#Resume Data Entry

[dataentryinc]

The Importance of Accuracy in Resume Data Entry: What You Should Know

Imagine an organisation trying to build a perfect team with numerous unorganised resumes. Nothing can be more overwhelming than this. And even if you a miss a single detail in resume you might loose the chance to hire the right candidate.

Accurate data entry can help to fight such chaos and can make the hiring process smooth. When data entry of resumes are accurately done it saves time, reduce errors and support better hiring strategies in long run.

Think of it as creating a clear data of talented candidates, ready to match right role with right talent. This helps company to create a strong team without any delays or confusion.

Accurate resume data entry is more than an operational task, it’s a key to successful hiring and business growth. Want to make hiring easier and more effective? Start by getting the basics right!

1. Efficient Recruitment Process

When the HR team has to deal with a flood of resumes, things can get chaotic. Manually going through each document takes forever and can leave them drained.

This is where data entry becomes the hero. By organizing candidate details into a system, the team can quickly search for qualifications, skills, and experience.

It’s a simple, efficient way to save time, spot top talent, and make hiring faster and smoother—no extra hassle!

A chaotic situation can arise when the HR team sees a flood of resumes. Picture it, trying to review every single document manually is a time-consuming and completely exhausting task which can leave them drained. That’s where data entry becomes the main character of the picture. By entering candidate details into the system, the team can just search for key details like qualifications, skills, and work experience and half of the task is done.

This organised approach not only saves time but also identifies top candidates for the specific role which might take forever if done manually. The result is a faster recruitment process without any hassle.

2. Streamlined Onboarding Process

The work doesn't end here because the onboarding process is still remaining. When accurate details of hired candidates are entered into the system, it becomes very easy to get the necessary details that are required to complete onboarding paperwork. As soon as the paperwork ends, they can join the organisation hit the ground and start making an impact in their new role.

3. Reduced Human Error

We are all humans and sometimes we all make mistakes. When resume details of a candidate are entered manually the chances are high to miss details or to misplace any number or qualification. This can lead to the wrong evaluation of the candidate. 

With the right data entry tools, the error can vanish. The data entry systems often come with tools like auto-correction, organised formats, and validation checks which decrease the chances of errors and make a positive impact on the candidate evaluation.

4. Improved Candidate Experience

The job market is quite huge and competitors are on the lookout to hire the best candidates. In this situation a positive candidate experience is crucial otherwise they will slip out. No one wants to apply for the role and get ignored for weeks. By having a reliable system of candidate data,  teams can provide timely feedback and effectively communicate with the candidates.

HR can also make the interview process smoother for everyone involved. In this scenario, even if they don’t get the job they will think highly of the organisation. And you can’t deny the fact that a positive review of the company can not just enhance the company’s reputation but also attract good candidates.

5. Enhanced Data Security

When it comes to candidate details, data security is not a joke. The details like number, address, work history, and salary details are meant to be kept safe and private.

By entering resume details in a secured data entry system, the company can lay back and relax without worrying about any unauthorised access. These systems are protected with encryption and passwords. This way candidates' data is safe and only authorised members can have access to this information.

6. Long-Term Benefits for Talent Pool Management

Not every candidate that applies for a job can get selected but that doesn’t mean that their resume will not be in use in future. By having their details saved in the system, the organisation can make a strong pool of talent for any future openings.

This means that whenever a new opening comes up, the HR team doesn’t have to start all over again to waste their time screening candidates. All they have to do is check the database, search for the skills and experience the role needs, and find the candidates who are right for the role. Future hiring will turn out to be very easy and less time-consuming.

7. Data-Driven Decision Making

If the company have accurate data on candidates it helps companies to make smart and data-driven decisions. This is possible only when they have accurate data. HR department can simply follow the trends such as which qualifications and skills can lead to successful hires.

Also, HR teams can use this data to keep track of the success of different recruitment campaigns and later make informed decisions that directly benefit the company in the long run.

Streamline Your Efforts for Success

Resume data entry might not be a glamorous task like marketing that you love to do or includes any creativity, but it is the backbone of a well-organised organisation. From a smooth hiring process, secured database, reduced errors, and smooth onboarding, it simplifies processes and leads to long-term success. 

By prioritising accurate data, HR teams can improve their efficiency, enhance their candidate experience, and stay ahead in the job market, which by the way is a necessity. I bet you will never see data entry as a task but as an ultimate game changer in the recruitment process.

Ready to Simplify Recruitment?

Imagine having all candidate information at your fingertips. This will result in smarter hiring decisions. An efficient resume data entry system can simplify the process, secure your data and build a talent pool ready for any future challenge. Then choose chaos when you can choose the clarity.

It’s time to take the first step, choose data entry services for organising smarter, recruiting faster, and staying ahead in the talent acquisition race. Your HR team will thank you later!

Source Link: https://latestbpoblog.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-importance-of-accuracy-in-resume-data-entry-what-you-should-know.html

[ghostzzy]

no one can say i'm not applying to jobs

[govtindiajobs]

30 Ways to Make Extra Money as a Student

In today’s increasingly competitive academic landscape, many students are seeking opportunities to earn additional income. The need for financial stability has driven numerous individuals to explore innovative ways to make extra money while pursuing their studies. This article provides a comprehensive list of 30 practical methods that students can employ to supplement their income. These…

[top1055]

Hello, Professional Graphic Designer. all the graphics design, all the expert experience Graphics Design Digital Marketing DATA ENTRY Video Animation WEBSITE DESIGN Logo Design Business Cards Design Fonts & Typography Illustration Pattern Design Portraits & Caricatures Tattoo Design Icon Design Social Media Design Web Banners Signage Design Packaging & Label Design Book Design Album Cover Design Podcast Cover Art Car Wraps Design Image Editing tiles design tshirt design Infographic Design Resume Design Fashion Design T-Shirts & Merchandise Jewelry Design Flyer Design Brochure Design Poster Design Catalog Design Menu Design Invitation Design Industrial & Product Design Trade Booth Design company id card design banner design background templates design calendar design shopping bag design watch design sticker design bottle designs Certificate designs hang tags designs text designs letterhead design head cap design Typing in all tasks All graphics design Digital Marketing Video Animation services I am a digital marketer and Social Media Manager with over of experience in the industry. Digital marketing B2B Lead Generation SEO & SEM Data Analysis PPC & Social Media Strategies Storytelling Content Writing Digital marketing intro & LinkedIn intro & Profile Create LinkedIn Article Write LinkedIn Company Page Create B2B Lead Generation from LinkedIn Facebook Marketing – Page (Organic Marketing) Facebook Marketing – Page (Paid Marketing part-1) Facebook Marketing – Page (Paid Marketing part-2) Facebook Page Automation Messenger Chatbot with third-party software Pinterest Personal Profile Create Pinterest Business profile and analytics Keyword Research Setup price and Write Description Finalize Publish SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Intro & Website Full Intro Keyword Research for SEO On-Page SEO Off-Page SEO Technical SEO & Local SEO Live SEO work process Demonstration YouTube Marketing – Channel Create YouTube Marketing – Video Upload YouTube Marketing – Keyword Research for Channel And Video With Third-party Software Twitter Marketing Email Marketing Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat. I value integrity, empathy, and grit and strive to live those values every day. Graphic Designer. Digital Marketing. Video Animation. WEBSITE DESIGN. DATA ENTRY. Website design Website Keyword Research Website On-Page SEO Website Off-Page SEO Website Technical SEO & Local SEO Website Marketing Website SEO image Website Ads Campaign Website Full Google Ads Website Paid Marketing top all Services all the expert experience Contact to get Services

[lycorid]

It’s kind of wild looking at jobs near me.

They all require years of experience and expect you to have things that aren’t even used on the job (drivers license for a job that doesn’t require any form of driving) but they all pay like garbage.

The pay is low enough that you wouldn’t even be able to afford one of the low income housing apartments because they require you to make 3x the rent.

[randstadonlinejobportal]

Data Entry Jobs: Remote Opportunities and Career Advice

Data entry jobs have become integral to various industries, providing individuals with the opportunity to contribute to the workforce from the comfort of their homes. This article aims to explore the world of data entry, particularly focusing on remote opportunities, and offers valuable career advice for those seeking success in this field.

The Evolution of Data Entry Jobs:

Data entry jobs have undergone a remarkable transformation over the years, evolving from traditional office-based roles to thriving remote opportunities. The advent of advanced technologies, cloud computing, and efficient collaboration tools has facilitated the seamless integration of data entry tasks into the remote work landscape. As businesses increasingly embrace the benefits of a decentralized workforce, data entry professionals find themselves at the forefront of this remote work revolution.

Remote Data Entry Jobs: Pros and Cons:

Remote data entry jobs present a unique set of advantages and considerations. On the positive side, the flexibility of working from home eliminates the need for daily commutes, fostering a healthier work-life balance. The remote nature of these jobs also opens up a vast array of opportunities, allowing individuals to collaborate with companies from different regions. However, challenges such as potential distractions and the necessity for self-discipline must be acknowledged by remote data entry professionals. Balancing the perks and challenges is key to thriving in this dynamic work environment.

Keys to Success in Remote Data Entry:

Technical Proficiency:

A strong command of data entry software and tools is essential for success in a remote setting. Proficiency in spreadsheet applications, database management, and data validation processes enhances efficiency and accuracy.

Attention to Detail:

Precision is paramount in data entry. Remote professionals must cultivate a keen eye for detail to ensure accurate and error-free data input. Even minor mistakes can have significant consequences, making attention to detail a critical skill.

Time Management:

Efficient time management is a cornerstone of success in remote data entry jobs. Establishing a structured work from home, setting realistic goals, and adhering to deadlines contribute to consistent productivity.

Communication Skills:

Despite the virtual nature of the job, effective communication remains vital. Remote data entry professionals must be adept at conveying information, seeking clarification when needed, and staying connected with supervisors and team members.

Career Advice for Aspiring Data Entry Professionals:

Skill Enhancement:

Continuous skill enhancement is crucial in the rapidly evolving field of data entry. Stay informed about the latest software updates, keyboarding techniques, and other relevant tools. Investing in ongoing education will keep you at the forefront of the industry.

Seek Specialization:

Consider specializing in a specific niche within data entry, such as financial data entry or medical data entry. Specialization not only sets you apart from the competition but also makes you more appealing to employers seeking expertise in a particular area.

Build a Strong Portfolio:

Create a comprehensive portfolio that showcases your proficiency in data entry. Include examples of projects you have successfully completed, emphasizing your accuracy, efficiency, and ability to handle diverse datasets.

Networking:

Leverage online platforms, forums, and social media to connect with professionals in the data entry field. Networking can provide valuable insights, job leads, and opportunities for collaboration with industry peers.

Stay Updated on Remote Work Trends:

Embrace the ever-evolving landscape of remote work by staying informed about best practices, tools, and strategies. Adopting new technologies and methodologies will enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in a virtual work environment.

Data Entry Jobs: A Remote Revolution:

The demand for data entry professionals has witnessed a significant surge, especially with the widespread adoption of remote work. Data entry jobs, once confined to office spaces, have now transcended geographical boundaries, opening up opportunities for remote workers globally. This shift is attributed to advances in technology, enabling seamless collaboration and data processing from virtually anywhere.

Data Entry Jobs Remote: Exploring the Pros and Cons:

Remote data entry jobs come with a set of advantages and considerations. On the positive side, individuals can enjoy the flexibility of working from home , eliminating commuting stress and fostering a better work-life balance. Data entry jobs remote nature of these jobs also opens doors to a broader range of opportunities, as individuals can collaborate with companies from different regions. However, challenges such as potential distractions and the need for self-discipline should be acknowledged and addressed by remote data entry professionals.

Keys to Success in Remote Data Entry:

Technical Proficiency:

A strong command of data entry software and tools is crucial. Familiarity with spreadsheet applications, database management, and data validation processes enhances efficiency in remote data entry roles.

Attention to Detail:

Precision is paramount in data entry. Remote professionals must pay meticulous attention to detail to ensure accurate and error-free data input, as even minor mistakes can have significant consequences.

Time Management:

Efficient time management is essential for remote data entry jobs. Establishing a structured work routine, setting realistic goals, and adhering to deadlines contribute to consistent productivity.

Communication Skills:

Despite the remote nature of the job, effective communication remains vital. Remote data entry professionals must be adept at conveying information, Career Advice seeking clarification when needed, and staying connected with supervisors and team members.

Career Advice for Aspiring Data Entry Professionals:

Skill Enhancement:

Continuously enhance your skills in data entry software, keyboarding, and other relevant tools. Staying abreast of industry trends and adopting new technologies will make you a valuable asset in the evolving field.

Conclusion:

Remote data entry jobs offer a pathway to a dynamic and flexible career, allowing individuals to contribute their skills to various industries while enjoying the benefits of working from home. By understanding the nuances of remote work and adhering to the keys of success, aspiring data entry professionals can not only excel in their roles but also carve out a fulfilling and sustainable career in this growing field. As the demand for remote data entry professionals continues to rise, staying proactive, continuously refining skills, and embracing new technologies will be crucial to thriving in this evolving sector. In a world where remote work is becoming the norm, mastering data entry can be the gateway to a successful and fulfilling professional journey

[deliciousmicroplastics]

how am i supposed to get a job when I've been in trash guy who's shit at everything mode (depressed as fuck) for the past week. no i am not the best candidate for this i can't even remember the basic tasks for being at home and im the biggest cynic ever about jobs until they pay me and then only slightly less of one once they start

like what would fix me would be a good job and routine, but I'm in no position to get hired at a good job

[fearlesshades]

God I wanna write soooooo bad I have so many scenes for PDTMSA planned out in my head but I have no energy rn and it sucks so much and I feel so bad for the people waiting for the next chapter but every time I sit down at a keyboard all of the words I just had run away no matter what I do

[writersdrug]

OMG OMG I JUST READ YOUR THING ABOUT BARTENDER SIMON RILEY!! I’m like actually obsessed rn like…. Imagine how that interview would go… 😳 just the reader is shitting bricks because “omg my interviewer is this tall ass beef cake who doesn’t show majority of his face”

You don’t know how much I love this concept…

YESSSS

You're sitting at a seat at a tall table, feet swinging nervously as you sit across from Simon. He's looking over your resume, one foot planted on the ground, the other hiked onto the lower bar of the chair. Your eyes are trailing his intricate tattoo sleeve as his fingers tap against the sheet of paper in his hands. The lil crease in his brow as he mulls over it, soft brown eyes going back and forth over the words.

You're caught between finding him adoringly soft and kinda scary (you're staring at his biceps, remembering that tiktok trend you saw where girls had their buff boyfriends crushing their face with their arm muscles and oh god you're dying to get a taste-)

"You've never had a waitressin' job." He says gruffly, looking at you. "Never really done anythin' customer service, either. Just bookwork."

You chew your lip and sigh. "I know- I just want something different. Rent is due and, surprisingly, data entry doesn't pay the bills." Oh my god, did you just complain about money in your interview?!

"N' you think serving pub food to sad old wankers 'll be better?"

Well, he doesn't seem to care about professionalism, either.

You nod eagerly. "Yup! Plus, you need some young appeal to this place."

"Meanin' you?"

You nod again. "I can be the life of the party if you need me to!" No, you can't, but you desperately need this job.

He huffs, standing up on his feet. Jesus, he could throw you across the bar like a ragdoll - you kinda want him to. "Fine. Be here tomorrow at eight hundred."

You slide off the chair and brush your skirt off. "I got the job?"

"We'll see. Give it a week." He says, shoulders thick and tense as he walks back to the bar. "If you're late, consider yourself fired."

[phantomrose96]

Hey not to go all "tumblr is a professional networking site" on you, but how did you get to work for Microsoft??? I'm a recent grad and I'm being eviscerated out here trying to apply for industry jobs & your liveblogging about your job sounds so much less evil than Data Entry IT Job #43461

This place is basically LinkedIn to me.

I'm gonna start by saying I am so so very sorry you're a recent grad in the year 2024... Tech job market is complete ass right now and it is not just you. I started fulltime in 2018, and for 2018-2022 it was completely normal to see a yearly outflow of people hopping to new jobs and a yearly inflow of new hires. Then sometime around late-spring/early-summer of 2022 Wallstreet sneezed the word "recession" and every tech company simultaneously shit themselves.

Tons of layoffs happened, meaning you're competing not just with new grads but with thousands of experienced workers who got shafted by their company. My org squeaked by with a small amount of layoffs (3 people among ~100), but it also means we have not hired anyone new since mid-2022. And where I used to see maybe 4-8 people yearly leave in order to hop to a new job, I think I've seen 1 person do that in the whole last year and a half.

All this to say it's rough and I can't just say "send applications and believe in yourself :)".

I have done interviews though. (I'm not involved in resume screening though, just the interviews of candidates who made it past the screening phase.) So I have at least some relevant advice, as well as second-hand knowledge from other people I know who've had to hop jobs or get hired recently.

If you have friends already in industry who you feel comfortable asking, reach out to them. Most companies have a recommendation process where a current employee fills out a little form that says "yeah I'd recommend such-and-such for this job." These do seem to carry weight, since it's coming from a trusted internal person and isn't just one of the hundreds of cold-call applications they've received.

A lot of tech companies--whether for truly well-intentioned reasons or to just check a checkbox--are on the lookout for increasing employee diversity. If you happen to have anything like, for example, "member of my college Latino society", it's worth including on your resume among your technical skills and technical projects.

I would add "you're probably gonna have to send a lot of applications" as a bullet point but I'm sure you're already doing that. But here it is as a bullet point anyway.

(This is kind of a guess, since it's part of the resume screening) but if you can dedicate some time to getting at least passingly familiar with popular tech/stacks for the positions you're looking into, try doing that in your free time so you can list it on your resume. Even better if you make a project you can point to. Like if you're aiming for webdev, get familiar with React and probably NodeJS. On top of being comfortable in one of the all-purpose languages like C(++) or Java or Python.

If you get to the interview phase - a company that is good to work for WILL care that you're someone who's good to work with. A tech-genius who's a coworker-hating egotistical snob is a nuisance at best and a liability at worst for companies with even a half-decent culture. When I do interviews, "Is this someone who's a good culture fit?" is as important as the technical skills. You'll want to show you'll be a perfectly pleasant, helpful, collaborative coworker. If the company DOESN'T care about that... bullet dodged.

For the technical questions, I care more about the thought process than I do the right answer, especially for entry-level. If you show a capacity for asking good, insightful clarifying questions, an ability to break down the problem, explain your thought process, and backtrack&alter your approach upon realizing something won't work, that's all more important than just being able to spit out a memorized leetcode answer. (I kinda hate leetcode for this reason, and therefore I only ask homebrewed questions, because I don't want the technical portion to hinge at all on whether someone managed to memorize the first 47 pages of leetcode problems). For a new hire, the most important impression you can give me is that you have a technical grasp and that you're capable of learning. Because a new hire isn't going to be an expert in anything, but they're someone who's capable of learning the ropes.

That's everything I have off the top of my head. Good luck anon. I'm very sorry you were born during a specific range of years that made you a new grad in 2024 and I hope it gets better.

[todaysdocument]

Position Description for Mercury Astronaut

Record Group 255: Records of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationSeries: Reference Files of the Special Assistant

[underline] SS - 6.3 [/underline] [Stamped: Space Task Group] B

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

1520 H STREET NORTHWEST

WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

TELEPHONE: EXecutive 3-3260, TW: WA 755

IN REPLY REFER TO -

[Stamped: RECEIVED NASA SPACE TASK GROUP JUN 19 2 01PM '59]

[manuscript] 3

[underline] S S- 6.3 [/underline]

SO-14

SP - 2.6 [/manuscript]

Lt. Paul P. Bennett, Jr.

BuPers - A3122

Arlington Annex, Rm. 2603

Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Lt. Bennett:

In accordance with our telephone conversation of June 15 the following is a resume of the position description for the Mercury Astronauts.

[underline] Position Title [/underline]: Mercury Astronaut

[underline] Duties [/underline]: Participates in indoctrination, developmental research, and pre-flight training programs under conditions simulating flight profiles of the type expected to be encountered with Project Mercury. Operates and/or observes fixed-base and moving-base simulator tests, serves as subject-under-test, and assists in the analysis of data for the evaluation and development of various boosters and of communication telemetry, display, vehicle-contol, envirornmental-control and other systems involved in launch, atmospheric escape, orbital flight, re-entry, landing and recovery. Participates in specialized training exercises such as centrifuge programs to build up tolerances to motions and forces associated with launch, flight without gravity, and atmospheric reentry, and to develop proficiency and confidence for vehicle operation under such conditions.

Sincerely yours,

/s/

Clotaire Wood

Technical Assistant to the Deputy Administrator

[Stamped Routing List]

BLAND

BOND

DONLAN

FAGET

GILRUTH

HAMMACK

JOHNSON [initialed: lwj]

KRAFT

KYLE

MacDOUGALL

MATHEWS

MAYER

MEYER

PRESTON

PURSER

RICKER

[strikethrough] TAYLOR [/strikethrough] [initialed: G]

ZAVASKY

ZIMMERMAN

AERO MED [initialed: HBf]

[initials: ATS]

SPACE FILES

[manuscript] COPIES TO:

SHEPARD

SCHIRRA

CARPENTER

GLENN

[robobarbie]

what is your day job, and how did you get it? I'm sorry if this is too personal. I graduated from university for 6 months now and haven't been able to find a well paying job. I remember you said that your job pays you well and that you had time to pursue your own projects and was wondering if you could share your experience in your education and work experience or any advice to someone who's feeling very lost and confused right now.

i was in a similar boat! i only figured out what field to go into because my ex's uncle mentioned that i should check out "big data", otherwise i was just as wandery. i had a math degree, but no real idea what to do with it.

i got my first job from a career fair at my university, but not from the career fair my department held (you should always go to all career fairs, not just ones held by ur department). obvs you are not in school anymore, so you might want to get more into networking. you can reach out to old classmates/professors to see if they can give you a rec somewhere, or reach out to people at companies directly on sites like linkedin after you apply so they remember you when they see your application. if you aren't making it to the interview stage, you might need to review and redo ur resume. but, i mean, this is all typical advice you can find online.

i am in stats/data analysis for my career, and they take people in entry level jobs if you have some sort of degree about stats/finance/econ/data science/etc for the jobs that pay well. if you want to try data, you can also take a low paying job and build up a data analysis portfolio by tackling problems on kaggle.

It's tough out there right now -- I know a lot of people in your situation. Stay strong gamer.

[flyinghassassin]

Web of Lies

Summary: You arrived Westview searching for a happy life,but Wanda realized your plans.

Word count: 2400ish

Warnings: Angst,Hurt/Comfort,fluff,Agatha being a flirty menace.

Masterlist

A cheerful voice brought you out of your thoughts.

"Hello,Y/N, How are you?"

"Hi,Mrs. Maximoff, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. How are you?"

"I'm fine,thanks sweetie,but please call me Wanda; Mrs. Maximoff is too serious; we are next door neighbors; you have stayed at my house to eat or watch my children when I was busy," she replied smiling.

"Oh, sorry, Mrs. Maxi—I mean Wanda," you said.

"Don't worry, sweetie," she smiled. "This afternoon, Vis and I are going to organize the neighborhood meal; would you like to come? You just got to Westview a little while ago; I guess you don't know everyone yet. If you want to go, it's at 5:00 p.m."

"I'll try to come,but I'm not sure if—"

You were interrupted by the voice of a black-haired woman.

"Wanda,look at that pretty dress," said the raven-haired woman, pointing at the purple dress with gold ribbons.

You had seen her before, walking with Wanda or near the park. Her name was Agape, or something like that.

"My name is Agatha Harkness,hun. And yours?" She said it almost as if she had read your mind.

"Y/N, Miss Harkness. Pleased to meet you," you replied.

"Wanda,you never told me you had such a good-looking and well-mannered friend," said Agatha,nudging Wanda lightly with her elbow.

Wanda sighed and resumed talking to you.

"You're going to the neighborhood meal, then?" asked Wanda. "I'd love to have you there."

"Hun,you totally have to come. The food Wanda makes seems almost magical," she smiled. "Plus, I'd love to have you there too." she winked.

"Well, if you put it that way, I'll have to go." You smiled back.

"I'm glad, Y/N; the twins will be very happy to see you," Wanda said.

"I'll be glad to see you too, hun," said Agatha, winking. "See you later," she added, giving you two effusive kisses on the cheek, making you smell her perfume.

After saying goodbye to both women, you went to your house, and after looking left and right and checking that no one was looking at you, you opened the door.

You left your keys on a table in the hall, took off your shoes, and went to your room.

You took your phone out of your pocket and called the only number you had on that cell phone.

"Agent Y/LN speaking. I need to contact Tyler Hayward."

"Right away, agent," replied the voice on the other end of the line.

"Agent Y/L/N,I was told you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes, director,I have news about the mission at the Westview anomaly."

"Oh yeah? Good work, agent. Add the information to the device created to do the investigation. Any more information you want to disclose?"

"Yes director. I've been invited by Maximoff to the neighborhood potluck."

"Excellent. It will be a good opportunity to gather more information."

"Yes, Director."

"Don't make contact until absolutely necessary, agent. Things are tense, and we can't allow her to suspect you. Our other agent may be in danger of being discovered."

"Should I inform her?"

"No agent. Continue with the investigation," Hayward said before hanging up.

After Hayward hung up, you pulled out a small rectangular device with a button in the center.

From it emerged a hologram that displayed all the information you had gathered about Wanda and the anomaly, along with photos of her and other Westview locations and advertisements, connected to holographic threads with other information, creating a maze of threads, photos, and notes.

You added some more information that you had gotten, creating a data entry for Agatha Harkness and the meal you were going to attend.

After this, you rested for a while and prepared to attend the meal.

You got dressed, grabbed a couple of bottles of booze from the fridge, and headed towards the place where the neighborhood parties were being held.

You greeted the neighbors you met and went to Wanda, who smiled broadly when she saw you arrive.

"There was no need to have brought those drinks,honey."

"Don't worry, Wanda; you invited me, so it seemed like the right thing to do," you replied, smiling. "Where do you want me to leave them?"

"Put them in that cooler over there, along with the rest of the drinks".

You nodded, and after leaving the bottles, you went back to Wanda.

"I'm so glad you were encouraged to come, Y/N."

"Thanks, Wanda. Anyhow, I didn't have much to do this afternoon."

"Enjoy the food,honey. It's on that table over there."

"If you need help,let me know, Wanda." You smiled,trying to hide your true intentions as a S.W.O.R.D. agent. By talking to Wanda,she might relax and inadvertently reveal some secrets that could be useful.

"Don't worry, sweetie, enjoy."

You smiled and headed to the table,grabbing some food and pouring yourself a glass of your favorite drink.

You were talking to some of your neighbors and Wanda until a woman interrupted the conversation you were having with some neighbors.

"I'm so glad you could make it,hun," said Agatha. "Allow me to steal this extremely good-looking neighbor," she added, dragging you out of the conversation.

You let Agatha drag you to one of the tables in the corner and started talking with an abundance of flirting on her part, sometimes making you blush and stumble with your words.

However, thanks to the conversation, you managed to get important information about Wanda: she and her husband, Vision, had had a strong argument, which culminated with him leaving the house to go to sleep somewhere else.

After lunch, you went home and added the new information you had obtained to the information you already had.

After that, you went back to contact Hayward.

"Agent Y/L/N, I told you not to contact me again. This is the second time you have called me today."

"Director, I have important information."

"Release it right now, agent. If it's not good enough, I'm going to relegate you to desk duty."

You rolled your eyes when you heard this. You were one of the best agents S.W.O.R.D. had, and both Hayward and you knew it.

"Vision, the android synthroid, has had a falling out with Maximoff. They're not together right now."

"Great time to strike. I'll get the troops ready then and warn the agent we have there. Too bad Maximoff found out; now you're the only one there."

"This information had not been communicated to me."

"It was not deemed necessary."

"My safety is important. I believe that-"

"Silence, agent. Prepare for attack."

"Director, one last thing. I don't think Wanda is aware of the damage she causes people in the hex."

"I don't care about that. We're going on tonight. Grab your gear and get ready," Hayward replied dryly before hanging up.

"What an asshole!" you muttered.

You prepared your equipment and weapons and waited for nightfall so you could carefully escape from your house and join the rest of the agents.

"Agent Y/L/N, you finally arrived," said Hayward sarcastically.

"I live in Westview; I have to be careful not to be suspected."

"Nonsense. Get ready. Maximoff is coming."

You nodded, rolling your eyes, and after girding your helmet on your head, you waited for Wanda to arrive.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission had not gone as expected.

Wanda had controlled the soldiers to target Hayward, and after a tense discussion, she returned to the hex, but not before taking an agent hostage.

She dragged you to her house without saying a word to you,and after arriving at her house, she took you to her basement and, with a snap of her fingers,chained you to a chair.

"Trying to attack my house doesn't seem like a good idea," she said, her voice marked by her Sokovian accent and anger.

You didn't respond, so she wouldn't recognize your voice.

"Oh, so the agent doesn't respond? Let's see who's behind this helmet, shall we?" She said, pulling the helmet off your head.

When she saw your face, it fell to the ground.

"You," she said, her voice marked by surprise and anger.

"Wanda,I'm sorry,I-"

"Shut up!" she snarled,her eyes glowing red. "Really Y/N? You've been in my house, you've been taking care of my kids,and it turns out that all this time,you were working for S.W.O.R.D."

"Wanda, I-"

She held up her hand, shushing you using her magic.

"You lied to me, Y/N. I let you into my house,I talked to you about my family,everything I lost,and this is how you repay me?" she said,tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Wanda, I'm sorry; I never meant to hurt you!"

"You never meant any harm." Wanda laughed dryly. "Lies. You took advantage of me,just like Monica! All S.W.O.R.D. is the same!"

"Is Monica okay?" you asked,with a lump in your throat.

"Yes. But I don't think she's going to be able to say the same about you. You're going to stay here,in chains,watching me destroy your beloved S.W.O.R.D.," he said menacingly,his eyes glowing red.

"Wanda, please,if you surrender peacefully, you can get a deal,but if you attack, you will lose all your chances."

Wanda walked up to you and grabbed your chin hard.

"Shut up before I send you back to S.W.O.R.D. so they can finish you off. For the hostage to come back safe and sound from a person as dangerous as me is not a good sign, is it?"

You nodded in fear.

"Wanda, please don't do anything you might regret."

"Do you regret all the harm you have done to me?" she replied hatefully. "Surely every time you spoke to me it was to get information out of me. Every smile,every joke, and every day taking care of my children was just one more opportunity for you. More information,more ideas on how to steal everything from me."

You didn't respond.

"Answer me Y/N!"

"I'm sorry, Wanda. I really am."

Wanda scoffed and turned away before glaring hatefully at you once again.

Then she went to your house, and with a flick of her wrist, the door opened, and she entered your house.

She walked to your room, looking for something you could gather information on.

After a few minutes, she found a cell phone and checked the contacts; there was only one: Tyler Hayward.

She called, and a male voice answered.

"Agent Y/LN,are you okay?"

"Your beloved agent can't come to the phone right now, Hayward. You've tried to trash everything I cared about,so now I'll return the favor."

"Wanda-"

The call was cut short when Wanda hung up and threw the cell phone on the floor,walking out of your house.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hayward's face denoted anger.

"Get a team ready. Now. The witch is going down."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your mind was racing, looking for ways to get out of the chains that were trapping you.

After trying but not succeeding, you decided to take the last decision you had left: dislocate your thumbs so you could remove your hands and try to get the chains away from your body.

With a grunt of pain, you succeeded and pulled the chains away from your body.

You stood up, put your thumbs back in place, and grabbed your helmet.

You looked around the basement you were in to see if you could find any weapons, and after a while, you found your gun.

You checked and saw that you only had three bullets left.

You put on your helmet, and after putting on your bulletproof vest, you left Wanda's house to prevent her from dying.

After walking for a while, you reached the edge of the hex and got out.

You could hear the screams of agents, the sound of bullets, and the smell of gunpowder in the air, so you quickly went there.

You found Wanda, with a couple of cuts and a bloody nose, surrounded by several agents with some kind of electric gun that prevented her powers from working properly.

Your gaze met Hayward's, and at that moment, you made a decision. S.W.O.R.D. or Wanda The decision was easy.

You raised your gun and pointed it at one of your former comrades' weapons, causing an explosion of sparks to fly out of it and knock him out.

Wanda used that moment of surprise to knock out more agents while you ran to one of the cars, knocking out the driver with the butt of your gun and starting the car's engine.

A mixture of surprise and hatred crossed Wanda's face, and it was in that moment of distraction that a bullet pierced her shoulder, causing her to fall to the ground in pain.

You went to her aid, firing the two bullets that you had left and quickly pulling Wanda into the "borrowed" car.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

When Wanda opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was your worried face.

She tried to get up, but a piercing pain shot through her shoulder.

"Careful, even if I took the bullet out of you, you're still hurt."

"Where the hell are we?" asked Wanda.

"My house. We'll be safe here for the time being."

"Why?

"Why what?

"Why did you save me?"

You sighed.

"Wanda, I really care about you. It may have been a mission for S.W.O.R.D., but it wasn't for me. I really cared about you. You were someone I could trust."

"Where are my children?"

"I left them my movies and food and told them you were with me to prepare a meal and discuss some stuff so you'll sleep here this night."

"Thank you."

You nodded and stood up.

"I'll bring you the food."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You were awakened by a cry of pain.

You quickly ran to the room where Wanda was and found her sitting up in bed, wincing in pain.

"Have your stitches opened up?"

"N-No, it was just a bad dream."

"Do you want me to stay here just in case?"

Wanda hesitated, but after a few seconds, she nodded.

You pulled up a chair and stood next to the bed.

In a moment of boldness, you grabbed her hand.

"I'm going to show you that I really care about you, Wanda. I promise."

A smile bloomed on Wanda's lips.

"If you give me a dish this good again, I might start to believe it."

"Rest assured," you said. "Sleep," you said, giving Wanda a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be here for you."

[thewankbankuk]

Lieutenant Commander Neal Bailey watched in horror as a forcefield materialized between him and the rest of his strike team. How the collective had managed to adapt to their saboteur efforts, he didn’t know. All Lt. Bailey knew was that the Borg had cut off his teammates’ only chance for escape.

“They must have rerouted power through to this section somehow!” Ensign Dan Korowsky exclaimed in dismay from the other side of the forcefield.

Standing next to him, Lieutenant Joe Cavalli, technician and resident Starfleet expert on the Borg, looked incredulous. “But we knocked out all the power generators routed through this section—and the regeneration nodes…” He lowered his phaser rifle and began scanning with his tricorder.

“We don’t have much time. Cavalli, can you run a bypass on this forcefield generator?” Commander Patrick Evans asked urgently. Cmdr. Evans, a decorated Starfleet Marine and the mission leader, looked around urgently for signs of pursuit. The mission had been going well—until now. Starfleet’s plan: insert a stealth team on frontier colony Ivor II, on the edge of the Klingon frontier. Objective: to determine if the Borg have destroyed the colony and its defense research facilities. Collect data, and if possible, neutralize any remaining cybernetic threat on the planet surface.

Within hours following their orbital drop, Cmdr. Evans’ team of five had successfully penetrated the former colony’s infrastructure. They found it almost completely assimilated by the Borg. Where once stood a joint human-Klingon venture in tactical cooperation, there was now instead a giant cube-shaped mass. Evans’ team penetrated the damp, humid structure, making selective use of explosives and computer overrides on entry. Now they were on their way out, having successfully downloaded data from several Borg distribution nodes. Oddly enough, at no time had they encountered any significant resistance.

“Let’s detonate it.” Ensign Mike Hunter, demolitionist and the youngest of their group, displayed his brashness yet again. But this time it seemed necessary.

“Fine…do it.” Cmdr. Evans agreed impatiently, wiping the sweat from his face. Ensign Hunter moved forward to attach photon charges around the corners of the forcefield projector frame. He had scarcely placed one charge on the floor when a whirring sound emanated from his immediate surroundings. The others heard it, but it was too late. Twin tubules, secreted within the framework of the forcefield, lanced out and plunged themselves into the young ensign’s neck, paralyzing him instantly. Ensign Hunter screamed in agony, falling to the floor. Lt. Cavalli fired at the Borg assimilation device, vaporizing it.

“Ensign!!!” Cmdr. Evans yelled in shock. Korowsky brought out his medkit and knelt beside his fallen teammate. Suddenly, klaxons sounded.

The team knew that the collective was afoot. In desperation, Bailey and Cavalli began firing at the forcefield from opposite sides. But it was no use. The Borg had awakened.

Drones materialized behind Evans and his team, and began advancing. Lt. Bailey could only watch as his teammates abandoned Ensign Hunter and began firing at the approaching Borg. One-by-one, drones fell. The team was at its best, wasting no shots. Within seconds, the Borg had adapted, but Evans’ team was prepared for this.

“Remodulate!” he ordered.

The team paused to activate their weapons controls, and resumed firing. Their weapons were effective once again, and the remaining Borg were mowed down. The complex was filled with an eerie silence. Evans, feeling relieved, turned to the still-active forcefield and the fallen Ensign Hunter beside it. The nanoprobes had done their work--the Ensign’s face had turned a pale shade of gray, and the telltale sign of Borg-colored veins and emerging implants were visible.

But before Evans could say a word, the sound of heavy metallic footsteps echoed again through the complex. The team braced itself for more drone beam-ins…but this time the Borg had a different strategy. In unison, two rows of Borg emerged from the corridor walls, forming two perfect flanks in front of the Starfleet team. They marched forward with incredible speed.

These were no ordinary Borg. Once, they had been the fittest of the humans and Klingons assigned to the base. Now, they were enhanced cybernetic warriors. Their already-impressive biological musculature had been enhanced beyond the ability of any other galactic power. These tactical drones did not carry conventional maintenance or surgical implements. Instead, they were built solely for combat assimilation. Sculpted armored plates conforming to their anatomically perfect cyborg bodies, made of Borg platinum and other enhanced synthetic alloys, moved with harmonious symmetry to their muscles. Interlocking plates across their thoracic sections provided an impenetrable barrier.

Ensign Cavalli was the closest and had the first shot. It glanced harmlessly off the Borg shielding. Cavalli remodulated, and fired again. The shot made a glancing blow off the lead Borg’s chest, leaving a cloud of plasma smoke. The rest of the team remodulated, and began firing.

But this time, the tactical drones emerged from the smoke, utterly unharmed. Their chest armor had absorbed the weapon impacts, and had in fact dispersed their energies back into their Borg power systems.

Evans watched in horror as his team’s weaponry was rendered utterly useless. Shot by shot, the Borg remained undeterred. The team switched to photon grenades. The first exploded in the center of the corridor, throwing the tactical drones to the sides. But it was not enough to destroy them. The Borg simply got back on their feet and marched forward.

The team had rehearsed what would happen if they were in a no-win situation. It was standard operating procedure for Starfleet’s elite strike forces. As the Borg drones reached within an arm’s distance, Evans dropped his weapon and reached for his belt where the emergency quantum grenade was stored. Better dead than assimilated!

“Lt. Bailey, save yourself!!” Evans ordered. On the other side of the forcefield, Bailey hesitated for a moment, then ran. The desperate but resolute look on his commander’s face was burned into his mind as he fled. Lt. Bailey ran down the corridor, and turned to see the explosion.

But it never happened…

The collective had learned all it needed. By accessing the mind of the drone formerly known as Ensign Mike Hunter, they knew the team’s plans. As Evans pulled out the quantum grenade, the prone form of Ensign Hunter suddenly came alive, and the newly assimilated Starfleet Marine charged into his former commanding officer, wrenching the device from his grip. With enhanced cybernetic strength, Hunter knocked Evans down with ease.

Before Lt. Cavalli or Ensign Korowsky had a chance to activate their self-destruct grenades, the tactical drones had surrounded them. Lt. Bailey watched from afar as they attempted to fight their way out, hand-to-hand. Their resistance was utterly futile. The Marines were knocked down, one-by-one. One drone took particular pleasure in testing his growing cybernetic strength against the humans. This newest Borg drone had gone from the archaic designation of Ensign Michael J. Hunter, Starfleet service #11283-5496 Alpha, to the efficient label of One of Five, primary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315. Resistance was utterly futile.

Ensign Korowsky found himself separated from the others. He’d been knocked unconscious in the scuffle, and now found himself attached to an assimilation table. A tall, muscular six feet and 200 lbs. of muscle, Korowsky prided himself on being able to master the machinery around him—and to use strength to win any situation. It was an attitude which had gotten him very far in the Starfleet Marines. But now his human strength was no match for the assimilation table’s restraints.

Korowsky wondered why they hadn’t assimilated him already. He felt no different, aside from a splitting headache from when the drones had struck him down. He felt no burning sensation in his bloodstream or puncture wounds on his neck or elsewhere. Korowsky realized, with a sinking feeling, that he was only waiting for the inevitable.

A soft breeze wafted through the assimilation chamber, making the Ensign’s body hair stand on end. It was then that Korowsky realized that he was completely stripped of clothing. In the incredible humidity of the Borg complex, he hadn’t noticed. Could it be that the assimilation chamber was even hotter? Around Korowsky, the cacophony of power conduits and throbbing regeneration alcoves echoed.

The walls in front of him shifted. A Borg drone approached. This tactical drone was of the same unique configuration that the team had encountered moments before they were captured. It was apparent that this particular unit had once been a very young, attractive-looking human male. He was tall, and muscular, with handsome features that were augmented by cranial tubing and implants but no ocular eyepiece. The drone had large, piercing green eyes, and his face bore the expression of a slight superior sneer. His body was covered from the neck down with thick Borg platinum armor which wrapped tightly around his bodybuilder physique. Was this one of the former colonists?

“We are the Borg. Your biological distinctiveness will adapt to service us. Resistance is Futile,” the drone intoned in a deep, synthetic voice. As the drone approached, Korowsky closed his eyes and clenched his square jaw in anticipation of the pain.

The drone reached out with one arm for Korowsky ’s crotch. Assimilation tubules shot out from his fingers, and plunged deep into the base of Korowsky’s penile shaft. The Starfleet Marine screamed in pain…

Seconds later, breathless, Korowsky opened his eyes in bewilderment. He felt a change—but it was not the assimilation that he had steeled himself for. Instead, he had felt himself get incredibly aroused. He was powerless to stop it—his cock lifted up, up into a raging erection. He was harder than he had ever been in his life. Korowsky arched his back as far as the assimilation table would allow and gasped in surprise and pleasure as his cock swelled with blood and stretched to its limit.

The assimilation table began to swivel, and brought Korowsky up to a vertical position. Then, with the drone standing behind him, the restraints released, leaving Korowsky standing with a massive erection.

“You represent a team which Starfleet selected to be on the front lines and infiltrate the Borg. Your combat skills and physical ability indicate that you are an excellent specimen of your species. Your genetic distinctiveness will become our own.”

Korowsky was unrestrained, and seemingly free to go. But the force of his erection was too much. The Ensign groaned as he felt his tool begin a change. The nanoprobes in his bloodstream were designed for assimilation, but they could also provide simply augmentation. That was exactly what Korowsky was experiencing as his testicles began to swell and grow heavy. He could feel the semen flooding through his reproductive tract at an alarming rate. He felt his body tighten up as the fluid rushed forth in a torrent up his shaft, and yet he did not ejaculate.

Instead, Korowsky stood there, his brain functions overcome with the hardness, the tension. The air around his naked body seemed electrified with sexual possibility. His whole being was collecting around his cock. It was unbearable; he felt primed to explode.

Korowsky groaned with pleasure as he felt his cock stretch even further. The cybernetic augmentations had grown his tool to massive proportions!

In the humid heat, with wave upon wave of energy seemingly directed at his mind, Korowsky felt the collective speak to him. The drone seemed to whisper…

Service the collective. Provide your biological distinctiveness to us.

The space ahead of him was dominated by a column-shaped alcove which reached through the ceiling. Korowsky felt compelled to move toward it, and he did. As he walked, his shaft began dripping pre-ejaculate; his cock was filled to bursting with cum.

When he finally stood in the alcove, his mind awash with the burning sensation of pre-orgasm, Korowsky thrust his hips forward into the orifice, which resembled a power socket. As he did, he felt a sense of relief. The regenerative Borg technology molded itself around his cock, gripping it tightly. Then, the alcove sprang to life, with power flowing through conduits and into Korowsky ’s body. The Starfleet ensign felt the sensation of a thousand fingers stroking his cock, licking it, sucking it—all synthetically, of course. He gasped, and his cock finally exploded.

Korowsky shuddered as his cock began releasing its juice into the alcove. He was in ecstasy, and it was never-ending. The alcove continued accepting his seed, and Korowsky, plugged in and nanoprobe-enhanced, kept pumping away. Sparks of electricity raced up and down the alcove and through the Marine’s body, overwhelming his senses.

As the minutes and hours passed by, Korowsky’s face assumed an expression of delightful agony, his jaw clenched in instinctive seriousness as his body shot its seed repeatedly. The torrent of cum was never-ending, as the alcove continually fed nutrients to sped up bioproduction in Korowsky’s body. As time went on, more and more nanoprobes entered Korowsky ’s system, slowly assimilating him, yet leaving his genitals enhanced but unassimilated—for now.

No human was ever made to have an interminable orgasm. But the Borg could do what evolution could not. Korowsky was the first, but certainly not the last to undergo this enhancement. As one orgasmic cycle ended, leaving the alcove full of liters of ejaculate, Korowsky gasped for breath, his hips relaxing for a moment.

Within seconds, the alcove socket clenched Korowsky’s rock-hard cock again, and he shuddered. The Starfleet marine could only grab both sides of the alcove and hold on for dear life as his permanently hard cock continued pumping away.

Behind Korowsky, the tactical drone watched impassively. But as the first Borg implants emerged on Korowsky’s skull, the drone seemed to smile. Or was it envy?

The pleasure seemed to last an eternity. But as the collective’s appetite for Korowsky’s seed was sated, it was replaced with their need to add individual distinctiveness to their hive. Organ by organ, inch by inch, the nanoprobes assimilated their way through the Marine’s body, eventually reaching his head and finally activating their assimilation programming in his cock. The last of the human personality known as Dan Korowsky faded into an orgasmic howl as Two of Five, secondary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315, was born.

Lieutenant Joe Cavalli awoke in another assimilation chamber. He was also bound, naked, to an assimilation table. Cavalli felt his heart pounding—he’d gone over this situation countless times in his years of research into the Borg collective. And yet he still did not fully understand the exact nature of the assimilation experience. After all, few eyewitness accounts existed. Nearly all who had seen the process were either dead or members of the collective themselves. Cavalli expected the same fate.

Yet he would not have expected the appearance of another tactical drone before him. Starfleet had no records of this type of drone—there was truly so much that they did not know about the collective. The drone had large, piercing green eyes, and it spoke to him in a synthetic yet masculine tone.

“You will provide your knowledge and expertise of Starfleet tactics against the collective to us.”

Before Cavalli had a chance to answer, the drone had leapt up onto the assimilation table, displaying impressive agility, and was straddling his body. Cavalli felt the incredible heat emanating from the drone’s body as it slid across his body, finding his cock. The drone looked into Cavalli’s eyes and gave a seeming half-smile, then grasped at Cavalli’s cock.

Part of the Starfleet Marine was repulsed and yet at the same time he felt strangely aroused. Perhaps it was pheromone-induced? As Cavalli pondered this fact, his mind struggled to resist the sensations but his body betrayed him. Cavalli felt his cock stiffen and almost immediately the moist warmth of the tactical drone’s mouth slipped around his cock and began sucking expertly. Cavalli felt a wave of pleasure come over him.

It was unlike any sexual experience he’d ever had. The instant his cock entered the drone’s mouth, he could hear sounds of the collective. A massive, synchronous voice filled his head. Cavalli gasped as hive mind commanded him to obey.

He struggled to break free of the control but the power of one mind was insignificant compared to the might of the collective.

"No…I…my duty is to Starfleet, the Federation…I am a Starfleet officer—

"I…will resist!!!!" This mental assimilation quickly became a war of wills, of biology versus technology.

"I will resist….my duty is to…." then Cavalli gasped as the drone released him. The withdrawal of the voice drained him greatly—it was like a narcotic. The collective was massive, powerful, dominating…Cavalli felt himself long to surrender to it.

The drone looked at Cavalli as if assessing his worth, then continued the process. He moved forward, sitting on Cavalli’s chest, and let his massive Borg cock rest on the Starfleet Marine’s face. With a firm but gentle push, Cavalli’s mouth was opened and the cybernetic shaft entered into him. The Borg cock was completely rigid, and coated with metal. Yet it was surprisingly warm.

When the cock entered Cavalli’s mouth, his whole awareness was transformed. He felt the collective in him and around him.

"I am the---I—I will resist…must resist…must----Resistance is Futile. My duty is to Star—My duty is to the collective. I am Joe Cavalli…of Borg. My designation is Three of Five, secondary processor of Unimatrix 315. I will—we will provide all tactical knowledge to the collective. This unit will service the collective."

By now, the primary programming was complete. This human would not resist any further mental extraction efforts. His mind was open and part of the collective. Before the Borg had integrated Cavalli’s biological distinctiveness into their own, they had already converted his psychological distinctiveness into the beginnings of Borg algorithms. Phase one of assimilation was complete.

Cavalli did not resist as the tactical drone impaled him with his cock, and simultaneously plunged his assimilation tubules into his neck. Phase two of assimilation had begun.

Lieutenant Commander Neal Bailey had endured a most painful two hours alone on the outskirts of the former colony. He’d witnessed all of his teammates being captured by the Borg. He could only assume that they’d been assimilated or killed. He hoped it was the latter.

The mission had failed miserably. With Lt. Cavalli’s capture and Ensign Hunter’s assimilation, all their reconnaissance data had been lost. Their remodulated weapons, which ordinary Borg couldn’t adapt to, had no effect on these new tactical drones. Now Lt. Cmdr. Bailey found himself alone.

But he just couldn’t accept the loss of his teammates. They’d been together on more missions than he could count. Each team member had saved the others on numerous occasions. Bailey owed it to each man to do everything possible to rescue them.

For the past two hours, Bailey had searched the Borg complex's walls, trying to find a way in. When the team first arrived, the colony had numerous entrances. Now every last one was sealed by a forcefield. After seemingly endless searching, the Starfleet Marine had resigned himself to returning to his exit point and resorting to tricorder scans. Meanwhile, the Borg complex stood impassively, glowing with the power of alcoves, conduits, and power systems coming online, one-by-one.

With a brief flicker, the forcefield closest to Bailey went down. The Marine stood up. Did the Borg consider the threat over? Grabbing his weapon, Bailey walked into the complex, scanning all the way.

As he entered the Borg facility, Bailey saw maintenance drones working alone or in pairs at various stations throughout. They seemed to be engaged in construction activities which served to expand the Borg facility. There was no opposition of any kind, and no Borg tactical drones to deal with. As Bailey moved deeper into the complex, retracing his steps, he found several forcefields down and not others. Scanning the layout, Bailey was confounded by the seemingly random placement of chambers and equipment. Was he being led somewhere?

Ahead, Bailey saw a Borg chamber with a series of tall columns on aligned near the walls. In the center was an assimilation table. And on it--one of his teammates. Bailey rushed forward, and saw who it was.

“Commander?” he asked breathlessly. Aside from some bruises on his face and neck, the team leader looked unscathed. Bailey leaned over the assimilation table, searching for signs of life.

The Commander’s eyes opened.

“You came…just in time,” Cmdr. Evans said.

“Sir, I’ll get you out of here!” Bailey responded, and began looking frantically for the table’s controls.

“There’s no need,” Evans replied. And Bailey froze to look at his former Commander. The bruises on his neck reformed, and the telltale signs of assimilation became visible. Evans had been assimilated just moments before. Bailey turned in horror, but Evans reached up and grabbed his neck.

“Resistance is futile, Bailey…once you’re with us, you’ll understand.”

“Never!!!” Bailey replied, turning to escape. But out of the shadows, four tactical drones emerged. One was the former Joe Cavalli, another used to be Mike Hunter, the third was once Dan Kawalsky, and the last, with piercing green eyes, he’d never seen before. Only his comrade's faces were recognizable now, behind the Borg flesh and tubules; their bodies were taller and stronger, with massive, rippling muscles and thick armor.

Resistance is Futile, the tactical drones intoned in unison, and began moving forward. Bailey lifted his rifle and opened fire at point-blank range. This time, Borg energy shielding protected the drones from any damage.

Just as the drones closed around him, Bailey saw out of the corner of his eye Cavalli’s armored suit and rifle placed on a Borg examination table. The collective had added the Marines' technological distinctiveness already…

The drones pushed Bailey to the ground and were on top of him instantly. Bailey felt the crushing weight of the massive, newly-born tactical drones as they grabbed at his body and tore off his suit. The Marine struggled in vain. Even his most violent thrashing was unable to prevent an assimilation tubule pinprick, precisely positioned at the base of his crotch. Within seconds Bailey was fully aroused. Two of Five instantly took Bailey’s tool into his mouth; Three of Five inserted his cybernetically-enhanced rod into Bailey’s mouth, and the other two drones were lifting Bailey on to the assimilation table…

Bailey surrendered to cybernetic bliss…within 55 minutes the last member of the Starfleet strike team was gone, and Five of Five, tertiary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315, was born…

Hours later, a tactical drone led five new assimilation warriors to a newly-completed regeneration chamber. There, Tactical Trimatrix 315 entered Borg alcoves for the first time. The hive was now fully satisfied. All targeted assimilation…complete.

[emotionallychargedtowel]

Since you're familiar with tokusatsu actors and their journeys into BL, what kinds of careers historically have tokusatsu actors had as they start to get more credits and mature?

Thank you for the ask! This is a great question. It’s something I’ve been curious about for a while, as you know.

I never get tired of this gif of Seto Toshiki (a Kamen Rider alum with two BLs under his belt) eating cake. (It's from Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, which he starred in with Iijima Hiroki of Our Dining Table fame.)

Oh, I should probably say at the outset that I'm talking about the suit transformation type of tokusatsu shows here. Technically the category is broader and also includes kaiju movies, but I'm focusing here on the kind of tokusatsu series in which human characters (or human-like ones) transform into masked heroes. I think that's what you had in mind, Ben, and it's the type of tokusatsu that tends to overlap with the BL world.

Another thing you'll notice is that I'm mostly going to talk about men here. Tokusatsu has been making some progress as a genre when it comes to gender equity, but it still has a long way to go. And since most of the progress that has happened, like the increase in female Riders, has been in the last few years, the actors who played those characters haven't had much of a subsequent career yet.

Now, to your question.

Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out a way to really look at this systematically. So, definitely take my conclusions with a grain of salt. (If anyone reading this knows more about this or has thoughts about how to get more/better info, I'd love to hear them.) The main source of information I have--aside from just soaking stuff up from watching tokusatsu shows and reading toku fans' tumblrs, of course--is looking at toku actors’ entries on MDL and seeing how many roles they’ve gotten, if they’re “guest,” “support,” or “main” roles, and trying to find out about the type of shows and movies they’re in.

One of the biggest weaknesses to this approach as an American viewer is that it's usually hard for me to tell what constitutes a popular or prestigious series or film even if I go to the listings for specific shows/films. I should also note that one thing that biases my “data” (to use the term loosely) is the fact that I’m more likely to look up this information about actors I like. Well, occasionally I’ll also look at info on some sample of actors out of curiosity, like a bunch of lead Ultraman actors’ subsequent careers or something like that. But it's usually more random.

A little background. As you're aware, tokusatsu roles often go to younger actors who don't have much previous experience. They tend to function both as a way of getting a foothold in the industry (building a resume, starting a fanbase, etc.) and as a way of learning on the job. Part of the reason they work so well in this regard is that they have long seasons. Ultraman seasons are typically around 25 episodes long, which is pretty long compared to many shows in Japan, but Kamen Rider and Super Sentai seasons are usually around 50 episodes long. This means two things: a toku part gets you a lot more of the aforementioned work experience than you'd get in other genres, and it provides a solid year of consistent work with additional work to follow (particularly hard to come by in Japan's entertainment industry, from what I understand). The additional work is substantial, too. There are typically post-series TV movies and touring live shows and there are often guest spots on other series in your franchise.

When it comes to landing other roles, as in other types of media, it makes a big difference what type of role you had. This is stating the obvious, I know, but there are some specific ways this works with tokusatsu series, and it relates to who ends up in BLs and in what capacity. So, all of the big three tokusatsu franchises are pretty ensemble-based but they still have distinct leads and some degree of a hierarchy of roles. Ultraman has the strongest leads, Kamen Rider has lead/title Riders and secondary (and often tertiary) Riders, and Super Sentai shows are especially ensemble-y (the word sentai basically means "squad," after all) but they always have some kind of group leader.

When I look up subsequent work by tokusatsu actors who had sizable roles in their toku series--lead roles, or other parts that are what MDL would call "main" roles--what I see most often is a lot of supporting and guest roles in a variety of TV shows and some films. You can usually find a smattering of lead roles as well, but if you look closely they may turn out to be smaller productions (but not always). When it comes to the number/frequency of credits, there's a lot of variation but an average case would be 2-3 such credits per year. Like I mentioned above, it's hard for me to tell how desirable/prestigious/well-paying those guest and supporting roles are. But they don't usually seem to be scraping the bottom of the barrel or anything. So, yeah. Lots of these actors have different paths, but this is what I see most frequently.

Given how challenging it is to make a career out of acting in Japan, this is nothing to sneeze at. Despite its relative influence, the Japanese entertainment industry is still comparatively small, and there are only so many opportunities. In that context, regularly getting guest and supporting gigs constitutes a pretty uncommon level of success.

Could these folks support themselves on this amount of work? I often see just a few credits per year, so maybe not. But when I like one of these actors enough to follow them on socials, it usually seems like they are supplementing those parts with other stuff like stage plays, toku fan appearances, modeling gigs, or other types of performance including music. Even with these different sources of income, some probably still can't live on their entertainment industry pay alone. But it appears that some can.

So that's the most common thing. One less common outcome is leaning really hard into being a tokusatsu actor for life. It's not typical to get significant roles in multiple toku shows, but it does happen. And some actors manage to play the same character in a lot of post-series movies, miniseries, etc. stretching out for years after their actual series. For example, Tsuruno Takeshi, who played Ultraman Dyna's human host Shin Asuka, has been in ten different Ultraman things including his main series, a short series, a lot of TV movies, and a special. Dyna aired in 1997, and his last appearance as Asuka was fairly recent, in 2016. That's almost a 20-year span. Yet Tsuruno has never had a non-Ultraman main character part. (Though this is partly because he seems to have focused more on his music career and related variety show type things post-Dyna.) There are even some actors who are tokusatsu superfans whose whole career plan is centered on the genre from the get-go.

For those who are looking to branch out, there are a lot of trajectories. So I'll try to talk about some of them through a few examples.

Takeda Kouhei

You probably knew I was going to bring him up. On Kamen Rider Kiva, Takeda's character was important but not the lead (he played the main character's father in the 1980s, in a timeline that ran parallel to the present day one). That was in 2008, when he was 22. Nine years later, in 2017, he was in Kamen Rider Build, in which he was the "tertiary" Rider. This character was a potato farmer-turned-antihero. As tertiary Riders go, he was pretty popular. But Takeda seemed to be mostly hovering at a certain level at that point. Then Old Fashion Cupcake happened. It's significant that he went from playing supporting characters (albeit important ones) to a lead character in OFC. It's also helpful that OFC came out at a point when the prestige of BLs was on the rise. It seems like Takeda has had more consistent and larger parts since then. The difference isn't night and day or anything, but it's observable.

If you look at Takeda's Build costars, Inukai Atsuhiro and Akaso Eiji, here’s what you'll find. Akaso has a similar trajectory to Takeda's only somewhat steeper. His role on Build (the secondary Rider) was a bit bigger, he seemed to get slightly bigger roles overall after Build, and Cherry Magic gave him a significant boost from there. Inukai had a bigger upswing early on followed by slower growth that still had him outstripping both Akaso and Takeda. From what I can tell, his “data” more closely resembles that of Yamada Yuki, who I’ll talk about in a second, though they have different niches.

Suda Masaki

Suda Masaki was only 16 when he played the main rider in Kamen Rider W in 2009, which is unusually young. (W has a unique premise where two different people inhabit the same Rider, so Suda played a lead rider but so did his costar Kiriyama Renn.) From what I can tell, he seems to have had a pretty organic path to larger and larger roles while varying genres and styles quite a bit. At this point he's definitely a very respected actor. (One interesting bit of trivia: Hagiwara Riku has said Suda is his biggest acting role model.) He's won two Japan Academy Film Prizes and been nominated three more times. I don't know of a more successful ex-tokusatsu lead. Actually, I looked him up for this post to fill in some details and found out for the first time that he also has a pretty successful career as a jpop musician. It's almost annoying that he's that talented in yet another area.

I don't see any indication that Suda has ever played a queer character, though he has definitely done some pretty bromantic stuff. He did kiss a man once in a drama series, but it was for plot reasons and was 100% played for laughs in a gross way. He also played a gender nonconforming character in the 2014 live action version of Princess Jellyfish. (Another bit of trivia: when another live action adaptation of Princess Jellyfish was released in 2018, the same character was played by another former lead Rider, Seto Koji from Kiva.) I wouldn't put it past Suda to play a queer character, if it was for a highbrow movie or something analogous to what Nishijima Hidetoshi has done in What Did You Eat Yesterday?, but I'm also not holding my breath.

Yamada Yuki

A less extreme case. Yamada was on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. He was the blue member of the team, a soldier-turned-pirate. It may have helped Yamada along later on that Gokaiger is an especially popular Sentai series. Post-Gokaiger, Yamada didn't have any sort of big breakout role that I can find. It just seems like fairly soon after Gokaiger, he started having significant roles in TV dramas and has pretty much continued from there, with some upward momentum but no huge changes. When he was in a drama with Akaso Eiji recently, his part was first billed and a smidge bigger. Yamada's trend line seemed to have a biggish upward swing early and then just a slight slope from there. But I just saw him in something different: he plays the younger member of the minesweeper crew in Godzilla Minus One. I wonder if that will mark any sort of shift for him.

Yamada hasn't played any queer characters as far as I can tell. His Sentai role was shippy as hell, though. It's a tradition among Sentai shows that subtext-level queer ships happen between the red and blue team members, and that's exactly what happened in Gokaiger. Sometimes the subtext pretty much became text. If magazine images from that time are any indication, their relationship seems to have been a promotional angle for the show. There's even one where they seem to be in some kind of high school AU that looks like it's straight out of a BL.

what about women?

I tried looking up a few women I know from tokusatsu roles while I was looking up these and other dudes. Some of them were still in the business, at least. Some were getting the same trickle of guest and supporting parts a lot of men do after a tokusatsu show. A few had a slightly bigger trickle. But many of them seemed to have disappeared from the public eye entirely. Not only are women underrepresented in tokusatsu, and not only are their roles often relatively small and two-dimensional, but it doesn't seem like they get even a slight career boost after these roles.

It's possible this will change for some of the actors who got bigger, more interesting toku roles in recent years. Here's hoping!

The changing relationship between tokusatsu and BL

The relationship between tokusatsu and BL has been changing as BL gains more prestige, like I alluded to when I talked about Takeda Kouhei. There was a time when they seemed to be pretty analogous in terms of how hard it was to get a role and how effective they were as rungs on a career ladder. If you went from being a tokusatsu side character to a BL lead (like Takeda), that was a step up, but only because you were shifting from a supporting spot to a lead one. Tokusatsu leads usually didn't usually do BL or, when they did, only played straight supporting roles. I think it was seen as a lateral move. But now, BL is becoming a very established next step after tokusatsu. It's like BL has moved up in status so that the consensus is that it's above tokusatsu on the ladder, but just by a little bit. It's also kind of an organic transition since we're seeing more queer ships in tokusatsu that, while they mostly happen on a subtext level, are close to being canon (and in some cases, arguably already are). It occurred to me while I was writing this that there's also another type of role that is in a similar zone of accessibility and prestige to both tokusatsu and BL. It's a franchise, not a genre, but with so many movies and such huge casts it almost functions like a genre for the purpose of this discussion. I'm talking about the High&Low movies. If you're a fan of tokusatsu or BL, you'll see actors you know in every High&Low movie and if you're a fan of both, you'll see tons.

Case in point: Here's our ol’ pal Yamada Yuki. He's in quite a few High&Low installments. If only he’d do a BL and complete the trifecta! The only person I know of offhand who’s done a tokusatsu show, a BL, and a High&Low role is Takeda. I bet there are others, though.

the new (?) prestige tokusatsu

There's another piece to this I should probably point out as well. In recent years there have been some more high-budget, prestigious takes on existing tokusatsu properties. First, Anno Hideaki, who's best known for the Evangelion anime series/films, put out three live action features that are new, well-financed takes on three big tokusatsu properties: Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider.

Last year there was also a Kamen Rider series geared toward adults that had higher-than-usual production values called Kamen Rider Black Sun. It did that “you can tell our show is for adults because it's all gritty and grimdark" thing, which I'm not a fan of. But it definitely had its points.

Really distinguished actors starred in both the Shin movies and Black Sun, including Nishijima Hidetoshi, who's about as distinguished as it gets. Nishijima was in both Shin Ultraman (in an important supporting role) and Black Sun (as a co-protagonist--and he's the biggest highlight of the series). So these are examples of toku media that are too prestigious to be a springboard into the industry for most actors.

This seems to be a new phenomenon, though I could be wrong about that. I don’t expect the trend will continue at this pace (after all, so much of it is attributable to Anno alone and I don't think he'll continue down this path indefinitely), but I bet some other shows/movies in this vein will come out sooner or later.

Here’s Nishijima doing a henshin sequence. He does these moves with such commitment. Is there anything he can't do?

before tokusatsu

As I was writing this, it got me thinking about what actors do before their tokusatsu roles as well as after. It's not uncommon for toku roles to be someone's debut, but that's not really the norm. Even when it is, most of those actors were doing something in the realm of performing or modeling beforehand. I don't usually look at this sort of information as much as I do later roles when I'm investigating toku actors I like. So I looked up some people to try to get a sense of where the actors tend to have done before their toku parts.

There's one starting point that a whole bunch of tokusatsu leads share: winning the Junon Super Boy Contest. When I first saw references to it, I thought, OK, this is some kind of national talent contest. I guess there are probably lots of them. But when I looked for others, I didn't see anything come up. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places or using the right search terms. But I think maybe this contest might be pretty unique in Japan.

It's run by a magazine called Junon and, well, if I describe how it works it's going to sound really familiar to you and anyone else who's seen Utsukushii Kare, because it's pretty much exactly the contest Kiyoi participates in. Like, if it's not what Nagira Yuu was thinking of when she wrote that part of the UK novel, I'll eat my shoe.

A ton of tokusatsu leads won, placed in, or made it to the finals of that contest. The Tokupedia fan wiki even has its own page dedicated to the contest with links to various winners' toku characters. The majority of Junon Super Boy contestants who ended up in a toku series went to Kamen Rider, but there are some Sentai dudes as well and at least one Ultraman lead.

So I guess if Kiyoi had won that contest, he probably would have ended up on Kamen Rider or something. Weird.

Inukai Atsuhiro and Iijima Hiroki both won that contest. Those are the only two Junon Boys (that's what people call the contest winners) who became tokusatsu actors and were on a BL that I know of right off the top of my head. But it seems likely that there are other toku-and-BL or just BL actors who won, placed, or made it to the finals of this contest.

Other dudes who ended up on tokusatsu shows started out in other ways. Some were simply signed to agencies as actors. There's a fair number of them who were in idol groups. (Though when an idol/ex-idol is looking for a gig as a transition into acting, BLs seem to be a more popular choice.) Some mostly did modeling prior to their toku series. Some already had quite a few acting credits, though usually not very big ones. Although he's a Junon Super Boy winner, Inukai had eight other acting credits before Kamen Rider. Takeda had the same number, and he started young--his first credit is for a TV show that came out when he was 10 (though it took another six years to get a second).

I also looked up some women who've had prominent roles in tokusatsu shows, including more recent ones. The most frequent things I found when I looked for information on their pre-toku careers were that they had been models or idols (or both). It's also not uncommon for women in toku roles to be former or present gravure models--basically models who pose in bikinis or comparably revealing outfits.

The coolest thing I found was that Imoto Ayaka, who played Igarashi Sakura/Kamen Rider Jeanne, was an award-winning ballet dancer. Which is not only incredibly cool but makes a lot of sense in terms of preparation for a tokusatsu hero role.

I mean, just check out this henshin.

Well, this has gotten ridiculously long. Sorry about that. I may have gotten a little carried away. But thanks again for the question.

And now, I have something to write for @wen-kexing-apologist...

[ixhika-jsx]

Resources and study tips to get you in cyber forensics

Master post • Part1 • part2

let's get you prepped to be a cyber sleuth without spending any cash. Here’s the ultimate tips and resources.

Ps: you can't become one while doing these pointers but you can experience the vibe so you can finally find your career interest

### 1. **Digital Scavenger Hunts**

- **CTF Challenges (Capture The Flag)**: Dive into platforms like [CTFtime](https://ctftime.org/) where you can participate in cyber security challenges. It's like playing *Among Us* but with hackers—find the imposter in the code!

- **Hunt A Killer (Digitally)**: Create your own digital crime scenes. Ask friends to send you files (like images, PDFs) with hidden clues. Your job? Find the Easter eggs and solve the case.

### 2. **YouTube University**

- **Cyber Sleuth Tutorials**: Channels like *HackerSploit* and *The Cyber Mentor* have playlists covering digital forensics, cybersecurity, and more. Binge-watch them like your fave Netflix series, but here you're learning skills to catch bad guys.

- **Live Streams & Q&A**: Jump into live streams on platforms like Twitch where cybersecurity experts solve cases in real-time. Ask questions, get answers, and interact with the pros.

### 3. **Public Libraries & eBook Treasure Hunts**

- **Library eBooks**: Most libraries have eBooks or online resources on digital forensics. Check out titles like *"Hacking Exposed"* or *"Digital Forensics for Dummies"*. You might have to dig through the catalog, but think of it as your first case.

- **LinkedIn Learning via Library**: Some libraries offer free access to LinkedIn Learning. If you can snag that, you've got a goldmine of courses on cybersecurity and forensics.

### 4. **Virtual Study Groups**

- **Discord Servers**: Join cybersecurity and hacking communities on Discord. They often have study groups, challenges, and mentors ready to help out. It's like joining a digital Hogwarts for hackers.

- **Reddit Threads**: Subreddits like r/cybersecurity and r/hacking are packed with resources, advice, and study buddies. Post your questions, and you’ll get a whole thread of answers.

### 5. **DIY Labs at Home**

- **Build Your Own Lab**: Got an old PC or laptop? Turn it into a practice lab. Install virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox) and play around with different operating systems and security tools. It’s like Minecraft but for hacking.

- **Log Your Own Activity**: Turn on logging on your own devices and then try to trace your own steps later. You’re basically spying on yourself—no NSA required.

### 6. **Community College & University Open Courses**

- **Free Audit Courses**: Many universities offer free auditing of cybersecurity courses through platforms like Coursera, edX, and even YouTube. No grades, no stress, just pure learning.

- **MOOCs**: Massive Open Online Courses often have free tiers. Try courses like "Introduction to Cyber Security" on platforms like FutureLearn or edX.

### 7. **Scour GitHub**

- **Open-Source Tools**: GitHub is full of open-source forensic tools and scripts. Clone some repositories and start tinkering with them. You’re basically getting your hands on the tools real investigators use.

- **Follow the Code**: Find projects related to digital forensics, follow the code, and see how they work. Contribute if you can—bonus points for boosting your resume.

### 8. **Local Meetups & Online Conferences**

- **Free Virtual Conferences**: Many cybersecurity conferences are virtual and some offer free access. DEF CON has a lot of free content, and you can find tons of talks on YouTube.

- **Hackathons**: Look for free entry hackathons—often universities or tech companies sponsor them. Compete, learn, and maybe even win some gear.

### 9. **DIY Challenges**

- **Create Your Own Scenarios**: Get a friend to simulate a hack or data breach. You try to solve it using whatever tools and resources you have. It's like escape rooms, but digital.

- **Pen & Paper Simulation**: Before diving into digital, try solving forensic puzzles on paper. Map out scenarios and solutions to get your brain wired like a detective.

### 10. **Stay Updated**

- **Podcasts & Blogs**: Tune into cybersecurity podcasts like *Darknet Diaries* or follow blogs like *Krebs on Security*. It’s like getting the tea on what’s happening in the cyber world.

### 11. **Free Software & Tools**

- **Autopsy**: Free digital forensics software that helps you analyze hard drives and mobile devices. Think of it as your magnifying glass for digital clues.

- **Wireshark**: A free tool to see what's happening on your network. Catch all the data packets like you're a digital fisherman.

### 12. **Online Forensics Communities**

- **Free Webinars & Workshops**: Join communities like the *SANS Institute* for free webinars. It's like attending a masterclass but from the comfort of your gaming chair.

- **LinkedIn Groups**: Join groups like *Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR)*. Network with pros, get job tips, and stay in the loop with the latest trends.

### 13. **Practice Cases & Mock Trials**

- **Set Up Mock Trials**: Role-play with friends where one is the hacker, another the victim, and you’re the investigator. Recreate cases from famous cybercrimes to see how you'd solve them.

- **Case Studies**: Research and recreate famous digital forensic cases. What steps did the investigators take? How would you handle it differently?

There you have it—your roadmap to becoming a cyber sleuth without dropping a dime. You don't have time find your interest after paying pennies to different ppl and colleges. You can explore multiple things from comfort of your home only if you want to.