#c: xiomara

[carinaserafina]

closed starter // @xiomara-de-paz​

When Carina opens her front door, Xiomara is the last person she’d expect to be standing there. For a moment, she’s stunned, standing there staring at her friend. This couldn’t be real! She’d attended her funeral – she’d fucking cried and talked to the dirt covering her grave when everyone had left. “Xio?” Her voice is strained because she’s holding back tears. Her boyfriend is a shit stain on society; she wonders if he made her fake her own death to claim some kind of money. “Qué demonios estás haciendo? You’re supposed to be dead!”

[giggle-me-this]

The hallucinations didn’t stop, though the subject matter seemed to have shifted.

Nate ducked out onto a dark balcony to have a smoke, catch his breath, clear his head as much as he could—only to watch helplessly as shadows reenacted Dona’s brutal interrogation within the Ministry of Magic, as Nate imagined it had happened from what he’d read in the redacted report on Max Squint’s desk. While Nate’s stomach churned and Dona’s screams of pain and pleas of innocence filled his ears, he withdrew a cigarette from the pack in his pocket, sparked it after fumbling the rote tut several times, and took a long drag. In the faint glow of smoldering orange at the smoke’s lit end, Nate could imagine he saw Dona’s blood shining against her skin, the abject terror reflected in her round brown eyes. The vision of her torture was almost enough to distract Nate from the realization that his emergency stash of drugs was gone.

He was going to have to withstand this nightmare the old-fashioned way.

He’d lost count of the number of stiff drinks he’d tossed back by the time Xi found him, sighing as she turned him to face her. Nate really didn’t have it in him, to fight with Xi about a seriously stupid and obvious lie—the least damning thing his father had said and done tonight, honestly.

“Look, about the—”

What Nate wasn’t prepared for was the blank, empty look that was glazed over Xiomara’s eyes, the flat, hollow tone of her voice. He frowned, his brow furrowing as he searched her face, her body—nothing. 

He was struck with deja vu, reminded uncomfortably of the Xiomara who had sleepwalked through the days that had followed their disastrous encounter with Loxley in Chelsea. Urgently, Nate said, “Hey, have you been seeing—?”

But he drew back as he watched Xi’s face flicker gruesomely between a vacant expression and one contorted by the greenish subterranean lighting of The Caves as she shrieked at Nate, ‘Don’t touch me!’ 

This isn’t real… he told himself firmly, over and over and over again as he nodded his agreement to Xi, her face shifting each second to images from Nate’s memory he’d dutifully buried and tried to forget. This isn’t real… as he followed Xi out of the ballroom, wincing into the flashing of cameras that frazzled and blurred his already deceitful field of vision. This isn’t real… as he hailed a cab—a bit of residual mental muscle memory from his days in New York—and spent the long, silent ride to Putney clawing against the weight of his impending panic attack.

While Xi locked herself in the bathroom for a bath, Nate emptied drawers until he’d gathered just the right assortment of pharmaceuticals, squirreled away for a situation as desperate and dire as this. 

Nate knew the depths of Hamilton Pinnock’s vindictive depravity better than just about anyone else, and he knew the nightmarish hallucinations weren’t going to stop. Not tonight. He’d get no peace. He had no other choice.

He flicked on the light in the bathroom at the end of the hall and locked himself in with a mirage of a bathtub Nate knew had been ripped out and remodeled. He pounded the pills against the countertop, smashing until they’d become a confetti of multicolored powder, while in the mirror Nate saw Ralph’s corpse rise from the phantom bathtub and walk to stand behind him, his blue cracked lips quirked up in a dreamy smile. 

Nate cut the powder into fat lines and snorted one, his sinuses flaring with pressure. ‘Oh, Nate…you’re in the Dark Place,’ said the vision of overdosed Ralph.

“Shut up!” Nate snapped, his fist slamming against porcelain. “You’re not fucking real…” He railed two lines in quick succession, then squeezed the bridge of his nose through the sting, “…the real you is a murderous zombie locked in the closet down the hall, just waiting to kill us all—!”

There was a pounding on the bathroom door, to which Nate snarled, “Fuck off!” The false Ralph looked at Nate with sadness and worry filling up his dark, dead eyes. ‘But I have to warn you about Xiomara’s dreams—’

The pounding on the door grew more insistent as Nate railed the last line and shouted, “FUCK OFF!”

When Nate rose again, the door flew open and Ralph was gone, the bathroom back to its remodeled state. Nate slumped in relief, his body feeling light like clouds and as heavy as lead all at once. Harriet took one look at him, her sharp green eyes darting to the residue on the top of the vanity before scolding angrily, “Jesus Christ, Nate, what the fuck are you thinking? I thought we were past this…” She pushed a hand against his shoulder to stand him up straight, snapping her fingers in front of his face to pull his focus.

“Mm fine…” Nate argued, slurring around the encumbrance of the odd, engorged thing in his mouth—his tongue—as Harriet’s face swam in and out of focus. She looked so funny when she was mad. He really ought to try lying down.

“You’re not fine—what happened?”

She sat him down, and he offered her the very best mess of mismatched rambling snippets of explanation that he could muster, through the increasingly insistent pull of unconsciousness on Nate’s exhausted, drug-soaked psyche. And finally, when Harriet was satisfied that he’d given her all the information he could—and at least partially reassured that he wouldn’t choke to death on vomit in his sleep—she helped him stumble to his room. He haphazardly pulled off his clothes and fell into bed.

Xiomara was still in the bathtub, while Nate stared up into the kaleidoscope of shadows on the darkened ceiling until he fell asleep.

Xiomara's hands squeezed the marble countertop of the vanity, taking a gaping breath of the bathroom's stale air.

What the fuck had just happened? She hadn't hallucinated before- she wasn't that fucking crazy. And Hamilton had acknowledged their existence, threatened her with their existence, so it can't have been only in her head.

Xi's head whipped around sharply, the implication making bile rise in her stomach again. She lurched to the toilet, her heels catching on the hem of her dress, causing her to slam down to her knees- just in time to empty the contents of her stomach before slumping against the porcelain.

What had the medi-wix taught her? Breathe. Run. Focus on things you can sense... Touch: Porcelain. Tile. Dress. Heels. Baggie in her bra. Hear: Muted music. Running water. Laughter. Baggie opening. See: White. Gold. Hands. Towel. Two small pressed tablets, pink. Smell: Chemical. Sharp. Taste: Powder on the back of her tongue, absorbing into her mouth and down her throat...

She arched her neck, stretching her shoulders up to her ears and then letting them drop. Xiomara stared at the wall next to her, trying to focus on her breath, in and out, in and out...

Xi swallowed, then pushed herself up to stand with knocking knees. She stared at her reflection for another short while, drinking in her expression until it didn't start to feel real. Until she didn't feel real.

And then the Xiomara-shaped thing rinsed out her mouth, and left the bathroom, grasping the first glass of dirigible plum wine she saw. She wandered about the ballroom like that, searching for his head of fluffy hair, and eventually found him at a bar. She stood behind him, the pale hand reaching out to touch his shoulder, fingers curling to grip and turn him around.

"We have to go," The woman said, her voice muted and low, "Now. We have to go now." And she nodded, until he was nodding right along with her. The flashes of camera bulbs danced around them as they left the room, out into the cool London air.

Neither of them could apparate. Xiomara didn't have a wand, and her steps were buoyant, and Nate's pupils were so blown out that his eyes were practically black. They walked to start home, both of them staring ahead, silent and unemotional. Eventually a taxi passed, and Nate had the good sense to hail it, murmuring an address to the muggle driver as Xi slid into the back seat.

She wasn't thinking on the drive, and her mind continued to stay mute as she walked into the house where Xiomara lived. But she wasn't Xiomara. This wasn't her life. She wasn't the one to walk upstairs, ignoring greetings from the others. She wasn't toeing her shoes off and peeling Tess's dress off her body, stepping into the bath still wearing her makeup and earrings. The water washed her away. Again.

[kingcadaver]

@queencadaver

"i'm not as blind as you think i am." she was good—almost good enough to fool his senses. almost. "just more patient." finally, he sets eyes on his little shadow. she's the most beautiful creature he's ever seen. that only makes him squeeze the trigger. "you've been patient, too. what have you been waiting for?"

[lonewolved]

@queencadaver

"well, i'll just give it to you straight—there's no damn way i'll be able to haul this hunk of shit." it isn't much of a car anymore. what the hell had even happened to it? he's tempted to ask, but curiosity killed the cat, and all that. he's no cat. he won't come back satisfied. "think you need a taxi more than you need a tow."

[nearcataclysm]

          @xiomara-de-paz​ !!

         “i know you’re back there.” his position, perched upon the rock, doesn’t shift even as footsteps finally break through the trees. “i followed your trail. funny, how i can track everything still living here by what they take away in the world.” a single footstep kills millions. if he focuses just right, half-entranced as he is, he can detect what’s making those footsteps and when. right now. two eyes blink open at the base of his skull, standing out in their mismatched hues between his stone-gray feathers. for now, just a mane. a cloak. now, he knows where that footstep really ends. and ends. and ends again. “how did you know where to find me?”

[sicknickk]

"blah, blah, blah." nick replies in a teasing tone, shooting them a smile. he watches with amusement as she unzips her bag, revealing plenty of lighters before she hands him one. "a lot of lighters you got there... ever consider opening up your own lighter shop?" he continues to poke fun, all in good nature. grabbing the lighter, he manages to light his joint after three flicks, handing it back to them. "i can share my joint with you. i mean, it's the least i could do for my wife, right?" their marriage at the playground during recess was a memorable one. that is, before they ran away from each other. it's nice to know they still know each other after all this time, and are still friends. he passes the joint to her, "it's good, try it."

"it's like you don't even know me at all. my own husband." with a scoff, xio removed the backpack from her shoulder and tugged open the zipper, retrieving one of several lighters from inside. sure, their 'marriage' wasn't exactly legally-binding - none of the other kids at recess at had been ordained, as far as she knew, but even now, as an adult, it was still fun to play pretend every once in awhile. to act as though she lived the life her parents had always wanted for her. "'course i got one. real question is... what are you gonna give me in return, huh?"

[cursedflesh]

          starter for @xiomara-de-paz​ !!

          “relative of yours? i’m sure you’d know by now that they’ve been stolen?”

[intomusings]

ೀ ﹒﹒  favorite   names   compilation    !

ur   fav   musings   girly   again   here   with   the   first   of   my   christmas   goodies   .   my   favorite   thing   to   do   is   these   name   compilations   so   i   decided   to   create   another   masterlist   of   my   absolute   favorite   ones   (   some   old   ,   mostly   new   )   anyways   all   i   ask   is   that   if   u   found   this   useful   ,   u   like   or   reblog   to   show   ur   support   .   i   hope   everyone   is   enjoying   the   holiday   season   ♡

- a : abella, ardella, ares, aire, arden, ayla, arie, alder, august, aymes, atlas, alina, alora, aryn.

- b : beau, babette, belle, blake, briar, bronte, banks, boston, bishop.

- c : cassiel, clara, celeste, camden, chandler, collins, clay, cartier, chanel, cosima.

- d : dove, dream, danica, delaney, drue, denver, dacey, delcy, darcy, dahlia.

- e : elodie, emory, emrys, elio, elowynne, emerson, evie, edie, estoria, esme, effy, evans.

- f : flora, faye, fallon, ford, forbes, finnick.

- g : gaia, geles, greer, gensen.

- h : hera, hudson, hampton, heath, harlowe.

- i : isla, inara, ilia.

- j : juniper, josefine, jane, jovie, joey.

- k : kiersten, kairo, kaia, kian, kouvr, keanu.

- l : lysander, lanie, lorena, lawson, lux, ludo, lourdes.

- m : marla, marigold, maren, maeve, marlowe, miller, monet.

- n : neah, north, nola, nell, noel, nariah, niamh, nami.

- o : ozzy, orion.

- p : presley, posy, pearl, porter, pacey, paxon.

- r : reed, ruelle, raya, romey, ryker, rhode, reign, rafe, rohan, raiden, remi, rion, rhiannon, reece, river, raine, rumer, reem, rhys.

- s : selah, soraya, sarifya, savion, sloane, sol, soren, scout, saint, striker, serafina, sabina, sutter.

- t : teal, twila, tristan, tobie, tripp, teague, tate.

- v : vienna, vega, vera, vincenzo.

- w : wren, winter, winona, winnie, wilder, weston.

- x : xaverie, xylah, xiomara, xander.

- y : yves, yara.

- z : zephyr.

[daisukemouthwashin]

new Girl released and theres a new page linked on the post traumatic manifesto caard that can be accessed through the ??? page!

felt like trying to dissect it a bit so heres my thoughts :)

i assume jordyn (the one who owns the secret page) is either a. one of the girls, b. the ??? person, or c. both. dont know much about them but i know their background is from this

their webkins pet is also named jerma. they’re probably a fan of twitch streamers

based on jordyns posts, i can gauge that they’re in a mental hospital or maybe a rehab place?

here are some people who are mentioned in jordyns posts:

if i were to speculate who these people were based on the girls currently released, i think xiomara is caliber girl: assuming her password is her birth year it fits her age (2023 - 1996 = 27). i also think tahira might be splitter girl because of her particular choice in movies.

freyja could very well be fainéant girl because of the pronoun usage (fainéant is the only girl who uses she/they only iirc)

nora is more ambiguous but i feel like it could be chocolate-box girl based on what nora chose to draw. (but if you were asking simply off of vibes i’d say irreverent girl)

but ofc the people named could very well be girls who just haven’t been released yet.

but thats just a theory… A Girl Theory! Thanks for Watching :)

[blackwidowlilith]

@hoaxwings

I bet you can’t wait for summer. You can finally take her to swim at Oceanside. 

[sacryficing]

welcome to our blog! i absolutely suck at introductions. we go by helena or jinx! we are a minor bodied system; our bodily age is 16. we are also non-human & introject heavy! suspected poly-frag! we have multiple other disorders and traits of those disorders, we'll be listing some of them for awareness on our account. we have BPD, DID, and C-PTSD! we have traits of DPD and NPD! we may talk about our experiences with these disorders or the traits. we have a wonderful partner system too!

we are the owners of @reclaimingself and mods of @help-an-alter

DNI criteria: basic dni criteria. (racist, xenophobic, homophobic, etc.), pro-endogenic or any kind of system that doesn't require trauma to form, believe narc abuse is a thing or that a disorder makes you abusive, not a safe space for people w/ cluster b disorders, systems, or minors, dni if you support or use transids, want to discuss discourse. we are not interested, we've stated our beliefs and don't want to discuss them further!

FREQ FRONTERS

mortuary/samara, they/them, 17.

vana, she/her, 18, 🌹.

iris, she/her, 24, 🍒.

xiomara/pierce, she/they, 17.

amanda, ask pronouns, 17. 🧟‍♀️

[favoriteblogonthecitadel]

Music Game!

I was tagged by @laelior and @dandebo to shuffle my favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. I'll go with the ME1 Xiomara Shepard playlist I'm currently building!

Chosen - Maneskin [x]

Gun In My Hand - Dorothy [x]

Fire - Barns Courtney [x]

Ingobernable - C. Tangana [x]

I lost a friend - FINNEAS [x]

Technically, @dandebo also gave us tagged folks the option to do a second music game where you pick one song for every letter in your my url... but my url has 24 letters and I'm not about to subject y'all to that. 😂 I will no-pressure-tag a few friends and leave them the choice to do that second music game if they wish!

@whimsyswastry @rowanisawriter @isachalal @creaking-skull @miniature-space-hamster @tiny-banana-time @illusivesoul @jtownnn @shadoedseptmbr @pigeontheoneandonly @hungerofhadarr @metzlishepard and anyone else who wants in :)

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 233

It is with heavy heart that I announce: This it. The actual journey of the Ark ends here.  There will be 1 more chapter after this to wrap up what everyone will be screaming and cursing at me for after you read this.

And then we will be done.

This is where you want to scroll down to the Read More if you don’t want to read the sappy stuff.

I started this story in, wildly, 2016. I had no intention of it being this long - it was initially meant to be a one shot response to a writing prompt. I was doing that a lot at first, but this stuck with me. And as a result, I have made incredible friends that I never could have imagined, developed a ton as a writer, and found something to hang on to when my life got crazy. Through too many deaths, losing family and gaining family, and through learning what I really believe when the chips are down.

I have accidentally predicted a pandemic, my future job, a national schism, and the billionaire space race.

And I have not, even once, accidentally saved the world.

To you. To me. To us. If you found even a little solace, or space, or saw a part of yourself in this story: To you, most specifically. Always and forever, to you.

“Hannah has everyone on Level Eighteen, Alistair is bringing up the rear,” Xiomara announced. “Everyone is carrying as much as they can. The comic books didn’t make it.”

I swore softly and shook my head the best I could. “We can manage without those,” I admitted begrudgingly.

“Sophia, you just signed up to teach Comics as Literature,” Eino announced.

“I - “

“Try to stop her,” Tyche cut me off. “Ignore the protests, she’ll do it.”

“Seven Eko-mari troopers left,” Charly sounded off. “But I wouldn’t suggest getting a craving for wings.”

“How much longer do we have before we have to give up and evacuate Level Seventeen?” Arthur demanded.

“Ten minutes.”

Charly’s laugh at Huynh’s response shot ice down my spine. “More than enough. Give us three to finish up, plus four to get everyone to Sixteen.”

The Ark rocked and Maverick growled. “You have five, total. Push the fight to relative port. Hannah, have everyone seal up and cross on the starboard side.”

“Maverick,” Hannah responded, clearly at the end of her impressive patience. “The ship is a spiral.  Skipping levels isn’t an option.”

Conor took over. “BioLab 6 is along the relative starboard side of Seventeen. You can cross through there.”

“That’s breached,” Arthur shouted.

“The whole damned level is leaking like a sieve and barely hanging on. It’s cross there, or risk losing almost half our people.” Conor’s tone was apparently familiar to Arthur, because he just nodded and started rattling off updates and directions again.

“Four minutes,” Maverick counted off. “Charly, Hannah, as soon as you are clear of the freighters, tell us. The same second, you got it? This is going to be… fun.”

“Mister Okima,” Alistair huffed through the comms. “I am not preferable to your idea of ‘fun’.”

“And I don’t like your idea of living,” Maverick snapped. “Get off the comms, dude. Yell at me later. I’ll even sedate Sophie so you can.”

“Hey!”

“I love you, but people with a triple digit count of near death experiences don’t get a vote right now…” His tone was sing-song, despite how tensely he was clenching both his jaw and the controls. Several people on Level One had to stifle laughs, situation be damned. “Ix’al, Brol. Status updates.”

“We’ve lost ten cargo vessels, prayers to their souls,” Brol answered. “We can recoup the credits, but lives lost are lost forever.”

A very quiet amen crossed the deck, and I was sure I wasn’t the only one hoping that it translated as something conciliatory and appropriate.

“Where are we on the data bomb?” Arthur forged ahead.

“Xale informs that most of their fleet has been infected, but the dreadnought has too many firewalls.”

“Pranav, you still have that dead man switch ready to go?”

“If my heart stops, Alice has thirty seconds to give the override command,” came the grim confirmation. “I have sent the command to her phonetically.”

“Dark but precise,” Evan added. “I like it. Two minutes thirty and counting. Charly!”

“They’re as clear as they’re going to get, and it won’t get better if you don’t leave me alone!”

“Michael!”

“I second that!” he shouted against the background of the wailing damned. “How the fuck are they screaming in vacuum?”

By this point, Grey had to be numb. It was the only explanation for their calm tone. “Bioacoustics reverberating through the hull once they are in contact, then coming up through your feet.”

“Zip fighters converging!” Arthur interrupted. “Targeting the drive!”

“Hannah!”

“Ten more…. Move your asses and the one behind you!” she shouted.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I turned to Alice. I had never heard Hannah raise her voice.

Apparently, Alice hadn’t heard her angry, because she was just as pale.

“Seven!” she continued. “Alistair, get our ass over here or I will come get you!  Five! We have one tenth gee, through the fucking box!”

“Ha - “

“Get your ass through this door right now, or so help me I will let you die!”

My mouth snapped shut, and I slammed the mute to her so that no one could speak to her. There was a tone, there at the end, that I did know, and it wasn’t anger.

Again, I was second to that conclusion, because Alice was halfway across the deck and screaming to get out. “Hannah, no….”

“Hannah is through!” Charly confirmed.

Alice whirled, face flushed and tears streaking down her face. “Hannah is not through until that level is sealed. She will go back to get people.”

That was all Charly needed. She snapped a nod. “Michael! Abandon combat, evacuate your team to starboard. Take Hannah Bodenheimer with you, by force if necessary.”

“Two minutes!” Evan counted off.

“We can do it,” Michael confirmed. “GK can run this under one point five, we can do it in point one.”

“I’m covering from behind,” Jokul’s voice cut in. When someone started to object, he forged ahead. “I suffer the least from gravity sickness, and I am the largest. I can push everyone if need be.”

“You’ll get shot - “

“They don’t have kinetics and he’s wearing fur if they use electrics,” Charly snapped. “He’s a big boy, he can take a punch. Go!”

“Where is engineering?” I asked, panicked.

“Fourteen,” came several voices. The majority conceded to Huynh. “It won’t hold everyone, but your man is protected.”

That worked. “When everyone is clear of Level Seventeen, don’t even bother finding a shelter, just strap yourself to the nearest solid object with whatever you have handy,” I demanded.

“Thirty seconds!”

As much as I adored Evania Josue, right now I was cursing her with everything from crotch fleas to moist dermatitis.

“Twenty seconds!”

“CLEAR!” Hannah’s voice shouted. “I have Alistair, but lost a religious text. Mona has a spare, he’ll live.”

“Ten seconds! Brace for - something. Just brace!”

One deep inhale later, I was being pushed against my ersatz-seatback with the force of an invisible hand, and it wasn’t gentle. Those not secured were swept up by the walls, and then across the floor.

“Braking maneuver completed! Conor, status!” Mav panted, shaking out his hands and flexing his fingers.

“Drives are getting hot from the backwash, hull integrity at Level Seventeen is below forty percent,” he rattled off before his tone became stern. “If you do that again, we won’t have any drives.”

“There may be no choice,” Xiomara muttered. “Pranav, where are we at?”

“We are as close to ready as we will ever be.”

“Ix’al, Brol. Do we know if what that databomb does will take out their dreadnought?”

Ix’al responded this time. “There is only thirty percent chance that it will stop their vessel, and less than one percent that it will force it to jump.”

“That is beneficial to the Ark,” Odvub added, confusing the hell out of me and apparently several other people, judging by the noises I heard.

“Clarify?” Xiomara asked, as a member of the Confused Contingent.

“If the Eko-mari dreadnought were to be forced into a jump at this distance, it would force the core of the Ark to breach, killing everyone on the vessel.” The clarification was the opposite of comforting, and - joy of joys - it continued. “Additionally, there are still two infected Eko-mari vessels embedded in the hull of the Ark. They are small, but will still cause an estimated additional five percent loss in hull integrity.  Due to evacuation status of that level, no loss of life is anticipated.”

Arthur rubbed his face forcefully with both hands. “Maverick, Alice, is this the best we can expect?”

“Unless you are getting out to push, pretty much,” Alice confirmed after a brief glance at Mav.

It was only because I had swiveled my head over to the person speaking that I caught the frantic smacks Tyche administered to both our pilots, followed by the looks Maverick and Evan shared.

Oblivious, Xiomara started to speak. “Pranav - “

“BELAY!” Maverick shouted, more forceful than I had ever heard him. “S’crirs fleet, evacuate the field of combat, by any means necessary.  Do not - I repeat - do not allow any Eko-mari ship close enough to sweep you in their well when this goes off! Do not respond, three minute delay.”

“Maverick - “

“Xiomara, respectfully, those are your allies, and you have given battlefield command over to me.” He glanced at Alice, who nodded, before he continued. “That virus is in their ships, and it will go off no matter what once triggered. There is no reason for them to walk through a minefield for us when they can get out of the blast range without changing the outcome.”

“The dreadnought.”

“Is my responsibility,” he doubled-down. “As is this ship, her integrity, and every life out there. With all due respect, I refuse your command as unlawful under Pan American Uniform Code of Conduct.”

She blinked, shook her head, and blinked again.  Finally, she slowly raised her hands in surrender. “I am relieved of duty,” she rasped hoarsely before lowering herself to a seat and hooking her ankles beneath it.

“What the fuck just happened?” Parvati hissed to me, shaking my arm.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly for a moment, trying to recall. “Pan American Uniform Code of Conduct… Oh. Oh.” When I remembered what it was, I swallowed heavily. “Maverick just relieved her of duty due to… I think commanding a course of action that is illegal under Global Parliament rules of engagement?”

“A war crime!?” she hissed again.

“To keep her from committing one,” I clarified. “He refused an unlawful order, and then relieved her of duty to remove… her from chain of command? Technically on medical grounds, I think? Basically, he formally declared she isn’t in the right frame of mind to be giving commands during combat, and she agreed.”

“And if she hadn’t…?”

“Not a lawyer, but I can guess it wouldn’t be great.”

“Not insurrection, I’ll take it.”

“S’crirs!” Maverick called out, oblivious to our hurried debate. “One minute! Please confirm!”

“We still have ships in range.” Brol was as close to despondent as the translation software could get.

Arthur started switching feet impatiently. “How close can you get to dreadnought without getting shot?”

“With absolute certainty? Further is preferable.”

“With fifty percent certainty,” he insisted. “With your craziest pilots and a lot of hope, how close?”

Brol burbled for a moment. “If we maintain shields, we would still be out of the dreadnought’s gravity well.”

“Drop the shields. Let’s be really crazy.”

“We would be vulnerable to enemy fire.”

Arthur sighed. “Ask Xale, please? Because without that, you’ll be vulnerable to the fact that the enemy sucks, in the worst possible literal sense.”

Ix’al’s voice was next. “Xale insists that if we evacuate the cargo vessels and place them on programming without shields, they may survive, and we would avoid the most casualties.”

“Do it!” I screamed, realising what Maverick was suggesting. “Fewest lives at risk, lossable targets, and it will give a distraction while everyone else gets the hell out of dodge.”

“Thirty seconds,” Maverick counted off. “And I can’t delay that. The Ark will come apart if I don’t do something soon, and right now I can’t change her trajectory.”

Tyche’s head twitched like she was following a particularly close fly. “Maverick. Maintain course for one additional minute.”

“The Ark - “

“Ninety seconds. That’s what we need. Sending plan now.”

It took all of five seconds - the heaviest, longest five seconds I could recall - for him to scan her idea. “S’crirs fleet. You have ninety seconds from mark.  And…. mark!”

Odvub’s voice shimmered across us. “Pirate vessels drawing in proximity to Eko-mari dreadnought, closer than safety protocols. Eko-mari fleet is diverting to those vessels. Communications suspect mass retaliatory detonation of cores - “

“We really should have thought of that,” Arthur muttered.

“Programming now,” Brol apparently agreed. “Our populated vessels are beyond all Eko-mari gravity wells.”

“Pranav!” Maverick turned his attention. “Activate data bomb in five.”

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Two.”

“Brace!”

The Ark rocked and klaxons blared violently, yanking the ship side to side like a car fishtailing on a flat road. “Embedded vessels micro-jumped before detonation,” Huynh confirmed. “Hull integrity at thirty-three percent.”

“Drive cores detonated,” Brol added. “Increased damage to Eko-mari dreadnought due to proximity.”

“No Eko-mari ships detected beyond dreadnought,” Arthur huffed, fighting to keep his balance. “No loss of S’crirs fleet detected beyond intended. Fleet confirm.”

“Confirmed.”

“I am thrilled to know everyone is okay.” Conor’s voice was entirely genuine. “But at this speed, when we hit the gravity well of the star, the Ark is going to come apart and we’ll be face planting into a nuclear bomb.”

“If that dreadnought doesn’t take us out first,” Arthur agreed. “We’re basically in a race for who kills us faster, Maverick: them or us, and they have the lead.”

“Thought you grew up in Pan Am, Farro.” Maverick ground out. When I focused on them, it was clear that both he and Evan were holding the ship on course with force of will, a firm grip, and determination.

“Former California region…” Arthur said hesitantly. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“All hands, brace for maneuver.”

I scrabbled for purchase with not only my hands, but in a vain attempt to brace my feet against structures just too far to apply any force to. It was nothing compared to the efforts of some, who were nowhere near a solid surface despite nearly forty hours of Maverick’s piloting.

“Okima, what does that have to do with anything?” Arthur asked again.

“Batter up,” Mav grunted.

Evan shouted, “Acceleration maneuver, mark!”

As I watched, it looked like the force of the maneuver was pulling Tyche’s body into a sitting position.  I honestly thought nothing of it, at first, because I was so focused on the pilots and listening for any sounds of damage - like the Ark falling apart.

It was when her arm drifted into Evan’s field of vision, only to be swatted away to drift, that I started freaking out. “Tyche!” I shouted. “TYCHE!”

Almost reluctantly, one of her arms pulled in, and her hand clenched to put one finger across her lips. “Shh,” she admonished quietly. “It’s all or nothing now. Just watch.”

“Watch wh-”

Klaxons. Again. “Hull integrity below ten percent. Full breach beginning at Level Seventeen.”

“EVAN!” Maverick shouted suddenly. “CRANK IT!”

All at once, the Ark wrenched to the side and lurched forward. What I could only describe as a full body - full ship? - shudder sent tremors through everyone and everything.

“We’ve lost the drives!” Conor shouted. “Repeat - we’ve lost the drives! They are on a direct collision course for - Mav you son of a bitch!”

“It. Was. Tyche’s. Idea,” Maverick ground out as he forced the Ark on course with Evan’s assistance. “It. Was going. To tear. Loose. Anyway.”

“Pilot Okima,” Noah buzzed in a hideous tone that sounded like flat out panic. “The Ark is not on trajectory for a gravity brake.”

“We’re aware!” Evan forced out. “We should be on course to hit the steam on the hot side!”

“Drives to strike Eko-mari dreadnought in ninety seconds,” Odvub advised.

Evan nodded. “And that should make us fast enough to keep from being yanked into the atmosphere!”

“There is no data to support your conclusions,” Noah insisted angrily.

“Sure there is,” Maverick gasped. “We do this all the time.”

“There is no record of any human using planetary gravity to safely land a vessel,” came the retort.

Arthur started laughing insanely, only to be joined by Charly and Huynh, sparking concerns for everyone’s mental health.

Even our co-pilot was grinning maniacally. “Stop looking for safe landings, and start looking for controlled crashes.”

“Drive collision with Eko-mari dreadnought in three… two… one.”

The closest I could come to describing what happened next was a lurch. Except, we never stopped lurching - it was like riding a slingshot, waiting to see how long the shot lasted. Everyone who wasn’t secured was plastered against the same wall of Level One, grimacing against the pressure.

“Eko-mari dreadnought destroyed.”

I would have cheered if I could draw a breath to do it. They were gone.

“Hitting Kepler Four Four Two gravity well in four.”

Wait, what?

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

A jolt, and the pressure gave up slightly. “Trajectory on course for Von,” Evan gasped. “It won’t be pretty, but we’re on course. No bodies in system to divert course.”

“Please tell me we are on course for the cold side?” I begged miserably.

“Not enough atmo,” Evan argued. “We need the cushion on the hot side. Tropical steam is thick.”

“And no mosquitos,” Tyche added dreamily. “It will be nice, right?”

I cut her a glare, knowing she wouldn’t see it. “Gotta live to enjoy it. That whole thing.”

“On track for Von atmosphere in ten minutes,” Odvub advised.

Charly rallied herself to come over and physically shake me into action - at least until Antoine swatted at her and said something about puncturing a lung.  To be fair, he was irritated enough that he could have meant hers.

“All hands,” I gasped over comms. “Ten minutes under current acceleration to brace for impact with atmosphere.” Taking another breath, I groaned a bit. “We trained for years under more pressure than this,” I assured the ship as much as myself. “We can at least get to safe locations to brace. The safe rooms are open on Levels Three through Ten. Full of smooshy shit. All the water and hard things have been taken out.”

As much as I wanted to get up and help, Antoine only double checked my bandages and pulled a few knots tighter to make sure I didn’t, in fact, get up. One conciliation was stuffing something soft between my spine and bench I was braced against. “Pillow from bunk room,” he added shortly. “We can’t heal spine fractures if this goes right.”

I didn’t even bother trying to ask what would happen if this went wrong.

“Life pods have made impact,” Odvub provided. “Locations centered on the pole designated From, beacons are being tracked by the S’crirs fleet.”

“Noted,” Arthur muttered as he moved to sit against the wall being indicated by slowly flashing lights.

The entrance to Level One irised open, startling everyone. When several people moved toward the door in defensive postures, three hands reached through - two with short stubby fingers, one spidery with too many joints. “I am coming to assist in securing everyone against impact,” Noah buzzed, this time coming from the door rather than the ceiling.

“Five minutes,” Maverick updated us around the time that most people were in secure grips and thick, mushroom feet were vanishing into the deck.

Eino, of all people, struggled the most, insisting that everyone else be secured before he was. Finally, he briskly walked over to Arthur and shoved him to deck, using only the element of surprise. “You are no use dead,” Eino admonished. “Secure your own mask before assisting others.”

“Three minutes.”

Arthur opened his mouth to argue, but Eino shook his head in a - motherly? - disapproval. “No. We are controlling the crash. There are no tactics. There is only surviving.”

More bewildered than I had every seen him, Arthur slowly stood and made his way to where everyone else was being secured against impact. Eino followed closely, waited until he seemed satisfied that his mentee was safe, then surrendered to Noah’s insistence.

“Two.”

“Mav,” I shouted. “You’ve gotta be secured.”

“Noah can secure me here,” he argued. “We still have minor attitude thrust, and I’ll need them to the last minute.”

“Evan, talk some sense into him!”

She shook her head determinedly. “Same here. We go down, I go down.”

“One.”

“Noah!” I screamed. “Do something! Sedate them!”

“I regret that we have very little control of the Ark at this time,” Noah admitted as two of their bodies went to the pilots, both basically sitting on Tyche to secure her to the deck before wrapping all limbs around the pilots as carefully as possible without restricting their arms. “If they state they can improve our chances of survival, I have no choice but to acquiesce.”

“MAVERICK!” I begged. “Please, please…. I know we need you now, but I need you after this. Conor needs you after this. We need you to live…”

“Brace for impact in thirty seconds.”

“NO!” I kept screaming, shouting for Maverick and Tyche until my voice until the last second.

“Impact in ten.”

“Tyche!”

“Nine.”

“GODS DAMMIT, LET ME GO!”

“Eight.”

“NO! NOOO! GODS DAMMIT, I’LL KILL YOU!”

“Seven.”

“Please,” I sobbed. “Please… one of you, both of you…”

“Six.”

“Mav, please.” I could barely breathe, and the last thing I was thinking about was impact.

“Five.”

“TYCHE!” I tried shouting. “This isn’t funny.”

“Four.”

“Sophia, stop!” Arthur shouted. “You’ll kill them if they get up.”

“Three.”

“FUCK YOU!” I spat at my best friend, the taste of metal sharp in my mouth.

“Two.”

I tried to draw a breath, but choked on the blood in my throat.

“One.”

Everything in me shook with pain, and then it was all black.

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[engel2011-blog1]

Honduras: Limites y Retos del Gobierno de la Refundación

Escrito por: Engels Bladimir López Sánchez[1]

De la transición democrática neoliberal a la transición refundacional socialista

El 27 de enero del 2024 se conmemoraron dos años del Gobierno de la presidenta Xiomara Castro, en un contexto marcado por los ataques de la derecha y la política injerencista de los Estados Unidos, a través de sus dispositivos ideológicos: Embajada Norteamericana, sectores de la sociedad civil y medios de comunicación. Asimismo, un contexto en que el Gobierno en muchas ocasiones no ha logrado gestionar en el campo institucional las demandas de la población y de los movimientos sociales, ante la fragmentación ideológica de un gran sector del gabinete ministerial que en términos políticos esta más cerca del Liberalismo, que, de los principios de la Refundación Socialista.

La llegada la Presidenta ha significado el resurgir de las fuerzas progresistas, ante la hegemonía que por más de 30 años mantuvo el bipartidismo tradicional (Partido Liberal y Partido Nacional). Estas estructuras políticas- partidarias, en el marco de la llamada “transición democrática” inauguraron las políticas neoliberales a través del proceso de “la puerta giratoria” entre el sector privado, las multilaterales y las élites en sus diferentes matices: política, religiosa, económico y militar. El neoliberalismo en Honduras, como doctrina económica, política, ética, cultural y militar, ha sido uno de los países de Latinoamérica donde sus efectos han sido altamente devastadores.

Las políticas neoliberales conllevaron a un  proceso de desnacionalización y privatización de la economía, despolitización de la ciudadanía y debilitamiento de las relaciones sociales, destrucción de la institucionalidad pública de corte social, la militarización de la sociedad y las instituciones públicas, creación de redes de corrupción públicas-privadas que saquearon las finanzas públicas, la instauración de un fascismo social de naturaleza clasista, racista, xenofóbica y patriarcal, la entrega del territorio rural, indígena y campesino al gran capital y, la construcción de un Estado-Mafia, que resguardo y reprodujo los intereses del narcotráfico, los poderes facticos y el crimen organizado.

Ante el fracaso de la transición democrática y del modelo neoliberal, la narrativa política e ideológica que ha posicionado el Partido LIBRE, ha sido la del Poder Popular, Refundación y el SD. La experiencia progresista Latinoamericana del Siglo 21 sugiere, que cada Partido y Gobierno crea su propio sujeto de cambio, su método de transformación y su proyecto societal. En Honduras, el sujeto de cambio se plantea alrededor de la idea del Poder Popular, el método de transformación se concibe bajo la idea de la Refundación y el proyecto societal futuro, gira en las fronteras del SD.

En palabras de la Presidenta Castro la Refundación es “cambio en las relaciones sociales y económicas de producción en beneficio del desarrollo equitativo; cambiar la forma en que los hondureños nos relacionamos con la riqueza y la forma en la que se focalizan los recursos de nuestro país”[2]. Es decir, la Refundación como método de cambio y transformación que se sustenta en tres principios: instrumental, política e ideológica. Instrumental, porque ofrece un nuevo marco analítico para comprender e interpretar la realidad social. Política, porque increpa las estructuras de dominación colonial, racista, patriarcal y clasista. Y es ideológica, porque moviliza el proyecto de cambio y transformación de las clases subalternas.

El momento actual de la Refundación en Honduras lo podemos enmarcar alrededor del “Retorno del Estado”,  en seis campos refundacionales: i) campo energético, el rescata de la Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE), ii) campo institucional, la creación de nuevas Secretarias de Estado (de naturaleza social), iii) campo territorial, políticas de seguridad alimentaria, ambientales y resolución de conflictos agrarios, iv) campo de las relaciones internacionales, ampliación de las relaciones económicas con diversos países (China), más allá de la centralidad comercial de Estados Unidos, v) campo de salud y educación, creación de hospitales públicos y el aumento de presupuesto público y, vi) campo jurídico, derogación de leyes lesivas para el Estado de Derecho y la eliminación de Fideicomisos en manos del sector privado.

En Honduras la idea del SD se presenta más como una narrativa, que como un proyecto de transformación acabado. Analizando algunos de los principales discursos de la Presidenta Castro, el SD lo componen nueve ideas principales: i) el Estado como promotor de la justicia, libertad, bienestar, igualdad y paz, ii) la democracia participativa y directa, iii) política exterior soberana, multilateral y complementaria, iv) desarrollo territorial sustentable y descentralizado, v) la identidad morazánica como forma de cambio cultural y ético, vi) defensa del pluralismo cultural/multicultural de la sociedad, vii) la aceptación del mercado como elemento central en el modelo económico, enfatizando el rol del Estado, viii) construcción de una economía social de naturaleza endógena, v) creación de instituciones democráticas y transparentes y,  ix) medidas encaminadas a asegurar una mejor distribución del ingreso y combate a la concentración desmedida de la riqueza.

El SD respeta los derechos humanos, la democracia, promueva la democratización de la economía y refuerza la inclusión social[3]. En Honduras el posicionamiento del SD se viene dando alrededor de una serie de “estrategias refundacionales”, comprendidas como un instrumento político de acción que promueve cambios reformistas, modernizadores y revolucionarios en un contexto de transición política refundacional. Sobresalen tres estrategias: i) populismo refundador, ii) centralidad del Estado y, iii) política internacional contestaria y abierta. Las estrategias en el campo político han logrado antagonizar con la derecha e ir desmotando el sentido común del neoliberalismo en el campo mediático.

La primera, se ha centrado en crear una frontera antagónica entre ellos (la élite) y nosotros (pueblo en resistencia), y retomar los valores y experiencias del pasado como forjadores del futuro (cultura Morazanista y el golpe de Estado de 2009). La segunda, se ha caracterizado en devolverle al Estado su centralidad económica, política, cultural, a través de una mayor presencia de las instituciones públicas en la sociedad. Y la tercera, en mantener un discurso antiimperialista moderado y relaciones abiertas en un mundo multipolar, conllevando a que la Presidenta Castro promueva y lidere procesos de integración económica desde una perspectiva latinoamericanista.

En conclusión, la transición refundacional se está centrando en un amplio proceso del Retorno del Estado, el cual ha dejado de ser aquella unidad política abstracta, ficticia y fáctica que legitimó el orden neoliberal y que poco a poco, abre grietas y fisuras que ponen en perspectiva un cambio y transformación: a lo que hoy llamamos transición refundacional. ¿Cuál será su dinámica y orientación? Es pronto para afirmarlo, sin embargo, la disputa ideológica y política girará alrededor de dos grandes proyectos: el neoliberal-empresarial y el refundacional-popular.

Limites y retos de la transición refundacional[4]

En el marco de la transición refundacional identifico 7 grandes limites, presentes en cuatro campos de transformación: 1) Campo Ideológico:  i) La persistencia de la razón neoliberal en la gestión institucional en un contexto de crisis políticas múltiples, ii) Poca articulación política y programática entre la Refundación, Poder Popular y el SD, c). 2). Campo Político: iii) La ausencia de la batalla de las ideas y un populismo refundacional con peligros de derivas autoritarias, iv) Falta de planificación estratégica que promueva la transformación de la matriz productiva y el desarrollo de una nueva política social que ataque las diferentes desigualdades. 3) Campo Institucional: v) Los particularismos, caudillismo y clientelismo en la administración pública y una ética burocrática apiñada en la Jaula de Hierro y, vi) Lucha pragmática contra las redes de corrupción público-partidaria-privada. 4) Campo Geopolítico:  vii) La geopolítica colonialista de los Estados Unidos, en un marco de desaceleración de la económica global, consolidación del narcotráfico y el crimen organizado y los efectos globales de la Pandemia de la Covid19.

Lo anterior nos obliga a dimensionar desde una perspectiva critica la dinámica de los actores nacionales, los problemas institucionales del Gobierno como factor explicativo y la geopolítica en clave regional e internacional en un escenario global multipolar. Los límites y retos ponen en perspectiva lo que Ernesto Laclau y Chantal Mouffe[5], han llamado como el difícil nacimiento de una nueva lógica política y lo que Enrique Dussel[6], ha identificado como la falta de articulación político, institucional y normativa del proyecto de transformación, ante la dispersión en el campo político de la acción colectiva, acción civil, acción estratégica y la acción hegemónica.

Esquema  #1

Límites del Gobierno de la Refundación

Fuente: Elaboración propia

Los limites ponen en perspectiva la forma en la cual la transición refundacional es bloqueada por una serie de limites (conducción, ejecución y transformación), que deberán de resolverse en los diferentes campos de transformación, en los esfuerzos por encausar un proceso político refundacional con bases sólidas y consecuente con la realidad del país. Es por esto, que combatir de manera táctica y estratégica la razón neoliberal, sea una de las tareas principales para abrir cause a la razón refundacional socialista. Mas allá de la voluntad política, este giro dependerá del talento estratégico de la clase dirigente y de la presión desde abajo: desde los movimientos sociales y populares alrededor de los principios del Poder Popular.

Esquema  #2

Retos del Gobierno de la Refundación

Fuente: Elaboración propia

Los retos tratan de poner en perspectiva los cambios en los diferentes campos en los cuales confluye la transición actual: Refundación, Socialismo Democrático y Poder Popular. Mas allá de una conceptualización y delimitación política, se trata de reforzar los principios políticos en el campo refundacional que promueva la creación de un nuevo orden político, institucional y fundación de las relaciones internacionales, en un contexto de cohesión interna e integración externa. En el fondo, los retos intentan decir que definir y priorizar los distintos niveles de estrategias y acciones política será clave, para resolver en el seno de campo refundacional los límites de LIBRE como Partido y los límites del Poder Popular, como actor principal en el proceso de construcción del Socialismo Democrático.

En conclusión, la discusión sobre el Modelo de Estado, Modelo de Sociedad y Modelo Económico vendrá después que se resuelva o delimite en el campo político los límites y retos que encara la transición refundacional. Sin duda, la pregunta que surge de fondo es, si una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente resuelve en el campo ideológico, político e institucional los límites y retos. De no ser así, el campo para pensar el cambio y la transformación en Honduras sigue abierto, a las posibilidades múltiples del futuro o a las limitaciones históricas de la coyuntura actual. Por ahora, profundizar sobre los limites y retos parece ser el cometido histórico más importante, en un país donde el tren de la Revolución Socialista del siglo XX fue efímero y la noche militar, neoliberal y conservadora ha sido larga.

[1] Egresado de la Escuela de Sociología y Trabajo Social de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH). Pasante de la Maestría en Ciencia Politica y Sociologia, en la Facultad Latinoamérica de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO-Argentina).

[2] El pensamiento de Xiomara Castro en sus discursos, Tegucigalpa, SECAPPH, Editorial Nacional, Eva Thais, 2003, pp.37.

[3] Brunednius, Claes y Bitar, Sergio (Editores), Socialismo democrático en el nuevo siglo: opciones para América Latina, Santiago, Chile, Editorial Catalonia, 2022, pp.45.

[4] Este apartado es una síntesis de un documento (en construcción) más amplio que el autor ha titulado: “Los Límites de la Refundación en Honduras: A dos años del Gobierno de la Presidenta Xiomara Castro”. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 2024.

[5] Laclau, Ernesto y Mouffe, Chantal, Hegemonía y estrategia socialista: Hacia una radicalización de la democracia, Argentina, FCE, 2004, pp. 79-85.

[6] Dussel, Enrique, 20 tesis de política, México, Siglo XXI, 2006, pp. 48-54.

[lazyvase]

TMNT 2036 Season 1

Ok so. I've laid out all the big players for my iteration. While there are still a few characters I want to go over, I think now I can actually go over some of my ideas for episodes, plotlines, and arcs. (Arcs will last around 13 episodes).

? Guide: One question mark means I don't know the order. Two question marks mean I don't know the order and the title. Three question marks mean I have a vague concept.

Arc One: Father Bother

As the turtles begin to explore the surface, an overbearing Splinter accompanies them. We set up the key players here.

Episode 1: "Welcome to Stockman Industries." On their 15th birthday, the turtles finally get to accompany Splinter to the surface. After some brief shenanigans, they are caught by MOUSERS. They are locked up, with Splinter being separated from them, and are planned to be experimented on. Local hacktivist April O'Neil, after discovering some shady things during her internship, attempts to expose Stockman Industries. She gets caught. To avoid leaving evidence, Stockman attempts to have her be eaten by the the turtles. Fortunately, they don't (though Raph is tempted). The turtles and April team up to escape and rescue Splinter. They take on WRATHS and MOUSERS. Bebop and Rocksteady easily overpower the turtles. April frees Splinter and he easily overpowers Bebop and Rocksteady. They all escape. Concerned with the Toe Clan's abilities, Stockman calls Shredder.

Episode 2: "Back to the Sewers". We explore the turtle's lair. The turtles and April try to convince Splinter to let the turtles back onto the surface. After an attack from some MOUSERS, Splinter agrees, for his family will never be safe until Stockman is stopped. Also, getting out of the lair would help prevent it from being discovered. Shredder reviews the footage of the turtles sent by Stockman, and sets his sights on them.

Episode 3: "The Technodrome". The Toe Clan and April go to the Technodrome, the coolest arcade in NYC. Shenanigans ensue. Stockman and Chaplin hack the robotic employees to attack the Toe Clan. At the end its revealed to the audience that the manager, Craig, is some pink, squishy brain thing. He plans to keep the turtles quiet at any cost.

Episode ?: "Misstep". Upon discovering the connection between the Foot Clan and Stockman, April O'Neil does some investigation and discovers the Foot Clan's criminal activity. Splinter, in disbelief that the Clan would go down this path, leads a mission to confront the Foot Clan. It's in this episode that we learn Splinter's pre-mutation backstory. We hear the greatness of Oroku Saki. Ironically, the Toe Clan has their first fight with Foot Elite. Note: Sometime before this episode (or maybe even in this episode) I want the turtles to tell April each of their conflicting ideas about Splinter's origin. Leo believes Splinter was once human and a respected ninja master, who was turned into a rat mutant by his fallen pupil. Raph believes that Splinter was once a famous action movie star, who spent years fighting in a death arena full of monsters. The exposure to gallons of monster blood slowly turned him into a rat mutant. Donnie believes that Splinter is the only successful attempt at a government project aimed to resurrect history's greatest warriors in order to create an unstoppable army. Mikey says a rat was accidentally enrolled in a dojo. The rat was later struck by lighting and turned into a rat mutant.

Episode ?: "A Day At The Aquarium". The Toe Clan and April go to the aquarium. They discover that it's a front for the Black Dragons Gang. They fight the Black Dragons and their gang leader, Xiomara Montes.

Episode ???: Introduce Hun and The Purple Dragon Corporation.

Episode ???: Introduce Bishop and X-Triad Agents. Supermarket set.

Episode ???: Mutant of the Week

Episode ???: Comic con adventure (subject to be moved).

Episode ? ?: "Wyrm Removal". The Toe Clan and April try to save the mutant worm, Wyrm. He doesn't make it easy.

Episode ?: "Unfriendly Competition". The turtles and April are trying to get enough Technodrome Tickets in order to get a limited edition Genghis Frog action figure. Unfortunately, some of April's bullies are after it too. Note: Karai and Casey (and Natsu?)

Episode ???: Leatherhead returns to the turtles. Splinter is not happy.

Episode 13: "Wrong Foot Forward". The Foot Clan and Stockman Industries enter an official partnership in order to take down The Purple/Black Dragons and The Toe Clan. Splinter breaks his leg. Note: Well, Splinter actually doesn't break his leg, Foot Elite breaks it. You see Foot Elite has a power-level of 4 turtles, meaning that really only Splinter can go one on one with him. At first, Splinter is going all out on him. However, during the fight, Foot Elite's hat and faceplate is knocked off, revealing that he's Oroku Saki. This is a shock to Splinter and the audience. Well, maybe. Even as the Foot Elite, Saki still uses his vambraces. Meanwhile, Hattori Tatsu as Shredder uses only a sword. Now that Splinter knows he's fighting his former master, best friend, and brother, he starts holding back. This held him open to a devastating attack by Saki. Note 2: The partnership results in Foot Tech Ninjas and prototype Footbots.

Arc Two: Bad Friends

Episode 14: "First Steps". Wanting revenge, the turtles attempt to take the Foot Clan head on and sabotage their deal with Stockman. But without Splinter leading them, the mission faces major setbacks. Meanwhile, Splinter tries to join the boys despite his leg. A mysterious figure makes this even harder. Note: It's The Rat King. And he's gonna be with Splinter for the rest of this arc.

Episode 15 "Rat Cage": The turtles do everything in their power to make sure Splinter stays put and heals. Escapades ensue. Meanwhile, Donnie gets an online girlfriend. Note: This is mainly so we have time for "Metalhead2021" to be regularly mentioned throughout the latter half of the season. This is a surprise tool that will help us later.

Episode ???: Turtles learn Craig's true identity: Krang. Note: Must come before "My Lab Teacher's a Monkey"

Episode ??: Bishop is forced to team up with Zog. After an "accident" with her breathing apparatus, the turtles get their own personal Triceraton Warrior.

Episode ???: Meet Nobody

Episode ?: "My Lab Teacher's a Monkey". April is stuck with Casey as a lab partner. Krang gives the turtles special holographic technology to look like humans. They attend school with April. An accident results in the mutation of April's science teacher, Dr. Rockwell.

Epsiode ??: Bishop leads an all out attack on Krang.

Episode ???: Foot Tech Ninjas

Episode ???: Mutant of the Week

Episode ???: Protoype Foot Bot

Episode ??: Thinking that his brothers aren't doing enough to stop the Foot, Raph becomes the vigilante Nightwatcher. He meets the vigilante Skullcrusher, and the two become a force to be reckoned with.

Episode ??: Donnie finally meets his online girlfriend face to face. His brothers are incredibly suspicious.

Episode 26: "The Gauntlet". With Stockman's new mech suit about to be unveiled, The Toe Clan springs into action. Splinter has a rematch with Foot Elite. The Turtles face the Shredder. Everyone faces the Stockman Pod.