused. "It can't have merely been that you wish to take revenge for something we have done to you. What, then? Hm… perhaps we have someone close to you?"
Pale's eyes narrowed, and her grip on her rifle turned white-knuckled. Meanwhile, Sven's grin widened.

"Yes, I suppose that would make sense," he said, nodding to himself. "But let's test that theory, shall we?"

He motioned to someone behind him, and as Pale and Kayla watched, two bandits brought forth a struggling woman, her hands bound behind her back. She was dressed in little more than loose rags, and her body was covered In cuts and bruises; her hair was bedraggled and frayed, and tears trailed down her cheeks as she sobbed in fear. The two bandits forced her to her knees, even as she tried to resist, but it was no use.

Before Pale could do anything, Sven drew a dagger and thrust it into her throat, then roughly tore it outwards. Pale grit her teeth as she watched the woman gasp and sputter and thrash on the ground, blood gushing from her wound, before she finally fell still a few seconds later.
Once she was dead, Sven wiped his knife off on her ragged clothing, then motioned for the bandits to take her body away.
"Must not have been someone you cared about," Sven mused. "Not to worry, though – you killed five of my men, and as luck would have it, we had five slaves left. There are still four more to go through; perhaps eventually we'll get to someone you do care about, hm?"

He snapped his fingers, and the same bandits from before brought forth another prisoner. Kayla's gasp told Pale everything she needed to know about who it was, even before she saw the wolf ears and tail on him. That was more than enough for her.

As Sven began to march towards Kayla's father, Pale took aim at him and fired, dumping the entire twenty-round magazine into his torso. Sven flinched as the rounds made impact, but otherwise showed no indication that he'd even been struck. Slowly, he turned towards the forest as Pale's gun clicked empty, his manic grin widening.

"So you finally show yourselves," he announced. "This just got interesting."
He snapped his fingers, and as one, the bandits began to surge towards them, a deafening war cry filling the air around them as they rushed.
Special thanks to my good friend and co-writer, Ickbard for the help with writing this story.

tldr: Elemental damage post and why arc damage feels underused and more risk than reward, and a solution could be an arc stun mechanic
First real rant post here, but I wanna talk about how the different elements of damage have different effects on the two factions (three if you count your friends). These elements feel very strong in the places they belong, but arc damage is in a strange limbo where it’s not very good against either faction, but stupidly strong against your own divers…
Fire damage (finally fixed) is perfect for bugs due to the way bugs spawn, the AMOUNT of bugs that spawn, and their lack of heavy armor across the board (with only a single exception)
Breaker Incendiary? Perfect chaff clear and swarm muncher. For only a few sprays of cayenne pepper, you get a 10 kill streak.
Impact incendiary? Throw one (1) of these on an open bug breach, and watch them pop like popcorn. Bug breach lasting too long? Throw another! Flank getting breached by hunters? Throw one in the path! And due to it still dealing impact damage, it can close holes! Very versatile.
Flamethrower? Makes every bug except the Bile Titan it’s BITCH. Medium enemies? Gone. Brooders? Their wide bodies SPREAD the fire cone. Chargers? Aim for one leg, gone in 5 seconds.
Eagle Napalm? More fire, larger area, impact damage, closes holes, it’s like a cluster of incendiary grenades! Fun as hell!
Now regarding lasers, there’s only three things these weapons excel at: precision, rapid dps with no falloff range (I think) and ammo economy. Three things that are EXTREMELY useful agaisnt the Bots.
LAS Scythe? Baby’s first laser weapon, an opener to what lasers can do for the accurate player, and helps train players for the TRUE laser weapon…
Laser Cannon? The Swiss Army knife against the bots. Devastators? Devastated. Hulks? Make em blind. Tanks? Focus those vents. Gunships? One engine, one dead ship. Cannon tower? Vents. Factory Strider? Munch the miniguns in seconds, finish the eye vent in a few more.
LAS Sickle? A preem primary. Great impact, great damage, as long as you ease off the lead trigger, it’ll do its job, but don’t be afraid to load a new sink!
LAS Dagger? Not the ideal tool for the job, but one handed, accurate, a fine choice with a ballistic shield!
Quasar Cannon? It’s speaks for itself.
Orbital laser? This is kinda unfair lol, it’s great against both factions.
But then comes the arc weapons, of which there are only two, plus one borderline insane turret.
Blitzer shotgun? Too slow, too little damage, great impact, but not an ideal primary damage dealer. Better against bugs if anything.
Arc Thrower? Much better damage, exceptionally good at crowd control, but takes its sweet time with heavier targets and can miss at certain ranges (or if a corpse is in the way) Likely bugged like fire damage was.
The fuckin Arc Tower. You’re not safe if this is on the field. The crowd control is very strong on it, but the risk is FAR too great to use.
So what would be a fix to make Arc weapons more useful? Three things imo: a stun mechanic, the INABILITY to arc damage teammates, and a rework of the Arc passive (secret fourth thing at the end)
Stun. A brief stun like a stun grenade provides. Makes the weapon more like a tool for other weapons. Arc thrower combined with a grenade? Stun a crowd and blow em all up. Blitzer with a Heavy weapon? Stun a target, mow em down. Arc Tower? LOCKDOWN a location.
The inability for arcs to hit teammates may be too broken, but what if we just took way less damage from it by default? Sure you’ll still wanna avoid getting hit, but at least it’s more funny to get flung away instead of instantly dying.
Then what about the arc passive? Simple: make it have arc weapons arc to more targets and stun enemies longer. True arc build time.
Secret fourth thing? Arc pistol and Arc cannon. One has negligible damage and stuns as a backup, the other deals more damage an penetrates armor, doesn’t arc and instead pierces, and takes longer to fire. Cool as fuck.
That’s all I gotta say about it

I was thinking about prismatic and what kind of builds I might be able to use starting next Tuesday. I’m a Titan main and the knockout/diamond lance combo caught my eye. Why? Because frozen targets take DOUBLE melee damage. Naturally, I speculated that thunderclap, knockout, and diamond lance would be a force to be reckoned with. Turns out I was wrong and that build idea died in the crib because thunderclap doesn’t benefit from striking frozen targets. This struck me as odd so I did some testing and what I found initially confused me:
Titan melees:

• Thunderclap: no
• Hammer: no
• Consecration: no
• Shoulder charges: yes
• Ballistic Slam: yes
• Frenzied blade: yes
• Flechette storm: no
• Shiver strike: yes
• Shield throw: no

Titan exotics:

• Peregrine greaves: no
• Synthoceps: yes (?)
• Wormgod Caress: yes (?)

(not sure for these two though since this conflicts with prior knowledge. Testing was done in a lost sector but I made sure I didn’t have the unstable essence buff)
Hunter melees:

• Weighted knife: yes
• Knife trick: yes
• Proximity knife: yes
• Lightweight knife: yes
• Threaded spike: no
• Snare bomb: no
• Combination blow: yes
• Disorienting blow: yes
• Tempest strike: no
• Withering blade: no

Hunter exotics:

• Athrys’ Embrace: yes
• Khepris sting/monte Carlo/frozen target: yes
• Liars Handshake: yes (?) (need to retest)

Warlock Melees:

• Celestial fire: no
• Incinerator snap: no
• Pocket singularity: no
• Penumbral blast: no
• Chain lightning: yes (but unreliable)
• Ball lightning: no
• Lightning surge: no
• Arcane needle: no

Warlock exotics:

• Winters guile: yes (see wormgod)

Conclusion:
From the above, we see that frozen targets only seem to take extra damage from non-ranged melee abilities. However, there’s one glaring exception to this: HUNTER KNIVES
Why would they be the exception? It makes no sense at all. Surely it can’t be because gunslinger has no non-ranged melee options because poor warlocks don’t get to have much fun at all with this interaction. So what’s the reason? It’s a little annoying to be honest. Every other subclass in the game has to abide by this arbitrary constraint but gunslinger just magically sidesteps it? Even with Athrys’ embrace which further increases knife damage 2x? Why can’t all ranged melee abilities do this?
To be completely honest, the rules for this are a little unclear and it’s probably not known by many players in the first place. I think Bungie should consider making this more clear in the game.

WEAPONS: AA/E/15R Fixer, AA/E/15V Fixer, B/25/15V Fixer, TS/E/15R Fixer, B/E/90 Fixer, EXE/E/15R Fixer (2), JUG/25/25 Fixer, V/E/90 Fixer, TS/50/15R Fixer (2), TS/25/90 Fixer, B25/15R Fixer, B/E/250 Fixer, AA/HIT/15R Fixer, JUG/50H/25 Fixer, Q/HIT/15R Fixer, V/25/AGI Fixer, V/25/50DR Fixer, TS/25/PER Fixer, Q/50H/PER Fixer, V/E/25 Railway, TS/25/15R Railway, EXE/E/25 Railway, EXE/25/25 Railway, TS/50/25 Railway, Q/50L/15R Railway, Q/50B/15V Railway, Q/50L/90 Railway, AA/25/Dur Railway, I/25/25 Railway, J/25/15R Railway, GOUE/25 Railway, F/50/25 Railway, ARI/50/25 Railway, A/50/25 Railway, TS/E/50DR Handmade, EXE/25/25 Assault, TS/E/90 Assault, F/25/25 Plasma, B/E/90 Lever, JUG/E/25 Lever, Q/E/15R Pipe, AA/25/15V Minigun, B/E/50DR Minigun, V/25/AGI Gatlaser, AA/50/15R Lmg, B/HIT/250 50cal, JUG/E/90 Gatling, V/STE/15B Chainsaw, JUG/40P/S Drill, V/SS/90 Deathclaw, AA/SS/15B Deathclaw.
ARMOR: Hellcat Power Armor Chassis (tradable), Father Winter Helmet (tradable), BOL/END/WWR Ultracite Left Leg, BOL/1STWWR Ultracite Left Leg, BOL/RAD/SENT T-60 Right Arm, UNY/RAD/SENT Combat Left Leg.
NEW PLANS (alphabetical order): Alien Head Lamp, Alien Table (2), Assault Rifle Wraith's Wrath Paint (4), Bloody Rug (6), Chainsaw Ghostly Grinder Paint, Chainsaw Skeptikill Paint (9), Cultist Adept Hood (5), Cultist Adept Robes (4), Cultist Enlightened Hood (7), Cultist Enlightened Robes (6), Cultist Eventide Hood (9), Cultist Eventide Robes, Cultist Incarnate Helmet (3), Cultist Neophyte Hood (3), Cultist Neophyte Robes (5), Dried Wildflower Bouquet (3), Enlightened Lantern (8), Executioner Mask (2), Fluttering Moths (6), Fossilized Megalonyx Left Arm, Fossilized Megalonyx Left Leg, Fossilized Megalonyx Right Arm, Fossilized Megalonyx Right Leg, Fossilized Megalonyx Torso, Fuzzy Enlightened Plushie (3), Fuzzy Mothman Plushie (8), Giant Red Dinosaur (2), Glowing Flatwoods Monster Lamp, Ground Meat Plushie (2), Hazmat Suit - Teal (3), Herdsman’s Bell, Honeycomb Paper Blue Mothman (8), Honeycomb Paper Brown Mothman (6), Honeycomb Paper Ghost Lantern A (4), Honeycomb Paper Ghost Lantern B (2), Honeycomb Paper Green Mothman (9), Honeycomb Paper Holiday Tree A (2), Honeycomb Paper Holiday Tree B (3), Honeycomb Paper Icy Snowflake (6), Honeycomb Paper Jack-o'Lantern A (5), Honeycomb Paper Jack-o'Lantern B (3), Honeycomb Paper Jolly Target, Honeycomb Paper Mothman Globe (8), Honeycomb Paper Red Mothman (6), Honeycomb Paper Ribbon Bell, Honeycomb Paper Snowman (2), Honeycomb Paper Spider Lantern (6), Mutant Hound Diagram, Nuka Shank Knife Skin, Peppino Pig Plushie, Plastiform Gingerbread (5), Plastiform Nutcracker (4), Plastiform Santa, Punty Pig Plushie (3), Rad Skull Rider Helmet (3), Rotted Rib Plushie, Rotted Steak Plushie, Sacred Mothman Tome (8), Scorchbeast Queen Beer Stein (7), Star Light (3), Steak Plushie (2), Super Mutant Diagram (3), Taxidermy Mutant Hound, Wasteland Hunter Backpack, Weenie Wagon, Wilber McPigg Plushie.
OLDER PLANS (alphabetical order): Alien Blaster (2), Alien Blaster Cryo Mag (3), Alien Blaster Poison Mag (3), Alien Corpse Operating Bed (3), Alien Disintegrator (2), Alien Disintegrator Automatic Receiver (2), Alien Disintegrator Cryo Receiver (2), Alien Jack O’Lantern (3), Alien Stash Box (3), Alien Tube (5), Antique Globe of Mars (3), Asteroid (3), Bos Officer Uniform (4), Boss Soldier Uniform (2), Barbed Walking Cane (2), Barbed Wire Fences (2), Bear Arm, Bear Arm Heavy Mod (3), Bear Arm Puncturing Mod (2), Bed of Nails (2), Behemoth Boss Plushie (2), Blue Devil Curtain Door (3), Blue Devil Outfit (3), Blue Devil Pelt Hood (3), Blue Devil Statue (2), Blue Ridge Rug, Blue Ridge Scout Outfit, Bos Medallion, Bottle Bot (4), Bottle and Cappy Balloon Statue, Bottle and Cappy Hoop Jump Statue, Bottle and Cappy Painting Statue (5), Bottle and Cappy Walking Globle Statue (3), Bottle Plush, Brahmin Backpack (3), Brahmin Grill, Brahmin Plushie (2), Brahmin Skin Rug (2), Burning Sheepsquatch Club, Canopy Tent (3), Cappy & Bottle Cowboy Cutouts (2), Cappy Clapper (3), Cappy Smashed Super Sledge Pain (4), Cartography Table, Chally the Moo-Moo Backpack (2), Circus Bench (2), Circus Cage Trailer, Circus Cube (2), Circus Seesaw, Circus Stilts (3), Circus Walking Globe (5), Civil War Era Suit (2), Civil War Era Top Hat (2), Classic Jack O’Lantern (2), Condemned Notification Sign (2), Confederate Hat, Costume Witch Hat (2), Crowd Bench Seats, Cryogenic Bed (5), Cryptid Hunter Boonie Hat (3), Cryptid Mobile, Cuckoo Clock, Cultist Backpack (4), Cupid Cappy Sign (6), Deathclaw Gauntlet Extra Claw (2), Decoy Ducks (2), Deputy’s Hat (3), Electrified Assaultron Blade, Evil Jack O’Lantern (2), Electrified Sheepsquatch Club, Electrified Shepherd’s Crook, Electro Enforcer (2), Flamethrower Trap, Freezing Electro Enforcer (2), Full Pumpkin Rack (2), Getaway Wagon, Glass Covered Sheperd's Crook, Gorilla Chair, Grim Reaper Vault-Boy Cutout (4), Grocery Cart Grill (2), Gulper Head (5), Gulper Rug (3), Half Empty Pumpkin Rack (2), Half Full Pumpkin Rack (3), Halloween Skull Mask, Happy Jack O’Lantern (3), Hula Hoop, Human Tube 1 (5), Human Tube 2 (5), Insurgent Hat, Insurgent Outfit (3), Kids Brahmin Clock (3), Large Ultracite Shard (3), Marine Armor Helmet, Marine Tactical Helmet, Marine Wetsuit (2), Meat Cleaver, Milkman Hat (3), Milkman Outfit (2), Mirelurk King tube, Mobster Jack O’Lantern (3), Molerat Wind Chime (2), Mounted Blue Devil Head (2), Mounted Ogua Head (2), Musket Stack Monument (6), Nuka Cola Bottle Kiosk (3), Nuka Girl Area Rug (5), Nuka Launcher Model (3), Nuka Launcher Posters (2), Nuka Launcher Snow Globe (2), Nuka-Cade Poster (4), Nuka-Cola Ad Barrier (3), Nuka-Cola Balloons, Nuka-Cola Clock (4), Nuka-Cola Crate Stalls (3), Nuka-Stool, Nuka-World Cowboy Duster, Nuka-World Cowboy Hat (3), Ogua Curtain Door (3), Ogua Egg (3), Ogua Hunter Hood (2), Ogua Hunter Outfit (2), Ogua Plushie (2), Ogua Shell Backpack (3), Overcharged Electro Enforcer (4), Paddock Gate (3), Pepper Shaker, Pink Brahmin Plushie, Pioneer Scout Bowie knife Paint (3), Plasma Gun True Flamer Barrel, Plastic Fruit Bowl, Plastic Fruit Wreath, Poisoned Electro Enforcer (2), Practice Jack O’Lantern, Princess Castle Pink Sleeping Bag (2), Protective Lining Raider Underarmor, Pumpkin Rack, Radioactive Barrel (3), Red Rocket Gas Pump Wall Light (3), Red Rocket Gas Station Lamp (5), Red Truck Ceiling Light (4), Replica Gronak’s Axe, Rust Eagle Banner (6), Safari Crocolossus Backpack, Safari Gorilla Backpack (2), Salty Tenderizer Mod, Sheepsquatch Staff, Shielded Lining BoS Underarmor (5), Shielded Lining Marine Underarmor, Shielded Lining Raider Underarmor (2), Sitting Gorilla (5), Skeleton Costume (2), Skiing Outfit, Small Vault Girl Statue, Spear, Spicy Tenderizer Mod (2), Spiked Electro Enforcer, Spiked Shepherd’s Crook (3), Spin the Wheel Ornament, Spin the Wheel Snow Globe, Standing Gorilla (4), Strongman’s Super Sledge Paint, Surprised Jack O’Lantern (3), Tattered Curtains (5), The Fixer (5), Titan Plushie (2), Tomb Stones, Toothed Shepherd's Crook, Treasure Hunter Outfit Hat, Truckbed Trailer with Junk (2), Tunnel of Love Poster (3), Tunnel of Love Snow Globe (6), Ultracite Emergency Protocols, Ultracite Overdrive Servos, Vault Boy Jack O’Lantern (3), Vault Door Jack O’Lantern (3), Vault-Tec Jack O’Lantern (3), Vintage Water Cooler, Wall Mounted Fan (5), Wild West, Show Posters (3), Witch Costume (2).
RECIPES (alphabetical order): Caramel Mutfruit, Cranberry Moonshine, Cutting Fluid (3), Disease Cure (Savage Divide), Fasnacht Donut, Fasnacht Sausage, Formula P, Gulper Stuffed Foot (2), Healing Salve (Mire), Lead Champagne Bellini, Nuka-Cola Dark, Pickaxe Pilsner, Stimpak Diffuser (3), Tato Salad, White Russian.
WANT: Adhesive, Aluminum, Asbestos, Ballistic fiber, Ceramic, Coal, Concrete, Copper, Cork, Crystal, Fiber optics, Flux: Cobalt/Fluro/Yellow/Violet/Crimson, Gold, Gears, Nuclear waste, Oil, Silver, Springs, Ultracite, Leader Bobbleheads, Backwoodsman 6, Rare Apparel, Enclave Forceful Stock Mods.
CAPS VALUE PER EACH (for reference): Adhesive 5, Aluminum 3, Asbestos 2, Ballistic fiber 7, Ceramic 2, Coal 1, Concrete 1, Copper 4, Cork 1, Circuits 3, Crystal 3, Fiber optics 7, Fiberglass 1, Flux: Cobalt/Fluro/Yellow/Violet/Crimson 100, Gold 4, Gears 4, Screws 3, Nuclear waste 1, Oil 5, Silver 4, Springs 5, Anticeptic 2, Ultracite 7, Leaders 500, Backwoodsman6 500. Shoot me an offer :)

As the title says, my brother is on the spectrum (high functioning tho) and got in a fight with my dad while he was drunk over the fact that he lost another job because he was too drunk to come in. Apparently things escalated and my brother was scared so he pulled out a knife for self defense. Of course my dad went ballistic and called the cops on him. I'm 6 hours away so I can't physically be there for my brother. The only one who can is my grandma who is still mourning the loss of my grandpa. She picked up my brother and he stayed at her place for a few days. Just today they went back to our parents house to pick up more stuff and my dad called me to tell me to call my Grandma to tell her that if she doesn't leave the house he'll call the cops. It absolutely shattered my heart to have to say that to her and I'm holding back tears thinking about both her and my brother. I'm so beyond stressed, I can barely take care of myself and then I have to worry about bs caused by dad almost every month. The cops have been called multiple times, he has driven drunk (and wrecked 2 cars), and he still refuses to get help. I don't know what to do anymore I just want this all to end

This thing is badass and a monster of a knife. You can tell it's modeled after a fighter plane. The only reason it won't stick around is cause it ended up being WAY too big for me ( 9.5'' I think ). I'm the 3rd owner but has been carried sparsely the only wear is a few hairline scratches on the end of the clip. Otherwise, the knife is spotless. The detent is ballistic, falls shut, centered, no rock, no play, solid lockup. M398 Blade, Zirconium backspacer, Zircuti clip, and collars. Comes with all original packaging.
Timestamp/photos: https://imgur.com/a/lZG0PQG
Video Overview: https://imgur.com/a/XHpXYuv
CKF Sukhoi 4 ( M398 )
SV $425 SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD
NOT looking for trades at the moment. payment by way of paypal Friends and Family only, YOLO is king and DM for any further clarification or photos, thanks!

The SUV rolled up a little after 1:00 in the morning. I remember because I had just docked my wireless headset on its charger, leaving open the Valorant main screen on my computer, when I headed downstairs to grab a drink. After I popped a can of Fanta Strawberry and downed a few swigs, I glimpsed the time on the oven's clock and saw it was 1:01. I had work the next day, but luckily my tech job allowed me to make my own hours so long as I submitted my commitments on time. Still, it was getting late, and I was ready to get some shut eye.
To give you some context (since I realize my routine may come across as somewhat foreign), I'm a 25 year old man living alone in a two-story house off in suburbia, but close enough to a major city to land a high paying, work-from-home tech job. You may be wondering (1) how I could afford a down-payment on a house at my young age, and (2) why I would opt to take on a mortgage over paying rent, even if I could afford it. The short answer to (1) is I got very lucky in the stock market around 2020 / 2021. As for (2), there's kind of a few answers. First, rent has gone up. And I mean way up around where I work. Of course, at the time I bought my house (late 2021), the moratorium on rent had only recently lifted in the US, and rents weren't quite skyrocketing yet, but I saw the writing on the wall. I used a large chunk of the money I had saved and put a down-payment on a house I felt was reasonably priced and locked in a sub 3% interest rate literally 2 months before they started to increase.
The other reason(s) I chose this neighborhood specifically was because of the community. We had an HOA (Homeowners Association) that granted certain benefits like public amenities and armed security patrols that made me feel somewhat safe—or at least in principle they made me feel like the other members of my community valued peace and order. And most of my neighbors were also young or middle aged and worked in tech (only most of them had spouses or full on families). Still, to give you an idea how close knit we were, around a quarter of the households in our village were active in several discord communities that we made for the purpose of communicating with one another. We further striated the chat groups into specific cul-de-sacs, of which mine, called "Sac 3", contained all but one adult from our 7-house semicircle.
I was just starting to climb the stairs back to my room when I heard music playing outside. There had been a party at the Rec Center between Sac 4 and Sac 5 earlier that evening, and since the little parking lot in front of it only had a 15-car carrying capacity, our two-way road had basically become a one-way from all the vehicles parked roadside. I figured it might be possible there were just some tipsy stragglers who were taking the party home with them, but two things made me think otherwise. First, our HOA enforced a strict midnight curfew on the use of the Rec Center, so unless the stragglers had been hosting an afterparty tailgate in the middle of the road at 1 AM, it probably wasn't stragglers. And two, the music wasn't normal music. It was… circus music. At least that's the best way I can describe it. The music had that bumpy percussion-line bass with exotic whistling winds and upbeat chimes which combined to create a tune that was at once nostalgic and ominous.
I turned back from the stairs and maneuvered to the window, poking at one of the blinds. Some small part of me actually thought I might see some broken down Cirque Du Soleil bus, replete with smoking clowns and shapely trapezists. Instead, I felt something grab my heart when I looked out at a completely empty side-street, and a single, lone black SUV parked in the center of our large, circular dead-end. I must have stared at the vehicle for an entire minute, conjuring scenarios of what could possibly possess someone to park in the middle of a random middle-class neighborhood in the dead of night with no headlights, no brake lights, just idling there, and playing some creepy ass clown music loud enough to alert the entire cul-de-sac to its presence.
I figured it couldn't be anything good, but just as I was readying to go back upstairs and grab my phone to call security, I saw a few shadowy forms emerge from a line of conifer trees about forty meters from my house. As they approached, I noticed they were a group of teenagers: two boys and a girl. They seemed to be in high spirits, with one of the guys pushing the other one playfully, then the girl responding with a scolding gesture. The three teens burst out laughing, all the while continuing toward the SUV.
My house is located in the middle of the cul-de-sac pack, and the SUV was turned so the driver's side door was perpendicular to my house. I bring this up so it makes sense when I say that I didn't see the teens get into the vehicle directly; instead, I merely heard the sound of the side-door latch clicking open, then the door slamming shut a few seconds later. During that space of time, a bluish-green light poured out from what I assumed were LEDs or Christmas lights set up inside the vehicle. I waited a few seconds, and when the teens didn't emerge from the other side, I sighed and let the blind fall shut.
At that point, I thought I had it all figured out. A group of High Schoolers were out late at night doing some ding dong ditching or playing some kind of game and simply didn't care about the fact that everyone else was trying to sleep. Fair enough. I was a kid once. Well, I suppose in a way I still was, but I was also a homeowner… and a worker. And I needed to sleep.
I took the half-drank can of Fanta with me upstairs and closed the door to my bedroom. The only light was the one emitting from my monitor which was still on the Valorant homescreen. I took another sip, then clicked out of the game and was about to turn off the PC when I realized the circus music was still playing. Surely they had left by now, right? Right?
I padded the distance to my window which overlooked the cul-de-sac and scouted for the SUV. Sure enough, it was still there. I groaned, realizing this would become something more than just a minor inconvenience. Then I saw one of my neighbor's living room lights turn on. It was Kevin and Stacy's house.
The Discord, I thought and hurried back to my computer, opening the website and signing in. I clicked into the "Sac 3" group and saw four unread messages. Before I read through them, I slid my headphones on and shuffled my Lindsey Sterline playlist—anything to drown out the creepy circus music.
\Note that legal names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.*
Kev (Pilot): Hey, anyone up?
Clark: I am.
Kev (Pilot): You see that van outside?
Burnette House: Just woke up. What's that music?
Clark is typing…
Clark: Yeah. Did you see those people get inside?
Kev (Pilot): What people?
I reached out and began to type.
Me: Hi everyone. I guess we're all up now. Kev, there were three teens that just got into the back of the SUV. I thought it would leave, but it seems that's not the case.
Clark: Yeah, three teens and that other guy.
I hesitated. Other guy? I had been watching the SUV almost non-stop since it arrived, or at least I thought I'd been…
Me: Clark, when did you see another guy get in?
Clark: A while ago. I first saw the SUV around 12:45, but the music was already playing for like two or three minutes before I checked, so it probably rolled up even before that.
Me: Okay, that makes sense. This guy, a man I'm guessing, did you see what he looked like?
Clark: Not really. I saw him a bit when he passed by the streetlamps, but he was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, so I couldn't see his face. (Assuming a man but you never know)
Kev (Pilot): So you're saying that there's some hooded person and three teenagers in the back of that van?
Clark: Yeah, I guess so.
Burnette House: Okay, I see the SUV now. If Clark's right, it's been there for over thirty minutes. I'm going to call security. It's Wednesday so Rob should be the overnighter. He'll deal with it.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Lisa and I are here. I think calling security is a good idea. Let us know what they say, Mark.
I got up and walked back over to the window. All of my neighbor's lights were on now except for Clark's house—which was located at the end of the cul-de-sac, closest to the main road—and the Vanderbilt house which was two down from me on the right, opposite Clark. It made sense for Clark's house to be quiet. He was a twenty year old Community College student who lived with his grandmother. He moved in with her when his parents died in a car wreck a few years back, and his siblings, a little older, had already moved out. He was a sweet guy, and the youngest in the groupchat. But the Vanderbilts… Rachel and Tom had six-year-old twins, Clayton and Lucy, who I'm sure would have woken up by now. It was surprising they weren't online yet. I went back to check the messages.
M&J: We're up now. Has this music got anyone else spooked?
Stacy (Pilot's Wife): Definitely. I've never liked the Bee Gees.
Bee Gees? I took off my headset and listened. It only took a few seconds for my ears to adapt once again to the circus music that was playing through the airwaves.
Me: Don't you mean circus music? I hear a whole marching band out there.
Clark: To me it sounds like creepy Lofi music.
Lisa Jones: It sounds like some kind of shamanic tribe music to me.
Burnette House: Bad news. I can't reach security. I let the line ring for two minutes and decided to cut it. I don't know if Rob's sleeping on the job or what, but it seems like we're not going to be getting any help from security.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Damn it. Well, I guess we'll just have to call the cops. This whole thing is really starting to piss me off.
I grabbed the Fanta can and downed the rest of it, then leaned all the way back in my gaming chair so I was staring up at my ceiling. None of this was making any sense, and the situation was developing too fast to process it. A hooded figure and three teenagers… Could it be a drug plug? I guess, but why idle in the middle of a cul-de-sac? Why play the music? And why did the others claim to not be hearing circus music? I could understand if they mistook it for something similar—but lofi and tribal music? That had the completely wrong mood and cadence and instrument grouping. I crushed the can in my left hand, then heard the Discord AI announce, "HSS Tom is typing" followed by ping. When I adjusted my seat upright, the same notification went off two more times in quick succession.
HSS Tom: Guys pleas help
HSS Tom: Rachel is confused
HSS Tom: She's trying to leave
I sprung from my chair and ran back to the window. The Vanderbilt's house was now fully illuminated. I saw the moment their front door opened and Rachel stepped out in her nightgown, holding the hands of Clay and Lucy who were wearing matching purple and pink footie pajamas. Tom was yelling, not out of anger, but out of fear and confusion. "Where are you going!? Rachel, answer me! Where are you taking the kids? It isn't safe out there!" But Rachel continued her march, swinging her kids arms as if they were on their way to an amusement park. She turned and asked them something, to which the kids both responded, "Yeah!" in unison, their little bodies rocking with the force of their eagerness. Tom chased them out, stepping in front of them again and again, but Rachel, holding tightly onto the kids hands, just kept navigating around him.
It suddenly dawned on me how useless I was being. I grabbed my phone off the desk then sprinted downstairs and charged through my front door, exiting onto the porch. Kev was already out there next to Tom, while his wife Lucy was waiting inside by the door.
"Hey!" I yelled and tore off after them. Rachel was now only ten meters from the van, and Tom was starting to physically restrain his wife. He grabbed her from behind and pulled, using his whole force to keep her locked in place. "Honey, please. Let's go home."
Rachel didn't even acknowledge her husband. Instead, she reached out toward the SUV. And that's when I heard the sound of the power windows activate.
I realized then that the SUV's windows were tinted to the point of being completely blacked out. It dawned on me that whoever was inside could see me, but I couldn't see them. I figured that was about to change, that whoever was driving was going to reveal themself, but the window only budged a centimeter—enough to give us a direct line to the source of the music.
It went off like a concussion grenade. Tom, Kev, and I all dropped to the ground as the music went from 10 to 100, then 1000 in no time flat. It was so loud I couldn't hear anything else, even after I covered my ears. It was like the music had transformed into millions of invisible locusts that crawled into my ears and were now swarming my brain. I rocked along the asphalt. In my disoriented state, I could hardly see anything other than a blurry series of frames: Rachel and her kids approached the van, unaffected by the weaponized music. The van door opened. A lightning-like flash of piercing blue-green light lit up the night sky. Then it was gone. Then they were gone.
I'm not sure how long we writhed there, but it couldn't have been more than ten seconds. Once the music had relented, returning back to its normal volume, I regained full control of my senses. I barely had time to use them, though, because the second I was able to get back onto my knees, I saw Tom stumble up and wobble over to the SUV. He fell onto it, grabbing the pillar trim with one hand and bashing his other, weak fist against the side door window. "Give them back," he said in an even tone, clearly still enervated. "Give them back, you sick fucks."
"Tom," Kev and I called in unison as we stood up.
"Give them back!" Tom yelled, his voice becoming gruff with anger. "Give my wife and kids back! I swear I'll kill you. I'll fucking murder you! You hear me?" He volleyed his fist against the window in tandem with his threats.
I looked over at Kev who met my eyes. We seemed to be thinking the same thing. There was no way we'd be able to pry Tom off the SUV now, but we also didn't know who was inside or how armed they were. We didn't even know if we could get inside the car. The windows didn't only look tinted, they seemed heavy, as if they were bulletproofed.
"I know," Kev said to me. "You stay here, make sure Tom doesn't get himself hurt. I'll go find something to break us in."
"What about the cops?" I replied.
Tom, who was already five paces closer to his house, turned back and said, "If they haven't called them already, I will."
I looked around at the different houses. There was a woman's silhouette, which I couldn't quite make out because of the angle and lack of light, that was standing in the doorway. I checked the other houses. Moses, who lived in the house to the left of mine, was on his way over to us when Kev redirected him, yelling something about getting a weapon. There was no motion coming from the Jones or Clark house.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, opening the Discord app. While it loaded, I circled the SUV, checking for any details that might be useful. The first thing I noticed was it didn't have a license plate (which wasn't all that surprising considering the circumstance); the second detail was more unexpected. The SUV had only one point of branding: a Mercedes-like logo embedded into its front grill. I say "Mercedes-like" because there seemed to be something off about it, but I couldn't really tell what it was (I'm not a huge car person). When I took a step back, the whole vehicle seemed kind of off, as if it was some kind of really poor knockoff of an SUV. Its wheels were missing hubcaps and the tires were treadless; the tail lights were comically large, despite hardly any light emanating from them; and it didn't have any windshield wipers. It was almost as if the SUV wasn't meant to drive at all.
"Ptuh," Tom spit on the driver's side window, then raised his foot and kicked the side mirror, breaking the plastic visor off. I went over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. He was leaned over, panting. "Kev and Moses will be back in a minute with something to break us in. Don't worry, we'll get them back, Tom." I reassured.
He glared up at me, and for a second I thought he might punch me in the face, but it seemed my words hit him with a delay—either that or he saw something in my expression that softened him—because he squeezed out a few tears and said, "Thanks, Will."
I looked back at the SUV and wondered what the hell could be going on in there. None of this made any sense. If it was a kidnapping, why stay? If it wasn't a kidnapping… What was happening? I didn't linger on the possibilities long. Instead, I finally got around to checking my phone and saw I had 15 unread messages. I scanned through them to see what I'd missed.
M&J: Why is Rachel going out there?
Stacy (Pilot's Wife): Kev is going out to help.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: That's it, I've had enough. I'm calling 9-1-1.
Burnette House: I already have them on the line. Giving the dispatcher the details now.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Just saw this. I guess two reports is better than one. Just glad we got through at all.
M&J: You guys see that? What happened to them?
Clark: They all just dropped all of a sudden.
Clark: Why wasn't Rachel affected?
Clark: Guys?
M&J: Fuck this, I'm going out there.
Mark Jones: Cops ETA 7 minutes out.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Good
Clark: Hey, anyone see that over by the Burnette's house? Their lights keep going in and out.
I heard the sound of footsteps approaching at fast speed and nearly dropped my phone.
"Hey," Kev called out. He had returned with Moses, who was holding two bats slung over his shoulder. Kev was holding a glock. "The cavalry has arrived."
Tom perked up.
"Want one of these?" Moses asked him and held out a bat.
"Damn straight," Tom replied and grabbed it.
"Cops are on their way," Kev said.
"I know, I saw the—" I paused mid sentence, feeling a chill run down my back. No, not a chill of fear, a literal chill. I looked up and felt a breeze pour down like rain from directly overhead. The wind increased, as if a helicopter was descending down on top of us, but when I looked, there was nothing but the maroon sky and stars, with a tinge of amber along the edges from the circle of lamplights surrounding the road. "You guys feel that?" I asked, my unkempt hair waffling in the wind.
"How could we not," returned Kev, who was also staring up into the Heavens.
"Fuck it," Tom muttered and pulled the bat back behind his head, readying for a swing. "Ready or not, here we come, fuckers" Tom said right before flexing all the muscles in his arms, back, and neck, driving the bat toward the side window.
But it never reached its mark.
If the sky was an ocean and the air, water, we were hit with the equivalent of a tidal wave. The seismic force of the gale slapped down on us like a large hand, pushing us outward and several meters away from the vehicle. All I heard was a loud pow—followed by whooshing and whirring as the windstorm normalized into a constant pressure concentrated around the van and dispersing outward. I looked for the others and saw them scattered in every direction. Moses and Kev were lucky enough to have landed on soft grass, but Tom... was lying on his back at the edge of the street.
I pushed through the wind, which I'll simply call a tornado at this point, and crawled over to Tom's body. The first thing I saw was the pool of blood which was collected into a gash in his face so deep, it looked almost like a miniature flooded ravine. The tornado was disturbing the blood, causing red specks to fly behind his head. I gagged, feeling acidic fluids surge up into my throat. I surmised that the bat must have come flying back and caved Tom's face in before flinging him back onto the road.
I started backing away. A greater man than I would have hauled his body back to his house, or at least his yard, but the picture I conjured up of his blood leaking all over me made me gag. Instead, I turned tail and ran as fast as I could to the nearest house, which happened to be Tom's house. The front door was wide open. I barreled in and hooked around the corner to look out the window, then patted my pockets for my phone. It wasn't on me.
From the window I watched Stacy and A.J. helping their husbands back into Moses's house. They must have run out there when they saw the wind hit us. Speaking of which, it was howling through the front door. The grass was nearly flattened. The lamp posts were rocking but somehow still lit. Creaking boards and branches could be heard everywhere.
I sat down underneath the window, feeling shock work through my body. Tom was dead. That fact alone took up most of my mental space. The rest of my processing power was put to use trying to come up with my next move. Should I run? Now would be as good a time as any. But what about my neighbors? Soon the cops would show up. What if this is all resolved in just a few minutes and I was the one guy who ran away to save his own life? How would that look? Forget how that looks, I reprimanded myself. What about "doing the right thing"? I tried to consider what the "right thing" was, but my mind was blank. It was like that little moral circuit in my brain had blown up.
I waited under the window for another couple minutes, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to wait until the cops arrived. It should be any minute now anyway. However, before they got there, I noticed that the door was no longer slamming against the front of the house. The whistling sound abated like a tea-kettle taken off the heat. And the pressure in the air dropped like a feather, until everything was quiet. The tornado had passed.
I got up and went to the door. Tree branches were slung everywhere, along with a barrel-shaped trash can and one of the lamp posts which had been uprooted and crashed into Kev's Rav4. The only thing that looked untouched was the SUV. And then it hit me. The SUV had caused the tornado. In retrospect, that fact must have seemed obvious, but everything had happened so fast, I didn't even consider it until now. But if that's true… Just what the hell were we dealing with?
I heard the back door to Tom's house slide open, and someone stepped inside. I froze in place, listening. The footsteps were coming closer at a regular walking pace. I turned around and saw a man—middle aged, brown hair, wearing a t-shirt and underwear—who I had seen in the neighborhood but didn't know the name of walking toward me with a grin plastered across his face. A part of me tried to speak, to ask the man something, while another part of me was already halfway down the yard, and the last part of me, the part that won out, did nothing but stand there, feeling his heart speed up in his chest. I was out of my own body, watching this man, who never even acknowledged me, walk straight up to my position on the front porch, then continue on right past as if I didn't even exist; as if nothing existed except his destination.
I turned around, and the sight I saw melted my last bit of sanity. Dozens of people were walking toward the SUV from every direction. Moms and dads with their kids, elderly folk, teenagers, single adults, even an infant still learning to crawl slithered through the grass between Lisa and the Burnette's house like a worm: everyone giddy and excited for whatever awaited them in the back of the van. I heard several gunshots ring out from Tom and Lisa's house. My stomach dropped, and I backed up a few steps so I was inside the door-frame. Then I saw probably the only thing which could have made me go outside in that moment.
My phone was laying on the grass maybe ten steps in front of Tom's porch. For whatever reason, my mind tunnel visioned on it. I looked back outside and saw the collection of moth-like people, all flying toward their source of light—the circus music which was once again in full effect. Most of them had passed by my house already, and I saw their backs as a kind of shield from the SUV. I stumbled out onto the deck, looking left, then right, then I jumped down the stairs and ran a suicide to my phone, grabbed it, and made it back into the house around the same time beams of blue-green light started to shoot into the sky. Somehow my phone wasn't even cracked. I turned it on and read through the messages.
Lisa Jones: I saw it, too. Is everything okay in there @ Burnette House?
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: You guys should wait for the cops. Don't do any hero shit. I don't know what they're packing, but it looks military to me.
Lisa Jones: Hello? Mark? Abigail?
Clark: Holy shit what was that? Is there a tornado?
Clark: Anyone there?
M&J: Hey Clark, it's A.J. I have Kev and Stacy here, too. No one knows what happened.
Clark: I see movement down the street.
Clark: A bunch of people are walking toward my house
Clark: Hello? Anyone else seeing this?
I was pulled back into reality by the sound of another volley of gunshots, this time near my house. I looked up and saw the Burnettes: Mark and Abigail, pulling Lisa Jones toward the SUV while their son, David, followed from behind. I watched in horror as Lisa tried to fight back. Her punches were limp like the rest of her body. Probably they had beaten her or maimed her in some way. I went back inside and frantically searched for some kind of weapon. Anything that might give me an edge. I stopped by the kitchen and picked out the largest steak knife I could find, then ran up to Tom and Rachel's master bed and searched their closet for a gun.
Nothing.
As I ran back downstairs, I saw a red and white light flash against the floor, in contrast with the ever-present blue-green light emitting from the SUV. The cops had arrived. There were four cruisers in total, and I'm sure after they saw the scene, more would be on the way. They parked right alongside Clark's house in a staggered formation, blocking off the road, and one of them began issuing commands from a bullhorn.
"This is the police. We have you surrounded. Everyone put your hands up and move away from the vehicle."
I watched as another clump of ten moth-people entered into the SUV and shut the door. The only ones that remained outside were the Burnette's, still hauling Lisa's body across the asphalt, and the inchworm infant who was still working through the grass. I realized I was white-knuckle gripping the knife and lowered it to the ground, then hid inside the doorway, just enough so I could peek my head out and keep track of the situation.
Me: Clark, you still there?
I sent to the group-chat, then slid my phone into my pocket and watched as the police, armed with AR-15's, spread out and slowly closed in on the van.
"I'm not going to ask again. Let the woman go and place your hands in the air. Now."
Mark and Abigail didn't even flinch. I braced for gunshots, but when they came, it wasn't from the police. There were three quick shots off in the distance, near Moses's house. The cops mistook the shots as coming from the van and returned fire, spraying it down with lead. I saw Mark fall, but Abigail continued on with David behind her. Lisa had stopped moving. They reached the van a few seconds later and opened the door. Abigail picked Lisa up and forced her inside, then got in herself, only closing the door after David was in.
The van, which had taken multiple mags of bullets, didn't appear even the slightest bit maligned. From what I could tell, none of the windows shattered, and I couldn't even discern a dent, not even the tail lights or tires were damaged. It was as if the whole vehicle was coated with a thick sheet of diamond. The cops closed in and reissued their command.
"Come out with your hands up. There's nowhere to run."
What happened next seemed like something out of a Sci-Fi film. The SUV, which had remained stationary the entire night, lifted off the ground a whole foot. It literally levitated. Then it turned so the front of the car was facing my house (the back facing the cops) and dropped with a metal-like thud. All of the cops halted, training their sights on the SUV. After a few seconds, I heard the click of the hatchback's lock release, then a scarlet-colored line of light emerged onto the ground and expanded with the opening of the trunk. The cops each held different angles into the now-opened SUV.
Almost immediately, I heard the sound of one of the cops yelp, then start gagging. It was the cop who was standing behind the cruiser closest to the SUV. I heard his gun drop onto the ground, then I saw him lift off the ground and start floating toward the SUV, as if a large, invisible tentacle had grabbed onto him and was bringing him to its mouth.
"Fire!"
The police opened fire on the SUV. I saw bursts of white light emit like firecrackers from the muzzles of the assault rifles all over the back-half of our cul-de-sac, spotting out the cops who were like photographers taking pictures in a Darkroom. The sea of blood-red light tinted everything with a demon-like corruption. I heard another yelp, then two more cops were raised into the air. A group of flashes near Kev's house were suddenly stunted as the cops were smashed together, then lassoed up and yanked into the trunk's mouth. The scene lasted maybe half a minute, then the last assault rifle was silenced. I saw one of the remaining cops try to make a run for it. He had gotten into the driver's side of the cruiser and was backing out when I saw the front windshield explode into fractals. The cop lurched out of the hole and glided like a jet into the red abyss.
Then it was silent. The hatchback closed. The dominant lights were the blinking red, white, and blue of the cruisers. The last bit of motion, which at first I thought was an injured cop attempting to crawl away from the bloodbath, was actually the infant who had finally made his way to the side of the SUV. He waited on the ground in front of it, expectant, and sure enough it opened for him. I watched him grab onto the bottom trim and pull himself up onto the floor, his little legs kicking out behind him, the whole scene illuminated by that aquamarine iridescence. Then at last he managed to slide inside, and the SUV's door closed on its last customer.
I was transfixed. I was completely and utterly blown away. I was terrified but also mesmerized. What in the Holy name of Christ had I just witnessed? I took my phone out and looked down at the screen. Clark had responded.
Clark: Still here. Cops arrived. Do you think we should make a run for it?
Clark: Haven't heard from you. I've started recording this. Not sure what's going on, but people should know.
Clark: Fuck, I'm going to get out of here. Taking my grandma and trying to escape out the back.
That last message was sent four minutes ago. Right after I read it, I heard a creaking sound coming from near Clark's house. I looked up and saw the four police cruisers sway, then rock as if something was grabbing and compressing them. All of their flashing lights broke and the metal started to warp. Then, like four ballistic missiles, the cruisers shot up into the sky. I wasn't able to see where they went, because the other lamp lights, which by some miracle had lasted this long, shattered in spontaneous fashion. Then all the house lights went out. In a single moment, any vision we had was blown out like a candle, leaving only the light glaze from the full moon which was just enough to make out silhouettes.
What I heard next was the most terrifying thing I'd sensed all night. It was the sound of the SUV's doors opening. But this time, there was no light. No green-blue flash. And I hadn't seen anyone heading toward it. Something in my gut just knew that this time someone or something was coming out of the SUV. And there was only one reason I could think of for why it might want to do that.
Me: Clark, something's coming for us.
I sent the message right after I slammed the front door shut. It was hard to see, but I could definitely make out at least two forms near the SUV. They appeared humanoid, but too tall and lanky to be human. They moved fast, their abnormal forms leaning over and running on all fours toward Clark's house. I couldn't see if they were coming after me, too, but I didn't take the chance. I tipped Clark off, then picked up the butcher knife and headed to the back door. I had only just snuck out when I heard a noise which I couldn't quite place. It had a fluid pitch, somewhere between the high-frequency of a cicada song and a low dog moan. Then I heard several clicking sounds. It seemed like the monsters-aliens-whatever were moving away.
I was confronted again with what the "right thing" to do was. For all I knew, everyone was still alive in Moses's house. Though I doubted it. And Clark, he and his grandma were trying to escape. I should help them, shouldn't I? There's no way that they'll be able to get away from these things. I looked down at my knife, which was only a glint of silver in the darkness. My heart was beating fast. I still had my phone. Could I do something with that? I peeked out of the shrub I was hiding in. There was a line of trees behind me, then the park, then another cul-de-sac. If I ran all out, I could make it to the nearest Casey's in five minutes, then be in town ten minutes after that. On the other hand, Clark was forty or more minutes away from anywhere useful in the direction he was likely headed. Even with his head start, he wouldn't make it.
I tried to think, tried to process some piece of information that would put what was happening into perspective. I mentally walked back to the beginning of the night. I was just trying to enjoy some video games before another long day of work. I was thirsty, got a drink, and then…
The music. I listened, but there was no music. For the first time in the night, there was perfect silence. And then it hit me. The SUV. It's unmanned.
I fought against the idea. It was certain death, I knew that. But if there was a chance I could save Clark and his grandma, I had to take it.
I cut through the back yard and went around the side of Tom's house, sneaking as best I could. When I made it to the front, I pulled out my phone and typed one last message. I wasn't sure if these creatures were monitoring our communication network, but in case they were, I wanted those bastards to turn around right away. No delay.
Me: I'm going to steal that SUV, then get the fuck out of here.
After I sent the message, I threw my phone onto the grass and closed my eyes, picturing all of the things in life I wanted to do but never built up the courage for. There were many. So many. But that didn't matter now. I counted down from 3, then sprinted for the driver's side door.
It was open.
I heard the creature's calls get louder as they came running back toward me. I shut the door, and suddenly everything was quiet. I tried looking into the back, but there was a divider separating me from whatever was back there. Probably for the best. The seats felt like some kind of silky leather, and it was hard to stay upright without sliding all over the place. There was no armrest console, no pedals, only a dashboard which looked like some kind of futuristic synthesizer. I wasn't even sure how I could see it, since I couldn't discern a light source, but somehow I just "knew" it was there.
"Okay, let's see…" I said and pressed one of the keys at random. Three seconds later, I heard four objects crash to the earth behind me. At first I thought I had caused a meteor shower, but when I looked in the partly-broken side-mirror, I saw it was the cop cars, now a fourth the size and smashed to bits.
Then I saw the creatures returning. They were fast and looked very, very angry.
I hovered my finger over a few of the other keys and dials, trying to see if I could make out what they did, but there were no markings. I took one last look out the window—the creatures were practically at the door—and said "fuck it". I slammed all of the buttons like I was playing Smash Bros.
The only thing I remember about the night after that is the feeling of compression. Like I was being shoved into a tiny packet—maybe similar to how a contortionist feels to fit into a small box. Then there was a blip of white light and everything after that went blank…
The next thing I know, I'm waking up behind that Casey's I mentioned, next to the dumpster. It was probably 6 AM, and the overnight shift worker found me shirtless, pantsless, and wearing a single sock that had a huge hole in it that my big toe was poking out of. I was groggy, fatigued, and at first I didn't remember much about what happened the prior night. The guy called an ambulance which took me down to the hospital. Apparently I was dehydrated, so they got some fluids into me, and it was while I was on a bed that a couple cops approached me asking about the previous night. The memories were starting to flood back at that point, and I told them what I could recall, but their mutual looks of doubt told me I likely wouldn't be getting anywhere with them.
It was at that point they informed me that a huge tornado had worked through the area, destroying most of my neighborhood. Cops had responded to a routine disturbance call and were unfortunately caught in the storm. There were a bunch of casualties.
I asked for names, and they listed off pretty much everyone except for Clark, who was missing. Then they said something very odd…
"Their bodies were found in the wreck near their houses."
I contemplated this for a moment. Their bodies were found near their houses. "Are you sure?" I asked. "I mean, are you sure it was their bodies?"
"Yes," said the officer, "I mean we haven't done DNA matching, but we've gotten positive facial ID for most of them."
I stayed in the hospital for another two hours, then was released with a couple sets of clothes donated from the police department so I wouldn't be wandering around naked. I walked to the nearest McDonalds and ordered $25 worth of food, devoured it on the spot, then started to get in contact with some relatives who might be able to help me out.
I didn't even go back to my house once. The insurance payout would be enough, supposing it would come through. But even then, there was something far more pressing on my mind. I already knew that what I had experienced really happened, despite what the official story was. And if that was the case, there was only one person that could truly corroborate my story.
***
Clark, it's been a couple weeks now. If you're still out there, I'm writing this from an undisclosed location somewhere in the States. I'm not sure if I was able to help you get away. It seems your grandmother didn't, as they found her body, and I'm sorry about that. But you being missing tells me you might still be out there. I don't know what happened in that SUV. I don't know what that button mashing did, but I'm here. Still here. At least for now.
I say "for now" because the past couple nights I've been waking up to a strange sound coming from outside my apartment. At first, I couldn't tell what it was or if I was dreaming it, but it's clear to me now. It's circus music. I think they're looking for me. Maybe they're looking for you, too.
Whatever they are, I just want to find them, before they find us. And we're running out of time.
So let me know.

The SUV rolled up a little after 1:00 in the morning. I remember because I had just docked my wireless headset on its charger, leaving open the Valorant main screen on my computer, when I headed downstairs to grab a drink. After I popped a can of Fanta Strawberry and downed a few swigs, I glimpsed the time on the oven's clock and saw it was 1:01. I had work the next day, but luckily my tech job allowed me to make my own hours so long as I submitted my commitments on time. Still, it was getting late, and I was ready to get some shut eye.
To give you some context (since I realize my routine may come across as somewhat foreign), I'm a 25 year old man living alone in a two-story house off in suburbia, but close enough to a major city to land a high paying, work-from-home tech job. You may be wondering (1) how I could afford a down-payment on a house at my young age, and (2) why I would opt to take on a mortgage over paying rent, even if I could afford it. The short answer to (1) is I got very lucky in the stock market around 2020 / 2021. As for (2), there's kind of a few answers. First, rent has gone up. And I mean way up around where I work. Of course, at the time I bought my house (late 2021), the moratorium on rent had only recently lifted in the US, and rents weren't quite skyrocketing yet, but I saw the writing on the wall. I used a large chunk of the money I had saved and put a down-payment on a house I felt was reasonably priced and locked in a sub 3% interest rate literally 2 months before they started to increase.
The other reason(s) I chose this neighborhood specifically was because of the community. We had an HOA (Homeowners Association) that granted certain benefits like public amenities and armed security patrols that made me feel somewhat safe—or at least in principle they made me feel like the other members of my community valued peace and order. And most of my neighbors were also young or middle aged and worked in tech (only most of them had spouses or full on families). Still, to give you an idea how close knit we were, around a quarter of the households in our village were active in several discord communities that we made for the purpose of communicating with one another. We further striated the chat groups into specific cul-de-sacs, of which mine, called "Sac 3", contained all but one adult from our 7-house semicircle.
I was just starting to climb the stairs back to my room when I heard music playing outside. There had been a party at the Rec Center between Sac 4 and Sac 5 earlier that evening, and since the little parking lot in front of it only had a 15-car carrying capacity, our two-way road had basically become a one-way from all the vehicles parked roadside. I figured it might be possible there were just some tipsy stragglers who were taking the party home with them, but two things made me think otherwise. First, our HOA enforced a strict midnight curfew on the use of the Rec Center, so unless the stragglers had been hosting an afterparty tailgate in the middle of the road at 1 AM, it probably wasn't stragglers. And two, the music wasn't normal music. It was… circus music. At least that's the best way I can describe it. The music had that bumpy percussion-line bass with exotic whistling winds and upbeat chimes which combined to create a tune that was at once nostalgic and ominous.
I turned back from the stairs and maneuvered to the window, poking at one of the blinds. Some small part of me actually thought I might see some broken down Cirque Du Soleil bus, replete with smoking clowns and shapely trapezists. Instead, I felt something grab my heart when I looked out at a completely empty side-street, and a single, lone black SUV parked in the center of our large, circular dead-end. I must have stared at the vehicle for an entire minute, conjuring scenarios of what could possibly possess someone to park in the middle of a random middle-class neighborhood in the dead of night with no headlights, no brake lights, just idling there, and playing some creepy ass clown music loud enough to alert the entire cul-de-sac to its presence.
I figured it couldn't be anything good, but just as I was readying to go back upstairs and grab my phone to call security, I saw a few shadowy forms emerge from a line of conifer trees about forty meters from my house. As they approached, I noticed they were a group of teenagers: two boys and a girl. They seemed to be in high spirits, with one of the guys pushing the other one playfully, then the girl responding with a scolding gesture. The three teens burst out laughing, all the while continuing toward the SUV.
My house is located in the middle of the cul-de-sac pack, and the SUV was turned so the driver's side door was perpendicular to my house. I bring this up so it makes sense when I say that I didn't see the teens get into the vehicle directly; instead, I merely heard the sound of the side-door latch clicking open, then the door slamming shut a few seconds later. During that space of time, a bluish-green light poured out from what I assumed were LEDs or Christmas lights set up inside the vehicle. I waited a few seconds, and when the teens didn't emerge from the other side, I sighed and let the blind fall shut.
At that point, I thought I had it all figured out. A group of High Schoolers were out late at night doing some ding dong ditching or playing some kind of game and simply didn't care about the fact that everyone else was trying to sleep. Fair enough. I was a kid once. Well, I suppose in a way I still was, but I was also a homeowner… and a worker. And I needed to sleep.
I took the half-drank can of Fanta with me upstairs and closed the door to my bedroom. The only light was the one emitting from my monitor which was still on the Valorant homescreen. I took another sip, then clicked out of the game and was about to turn off the PC when I realized the circus music was still playing. Surely they had left by now, right? Right?
I padded the distance to my window which overlooked the cul-de-sac and scouted for the SUV. Sure enough, it was still there. I groaned, realizing this would become something more than just a minor inconvenience. Then I saw one of my neighbor's living room lights turn on. It was Kevin and Stacy's house.
The Discord, I thought and hurried back to my computer, opening the website and signing in. I clicked into the "Sac 3" group and saw four unread messages. Before I read through them, I slid my headphones on and shuffled my Lindsey Sterline playlist—anything to drown out the creepy circus music.
\Note that legal names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.*
Kev (Pilot): Hey, anyone up?
Clark: I am.
Kev (Pilot): You see that van outside?
Burnette House: Just woke up. What's that music?
Clark is typing…
Clark: Yeah. Did you see those people get inside?
Kev (Pilot): What people?
I reached out and began to type.
Me: Hi everyone. I guess we're all up now. Kev, there were three teens that just got into the back of the SUV. I thought it would leave, but it seems that's not the case.
Clark: Yeah, three teens and that other guy.
I hesitated. Other guy? I had been watching the SUV almost non-stop since it arrived, or at least I thought I'd been…
Me: Clark, when did you see another guy get in?
Clark: A while ago. I first saw the SUV around 12:45, but the music was already playing for like two or three minutes before I checked, so it probably rolled up even before that.
Me: Okay, that makes sense. This guy, a man I'm guessing, did you see what he looked like?
Clark: Not really. I saw him a bit when he passed by the streetlamps, but he was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, so I couldn't see his face. (Assuming a man but you never know)
Kev (Pilot): So you're saying that there's some hooded person and three teenagers in the back of that van?
Clark: Yeah, I guess so.
Burnette House: Okay, I see the SUV now. If Clark's right, it's been there for over thirty minutes. I'm going to call security. It's Wednesday so Rob should be the overnighter. He'll deal with it.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Lisa and I are here. I think calling security is a good idea. Let us know what they say, Mark.
I got up and walked back over to the window. All of my neighbor's lights were on now except for Clark's house—which was located at the end of the cul-de-sac, closest to the main road—and the Vanderbilt house which was two down from me on the right, opposite Clark. It made sense for Clark's house to be quiet. He was a twenty year old Community College student who lived with his grandmother. He moved in with her when his parents died in a car wreck a few years back, and his siblings, a little older, had already moved out. He was a sweet guy, and the youngest in the groupchat. But the Vanderbilts… Rachel and Tom had six-year-old twins, Clayton and Lucy, who I'm sure would have woken up by now. It was surprising they weren't online yet. I went back to check the messages.
M&J: We're up now. Has this music got anyone else spooked?
Stacy (Pilot's Wife): Definitely. I've never liked the Bee Gees.
Bee Gees? I took off my headset and listened. It only took a few seconds for my ears to adapt once again to the circus music that was playing through the airwaves.
Me: Don't you mean circus music? I hear a whole marching band out there.
Clark: To me it sounds like creepy Lofi music.
Lisa Jones: It sounds like some kind of shamanic tribe music to me.
Burnette House: Bad news. I can't reach security. I let the line ring for two minutes and decided to cut it. I don't know if Rob's sleeping on the job or what, but it seems like we're not going to be getting any help from security.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Damn it. Well, I guess we'll just have to call the cops. This whole thing is really starting to piss me off.
I grabbed the Fanta can and downed the rest of it, then leaned all the way back in my gaming chair so I was staring up at my ceiling. None of this was making any sense, and the situation was developing too fast to process it. A hooded figure and three teenagers… Could it be a drug plug? I guess, but why idle in the middle of a cul-de-sac? Why play the music? And why did the others claim to not be hearing circus music? I could understand if they mistook it for something similar—but lofi and tribal music? That had the completely wrong mood and cadence and instrument grouping. I crushed the can in my left hand, then heard the Discord AI announce, "HSS Tom is typing" followed by ping. When I adjusted my seat upright, the same notification went off two more times in quick succession.
HSS Tom: Guys pleas help
HSS Tom: Rachel is confused
HSS Tom: She's trying to leave
I sprung from my chair and ran back to the window. The Vanderbilt's house was now fully illuminated. I saw the moment their front door opened and Rachel stepped out in her nightgown, holding the hands of Clay and Lucy who were wearing matching purple and pink footie pajamas. Tom was yelling, not out of anger, but out of fear and confusion. "Where are you going!? Rachel, answer me! Where are you taking the kids? It isn't safe out there!" But Rachel continued her march, swinging her kids arms as if they were on their way to an amusement park. She turned and asked them something, to which the kids both responded, "Yeah!" in unison, their little bodies rocking with the force of their eagerness. Tom chased them out, stepping in front of them again and again, but Rachel, holding tightly onto the kids hands, just kept navigating around him.
It suddenly dawned on me how useless I was being. I grabbed my phone off the desk then sprinted downstairs and charged through my front door, exiting onto the porch. Kev was already out there next to Tom, while his wife Lucy was waiting inside by the door.
"Hey!" I yelled and tore off after them. Rachel was now only ten meters from the van, and Tom was starting to physically restrain his wife. He grabbed her from behind and pulled, using his whole force to keep her locked in place. "Honey, please. Let's go home."
Rachel didn't even acknowledge her husband. Instead, she reached out toward the SUV. And that's when I heard the sound of the power windows activate.
I realized then that the SUV's windows were tinted to the point of being completely blacked out. It dawned on me that whoever was inside could see me, but I couldn't see them. I figured that was about to change, that whoever was driving was going to reveal themself, but the window only budged a centimeter—enough to give us a direct line to the source of the music.
It went off like a concussion grenade. Tom, Kev, and I all dropped to the ground as the music went from 10 to 100, then 1000 in no time flat. It was so loud I couldn't hear anything else, even after I covered my ears. It was like the music had transformed into millions of invisible locusts that crawled into my ears and were now swarming my brain. I rocked along the asphalt. In my disoriented state, I could hardly see anything other than a blurry series of frames: Rachel and her kids approached the van, unaffected by the weaponized music. The van door opened. A lightning-like flash of piercing blue-green light lit up the night sky. Then it was gone. Then they were gone.
I'm not sure how long we writhed there, but it couldn't have been more than ten seconds. Once the music had relented, returning back to its normal volume, I regained full control of my senses. I barely had time to use them, though, because the second I was able to get back onto my knees, I saw Tom stumble up and wobble over to the SUV. He fell onto it, grabbing the pillar trim with one hand and bashing his other, weak fist against the side door window. "Give them back," he said in an even tone, clearly still enervated. "Give them back, you sick fucks."
"Tom," Kev and I called in unison as we stood up.
"Give them back!" Tom yelled, his voice becoming gruff with anger. "Give my wife and kids back! I swear I'll kill you. I'll fucking murder you! You hear me?" He volleyed his fist against the window in tandem with his threats.
I looked over at Kev who met my eyes. We seemed to be thinking the same thing. There was no way we'd be able to pry Tom off the SUV now, but we also didn't know who was inside or how armed they were. We didn't even know if we could get inside the car. The windows didn't only look tinted, they seemed heavy, as if they were bulletproofed.
"I know," Kev said to me. "You stay here, make sure Tom doesn't get himself hurt. I'll go find something to break us in."
"What about the cops?" I replied.
Tom, who was already five paces closer to his house, turned back and said, "If they haven't called them already, I will."
I looked around at the different houses. There was a woman's silhouette, which I couldn't quite make out because of the angle and lack of light, that was standing in the doorway. I checked the other houses. Moses, who lived in the house to the left of mine, was on his way over to us when Kev redirected him, yelling something about getting a weapon. There was no motion coming from the Jones or Clark house.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, opening the Discord app. While it loaded, I circled the SUV, checking for any details that might be useful. The first thing I noticed was it didn't have a license plate (which wasn't all that surprising considering the circumstance); the second detail was more unexpected. The SUV had only one point of branding: a Mercedes-like logo embedded into its front grill. I say "Mercedes-like" because there seemed to be something off about it, but I couldn't really tell what it was (I'm not a huge car person). When I took a step back, the whole vehicle seemed kind of off, as if it was some kind of really poor knockoff of an SUV. Its wheels were missing hubcaps and the tires were treadless; the tail lights were comically large, despite hardly any light emanating from them; and it didn't have any windshield wipers. It was almost as if the SUV wasn't meant to drive at all.
"Ptuh," Tom spit on the driver's side window, then raised his foot and kicked the side mirror, breaking the plastic visor off. I went over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. He was leaned over, panting. "Kev and Moses will be back in a minute with something to break us in. Don't worry, we'll get them back, Tom." I reassured.
He glared up at me, and for a second I thought he might punch me in the face, but it seemed my words hit him with a delay—either that or he saw something in my expression that softened him—because he squeezed out a few tears and said, "Thanks, Will."
I looked back at the SUV and wondered what the hell could be going on in there. None of this made any sense. If it was a kidnapping, why stay? If it wasn't a kidnapping… What was happening? I didn't linger on the possibilities long. Instead, I finally got around to checking my phone and saw I had 15 unread messages. I scanned through them to see what I'd missed.
M&J: Why is Rachel going out there?
Stacy (Pilot's Wife): Kev is going out to help.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: That's it, I've had enough. I'm calling 9-1-1.
Burnette House: I already have them on the line. Giving the dispatcher the details now.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Just saw this. I guess two reports is better than one. Just glad we got through at all.
M&J: You guys see that? What happened to them?
Clark: They all just dropped all of a sudden.
Clark: Why wasn't Rachel affected?
Clark: Guys?
M&J: Fuck this, I'm going out there.
Mark Jones: Cops ETA 7 minutes out.
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: Good
Clark: Hey, anyone see that over by the Burnette's house? Their lights keep going in and out.
I heard the sound of footsteps approaching at fast speed and nearly dropped my phone.
"Hey," Kev called out. He had returned with Moses, who was holding two bats slung over his shoulder. Kev was holding a glock. "The cavalry has arrived."
Tom perked up.
"Want one of these?" Moses asked him and held out a bat.
"Damn straight," Tom replied and grabbed it.
"Cops are on their way," Kev said.
"I know, I saw the—" I paused mid sentence, feeling a chill run down my back. No, not a chill of fear, a literal chill. I looked up and felt a breeze pour down like rain from directly overhead. The wind increased, as if a helicopter was descending down on top of us, but when I looked, there was nothing but the maroon sky and stars, with a tinge of amber along the edges from the circle of lamplights surrounding the road. "You guys feel that?" I asked, my unkempt hair waffling in the wind.
"How could we not," returned Kev, who was also staring up into the Heavens.
"Fuck it," Tom muttered and pulled the bat back behind his head, readying for a swing. "Ready or not, here we come, fuckers" Tom said right before flexing all the muscles in his arms, back, and neck, driving the bat toward the side window.
But it never reached its mark.
If the sky was an ocean and the air, water, we were hit with the equivalent of a tidal wave. The seismic force of the gale slapped down on us like a large hand, pushing us outward and several meters away from the vehicle. All I heard was a loud pow—followed by whooshing and whirring as the windstorm normalized into a constant pressure concentrated around the van and dispersing outward. I looked for the others and saw them scattered in every direction. Moses and Kev were lucky enough to have landed on soft grass, but Tom... was lying on his back at the edge of the street.
I pushed through the wind, which I'll simply call a tornado at this point, and crawled over to Tom's body. The first thing I saw was the pool of blood which was collected into a gash in his face so deep, it looked almost like a miniature flooded ravine. The tornado was disturbing the blood, causing red specks to fly behind his head. I gagged, feeling acidic fluids surge up into my throat. I surmised that the bat must have come flying back and caved Tom's face in before flinging him back onto the road.
I started backing away. A greater man than I would have hauled his body back to his house, or at least his yard, but the picture I conjured up of his blood leaking all over me made me gag. Instead, I turned tail and ran as fast as I could to the nearest house, which happened to be Tom's house. The front door was wide open. I barreled in and hooked around the corner to look out the window, then patted my pockets for my phone. It wasn't on me.
From the window I watched Stacy and A.J. helping their husbands back into Moses's house. They must have run out there when they saw the wind hit us. Speaking of which, it was howling through the front door. The grass was nearly flattened. The lamp posts were rocking but somehow still lit. Creaking boards and branches could be heard everywhere.
I sat down underneath the window, feeling shock work through my body. Tom was dead. That fact alone took up most of my mental space. The rest of my processing power was put to use trying to come up with my next move. Should I run? Now would be as good a time as any. But what about my neighbors? Soon the cops would show up. What if this is all resolved in just a few minutes and I was the one guy who ran away to save his own life? How would that look? Forget how that looks, I reprimanded myself. What about "doing the right thing"? I tried to consider what the "right thing" was, but my mind was blank. It was like that little moral circuit in my brain had blown up.
I waited under the window for another couple minutes, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to wait until the cops arrived. It should be any minute now anyway. However, before they got there, I noticed that the door was no longer slamming against the front of the house. The whistling sound abated like a tea-kettle taken off the heat. And the pressure in the air dropped like a feather, until everything was quiet. The tornado had passed.
I got up and went to the door. Tree branches were slung everywhere, along with a barrel-shaped trash can and one of the lamp posts which had been uprooted and crashed into Kev's Rav4. The only thing that looked untouched was the SUV. And then it hit me. The SUV had caused the tornado. In retrospect, that fact must have seemed obvious, but everything had happened so fast, I didn't even consider it until now. But if that's true… Just what the hell were we dealing with?
I heard the back door to Tom's house slide open, and someone stepped inside. I froze in place, listening. The footsteps were coming closer at a regular walking pace. I turned around and saw a man—middle aged, brown hair, wearing a t-shirt and underwear—who I had seen in the neighborhood but didn't know the name of walking toward me with a grin plastered across his face. A part of me tried to speak, to ask the man something, while another part of me was already halfway down the yard, and the last part of me, the part that won out, did nothing but stand there, feeling his heart speed up in his chest. I was out of my own body, watching this man, who never even acknowledged me, walk straight up to my position on the front porch, then continue on right past as if I didn't even exist; as if nothing existed except his destination.
I turned around, and the sight I saw melted my last bit of sanity. Dozens of people were walking toward the SUV from every direction. Moms and dads with their kids, elderly folk, teenagers, single adults, even an infant still learning to crawl slithered through the grass between Lisa and the Burnette's house like a worm: everyone giddy and excited for whatever awaited them in the back of the van. I heard several gunshots ring out from Tom and Lisa's house. My stomach dropped, and I backed up a few steps so I was inside the door-frame. Then I saw probably the only thing which could have made me go outside in that moment.
My phone was laying on the grass maybe ten steps in front of Tom's porch. For whatever reason, my mind tunnel visioned on it. I looked back outside and saw the collection of moth-like people, all flying toward their source of light—the circus music which was once again in full effect. Most of them had passed by my house already, and I saw their backs as a kind of shield from the SUV. I stumbled out onto the deck, looking left, then right, then I jumped down the stairs and ran a suicide to my phone, grabbed it, and made it back into the house around the same time beams of blue-green light started to shoot into the sky. Somehow my phone wasn't even cracked. I turned it on and read through the messages.
Lisa Jones: I saw it, too. Is everything okay in there @ Burnette House?
Tom "The Reverend" Jones: You guys should wait for the cops. Don't do any hero shit. I don't know what they're packing, but it looks military to me.
Lisa Jones: Hello? Mark? Abigail?
Clark: Holy shit what was that? Is there a tornado?
Clark: Anyone there?
M&J: Hey Clark, it's A.J. I have Kev and Stacy here, too. No one knows what happened.
Clark: I see movement down the street.
Clark: A bunch of people are walking toward my house
Clark: Hello? Anyone else seeing this?
I was pulled back into reality by the sound of another volley of gunshots, this time near my house. I looked up and saw the Burnettes: Mark and Abigail, pulling Lisa Jones toward the SUV while their son, David, followed from behind. I watched in horror as Lisa tried to fight back. Her punches were limp like the rest of her body. Probably they had beaten her or maimed her in some way. I went back inside and frantically searched for some kind of weapon. Anything that might give me an edge. I stopped by the kitchen and picked out the largest steak knife I could find, then ran up to Tom and Rachel's master bed and searched their closet for a gun.
Nothing.
As I ran back downstairs, I saw a red and white light flash against the floor, in contrast with the ever-present blue-green light emitting from the SUV. The cops had arrived. There were four cruisers in total, and I'm sure after they saw the scene, more would be on the way. They parked right alongside Clark's house in a staggered formation, blocking off the road, and one of them began issuing commands from a bullhorn.
"This is the police. We have you surrounded. Everyone put your hands up and move away from the vehicle."
I watched as another clump of ten moth-people entered into the SUV and shut the door. The only ones that remained outside were the Burnette's, still hauling Lisa's body across the asphalt, and the inchworm infant who was still working through the grass. I realized I was white-knuckle gripping the knife and lowered it to the ground, then hid inside the doorway, just enough so I could peek my head out and keep track of the situation.
Me: Clark, you still there?
I sent to the group-chat, then slid my phone into my pocket and watched as the police, armed with AR-15's, spread out and slowly closed in on the van.
"I'm not going to ask again. Let the woman go and place your hands in the air. Now."
Mark and Abigail didn't even flinch. I braced for gunshots, but when they came, it wasn't from the police. There were three quick shots off in the distance, near Moses's house. The cops mistook the shots as coming from the van and returned fire, spraying it down with lead. I saw Mark fall, but Abigail continued on with David behind her. Lisa had stopped moving. They reached the van a few seconds later and opened the door. Abigail picked Lisa up and forced her inside, then got in herself, only closing the door after David was in.
The van, which had taken multiple mags of bullets, didn't appear even the slightest bit maligned. From what I could tell, none of the windows shattered, and I couldn't even discern a dent, not even the tail lights or tires were damaged. It was as if the whole vehicle was coated with a thick sheet of diamond. The cops closed in and reissued their command.
"Come out with your hands up. There's nowhere to run."
What happened next seemed like something out of a Sci-Fi film. The SUV, which had remained stationary the entire night, lifted off the ground a whole foot. It literally levitated. Then it turned so the front of the car was facing my house (the back facing the cops) and dropped with a metal-like thud. All of the cops halted, training their sights on the SUV. After a few seconds, I heard the click of the hatchback's lock release, then a scarlet-colored line of light emerged onto the ground and expanded with the opening of the trunk. The cops each held different angles into the now-opened SUV.
Almost immediately, I heard the sound of one of the cops yelp, then start gagging. It was the cop who was standing behind the cruiser closest to the SUV. I heard his gun drop onto the ground, then I saw him lift off the ground and start floating toward the SUV, as if a large, invisible tentacle had grabbed onto him and was bringing him to its mouth.
"Fire!"
The police opened fire on the SUV. I saw bursts of white light emit like firecrackers from the muzzles of the assault rifles all over the back-half of our cul-de-sac, spotting out the cops who were like photographers taking pictures in a Darkroom. The sea of blood-red light tinted everything with a demon-like corruption. I heard another yelp, then two more cops were raised into the air. A group of flashes near Kev's house were suddenly stunted as the cops were smashed together, then lassoed up and yanked into the trunk's mouth. The scene lasted maybe half a minute, then the last assault rifle was silenced. I saw one of the remaining cops try to make a run for it. He had gotten into the driver's side of the cruiser and was backing out when I saw the front windshield explode into fractals. The cop lurched out of the hole and glided like a jet into the red abyss.
Then it was silent. The hatchback closed. The dominant lights were the blinking red, white, and blue of the cruisers. The last bit of motion, which at first I thought was an injured cop attempting to crawl away from the bloodbath, was actually the infant who had finally made his way to the side of the SUV. He waited on the ground in front of it, expectant, and sure enough it opened for him. I watched him grab onto the bottom trim and pull himself up onto the floor, his little legs kicking out behind him, the whole scene illuminated by that aquamarine iridescence. Then at last he managed to slide inside, and the SUV's door closed on its last customer.
I was transfixed. I was completely and utterly blown away. I was terrified but also mesmerized. What in the Holy name of Christ had I just witnessed? I took my phone out and looked down at the screen. Clark had responded.
Clark: Still here. Cops arrived. Do you think we should make a run for it?
Clark: Haven't heard from you. I've started recording this. Not sure what's going on, but people should know.
Clark: Fuck, I'm going to get out of here. Taking my grandma and trying to escape out the back.
That last message was sent four minutes ago. Right after I read it, I heard a creaking sound coming from near Clark's house. I looked up and saw the four police cruisers sway, then rock as if something was grabbing and compressing them. All of their flashing lights broke and the metal started to warp. Then, like four ballistic missiles, the cruisers shot up into the sky. I wasn't able to see where they went, because the other lamp lights, which by some miracle had lasted this long, shattered in spontaneous fashion. Then all the house lights went out. In a single moment, any vision we had was blown out like a candle, leaving only the light glaze from the full moon which was just enough to make out silhouettes.
What I heard next was the most terrifying thing I'd sensed all night. It was the sound of the SUV's doors opening. But this time, there was no light. No green-blue flash. And I hadn't seen anyone heading toward it. Something in my gut just knew that this time someone or something was coming out of the SUV. And there was only one reason I could think of for why it might want to do that.
Me: Clark, something's coming for us.
I sent the message right after I slammed the front door shut. It was hard to see, but I could definitely make out at least two forms near the SUV. They appeared humanoid, but too tall and lanky to be human. They moved fast, their abnormal forms leaning over and running on all fours toward Clark's house. I couldn't see if they were coming after me, too, but I didn't take the chance. I tipped Clark off, then picked up the butcher knife and headed to the back door. I had only just snuck out when I heard a noise which I couldn't quite place. It had a fluid pitch, somewhere between the high-frequency of a cicada song and a low dog moan. Then I heard several clicking sounds. It seemed like the monsters-aliens-whatever were moving away.
I was confronted again with what the "right thing" to do was. For all I knew, everyone was still alive in Moses's house. Though I doubted it. And Clark, he and his grandma were trying to escape. I should help them, shouldn't I? There's no way that they'll be able to get away from these things. I looked down at my knife, which was only a glint of silver in the darkness. My heart was beating fast. I still had my phone. Could I do something with that? I peeked out of the shrub I was hiding in. There was a line of trees behind me, then the park, then another cul-de-sac. If I ran all out, I could make it to the nearest Casey's in five minutes, then be in town ten minutes after that. On the other hand, Clark was forty or more minutes away from anywhere useful in the direction he was likely headed. Even with his head start, he wouldn't make it.
I tried to think, tried to process some piece of information that would put what was happening into perspective. I mentally walked back to the beginning of the night. I was just trying to enjoy some video games before another long day of work. I was thirsty, got a drink, and then…
The music. I listened, but there was no music. For the first time in the night, there was perfect silence. And then it hit me. The SUV. It's unmanned.
I fought against the idea. It was certain death, I knew that. But if there was a chance I could save Clark and his grandma, I had to take it.
I cut through the back yard and went around the side of Tom's house, sneaking as best I could. When I made it to the front, I pulled out my phone and typed one last message. I wasn't sure if these creatures were monitoring our communication network, but in case they were, I wanted those bastards to turn around right away. No delay.
Me: I'm going to steal that SUV, then get the fuck out of here.
After I sent the message, I threw my phone onto the grass and closed my eyes, picturing all of the things in life I wanted to do but never built up the courage for. There were many. So many. But that didn't matter now. I counted down from 3, then sprinted for the driver's side door.
It was open.
I heard the creature's calls get louder as they came running back toward me. I shut the door, and suddenly everything was quiet. I tried looking into the back, but there was a divider separating me from whatever was back there. Probably for the best. The seats felt like some kind of silky leather, and it was hard to stay upright without sliding all over the place. There was no armrest console, no pedals, only a dashboard which looked like some kind of futuristic synthesizer. I wasn't even sure how I could see it, since I couldn't discern a light source, but somehow I just "knew" it was there.
"Okay, let's see…" I said and pressed one of the keys at random. Three seconds later, I heard four objects crash to the earth behind me. At first I thought I had caused a meteor shower, but when I looked in the partly-broken side-mirror, I saw it was the cop cars, now a fourth the size and smashed to bits.
Then I saw the creatures returning. They were fast and looked very, very angry.
I hovered my finger over a few of the other keys and dials, trying to see if I could make out what they did, but there were no markings. I took one last look out the window—the creatures were practically at the door—and said "fuck it". I slammed all of the buttons like I was playing Smash Bros.
The only thing I remember about the night after that is the feeling of compression. Like I was being shoved into a tiny packet—maybe similar to how a contortionist feels to fit into a small box. Then there was a blip of white light and everything after that went blank…
The next thing I know, I'm waking up behind that Casey's I mentioned, next to the dumpster. It was probably 6 AM, and the overnight shift worker found me shirtless, pantsless, and wearing a single sock that had a huge hole in it that my big toe was poking out of. I was groggy, fatigued, and at first I didn't remember much about what happened the prior night. The guy called an ambulance which took me down to the hospital. Apparently I was dehydrated, so they got some fluids into me, and it was while I was on a bed that a couple cops approached me asking about the previous night. The memories were starting to flood back at that point, and I told them what I could recall, but their mutual looks of doubt told me I likely wouldn't be getting anywhere with them.
It was at that point they informed me that a huge tornado had worked through the area, destroying most of my neighborhood. Cops had responded to a routine disturbance call and were unfortunately caught in the storm. There were a bunch of casualties.
I asked for names, and they listed off pretty much everyone except for Clark, who was missing. Then they said something very odd…
"Their bodies were found in the wreck near their houses."
I contemplated this for a moment. Their bodies were found near their houses. "Are you sure?" I asked. "I mean, are you sure it was their bodies?"
"Yes," said the officer, "I mean we haven't done DNA matching, but we've gotten positive facial ID for most of them."
I stayed in the hospital for another two hours, then was released with a couple sets of clothes donated from the police department so I wouldn't be wandering around naked. I walked to the nearest McDonalds and ordered $25 worth of food, devoured it on the spot, then started to get in contact with some relatives who might be able to help me out.
I didn't even go back to my house once. The insurance payout would be enough, supposing it would come through. But even then, there was something far more pressing on my mind. I already knew that what I had experienced really happened, despite what the official story was. And if that was the case, there was only one person that could truly corroborate my story.
***
Clark, it's been a couple weeks now. If you're still out there, I'm writing this from an undisclosed location somewhere in the States. I'm not sure if I was able to help you get away. It seems your grandmother didn't, as they found her body, and I'm sorry about that. But you being missing tells me you might still be out there. I don't know what happened in that SUV. I don't know what that button mashing did, but I'm here. Still here. At least for now.
I say "for now" because the past couple nights I've been waking up to a strange sound coming from outside my apartment. At first, I couldn't tell what it was or if I was dreaming it, but it's clear to me now. It's circus music. I think they're looking for me. Maybe they're looking for you, too.
Whatever they are, I just want to find them, before they find us. And we're running out of time.
So let me know.

Build:
Build Planner
Cyberware:

1. Frontal Cortex-
   RAM Upgrade, COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimiser, Ex-Disk
   
2. Operating System-
   

Militech Canto MK-6

1. Hands-

MaxTac/ Any other Mantis Blades/Monowire as you wish. I personally use the MaxTac Mantis Blades.

1. Face-

Kiroshi "The Oracle" Optics

1. Skeleton-

Epimorphic Skeleton, RAM Recoup, Spring Joints

1. Hands-

Ballistic Coprocessor, Shock Absorber

1. Nervous System-

Kerenzikov, Neo-Fiber, Reflex Tuner

1. Circulatory System-

Biomonitor, Blood Pump, Second Heart

1. Integumentary System-

Chitin, Defenzikov, Optical Camo

1. Legs-

Reinforced Tendons
Note:
Remember you will need the full 360 cyberware capacity for this build to work as it takes 359 cyberware capacity.
Spring Joints, Neo-Fiber will increase the mitigation strength. Mitigation grants you to reduce incoming damage by the amount of mitigation strength you possess. By default, mitigation strength is 50%. Spring Joints offer an additional +19% mitigation strength while Neo-Fiber offers an additional +11% mitigation strength. Hence total mitigation strength is 80%.Neo-Fiber, Defenzikov will increase your mitigation chance. Mitigation chance determines how frequently you can absorb damage. Defenzikov is extremely underrated as it grants +90% mitigation chance for 4 sec (at tier 5++) after using Kerenzikov. Pairing with Neo-Fiber's +11% mitigation chance (at tier 5++), we get full 100% mitigation chance for 4 sec after using Kerenzikov. Best part? Unlocking Cyborg perk reduces cooldown for all cyberware by 15% when all available cyberware slots are used ( in simple terms, you cannot have an empty cyberware slots, all slots must be full). Kerenzikov (at tier 5++) has a 6 second cooldown. Now using cyborg perk, new cooldown is ~5 seconds, which means you can almost instantly use kerenzikov after the effect of defenzikov is gone. So almost always 100% mitigation chance.
Armor is not worth it as without mitigation and with 1500+ armor I almost always get one-shotted in Very-Hard. But having 500+ armor (which you should get with this build) reduces damage received by ~30%. Further, you will reduce the amount of damage not absorbed by armor by 80% by following the above method.
Epimorphic Skeleton will reduce the max health reduction by Edgerunner perk. Chitin will massively increase health regeneration.
Biomonitor+Blood Pump+ Adrenaline Rush(perk) is already broken, but using Second Heart paired this this combo practically makes you invincible. Second Heart is here just for safety purposes, because using mitigation will practically make you invulnerable(without any Bersek, ofcourse).
Coming to netrunning part, I believe quickhack queue is important (especially with bosses, as the ram cost of BG in such cases is horrendously increased). Oracle Optics and Optical Camo will definitely make you a stealth god. But RAM Upgrade will significantly increase ram regeneration (although it doesn't sound much). Ex-Disk will be affective as it increases quickhack upload speed by upto 35%(at tier 5++). The most broken cyberware is the COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimiser, as it allows quickhacks to deal critical damage and at tier 5++, it reduces max RAM by 4 (same as BioConductor) while giving a 100% Critical Chance to quickhack damage. We'll talk about it later.
Shock Absorber will reduce recoil while Ballistic Coprocessor allows power weapons to fire controlled ricocheting bullets, while increasing ricochet damage by 30% (at tier 5++). Since during combat, you will always receive damage, RAM Recoup will restore more RAM the more damage you take.
Coming to Canto, we'll have 4 quickhack slots (it shows 5 but BG occupies one slot and cannot be removed). You can use any quickhacks, but Synapse Burnout is a must. This is because the Tier 5/ Iconic versions(both) increase Overclock duration by 3 seconds for each enemy neutralised by SB. Overclock is a must, otherwise the Canto is practically useless. Pairing SB with COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimiser almost always ensures neutralisation, thus granting an infinite overclock duration. Axolotl has been nerfed, and I think it's not worth it anymore for netrunning builds.
I'll always advise you to use one quickhack of each type (Combat, Covert, Control, Ultimate)
I use Synapse Burnout, Memory Wipe, Cyberware Malfunction and Cyberpsychosis.
Weapons:
Completely up to you, but here's my loadout-

1. Malorian Arms 3516- Style over Substance.
   
2. Hercules 3AX- It's mere existence is a crime against humanity
   
3. Headhunter Knife- Severely underrated. Anyways I won't spoil the fun.
   

Grenades:
GASH Antipersonnel Grenade- Burn Baby Burn

This issue happens on vanilla after the new updates. Playing 1440p high-ultra mix (I have taken it down to high, medium, and low 1080p with the same results, borderless window also), i5-13400f, 32GB DDR5-5600, 4060 8GB. Graphics drivers are fully updates, MOBO firmware is updated, windows (11) fully updated. I have had V-Sync off and on, limited my fps from 58 up to 144hz with all of the same results. I have went through every "fix" I can find. Fallout 4 has been uninstalled and re-installed 5 times over. I used to be able to play the Magnus Opus mod list on ultra with 60fps with no issue until the update. I have no issues with any other games.
https://reddit.com/link/1cylmhf/video/r6raixdm742d1/player
https://www.wabbajack.org/search/WastelandReborn/wasteland_reborn
Fallout4.esm
DLCRobot.esm
DLCworkshop01.esm
DLCCoast.esm
DLCworkshop02.esm
DLCworkshop03.esm
DLCNukaWorld.esm
Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp
REFramework.esm
Ownership Fixes.esp
Community Fixes Merged.esp
TMR_GlitchfinderAIO.esm
HUDFramework.esm
XDI.esm
RunningWithHandsAnim.esl
Livelys Keyword Resource.esp
StandaloneWorkbenches.esl
Natural Landscapes.esl
Natural Roads.esl
Natural Rocks.esl
Gritty Subway Stations.esl
RedderRocket.esl
IceStormsHair.esl
CROSS_VertibirdFlightsuit.esl
ballisticproject2k.esl
deathclawshd2k.esl
leafblowerjunkjet2k.esl
flamerproject2k.esl
dpjetandxcell.esl
dppsychoandmedx.esl
LIF.esl
CWPointLookoutFO4.esm
CWPointLookoutFO4Patch.esl
AshlandStationSettlement.esp
Munitions - An Ammo Expansion.esl
Munitions - Vanilla Ammo Addon.esl
CWRaiders.esl
MutantMenagerie.esm
MutantMenagerie_BackwaterBeasts.esm
VaultOutfitPack.esl
ClassicMysteriousStranger.esl
PMOutfitPack.esl
CWOutfitPackPart2.esl
NCRArmourPack.esl
CW32Pistol.esl
CWGaussRifle.esl
CWHuntingRifle.esl
ClassicMeleePack.esl
ClassicUnarmedPack.esl
AutoAxe.esl
Skb_MachinegunsRebirth.esl
Skb-MinigunsRebirth.esl
HeavySelectShotgun.esl
Balisong.esl
SelectRevolver.esl
FOLON_Lewis.esl
FOLON_ChinesePistol.esl
RemingtonNewArmy.esl
RemingtonNewArmy-GlowingMidwana.esl
InstituteTechnologyOverhaul.esm
BakaFramework.esm
YK42B.esl
BaseIDforUniques.esm
T6M_BurstFireFramework.esm
HandmadeAntiMaterielRifle.esl
Dynamic Activation Key.esp
T65PA.esl
afpABetterWorldWorkshop_Cabin.esl
Homemaker.esm
HiPolyFacesCompanionPlugin.esl
DiamondCityAmbience.esl
CanarySaveFileMonitor.esl
TrueStormsFO4.esm
Bighorner.esl
Centaur.esl
Geckos.esl
Mantis.esl
PPF.esm
WorkshopFramework.esm
SSTClearHorizons.esl
AUR_Rebuild_Shared.esp
SSTRagsPirates.esl
SSTTomsBruisers.esl
Cazadors.esl
CWRadscorpions.esl
SSTGrizzledSecurity.esl
YouAndWhatArmy2.esm
SelectBlaster.esl
AmericaRising2.esm
NoDialogueAutoRotAndForcedPos.esl
GCM_DLC_Automatron.esl
GCM_DLC_Far_Harbor.esl
KARMA.esm
Seasons.esm
CAPA.esl
BusMod.esl
UniversalDisassembler.esl
CWYaoGuai.esl
WeaponModFixes-GOTY.esp
Wetness Shader Fix.esp
ESPExplorerFO4.esp
Community Fixes Merged - Weapon Mod Fixes Patch.esp
Pip-Boy Flashlight.esp
Fixed Gobo Effects.esp
MiscAnimTweaks.esp
RAW INPUT.esp
Less Annoying Berry Mentats.esp
OutlineWorkshopShader.esp
Less intrusive tutorial.esp
Complex Vendors.esp
Complex Vendors - UFO4P Patch.esp
BlockingOverhaul.esp
NPCs Use Items.esp
Chemfluence AI Combat Dynamics.esp
RED.esp
DLC Timing.esp
DLC Timing - UFO4P Patch.esp
Keep Radiants In Commonwealth.esp
GCM.esp
Thrive Redone.esp
REPatch_GameConfigurationMenu.esp
LevelCap.esp
Immersive HUD.esp
FOVSlider.esp
Weapon Scrapping Redone.esp
Clothing Scrapping Redone.esp
Low Profile Loader - Reloading Technique.esp
Movement Speed Revised.esp
PhotoMode.esp
WhoIsTheGeneral.esp
EveryonesBestFriend.esp
SCM.esp
SCM_EBF.esp
ClassicRadiationPoisoning2.esp
Unused Map Markers - Cut Content Restored.esp
TerrainUndersides.esp
Terrain Undersides - PPF Patch.esp
CBBE.esp
HiPolyFaces.esp
HiPoly Faces REDUX - UFO4P Patch.esp
LooksMenu.esp
LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp
Base Face.esp
AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
KSHairdos.esp
SF Beards N Staches.esp
The Eyes Of Beauty.esp
SSNPC - DCResidentsAIO.esp
SSNPC - Minutemen.esp
4estGimp - SSNPC-DCResidentsAIO_BlackLipPatch.esp
HiPolyFaces-Curie-Seamless.esp
KSHairsFemsheppingRadbeetle.esp
LookingStranger.esp
MiscHairstyle.esp
Crocodile Hairstyle.esp
Lots More Male Hairstyles.esp
Lots More Female Hairstyles.esp
KSHairdos_oel.esp
ANiceOakTree Hairs.esp
RoundGlasses.esp
ManCoat.esp
SF Merchants.esp
SF BOS.esp
SF Automatron.esp
SF Covenant.esp
SF Railroad.esp
SF Goodneighbor.esp
Lots More Facial Hair.esp
SF Triggermen.esp
SF The Cabot Family.esp
F3metalarmor.esp
SF Atom Cats.esp
MoreBeards.esp
MoreHairstyles4Female.esp
MoreHairstyles4Male.esp
SF Sanctuary.esp
SF Gunners.esp
SF Companions AIO.esp
CROSS_InstituteExpeditionarySuit.esp
SF Institute.esp
SF Coursers.esp
SF Valentine.esp
dD-Enhanced Blood Basic.esp
GhastlyHancock.esp
Edit_Hancock.esp
Crimsomrider's 1950s Feminine Outfits.esp
FlaconOil_BA2_2K_Part1.esp
FlaconOil_BA2_2K_Part2.esp
FlaconOil_BA2_2K_Part3.esp
Enhanced Vanilla Plants.esp
ValiusHDTextures2K.esp
NMC Bundle MEDIUM.esp
Makeshifttextures.esp
AntiqueGauss.esp
Gloomy Glass.esp
Targeted Textures.esp
plasmaproject.esp
Gritty Subway Stations.esp
SavrenX SuperMutant Armor HD.esp
WTG - KRIC Patch.esp
t51renewal.esp
UsefulCrank.esp
Enemies Fear Power Armor.esp
ImmersiveAnimationFramework.esp
IAF - Far Harbor & Nuka World.esp
IAF-Mutant Mengaerie Patch.esp
OMEGA - IAF Geckos Patch.esp
Alternative Activation Prompts.esp
CROSS_GoreCrits.esp
CROSS_GoreCrits_FarHarborPatch.esp
CROSS_ReducedLaserSmoke.esp
CleanVATS.esp
SCDC_v0.5.esp
PersistentVolumeSliders.esp
Realistic Reverb and Ambiance.esp
LOST Audio Tweaks.esp
LushAmbience.esp
LAT - Lush Ambience Patch.esp
AmbientTunnels.esp
LAT - Ambient Tunnels Patch.esp
CityAmbience.esp
LAT - Inner City Ambience Patch.esp
Ambient Wasteland.esp
LAT - Ambient Wasteland Patch.esp
Elzee Cut SFX Restored.esp
Fallout Suite.esp
LAT - Fallout Suite Patch.esp
Lightweight Lighting.esp
TrueStormsFO4-FarHarbor.esp
TrueStormsFO4-NukaWorld-FH-Compat.esp
TrueStormsFO4-EarlierSunsets.esp
TrueStormsFO4-EarlierSunsetsFH.esp
Lightweight Lighting + True Storms.esp
LWL + TS - Early Sunsets.esp
SeasonsChange - Lightweight Lighting Patch.esp
SeasonsChange - TrueStorms Patch.esp
CHALLENGES.esp
jsrs.esp
JSRS_Regions.esp
DCRE.esp
FO4ParticlePatch.esp
WET.esp
WAVE.esp
NF_Rocks_Fix.esp
Seriousreconscope.esp
Enhanced Vanilla Armor and Clothing.esp
ScopeOverlayDOF.esp
Capital Wasteland Hunting Rifle - Unofficial Update.esp
10MMTF.esp
Laser Weapon Reanimated.esp
GaussRifleVVSounds.esp
CovertSidearmVVSounds.esp
Assault Rifle Reanimated.esp
AttachPack.esp
Attach Pack Modcol.esp
SPAS.esp
FOLON-StandaloneReleaser.esp
ThompsonSMGReplacer.esp
M1928A1.esp
M1928A1_AnotherOneAddon.esp
4estGimp - M1928A1_Thompson_SMG_Replacer.esp
65SeriesPistols.esp
Capital Wasteland .32 Pistol - Unofficial Update.esp
Zanthir_Minigun.esp
ABundleofTape.esp
A Bundle of Tape - Unofficial Update.esp
ClassicSniper.esp
Classic Sniper - Unofficial Update.esp
WattzLaserGun.esp
Wattz Laser Gun - Unofficial Update.esp
Wattz Laser Gun Unofficial Update Additions.esp
Wattz Laser Gun Unofficial Update Additions - ECO-NEO Patch.esp
F4NVRechargerWeapons.esp
NV_LMG.esp
AssaultLMG.esp
VanBuren_223.esp
XR92_Rifle.esp
RangemasterRemaster.esp
RangeRifle.esp
RCW.esp
Skibs-223PistolRedux.esp
SigSauer127.esp
12.7mm Pistol - Unofficial Update.esp
F4NV_44_Magnum.esp
127mmSMG.esp
American180nv.esp
DP_CaravanShotgun.esp
Caravan Shotgun - Unofficial Update.esp
SingleShotgun_ENG.esp
GreaseGunSMG.esp
F4NVLaserPistol.esp
F4NVSingleActionArmy.esp
HuntingRevolver.esp
ChinaLakeandHolorifle.esp
LAER.esp
4estGimp - LAER_INNR_ini_CS1.9.esp
F4NV-N99.esp
F4NV-AMR.esp
Zanthir_SuperSledgeIntegrated.esp
ElMudoStore.esp
LeverActionWoodFinish.esp
ODW - Winchester Model 1873.esp
GenericDeliverer.esp
Compact Pistol - Unofficial Tweaks.esp
Skb_RiflesRebirth.esp
4estGimp - Rifles Rebirth Edit.esp
WinCowbowRepeater.esp
Zanthir_RockItLauncher.esp
SelectShotgun.esp
AmmoCounterFramework.esp
HandmadeSMG.esp
SelectRapidMG.esp
P94PlasmaCaster.esp
P94PlasmaRifle.esp
Glock86.esp
SelectMarksman.esp
WastelandWideWarehouse.esp
Zapgun.esp
CROSS_BreakActionLaser.esp
HuntingShotgun.esp
M1918A2.esp
VeryZenBARtex.esp
GaussRevolver.esp
InstituteTechnologyOverhaul - FULL.esp
(SKI) ITO Paint Patch.esp
BBgunForMunitions.esp
PointLookout-BBgun_upgrade.esp
BreakGrenadeLauncherMica.esp
Wastelandshotgun.esp
uRadiumRiflePlacerSTANDALONE.esp
ITO_AdaptiveDelivererReplacer.esp
4estGimp - ZapGunLL.esp
EnergyComboDeal.esp
PigClassicCombatShotgun.esp
PigRetroAR15.esp
Munitions_TinkerersHeavyEnergy2.esp
DupletF4.esp
HomemadeLasRevolver.esp
PigAAM1911.esp
VltSec10mmSmg.esp
PigAAMSten.esp
TeslaRCW.esp
Pig1887Munitions.esp
PigAAM1897.esp
PigAMPoliceRiotShotgun.esp
PigBullpupCSG.esp
MakeshiftCMG.esp
PigRaiderMicrogun.esp
RailwayPistol.esp
BullpupHmar.esp
PigScrapBattleRifle.esp
MakeshiftAssaultPack.esp
MakeshiftStealthPack.esp
HandmadeMac.esp
Mauser.esp
HandcraftedAutoloader3rdPersonAnimFix.esp
AAMWA2k.esp
PigAAMBeretta.esp
PigFNC.esp
PigAutomagIII.esp
PigAAMC96.esp
PigAAMDeag.esp
BullpupR91.esp
PBW-TheServicePackRELOADED.esp
PBW-TheChineseAssaultRifle.esp
CWGaussRifleUpdate.esp
MTs255.esp
PBW-TheCityKillerShotgun.esp
PBW-The9mmPistol.esp
10mmSubmachineGun.esp
Laserremeshredux.esp
Lasremesh_AttPackPatch.esp
Attach Pack Mod Description Fixes.esp
laserredux_MunitionsPatch.esp
fnv44attpackpatch.esp
Hunting Rifle .30-06 Receiver - Munitions Patch.esp
RocketRifle.esp
PhotonDisruptor.esp
SelectPhoton_ITOinjectPatch.esp
DakSurvivalHatchet.esp
pulsecarbine.esp
PulseCarbine_ITO_FULLpatch.esp
smmg.esp
MGRemesh.esp
Frommer.esp
22Pack.esp
DakDeagle.esp
Disruptor.esp
DakBowieKnife.esp
MedMeleePack.esp
DakHomemadeVityaz.esp
InfiltratorSMG.esp
DakProtoAA12.esp
DakHomemadeSaiga.esp
HandmadeLeverActionSG.esp
VarmintShotgun.esp
DakFR2.esp
DakRevolverRifle.esp
10mmRevolver.esp
DakJudgeRevolver.esp
DakLindaPistol.esp
DakLindaPistol 1stP PA Footstep Fix.esp
DakGrenadeAPW.esp
DakGrenadeAPW 1stP PA Footstep Fix.esp
DakBorz.esp
DakWin1907.esp
DakBAR.esp
DakBAR 1stP PA Footstep Fix.esp
DakSW59.esp
DakFAL.esp
DakM202.esp
DAKMAC.esp
Dak20mm.esp
DakRugerRifles.esp
DakSCAMP.esp
Nailer MKII.esp
NailerMK2Patch.esp
ThumperGL.esp
LaserGarand.esp
Zanthir_BumpVertSwords.esp
FLTWP_HMEPistol.esp
SpadeyGatlingGun.esp
AVBGuns.esp
Consistent Power Armor Overhaul.esp
Brotherhood Power Armor Overhaul.esp
BPAO - Automatron Patch.esp
Dank_ECO.esp
Dank_ECO-StandaloneWorkbenches.esp
Dank_ECO-INNR.esp
Dank_ECO_DisablePlacedItems.esp
Dank_ECO_DLCCoast.esp
Dank_ECO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
Dank_ECO_DLCRobot.esp
Dank_LEO.esp
Dank_LEO-Automatron.esp
Dank_LEO_DLCCoast.esp
Dank_LEO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
Dank_ECO-LEO.esp
Dank_ECO-Munitions.esp
Dank_ECO-Munitions_INNR_CS.esp
eXoCombatArmorKneePads.esp
ECO SAW Patch.esp
Better_Settlement_Defence.esp
ConcordResurrected.esp
CommonwealthEncounterPack.esp
SettlementMenuManager.esp
OCDecorator.esp
OCDecoratorDLC.esp
OCDispenser.esp
Vault-Tec Workshop Overhaul Redux.esp
Vault88 - Essentials.esp
cVc Dead Wasteland 6.esp
cVc Dead Wasteland 6 DLC3.esp
cVc Dead Wasteland 6 DLC2.esp
cVc Dead Wasteland 6 DLC.esp
Thematic and Practical.esp
Thematic and Practical - DLC.esp
AUR_RebuildSettlements_Workshop.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_Pt01.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_Pt02.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_DLC.esp
TransferSettlements.esp
whisperExtraPieces.esp
UniversalDisassembler-FIS.esp
Underground RailroadALLDLC.esp
UndergroundReduxWhisperBenches.esp
Vault4.esp
CavesOfTheCommonwealth.esp
CSEPBIARedux.esp
CSEPBountyMod.esp
CSEPLoadedBases.esp
BradbertonInteriors.esp
The Wild Key Chase.esp
PalmettoImports-SunsetSarsaparilla.esp
AR2 Attachment Pack Patch.esp
XDI-AR2 patch.esp
REPatch_AmericaRising2LegacyOfTheEnclave.esp
DCWestSuperMutants.esp
ConceptCentaur.esp
ClassicBehemoth.esp
Floaters.esp
DCMolerats.esp
MMLFAW_No_Boombugs_In_111_Patch.esp
MM_NoSnake_NoHermitCrab_Patch.esp
MutantMenagerie_NoFarHarbor.esp
VaultOutfitPack - Integrated.esp
Classic Combat Armor.esp
Classic_Vault_111_Outfit_Replacer.esp
CROSS_CourserStrigidae.esp
MercenaryOutfits.esp
ChineseStealthSuit.esp
AtomsGloryThreads.esp
SSTHazmatSuitImproved.esp
Backpacks of the Commonwealth.esp
Backpacks of the Commonwealth - UFO4P Patch.esp
QwibLucyBag.esp
StealthSuitDrk.esp
MinutemenEnforcer.esp
MiscOutfitPackv2.esp
Hellfirenew.esp
FO4TribalPowerArmor.esp
X01Light.esp
T47R_PA.esp
AmericaRising2-Hellfire-RTL.esp
AmericaRising2-CAPA ESL Patch.esp
CAPA Fixes.esp
4estGimp - CAPA_INNR_ini_CS_4ESL.esp
Enclave-X02.esp
AmericaRising2-EnclaveBlackDevilX-02.esp
AmericaRising2-T65 Power Armor (ESL) Patch.esp
Power Armor to the People.esp
Power Armor to the People Abandonment.esp
Power Armor to the People Abandonment - Nuka-World.esp
Power Armor to the People - T-65.esp
Power Armor to the People - Nuka-World.esp
Power Armor to the People - Hellfire X-03.esp
Power Armor to the People - Far Harbor.esp
Power Armor to the People - Enclave X-02 (Black Devil).esp
Power Armor to the People - Consistent Power Armor Overhaul.esp
Power Armor to the People - Brotherhood Power Armor Overhaul.esp
Power Armor to the People - Automatron.esp
Power Armor to the People - Classic Advanced Power Armor.esp
Power Armor to the People - T-47R.esp
Power Armor to the People - Tribal Power Armor.esp
ngh_FO1_PA.esp
LBPAC.esp
LBPAC - FO4TribalPowerArmor.esp
LBPAC-PAttP.esp
Classic Outfits Distributed.esp
SCOURGE - Vanilla.esp
SCOURGE - Nuka World.esp
SCOURGE - Far Harbor.esp
SCOURGE - Automatron.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Point Lookout.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - CWCentaurs.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Mojave Bighorners.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Mojave Geckos.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Mojave Cazadores.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Mojave Mantises.esp
SCOURGE - LFAW.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - ConceptCentaur.esp
SCOURGE - Patch - Floaters.esp
BetterWeaponDiversityCHW-v2.1.esp
BetterWeaponDiversityCHW_UnofficialUpdate.esp
NoFreeConcordPA.esp
DiamondCityBillboards.esp
AnimatedCandles.esp
Diamond City Supplements.esp
GoodneighborView.esp
RemoveBlur.esp
BetterCompanions.esp
You Are Exceptional.esp
Alternative Activation Prompts - You Are Exceptional Patch.esp
YAE - Damage Nerf Patch v2k.esp
YAE_Munitions_Patch.esp
MunitionsBallistics.esp
BusMod-FIS.esp
IntroTweaks.esp
EAMR.esp
SunLightAlignment.esp
ImmersiveDrumlinDiner.esp
Pip2000MkVi_Replacer.esp
PD_LowerWeapon.esp
fo3friedghouls.esp
FO3 And FO4 Ghouls.esp
Crows&Creatures_V1.esp
WastelandRebornArchives.esp
FO4LODGen.esp
FO4LODGen-DLCCoast-WindTurbines.esp
WestonWaterLOD.esp
Optimized Vanilla Tree LODs.esp
Far Harbor 3d Tree LODs.esp
FOLIP - New LODs.esp
WastelandRebornMasterPatch.esp
M8r Complex Sorter.esp
M8r Complex Sorter-part2.esp
PRP.esp
PRP-Compat-PointLookout.esp
LAT - PRP Update Patch.esp
PRPBountiesPatch.esp
PRPCotCPatch.esp
PRPAmericaRisingPatch.esp
PRPVault4Patch.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_Pt01_PRP.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_Pt02_PRP.esp
AUR_Rebuild_AIO_DLC_PRP.esp
PRPIDDPatch.esp
PuddleReflectionFix.esp
WastelandRebornPRP.esp
RegionsPatch.esp
Synthesis.esp
Scrap Everything - Ultimate Edition.esp

He holds up a curtain for a few moments. The curtain drops, the magician is gone. The royal guy is still standing there, but falls over dead, with either scissors or a knife in his back. Wife goes ballistic crying.
It was an assassination I guess.
It was seen in around 1992. Not sure if it's a movie or TV show.

First / Previous / Royal Road / Patreon (Read 12 Chapters Ahead)

Together, Pale and Kayla dragged the mage back to the cave they'd been using for shelter, barely managing to get him inside before the snowfall began again. Pale tied his hands behind his back and his legs together using some paracord she had in her pack, and the two of them stood over the man, staring down at him.
"What now?" Kayla asked. "Do we wait for him to-"
Pale cut her off by bringing the stock of her shotgun across the berserker's face. He reeled from the strike, suddenly catapulting awake, his eyes wide as several of his teeth came spilling out across the stone cave floor. He coughed, spitting out a glob of blood before fixing her with a harsh glare. Smoke began to rise from his palms, but Pale stopped him by putting the barrel of her gun flush with his crotch.
"Unless you want to lose something, I'd suggest keeping your magic under control," she threatened. "Because if I pull this trigger, there isn't a healer alive who'll be able to give back what you'll lose."
The man snarled at her, but the smoke curling up from his hands stopped all the same. He spat out more blood. "The fuck am I still alive for?"
"I think you know exactly what you're alive for. Now, are you going to play nice and tell us what we want to know, or am I going to have to force it out of you piece by piece?"
The mage grinned at her, showing off a mouth full of missing teeth and liquid crimson. "You really think I'd betray my brothers like that?"
"Last I checked, your brothers are all dead," Pale said absentmindedly. "But still, I was hoping you'd pick the hard way; I needed to relieve some stress."
She let her shotgun hang from its sling, then drew her knife. With her free hand, she grabbed one of his fingers, then positioned the blade at the tip.
"Last chance to offer up what you know," she threatened.
The mage barked out a laugh. "Fuck off. You really think I'd ever-"
His bravado suddenly gave way to an agonized scream as Pale forced the blade of her knife underneath his fingernail. He thrashed in agony as she twisted the knife before roughly yanking it free, taking the fingernail with it. She held the disembodied nail up to him, then flicked it away.
"Have I made my point?" she said evenly. "Because last I checked, you've still got nine fingers and ten toes, not to mention a variety of other things I could poke at and prod at and cut off. And when you run out of those, I can just start skinning you bit by bit."
"Fuck you…" he breathed through gritted teeth. "I'll never-"
She took another fingernail for his troubles. Idly, Pale was aware of Kayla flinching with every scream that erupted out of the man's throat, but that didn't bother her.
Kayla had specified no death, but that didn't mean she couldn't make this hurt like hell.
She again positioned the knife at one of his fingertips, only for him to give a weak, shuddering, pain-filled cough.
"W-wait…" he croaked.
"I see your tongue has been thoroughly loosened," she surmised, though she didn't dare to move the blade even a millimeter away from his next finger.
"What do you have for me?"
"I can give you our leader's name."
"And?"
"What do you mean, and? He doesn't tell us anything, he just pays us and feeds us, like any good leader should."
Pale's expression narrowed. "You had better give me something more substantial to go on, otherwise I have no reason to keep you around."
"Pale-" Kayla began, only to fall silent when she held up a hand. Reluctantly, Kayla backed down, though she continued to look on with concern as Pale's grip around her blade turned white-knuckled.
"Tell me something useful," Pale demanded. "Unless you want to see exactly how much pain I can commit to before I get bored."
"Okay, okay!" the bandit growled. "Fine… our leader's name is Sven Greymane, the warrior-king of the northern isles. He's the one who ordered us to attack certain towns on this continent."
"Is that why you sacked some and completely bypassed others?"
He nodded. "Yes. That was all part of the plan – he'd give us locations to attack, pay us in gold and food to attack them, and then let us keep whatever valuables we wanted afterwards."
"And did he tell you why he only wanted specific locations attacked, while others were to be spared?"
The mage shook his head. "No, and we knew better than to ask questions given how good of a deal it was."
Kayla suddenly stepped forwards. "One of those towns was my village," she growled. "Your friends captured several people, including my father, and took them back to the northern isles."
The mage leaned in, squinting to get a better look at her, before finally shrugging. "I don't know anything about that."
"Liar," Pale hissed.
"It's the truth. I wasn't involved with the attack on any Beastkin town."
"Of course, you'd say that," Kayla said through gritted teeth. "You're worried about what will happen to you if you admit to us here and now that you had something to do with it."
"Don't know what else to tell you. I had nothing to do with the attack on you and yours, and I didn't take any Beastkin slaves."
"Enough of this," Pale snapped. "How long do we have to find her father?"
The bandit cracked a wide grin at her. "You're probably already too late. If the girl's father is anything like her, then he's already been deemed to be useless as a slave – too mouthy for his own good, and mouthy slaves don't last very long among my people."
A vein pulsed in Kayla's forehead as she clenched and unclenched her fists. "Answer the question," she demanded. "Assuming he isn't murdered before we can get there, how long do slaves typically last while with your people?"
"Depends on the slave. Men tend to last longer, provided they're young enough and in good health. Of course, he was taken in the first place, so I assume that someone saw some value in him, at least enough to want him for themselves. Now, that only accounts for a berserker warrior having a bad day and killing someone as a result. If he's unlucky, he'll succumb to the elements before long." The mage shrugged. "It wouldn't make any sense for us to spend all that time capturing and enslaving someone only to let them die so soon, unless they just so happened to be a massive pain in the ass."
"So you claim," Pale said dismissively. "What else do you have for us?"
"I've told you enough," the man grunted. "Now hurry up and let me go."
"And why would I do that?" Pale demanded. "So you can go back to robbing and killing the innocent? Is your life really worth the lives of the people you'd kill if we let you go?"
"It is to her." He motioned towards Kayla, who was staring at him and trembling as she bit her lip, deep in thought.
Pale's eyes narrowed. "Kayla."
Kayla jumped slightly at the sound of her name being called. She hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh. "...You should let him go."
"You know I can't do that, Kayla. If we let him go, he'll just go right back to doing what brought him here. Either we end this here and now and prevent him from taking more innocent lives, or he goes on for however long it takes for someone else to put him down."
"I know!" Kayla spat. "It's just… I don't know what to do… I don't want to be responsible for someone's death like this…"
"I understand that, but this is war," Pale insisted. "Death is an unavoidable part of that."
"What do you mean, war?" Kayla asked, horrified at the prospects of what Pale had just suggested. "You… you really are a soldier, aren't you? That's why you're doing this – it's a chance to do what you were made to do…"
"War is in my nature," Pale insisted. "It is why I was created. You are correct that this is a chance to fulfill my prime directive, but not in the way that you think." She turned her gaze back towards the bandit. "I need to get off this planet and back into the war I left behind before it's too late to save my creators. If killing this man will get me there faster, then I will not hesitate to do that."
"But… you can't know that killing him will help with that," Kayla pointed out. "He's just one man…"
"Every second spent debating his existence is one not spent working towards my ultimate goal. I ask for your input on what to do with him because I value your opinion as my ally, and do not wish to alienate you by leaving you out of major decisions such as that, but that does not mean I will not try to make you see reason when I think you are about to make a terrible decision." Pale sheathed her knife and hefted her shotgun. "You are concerned with the loss of innocent life, yes? Well, letting me kill this man will save an untold number of them. Is his life really worth all of theirs?"
"You can't think of it that way! He's still a person, too!"
"He is," Pale agreed. "But as far as I am concerned, his right to life is now forfeit, as he used it to torture and murder other people."
The bandit suddenly burst out laughing. "Listen to you two! You're honestly debating whether or not to take a life. How quaint, not to mention innocent. Consider me entertained."
Pale bashed him with the stock of her gun once more, knocking a few more of his teeth out in the process. As he coughed on blood and bone shards, she turned back to Kayla.
"See reason in this," she implored. "Letting him live means-"
"I know!" Kayla interrupted. Her wolf ears flattened against her skull, and in a quieter voice, she repeated, "...I know."
Her tail lashed behind her, and finally, she shook her head. "...I was willing to fight for you," she said softly. "I tried to convince you that you weren't just a killing machine – that you had a sjel, and that it was worth something. And maybe I was right. But even if I was… even if you're not just a killing machine… you seem dead-set on trying to be one. And if that's what you want, then who am I to stop you? Do what you want with him, Pale; after all, it's what you were programmed to do."
Kayla turned and marched out of the cave. Pale watched her go, waiting until she was completely gone before acting.
A single gunshot split the night.

Special thanks to my good friend and co-writer, Ickbard for the help with writing this story.

Hi all. Every day I see people saying they struggle with bots and how they just aren’t fun. As a certified bot diver, I know how those missions can turn into absolute disasters in a second. However, there is a loadout that I think is the most flexible and efficient in almost all situations that I think will greatly help you and might even change your mind about playing bots. If not, at least I tried. This is what I take with myself when I just want to win.
A summary first, then some explanations.
Armour: heavy fortified (explosion resistance) Primary: Pummeler SMG Secondary: grenade pistol Grenade: stun
Stratagems: ballistic shield, AMR, rest to taste. I like Eagle airstrike and railcannon.
Armour: go heavy. While mobility is everything against the bugs, positioning is everything against bots. Speed isn’t essential, so pick protection. The Fortified perk gives you explosion resistance which is crucial because trust me, there will be times when it feels like the entire world is blowing up around you. There is also the white heavier medium suit whose name I forget, that one works well too if you find yourself too slow.
Primary: the Pummeler. If you don’t have it, the Defender works well too. They both reliably kill everything except the following: hulks, tanks, scout striders, factory striders. The reason we’re taking the Pummeler instead of the higher DPS Defender is the stagger effect it has. Its time to kill isn’t fantastic but you can lock down groups of enemies by alternating between them, kind of like how you used to with the pre-nerf Slugger. The reason for taking an SMG in the first place is the ballistic shield. More on that later.
Secondary: the grenade pistol. Two reasons: fabricators and close scout striders. We’re not bringing other explosives, so the GP is our factory killer besides any Eagles or orbitals you might take. Its real strength, however, is its ability to one-shot scout striders at ranges too close for the AMR. It’s not always consistent and you might have to hit them another time, but that’s not a problem because you’ll be reloading behind your shield, which the striders cannot penetrate. You can also use it against devastators but probably not much, since it does have limited ammo. Although it is fun arcing a grenade over a heavy dev shield and nailing them in the face.
Grenade: stun. We’re taking this for hulk hunting. I don’t know how long exactly the stun is, but it’s really good. Easily long enough to switch to the AMR, line up a shot, fire, line up another, and fire again. No more hulk. It can also shut down groups of smaller enemies but that’s mostly handled by our primary.
Now for the stratagems.
Ballistic shield: this is the centerpiece of the loadout. Underrated, underutilised, unbelievably good. This thing is bulletproof, literally. It will block everything ranged except explosions and fire. Small arms? No problem. Raider or heavy dev machine guns? Ping right off. Scout strider cannons, tank MGs, even the heavy frontal miniguns on factory striders? Not getting through this bad boy. The best thing about it is that it’s directional, meaning that you can choose which side you want to protect. Just carrying it covers your left, aiming covers your front, and pulling out your support weapon covers your back.
Now I did say it doesn’t work against explosives. This is a downside, but that’s why we’re bringing armour with the fortified perk. I suggest against trying to block rockets and cannons since they can break the shield, but this is unlikely to happen if you use it as intended. It’s also useless against flamethrowers, which is why we’re carrying stun grenades for disabling and hopefully eliminating those hulks that carry them.
What’s great about bringing the shield is that it makes you think about your positioning in a way fighting bugs never does. Against bugs you run and kite, never stopping because if you do, you’re dead. Against bots, this will not work. You will be killed, over and over again. You have to be slower, more methodical. Unlike bugs, bots are easy to outrun, but if they catch you out of cover, especially if they get a flank on you, you’re toast. With the shield, however, you can pick the weaker flank, take a deep breath, and attack them instead of them attacking you. What’s neat about this is that this tactic is viable even without the shield but doing it with it first builds up your skill and especially confidence; it’s a bit daunting at first.
I could ramble on and on about the ballistic shield but I think I’ve gone on long enough already. Let’s move on to the last part of the loadout, which is...
The anti-materiel rifle, or AMR: yes, materiEl. In my opinion, the true Swiss army knife of the automaton front. Some might protest and say the autocannon is it. I disagree, because while the AC is a great weapon, it lacks two things the AMR has: a free backpack slot needed for the shield, and good sights. If I’m not bringing the shield, I do take the AC sometimes. Despite its name, the AMR is perfectly good against personnel too. Since we’re bringing an SMG, we’ll be using the AMR for long-range chaff clear too. It’s also usable, if not ideal, for close range, although the massive recoil makes it challenging for that purpose. Still, if you get cornered with it you can forsake accuracy and just mag dump anything in front of you and chances are it’ll work because despite appearances, this thing has an insane fire rate. It’s not ammo efficient, but it’s better than dying. However, we’ll primarily be using the AMR for precise shots at weak points. It kills all devastators with one shot to the head, scout striders with one or two shots to where the legs attach, and hulks with two shots to the optic. It destroys the factory strider’s miniguns with four-ish shots, kills them outright with one and a half mags to the underside. It downs gunships with four to an engine. It’s useless against tanks unless you can get a shot at the backs of their turrets, but we still have two unused stratagem slots for those.
As for those, nothing else is “mandatory" for this build so pick what you like or what suits the mission. I like the basic Eagle strike because of its utility in killing everything. The railcannon is great for those moments when you see a hulk you want to absolutely, positively just delete in an instant. Precision strike works wonders against tanks, as do the 110mm rockets. 120mm is great for groups and factory striders. 380mm levels big bases and stuff like dropship depots and command bunkers. You get the idea.
So there you have it, IMO the most versatile bot loadout you can bring. As I said, this is my win button for when I’m not interested in experimenting and just want to get the job done. It’s effective and it’s fun. If you’re a bugdiver struggling against the socialist menace or just need something different to mix up your Scorcher & AC life, give it a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Any questions, feel free to ask. SES Queen of the Stars, over and out.