Wade held Jasmine in his arms as he flew a low height down the long road to another section of the staryard, Tina on his back and Nathan and F right behind them in the air. Together, the five glided across the base grounds, taking care as to not irritate the aerial security during their search for the meeting room. Being outside for the flight, the group considered it a blessing that Wade's 'enhanced cooling unit' allowed his body to tolerate the breaching sun in the still cloudy sky, which, according to F, was dangerous to drones like her due to the inefficient cooling she and disassembly drones like her suffered from. Given F's physical fault, she had to fly under shady areas in order to safely traverse the base at day.
Originally, Wade and his friends had planned to walk to the meeting zone, but after running into a trooper experiencing a health mishap, the group did what they could to help the distressed officer. By the time he was brought to the medical ward by other soldiers, Wade found that him and his team would be at least a few minutes late if they kept on their way with their walk.
Deciding to speed things up, Wade, understanding the concern for performing such an effort, opted to carry the Fowleys around the base to the meeting area. Reluctantly, F decided to come along, carrying Nathan in a similar manner that Wade was carrying Jasmine. Taking notice of the time on his HUD, which read, "9:47 AM", Wade scouted for the building he and his friends were directed to. "8072" He said to himself, the number being for the building that would house the imminent meeting.
"They said it was down here, right?" Wade asked aloud to Tina before stopping himself in mid-air, the girl holding onto him tightly as he tried to speak over the growing sound of a retrofit Apache flying overhead.
Looking about, Tina nodded as she spotted the target building. "Yes, I believe that's the one over there!" Pointing past his head, Wade followed her finger to a large building ahead at his right. The structure was moderately tall, only about two stories high, with several soldiers and officers going in and out of the building. Wade smiled as he noticed the target number, as well as the big, bold words describing the building's designation. "8072, Briefing Center B"
"Good eye, honey. Hang on!" Continuing his low glide, Wade zoomed towards the building's entrance before stopping just meters above the ground, his two friends close behind as they slowed down as well. The troopers around them initially looked startled by the sudden arrival of Wade and his group, but quickly regained their composure as Wade hovered still above them.
"At ease! Just visitors." One of the soldiers declared as they identified the newcomers, who touched down before Wade let Jasmine down to her feet, Tina hopping onto the ground along with her.
Putting his hands up, Wade apologized for his swift surprise. "Sorry for the scare, we got delayed for a meeting we're invited to."
The soldier gave an understanding nod as he replied to the former worker drone sternly. "I can see that, just be a bit more careful next time, Mr. Carter. You gave the boys here quite a scare."
Wade returned the gesture in embarrassment as F put a hand to his back, chuckling at his efforts as Tina questioned the officer. "Is Mrs. J in there? She's the one who called for us."
The guard gave his reply as Wade and Tina pulled out their IDs for clearance. "Yes she is, Miss. The meeting's set to begin in under ten minutes." Checking the two drones' IDs, Jasmine and the others pulled out theirs as well, the watchman motioning another trooper over to verify the group. Once the guard finished checking the five's cards, he nodded in approval as the watchman spoke once more. "You're clear to enter."
"Thank you Sir, again, sorry about that spook back there." Wade replied with a smile as the trooper gave one of his own, the disassembly drone and his allies making their way towards the office door before stopping upon the call of a voice.
"Hey, Felice!" Wade turned to find the origin of the voice, F doing the same as the two quickly spotted a quartet of soldiers walking excitedly towards F. The disassembly drone glanced to her friends with a smile before turning back to the approaching entourage.
Wade examined the four troops as they got closer: Two human men, one woman, and a male worker drone. One of the male soldiers had short, blonde hair, and a small scar to the right side of their face. The second man bore a tan skin tone and had black hair, with blue strips that went down slightly in a mullet style. The woman bore a set of long, dark green hair, with the hair going down and over her left shoulder. As for the worker drone, he wore the standard green soldier helmet, single eye visor and all. He had no hair on him from what Wade could tell, and bore a pair of whiteish purple eyes on his visor.
As F walked over to the soldiers, the same one that called to her spoke again. "Felicity, I didn't expect to see you around here today! Where you been?"
The girl soldier interrupted his initial chatter. "Hang on Carlos, do you even know if she remembers us?"
"Aye, don't she have one o' them memory locks, or sumthin?" The drone added in a heavy Scottish accent.
F waved her hand as she replied to the group. "Easy, everyone. Thankfully I still got my memories, courtesy of my technician back at Central." Lowering her hand, F let down her usual persona as she gave a wide smirk to the soldiers, clearly pleased to see them. "Good to see you guys around here."
The soldiers gave light cheers to F as they all embraced her, the group having a surprise reunion as Wade and the others watched in surprise. These must've been F's old colleagues from when she was in the service, Wade thought. Quite the coincidence for them to be here at this base of all places.
Not bothering with the convenience of the matter, Wade shook the thought off as he and his friends watched F and her old friends breaking the hug, Tina wrapping an arm around her boyfriend as the second male human spoke to her in what the two discerned as Spanish. "Ay, who your new friends, F?"
"Oh, these guys?" F replied in the same language, quietly startling Wade and the others as they had never heard her speak like that until now. Glancing over to Wade, F motioned him and the others to come over. "Everyone, these are some friends I made in the past few days. Wade, Nathan, Tina, and Jasmine." She pointed her hand to the four as she said each of their names. "I met the boys here during my time on Ceres. Jasmine and Tina here are sisters."
The four soldiers gave various forms of excitement, ranging from hearty laughs to low woops and even a whistle from one of the guys. As F stood next to her old teammates, they each introduced themselves to Wade and his friends. The blonde soldier went first. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you all, name's Carlos, Lieutenant Marksman."
"I'm Private Alvaros, good with close-range and stealth operations." Said the tan soldier with a salute.
"Sergeant Lucia Vasquez, usually the one who leads this bunch around these days." The female warrior stated with a humorous smirk.
"And Corporal Duncan Wallace, at your service!" The soldier drone stated proudly as he saluted to the bunch in front of him, who gave warm smiles as Wade shook his hand.
"Quite honored to meet you all, seems you have quite the history with F." The former worker drone said as Carlos patted F on her back.
"Oh, we do! She's the one who took charge when we didn't! Did you all hear of the Pasting of Nola VI?" Jasmine and Tina gave nods of affirmation while Wade, not as familiar with such history, held his hand up in a questioning manner.
"I think, wasn't that the battle where the Navy just barely held the outpost in that system? From the Stryker Clan?" Wade asked as Carlos nodded approvingly to him.
"That's right, and if Felice weren't there, WE would've been the ones getting pasted!" Carlos' statement brought victorious cheers and "oorahs" from the group, F letting a blush loose as she chuckled at her team's praise of her efforts.
"Well, that's not wrong." Although she didn't want to break off from her friends and discuss the past few years since they'd last met, F remembered the briefing. Clearing her throat, she continued. "And as much as I'd like to chat about the good times, I've been called to a meeting here, as have Wade and his crew."
The soldier group gave understanding looks to F as Lucia spoke up. "Thought so, Carl here was real eager to see you, though."
"Maybe we can talk after the meeting?" Nathan proposed as the soldiers collectively nodded in agreement, F readying a smartcomm attachment before turning to face her friends again.
"We're probably getting low on time, you all go in, I'll catch up in a sec." Wade nodded in acknowledgement before taking Tina's hand, the lover drones continuing towards the briefing center as Jasmine and Nathan followed behind them.
Passing through the door, the four guests observed a short hallway, which seemed to split into two paths as they came closer to the other end. Looking to a sign on the wall above, they saw arrows pointing to two separate areas, "Primary Briefing Room; Main Lobby + Secondary & Tertiary" Going to the right, they entered the moderately active lobby, several officers walking and standing about in mass chatter. Walking over to the desk up against the wall to their left, Wade and his group waved a hand to the occupying attendant.
"Welcome, what do you need?" The desk attendant asked as Tina raised a finger to reply.
"We're here for a meeting, Mrs. J called us here."
The attendant nodded in understanding before directing an arm towards the other end of the room, where a single door stood. "She should be in the second briefing room down that way."
"Thank you." Tina replied warmly before she and Wade began walking towards the door, their friends behind them as they proceeded into the room.
The room beyond the door was quite sizable, a large circular table occupying the middle with several chairs surrounding it. The walls went up a few meters, with four whiteish blue lights illuminating the room. On the wall opposite to Wade and Tina were three monitor screens, all of which showed the USN in bright blue. In several of the seats were faces both familiar and unfamiliar, several men and women in varying styles of uniforms conversing about quietly or taking notice of the recent visitors. Standing up near the monitors were three people: A decorated officer whom Tina identified as a ship captain, and the so-called operatives, Tessa, albeit as a hologram, and J.
Walking slowly into the room, Wade gave a low wave of his hand as he tried to hide his nervousness. Noticing his shyness in front of the officers, Tina held his hand and rubbed his arm comfortingly while returning a pleasant smile to the staff in the room.
"Ah, Wade, Tina. Glad to see you all here." J stated with a smile as she scanned the group, raising a digital eyebrow as she noticed one missing guest. "Or, most of you, I see. Did F run off somewhere?"
Wade shook his head as he replied to his fellow disassembly drone. "Oh, no. She just ran into some old friends, she should be back-"
"Right now." F finished aloud as she entered the room, seemingly having heard Wade speaking about her absence. The warrior drone fast walked to Wade's team, taking a seat near them as they prepared to do the same. "Not too late, are we?"
"Not at all." The standing officer answered as the group took their seats, Wade and Tina sitting next to each other as they got comfortable. The captain examined the lot for a moment, glancing to J as he asked about them. "So, these are the ones you helped rescue from the Mojave?"
"Yes Captain, and they helped us out greatly in turn. This is Wade Carter, one of the captured drones whom became a disassembly drone before we could mount the rescue. The luckiest one, if you ask me." Motioning her arm over the others, she continued. "And there's his girlfriend, Mrs. Tina Fowley, and her sister Jasmine." Smirking to F and Nathan, she finished her friends' introductions. "And these two are Serial Designation F and Mr. Nathan, whom I've heard were once under your ranks."
The military captain gave a welcoming smile to the five as they returned the gesture, eyeing F and Nathan specifically before speaking to them. "Indeed they were, we still have records on their contributions to the colonies." Eyeing F, he continued. "Though, in Mrs. F's case, I won't blame her if she doesn't remember us. We've been very well aware of JCJenson's 'memory suppression' protocols when it comes to their DDs."
F laid back in her seat with a smug look as she replied to her former superior. "Well, my friend on the station's a good tech gal. She's... waived that hindrance from me."
"I see, that means your still with us, am I right, Mrs. Lee?" Unlike her friends next to her, F was not startled by her original name being said aloud, rather smiling proudly as she saluted to the captain. "Good to see you again."
"Pleased to be here, Sir." F replied as she lowered her arm, glancing to her companions next to her as J spoke up.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Captain Preston Mitchell, commander of the USNV Vickers down at the stardock."
Wade gave a respectful salute to Preston as he spoke first. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Carter. I've heard about your efforts from J, you did an admirable job back there, son." Wade failed to hide an embarrassed blush from the compliment, but it quickly faded as a beep sounded from a small device on the table. It was swiftly silenced by the captain as he tapped a button on the small, pyramid shaped timer, then facing Wade's group before continuing. "Though, as much as we could use some small talk, it'll have to wait till later."
"Indeed, we're running late at this point." Said another officer, a highly decorated member of the base with dark skin, dark grey hair and a thin beard. He immediately won the attention of everyone in the room as he spoke up. "I'm General Hugh Hood, overseer of this base. I'm certain you know some of the reasons you're here with us, correct?"
Wade nodded as he spoke to Hood. "Yeah, it's cause of those rogue agents from the JCJenson corporation." Glancing to J, the corporate drone nodded in affirmation before speaking herself.
"Tessa and I spent the last hours of yesterday evening clearing up the matter with General Hood, along with several other officials stationed here." She stopped as the middle monitor behind her flashed with a banner at the top, reading, "INCOMING TRANSMISSION", and in place of the USN emblem was a textless version of the JCJenson logo. Below the profile image was another two lines of text. "N. Jenson (Company Exec); Comms Source: Yottrite IV"
"And also told our boss about what happened here too, he wanted to give his say on this ordeal." Looking to the general, J asked him, "May I put him on?"
Hood only gave a nod of approval to the corporate drone before she picked up a remote on the table and tapped a button, accepting the call as the picture shifted to show a middle-aged man in a pristine-looking business suit on the screen.
Wade and Tina glanced to each other before J introduced their guest on the screen. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the CEO of JCJenson: Mr. Noor Jenson."
Jenson gave a pleased nod to his subordinate as he spoke to J. "Thank you for the pleasantries, J. I see we are ready to discuss our plans on dealing with this 'recall' disaster I've bore witness to on the news this morning?"
J nodded as she replied to her boss. "Indeed, I've explained to General Hood here about our efforts yesterday, and, as of recent, we've just received a message from a source we believe to be close to the company."
Mr. Jenson looked down to J attentively as he spoke to her. "Well, that's quite intriguing news, J. Do you have this message available for us to view?" J and Hood both nodded in affirmation, but didn't get an immediate reply as Jenson gazed to Wade and his friends. "...And I presume these are some of the drones rescued from one of the factories?"
Again, J nodded to her superior before explaining her colleagues. "Yes Mr. Jenson, the two drones at the front in particular were among those taken by the Administrator and their subordinates." Pointing an arm to Wade and Tina, she introduced the drone couple. "The disassembly drone here is Mr. Wade Carter, a brother to his-technically speaking-owner, the late Ron Carter. The latter helped us recover Wade during an initial raid inside the Nevada facility." When bringing up Ron, J gave an apologetic look to Wade as to show she did not mean to be offending on him and his brother's relationship. "And this is his romantic partner, Mrs. Tina Fowley. I heard she and her sister Jasmine are pilots."
Jenson looked over the two drones as his obedient employee described them to him, quietly sighing as Wade and Tina returned the gaze with nervous smiles. Once J finished, Jenson spoke to Wade. "I... would say it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter. But, given recent events, I don't hold fault to you for feeling frustrated at me for my... former subordinate's actions."
Wade shook his head lightly, taking Jenson's light apology with a faint smile as he replied to the CEO. "Actually, I don't. The only person I have such feelings put towards is," He hesitated for a moment, his anger at Dr. Halloway returning for a short moment before he eased himself. "..That bastard Halloway."
"The feeling's mutual, Mr. Carter. Dr. Halloway has been trying my patience for years now, especially with you and your fellow disassembly drones." Looking to J, then F, he returned his gaze to Wade before questioning him on his new body. "I don't know if J has told you of this, but if there's one truth my company has admittedly not held up to for a while, it's our quality. Recently, some of my research staff here made blueprints for an upgraded variant of the disassembly drone design. It's intended to fix several faults we expected to be nonexistent previously, most notably that atrocious cooling unit."
As a schematic pulled up on the left monitor, everyone glanced to the improved design before F spoke up about it. "If I may ask, Mr. Jenson, how big of an improvement is this new cooling unit supposed to be?"
"Good question, F. Frankly, it's supposed to do away with the issue entirely. Saves us from sacrificing enormous supplies of oil for the poorly built unit in the previous iterations. We even tested it with a repaired drone just a few days ago, and it worked flawlessly." Then, glancing to Wade again, he questioned the former worker drone on his new form. "Speaking of, how does your enhanced body feel, Mr. Carter? I'm certain it feels better to not have to-"
"Actually, Mr. Jenson," Wade interrupted, pulling out one of his canteens as he answered the CEO on his upgrades. "I guess Halloway changed up the blueprints, cause unfortunately this new cooling unit didn't cure the overheating problem. I... kinda learned that the hard way." Wade glanced to Tina apologetically, still feeling bad from her seeing him eat the corpse of the dead murder drone back at the factory.
The corporate CEO grimaced in frustration as he took in Wade's statement, already intolerant of the head researcher's actions as he replied. "...I was worried about that, Edgar always likes to run things his own way, making excuses for that 'Administrator' he watches over." Taking an agitated breath, he continued on with his spew on the two culprits of yesterday's events. "It was only because of all the very impressive creations and enhancements she and her research team provided that I tolerated them for so long, but this..." Sitting up straight in front of the camera, Jenson finished sternly. "J said the Administrator... Cyn, I believe? She was apparently something worse than we presumed originally, and I'm very inclined to believe so after yesterday."
"As well as the program tied to the Administrator, the AbsoluteSolver." J clarified before receiving an agreeing nod from Mr. Jenson, standing corrected on his placing of blame.
Raising a hand, Nathan asked about the supposed plans. "Yeah, about this "Solver Project", what do we plan to do about that?"
"Good question, Nate." Tessa replied as she crossed her arms before looking to Jenson and beginning her explanation. "Initially, we were going to investigate the other factories spread across Earth in order to get some more info on the Administrator before things get worse. But, just this morning, it seems someone else saved us the trouble." Just as Tessa neared the end of her sentence, J held up the remote again, tapping a few buttons before the left monitor shifted to show a slightly grainy video onscreen.
The video only showed a single being, a worker drone, dressed in a chrome suit and bearing a set of yellow eyes. Behind them was what appeared to be a vacant room, a few shelves holding many books within them standing still in the back. The drone's visage indicated they were filled with immense anxiety, terrified of being caught as they spoke quietly to the camera.
"I can only hope someone gets this in time, they're gonna be on me once they find out the transmitter screens are down!" Turning the camera, he showed what appeared to be a large factory room, several more of the mysterious conveyor belts like at the factory slotted next to each other. It was hard to discern every detail due to not only the window reflection, but also the dark lighting in the inactive conveyor room. Filming the room beyond, the drone continued. "Dr. Halloway's a madman, he's got more of those stolen drones being brought here and he's going to be overseeing it in the afternoon tomorrow! I've seen what happened back in Nevada, I can't take this any longer! I'm at coordinates ##.######, -###.###### Please, send someo-"
The suspicious, partially scrambled transmission immediately cut off to static, leaving Wade, Tina, and their friends with confused expressions as Tessa spoke up. "Yeah, that caught me by surprise too."
"So, that guy says they got more drones being sent 'there', but... where is there, exactly?" Jasmine asked with immense curiosity.
"I was hoping you'd ask that, Mrs. Fowley." The technician replied as she glanced to J, who tapped a few more buttons on the remote before speaking over her boss-friend.
"While the transmission itself isn't much to work off of, our friends from Comms over here managed to intercept the signal earlier, and even better, discern where it originated from." As J started her explanation, the screen shifted once more to show a large city, with one skyscraper highlighted in red as it was zoomed towards on the screen. "That scrambled audio wasn't a simple glitch, it was intentionally done so as to hide key information for us to uncover. Upon cleaning up the message, we managed to recover a set of coordinates, which direct to this structure here, in San Francisco."
Wade and his friends stared at the building in shock, examining the tall structure as it stood over the shorter buildings in the city. Tina broke the silence in her gaze. "So, this is another factory? It looks... terribly different from the one we got out of."
"Not exactly, Mrs. Fowley." Mr. Jenson answered, Tina and the others looking to him as he continued. "THAT is the Administrator's main laboratory, its location was kept on the down low so other authorities and terrorist groups wouldn't find out what the buildings true purpose was." Sighing, Jenson completed his reply. "But, with this recent mistake of Halloway's, that place has lost all purpose for us at the company."
Wade raised a hand to speak. "So, we're going to pounce on that place? Get Halloway before he runs off again?"
"Exactly." General Hood replied as he looked up to Mr. Jenson. "This whole 'recovery/recruitment' effort has gotten out of hand all across Sol. We've gotten countless reports of people being killed because of this, be it the brutal robberies here in Nevada or the bloodbath on Ceres. Even if Mr. Jenson refuses to cooperate, this has become a dire matter for us now. One way or another, this insanity will be stopped with due haste."
The CEO nodded in acknowledgement before explaining his own plans for the mission. "Speaking of cooperation, upon seeing what was happening at Earth, I ordered a detachment of our corporate starships in orbit at the time to depart for Sol in order to help with investigating the situation. They're not warships, but they are well-armed. I'll dispatch them to your authority upon concluding this call." Glancing to Wade and his team for a moment, Jenson continued. "As for the mission, I may not have much of a say, but let it be known that you have my blessing to do whatever it takes to end this madness. I don't care what you do with Halloway or any of his lackeys, or what happens to that facility down there... I want that program shut down."
"Thank you for the extra hands, Mr. Jenson. We'll make sure this Administrator is dealt with." Hood replied gratefully as Wade sat firm in his seat, Tina and the others following suite.
"General?" The former worker drone said aloud, catching Hood's attention before he made his request. "I know I'm not a soldier, but I want to help with dealing with Halloway and his grunts. After what he did, after losing my brother, I can't rest until I see that man stopped."
Tina raised a finger as well. "As do I, Wade could use a hand with those people, and given how we did during our escape run out of that place, I think the two of us make quite the duo." She glanced to Wade with a smirk as she referenced their combat prowess when flying together.
Nathan and F stood up before the latter gave her own request. "Sir, I wish to take part in this mission as well. I can also recommend Wade for you too, as I fought alongside him during the factory raid."
"Wouldn't mind giving a hand myself! And I'm sure my pal Kurtis would love to help, he's here at the base too!" Nathan added with a confident smirk, the group's determination encouraging Jasmine to stand up as well.
"I'd like to help too." She stated simply, a smile on her face as the general and his companions observed the five guests.
Admittedly, Hood knew it would be a bit absurd to allow these people to take part in an operation which would certainly involve bloodshed, especially considering most of them merely had civilian status at the moment. But, upon careful evaluation of the five, their desire to see this problem dealt with, and the fact that some of them had experience on the field...
He paused his train of thought as Captain Mitchell spoke to him. "General? I read up on the Fowleys' files when we recovered Mrs. Jasmine here, they provided service in their early careers." He smirked to the pilot sisters as he finished adding his say. "And to be frank, we need more people like them here. The records we have of them showed them to be damn fine pilots."
Tina blushed at the praise from Mitchell as she spoke to the general. "That is true, we uh... did get discharged for our... 'fancy maneuvering'."
"Sir?" Jasmine said, the general's attention on her as she added to the conversation. "Even if our flying is a bit out of protocol, Tina saved a lot of people on that starjet a few days back. I can promise you, she's an excellent woman to have at the wheel."
Glancing to Wade again, Hood took in his face, one of begging desperation as he spoke once more. "Please, Sir. My brother, the troops he brought from the Coalition, Halloway's gotten them all killed cause of this. I want to do this. I HAVE to do this, at least for them."
The good general took a deep, quiet breath, considering his decision once more before finally revealing it to Wade and his friends. "Mr. Carter, Fowleys? I'm probably making myself a fool for saying this, but you're permitted to assist us in this mission."
The drone couple contained their gratefulness in the form of ecstatic grins as Wade replied to the general. "Thanks, General. We won't let you down."
"And Mrs. Lee?" Hood said as he glanced to F, who returned the gesture as he told her, "You're technically under Mr. Jenson's authority, whatever his answer is, it's mine as well."
Bringing her yellow-orange eyes to her CEO, F awaited Mr. Jenson's answer. "F, yes? I heard Mr. Hood call you by a different name just now, I assume you have some experience with the army?"
The warrior drone nodded as she explained herself. "I once inherited the name of Felicity Lee, Mr. Jenson. I served under the USN Defense Forces before joining the DD Division." Then, glancing to the military staff near her, she finished with, "I had hoped to provide my enhancements to the Force one day."
Jenson gave a hint of a proud smile as he finally gave his decision. "Well, it seems you'll finally get that chance. From now on, even after this mission on Earth is over with, you're hereby dispatched to serve under the USN."
F admittedly couldn't hide her excited smirk as she flung a salute to her now former boss. "Thank you Sir!"
Looking up to Jenson, General Hood asked the CEO, "Mr. Jenson, how long until your ships can reach Earth?"
Jenson glanced down at his communication console as he answered the military leader. "At max speed, their Ion drives should be able to bring them into orbit in as little as one to two days. I believe there should be some ships within the system that could help as well."
"Signal them when you can, Mr. Jenson. We could use all the help we can get from them." The CEO nodded to Hood as he stood firmly to the viewer, the general turning to face Wade and his colleagues. "And Mr. Carter? We'll be mobilizing our forces immediately after this meeting concludes. It'll be a minute, but I want you to gather whatever items and belongings you'll need for this operation. Be ready to head to the flight pads in no more than three hours."
"Understood Sir!" Wade said with a salute, Tina, Jasmine and Nathan giving their own as Jasmine raised a finger.
"What about the area around the lab? That place looks like it's in the middle of the city."
J raised a finger as she told Jasmine and the others about their resolution of the civilian obstacle. "Shortly after reporting our findings on the transmission, Hood told us that they were sending in some teams to clear out the civilian population within several miles of the facility. Once we get there, it should be of no concern."
Jasmine sighed in relief as Tina spoke up. "So the people should be safe from any sort of danger?"
"Correct, Mrs. Tina." Preston answered before continuing. "Given the resistance Halloway and his men showed during the Coalition's raid, they most certainly won't hold back there."
"One more thing, Sir." Nathan asked. "The Coalition's going to help us out with this too, right?"
"You can count on it, Mr. Nathan." The Vickers' captain replied as he looked to J, then to Jenson as he spoke further. "I met the leader of the Coalition's detachment working with us when I was introduced to J and Mrs. Elliott here, they intend to see this conflict finished. I highly doubt they're willing to sit back and let us do this by ourselves."
"And their help will be much appreciated." Hood added, everyone's attention returned to him as he looked to Tessa, curious eyes scanning her holographic form. "And Mrs. Elliott, if I may. Do you mind heading down here to assist us in our investigations later on?"
"Funny you say that, General. I'm almost done with my own snooping around on the JCJ up in orbit, Cyn has some small departments of hers aboard, and I thought I'd gather some more intel before coming down." Glancing to Mr. Jenson, she saw him giving an understanding nod before returning her gaze to the military staff. "I should be down there by the evening, judging by where you're located."
"Do what you must, Mrs. Elliott. We could use whatever you find." Hood replied firmly as he turned once more to the JCJenson CEO. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Jenson. We will get to the bottom of this."
"It's my pleasure, General." Glancing to J and Tessa, he spoke to them once more. "J? Contact me when you've finished with Halloway and his Administrator."
"It'll be done, Mr. Jenson." The obedient servant answered before saluting firmly, receiving a final nod from her boss before he ended the transmission.
With their off-world guest out of the way, Hood looked to Wade and his friends, J, Tessa and Captain Mitchells sharing the gaze with them as the general spoke to them in finality. "Well, you know what comes next everyone. You're all dismissed for now. And remember, landing zone by 1300."
"We'll be there Sir." Wade said with a nod as he and his friends stood up, pushing in their chairs before making their way out to the door.
As they neared it, Wade stopped for a moment as they heard Hood call to one of his friends. "And F?" The soldier drone looked to the general as he continued. "Before we depart, would you mind changing your uniform? I believe it could help with identifying you from the other disassembly drones more easily." Glancing to J, then back to F, he finished with, "I recall hearing about the most formidable drones having clones prepared, yes?"
"Correct, Sir. I'll stop by the nearest barracks while I can." F replied before turning back to the door with her colleagues, Wade opening the door for them all as they passed through. After them, Wade passed through himself, shutting the door to the meeting room as he returned to the lobby.
Walking about together, F spoke to Wade and the others. "Well, that went smoothly. I'll be heading down to the barracks, then head over to your place to help out."
"Actually," Wade replied, raising a finger up as he asked his fellow murder drone, "You think you could bring your friends over? We could get to know each other while we're getting ready."
F glanced to Nathan with a smile before returning her eyes to Wade. "I could see about that. You're gonna like them, I can promise you that."
Taking Tina's hand, Wade walked with his girlfriend alongside Jasmine and the others, nearing the hallway they came through as they prepared for the walk back to the apartment.

I have a 3 & 4 year old in Pre-K, I am on policy Council for the school. It's a small school only 2 class rooms- here is where I need advice.
Braxton & Landon - I guess they would be like principle/ Counselor.. I don't see them doing much other than greeting people at the door.
Classroom A - 1 lead teacher 1 assistant (both have worked there since my kids have went there) great teachers 👍 ( My daughter is here) 8 kids.
Classroom B- (sons class) Started out last year I believe August was the first day, 1 lead teacher (Amy) 1 assistant (Kayla) 17 kids! So already started off rocky, depending how many kids showed up they would switch kids into the other classroom to keep ratio. 1 month in Kayla quits. Amy is on her own, Landon helps her occasionally but you can tell the vibe is off he doesn't want to be there. Couple weeks of this Amy walks out. Landon and Braxton are now taking over. (Again you can tell they don't wanna be there) . 1 week passes. Callie - assistant teacher hired , left on her own rather quickly but she is a ABSOLUTE doll. As a parent I could sense her being overwhelmed but yet she was always so gentle and kind to the kiddos. Another lead was hired 2 weeks after Callie. I'm assuming she felt such a relief. That didn't last, lead quit. You get the hint. Callie has stayed and done LEAD TEACHER WORK. My son comes home and tells me "Mom I love Callie, she will just let me talk to her whenever I need too" this warmed my heart SO much I have never seen my 3 year old show so much compassion. Daily compliments about Callie. All while everyday at drop-off I can tell she's overwhelmed. The other day high schoolers in my area had a 2 hour delay. Callies (oldest) daughter was at preschool with her mom, I didn't ask but I can almost Guarantee Braxton and Landon said just bring her with you. It really makes me sick because like I said I'm on policy Council. I know what they all get paid and Callie DESERVES more than all of them. She carries that whole school I feel like.
Me and my husband are sooooo grateful for her I can't even express it. I had made a slick comment in front of Braxton the other day to her, I said you honestly should get lead pay considering you've been in lead for how long? And I walked away.
I'm wondering what she would need Qualification wise to become lead? Me and my husband are at that point that we will PAY for her schooling or whatever needs to be done. Her car has seen better days, we thought about buying her a car. Literally just wanna hand her a check for $5000 and tell her to breath for just a second.
God I know this probably sounds silly, but I am very serious. How do we show our appreciation to her?

I delayed the last Windows update as much as possible because in my experience, something always doesn't run smoothly. At some point, Windows won't let you put it off any longer and before Windows decides to shut down again in the middle of me doing something on the computer, I initiated the update myself as a precaution.
But now the particularly stupid thing: The "update and shut down" option simply doesn't work at all. This is the second time I've seen this. The update is installed and then Windows simply restarts, whereupon you end up on the login screen. This time, unfortunately, even that didn't work. Instead of landing on the login screen after the update, I just saw a black screen. There were no more loading or percentage displays, just black. It wasn't the display either, I switched it off and on again and even checked the cables. My computer simply didn't react to any inputs at all. And don't get me wrong, I waited for about 20 minutes after the update had visually reached 100%.
After that I pressed the power button manually, although I knooooow that you should never do that. I just didn't know whether anything was still happening in the background or whether Windows was doing Windows things again.
The first time I rebooted after the update, all I saw was a black screen, and after 20 seconds the computer simply shut down again....
The second time I rebooted, everything started up perfectly to my relief, the login screen was visible, and apparently the update went through...
Why does updating Windows machines always make me so damn nervous? I can never know what will happen. One day the thing restarts nicely, the next I need to google „how to revert windows update“…

Underwent SAVR to get an Inspiris Resilia valve one week ago. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience or outcome. Some highlights:
Day 1 - surgery + ICU
Only scary thing of the entire day was getting my arterial catheter placed in my wrist. Made me super nauseous and anxious, but that was quickly resolved with a shot of Versed. I went into the OR very relaxed.
Surgery went very smoothly. My aortic root was within normal range and my arteries were clear, so this was a simple valve replacement with no other complications. I was extubated in the OR and woke up in the ICU in the next hour. Evidently, I was cracking jokes and asked my ICU nurse if they replaced my heart with a baked potato (I was in a Denver hospital, so of course it would be a South Park joke.)
The ICU nurses were super attentive to getting my pain under control and keeping it under control. I was given Tylenol and Oxycodone as my base medicines, with on-demand doses of Dilaudid and Toradol. They checked me at least every hour, so I didn’t really get any sleep, except for the occasional Dilaudid hit knocking me out. Toradol did an amazing job of blunting the internal pain, which they said was mostly from the chest drain.
Day 2 - ICU + move to cardiac floor
Cardiac Rehab came first thing that morning with the fanciest walker I’ve ever seen. It had places for my chest drain suction box, Foley catheter bag, oxygen tank, and battery-powered oxygen sensor. The walk was a bit of a challenge, but I made it almost to the end of the hall and back.
I was returned and set in my chair and they started removing everything from my bed to start getting the room ready for the next patient. My move was delayed due to some late discharges, so I asked to be put back in bed, they were happy to oblige.
I was finally moved into my room and weighed in. I was expecting to weigh less, but had gained 14 POUNDS (!!!) since day 1. Evidently, this is entirely normal, and comes from the amount of fluid they pump into you from surgery, plus your weaker heart in its immediate post-op state. I was started on Lasix and Potassium to get all that extra water out of me.
Towards the end of the day, I finally got my room in the cardiac main floor, and met a nice nurse and CNA that would be my nurses for the next two nights. They were diligent about staying on top of my Tylenol and Oxycodone, and I did not need any more Dilaudid or Toradol.
Since I only needed oral medication every four hours, I got a really good night of sleep.
Day 3 - removal of chest things etc.
In the late morning, they announced they were going to pull my pacing wires and chest drain. I was terrified of the pain and they kept reassuring me it wouldn’t be too bad. They pulled the pacing wire, which hurt and tickled a little because the end of it had a coiled wire, much like the spring you’d see in a ball point pen, and that spring comes out like a corkscrew and you do feel it.
They had me wait for 45 minutes and came back to do the chest drain. The nurse had me practice deep breaths and holding my breath, then took out the drain. To my surprise, it did not hurt as bad as I expected, it came out quickly, and I felt instant relief afterwards. I was able to take deeper breaths and within hours, I was out in the hall without a walker, only with my PT nurse’s hand on a chest belt that had my sternum pillow cinched tight.
Day 4 - feeling really good
I’m walking the halls without a walker and no assistance. My surgeon came to see me and we started talking as I walked back to my room. He informed me that everything went well, but they saw some periodic arrhythmia that they might need to shock or send me home with meds, possibly with an extra night stay.
The nicest CNA named Daysi — the abuela everyone wishes they had — assists me in taking my first shower, which felt amazing. I have no restrictions with my incision, which is held together with glue. It is much shorter than I expected, not visible at all through the top of my gown or a v-neck shirt.
Day 5 - going home
I’m walking the halls and run into my surgeon’s PA, who tells me I’m cleared for release and he’ll come talk to me in a bit. Surgeon comes by and says my heart rhythm is good, so I’m not only going home without any extra meds, I’m cleared to have a daily cup of regular coffee and chocolate again if I want.
I’m all packed and being wheeled out right after lunch. It surprises me how easy it is to get into the car.
Days 6-7 - improving at home
I’m finding stairs to be relatively easy. By day 7, it’s actually easier for me to climb stairs than immediately before surgery. I’ve cut my Oxycodone dose in half and will walk a little over a mile, split over 4 short walks outside today. Took my first shower by myself, made my own breakfast and lunch, even folded some laundry.
I am so grateful for my surgeon Jess Joymon and the entire care team at St Joseph Hospital in Denver. I could not have asked for a better outcome or care throughout the process, so much so that I’m feeling really good about my decision to get a tissue valve at age 57. I’m not all that scared of doing this again if/when the tissue valve needs to be replaced.

First off I’ve lurked the page a bit before posting and I’ve got to say anyone that has them daily/weekly/monthly you are some of the strongest people I’ve ever come into contact with. I’ve had about 10 broken bones/ half accompanied with surgeries and NOTHING compares to the pain from these stupid migraines. I suffer from severe migraines, maybe once-twice a year. Puts me out for 24-48 hours. I get the aura, the post “migraine hangover”, all of it. Today my doctor prescribed me sumatriptan. I have never tried it, does it help you guys? Last weekend I tried excedrin, it delayed the migraine 2 hours but then it came on harder than ever. The only thing that has ever given me any relief was narcotics, which isn’t my first pick. Anyways thank you guys and I hope you all feel better.

Hi,
I just want to vent off a little,
I've been looking for a job since August 2023. Last gig was a six months temporal contract in a manufacturing plant; we parted ways amicably but I should mention that one of my main responsabilities was to manage a customer account that got us many complaints every week because of delayed stock from our plants.
So, over those 6 months, management and corporate didn't want my supervisor to let him go of that account and kept him micromanaging every aspect of it. That meant that I was there shadowing him for most of the day; free money at the expense of feeling like an impostor and a chair warmer. When HR told me I didn't got the renewal, I feel a great relief.
Anyways...
I thought the job market would be as welcoming as was six months ago, but oh boy.

• Wages were lowered almost 50% for lowemiddle entry jobs.
• More than 100+ applicants for a single office job in my area.
• Non developer remote jobs were saturated with applicants from all over the country too.
• Grad students / non experienced workers in the industry were more attractive to recruiters mostly because of the lower paid grade.
• Layoffs everywhere.
• After entering the pool, prepare for the endless interview filters with supervisors, HR, management, directors, corporate, (heck, even the cleaning lady sooner or later.)
• Bachelor's Degree is not a guarantee anymore, and due to this the market is getting saturated with Master's degree professionals.
• False optimism from recruiters/interviewers and lack of feedback for CV improvement.
• Ghosting, ghosting and ghosting.
• Probabilities of entering a company increase only if you networked the right people. (This is quite obvious, but there are some nasty people in the industry and you gotta be a sycophant/yes man if you want to go that route.)
• Informal income is saturated or locally monopolized too. (Eg. too many Pizzerias, Fast Food Joints, Photographers, Musicians, etc...)
• Etc.

I think I was exaggerating my personal situation until some HR guys told me that there are so many unemployed people in our city and they were aware that there aren't as many job openings to support them.
Also, I stumbled into some old co-workers and they are going through the same situation too. So yeah, it's a shitty situation for unemployed people.
I just wanna say, I'm empathize with you if you are going through this post-Linkedin era.
Be strong, you are not alone! 🫂

If there was a word to describe Shaw, it was anxious. Even since he was a lad, he’d been plagued by a paranoia that bordered on illness. He saw shadows where others saw light and whispers where others heard silence. This constant state of vigilance made him a difficult man to know and an even harder man to befriend. His mind was always racing, always strategizing, always expecting the worst. It was both his curse and his salvation.
Shaw's upbringing did little to quell these instincts. Born into bondage, he learned early on that trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. Every friendly gesture was scrutinized, every helping hand inspected for hidden daggers. While isolated, this mindset honed his instincts to a razor's edge and imbued him with a rare resilience among his peers.
Even now, he could feel the whispers and jeering of his men. Even though every face was engrossed in their work to get this convoy moving, Shaw could see the mocking gazes. However, whenever he focused in on an individual, they’d always pretend they’d done nothing but work.
“LIAR!” Shaw barked at one young knight who had walked passed him with the reins of a war horse in one hand and those of a worg in another. “Ye think me a fool not to see Yer mutterings! Ye mock me just like that Wyvern whore!” He nearly screeched, approaching the young man with an aggressive and accusing finger pointed.
The young knight flinched away violently from the sudden verbal attack as spittle flew in his face. The horse, startled by the sudden commotion, neighed and dangerously spun around, its hooves threatening to kick. In a frantic effort to get the beast under control, the young knight scrambled, trying to calm the agitated animal while also defending himself against the barrage of accusations.
"I didn't say a word, Capt'n!" he protested with a voice laced with panic. "I'm just fetching the mount like I was told." Complete confusion clouded the young knight's face as he looked around, trying to gauge if others had witnessed the outburst and could offer some explanation for Shaw's sudden fury.
But there was no solace to be found in the faces of his comrades. The men and women of Shaw's command were well accustomed to his paranoia and accusations. They had learned to keep their heads down and continue their work, even when the knight captain laid into them.
A lesson this poor soul had yet to learn.
The incident with the young knight was a spark in a tinderbox. Shaw's anxieties, fueled by the humiliating encounter with Eira and the lingering sting of failure, now burned out of control. Every shadow seemed to contain a conspiracy, every glance held hidden contempt. His frantic walk towards Lord Harmswid's tent was marked by further incidents. Warriors, mages, and laborers alike scattered before him, startled by the wild look in his eyes and the incoherent accusations he flung about frivolously.
Lost in a mental storm, Shaw was oblivious to the fact he was delaying the departure of the convoy with each one of his episodes, and he couldn’t help but curse the incompetents Harmswid stuck him with. With the count now on his mind, the Knight Captain couldn’t help but tighten his grip in frustration. Harmswid was the one who had elevated him to a position of power.
The count had given him a chance when others had scorned his low birth as a son of a slave. He owed the nobleman everything. But in Shaw's twisted perception, Harmswid was not a savior but an architect of his misfortune.
"Harmswid!" The knight captain snarled, his gaze darting around the tent as if seeking out hidden enemies. "Ye deserved everything ye got!! Ye knew about those monsters, and ye sent me to my death!" he continued to have an internal meltdown as he came to a stop in front of the count's personal tent.
"She knew..." Shaw muttered, his voice a strangled whisper. "She knew this would happen… she knew they'd be there… that damned beast… That damned whore probably lead them here…!” Shaw clenched his jaw tightly as he started pacing back and forth in front of the count’s tent. “That… That BACKSTABBER knew it from the beginning and took advantage of the fact I have nothing but these PATHETIC and INCOMPETENT lemmings..." His hand clenched into a fist, fingernails biting into his thumb so hard that blood started to flow.
Hyperventilating, Shaw’s vision fixated on the flaps of the tent. He knew all manners of luxurious treasures he couldn’t even fathom were behind those two simple pieces of cloth… All the decadent joys he was denied access to just because of his low birth. The knight captain stepped forward and reached out to push them apart… All he had to do was step inside and take what was rightfully his… but a voice called out before his hand could reach the entrance.
“M-my lord?”
Shaw snapped around, and half drew his sword, ready to strike down anyone foolish enough to sneak up on him. However, his hand stayed as his eyes settled on a terrified, portly woman who seemed to be cowering, hoping that her head would remain attached to her shoulders. “ I-I apoplogize M-My Lord!! T-The convoy is r-ready to depart…!” She stuttered, flinching back and looking back at the knights standing a ways away for help. But instead of rushing to her aid, the men simply motioned encouragingly for her to continue. “T-They said we’re –”
“Be silent, woman!” Shaw shouted, causing the woman to recoil as if struck. Her eyes widened in terror, and for a long moment, Shaw simply glared at her before turning his furious gaze toward the knights standing in the distance. The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the muted sounds of the camp preparing for departure.
Sheathing his sword with an angry clang, the knight captain let out a frustrated breath. "Pathetic whelps..." he spat with a voice full of venom "Too afraid to fight their own battles...and they call me a coward."
He then turned his back on the woman, dismissing her as a mere annoyance. "Tell them to start, I have my own tasks!" He barked before pausing at the entrance to the tent. "I'll catch up with the rear if... they've managed to put some distance between themselves and me!" He said with a parting sneer just before he swept into Harmswid's tent.
Once inside the luxurious space, Shaw gaze took in a hellish scene. He had expected pure savagery with blood and gore all over the place, but he had to admit what he found scared him more. Everything was as pristine and perfect as when he was last in here except for the headless corpse of the count sitting at his magnifcent desk along with his dismembered bodyguards behind him. Whoever that damned Dark Elf had brought to attack the count didn’t even give them time to blink and cut them down with such clinical precision as speed, Shaw considered they didn’t even fully realize they were being attacked.
The interior of Lord Harmswid's tent was an assault on the senses. Accustomed to the austerity of campaign life, even Shaw found the lavishness bordering on obscene. Rich tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes of mythical hunts and fantastical beasts. A bed of cushions and exotic furs was piled in the center on top of plush carpets that would likely fetch a small fortune in any kingdom. A gilded brazier burned with sweet-smelling incense, masking the lingering scent of blood left by the recent attack.
But the centerpiece of this excessive display was Harmswid's desk. A monstrous thing crafted from dark ebony and inlaid with intricate silver designs, it was there that the count conducted his affairs. And it was there he met his end.
A labored breath left the knight captain's mouth as he meandered over to the pile of cushions and furs that he realized the count used as a bed and flopped lazily on it. The plush softness swallowed Shaw whole, a stark contrast to the straw-filled pallets and worn linens that were his usual sleeping accommodations. He closed his eyes, letting out another sigh that sounded content. His troubles seemed to recede in this decadent haven for just a moment.
"How long..." he mused aloud, his voice barely a whisper. How long had he endured the gnawing hunger, the harsh elements, the constant sting of disrespect? How long had his toil, sweat, and blood lined Harmswid's coffers and fueled the count's ambitions?
The answers were a leaden weight upon his soul. For over a decade, possibly multiple decades, he had been nothing but a tool, a beast of burden for a man consumed by greed and indifferent to the plight of anyone but his coffers. He had endured it all with stoic obedience, believing that loyalty and hard work would be their own reward.
But now, lying in a headless count's bed, surrounded by stolen riches, Shaw's perspective was shifting. A lifetime of servitude felt like a cruel joke, a mockery of the dreams he'd once held as a boy. The dreams of honor, of a life worth living... dreams Harmswid and his kind carelessly trampled underfoot.
The warmth of the furs seeped into Shaw's weary bones, a delicious lethargy settling over him. As he sank deeper into the cushions, he closed his eyes and made a silent vow: never again would he sweat and strain for another silver-spooned fop. He had played the loyal dog for long enough, and hid reward was always blood and nightmares.
But now… Now he had a dead man's riches.
Now he was done with servitude. He would complete this one final task, this errand for the 'Duchess', and then...then he would disappear. Vanish into the anonymity of the wider world and start anew.
His thoughts turned to the multitude of possibilities. Perhaps he could turn his hand to banditry. With his experience and a few like-minded men, he could strike at supply caravans, prey on those very merchants and nobles who had grown fat on the labor of the common folk. A dark smile played on his lips. There was a certain poetic justice to the idea.
Or maybe, with the gold he was about to liberate, he could assemble a mercenary company. He knew war, and there was always war to be fought somewhere for the right price. He was never one for righteousness or justice. He was more of a… convenience and practicality kind of man… and with enough coin, he might even earn a reputation and perhaps become someone to be reckoned with.
He glanced around the tent, spotting goblets and locked cabinets. There was more to be had here, a fortune that could well and truly set him on his path. But first… he’d like to take a quick rest. Just five minutes of blissful oblivion before he tackled the practical matters of his escape.
With a sigh that was half exhaustion and half contentment, Shaw closed his eyes. His chaotic mind began to drift, and the cares of the day seemed to dissolve in the soft warmth… However, Sleep came for Shaw like a thief in the night. The soft embrace of the furs had been a trap. He had meant only to rest his eyes for a mere moment and gather his thoughts, but instead, he was plunged into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Shaw threw himself forward as he woke up with a start. He found himself disoriented as he peered around, trying to make sense of his surroundings, and flailed forward as if the plush piles of fur stung. How long had he slept? Had the camp already left?
Panic flared within the knight captain as he rose to his feet. “Curse it all!” A scream left the man’s mouth as he burst from the tent like a bat out of hell. With a thumping heart, Shaw’s head snapped from side to side, scanning the scene before him. And what he saw made his blood run cold.
The encampment was gone. The tents, the wagons, the milling soldiers and servants – all vanished. Only the churned-up earth and trampled grass remained as evidence of the recent whirlwind of activity.
A wave of despair threatened to overwhelm Shaw. Had he slept for Half an hour? An hour? Half a day? How could he have been so foolish, so carelessly indulgent? For a moment, he stood rooted to the spot, his mind a whirlwind of paranoid thoughts and fear, until a somewhat familiar voice spoke up.
“Capt’n?”
The voice cut through Shaw's despair like a knife. He whirled around, his hand going instinctively to the empty space where his sword should have been. For a heart-stopping moment, he feared it was some ambush, some cruel trick of fate.
But when his eyes focused, he saw the young knight, the one he'd berated so harshly earlier. The lad sat nervously atop a war worg, the creature was a strange blend of a wolf with a hyena-like head. Easily reaching the size of a beast of a horse, it wore a muscular build, and its fur was a mottled gray and brown while its long, thick tail trailed behind it, occasionally smacking the ground with a powerful swat.
Despite its fearsome appearance, the young knight seemed to handle the creature with ease. He sat confidently in the saddle, his hand rubbing the side of the warg's thick neck. The beast itself seemed more curious than anything else, its gaze fixed on Shaw with an intelligent glint in its red eyes.
Most importantly, the reins to another warg were nestled within the lad's other hand. Taking a cautious step forward, the young man extended his free hand, the reins of the spare warg dangling harmlessly. "S-sir..." he started, his voice strained with trepidation. "The Lieutenant thought you m-might need... a steed..." He swallowed hard, “And… well, the camp had traveled quite a ways by now…”
His words seemed to hang awkwardly in the air. Shaw glowered at him, his gaze shifting to the monstrosity at his side, then back again. The young knight braced himself instinctively, expecting another outburst.
However, Shaw remained silent, albeit for an uncomfortably long moment. The air filled with the unspoken tension of their last encounter as the knight captain glared at the young man. Inside, Shaw was warring with himself. "What's yer name, boy?" He spoke with a less accusatory and more resigned tone as he approached and took the reigns of the free worg.
The young knight blinked, startled out of his fearful hunch. While still gruff, Shaw's change in demeanor caught him off guard. He'd half-expected another paranoid tirade accusing him of insubordination or mockery. Instead, he was being addressed, if not with respect, at least with something resembling acknowledgment.
"Hugh, sir." He straightened slightly in the saddle, his voice gaining a touch more confidence. "Hugh of Arling,"
Shaw grunted, a hint of a skeptical smile playing about his lips. "Of Arling, eh? Sounds fancy." He paused as if considering something, then nodded. "Well, Hugh of Arling, you’ve done right by me. But you’re still a bushy-eyed and insufferable shit."
Hugh’s eye twitched at the insult. He opened his mouth to protest, to ask for some justification behind such a harsh label, but a wiser instinct held his tongue. Arguing with the knight captain, while slightly less volatile at the moment, was a surefire way to end up back on the receiving end of his temper.
Before Hugh could respond, Shaw had turned his attention back to the warg beside him. He ran a hand over its coarse fur, studying the creature with a critical eye.
"Never liked these damned beasts," he muttered, his frown deepening. "Sooner to bite yer head off than carry ye reliably."
With a sigh, Shaw moved around his mount and saw two saddlebags and a visibly empty wooden framed burlap sack attached snuggly to the creature's rear. A flash of realization crossed Shaw's face as a cunning glint entered his eyes. "Stay here, boy!" the knight captain barked as newfound energy filled his voice. "Keep the worg steady!"
Before Hugh could fully process the order, Shaw was already darting back into the tent with the empty saddlebags and framed burlap sack in hand. Hugh stared, open-mouthed, as a cacophony of sounds erupted from within. Items clattered against the ground, muffled curses echoed out, and a bout of manic laughter sent shivers down Hugh's spine.
For his life, Hugh couldn’t understand what the captain was doing in the name of all that was holy. This was the Count's tent… was he doing what he thought he was doing? Questions swirled in Hugh's mind, and his worry grew with each passing moment. If he was… then if Wyvern Commander Eira ever found out… Gods, he would be complicit just for standing here, and there would be no saving them from a fiery end if they weren’t fed outright to that beast.
Minutes stretched into eternity. Hugh shifted nervously in his saddle. The worg beneath him whined, sensing his anxiety, and the young knight ran a soothing hand over its coarse fur, trying to calm both the beast and himself.
Just when his nerves were about to fray completely, Shaw burst forth from the tent, his arms laden with the saddlebags and the burlap sack, now bulging at the seams with a mysterious load.
A manic smile crossed the knight captain's face. "Hugh!" Shaw shouted, his voice hoarse with excitement. "Help me remount this, will you? We need to make haste!"
Completely bewildered, Hugh couldn’t help but blink, "Sir, I... I don't understand... what..." He stammered.
"No time for questions, boy!" Shaw snapped, his impatience clear. He shoved the saddlebags into Hugh's hands. "Just do as you're told!”
Hugh held his tongue, swallowing back the torrent of questions swirling in his mind. The captain's erratic behavior, the manic glint in his eyes... there was no point in arguing. All he could do was follow orders, hold his tongue and hope word doesn’t make it to Commander Eira.
It didn’t take long for the two to secure the saddlebags nad make their out of the camp. Their beasts snorted and dug their claws into the ground, tearing down the eastern road at a breakneck pace. Each jarring step causes metallic clinks to echo through the air and shimmers of light to leak out of the bulging bags. Riding close behind the captain, Hugh caught a glimpse of the source – golden goblets and other wares spilling out from a tear, their brilliance amplified by a faint, otherworldly glow.
There was no mistaking it; Shaw had robbed the long-expired count’s tent, an act of greed and treason that could bring the wrath of the realm down upon them. Especially when he saw the bulging framed burlap sack secured just behind Shaw. It shifted precariously, threatening to spill its contents at any moment. Within its depths, something protruded – a dark, ovoid shape, smooth and almost obsidian in its blackness. Hugh squinted, hoping and praying to every god in every pantheon that it was not what he thought it was, or else Eira would forsake the Empire to hunt them down.
The two rode hard as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of gold and crimson. The worgs powerful strides ate up the miles until they soon saw the faint outlines of carriages, horses, and other war beasts, and relief washed over Shaw like a cool balm.
"Hail!" Shaw boomed, raising an arm in greeting as two grizzled riders approached from the rear of the convoy. Mounted on war horses, they cut a less terrifying figure than his worg, but their armor gleamed with hard-won practicality.
The guards stiffened upon seeing him, eyes widening in surprise. "Captain Shaw?" one of them exclaimed. "We thought you’d be at the head of the caravan!”
A mask of nonchalance settled over Shaw’s features. "I was… delayed.” He replied in a casual voice. "But all's well now."
"Well, sir, it's good to see you–" the other guard started, but Shaw cut him off with a raised hand.
"And while ye lot left me," he growled scornfully before gesturing towards Hugh, "Hugh of Arling showed spirit and loyalty by remaining with a spare mount." Shaw begrudgingly spoke approval of the young man.
His men remained silent and cringed under their knight captain's glare. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Shaw threw himself off his mount and moved to unbuckle the luggage to the rear of his work. "Now…" he said, lifting up the framed sack gently and bringing it to the rearmost carriage, "what's the news? Any trouble on the road?"
Shaw carefully nestled the burlap sack between furs, extra weapons, and what appeared to be the cart driver's meager personal effects. There, hidden amongst the mundane, its sinister contents would hopefully remain undiscovered. Satisfied that his most dangerous cargo was secured, he returned to his worg, where the saddlebags bulged with their promise of stolen riches.
“A few highwaymen were foolish enough to think us a merchant caravan, Captain," one of the guards answered, his voice weary. "There were a few small bands of highwaymen, nothing the vanguard couldn't handle. Too bold for their own good."
"Morale?" Shaw pressed. This was the key, the weakness he could exploit.
"The lesser mages are spent," the other guard replied. "The lack of sleep is starting to get to people. And with the fate of the count…" he trailed off, his face clouding over with uncertainty.
Shaw nodded. The count's death had undoubtedly shaken them. Loyalty was a fickle thing and only reliable when reinforced by wealth and authority. Both were now in question. “Provide them with extra rations and wine–”
Just as he ordered, a deafening explosion kicked up earth and debris further ahead of Shaw. Even from a distance, the shockwave shook Shaw’s very bone. Dust filled the air, mingling with panicked shouts and the maddened cries of beasts.
His first instinct was to glance upwards, searching the twilight for the telltale silhouettes of wyverns. But the sky above remained clear. “Eira ain’t attackin’ us… Then who!?”. Shaw’s eyes darted across the caravan, trying to pinpoint the source of the attack.
More blasts erupted, tearing through the heart of the convoy, but this time, the explosions were followed by strange sounds… An unending series of echoing cracks and snaps in a staccato rhythm, like a thousand angry hornets beating their wings in unison.

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“How could he escape?!” Achaicus shouted as he paced his office. His brow was creased and his nose scrunched into a crinkle with his sneer.
“I don’t know,” Markos responded with a careless shrug, “He was hardly in any condition to move, someone must have helped him.”
“What if he revenanted? Are you certain the injuries you inflicted weren’t enough to kill him?”
“I’m quite sure. His vitals were stable and there was nothing in the room for him to revenant himself with,” our cousin assured calmly.
My brother was practically pulling his hair out. So far only a handful of people knew of Mercurissen’s ‘escape’ and I sat restlessly in the corner waiting for them to come to some kind of conclusion. All I could think was that I hadn’t secured the room well enough to hold the little vanir, and if he woke, he could escape in earnest.
“Mercury is occupying Dunkel, and we have no leverage!” my brother continued, agitated.
“Weren’t you the one who wanted simply to kill him?” Markos pointed out, earning himself a glare.
“We can still leverage a body.”
“And you can do the same thing with a non-existent body.”
“Not if he shows back up!”
They argued as guilt threatened to drown me.
“What are your thoughts, Nathaniel? You’re awfully quiet about this,” Markos asked bemused.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. It’s obvious someone helped him. Perhaps one of our humans are compromised? Or one of our own guards. Mercurissen promised amnesty to any who chose to swear loyalty to his father, maybe someone believed him.”
“Nonsense, none have returned from the outer borders,” Achaicus muttered, swallowing the last of the wine from his glass in one gulp.
“I can’t see any other way for him to have disappeared,” I lied easily.
We had spent days since then searching the grounds and, unsurprisingly, found no trace of the vanir. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if anyone found out I had him. Looking at my brother now, I’m not sure he would survive the knowledge that I was the one betraying them… He would probably implode.
I excused myself from dinner early, taking with me a heaped plate of food with a secondary plate hidden under the first, and went directly to my chambers. However I returned to find the room immediately empty. The Vanir was not where I had left him, nor was he anywhere in sight and my heart began to race as I set the food down to search.
A thousand sparkling ornaments sat undisturbed from their places and the balcony doors were still firmly locked. The bathroom was empty and nothing had been broken. But the items on my desk were disturbed and a pocket knife sat out in the open. Had he somehow revenanted and escaped?
With cold sweat beginning to form on my brow I approached the bed, stepping around it cautiously. The tethering spell was still in place and I followed the length of it with my eyes. It curved across the floor and disappeared under the bed skirting.
Perplexed, I crouched to lift the fabric aside and to my surprise that was where he was. Mercurissen had squished himself under the bed and was curled with his back facing me so that the rest of the room was in his line of sight. His chest rose and fell gently, he must’ve fallen asleep waiting.
The relief left me breathless, before irritation set in. What did he think he was doing? I took hold of his ankle and pulled him from under the bed. He didn’t notice immediately, he must have been more deeply asleep than I’d thought, but panicked for a moment when the sensation of movement at last woke him.
He tensed and his eyes were momentarily feral before panic calmed to mild apprehension as he gave up. Giving no further resistance, he allowed his body to go limp as I dragged him out, stopping only once he was at my feet. His hair brushed against the floor, and he balled himself up, expecting the worst.
“Why were you under there?” I demanded firmly.
“I heard someone come into your room,” he responded with mild agitation.
“So you hid under the bed like a child.”
He scowled, “Where else was I supposed to hide?”
“Who came in?”
“I don’t know, a human girl with white hair.”
Calla, Markos’s pet, I thought and my blood froze, “Did she see you?” I asked urgently but he scoffed.
“In this clutter?”
The ice in my veins dissolved into hot irritation, “You’d best be careful how you talk to me you little brat,” I muttered, annoyed.
“You told me not to let anyone see me, so I didn’t. What more do you want?” He remarked, beginning to sit up, however I forced him back down.
Holding both of his wrists against his chest with one hand, “Keep your sharp tongue under check.”
The Vanir glared back at me, “Let me go,” he muttered, struggling for only a moment before deciding it was pointless and diverting his gaze to the side, “You’re hurting me…”
The statement surprised me, and I let him go with a small scoff, “You’re perfectly fine.”
“Whatever…” he murmured, stubbornly deciding to remain on the floor exactly where I had left him.
He was like a petulant child acting out and I couldn’t explain why he bothered me so much. Almost everything he said pissed me off and I made an effort to calm. “I brought you some food,” I announced instead.
His brow creased slightly as he looked over to me, “…You brought me food..?” he asked with softer uncertainty as he sat up.
“Yes,” I answered bluntly. I had divided the one overfilled plate over the two and offered one to him.
“Why…?”
“You said you forget to eat when you’re fighting, and I know you haven’t eaten since you got here.”
“…Oh.. I..” he murmured awkwardly.
“It’s not poisoned,” I teased.
I sat on the bed above him and his expression then was difficult. Something between a sneer and what almost seemed to be regret. He sat with the plate I had handed him, but he made no move to eat it.
“What? You don’t believe me?” I mused, “if I wanted to kill you, poison would be the last way I would do it.”
“It’s not that…”
“Then what?”
“I don’t eat meat…” he explained, looking away awkwardly.
“Pardon?”
“I said I don’t eat human meat,” he repeated, louder, and for a moment I couldn’t find the words.
“The Son of Mercury, merciless killer of the Fae, doesn’t eat meat?”
The vanir’s cheeks turned crimson with embarrassment, and he turned away “..Whatever, just kill me and get it over with-”
Mercurissen stopped short and his eyes widened as I reached over, taking the meat from his plate and replacing it with a bunch of grapes from mine without a word.
The flush colouration in his cheeks darkened as he looked up at me bewildered, “I- you-? Why?” He demanded, shocked.
“You didn’t let me starve, it would be rude of me not to repay the debt. Just make sure you eat slowly.”
“…That’s not a debt you have to repay…” he mumbled, but I dismissed him.
“Be quiet and eat.” I told him firmly, but after a moment couldn’t help myself and asked, “You didn’t want to eat with your family because that whole banquet was mostly meat?”
Mercurissen fidgeted uncomfortably, “My father doesn’t like it much that I don’t eat it. So I hate it when he asks me to eat with him because I know I’ll have to.”
“You would eat something you don’t like if he asked, but you wouldn’t let me starve?”
He paused as he thought about how to explain, “No… it’s more that I think it’s unfair… I do everything he asks, even when I don’t want to, and I would have let you starve because of it… but I asked him to stay, and he didn’t. He didn’t even bother to tell me when he was leaving, or where he was going…”
“You really didn’t know his plans?”
“No.. he doesn’t often tell me anything.”
I considered for a moment, if he truly hadn’t known where Mercury was going, then he likely didn’t know about Dunkel and that absolved us both of some guilt. Without thinking, I rested my hand on his head to play with his hair idly, “So you disregarded him out of spite?”
Mercurissen froze momentarily under my touch before relaxing again, “…No, I just decided not to do something I didn’t want to do for him, when he couldn’t do the same for me…”
“You didn’t want to let me starve?” I asked tentatively and he turned back to look at me.
“Why would I? Who actually wants to watch someone starve?” He asked pointedly.
I regarded him as I considered the question, “I thought all Vanir enjoyed watching others suffer,” I stated at last. He didn’t answer, and after a delay I chose to continue, “You shouldn’t do anything your father asks of you that you don’t want to do.”
“I am my fathers ‘perfect’ son… Everything he wants is what I should want.”
“Your father has left you to die,” I told him sedately.
A brief look of confusion crossed his face, before he seemed to understand, “He responded to your treaty offer…?”
“…Yes.”
“I told you he wouldn’t agree…” he murmured, focusing his gaze downward to the plate in his lap. His father had abandoned him, and Mercurissen was unsurprised. I suppose he understood the consequences.
We sat in silence for a long time. He had by then stopped eating and instead rolled one of the grapes back and forth over the ceramic surface until he eventually spoke again.
“…Eiríkr…” he murmured almost inaudibly.
“..Pardon?” I asked, unsure.
“My name is Eiríkr… Eric in the common tongue,” he explained softly.
I waited frozen in place, “Why are you telling me now?”
“…I don’t know…”
“You’re not afraid of me using it against you?”
The vanir gave a humorless laugh, “What else could you possibly do to me now?”
I sighed to myself, I suppose he had a point, “Eiríkr… finish eating your food.” I ordered softly, pushing his head down as I stood.
Eric gave a small sound of annoyance, patting his hair back into place before asking more quietly, “...Why are you doing this?” He mumbled, keeping his gaze low. There was confusion in his sapphire eyes, as if his own name was foreign to him, or perhaps he was simply trying to understand the situation.
“Because I want something,” I answered plainly.
***
In the following days the castle remained on high alert and Eiríkr slowly healed. His bruises faded and the hollowness of his limbs filled out with the exception of his left leg. Unfortunately, as he regained his strength he also became increasingly annoying.
At night he was supposed to sleep on the daybed, but I woke each morning to find him on my bed far away toward the edge. I chose to ignore that. The little brat was stubborn and trying to argue with him was almost pointless. Besides that, he couldn’t do any harm.
During the day I spent my time pretending to search the castle grounds. Achaicus was more anxious with each passing hour and my guilt grew. I wanted to tell him that everything was under control and that he need not worry, but I knew he wouldn’t allow me to keep Eiríkr if he knew.
What made the situation worse was the annoyingly close eye Markos kept. He watched me with unsettling interest, as if he knew something and it sparked some mild paranoia. Was there some way he could have found out? And if so, why hadn’t he said anything yet?
“You’ve been very dutiful with your paperwork of late,” Markos commented as he entered my office. It was unusual that he should deliver the infirmary reports personally, and I was immediately suspicious.
“Have I? Perhaps I should ignore it again,” I responded with disinterest.
“Is there any particular reason you’ve taken such a sudden interest in documentation?” he continued unfazed.
“No.”
“You’ve also been attending meals at the appropriate time.”
“Markos, what do you want?” I asked with a sigh.
The truth was if I fulfilled all my duties on time and made appearances where I was supposed to, there were less reasons for others to come looking for me. Which in turn meant I was less likely to be caught harboring a prisoner.
“Oh nothing, I’m simply making an observation,” he smiled and I glared.
“Leave.”
“As you wish,” he agreed, giving a mock bow and I threw a book in his general direction. It landed beside him and he chuckled to himself, “Temper, temper~”
“Go harass someone else.”
Markos left without further delay and I sighed deeply. If that man suspected something, he would keep pressing it until he found what he wanted to know. In ordinary circumstances he would have been the person I could confide in, but I didn’t know how he would react to this and I didn’t want him telling Achaicus.
Eiríkr had broken the tethering spell some days prior, and we had stern words about it, but since then he had begun to wander about the room freely. Choosing also to fill his time with petty tributes to his dislike of captivity. As a result, I commonly returned to chaos in my room.
He rearranged some of my collection, ‘neatening’ it after he claimed it blocked the pathways. Placed books back in the shelving, making me lose my page in several of them, and moved my crystals around.
“Stop touching everything,” I growled, fed up when I realized he had thrown out dozens of the half empty soap bottles in the bathroom.
“I haven’t touched anything,” he lied casually and I turned to glare at him. Eric was sitting on the floor beside the balcony doors. It looked like he had been asleep under the curtains in the sunlight and he yawned, rubbing his eyes, although still looked tired.
“I’m not a fool. I can clearly see you’ve moved things.”
“Some stuff fell- oh…” he stopped as I leaned over him.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“…What does it matter… it’s all junk anyway.” He grumbled quieter and my blood pressure began to rise.
“None of it's junk!”
“Please, I bet you don’t even remember where half of this stuff came from!”
“I know where everything came from, and everything has its own place, so stop messing with it.”
“You’re a hoarder, you know that?”
It took everything I had not to smite him, “Don’t. Touch. Anything else.” I repeated firmly.
Eric exhaled annoyed, “Fine.”
“Good.”
“But I don’t know what else you expect me to do,” he added and I pinched the bridge of my nose exasperated. Did he have a ‘less annoying’ setting?
“I expect you to wait patiently and recover. Read a book or something.”
“I don’t know how to read,” he retorted flatly.
I hesitated, too taken aback to respond, did he expect me to believe that? “You can’t read?” I repeated back to him, dumbfounded.
“I can read the runes for spells.”
“But you can’t read words on a page?”
“Not English ones, or whatever Fae language that is in those books.”
“You’re lying,” I decided at last and he laughed.
“Why would I lie about something like that? I was only taught how to read runes by my parents, we don’t value literature all that much. My father has books in his study, but not even half as many as you have in here, and I’ve never seen him read them.”
“How old are you again?”
“Seventy-nine.”
“You’ve had that long, and you can’t read? Even humans learn in a few years.”
“It wasn't important to know.”
I smiled just slightly, “I bet that made snooping around hard.”
“Why do you think I kept moving your books around?”
I laughed, maybe he wasn't’ lying after all. “What do you know, Mercuries ‘perfect’ son is an illiterate~” I purred smugly.
“At least I'm not a hoarder.”
“No, but you are sentenced to death,” I reminded him unkindly, and he was at last quiet. “I’m going to bathe. Just sit still and wait.”
“…Could you help me up first?” he mumbled softly and I felt mild guilt. Maybe I shouldn’t have antagonized him that way.
Without another word I offered my arm and helped pull him to his feet.
“Thanks...”
I ignored that, telling him instead, “I was late to dinner today, so I brought you some pastries instead. Eat, if you want.”
He hesitated, surprised, glancing over to where I had set down the plate for today, “Nathaniel…”
“Don’t tell me you’re allergic to pastry?” I groaned, I suppose I shouldn’t have been shocked, he was fussy about everything.
“No… I just, ah, thank you. Will you stay and eat with me?” The request caught me off guard and I paused, I hadn’t intended to- “Don’t think about it, just agree,” he continued interrupting my thoughts.
“...Fine,” I muttered carefully. I couldn’t see the harm.
Eric smiled like a coy child tempting someone into something they wanted, and I almost regretted giving in. However, eating with him wasn’t unpleasant. We spoke some, and he ate slowly.
“I didn’t mean to upset you… before,” he commented gently.
“Pardon?” I responded with suspicion.
“I’m saying I’m sorry… for putting your books away…” he paused, giving a taunting smile as he continued, “...and moving some of your junk.”
“It’s not junk,” I repeated exasperatedly, and he laughed. It was a soft, unexpected sound that caught me off guard, “What are you laughing at?”
“You're getting defensive of inanimate objects, but you think I’m the fussy one.”
“You’re insufferable,” I muttered, standing to go, but as I did so Eric took hold of my arm again, “What do you want now? Let go.”
“You don’t need to bathe.”
“Excuse me?”
“You smell good still, actually, maybe even a little bit better than you did this morning… and you’re not dirty. Stay, talk to me a little while longer?”
I shook my head in disbelief, “Let go of me.”
He held firm and I swallowed hard. I wasn't sure anyone had wanted my company with such determination before and some part of me relished in it.
“…You’ve never told me what’s wrong with your leg,” I changed the topic, but made no further move to leave and he looked uncomfortable.
“It doesn’t work since you broke the spell maintaining it, obviously.”
“But why does it need a spell at all?”
“Does it matter?”
“If I’m asking, I expect an answer.”
Eric delayed, “…It got damaged in a revenant when I was a child.”
“I wasn’t aware Vanir could get hurt revenanting,” I commented simply. If he thought he could lie to me he was mistaken. However he didn’t elaborate so I continued, “Why haven’t you rewritten the spell by now? It’s not as if you don’t have the time.”
“If I could, I would, it’s not that easy. I don’t remember most of it, and you erased the anchor point.. besides… it wasn’t a perfect spell.”
“I’m not going to apologize.”
He gave a small irritated sound, “I wasn’t asking you to, you bastard. But I hope you realize if I can’t walk, I can’t train you, so this stupid little idea of yours isn’t going to work.”
“If you can’t train me, remind me: why am I keeping you alive?”
It wasn’t a serious question as it wasn’t a problem I didn’t have a solution for. However it was enough to shake him and he watched me with a wary caution. “Can I go bathe now?” I mused and he let go with a snort of disgust.
NEXT CHAPTER (available on patreon)
Chapter List

In the realm of construction, two common terms often arise pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) and ordinary steel structures. Both have their unique characteristics and applications, but understanding their differences is crucial for making informed decisions in construction projects. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the dissimilarities between pre-engineered buildings and conventional steel structures, shedding light on their design, fabrication, advantages, and applications.
What is a Pre-engineering Building (PEB)?
A Pre-engineered Building (PEB) is a type of structure that is designed and manufactured off-site using prefabricated components, primarily made of steel. These components are engineered and fabricated in a controlled factory environment according to specific design requirements and standards. Once manufactured, the prefabricated components are transported to the construction site for assembly. PEBs are known for their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and versatility in various construction applications. They offer rapid construction times, customization options, and durability, making them a popular choice for industrial, commercial, and institutional buildings.
Process of Pre-engineering Building:

1. Design and Engineering:

 The process begins with thorough design and engineering using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) software.
 Engineers create detailed blueprints and structural calculations to ensure the integrity and safety of the building.
 Factors such as load-bearing capacity, wind resistance, and seismic considerations are taken into account during the design phase.

1. Component Manufacturing:

 Once the design is finalized, prefabricated steel components are manufactured in a controlled factory environment.
 These components include columns, beams, roof trusses, purlins, wall panels, and other structural elements.
 Precision machinery is used to fabricate the components according to the specifications outlined in the engineering drawings.

1. Transportation to Site:

 After manufacturing, the prefabricated components are transported to the construction site using trucks or containers.
 Careful planning is essential to ensure timely delivery and minimize disruptions to the construction schedule.
 Components are packaged and loaded onto transport vehicles with consideration for their size, weight, and structural integrity.

1. On-Site Assembly:

 Upon arrival at the construction site, the prefabricated components are unloaded and organized for assembly.
 Skilled laborers, including steel erectors and construction workers, begin the process of erecting the structural framework.
 The components are assembled according to the engineered drawings and specifications, using specialized equipment such as cranes and lifts.

1. Installation of Roofing and Cladding:

 Once the structural framework is in place, roofing and cladding materials are installed to enclose the building envelope.
 Roof panels, wall panels, and insulation materials are carefully positioned and secured to provide weatherproofing and thermal insulation.
 Attention to detail is crucial to ensure proper alignment, sealing, and structural integrity of the building envelope.

1. Integration of Building Systems:

 Electrical, plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and other building systems are integrated into the structure as required.
 Wiring, piping, ductwork, and fixtures are installed according to building codes and safety standards.
 Coordination between different trades is essential to ensure seamless integration and functionality of the building systems.

1. Finishing Touches:

 Once the structural and mechanical components are in place, finishing touches such as interior partitions, doors, windows, and finishes are added.
 Quality checks are conducted throughout the construction process to verify compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
 Final inspections may be performed by building inspectors or third-party consultants to certify the completion and safety of the pre-engineering building structure.

1. Handover and Occupancy:

 Upon completion of construction, the pre-engineering building structure is handed over to the owner or client.
 Occupancy permits and certificates of compliance are obtained from regulatory authorities to authorize the use and occupancy of the building.
 Training and orientation sessions may be conducted to familiarize occupants with the operation and maintenance of the building systems.
Advantages of Pre-engineering Building Structures:

1. Speed of Construction: PEBs offer significantly faster construction times compared to traditional building methods. The use of prefabricated components streamlines the construction process, reducing labor and time requirements.
   
2. Cost-Effectiveness: Due to standardized design, efficient manufacturing processes, and reduced on-site labor requirements, PEBs are cost-effective. This results in overall cost savings for construction projects.
   
3. Flexibility and Customization: Despite their standardized components, PEBs offer flexibility in design and customization. Engineers can tailor the building's dimensions, layout, and finishes to meet specific project requirements.
   
4. Durability and Strength: Steel, the primary material used in PEBs, boasts exceptional durability and strength. This makes PEB structures resistant to adverse weather conditions, seismic forces, and structural degradation over time.
   
5. Versatility in Applications: PEBs find diverse applications across various industries, including industrial warehouses, commercial buildings, agricultural structures, and institutional facilities. Their versatility allows for the construction of a wide range of building types to suit different needs.
   
6. Energy Efficiency: PEBs can be designed to incorporate energy-efficient features such as insulation, natural lighting, and ventilation systems. This helps reduce energy consumption and operational costs over the building's lifespan.
   
7. Minimal Site Disruption: Since much of the fabrication work is done off-site, PEB construction minimizes disruption to the surrounding environment and neighboring properties. This is particularly advantageous in urban areas or sites with limited space.
   
8. Quality Control: The manufacturing process of PEB components in a controlled factory environment allows for strict quality control measures. This ensures consistency in product quality and adherence to industry standards.
   
9. Sustainability: PEBs are considered environmentally friendly due to the recyclability of steel and the reduction of construction waste associated with off-site fabrication. Additionally, their energy-efficient design contributes to lower carbon emissions over time.
   
10. Long-Term Value: With their durability, low maintenance requirements, and energy efficiency, PEB structures offer long-term value to building owners. They provide a reliable and sustainable solution for meeting evolving construction needs.
    

Applications of Pre-engineering Building Structures:

1. Industrial Warehouses and Factories: PEBs are widely used in the construction of industrial warehouses, manufacturing plants, and factories. Their spacious interiors, clear spans, and ability to accommodate heavy machinery make them ideal for housing production facilities and storage areas.
   
2. Commercial Buildings: From retail outlets and supermarkets to offices and showrooms, PEBs offer a cost-effective solution for constructing various commercial buildings. Their versatile layouts and aesthetic appeal make them suitable for a wide range of retail and business establishments.
   
3. Agricultural Structures: PEBs find application in the construction of agricultural buildings such as barns, storage sheds, and livestock shelters. Their durable construction and customizable design allow farmers to create efficient and functional spaces for storing equipment, feed, and livestock.
   
4. Institutional Facilities: Schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions benefit from the rapid construction and cost efficiency of PEBs. These structures can be tailored to accommodate classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and administrative offices, meeting the evolving needs of educational facilities.
   
5. Recreational Centers and Sports Complexes: PEBs are used in the construction of recreational centers, sports complexes, and gymnasiums, providing versatile spaces for indoor sports, fitness activities, and community events. Their large clear spans and customizable layouts make them suitable for housing sports courts, spectator seating, and amenities.
   
6. Aircraft Hangars and Aviation Facilities: PEBs are commonly utilized in the construction of aircraft hangars and aviation facilities. Their spacious interiors, high ceilings, and ability to accommodate large aircraft make them ideal for housing airplanes, helicopters, and related equipment.
   
7. Logistics and Distribution Centers: PEBs play a crucial role in the construction of logistics and distribution centers, serving as warehouses and storage facilities for inventory management and supply chain operations. Their efficient design and rapid construction times help meet the demands of modern logistics operations.
   
8. Cold Storage Facilities: PEBs can be adapted for use in cold storage facilities, where temperature-controlled environments are required for storing perishable goods such as food products and pharmaceuticals. Their insulated panels and customizable layouts make them suitable for maintaining specific temperature conditions.
   
9. Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Structures: In emergencies and disaster relief efforts, PEBs can be deployed quickly to provide temporary shelters, medical facilities, and command centers. Their modular design and ease of assembly make them valuable assets in responding to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
   
10. Retail Outlets and Showrooms: PEBs are utilized in the construction of retail outlets, showrooms, and shopping centers, providing efficient and cost-effective spaces for displaying merchandise and serving customers. Their customizable designs allow retailers to create attractive storefronts and functional interiors to enhance the shopping experience.
    

What is an ordinary steel structure?
An ordinary steel structure refers to a building or structure where steel components are fabricated and erected on-site according to specific engineering drawings and calculations. Unlike pre-engineered buildings (PEBs), where prefabricated components are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site, ordinary steel structures involve more traditional construction methods.
In an ordinary steel structure, steel beams, columns, and other structural elements are fabricated and welded or bolted together at the construction site. These components are typically customized to fit the specific requirements of the building design, allowing for greater flexibility in architectural design and layout.
The construction process for ordinary steel structures involves on-site fabrication, assembly, and installation of steel components, which may require skilled labor and specialized equipment. While this the method offers flexibility in design and customization, it may also result in longer construction timelines and higher labor costs compared to pre-engineered buildings. Ordinary steel structures find application in a wide range of building types, including commercial buildings, industrial facilities, residential complexes, bridges, and infrastructure projects. Their versatility, strength, and durability make them a popular choice for projects where customized design solutions and structural integrity are paramount.
Process of Ordinary Steel Structure Construction:

1. Design and Engineering:

 Conceptualization: The process begins with conceptualizing the building design based on the client's requirements, architectural vision, and functional needs.
 Structural Design: Experienced engineers create detailed structural drawings and calculations, considering factors such as building codes, load requirements, and architectural specifications.
 Material Selection: The type and grade of steel are selected based on structural requirements, environmental conditions, and budget constraints.

1. Material Procurement:

 Steel Procurement: High-quality steel beams, columns, plates, and other structural elements are procured from reputable suppliers. The steel may be sourced in various forms, including rolled sections, plates, and pipes.
 Additional Materials: Other materials such as bolts, welding electrodes, and protective coatings are also procured as per the project requirements.

1. Fabrication:

 Cutting and Shaping: The steel components are cut, drilled, and shaped according to the engineering drawings using cutting-edge machinery such as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) plasma cutters, saws, and drills.
 Welding or Bolting: Steel components are assembled by welding or bolting, depending on the design requirements and structural considerations. Skilled welders ensure precise and strong connections between the structural elements.

1. Transportation to Site:

 Logistics Planning: A logistics plan is developed to coordinate the transportation of fabricated steel components to the construction site. Factors such as transportation mode, route optimization, and handling procedures are considered to minimize delays and ensure safety.
 Loading and Transport: Fabricated steel components are loaded onto trucks or trailers and transported to the construction site. Care is taken to secure the components properly to prevent damage during transit.

1. On-Site Assembly:

 Site Preparation: The construction site is prepared, including clearing the ground, leveling the foundation, and setting up temporary facilities.
 Erection: Skilled laborers erect the steel framework according to the engineered drawings and specifications. This process involves lifting and positioning steel beams, columns, and other structural elements using cranes and other lifting equipment.
 Connection: Steel components are connected using welding, bolting, or a combination of both to ensure structural integrity and stability. Connections are inspected to verify compliance with safety standards and engineering requirements.

1. Installation of Secondary Elements:

 Roofing and Cladding: Roofing and wall cladding systems are installed to provide weatherproofing and insulation. This includes attaching metal roof panels, wall panels, and insulation materials as per design requirements.
 Doors, Windows, and Finishes: Doors, windows, and other architectural finishes are installed to complete the building envelope. Interior finishes such as partitions, flooring, and ceiling systems may also be installed as per the project specifications.

1. Quality Assurance:

 Inspection and Testing: Quality checks are conducted throughout the construction process to ensure compliance with safety standards, building codes, and project specifications. This includes visual inspections, non-destructive testing, and material testing as required.
 Corrective Actions: Any defects or discrepancies identified during quality inspections are addressed promptly through corrective actions to maintain the integrity and quality of the steel structure.

1. Handover and Maintenance:

 Final Inspection: Upon completion, a final inspection is conducted to verify that the steel structure meets all contractual requirements and regulatory standards.
 Handover: The completed steel structure is handed over to the client, along with relevant documentation and warranties.
 Maintenance Guidelines: The client is provided with maintenance guidelines and recommendations to ensure the long-term performance and durability of the steel structure.
Advantages of Ordinary Steel Structures:

1. Versatility in Design: Ordinary steel structures offer flexibility in architectural design, allowing for customized solutions to meet specific project requirements. Architects can create unique and aesthetically pleasing designs using steel's inherent properties and versatility.
   
2. Strength and Durability: Steel is known for its exceptional strength and durability, making it an ideal material for constructing load-bearing structures. Ordinary steel structures can withstand harsh environmental conditions, including wind, seismic activity, and heavy snow loads, ensuring long-term structural integrity.
   
3. Speed of Construction: Compared to traditional construction methods, steel structures can be erected more quickly due to off-site fabrication and assembly of steel components. This results in shorter construction timelines and reduced labor costs, making steel structures a cost-effective choice for time-sensitive projects.
   
4. Cost-Effectiveness: Despite the initial investment in material procurement and fabrication, steel structures offer long-term cost savings. The speed of construction, reduced labor requirements, and minimal maintenance contribute to lower overall project costs over the life cycle of the building.
   
5. Environmental Sustainability: Steel is a highly recyclable material, with a significant portion of steel used in construction being sourced from recycled sources. Additionally, steel structures can be dismantled and repurposed at the end of their lifespan, reducing waste and environmental impact.
   
6. Fire Resistance: Steel has inherent fire-resistant properties, providing greater protection against fire hazards compared to other building materials such as wood. This enhances the safety and security of occupants in steel structures, reducing the risk of fire-related damage and loss.
   
7. Design Consistency and Quality Control: The off-site fabrication of steel components allows for strict quality control measures to be implemented in a controlled factory environment. This ensures consistency in product quality and adherence to engineering standards, resulting in structurally sound and reliable steel structures.
   
8. Adaptability and Expansion: Steel structures offer flexibility for future expansion or modification due to their modular design and ease of integration with additional components. Building owners can easily adapt steel structures to accommodate changing needs or technological advancements over time.
   
9. Longevity and Low Maintenance: Steel structures have a longer lifespan compared to traditional building materials, requiring minimal maintenance and repairs over time. The inherent corrosion resistance of steel, when properly coated, contributes to the durability and longevity of steel structures.
   
10. Space Utilization: Steel structures offer clear spans and column-free interiors, maximizing usable floor space and allowing for efficient utilization of space. This makes steel structures suitable for a wide range of applications, including industrial warehouses, commercial buildings, and recreational facilities.
    

Difference Between Ordinary Steel Structures and Pre-Engineering Building Structures:

1. Construction Process:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Involves on-site fabrication and assembly of steel components, including beams, columns, and trusses, according to specific engineering drawings and calculations.
 Pre-Engineering Building (PEB) Structures: Utilizes prefabricated steel components manufactured off-site and transported to the construction site for assembly. PEBs follow standardized designs and manufacturing processes, reducing on-site fabrication time and labor.

1. Design Flexibility:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Offer greater flexibility in architectural design and customization, allowing for unique and intricate building configurations to suit specific project requirements.
 PEB Structures: Have standardized designs and components, which may limit architectural flexibility compared to ordinary steel structures. However, PEBs offer customizable options within predetermined parameters to accommodate various building layouts and functionalities.

1. Construction Time:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Typically have longer construction timelines due to on-site fabrication and assembly processes, as well as the need for customization and detailing.
 PEB Structures: Offer faster construction times compared to ordinary steel structures due to the use of prefabricated components and standardized designs. PEBs can be erected quickly, reducing overall construction duration and project lead times.

1. Cost Considerations:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: May incur higher initial costs due to the labor-intensive on-site fabrication process and customization requirements. However, long-term costs may vary depending on factors such as maintenance and operational efficiency.
 PEB Structures: Are often more cost-effective in terms of both initial construction costs and overall project expenses. Standardized designs, efficient manufacturing processes, and reduced on-site labor contribute to cost savings in PEB construction.

1. Architectural Flexibility:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Provide greater architectural freedom and versatility, allowing for complex designs, irregular shapes, and customized features to meet specific aesthetic and functional preferences.
 PEB Structures: Offer flexibility within standardized parameters, allowing for customization of dimensions, layouts, and finishes. While PEBs may have limitations in architectural complexity compared to ordinary steel structures, they provide efficient and practical solutions for various building applications.

1. Quality Control:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Quality control measures are implemented throughout the fabrication and assembly process to ensure compliance with engineering standards and specifications.
 PEB Structures: Benefit from rigorous quality control in the manufacturing of prefabricated components, leading to consistent product quality and adherence to industry standards. However, on-site assembly practices also play a crucial role in maintaining quality in PEB construction.

1. Applications:

 Ordinary Steel Structures: Widely used in diverse applications, including commercial buildings, industrial facilities, bridges, and infrastructure projects, where customization and architectural freedom are paramount.
 PEB Structures: Find extensive application in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and aviation, where speed, cost-effectiveness, and standardized designs are critical for efficient construction and operations.
How G Skyeagle Infra Can Help and Suggest Better Structure Technology:

1. Expertise and Experience: G Skyeagle Infra brings years of expertise and experience in the construction industry, specializing in both ordinary steel structures and pre-engineered building structures. Our team of professionals understands the unique requirements of each project and can provide tailored solutions to meet client needs.
   
2. Customized Design Solutions: Our company can offer customized design solutions for clients seeking ordinary steel structures, leveraging our expertise in architectural design and structural engineering. We work closely with clients to understand their vision and provide innovative design concepts that maximize functionality and aesthetics.
   
3. Efficient Construction Methods: G Skyeagle Infra is well-versed in efficient construction methods for both ordinary steel structures and PEB structures. We can recommend the most suitable construction approach based on project requirements, timelines, and budget constraints, ensuring optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
   
4. Technology Integration: Our company stays abreast of the latest advancements in construction technology and materials, allowing us to suggest better structure technology for our clients. Whether it's incorporating sustainable building materials, energy-efficient systems, or innovative construction techniques, we strive to enhance project outcomes and performance.
   
5. Comprehensive Project Management: From conceptualization to completion, G Skyeagle Infra provides comprehensive project management services, overseeing every aspect of the construction process. We ensure seamless coordination between stakeholders, adherence to timelines, and quality control throughout the project lifecycle.
   

By leveraging our expertise, experience, and commitment to excellence, G Skyeagle Infra can help clients navigate the complexities of construction projects and suggest better structure technology solutions that align with their goals and objectives.

My 20 month old toddler had been dealing with constipation since birth but miralax had been working most of the time but this past week it don’t seem to be working. He will only drink milk we have tired pretty much everything else. But he’s extremely fussy. Any tips or medication we can try for fast relief for him. 2 doctors say he has autism but can’t give a diagnosis till he’s 2. But he has been diagnosed with global developmental delay for time being and is on disability already.

Introduction
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multisystem neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motoneurons progressively and eventually leads to paralysis [1]. The etiology of sporadic ALS is still unclear [2]. ALS leads to death on average 2-4 years after the onset of symptoms [3].
From the Dharma point of view, all illnesses are divided into 2 categories: physical illness and karmic illness. This classification was designed by Master Lu. Generally speaking, if a disease cannot be cured by a doctor, it is a karmic illness. For physical illness, the patient should seek help from a doctor, and for karmic illness, the patient should seek help from Dharma. When karma flares, usually triggered by some factors, the spirit(s) (a respectful name of “ghost”) will occupy the patient. Then, it becomes a spiritual illness.
Since doctors cannot diagnose the cause and cannot treat it, ALS is apparently a karmic disease. In a Dharma Q&A program, Master Lu found a spirit of dead man occupying a lady’s body because she killed a pregnant big sea turtle in her previous life as a fisherman, causing her ALS this life [4]. Thus, we can conclude that ALS is a spiritual illness.
To treat a spiritual illness, you will need to ascend the spirit(s) occupying your body. Once the spirit(s) leave your body, you will recover your health. Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door teaches you how to ascend spirit(s).
Patient Wan, female, 46 (2012), Elementary School Degree, Hubei province, China
Once I was a totally ignorant sentient being. I have committed 4 of the 5 Buddhist precepts of killing, stealing, lust and delusion. I had two abortions, opened a restaurant for a year, sold lobsters, killed a lot of turtles. I have played mahjong for over 20 years and cheated at the mahjong table in order to win money while gambling. I have committed evil acts of sexual misconduct. I have created many oral karmas, for example, breaking up my brother's marriage. The terrible thing regarding ignorance is that I was doing something that hurt me, but I did not even know it, and I thought it was normal because many people did it, so I enjoyed doing it. I did not know that good and evil would be rewarded at the end of the day.
In 2012, at 46 years old, I realized I often fell while walking, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. In 2013, I was diagnosed with ALS in a hospital in Wuhan, China. Since 2015, I have been unable to take care of myself. Attempting to treat ALS, since 2013, I have tried nearly a hundred different medications, and for 3 months, I received treatment in the most advanced hospital in Beijing. Regardless, the deteriorating condition was not controlled. My body was weak, my neck was flaccid, not firm. I could not lift my head, and I could not speak clearly either. The only thing I could do was to write slowly on the cell phone. By 2019, the condition had become worse and worse. Since the onset of ALS, my shoulders and cervical spine have been unbearably painful. I would even choke while drinking and eating. After being tortured by ALS for 8 years I became shriveled and had lost over 5 kilograms of weight. I felt as if I had arrived at the end of my life.
Heaven never blocks a man's will, and there is always a way out. I appreciate Buddha and Bodhisattva for their mercy and care towards sentient beings. In May 2020, a Buddhism practitioner who practiced Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door sent me a chanting player. This was when I started my Buddhist journey reciting Buddhist scriptures daily. Perhaps because I had a strong affinity with Buddha in my previous generations, I was able to initiate and love studying the Dharma immediately from the very beginning.
Now, every morning after getting up and before starting the daily recitation, I drink a cup of Great Compassion Water, take the compound Danshen tablets, and drink a bowl of red dates, wolfberries and American ginseng juice. My daily recitation consists of: Great Compassion Mantra 49 times, Heart Sutra 49 times, Cundi Dharani 49 times, Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou 49 times, Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra 21-49 times, Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots 49 times, the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance Text 5 times, and Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan 108 times. Because oral karma is too heavy, to specifically eliminate it, I recite the Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan 108 times per day. I can recite 4 Little Houses every day.
In May 2021, I made 5 great vows:

1. Become a vegetarian for life.
   
2. Never kill beings.
   
3. Release 10,000 fish (time range was not set).
   
4. Recite 1000 Little Houses for my karmic creditors within 2 years.
   
5. After recovery, I will convince sentient beings to practice Buddhism using my experiences.
   

Every morning, I say the above 5 vows to Bodhisattva one time and, I also add: "I will rectify my past mistakes and will not create new karma for the rest of my life."
I am very grateful to the great Mercy of Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Twice I dreamed that Guan Yin Bodhisattva performed surgery in my head and throat to help me get rid of the pain. One day I was in a bad mood and that night, in my dream, I saw these large words "Do it even if it's hard!". I knew it was Merciful Guan Yin Bodhisattva spurring me to go on despite the odds! I appreciate the Bodhisattva for Her Great Compassion saving both my physical life and spiritual life without giving up! I am also grateful to the WeChat Buddhism practitioners for their unfailing support and help.
Compared to when I just began reciting Buddhist scriptures in May 2020, my speech speed has improved greatly, and I feel no pressure reciting Buddhist scriptures following the fast-talking version on the mobile phone. However, I still can't pronounce clearly; my speech is slurred. This may be the retribution resulting from my oral karma when I broke up my younger brother's marriage. When a man plants seeds, he should harvest what he planted. I only understood this truth after I studied Buddhism. As a Buddhism practitioner one must be cautious to avoid generating karma, particularly, do not get involved in cause and effect of others carelessly.
Although I have only practiced Buddhism for 1 year, I am delighted that my illness has been effectively controlled and the wellness of my body has improved. I have regained weight and strength. There are no atrophied muscles anymore. Now, I can stand up on my own from a stool. My tongue is also much more flexible, my throat is unobstructed, I am able to swallow, and food and water no longer make me choke. All this progress convinced me that studying Buddhism and reciting Buddhist scriptures can definitely change my miserable destiny! It takes more than one day to freeze three feet of ice; it also takes more than one day to melt the ice. I don't dare to wish to fully recover immediately, because the long-standing karma from years of killing, stealing, lust and delusion cannot be eliminated overnight. As long as I keep practicing, my condition will definitely improve!
I am grateful for the disease that allowed me to enter the Dharma Door. Looking back on those days when I could not even have the strength to kill myself, my life was worse than death, just like living hell on earth. In contrast, I live a happy life today. Practicing Buddhism has not only placed my body on the road to recovery, but it has also helped me place my mind in the right place to understand what it means to be a human being. I will cherish my Buddha's affinity and spiritual life, practice Buddhism and cultivate my mind, in order to acknowledge the Buddha and Bodhisattva's grace!
References
[1] Sonkodi B et al. 2022. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and delayed onset muscle soreness in light of the impaired blink and stretch reflexes - watch out for Piezo2. Open Med (Wars). 2022 Mar 1;17(1):397-402.
[2] Newell ME et al. 2022. Systematic and state-of the science review of the role of environmental factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 15;817:152504.
[3] Erdmann A et al. 2022. Talking about the end of life: communication patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a scoping review. Palliat Care Soc Pract. 2022 Mar 15;16:26323524221083676.
[4] 卢军宏，《玄艺综述》2017年6月27日，时间 00:32 - 11:00
Shared by: Dharma Practitioner Wan, Gratitude and Namaste!
Translated by: Frank
2021-06-01 received
2021-07-27 Chinese version
2022-03-29 English version
Statement by Translator

1. The story was translated from Chinese into English by meaning, not word by word. If there is anything that is not rational or in line with the true meaning of the Chinese version, I’d like to seek forgiveness from the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors and Master Jun Hong Lu.
   
2. Author Wan was interviewed by Frank during the translation for the detailed information.
   

Propagation
It would be greatly appreciated if you would forward this presentation to all sentient beings you know, sick or healthy. You will accumulate immeasurable merits and virtues. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda!
Would you like to change your destiny?
We will show you how to do the Five Golden Buddhist Practices of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door: (1) making vows, (2) reciting Buddhist scriptures (sutras and mantras), (3) performing life liberation, (4) reading Buddhism in Plain Terms, and (5) repenting. You will personally witness how you and your family can achieve physical and mental stability, relief from illness and grievances, wisdom growth, academic progress, career advancement, and family happiness through Dharma. It’s free of charge.
Contact
Buddhist practitioner: Lily
Email: [sunnypurplelily@gmail.com](mailto:sunnypurplelily@gmail.com)
WeChat: HanJing20210820
原文如下
学佛念经，使我枯木逢春，让患有渐冻症的我走上了康复之路
顶礼南无大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨摩诃萨！
顶礼十方三世一切诸佛菩萨及龙天护法金刚菩萨！
顶礼弘法度众舍身忘我的恩师慈父LJH台长！
大家好，我是明天一片光明同修。我分享的题目是：学佛念经，使我枯木逢春，让患有渐冻症的我走上了康复之路
曾经的我，是一名地地道道的无明众生。佛法五戒中的杀、盗、淫、妄四样我都干过。我堕胎过两个孩子，开过一年餐馆，卖过龙虾，杀过很多甲鱼。我打麻将有20多年，为了在赌博时赢钱，在麻将桌上作弊。我有过邪淫的行为。我造过很多口业，例如，拆散弟弟的姻缘。无明的可怕之处在于我正在做着伤害我自己的事，却不自知，还以为这很正常，故而乐此不疲。殊不知，善恶到头终有报，只争来早与来迟。
2012年，46岁，我走路容易摔跤，但是我没有太在意。2013年，47岁，在武汉某医院我被诊断出患有渐冻症。2015年至2021年的6年时间里，我生活无法自理。我服用过近百种药品，还曾经到北京某知名医院治疗了三个月，都没能控制住病情的恶化。我的身体绵软无力，脖子绵软地抬不起头，话说不清楚，只能在手机上慢慢写字。从2019年开始，病情越来越严重。肩膀、颈椎犯起病来疼痛难忍；甚至连喝水、吃东西都会被呛到。我被疾病折磨得干枯萎缩，爆瘦了十几斤。我感觉自己已经熬到了生命尽头……
天无绝人之路，感恩佛菩萨的垂怜眷顾。2020年5月，有一位修学XLFM的师兄给我寄来了念经的播放器。从此我走进了ⅩLFM，开始学佛念经做功课了。也许是自己的佛缘具足，从一开始我就喜欢上了念经。不过，我的学佛之路并不是一帆风顺的，也有些许来自先生的阻碍。感恩微信群里的师兄们的开导和鼓励，才使我坚持到今天。
现在，每天早上起床后，我就喝大悲水，之后服用复方丹参片，再喝一碗红枣、枸杞、西洋参汁，然后开始念功课。我每天的功课是：《大悲咒》49遍，《心经》49遍，《准提神咒》49遍，《消灾吉祥神咒》49遍，《往生咒》49遍，《解结咒》49遍，《礼佛大忏悔文》5遍和《七佛灭罪真言》108遍。因为我的口业很重，所以我每天念诵108遍《七佛灭罪真言》专门用于消口业。每天我能念4张经文组合。
2021年5月，我许了如下五个大愿：
一、终身吃全素；
二、终生不杀生；
三、放生上万（没许多长时间内完成）；
四、在两年内念诵1000张小房子；
五、康复后现身说法，救度众生。
每天早上，我都跟菩萨把以上5个愿力说一遍。并且，我还补充一句：“我余生痛改前非，不造新业。”
感恩大慈大悲观世音菩萨！我曾经两次梦到观世音菩萨到我梦里，为我头部和咽喉做手术，帮我拔除痛苦。有一次我心情不好，晚上在梦里就看见“再难也要前行！”几个大字。我知道，这是观世音菩萨在慈悲点化我要知难而进！感恩大慈大悲观世音菩萨一直在不离不弃地救度我的生命和慧命！也感恩师兄们一直不厌其烦地支持我、帮助我！
较之于去年刚刚念经的时候，我现在的语速大大地提高了，跟着手机快语速版念经也毫无压力了。但是，我现在还是发音不清楚，即含糊不清。这也许就是因为我口业太重所致！是我拆散小弟姻缘的现世报。因果报应，丝毫不爽啊！这是在我学佛后才明白的道理。所以，学佛做人要谨小慎微，如履薄冰，更不能随便动他人因果。
虽然我学佛念经仅有一年的时间，但让我欣喜的是，我的的病情得到了有效控制，身体各方面都有了很好的改善。人长胖了，也有力气了。萎缩的肌肉长出来了，现在我可以从凳子上自己站起来了。舌头也灵活多了，吞咽时喉咙无阻碍，吃饭喝水也不会被呛到了。这一切都让我坚信，学佛念经一定可以改变我的命运！只要坚持念经，我的身体一定会越来越好的！
承蒙观世音菩萨慈悲保佑，让我的饮食逐渐恢复了正常，使我有了康复的资本。我相信只要我努力精进地学佛念经，身体一定会越来越好，一切都只是时间问题。先生脾气不好，学佛念经后，我就把他的坏脾气视为我修行修心的增上缘，促使我在念经学佛的路上更快地成长。虽然我先生现在还没有开悟，看到我学佛后各方面的改变，先生转变态度，如今支持我学佛念经了。我很感恩他能支持我学佛念经。
一人学佛，庇荫全家。自从2020年农历九月十五我家设佛台以后，儿子的生意也越来越好了。观世音菩萨大慈大悲，不但救度我，连我的孩子也一起呵护。

感恩这场疾病，让我有幸走进了XLFM。如今回想起来，曾经的自己连自杀的能力都没有，那些日子真是生不如死，简直就是活在人间地狱。相比之下，今天的生活太幸福了。学佛念经不但让我的身体走上康复之路，而且让我把心态整理好了，明白了做人的道理。有菩萨保佑，无论什么事情，我都充满信心。
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒；冰雪消融，非一日之功。我不敢奢望马上恢复到正常人那样，因为来自杀盗淫妄多年的宿业不可能一夜之间消掉。我时时刻刻告诫自己：要想完全康复，只有努力精进地学佛念经。我一定会好好珍惜自己的佛缘和慧命，好好学佛修心，报答佛菩萨的恩情！
再次感恩南无大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨摩诃萨，感恩十方三世一切诸佛菩萨及龙天护法金刚菩萨！感恩弘法度众舍身忘我的恩师慈父LJH台长！
如果在分享过程中有不如理不如法之处，祈请大慈大悲观世音菩萨慈悲原谅！请十方三世一切诸佛菩萨慈悲原谅！请龙天护法金刚菩萨慈悲原谅！请恩师慈父慈悲原谅！请师兄们批评指正！我自己的业障自己背，不让师父背，不让师兄们背！
分享人：万同修（明天一天光芒） 感恩合十
2021-06-01 收到
2021-07-27发布
2022-03-29 英文
2023-02-25 更新
您想改变命运吗？
我们手把手传授您观世音菩萨的心灵法门五大法宝：“许愿”、“放生”、“念经”、“读《白话佛法》、大忏悔”。您将亲自见证如何通过佛法让自己及家人获得身心安定、病苦解除、冤结化解、智慧增长、学业进步、事业提升、家庭幸福。免费学习，免费结缘。
欢迎联络Lily佛友：sunnypurplelily@gmail.com
或者加Lily佛友微信：HanJing20210820
Disclaimer of Liability:
The contents of the presentation and answers, including text, images, and other information obtained from Dharma practitioners, are provided strictly for reference purposes. Due to the unique nature of individual karma, results similar to those experienced by the authors may not be replicated. The experiences and advice shared should not be construed as medical advice or a diagnosis.
In the event of an emergency, it is crucial to promptly contact your doctor or emergency services by dialing 911. Relying on any information found in the answers is done solely at your own risk. The translator and answerer bear no responsibility for the consequences. By using or misusing the contents, you accept liability for any personal injury, including death. It is imperative to exercise caution and seek professional medical guidance for health-related concerns.

Flying with your dog can be a daunting task, but with proper preparation, it can be a smooth and stress-free experience. Ensuring your furry friend’s comfort and safety during air travel requires careful planning and attention to detail. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about flying with a dog, from booking the flight to landing at your destination.

Understanding Airline Policies

Researching Different Airlines

Before booking your flight, research various airlines to understand their pet policies. Each airline has its own set of rules regarding pet travel, including size restrictions, carrier requirements, and fees.

Policies for Cabin vs. Cargo Travel

Small dogs that fit in an airline-approved carrier can usually travel in the cabin with you, placed under the seat in front of you. Larger dogs may need to travel in the cargo hold. Make sure you’re aware of the specific policies of the airline you choose.

👉 CLICK HERE to learn more about it

Choosing the Right Carrier

Size and Comfort Considerations

Your dog’s carrier should be large enough for them to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Ensure it has good ventilation and a secure, comfortable interior.

Airline-Approved Carriers

Check the airline’s guidelines for approved carriers. The carrier should meet size requirements and be sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of travel.

Booking Your Flight

Reserving a Spot for Your Dog

Once you've selected an airline, contact them to reserve a spot for your dog. Airlines have a limited number of spots for pets on each flight, so it’s important to book early.

Additional Fees and Requirements

Be aware of any additional fees for flying with a pet. Some airlines may also require specific documentation, such as a health certificate from your vet.

Preparing Your Dog for Travel

Veterinary Checkup

Schedule a checkup with your vet before your trip. Ensure your dog is healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations. Discuss any concerns you have about traveling with your vet.

Necessary Vaccinations and Documentation

Make sure your dog has all the required vaccinations and obtain a health certificate if needed. Some destinations may have additional requirements, so check the regulations for your travel destination.

Acclimating Your Dog to the Carrier

Help your dog get used to the carrier by letting them explore it at home. Place treats and toys inside to make it a positive space. Gradually increase the amount of time your dog spends in the carrier.

👉 CLICK HERE to learn more about it

Packing Essentials for Your Dog

Travel Bag Checklist

Pack a travel bag with all the essentials your dog will need during the trip. This includes:

• Leash and collar
• Identification tags
• Health and vaccination records
• Food and water bowls
• Portable water bottle
• Dog food and treats
• Waste bags
• A blanket or favorite toy for comfort

Food, Water, and Comfort Items

Bring enough food and water for the duration of the trip, plus a little extra in case of delays. A familiar blanket or toy can help comfort your dog during the flight.

On the Day of Travel

Pre-Flight Exercise and Feeding

Exercise your dog before the flight to help them burn off energy. Feed them a light meal a few hours before departure to prevent travel sickness.

Arriving at the Airport Early

Arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time for check-in and security. Some airports have designated pet relief areas, so take advantage of these before your flight.

Navigating Security with Your Dog

At security, you will need to remove your dog from the carrier and carry them through the metal detector while the carrier is screened. Keep a leash on your dog to ensure they stay safe and secure.

👉 CLICK HERE to learn more about it

During the Flight

Keeping Your Dog Calm and Comfortable

Keep your dog’s carrier under the seat in front of you and ensure they have enough ventilation. Speak to your dog in a calm, soothing voice to help keep them relaxed.

Managing Bathroom Breaks

For longer flights, plan for bathroom breaks. Use pet relief areas in airports during layovers. Bring disposable pee pads for emergencies.

Post-Flight Tips

Collecting Your Dog from Cargo (if applicable)

If your dog traveled in the cargo hold, head to the designated area to collect them as soon as you land. Check your dog for any signs of distress or discomfort and offer them water.

Helping Your Dog Adjust to the New Environment

Once you arrive at your destination, give your dog time to adjust. Take them for a walk, offer food and water, and provide a comfortable space for them to rest.

Handling Emergencies

Knowing When to Seek Help

If your dog shows signs of severe stress or illness during travel, seek help immediately. Know the location of the nearest veterinary clinic at your destination.

Contact Information for Emergency Services

Keep a list of emergency contact numbers, including your vet and emergency veterinary services at your destination.

Conclusion

Flying with your dog requires careful planning, but with the right preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your furry friend. Remember to research airline policies, choose the right carrier, and prepare your dog for the trip. By following these tips, you can make air travel a positive experience for both you and your dog.

FAQs

What if my dog gets anxious during the flight?

Keep your dog calm by speaking to them in a soothing voice and providing comfort items like a favorite toy or blanket. Consult your vet about anxiety-reducing options if needed.

Can I give my dog a sedative for the flight?

Consult your vet before giving your dog any sedatives. Some sedatives can have adverse effects, especially at high altitudes.

Are certain breeds not allowed on flights?

Yes, some airlines have restrictions on brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs due to their increased risk of respiratory issues.

How do I handle layovers with my dog?

During layovers, use pet relief areas in the airport to let your dog stretch and relieve themselves. Offer water and a small snack if needed.

What should I do if my dog has an accident during the flight?

Bring disposable pee pads and waste bags to handle any accidents. Clean up promptly and ensure your dog is comfortable for the rest of the flight.

👉 CLICK HERE to learn more about it

CW for everything. I have no mouth and I must scream.
Disclaimer: I've been in many different types of therapies for over a decade and it was extremely harmful for me. Please do not suggest any psychiatric interventions because I probably know more about them than any misguided platitude could provide.
I can't believe this is a controversial statement but if there's anything I learned, it's that this world is a fucking circus anyhow. Don't spawn offspring if you aren't prepared for the reality of what it means to take care of someone who will potentially be dependent on you in the most undesirable ways for the rest of your goddamn life!!! Or otherwise a useless societal degenerate. Or in my case, both, I guess.
My APs are a lot better these days now that I'm a mostly autonomous adult, especially after I moved into my own social housing apartment for DVSA victims, but I am forever resentful of how they fucked everything up for me to turn out the way I did anyway. The only thing I ever wanted was some abstract concept of them fucking off forever once I became "adult enough" to escape, but that will never happen because I am too disabled to do anything that isn't maintain bADLs that's pretty much just hygiene, cleaning my flat, and managing medical appointments.
I was extremely sickly as a child and spent a lot of time in and out of ICUs, wishing that I actually died instead, because my APs simply couldn't be fucked to get me adequate medical attention or actually care for me the ways I needed until I had one foot in the metaphorical casket.
The worst honestly wasn't even having permanently damaging double pneumonia from H1N1 or whatever the fuck else, but the entitled callousness of how they were too fucking in over their heads with their own subclinical autistic incompetence that looking after a dependent was totally beyond their scope. It should've been telling in the first place that I did not live with them until I was 5 years old--not to mention that they never had experience living together, even after marriage, or living separately from their own bastard APs wiping their asses until they emigrated.
My earliest memories of living with them consisted of being severely ill all the fucking time from living in moldy ass shacks with no winter heating, sleeping on a blanket on tile floor in my parka, and hiding constantly--especially when sick and fazing in and out of consciousness from violent bouts of vomiting/diarrhea--because I'd be subject to AF's neurotic tantrums for not being academically/behaviorally "perfect", or sexual bouts of "stress relief" otherwise.
(Of course, it wasn't all that bad, since at least I had books, VHS/DVDs, dial-up to keep me company 🙃 Funny how hard it is to get an autism diagnosis if you weren't intellectually delayed, because all my shitty classmates knew on sight before any one medical professional even suggested it.)
I can sympathize with their hardships to some extent, especially since I'm too dysfunctional myself to have ever achieved even half of what they did, which, by all accounts, were relatively impressive. But no matter how they try to make it up to me now, it's entirely their fucking fault that I was born wrong into an antagonistic existence that I hate, riddled with all these bullshit conditions (TLDR dysautonomia, autism, CPTSD so bad that I started receiving disability welfare for it at 18) that I will suffer the progressively worsening effects from until I'm graced by the mercy of death. Hopefully soon, because I've already lost it and then some. I don't have the psychological fortitude to take another 25 to 50 years of this shit, considering how poorly all my grandparents and own APs are aging.
It's maddening because I'm not even in a position to really be allowed the sort of childish anger I harbor towards them, considering that it's well within my mom's rights to cut me off completely. Instead, she regularly takes me out for groceries and, fuck, just being reminded that I'm dependent on them in any way fills me with unbridled rage. I hate them, I hate this nightmare they forced me into for their own hubris, and I hate that I'm the Bad Guy because I don't just grin and bear it like a sympathetic little victim.
Most of all, I wish that literally anyone else could be me, rather than the other way around, because there is no timeline in this reality that I would find bearable to exist as I am, but I'm sure plenty of Asian kids wished their APs would redeem themselves eventually. Therapy and "autism caregiver support services" kind of worked in my APs' favor, if that helps anyone, but CPS coercion takes majority of the credit for that.
And no, they never apologized or will never own up to anything for shit, not that I would forgive them. At best, it's just "cut fruit reconciliation" that completely absolves them of any accountability because no one could ever hate me more than my APs do, which is why only my mom cares enough to still provide for my "karmic burden" ass even now 🫠

It took me a long time to decide whether or not to post my story here. Apologies in advance if this gets long winded. I joined the community almost a year ago to the day and am very aware of what most people here are going through. Ultimately, many of the success stories I found here helped me in a positive way, so I hope my story does the same for others. It’s such an unfortunate place to have to come and find hope and support, but for so many people there aren’t many other places to turn. Having said that, I consider myself one of the lucky unlucky ones. There are people who find this forum after their first loss and others here after experiencing several losses. Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you can take something uplifting away.
In late March of 2023 my wife and I learned that we were pregnant after 6-7 months of trying. On May 17th, the night of my 33rd birthday, at the exact time we sat down to have cake, my wife felt a gush of fluid and rushed to the bathroom. We would spend the rest of that night losing our first pregnancy. Even though it was early (8 weeks) it was excruciating. The sadness and despair caught both of us completely off guard. I had never even considered this kind of loss before, for me it was just something you heard happening to people on rare occasions. After that loss I learned just how common it really is, and felt so much relief. This didn’t necessarily mean something was wrong or that we would struggle in the future. Fast forward 3 months and we were back in the ER again getting the news of our 2nd loss. This time was different. This time we were convinced there was something wrong. Our OB did her best to reassure us, but we inevitably fell down the rabbit hole of recurrent pregnancy loss and all the possible causes, including the unexplainable causes.
Two weeks later we scheduled an appointment with the fertility clinic to begin testing on both myself and my wife. Our OB advised us to put off trying again because it could complicate or delay the fertility testing. Because trying again was our way of coping we ignored that advice. 2 days before our first fertility appointment, we had another positive test. When we got to the office we told our doctor and they did bloodwork to confirm. Immediately after they confirmed our 3rd pregnancy, they started my wife on a “kitchen sink” protocol that included a handful of potentially helpful medications. The list included: Pepcid AC, Claritin, progesterone suppositories, and baby aspirin. Obviously this isnt medical advice and I can’t say if any of it made a difference. A week later when we went in to repeat bloodwork, the doctor suggested a thyroid screening just incase. Turns out my wife went from being in very normal TSH range to hypothyroid in the course of a few weeks. This is not uncommon but gets overlooked quite a bit. She immediately started treating it. With a little hope and some new tools, our journey began. The next 9 months that followed were the most stressful months we ever experienced.
On May 6th, 2024 our daughter was born three weeks early at just under 6lbs. The anxiety of pregnancy after loss is inescapable. Every test, every scan, we waited for bad news. Every week felt like a year. In total we would have almost 100 appointments, tests, scans, abd NSTs total. The closer we got to the end, the worse our anxiety got. When my wife was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, we were thrown right back into our worst fears. As I’m writing this my daughter is in her bassinet next to me. A day we weren’t sure would ever come did.
My advice to anyone going through pregnancy loss is to take a step back and accept that unfortunately you don’t get that worry free journey. Pregnancy will be harder than it already is, but it will be worth every single excruciating second. Advocate for yourself early on. If you can, get testing done to rule out common causes right away. We learned that that a huge portion of women with recurrent losses have something simple wrong like a clotting disorder. For another large group it really is random. I read early on here that there were a core group of people who started and joined the forum, maybe 80-100 all with different types of loss. One of those founding members wrote that after 5-6 years every single person had eventually started their family.
If you’re feeling hopeless or lost just remember that a year ago I felt the exact same way. I only hoped I would become a success story. If you stay hopeful and remind yourself you are not alone, the odds are VERY much in your favor that you’ll be sharing a success story one day soon.
🖤

Last night, I had the unfortunate displeasure to be riding Metra train #835 last night when it struck a pedestrian short of the Davis station. While it was frustrating to have to stay on the train while an investigation was underway, I understood the protocol and the seriousness of the situation. What did get on my nerves was that half of out 3-1/2 hour delay was caused not by the investigation but a lack of a relief crew to move the train the ¼ mile to the station for riders to safely alight. This caused a few riders to start getting short with the conductors calling 911 and saying they were being held hostage to almost throwing fists at the conductors despite them having no control over the situation.
While this is my first time having my train delayed for a pedestrian strike, it was not my first time dealing with a 2+ hour delay due to a single point of failure system. On numerous occasions both me and my girlfriend have had plans destroyed due to mechanical failures not only canceling multiple trains but delaying following trains due in part to trains not being rescued by a relief locomotive from the yard, but the next train that is also tasked with accommodating riders.
Metra needs to have better contingency with their operations so that delays are kept to a minimum, as while events like this are unpredictable, the response is not. Failure to do so not only will permanently loose perspective riders, but also put conductors in harms way of disgruntled riders.

So I am 37(M) and my mother (73) before she passed away on 24/12 /23. Following are series of unfortunate events that happened so far -

1. The thing that happened was that my mom ended up, having multiple health scares one last year. So essentially it was first when she was told to get minor cataract surgeries, this time of month last year and both her, me were busy with her tests and later surgeries in June, July. Since she had Care insurance, she applied for her cataract surgies claim - earlier both got approved for 30k each for both surgies costing almost 50k each but then suddenly they backtracked & said one claim was rejected as place where we got surgies done, was blacklisted later. Now the single 30k claim should have been deposited but has remained stuck for some weird reason or another. Basically Care insurance managed to mess up my mother's name despite submitting documents & claiming mismatch in policy name and bank account name despite taking insurance with help of bank employee. Also please note I did ask my lawyer regarding pending Care claim & as amount is only 30k, he has asked me not to think about claim as for now as Care doesn't seem sincere as they haven't given it in writing that they will issue claim if I submit LHC/Registered Will with other documents.

 

1. Unfortunately my mom later got diagnosed with stage-4 kidney cancer around August/Sept, so we got focused with dealing with the cancer situation. Irrespectively, I got her on keytruda immunotherapy asap as surgeon couldn't operate till it was reduced and my mom was indeed reacting very positively to the treatment despite some issues with side-effects. However despite my best efforts, my mother suffered a lethal brain stroke and I had to take the difficult decision of taking her off life support while dealing with another care insurance tantrum where they rejected her icu charges when she was admitted to ICU while having brain stroke. In short, I ended up paying almost 1lakh out of my pocket and still had to pay additional 2.5lakh for further processes which was further complicated by my narcissistic sister who was only around to get her inheritance & making my life hell so I had almost no time to arrange the amount as I had only 60k left in my accounts.

 

1. Thus as I am Nominee & had her credentials, I unfortunately withdrew funds from some of my mom's accounts. I did refunded them once I had a more stable mindset & recovered from fevemy learning disability med issues throughout Jan. This occurred as there was lack of family support & my sister indulging in criminal activities both before & after my mom's death with attempts to harass me, my mom etc.

 

1. By Jan end, I initiated the state govt ppo closure that my mom had & also approached local cbi bank home branch for also closing my deceased father's family pension to my mom. The branch manager directed me to this problematic deputy branch manager to whom I did admit that I had to withdraw funds from my mother's pension accounts but I have refunded them once I gathered resources. Since my mother also took 3 online FDs earlier in 2023, the deputy branch manager wanted me to break them & told me that individual account won't be closed & only her CIF would be directly deactivated. As it was only few months for FDs to maturity & state govt pension closure was yet to occur - I told her that I will file for death claim settlement once state govt pension is closed & excess pension is recovered by them as deactivating the CIF will make this troublesome & a legal case. So she agreed to wait till state govt pension is closed and I gather all necessary documents in the meantime.

 

1. Luckily state govt treasury did close the ppo & withdrew excess pension by 19th March while I also managed to transfer most of the mutual funds where I am Nominee. However since state govt treasury office (it's in another city from where I live & reasonably far), didn't give me letter of closure/confirmation - I was asked to wait for 1 month by local treasury officer (as financial year closing was approaching) which I informed to said deputy branch manager again along with TDS deduction on FDs. I have since closed the cbi back state govt pension account opened in that city & also received the amount by 3rd May. However due to Deputy Branch Manager's dubious activities, I am stuck waiting for close remaining renewed FDs & 3 accounts for which I gathered required paperwork from my side but said branch is delaying said death claim settlement for some excuse or another despite timely updates including submitting Indemnity bond & other documents on date of FDs maturity which have renewed suspicionsly. Also Deputy Branch Manager saying there will be penalty on renewed FDs breaking which was their fault & also violation of RBI, circ. 2005. So I have filed complaint with bank after multiple attempts & currently awaiting resolution before closing accounts & FDs.

 

1. During this time, I also had to deal with legal paperwork as the lawyer who made mom's will, didn't register it & also wasted my time in March. So I had to approach another lawyer to inherit one immovable property as my sibling holds 16.66% share though we are going to execute gift deed & transfer the property to me as per Will. I also have to deal with pending UTI mf scheme who has rejected two transmission requests already & despite being Nominee, are saying that there's some issue with Nominee details. Since UTI rejected both of my transmission claims & asking for relationship proof, I am waiting for my current lawyer to register the gift deed with mention of will. Alternatively I may have to apply for heirship certificate at municipality for filing my deceased mom's ITR.

 

1. Applying for my mom's final ITR is necessary & I have already submitted most financial statements to my CA to compute including the TDS deducted on the FDs since I have been given July-end deadline. Plus as my mother & me spent more than 10lakh+ for her cancer treatment, I am hoping that I will get some deductible relief on her final itr besides tds. The issue is that I am still lacking any legal heirship document that will allow me to register as assessee for filing my mother's ITR. I did ask another bank where I am also nominee for mom's account, for issuing bank letter confirming Nominee details but they refused.

 

1. There are still some untransferred assets such as a SGB linked to my mom's other bank account besides the UTI scheme that's linked to same account. So while I will get SGB once I close the account & also uti mf scheme (hopefully), I am not sure if I should file a consumer case against Care (as an employee even misbehaved with my mom & the claim situation feels really fraudulent) or just hope that Care would honor the claim once I submit the documents.(they also only mentioned sending documents over email so again felt weird)

 
Overall all these incidents have seriously affected my health and frankly I need a break for myself as I am still struggling with my grieving (I saw my mom die 3 times & the family drama still triggers my cptsd though I am not suicidal or having med issues unlike in Jan besides still unable to take some personal time off due to these commitments). I also apologize if this post ended up too long or having details all over the place as I am still trying to piece together as much information I have as I do have written journal records of the paperwork & events that occurred though I forgot to list down some details here & there due to trying to manage everything by my own.

I am grateful to the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva for offering me this precious opportunity to share my experience of practising Buddhism with you.
I am 62 years old. Today, I can eat, sleep and walk like a normal person. However, did you know that I once was a paralyzed woman who could not even get up from bed, had difficulty turning over, and could not take care of myself? Through practising Buddhism and reciting Buddhist scriptures, I have completely freed myself from the misery of hell. I want to tell you with hard facts that practising Buddhism and reciting the scriptures has not only given me a second life, but has also benefited me immensely. I want to share with you how I transformed myself from paralysis to health within four years without undergoing any surgery! May my presentation plant the seeds of bodhi in your hearts, so that more people will have faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva who has boundless supernatural power, and recite Buddhist scriptures as soon as possible to be free from suffering and gain happiness!
1. When I was young, I opened two bars so I created bad karma, and karmic retribution is right on my heels!
I am the eldest daughter of my family and the eldest daughter-in-law of my in-laws family. Both my mother and mother-in-law are Buddhist practitioners and urged me to practise Buddhism as well. However, because of my youthful ambition and good fortune, at the age of about 36, I ran two bars and enjoyed the pleasure of earning money, not bothering to practise Buddhism at all. By then, I was young and foolish, in the bars I gained filthy money by means of woman’s charms, which invariably created a lot of bad karma. How many people lost their morals and conscience for my sake of monetary gain? How many families have been broken up behind the scenes? How many people have done many things against ethics and morality under the paralysis of alcohol? I hereby express my deepest repentance to Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Karmic retribution is inescapable. I planted the evil cause so I reap the evil effect. The bad karma I created within two years of running the bars has brought me a tragic retribution 13 years later! (So, dear fellow practitioners, please take this as a warning!)
In 2010, I was 49, my predestined 369 calamity arrived. One day in July, my karma exploded. I suddenly collapsed at home kitchen while stirring frying vegetables. In an instant, I felt that the sky was falling, and I had nowhere to turn for help. An otherwise healthy me entered a life of hell on earth from then on. Every day, I ate, drank, pooped and peed in bed, had difficulty turning over, couldn't wash my hands and face, had trouble swallowing, so it was worse than death. I was paralyzed in bed from then on. The doctor said I had a herniated disc in my lower back. All the bones in my back were misaligned. Both knee bones were necrotic and so swollen. I have visited all the local city and provincial hospitals, big and small, to seek medical care. I almost spent all the several hundreds of thousands of RMB I had gained from my bar business. However, the condition got worse and worse.
2. Since encountering the excellent Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, I have been practicing Buddhism hard to overcome any obstacles on the way and finally achieved a new life.
Perhaps it was the blessing from my family members who had been making offerings to the Buddha and practising Buddhism for years. Thanks to the mercy of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I finally encountered the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door in 2012 when I was in the most desperate situation in my life. The person next door to my bar heard that I was sick and came to see me. She brought me Buddhist scripture, recitation device, Buddhism in Plain Terms, counters and many other Dharma gems. She told me the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door was very efficacious, and asked me to try it. Although I could not move on bed, I listened all Master Lu's recordings like a thirst. I was pleasantly surprised to hear cases of patients who had been cured of cancer and serious illnesses by practising Buddhism and reciting the scriptures. The recordings of Master Lu's programs were like a bright beacon in the darkness, bringing me hope for life and giving me great encouragement. I felt I was awakened by a powerful energy, stirring up my strong desire to live. I told myself: I must survive; I must save myself! I started to practice Buddhism and recite scriptures as if I had grabbed a lifeline.
I am illiterate, so I had to lie in bed every day and learn to recite word by word with the recitation device. Due to the heavy karma, there was no virtuous and the high-minded practitioner around to teach me how to burn the Little Houses in a rational and lawful way. I foolishly took an ashtray instead of a plate to burn the Little Houses, which resulted in the ashtray blowing up. In order to eliminate karma quickly, I was foolishly reciting the Heart Sutra and Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra after ten o'clock at night, which resulted in the light bulbs breaking several times (Here, I sincerely remind my fellow practitioners: Master Lu enlightened us not to recite the Heart Sutra and Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra after ten o'clock at night. Please make sure to read the Introduction to Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door carefully in order to avoid practising Buddhism irrationally). Therefore, we must follow the instructions of Master Lu, and never do what the Master does not allow us to do. The whole process of reciting Buddhist scriptures to eliminate karma is very bumpy. It is really easy to create karma, but very hard to eliminate it! However, I firmly believed that the Bodhisattva is infinitely powerful. As long as I diligently practised Buddhism, my fate would definitely get changed. Hence, I relied on the blissful cases in Master Lu's recordings as my spiritual support. I kept persevering, not afraid of any difficulties, and recklessly recited Buddhist scriptures.
Since I ate, drank and pooped in bed, my aura was very bad. As I could not get up by myself, so I had to lie in bed to recite the sacred Buddhist scriptures. I felt guilty and torn, wondering if this was the appropriate way to recite the sacred Buddhist scriptures. Will it affect the effect of the recitation? Gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for Her compassion, and I dreamed of Master Lu that night. Master Lu who was dressed in a black suit smiled at me and kindly comforted me: “don't worry.” After I woke up, I was very grateful for Master Lu's compassion. Master Lu knew about my special situation, so this is a sympathy and a condolence to me. After I recited Buddhist scriptures 4 to 5 months late, my neck and head were able to turn significantly. Such a Dharma blissful change thrilled me. All the trials and perseverance I had gone through in the past had not been in vain. Guan Yin Bodhisattva has boundless supernatural power, which had given me a glimmer of hope for recovery! (Here, I sincerely remind my fellow practitioners: In the absence of illness, recitation of Buddhist scriptures must be respectful. A point of respect harvests a point of benefit.)
3. The unique characteristics of attending the Dharma conference and formally acknowledging Jun Hong Lu as my master allow my physical health to improve with Dharma joy
In February 2017, I befriended a fellow practitioner. She invited me to attend the Macau Dharma Convention together. I thought to myself: “can I take the bus by myself?” “Can I attend the conference?” With a strong faith from my inner heart, I attended the conference via keeping reciting the Great Compassion Mantra on the trip. Unbelievably, I arrived at the conference as I wished with the blessing and protection of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, although my bulky legs could only barely support my body in the seat. I was in tears when I listened Master Lu's wise words and saw the holy icon of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. On the night of the conference, I dreamed of Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Gratitude to Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva for saving me from suffering and giving me a new life. At the end of the Macau Dharma Convention, I instantly made two vows: to be a vegetarian for 15 days per month and liberate 10,000 fish.
Before I attended the Macau Dharma Convention, I had to take a break whenever I walked two steps, and my body was not able to move much. After returning, my legs started to become strong enough to support my body and I could walk on flat ground. Despite they were not very flexible, they were no longer the same as when I was paralyzed like a limp in bed. My whole body is getting better and better in essence, vital energy, and spirit. I was very surprised! Master Lu has enlightened that there are many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas coming to bless attendees at each Dharma conference!
In August 2017, before the Dharma Convention in Malaysia, my fellow practitioners urged me to formally acknowledge Jun Hong Lu as my master. Since I am an illiterate, compassionate fellow practitioners helped me to fill out the application form of seeking discipleship. My fellow practitioners told me that there were so many people wanted to formally acknowledge Jun Hong Lu as their master that I might not be able to reach my wish this time. Then, I had to wait for the opportunity next Dharma Convention. I told myself that whether I could reach my wish or not this time, I would actively participate in Master Lu’s Dharma Convention. Considering my age, it is a blessing for me to attend one more Dharma Convention. To my surprise, one week later, my application for seeking discipleship was approved. Gratitude to Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva!
On the day of seeking discipleship, I was very excited. During the process of seeking discipleship, I heard a voice in stereo that was very loud. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see Tathagata Buddha, and many other Bodhisattvas coming down from heaven. At that moment, I saw that the upper half of Master Lu's Dharmakaya appeared transparent with a huge lotus flower. I was suddenly moved to tears. I was oblivious to the fact that Master Lu had come to my side until the time of issuing the discipleship certificate. Master Lu was very compassionate and empowered me with blessing. Master Lu enlightened, "Because five people opened their eyes during the worship ceremony, they have no lotuses planted in the pure land. But it's okay, when the ceremony is over, you can go to the front and kowtow to ask the Bodhisattva (to plant a lotus)." I then rushed to the front to worship. Before I finished worshiping Bodhisattva, a young fellow practitioner came over. He asked, "How do you feel? Did you see anything?" I said, "I saw Tathagata Buddha." He asked, "How are you sure that was Tathagata Buddha?" I said, "Both my mother and mother-in-law are Buddhist disciples, and Tathagata Buddha has curly hair."
I was grateful for the compassionate blessing from Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu. When I returned home after seeking discipleship, I made two vows: to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life and never kill (animals). The power of a vow outweighs the force of karma. After I made the vows, Master Lu’s Dharmakaya came to help me heal my legs in my dreams. Once, I saw Master Lu’s Dharmakaya passing by my room while I was half-squinted. Master Lu asked me, "Which foot is uncomfortable? Where is aching?" Instantly I woke up and then I found that my feet didn't feel as heavy as they used to be and I walked more lightly. I excitedly shared the news with my old father, "Master Lu has come to bless me again!" I am grateful to Master Lu for his compassionate care for every sentient being. Every time I dreamed of Master Lu, he would always compassionately endow me with abundance of blessing, and I was always surprised by the improvement in my health.
In a short time, I could not only separate my feet and take turns to walk up and down the stairs independently. Moreover, I could bend back and forth freely with my arms crossed. The bones in my back, which were all misaligned and uneven, were now completely normal again. Previously, I couldn't raise my hands to wash my face, brush my teeth or comb my hair because the bones in my back would pull the nerves and cause severe pain when I raised my hands. In those days, whenever I sneezed or defecated, I felt like to cheat death on pain. In those hellish day I went through unimaginable pain and suffering. Now, however, I can take care of myself completely and move around freely. Sometimes I get a little tired after walking for too long, but I can recover after 10 minutes of rest in bed. Although it is still slightly bumpy while I was walking, if you don't look closely, you can't see it. My family was overwhelmed to see the dramatic change from being paralyzed and bedridden to walking independently since I practised Buddhism. My old father, who was taking care of me at the bedside, complimented me straight away: you have completely changed, becoming healthier and healthier now! I was so excited that I had tears in my eyes. Without the rescue of Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu, I really wouldn't have the blissful transformation I have today!
In 2019, at the Dharma conferences of Indonesia and Singapore, I pleaded with my fellow practitioners to be merciful to give me the opportunity to volunteer. According to the rules of the Dharma conference, I was already overage. However, I was adamant that I must do volunteer work. Guan Yin Bodhisattva has given me a second life, so I have to serve all sentient beings physically. I am grateful for Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva who helped me out. When I came back from the conferences, I found that I could bend and squat easily and freely, and I had no problem even sitting on the floor. I am grateful to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for compassionately helping me to eliminate my karma at every conference, so that I can obtain incredible blessings and improvement occur every time.
4. The incredible blessing of setting up the Buddhist altar accelerated my health recovery and created a medical miracle.
From the time I set up the Buddhist altar in 2017, I insisted on offering Bodhisattvas incenses morning and evening every day. At first, the body was still straight and could not bend and bow. For two years, in front of the Buddhist altar, I prayed for Bodhisattvas to bless me so that I could recover my health a little better so I can use my own experience as an example to convince sentient beings to gain faith on Dharma and practise Dharma. Gradually, I was able to stand to offer incense to Bodhisattvas, to bend and bow, and finally to kneel in front of the Buddhist altar to recite the scriptures. I was full of Dharma joy! Initially, my back still hurt from kneeling. With the karmic obstacles being removed, my back didn't hurt anymore. Sometimes when I went out with fellow practitioners to set up the Buddhist altar, particularly on the Buddha's Birthday, I could kneel to recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance for an hour and a half. My fellow practitioners couldn't keep it up, so I was the only one who kept it up until the end. I am so grateful to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for Her compassionate blessing!
At one time, the doctor at the provincial hospital told me that I had to have surgery to put two steel plates into the bone, but I refused. Because I firmly believe that with the of blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu, I am afraid of nothing. Buddha is an extraordinary doctor. The only way to recover completely is to repent sincerely and practise Buddhism. I can now move as freely as a normal person. This medical miracle achieved was completely relied on practising Buddhism, reciting scriptures, being a vegetarian, helping new practitioners to set up Buddhist altars, volunteering at Dharma conferences, and actively propagating the Dharma. To improve my family economic financial, I went out to work on construction sites as a helper, do cleaning and housekeeping!
Those patients who were once slightly paralyzed did not recover as quickly and well as I did, even with surgery.
Dear readers, when you see such a dramatic change in me, what are you hesitating for? Hurry up and pick up the Buddhist scriptures to recite! I am the living example, the ironclad evidence. Guan Yin Bodhisattva does exist, and She is Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate, answers any prayers.
Thinking of the bad karma I created in the two bars when I was young, I feel grievously sinful. I have earned ill-gotten wealth, but the karma was produced, and karmic retribution is inescapable. If one hasn't been retributed, the time hasn't come yet. After I got old, all the retribution came to me. Not only did I use up all my money, but I also had to suffer from physical illness and paralysis. I advise everyone to remember Master Lu's enlightenment: Do not do anything that is evil; Do not fail to do good no matter how petty the deed; Do not engage in evil no matter how trivial the deed. Dear readers, please consider it carefully before earning any money, and don’t commit such deep sins as I did for the sake of monetary gain, or else the consequences will follow you!
Without the merciful salvation and blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu, I would not have been reborn today! I made a few great wows: honour the teacher and respect his teachings, live an ascetic life for lifetime, be a vegetarian lifetime, not kill, not eat eggs, not smoke, not drink; transcend the cycle of rebirth for good and attain enlightenment in one lifetime. In this life, I will follow Guan Yin Bodhisattva to cultivate my mind and change my behaviour and never quit. I will follow my benefactor, the Compassionate father, Master Lu, to propagate Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and never stop! Although I am over 60 years, I will continue using my own experience as an example to convince sentient beings to gain faith on Dharma and practise Buddhism. Together with my fellow practitioners, I will get up early and go home late to help set up Buddha altars for new practitioners. No matter how far and how difficult the trip is, I will always be strict with myself. I will go wherever I am needed. Even if I am eating, as soon as I receive a mission for propagating Dharma, I will put down my chopsticks and set off without delay.
Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is peerlessly efficacious, and Guan Yin Bodhisattva is Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate, saves beings from suffering, has supernatural power, and answer all prayers. As long as we have a devout heart and we persist in reciting Buddhist scriptures and practicing Buddhism, no difficulty can defeat us! My physical changes are the most powerful evidence! May my true presentation give some inspiration to those people who are still suffering from illnesses, so that they can acquire faith to practising Buddhism, and pick up the Buddhist scriptures to recite. May more sentient beings having affinity with Buddha break free from delusion and attain enlightenment, balance egoism and altruism, and free from suffering and gain happiness.
My deepest gratitude to the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva!
My deepest gratitude to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from ten directions and three periods of time!
My deepest gratitude to the Dharma protectors!
My deepest gratitude to the selfless and altruistic Master Jun Hong Lu!
If there is anything that is not rational or in line with the truth in the presentation, I’d like to seek forgiveness from the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors, and Master Jun Hong Lu.
I’d also like to seek forgiveness from my fellow Buddhist practitioners.
I, not my fellow practitioners, will be responsible for my own karma!
Shared by: Dharma Practitioner Ganen, Gratitude and Namaste!
Translated by: Frank
Statement by Translator

1. Story was translated from Chinese into English by meaning, not word by word. If there is anything that is not rational or in line with the true meaning of the Chinese version, I’d like to seek forgiveness from the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors and Master Jun Hong Lu.
   
2. Author Ganen was interviewed by Frank during the translation for the detailed information.
   

Propagation
It would be greatly appreciated if you would forward this presentation to all sentient beings you know, sick or healthy. You will accumulate immeasurable merits and virtues. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda!
Would you like to change your destiny?
We will show you how to do the Five Golden Buddhist Practices of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door: (1) making vows, (2) reciting Buddhist scriptures (sutras and mantras), (3) performing life liberation, (4) reading Buddhism in Plain Terms, and (5) repenting. You will personally witness how you and your family can achieve physical and mental stability, relief from illness and grievances, wisdom growth, academic progress, career advancement, and family happiness through Dharma. It’s free of charge.
Contact
Buddhist practitioner: Lily
Email: [sunnypurplelily@gmail.com](mailto:sunnypurplelily@gmail.com)
WeChat: HanJing20210820
原文如下:
从瘫痪卧床到行走自如做家政，心灵法门创造了医学奇迹
感恩南无大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨摩诃萨！
感恩十方三世一切诸佛菩萨！
感恩龙天护法金刚菩萨！
感恩恩师慈父卢军宏台长！
感恩师兄们！
感恩大慈大悲观世音菩萨慈悲，让我能有这个宝贵的机会与大家分享我的学佛经历。我今年62岁，现在是一个能吃、能睡、能走路的正常人了。但是，你们可曾知道，曾经，我是一个连床都起不了、翻身都困难，生活完全无法自理的瘫痪老人！如今，通过学佛念经，我把自己从地狱的苦海里完全挣脱了出来。我要用铁一般的事实告诉大家：学佛念经不仅给了我第二次生命，更让我受益无穷。我要跟大家分享，在这患病的四年里，在没有经历任何手术的情况下，如何让自己从瘫痪到健康的蜕变！愿我今天的分享给有缘人种下菩提种子，让更多的人相信观世音菩萨法力无边，早日学佛念经，离苦得乐！
1. 年轻时开酒吧造恶业，得现世报！
我是家中的长女、婆家的长媳。母亲和婆婆都是学佛人，都劝我也学佛。但是，由于年轻时好胜心强，加之财运不错，36岁左右，我经营两家酒吧，享受挣钱的快乐，根本无心学佛。年轻愚痴的我经营酒吧时靠女色来赚取黑钱，赚的都是不正之财，无形中造了很多恶业。在这种灯红酒绿中生活，我为了金钱利益，让多少人丧失了自己的道德与良知？背后又造成多少个家庭的破裂？又有多少人在酒精的麻痹下做出多少违背伦理道德的事情？弟子在此向观世音菩萨深深忏悔！因果报应丝毫不爽，种恶因得恶果。开酒吧这两年中我所造下的恶业，在十几年后让我得到悲惨的现世报！所以，请大家引以为戒！
2010年我49岁，正逢“三六九”关劫。7月的一天，我的业障大爆发，在家炒菜时突然间倒下。瞬间，我感觉天塌下来，叫天天不应，叫地地不灵。一个原本健康的我从此进入人间地狱般的生活。每天，我吃喝拉撒都在床上，翻身都很困难，没法自己洗手洗脸，吞咽困难，简直生不如死。我从此瘫痪在床。医生说我是腰椎间盘突出。后背的所有骨头都错位。两个膝盖骨头坏死，肿得很大。当地市里、省里大大小小的医院我都看过了。我几乎把我做酒吧生意所赚到的几十万块钱都花光了。然而，病情越来越严重。
2. 得遇殊胜法门，坎坷学佛路中坚持不懈地修行换来重生
也许是家人一直供佛学佛的福德。承蒙观世音菩萨慈悲，在我人生绝境之时，我终于在2012年得遇心灵法门。以前我开店隔壁的人听说我病倒了，就来看我。她给我送来了经书、念佛机、《白话佛法》、计数器等很多法宝。她告诉我心灵法门很灵验，让我试试。我躺在床上虽然无法动弹，却如饥似渴地把师父的录音听了个遍。听到人们通过学佛念经把癌症、重症都治愈的案例，我惊喜万分。师父的节目录音就像黑暗中的一盏明灯，让我看到了生活的希望，给了我很大的鼓舞。在这个过程中我像被一股强大的能量加持唤醒，激起了求生的强烈欲望。我告诉自己：我一定要活过来；我一定要自己救自己！我像抓住了救命稻草似地开始拼命学佛念经。
我不识字，只能每天躺在床上跟着念佛机一字一句地学着念。由于业力牵引，身边没有遇到善知识教我如理如法地烧送小房子。愚痴的我曾拿个烟灰缸代替盘子烧送经文组合小房子，结果烟灰缸炸掉了。为了抓紧时间消业，我晚上十点后还在念《心经》和《往生咒》，结果家里的灯坏了好几次（趁此机会我诚心提醒师兄们：师父开示，晚上十点后不要念诵《心经》和《往生咒》，请师兄们一定要好好看《心灵法门入门手册》，避免操作不如理不如法）。所以，我们一定要听师父的话，师父不让做的就不做。念经消业的整个过程非常坎坷。真是造业容易，消业难啊！但是，我坚信菩萨法力无边，只要精进努力，一定会得到改变的。于是，我依靠师父录音中的法喜案例作为精神支撑。我一直坚持不懈，不怕万难，拼命念经。
由于吃喝拉撒都在床上，气场非常不好，自己又无法起身，只能躺在床上念经。我内心愧疚又纠结，不知道这样念经是否如理如法？会不会影响念经效果？感恩菩萨慈悲，当晚我就梦见师父了。师父身穿着黑西装，一边慈祥地笑着一边安慰我：不要担心。醒来后，我非常感恩师父的慈悲。师父知道我的特殊情况，这是对我的宽容和安慰啊。后来，大概念经差不多4～5个月后，我的脖子和头也能明显地转动了。这样法喜的变化，让我激动万分。我过去所经历的磨难与坚持都没有白费。观世音菩萨法力无边，让我看到了康复的一丝希望！（作者提醒：师兄们，在没有病痛的情况下，念经一定要体态恭敬，一分恭敬一分受益。）
3. 参加法会与拜师的殊胜，让我的身体不断法喜蜕变
2017年2月份，我结识了一位师兄。她邀请我一起去参加澳门法会。我心想：我能自己坐车吗？能去法会吗？凭着内心坚定的信念，路途中我一直念《大悲咒》。虽然我笨重的双腿只能勉强支撑着身体坐在座位上，但在观世音菩萨一路加持护佑下，我竟然能够如愿到了法会现场。现场听到师父开示、看到观世音菩萨的圣像，我泪如雨下。大法会当天晚上，我就梦到了观世音菩萨！感恩大慈大悲救苦救难观世音菩萨救我于苦海，给了我新的生命和生活。澳门法会结束，我当即发愿：一个月吃素15天，放生一万条鱼。参加澳门法会前，只要走两步路我就要歇一歇，而且我的身体没办法大幅度活动。
澳门法会回来后，我的双腿开始变得有力，可以支撑起身子在平地上走路了。虽然还不是很灵活，但是比起原来像软泥一样瘫痪在床的状态，已经不可同年而语了。我整个人精、气、神也越来越好。我非常惊喜！师父开示过，每场法会有很多佛菩萨来加持大家！
2017年8月，马来西亚法会前，师兄们让我拜师，但我不识字。慈悲的师兄们帮助我代笔填写拜师申请表。师兄们告诉我，这次拜师的人太多，有可能排不上队，得等到下一场法会才有机会。我告诉自己，无论这次能不能拜师，我都一定积极参加师父的法会。我这么大年纪了，能参加多一场法会都是我的福报啊。让我惊喜的是，一个星期后，我的拜师申请通过了。感恩观世音菩萨慈悲！
拜师当天，我激动万分。在拜师过程中，我听到一个非常立体、非常响亮的声音。我睁开眼睛时，我竟然看到了如来佛祖，还有好多菩萨都从天上下来了。这时，我看到师父上半身的法身呈现透明状，有一朵大大的莲花。我顿时感动得泪如雨下。直到颁发弟子证的时候，我浑然不觉师父已经走到我的身边。师父非常慈悲，给我灌顶加持。师父说:“因为拜师过程中有5个人睁开了眼睛，所以莲花没有种上去。不过没关系，等拜师仪式结束后，可以到前面去磕头求菩萨。”我就赶紧跑到前面去拜。我还没拜完，就过来了一个年轻师兄。他问我：“您感觉怎么样？有没有看到什么？” 我告诉他：“我看到如来佛祖了。” 他说：“您怎么确定那是如来佛祖呢？”我说：”我家母和家婆是学佛人，如来佛祖头发卷卷的。”
感恩观世音菩萨与师父的慈悲加持。拜师结束回家我就发愿: 终生吃全素，不杀生。真是愿力大于业力，发愿后，师父又来梦里帮我治疗双腿。有一次，我半眯着眼睛看到师父从我的房间经过。师父问我：“还有哪只脚不舒服？还有哪个地方疼痛的？” 瞬间我就醒了，醒来我发现我的双脚没有了原来的沉重感，走起路来更加轻盈了。我激动地跟老父亲分享：“师父又来加持我啦！”感恩师父慈悲关怀着每一位众生。每次梦见师父，师父都慈悲给予加持，我的身体总会有惊喜的好转。
没过多久，我不仅可以分开双脚，轮流迈开步伐独立上下楼梯。而且，我双手叉腰，可以前后自如地弯腰。后背的骨头原本因为全部错位并高低不平，如今完全恢复正常了。原本我没办法把手举起来洗脸、刷牙和梳头，因为手一抬，后背的骨头扯神经会导致剧烈的疼痛。每次打喷嚏或排泄的时候，都有种痛不欲生的感觉，就像死里逃生一样。这种地狱般的日子让我历经常人难以想象的苦痛折磨。然而现在，我的生活可以完全自理并且行动自如。有时候走太久会有一点点累，但是卧床休息十几分钟就可以恢复过来。虽然走路还有一点点高低现象，但如果不仔细看，是看不出来的。看到我学佛念经以来，从瘫痪卧床到独立行走的巨大变化，我的家人无比震惊。当年在床头边照顾我的老父亲直夸我：现在整个人完全变了，变得越来越健康了！我激动得泪眼婆娑。没有观世音菩萨与师父的大慈大悲救苦救难，真的不会有我今天的法喜蜕变！
2019年印尼法会和新加坡法会上，我恳请师兄们慈悲给我做义工的机会。按照法会规定，我已经超龄了。但是，我坚决一定要做义工。观世音菩萨给了我第二次生命，我就要身体力行地为众生服务。感恩观世音菩萨的慈悲，让我能如愿以偿。从法会做完义工回来，我发现我可以轻松自如地弯腰和下蹲，就连坐在地板上也没有问题了。感恩菩萨每次法会上都慈悲帮我消业，让我每次都能有不可思议的加持，变化。
4. 设佛台的不可思议加持，加速我身体恢复健康，创造医学奇迹
从2017年设佛台起，我每天坚持上早晚香。起初，身体还是直直的，不能弯腰鞠躬。两年里，我每天在佛台前上香求菩萨加持，让我身体能恢复得更好一些，能为众生表法。慢慢地，我从站着上香到弯腰鞠躬，到最后可以跪在佛台前念经。真是法喜充满啊！刚开始跪着后背还是很痛。随着业障的消除，我的后背也不疼痛了。有时候和师兄们出去设佛台，遇到佛诞日，我跪着念诵《礼佛大忏悔文》足足有一个半小时的时间。许多师兄都坚持不下来，唯独我坚持到结束。真是感恩菩萨慈悲加持！
曾经，省医院的医生告诉我，必须做手术把两块钢板放进骨头里，但我回绝了。因为我坚信有观世音菩萨和师父两座靠山，我什么都不怕。在因果面前，佛是大药王。唯有诚心忏悔，学佛修行才能彻底康复。我完全靠学佛念经吃素、设佛台、参加法会做义工，积极弘法度人，才创造了医学奇迹：现在和正常人一样行动自如。我甚至去工地做小工，搞卫生、做家政弥补家用！那些曾经轻微瘫痪的患者就算做手术，也没有我恢复得快，恢复到如此好的状态。
读者朋友们，你们看到我如此天翻地覆的变化，还犹豫什么呢？赶快捧起经书念经吧！我就是活生生的例子，铁一般的证据。观世音菩萨真实存在，并且大慈大悲有求必应啊！
现在回想起年轻时开酒吧所造下的恶业，真是罪孽深重。不正之财赚到了，可是，因果报应丝毫不爽，不是不报，时候未到。在我人到老年时，所有的报应一涌而来。不但钱财全部用尽，还要遭受肉体病痛的瘫痪之苦，因果不空啊！奉劝大家一定要谨记师父的教诲：诸恶莫作，众善奉行！不以善小而不为；不以恶小而为之！挣任何钱财之前都要三思，切记不可为了金钱利益而像我一样造下如此深重的罪孽，否则果报如影随形！
没有观世音菩萨和师父的慈悲救度与加持，就没有我今天的重生！弟子许愿尊师重道、一生清修、终生吃全素、不杀生、不吃鸡蛋、不抽烟、不喝酒；一世修成，永断轮回。今生跟着观世音菩萨修心修行，永不退转。跟着恩师慈父卢军宏台长弘扬心灵法门永不停息！我虽然60多岁了，但是我要身体力行地为大家表法，起早贪黑地和共修组师兄们一起去助缘设佛台。无论路程多么遥远，多么艰辛，我都严格要求自己。哪里需要我，我就走到哪里。哪怕我在吃饭，只要接到弘法任务，我一定当即放下筷子，一刻也不能耽误地出发。
心灵法门灵验无比，观世音菩萨大慈大悲，救苦救难，法力无边，有求必应。只要我们有一颗虔诚的心，只要我们坚持念经修行，没有什么困难可以打倒我们！我的身体变化就是最有力的证据！愿我的真实分享给那些还在受着病痛折磨的人们一些启发，让大家生起学佛念经的信念，捧起经书念经，愿更多的有缘众生能够早日破迷开悟，自利利他，离苦得乐！
我的分享结束了，分享中如有不如理不如法的地方，请观世音菩萨慈悲原谅！请十方三世一切诸佛菩萨和龙天护法菩萨慈悲原谅！请师父慈悲原谅！请师兄们批评指正！我自己的业障自己背，不让师兄们背！感恩合十！
分享人：感恩～全素
2022-02-28
请将本文慈悲转发给瘫痪病人及其家属
请转发这篇文章给瘫痪病人及其家属，您会积累无量功德。救人一命，胜造七级浮屠！！！
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Hi All,
We've (30's couple) been renting at our current property for six years, however landlord has always been cheap with many issues not being resolved despite complaints over multiple years. Last week the boiler broke and we've not had hot water since.
Our Landlord sent a plumber over who said the entire thing probably needs to be replaced as it's very old and finding replacement parts is difficult. (a pump component was changed earlier this year and he said the single component was more expensive than some brand new boilers.) The plumber said we could likely get a new unit in within 24 hours, if our landlord doesn't try to be cheap and just replace the broken component which is a band aid solution.
We received a text from our Landlord saying he'd decided not to replace the boiler and instead replace the single component. He's had to order it so it'll take a few days to get here. We asked for rent relief and he asked for us to wait until the unit arrived. a few days later he's texted to say the component will now be delivered roughly a further 4 days later (unless there's any more delays), We should just pay for a cheap gym and shower there.
I explained that was not workable for us partially as the local puregym is quite far away, is not well maintained and the showers are often locked (we went there before the pandemic and cancelled our membership within the month). We would need to use a hotel or something equivelent and we would need rent relief until this situation is fixed. He's been dodging our calls since then.
Everything we've found online has said that no hot water is a reportable offence if not fixed within 24 hours or a reasonable time, and we're frankly upset he's decided to take the cheaper option because it doesn't affect him personally.
We want ask if anyone has any advice? Can we use our break clause? is there any formal process we can use to get rent relief? does anyone have any similar stories? Is there anying we should be asking or doing right now?

So, all the talk right now is FFIE, CRKN, and GWAV. I'm actually in all three and encourage you to stay in for AS LONG AS IT IS GOOD FOR YOU. But I want to talk about the importance of not going full port, and diamond-handing to a loss. There is ALWAYS a next FFIE. In all my years, I've seen so many I can't begin to estimate how many I've seen. As you play this game, you NEED to have stop losses set. You need to remember not to get greedy. Bank your profits, and be getting excited for your next play. Keeping an eye on what is coming up really helps keep you detached from the stock, so you don't get burned and left holding the bag.
Since what has brought most of you to these stocks is the thought of a MOASS, I’m gonna write up some other short stock opportunities. Full disclosure upfront: I’m heavy in two of these, and would love nothing more than 1/100th of the volume ya’ll have generated to come to those stocks.
This list is ranked top to bottom in percentage of short float, and ranked at the bottom in my interest level and my positions.
So, some of the most shorted stocks currently, and my thoughts on each:
Sunpower SPWR
On this list because it is the most shorted (non-penny) stock with 95% short interest. At sub $3 and only 45 million shares, this is as squeezable as it gets. Any sort of squeeze would have to be from meme value as the financials of this company aren’t great. They haven’t met expected earnings in the past 5 quarters, and have actually done worse quarter after quarter.
If this found volume and a rabid community I’d be in… but I’m not touching this thing otherwise. This is a real “all or nothing” stock.
MicroCloud Hologram HOLO
Spend anytime on squeeze forums and youre gonna see this one. Another stock with insane (75%) short interest This company has shown multiple times over that it is capable of a run. Part of that is that the product that they are making is quite intriguing… the other part is that this stock has left a lot of bagholders in its wake. If there were call options available, I’d be buying far dated OTMs hand over fist, because at some point, this thing will explode again.
Childrens Place PLCE
Okay, so this has some fundamentals that could be interesting to some. Heavily in debt, with historically bad gross margins, and a panic sell off when they announced they had breached debt covenants, this stock has gone from over $100 post-pandemic, to roughly $12 today.
Why could it be intriguing? Mithaq capital purchased 7 million shares recently. Backed by the Saudis, and capable of offering better terms on back debt, this could be a takeoveturnaround story. Purely speculative, and high risk, I don't see a squeeze happening here anytime soon, but if messageboard chatter picked up, I’d be grabbing a lot more calls… when this goes, it’ll go fast.
B. Riley Financial RILY
At 56% shorted this is one of my top picks (#2), the one most primed for a squeeze, and I'm heavily in it.
This is also the first company on this list that has a clear path to an increase in stock price. For me personally, this is what I look for in an investment. I love a good squeeze, as it accelerates my profits, but I like betting on companies that are going to get me there regardless of the squeeze.
This company has many facets and if you want backstory, there are several good write ups/DDs available on Reddit. As it stands, despite turning around their slow quarters, and doing better as a business, short sellers have ramped up their positions? Why? Because there is an actual villain in this story. Marc Cahodes. He is an infamous short seller, with a personal grudge against this company, and the short sellers are not running off a functioning thesis. This is about destroying a company to soothe a slighted ego. Soon, short sellers will unwind their position, as the stock has pretty much found its base. A short squeeze in the near future could send this stock up into the $90 range.
Trupanion TRUP
39% short sold, this pet insurance company has recently come under attack by…it’s Marc Cahodes again. Marc did his usual tactic, doxing and harassing supporters, and accusing everybody in the business (down to the janitor) of fraud. However, despite these attacks, the company itself has mostly “Buy” ratings. The share price has slumped, due to bad Q1 earnings and the short attacks, but there is a new CEO and she is intent on increasing profitability, and decent quarterly results could pop this back up to historic $60 levels (+100%).
Cutera CUTR
This company makes hardware for treating acne and other dermatologic issues. 39% shorted this should be on your radar in early JULY. Listening to their earnings call was a lot to be excited about, if you could stand to listen to their hopium bullshit. Clearing up inventory, and debt, they have a lot of potential to have a strong Q2 showing. At $2 a share, I’ve gone ahead and made a small position, as this is might be the bottom.
Immunity Bio IBRX
OH. MY. GOD. I LOVE THIS STOCK. By far my #1 right now. Sitting at 39% shorted, I wouldn't be surprised to find that Merck is behind the shorting; trying to keep the stock price down so they can buy it out. This is a life saving cancer treatment. With recent FDA approval, this company sold 400 million in product ITS FIRST WEEK. With trials ongoing for multiple other uses, and a meeting with the FDA scheduled in June to get it fast tracked as a treatment for lung cancer. I have a $20 price target set for July. $40 by September.
There is honestly so much to say about this company, that I will write up a separate, in depth DD.
Novavax NVAX
If you were paying attention, you just watched this thing pop (260%) Is it done? Actually, yeah, Probably. I’ve read a lot of chatter about how it has a historic high of $300 without people factoring in its 20:1 reverse split. Robinhood needs to fix the UI, because a lot of people are tossing out good money. That said, with 33% short interest, a mild squeeze may happen for a few bucks.
Lucid LCID
A DPAC luxury EV maker on the most shorted list? Who would have thought?! Ok, so, I’ve had a chance now to drive a couple of these… and HOLY SHIT. I want this company to survive. I want one of these cars.
That said, yeah, I’m not putting more money into this. I’m putting it on this list because sometimes, great products fail. This is a prime example. Since first being wow’d by this car, the stock price has fallen 80%. Truthfully, if the Saudis walk away from Lucid, they're done. Don't fall in love with a stock.
AST Spacemobile ASTS
The lowest short interest on this list (28.3% which is still high as fuck!!!) is my #3 pick. And I’m in this bigly. This tech is so good, it’s literally going to change your life. Imagine, no place on Earth being without cell service. Why is it shorted? Delays, and Delays, and Delays. Go on over to the subreddit, and feel the general relief that everyone feels as launch is FINALLY nearing. If you are thinking of getting into this stock, do so before early July, as it nears major catalysts.
There it is. My list.
I’m gonna order them now in the rank that I view them, with my positions.
IBRX (3000 shares and 402 call options)
RILY (2700 shares and 17 call options)
ASTS (5000 shares and 103 call options)
HOLO (1500 shares)
PLCE (25 shares and 10 call options)
CUTR (1000 shares and 20 call options)
TRUP (10 call options)
LCID (No position, sold off at a loss)
NVAX (no position, sold off at a loss)
SPWR (10 call options) - lowest position currently, but if chatter starts happening this goes to #4

So, all the talk right now is FFIE, CRKN, and GWAV. I'm actually in all three and encourage you to stay in for AS LONG AS IT IS GOOD FOR YOU. But I want to talk about the importance of not going full port, and diamond-handing to a loss. There is ALWAYS a next FFIE. In all my years, I've seen so many I can't begin to estimate how many I've seen. As you play this game, you NEED to have stop losses set. You need to remember not to get greedy. Bank your profits, and be getting excited for your next play. Keeping an eye on what is coming up really helps keep you detached from the stock, so you don't get burned and left holding the bag.
Since what has brought most of you to these stocks is the thought of a MOASS, I’m gonna write up some other short stock opportunities. Full disclosure upfront: I’m heavy in two of these, and would love nothing more than 1/100th of the volume ya’ll have generated to come to those stocks.
This list is ranked top to bottom in percentage of short float, and ranked at the bottom in my interest level and my positions.
So, some of the most shorted stocks currently, and my thoughts on each:
Sunpower SPWR
On this list because it is the most shorted (non-penny) stock with 95% short interest. At sub $3 and only 45 million shares, this is as squeezable as it gets. Any sort of squeeze would have to be from meme value as the financials of this company aren’t great. They haven’t met expected earnings in the past 5 quarters, and have actually done worse quarter after quarter.
If this found volume and a rabid community I’d be in… but I’m not touching this thing otherwise. This is a real “all or nothing” stock.
MicroCloud Hologram HOLO
Spend anytime on squeeze forums and youre gonna see this one. Another stock with insane (75%) short interest This company has shown multiple times over that it is capable of a run. Part of that is that the product that they are making is quite intriguing… the other part is that this stock has left a lot of bagholders in its wake. If there were call options available, I’d be buying far dated OTMs hand over fist, because at some point, this thing will explode again.
Childrens Place PLCE
Okay, so this has some fundamentals that could be interesting to some. Heavily in debt, with historically bad gross margins, and a panic sell off when they announced they had breached debt covenants, this stock has gone from over $100 post-pandemic, to roughly $12 today.
Why could it be intriguing? Mithaq capital purchased 7 million shares recently. Backed by the Saudis, and capable of offering better terms on back debt, this could be a takeoveturnaround story. Purely speculative, and high risk, I don't see a squeeze happening here anytime soon, but if messageboard chatter picked up, I’d be grabbing a lot more calls… when this goes, it’ll go fast.
B. Riley Financial RILY
At 56% shorted this is one of my top picks (#2), the one most primed for a squeeze, and I'm heavily in it.
This is also the first company on this list that has a clear path to an increase in stock price. For me personally, this is what I look for in an investment. I love a good squeeze, as it accelerates my profits, but I like betting on companies that are going to get me there regardless of the squeeze.
This company has many facets and if you want backstory, there are several good write ups/DDs available on Reddit. As it stands, despite turning around their slow quarters, and doing better as a business, short sellers have ramped up their positions? Why? Because there is an actual villain in this story. Marc Cahodes. He is an infamous short seller, with a personal grudge against this company, and the short sellers are not running off a functioning thesis. This is about destroying a company to soothe a slighted ego. Soon, short sellers will unwind their position, as the stock has pretty much found its base. A short squeeze in the near future could send this stock up into the $90 range.
Trupanion TRUP
39% short sold, this pet insurance company has recently come under attack by…it’s Marc Cahodes again. Marc did his usual tactic, doxing and harassing supporters, and accusing everybody in the business (down to the janitor) of fraud. However, despite these attacks, the company itself has mostly “Buy” ratings. The share price has slumped, due to bad Q1 earnings and the short attacks, but there is a new CEO and she is intent on increasing profitability, and decent quarterly results could pop this back up to historic $60 levels (+100%).
Cutera CUTR
This company makes hardware for treating acne and other dermatologic issues. 39% shorted this should be on your radar in early JULY. Listening to their earnings call was a lot to be excited about, if you could stand to listen to their hopium bullshit. Clearing up inventory, and debt, they have a lot of potential to have a strong Q2 showing. At $2 a share, I’ve gone ahead and made a small position, as this is might be the bottom.
Immunity Bio IBRX
OH. MY. GOD. I LOVE THIS STOCK. By far my #1 right now. Sitting at 39% shorted, I wouldn't be surprised to find that Merck is behind the shorting; trying to keep the stock price down so they can buy it out. This is a life saving cancer treatment. With recent FDA approval, this company sold 400 million in product ITS FIRST WEEK. With trials ongoing for multiple other uses, and a meeting with the FDA scheduled in June to get it fast tracked as a treatment for lung cancer. I have a $20 price target set for July. $40 by September.
There is honestly so much to say about this company, that I will write up a separate, in depth DD.
Novavax NVAX
If you were paying attention, you just watched this thing pop (260%) Is it done? Actually, yeah, Probably. I’ve read a lot of chatter about how it has a historic high of $300 without people factoring in its 20:1 reverse split. Robinhood needs to fix the UI, because a lot of people are tossing out good money. That said, with 33% short interest, a mild squeeze may happen for a few bucks.
Lucid LCID
A DPAC luxury EV maker on the most shorted list? Who would have thought?! Ok, so, I’ve had a chance now to drive a couple of these… and HOLY SHIT. I want this company to survive. I want one of these cars.
That said, yeah, I’m not putting more money into this. I’m putting it on this list because sometimes, great products fail. This is a prime example. Since first being wow’d by this car, the stock price has fallen 80%. Truthfully, if the Saudis walk away from Lucid, they're done. Don't fall in love with a stock.
AST Spacemobile ASTS
The lowest short interest on this list (28.3% which is still high as fuck!!!) is my #3 pick. And I’m in this bigly. This tech is so good, it’s literally going to change your life. Imagine, no place on Earth being without cell service. Why is it shorted? Delays, and Delays, and Delays. Go on over to the subreddit, and feel the general relief that everyone feels as launch is FINALLY nearing. If you are thinking of getting into this stock, do so before early July, as it nears major catalysts.
There it is. My list.
I’m gonna order them now in the rank that I view them, with my positions.
IBRX (3000 shares and 402 call options)
RILY (2700 shares and 17 call options)
ASTS (5000 shares and 103 call options)
HOLO (1500 shares)
PLCE (25 shares and 10 call options)
CUTR (1000 shares and 20 call options)
TRUP (10 call options)
LCID (No position, sold off at a loss)
NVAX (no position, sold off at a loss)
SPWR (10 call options) - lowest position currently, but if chatter starts happening this goes to #4