#Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

[industrialconstruction]

The Booming Oil and Gas Pipeline Sector in the UAE

The oil and gas sector is a pillar of the UAE's economy and pipeline infrastructure lies at the centre of this necessity. As crude oil flows from the wells through various pipelines to refineries or from refineries to storage facilities, various oil factories pipeline contractor help develop and maintain these crude oil and petroleum pipelines. As oil and gas are transported, from the sources to refineries and finally to consumers, these contractors enable their seamless and secure transportation, which underlines the industry’s overall efficiency.

The Terrain of the Abu Dhabi presents unique Cross Country Pipeline Contractors in UAE challenges. Working in the extreme heat and endless sands of the desert is no joke, and it takes a certain level of skill and equipment to tackle such conditions. But despite these challenges, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw a flurry of pipeline construction activity. The need to expand and upgrade the aging oil and gas infrastructure to meet domestic and international needs drives this growth.

Oil and gas construction in uae sector is in a phase of phenomenal growth at the moment. Pipeline contractors now clearly need skilled manpower, as there are many ongoing projects and upcoming projects. The supply chain is a key focus with companies investing heavily in the latest tech and extensive training. They aim to build pipelines that are durable and of the highest industry standards.

That is why, for those businesses that want to enter or grow in the UAE oil and gas industry, having experienced pipeline contractors on their side is a necessity. Such contractors like Tekzone have the knowledge and equipment to deal with the challenging and exacting world of long-distance pipeline construction. With the UAE continuing to strengthen its oil and gas infrastructure, now more than ever, the role of pipeline contractors in maintaining the effective running of the industry is critical.

[constructionestimatingservice]

[gtools-shop]

Discover amazing deals on tool boxes at our website! Get your hands on high-quality tool boxes at clearance prices. Don't miss out, shop now!

[artdecco531]

Electro mechanical companies in UAE

[aptechvisaglobalimmigration]

Ontario PNP conducted 2 OINP draws for applicants under the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream on April 23rd, 2024 On the 23rd of April 2024, Ontario PNP conducted a draw under the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream, inviting several NOCs. This Ontario PNP latest draw invited applicants with a score of 53 and a job offer letter.

Illustrated below is the result of the latest Ontario PNP draw 2024 result for Ontario’s Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker Stream:Date of drawNumber of NOI’s issuedScoreApril 23, 2024n/a53

Your Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream: skilled trades occupations must mention one of the following NOCs as your primary NOC based on your work experience:

NOC 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians

NOC 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

NOC 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians

NOC 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

NOC 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics

NOC 70010 – Construction managers

NOC 70011 – Home building and renovation managers

NOC 70012 – Facility operation and maintenance managers

NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations

NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations

NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades

NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades

NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers

NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades

NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews

NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations

NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators

NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors

NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers

NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers

NOC 72103 – Boilermakers

NOC 72104 – Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters

NOC 72105 – Ironworkers

NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators

NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)

NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians

NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers

NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

NOC 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

NOC 72300 – Plumbers

NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers

NOC 72302 – Gas fitters

NOC 72310 – Carpenters

NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers

NOC 72320 – Bricklayers

NOC 72321 – Insulators

NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics

NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics

NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women

NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics

NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers

NOC 72422 – Electrical Mechanics

NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics

NOC 72500 – Crane operators

NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers

NOC 73101 – Tilesetters

NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers finishers and lathers

NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers

NOC 73111 – Glaziers

NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers

NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers

NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents

NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators

NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers

NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators

NOC 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction

NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

NOC 92100 – Power engineers and power systems operators

Ontario PNP conducted another draw for the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream:

Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP) candidates invited two targeted immigrants to apply on April 23, 2024, to people who would be eligible for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.

We are there for you:

If you want to learn more about the latest draw for the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program, our Canadian immigration consultants can help you out. You can reach them at 750 383 2132 or 928 928 9006. Additionally, you can visit our website at www.aptechvisa.com/ontario-pnp  for further details and updates.

[mechanicalelectricalplumbing]

Power contractors in India Sankhlaenterprises

Sankhla Enterprises is a leading power contracting company in India, catering to diverse electrical needs in Gurgaon, Bhiwadi, Noida, Gujarat, Manesar, Haryana, and Rajasthan. As an experienced MEP company, they excel in providing top-notch electrical services and powerline solutions. Whether you search for "electrical company near me" or "powerline companies near me," Sankhla Enterprises is the best choice. Specializing in substation contracting, their team of skilled professionals ensures reliable and efficient power construction services. With a commitment to excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction, Sankhla Enterprises stands out as one of the best power contractors in the region.

[aaeimaaengineering]

Find BIM outsourcing partners with competitive advantages!

Office@aaeimaa-design.com, +1 (713) 568-2926, where we take care of everything for you if you have any questions or need any of our services.

[touchstonehomeproducts]

Discounts For Your Business!

Touchstone Home Products offers business-to-business discount pricing for builders, interior designers, AV integrators, cabinet makers, hotel chains and more. Touchstone Electric Fireplaces, TV Lift Mechanisms and TV Lift Cabinets are easy to integrate into any design at a budget price.

Contact Us About Your Next Project! https://bit.ly/44o5UQY

[kenpowerhouseelectrics]

Difference Between Industrial Electrician and Commercial Electrician

The titles commercial electrician and industrial electrician may sound similar, but they are actually widely different from each other. An electrician is not an all-purpose profession. It differs based on the area of expertise, skill, and job focus. There are various kinds of electricians trained to handle different nature of works. So, before you head to hire an electrician for your electrical needs, learn about the difference between an industrial electrician and a commercial electrician.

What Is An Industrial Electrician?

Manufacturing plants and production facilities have electric needs that are far different from the needs witnessed in other areas of the electrical profession. That is where industrial electricians prove to be of immense help.

Generally, they are involved in fault diagnosis, repairs, tests, and maintenance of electrical equipment and machinery in large plants, factories, and mines. These are the individuals having advanced knowledge and proficiency in handling a variety of complex issues encountered in equipment and machinery used in industries. In Australia, industrial electrician services are basically rendered to mining companies, car manufacturers, electrical companies, and steel producers.

Furthermore, industrial electricians are skilled in handling all types of jobs in the industrial environment. However, their primary focus is on pneumatic, hydraulic, and other types of machinery involved in different operations. Apart from catering to basic electric issues, industrial electricians are also adept in robotics, controls, instrumentation, and other specialized facility equipment employed in industries.

Role of an Industrial Electrician

An industrial electrician is tasked with ensuring the smooth functioning of large factories by keeping the safety and efficiency of important machinery. Here are the tasks and duties an industrial electrician is entitled to perform:

Installation of new electrical systems in an industrial setting.

Repair and maintenance of electrical equipment.

Adherence to safety protocols as per operating production facility.

Troubleshooting electrical equipment.

Industrial electricians are required to possess the requisite experience and apprenticeship training with relevant certifications and qualifications. Since they need to work in production facilities, they also need to gain safety training. Overall, the power and electricity needs of industries are way different than other areas, therefore industrial electricians are expected to be highly skilled and flexible to cater to the high voltage applications and other electrical machinery in industrial setups.

What Is A Commercial Electrician?

Commercial electricians are specialized in offering electrical repair, maintenance, installation, and safety audit services within the commercial setups. Their work environment is restricted to offices, retail stores, shopping malls, restaurants, government buildings, and other related establishments.

A commercial electrician can also design a blueprint of an electrical system specific to a particular workplace’s needs. They can install conduit of pipes and lay electrical wiring as per the local electrical codes. Thus, commercial electric services ensure the harmonious working of power, heating, and lighting within premises.

These individuals primarily work with hand tools such as pliers, drills, knives, screwdrivers, power tools, and monitoring equipment. They also carry out the repair and maintenance of residential buildings.

Role of a Commercial Electrician

A commercial electrician is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of electrical systems at places frequently visited by customers. They tend to meet your power and electricity needs by making sure that everything is in place and is compliant with electrical code so that employees and customers are both protected against unexpected instances. Further, given below are the duties of a commercial electrician:

Installation of new equipment.

Rewiring of the existing system.

Installation of security alarm, smoke alarm, and other electrical components.

Installation of switches, switchboards, and lights.

Installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and cooling systems.

Designing electrical systems or functioning according to existing blueprints.

Adhering to local, state, and national protocols for wiring and electrical systems.

Thus, commercial electricians conduct electrical maintenance services for small to medium businesses. Nevertheless, just like industrial electricians, commercial electricians are also required to possess relevant apprentice training. These professionals gain specialisation in power distribution, service entrance, facility power, and facility lighting.

Conclusion: Industrial Electricians Vs. Commercial Electricians

Industrial and commercial electricians both belong to the same background of electrical systems but their nature of work differs immensely. Their specialty extends to two different areas. Industrial electricians are experts in troubleshooting electrical problems in manufacturing industries while commercial electricians are experts in conducting repairs and maintenance within standard workplaces.

Now that you know the difference between the two, you can easily pick the right electrician for your needs.

[vintagelasvegas]

Stratosphere, 1996-

Timeline of World Famous Million-Dollar Historic Gambling Museum, Vegas World, and Stratosphere.

VEGAS WORLD '79-'95

'74: Bob Stupak opens World Famous Million-Dollar Historic Gambling Museum and Casino. The casino is closed a month later, and the site is later used for Vegas World and Stratosphere.

'79: Vegas World opens 7/13/79 with a casino and 8-story tower.

'84: 24-floor tower opens.

'90: Stupak unveils “Vegas World Stratosphere Tower” plans in Feb. Conceived by Stupak, preliminary designs were done by AdArt’s Charles Barnard. The architect was Ned Baldwin.

'91: Groundbreaking ceremony (Stupak, J. Jones, S. Miller) on 11/5/91. Leeman Corp., contractor. Concrete pour Mar. ’92.

'93: Perini Building Co. takes over as contractor. Stratosphere Corp. formed, separate from Vegas World, Stupak as chairman. Fire on the tower construction site, 8/30/93. Grand Casinos Inc partners in Stratosphere Corp.

'94: Public stock sale. Height of the tower raised to 1,149 feet. Taylor Int’l takes over as contractor.

'95: Vegas World closed 2/1/95. Tower crane removed in Sep. Topped off via helicopter 11/4/95.

STRATOSPHERE '96-

'96: Stratosphere opens 4/30/96. Las Vegas City Council approves Stupak’s concept for King Kong mechanical ape ride in Feb., idea dropped by summer.

'97: Stratosphere Corp. files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection.

'98: Carl Icahn purchases the resort, has the remaining hotel rooms finished by 2001. Ownership transferred to Icahn’s American Casino & Ent. Properties (ACEP) in 2004.

'08: Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds buys ACEP & Stratosphere.

'12: Golden Ent. buys ACEP & Stratosphere.

Circa '90 rendering of the tower by Jack DuBois, AdArt, taken from Charles Barnard’s book The Magic Sign.

Circa '90 illustration by Jack Dubois & Nicolas Casella, AdArt. Illustration shared by Casper Wise.

Nick Casella “started his artistic career in Hollywood working on movies … Ultimately, he made it back to the SF Bay Area where he found work with Electrical Products Corp., which became Federal in 62, and then Ad Art in 78. Nick became the Art Director for Ad Art in the Bay Area.” - Heather David.

Stratosphere, day and night, c. 1996

[eyeofnewtblog]

Things that happen at home:

So, my mom had her first symphony concert this weekend, and I’m happy to report that it was a smashing success.

What I personally thought was really cool is that the whole symphony is mostly older women. Most of the brass section was older men though, and you could tell that the trumpet and trombone players were having a great time with the music (lots of jamming out head and shoulders movement) and WOW that tuba player has A Set Of Lungs.

Honestly kinda makes me miss the days when Middle Sister would stand just outside my bedroom door and just BLAST through her practice session as fast as possible. Yes, she was a tuba player. Yes, she was in marching band and orchestra. Yes, I absolutely ran out screaming “MOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!” Every. Single. Time. No, that did not stop her in anyway whatsoever.

Anyway, there was also a cello soloist that performed with violin and viola accompaniment, and he was legitimately fantastic. I told my mom during intermission that she was better and she did her scrunch up face of You’re Full Of Shit But I Like The Support which was cute.

I was sitting next to my one of my cousins for the concert and we both kept side eyeing each other and giggling about how he was bobbing along and jamming out…for those of you that don’t know, it’s very easy to jam out and look cool when you have either a very small instrument or a very large instrument.

When you have a medium instrument, like a cello or French horn, you just look silly if you’re jamming out (saxophone is the exception) and my mom has this very…contained way of playing that looks intense but graceful and determined. So to see someone looking like they’re jamming out on an electric guitar while playing a cello was just…hilarious to us, because we’ve been watching my mom jam out for decades and never seen anyone look so goofy while sounding so good.

One of my moms work friends showed up, and she was an absolute delight. Complete sweetheart; it’s also really fucking funny to tease government contractors about their top secret clearances and joke about their projects or basically anything that they aren’t allowed to talk about. (I teased her specifically about being in the CIA because she does intelligence analysis; my husband and I have a long standing “argument” about if my mom works on quantum computers or making targeted ai satellite systems talk to each other, because honestly her PhD could easily allow for both) the goal is to make relatively small jokes and then drop it quickly because you don’t actually want them to violate their security protocols…but fucking hell if it isn’t fun to toe the line.

My mechanic husband had the dubious joy of teaching me how to jump start a car in the parking lot without jumper cables. (My car battery is in the fritz and needs replacement but we honestly thought it could wait another month or so…)

But basically you put the car in neutral, push it into a position that it can roll naturally downhill, then put it in either first gear or reverse (which ever way is down hill, basically) and release the clutch. I’m pretty sure this only works on automatic transmission vehicles, but I could be wrong and didn’t ask for clarification.

I’d like to point out that we were in a crowded parking lot with a perfectly functioning set of jumper cables. We could have absolutely asked any of the ten people walking by if we could get a jump. We could have waited for my cousin to come out, because we were parked right next to each other. But no. “What if you’re stuck by yourself? You pride yourself on being able to get out of anything.”

That man knows me too well.

Overall, great night. Fantastic concert, great learning experience, got to be an absolute little shit. 10/10, would do again.

[industrialconstruction]

Tekzone: Leading Industrial Shutdown Contractors in Abu Dhabi

In the rapidly developing industrial sector of Abu Dhabi, the role of Industrial Shutdown Contractors has never been more critical. A prominent name among EPC contractors in Dubai, Tekzone extends its wealth of experience to Abu Dhabi, where it offers each kind of service vital to keep your new plant running at minimal upset and maximum productivity after owners great hope that all their problems (shutdowns included) will be solved. Our shutdown management process sees that your facilities are running well while still undergoing their necessary renovations, with little disruption to general operations.

As a leading Best EPC Companies in UAE, we understand the particular challenges and requirements of industrial shutdowns. Our in-house team works with every customer to produce shutdown strategies that limit disturbance while ensuring orderliness. This means we cover every detail of the shutdown and startup period, from minute planning to fiercely correct on-site operation as part of an all-embracing approach to managing the entire process meticulously.

With its dedication to excellence in project management, Tekzone can provide clients in Abu Dhabi with quality shutdown management. Our engineering to construction services covers everything that's needed to ensure the continuous improvement and reliability of industrial operations. 

To make strategic upgrades to your operations using top-tier engineering, procurement, and construction services, Tekzone can be a trusted partner. Our status as a trusted Industrial Shutdown Contractor in Abu Dhabi and a foremost EPC contractors in Dubai made it natural for us to choose. Call us now and see how we can help your business achieve its goals!

[mightyflamethrower]

Biden’s ironically named Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was supposed to create millions of green jobs and launch the “sustainable power” industry.

Subsidies flowed to support electric vehicles, wind farms, and solar energy.  We have been covering the slowdown in the EV market, and residents of the East Coast are questioning all the promises made by the wind energy companies after the Vineyard Wind blade failure.

Now, it’s time to turn our attention to solar power. SunPower, the company that provides solar panels to many Californian homes in the sunny Coachella Valley area, filed for bankruptcy this week.

It is the latest development in a saga that has seen the company facing numerous serious and seemingly escalating challenges over the past several months, including allegations about executives’ misconduct related to the company’s financial statements and a recent decision that SunPower would no longer offer new solar leases. Days after the latter announcement, Coachella Valley-based Renova Energy, which markets and installs SunPower systems, said it was ending its partnership with SunPower and temporarily pausing operations after not receiving required payments from SunPower. SunPower’s executive chairman wrote in a letter posted on the company’s website on Monday that the company had reached an agreement to sell certain divisions of its business and suggested it was looking for one or more buyers to take on the rest, including the company’s responsibilities to maintain solar systems it has previously sold or leased.

It is important to note that SunPower was the industry’s “darling” to understand the magnitude of this development.

Founded in 1985 by a Stanford professor, SunPower was, for the past two decades, a darling of the solar industry. The company helped build America’s biggest solar plant, called Solar Star and located near Rosamond, California, and has installed solar panels on more than 100,000 homes. The company’s stock price has fluctuated dramatically, peaking during the solar stock frenzy of late 2007. As recently as January 2021, SunPower’s valuation momentarily reached $10 billion, buoyed by the expansion of its residential solar panels program. But since then, the company’s value has cratered — and this year, its situation became particularly dire.

It is also important to note that earlier this month, the bankruptcy of a solar-powered company in South Florida created an array of problems on the South Coast of California. Subcontractors are scrambling to find ways to guarantee payment for work on homes with equipment from the firm.

Meanwhile, homeowners are regretting their misplaced trust in eco-activists and city officials.

The business — Electriq Power Inc. — was putting solar panels and batteries on Santa Barbara rooftops at no expense to homeowners and with the blessings of the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. But then Electriq filed Chapter 7 on May 3, freezing all its operations. This prompted one of its subcontractors, Axiom 360 of Grover Beach, to place mechanics liens on homes for which it had yet to be paid. This preserves Axiom’s options for full payment of its installation work and is not unusual among contractors. But for homeowners who didn’t expect any financial outlay, it came as a shock, especially as the recording notice lists foreclosure in 90 days among the penalties. “You’re helping the environment. You’re not paying high rates to Southern California Edison,” said homeowner Randy Freed, explaining why he signed on to Electriq’s PoweredUp Goleta program. He was pleased with the savings in the solar array and storage batteries, but then he received the mechanics lien in June. The possibility of foreclosure was unanticipated, Freed said, and he’d relied on the cities’ endorsements. “It’s a great program; we’ve checked them out,” he recalled the cities saying on a postcard he received.

Hot Air's Beege Welborne takes an in-depth look at the cascade of warnings that indicate SunPower and the residential solar market are in serious trouble. She also hits on a point that is true for all green energy schemes: Today’s technology cannot keep up with the promises being made about tomorrow.

The technology side still hasn’t ironed itself out and may never with as saturated as the market is. With interest rates as high as they are and home prices through the roof, no one wants to pay a fortune for something that’s not rock solid. …That “sustainable” growth is only possible once all the artificial supports are knocked away and the technology proves viable and worth the cost once and for all.

Of course, the solar industry isn’t helped by the fact that the cost savings for customers aren’t quite as lavish as originally promised.

[equalseleventhirds]

what up besties sorry i haven't been online much but would u like to read the piece i wrote for my final for creative writing? it's metaporically about being trans n neurodivergent n disabled n ppl loving an idea of you more than you, but also it is about a zombie who comes back, not wrong, but not quite what anyone wanted..

(cw for death, electrocution, being buried (not quite alive), and complicated feelings about gender & name but that journey not being completed yet.)

- - -

Grave News

Amelia Marquez, 34, passed away in a tragic accident…

            Later, when anyone learns she woke up already buried, she can see the horror movie assumptions playing out behind their eyes. The thought of waking up, trapped in a tiny, dark, airless space, scrabbling at the walls, gasping for breath, the weight of the earth above pressing down, down, down…

            She smiles and accepts their pity, their horrified dismay, and does not tell them about lying awake, perfectly motionless, trying to figure out how to move. About how easy it is not to struggle for breath when pulling air into your lungs takes conscious effort. About pushing at different groups of muscles, her body twitching and twisting in the dark, until she works out forward, works out force, works out the flex of her hand as it pushes through velvet, then oak, then dirt, then dirt, then dirt.

            Amelia claws her way out of her own grave, not frantic, not berserk, but deliberate. Gradual. Almost mechanical, as she practices moving by repeating the same thing again and again, her patient hands working their way through wood, through earth, to the surface.

            (It isn't until later, standing in her parents' doorway and listening to the screams, that she realizes what ceaseless digging does to the human hand. She realizes that she somehow did not feel the pain as she dug. She realizes she needs to buy gloves.)

…the home she shared with her fiancé…

            Cole had been so certain about his repairs. Fifty bucks at Home Depot and a couple of days of work, and Amelia’s concerns brushed aside.

            “I’ve got this, Ames. Way better than hiring a contractor.” And she had agreed, had let him do it himself, had made dinner for a week while he spent his evenings messing with wires and fuses, assuring her that he was nearly done, that the video on YouTube made it so easy.

            Cole hadn’t been home when the lights went out, when Amelia went to the fuse box and tried to flip everything back on. When the jumble of wires in their walls shorted and flared and spread electricity through her body.

            When it killed her.

            Once her parents call, Cole drops everything to rush over. He falls to his knees in front of her, staring up into her face through a haze of tears and hope and shock.

            “You’re back. Ames, Amy, you’re back, how…”

            She stares down at her lap, making sure her hands are covered by the blanket her mother had nestled around her.

…a beautiful light in our lives, extinguished too soon. Her friends and family…

            Her memorial photo, the black clothes, the incense on the table, are all gone the morning after she comes back, packed away in boxes or thrown out in opaque garbage bags. Hands hesitate before touching her. They keep her at home, talking about rest, about recuperating.

            “Since you’ve been…” She sees the glances, the mouthed no, don’t say it. “…in your condition. It’s important to rest up.”

            It’s as though they think one wrong move, one wrong word, will kill her again.

            She wonders a little bit if they’re right.

            Her mother is the gentlest she’s ever been brushing Amelia’s hair, her hands careful, her voice filling the air. “And I unpacked some of your nice clothes,” she says, working through a tangle. “You don’t have to wear sweatpants anymore, I found your skirts…”

            Amelia looks down at her loose, comfortable clothes, the t-shirt worn and soft against her skin. She thinks about struggling with buttons on a nice blouse, thinks about whether ruffles will still itch the way they did when she was alive. Thinks about the way the mottled colors on her legs have lasted too long to be called bruises. Maybe she should call it decay.

            Her mother clicks her tongue sadly as a few strands of hair pull loose from her head. “These knots…”

            “What if I cut it?” Amelia asks. She’d been thinking about short hair back when she was alive. And it would be easier. “I can’t make you brush it for me every day.”

            Concern melds with distress on her mother’s face. “You can’t cut it,” she hisses. “What if it never grows back?”

...bright, funny, resilient, the first to volunteer...

            Once, she accidentally sleeps for three days. That’s the kind of thing the living joke about—so tired I could sleep for a week, as impossible as that would actually be. Turns out it’s easy for the dead—easy to lie still, easy to stop pushing, easy to drift away into forgiving darkness.

            She wakes to her mother weeping, her father pacing in the hall, Cole pale and haunted and clenching his phone in two hands. The funeral home’s phone number must be burned into the screen by now, but he hasn’t pressed the call button. Not yet.

            Amelia makes herself sit up in bed, reaches out to him, and sees him flinch.

            Right. Gloves.

            Even as she twists her face into a smile, she knows she's done it wrong. Her eyebrows are at odd angles, her lips curled strangely. She tries for light-hearted: "Whoops, close one! Don't want to wake up in a grave again."

            No one laughs.

...kept forever in our memories and our hearts...

            Late at night, she hears her parents whispering. “Is she all right?” her mother asks. “My little girl, my Amelia—she’s not acting like herself. She’s so tired, so...”

            “She just came back,” her father says. His voice is firm, comforting. Determined not to let any uncertainty slip through. The same voice he’s always used when her mother worries—the same voice he used when Amelia told him her own worries, her doubts about the future, about Cole. She always ended conversations with her father sure that he was right.

            “She’ll be back to herself soon enough,” he says. “We just have to keep her active. Remind her about being alive.”

            “But what if she’s not herself? I know we said not to bring up…” Her mother’s voice drops, furtive. “…the Z word…”

            “We’re keeping an eye on her. We’ll notice if she does anything that needs… intervention.”

            She closes her eyes. Wonders if she can turn off her hearing. Wonders if it would have been easier, staying in her grave.

            The next day, she brings up moving back in with Cole. He says he'd be happy to have her, and she pretends not to notice the look he exchanges with her parents.

…brought out the best in people, always ready to help, to listen…

            Cole is attentive. He brings her pastries from the bakery near their apartment and tells her about his day—work, his hobbies, a dog he saw at the park. Shows her pictures and videos on his phone. Mentions people by name, and she's not sure if they're new, since her death, or if she managed to forget people she knew about before.

            She knows which muscles to move for an understanding nod, an encouraging smile. She knows how to make herself chew and swallow food, how to bring it back up later so it doesn’t just sit and rot in her stomach. She still remembers the right way to ask questions so Cole shares more.

            There’s no real reason not to do it, but the more she thinks about it—the more she imagines forcing her body into the right place, the ordeal she’ll have to go through later—the less she wants to do it. She sits silently, pastries untouched, letting the muscles in her face go slack.

            “Ames? You okay?”

            It takes a second; she has to fill her lungs to respond. She tips one side of her mouth up in what could have been a reassuring smile, once. “Fine. Just tired.”

            He sits next to her, worry pinching between his eyebrows. "Of course. I'm sorry. Let's just sit here and watch TV? There are new episodes of all our favorites."

            The shows all feel distant, the plots blurred, the characters unfamiliar. She watches with him for hours anyway.

...a kind and giving spirit, she wanted to create...

            Shattering the mug isn't intentional. Even if she's started to resent the comforting cups of tea Cole brings her. Even if she's sick of pulling latex gloves over her cloth ones so she can wash the dishes. Even if the cutesy blobs of yellow and pink painted on it have always been too much, too bright, too false-forced-cheer, from the moment she was gifted it eight years ago.

            She still doesn't mean to let go of it, the muscles in her hand (and there are so many muscles in the human hand, so many to keep track of, and most of hers are damaged already) loosening and spasming as she's walking to the sink.

            The jagged pieces of it surround her, and Cole's hysterical babble of questions and assurances—"Are you okay, I've got it, just hold still"—fades into background noise as Amelia leans down to try and gather the shards.

            A hand wraps around her wrist and she turns to meet Cole's wide, frightened eyes. "Amy, your foot."

            A full inch of jagged ceramic is buried in her heel.

            She does not bleed, even after Cole pries it out.

...although she will never fulfill those plans, her dream will live on...

            "Ames, I'm worried." Cole reaches out, stops with his hand just over her thigh. Puts it down on the chair next to her, not touching. "This is... I know you've been through a lot. But you're acting like—"

            She turns her head until she can look at his face. Her neck jerks in the wrong direction a couple of times, but she's getting better at it, faster. "Like?"

            Cole's eyes are red, and can't quite meet hers. "Like..." His shoulders drop. "Not like yourself."

            He waits a beat—two—and gets up, breathing out harshly. "Ever since you came back, Amy. You barely look at me. You barely talk to me. You don't even like doing the things you used to like. I understand about your... condition, but..."        

...pray she rests well, and waits in peace for her loved ones...

            She sits in their apartment—Cole's apartment—long after he's gone, watching the afternoon sunlight shift across the space they used to share. Her books are still on the shelf. She remembers packing up her childhood bookshelf to bring to their new home. The painting she bought at a flea market is still hanging on the wall. She remembers joking with Cole about picking up a masterpiece for two dollars.

            Looking at them now, she doesn't even particularly want to bring them with her.

...invited to celebrate her life at...

            Merely dragging her body across the ground would be easier. But, even though she's wrong, even though she's not the person they think about when they look at her, she's still not a mindless, lurching zombie. Mostly.

            She walks. One step forward.

            Was she ever the person they thought about when they looked at her?

            One step.

            Maybe now she'll find out.

            One step.

...in lieu of flowers, the family asks...

            She settles into her seat on the train, making sure her hands are covered. A new start doesn't mean much if she sends an entire train into a panic.

            Someone sits next to her, bouncing in their seat. "Hey there! Looks like we've got eight hours ahead of us. What's your name?"

            She hesitates. Amelia. Amy. Ames.

"Mel," she says. It's strange in her mouth. Just slightly wrong, the same way she's just slightly wrong. Maybe that’s the right fit.

[hypotheticalprose]

Task Force Blue Seven: Deacon

First of three short Lancer fics I wrote as part of a campaign that never got started.

. . . . . 

First, there is the pain. You don’t like the pain. Still, you have been trained to push past it. 

Trained by whom? There’s history, your history, but it’s fuzzy.

You can feel the light shining through your eyelids. Heavy as they are, you open them. 

The room is steel-grey and lit by harsh fluorescent lighting. 

You see two people looming over the bed where you are currently lying. One is a man, greying, wiry and thin. The other is a woman, young, covered in freckles, dark red hair like dry blood buzzed close to her head. 

They’re talking to each other, and although you understand the individual words they are saying (contingency, mass casualties, interest) the deeper meaning is beyond your grasp. 

One of them, the older man, places a hand on your chest as if in reassurance. He looks down and sees your open eyes. 

He gasps in shock and calls out. To you, or to someone else, you don’t know. Strength exhausted, you return to oblivion. 

. . . . . 

Your dreams are an orgy of violence. 

You are a lancer, your mech strapped into a zero-gravity transport along with ten others. The faces of your squadmates are visible on your screens. Two of them are familiar to you: the old man and younger woman. She’s Worm. The old man — Romulus, his name — is the leader. The rest are vague, blurry. The bay doors on the transport open, and you are launched into a hole in the side of a ship. You remember the ship’s name:

[THE CARNAL ENLIGHTENMENT]

Your mechs are small, purpose-built for engaging in the tight corridors of spaceships. The ship’s crew is surprisingly well armed, but there is little they can do as you cleave a trail of destruction. 

Then, you notice one of your squadmates’ feeds has gone dark. Then two more in quick succession. A scream from a fourth and then they’re gone too. 

Something has gone wrong. This was supposed to be easy. They were supposed to be unarmed. A private research vessel. You begin to run in the direction of where your comrades were. You hear a scream…

Then you see the monster. A being, a creature of flesh and blood, and yet impossible in size. Formless except for an enormous mouth. It’s… disturbingly human. Pink lips, and teeth the size and shape of tombstones. 

It has your comrade’s mech in its mouth. Its jaws clamp down and bisect them, swallowing a head, arm and most of the torso. 

Another screen goes dark, but not immediately. You see the life leave their agonized face, hear the scream gurgle to a conclusion. 

You run, but even your mechanized legs are unable to outpace the monster. You feel a cartilaginous tendril snag your leg, and down you go. You feel your bones twist and snap—.

 . . . . . 

You wake up to the feeling of an electric current running through your body like needles in your blood. 

“Good, you’re awake.”

There’s a woman, older, well-dressed, smiling almost imperceptibly.”

“Welcome back, Contractor 903.”

She leans down and gives you a cursory examination. 

“I’m here to inform you that per your contract with Seraphim Tactical Solutions, you have incurred a substantial debt due to extensive flash-cloning, surgical interventions and robotic limb replacement procedures. In addition, the loss of expensive hardware due to an unsanctioned retreat is a violation of your terms and conditions. You have been found responsible for the liquidation of all of your fellow contractors, and the subsequent loss of their hardware.”

You don’t understand. She talks too fast, but her words seem… wrong?

“No…” you manage to croak out. “There were… two others. The…” 

The woman clucks her tongue. 

“You’re mistaken, Contractor 903,” she says. “And you would do well not to repeat any of those slanderous words again, lest you incur additional infractions. You are the sole survivor. There was no monster. Your operation was compromised by an explosion releasing hallucinogenic gas into the ship. Everyone except for you died. And now you have to recoup those losses. Luckily, we have just the solution. An experimental surgery that you signed off on as collateral for any significant debts. Welcome to the Nephilim Program, Deacon. And congratulations. We’re going to make you very useful.” 

She looks over your shoulder at someone else. When she speaks again, her tone is flat and grim. 

“Put him under again.” She says. “I want him combat-ready before we reach the Grieber system.” 

You want to scream, but your mouth is no longer your own. Oblivion swallows you whole. Your final thought is the realization that you never mentioned a monster to the woman. 

. . . . .