#loyalty 3.0

[seriouspunches]

Collection of Soukoku Official Art

Part 3.0:

Studio Bones

Red camellias (which are often associated with Soukoku) indicate passionate and romantic love. They’re known to symbolize deep desire, as well as unwavering loyalty and faith. It’s no wonder these flowers were the ones chosen for their art, given that in order for Double Black to work together they have to place their lives in each other’s hands.

The red string. Two people who are believed to be destined for each other. Asagiri has stated Chuuya was made for Dazai and the director of Dead Apple said they are “a soul in two bodies”.

[just-here-with-my-thoughts]

Welcome To The Outpost: Part 3.0 - Epilogue

@badthingshappenbingo prompt: "Going Into Hiding'

Fandom: The Bad Batch Characters: CT-9904 Crosshair, CT-9901 Hunter, The Bad Batch, Clone Commander Mayday (mentioned) Word Count: ~7315 Read Here on AO3

Synopsis: When circumstances force a return to the doomed outpost on Barton IV, Crosshair has a chance to confront Mayday's memory and all he taught him about loyalty.

This is it people, the feature-length finale!

Read Part 1.1 - Frozen Read Part 1.2 - Rise From The Ashes Read Part 1.3 - Lost Battle Read Part 1.4 - No Way Out Read Part 1.5 - Rock And A Hard Place Read Part 2.1 - Last Chance Read Part 2.2 - Broken Read Part 2.3 - Swept Away Read Part 2.4 - Grief Read Part 2.5 - Betrayal

I know a facility.

Remote.

Understaffed.

Shouldn’t be a problem to infiltrate.

Crosshair had found himself a secluded corner on Echo’s ship and occupied it for the entire journey, eyes glazed, staring at nothing. Omega came to check on him, as did Echo, but he simply shrugged off their concern with a wordless dismissal, careful not to meet their gaze.

The prospect of returning to Barton IV was a crushing weight inside his chest, and he felt sure that if he tried to speak he would throw up.

Eventually the whine of the ship’s engines changed as they left hyperspace, and the slight jostle of turbulence told him they had entered atmosphere.

Hunter stalked past without glancing at him. “Kit up,” was his growled command, without stopping.

Crosshair dropped a hand to the kit crate at his side, running his fingertips along the seams of the latches.

His armour.

Wrecker had saved it for him.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to put it back on. So much had changed. He was a different person since then.

Reluctantly he dragged himself to his feet and followed Hunter to the cockpit.

“On approach,” said Echo matter-of-factly. “Reading minimal life signs, if any.”

He supposed to the others that was reassuring.

Crosshair peered out the front screen, trying to see the dark grey of the depot nestled against the crook of the mountain. Instead he found himself squinting against the bright white glare of layered snow, the mere sight of it enough to draw an involuntary shiver from him.

Then he picked out the roofs of buildings, tips of sensor posts almost buried in the snow. Had an avalanche swamped the outpost too?

No, the mountain looked peaceful. Snow eddied in the wind, and he could see by the way it was piled against buildings which once stood on stilts that this was merely time and neglect which had let the drifts come in and swallow the depot.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Echo settled the ship onto the clean, unbroken snow, the top layer frozen to ice. He checked the sensors a final time as he powered down the systems.

“No heat signatures inside the depots, and nothing on comms.” The cyborg clone leaned back in his chair, turning his face to Hunter. “There’s no-one here.”

Wrecker turned his attention to Crosshair, taking in his casual attire.

“Wha’s the matter?” he asked, booming voice concerned. “Your old armour no good?”

Crosshair dropped his head and folded his arms tightly round his body, defensively shutting himself off from the others and working to supress the shudder of chill which threatened to betray him.

“It’s fine,” he muttered, turning from the others to head to the back of the ship. “I’ll be ready.”

*

Locking himself in one of the ship’s tiny cabins helped. It gave him time and space from the prying eyes of his brothers – from Hunter’s constant surveillance – to finally review his armour.

Yes, he’d glimpsed it as he’d opened the box in puzzlement when Wrecker first presented it to him. But getting it out – putting it on – felt like a whole other level of commitment.

Committing to being back with the Batch. To reclaiming part of what he had lost.

Taking a steadying breath, Crosshair released the latches and eased the kit crate open slowly, like he was readying for some detonation or other booby trap to spring.

Nothing happened. The lid opened silently on well-oiled hinges, revealing the neatly stacked segments of his Kartan-class armour.

Ash grey and blood red.

He remembered a laugh huffed through dying lungs. Remembered his own laugh in response, wild and edged with hysteria.

It almost bubbled up again now.

He picked up the helmet first, skimming his gloved fingertips over the visor, tracing the shape where it widened to accommodate his scope and the line art picked out in lighter grey paint around it.

A crosshair. That’s on the nose.

His lips pressed thin with tension he laid the helmet aside and reached for the next piece of his armour.

He handled each piece with care as he retrieved it, turning and inspecting it for damage – like he thought his brothers would have gotten any of this out and used it whilst he was gone.

Except they had. He remembered Omega telling him how Tech had fitted his wrist-com to her.

Trust Tech to go through his belongings without permission.

Crosshair bit back the hollow feeling like part of his soul was missing and continued his task.

His movements became more efficient, confident now that everything was as it should be. Pulling the spare blacks from the bottom of the case, he stripped out of his civilian clothes to put them on. The fabric gaped loosely against his body, a reminder he didn’t want of how much things had changed.

Then he was ready, and he would have to walk to meet his brothers.

Crosshairs and skulls.

Ash grey and blood red.

Except they no longer wore the same paint. He wouldn’t look like a member of Clone Force 99 returned to the fold. It would just be another sign of how out-of-place he was amongst them, trailing after those whose lives had moved on without him.

Still, Wrecker’s greeting when he emerged in his old armour was enthusiastic.

“Hey, it does fit!”

Crosshair ignored their scrutiny, gaze roving over the snowed-under depot and then up to the dazzling blue sky beyond the mountain peaks.

A solitary ice vulture wheeled against the open air, its lonely screech echoing through the stillness.

Any chance at introspection was broken by Hunter stepping close to him, posture tense, blaster ready in his hands.

“You said this outpost was remote, not abandoned entirely,” he said, the accusation clear in his voice.

Crosshair bristled in response, holding his rifle in front of himself defensively. “Well I didn’t get daily intel briefings in my cell,” he hissed, drawing himself up tall and rigid, hanging on to the only advantage he had over Hunter – his height.

Hunter leaned in close, undeterred. “I get the feeling there’s more to this place than you’re saying.”

The pit of Crosshair’s stomach dropped. Of course there was. He’d been through so much here, in such a short space of time.

You can’t go.

But he wasn’t going to say that.

Before he had time to think of an alternative response, they were interrupted by the lurca hound. Batcher was snarling and whining, shaking her head as she champed at the ground. Hunter turned away, distracted.

“There’s a high-pitched tone coming from those sensors,” he said. “What are they for?”

Crosshair ventured forwards a few steps, looking out towards the lazily pulsing red lights of the near-submerged beacons. He felt a wave of bitterness on behalf of a lost clone commander that the devices were now doing their job, like they hadn’t to keep him and his men alive.

“Perimeter detection against local raiders,” he said, letting some of the vehemence creep into his voice.

Hunter whirled on him. “You didn’t think to warn us about these raiders before?”

Painful thoughts too fresh in his mind, Crosshair met Hunter’s aggression with his own.

“No,” he ground out, voice strained through clenched teeth. “They were all dealt with.”

“And how do you know that?”

His mind flashed back to a cavern in the mountainside; blaster fire and an explosion; an avalanche. A broken body.

Let Hunter think what he wanted. It didn’t matter. Crosshair knew the truth and those memories were his and his alone; he wouldn’t share them with unwilling listeners.

Hunter didn’t care about this base. Didn’t care why Crosshair knew it was here, not really, other than to try and analyse every answer he gave for evidence that he couldn’t be trusted.

So, “Take a guess,” he said, pushing past his tattooed brother, stalking away from the others.

Let them think the worst of him.

It was so much easier to face their distrust, than to tear himself apart on their disbelief if he told them what really happened.

That he had turned on the Empire of his own accord.

That he had done it for a reg.

*

Crosshair shivered inside his armour. It was no warmer inside the depot than out.

And it was colder than the last time he was here. At least then, the welcome had been warm.

An unsettled feeling twisted low in his gut. The main building of the depot was all but submerged in snow, but this was the neglect of many months. The Empire hadn’t bothered to maintain this outpost after they had extracted the cargo from it. They had simply abandoned it.

Like they had abandoned the clone troopers they had stationed to guard it.

Omega ran past him, heading straight to the console they needed to plug the Imperial datapad into.

“The power to this outpost has been nearly depleted by the sensor beacons,” she declared as she screen blinked to life.

Echo leaned over her shoulder, inspecting the readout.

“Then we need to divert all power to this depot,” he said, pointing at the schematic.

“On it!”

Crosshair turned slowly on the spot, scanning the expanse of the room. It seemed much larger without a maze of crates stacked almost to the ceiling.

Seeing the others had done the same, Crosshair reached up and released the seals on his helmet. The cold air bit against his pale skin, the stillness of the room oppressive.

The other four moved to explore the place with interest, Echo and Omega focused on the terminals still, whilst Hunter poked around the edges and Wrecker surveyed the place with folded arms.

“So why’d the Empire abandon this place?” the big clone asked, sounding puzzled.

Crosshair shrugged his narrow shoulders. “I guess it served its purpose,” he said, voice distant.

From his position at the console, Echo gave a non-committal grunt. “Sounds familiar.”

Crosshair couldn’t help the involuntary flinch as a loathsome voice sounded in his memory. He served his purpose as a soldier of the Empire.

Shivering away the memory, Crosshair turned his back on the others and slowly headed towards the unlit corner of the depot. Behind him Echo and Omega’s voices murmured softly as they worked on the datapad, but he didn’t really hear them. His torch beam swung across discarded equipment, chairs and containers shoved to the side of the room; everything perfectly empty, perfectly still.

He came to a halt as his feet brought him to a dark, cold cylinder standing forlornly in the middle of the floor. A portable heater, long inactive.

Heat and comfort had once spilled from this device. He’d been too reserved to approach it himself, certain he wouldn’t fit in. He had never fit in with the regs. Better to hold himself apart, to choose his isolation for himself, than to face rejection.

Until it had been picked up and carried to him. A greeting offered in shared brotherhood.

The commander’s persistence had been… infuriating. Crosshair didn’t want to share heat, didn’t want to share conversation or camaraderie. He wanted to be left alone, because after this, he would be alone again. No point pretending it would be any other way. He was one of the elite, a clone commando, one of the few products of Kamino that the Empire saw worth in keeping around.

He certainly didn’t want to associate with the reg who had spoken so disrespectfully to Lieutenant Nolan – no matter how much he admired the man’s grit in doing so.

Especially when it was so easy to imagine the long-haired clone’s face was shadowed with a tattoo, and his voice reminded him of one which had told him you’ll only ever be a number to them.

He pulled his head up quickly, not sure how long he had lost to staring at the cold, dead heater whilst memories clawed at his chest, fighting to be recognised. Determinedly, he swung his torch further into the room.

The beam winked back at him from blank, sightless visors. A tumbled pile of clone trooper helmets, carelessly discarded on the cold, bare floor.

The jolt of realisation stuttered through him, breath stilling to nothing just for a moment. Some unfamiliar feeling closed his throat, making it hard to swallow, and the circle of torchlight shook as an unbidden tremor set up through his right arm once more.

He clicked the torch off and stowed it as he moved, leaden and reluctant, towards the dishevelled memorial.

Not a memorial any more. Just cast-offs.

He couldn’t not look. Eleven helmets had sat atop the blasted, maker-forsaken cargo crates last time he was here.

Now his gaze skipped over the pile, counting, where broken and dirty plastoid was piled against abandoned clone kit lockers.

Twelve.

Ragged fabric wraps set the final helmet apart from the rest. Some unknown feeling wrenched at his core, and Crosshair didn’t know if it was desolation at finding this helmet here with the rest, or relief that it wasn’t buried, abandoned, beneath the many feet of snow outside.

His skin crawled with that familiar feeling of being watched, and he ignored it. Forcing an exhale from stilled lungs and with an effort to still his shaking hands, he bent and lifted Mayday’s helmet from the pile.

He didn’t know what he’d expected, but this was somehow worse. Abandoned. Forgotten. Discarded by the Empire, even in death, so carelessly tossed aside like they had never mattered in the first place.

Unbidden pressure stung behind his eyes as he surveyed the helm, one he’d only known for a handful of days and yet was etched indelibly in his memory. He dropped his gaze to one side, fighting the choking feeling that seized his core, fingers going tight against the cold, brittle plastoid.

Once he had his breathing back under control, he stepped forwards and carefully settled the empty bucket atop the clone kit boxes, his touch lingering as he pulled away.

For a long moment he simply started at the dark visor, wrapping himself in the memory of the commander’s calm presence and sardonic humour.

Mayday.

Would he be here without him? Six months of horror on Tantiss behind him, but finally reunited with his brothers, his… sister?

Or would he still be a pawn of the Empire, isolated, alone, fighting to prove loyalty to a master who had no qualms about betraying him?

He briefly brushed his fingers against the helmet, straightening the fabric bindings, then bent and picked up the next helmet. And the next.

He wasn’t sure why he did it. There was no-one here to see. No-one here to care what had happened to these fallen troopers.

But Mayday had cared so deeply for his lost men, so carefully maintained the memorial inside the frozen, forsaken outpost. Without conscious thought Crosshair worked quietly to rebuild the sombre display, and the tight tangle in his chest eased a little as he did.

He knew which one was Veetch’s helmet, scorched and burned by the shuttle explosion. He wondered about the rest. Mayday had mentioned some of their names, but Crosshair couldn’t remember them. He handled each helmet reverently though, arranging them as two neat rows of six, silently staring back at him.

On one helmet he fancied he could see the ghost of a hexagonal pattern, white on white. He quickly shifted the other helmets to make room beside Mayday’s, rearranging them until this helmet sat next to his.

Hexx was my oldest friend. We’d been together since… forever.

And he knew it was Hunter watching him, could still feel that heated gaze boring into his back, because they had been together since forever.

Except now Hunter was searching for every reason not to trust him. Even though he hated it, Crosshair didn’t blame him – he wasn’t sure he trusted himself.

Perhaps Tech had been right; perhaps he was fooling himself. Perhaps he really couldn’t change.

He wanted to believe he had changed. Wanted to believe it was because of Mayday.

When he finally glanced back over his shoulder, his shadow had gone. The space where Hunter should have been echoed like a void in his heart.

*

When Batcher started reacting to something outside the depot, Crosshair headed for the door without declaring his intentions.

“Where are you going?” came Hunter’s familiar growl, the same question he asked every time Crosshair had moved in his vicinity since they had been reunited. Like he couldn’t even be trusted to go to the fresher without being suspected of betrayal.

“To check the perimeter,” was Crosshair’s tired response, not bothering to look at his brother.

He traipsed back through the snow, cutting away from the path they had trodden from the ship to the building and venturing instead across the unbroken expanse of white that layered, several feet deep, over what he remembered being a dark concrete landing zone.

Somewhere down there, Mayday had gasped his last breath as blood trickled from his broken lungs under the uncaring eyes of the Empire.

Crosshair pulled his gaze up from the floor, sweeping his attention across the tranquil snowscape. At regular intervals, the rounded tops of the sensor arrays broke the surface of the snow, dark now that they had been down-powered to conserve power to the depot.

Movement fluttered in the periphery of his vision. One of the ice vultures alighted on top of the almost-submerged communications array.

He couldn’t stop staring at it, gnawing despair settling in his gut again as he wondered what had happened to Mayday after he had fallen.

The bird seemed unbothered by Crosshair’s gaze. It shook its feathers out, returning the clone’s inspection with an unblinking stare.

The muffled crunch of footsteps breaking through the top crust of ice on the snow drew an irate sigh from him.

“Are you going to follow me everywhere?” he bit out, a sour note leaching into his voice. No point hiding his feelings from Hunter. His brother would sense the tension anyway.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you keep going into hiding,” said Hunter, his voice low and gruff. “On the ship, in the depot… now hiding out here.”

A rough shove met Crosshair’s shoulder and he stumbled forwards, hissing past bared teeth as he spun to face his brother. Hunter’s tattooed face was creased in a glower which distorted his features into an unfamiliar mask. It stabbed at Crosshair’s heart to see the vehement distrust there.

“Trying to stop us finding out what happened here?”

Crosshair swallowed thickly. He didn’t want to tell them what had happened here. Didn’t want their scrutiny to destroy the sanctity of his memories.

And he certainly didn’t want to talk to Hunter right now, when he was still grappling with the dread that Mayday’s body was buried somewhere under the snow.

“Not now, Hunter,” he grit out, his gaze sliding away for a moment before returning to glare at his brother. “Or does it kill you to know you’re not the most important thing in my life?”

Hunter stepped forwards, face twisting in a snarl, gesturing back towards the depot. “Did you kill those troopers? Like you tried to kill us?”

Crosshair startled, eyes flickering wide as a lightning flash of pain crossed his features. Then he narrowed them again, pulling his defences back into place as he levelled a malevolent stare at his brother and pursed his lips, refusing to answer the accusation.

His silence did nothing to deter Hunter. He was shoved again, Hunter’s open hand colliding roughly with his shoulder, and this was achingly familiar, the way they used to fight. Hunter driving and driving until he got a reaction.

“Were they your men? Were you in charge of this outpost?” Every question was punctuated by a step forwards, and Crosshair found himself backpedalling unconsciously. Without even thinking his hands went to his firepuncher, drawing it from his pack and holding it in front of himself like a shield.

“What happened?” pressed Hunter, and his voice was low with fury. “Did they not follow Imperial orders to your liking? Did you kill them, like you killed your squad on Kamino?”

Something inside Crosshair snapped. It might have been the breaking of his heart.

He set his feet in the snow, trembling right hand finding Hunter’s chest, and shoved back with all his might. Hunter staggered back a couple of steps and dropped into a crouch, teeth bared, coiled to strike.

“He told me not to give up!” spat Crosshair, surprised as the words left his lips. He wasn’t going to justify himself to Hunter, he wasn’t, but the words spilled from him regardless. “So I didn’t. I didn’t give up on you – not like you’d given up on me. I trusted you to listen to my warning. But you didn’t, and Omega got captured anyway. That was your failing Hunter, not mine!”

He saw the barb hit home in the dilation of Hunter’s pupils, the way his top lip curled in a quiet snarl.

Knew he’d hit right at the heart of Hunter’s distress by the fact that his brother didn’t go for him. Just stood and seethed.

“I tried to warn you, Hunter,” he continued, emboldened. His voice dropped low and icy, wrapping his quaking right hand around his rifle, trying to still the tremors. “I risked everything to send you that message. You ignored it. You let Omega be taken to Tantiss.”

Hunter flinched, like the words were an attack. Except now the floodgates were open, and Crosshair couldn’t hold back if he tried.

“Omega went through what she did because you failed,” he pressed, rage burning all over again as he remembered his sister, trying to hide her distress under fragile bravery as she snuck in to visit him, day after day, during those long, helpless months of captivity. “You’re angry because she escaped with my help, not yours.” Then, the words thrown with the intent to wound, “You’re angry because she doesn’t need you any more.”

It was almost a relief when Hunter threw the first punch. It was clumsy and slow, telegraphed by anger, and Crosshair sidestepped it easily, but the electric adrenaline of their fight ricocheted up his spine as he readied to launch at his brother.

Then the lurca hound sounded a sharp bark, a noise of alarm. For a moment both clones were distracted, looking back towards the dog who danced in front of the depot. Wrecker’s broad shoulders, and Echo’s narrower frame, loomed into view behind her.

Crosshair hesitated, breathing heavily through his mouth as he fought the impulse to continue their fight. He cleared his head, taking in their surroundings. The ice vulture took off with a screech, ragged wings beating hard to carry it into the sky.

For a moment, his gaze found Hunter’s. The other’s cheeks were still flush with anger but his eyes were wide and alert, their aggression forgotten as they exchanged a querying look.

Then the ground rumbled and fractured beneath them.

A lifetime’s worth of instinct kicked in and Hunter was grabbing him, but there was no fight in it. Instead his brother threw him away from the fissuring ice, back towards the depot.

“Move!”

Yes it was a command, but not one Crosshair was going to fight him on. And something seized in his chest at the undercurrent of concern in the single word, and the way Hunter had reacted almost without thought to shove him out of the path of danger.

He glanced down at the rapidly disintegrating ground between him and Hunter, backpedalling as the crazed pattern of cracks spread and snow began to cascade away from him.

Then came the roar, a reverberated bellow of something organic, something that most definitely was not just seismic activity.

Realising the danger, he and Hunter were running even as the creature erupted. The gargantuan thing dwarfed both clone troopers, jaws snapping at the air as it screeched its freedom from the ice and snow, before crashing to the ground and lunging immediately towards its fleeing prey.

Crosshair’s long legs ate up the snow, and he’d done this before, tried to outrun an avalanche with a brother at his side who’d been swept up, broken-

He glanced to his side, saw Hunter pacing him. The sergeant gestured towards the outpost, where the others were hollering panicked encouragement to them both.

“Hurry!” came Hunter’s bitten command, and then they were lunging for the depot and Wrecker was heaving the doors closed.

They were still stumbling to a halt when the building reverberated, doors buckling under the force of the thing outside slamming against the structure.

Their stunned silence was broken by the forced cheer in Omega’s voice as she commented, “Guess we know what the perimeter sensors were meant to keep out.”

The depot shuddered again, lights at the control consoles flickering as the power cables swayed. The creature’s mighty call was only slightly muffled by the barrier, and four pairs of eyes rounded on Crosshair.

“Didn’t think to warn us about that thing either?” asked Hunter acidly.

“I didn’t know about that,” he muttered in response, even as he remembered a comment Mayday had made when he had first arrived. Don’t go far. You’ll freeze to death, unless what’s in the ice gets you first.

He pushed past the others, heading for the console where Omega’s stolen Imperial datapad was still plugged in. He pushed it to one side, tapping at the controls, pulling up reports on screen.

“Ice wyrm,” he said, tilting his chin in acknowledgement as Echo came to stand over his shoulder.

Of course he kept accurate records. He was a good soldier.

Wrecker and Hunter joined him too, and Omega wriggled her way to the front of their small cluster so she could see the screen.

“Great,” said Wrecker as the pounding outside the depot continued, “so what now?”

“We can’t get to the ship with that thing out there,” said Hunter darkly. “We’ll have to draw it beyond the sensors and reboot them.”

Crosshair scanned Mayday’s report a final time, then turned and pulled his helmet back on. “I’ll handle it,” he said, venturing to the doors. He rested one hand against them, listening to the receding sounds of movement outside.

“Not alone. We’ll do it together.”

The hand that landed on his shoulder was tense, but there was no aggression there. Crosshair glanced down at his brother, saw the look of determination on Hunter’s face.

“Sure you can trust me?” he hissed bitterly.

A moment of pain clouded Hunter’s features before he too pulled his helmet on, and he gave a short nod.

Wrecker stepped beside them, ready to heave the doors open, and Echo positioned himself between the feuding brothers.

“I’ll spot you both from the tower,” he offered, unperturbed by their antagonism.

“Then let’s get to it,” growled Hunter, “before it tears this place apart.”

*

Crosshair’s long legs ate up the ground easily, and Hunter peeled away from him in the opposite direction. It had made sense when Hunter proposed the plan; split up, so the creature in the ice couldn’t devour both of them at once.

It didn’t stop Crosshair feeling incredibly exposed as he sprinted for the perimeter, anxiously scanning the snow for any sign of disruption that would signal the wyrm’s position.

In the periphery of his vision the snow creased, then crumpled. He whipped his head round but the movement was far off – closer to Hunter.

Without breaking stride he levelled his rifle, activating his com.

“Three o’clock,” was his terse instruction, before he sent a blaster bolt arcing into the rapidly accelerating mound of snow.

His confidence in his ability may have been wavering, but his shot was on target. With a screech which reverberated in Crosshair’s bones the ice wyrm surfaced, jaws snapping as it lunged for the running figure before it.

Hunter dove to the side, throwing himself into a roll which just barely saw him clear of the creature’s attack. He rolled to his feet, a single fluid movement that tracked his target, blaster in one hand, knife in the other.

Then with a sharp, vertical drop, Hunter was gone.

“Hunter!”

Crosshair barely recognised the strangled cry which tore from him as he changed the path of his momentum, heading towards the last place he saw his brother.

He skidded to a halt when he saw the fractures in the snow and ice, a chasm opened into the wyrm tunnels below.

At his side Batcher bounced and paced the edge of the fissure, barking and whining in agitation.

Sparing a glance for his surroundings and unable to spot where the wyrm had gone when it submerged, Crosshair edged towards the hole where Hunter had disappeared.

Sunlight filtered into the tunnels below, and on a pile of crushed snow was Hunter’s body, face down, lights on his pack winking brightly in the gloom.

Crosshair would never admit to the way his heart seized as he surveyed the scene below. A clone trooper, lying broken in the snow. Injuries that couldn’t be seen behind armour.

A chunk of snow crumbled away from the edge of the pit, pattering softly down to dust Hunter’s body with flakes of ice.

Hunter’s body, lost to view as the ice consumed him.

Mayday’s body, lost to view as the avalanche consumed him.

Crosshair drew in a shuddering breath, trying to still the racing panic in his veins. He remembered another time when he’d stared down at one of his siblings lost to the depths and dark – remembered as well the anxious loathing he had felt when his brothers had trained their guns on him, despite his grapple shot being the thing that had rescued Omega.

No grapples this time, and he didn’t trust his aim even if he’d had one. He stared down at Hunter, willing him to stir with the intensity of his gaze.

Finally Hunter shifted, groggily pulling himself to his hands and knees. Crosshair released the breath he had been holding, listening to Hunter’s laboured breath through the com.

Laboured, but only with exertion. Not the sodden exhales struggling from broken lungs that had soundtracked his last stay on this planet.

With the proof he needed to still his nerves, Crosshair called down to his brother.

“Can you get outside the perimeter from down there?”

Hunter dragged himself to his feet, head swivelling as he checked both directions of the tunnel he now found himself in.

“I’ll follow the tunnel north. Find out,” he said. He sounded calm, collected.

Crosshair dropped one hand to Batcher’s scruff, and the lurca hound gave a happy huff.

“We’ll track you from up here,” he said, turning his gaze in the direction Hunter looked. A flat expanse of snow stretched between him and the wide-spaced perimeter beacons, but he had no way to tell where the danger lurked.

No use hesitating. Hunter didn’t. In the chasm beneath him his brother took off running, and Crosshair had no choice but to call the lurca hound to him and set off in the same direction.

Follow his brother, and hope Barton IV didn’t claim any more clone lives.

*

Echo told him as soon as he spotted the wyrm moving, and Crosshair spun and fired. Five shots, six, seven, before an arcing blue bolt of rifle-fire found its mark inside the creature’s gaping maw.

Far too close for comfort. The thing crashed beneath the ice again, convulsing with pain, but that only meant he’d sent the creature towards Hunter, trapped in the tunnels.

Some brother he was.

He clenched and unclenched his hand again as he ran, trying to shake the spasms from it. Tried not to think of how executing the Imperial lieutenant was the last accurate shot he ever made.

“You’re about 400 metres from the perimeter,” he said into the com, without breaking stride.

At least he hoped that was right. Batcher loped along beside him with boundless energy, and he had to hope she was keeping him on track for sprinting above where Hunter was trapped beneath the ice and snow, in a tunnel which would become a tomb if Crosshair didn’t do something about it.

The perimeter beacons were still dead and lightless but they were beyond them now, and Crosshair’s lungs burned with the exertion of running. He still hadn’t recovered fully from his long incarceration, and the ordeals contained within, and this fast and furious pace combined with the cold and dread was sapping his strength.

Then Batcher pulled up short, giving an excited bark, before starting to paw at the ice.

Without thinking Crosshair turned the rifle in his hands, starting to hammer at the ice with the butt of the firepuncher.

“We found a weak point,” he huffed through the com to Hunter. “We’ll try to dig through.”

“You’ll try?!” came his brother’s disdainful response, and he didn’t modulate his words well enough to hide his stress from Crosshair.

“Glad you heard me properly,” drawled Crosshair in sarcastic response, drawing a curtain of defensive detachment around himself as he battled with the ice.

Try not to think too hard.

Try not to think about dragging another clone trooper from the choking, killing snow.

He took a step back and reversed the rifle, firing down at the ground. The blaster fire had greater success at punching through the ice, and then he was back to bashing at it, trying to make a large enough opening so see through into the tunnel below.

He could see the floor. Closer than the break where Hunter had fallen through. He had a chance of reaching him.

Assuming the opening they’d made was in the tunnel that Hunter was trapped in.

As if on cue, Hunter���s voice sounded in his ear through their private com.

“Am I gonna have a way out of here or not?”

“If you end up where we hope you do,” breathed Crosshair, gaze riveted on the cavity beneath him.

It was an agonisingly long moment before he heard movement in the ice, and Hunter staggered into view, skidding to a stop in the patch of sunlight bursting down from Crosshair and Batcher’s position.

“Get up here!” hissed Crosshair in instant command, breaking away another edge of the ice and then leaning over as far as he dared.

“Not yet,” said Hunter, his voice dark. “Where’s the wyrm?”

Both brothers stilled, Crosshair lifting his head to gaze out over the ice. He couldn’t see anything – none of the telltale shifting of the surface that would indicate the wyrm’s passage.

He was about to ask Echo for an update when the ground shook with an almighty roar.

Redundantly, Hunter yelled, “It’s past the perimeter!”

And Crosshair relayed the order, “Omega, activate the sensors!”

The ground quaked and Crosshair swayed, almost losing his footing. Heedless of his own safety he crouched to the edge of the hole, thrusting the butt of his rifle down, anchoring it with his weight as Hunter leaped and grabbed onto the handle.

For a death-defying moment the clone sergeant hung in mid-air, feet scrabbling at nothing, as subterranean death surged towards him in the tunnel. Then his feet found the lip of the ice and Crosshair was hauling him to the surface level, and without stopping both brothers broke into a sprint back towards the perimeter.

Ahead of him, Crosshair watched the red light of the beacons pulse to life.

Behind him the ice erupted as the wyrm surfaced, jaws churning, gaining on the two clones faster than they could run.

Their only chance was to make it to the safety of the perimeter.

Crosshair could barely feel his legs. His hands were numb around his rifle.

His thoughts were full of another race in the crashing snow, a hand connecting with his shoulder and pushing him to safety.

Mayday’s body, lost to view as the avalanche consumed him.

The wyrm’s screech was deafening, the hot blast of its breath buffeting him along.

Then Hunter dived, throwing himself headlong past the beacon, and Crosshair was with him, crashing to his front in the snow, unable to keep running, waiting to feel the wyrm’s jaws on him–

A sharp whine sounded at the top end of his hearing.

Death didn’t come.

Slowly Crosshair turned, reaching up and releasing his helmet to take it off and heave in lungfuls of sharp, freezing air.

Just beyond the perimeter the gargantuan ice monster keened, head raised to the sky and mouth snapping ineffectively at nothing as the beacons did their work to repel it.

Slowly the creature crashed away from them, segmented armoured body sliding beneath the snow once more, leaving only churned ice channels in its wake.

All of a sudden the adrenaline abandoned him, and Crosshair sat back into the snow with an exhausted gasp. Around him Batcher ran in excited circles, growling and barking to see off the predator that threatened her pack.

Chest heaving as he caught his breath, Crosshair turned to the side. Hunter had similarly sagged into the ice, helmet also discarded, long hair swaying a little as his shoulders heaved.

Hunter glanced at him. He was panting through an open mouth, and the expression on his face was open and unguarded. There was no hint of the earlier anger in his eyes as he watched Crosshair steadily, their expressions mirrored.

Slowly, Hunter closed his mouth and offered a small nod.

An acknowledgement. An olive branch.

Cold and exertion still stinging his lungs, Crosshair returned the gesture, the slightest incline of his head, but it was enough. Hunter’s face softened, and an understanding passed between them that needed no words.

When Hunter looked out towards the horizon, Crosshair followed his gaze. All was tranquil. Sniper and scout sat shoulder to shoulder in the snow, whilst Crosshair's heart tangled in conflicted relief that his brother was safe.

Batcher came and plonked down beside them, leaning her muscled body up against him, and he raised a hand to pet her absent-mindedly.

Breathing lightly, keeping his gaze on the horizon, Crosshair let Hunter’s silent company begin to bind back together the fractured fragments of his soul.

*

The setting sun danced pink and gold in the sky, warm light bouncing off the snow-blanketed mountains to light the valley in a blaze of soft colour.

Crosshair’s pupils narrowed to pinpricks as his enhanced eyes drank in the light. Seeing it like this, Barton IV had a severe kind of beauty.

He wondered if Mayday had ever found time to fall in love with the planet he had been stationed. If there had been a time before hardship and abandonment, when laugher rang from the barracks as clone troopers brawled in the snow and tumbled through snow-ball fights.

The Mayday he had known held no love for Barton IV. Held no love for the Empire.

He had held love for the men he had lost.

Had found space in his scarred heart to shelter a lost sniper.

Crosshair knew firsthand how a heart could be ravaged when something you loved turned on you. If he hadn’t loved his brothers so fiercely, he wouldn’t have been so hurt by everything that came after.

Howling his despair to the mountainside that night during the snowstorm had been cathartic, finally giving voice to a wound on his soul left too long to fester. Mayday had borne witness without judgement whilst grief long repressed spilled forth, not once telling him he should clamp down on the feeling and let it drive him on in spite, like he had been doing.

Perhaps, without that, they wouldn't be here now.

Overcoming the day’s trials didn’t change things. Not really. Betrayal and hatred and love were so tightly interwoven that he couldn't separate any one thought from his complex feelings about his brother.

But Hunter, of all of them, was the other half of his soul, and time nor distance was going to change that, no matter what passed between them.

Although it was with trepidation, Crosshair was ready to face the confrontation he had been avoiding since they had reunited on Ryloth’s moon. To actually speak to Hunter, not just evade him or start an argument.

Arguing was easier. There was hurt on both sides, he could see that now.

But in this place, bolstered by the memory of a reg commander’s unwavering faith in him, he finally felt steady enough to take a step towards the middle ground.

His gaze flicked from the sun-gold horizon to where Hunter approached, eyes downcast, heading for the ship.

His nerve almost failed him. The other clone was almost up the ramp before he forced himself to speak.

“Hunter.”

The name was a rasp in his throat, but it was a relief to say it. An even bigger relief when Hunter paused, turning to him even if his expression was guarded.

Crosshair kept his back mostly to him, still scanning the distant swell of the valley where it dropped away to sunset hues. “I… I thought I knew what I was getting into with the Empire.” It was a bitter admission, the words sour in his mouth as he spoke, but they needed to be said.

The leaden weight of regret made his stomach roil. It had taken Mayday dying to show him the truth of things.

“I thought I was being a good soldier,” he said, voice imperceptibly cracking.

We were good soldiers. We followed orders. And for what?

He listened to the sound of Hunter shifting, neither approaching nor retreating. Then his brother’s gruff voice came, the words cautiously placed into the silence between them.

“…Nobody really understood what was happening back then.”

Crosshair dropped his gaze to the floor. If he tried hard, he could pretend it was an apology. As if Hunter was saying, I should have known what was happening to you.

“I’ve… done things.” He turned his head, not looking at Hunter, but offering his profile for scrutiny. Like it would somehow convince Hunter of his honesty. “I’ve made mistakes.”

Mission’s a mission.

Yeah, I used to say the same thing.

"I never gave up on you.”

Hunter’s voice was quiet, his words spoken to the distance, but they shot through Crosshair and froze him in place as readily as the ice.

"I never gave up on you.” The comment was repeated, soft and introspective. There was an ache of regret in the words. “I just didn't know how to reach you."

Crosshair kept his head down, fighting against the burning feeling behind his eyes.

When Hunter moved to stand beside him he chose the other side, so they were still not looking at each other. Crosshair could see him in his peripheral vision, all tense lines and folded arms, as though their proximity alone were a source of stress.

Then he exhaled a deep sigh, his posture relaxing just a tiny bit, even as his frown remained.

“They weren’t your squad.”

“No.”

“You weren’t stationed here?”

“…No.”

The soft question wasn’t an apology. It would never be an apology. But Hunter’s tone was gentle as he asked, “So what happened here?”

Crosshair swallowed thickly. What happened here?

Two snow-bound planets.

On Kaller, something inside him died.

On Barton IV, it was reborn.

“The commander of this squad…”

His voice faltered, throat closing around grief. Mayday’s broken helmet, secluded inside the now-sealed outpost. Memory lost to all but him.

“He saved my life.”

Hunter shifted his weight, but didn’t retreat. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Crosshair lifted his face to the sky, watching a distant ice vulture circle lazily against the clear, cloudless shimmer of the sunset.

Don’t give up.

He took a deep, steadying breath and offered a small nod.

“………His name was Mayday…”

And that's a wrap!

Wow, what a journey. Did you read the whole story with me? Welcome To The Outpost eventually ran to over 30,000 words, each chapter written in response to the Angstpril writing challenge with @kybercrystals94 and @the-little-moment, but it felt incomplete without dealing with Crosshair's return to Barton IV. So I hope you have enjoyed this epic-length epilogue!

What's next for me after this? I have my Cadet Batch fic 'Pieces Of The People We Love' to return to, so let's see if I can finally nail Part 3 and get that updated. Then of course we have @summer-of-bad-batch to perhaps work on some lighter-hearted stories than Outpost has been!

Did you enjoy reading? Drop me a comment to let me know! :)

[adamworu]

hi! i was wondering what you'd think of this post on rebuild kaworu: https://forum.evageeks.org/thread/14454/Theory-about-Kaworus-intentions/

i liked it because a slightly more manipulative kaworu would be interesting compared to how straightforward he is in the anime and (to an extent) manga. in addition i have zero evidence on this but since kaworu has been through so many loops, it would be understandable if he was so desperate he adopted more of a "the ends justify the means" kind of thinking.

Kaworu's coffins in FINAL confirm a not only the theory that time loops exist but also reveals a cyclical narrative.

3.0 and FINAL also makes the theory of Kaworu's loyalty to SEELE moot. If Gendo and SEELE were working together, then why did Kaworu become so troubled at the sight of twin spears? Or the very fact that he realizes that even though he is Angel of Free Will, though he wants to stop Impacts to save mankind, this is his first inkling that he isn't in full control? That SEELE and Gendo thought steps ahead. That Kaworu uses his death as a means of sacrifice but this is the first time someone 'chose' his death for him. Also, Kaworu's enigmatic wording doesn't mean he manipulated Shinji. He's fairly straightforward and SEELE's endgame of 'peaceful purification' hardly coincides with Kaworu's altruism.

I would however like a morally grey Kaworu (or at least let the boy have a few moments of being unhinged)!

[guiltye]

kiana, demon that is affiliated with team free will 3.0. previously a bounty hunter that would hunt souls for a price, but eventually was persuaded to leave it behind because of jesse turner, whom she has since devoted her loyalty to. her lucifer.

charlie west, ex-hunter that works out of the refinished harvelle roadhouse. affiliated with william harvelle, also featured on this blog. charlie was a hunter until a tragedy struck where he had to kill his girlfriend. since then, he swore he will never pick up a gun again, but will assist and find information for other fellow hunters that come through.

lilith, to be rewritten from canon writing and taken as an original character. the final seal to breaking lucifer out of his cage, she is the first demon that has known torture in hell by the hands of lucifer. she knows that her fate is to be killed by sam winchester, who is injected with demon blood in his system. there's always going to be some semblance of a connection between her and the youngest winchester, as he is her executor.

sarah blake, a former flame from the first season coming back as a hunter. since finding out that the supernatural world exists, sarah couldn't sit back and let it happen anymore. so she started to free-fall into the life of a hunter, while also maintaining her finances and using it to her advantage. she purchases haunted relics and burn them, from different auctions or museums.

[misguidedasgardian]

The White Dragon (39)

39. King's Landing

MASTERLIST

Summary: Your and your family’s loyalty is put to the test 

Pairings: main Harwin Strong x Fem!Targaryen reader

Warnings: cursing, medieval and A song of ice and Fire AU customs, injury, burns, dragon fire, death, threats, violence, armies, war and all that comes with it. Might miss some warnings but you know what this is about :) 

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 3.0 k

Notes:  uuuffff one more chapter filled with politics before we are up the saddle and burning things again! jejeje

You never thought you’d be scared or sad to see your daughter, but here you were

“Aemma” you called, when you saw her entering the Red Keep with Harwin by his side

“Mama!”, she said with a wide smile, she came to you and hugged you tightly, and you hugged her back, “have you heard from Vaegor and Saera?”, she asked, you only shook your head

“Not yet”, you answered, she smiled sadly

“We will find them”, she assured you, with those beautiful eyes she inherited from her father, deep green, like a forest, you kissed her forehead

“I know”, you assured her, she nodded, pleased

“Is so weird to come back here”, she said, and you smiled at her, caressing her cheek

“You must prove to aunt Rhaenyra that you are loyal to her”, you said gently, she seemed sad, but nodded

“Alright mama”, she said, “I will bend the knee and call her my Queen, that way we'll be safe”, she said with such hope you wanted to cry

She was so beautifully innocent yet

She amazed you, she could burn armadas to the bottom of the ocean, but she still wanted to believe the best, even in times of war. 

Her audience, and Aemond’s, was going to take place on the later hours of the day, you bitterly thought two things, one, Rhaenyra wanted you to have time to see your daughter and Aemond and speak to them, and two, she was surely listening trough spies, or Daemon, or Daemon’s spies, so after you spoke to her when you saw her come in, you didn’t look for her again, she was probably in her chambers with Aemond. 

As you were looking on the horizon you couldn’t help but be scared, you thought about your two youngest dragonlings, and where they were and how, were they alright? Were they scared? 

Are they even alive?

You drew a sharp breath at the possibility

Without even realizing it, tears started to fall from your eyes as you hugged yourself, looking at the ocean, oh your babies, they were only children.

You felt Harwin’s unmistakable arms around you

“Shhh my love”, he shushed you, hugging you tightly, he kissed the side of your face, “be calm, please”

“They are dead, aren’t they?”, you cried, and you felt him shook his head

“No, they are not”

“How do you know?”, you asked with a broken voice

“I just know it, I feel it, in my heart”, he assured you, and you whimpered

“Rhaenyra knows where they are”, you accused, “she won’t tell me unless I become his soldier”

“So that is what we will become”, he said, “we will get them back, she knows how much our children matter to us, she will use them to get to you, but she is smarter than to harm them”, he spoke with such certainty that you believed him 

“What about Aemma and Aemond?”, you asked, “they are in more danger than ever, just as Maekar and Rhaegar, how can we prove Rhaenyra that…?”, Harwin shushed you 

“We will manage”, he assured you.

But Harwin had his own battles to fight, he had his own problems besides the ones involving his family, but this did involve a member of his family.

It wasn’t hard to find, he had been imprisoned when Rhaenyra took over, but he was barely in the first level. Apparently, he had been very cooperative in fear to be lowered to the darkest, more tortuous levels of the cells.

“Hello brother”, he heard from the darkness of a cell

“Larys”, he growled, his brother appeared from the shadows, he looked like shit, Harwin thought

“Is good to see you”, he said calmly

“Why?”, he asked

“Why is it good to see you?”, he mocked

“Why did you betray us?”, he asked darkly, Larys only chuckled 

“I only supported the team with the better odds”, he said simply

“Not the one your own family is in”, he said bitterly

“Your family Harwin”, he said, “not mine”

“Why did you do it?”, he pressed, “what did they give you?”

“They gave me nothing”, he said cryptically, “I took it for myself”, Harwin stared at the empty eyes of his brother

“What did you do?”, he asked, but his brother didn’t answer, he just had this sick smile on his face. Harwin passed one of his hands through the bars as quickly as lightning, grabbing his brother’s neck, “You poisoned him, didn’t you?”, he asked bitterly, “IT WAS YOU! AND FOR WHAT?”, the smile didn’t erase from Larys’ face as he was being shocked

“For power”, he only said

“You are sick! you could’ve had everything! a family of your own!”

“That is nothing”, he said, Harwin made sure to hit the head of his brother against the bars as he let go of you

“I’ll be in the first line the day they hang you”, he threatened.

You reunited back again in the throne room, hours later, you were standing by the side, as Aemond and Aemma were right in the center of the room. Harwin was by your side, he looked completely distracted, disturbed even, you took his hand in yours and squeezed, he looked down at you and smiled

“What happened?”

“I will tell you later”, he promised, you got distracted by Rhaenyra entering the room with Daemon and Jacaerys by her side, standing by her side while she took a sit on the throne

“I’m pleased you are here, niece, brother”, Rhaenyra claimed, “but there is someone missing from this reunion”, you looked at them, worried, Rhaenyra knew your sons were on special mission but there was only one member of the family unaccounted for. “Where is Helaena?”, asked Rhaenyra then, and your breath got caught in your throat, as you looked directly at Aemond

“In Harrenhal”, said Aemma, “she has small children, she didn’t want to come back here to the Red Keep”, she said softly, trying to explain

“Do you mean she refused to bend the knee to me?”, she asked bitterly, and you wanted to intervene but Cregan by your side grabbed your arm, “the rightful heir, and her sister”

“She…”, Aemond was going to protest, but Aemma took a step forwards, interrupting him

“Nothing of the sort”, that warm smile and gentle eyes were like Dragonfire, it could melt almost everything and everyone, “Dear Aunt, my Queen, as a mother you must understand, after Helaena almost died here in the Red Keep she was weary of the travel, war had touched us all”, she continued, “Helaena is a gentle soul and of a fragile mind, she has small children”, she said then, “She wanted to stay in the White hall”, that truly did seem to please Rhaenyra, as she nodded

“I wish for her to come here”, she said then, “I understand she is reluctant to come back to the Keep, but she has my word, that if she bends the knee, she will have nothing to fear of me”

“I will send her a raven myself”, offered Aemma, looking back at Aemond and smiling, Aemond seemed more relaxed as well. You need to reach Maekar, and tell him to return, and come here at Helaena’s side. 

But Rhaenyra didn’t look content, not pleased, and Aemond sensed that

“We haven’t heard a word from you, brother”, she said like it was an insult rather that mentioning your relationship with him

“I share my beautiful wife’s sentiment”, he said, looking at Aemma, “I come here to show you my allegiance to you, sister”

“Your wife?”, she asked, suddenly angry, she then looked at you like you betrayed her, again, “funny, the last time I saw my father alive he claimed he wanted to marry Aemma to my son and heir, Prince Jacaerys”, she said and you cursed Aemond and his big mouth.

Aemond took Aemma’s hand in his and squeezed reassuringly

“We decided to marry after we took Highgarden in your name”, he said swiftly

“But you did not ask me, your sovereign, for permission for this marriage”, she said firmly, Aemond moved his jaw, clearly uncomfortable, “did you consummate the marriage?”, and you looked at the floor in shame, you really didn’t want to know that.

“Y-yes we did”, Aemma whispered, you looked up at Rhaenyra who looked at Jacaerys by her side

“She is ruined then”, he sentenced and you had to bite your tongue, Aemond seemed to be in the same position as you, but Aemma, having inherited some of Jaehaerys’ grace, whispered something into Aemond, calming him down 

“For me to give you a full pardon, I will need you to renounce your titles, and houses”, she said, and you were going to protest, but Harwin grabbed your arm

“What?”, whined Aemma

“You will be no longer known with the titles of Princes”, she said, and Jacaerys seemed so entertained 

“We are not in the line of succession”, said Aemond, “why would you care if we…?”

“You are defying me, brother?”, Rhaenyra asked, and as you looked closer into her arm as she was grabbing the throne, you seemed to saw a red line in her forearm, but you were probably imagining things

“I’m just trying to meet your demands and accept our allegiance to you, my queen”, you better than anyone knew how hard was for Aemond to call your sister that 

“What do you want from me?”, Aemond interrupted the conversation, and everything fell silent. Aemma felt her heart sinking, “Dear half-sister, what do you want from me?”. Seemed that the last drop had fallen from Aemond’s glass, and he was not taking this anymore. 

“From you…?”, she mocked, “I….”

“Yes I wanted to protect my family from those who I knew would harm them and I chose to follow my brother’s claim, I did what I thought was right, but I saw my mistake and I am here today, bending the knee to you, you have my allegiance, now, what else do you want? Do you want to threaten my wife? my sister and my nephews? Do you want me to burn cities to the ground? because I would, for them I chose the usurper, and for them I will change again”, he said firmly, “I called you sons bastards a couple of times and they took my eye, if you think I’m the villain of this story I will become it…”

Rhaenyra didn’t really know what to say, in her hunger for power she was poking the dragon, the biggest threat to the Blacks was there, bending the knee to her, but he was going to break before he bends…

“You are threatening me?”, she asked, Daemon by her side grabbed the pommel of dark sister

Aemma looked back at Aemond in terror and he took a step forwards to place her behind him

“Aemond please”

“No”, he said, “If she can’t guarantee yours and Helaena’s safety I will not bend the knee”

“Are you refusing to serve the one and true Queen of the seven Kingdoms?”, asked Daemon, taking steps down the throne. Jace behind him, couldn’t hide his smile

“No!”, shouted Aemma

“I bend the knee”, he said, “is you who is twisting my words”, he defended, he didn’t have a sword, but he didn’t care

Tensions were arising, swords were being drawn, and as Aemma begged for mercy, everything was interrupted by the huge doors of the hall opening

“Prince Maekar, of House Strong and Targaryen”, chanted the Kingsguard, and you could finally breathe when you saw your eldest son walking confidently into the room

“My Queen!”, he said, clearly he did not read the room, but his entrance was so surprising nobody was moving or saying anything, “I have brought great news!”, he said, looking at everyone in the room and yet the smile could not disappear from his face. He walked until he was in front of Aemond and Aemma, “as a irrefutable proof of our allegiance, of my house, and my brother by law”, he said, with his open arms pointing at all of you, “I bring you the great news, that, the treasury has been recovered from the Lannisters, and it’s on it’s way here!”, he said, and everyone in the room got quieter, “Ser Steffon Mangold in a rescue mission infiltrated Casterly Rock”, he told, “I secured a Lannister ship with the help of my sister and Aemond”, he continued, “and with it I could infiltrate the port and safe Ser Steffon and with a small garrison of Tyrell soldiers I recuperated the treasury from their vaults”

“You did?”, asked Rhaenyra, clearly confused, but relieved

“It’s on it’s way here, from the Gold Road, as we speak,”, he assured you all, “Ser Steffon is guarding it alongside a force of Tyrell soldiers of a thousand mounted soldiers, and two thousand men and 500 hundred archers, alongside the Lady Regent of the Reach, coming here to bend the knee to you”

“You recuperated it, for me?”, she asked, not believing it, Maekar, still on his knees smiled at her

“For my Queen”, he said then, “to prove the fealty of all my family”, his face turned serious as he looked at her, making a deal right then and there, in front of all of you, you looked at Rhaenyra expectantly, she looked at Daemon and he nodded

“Very well”, she then looked at Aemond, “I appreciate your allegiance, dear nephew, yours and your family’s, you are all pardoned”, she assured you, and you breathed more easily, Aemma hugged Aemond tightly and he hugged her back. 

You ran towards Maekar and you hugged him tightly

“You are alright”, you cried

“I am”, he assured you, “Helaena is on her way”

“What?”, you cried. “No!”, he placed his hands on your upper arms

“everything is going to be alright, I promise, we have a plan”

“How did you manage to sneak into Casterly Rock…?”

“We will discuss it later”, he assured you, and you just nodded

You were altered, there was no denying that, this day had been a rollercoaster of emotions and you wondered how much more you could take, your daughter and son by law almost got treated like traitors by your tyrannic sister, your husband has just confessed that it was his brother who murdered your father in law, and was a traitor to your family, your younger children were missing and your oldest was bringing his… partner? your own sister here to the most dangerous place where she could be treated as a traitor and her children could be in danger because they are the children of the usurper that was hiding in some corner in the seven Kingdoms.

It did not got better when you were called upon by your sister and uncle, to be in the small council, as an emergency meeting 

“Daeron Hightower”, started Daemon in the small council room, “is marching on the capital, with an army of ten thousand men”

“WHAT?”, you managed to say

“He has the Hightower army and the remains of the Baratheon’s”, explained Rhanyra, “it is imperative we destroy him”

“How many men can you gather?”, you asked

“Only you can answer that”, she said bitterly

“With how many dragons I count on?”, you asked then

And again, it all depend on you, Rhaenyra was sitting in the throne but she didn’t intent on doing anything to keep it or protect it

Again is was you.

You felt dizzy as you walked out of the room, all the problems, everything was catching up to you, and you didn’t see a way out of this

In a moment, your eyesight began to tunnel, and you felt dizzy, like your body was too heavy and the ground started to pull you in. You felt your heartbeat in your ears and suddenly you couldn’t breathe anymore

When you woke up again, you were laying on your bed, a cold rag on your forehead, and Harwin seated right by your side, looking down at you with concern

“How are you my love?”, he asked gently

“What happened?”, you whined, again you were feeling like your body weighted tons

“You fainted”, he said softly, and you whined, “you are not pregnant again are you?”, he mocked, but with hope in his voice

“Harwin I swear I will kill you”, you threatened, and he laughed

“You must be tired, and overwhelmed”, he said gently

“How long I was out?”, you asked

“It’s already the morning”

“Oh, I need to…”

“You need to rest”

“We can’t rest…”

“Cregan went to Harrenhal to meet his army, with it he will march it south to meet the Hightowers”, he said, “he bought us a couple of weeks, until we can gather the dragons and join them”

“Thank you”, you whispered

“You have nothing to thank me for, you have good allies”, he said, “and there is someone who wants to see you”, he nodded towards the door and Maekar with Helaena showed up, and for some reason, that made you feel better

“It is dangerous you are here dear sister”, you whispered, but she nodded, looking at Maekar, who sat by your side on the bed 

“Helaena and I were thinking, and we came to the conclusion that it would be best if we…”, he swallowed hard, you could tell this was hard on him, but Helaena smiled sweetly at him, and squeezed her hand, “if we tell everyone that the children, Jaehaerys, Jahaera and Maelor, are mine”, he said, looking straight at you

“But they are not”, you said, “are they?”, you asked fearfully 

“They aren’t… biologically speaking, no, but, we believe it’s best”

“For what darling?”, you asked

“If people believe they are bastards, they won’t be a threat to Rhaenyra’s reign”, Helaena said gently, her eyes were only to Maekar

“That way we can keep them safe”, he said then, nodding, “I will marry Helaena, and the children can take my name”

“But them being bastards, also places them in a different type of danger”, you muttered

“No if we keep to ourselves, in Harrenhal”, he said with a small smile, “people there like us, they love us, they love Helaena, they wouldn’t hurt them”, you nodded, “besides they are going to be safe with me”, and for the first time since this began, you felt relieved.

You hugged Maekar and he hugged you back

“I’m so proud of you, my sweet boy”, you whispered, hugging your son against you 

More notes: I know it was kind of random but I needed to give the Harwin-Larys thing a clousure

taglist!: @tearsarecruelcane @integra1127 @aestmilky @thanyatargaryen @tythaitie @lostinworldofdarkness @voodoogoul @wildmindedbeauty32 @lil-pudd @alicattx @electric-bloo @astaaan-lol @stargaryenx @kaitieskidmore1 @bregarc @lilpnd @jcpenneyyy @janelei @fexibau @ladyoakenshield157 @danielle-leah1997 @lady-ragnvindr @cecilyjmorgenstern @omgsuperstarg @bugheadskid @batprincess1013 @her-fandom-sanctum @holb32 @blue1006 @stargaryenx @grippleback-galaxy @mikariell95 @genesisliveson @mendes-bae @caspianobsessed

@notmundane3000 @kamisunshine @just-someone11 @ietss @joliettes @whodis-26

[emon-khalid]

The Evolution of Web 2.0

The Evolution of Web 2.0: Transforming the Internet Experience

The internet has come a long way since its inception, and one of the most significant milestones in its evolution is Web 2.0. This term, first coined in the early 2000s, represents the shift from static web pages to dynamic, user-driven platforms. With the rise of social media, user-generated content, and interactive online services, Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and create.

What is Web 2.0?

In simple terms, Web 2.0 refers to the transformation of the web into a more interactive and collaborative space. Unlike its predecessor, Web 1.0, which primarily consisted of static websites where users could only consume content, Web 2.0 allows users to actively participate in the creation and sharing of information. This paradigm shift has led to the rise of social networks, blogs, wikis, and other platforms that encourage collaboration and community building.

Key Features of Web 2.0:

User-Generated Content: Platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Wikipedia have made it easier than ever for users to create and share their own content, whether it's videos, articles, or social media posts.

Social Networking: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are prime examples of Web 2.0's emphasis on building online communities where people can connect, share experiences, and collaborate.

Interactive Interfaces: Technologies like AJAX and APIs enable more dynamic, responsive web pages that allow real-time updates without refreshing the page. This has greatly enhanced the user experience, particularly on social media platforms.

Rich User Experiences: Web 2.0 applications are designed with the user in mind, making it easy to navigate, interact with, and personalize their online experiences.

The Impact of Web 2.0 on Digital Culture

Web 2.0 has empowered individuals to have a voice in the digital world. Blogs, forums, and social media platforms have democratized content creation, giving anyone with an internet connection the ability to publish their thoughts, ideas, and creations to a global audience.

For businesses, this shift has created new opportunities for engagement with consumers. Brands are now able to interact with customers directly through social media platforms, fostering a sense of community and loyalty.

Moreover, the rise of influencers and content creators on platforms like YouTube and Instagram has changed the landscape of marketing. People trust recommendations from peers and influencers more than traditional advertising, and brands have quickly adapted to this new form of communication.

What’s Next After Web 2.0?

As technology continues to advance, discussions around the next phase of the web—often referred to as Web 3.0—have begun. While Web 2.0 focuses on user interaction and community-driven content, Web 3.0 promises to take things even further by incorporating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and decentralized technologies like blockchain. In this new era, the web could become even more personalized, secure, and user-centric.

Conclusion

Web 2.0 has truly transformed the way we interact with the internet, bringing about an age of collaboration, connection, and creativity. As we look forward to the future, it's exciting to imagine how the web will continue to evolve and shape our digital experiences.

What are your thoughts on the future of the web? Share in the comments below!

For more details on the history and significance of Web 2.0, check out these sources:

The History of Web 2.0

Understanding Web 2.0 Concept

[drkcatt]

do you think avaya hates hydaelyn/venat for (temporarily) taking minfilia away from her??

im so serious i started cackling maniacally when i saw this ask. IM SO GLAD YOU ASKED.

i have to preface this with: i love venat i think she is a great character and she made me feel so many things. unfortunately a'vaya sucks soso bad.

so a'vaya was never really into The Echo. she was not fond of being Chosen or anything like that. she saw it as a giant pain and she kind of just dealt with it because like, what the hell is she gonna do. minfilia was, of course, BIG into hydaelyn and they kind of clashed about it sometimes but overall it was Fine in ARR.

bloody banquet rolls around however, and shit hits the fan. when minfilia says hydaelyn calls to her, a'vaya is not having ANY OF IT. begging with minfilia not to go, along the lines of "what the fuck has hydaelyn ever done for either of us!" to which of course minfilia disagrees. i will not get into what minfilia says to a'vaya in that sewer-- which is 100% a love confession all without the words "i love you"-- but despite a'vaya pulling on her so hard that there were indents on her hands and arms where she was holding, minfilia leaves. and a'vaya stays standing there for a long time before she flees.

so immediately there's a feeling of betrayal-- minfilia picked hydaelyn over her (NOT THE RIGHT THING TO BE THINKING) and has gone missing, but she slowly regains hope that she'll be able to find her again. the hope grows when she meets up with y'shtola and thancred again, so obviously minfilia is next! Um,

the antitower is very very very bad.

so a'vaya had already felt like minfilia left her for hydaelyn, but this is minfilia we're talking about! she's always going to be there for her, even if they're apart for a while. that's what a'vaya started telling herself as 3.0 + 3.x started getting less Dire. the word of the mother WRECKS a'vaya. this is the first time a'vaya cries in msq. during that scene where she's pulled to talk to her in the aetherial sea and the WOTM is giving her all this Important Information, a'vaya isn't listening at all. she's calling and begging minfilia to stop saying any of this and just look at her! please just stop and look at me, I'm BEGGING you! but of course, the wotm isn't really minfilia! and once a'vaya realizes this, she switches from "minfilia, look at me!" to "LET MINFILIA GO!" it heightens when she sees that the WOTM is weaker/in pain.

a'vaya comes out of it, and she's immediately SCREAMING her heart out, full on sobbing so much that she can't see. she's cursing and yelling out to hydaelyn that she's going to kill her with her own two hands, that she'll shatter the mother crystal no matter what, that hydaelyn will either give minfilia back or pay. she's so lost in grief and rage that some dormant inner beast power from her warrior days mixes with her current dark knight abilities and uh... she cleaves a hole in the antitower... haha...

this is a lot of explaining just to say: a'vaya wants hydaelyn dead for a long time. she believes that she's taken minfilia prisoner, or that she's undeserving of minfilia's loyalty, and just generally that she should never put faith in a crystal to tell her how to live. after her outburst in the antitower, she stops getting any messages from hydaelyn. there's not any contact, any sort of aid, nothing-- whether that's because hydaelyn did not or could not reach out due to a lack of strength, or because a'vaya was so deep in rage that she just could not be reached is unknown. the disdain grows when she learns that hydaelyn (and zodiark) are primals, she's not at all keen on the idea that she's been tempered this whole time.

so with all that, you'd probably think that with how stubborn a'vaya is that she'd carry that despise to venat in elpis. she could have, if it weren't for minfilia's sudden return. it's very confusing for everyone, nobody knows why she came back, least of all the woman herself. a'vaya feels Very complex emotions about all of it, but once she comes to terms with the fact that minfilia was back For Good she slowly started to soften to the idea of hydaelyn. she's still very tense about her, don't get me wrong, she does believe that this is some sort of elaborate ploy. but at the same time, hydaelyn... gave her the biggest desire she's had for over 5 years...?

the thing is, a'vaya did accept that minfilia was dead. and minfilia ALSO accepted that she was dead, so this is a very difficult situation for her because what do you do when your purpose in life has already been fulfilled? (just you wait until i get into how minfilia fits perfectly into endwalker) Everyone Is So Confused .

when a'vaya gets to elpis and meets venat, she really doesn't know how to feel. she doesn't get hostile because by endwalker a'vaya has gotten a much better grasp on keeping her emotions together, but there's definitely a wariness, and venat detects this. when a'vaya explains the situation she's in, i think venat recognizes that she (in the future) caused a'vaya an unbearable amount of pain and grief. and they do address it with "has your journey been good? has it been worthwhile?" and a'vaya can't answer at first. she's caught up on the fact that her journey was set in motion because of her connection to her/hydaelyn, and that journey was devastating and destructive, but she would never want anyone else to do it for her. she's caught on how hydaelyn had to take away the woman that taught her to love and live in a better way, but eventually returned her. what is she meant to think of that? how is venat supposed to feel, being told "i wanted to destroy you and everything you stood for, but now i know you did it because you knew i could." being told "your guidance hurt me so badly that i wanted to throw myself at every sword i could and see which one would stick." being told "im in love with the reincarnation of your beloved, and you needed her break herself for the better and then gave her back to me"

all in all, a'vaya's relationship with venat is... hard to describe. they are immensely grateful that either of them are who they are. that they did exactly what they did. that they could talk, as friends, like they should be, just once.

until the mother crystal trial, of course. but in that moment, a'vaya recognizes that she's not the one who needs to speak to hydaelyn the most-- minfilia is. i haven't finalized a lot of that conversation, but i just think about how complex the relationship is with these three, the level of hurt as well as trust between them, and i want to WEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Lord I Wrote A Ramble Essay. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!!

[godsprettiestprincess]

tfw 3.0? 🥺🥺 (plz I love them)

!!!!! Lol what haven’t I talked about already 4 them… (x)

Lucifer Does Not Like any of the tablets. He doesn’t like that he can’t naturally read the language that’s on them, he doesn’t like that he can’t build a cypher for it even after knowing what’s on there, he doesn’t like what they do to Kevin, he doesn’t like the supposed ‘failsafes’, and he doesn’t any of the trials that go with them (or the concept in general). He does help with the 2nd steps of the translations (enochian/ancient sumerian/whatever to English) after Kevin gets it that far, so he knows the vast majority of what’s on them (which Sam Dean & Cas don’t like but what are they gonna do) and he helps Kevin decide what should actually be available to humans and what should stay untranslated.

At some point after when Lucifer is allowed to stay in the bunker alone with Kevin, he accidentally wakes up Mrs Butters while overhauling the bunker’s technology. Him and Kevin have a misadventure with her similar(ish) to her canon episode & she turns on Lucifer after finding out who he is and successfully nullifying his power the same way she gets Jack*. Eventually they’re able to convince her that she shouldn’t be here or have loyalty to the ppl who stole her and manage to set her free with no casualties.

*In canon she uses ambiguously magic smoothies to nullify Jack, but I’ve decided she added a specific magic herb that affects the connection between an angel/demon/etc and their host and makes it so its much harder to interact with the world with their trueform. In its raw state, it can also have an disorienting or intoxicating effect not dissimilar to catnip or weed. I’ll give you one guess how Lucifer discovers this and if it’s “he read it in the file before just picking up a jar of it and smelling it” it doesn’t count

Charlie starts out…..weird about Lucifer. In a reasonable “she was a normal person until like a year ago and this is the literal actual devil and she’s never been that good at social interaction to begin with?” way, but it’s enough to make him neutral/negative about her until they end up rewiring idk something in the bunker and start proper conversations and teaching each other things (she’s doing the actual electronics and he’s spinning magic to reinforce it and help the “transplant” take). She still sometimes gets the “oh my god this is the guy I heard about in (metaphorical) sunday school what the fuck” but it’s fine. He likes how passionate she is and that she helped fuck over the leviathans

Charlie is so jealous about not being able to do magic. She’s good with pre-set spells and magical objects because a good chunk of magic bullshit follows the same logic as coding, but anything beyond that and she just doesn’t have the talent. She manages to keep her ego intact whenever they (or Sam) end up doing magic in front of her by remembering Kevin’s headaches and Lucifer accidentally frying his phone or the wifi router because he got startled <3

[nextonesolutions]

THE POWER OF INCLUENCER MARKETING IN DIGITAL AGE

THE POWER OF INFLUENCER MARKETING IN DIGITAL AGE

INTRODUCTION:

 In the digital age, influencer marketing has emerged as a powerful and highly effective strategy for businesses and brands to reach their target audiences and promote their products or services. Influencer marketing leverages the influence and popularity of individuals who have a significant following on various social media platforms.

Here are some key aspects that highlight the power of influencer marketing in the digital age:

Authenticity and Trust: Influencers often build a strong bond of trust with their followers through consistent, authentic, and relatable content. Their audience sees them as real people with genuine opinions, making recommendations from influencers feel more trustworthy than traditional advertising.

Reach and Engagement: Influencers have the ability to reach a vast audience across different demographics and regions. When influencers promote a product or service, they can generate high levels of engagement, leading to increased visibility and brand awareness.

Targeted Marketing: Influencers usually have a niche or specific area of expertise, which means their followers are interested in a particular subject or industry. This allows brands to target their marketing efforts more effectively and connect with their ideal customers.

Influencer Diversity: There are influencers in various niches, from beauty and fashion to technology and finance. This diversity allows brands to find influencers who align with their values and match their target market, ensuring relevant and tailored marketing campaigns.

User-Generated Content: Influencers often create content featuring the products or services they promote, resulting in user-generated content that can be shared and utilized by the brand. This not only saves time and resources for the brand but also enhances the credibility of the product through real-life usage.

Improved SEO and Online Presence: Collaborating with influencers can lead to increased brand mentions and backlinks from their content, which positively impacts search engine optimization (SEO) and helps boost the brand's online presence.

Agility and Flexibility: Influencer marketing campaigns can be executed swiftly, making it easier for brands to respond to current trends or seasonal promotions in real-time. This agility allows businesses to stay relevant and competitive in fast-paced digital landscapes.

Measurable ROI: Many social media platforms provide in-depth analytics, enabling brands to track the performance and impact of influencer marketing campaigns accurately. This data-driven approach allows brands to refine their strategies for better returns on investment.

However, it's essential for brands to approach influencer marketing thoughtfully and ensure a good fit between the influencer and their target audience. Transparency and authenticity are crucial, and it's vital for influencers to disclose their partnerships to maintain trust with their followers.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, influencer marketing, when done right, can be a powerful tool in the digital age, helping brands connect with their audience in an authentic and engaging manner, leading to increased brand loyalty, sales, and market share.

Checkout our website @ nextonesolutions.in 

For Digital Services & development of older web into web 3.0, Contact us through Website 

[raspodcast]

RAS #667 - The British Agent

On this thrilling edition of Ron's Amazing Stories, we're diving deep into a tale of intrigue, espionage, and revolution, all set against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history.

We're heading to Russia in 1917.  A time of upheaval, where the Tsar is overthrown, and the Bolsheviks seize power. It's a dangerous game of political chess, where loyalties are tested and lives hang in the balance. And in the midst of it all, we find our hero, a British agent caught in a web of deception.

Our story, The British Agent, is a gripping adaptation of the 1934 classic film recreated by Lux Radio Theater.  We'll hear about secret identities, daring escapes, and the courage it takes to stand up for what's right, even when the odds are stacked against you. 

But first, Ron sets the stage.  He’ll take you back to the events of the Russian Revolution, exploring the forces that brought a mighty empire to its knees.  So grab your headphones, settle in, and prepare to be transported back in time with Ron's Amazing Stories!

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSyn The Blog Site by WordPress Facebook Link Twitter Link Contact Links: Email Story Submissions Contact Ron

Check out this episode!

[just-here-with-my-thoughts]

Welcome To The Outpost - MASTER LIST

Have you been following my Mayday & Crosshair fic 'Welcome to the Outpost'? Here's a complete list of all chapters, in case you missed one or just wanted to go back and re-read :)

1.1 - Frozen Mayday’s squad of 12 have been on Barton IV for months. When the power in the outpost fails the troopers have to huddle together for warmth – but they can’t forgo perimeter patrols as the power outage also means the sensors have failed.

1.2 - Rise From The Ashes The raiders have made it through the perimeter and Commander Mayday has been injured. With no response to their request for medical aid to be sent, he tends to his own wounds and rallies his men to continue protecting the base.

1.3 - Lost Battle An attempt to engage the raiders ends up attracting unwanted attention from the native wildlife, costing the lives of even more of Mayday’s clone troopers.

1.4 - No Way Out A request for extraction is ignored, with Imperial orders reiterating that Mayday and his remaining squad members are to keep the base secure and protect the cargo at all costs.

1.5 - Rock And A Hard Place Mayday, Hexx and Veetch are the last survivors of the squad of 12 initially assigned to the Barton IV outpost. Supplies are dwindling and the relief ship is overdue.

2.1 - Last Chance The Imperial relief ship finally arrives, marking the end of the squad’s long posting on Barton IV. Mayday is surprised to see a CT-99 listed on the crew roster.

2.2 - Broken Mayday might have lost his squad, but a new mission – and a new companion – gives him focus. After all, Crosshair doesn’t know how to survive out here.

2.3 - Swept Away With Crosshair at his side, the two of them easily storm the raider’s mountain base. Mayday wonders about the legacy the clone troopers leave behind. Crosshair makes an unexpected admission.

2.4 - Grief Commander Mayday was grievously wounded during the avalanche. As the sniper insists on carrying him back to base, Mayday reflects on his regrets.

2.5 - Betrayal As Mayday’s life leeches out into the snow, Crosshair takes a stand.

3.0 (Epilogue) - Return To The Outpost When circumstances force a return to the doomed outpost on Barton IV, Crosshair has a chance to confront Mayday's memory and all he taught him about loyalty.

With thanks to the awesome @chaos-company for hosting the #Angstpril writing event! I've enjoyed turning the 10 prompts I chose from the month into a multi-chapter fic that has been breaking hearts. Maybe next year I'll upgrade to the full 30 prompts to be a completionist :)

[ilyamaninus]

Navigating Network Marketing with NFTs: Innovative Ways to Incentivize and Reward Distributors with Industry Leaders including Ilya Manin

Ilya Manin

Network marketing has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer behaviors. The rise of Web 3.0, characterized by decentralization and user empowerment, offers new avenues for network marketing to flourish. Central to this evolution is the introduction of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), which can serve as powerful tools for incentivizing and rewarding distributors in network marketing frameworks. By leveraging NFTs, companies can create unique and tradable digital assets that enhance distributor engagement and retention.

The integration of NFTs into network marketing is not just a trend; it represents a fundamental shift in how businesses operate within this space. As brands seek innovative ways to motivate their distributors, NFTs offer a versatile platform for building loyalty and creating value. In this blog, we will explore the multifaceted role of NFTs in network marketing, discuss innovative strategies for incentivization, and examine the potential implications of this integration on the future of the industry. By understanding the intersection of NFTs and network marketing, businesses can effectively navigate this evolving landscape.

Understanding NFTs in the Context of Network Marketing

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, as elucidated by entrepreneurs like Ilya Manin, are unique digital assets that represent ownership of a specific item or piece of content on the blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are fungible and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis, NFTs have distinct properties that make them irreplaceable. In the realm of network marketing, NFTs can represent anything from exclusive products and services to unique experiences or recognition within the distributor community.

The utility of NFTs extends beyond mere ownership; they can also facilitate secure transactions and enhance transparency. For network marketing companies, this means creating a reliable system for tracking distributor performance and rewards. By integrating NFTs into their marketing strategies, companies can foster a more engaged and motivated distributor base, ultimately leading to increased sales and brand loyalty.

Innovative Incentive Structures Utilizing NFTs

One of the most promising applications of NFTs, as mentioned by leaders such as Ilya Manin, in network marketing is the creation of innovative incentive structures. Companies can issue NFTs as rewards for achieving specific milestones or performance targets. For instance, distributors who reach a certain sales volume could receive an exclusive NFT that grants them access to premium training sessions, marketing materials, or even one-on-one consultations with industry leaders.

Moreover, NFTs can be designed to appreciate in value, providing distributors with a tangible incentive to perform better. By establishing a tiered rewards system where higher levels of achievement yield more valuable NFTs, companies can motivate their distributors to strive for excellence. This approach not only boosts distributor morale but also enhances overall productivity within the network.

Enhancing Distributor Loyalty Through NFTs

Loyalty is a critical factor in the success of any network marketing endeavor. NFTs can play a significant role in fostering loyalty among distributors by providing them with exclusive benefits and experiences. For instance, companies can create limited-edition NFTs that serve as digital badges of honor for top performers. These badges can confer various privileges, such as priority access to new product launches or exclusive networking events.

Additionally, NFTs can be utilized to recognize long-term commitment and achievements within the distributor network. Industry leaders like Ilya Manin convey that by offering unique collectibles that symbolize a distributor’s tenure or success, companies can reinforce a sense of belonging and community. This strategy not only incentivizes continued participation but also strengthens the bond between the distributor and the brand, promoting long-term loyalty.

Leveraging Community Building with NFTs

Community building is essential in network marketing, where relationships often drive sales. NFTs can facilitate community engagement by enabling distributors to connect and collaborate through shared digital assets. For instance, companies can create community-oriented NFTs that represent access to exclusive forums, workshops, or events, allowing distributors to interact and share best practices.

Entrepreneurs such as Ilya Manin suggest that by using NFTs as a medium for collaborative projects or group incentives, companies can encourage teamwork among distributors. By creating a culture of collaboration, businesses can enhance distributor satisfaction and retention. The result is a robust and dynamic network that benefits from collective knowledge and resources, ultimately leading to increased success for all members involved.

The Future of Network Marketing with NFTs

As we look towards the future, the integration of NFTs in network marketing presents numerous opportunities for growth and innovation. Companies that embrace this technology can differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace. Leaders including Ilya Manin underscore that by staying ahead of the curve, they can attract and retain top-tier distributors who are eager to engage with modern, tech-savvy brands.

Moreover, as consumer preferences continue to shift towards digital solutions, the adoption of NFTs can enhance brand visibility and appeal. As distributors showcase their unique NFTs on social media and other platforms, they can amplify brand awareness and drive new customer acquisition. In this way, NFTs not only serve as a tool for incentivizing distributors but also as a mechanism for expanding the brand’s reach and influence.

The intersection of network marketing and NFTs represents a groundbreaking development in the industry. By harnessing the unique properties of NFTs, companies can create innovative incentive structures that motivate and reward distributors effectively. As the landscape of network marketing continues to evolve with the advent of Web 3.0, embracing these technologies will be crucial for businesses aiming to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. The future is bright for those willing to explore the potential of NFTs, paving the way for enhanced distributor engagement, loyalty, and ultimately, greater success in network marketing.

[lanleenn]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Turquoise Blue Topaz 925 Sterling Silver Necklace.

[cme-industry]

Communication, Media & Entertainment Solutions: Driving Innovation in a Digital World

The Communication, Media, and Entertainment (CME) industry is undergoing a rapid evolution, fueled by the convergence of traditional and digital media. Consumers today demand personalized, immersive experiences across a broad range of platforms, from streaming services to social media, the Metaverse, Web 3.0, online gaming, and on-demand content. This shift has disrupted traditional media models, pushing Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to evolve and adapt quickly. CSPs now face an urgent need to reinvent their offerings, embracing technology to maintain relevance and deepen their engagement with consumers.

At Celebal Technologies, we understand the importance of innovation in this ever-changing landscape. As a leading IT solutions provider, we empower enterprises with transformative, data-driven solutions to stay ahead of the curve. Our Digital reinvention solutions cater to the unique needs of the CME sector, offering AI-powered tools that enable seamless content creation, distribution, and consumption. Whether it’s enhancing audience experiences with personalized customer support, optimizing performance through video analytics, or driving insights with predictive tools, we are at the forefront of helping businesses succeed in the digital age.

Revolutionizing the Media and Entertainment Industry

Innovation in the media space is no longer optional—it's a necessity. The growing consumer demand for on-demand, personalized, and high-quality content challenges organizations to rethink their strategies. Celebal Technologies’ suite of Communication Media Entertainment solutions supports enterprises as they navigate this digital transformation, providing tools to drive engagement, optimize content delivery, and unlock new business opportunities.

AI-Powered Personalization: Personalized engagement is critical in today’s media landscape. Celebal Technologies’ GenAI-based chatbots deliver real-time, personalized customer engagement by leveraging advanced AI and Machine Learning. These chatbots can handle complex interactions, provide tailored recommendations, and deliver instant support, helping companies build lasting relationships with their customers. Whether interacting through websites, apps, or social media platforms, our AI-driven solutions ensure a seamless, personalized customer experience that drives retention and brand loyalty.

Enhancing OTT Platform Performance: As the popularity of streaming services grows, managing and optimizing OTT platform performance becomes essential for media companies. Celebal Technologies provides powerful video analytics and predictive tools that help companies track and improve their platform's performance. By analyzing viewer behavior, content preferences, and engagement metrics, our solutions enable enterprises to enhance user experiences, boost viewer retention, and make data-driven content decisions.

Data Governance Solutions: As data becomes the lifeblood of the CME industry, enterprises need robust data governance solutions to manage, protect, and leverage this valuable asset. Celebal Technologies’ Unity Catalog enables seamless data migration with up to 70% faster processing, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance without disrupting daily operations. Our data governance tools provide real-time insights through customizable dashboards, ensuring that organizations can efficiently manage large datasets and make informed decisions that support business growth.

Social Media Monitoring & Audience Insights: In today’s interconnected world, social media plays a pivotal role in shaping brand perceptions. Celebal Technologies offers comprehensive social media monitoring and analysis tools to help companies stay ahead of trends and consumer sentiment. By tracking conversations and interactions across multiple platforms, our solutions provide actionable insights that enable companies to fine-tune their content strategies, manage crises, and enhance their brand presence in real-time.

Innovating with AI-Enhanced Content Creation

Content creation is at the heart of the CME industry, and innovation in this space is vital. Celebal Technologies’ AI-enhanced content creation tools are designed to streamline the creative process, making it easier and faster for companies to develop high-quality content. Our solutions, powered by AI/ML/NLP algorithms, enable businesses to generate engaging storylines, adapt content for different formats, and produce visually captivating media. This not only speeds up production timelines but also enhances creativity, ensuring that media enterprises stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Revenue Prediction: Predicting future earnings is crucial for the financial stability of any media enterprise. Celebal Technologies offers industry-specific revenue prediction models that use historical data and market trends to forecast future revenues with precision. These insights allow companies to make informed business decisions, allocate resources effectively, and drive sustainable growth, giving them a competitive edge in an increasingly challenging market.

TV Rating Data Analysis: For media companies, understanding audience preferences and viewing habits is essential to creating content that resonates. Celebal Technologies’ TV rating data analysis tools provide deep insights into audience behavior, helping companies fine-tune programming and advertising strategies. These tools offer data-driven recommendations to enhance content offerings and ensure maximum engagement with target audiences.

The Future of Media Industry Innovation

The pace of Digital transformation in media is accelerating, with new technologies reshaping how content is created, distributed, and consumed. Celebal Technologies is at the forefront of this transformation, delivering Media industry innovation that drives growth, engagement, and operational efficiency. From personalized customer interactions to optimized platform performance and AI-enhanced content creation, our solutions help companies stay competitive in this rapidly changing environment.

As the CME industry continues to evolve, businesses must embrace digital reinvention and leverage cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of modern consumers. Celebal Technologies is committed to empowering enterprises on this journey, offering innovative Communication Media Entertainment solutionsthat drive success and open new opportunities in the digital world.

In conclusion, Celebal Technologies is your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of the CME industry. Whether you’re looking to improve audience engagement, optimize platform performance, or drive revenue growth, our solutions are designed to help you succeed. Embrace the future of media with Celebal Technologies and unlock the full potential of digital transformation. Book a free consulting session with the experts at enterprisesales@celebaltech.com

[zoyeleanor]

Revolutionizing Transactional Kiosks with HDR 4K Cameras: A New Era in Customer Experience

Introduction to HDR 4K Cameras

The integration of HDR 4K cameras into transactional kiosks marks a significant shift in how businesses interact with customers. These advanced cameras provide high-resolution imagery and exceptional detail, enhancing the overall customer experience. With the growing demand for efficiency and quality in service delivery, HDR 4K cameras have emerged as a key player in transforming transactional kiosks.

Enhancing Visual Clarity and Detail

One of the standout features of HDR 4K cameras is their ability to deliver stunning visual clarity. This high resolution allows for better identification of products and services displayed on kiosks, leading to more informed customer choices. Whether it’s a retail kiosk displaying clothing, food, or technology, the visual detail provided by HDR 4K cameras elevates the shopping experience. Customers can see vibrant colors and intricate details that 720p cameras simply cannot match, fostering a more engaging interaction.

Improving Customer Interaction

The incorporation of HDR 4K cameras facilitates better customer interaction through features like auto framing and facial recognition. Auto framing adjusts the camera angle to ensure that the customer is always in focus, regardless of their position. This technology not only makes the interaction smoother but also enhances security measures by accurately identifying individuals at the kiosk. With the rise of contactless transactions, the role of cameras in ensuring a seamless experience has never been more crucial.

Boosting Security and Fraud Prevention

Security is a top concern for businesses utilizing transactional kiosks. HDR 4K cameras contribute significantly to this aspect by providing high-definition footage that can be crucial in monitoring activities around the kiosk. The clarity and detail in the video feed make it easier to identify potential threats or fraudulent activities. This heightened security feature instills confidence in customers, encouraging them to use kiosks for transactions without hesitation.

Versatility in Applications

The versatility of HDR 4K cameras makes them suitable for various transactional environments. From retail to banking, these cameras can adapt to different use cases, ensuring that businesses can optimize their kiosks for any setting. The integration of such advanced technology in different sectors paves the way for more interactive and efficient customer service solutions.

If you’re looking to enhance your transactional kiosks with cutting-edge technology, consider implementing HDR 4K cameras. Discover how the AR0821 4K HDR USB 3.0 camera can revolutionize your customer interactions by visiting this link. Elevate your business’s customer experience today!

Final Thoughts on the Future of Kiosks

As businesses continue to evolve, the demand for improved customer experience and security will grow. The adoption of HDR 4K cameras in transactional kiosks represents a forward-thinking approach to meet these needs. With the potential for enhanced interactions, greater security, and the ability to adapt to various industries, these cameras are set to redefine the future of customer engagement in kiosks.

By embracing this technology, businesses can not only meet customer expectations but exceed them, paving the way for increased satisfaction and loyalty.

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Embracing Web 3.0: Transformative Possibilities for Law Firms in the Digital Age

In the changing terrain of the legal profession, where adaptation is vital, a new era is dawning—Web 3.0, a realm brimming with transformative possibilities for law firms. Far from being a simple technological evolution, Web 3.0 appears as a gateway to unprecedented prospects, challenging old standards and paving the way for innovative pathways in law firm marketing.

In this digital age, the legal sector sits on the cusp of a paradigm shift, and instead of perceiving it through the lens of obstacles, we are presented with a narrative of infinite potential. Web 3.0 brings revolutionary concepts—decentralization, transparency, and user empowerment—that promise not only to transform the way law firms function but also to redefine the method in which they communicate with their clients.

Embracing the Evolution: Web 3.0 and the Changing Legal Landscape 

A seismic revolution is underway within the legal sector. Clients, having gained agency through the digital era, are no longer satisfied with archaic communication and dusty binders. They now expect transparency, collaboration, and personalized experiences.

They expect their legal team to be as tech-savvy as their Uber driver, as accessible as their social media feed, and as transparent as a blockchain ledger. This is where Web 3.0 enters the picture. It will provide law firms with a robust set of resources to not only fulfil but surpass these ever-changing client expectations. These may consist of the following:

From Static Pages to Immersive Worlds: Imagine law firms transitioning from static websites to interactive metaverse experiences, wherein clients can communicate with lawyer avatars, peruse legal resources in virtual reality, and participate in virtual court hearings. This is not some faraway dream; in fact, foreign law firms are already testing consultations and offices in the metaverse, thereby providing clients with a more engaging and accessible experience.

From Paper Trails to Smart Contracts: No more will there be beige-covered mountains of papers and ceaseless red tape. Smart contracts, which are decentralized agreements that operate autonomously, have the potential to optimize legal procedures, diminish expenditures, and enhance openness. Actively investigating smart contracts for document management and automated legal services paves the way for a more dependable and efficient legal future.

From Data Silos to Shared Ownership: By dismantling data silos, Web 3.0 grants clients ownership and control over their legal data. For instance, imagine an environment wherein clients can securely exchange their legal documents with trusted advisors, access them from any device, and even generate revenue from their data as they see fit. This would be possible via a blockchain-powered decentralized legal services platform that seeks to grant clients complete authority over their legal information and experiences.

Tokenization: This can introduce innovative business models that transcend traditional norms. Law firms can reward client loyalty through token-based incentives, creating a symbiotic relationship. Additionally, secure financial transactions can be facilitated through tokenization, ensuring a seamless and trustworthy financial ecosystem for clients.

These are just a few instances of the possibilities that Web 3.0 unlocks for law firms. Each of these Web 3.0 technologies is not just a tool; they are catalysts for an improved client experience. By embracing these technologies, law firms can not only meet the evolving needs of their clients but also position themselves as innovators and leaders in the ever-changing legal landscape.

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Fostering a Connected Community: Collaboration and Growth 

Building Stronger Legal Communities: Within the domain of Web 3.0, law firms are presented with an exceptional prospect to surpass conventional limitations and establish dynamic communities revolving around their practice. This endeavour surpasses simple networking and aims to establish ecosystems that flourish through collective development, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.

DAOs: Powering Collaborative Initiatives and Problem-Solving: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (“DAOs”) are increasingly recognised as critical components for collaborative endeavours in the legal industry. For instance, imagine a legal community in which collective decision-making predominates and seamless knowledge-sharing occurs, & collective problem-solving is approached as a collaborative enterprise. DAOs enable legal companies to leverage the combined knowledge of the community, which promotes inventive thinking and adaptability in a constantly changing legal environment.

Access to Justice for Inclusive Impact: Beyond mere technological advancement, Web 3.0 serves as an impetus for constructive transformations in the realm of access to justice. By utilising decentralized technologies, law firms can improve the accessibility of legal resources, thereby fostering a legal environment that is more inclusive and equitable. By facilitating the dissemination of information to marginalized communities and optimizing procedures to achieve expedited resolutions, Web 3.0 emerges as a catalyst for the development of a judicial system that genuinely benefits all individuals.

By adopting the principles of Web 3.0, law firms can enhance their professional connections and make a positive impact on the legal community by fostering a more linked and equitable environment. An indisputable turning point in the destiny of the legal profession is the inclusive impact of DAOs and the collaborative attitude they inspire. Web 3.0 is more than a mere technological advancement; rather, it catalyzes the establishment of an interconnected, cooperative, and fair legal community.

Looking Forward 

As the legal industry enters the paradigm-shifting domain of Web 3.0, forthcoming developments hold the potential to revolutionize the client experience. Clients are empowered by shared ownership, smart contracts streamline operations, and Metaverse experiences redefine engagement. Tokenization fosters loyalty and confidence by transforming business paradigms. In addition to its technological advancements, Web 3.0 facilitates dynamic legal communities via DAOs, which influence cooperative undertakings and advance the cause of equal access to justice. Law firms that adopt these values establish themselves as trailblazers, making a positive contribution to a cohesive, collaborative, and fair legal community. The advent of Web 3.0 signifies an imminent and significant transformation in the trajectory of the legal industry.