#rapid host transfer

[rainbowcorepixelations]

Rapidhostien/Rapidhosien

[Image ID: in the centre is a line with a centre diamond. the diamond is split in half vertically and the left side and the line on that side is lilac, and the other side and the other line is an almost black red. the space above the line and the diamond is dark red, and top of that on the left, half is a dark purple shape that goes to the top of the flag diagonally to the right along the top left edge of the diamond. the space to the bottom of the line and diamond is reddish pink, and on top of that on the left, half is a purple shape that goes to the bottom of the flag diagonally to the right along the bottom left edge of the diamond. ID End]

Rapidhostien (or Rapidhosien) is a term for systems who experience Rapid Host Transfer!

A system that is Rapidhostien may experience constant change in host, one after the other like a train, or there may be breaks between each host. It may be random members, or it may be an order.

Open to all system types to use!

Thank you to Ceresys for the image id!

[sweet-as-an-angel]

not but the zombie reader is soooo hott, i loved it!!! it was a nice twist, my mouyh was left open with how good it was.

would he keep her there forever? what if she somehow got pregnant?

Thank you so much, my Lovely <3 !

Warnings: Eggnancy, Implied Forced Breeding, König’s Crippling Breeding Kink, Captivity, No Depictions of Smut, Vaguely Implied Smut, No Pronouns Used For Reader but Reader is Implied Female in The Original Post.

König would keep (Y/N) captive forever given that he knows, perhaps even more so than (Y/N), how incredibly dangerous the Wastes are. Yes, you’d managed to survive for a brief period before you met, but König is part of the wasteland — he’s seen things he’ll make sure you never have to. Even if that means subjecting you to another kind of horror; carrying and incubating his eggs.

It’s not so much a matter of if you get pregnant as opposed to when. König can feel the change happening in his body, the rapid evolution of the parasite and the methods with which it transfers and transforms.

When you do end up pregnant, something in König’s mind is going to snap and he’s never going to recover. He’ll be trying to fill you with his eggs at every twist and turn. Only just birthed a host of his offspring ? Here‘s another load, on him.

Seriously, though, König goes feral seeing his eggs growing inside you, sees you succumbing and submitting to your fate with him. The primal image of seeing you with his eggs is overwhelming for König, and he’s going to make sure there’s never a moment where you’re not stuffed full of them, both to satiate his instinctual needs and to make it clear to other survivors and infected alike that you are beyond help, that the creature who did this to you is as feral as he is colossal.

Reblog for more content like this! It helps creators like myself tremendously and it is greatly appreciated :-)

Masterlist Masterlist [Continued] Masterpost

AO3 Wattpad

[alizha]

𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 '𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 | 𝑷𝒐𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 | 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕

Rating: E Word Count: 6,969 (nice) Tags: nsfw, f/m, friends to lovers, porn with plot, sex pollen, cunnilingus, piv sex

Summary: Your lives run concurrent to each other for nearly ten years. What's it going to take to break out of the push and pull of your attraction to Poe Dameron?

masterlist | cross posted to ao3

You’re eighteen the first time you ever see Poe Dameron. The way people talk about him, you’d think he was some sort of mythical creature. A manticore or a phoenix, like the one in the stylized New Republic insignia on your sleeve.

Hosnian Prime is a hostile world that you’ve just entered. It’s not scorching and dry or filled with poisonous gas, but it is cold and sterile and filled with ruthless cutthroats. Except they’re really just young people your own age who would do anything to get ahead of the competition in the medical academy. Because you’re all already competing with the surgical droids, diagnostic scanners, and a whole host of medical AIs.

The flight academy is also on Hosnian Prime, and it seems every girl in your year is familiar with the name Poe Dameron.

He’s twenty-one. You can’t even remember the first time you heard his name. Though you get the peculiar feeling that he must have some character flaws that all the secondhand accounts fail to mention in between all that talk about his skills and his looks.

It happens on neither a notable day nor at a notable time. He’s at the river walk with his friends, you’re on a stroll with a group of your fellow medcorps privates.

“That’s him. Poe Dameron,” they whisper. “He’s one of Antilles’ best. Mother was a Rebel hero.”

Your curiosity gets the better of you, and you glance up as you pass him. For a brief moment, you’re looking at Poe Dameron, and he’s looking at you. Then, the moment is gone, and you don’t think about him again for as long as his reputation will let you.

❖ ❖ ❖

When you graduate from the academy and fully enter the New Republic service, there’s only a handful of your classmates left. The transfer from the academy to the naval base on Hosnian Prime is trying to say the least. Longer hours, smaller rooms, and more noise.

And Poe Dameron is there. He’s twenty-three and you’re twenty. The mess hall cheers when he walks through the doors.

“He’s so impressive, isn’t he?” a former classmate to your left titters. Her mouth forms into a frown when she sees your blank expression. “Come on. He’s just been promoted. Commander of his own squadron.”

“And he’s so young,” another girl adds.

There’s no way of expressing how insignificant any of this is to you without sounding bitter. So, you settle on saying, “Good for him,” in the most neutral tone you can conjure.

When you’re at blaster practice a few days later (because even though you joined the Navy to become a doctor, you’re still expected to learn how to defend yourself), Poe Dameron is at the shooting range. One gallery over with a couple of his pilot buddies. You don’t know who the officer on duty is, but they must be friends with Dameron because no one says anything about the ruckus they’re causing.

You hear their boisterous laughter, snippets of their conversation: “Blasted into oblivion… Flew circles around them… Told ‘em to punch it!” It dulls your concentration and makes you grit your teeth.

Shoulders back, feet apart. Hold the blaster like you’re not letting anyone take it from you. Breathe.

You squeeze the trigger, and in rapid succession, you hit all your targets. The sound of the blaster fire overtakes the hum of their laughter, and the conversation fizzles out. It isn’t until you lower your blaster that you realize the range has finally gone silent.

“Nice shot!” Dameron’s voice breaks the silence.

You turn to look at him, but he’s already scurrying out of the gallery, pulled along by his friends.

The rest of his time at the Hosnian Prime base, the two of you barely speak. There are only occasional nods and brief ‘good mornings’ as you pass each other in the halls. And then, in a month’s time, he’s gone. Deployed to some space station on some important mission. Inconsequentially, life goes on.

❖ ❖ ❖

Mirrin Prime is your first and only foreign duty station. The last of your classmates are gone—scattered across the galaxy at other New Republic bases or space stations. Luckily, being in the service creates a shared experience that is good for fostering a quick sense of camaraderie.

The medcorps seniors take you under their wing. They show you the ropes, teach you the best places on base to study, and take you to the local hotspots. There’s one bar most of the New Republic service members seem to prefer, tucked away on the basement floor of a building in the seaport district.

Poe Dameron’s squadron has been stationed at Mirrin Prime for over a year already, and you would have had to be living under a rock to not know it. He’s twenty-six, and you’re just about to turn twenty-three.

He’s always been this famed figure, fawned after by all, but now his reputation seems larger than life. The ace pilot, made commander in his early twenties, with somebody different on his arm every week. You scoff, despite yourself.

“What?” Miri asks. “It’s true. He could have practically anyone in this bar.”

“Then, he’s a bigger sleazeball than I thought,” you mutter under your breath. Getting into this with your friend isn’t really something you wanted to do. So, you try to laugh it off. You just don’t understand the fascination.

One night, he’s at the bar at the same time as you, and to your utter bewilderment, he slides into the stool beside you while Miri and Kryscha are getting more drinks. You’re about to tell him the seat is taken when he opens his mouth.

“Lemme guess, they don’t serve swill like this to rich girls like you on whatever Core World planet you’re from.”

His voice is smooth as Corellian whiskey. And paired with that playful look, you almost don’t hear him at all. It’s the first time your eyes and his meet so directly. But after a moment, your brain processes his words. You refuse to let him see you speechless.

“I’m from Taanab.”

One corner of his mouth quirks up. “Close enough. I’m Poe Dameron, by the way.”

“I know who you are.” Then, after a beat, you realize you should reciprocate. “I’m—”

“I know who you are,” he says, interrupting you cheekily. “I remember you from Hosnian Prime.”

When your friends return, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of Poe Dameron at their table, he invites the three of you to join him and his friends. You pass for tonight, but Miri and Kryscha are happy enough to go along with them. You can’t pass forever, though, and when your friends all start to invite you out for the chance to have a drink with Poe Dameron, commander of Rapier Squadron, you start to cave.

That’s how your acquaintance with Poe Dameron begins. More and more each time you meet, you’re convinced all the high praise he receives is just a bunch of hot air. He’s really just a cocky flyboy with a lot of reckless tendencies and dumb luck.

He proves your point a few months later when he’s brought into the medbay after a nasty crash, and you’re the medic on call. You can’t help the way you storm in, heart beating in your throat in anticipation of the chewing out you were planning on giving him.

And no, it’s not because you’re mad at him for inviting Kryscha out on that date last week. It’s not envy you feel swelling in the pit of your stomach. It’s frustration that Poe thinks he’s too good to best, too good to get himself killed.

“Hey, you,” he says weakly when he sees you walk in, and the scolding you prepared dies on your tongue.

You patch him up roughly, tie his bandages on a little too tight. He squirms beneath the undue strength of your hands, even stifles a few groans and covers them up with a chuckle.

“I can’t tell if you’re mad at me or if you’re getting some sort of weird pleasure out of this.”

“Please.” You fix him with your scowl. “Don’t joke about this. You’re lucky you look worse than you actually are.”

“Will my looks be spared, you think?” He hisses as you pat the scrape along his cheekbone with bacta.

“It’s a long shot, but I think they’ll survive.”

That’s the closest you’ve ever come to admitting Poe Dameron is an attractive man. Even now, you’re inches away from his face, his bloodied shirt is discarded somewhere on the floor, and your fingers hover over the musculature of his bared shoulder. All the evidence you need right in front of you, and you still won’t say it outright.

The months roll by, and all the while, the ever-expanding shadow of the First Order looms over the New Republic. Miri is deployed on a diplomatic mission alongside Rapier Squadron and comes back with stories about Poe that sound a little intimate. But you think you’re reading too much into it until Miri starts grabbing drinks after work with Poe alone.

❖ ❖ ❖

When Poe’s rotation at Mirrin Prime is nearly complete, he’s twenty-eight. You’re twenty-five.

He’s angrier than he used to be. Still flippant, but there’s an undercurrent of unrest in his voice when he speaks up about the New Republic’s leniency toward the First Order. He clenches his jaw and patrols trade lanes in the sector when what he wants is to be daring.

He gets his chance when one of those routine patrols goes sideways. Apparently, his droid picks up a distress call from a hijacked freighter he’s been tracking. Four Rapiers engage. Only three return.

You finally get the holocall you’ve been expecting. Poe Dameron is waiting for you in the medbay. His head got dinged sometime during the engagement over Suraz.

“I was being careful. I promise.”

He says it for your benefit, but it rings like a lie. You gently move aside his dark curls to apply bacta to his stitches.

“So you’re not going to do anything stupid?”

Poe cracks a grin at that, suppressing the wince that results from the coolness of the bacta against his warm scalp. “Now, why would I do that?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.” You’re too tired to think of something witty right now, so you pass that off for him to do.

“Why don’t we make a wager? If I come back alive from whatever it is I’m about to do, you go out for a drink with me.”

Your fingers stiffen up, and you quickly withdraw your hands to your sides. Even when you’re expecting something crazy to come out of his mouth, Poe still manages to surprise you.

“No, thank you.”

You turn to wash your hands and gather your things, and he lets you leave without another word. When you mention the short encounter to your friends at supper, unnerved and quite frankly a little angry that her friend, Poe Dameron, would deign to ask her to have a drink with him, they burst out into uncontrollable laughter. As if nobody in their right mind would relate to how you feel about it.

“Seriously? So, you turned him down then,” Miri asks.

“Of course.”

She shakes her head like you’re being ridiculous. “You don’t have to spare my feelings. It’s not like we were ever anything serious.”

“It’s not that,” you insist.

“Then, what is it?”

You close your mouth with a snap. There’s an answer waiting on your lips, but you’re afraid that it’ll sound like you’re being judgy. You simply do not want to be another person to fall over themselves trying to spend a night with Poe Dameron. Your refusal would likely do little to temper his ego in the long run, but it was really just about the principle of the thing.

When Poe disappears, not long after your conversation in the medbay, you can’t even be surprised. Command is furious. His squadron mates are brought in for questioning.

In the midst of the confusion, you’re sent with a different squadron on a mission to a space station in the mid rim. A hologram message from Miri fills you in. Poe has returned and been detained.

By the time you return from your mission, he’s gone without so much as a note, along with what was left of his squadron. There are rumors he’s joined the splinter group of the New Republic led by General Leia Organa.

❖ ❖ ❖

It’s not long after your twenty-seventh birthday that you and a few of your fellow medics decide to defect to the Resistance too. You’d heard Poe landed his own command of an entire attack wing in the Resistance.

Sure enough, one of your first missions sees you working with a few pilots from one of his squadrons. He’s just gotten back from one of his own operations and is there to personally brief his men. His lips quirk up at the corners when he spots you approaching.

“This one’s trouble, so keep an eye on her,” he says teasingly. “Make sure everything’s in order before you head out.”

He dismisses the pilots to finish prepping and turns to look you over like he can’t believe what he’s seeing. You bite back the acid that threatens to spew out of your mouth at him for leaving without a word.

“Been a while. How you doing, sweetheart?”

No, he doesn’t get to do that. “I have to go, Dameron. They’re waiting for me.”

You go to shove past, but he stops you with a large hand on your shoulder. Looking at him this close reveals shallow lines of age at the corners of his eyes and the plane of his forehead, eyes sunken in, and a hollowness to his cheeks that you never noticed before. Nearly a decade has slipped by without you even realizing it.

“It’s good to have you on board.” He says it with an authenticity that he reserves for serious occasions, few and far between.

You answer with a nod, and he releases you. He waits and watches from the hangar until your ship makes the jump to hyperspace.

❖ ❖ ❖

The sound of blaster fire rings in your ears as you sprint through the unfamiliar hangar, an insistent hand on the small of your back pressing you on as you swerve to avoid stacks of cargo and startled droids. You want to turn around and snap at the man the hand is attached to, but the situation you find yourself in is a little too precarious for personal gripes.

“Shouldn’t we go back and help?!” you yell over the twangs of ricocheted shots on metal.

“No time!” Poe says as he ushers you into the cramped cockpit of the light freighter he’d flown you in on. “Besides, we’re the ones they’re after. I need to get you out of here.”

“But—”

The words you were about to speak fade away under the roar of the ship’s engines. You barely have time to throw your bag onto the floor and slip on your headset before Poe launches the ship out of the hangar. He narrowly avoids scraping the ship against the edge of the entrance on the way out.

“Kriff! The only thing I need protecting from out here is you!” you shout, grappling for a hold of something to keep yourself steady as you struggle to strap into your seat. The high-pitched sound of two TIE fighters screeches behind, followed by more blaster fire.

“You sure about that?” he retorts, sending the ship into an evasive dive.

You’re pretty sure Poe stalls for as long as he can to show off a few of his flashy maneuvers to no one in particular, hooting victoriously in his usual self-satisfied manner after each one. Finally, he lines up a shot and takes out both enemy fighters in quick succession.

“Did you see that?!” Poe cries.

You fight the urge to let out a frustrated scream. “We didn’t have time to go back and help, but you somehow had time for that? Honestly, Dameron, just get us the hell out of here!”

“Okay, okay,” he says, finally punching in the proper coordinates to make the jump to hyperspace. Once you’re hurtling through the familiar blue tunnel, you breathe a small sigh of relief and relax the tense muscles of your shoulders.

“Aw, stop your pouting, Doc. We made it out in one piece, didn’t we?”

You narrow your eyes at him. “I wouldn’t call losing an entire shipment of medical supplies a win.”

That purchase had taken weeks to set up and cost the Resistance a not-insignificant sum. Kalonia was gonna kill you.

“It wasn’t worth the risk. You’re more valuable than a bunch of bacta and synthplast,” Poe says.

From anyone else, those words would have sounded like a compliment. But this is Poe Dameron, and taking harebrained risks is almost second nature to him. The unexpectedly charitable comment rolls off you like water off an airtight seal. It takes a lot of restraint to hold in a scoff, but you’ve had plenty of practice.

He’s always been impossible.

“Didn’t you manage to salvage a few things?” Poe jerks his head toward your discarded bag. You’d only had enough time to shove a few handfuls of supplies into it without checking what you were taking once the shooting started.

“A few bandages and some pain medicine? Regardless, we should have gone back and helped,” you mutter, folding your arms across your chest. “Not just for the supplies. We were meant to refuel before heading back.”

“Don’t sulk. It’ll be fine. And I’ll put in a good word with the major for you,” Poe says.

And with that, your self-control falters. You let out a short laugh. As if he were so important that his word would do anything to lessen the failure of your mission.

“No, thank you. I think I’m good,” you bite out at him.

He pauses to scrutinize you pensively. “I honestly thought you were just having a bad day, but you really don’t like me, do you? I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to realize it.”

A bad day, he says. That’s one way to describe it. But his accusation finally catches you off guard and you sputter a bit.

“A-are you sure you’re not just used to getting special treatment from everyone else?”

He shakes his head. “Look, it’s okay. I know I’m not everybody’s cup of tea.” He lapses for a moment, thoughtful, then adds, “I mean, I’m most people’s. But not yours. There’s no accounting for taste, but I respect your opinion.”

You groan quietly and dig the heels of your palms into your eyes. He’s teasing you. Or he isn’t, and he’s disguising a genuine wound behind a glib attitude. Part of you doesn’t wish to know which is true, so you unstrap yourself from your seat and hoist yourself up onto your feet.

“I can never tell if you’re screwing with me,” you mutter as you duck out of the cockpit and shut the door behind you.

You’re not running away. You’re not. You’re just tired and overwrought from this mission. It’s going to be a few hours before the ship reaches D’Qar, so you might as well try to relax. Luckily, there’s a space in the main hull for you to put up your feet. And although you’re not looking for it, you fall expeditiously into an uneasy sleep.

❖ ❖ ❖

The feeling of the starship lurching out of hyperspace jerks you awake. Even though you’re groggy from your nap, you know it’s too soon for the ship to have reached the Ileenium system already. You stretch out your arms and get to your feet.

“Poe?”

He doesn’t look up at you as you squeeze back into the cockpit. His focus is fixed on the nav computer, brows knitted and his lower lip drawn into a soft bite between his teeth. There’s an ever-growing sinking feeling in your stomach.

“Poe, what’s going on?” you ask carefully.

“We, uh…” He chuckles sheepishly. “We ran out of fuel.”

“What?”

“Now, you don’t have to say ‘I told you so.’ I admit, we should have fueled up before we left.”

“You think?”

Poe finally turns to meet your furious gaze with those big brown eyes of his, exuding innocence. “In my defense, I was trying to save our lives.”

At this point, you’re trying your best not to smack yourself in the forehead in frustration. First, you fail to complete your mission. Now, you were going to need rescuing on top of that.

“Okay, what do we do now? Did you get in touch with the base?” You don’t even know why you’re making such an effort to keep your voice steady and calm.

“Great question,” Poe says in a chipper tone that puts you on edge. “We’re getting picked up by a New Republic patrol. They should be here in just a couple hours.”

Maker, you knew what that meant. It meant the Resistance couldn't spare a ship to pick them up, so they’re letting someone else who was already in the area do the rescuing. And it meant more time than expected spent in close quarters with Poe.

You’re still feeling awkward from earlier. Maybe you should head back to claim the hull for yourself to wait it out alone. You’re just about to do just that when Poe speaks up again suddenly.

“Hey, I don’t suppose I could have some of that medicine? I think I pulled something running away earlier.”

“Whatever.” You wave your hand dismissively and drop back into your chair, staring out into the starry void.

He gets up and shuffles around behind you. “What’s this?”

“What’s what?”

Poe doesn’t answer. It sounds like he’s fiddling with something now, like a stick lid. You let out a beleaguered sigh and turn just in time to see him jimmy the opening of a small canister.

“Wait—,”

It opens with a pop and releases a loud hiss. Although you can’t see anything, the noise is a clear indication that Poe has just released something into the air. Instinct takes over, and you spring up to smack the canister out of his hand. It clatters to the ground, and he gives you a strange look.

“What was that supposed to do?”

“I don’t know!”

“What was even in that thing?”

A thousand scenarios race through your head. It could have been anything. Poe likely inhaled most of whatever came out of that canister. “Do you feel anything?”

He contemplates for a moment, then shakes his head. “I feel normal.”

“Okay, that’s a good sign.”

You get up and walk over to where the canister has rolled against the wall. When you pick it up to inspect the label, you have to rub your eyes to make sure you’re reading it right.

“Uhm… you’ll be okay, Poe. Don’t panic, okay?”

He jumps to his feet. “I do not like the way you just said that. What is it, Doc? Poison? Just tell me.”

You fight against a furious blush. Before you can form an answer, Poe’s eyes widen slightly and his head snaps up to meet your gaze. He may not have felt anything before, but it’s clear the effects have started to take hold now.

“What’s happening to me?” he asks, his voice calm but shaky.

There’s a flush spreading over his face that you’re sure matches yours. Perspiration shines on his temple, and he swallows as his blackening pupils flicker around restlessly. They hone in on your mouth when your tongue darts out to wet your suddenly dry lips.

“Experimental drug. Mostly black market.” You pause to bite your lip anxiously. “Acute aphrodisiac. It was developed to artificially increase populations of an endangered species native to the Tapani sector.”

Poe moans into his hands and rubs his knuckles into his increasingly bloodshot eyes. “Okay, that explains… things.”

Embarrassment burns through you, hot and bright. Not for Poe, but for yourself. Because in spite of yourself, there's a lick of desire that shudders down your spine at the sight of him. You turn abruptly to hide your face. What kind of sick person would react this way to this?

You try to turn your frustration around on him. “Why would you mess around with something when you don’t know what’s inside it?”

Behind you, he lets out a groan that sounds as if it’s been muffled against his fist. If he hears your question, he doesn’t have the patience to respond. “How long is this going to last exactly?”

The answer is too mortifying for you to push out of your throat. You wrap your arms around yourself self-consciously. There’s only one way to make the effects of the drug go away. And if you don’t do it, he’ll be in excruciating pain for hours.

There’s not just the waiting for the New Republic patrol to consider. There’s also the matter of getting towed to the nearest system. And if there’s no one who can treat him there, he’ll have to endure refueling and getting the rest of the way to the Resistance base on D’Qar.

You steel your resolve and try to make your face as neutral as possible when you turn back to him. “You don’t have to be in pain. There is something we can do now to neutralize the drug.”

He laughs weakly through his discomfort, and that makes you raise your eyebrows at him. “You’re not seriously suggesting what I think, are you? That-that’s just crazy. Right? Doc?”

Indignantly, you anchor your hands to your hips and frown. “What is it that you think I’m suggesting?”

Poe is quiet for a moment as if he’s waiting for you to give up a jest. But when you only watch him expectantly, he drops his tight smile and says, “Oh, you are serious. No. No. It’s out of the question.”

“I’m suggesting I help out a friend,” you sigh. “Why is that so unthinkable?”

“By having sex with me?” He shakes his head with a scoff.

His tone grates at your nerves. “Well, thanks for that. I thought you were willing to fuck anything that moves, but I guess I’m the one exception to that rule.”

You storm out of the cockpit and mash the side of your fist against the release to close the door behind you. Poe throws himself through before the door can shut completely and grabs you by the shoulder.

“Wait! No, that’s not—,”

You’re about to send your elbow straight into his gut when he doubles over with a cry. He releases his grip on your shoulder and flails wildly until he gets a hold of the wall, letting out a long groan.

“Dank ferrik,” you mutter as you slide your arm under his. He leans against you as you lead him to the sofa where you’d taken a nap earlier. Even through the fabric of his shirt, his skin feels scorching to the touch.

“You have to believe me. It’s not that you’re not a beautiful woman. Because you are. Beautiful, I mean.”

His voice is thin like he’s not getting enough air. You push him to relax against the backrest with a shush.

“Would you just take it easy? I don’t care about that. You’re only putting yourself in more pain.”

“No.” He takes your arms in his hands to cease your ministrations. “You need to hear me. This isn’t how I want this. It’s all wrong. That’s why I can’t have sex with you.”

His gaze is too direct, too piercing. You have to force yourself not to look away. “W-what?”

“Ideally I’d like to have sex with you because you like me,” he says through a groan. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he bites back his pain. “Not because you feel obligated to sleep with me when I’m on the brink of passing out.”

You sigh and crouch down so you’re at eye-level with him. “Poe. I don’t feel obligated to. I want to help you.”

“Doc, no. Okay? And that’s final.”

He shuts his eyes and sucks in a breath through his teeth. And it’s in that moment that it all hits you.

He’s choosing now to be chivalrous. To absolve you of your guilt for causing the continuation of his pain. But you want no part of that. Carefully, you reach out one hand to cup his stubbled face, and the muscles of his jaw jump beneath your fingers.

“I’m not gonna let you suffer.”

His eyes flutter open in time to watch you lean forward, putting your face millimeters from his. They stare transfixed, first at your eyes, then at your lips.

“It’s always been hard to resist you. But I don’t think I can control myself right now.”

His words shoot straight to your core. You’re practically hovering over his lap now. He clenches his fists at his sides—one last desperate attempt to hold himself back.

“You don’t have to,” you breathe.

Then, everything snaps, and Poe is sitting up straight as a knife, mouth crashing onto yours. He kisses you like a man starved. Desperate, without thought for breath, his hands grabbing at your hair and the nape of your neck.

He swallows every gasp before they can even tumble from your lips, knees parting so he can wrench you flush against his chest. His stubble is merciless on the soft skin of your face, and the small moans he emits between nips compounds the growing ache between your legs.

It’s nice. It’s all way more than nice, but he needs more than this to quell the effects of the drug. You reach down between your bodies and feel around and—

Kriff. The bulge at his crotch is already as hard as durasteel. Poe lets out a whine as you squeeze him through the fabric of his pants.

“Not yet,” he whispers, shoving your hand away.

Before you can protest, he flips you onto your back on the sofa and dips down to capture your lips with his again. His tongue slips past your teeth, drags against the roof of your mouth. The pressure of his fingertips on your neck is bliss. When he moves to press a kiss to your throat, your heart starts to beat rabbit-fast in your chest, breaths coming in short bursts.

Poe claws at your arms, grabs at your chest and hips over your clothes, too far gone to bother removing the layers. Your own hands slide under his shirt and along the damp skin of his back, fascinated by the way his muscles ripple beneath your touch. Driven by need, you shove your face to the crook of his neck and mouth at the cords of his throat. His taste bursts across your tongue.

The moan he releases makes you clench your thighs together, and you realize the sheer amount of slick that’s managed to accumulate at your center. Shame heats your face—you’re getting hopelessly turned on by a drugged-up Poe. You’ve refused to be another notch in his belt for almost a decade.

“Hey, look at me.”

He takes you by the chin and tilts slightly so you’re looking into his eyes. They’re nearly black, but there’s still something warm in them that eases the tension in your shoulders. He’s still Poe. He’s still your friend.

“I’m sorry, okay?” He rocks his hardened length against your thigh, sending a shiver down your spine.

“I’m not.” The words are leaving your mouth before your brain has time to think. They shock him as much as you. For a long moment, all you do is stare at each other, chests heaving. Then, Poe rips the waistband of your pants and underwear down to your knees.

He growls your name into the juncture between your neck and shoulder and dips his index finger into your cunt without preamble. The sudden intrusion makes you lift your back off the sofa, gasping. Another finger joins in, then another, as Poe groans eagerly.

“I’m not sorry,” you pant, hips squirming. “I care about you, Poe.”

“I care about you too. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted you.”

His head disappears and suddenly he’s positioning his face between your legs. Hot breath fans across your soaking folds as his fingers continue to fuck you unrelentingly. A shudder runs through you in anticipation.

“I’ve thought about tasting you for years,” he murmurs.

Even now, when he’s hovering over his goal, Poe can’t help but love hearing himself talk. You make a frustrated noise and glance down at him. His eyes make contact with yours just as he flattens his tongue against your clit.

All your thoughts dissipate at the molten hot feel of his mouth. There’s no build up, no softness. Just the firm swirl of his tongue and the slide of his fingers, desperate and frenzied like years of longing are pouring out of him at this very moment.

There’s nothing to hold on to, so you fist your hands above your head as you cant your hips. Poe doesn’t mind your writhing. Seems to savor the way your body reacts to his touch. Perhaps he’s dreamt of how you would look pinned beneath him like this.

Pleasure builds at the base of your spine as he moans into your cunt like your sweetness is everything he’s imagined and more. When he closes his lips around your clit and sucks, a cry finally rips from your throat.

“O-oh! That’s—,”

“You like that?” His voice is so low and husky it reverberates in his chest. Makes you shiver deliciously.

“I need to fuck you now.”

An eagerness forms on his face as you kick your pants off the rest of the way and press your foot into his chest. Obediently, he wraps his fingers around your ankle and straightens, lets you push him down until his back is against the armrest. He flashes you a dark smile as he languidly kisses his way from your ankle to your calf.

“If I’d known you were so keen, I would have done this ages ago.”

“Shut up.” His teasing rips a hole in your pride, but you can’t think of anything more clever to say.

“Yes, Doctor,” he says, winking.

You scoff and make quick work of the closures of his trousers as Poe grips the swell of your hips. He was being way too cocky—you want to smack that smug expression right off his face. The effects of the drug must have been quelled by what the two of you have done so far, but it’s going to take release for him to be cured completely.

With his free hand, Poe reaches past the waistband of his underwear. When he eases out his cock, it’s flushed an angry red and already weeping at the tip. He must be frustrated from the neglect, aching from need. Curiosity compels you to wrap your fingers around his searing thickness, and his mouth falls open with a moan.

A thrill runs through you. He’s beautiful like this. Dark brows drawn together, plush lips parted, and head tipped back to reveal his sharp jaw and exposed throat covered in unshaven shadow. No, he’s always been beautiful. You’ve just always been too stubborn to admit it.

“Please.” His voice comes out like a whine, but a part of you still clings to the idea that his plea is just him indulging you to get what he wants.

Every secret resentment you’ve held against him over the years bubbles to the surface. “I can’t stand you, you smooth-talking, arrogant, laserbrained ass.”

You roll your fist hard over his cock. Poe bites his lower lip to muffle a cry, dazed by the mixture of pleasure and pain.

“You’re gorgeous. I adore you,” he moans, splaying his fingers over your thighs. The strength of his grip makes your mouth water.

Swiftly, you raise your hips up and position the head of his throbbing member at your fluttering entrance. When you sink down, taking the length of him inside you, you both groan. Much to your surprise, it doesn’t feel like defeat.

“Stars. You feel so good.”

He urges you to move, shoving your hips forward in a grinding motion. You squirm above him as you struggle to adjust to his size. When he pushes you back, his cock hits something inside you that makes the edges of your vision go white. You keen his name, and he quickens his pace, guiding you back and forth atop him.

“Say it again. Say my name like you only want me.”

“Poe,” you sigh, driving your hips against his. You clench around him, desperately chasing the sweet release that was just out of reach.

He releases a soft grunt as he lifts up off the armrest and captures your bottom lip between his teeth. You wind your arms under his and dig shallow crescents into his back with your fingernails as he drags the bite out then flicks his tongue over the resulting sting soothingly.

“I’d be yours if you asked, Doc,” he murmurs as he tangles his fingers in your hair. “All you’d have to do is ask.”

You nip at his lip in retaliation, hard enough to draw a yelp from him. “Stop bullshitting me, flyboy.”

Poe’s fingers close around a handful of hair, and he gives it a short tug. You gasp as your head falls back and his lips latch onto the side of your throat. He brazenly sucks a mark into the delicate skin there and grins at his handiwork.

“Brat.”

“Sweetheart.”

He bucks up into you, his cock reaching deeper inside you than his fingers ever could. In a few simple moves, he’s turned the tables and taken control again. The irritation rises in you in tandem with the heat of pleasure building in your belly.

“I’m being serious. It’s not the drug talking,” he says between pants.

You know that. At least while he’s fucking you, the drug has no effect on him. You roll your eyes at him and just focus on riding him. But Poe doesn’t give up easy. He whines your name.

“Leave me alone,” you mutter, grinding down and taking him in to the hilt.

He sucks in a breath and shakes his head. “I can't.”

Rough fingers find their way to your clit and draw tight circles over the bundle of nerves. His other hand slips beneath the fabric of your bra and toys with a hardened nipple. Poe handles your body with the same confidence he has when operating the dash in his X-wing. It’s the last straw that puts you over the edge, and suddenly you feel like you’re taking off into the stars.

He fucks you through your orgasm, plunging into your cunt over and over as he lets broken moans tumble from his mouth indiscriminately. “Beautiful. I’m close. So close.”

You surrender to the frantic rhythm of his thrusts, boneless and hanging on to his taut shoulders for dear life. When his hips begin to stutter, you clench down on him, earning you a strangled cry of your name. Poe drives up one last time and spills inside of you, and the sensation of his hot spurts makes you whimper and shudder over him.

When he collapses back onto the armrest, he takes you down with him so that you’re lying flush against his heaving chest. Everything sounds so distant, so far away compared to the roar of blood pumping in your ears. You stay like that for a while as the both of you try to recover.

“Did that… work?” you ask finally, breaking the silence filled with only the sounds of your combined breaths returning to normal.

“You could say that,” he says. He glances down at you. “Oh, right, the drug. The pain’s gone. Don’t think it’s coming back.”

“Good.”

You start to shift to pull yourself off his softening cock, but he presses a hand against the small of your back to hold you still. Inquisitively, you look back up to meet his gaze. Warm brown was starting to return to the edges of his eyes as his pupils receded.

“Listen, sweetheart. I know you think I’m a flirt. But the truth is it’s just my way of staying in control.”

Pressing your lips into a thin line, you let out a tired exhale through your nose.

“It’s true. C’mon, best pilot in the Resistance? I’m just a conquest for these people. Turning them into conquests puts the power back into my hands,” he says. “None of them want me because they actually know me.”

“What are you saying?” you ask, your heartbeat high in your throat.

Poe’s fingers dance lazily across your back as he presses a kiss to your forehead. “I’m saying you’re not a conquest. I wasn’t just chasing after you out of some sick, twisted need to bed the one girl I couldn’t have.”

You lift yourself up slightly to get a better look at him, and the softness of his expression threatens to break your heart. He brushes his knuckle against your cheekbone and tucks a lock of your hair behind your ear. The gesture is so tender and intimate, it makes your stomach flutter.

“Let me prove it to you. Let me take you out properly when we get back. I promise you, you won’t regret—,”

“Poe,” you say, cutting him off and taking his chin between your thumb and index finger. “It’s a date, alright? So shut up.”

And with that, you lean down to kiss him again and feel him smiling against your lips.

[coochiequeens]

Because large-scale organising is “almost impossible” in China, women are turning to “all kinds of alternative ways to maintain feminism in their daily lives and even develop and transfer feminism to others,” she says. These may take the form of book clubs or exercise meet-ups. Some of her friends in China organise hikes. “They say that we are feminists, we are hiking together, so when we are hiking we talk about feminism.“ - Lü Pin

To find evidence that China’s feminist movement is gaining momentum – despite strict government censorship and repression – check bookshelves, nightstands and digital libraries. There, you might find a copy of one of Chizuko Ueno’s books. The 74-year-old Japanese feminist and author of Feminism from Scratch and Patriarchy and Capitalism has sold more than a million books in China, according to Beijing Open Book, which tracks sales. Of these, 200,000 were sold in January and February alone.

Ueno, a professor of sociology at the University of Tokyo, was little known outside in China outside academia until she delivered a 2019 matriculation speech at the university in which she railed against its sexist admissions policies, sexual “abuse” by male students against their female peers, and the pressure women felt to downplay their academic achievements.

The speech went viral in Japan, then China.

“Feminist thought does not insist that women should behave like men or the weak should become the powerful,” she said. “Rather, feminism asks that the weak be treated with dignity as they are.”

In the past two years, 11 of her books have been translated into simplified Chinese and four more will be published this year. In December, two of her books were among the top 20 foreign nonfiction bestsellers in China. While activism and protests have been stifled by the government, the rapid rise in Ueno’s popularity shows that women are still looking for ways to learn more about feminist thought, albeit at a private, individual level.

Talk to young Chinese academics, writers and podcasters about what women are reading and Ueno’s name often comes up. “We like-like her,” says Shiye Fu, the host of popular feminist podcast Stochastic Volatility.

“In China we need some sort of feminist role model to lead us and enable us to see how far women can go,” she says. “She taught us that as a woman, you have to fight every day, and to fight is to survive.”

When asked by the Guardian about her popularity in China, Ueno says her message resonates with this generation of Chinese women because, while they have grown up with adequate resources and been taught to believe they will have more opportunities, “patriarchy and sexism put the burden to be feminine on them as a wife and mother”.

Ueno, who found her voice during the student power movements of the 1960s, has long argued that marriage restricts women’s autonomy, something she learned watching her own parents. She described her father as “a complete sexist”. It’s stance that resonates with women in China, who are rebelling against the expectation that they take a husband.

Ueno’s most popular book, with 65,000 reviews on Douban, is simply titled Misogyny. One review reads: “It still takes a little courage to type this. I have always been shy about discussing gender issues in a Chinese environment, because if I am not careful, I will easily attract the label of … ‘feminist cancer’.”

“Now it’s a hard time,” says Lü Pin, a prominent Chinese feminist who now lives in the US. In 2015 she happened to be in New York when Chinese authorities arrested five of her peers – who were detained for 37 days and became known as the “Feminist Five” – and came to Lü’s apartment in Beijing. She narrowly avoided arrest. “Our movement is increasingly being regarded as illegal, even criminal, in China.”

China’s feminist movement has grown enormously in the past few years, especially among young women online, says Lü, where it was stoked by the #MeToo movements around the world and given oxygen on social media. “But that’s just part of the story,” she says. Feminism is also facing much stricter censorship – the word “feminism” is among those censored online, as is China’s #MeToo hashtag, #WoYeShi.

“When we already have so many people joining our community, the government regards that as a threat to its rule,” Lü says. “So the question is: what is the future of the movement?”

Because large-scale organising is “almost impossible” in China, women are turning to “all kinds of alternative ways to maintain feminism in their daily lives and even develop and transfer feminism to others,” she says. These may take the form of book clubs or exercise meet-ups. Some of her friends in China organise hikes. “They say that we are feminists, we are hiking together, so when we are hiking we talk about feminism.

“Nobody can change the micro level.”

‘The first step’

In 2001, when Lü was a journalist starting out on her journey into feminism, she founded a book club with a group of friends. She was struggling to find books on the subject, so she and her friends pooled their resources. “We were feminists, journalists, scholars, so we decided let’s organise a group and read, talk, discuss monthly,” she says. They met in people’s homes, or the park, or their offices. It lasted eight years and the members are still among her best friends.

Before the book club, “I felt lonely when I was pursuing feminism. So I need friends, I need a community. And that was the first community I had.” “I got friendship, I deepened my understanding of feminism,” Lü says. “It’s interesting, perhaps the first step of feminist movements is always literature in many countries, especially in China.”

Lü first read Ueno’s academic work as a young scholar, when few people in China knew her name. Ueno’s books are for people who are starting out on their pursuit of feminism, Lü says, and the author is good at explaining feminist issues in ways that are easy to understand.

Like many Ting Guo discovered Ueno after the Tokyo University speech. Guo, an assistant professor in the department of cultural and religious studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, still uses it in lectures.

Ueno’s popularity is part of a larger phenomenon, Guo says. “We cannot really directly describe what we want to say, using the word that we want to use, because of the censorship, because of the larger atmosphere. So people need to try to borrow words, mirror that experience in other social situations, in other political situations, in other contexts, in order to precisely describe their own experience, their own feelings and their own thoughts.”

There are so many people who are new to the feminist movement, says Lü, “and they are all looking for resources, but due to censorship, it’s so hard for Chinese scholars, for Chinese feminists, to publish their work.”

Ueno “is a foreigner, that is one of her advantages, and she also comes from [an] east Asian context”, which means that the patriarchal system she describes is similar to China’s. Lü says the reason books by Chinese feminists aren’t on bestseller lists is because of censorship.

Na Zhong, a novelist who translated Sally Rooney’s novels into simplified Chinese, feels that Chinese feminism is, at least when it comes to literature, gaining momentum. The biggest sign of this, both despite and because of censorship, is “the sheer number of women writers that are being translated into Chinese” – among whom Ueno is the “biggest star”.

“Young women are discovering their voices, and I’m really happy for my generation,” she says. “We’re just getting started.”

By Helen R Sullivan

This is the third story in a three-part series on feminism and literature in China.

[nil-nothing-nada]

Stardew Valley Green: Mr Qi and the Universe's Will

At the age of 19, Mr. Qi was unexpectedly selected to be the heir to the universe's will, a monumental decision that would alter the course of his life forever. This prestigious title came with immense responsibilities and powers, thrusting him into an extraordinary journey filled with challenges, mysteries, and revelations about the very fabric of existence itself. As he embraced his new role, Mr. Qi found himself navigating realms beyond his imagination, each experience shaping him into the influential figure he was destined to become.

The universe's will exists as a profound spiritual energy, seeking out individuals it deems worthy of its extraordinary power. This enigmatic force has traversed the ages, shifting from one person to another over countless eons. However, it can inhabit only a single person at a time, channeling its immense capabilities through them. This bond remains unbroken until the individual’s life comes to an end, at which point the energy seamlessly transitions to a new host. Each new bearer carries the weight of the universe’s desires, tasked with wielding this power for reasons beyond their understanding, echoing the eternal cycle of life and death that governs existence itself.

Those who have inherited the universe's will hold a unique position; while they cannot definitively choose who will become its next vessel, they do possess the ability to exert a degree of influence over the selection process. By identifying a candidate with potential—someone who demonstrates remarkable talent or innate qualities—they can engage them in a rigorous and focused training regimen. This training is tailored to extremely specific standards, designed to cultivate the skills, mindset, and attributes deemed essential for the role. Through this meticulous process, the likelihood that the universe will recognize and select this individual as its next heir is significantly enhanced, setting them on a path toward their cosmic destiny.

The universe's will typically selects individuals between the ages of 18 and 20, perceiving this age group as the healthiest and most capable hosts for its essence. When the will chooses to possess someone, it facilitates a profound exchange of knowledge and experience, transferring the vast store of insights from all previous vessels into the consciousness of the new host. This infusion endows the individual with a comprehensive understanding of the will's unique abilities, responsibilities, and expectations. As a result of inheriting this monumental wealth of information, the vessels often exhibit a maturity and depth of understanding that belies their young age. They can draw upon experiences and knowledge that span the ages, making them appear wise and seasoned beyond their years.

Moreover, the will significantly enhances the memory capacity of the current host, allowing them to retain and process an even greater volume of information. This heightened ability is crucial, as it ensures that when the time comes for the universe's will to transfer, their accrued knowledge and insights can be seamlessly passed on to the next chosen individual, preserving the continuity and wisdom of the universe's will across generations.

Those chosen to become vessels for the universe's will will experience a profound and rapid transformation, reshaping their bodies into a form intricately designed to fulfill the will's objectives. Initially, their skin will take on a captivating shimmering hue, an iridescent blue reminiscent of moonlit waters, reflecting light in various shades depending on the angle. This transformation symbolizes their new connection to the cosmos.

As part of this metamorphosis, their blood will change to a thick, slimy pitch black, a stark contrast to their radiant exterior, signifying the deep and mysterious energies coursing through them. They will develop formidable physical features, including elongated claws capable of rending flesh and sharp, serrated teeth that evoke the predatory nature of sharks. Their tongues will elongate, splitting into two serpentine ends, enhancing their sensory perception and their ability to articulate the arcane truths of the universe.

Crucially, these vessels will attain incredible regenerative capabilities, enabling them to heal from almost any injury at an astonishing rate. This regeneration ensures their longevity, thwarting any premature demise. Their bodies will also grant them a remarkable immunity to radiation and all forms of poison, though they may endure temporary side effects such as nausea or disorientation. Despite their near-indestructibility, vessels will remain acutely aware of all pain, experiencing it on a normal level. This feature is a safeguard against recklessness, as it reminds them of their past humanity and encourages restraint in the face of danger.

Additionally, the transformation will bestow upon the vessel enhanced physical abilities—strength, speed, and agility—allowing them to defend themselves with unmatched prowess. However, overexerting these newfound capabilities can lead to an undertow of pain, emphasizing the balance between their extraordinary power and the limits of their transformed bodies.

The eyes of a transformed vessel possess an extraordinary quality, resembling ethereal windows that offer a glimpse into the vast and unfathomable depths of the universe. When one gazes into a vessel's eyes, they are often overcome by a profound sense of cosmic dread. This reaction stems from the sheer intensity of the vision, as most individuals are unprepared to confront the raw and unfiltered reality of deep space. The swirling galaxies, distant stars, and dark voids seem to pulse with an enigmatic energy, evoking feelings of insignificance and existential anxiety. It’s as if the eyes of the vessel hold the weight of countless cosmic secrets, drawing the viewer into an abyss where the boundaries of time and space collapse, leaving them in an unsettling state of awe and trepidation.

Geiger counters and a variety of advanced sensors designed for detecting hazardous materials will be triggered in the vicinity of a vessel. These devices mistakenly identify the vessel’s presence as the element polonium, which is incredibly radioactive. Despite this, vessels are not actually harmful in any way and pose no threat to those nearby. This unusual detection phenomenon is believed to stem from a unique magic aura surrounding the vessel, a byproduct of the universe's will. This aura can become particularly intense, especially when the vessel experiences or projects strong negative emotions, causing nearby devices to malfunction or short out. Though it may be largely unpredictable, a vessel has the potential to learn how to harness and control this potent aura, allowing them to manipulate machines according to their will.

[hnm-tech-support]

.....

Data recovered from disks taken from the labs of HNM Biotech's Dr. Yeva.

[Decryption failed, most files corrupt. Accessible data shown below]

HOLY NIGHTMARE CO. BIOTECH 04175401 DARK MATTER RESEARCH - SUMMARY - CATEGORIES - EXTERMINATION PROTOCOLS - IMMUNITY PROJECT

HOLY NIGHTMARE CO. BIOTECH 06305206 14-5566-0009 PROJECT LOGS - COLD FLAME - FALLEN STAR - WHITE OBLIVION - TROJAN MARE - RISING TIDE

DARK MATTER RESEARCH SUMMARY Dark Matter is the colloquial name given to a virus-like lifeform that needs to infect other living creatures to reproduce, feeding off these hosts like parasites. The basest form is a mere particle with no intelligence or will of its own. Lesser than even a single ant and more like a bacterium, it needs to mass into larger quantities, becoming a sort of "colony" that communicates through a hivemind. It reproduces through binary fission while infecting another living creature, releasing excess Dark Matter to split off into more copies. Other methods of reproduction are suspected but have not been recorded. Naturally more animal-like and instinctual in nature, only by infecting hosts of sapient species is it able to develop intellect of its own. However, as infected hosts no longer feel emotions such as fear, Holy Nightmare is devoted to preventing the spread at all costs to protect Nightmare’s continued control of the known universe. Hosts are infected when particles of Dark Matter enter the body through wounds or orifices. The infectious dose is quite high- most can fight off casual exposure. It doesn't spread well through the air and prefers physical contact. Host becomes part of the hivemind and will try to spread to other victims. This form is the primary way they spread but also the most obvious, as feral Dark Matter doesn't have the intelligence needed to hide itself effectively. They often start with animals and other less intelligent beings. WARNING: When threatened all forms can cause rapid mutations in the host to increase defensive ability, such as growing sharp claws or new mouths. They can heal the host if injured as well, but in extreme situations will evacuate the host to escape. This is often fatal.

CATEGORIES

They have a social structure superficially similar to eusocial insects, with each lower form being subservient to those higher. They advance in stages over their lifetimes, with the speed they grow seemingly based on how many and the quality of hosts they’ve consumed. Feral/Massed - As Dark Matter multiplies, smaller parts will gather into undifferentiated masses. The most numerous form, presenting as little more than inky black ‘blobs’ with varied numbers of eyes. They have little individuality at this phase and tend to join and split at random to create larger masses, but can't hold complex forms. Without a more advanced individual to control them, these will default to a simple 'spread and infect' mode of attack. Drones - Massed Dark Matter eventually begins splitting off into smaller and more stable colonies with a single eye. Notable are the orange orbs they form around the center mass, although the purpose is unknown. They become capable of hovering flight in this stage. Higher level Dark Matter can also spawn small versions of these from their own bodies by sacrificing a small amount of their own mass. Soldiers - Dark Matter drones that have infected many hosts of more intelligent species can begin to gain something akin to sapience, perhaps through a form of horizontal gene-transfer. They can keep more complex forms, often wielding weapons on their own. They're also better at hiding their presence in a host. Regents - The oldest and most powerful, their bodies turn pure white. Highly intelligent and extremely rare, they are believed to control all other Dark Matter.

EXTERMINATION PROTOCOLS- Dark Matter is resistant to cutting and bludgeoning weapons, and requires high energy to be damaged. Fire is effective, as is electricity. Focused light-based weaponry is the most effective counter when they're outside of a host. Inside a host they're more difficult to deal with- complete obliteration of both is recommended. Advances in destabilizing technology block the ability of individual particles from cooperating and cause a temporary loss of form. This hasn’t been tested on more advanced types. Current protocol when dealing with heavily infected planets is complet- [...the rest is too corrupted to access…]

IMMUNITY PROJE%55C77T000--- $F2r33r Ce&b2w~r9p/g 6G(eb*w#n<a $Z6+ne3r+

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

PROJECT LOGS - COLD FLAME - FALLEN STAR - WHITE OBLIVION - TROJAN MARE - RISING TIDE

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

PROJECT COLD FLAME [COMPLETE] PCF-01 [DECEASED] PCF-02 [DECEASED] PCF-03-A [MIA] PCF-03-B [KIA]

Selecting PCF-03-A and B show images of two tiny, almost cute blue lizard-like creatures, alongside what are presumably their larger adult forms, covered in icy spikes, alongside information describing developing and enhancing their ice powers and removing previous weaknesses. 03-B is described as being killed in battle with Galactic Soldiers, while 03-A's body was simply never found.

------------- PROJECT FALLEN STAR [CANCELED] PFS-01-A [DECEASED] PFS-02-B [DECEASED] PFS-03 [DECEASED] PFS-04 [REPURPOSED] PFS-05 [REPURPOSED]

DATA INACCESSIBLE

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

PROJECT WHITE OBLIVION [COMPLETE] PWO-01 [STASIS] PWO-2 [MIA]

PWO-01 describes the lab working with a creature said to modify memories, and how this can be weaponized. The creature is interchangeably called 'Erasem' or 'Oblivio'- apparently different HNM scientists disagreed on a name. PWO-02 just seems to be an improved version of the last, actually getting used a few times on the enemy to sew chaos among the GSA by rendering important individuals forgotten by their comrades. However after one much later mission it is said to go missing entirely, and the project is put to an end due to difficulty in managing the creature.

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

PROJECT TROJAN MARE [DEFUNCT] FORMERLY [REDACTED] PTM-01 [DECEASED] PTM-02 [DECEASED] PTM-03 [DECEASED] PTM-04 [DECEASED] PTM-05 [DECEASED] PTM-06 [DECEASED] PTM-07 [DECEASED] PTM-08 [DECEASED] PTM-09 [DECEASED] PTM-10 [DECEASED] PTM-11 [DECEASED] PTM-12 [DECEASED] PTM-13 [DECEASED] PTM-14 [DECEASED] PTM-15 [DECEASED] PTM-16 [DECEASED] PTM-17-A [DECEASED] PTM-17-B [DECEASED] PTM-18 [DECEASED] PTM-19 [DECEASED] PTM-20 [TERMINATED] PTM-21 [DECEASED] PTM-22 [DECEASED] PTM-23-A [DECEASED] PTM-23-B [TERMINATED] PTM-24-A [REPURPOSED] PTM-24-B [REPURPOSED]

DATA INACCESSIBLE

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

PROJECT RISING TIDE [DEFUNCT] PRT-01-X [DECEASED] PRT-02-Y [DECEASED] PRT-02-X [TERMINATED] PRT-03-Y [TERMINATED] PRT-03-X [TERMINATED]

Describes a project to turn a planet's native sea life into demon beasts.

@kirbyoctournament

(This is from a roleplay session over at the Discord! I figure I'd share it for more people to see if you're curious about figuring stuff out about Techie)

[i-am-bitterly-jittery]

On Death's Doorstep (pt 37/?)

[<<First],,,,[<Prev],[Next>] [ODD Masterlist]

Word count: 1344

Rating: Teen

Pairings: Karrot Kings

Warnings: Kidnapping, supervillain activity, Thomas Sanders and the terrible horrible no good really bad day

~~~START~~~

Thomas’s only thought as he lunged for Nico was that he’d already lost his son and grandson, he wasn’t about to lose his husband too.  

Of course, it wasn’t until he’d been seized too that he realized that both of them getting kidnapped by a supervillain wasn’t much better than only one of them getting kidnapped — at least they were together.  

Maybe it was because he’d never been kidnapped before — by a supervillain or otherwise — but it wasn’t quite what he was expecting. This guy — “Backslash” he’d been yelling in the mall, like all he’d cared about was that people took note — seemed to have been expecting them as he brought them to the basement of an abandoned warehouse (did warehouses usually have basements?), where two chairs were already set up, waiting for them. He tied them to the chairs, a strangely blank expression on his face the entire time — not gloating, not menacing, just completely empty, like he wasn’t really aware that they were even there — then left them alone, returning up to the warehouse. A heavy door clanged shut after him.  

“This is weird, right?” Thomas asked quietly after he and Nico had been sitting in silence for a while. They were both bound to the chair by their wrists and torsos, as well as having their legs bound together from ankle to knee, but Backslash hadn’t made any attempt to gag or blindfold them.  

“Definitely the weirdest thing to ever happen to me,” Nico agreed, tugging at the ropes around his wrist. Despite the lack of interest their host had shown in them, the bonds held tight. “But hey, at least we’re not dead.” 

“Yet,” Thomas couldn’t help but add. Nico’s face dropped.  

“Yeah,” he agreed quietly. “Yet.” 

Time passed. It was hard to know how much seeing as how no natural light drifted into the basement, and their host hadn’t even been kind enough to leave their watch faces visible behind the ropes. It was a while.  

Thomas was exhausted, and by the way Nico’s head kept drifting down before snapping up again, he knew his husband was too. Nothing had happened. Their host had yet to reappear, and if he had any associates, they didn’t show themselves. Other than a few randomly spaced reverberating thuds from the warehouse above, the only sounds were those that came from either Thomas or Nico themselves.  

Thomas was just about to suggest that Nico try to get some sleep when a series of thuds started up from upstairs. For good or for ill, something was happening.  

“I love you,” Thomas said, because if this was it, he wanted those to be his last words.  

“I love you too,” Nico promised sadly.  

The basement door was thrown open, clanging even louder than it had when it had been shut, and rapid footsteps descended the stairs. Thomas tensed up in anticipation for whatever was to come but relaxed slightly when he finally saw the figure.  

He and Nico had been doing a lot of research into superheroes on the off chance that Virgil had been given a new code name and transferred without letting them know, so when they saw that Clover was here, they knew they were being rescued.  

“Don’t worry, citizens!” The hero declared boldly. “We’re here to save you!” 

Clover was relatively new on the scene, having started a little before Virgil disappeared, and one could assume, relatively young. They had the powers of divination and probability manipulation, so Thomas felt fairly safe following them up the stairs despite the sounds of battle that were now freely drifting through the open doorway.  

“Fyrebrand is almost done,” Clover told them. “You’re lucky she was available, if this was going to take much longer, I wouldn’t have been able to come.” 

“I’ll make sure to thank her,” Nico commented dryly. Clover didn’t seem to pick up the sarcasm.  

As promised, by the time Clover led Thomas and Nico around all the machinery — which seemed to have been moved since Thomas last saw it, but he couldn’t be entirely certain — towards the doors, Fyrebrand had Backslash subdued and restrained.  

“Subdued” didn’t seem quite accurate as the villain was just as blank and empty as he’d been previously. It was hard to subdue someone who was already, for all intents and purposes, subdued.  

There was something not quite right about the whole thing, but Thomas didn’t have time to dwell on it as Clover was leading him and Nico out of the warehouse into the sunlight. There were reporters and camera crews all over the place, most of them were trying to talk to Fyrebrand and Clover, but a few of them tried to get Thomas or Nico’s attention. Fyrebrand stopped to talk to the reporters, but Clover continued to lead them to a waiting car, not turning their attention to the press until Thomas and Nico were safely inside.  

Thomas had expected the car to take them to the SSP building, or at least a police station — he thought someone would want to talk to them about what happened — but no, the car stopped outside of the hotel they had been staying at.  

“I think there’s been a mistake,” Thomas told the driver. They hadn’t spoken to anyone other than Nico’s comment to Clover, no one had even checked them over for injuries. Surely this wasn’t protocol for a supervillain kidnapping.  

“This is your hotel, isn’t it?” The driver asked, not exactly unkindly, but certainly not helpfully.  

“Yes, but–” 

“Then no mistake.” 

Thomas blinked, then looked to Nico, who only shrugged.  

“Um… thank you?” Thomas said as he and Nico exited the car.  

“Have a nice day,” the driver said, pulling away as soon as the doors were shut.  

“Curiouser and curiouser,” Nico sighed as the two of them watched the car disappear into traffic.  

They were too tired to deal with the seemingly lacking response to their kidnapping, and since Backslash hadn’t stolen anything from them, they still had their hotel keycards. Everything else could wait until they’d had a few hours of sleep.  

~~~

That afternoon, rested but no less exhausted, Thomas and Nico were unceremoniously kicked out of the SSP building. According to Agent Sophia, they were “knowingly, and maliciously” wasting the Agency’s time and resources with their “absurd exaggerations of reality”. Apparently, the vicious rope burns on Nico’s wrists didn’t count as proof of mistreatment by a supervillain, and even if they did, the Agency wouldn’t care anyway.   

Without any more leads to pull, and weary from their supervillain encounter, Thomas and Nico decided to cut their trip short.  

Nico handled the checkout while Thomas ordered an Uber on his phone. The hotel was understanding and didn’t charge them for the extra days they had booked. By the time the Uber pulled up — black Honda Accord, driven by Franklin, four stars — Nico had joined Thomas in waiting outside.  

“Uber for Thomas?” Franklin said.  

“That’s me,” Thomas confirmed. The driver nodded and popped the trunk for their luggage.  

Once they were settled in the backseat and the car was pulling away from the hotel, Nico sank into Thomas’s side.  

“I don’t know what else we can do,” he groaned, taking Thomas’s hand. “Maybe he really doesn’t want to be found.” 

Thomas laced their fingers together and squeezed gently. “That’s not our V. If he didn’t want us looking for him, he would have told us that himself. I’m not sure what our next move is, but I know we can’t give up.” 

“I know what your next move is.” 

Thomas and Nico both jolted as the driver spoke. Through the rear-view mirror, Thomas could see that their face had changed; no longer the face of Franklin, their Uber driver, but someone entirely new.  

And most ominously, they were wearing a gas mask.  

Before either of them could even begin to demand answers, the driver pressed a button on the dash, and the car began to fill with a noxious gas. Thomas’s last thought before losing consciousness was yeah, this might as well happen. 

~~~END~~~

Once again, one chapter got too long and is now two chapters

This week’s fandom which is trying to take over my life is Now You See Me, Jack has such t-boy swag

ODD taglist

@royalty-of-all-things-snuggly @pixelated-pineapple @arsonic-knight @misunderstood-shadowling @lost-in-thought-20 @remy-the-lemon-berry @jinxcrafter @apinkline2715 @gothfoxx @donutsarepartybagels @xoaningout @meganmoneky14 @lunatatic

[anthonybialy]

At Work or Play, Always Paul Cascio

He was already near the top.  Paul Cascio’s office on Two World Trade Center’s 84th floor summarized his professional and personal trajectory.  Living large was a principle he followed before, during, and after work.  Consistent living allows for steadily getting ahead.

The ambitious believe there’s no reason to wait for advancement.  One can reach promotions before a certain age that comes to mind for those who burden themselves with limits.  Serving as vice president at financial brokerage company Euro Brokers was an impressive title for someone who was 23 years old.  But such steps come naturally to the motivated.  Paul didn’t think he was too young to be an executive.  He was right.

Approaching work in a similar manner to free moments doesn’t just make the day go by faster: it establishes a mentality that makes every aspect fulfilling.  Paul was renowned for his commitment to achievement no matter the life area.  Recreation was a game which he seemed to always win.  

The vigorous competitor excelled at sports in the way frequently seen by bold types who take initiative.  He played many as a reflection of his diverse interests and restless nature.  The multitasking athlete was a high school swimmer, baseball player, and cross country runner.  A teammate to many was honored with a varsity letter that was previously possible to view at the 9/11 Memorial Museum's In Memoriam gallery as part of exhibit titled Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11.  He posthumously showed the value of coming together for enjoying the thrill of games when it didn’t seem like we’d ever experience joy again.

The personal sporting artifact served as a particular notable lesson about play’s value that represented the objective of museum’s presentation.  Sports serve as a metaphor for what goes on between games.  Participants present admirable characteristics on their own that are transferable to other scenarios.  Prevailing despite a competition’s limits and physical obstacles is for determined people who complete tasks with zeal away from venues, too.  Pins for a handful of sports befit someone with ample activities lined up.  He didn’t skip seasons.

The embodiment of driven behavior reached goals while he wasn’t playing, as well.  The graduate of Long Island’s Manhasset Secondary School went on to do the same at the University of Vermont.  Cherish what’s accomplished by those in our lives while they’re still with us to respect the memory of Paul as one of 11 alumni murdered.

Paul knew how to make the most of whatever.  Even his living situation signified his irrepressible personality.  He resided in fashionable SoHo where he often hosted friends while grilling on his rooftop in a combination of living comfortably and his natural tendency to create the epicenter of socializing.

Rapid personal progress shows a dynamic individual applying himself.  A similar principle follows out of the workspace.  People remain constant when they’re not being paid.  The same person who toiled figuratively high in the company and literally in the sky was the one who made the most of occasions away from his desk, too.

The simplest way to have fun is to work hard first.  A little spending money leads to the chance to jet anywhere desired.  An impressive job enabled frequent excursions.  Paul took having fun seriously.  He became legendary for putting together impromptu trips that began as casual half-serious ideas, embodied by jetting to Los Angeles and Dublin just to see his favorite band U2 in concert.  You might never think of an offhand comment about international travel becoming an actual experience.  That is because you were not friends with Paul, who made a hobby out of turning crazy suggested notions into reality.

It’s easy to appreciate a legacy that’s seen in countless online guestbook posts lamenting his loss by lauding how much he added to our world.  His tribute page features a suitably lengthy feed of remembrances from childhood buddies, college pals, and relatives who seem like they would have gladly befriended Paul were they not lucky enough to be related to him.  Fond accounts are packed with memories of adventures on campus and around the globe which all share him as a common feature.

Mourners can pay tribute at different locations to someone who put so much into many endeavors.  Mount Saint Mary Cemetery in Flushing serves as the site of rest for a person who was continually in motion.  Paul is also commemorated on Panel S-30 of the South Pool of the National September 11 Memorial.  The vice president is one of 61 Euro Brokers employees with names gathered together.  An immeasurably devastating loss at just one company is a staggering illustration of the attack on humanity’s scale.

By any measure, Paul was a success far beyond his limited years as seen by his thriving career and invigorating take on existence.  A giant personality who lived accordingly also epitomized decency.  His final act put who he was on display: Paul and a coworker went to help someone in need of assistance after the attack in a decision that may have cost him his life while showing what he made of it.  Paul Regan Cascio was the best sort of person in the worst circumstances.  He set an aspirational example that continues.  To this day, Paul lived a lot.

https://project2996.wordpress.com/

[hjellacott]

Why I decided to publish fanfiction "on demand"

A lot of noise going on in AO3 among my readers about my decision not to keep uploading content into AO3 unless there are readers asking for it, effectively publishing "on demand". Basically I keep writing (try to stop me) and I have for years, consistently, daily, but I no longer upload fanfics online, unless they're very requested, with very few exceptions. And I have also removed some fanfics from the online world. Even if some readers get pretty nasty about it all.

It's all for the same reasons:

Environmental impact:

1. Data centres, which host much of the online content, account for approximately 1-2% of global electricity usage, consuming an estimated 200-250 TWh of electricity per year. 2. According to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the carbon footprint of the internet is estimated to be around 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

3. The production of electronic devices used in the digital infrastructure, such as servers, routers, and smartphones, generates about 50 million tons of e-waste annually, with only 20% being recycled properly. 4. The lifespan of some data centre equipment can be as short as 3-5 years, leading to a rapid turnover and accumulation of e-waste.

5. Data centres are estimated to consume approximately 200 million cubic meters of water per year globally, equivalent to the water usage of a small city. Some studies suggest that the water footprint of the internet could be as high as 15 litres per gigabyte of data transferred.

2. Time wasting: For me, writing is something I love doing. I absolutely love it, and I do it relentlessly, day after day, full stories. It took time to upload each story into the website, as you have to select the right chapter, copy, paste, add all warnings, add all necessary notes, fix any formatting issues, and so on, one chapter at a time. It's sometimes taken me over an hour to upload all of my stories, sometimes longer. But it was worth it when I saw the glee in the readers. But in the last few years, it isn't so pleasant. I am now a grown up adult with a whole life of my own, which makes it harder to find the hour/s to upload content.

3. Lack of response/engagement: And I go through all that just for what? nasty comments, or complete silence. It feels like nobody's reading, and so logically, I think, well if nobody's reading that's fine, time's change, I'm not hurt nor offended, but if nobody reads then uploading fanfics into the internet is an effective waste of my time that perhaps I could afford in the 2010s, but not any more. I've got far too many things to do. And since I'm still going to write the story and love that, I don't feel any need to post it, because I don't get any compensation from posting it.

Sometimes I even get grief for whatever I post, so what's the point?

[tg-headcanons]

Hello, in one of your responses (regarding Haru Shirazu's illness) you hypothesized that there was a condition called RC Under Secretion (in contrast to ROS). In :re chapter 44, while Dr. Kanou is talking to Naki about the people he previously transferred kakuho into their physical data is shown. For the Rize transfers, all of their original rc cell counts were below the minimum of 200 for humans (Kaneki-179, Kurona-191, Nashiro-189). While the Owl transfers were in the normal range, they were very close to the minimum (Takizawa-211.2, Amon-230). Could the reason they survived the transfer be because their rc levels were so low? Before he obtained the Quinx technology, all of Kanou's other transfers either died or became deformed (the latter became overly muscular and mentally impaired). These deformities were likely caused by their rc counts increasing too much too fast, and when he later obtains Quinx tech he notes that allowing the body to gradually adapt to the kakuho was a good idea. For his first successes, their rc levels were so low that even with a rapid increase they could still be manageable. In particular, the data shown in chapter 44 shows that after Kaneki's procedure his rc level was 977 (below the minimum of 1000 for a ghoul). So, do you think Kaneki, Kurona, and Nashiro had RC Under Secretion?

That’s interesting! I definitely think that original rc counts have something to do with the success rates of the surgery

For kakuhou transplants, there are a lot of factors that can go wrong, between rejection, rc incompatibility and count hikes, and new tissue growth, a lot of this could kill the host

The first biggest issues are rejection and compatibility. The human needs to be the same rc type but even then it’s not a guarantee that the organ will be accepted. Especially if the ghoul it’s from had a very different rc count than them. Rc increasing too quickly in a body completely unprepared for it can cause all sorts of issues

The biggest problem is that humans don’t have nearly the same amount of rc pathways that ghouls do. Their rc has few paths of its own and largely relies on the circulatory system. When suddenly a shit ton of rc is introduced, it can not only form clots of kagune-like tissue, but it can block veins and arteries. Most of the deaths from this procedure are from internal bleeding caused by kagune growths in the body or blood clots in the heart and brain

What ended up saving the earlier subjects was being already injured. Kaneki was badly hurt by the pipes, Takizawa and amon were hurt from the fight, and while we don’t have many details on Kanou’s daughters it’s safe to assume he wasn’t exactly doing a great job preventing harm to them considering his track record of medical malpractice. What saved them wasn’t just that they had low rc to begin with, but that they had a lot of damage that their old rc, as well as their new rc, had to repair. This meant a lot of it went towards growing into muscle, fat and bone tissue, and it also had the opportunity to grow more rc pathways in those parts of the body, giving them both more space for rc, as well as more time before their body replenishes it

By the time the quinx come around it’s become clear how badly the rc spike of a kakuhou transplant effects the body, so they know to make it gradual using frames. Now even with non-quinx transplants where the intention to to turn the subject into a hybrid, the kakuhou should be placed in the body with a barrier that will break down, allowing the body to get used to the rc as it trickles in and grow pathways for them

[novankenn]

Excerpts from "Monster"

So just to kind of follow up my little rant. Like I mentioned, I have a fic where Atlas is attacked by a horde of grimm... here's what I had to do to make Atlas BE the military super-power it's supposed to be.

The below are just portions of the indicated chapters, and only focus on the battle.

The Battle for Atlas...

(Chapter 15) Word of the gathering horde sent Mantle and Atlas into a near frenzy of panic. In an attempt to stamp down on the growing unease and negativity, Atlas began to a rapid deployment of resources. The edges of Atlas and the walls of Mantle suddenly started to brim with CIWS pods. Behind the walls, SRBM batteries quickly were arranged and established. Civil and military contractors were pressed into service, and resources commandeered to start the rushed process to bolster the integrity of the wall.

Missives were sent out, requesting Huntsman and Huntress aid, while mothballed and antiquated equipment was once again brought forward into operational service. Soon, the streets and roadways of Mantle and Atlas played host to shining Paladins and T-34 Saybre Tanks. Militia units were formed, and given defensive positions, supported the general military forces.

Air defence was also bolstered as Naval command echoing the example of the Army pulled the precursors of the backbone of Atlas air superiority. Squads of P-51D Griffons and A-10 Boartusks soon appeared in the sky, and quickly began preemptive strikes against the closing mass of negativity. Twenty-four thousand five hundred feet above the paired cities, the formidable and stalwart Lancaster-Nevermores cruised in the near freezing air, accompanied by the looming forms of AC-130 Wyverns.

These older resources were limited, and those who volunteered to man them knew the chances of return from the preemptive combat operations were minimal; if at all.

/=/

��Report. Estimated Time of Arrival for the grimm.”

“With in fourteen hours, the grimm will be visible from the wall. If speed remains constant, sir.”

“Status of wall operations.”

“Work on the walls is proceeding ahead of schedule, however the ETA of the horde will supersede those completion estimates by twenty-four hours. Installation of CWIS pods is however complete.”

“Assign a Saybre and Paladin troops to each compromised segments. Status report on auxiliary perimeter defensive structures.”

“The third line of razor wire is being installed now, and should be complete prior to 20:00 hours. All pre-Vytal anti-personnel and anti-armour measures have been deployed, sir. ” 

“Deployment of knight units.”

“Eight platoons per access point. All units have been scrubbed, and fresh base operative protocols loaded. They will focus only on grimm, all other target parameters have been deleted, sir.”

“Hunter reinforcements?”

“CCT coverage is limited, but we have received responses.  Mistrel has declined, slating limited resources. Vacuo has reported the dispatch of fifteen teams, unconfirmed ETA. Vale has confirmed but like Mistrel is indicated limited vailability. Confirmed they will send five teams.”

“So we're basically on our own. Air operations.”

“Thirty percent causality rate with Griffon and Boartusk strafing and bombing runs. Five percent causality rate for Nevermore and Wyvern operations. Cruisers are in a holding pattern above Atlas, sir.”

“Effectiveness of preemptive operations.”

“Incendiary payloads appear to the most effective. Estimates put current attrition rate at about fifteen percent of estimated original total mass.”

“Cease Griffon and Boartusk operations. I want all remaining units grounded and prepped for danger close operations. Nevermore and Wyvren sorties will continue until causality rate is ten percent or the horde is with in sight of the walls. Evacuation status.”

“We are at sixty percent emergency shelter occupancy, with an estimated forty percent of the designated Mantle population having been transferred, sir.”

“Munitions.”

“Standard ballistic munitions are exceeding normal stockpiles by thirty-five percent. Dust munitions at normal stockpile levels. SAM munitions at seventy-five percent normal stockpile. Ballistic and Dust artillery stockpiles at sixty percent of base levels. Strategic ammo dumps are established, sir.”

“Chemical and incendiary agents?”

“Twenty percent of pre-Vytal levels for chemical. Non-dust incendiary at fifty-five percent pre-Vytal levels, sir.”

“I want installation of the entire chemical agent stockpile, behind an auxiliary perimeter. Rig for remote deployment, and issue counter agents, and protective gear to all on ground forces.”

“At once, sir.”

“Sir!”

“Report.”

“Observational reports indicate there is a large mass breaking off from the main, and rapidly approaching our perimeter. ETA six hours. Estimated size, fifteen percent of main mass, sir.”

“Alert all air defence batteries. Scramble all squads, and sound general quarters on all navel units. It's starting. Engage intercept operations at two thousand metres from the wall.”

“At once, sir.”

The CDS leaned forward on the rail of the command platform. Her weary eyes watching the real time Doppler showing a mass moving ahead of the main horde. Sh gave a silent prayer to the Brothers, before standing up and adjusting her uniform jacket.

/=/

“Air-defences are slowly being overwhelmed. We have reports of grimm landing in Atlas and Mantle. Ground units are engaging, sir!”

“Sir, the main mass land speed had increased again. ETA two hours!”

“Multiple reports of CIWS pods shutting down, sir.”

“Priority command. Any available personnel are to get those units operational. We must keep up the pressure. Report casualty rates.”

“Minimal, less than one percent of on ground forces. Thirty percent of airborne forces, sir.”

“And this cloud of grimm?”

“Twenty-five percent of estimated mass, sir.”

She closed her eyes. The main host of grimm was closing much faster than anticipated. Their air-defences were being overwhelmed. If they couldn't get the aerial threats whittled down, they would lose essential support for the ground forces when the main host arrived.

“Order all non-engaged armour, to switch to air-burst munitions, and to fire-at-will!”

“At once, sir.”

She knew this was going to be close. This battle was one of attrition. Would this flood of death overwhelm and outlast the might of the Atlean military. Would their technology be enough to turn the tide, or were all those brave and stout souls willing to stand against this darkness to be nothing more than sacrificial lambs. They needed to outlast. They need to decimate, and obliterate. But their resources were finite.

/=/ 

“Grimm host is with in one hour of the wall, sir.”

“Scramble all Nevermore units still capable of flight. I want them in the air now. Target is the middle of the horde, use of FAEs is authorized.” she ordered as her hands white knuckled the railing before her. “Scramble all available Boartusks. Target front edge of horde. We need to break their advance.”

“All Wyvren units in the air on standby. Standing order to engage once horde is with in five thousand metres of the perimeter defences. What are the weather conditions?”

“Stable. Minimal winds at less than one knot, sir.”

“Direction.”

“Easterly, sir.”

“Good. Status of aerial threats.”

“Thirty-five percent of estimated mass, sir. Air-defence units starting to report ammo reserves reaching critical levels, sir.”

“Order them to hold out, and keep up the pressure. Switch to small arms if required. Support units?”

“Reporting, difficulties. Grimm, starting to land and harassing lighter armed units, sir.”

“Airstrips are being overwhelmed. Requesting any available support. Grounded aircraft unable to lift off, and taking heavy damage, sir.”

“Dispatch all hunter teams. Have them clear the supply routes and hold the airstrips. Paladin units to prioritize on ground, grimm.”

She pressed her thin lips together. Their resources were finite, but they needed to hold out. Mantle and Atlas must remain standing; they would remain strong. They would break this horde, and prove the might of the Atlean forces.

/=/

“Grimm host, ten thousand metres from the walls, sir.”

“Alert all wall based units. Mortar teams prep for White Phosphorus and Chemical munitions. Activate knights. Have battleships prepare for air to surface bombardment. Status aerial threats.”

“Forty-three percent of estimated mass. Minor threats are nearly removed, larger targets proving resistant to current munitions, sir.”

They were making a dent, but considering the soon-to-be split in the focus of her resources, the end results still seemed disheartening. She offered another silent prayer to the Brother Gods. Hopefully the gambles the defence council had come up with would work. There were too many unknowns with grimm and much of what they were going to bring to bear was designed for use against human and faunus targets. This would be the greatest test of the strength of Atlas and Mantle. This would either become the shining moment, or turn into their hour of demise.

“Do not go gentle into that good night.” she uttered as her tired eyes watched the Doppler. “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

[entrepreneurstreet]

Trends Shaping Education in Malaysia 2025

By Dr. Riyas M K, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, YES International College, Malaysia

As the world embraces an era of rapid change, Malaysia’s education sector has risen to the challenge, adapting to global trends while addressing the unique needs of its diverse population. By 2025, Malaysia has positioned itself as a leader in Southeast Asia’s educational innovation, blending traditional values with forward-looking strategies. Here are the key trends shaping education in Malaysia today.

One of the most transformative shifts in Malaysia's education system is the full integration of digital tools and technologies. The hybrid learning model, combining in-person and online education, has become the norm across institutions.

Key Developments:

Advanced Learning Management Systems (LMS), powered by AI, are enabling personalized learning experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are redefining practical learning in fields like medicine, engineering, and the arts.

Online platforms offering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) allow students to access global content without leaving Malaysia.

The Ministry of Education is also actively supporting digital literacy among teachers and students to ensure equitable access to technology-driven education.

The job market in 2025 demands constant upskilling and reskilling. To meet this need, Malaysian institutions are promoting lifelong learning programs. These courses, often available online, cater to working professionals seeking to upgrade their skills.

Fields like cybersecurity, green energy solutions, and AI-driven data analytics are popular among learners. The government’s push to subsidize short courses and certifications has made lifelong learning more accessible.

Sustainability has become a cornerstone of education in Malaysia. Institutions are embedding the principles of environmental conservation and sustainable development into their curriculums.

Examples of Initiatives:

Universities are offering programs focused on renewable energy, eco-friendly design, and climate change adaptation.

Many campuses are becoming green, adopting solar energy, waste recycling systems, and water-saving technologies.

Students participate in community-driven sustainability projects, such as reforestation and urban farming, linking academic concepts to real-world impact.

This focus on sustainability not only prepares students for future challenges but also aligns with Malaysia’s broader goals of achieving environmental sustainability.

Malaysia continues to attract international students with its cost-effective and high-quality education. By 2025, the country is hosting students from over 150 nations, thanks to its globally recognized degree programs and twinning options.

Twinning Programs and credit transfers with universities in the UK, Australia, and the US remain a popular pathway, allowing students to gain international exposure without the full financial burden. The government’s streamlined visa processes for international students have further enhanced Malaysia’s reputation as an education hub.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a significant role in shaping how education is delivered in 2025. From personalized learning paths to predictive analytics, AI has become an indispensable tool in Malaysian classrooms.

Innovations in AI-Powered Education:

Adaptive assessments tailor difficulty levels to individual student needs.

AI tutors and chatbots offer instant feedback and support, enhancing the learning experience.

Predictive analytics help institutions identify struggling students early, enabling timely interventions.

Malaysia remains committed to providing affordable education without compromising quality. By 2025, scholarships, financial aid, and flexible payment plans are more accessible than ever.

Public universities and private institutions alike have embraced technology to reduce operational costs, passing on the savings to students. This affordability attracts both local and international learners, making Malaysia a beacon of accessible education.

Malaysia’s education system has increasingly emphasized research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Universities now serve as incubators for startups and innovation centers.

Notable Trends:

Collaborative research between academia and industry is on the rise, particularly in fields like biotechnology and renewable energy.

Students are encouraged to develop entrepreneurial skills, with many institutions offering startup incubation programs.

Government grants and private investments are fostering groundbreaking research.

Modern education in Malaysia is all about flexibility. Whether it’s twinning programs, credit transfers, or modular learning, students now have multiple pathways to achieve their academic and career goals.

Institutions are also introducing stackable certifications, where students can earn credentials incrementally, building towards a full degree at their own pace.

By 2025, Malaysia has successfully embraced trends that make education future-proof, inclusive, and globally competitive. From cutting-edge digital tools to sustainability-focused curriculums, the country’s education sector is preparing students to excel in an interconnected world.

At YES International College, we are proud to be part of this transformative journey, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in an ever-changing landscape. Malaysia’s education system is not just keeping up with the times—it’s leading the way.

[pextrd]

Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch: Ensuring Seamless Power Transfer

In today's modern world, reliable power supply is essential for both residential and commercial operations. Power interruptions, whether due to technical failures or unforeseen circumstances, can lead to significant losses in productivity, data, and safety. This is where the importance of automatic transfer switches (ATS) becomes evident. Among the leading manufacturers of ATS systems, Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch stands out as a key player. Offering exceptional reliability and advanced features, Schneider's ATS solutions ensure a seamless power transition in case of electrical failures, making them indispensable in industries that demand continuous power supply.

An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is a critical component in a backup power system. Its primary function is to automatically transfer the load from the primary power source to the backup power source, ensuring that operations continue without interruption. Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, offers top-of-the-line ATS models, like the Schneider Automatic Transfer Switch, designed to cater to various needs ranging from small-scale businesses to large industrial plants.

Key Features of Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch

Schneider's ATS systems are engineered to provide optimal performance under different power conditions. These transfer switches are equipped with a host of features that enhance their reliability and efficiency.

Seamless Power Transfer The most critical feature of any ATS is its ability to detect power loss and automatically switch to the backup power source without manual intervention. Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch models are designed to offer instantaneous response, typically switching power sources within seconds to minimize downtime and ensure continuity of operations. This rapid response is vital in environments such as hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing units, where every second counts.

Multiple Voltage Options Schneider Electric understands the importance of versatility in electrical systems. Their Schneider Automatic Transfer Switch models are available in a wide range of voltage options to accommodate different infrastructure requirements. Whether it’s a residential setup or a high-voltage industrial application, Schneider offers ATS solutions that match the needs of any facility.

Advanced Monitoring and Diagnostics Schneider ATS units come equipped with built-in monitoring and diagnostic capabilities. These features enable facility managers to remotely track the performance of the ATS system, ensuring early detection of potential faults or malfunctions. The ability to monitor power status, load demand, and operational health helps in preemptively addressing issues before they lead to significant disruptions.

Durability and Reliability The reliability of the Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch is paramount. Built with high-quality materials and innovative design, these switches are made to withstand harsh operational environments. Whether exposed to extreme weather conditions or fluctuating electrical demands, Schneider's ATS systems ensure consistent performance, offering both peace of mind and protection for your critical infrastructure.

Energy Efficiency In today's world, energy efficiency is a major concern. Schneider Electric integrates advanced technologies into their ATS systems, enabling them to operate with minimal energy loss during the transfer process. This focus on energy efficiency not only reduces operational costs but also contributes to sustainability efforts by minimizing the environmental impact.

Applications of Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch

The versatility of the Schneider Automatic Transfer Switch makes it suitable for various applications. These systems are commonly used in industries and environments where uninterrupted power supply is crucial. Some of the key applications include:

Data Centers: To ensure that servers and networks remain powered even during power interruptions.

Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities rely on ATS to maintain power for life-saving equipment.

Industrial Plants: Critical machinery and processes require a constant power supply, making Schneider ATS ideal for industrial operations.

Residential Buildings: For homeowners who want to ensure a continuous power supply in case of grid failure, Schneider Electric offers compact, user-friendly ATS solutions.

Why Choose Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch?

When it comes to automatic transfer switches, Schneider Electric is a trusted brand known for its reliability, innovative technology, and customer support. Choosing a Schneider ATS Automatic Transfer Switch guarantees that your electrical systems are backed by years of experience in energy management. With its cutting-edge features, durability, and versatility, Schneider Electric provides solutions that are both efficient and cost-effective.

Additionally, Schneider Electric’s commitment to sustainability ensures that their ATS systems are designed with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient operations. Whether you are looking to improve operational reliability or reduce energy consumption, Schneider Electric’s ATS solutions provide the best of both worlds.

In conclusion, Schneider's ATS solutions are a vital part of maintaining seamless and uninterrupted power in any infrastructure. From healthcare to data centers and industrial operations, Schneider Automatic Transfer Switch systems offer superior reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. Investing in a Schneider ATS is an investment in the continued operation and safety of your business or home, no matter the circumstances.

[coochiequeens]

The victim has a kid for the next 18 years and "While the prosecution sought 12 years incarceration for the crime, Hilario received only 4 years in prison — the minimum possible sentence for the crime of child sexual abuse."

By Nuria Muíña García. October 24, 2023

A man serving a 4-year sentence for the repeat sexual abuse of an underage girl has been transferred to a mixed-sex penitentiary to serve his time with women. The predator, known only as “Hilario,” has also been formally re-classified as a “female” convict.

According to El Norte de Castilla, Hilario first requested a change of registered sex just a few weeks ago. After receiving a rapid approval, he informed the governing body for Spain’s correctional system that he wanted to be transferred to a women’s prison in accordance with Spain’s recently-adopted gender self-identification legislation. Law 4/2023 for the real and effective equality of trans people and for the guarantee of the rights of LGTBI people, colloquially referred to as “the Trans Law” came into effect in February despite widespread protests.

Hilario has now been transferred from the Segovia Penitentiary Centre in Torredondo, to the Madrid VII macro-prison, a mixed-sex prison built in 2008. It is believed he is being housed in the women’s wing of the facility.

The 48-year-old man was first sentenced in December of 2022 after being found guilty of the repeat sexual abuse of a teenage girl. The victim was the daughter of a female friend, whom Hilario frequently visited the home of and had briefly moved in with.

According to court records, Hilario developed a “sentimental relationship” with the girl, and sexually abused her on two occasions. As a result, the girl became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

The Social Services Department of the Junta de Castilla y León quickly became involved, and determined the girl had been living in a situation of neglect. Information provided to the court revealed that the minor and the adult man had been living together with the acquiescence of her mother. Men’s clothes were found in the house, as well as cigarette butts in ashtrays on the girl’s bedside tables. Social Services also discovered that the man had been taking the girl to childbirth preparation classes.

Despite being close to the girl’s mother, Hilario reportedly denied knowing the girl was underage, an assertion that was rejected by the court, which affirmed that there was “no doubt” that Hilario knew the girl was under the age of 16.

After the first effort failed, Hiario’s defense then successfully argued that Hilario did not know the age of consent because he “grew up in a marginalized environment” where minor-adult sexual relations were common.

While the prosecution sought 12 years incarceration for the crime, Hilario received only 4 years in prison — the minimum possible sentence for the crime of child sexual abuse.

In handing down the sentence, the court accepted that “when he committed the offense, he did not know that what he was doing constituted a criminal offense.” Hilario was also ordered to pay compensation of 3,000 Euros (approx. $3,100 USD) to the victim, but was not ordered to complete any sex offender treatment programs.

While Hilario never previously identified as transgender or expressed any concerns about his gender prior to his sentencing, he was rapidly approved to request a gender marker change following his incarceration.

His transfer to a low-security, mixed-sex penitentiary comes with a host of benefits, including that he will be entitled to take “days off” out of prison via leave permits.

According to the latest data available regarding the transgender prison population in Spain outside of Catalonia and the Basque Country, there are currently 83 inmates incarcerated who claim a transgender identity. Of them, 47 are male and 36 are female.

Of the 47 trans-identified male inmates, 23 are serving sentences in men’s facilities, 22 in women’s facilities, and 2 in mixed facilities. Of the 36 trans-identified females, 25 are serving sentences in women’s facilities, 8 in men’s facilities and 3 in mixed facilities.

[cheenusheet]

Crypto Trends in Art and Gaming: Redefining Digital Ownership and Creativity

The rapid rise of cryptocurrencies has significantly impacted multiple industries, including art and gaming. At the core of this transformation is blockchain technology and the growing adoption of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which have enabled new forms of digital ownership, creativity, and monetization.

Crypto in Art: Empowering Digital Creators

1. Tokenization of Art In the traditional art world, authenticity and provenance are critical. Blockchain technology solves these issues by allowing artists to tokenize their work, creating a digital certificate of authenticity recorded on an immutable ledger. NFTs provide proof of ownership, making it possible for artists to sell their digital creations directly to collectors without intermediaries.

2. Democratization of the Art Market Crypto art platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, and SuperRare have enabled artists from around the world to showcase and monetize their work. Unlike traditional galleries that often cater to elite audiences, these platforms allow creators to reach global audiences without barriers.

3. High-Profile Sales and Mainstream Adoption High-profile NFT sales have captured public attention, with digital artworks selling for millions of dollars. For example, Beeple’s "Everydays: The First 5000 Days" sold for $69 million at Christie’s, marking a turning point for the recognition of digital art. Many prominent artists and brands are now exploring NFTs as a way to expand their creative horizons.

Crypto in Gaming: Revolutionizing Player Experience

1. Play-to-Earn (P2E) Models The play-to-earn model has become a major trend in blockchain gaming. Games like Axie Infinity and The Sandbox allow players to earn cryptocurrency by participating in the game’s ecosystem. This model has created new economic opportunities, especially in regions where traditional employment may be less accessible.

2. True Ownership of In-Game Assets In traditional games, players spend money on in-game items that they cannot sell or transfer outside the game. Blockchain gaming changes this by turning in-game assets into NFTs, granting players true ownership. These assets can be traded or sold on secondary markets, creating real-world value for digital items.

3. Virtual Real Estate Another emerging trend is the sale and development of virtual real estate in metaverse platforms such as Decentraland and Cryptovoxels. Users can buy, sell, and build on digital land, with some parcels fetching prices comparable to physical real estate. Virtual events, art galleries, and branded experiences are becoming commonplace in these digital worlds.

Convergence of Art and Gaming: The Rise of the Metaverse

The lines between art and gaming are increasingly blurring, particularly in the context of the metaverse—a collective virtual shared space. Metaverse platforms are hosting digital art exhibitions, concerts, and fashion shows, where users can interact, trade assets, and participate in immersive experiences. Artists are collaborating with game developers to create interactive art pieces, while gamers are using NFTs to customize their avatars and environments.

Future Outlook: A New Digital Economy

As technology evolves, the integration of crypto into art and gaming is likely to deepen. Key trends to watch include:

Increased Regulation: Governments are beginning to take a closer look at cryptocurrencies and NFTs, which could lead to clearer legal frameworks.

Improved User Experience: Advancements in blockchain scalability and user-friendly interfaces will make crypto art and gaming more accessible to mainstream audiences.

Cross-Platform Interoperability: Efforts to enable seamless asset transfer between different games and platforms will further enhance the value proposition of digital ownership.

In conclusion, cryptocurrencies are reshaping the art and gaming industries by enabling new forms of ownership, creativity, and economic participation. As these trends continue to evolve, they promise to unlock unprecedented opportunities for creators, gamers, and investors alike.

[learnmorewithus]

The Role of International Business Management in a Globalized Economy

In today’s interconnected world, businesses operate across borders like never before. Globalization has not only opened markets but also created a competitive landscape that demands innovative and strategic approaches to managing international operations. International Business Management (IBM) plays a critical role in helping organizations navigate this complex environment.

1. Understanding Global Markets

IBM equips professionals with the knowledge to analyze and interpret market trends worldwide. Managers must understand economic, political, and cultural factors that influence consumer behavior, supply chains, and investment opportunities. Through IBM, businesses can identify growth markets, adapt to local preferences, and stay ahead of international competition.

2. Building Cross-Cultural Competence

Cultural differences often pose challenges in global business. International Business Management fosters cultural intelligence, enabling professionals to collaborate effectively across diverse teams. From communication styles to business etiquette, IBM ensures that organizations respect and adapt to local norms, fostering stronger relationships with clients, partners, and employees worldwide.

3. Strategic Decision-Making in a Global Context

Global operations require strategic thinking and a deep understanding of international laws, trade agreements, and market dynamics. IBM provides the tools to make informed decisions about market entry strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management. This strategic insight helps businesses expand operations while minimizing risks.

4. Managing International Supply Chains

The complexity of supply chains has increased with globalization. IBM professionals learn how to streamline logistics, negotiate with suppliers across borders, and address challenges like tariffs, transportation delays, and sustainability. Effective supply chain management ensures that products reach markets efficiently and cost-effectively.

5. Driving Innovation and Competitiveness

IBM encourages a global perspective that fosters innovation. Businesses can draw inspiration from diverse markets, adopt new technologies, and leverage best practices from different industries. This global mindset is essential for staying competitive in an economy driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer demands.

6. Adapting to Regulatory Environments

Operating in multiple countries requires compliance with various legal and regulatory frameworks. IBM provides insights into navigating international trade laws, intellectual property rights, and ethical practices. Understanding these complexities ensures smooth operations and avoids costly legal issues.

7. Leadership in Global Teams

The ability to manage teams across multiple geographies is a hallmark of IBM-trained professionals. They learn how to lead virtual teams, manage time zone differences, and create inclusive environments that drive productivity. Strong leadership ensures that global teams remain aligned with organizational goals.

8. Enhancing Economic Development

Beyond individual businesses, IBM contributes to economic development by fostering international trade and investments. Companies with robust international management practices create jobs, transfer knowledge, and drive innovation, benefiting both home and host economies.

The Importance of Education in IBM

Programs like the Level 11 Extended Diploma in International Business Management are essential for aspiring professionals in this field. They offer advanced training in global business strategies, cultural intelligence, and leadership, preparing students to excel in a dynamic global economy.

Join the Global Leaders of Tomorrow

If you aspire to make a mark in the international business arena, pursuing a qualification in IBM can be the first step toward a rewarding career. Gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to navigate the challenges and opportunities of globalization effectively.

Embrace the world of international business and shape the future of the global economy!