#Battery Management System Share

[dh5ryxhgbctgr]

Global Energy Storage Battery Management System Bms Market Conditions and Future Expectations 2024 - 2031

The Battery Management System (BMS) plays a crucial role in managing and optimizing the performance of energy storage systems. As the demand for energy storage solutions increases, the BMS market is set to grow significantly, driven by technological advancements and the rise of renewable energy sources.

Market Overview

Growth Projections

The global Battery Management System (BMS) market is estimated to reach USD 12.0 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.35% from 2024 to 2032. This growth is largely attributed to the increasing demand for efficient energy storage solutions across various sectors.

Key Drivers

Rising Adoption of Renewable Energy: With a shift towards sustainability, there is an increased need for effective energy storage solutions.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in BMS technology enhance efficiency, safety, and reliability, further driving market growth.

Applications of BMS

Industrial Applications

BMS is widely used in industrial applications to manage large energy storage systems, ensuring optimal performance and safety.

Consumer Electronics

The integration of BMS in consumer electronics like smartphones and laptops helps extend battery life and improve safety.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

As the EV market expands, the demand for sophisticated BMS solutions that can enhance battery performance and longevity continues to rise.

Challenges and Opportunities

Market Challenges

High Initial Costs: The high cost of advanced BMS can be a barrier for widespread adoption.

Complexity in Integration: Integrating BMS with existing systems can pose challenges for manufacturers.

Opportunities

Emerging Markets: Growing economies are increasingly investing in renewable energy projects, providing opportunities for BMS suppliers.

Conclusion

The Global Energy Storage Battery Management System market is poised for substantial growth in the coming years. With the increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, BMS will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy storage solutions.

[adaammarks]

Automotive Battery Management System Market Set for Explosive Growth

Market Research Forecast released a new market study on Global Automotive Battery Management System Market Research report which presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Automotive Battery Management System Forecast till 2032. The Automotive Battery Management System Marketsize was valued at USD 8.25 USD Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 23.56 USD Billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.17 % during the forecast period. Key Players included in the Research Coverage of Automotive Battery Management System Market are: Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Intel Corporation (U.S.), NXP Semiconductors NV (Netherlands), Analog Devices, Inc. (U.S.), Denso Corporation (Japan), Johnson Matthey, Inc. (U.K.), LG Chem, Ltd. (South Korea), Midtronics, Inc. (U.S.) What's Trending in Market: Rising Adoption of Automation in Manufacturing to Drive Market Growth Market Growth Drivers: Increasing Demand for Forged Products in Power, Agriculture, Aerospace, and Defense to Drive Industry Expansion The Global Automotive Battery Management System Market segments and Market Data Break Down Propulsion Type: BEV, PHEV, and HEV","Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles GET FREE SAMPLE PDF ON Automotive Battery Management System MARKET To comprehend Global Automotive Battery Management System market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Automotive Battery Management System market is analyzed across major global regions. MR Forecast also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.

• North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. • South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Brazil. • Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. • Europe: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia. • Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

Extracts from Table of Contents Automotive Battery Management System Market Research Report Chapter 1 Automotive Battery Management System Market Overview Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Global Revenue (Value, Volume*) by Region Chapter 5 Global Supplies (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions Chapter 6 Global Revenue (Value, Volume*), Price* Trend by Type Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application ………………….continued More Reports:

https://marketresearchforecast.com/reports/automotive-usage-based-insurance-market-2982 For More Information Please Connect MR ForecastContact US: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) Market Research Forecast Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA – 08837 Phone: (+1 201 565 3262, +44 161 818 8166)sales@advancemarketanalytics.com

[mi-researchreports]

The Battery Management System Market is expected to reach USD 8.87 billion in 2023 and grow at a CAGR of 4.85% to reach USD 11.24 billion by 2028. Eberspaecher Vecture Inc., BMS Powersafe, Sensata Technologies, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Elithion Inc. are the major companies.

[pearlsmith25]

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Optimizing Performance and Safety in Energy Storage

The Battery Management System (BMS) market refers to the market for electronic systems that monitor and control the charging, discharging, and overall management of rechargeable batteries. BMS plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and optimal performance of batteries used in various applications, including electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage systems, consumer electronics, and industrial applications.

The increasing demand for battery-powered devices and the growing adoption of electric vehicles are key factors driving the growth of the Battery Management System market. With the transition towards cleaner energy sources and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there has been a significant surge in the production and deployment of EVs and renewable energy storage systems, which rely on efficient battery management. Additionally, the increasing use of portable consumer electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, has further fueled the demand for BMS solutions.

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Key Components

Battery Control Unit (BCU): The BCU is the core component of the BMS that performs functions such as cell balancing, monitoring battery voltage, current, and temperature, and controlling charging and discharging processes.

Battery Monitoring Unit (BMU): The BMU is responsible for monitoring the state of individual battery cells, including their voltage, temperature, and state of charge (SoC). It provides real-time data to the BMS for decision-making and ensures the overall health of the battery pack.

Battery Charger: The BMS includes a battery charger that regulates the charging process, ensuring the battery is charged safely and efficiently. It controls the charging current, voltage, and charging profile based on the battery's specifications.

Human-Machine Interface (HMI): The HMI allows users to interact with the BMS, providing information on battery status, diagnostics, and alerts. It can be in the form of a display, touch screen, or software interface.

Communication Interface: BMS systems often incorporate communication interfaces such as CAN (Controller Area Network) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network) to enable data exchange between the BMS and other vehicle or system components.

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Application Areas

Electric Vehicles (EVs): BMS plays a critical role in managing the performance, range, and longevity of batteries in electric vehicles. It ensures optimal charging, discharging, and thermal management, as well as protection against overcharging, over-discharging, and overheating.

Renewable Energy Storage Systems: BMS solutions are used in energy storage systems, such as those based on lithium-ion batteries, to manage the charging and discharging processes, optimize energy efficiency, and prolong battery life.

Consumer Electronics: BMS is employed in portable electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets, to monitor and control the battery's performance, safety, and charging process.

Industrial Applications: BMS finds applications in various industrial sectors, such as telecommunications, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, and grid energy storage, where batteries are used for backup power and load balancing purposes.

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Regional Outlook

The Battery Management System market is geographically diversified, with major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific dominates the market due to the presence of major EV manufacturers and increasing investments in renewable energy projects. North America and Europe also hold significant market shares, driven by the growing adoption of EVs and supportive government initiatives promoting clean energy solutions.

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the Battery Management System market include:

Nuvation Engineering Johnson Matthey Battery Systems Lithium Balance A/S Navitas Systems LLC Valence Technology Inc. AVL List GmbH Texas Instruments Inc. Renesas Electronics Corporation Eberspächer Group LG Chem Ltd.

These companies focus on product innovation, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market position and offer advanced BMS solutions to their customers.

Battery Management System (BMS) Market: Future Outlook

The Battery Management System market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. The increasing demand for electric vehicles, the expansion of renewable energy installations, and the rising need for efficient energy storage solutions will continue to drive the adoption of BMS. Technological advancements, such as the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms in BMS, will further enhance the capabilities and performance of battery management systems, enabling safer and more efficient battery usage.

[blogaarti]

Battery Management System Market Set to Reach US$28.4 Bn by 2029: Accelerated Growth Expected

The global battery management system (BMS) market has been experiencing significant growth and is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Valued at US$4.6 billion in 2019, the BMS market is projected to reach a staggering US$28.4 billion by 2029, with a robust compound annual growth rate CAGR of 19.8% during the forecast period.

For More Industry Insights Read: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/battery-management-system-market

The accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is a major catalyst behind the surge in the battery management system market. As the world embraces sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions, the demand for efficient energy storage and battery management systems has skyrocketed. Lithium-ion batteries, renowned for their high energy and current densities, have become the go-to choice for EVs. However, ensuring the safe and optimal operation of these batteries is crucial. Battery management systems play a pivotal role in monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging processes, maximizing energy utilization while mitigating the risk of battery damage.

The battery management system market caters to a wide range of industries and applications, including energy storage, automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, telecommunication, renewable energy, and military and defense sectors. Among these, the automotive industry is expected to retain its dominance in the battery management systems segment throughout the forecast period. The growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles drives the need for advanced battery systems. Additionally, the communication and power generation sectors rely heavily on battery management systems for backup power solutions, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and generators. Moreover, the deployment of high-voltage battery packs in stationary energy storage systems for electric vehicles further propels the market growth.

North America currently leads the global battery management system market, holding the largest market share. The region is home to several prominent players, including industry giants and emerging startups. The battery management system market in North America has been strongly influenced by the rapid adoption of EVs, HEVs, and favorable government initiatives. Government support and incentives for the development of hybrid and electric vehicles have significantly contributed to the market growth in this region. It is anticipated that North America will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is poised to witness the highest growth rate in the battery management system market between 2022 and 2029. Countries such as China and India are experiencing a rapid shift towards electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions to address environmental concerns. Government initiatives and incentives promoting the adoption of EVs and HEVs have created substantial market opportunities for battery management systems in the region. The consumer electronics, telecom, and automotive industries in Asia Pacific also contribute significantly to the market growth.

Key players in the global battery management system market are actively pursuing strategies to strengthen their market presence. These strategies include new product launches, product upgrades, partnerships, agreements, business expansions, and mergers and acquisitions. Companies such as Analog Devices, Eberspächer, Elithion Inc, Johnson Matthey, Leclanché SA, Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd, Navitas System, LLC, Nidec Motor Corporation, Nuvation Energy, Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd, Sedemac, and Texas Instruments are at the forefront of driving innovation and advancements in battery management systems.

For More Information Visit: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/

[neha24blog]

Battery Management System Market Focusing On The Basis Of Battery Type, Topology, Application, Region And Forecast 2025: Grand View Research Inc.

San Francisco, 10 May 2023: The Report Battery Management System Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Battery Type (Lithium-Ion, Lead-acid, Nickel), By Topology (Centralized, Modular), By Application, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 – 2025 The global battery management system market size is anticipated to reach USD 12.23 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research,…

[foxbirdy]

hi!

just saw your pictures of you doing some marine biology fieldwork and i just wondered if you have any stories about the experience that you would like to share. Im in 1st year uni right now and i have no idea what im gonna specialize in other than “science!!” but i work on boats for my job right now (tallships, very cool stuff) and so marine environment work really appeals to me. If you have the time, I would love to get a picture of what the work you’re doing entails.

(What does the day-to day of marine biology research look like? What kind of stuff are you studying/information are you gathering? Whats it like? Is it awesome? feel free to answer none of these also)

thank you!!

OH, I'm jealous - it's a dream of my mine to get to work on a tallship. & I love to talk about this stuff!

In all honesty, the day-to-day changes pretty dramatically depending on what project work is available. Right now, as a student, a lot of what I'm involved in ties into coursework or research that's happening at the university! I volunteer with a couple different labs, and there's a huge variety of stuff to get in on. For example:

Last Saturday, I spent about six hours pulling otoliths and gonads out of eighty invasive roi, taape, and toau caught by local spearfishermen. Otoliths are the ear bones of fish, and similar to the rings of a tree, they have ringed annuli that can give a lot of information about the life history of the individual species. We cast these otoliths in resin, and then cut cross-sections to look at them under the microscope. The hope is that this information will help us understand when these species become reproductive, and how to control their populations.

The last several Fridays, I've been involved with an effort to collect some water quality and plankton data after a lot of heavy rain. This work was out on the boats, and we used deep and shallow drogues, YSI, light meter, secchi disk, and a couple plankton nets, moving out from the swollen rivermouth and into deeper, saltier water.

Last month, I spent a lot of time on invertebrate snorkel surveys, mostly looking for presence/absence in the nearshore. Next Tuesday, I'll be doing fish surveys in the same location. The Wednesday after I'm hopping on a wetlands restoration project & removing invasive bull grass, and a night snorkel afterwards. Next Friday is a lab day, working to process the plankton samples we've collected, and I'll be in the coral nursery afterwards. That's the really fun thing about university - there's so much different work going on, all the time!

In the summers, outside of school, that work is just as varied. I've really enjoyed having jobs that allow me to do a little bit of everything, and thus far, my supervisors have been very supportive of me in that. Here's some other projects I've gotten to work on, all within just one position:

Servicing passive monitoring systems! These are pictures of my replacing a SEABIRD logger, which has been taking a water temperature measurement every thirty seconds for the past 360 days. This helps conservation managers track heatwaves in sensitive ecosystems. We prepped new loggers with batteries and SD cards and waterproof tape to prevent biofouling, and then used snips and zipties to make the switch.

Scientific fishing! This helps get life history and population data for our target species, large pelagic fish. We collected biopsy samples, placed tags, and released primarily ahi, but also ono, and mahi. (Full disclaimer: this picture is from a subsistence fishing trip and not a scientific one, where people generally have too many things in their hands & are moving too quickly to take pictures. He was a very delicious dinner for our crew, though.)

Other marine tagging! I got to assist with bluewater cetacean tagging of several different dolphin and small whale species, and shark tagging for galapagos, blacktip reef, grey reef, and dusky sharks. Cetacean tagging was done with an air rifle, not easy at high speeds on the boat. Shark tagging was more hands-on, as we had to manually apply the tags.

Coral reef monitoring! The mission of these surveys was to track coral health through heat stress events, and to identify harmful species. I'm looking under the coral head in these pictures for crown-of-thorns starfish, one of the most urgent species threats to reefs in the Pacific.

This is the bastard. Notice the dead coral around him.

Oh I'm about to smack into the photo limit, huh. Please hold!

[unsoundedcomic]

I've heard it said recently that it isn't the winds that usually are bad about hurricanes, but rather how much water they dump out cause it seems flooding is harder to deal with. Has that been your experience as a Floridian? I've lived in the Gulf for a bit, but I've always lived in a place with a barrier island, so the rain has always bothered me more. Winds may knock off power, but I feel like we have a robust system to fix them and bring everything back, but flooding, we don't deal well with flooding. I don't know, care to share your experiences?

That's exactly right. The locals say to hide from the wind, and run from the water. It's expensive, but you can make a structure that is essentially windproof even up into the mythical Cat 6. You slap a metal roof on a block house, hurricane windows, no trees, underground wires, and there's not much that can dent you.

But water? It's all but impossible to protect yourself from. Even if you manage some kind of aqua barrier, storm surge comes up through the ground. It will come up through your foundation, bubble up through the bolts in your toilet, the seams in your terazzo. The water will lift up debris and smash them into your block house and bust your walls down. It'll make your batteries explode and ruin your wiring so it burns down what it doesn't inundate. And it'll drown you right there as you're hiding in your home.

So yeah, water is the killer and the real villain of a hurricane. It's why my county got absolutely fucked with this storm even though it never got closer than 100 miles from shore. It pushed the ocean up all around it as it passed, and there was nothing to be done.

[oceansssblue]

100 celebration — PROMPT 22 = FORCED TO SHARE HEAT/ONE BED.

PAIRING: WRECKER/F READER

WARNINGS: FREEZING TEMPERATURES, SUGESTIVE&MENTIONS OF WRECKERS BIG BOY BUT NO PROPER SEX SCENE (IMPLICIT AT THE END), PURE FLUFF 💖🔥

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"Fucking pirates".

Your low, grumpy mutter echoes in the Starfall; your body slumping down on the pilot's seat like a toy whose battery has finally ran out. A deep sigh of relief follows your closed eyes; stress and adrenaline slowly disolving inside of you. You can still feel your heartbeat pounding inside your chest. This has been too close to death to your liking; and even with Wrecker at the gunship, the Starfall has not escaped unfased.

You let yourself breathe for five too short seconds before you're jumping out of the chair to run a check on the ship's system; brow inmediately frowning at the flickering lights and the myriad of warning signs fighting for your attention.

"How bad is it?" The thump of Wrecker's steps are tired and heavy as he climbs up from the gunship, voice echoing against the walls of the Starfall as well.

You take a glance at his worried face –the scars pulling at his skin– and study the system again. You inmediately start to tincker with your ship ���you know it like the palm of your hand by now–; redirecting energy and efforts where it's most needed.

"We'be been badly hit. We can't jump into hiperspace as it is" you explain, humming distractedly while you continue to work on your ship. The light's stop flickering, turned off by now, and another set of softer ones replace them. You give him the bad news, voice full of dissapointment and resignment. "It'll take us two extra weeks to get back to Pabu. Apart from that, our main worry is gonna' be the cold. I've set the emergency heat reserve on, but it'll probably only last us a day or two".

Wrecker shrugs and grins. He had almost expected to hear that they had one engine less or a wing of the ship had been completely shut down; more time alone with you and a bit of cold isn't going to kill him. Hell, the worst part of this situation is probably how worried Hunter will be; and the cost of the repairs needed.

"Are coms still available?" He asks, hopeful.

You nod tiredly; at least you can give him that...

Wrecker smiles and pats your shoulder comfortingly.

"Then we'll let them know what happened with those pirates and we'll take this as a small vacation break" he suggests, and even if you're exhausted and frustrated, it's impossible to stay grumpy around him for too long

At least you're stranded with Wrecker and not Crosshair, you say to yourself. Wrecker is a very easy-going person; and his positivity may make this delay feel less catastrophic than it is. You can't imagine how irritating two weeks of listening to the sharpshooter's dry sarcasm and complaints would be. He'd probably blame you for not navigating your ship good enough; even though everyone knows your piloting skills with the Starlight have no one to envy.

Well, there's nothing you can really do now. You'll try not to fret and follow your friend's advice.

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The first night the temperature starts to drop, but the cold is managable and only really noticed after a sneeze or two and the need to throw an extra blanket on top of your current ones. On the second, the cold hits hard; your body shivering and trembling unconsciously throughout the night and making it impossible to sleep for more than a pair of hours straight without waking up. It starts to get dangerous on the third night; fingers hurting in small pin pricks of pain and muscles and joints loudly complaining with each move.

It's in the middle of that fitfull night when something carefully dropping on top of you makes you groggily blink awake. You try to scan your room in the darkness of the Starlight, barely making sense of Wrecker's figure there.

"Mm?" You manage to mumble half asleep.

"Sh... Go back to sleep, mesh'la. Just checking on you" Wrecker's soft voice inmediately answers back.

You're so exhausted you fall back to unconsciousness almost inmediately; your body relaxing in relief at the sudden extra warmth.

In the morning when you wake up again and find two extra blankets on top of you, you quickly understand the small interruption of the night. You push them aside in order to stand up; but the cold inmediately bites back, and you decide to pad over to Wrecker's small room in front of yours with two of them wrapped around you.

When you peak your head inside and see him trembling in his sleep without any blankets on, your heart clenches in gratefullness and affection. A bit worried too, you touch his forehead gently to check on his temperature; Wrecker inmediately groaning and catching your hand in his while he blinks awake.

"Your hand feels like an ice cube" he mumbles, and you apologise inmediately, taking it back.

"Wreck..." you sigh with a small grateful smile. "You shouldn't have given me all your blankets. You're cold too".

Wrecker yawns and pulls his body up in a sitting form. He rubs his face and then his neck and the top of his shoulders with his hand before focusing on answering you.

"Mm. I have my thermoregulator blacks on, and I always run warmer than you anyways" he explains gently. "You were unconsciously whimpering in your sleep from how cold you were, mesh'la. I couldn't go back to sleep after hearing you suffer like that".

"Thank you" you say, and you really mean it. Wrecker's one of the most selfless persons you've gotten to know. "You know... We could sleep in the same cot. It'll be a tight fit for sure, but we could share all the blankets together. That way we'll both stay warm".

While your voice is completely casual and unbothered, Wrecker's facial expression fills with genuine surprise.

"Oh... If you're good with that, mesh'la" he seems a bit hesitant, perhaps not wanting to invade your space or privacy, so you smile soothingly.

"I'll get us some nutribars to eat. Let's just try it out tonight, alright? If it doesn't work we can go back to how we were" You suggest, and Wrecker nods distractedly.

His eyes don't leave your retreating figure til you dissapear in the direction of the cockpit.

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After a day of both interesting and just-to-kill-time conversations pass by, the night starts fairly well for the both of you. You're not really cuddling together at first; just laying on your sides and doing your best at fitting together in the same bed, trying to respect each others spaces as much as you can. Your natural body heats are enough to make the temperature under the four piled blankets warm enough; and for the first time in three days, you go to sleep without a single mind curse against the cold around you.

The kriffing cold doesn't take a respite, though; and perhaps because your body is no longer moving your temperature drops a few hours after and you wake up trembling again, swallowing your groans of dissapointment at the no longer functionating idea. Wrecker doesn't seem to hold the same problem; you can practically feel his body heat besides you.

You don't really think it through before you're slowly and quietly pressing closer to him; freezing toes trying to find a warmer spot below his legs.

Wrecker makes a small pained rumble with his throat, and you stop on your mission, glancing up at his sleepy face. He doesn't bother to open his eyes, though you know you've woken him up from his slumber. You fill a tiny bit guilty.

"Sorry" you whisper quietly. "Can I?"

Wrecker hums in reluctant acceptance, and one of his big hands plops down on your back, hugging you towards him with a mumble under his breath you can't even descipher even if you strain your hearing.

You shrug it off and enjoy the warmth of his body with a pleasant sigh, toes finding their perfect home under his body and hands being tucked in between your chests. You can feel Wrecker's deep sleepy breathing in front of your face. You're tempted to stay awake for just a pair of minutes if just to watch him in this relaxed state –one you've never really seing him in–; but you're so comfortable and tired you follow him into dreamland in a matter of seconds and you barely move an inch until late in the morning.

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On night number five, you take the liberty of directly cuddling against him; hiding your cold nose in his neck and hugging him gently under the blankets.

"Mm" you mumble with your lips almost pressed to his skin. "This is great".

Wrecker chuckles and his hand tightens on you involuntarily.

"Yeah... Ur' so small. Fit like the perfect teddybear".

You grin and nuzzle against him. He's so big and warm, and such a good person... You've always felt safe around him.

"Mm, so I'm Lula's replacement now?" You joke around, and Wrecker's chest moves once again with his low chuckles.

"Only til I get back to her" he follows your joke, smiling in the near- darkness of the room.

You both chat for a bit til you start doing a competetion of yawns and you decide to call it a day; falling asleep with a smile pressed against his neck. This is starting to feel like a vacation, yeah.

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A week after your unfortunate encounter with the pirates, movement wakes you up in the middle of the night. There's no day and night in space, really; but the lights on the Starfall are designed to dim with the hours until they completely turn off, so it helps you to keep track of the days that pass by.

You start making sense of your surroundings as your mind slowly drifts back to counsciousness. For once you're incredibly warm, and it pulls a satisfied smile upon your face. You stretch slowly, lazily. Wrecker mumbles behind you; pressing his body firmly against you. The movement pushes you forward slightly, not too far away because of the tight grip he has on your hip; and you inmediately understand –and feel– what exactly has woken you up, blushing in flustered embarassment. Wrecker's erection is iron hard –and so big, fuck– against your ass; his own hips slowly thrusting back and forward periodically.

You call him in a mortified rasp.

"Wrecker..." he doesn't react at all, so you clear your voice and call him more firmly, squeezing his forearm, voice loud now in the silence of the ship. "Wrecker, wake up".

The clone stirrs with a confused, disorientated hum.

"Mm? Whats'up?" He grumbles, breathing pattern changing and body finally stilling with his return to consciousness.

"Wrecker, you've been... You are..." you try to say, your cheeks on fire, and he suddenly processes the situation he finds his own body in upon openning his eyes.

He's aroused, and his erection is firmly nestled against your ass. He vaguely remembers himself moving while he dreamed of...

He inmediately backs off with a curse, back pressing against the cold wall behind his bunk.

"Kark, I'm sorry!" Maker, this is so fucking embarassing. He wishes the ground could just swallow him. "I-I didn't mean to... I was dreaming and..."

He tries to justify himself, cringing at how he's not really fixing the situation much. He suddenly grows a bit worried and anxious. He holds so much respect for you... What if you just lose it for him, what if you now see him as someone who'd take advantage of a situation like this, of you being asleep? Luckily for him, you don't seem to take it as an offense or anything of the sort; just looking as mortified as he is.

You try not to picture what he could be dreaming of and ignore your own warmth bubbling inside of you; turning around to face him in understanding.

"S'alright, Wrecker" you soothe his worries. "We all have one of those from time to time, nothing to be ashamed of. We're just happening to share a bed in a bad time for that".

You chuckle nervously, and Wrecker feels partially relieved.

"Maybe we can just cuddle the other way?" You carefully suggest. "Or do you want to..."

You let the ending of the sentence fall on him, and Wrecker inmediately shakes his head.

"I'm not going to rub one out in the bathroom" he winces at how crude the words sound coming out of his mouth, but he really doesn't want you to think worse of him.

Hell, this is uncomfortable as it is right now; he can't imagine how it would feel if he dissapeared for some minutes in the sonic before returning and joining you in bed again.

You try to ignore the situation and act unbothered. It's the best way to dissolve this awkwardness. It's not his fault, really. You're feeling a bit aroused yourself now, inevitably.

"Okay, turn around then" you encourage him with a grin. "I'll be the big spoon for once".

Wrecker sighs and gives you an unsure smile.

" 'Kay" he whispers, moving to face the wall and showing his back to you. "Jus' hit me if I make you uncomfortable, please".

You laugh quietly and settle on your side behind him.

"Noted" you whisper cheekily, and to your own surprise, you spontaneously gift his left shoulderblade with a quick affectionate peck.

Wrecker hums almost as a way of saying "thanks"; and you're left awake with a million thoughts and questions in your head.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It happens a few more times along the week –sometimes in the middle of the night, sometimes in the early hours of the morning–; til the point you both develop a kind of rutine out of it. You nudge him and gently push him away as he lingers between reality and sleep; both of you re-arranging your positions in the bunk quietly before losing yourselves to dreamland again. If it's in the morning you just stand up and check the Starlights' curse in the cockpit, update Hunter; while he stays alone in bed until he appears through the corridor with a tiny guilty smile on his scarred face.

"We'll be arriving Pabu tomorrow" you announce finally one day, shooting him a grin. "Not having to share a tiny bed with me much longer, Wreck. You're gonna' have your Lula back".

He gives you a hesitant smile. You don't know if you're seeing things after the recent sudden realisation of your own feelings or if he is indeed dissapointed by this.

That night when you cuddle in bed your grip on him is a little bit tighter than usual. You'll miss this.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hunter is inmediately relieved upon your arrival on Pabu. Omega, already recovered from her injury –the main reason why they had stayed back this time– runs to greet you; and you chat with her while you answer all of her questions about your encounter with the pirates. Tech greets you politely and inmediately asks permision to take a look at your ship; and you don't think it twice before giving him full access to the Starlight. You know he must have enjoyed a bit of de-stress time with Phee; but also miss putting his incredible mind to the test. You'll let him entertain himself.

After two weeks without natural light and a permanent scenery, Pabu looks prettier than ever with it's colourful sunsets and the beauty of the sea. It'll be great to eat something other than nutribars as well.

That night, though, when you lay down on your bed in the bedroom you share with Omega, you can't help but feel a bit lonely. You're surprised at how incredibly quickly you've goten used to Wrecker's sleeping presence beside you; at how much you wish he were still here.

When at breakfeast he asks you if you slept well, and lightly comments on how good you probably feel with your big bed back, you hesitantly push the truth out there with the slightest bit of humour. You're not sure if he really likes you or if all of his reactions these past few days have been a result of needed closeness, and there's nothing more to look in there. You don't handle rejection well, you don't like feeling vulnerable; so you'll joke around it for now til you're sure of it.

"I don't know, Wreck. You make a good pillow" you smile at him, and Wrecker answers with his own personal grin.

Un-noticed by the two of you and having his breakfeast in silence, hip pressed against the kitchen counter and bandana abandoned in his nightstand for once, Hunter studies you in quiet surprise.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

That night when you're unable to fall asleep again, mind always spinning in the direction of the man sleeping in the adyacent room, you make up your resolve and quietly pad to Wrecker's door. You open it as carefully as possible; scanning his sleeping form while nervously biting your lip. He's awake, thankfully; taking a glance at the door sleepily to see who it is.

"Hi" you whisper, adding in a shy, unsure tone. "I'm cold. Can I..."

You're beginning to think this was not a good idea. It's definitively not that cold. There's no excuse anymore, and maybe you've read it all wrong and...

Wrecker opens the single blanket to the side and makes a lazy gesture for you.

"C'mere" he answers, interrupting your spiral of thoughts, and making you sigh in relief.

You climb in bed with him and melt onto his welcoming hug.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Every night after that one, once Omega falls asleep, you quietly move to Wrecker's room; the clone always inmediately making the space for you to lay with him. He doesn't ask, and you no longer explain; both of you tip-toing around your growing feelings, just a tiny bit hesitant to take the final step.

Summer starts to arrive in Pabu. First you both abandon the warm blanket; then the bedsheet, and finally swith to short-sleeved pijamas. You're a bit wary and nervous about the lack of an excuse; but Wrecker chuckles and softly tells you that you can go cuddle with him even when you're not cold. You give him a happy smile and your lips slowly press against his cheek; Wrecker blushes, and you grin. Everyone notices the slow progressive development between the two of you; the rest of the Batch arching eyebrows and glancing at each other while they try to remain patient in their expectancy.

The next lazy morning, when you wake up spooning and feel his erection again, you bite your lip and squirm involuntarily. Wrecker wakes up with the shuffle –not jumping away anymore at the realisement–; and mumbles a sleepy "sorry" before moving to turn around to face the other side of the bed.

You're quicker than him. You feel your body burning in affection and heat. You grab his hand so that he stays as he is; and turn around to look at him. You finally sigh and give in.

The kiss is slow, sweet and soft; yet deep and heartfelt. Wrecker makes a tiny surprised sound with his throat before he's completely melting in the bed; hesitantly resting his right hand on your hips and gently tugging you towards him. You hum in delight and welcome him; one leg going over his own hips so you can press your bodies closer together, feel him against you. You kiss him more intently, heart beating furiously inside your chest and impatience growing; Wrecker's hand finally cupping your ass and pulling a small pleased moan that makes him groan as well.

You take a moment to breathe and bite your lip. Wrecker makes another low sound with his throat; glancing at them before looking at you in the eyes.

"Not fair for you to be this sexy this early, mesh'la" he whispers in a raspy voice.

Your cheeks flush, but you smile suggestively and caress his scarred cheek affectionately.

"I can show you sexier if you wanna' " you whisper back at him.

Wrecker's big hands gently squeeze your ass before he's pulling you on top of him in a smooth movement. His smile is radiant while they travel upwards to caress your back.

"Oh, I wanna' " he chuckles, joining your lips together again inmediately, and you grin into the kiss.

I'll have to thank those pirates for this, you think, some minutes later, while you lose yourself into the bliss.

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Here we have the first prompt of the 100 celebration! Hope y'all liked it. 9 more to go!

Xx,

Blue.

PS. You'll be able to find all my other prompts under the tag "100blueprompt" or in this list as I publish them (I recommend saving the following link and check it from time to time):

Or You can also let me know if you'd like to be tagged in any/all.

In the mean time you've got a lot of other stories in my sw masterlist!

<3

[crackshipoftheweek]

Crack Ship of the Week back again with another post! (After nearly an entire month) Lately I've been working a lot of 10+ hour shifts at my current job, along with helping out at my family's restaurant, updating my résumé, and searching for other jobs to advance my culinary career, so I've been really busy, sorry for not posting in quite a while. On the plus side, I've managed to network with some industry professionals higher up the ladder, and I was recently contracted by a personal chef agency!

Without further ado, let's bring out

This Week's Crackship:

Party Poison (Danger Days) × Johnny Silverhand (Cyberpunk)

Ship Name(s):

Poison Hand, Dim Mak (see notes below for explanation), Rockerboys, Ronin (see notes below for explanation)

Why It's Crack:

No interactions (separate canons)

Why It's Cracked:

Canons share many similarities. Both are cyberpunk series set in an alternate universe California in the near future (now partially set in the near past, as well), following a war or series of wars that negatively impacted the United States' geopolitical power, costing it territory that would be filled in by an independent city-state (Battery City in Danger Days, and Night City in Cyberpunk) and the resultant power vacuum being filled in by megacorporations (Better Living Industries in Danger Days and Arasaka in Cyberpunk. Like Arasaka, Better Living also seems to be a multinational corporation with at least some notable amount of presence in Japan, hence Better Living having had a .jp domain during the Danger Days album's promotional period, as well as using both English and Japanese writing in much of its content). Crossover potential abounds

Both fill very similar niches in their respective stories (renegade rockers who rebel against corporate overreach with the power of punk rock, and occasionally this gun they found. They both became the exemplar of their respective series' spin on the "rebel with a cause" archetype [Killjoys in Danger Days, and Rockerboys in Cyberpunk])

Both lived and operated in similar timeframes, not taking into account Johnny's engram whom stars in Cyberpunk 2077. Party was active in the 2010s up until his death in 2019, and Johnny was active throughout the 2000s up until his death in 2023)

Both may also be war veterans (Johnny is a confirmed war veteran who deserted the US Military in protest of the government's corruption and purposeful destabilization of Central and South America. Party Poison may have been one of the many Killjoys to take part in the Analog Wars, though this isn't confirmed iirc)

Both died a similar death, to somewhat similar people, for similar reasons. Both raided the main HQ of their respective antagonistic megacorps in order to rescue an abducted loved one (surrogate little sister "The Girl" in Party's case, and former lover Alt Cunningham in Johnny's case), during which they were brutally gunned down by their corporate foes' bald and sociopathic enforcer (Korse and Adam Smasher, respectively)

Both dye their hair. Party Poison's hair is dyed red (natural color unknown afaik), and Johnny Silverhand dyes his hair black, with it being naturally blond.

Notes

"Dim Mak", also known as "Poison Hand" or "Touch of Death" is a purported system of acupressure-based martial arts said to have originated in ancient China and been culturally imported to Japan. Count Juan Raphael Dante, an eccentric martial arts practitioner who taught karate in the 60s and 70s, also claimed to be able to teach Dim Mak to prospective students, infamously advertising this alleged service in the back page ad spaces in Marvel comic books of the time. This likely was seen at times by Gerard Way, an avid comic fan, as he titled one of the songs in the wider Danger Days multimedia project as Black Dragon Fighting Society, which shares an identical name with the martial arts organization founded by Count Dante. "Dim Mak" is also the name of a record label founded by Steve Aoki, who made a remix of the famous My Chemical Romance song "Welcome to the Black Parade". This fact is also relevant to the ship as Dim Mak distributes punk rock music, with punk rock being the primary genre performed by both Party Poison and Johnny Silverhand.

"Ronin" was chosen a ship name due to their shared status as outlaw warriors, similar to (but generally less shitty towards bystanders than) the ronin of Sengoku and early Edo-period Japan. Party is an outlaw vigilante who fights against BLI, whereas Johnny is a former US soldier who deserted and fled prosecution by moving to Night City. In addition, this name was chosen in reference to Johnny's band, Samurai. Keanu Reeves, who portrays Johnny in Cyberpunk 2077, also starred in the 2013 American remake of The 47 Ronin (unfortunately)

[seraproto]

The Wonderful Mr. Wonderswan

A little while ago I decided to finally fix my Game Gear. Previously I had no soldering skill but I'm one of those people who can do anything if I see someone else do it first. So I decided to teach myself to solder and do tech repair in general. I fixed my Genesis as a practice thing and then decided to see if I could find some cheap electronics to repair. Well if you know anything about the gaming market these days you know that retro gaming device prices are incredibly inflated right now and likely will never go down. Prices are so high here that people from other countries will sell their stuff on our auction sites because they know they'll get more.

I learned about a site while watching another YouTuber that lets you browse Japanese auction sites and place orders. Then they'll pick up the stuff and ship it to you. So I started browsing and found the Wonderswan. This was the perfect device for me to start with and I wanted to share with you this cool device. It's perfect for me because the Wonderswan is both plentiful and cheap, gameboys are certainly cheaper in Japan but other Americans can bid on them making them more expensive. So I chose the Wonderswan because it's Japan Exclusive.

Let's talk a bit about the history of this device since many of you likely haven't heard of it. On YouTube I talked about the Pokemon Mini and many didn't hear about that and that even released in the US. So:

What is the Bandai Wonderswan?

The story starts with the man who made the Gameboy, Gunpei Yokoi. After completing the gameboy and the massive success it was Gunpei moved on to make the Virtual Boy. Gunpei had said previously that once he reached 50 he was going to retire from game design and so he did. This didn't last long though as he and bandai entered a deal to make the Wonder Swan. He made and helped design the system and Bandai was going to produce it an bring it to market. But before the system could release Mr. Yokoi was struck by a car, cutting his life short. 2 years later the first Wonderswan hit the market.

At this point the Gameboy had gone through a few revisions and released in Color. But the Wonderswan's original system could only display in black, white, and 8 shades of gray. Just 42 short of the amount of grays we have today. It wasn't back lit either. But it had some very impressive features that made it stand out. For one the price made the Wonderswan very competitive costing only 5,000 yen at release, while the Gameboy Color was 12,800 yen. Making Wonderswan a budget console.

The Wonderswan also boasted 16 bit gaming despite being black and white and could run for 40 hours on a single AA battery. The system could also play games in vertical mode. That's why there are so many buttons on the left. Games like Gunpey (named after Gunpei Yokoi) play in vertical mode and use the top four buttons as the D pad. But being backed by Bandai also gave them some sweet benefits. Bandai even that far back had a lot of anime licenses and Japanese kids love anime. The Wonderswan was the go to system to play anime games on. Inuyasha, One Piece, Digimon, and even Square saw their potential in the midst of their falling out with Nintendo. At its peak the Wonderswan managed to carve out 8% of the gaming market in Japan and that's after being late to market.

The Wonderswan kept it light on revision consoles, a year after the first release they made the Wonderswan Color. For a while they focused primarily on getting games, making them, and offering bundles and console recolors themed after popular licenses like Gundam and Final Fantasy. But even after the release of the Color it was still cheaper than the gameboy color. Then the GBA came out. The GBA was offering massive gaming potential being a portable 32bit console. But the Wonderswan stayed 16 bit and offered one more revision, the SwanCrystal.

Each Swan revision had no backlight, and the crystal wasn't any different. But what's special about it is that its screen didn't really need one. I don't know how they did it but the screen was still very easy to see even in low light despite not having a backlight. This final version was also still dirt cheap costing only 8000 yen. Despite this the Wonderswan could no longer compete, the GBA was a powerhouse. Double the bits, double the power, much larger games, it was hard to compete. By the end of it's life cycle the Wonderswan was left with only 109 games.

Maybe things would have been different had Mr. Yokoi been alive still, and there is even a conspiracy that Mr. Yokoi was assassinated by hit men Nintendo hired. Many people I've mentioned this to were surprisingly willing to believe Nintendo would do that. But Nintendo had the international market and the Wonderswan stayed in Japan. I don't think Nintendo ever saw Mr. Yokoi or his wonderful device as a threat.

After all of this the Wonderswan has flooded Japanese auction sites. You can find tons of working Wonderswans selling for around $30, color for $50, and Swan Crystals for much more. You can find backlight modded versions in the $150 range, and junk originals for just under 10 dollars. This is why I'm buying them to work on the broken ones are very cheap. Even after shipping it'll only cost about $20 a device. But they're also easy repairs, like most Gameboys the broken ones mostly have easy fixes. Sellers will say stuff like "Leaking lcd" and in reality it's a polarizer that's adhesive is wearing away or the polarizer is burnt. After opening the repair is as easy as applying a screen protector. Corroded battery contacts are also common but an Alcohol bath fixes that.

Should I get a Wonderswan?

That really depends on your ability to speak and read Japanese. The vast majority of these titles are in Japanese with around only a fifth being able to be enjoyed without understanding it. If you're a collector I'd say go for it, even if you get a broken one they're easy to fix. If you're trying to flip them for a profit I don't see the American market being too great. Buying them can also be a pain as some resellers on Japanese auction sites want you to contact them immediately after winning. I don't know if it's xenophobia and they don't want to sell to westerners or if it's to prevent scams. Either way it's annoying. One reseller said in its description that if I don't have at least 10 purchases on my account that they'll cancel the sale and leave a bad review on my account. Don't know how I'm supposed to get more successful purchases if they won't accept mine. But what ever, if they don't want my money there are plenty of other sellers.

As for which model you should go for. If you're wanting to play games you should get at least a color with a flashcart. The color had exclusive games and a flashcart means you can play translations. Color games will say "Color" on the cart. But flashcarts for the Swan are very recent so the tech is expensive costing $120 on average. If you want the best screen possible and don't want to have to deal with a replacement or repair then you'll want a Swan Crystal but those are the most expensive and harder to get aside from IPS screen replacement models. If you can solder get a color and do an IPS replacement, it's easier to get a hold of than a Crystal. Don't bother getting an original unless you want it for collection's sake.

If you want to play the games but don't care about the system then get an emulator handheld like the RG28XX. They sell for around 30 on Anbernic's site and can handle Wonderswan emulation. Make sure whatever handheld you get though has at least 10 buttons because vertical games require the d pad plus 4 buttons.

What games should I try?

We'll save this for a part two as it requires a little more research, I'll also show some repair stuff in a future one. Once mine arrives. But I do know for sure that Gunpey is mostly in English.

[emwritesstuff]

DYNAMO | Steve Rogers x Reader | part 4.

HYDRA has made their share of human experiments. You're just one of them. One of the least successful ones. One of the least functional ones. At least your life in the facility gave you a few things: unwavering resilience, cool(ish) superpowers and a great sense of humor. Steve Rogers would strongly disagree with that last one. A single chance encounter with him reluctantly brings you into the Avengers Compound, and you're determined to make his life as miserable as you can. Feeling's mutual.

AO3 | Masterlist | Playlist (coming soon!)

notes: You meet an old acquaintance on your first mission as a probationary Avenger. Tensions arise from multiple fronts. The plot thicken's y'all. (warnings: mentions of human experimentation, violence, cursing, sexual tension) (5.1K words)

4: ENTROPY

Fury uses a laser pointer to indicate a location on the holographic map. The Avengers are about to be sent on a mission, and for the first time you’re invited for the briefing. It’s not the worst thing they dragged you to. There are snacks, and you get to sit and not get your butt kicked. You’re only supposed to help with the details of the facility they’ll be breaking into. “Our drone intel says it’s been evacuated; it’s completely empty. Of people. I doubt they left the security system disarmed.”

You nearly choke on an Oreo when he continues. “Which means it’ll be simple enough that we can send Sparky here for a test drive.”

“No!”

“No.”

You scowl at Rogers when he echoes your word. It’s one thing for you not want to do this – another entirely for him not want you to.

Completely different things.

Still. You really don’t want to go.  Especially not back there, no matter how much Fury insists.

“Look. I know it’s part of my pardon, or whatever, to be a Revenger, okay? But I thought it was just so the government could use me as a lab rat and keep me locked up inside this building, which I’m fine with, by the way, thanks Stark for the mini fridge—”

“Y’er welcome.” Tony is leaning all the way back in his chair, munching on a cookie-Reese’s Cup-cookie sandwich.

“But not missions, alright? I’m not going.”

“Unfortunately, little-battery-who-could, you have no choice.” Fury puts his hands on the table, and you look at him. He has dark circles under his eyes, and you wonder if they were just part of his look at this point. “Or, you do. S.W.O.R.D made a big investment in you. It’s time to show them why – or go to the Raft.”

Your jaw went slack. A big investment.

An investment. An Asset.

Your eyes roamed the others present at the meeting – Tony, Natasha, Sam – and Rogers. You felt betrayed, and stupid for feeling so; none of this should come as a surprise for you.

Hands clench at your sides, opening and closing, weighing your options. You didn’t want to go back. Getting out had been hard enough.

“The Raft it is.” In a flash you’re up and everyone is set in motion at the same time as you – certainly to stop you from causing damage to government property.

Fury manages to suggest you reconsider before you storm out, fingers sparking as your temple starts to throb.

It’s Sam Wilson who reaches you at the elevator, and you curse how slow that thing was despite the building being filled to the brim with advanced technology.

Not advanced enough to make quicker elevators, apparently.

“Wait up, kid. Fury has a point, you know.” Sam raises his hands in front of his chest when you give him a nasty look. “Not about the investment thing. About the test drive!”

You cross your arms against your chest. “I’m not a car.”

“I know, I know—”

Natasha joins him on your other flank, essentially cornering you against the elevator doors.

“You’ve been holding back during training, so this is the perfect opportunity to—”

“I’ve been holding back because of the side effects, not because I care about hurting any of you!” It’s a half-truth. The migraines, nosebleeds, dizziness and everything else are annoying as shit.

But after two-something months, you have started to look forward to Pizza Fridays, to yoga with Wanda and to help Tony on his eternal quest of annoying Steve Rogers.

And knowing all of this you just recently got was at stake, balanced precariously on your Avengers performance, was harrowing. Because there is no way in hell you’re going to do well.

You know yourself. You’re not a hero. Not even close.

You’re not wired for that kind of stuff.

“I don’t want this! I don’t want to be owned by the United States Government, or S.W.O.R.D or any other acronym puns they come up with next. I’m done with that.” The elevator opens just in time, and you slip into it, but not quick enough that the two can’t follow you inside.

“So are we.” Natasha says, and she leans in as if she has a secret. Maybe she does. She looks around like she wants to tell you, but can’t. “We all got to sign some sort of Devil’s Deal after the Sokovia Accords, and Steve’s was this place. But this, is all temporary.”

“What do you even mea—”

“You’ll know. But in the meantime, use all the resources you got at hand to find your missing files.” She holds you by the shoulders, and you blink. She has a point. She has an excellent point.

You had agreed to all this circus for a reason, after all. If they wanted to use you, you might as well use them too.

“And kick some Nazi butt as an added bonus, Sparky.”

You exhale heavily, punching the button of the floor the three of you just left from. “Don’t. Call me. Sparky.”

“And what exactly are the bangles for? Style points?”

“Are you done being a smartass? I’m gonna explain it—but I won’t if you keep this up.”

Rogers is leaning against the wall, an amused little smirk on his annoying face while Stark – the inventor – gives you a taste of your own attitude. “You can see your vitals on this little screen right here. See? And if your brain activity spikes towards the dangerous level, it’ll beep so you can stop yourself before you go Weekend at Bernie’s on us.”

Tony finishes securing the two metal bands around your wrists and makes you get up from your chair.

“I have no idea what that is. Is it a club? I wanna go.” Tony looks at you in shock.

Then he looks at Rogers in shock when he speaks up. “It’s a movie, did you really not see—”

“Does he have to be here?”

“—it? It’s a classic.”

“It is a classic! Thank you. I’m actually surprised he’s seen it and you haven’t, Sparks.”

You put on your hands on your hips. “I’ve been a little busy these past few years. You know, escaping? Sorry if I haven’t seen one stupid old movie.” Rogers crosses his arms as Tony looks at you in disappointment. Only you could get them to agree on something. Awesome. “Does he have to be here?”

“I’m waiting for Bucky to finish his thing.”

“What thing? Can’t you do some sudoku outside his door like any other centennial?”

He rolls his eyes but doesn’t answer, and Stark begins messing up with the software on your wristbands. On a screen you can see what you assume to be the 3D view of them, and as he works you can see your new accessories light up.

“Rogers. What thing?”

Before he can give some snappy response, Barnes himself appears on the door. “Deprogramming. Shuri comes once a month. Ready, Steve?”

You frown, another question ready at your lips, but Tony adds in. “For his murder words. Y’know, HYDRA’s favorite brainwashing technique?”

Steve scowls at Tony, but you don’t see it. You don’t see him clap Bucky on the shoulder, and say that he’s ready. You don’t see them both leave. You’re busy looking at your own hands.

The Wakandan scientist can do that?

Erase the programming from his mind, just like that?

“How—” They’re already gone when you look up. Tony is seemingly oblivious at the thoughts running a million miles per hour inside your head.

“Genius. That’s how. The bracelets are obviously not in your brain, but they can connect to your suit and give us the full body scans we need.”

“What? Wait.” You pause, just then registering what he had said. “My suit?”

“Yes, Sparky! You can’t go on a mission wearing those rags you call T-shirts.” You’re about to cuss him out when he asks FRIDAY to begin the grand reveal.

And grand it is indeed. A robotic hand descends, with a silver and dark grey tactical suit hanging neatly on it. It almost gleams under the fluorescent lights of the lab.

“Cool.”

“I know, I know. Don’t thank me yet though. It needs extra adjustments, but you can take this baby for a ride tomorrow. And we’ll fix whatever issues we find when you’re back.”

You have no words, and Tony knows it, looking at you smugly as you inspect the suit closely. It looks like it has the potential to… make you fit in. In a picture, at least.

The suit is really something. It has a set of lines on the torso, arms and legs that light up bright blue when you absorb electricity. It’s light and flexible. And it looks really good on you, as you find out the next morning.

Your butt looks exceptionally good in it, especially with the new set of muscle you’ve been building up. You spent a good five minutes staring at your rear in the mirror after you put it on.

“You look put together; I’m surprised.” Rogers said after you both entered the Quinjet, the first ones to arrive. He from his punctuality and you from sleeping very little the night before. You narrowed your eyes at him.

“Thanks. Sorry I don’t have bloomers and a ballgown though, was running late this morning.” Giving him a sickly-sweet smile, you begin strapping yourself down on the farthest seat from him available.

Your hands are shaking as you fiddle with the many buckles – where’s Sam when you need him? – and it’s easy to say you’re a bundle of nerves. It’s not just the mission. It’s the destination. It’s the chances of it all going horribly wrong and going to the Raft being the best-case scenario.

You don’t even see Steve until he’s right on your face, yanking the buckles off your trembling fingers sternly, and looking at you through furrowed brows. “I don’t think your ensemble allows for the bloomers anyways,” He rasps, and you hold your breath from the proximity.

His eyes look like the sea during a storm from where you’re sitting, framed by perfectly thick eyelashes and expressive eyebrows. The smallest freckle on his cheek.

Fuck this dude. You had your seatbelts all under control.

“But for next time I’ll expect nothing less than a ballgown.”

He’s off you in an instant, and you snort at his little quip. “When did you grow a sense of humor?”

“Always had it. Sparky.”

And the moment’s ruined. You’re not a cat, but you feel like hissing at him. “Don’t—”

“Morning, children!” Tony enters the Quinjet like he owns it – he probably does – and with his arms up like he’s a popstar. One of them is holding Cap’s shield, and you frown.

You’re still looking between them when it’s given to Rogers. “Don’t forget I want it back as soon as you’re done with this – you’re still in probation no matter how many times you let me beat you at air hockey.”

The image of Steve Rogers playing air hockey – and losing – is almost as strange as Stark having custody of the shield. The very symbol of everything he stands for, and he has to give it back like a pair of shoes at the bowling alley?

You and him are back to being the only ones inside the jet after Tony leaves. “If you’re gonna say something—get it off your chest now.”

“I just— I don’t understand. Why does he have it? You clearly wear it better.” You gesture vaguely to his very poster-like form, standing by the opposite row of seats.

He frowns, but for once it’s not at you. “Howard Stark made it. I trust you know what happened to him. Who did it.”

Your jaw goes a little slack. Taking out Stark Senior was one of HYDRA’s biggest victories, you remember it well. The date was almost a holiday for them.

You don’t know what happened last year in detail, but you can guess, given the time of things. The death of the King of Wakanda, and Barnes’s arrest. The whole Avenger vs. Avenger match was a media frenzy at the time, even though the motives were still somewhat vague.

All of that happened, and yet, they’re all still sharing the same roof.

It clicks for you like a puzzle piece.

“This was your Devil’s Deal! This place, the shield—” It makes you almost sorry for him, giving up so much for the greater good. And somehow it doesn’t surprise you at all.

It’s been his modus operandi since 1945, hasn’t it?

“Wow, you guys are here already?” Steve is looking at you like you’ve gone insane when Sam walks into your transport. He takes one look at you and grins, cooing at you as he would a baby. “Look at you, all cute strapped up on your seat.”

You roll your eyes and give him the middle finger.

“You’re late.” Steve says, finally placing the shield on the back of his suit. It makes him look like a buff turtle, and you have to keep yourself from giggling.

“No, you two are just early.” Natasha is the last to join you, Banner following suit at her back. Your eyebrows shoot up and she ignores your questioning look as she takes over the command panels.

You know well that Banner isn’t coming with, and you doubt his reasons to see you all off is friendship or worry.

He fakes it by checking the connection of your wrist cuffs to your suit, but Stark had done that already. You know he’s too shy to give out any information. You’ll have to squeeze it out of one of them later – a mission more difficult than this one, you’re sure.

Planning a strategy for it is almost enough to distract you from your nerves—almost. You try to focus on Sam’s ever good-spirited rambling while you’re in the air, but your hands are back to being unsteady and your breath becomes shallow when the F.R.I.D.A.Y announces initiating landing sequence.

You manage to be discreet about it, unclasping the seat straps with what only seems like your natural ungracefulness. Watching silently as the distance between you and the permafrost grows narrower.

The ramp descends, leaving you once again vulnerable to the cold wind of the Norwegian mountains. 

You’re freezing and nearly bare, running desperately through the snow, against winds at your chest and bullets at your back when Natasha nudges you on her way out. The last to leave the safety of the aircraft, you walk until you’re facing the tall iron doors of The Brutskaten, the others having stopped behind you.

You scowl at it like it can see you, like its doors are the maw of a beast ready to swallow you back in and bellow a welcome back, child, after it’s satisfied.

“Seems like the power’s still going.” Sam says, and you turn to see him inspecting a panel to the side. “Which means the security system is still on.”

He and Rogers move their eyes to Natasha, who promptly shakes her head. “I can try my way, sure. But we have to be careful. This place isn’t something you just break into, it��”

“I got it.” Moving away from the entrance, you approach the panel. What are the odds of they erasing your code amidst all that hurry?

Could one credential still be left? There’s only one way to find, and you take the safest route. Your oldest form of identification. Hiking up your right sleeve, you expose your forearm and the numbers tattooed on them to the cold air. All the breaths are held as you offer them to the camera on the panel.

A soulless voice fills the silence, followed by the heavy groaning of iron.

Projekt: Blitz. Asset-7463. Zugriff gewährt. Dostup Predostavlen. Access granted.

Easy enough. You’re entering this hell again and the only thing you can think of is that you’re damn lucky.

The accumulated dust inside makes you cough as you walk through the doors. You and the others move quietly and carefully, making little noise despite Sam’s constant sneezing.

“Damn allergies.”

The place seems like it’s been evacuated in a hurry, supplies and papers scattered everywhere, no one bothering to clean up their messes. A lot has been left behind; Natasha skims through at least five manila folders that were just sitting out in the open.

Everything is monochromatic, grey and lifeless; the high ceilings have always reminded you of some sort of temple, in which God is order and obedience is a prayer.

You’re not very religious.

It’s almost too easy – you go through the Via Crucis that is going deeper into the fortress, clearing room after room with the others, ignoring the memories that surface so you can get to your main objective: the research labs. Next to it there is a room with computers and files that should provide you with all the information this place still holds.

Natasha takes to that right away, pulling Sam with her in the dick move of the century. You’re left to inspecting the lab – your lab – with Cap, his shield and his high-strung mood that you’re not sure where or when he acquired it. You guess it happened right as you landed here. It was all going so well, and then he saw you be allowed back in like its Prodigal Daughter.

Your palms feel clammy as you eye the row of medical beds in slight disarray, most without any bedding whatsoever – a good long while since its last use.

“Is this a bad time to announce I’ve been a double agent all along? You’ve all fallen into my trap, yadda-yadda.”

You smirk as you can almost hear a vein in his forehead pop, even though you have your back to him, inspecting a surgical table next to the beds. Nothing much but a metal tray and empty bottles of sedatives.

“Do you really think this is time for jokes?”

You turn to him with a shrug. “It’s called lighting up the mood, Cap, you should know by now I’m an expert at that. In more ways than one.”

Rogers crosses the room in an instant, leaving you to stare up at him. “You need to focus. I won’t have you jeopardizing this mission—”

“Or what?” You hiss. “You’ll send me to the Raft? Haven’t I been a good girl for you?”

He leans in. You’re almost chest to chest, and you stiffen because any movement seems dangerous. “You’re so far from it I’m surprised you know the words.”

“Oh yes. I’m bad.” You chuckle, and his gaze becomes stormy. It’s new. It’s almost exciting. Your voice lowers as you whisper to his lips. “What, are you gonna punish me, Captain?”

Dumb ways to die.

Arms cage you against a desk, and pink lips curl into a smirk. “If I have to… Is that what you want?”

You swallow. His eyes follow the movement before returning to yours. His fingers ghost at your hip. Your skin tingles. He knows.  It’s like standing at a cliff. If you fall, it will be into pink lips and large arms. And you’re tethering at the edge.

He smells like aftershave and something sweet you can’t put your finger on. You don’t dare take another breath.

If there is a god inside this place, it’s the same one who put wheels on the desk. It rolls back and pulls you with it, separating you from him and from a stupid thing you don’t want to do. The coffee that was left behind on it spills over on your hand, and you groan as you wipe it away. It takes you a couple seconds to notice what’s amiss.

“Is that really what gets you to be quiet—”

Steve stares as you lower yourself to the desk’s height. As far as anyone knew, it has been sitting in here for two years at least.  Except there’s steam rising from it. “Coffee’s still hot.”

Steve blinks at you, and by the time he’s processed it the alarms start blaring, casting everything in a menacing red glow. Nat and Sam run in from the other room. “I think we set off some kind of—”

“It wasn’t us.” You say, and they frown at you as the information registers in their heads.

“We’ve got company. Someone was here just now, must’ve triggered the alarm.” Steve explains and turns to you. “If you were running out of here, where would you go?”

You lick your lips, a list of names going through your head when Rogers’ question brings you back.

“The Hangar. This way.”

Almost on autopilot, you speed through the endless corridors with the others on your heel. It feels strange to be the one chasing, but you shake it right off once your sight narrows on your runaway target.

Doctor Steiner is a little weasel of a man, beady, evil eyes behind thin glasses and a gravely receding hairline. He’s still wearing a white lab coat even though it has probably been a while since he tormented anyone with his profession, stains all over it as if he had been wearing it nonstop for days.

The big gate at the end of the hangar opens up almost lazily, bringing flurries of snow inside. You barely register the vehicle he’s trying to start and make his escape on, a large ATV that was surely no match for the Quinjet outside. But he didn’t know that. You don’t remember it, either.

Your focus is on the grin he gives you. “My, my, Fräulein, how far you have fallen.”

Fingers crackle with energy. The light flickers. The ATV groans but fails to start. Your head hurts.

He chuckles as you stalk towards him. You don’t even remember you have three other Avengers behind you, managing to follow close behind you. You should cool it down.

But it doesn’t matter how much the freezing wind chastises your skin, there is fire blazing behind your eyes.  “I want my files. I know you have them.”

He cocks his head. Your hand shoots out and a blast of energy makes the gate stop halfway up. “You were to serve a greater purpose. Now you walk with these… Avengers.”

The corners of your lips turn down. You’re trying to summon more electricity to your palms, but all that happens is little snaps of lightning between your fingers. Steiner tuts, very much aware of your tribulation. No, fuck no. Not now, come on!

Some reprieve comes in the form Natasha and Sam landing on the other side of the hangar, right by the gate. Steiner isn’t going anywhere with the ATV. He knows it.

You realize you’ve gotten too close when he points a gun right at your forehead. “The Baron’s shining star. Such a waste. But surely you know I can’t let my work fall into the wrong hands.”

Before he pulls the trigger, you channel every Volt running inside your body to fry his brains out. Your hands spark to life – the edges of your sight darken and the monitors around your wrists beep – but if he manages to put a bullet in your skull at least you’ll have done one thing right in your life.

Except you don’t get to. The bullet hits a shield first, the same that blocks your vision of the doctor as your pulled away by the waist, then maneuvered to stay behind Captain America’s back.

“Are you out of your mind?” His mouth twitches as if he’d received some of the blast instead.

Serves him right.

“I had him!”

“You had a gun pointed right at your head.”

“I had him, Rogers.”

“You’re so goddamned reckless—” He says, but the German protests of a now restrained Dr. Steiner stops him.

Natasha barks for him to shut up. “I think you have something we’ve been looking for.” Sam crosses his arms, and Steve steps towards the doctor. It’s strange to be on the same side of the ring, you realize.

You don’t necessarily hate it.

“Give. Me. My. Files. And then maybe I’ll let Cap here be benevolent and lock you up.” Your hands ball into tight fists.

 “Empty threats. There are no files, Fräulein. It is all in here,” You’re sure he’d be tapping his forehead if his hands weren’t bound behind his back. “you need me more than I need you.”

“We’ll see about that.” Steve growls.

Your eyebrows twitch as your hope dilutes itself. He was probably right – as the head of the Brutkasten Research department, there was no one who knew you more than he did. If there were no files anymore, then…

Fuck it. You’d rather let your brain explode than have another “appointment” with him ever again.

“Look at what just happened. You have always been a liability. Useful, yes—”

You want to scream at him, but for some reason you can’t. The feeling that you were something HYDRA and Captain America could finally agree on makes your lungs burn and your words vanish, nails marking crescents on your palms already.

“Effective, even! But dangerous when not on a tight leash—”

Steiner doesn’t get to finish. Steve’s fist lands heavily against the side of his head, and he isn’t built to take that kind of hit. “Fuckin’ windbag.”

The doctor’s head lolls to the side, and you finally manage to breathe. You push the shock that comes with the act for later; there’s more important things at hand.

Dr. Steiner made Steve Rogers say fuck.

The Doctor from Hell is whisked away to a government prison facility as soon as you land – that means you don’t get to spend even 10 minutes under the same roof, and you’re thankful for that.

He manages a “I’ll be expecting your visit, Fräulein!” before Steve drags him away, and a shudder runs down your spine. Never seemed like a good date for that.

You’re also thankful Natasha is put in charge of his interrogation – you don’t hear anything about it, not even the intel she’s gathered. The knowledge that you’re being shielded from all of this should be comforting.

Still, as you watch Bruce scribble and cross off things in his notebook during your weekly check-up, you get restless.

Nothing new. Just his own theories and counter theories. Which means Steiner isn’t talking.

Which means the fucker is waiting for you.

You sleep on the idea for a couple days – it’s one of your worst, honestly. Nothing good can come from a chit chat with your old doctor, but at this point you feel like you don’t really have a choice. You’ve searched for your files. You’ve returned to the Brutkasten.

The last tether to your past and the possible answer to your troubles is sitting on a prison 40 minutes away from the Compound.

You already know Rogers and Natasha’s answer before you ask them, and Sam would never take your side, not on this. On Mario Kart, sure. That’s why your hopes are on the greyest morals you can find on site. The most questionable methods.

Nick Fury has an office on the lower levels of the Compound, past the conference room and behind so many security protocols it’s almost as difficult as getting inside a bank. You wonder if he is some kind of mind-reader or psychic, because you don’t get to state your business when the multiple doors open one after another.

“If you’re here, then it must be interesting.” He says as you finally get inside.

“Wouldn’t call it interesting—more like reckless and stupid.”

“Sounds like your style. I’m listening.” Almost offensive, but you don’t take it to heart.

It’s kind of true.

 “I’d like to make a doctor’s appointment.”

“I knew you’d come, Fräulein.”

“That’s what she said.”

He chuckles. “You haven’t changed—I’m glad.”

You sit in front of Dr. Hermann Steiner, finally. His wrists are affixed to the table with magnetic cuffs, and you stare at him, ironically at your mercy for the first time. You don’t remember why you used to be so afraid of him.

Without his needles, his goons and his unbridled cruelty, he’s just a man.

He’s wrong, too – you have changed. Something in you has, you can feel the flipped switch. You’re not sure what or you simply don’t want to name it, but it’s there.

It’s in the way you stare at him.

“I take it you haven’t been very talkative lately?”

“Oh, my dear, what is there to say? They didn’t exactly offer me a place in the Avengers in exchange of my help.” His lips quirk up when you tense – the subtle insult hitting you on the jaw like a right hook.

“Then what would you want in return?”

“You.” He says, and now you feel like you’ve walked into the den of a single viper. “You have no idea what you are capable of, do you? Of the extent of your abilities. The potential is endless.”

You frown. “If you want to cause a power outage in the entire tri-state area, of course. Are you sure you’re remembering me right?”

Steiner smiles. “The Baron has never let me truly fine-tune you like I wanted. But if you allow me to—”

“I am not going to be your lab rat again.”

“Think of what we could achieve, my Asset! Of what you could achieve.”

You ignore the pet name change, splaying your hands on the table. They stop shaking like this.

“Tell you what. You tell me how I stop being the mess I am right now, and I’ll achieve getting Fury to let you have sunbathing time in prison. How’s that?”

He shakes his head, still with that stupid little smirk on his face, and you have to hold back from punching it out of him.

“This should be useful to you.” He slides a tiny SD card in your direction, and you wonder if he’s been holding it in his hands all this time, and more so – how he had smuggled it inside.

Your answer comes in the shape of a small wound on the back of his hand. Subcutaneous incision, one of the old methods. It makes you shudder. “The information you need is all in here. This will return you to me, I know it.”

Fingers hesitate but take the drive anyways. The smallest Pandora’s box.

“I already have a doctor. But thanks.”

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Still kickin' since the '70s: NASA's Voyager mission keeps exploring

NASA's Voyager mission launched in the 1970s. Today, it's making history as it conducts new science. But how are two spacecraft from the '70s not just surviving, but thriving farther out in space than any other spacecraft has been before?

A little mission background

Voyager is a NASA mission made up of two different spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, which launched to space on Sept. 5, 1977, and Aug. 20, 1977, respectively. In the decades following launch, the pair took a grand tour of our solar system, studying Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—one of NASA's earliest efforts to explore the secrets of the universe.

These twin probes later became the first spacecraft to operate in interstellar space—space outside the heliosphere, the bubble of solar wind and magnetic fields emanating from the sun. Voyager 1 was the first to enter interstellar space in 2012, followed by Voyager 2 in 2018.

Today, Voyager continues not just because it can, but because it still has work to do studying interstellar space, the heliosphere, and how the two interact. "We wouldn't be doing Voyager if it wasn't taking science data," said Suzanne Dodd, the mission's current project manager and the director for the Interplanetary Network at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

But across billions of miles and decades of groundbreaking scientific exploration, this trailblazing interstellar journey has not been without its trials. So, what's the Voyager secret to success?

In short: preparation and creativity.

"We designed them not to fail"

According to John Casani, Voyager project manager from 1975 to launch in 1977, "we didn't design them to last 30 years or 40 years, we designed them not to fail."

One key driver of the mission's longevity is redundancy. Voyager's components weren't just engineered with care, they were also made in duplicate.

According to Dodd, Voyager "was designed with nearly everything redundant. Having two spacecraft—right there is a redundancy."

A cutting-edge power source

The twin Voyager spacecraft can also credit their longevity to their long-lasting power source.

Each spacecraft is equipped with three radioisotope thermoelectric generators. These nuclear "batteries" were developed originally by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Atoms for Peace program enacted by President Eisenhower in 1955.

Compared to other power options at the time—like solar power, which doesn't have the reach to work beyond Jupiter—these generators have allowed Voyager to go much farther into space.

Voyager's generators continue to take the mission farther than any before, but they also continue to generate less power each year, with instruments needing to be shut off over time to conserve power.

Creative solutions

As a mission that has operated at the farthest edges of the heliosphere and beyond, Voyager has endured its fair share of challenges. With the spacecraft now in interstellar space running on software and hardware from the 1970s, Voyager's problems require creative solutions.

Retired mission personnel who worked on Voyager in its earliest days have even come back out of retirement to collaborate with new mission personnel to not just fix big problems but to pass on important mission know-how to the next generation of scientists and engineers.

"From where I sit as a project manager, it's really very exciting to see young engineers be excited to work on Voyager. To take on the challenges of an old mission and to work side by side with some of the masters, the people that built the spacecraft," Dodd said. "They want to learn from each other."

Within just the last couple of years, Voyager has tested the mission team's creativity with a number of complex issues. Most recently, a fuel tube inside of Voyager 1's thrusters, which control the spacecraft's orientation and direction, became clogged. The thrusters allow the spacecraft to point their antennae and are critical to maintaining communications with Earth. Through careful coordination, the mission team was able to remotely switch the spacecraft to a different set of thrusters.

These kinds of repairs are extra challenging as a radio signal takes about 22½ hours to reach Voyager 1 from Earth and another 22½ hours to return. Signals to and from Voyager 2 take about 19 hours each way.

Voyager's interstellar future

This brief peek behind the curtain highlights some of Voyager's history and its secrets to success.

The Voyager probes may continue to operate into the late 2020s. As time goes on, continued operations will become more challenging as the mission's power diminishes by 4 watts every year, and the two spacecraft will cool down as this power decreases. Additionally, unexpected anomalies could impact the mission's functionality and longevity as they grow older.

As the mission presses on, the Voyager team grows this legacy of creative problem solving and collaboration while these twin interstellar travelers continue to expand our understanding of the vast and mysterious cosmos we inhabit.