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onechicagolife · 3 months ago

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ABSENTIA | JAY HALSTEAD

Detective Jay Halstead is a senior member of the Intelligence Unit, where he is partnered with Detective Hailey Upton after his former partner went missing undercover. While he never wanted to give up hope, the CPD assumed her dead and he was resigned to accept it. Now, two years later, Jay gets a sudden phone call with news that changes his life forever. Avery Clarke is alive. want to be tagged? link in bio <3

Chapter 14

I found a box in yours.

The words loop in Jay’s mind as he sits on the bench outside the bank, staring blankly at the snow collecting in uneven patches along the sidewalk. He checks his watch, though he already knows the time, and shoves his hand back into the pocket of his jacket, the cold seeping through his fingers.

Last night, he hadn’t been able to sleep. His mind was still reeling from what he learned and every time he closed his eyes, her words played over and over. He doesn’t know what to think. How to feel. For two years, he’d been wading through life underwater—drowning, unable to catch his breath. Even when it went against everything in him, every part of her engrained in his DNA, he learned to exist in a world that didn’t have the love of his life in it anymore. All of that changed when he saw her again.

But now, his world has been titled on its axis just after managing to find solid ground, shattering the fragile foundation he thought they were slowly rebuilding. Avery was undercover by choice. She was out of his life by choice. She let him think she was dead by choice. For almost that entire time, she could’ve done something—anything—to let him know she was okay. Except she didn’t. She claims it was to protect him, but instead of just telling him to stop investigating because she was alive, she chose to fake her own death without a single word. To any of them, not even Voight.

How is he supposed to reconcile that? When now she is asking him to put himself in danger anyway. Because of course, he’ll help her. No matter how hurt or angry he is, he would do anything for her. Maybe Hailey was right. It seems like you’re more focused on her than you are on anything else. He shouldn’t be. But he doesn’t know how to stop.

The sound of footsteps pulls him from his thoughts, and Jay lifts his head just as Avery approaches. She’s wrapped tightly in her coat, her cheeks flushed a soft pink as the wind whips her hair in her face. She sends him a nervous, tight-lipped smile, but he can’t bring himself to return it. He’ll help her, but that doesn’t mean he has to be happy about it.

He stands, and the air between them is heavy as he closes the distance between them. “So, what’s the plan?” he asks, his tone flat as he squints against the sun.

Avery tucks a stray curl behind her ear, “Did you bring it?” When he nods, she exhales, her breath visible in the icy air. “We go in as a couple wanting to access our safety deposit box. They ask for ID, you give it to them, and they take us back. We open the box.”

“That simple?” he arches a doubtful brow.

“That simple,” she repeats with a half-shrug.

He huffs a strained laugh, shaking his head. “And if the key doesn’t work? If it’s the wrong box?”

“It’s not,” her tone sharpens, more certain now. “It can’t be a coincidence. I had the key to this bank sewn into my jacket, and there’s a box with your undercover name. Then that exact box happens to be your badge number? I know I would’ve used a name that couldn’t be connected to me. It has to be it.”

Jay studies her, his expression unreadable. She sighs and her voice wavers just slightly, almost like she is afraid of the answer. “Do you trust me?”

The words hit him harder than he expects, and his face softens. Because no matter what she’s done, the answer will always be yes. “I’ll follow your lead,” he says quietly.

Relief flickers across her face as she reaches out, her hand hovering between them. He hesitates for a moment before threading his fingers through hers. Her grip is firm but warm, grounding him in a way that feels too familiar. As she leads him inside, he tries to ignore how it feels like second nature. The escape from the harsh Chicago winds is welcome, and the bank is filled with people milling about. They fall into step toward the counter, waiting in line as Jay struggles to stay focused on the mission at hand. He can’t help but notice the way her shoulder brushes against his, the way her hand fits perfectly in his, and he hates that even now, after everything, she still feels like home.

When they finally get to the front, Avery pastes on a bright smile, her voice light and practiced. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” the teller greets politely. “How can I help you today?”

“We’d like to access our safety deposit box,” she says sweetly.

“Of course. What is the name on the account?”

Jay pulls his hand from hers to reach into his pocket, pretending not to miss the comfort of her touch. “Ryan Tate,” he says, his tone clipped as he presents his CPD-issued license.

“And the box number?”

“51163,” he replies.

The teller nods. “Alright, I can take you back now.”

Jay and Avery exchange a brief glance as they follow the woman to a private room in the back. She approaches a wall lined with safety deposit boxes, stopping at the one with the matching number. She inserts the bank’s key, then turns to them expectantly. “And your key?”

Avery nods, pulling the small gold key from her pocket. She forces her hand to steady as she steps forward, inserting it into the second slot. She holds her breath and with a silent plea, she turns the key. The soft click of the lock disengaging fills the room. Jay holds back a sigh of relief as he meets her eyes, giving a small nod.

The teller smiles and leaves to give them privacy. Avery pulls the box out with both hands, setting it on the table in the center of the room. But she doesn’t open it. She just stares at it, tightening her trembling hands into fists at the possibility of what they might find.

Jay watches her, the complicated emotions he’s been feeling since last night washing away. He reaches out, covering one of her hands with his own. “Hey,” he says softly, waiting for her to meet his eyes. “Whatever’s in that box, we’ll handle it. We’ll figure it out.”

They both know it’s a hopeful lie, but his words still comfort her, like they always have. With another deep breath, she lifts the lid. Inside, a stack of file folders is neatly arranged, topped with a folded white envelope. Her heart stops when she sees the name scrawled across it in her own handwriting: Jay. She picks up the envelope with shaking hands, carefully unfolding the letter inside.

He watches her face as she scans the page, his stomach twisting when her skin pales. “What does it say?” Jay asks tentatively.

Avery swallows hard, clearing the emotion from her throat before reading aloud. “Jay. If you’re reading this, that probably means that I’m dead. For real this time. The bank was instructed to contact you if payment defaulted after six months. I don’t know who I can trust. Someone in the DEA is on Volkov’s payroll, but I don’t know who. Here is all the evidence I’ve been able to gather—accounts, bank statements, phone records—all of it. I’ve been alone for so long, but you’re my partner, and I know you’ll finish what I started. I hope that one day you can understand why I had to do this.”

Her voice catches, and she forces out the next words quickly, “I love you. Avery.”

The silence in the room is deafening as she sets the letter back on the table, her fingers lingering on the edge of the paper. The weight of her own words—words she doesn’t even remember writing—has her fighting to keep the tears at bay. She keeps her gaze on the letter, unable to look at Jay.

He exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face as he processes what she just read. The words ‘I love you’ pierce through his skin like the bullet in his chest, the wound throbbing as his pulse quickens. He glances down at the box, the stack of folders sitting there like a bomb waiting to go off.

“We should look at what’s in here,” Avery says softly, her voice barely audible.

He nods, though his movements are stiff, mechanical. Jay reaches into the box, pulling out the first folder, setting it on the table before flipping it open. Bank statements, wire transfers, and names—lots of names. He scans the first few pages, his brows furrowing as the numbers jump out at him. “Look at these accounts,” he mutters, flipping through the pages more quickly. “That’s a lot of money.”

She leans closer, her shoulder brushing against his as she looks over the papers. Jay tries not to let his breathing falter as the familiar smell of her shampoo invades his space. Mornings spent in the shower washing each other’s hair, nights spent laying in his arms. He shakes the thought away, forcing his eyes away from her profile. Thankfully, she doesn’t notice his reaction before continuing.

Her voice is tight, controlled, as she points out the numbers on the page. “It’s from the trafficking operations. I remember enough to know that Volkov wasn’t just selling girls locally. This is international. Some of these accounts must be tied to the buyers.”

His brows furrow as he flips to the next, eyes catching on the familiar logo at the top of page. “Global Trust Financial,” Jay reads. “They’ve been flagged for money laundering, but nothing ever sticks because the accounts are overseas.” He glances at her, “Why didn’t you turn this over to the Feds?”

“I did,” she explains, remembering several of the reports Lang gave her. “Partially, at least. But I must’ve held back because I didn’t want whoever is dirty to know I was onto them. I don’t know how I got this information, but it must be connected.”

Her fingers brush against his as she flips to the next page, and she ignores the way it makes her heart flutter. Avery points out numbers that she must have highlighted in bright yellow ink, “These are calls from Nikolai Volkov, probably to burner phones.”

Jay scratches his jaw, trying to make sense of it all. “What I don’t understand is why they would let you stay under. I’m sure you were doing damage to their operations, gathering intel. Why wouldn’t they just give you up?”

“I don’t think they knew who I was,” she meets his eyes. “Lang said that it was all need-to-know. Hell, I was barely allowed to look at the reports and I wrote them. They weren’t even the unredacted originals, and I never used my full name when I signed them. It’s a joint task force between DEA and FBI—who knows how many people are on it and who all knows what.”

Avery pulls out another folder, this one thicker than the others. The moment she opens it, her breath hitches sharply, the images inside stealing the air from her lungs.

Jay steps closer and peers over her shoulder. His stomach twists as he takes in the photographs: young girls, their faces pale and frightened. Some are posed, their expressions blank, framed for advertisements too horrifying to think about. Others are candid, grainy photos taken from the shadows—likely by Avery. Jay doesn’t speak. He doesn’t need to. The weight of what she endured—what she must have witnessed—is written across her face, clear as day.

Her fingers tremble as she thumbs through the photos, her movements slowing when one particular image draws her attention. Avery’s hand freezes, brushing the edge of the photo as her face hardens. She knows this girl. The memory is fragmented, fractured, but clear enough. The girl somehow looks even younger than she remembers.

“I had the chance to get them out,” she whispers shakily as she stares at the photo. “And I didn’t.” Her breathing falters, tears welling in her eyes as the words spill out. “I could’ve gone back in the middle of the night. I could’ve—”

“Avery.”

His voice cuts through her spiral, steady and firm. Grounding. Jay reaches out, taking the folder and placing it on the table beside them. Without hesitation, he steps closer, his hand sliding up to cup her jaw, his thumb resting gently against her cheek. He tilts her face toward him, forcing her watery gaze to meet his.

“This is not on you,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You hear me? This is not on you.”

She closes her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. His words threaten to break something loose in her, a dam she’s been trying to hold together for too long.

Jay’s voice softens, but the conviction remains. “Who knows how many other girls they have—here, in other cities, back in Russia. If you’d blown your cover before taking Volkov down, they would’ve just found more girls to traffic. You didn’t fail them. You did what you could.”

Her eyes snap open, and she shakes her head weakly. “It wasn’t enough,” she mutters quietly, but the pain in her voice is palpable.

He swallows hard, his own throat tightening at the sight of her. “You got evidence of every single one of those girls. You made sure they wouldn’t be forgotten,” he says firmly.

Avery blinks slowly as his words sink in. The tightness in her chest eases just a fraction, but the guilt still clings to her, sharp and unrelenting. After everything she’s done, all the ways she’s hurt him, she doesn’t understand how he could still have so much faith in her.

“I’m still pissed at you,” Jay admits, his voice dropping lower. He lets out a shaky breath, his hand still warm against her skin. “But no matter how I feel about it, no matter what I wish you’d done differently... you were doing your job, Ave. You were doing what you thought you had to do.”

Her breath catches, and for a moment, she doesn’t know how to respond. She looks into his eyes, searching for something—reassurance, forgiveness, understanding. And it’s all there in that moment, in spite of everything that’s passed between them.

Overwhelmed, Jay takes a step back, giving her space—needing his own—though his eyes remain locked on hers. “So, now what?” he asks, clearing the emotion from his throat.

Avery straightens, breathing in sharply through her nose as resolve hardens her features. “Now we find Nikolai Volkov.”

The inside of the truck is cold, the heater humming faintly as it struggles to keep the frigid Chicago night at bay. The dim glow of a nearby streetlamp and occasional headlights of passing cars illuminates the quiet streets. They’re parked a few blocks away from the warehouse, far enough to not be spotted but close enough to observe the comings and goings. Jay leans back in his seat, his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the steering wheel. His eyes flick to the rearview mirror and then to the street ahead, but his thoughts aren’t on the darkened building. They’re on the woman sitting beside him.

Avery is curled up in the passenger seat with her boots propped on the dash, cradling a steaming cup of tea in her hands. The smell of peppermint mixed with his coffee drifts faintly between them, and he wonders—not for the first time—how she manages to make a stakeout look so casual. So normal. Like they’re not sitting in the freezing dark, watching for signs of one of the most dangerous men in Chicago that was also responsible for the distance between them. Like they haven’t spent the last few weeks avoiding each other’s gaze whenever they’re in the same room.

“You really think Volkov is here?” Jay breaks the silence, his voice low and, though he trusts her, skeptical.

Avery doesn’t look at him, her gaze remaining fixed on the warehouse down the block. “Dmitri hasn’t been seen in the US in years. Nik is our best bet. I’ve been looking for him for weeks, but major parts of their operation have gone underground since…”

“Since you escaped,” he finishes softly.

She clenches her jaw, her fingers picking at the sleeve on the cup. “Yeah.”

Jay glances at her briefly, focusing on the way her leg anxiously bounces in place. “How’d you find this place?”

“Before the Feds took the case again, I got a look at the suspects they ID’d from the raid,” she explains, her voice steady but distant as she threads her fingers through her hair while propping her elbow by the window. “I did some digging, made connections. One of them led me here. I’ve been watching it, but there hasn’t been enough to move on yet.”

He nods, his eyes scanning the darkened street in front of them. After a beat, his voice cuts through the quiet, “You said some memories have been coming back.”

Avery stiffens slightly, her leg freezing mid-bounce, but doesn’t look at him. “Yup,” her tone is clipped, a clear warning.

He ignores it, pressing on, “Do you remember that guy from the raid? The one we were never able to ID?”

She can’t help but glare at him out of the corner of her eye, his tone enough to make the unspoken words clear. The one you killed. It took a while, but eventually she remembered enough to place him. She clears her throat, “He went by ‘Boomer.’ Don’t ask me why. He worked closely with Nik, but I didn’t do much with him. He didn’t trust me. Thought I was just a pretty face that Nik wanted to sleep with.”

His hand tightens on the steering wheel, head swiveling to stare at her with hard eyes. “He what?”

“Relax,” Avery scoffs, rolling her eyes. “I might’ve dangled the possibility in front of him, but nothing ever happened.” She hesitates as she looks down at the tea in her lap, “I would never do that to you.”

He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, frowning slightly at her quiet tone. When his mind travels back to that warehouse, to the look on her face as the man taunted her, he breaks the silence. “What did he mean when he asked if I knew the things you’ve done?”

Avery stiffens at that. Images flash behind her eyes—a knife plunged deep in Cam’s stomach, blood staining her skin. The gun in her hand connecting with a man’s face. Her chest tightens, and she swallows hard, refusing to meet his questioning gaze. “I have no idea,” she lies, her voice carefully controlled.

Jay doesn’t press, but the tension in the truck thickens. After a beat, his voice softens, though the edge of suspicion remains. “And Cam?”

Her head snaps toward him with wide eyes. He couldn’t possibly know… could he? “What?” she chokes out.

“Your CI,” he clarifies, his expression guarded as he watches her reaction.

Avery quickly forces a neutral expression, though her pulse thumps loudly in her ears. “No, I know who you mean. What about him?”

He studies her, trying to understand the look in her eyes the way he always could. He’s starting to accept the fact that he can’t read her anymore, which sends an unexpected pang through his chest. “I tried tracking him down to see if he knew anything about what happened to you. I was too late, but I never believed it was a drug deal gone bad. Figured Nik realized he was a snitch and had him killed.”

She turns away again, concentrating on controlling her voice as she brushes her hair behind her ear and lowers her feet from the dash. “I don’t remember anything about that.”

As if the universe sensed her desperate need to change the subject, Jay’s phone starts vibrating where it sits on the middle console. Her eyes tick towards it, managing to catch a glimpse of the screen before he puts it in his pocket, swiftly silencing the call. Avery looks at him again, “You can answer that if you need to.” When he doesn’t respond, just stares out the window, she forces a casual lilt in her voice. “How are things with you and Hailey, anyway?”

His jaw clenches as he looks out the windshield, “They’re fine.”

“Fine?” she fights to keep a smirk from tugging at her lips. “That’s not exactly a glowing review.”

“They’re good,” he says sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Uh-huh,” she takes a slow sip of her tea. “Glad to hear things are so… fine.”

Jay glances at her, his irritation flickering to the surface as his argument with Hailey unbiddenly flashes through his mind. He knows he shouldn’t say it, knows it’s petty and unfair, but he can’t help himself. “What about you and Ruz? You two seem awfully cozy lately.”

Avery arches an eyebrow, her head falling back against the seat with a dull thud. The faintest exhale of disbelief escapes her lips, “Seriously?”

“Just making conversation,” he counters, forcing a shrug, but the tightness in his voice betrays him.

“Right,” Avery says dryly, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Adam’s my partner. We work together. We get coffee. We talk. That’s it.”

Jay huffs, looking back out the windshield, but his thoughts spiral. He knows their banter, their inside jokes—it had never bothered him before. He’d trusted her completely, and even though Adam flirted sometimes, he never questioned it. But now... now it’s different. Now, Avery is back but not really back. She’s smiling and laughing with everyone else, but with him? All he gets is cold distance. Maybe it’s the fact that she could move on so easily with everyone but him. Maybe it’s because he knows deep down, he’s part of the reason she feels like she has to keep her walls up.

“If you say so,” he mutters finally, the bitterness in his tone unmistakable.

Avery lets out a soft, humorless laugh, shaking her head. “Just ask me what you want to ask me, Jay.”

His eyes flick to hers, narrowing slightly. “What do I want to ask you?” he shoots back sarcastically.

She angles herself toward him slightly, her eyebrow arched in challenge, “If I’m fucking Adam.”

Jay gapes at her, completely caught off guard. His mind immediately conjures an image of just that, and it makes his stomach churn violently. He knows it’s irrational. He knows he has no right to feel this way. And yet, here he is. And as much as he refuses to admit it out loud, the bitter twinge of jealousy is something he can’t deny anymore.

When he doesn’t respond, Avery’s anger flares, her tone sharp and defensive. “Who I sleep with is none of your business.”

“So, you’re not denying it?” he snaps, the accusation laced with frustration and something else he doesn’t want to name.

Her glare hardens, her fists clenching around her forgotten tea before she sets it in the cup holder. “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you.”

“I’m not jealous,” Jay bites out too quickly, the words sounding hollow even to his own ears.

“Liar,” Avery fires back. “How would Hailey feel about this conversation?”

“Don’t bring her into this,” he scoffs incredulously, his voice rising slightly as guilt twists in his gut.

“Then stop bringing Adam into this!” her volume matches his, tired and raw. “He has nothing to do with whatever the hell is going on between me and you. You made your feelings clear, Jay. You’re in love with someone else. Nothing has changed for me. I told you that, and I respected it. I needed space. I needed time to figure out how to live with all of this—” she gestures vaguely between them. Her eyes gloss over with unshed tears, “—and then you just… keep showing up. And I don’t understand why.”

She swallows audibly, closing her eyes for a moment. “I know that this is my fault—that I ruined things between us. But you can’t keep messing with my head.”

That makes anger flare hot in his chest. “I’m messing with your head? Do you have any idea what you put me through? I almost lost my entire career because I was so messed up over your death. Because I thought it was my fault.”

Her voice cracks as she remembers what Adam told her. “You think I don’t know? You think I don’t regret the choices I made?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” he says harshly, shaking his head. “Because you don’t let me in. Not really. You push me away, and then you ask me for help, and then you push me away again. What the hell do you want from me?”

“I don’t know!” she shouts. “I don’t know what I want. But I know I can’t keep pretending like I don’t feel the way you stare at me, judging my every move. You tell me you care, you put your hand on my face, and then you go home to Hailey.” Her voice lowers, wavering as she is overwhelmed with memories. “You said my name while you were bleeding out, Jay, and we never talked about it. I can’t fucking do this anymore. So, forgive me for trying to move on.”

Her words cut him deeper than he’s willing to admit. Jay wants to defend himself, to tell her she’s wrong, but he can’t. Because she isn’t. Everything she’s accused him of is true. He does care. He did put his hand on her face, wanting to comfort her. And when he was shot, it was his life with her that flashed before his eyes.

But he’s also so goddamn angry.

The silence between them is suffocating. Avery’s breaths come in sharp, uneven bursts, her chest rising and falling as she fights to keep herself together. He looks away, his jaw tightening as he stares out the windshield, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low and strained. “I almost died, and all I could think about was you. Not Hailey. Not anyone else. Just you.” He swallows hard, his voice cracking as he continues. “And I don’t know what to do with that because I can’t forgive you for what you did. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But I can’t stop caring about you either. I’ve tried. God, I’ve tried. But I can’t.”

Jay exhales slowly, his words ringing in his own ears. He can feel the weight of her gaze on him, but he keeps his eyes fixed on the windshield, unable to face her fully. The truck feels too small, the air between them thick with everything they’ve said—and everything they haven’t. Everything they can’t.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” her voice is softer now, tentative, like one wrong move could break them. “I can’t go back in time and change things. But I don’t want to lose you. And if that’s not enough for you, then I don’t know where we go from here.”

The vulnerability in her words cuts through his anger like a blade, and for a moment, the fight drains out of him. He sighs, leaning back against the seat, his grip loosening on the steering wheel. “For now… we focus on what’s in front of us. We figure out what happened to you. We find the mole. We bring down Volkov. Whatever it takes.” Jay doesn’t meet her eyes—he can’t—but his voice is steady with quiet determination. “I’m with you.”

She studies his profile, her chest tightening at the conviction in his tone, even now. She doesn’t know if she can ever mend what she broke between them but hearing that promise on his lips is enough to shake up everything she thought she knew. And make her realize that she doesn’t want to push him away anymore.

The silence stretches between them, not as suffocating as before but still tense. Avery shifts in her seat, still on edge. Reaching towards the barrier that separates them, she grabs his coffee from the cup holder. She takes a sip without thinking, the bitter liquid spreading warmth through her entire body.

Jay glances at her out of the corner of his eye, his brows furrowing, “Did you seriously just drink my coffee?”

Her eyes snap to his, widening slightly as she realizes what she’s done. She’s always determined to drink tea during stakeouts, insisting that coffee makes her too restless for hours spent trapped in a car. And without fail, she’d always end up stealing his. “Sorry. Habit,” Avery mutters, her cheeks flushing as she quickly sets it back where it belongs.

He shakes his head, a mix of disbelief and amusement tugging at his features, “Unbelievable.”

Avery huffs a soft laugh. “Poor baby,” she teases, her tone light and familiar.

Glancing at her, the corner of his mouth twitches upward before he can catch himself. Jay knows he shouldn’t be smiling, shouldn’t be letting her pull him back into the rhythm they always had. Especially not after that. But for a fleeting moment, the distance between them doesn’t exist, and he feels like he can breathe again.

The moment doesn’t last long. Out of the corner of his eye, Jay notices a shift of movement near the warehouse. His gaze sharpens, his body tensing as he nods toward the passenger window, “You’ve got movement on the east side.”

Avery follows his line of sight, her playful demeanor vanishing in an instant. Her body goes rigid as her eyes lock on the figure stepping out into the faint glow of a flickering streetlamp. He’s flanked by two men, their postures rigid and alert, but it’s Nikolai who commands all her attention. His stride is confident, his face unreadable, but even from this distance, she can see the cold gleam in his eyes.

Her chest tightens, her breath catching in her throat as the world around her seems to blur. The muffled hum of the truck’s heater fades, drowned out by the sudden rush of blood pounding in her ears. The sight of him—the first real sight of him since she got back—triggers something previously lost to the depths of her mind. And she wishes she could forget again.

Avery's head lolled forward, the relentless pounding at her temples sending waves of nausea roiling through her stomach. She struggled to blink her eyes open, squinting against the dim, flickering light above her. The sudden brightness stabs through her skull like a blade, digging and digging deeper. A soft, involuntary groan escaped her lips before she could stop it.

The air was damp and sour, thick with the stench of mildew and something metallic—something that reminded her of blood. The cold bit into her skin, its sharpness making her body tremble. As her vision adjusted, she realized she was suspended, her wrists bound tightly above her head by rusted chains. Her feet dangled just above the wet concrete floor, her weight pulling painfully at her shoulders with every shallow breath.

Panic clawed at her chest, sharp and relentless. Her mind raced, trying to piece together fragments of memory—the meeting with Nik, the guard’s phone somehow picking up her signal, the sudden strike of her face onto the table.

The distant echo of footsteps jolted her back to the present. They were slow, deliberate, each step sending a fresh wave of dread coursing through her. She forced herself to breathe evenly, to focus, to shove down the terror that threatened to consume her.

The heavy metal door creaked open, and she froze.

Nikolai stepped into the room, his presence commanding despite his quiet movements. He wore the same crisp suit, a few more buttons of his white shirt undone. His expression was calm, but his sharp blue eyes betrayed something deeper. They scanned her with precision, cold but flickering with something else she can’t place.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his thick accent curling around the words like smoke. “My favorite girl is finally awake.” His lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes, “You have been very naughty.”

Avery forced herself to lift her head, meeting his gaze despite the fear clawing at her throat. Her voice was hoarse from disuse, not even knowing how long she’d been unconscious for. “Nik,” she forced through gritted teeth. “If you wanted to chain me up, you could’ve just asked.”

For a moment, his expression softened, his lips twitching in something resembling amusement, but it disappeared just as quickly. He clasped his hands behind his back as he stepped closer. “You always were clever with your words,” he said with a frown. “But cleverness only gets you so far, Talia.”

She stiffened as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, button-like device that she recognized instantly. He held it up to the light, letting it catch the faint flicker of the bulb above them.

“You thought I wouldn’t find this?” he asked, his voice sharp but tinged with something else—disappointment.

She swallowed hard, forcing her expression into one of confusion. “What is that?”

“Don’t insult me,” Nikolai snapped. His eyes searched hers for something—answers, guilt, regret. He stepped closer, pausing for a long moment. “Who do you work for? Police? FBI?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said quickly, her voice trembling but steady enough to sound convincing. “I’m not—”

The slap came without warning, sharp and brutal. Her head snapped to the side, the sting radiating through her cheek. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them away, clenching her teeth as she spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor.

“Lies,” he hissed, voice rising steadily. “You think I cannot see through you? Your pretty face won’t save you now.”

He turned away, pacing with calculated precision, his dress shoes clicking against the concrete. Her mind raced, grasping for a way out, a way to stall. Her team would find her. Jay would find her. She just needed time.

“Nik,” she tried again, her voice shaking but firm enough to hold his attention. “You know me. I would never betray you.”

He stopped mid-stride, turning to face her with a slow, deliberate motion. His head tilted, his lips curling into a faint, almost bitter smirk. “You think I will believe your lies?” He snapped his fingers, and the door creaked open again. Two men entered, each carrying a metal box.

Her stomach churned as she caught sight of the cables coiled neatly inside. Adrenaline spiked in her veins, her pulse hammering against her ribcage. “Wait—Nik, wait—” Avery’s voice cracked as panic edged into her tone, but it was useless.

“Enough,” he barked, his voice echoing in the small room. He closed the distance between them in two quick strides, his hand gripping her chin roughly and forcing her to look at him. But this time, his touch lingered just a fraction too long. His fingers softened slightly, as if he didn’t want to hurt her more than he already had. His gaze bored into hers, a storm of emotions swirling behind his cold exterior. “Tell me who you work for, or I will make you tell me.”

Her throat constricted, barely able to get the words out. “I told you—I’m not a cop. I’m not working for anyone. Please, Nik—”

His jaw tightened, his fingers twitching against her skin before he abruptly let go, turning away. For a brief moment, his hand hovered at his side. But when he turned back, the mask was back in place, and he lifted his hand in a silent command.

The first jolt hit before she could process what was happening, ripping through her body with searing heat. Her muscles seized, her back arching as a scream tore from her throat. The pain was blinding, obliterating every coherent thought, every shred of control. When the current stopped, she sagged against the chains, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. Her vision swam, the dim light above her spinning in dizzying circles.

Nikolai crouched in front of her, his face inches from hers. His voice was quieter now, almost pained. “Why do you make me do this?” he murmured, his eyes scanning her face desperately. “You know I don’t want to hurt you, Talia. Just tell me the truth.”

She forced her head up, her jaw clenched, meeting his conflicted gaze with as much defiance as she could muster. Avery didn’t trust herself to speak, but her silence spoke volumes. She wouldn’t break. Not for him. Not for anyone.

His expression shifted, cold fury taking over every feature. “Very well,” he said, standing. He gestured to the men. “Again.”

The second jolt was worse. Her body convulsed violently, her screams tearing through the small room. The chains rattled with her movements, the metal biting into her wrists as the current ripped through her. Her vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges as she fought to hold on, to stay conscious.

Somewhere in the haze, she heard Nikolai’s voice, cold and unrelenting. “You will talk. One way or another.”

As the darkness closed in, her last thought was a promise to herself: You will not break. No matter what.

And then everything went black.

prev . . . next

#jay halstead #jay halstead x oc #jay halstead fanfiction #chicago pd #chicago pd fanfiction #story: absentia #gifs are not mine: ask if you would like yours removed

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quincyhorst · 3 months ago

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HC Snippets: Big Waves' Sydney Trio

...I'll admit that @//hachiiware's ask left me wanting to go on detail about other BW families other than Quincy's; so here's a compilation of my ideas for the main three.

Like I've said, Nice, Jean and Reef all live in Sydney, and attend the same school and soccer team. This is also where Robert teaches, all too convenient.

Though there's just one detail to address, that Jean was born in Victoria. After a certain family incident his mother preferred to start a new life in Sydney instead.

Nice and Jean met at the beach by a curious encounter. One typical day where his caregiver took him to the beach, Jinbei saw a blonde boy practising surf alongside his father. Impressed by the sport, he decided to combat his shyness and approach him. Despite the surprise, Nice acted friendly enough with the mysterious child, even inviting him to learn surf too. Such fun afternoon would be the start of a great friendship.

From there on, Nice and Jean would invite each other to their homes, or in some cases they'd go to his caregiver's house to watch his anime collection (Even if Nice was weirded out by the japanese cartoons). Around the time of Primary School, both boys got interested on soccer and started to practice together. Thanks to their dedication (And perhaps some potential within them), the two completely killed it once they entered the world of Secondary School/Junior High soccer; carrying their team to the finals. They might have lost aganist a team from Queensland, sure, but nothing too bad.

On their second year it would be when things got a sudden twist with the entrance of Reef Hamilton to their school, team... And friend group.

Reef had an entirely different upbringing than them. His father was the owner of a popular hotel chain across eastern australia, so he would always go into vacation somewhere new. But although he was able to meet new faces everytime, Reef preferred to isolate himself, enjoying to be at the beach. And with the teachings of his mother -a diving instructor-, that meant also spending most of his time underwater. Even when it wasn’t summertime Reef would be seen apart from the other kids.

Even if his parents tried to set his child to interact with others many times, Reef overall seemed to have problems on forging and continuing conversations, which started to raise some concerns. Just to make sure they decided to investigate a bit, and soon enough they found out their child was on the Autism Spectrum. Understanding now and accepting what their son had, they assigned him a therapist as means to help him in life, but still prioritizing his own wishes.

For a long time Reef's interests had been only about marine biology, leading to him writing entire pages about the fish he'd see on vacation. But after seeing Nice and Jean's performance on TV, he would soon develop interest on soccer. And soon he'd meet Robert Cliser, local counselor and a huge lover of the sport, who offered himself to help Reef integrate to the team while also training it.

So yeah, things went well. Reef's fun yet clever atitude blended with the two sea bros, making a well addition to their friend group. Nice and Reef were quick to bond, but with Jean it had its difficulty. What ended up uniting him however was none than Jean's mother, Bea Baker. Her being a former marine biologist soon caught Reef's attention, making him visit her small bakery weekly. The two players got soon used to each other eventually, specially since Jean did like sealife too.

Bea likes to consider Reef a second son, but Jean doesn't feel fond of that.

Now, let's talk about the Great Barrier Reef. The hissatsu, I mean. I like to attribute its origin to the fondness for the sea the trio had. Since his early beginnings in soccer Jean liked to use the sea to hone his skills, and the idea of using marine wildlife to defend the goal didn't seem that bad. So since his first years he had been working on it, but Reef's dedication and knowledge of the actual barrier helped to polish it better. Nowadays GBR is the most powerful keeper hissatsu Australia has to offer, but also a love letter to the country's natural wonder. Whenever someone uses it, Reef feels very happy.

...I guess that's the important stuff. Outside of soccer, the three like to play other sports such as beach voleyball, bowling, and surfing obviously. Jean leans it more into windsurfing but y'know, still fits.

Joe Jones/Jaws is the fourth wheel of this friend group but I'll touch it later on.

Bonus regarding adulthood; but post FFI Nice and Jean kept playing soccer, till he got into the more professional world. Reef played gladly until soccer, but a certain self-reflection he had made him instead dedicate himself into marine biology. He studies at the local Sydney Sunshore university; and yes, he if he struggles with studies, he goes to visit Bea. Best tutor ever!

#inazuma eleven #HC:ina11 #Big Waves (ina11)#Reef Hamilton #Nice Dolphin #Jean Baker #Almost forgot to include it but... Nice has a younger sister too #She's not that relevant; she gets well with Reef and Jean but that's about it #I really wanna go with the idea of calling her Acacia/Wattle (Like I've seen other people in the fandom do)#....buuuut I also think naming her after a random city would be funny (?#-“Niese” does not exist to me...........-

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80ssuperstar · 10 months ago

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Hey guys this is Samantha again and I decided to do another story based on The Little mermaid and this is a gift for @eeveepalooza I decided to make the characters including Faith ( @eeveepalooza ) as Ariel and Mordecai from Regular Show as Prince Eric

The Little Eevee

Beginning:

Once upon a time, in a magical underwater kingdom, lived Faith the Eevee, a curious and adventurous young Eevee with a beautiful singing voice. She was the youngest daughter of King Triton, the powerful and protective ruler of the underwater kingdom. However, Faith was fascinated with the world above the sea and often collected human artifacts with her best friend Flounder.

Scene: Faith's Secret Grotto

Faith: singing "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?"

Flounder: "Faith, you’re gonna get in trouble if your dad finds out about this place!"

Faith: "I just want to know more about them, Flounder. The humans seem so interesting."

One day, Faith notices a ship above the water and swims up to investigate. Onboard, she sees Prince Mordecai, a handsome and kind-hearted prince. Instantly, Faith falls in love with him. Suddenly, a violent storm hits, and Mordecai is thrown overboard. Faith saves him and brings him to shore.

Faith: "Please be safe, my prince. I wish I could be part of your world."

Middle:

Faith's longing to be with Mordecai grows stronger. She goes to see Ursula, the sea witch, who agrees to turn her into a human for three days in exchange for her voice. Faith accepts the deal and transforms into a human, with the condition that she must receive a "true love's kiss" from Mordecai to remain human forever. Otherwise, she will turn back into an Eevee and belong to Ursula.

Ursula: "Now sing, sing for your dear sea witch!"

Faith: silently "I can't believe I did this. I hope Mordecai will love me without my voice."

Faith, now on land, meets Mordecai, who is enchanted by her beauty but puzzled by her silence. Despite the communication barrier, they spend time together and begin to form a bond.

Mordecai: "There's something about you, Faith. I feel like I've met you before."

As the third day approaches, Ursula disguises herself as a beautiful human named Vanessa and uses Faith's voice to enchant Mordecai, making him forget about Faith and decide to marry Vanessa.

Mordecai: "I can't believe it, Vanessa is the girl who saved me!"

End:

Heartbroken, Faith is determined to stop the wedding. With the help of her friends, including Flounder and Sebastian, they manage to reveal Ursula's deception. The sea witch transforms back into her true form and tries to take Faith down to the ocean.

Sebastian: "Quickly, Faith! You must break the spell!"

In the ensuing battle, King Triton arrives and sacrifices himself to save Faith, becoming Ursula's prisoner. Seeing Faith's bravery and love for her father, Mordecai realizes that she is the one who saved him.

Mordecai: "Faith, I know it's you! I love you!"

He kisses Faith, breaking the spell. King Triton is freed, and in his rage, he destroys Ursula with his powerful trident.

King Triton: "You have shown great courage, Faith. You truly belong to both worlds."

King Triton, seeing his daughter's happiness, grants Faith her wish to be human permanently. Faith and Mordecai marry, uniting the two worlds.

Faith: "Thank you, Father. I will always cherish our underwater home."

Mordecai: "We'll visit often, I promise."

And so, Faith the Eevee and Prince Mordecai lived happily ever after, celebrating their love and the unity of land and sea.

THE END

@eeveepalooza I hope you love this

For: @fxe4596 , @nicomxm23 , @mordorigs , @jgquintelslut , @pinkcandycatmakesart , @anifaz , @isrrael120 , @notadumbdog , @martingeekermmd , @eeveepalooza , @apollothedeity , @sidoresca , @siinhorhy , @insomniacz , @rhyliethecaterfly , @yeetafry , @at-weeb96 , @kiwithekool11437 , @kiko2032 , @orchestralauthor , @untitled14360 , @loudlyhappycupcake

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rjzimmerman · 6 months ago

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Excerpt from this story from The Revelator:

News

Extinction Countdown

Investigations

Wildlife

Climate Change

Oceans & Clean Water

Pollution & Toxins

Public Lands & Protected Spaces

Sustainability

Ideas

Voices

Editorials

Op-Eds

The Ask

Podcasts

Culture

Reviews

Book Excerpts

Arts

About

Coastal beaches are dynamic systems. Wind, waves, and currents constantly move sand around, enlarging a beach here, narrowing one there. Storms make more drastic changes, sometimes washing away or depositing entire beaches.

When humans build houses, roads, hotels, and other structures on or near beaches, they put themselves in conflict with this dynamic nature. Communities trying to protect such infrastructure often employ a variety of methods to hold sand in place, including hard structures such as jetties and seawalls.

These don’t actually stop sand from moving, though. They just change where and how it does move, and they often enhance local erosion. Increasingly severe storms and sea-level rise caused by climate change are only making the problem worse.

Officials in many towns and cities have turned to another method: beach renourishment. This involves bringing in sand from elsewhere and adding it to eroded beaches. Beach nourishment only accounts for about 5% of the more than 55 billion tons of sand mined worldwide every year — a level of removal that threatens coastal ecosystems worldwide — but experts say its benefits are questionable and its potential for harm perhaps underestimated.

Since the first beach renourishment in New York in 1923, projects in 470 U.S. communities have used almost 1.7 billion cubic yards of sand, according to the National Beach Nourishment Database published by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

The practice is also common in Europe, with a 2021 study reporting that the Netherlands uses an average of 12 million cubic meters of sand for nourishment annually (a cubic meter is roughly the size of a pickup truck bed, slightly larger than a cubic yard). Germany uses 1.9 million cubic meters annually, Spain about 10 million cubic meters, and Denmark 2.5 million, compared to about 16 million in the United States.

Some experts point out that beach nourishment projects help protect coastal infrastructure and restore beaches for tourism and can replace or create wildlife habitat. The city of Galveston, Texas, for example, credits a 1985 project with a tourism revival there. Another project on the island resulted in buildup of dunes along the seawall that provided additional protection and wildlife habitat.

But experts also warn that collecting and depositing sand for beach renourishment can damage complex ecosystems. Underwater sand is habitat for seagrass and marine animals such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, and conchs, and feeding grounds for rays, fish such as flounders, and sharks.

#beaches #sand #coastal restoration #beach renourishment

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lonesome-greenery · 3 months ago

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WIP That I Might or Might Not Finish in the Future

When the world ended, there were still jobs to be done. The schools were still open. The world still spun. People cried, sure. The men on the radio made a show of coughing and giving dramatic speeches about how there was only so much air left before people would drown in the bad news. There was still traffic and that one student driver still flipped me off on the turn by the bus stop. The end of the world should have been met with screams and chaos, but instead it came quietly, and people kept their heads down because what else could you do in the face of all that had happened? What else could you do when you had fought so hard to stop the end but it came anyways? What else could you do when you’d already spent your time and energy on stocking up in case things went wrong, protesting the legislation and politicians that could bring about the end, and talking your friends out of suicide because things had to get better at some point? What else could you do but accept that grim reality and then just try to survive as best you could?

The skies were a deep orange and no one could breathe properly with all the smoke. The few people who did scream about the end were some of the first to die. Their protests left them breathing in the toxins too deeply to survive. Their skin turned black around their nail beds and the whites of their eyes were an unpleasant yellow color like old stains on a curtain or white tablecloth. The hospitals that still had any way to investigate or function reported that it wasn’t the lack of air or the chemical corrosion of their lungs and arteries that got them. It was the way their hearts burst from the adrenaline rush and something else that crawled out of their chests once they were dead. The doctors don’t know what that something else is. News anchors joke that it’s a xenomorph phenomena. It’s not.

One of the nurses who saw it put out a confession on her blog that it didn’t look like a xenomorph. It was a small thing with sharp teeth and wide bulging eyes. It had wings and feet that broke through its fleshy skin and were coated in a green sludge that had to be its blood if it had anything like that. The creature skuttled away and hid in some corner where it died and disintegrated shortly afterwards. There was no body and no one had thought to catch a photo of it.

But that was just one more thing to add to the growing list of things going wrong. Australia was on fire in worse ways than that of 2020. The east coast of the United States was underwater. Most of the island countries were dealing with disasters of their own.

The average worker was fighting through a headache from the smog to keep their wits about them and then having to negotiate with their boss to be kept on because the landlords are still going to expect rent at the end of the month. There’s fog that swallows whole towns and then leaves them empty once it’s lifted. The world ended, but no one seemed to care because it had been ending for years.

I was supposed to be getting to my shift at the old seven eleven between university hours. Classes had been much sparser with my profs calling out sick and leaving us with whatever lecture notes they’d tried to prepare, but we still had to pay for those classes. Most times on my shift, I’d turn on the radio and clean up whatever mess the last guy had left behind then work on whatever homework I had. I’d hide my work under the counter as soon as a customer passed through the doors and turn down the volume. That was a rare occasion. But there were bills to pay. There were loans to pay off. There were boxes to fill.

I wanted to stay in my apartment.

But I had to walk to that bus stop anyways and get on the nearly empty bus. Hopefully the usual bus driver would still be there today. The fog had been moving in closer to his hometown every day. The ocean was getting closer to the midwest by the week. The streets are mostly empty and the guy on my radio says that today’s the day when an asteroid is supposed to hit. The snow that falls is grey and the sky is orange.

I’ve had a splitting migraine for days and have barely been able to focus. My chest has hurt so badly that breathing has been a struggle. I’ve wanted to get it checked out, but there’s not a clinic close enough to look into it.

The bus stop is located somewhere between the emptying high school that I graduated from and the decaying old road that leads to god knows where. I cross the street carefully as always, but the crossing light doesn’t work anymore. The student driver who makes a turn this way should be more mindful of those who cross, but he hasn’t cared in months, and he flips me off as he nearly clips my bag on the second half of the street. The blue sedan whose back is covered in dust and has a crude finger drawing of a dog pissing on some politician’s name. I think that might actually be our senator – or at least the one that was elected a year ago. I don’t know if they’re still alive.

The thought doesn’t even strike me as odd though I know it should, and I’ve gotten to the other side of the street. I’m checking my watch and then there’s someone tapping on my shoulder. No one goes down this stretch except me, a couple of cars, and the bus. I’m the only one who goes to that bus stop. I should know. I’ve gone at odd hours and even asked Skeeter if he’s seen anyone else at the old bus stop.

‘No one.’ He’d said with that wry smile that fusses up his beard and crinkles the skin round his eyes.

So I’m whipping around and look at whoever this is with what I’m sure is a gawky, awkward, terrified kind of expression. They stay standing there, strange eyes just kind of vacant as their mouth curls around a question that I can’t hear. Their fingers are long and sheathed in a pair of old black gloves. A scarf strangles their neck in the light breeze and doesn’t do anything to hide the burn that twists up the side of their face and drags the corner of their mouth down.

“I’m sorry, could you say that again?” I ask.

#green's notebook #my writing #wip #horror adjacent #apocalyptic fiction #short story #i started writing this around the time of the election results as catharsis and haven't come back to it for a little while #probably will finish it at some point after the semester ends #green rambles for a minute

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casie-mod · 3 months ago

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Master track list for all my 'Cyberpunk Versus Post Cyberpunk' Mixes

By request and because YT sucks for playlists

PART 1:

(Not available on YT or Mixcloud)

//-Intro Vangelis - Main Titles And Prologue 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Prabhava

//-HQ Michael McCann - Sarif Industries The Enigma TNG - 2027 Ambiance

//-City Exploration Synæsthesia - Intelligence Dream Michael McCann - Detroit Marketplace Trifonic - Parks on Fire

//-New Objectives 1 Haujobb - Sub Unit Three

//-Investigation 1 Michael McCann - Detroit City Ambient Part 1 The Enigma TNG - Genesis End.user - Interruption 3

//-Combat Ginormous - Welcome Vacuum

//-Boss Fight 1 Gridlock - III Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

Pendulum - Comprachicos Haujobb - Rising Sun

//- Betrayal Silence - Efface Michael McCann - Everybody Lies Haujobb - Lost End.user - Fallen 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Scrap I/O Maduro - Situational Mythos

//-Downtime 1 Gridlock - Untitled 2 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Radius Michael McCann - Home

//-Love interest 1 01:54:50 Haujobb - New World March 01:59:50 Bassnectar - Underwater

PART 2:

Mixcloud link

//-New Objectives 2 Health - Shells

//-On Route Haujobb - Anti/Matter

//-Hacker 1 Michael McCann - Hacking theme III T.Wilton - Fluid Autechre - Beaumonthannanttwomx

//-Stealth 1 Kenji Kawai - Access Newt - White Sun T.Wilton - Diplom 1 Hpm Pgdcwm Rmx

//-Tracking the Target Silence - Pollution Michael McCann - Highland Park Cutscene

//-The Chase Juno Reactor - Conga Fury Enduser - Not So Distant Drums

//-On Route - Red Light District Haujobb - Sub Unit One

//-Nightclub Atmosphere 1 Velvet Acid Christ - Slut Michael McCann - The Hive Android Lust - Spine

//-Nightclub combat 1 HMB - Return Joe-E & KloneZ - Virus Attack (BeXta Remix) Enduser - On Point

//-Hacker 2 The Enigma TNG - Silent Hacker Newt - Abyss Parallel Worlds - Compulsive Mechanics

//-Stealth 2 Integral - Moonwalk Vangelis - On The Trail of Nexus 6 Atiq & Enk - Moonlit Tea Party

PART 3:

Mixcloud link

//-New Objectives 3 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Reboot

//-On Route Hybrid - Keep it in the Family

//-Infiltration Silence - Cellule Atiq & Enk - My Obligation

//-Boss Fight 2 Aslan Osiris - The Secret of Woman The Enigma TNG - Voice of the Storm

//-Aftermath Astradyne - Still Leben

//-Love interest 2 Trifonic - Transgenic The Glitch Mob - Between Two Points End.user - Keep Telling

//-Downtime 2 Ed Harrison - Out Ensemble Nipponia - Blimpvert

//-Investigation 2 Haujobb - Skull Fission XXX

//-Ambush White Nois Statis - Abyssmalescent (Reflxx)

//-Escape 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Imbrium

//-The Underground Gridlock - V Michael McCann - Maneuver in the Dark Hyetal - Ritual Integral - Rise Aslan Osiris - The Story of you

//- Confrontation Erode - Annoy (edit) Atticus Ross - The Passenger

Gridlock - XIII (edit)

//-Underground Combat Teleoptyk - Dark Room Current Value -Dark Rain

//-On Route - Return to the Streets Haujobb - Crossfire

//-Nightclub Atmosphere 2 Astradyne - Darshan Collide – Wings of Steel

//-Nightclub combat 2 Claire Voyant - Love the Giver (Covenant Remix) Joe-E & KloneZ - Virus Attack (Shu Remix)

//-Investigation 3 - Unraveling the conspiracy Kenji Kawaii - Type 2052 Hadaly Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Med Sci 2 Parallel Worlds - Frightening Frontiers Trifonic - Inflitration Alexander Brandon - Unatco (Lawine redux)

PART 4:

Mixcloud link

YT link

//- Interrogation Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Command 3

//- Released Freeze Etch - Slight Rite (Edit)

//- Stealth 1 Loss - Watching You Crumble (edit) Access to Arasaka - “-- -“ (Track 2 on écrasez l'infâme) - Access to Arasaka Michael McCann - Hangar (edit)

//- Mysterious Ally Hybrid - The Choke (no vocals)

//- Hacker 1 Ex-Tension - Desert (Access to Arasaka Remix) Michael McCann - Hacking ambient II Access to Arasaka - Term/Echo

//- Biometrics Black Lung - Meat Manager

//- Rendezvous Holon - Machine Intelligence

//- Stealth 2 Psilonaut - Third from the Sun Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Ops 1 Black Lung - The Dawn of Love (edit)

//- Prisoners Subheim - Hollow

//- Hacker 2 Ex-Tension - Aura Diaphane - Metastable Black Rain - Endourban Michael McCann - Hangar (edit)

//- Underwater lab Access to Arasaka - Optlist Access to Arasaka - Syslog_ident (Edit)

// - Witness Michael McCann - Restricted Area

//- Interception Obsidian Kingdom - Last of the Light (Subheim vs Poordream Remix)

//- Under Pressure Plastic Eulogy - Hollow

//- Combat Michael McCann - Lockdown Juno Reactor - The Tempest Michael McCann - Cargo part 2

//- Gearing up Holon - Exit Strategy

//- Challenge Paper Sound - Constructor

//- Boss Fight Michael McCann - Burke Boss Fight Näo - The Dart

//- Double Agent Johan Althoff/Gustaf Grefberg - Wakeup Call (The Enigma TNG remix)

PART 5

Mixcloud link

//-Safe house Aslan Osiris - The Will of Destiny Kenji Kawaii - Nightstalker Vangelis - Blade Runner Blues Ginormous - Skye

//-Upper City Exploration 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Rebuild Michael McCann - Zhao Yun Rhu's Penthouse The Enigma TNG - Beyond the World Kenji Kawaii - Floating Museum Gridlock - Edit 364

//-Stealth 3 Integral - Back Here Alone Michael McCann - Pangu, City Above The City Zentriert ins Antlitz - Silence Diary Architect - Stairway (Mekotam Remix)

//-Hacker 3 Haujobb - Sub Unit Two Scar Tissue - Lattice (Edit) Mentallo and the Fixer - Battered States of Euphoria

//-Upper City Combat Hybrid - Last Man Standing Haujobb - Deviation

//-Gearing up TomandAndy - Racer Head Hybrid - Empire

//-On Route Michael McCann - And Away We Go

//- At the Edge of the World PG Lost - The Day Shift (edit) Pentaphobe - Jerk Like old Raven Gridlock - Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus Michael McCann - Eerie Silence Converter - Nightmare Machine (Edit) Gridlock - Wound Erode - Disengage (edit) Michael McCann - After the Crash

//- Confrontation and Revelation Haujobb - Sensor

//-Final Boss Fight Download - Possession Kenji Kawaii - Attack The Wakabayashi Michael McCann - The Hyron Core

//-Self-Destruct Sequence Haujobb - Kilo-Cycle Respirator

//-Aftermath Erode - Horizon (Kadrage rmx)

//-Roll Credits Alexander Brandon - Deus Ex Main Theme (Orchestral) Michael McCann - Deus Ex Human Revolution Icarus Theme (Justin Armada remix)

#cyberpunk #music compilation #music #casie mod's thingys #cmod mixes

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lit-works · 7 months ago

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Marvel Decades Fanfic -1984

The Set-up

200 million years ago the alien race the Nuwali created the Savage Lands in Antarctica as one of several planetary “game preserves” for the mysterious godlike Beyonders. The Nuwali stocked the land with earthly life of the era, most notably dinosaurs; as Earth’s flora and fauna changed over succeeding millions of years. When the dinosaurs went extinct over 65 million years ago, the only survivors were the ones living in this protected area at the bottom of the globe.

In 18,500 BC the Savage Lands were colonized by humans of Atlantis, who exported prehistoric life throughout their empire while importing Unicorns and other mystic creatures. Atlantean scientists extended the tropical effect, creating a recreation/commerce center called “Pangea”, then genetically altered man-apes into humanoid versions of birds, monkeys, fish, and other animals. The Beast-Men were put to work as laborers. The Beast-Men however became dissatisfied with servitude and Pangea’s automation, rebelled in the 1st Pangean War and were allowed to colonize unpopulated areas rendered habitable by the Nuwali Tropical Effect.

In the Mid-19th century, The Atlanteans - That is the underwater race of mutants whose culture was appropriated from Atlantis’ remains - relocated to Antarctica, as did Lemurian rebels called The Ancients. Mysterious beings such as Torg and The Ice King also made their home in the region. Vague reports of underground realms and surviving dinosaurs appeared in the works of such authors as Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Jules Verne, suggesting rumors of the lands were spreading. By 1915, human expeditions had discovered a rare type of destructive Vibranium called “Anti-Metal”, the destructive metal also called Vibranium, in the Savage Land, but the greater deposits within the lands remained unknown. During WWII, Hitler claimed sovereignty over Antarctica and several entire battalions of his men were lost to the realm on expeditions. Meanwhile, spatial warps similar to that of the Bermuda Triangle, occasionally brought ships and planes into the lands, where survivors joined the populace. In more recent history, the British nobleman Robert Plunder, searching for Vibranium, found his way into the Savage Lands. Back in England, Plunder was threatened by those who coveted his secret, and he returned to the lands with his nine-year-old son Kevin, who was orphaned when Robert was slain by the Man-Ape, Maa-Gor. Nurtured by the Sabertooth Tiger Zabu, Kevin enhanced by the lands mysterious “Place of Mists” became known as Ka-Zar, or “Brother of the Tiger”, his uncanny skills ans heroism won him respect throughout the land while still in his teens. Ka-Zar was photographed while exploring the northern limits, provoking investigation by the mutant X-Men, whom he befriended. When the X-Men’s nemesis, Magneto, took the land as his base and transformed simple swamp men into his Savage Land Mutates, Ka-Zar helped the X-Men defeat their old foe, and then fought alongside Garokk against the renegade priestess Zaladane. The land, so long once a source of rumor, became worldwide news when thr Daily Bugle ran a featufe on it, an endeavour that brought the heroic Spider-Man to the lands, where he aided Ka-Zar against another would-be dictator, Kraven The Hunter. Soon afterwards, Ka-Zar provided SHIELD scientists with dinosaur samples which were misuses by a reaearcher who, with the aid of the cryptic They Who Wield Power, transformed himself into Stegron, The Dinosaur-Man. Although the United Nations banned commercial exploitation of the Savage Lands, the Daily Bugle’s exposure brought explorers and treasure hunters to Ka-Zar’s door. Ka-Zar, now in Shanna The She-Devil’s company, explored Pangea and helped establish peace between its many races. The Savage Lands were eventually declared a sovereign kingdom, and although menaced by myriad would-be conquerors –including Apocalypse, a Super-Skrull, Prime Evil, The Warlord, Sauron, Mister Sinister, The High Evolutionary, and AIM– hit's security was repeatedly restored by Ka-Zar, the X-Men, and other heroes.

Frank Castle, better known as The Punisher, had discovered Vibranium-B or SLV developed into highly destructive weaponry in use in the streets of New York by gangsters and had questioned the culprits of their arsenal's origins. Tracking the supply chain back to Wilson Fisk (Kingpin), The Punisher was then manipulated into traveling to a remote region of Antarctica to seek out and shut down manufacturing operations and prevent any further lethal misuse of the anti-metal.

The notorious and infamous mutant mercenary with a mouth, DeadPool, and lady luck herself, Domino, had been summoned by the executive branches of both Roxxon Oil & Energy as well as A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) to discuss employment. The corporations sought experts and professionals with talents such as theirs to shut down any preestablished Vibranium-B mines and claim any mineral rich sites on behalf of the companies.

Members of a secret society, whispered in conspiracy theories to be known as 'The Illuminati', convened over a shared and vested interest in the discovery of the precious mineral as scientists and to prevent the Vibranium-B from falling into the wrong hands. T'Challa the king and Black Panther of Wakanda, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) of The Fantastic Four, and Henry 'Hank' McCoy (Beast) of the X-Men had voted to intervene in the unfolding affairs.

----to be cont.d

#marvel #marvel comics #marvel characters #comic books #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic series #l1t3rat1 #marvel fanfic #my fanfiction #fanfiction #the savage land #ka zar #shanna the she devil #mr fantastic #black panther #beast #the punisher #deadpool

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oldraysblog · 6 months ago

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New York mother jumps off Niagara Falls with her 9-year-old son and 5-month-old baby girl

usnn.com

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Tragedy struck the scenic Niagara Falls Monday night as a mother and her two young children leaped to their deaths, authorities confirmed.

Chaianti Means, 33, along with her nine-year-old son, Roman Rossman, and five-month-old daughter, Mecca Means, reportedly climbed over a guardrail on Luna Island before plunging over the falls.

The heartbreaking incident has left investigators across the state working tirelessly to recover the bodies, hindered by the area’s treacherous currents. Initial findings suggest the fall was deliberate, though police stress that the “circumstances remain under investigation.”

Luna Island, nestled between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, is part of Niagara Falls’ renowned attractions. Efforts to gather more evidence see the deployment of both aerial drones and underwater units.

The loss has rocked the Niagara Falls community, where the family resided. Chaianti Means reportedly dedicated her career to aiding others as a domestic violence counselor, according to details on her professional networking profile.

Grieving friends and family expressed their sorrow and shared memories of the deceased on social media. “You really never know what anybody is going through….RIP,” wrote one friend, Niesha Eukeya, in a poignant message.

Another friend, Mich Molina, expressed debilitating grief: “I can’t even bare to write a post about her and share memories… Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.”

While the investigation continues, the community mourns the profound loss, grappling with the sudden departure of a mother dedicated to service and her two beloved children, who touched many lives.

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rapidprime · 8 months ago

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The Troubling Tale of Brian Laundrie: From Fiancé to Fugitive

The story of Brian Laundrie is not just one of a man who lost his way, but of someone who veered off the road into a deep, dark forest of madness and violence. Once seen as the loving fiancé of Gabby Petito, his chilling metamorphosis into a killer is a tale that has gripped the nation with equal parts horror and fascination. Recent revelations from the FBI investigation have exposed a disturbing side of Laundrie, one that was carefully concealed behind a facade of normalcy. His private writings reveal a mind obsessed with violence and destruction, harboring a "mania" that foretold the tragic events that would eventually unfold.

The Troubled Journey: Gabby and Brian's Fateful Road Trip

Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie set out on what should have been an adventurous cross-country road trip in August 2021. Instead, it became a journey into the heart of darkness. Their relationship, once seemingly solid, began to unravel in the most public way possible. A domestic dispute in Moab, Utah, captured on police body camera footage, hinted at the storm brewing beneath the surface. Gabby’s account of Laundrie grabbing her face, leaving a cut on her cheek, was downplayed by authorities as a "mental health break" rather than domestic violence. However, a photo taken by Gabby that day tells a different story—a face smeared with blood, possibly from having her breathing passages blocked by Laundrie.

The couple's troubled past was not just a series of unfortunate events but a prelude to a tragedy that would shock the world. A letter found by the FBI, written by Gabby, pleaded with Laundrie to stop his verbal abuse, a desperate cry from a woman who believed they were still a "team." Unfortunately, the cracks in their relationship had widened beyond repair, setting the stage for the grim events that followed.

Suspicion and Deceit: Brian Laundrie’s Odd Behavior

After Gabby Petito was reported missing, Brian Laundrie’s actions became increasingly suspicious. Returning alone to his family’s Florida home in Petito’s van on September 1, 2021, without any explanation for Gabby’s absence, Laundrie immediately became a person of interest. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, charging him with the unlawful use of a debit card—allegedly Gabby’s—after her death. But before any real answers could be extracted, Laundrie disappeared into the wilds of the Carlton Reserve in Florida, sparking a massive manhunt that captivated the nation.

A Gruesome Discovery: Finding Gabby Petito

The search for Gabby Petito ended in heartbreak. On September 19, 2021, authorities discovered a body matching her description in a remote area of Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest. The identification process confirmed the worst: it was indeed Gabby Petito, and her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation. The coroner’s report left no doubt that Gabby’s death was a violent act, further deepening the mystery and horror surrounding the case.

The Manhunt: Brian Laundrie's Final Escape

The hunt for Brian Laundrie was nothing short of a media frenzy. Starting on September 13, 2021, the search centered on the Carlton Reserve, where Laundrie’s parents claimed he had gone hiking. Law enforcement agencies deployed an array of resources, from K-9 units and drones to specialized underwater recovery teams, scouring the vast and challenging terrain of the reserve. Despite these efforts, Laundrie remained elusive, turning the search into a spectacle that gripped the nation’s attention.

The case became more than just a search for a fugitive; it was a reflection of the public’s fascination with true crime, fueled by the tragic circumstances and the high-profile nature of the case. Social media buzzed with theories, and news outlets provided round-the-clock coverage, turning the hunt for Laundrie into a national obsession.

The Grim Conclusion: Confession and Suicide

On October 20, 2021, the search for Brian Laundrie came to a grim end. Human remains were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, later confirmed to be those of Laundrie. Alongside the remains was a notebook, which contained what was believed to be Laundrie’s written confession to Gabby Petito’s murder. The autopsy revealed that Laundrie had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing this high-profile case to a tragic conclusion.

While Laundrie’s death may have provided some closure, it also left behind many unanswered questions. The discovery of his remains and the confession only added to the mystery, leaving a trail of speculation and sorrow in its wake.

Legal Battles and Aftermath: Seeking Justice

The aftermath of Gabby Petito’s murder has been marked by legal battles and a quest for justice. Her family was awarded $3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian Laundrie’s estate, a bittersweet victory that did little to ease their pain. The funds are set to benefit the Gabby Petito Foundation, established to fight against domestic violence and aid in the search for missing persons.

In addition to the lawsuit against Laundrie’s estate, Gabby’s parents also filed a separate lawsuit against Brian’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, and their attorney, Steven Bertolino. The lawsuit alleges that they knew of Gabby’s death but continued to offer false hope to her family. The legal battle is ongoing, with the Petito family seeking accountability and justice for their daughter.

The Moab Police Department’s Failure: A Missed Opportunity

Gabby Petito’s parents have also filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab Police Department, accusing the officers of negligence in their handling of the domestic dispute between Gabby and Brian. The lawsuit argues that the officers failed to properly investigate the incident, despite clear evidence that Laundrie had physically assaulted Gabby. Instead of arresting Laundrie or conducting a thorough investigation, the officers separated the couple for the night, a decision that may have had fatal consequences.

The Moab Police Department has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the officers acted with kindness and empathy. However, the lawsuit has raised serious questions about the department’s handling of domestic violence cases and the need for systemic reform to better protect victims.

Media Coverage and Public Outcry: The Gabby Petito Case's Impact

The Gabby Petito case has sparked widespread debate about the media’s role in covering missing persons cases. While Gabby’s story received extensive coverage, many have pointed out the disparity in attention given to cases involving people of color, particularly Indigenous women and Black men. The mother of Jelani Day, a 25-year-old Black man who went missing around the same time as Gabby, expressed frustration that her son’s case did not receive the same level of national attention.

This unequal coverage reflects broader institutional biases within the media, where stories about young, white victims often dominate the headlines, while cases involving marginalized communities go underreported. The consequences of this disparity are severe, as it deprives families of the public pressure and resources needed to locate their missing loved ones.

A Lasting Legacy: Lessons from the Gabby Petito Case

The tragic case of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie serves as a haunting reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the need for institutional change. Gabby’s story has left an indelible mark on the public consciousness, highlighting the urgent need for better support systems for victims of abuse and greater accountability for those who fail to protect them.

As the legal battles continue and the media coverage persists, the lessons from this case must not be forgotten. The fight against domestic violence is far from over, and the legacy of Gabby Petito should inspire us all to push for a world where such tragedies are no longer possible.

Conclusion

The tragic case of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the systemic failures that often accompany it. While the intense media coverage and legal battles surrounding the case have highlighted the urgent need for institutional reform and better protection for victims, they also underscore the broader societal issues, such as media bias and the unequal attention given to missing persons cases. Gabby Petito's legacy calls for ongoing efforts to address these challenges and prevent future tragedies.

#GabbyPetito #BrianLaundrie #TrueCrime #DomesticViolence #MissingPersonsCase

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dru-plays-starbound · 2 years ago

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Crasberry Saviour

Universe: Starbound CW: Mention of medical trauma and injury (not graphic), pet death Words: 760 Context: Written for the Summer 2023 prompt, "Lilodon", and based on a headcanon by @gaymeatcore where Crasberries are Hylotl "guard dogs". Tag list (ask for +/-): @jacquesfindswritingandadvice, @writeblrsupport Or read on AO3

The space station hummed and buzzed around us as we waited for the Rotik Sales Representative. The chatter of patrons echoed against glossy tungsten walls as cool air wafted from the scrubbers, down to where we sat outside the hole-in-the-wall cafe the Rep had chosen. Across from me, Yuudai reached down, rubbing at where her prosthetic met the stump of her leg. "You okay?" I asked. She murmured an affirmative, but not one minute later, she did it again. I tilted my head. "Chief?" Her eyes rose to the air scrubbers. "The cold air is making my leg ache," she said reluctantly. "Let's swap places. There's no breeze this side." We changed places, and I resumed scanning the crowd for the Sales Rep, watching the myriad races in their myriad clothing pass through the concourse; an elderly avian resting on a bench, surrounded by fake plants; a young apex carrying a stack of boxes and chatting to a floran ladened with bags; a glitch in a blue beret walking with purpose towards an elevator to the lower levels.

My contemplation was broken by a soft snort from Yuudai, and my attention snapped towards her. She was smiling softly, staring at something behind me. "Oh, ah. Sorry, Captain," she said when she noticed me looking. "There's a crasberry plushie in the window of that shop. The same colours as my pet when I was young." "Oh?" I twisted to look. Behind me was a soft furnishings shop, an orange and red crasberry nestled in amongst snugget, gleap and fennix plushies. "Her name was Ember, like the coral," Yuudai said, her gaze turned inward. "She's the reason I only lost a leg and not my life." I made a noise of encouragement and sipped at my reef juice. "We'd gone topside to visit my Uncle, who studied bugs and other land-based critters. He, my Mother and two of my brothers were deeply embroiled in some dull conversation, so I left with Ember. "We roamed the dunes around Uncle's house, investigating what little there was, when a thicket of tall grasses began to rustle, something within growling. "I froze, terrified, but Ember scuttled in front of me, snapping her little claws. Then all of a sudden, a lilodon leapt from the thicket, clear over Ember's head, to chomp down hard on my leg, breaking the bone. But Ember came to my rescue. She started nipping at the lilodon, and it turned on her instead. I dragged myself over the dunes, screaming for my Mother. "Then my Uncle was there, striding forward with his sword to kill the lilodon, while I was scooped into my Mother's arms and rushed back underwater to a hospital." "And Ember?" I asked, tone gentle, as Yuudai fell silent. She sighed. "The poor brave thing didn't make it. And the leg got infected." Yudai gave me a self-deprecating smile. "I know you were wondering. It's alright – everyone does. Even after the surgery and every antibiotic in the book, it couldn't be saved. Some kind of necrotic disease from the liodon. So they had to take it to save me. "Although, on the bright side, if I hadn't spent all that time in the hospital reading, I would never have become so invested in codices and how things work, and I would never have ended up here." Her smile widened into something more genuine, and I smiled back.

"Ingratiating. My apologies for making you wait, ladies. I was held up with another client." We both looked up to see a shiny steel glitch dressed in an apex-styled suit. He gave a brief bow. "Swiftquil, Rotik Sales, at your service." I waved for him to sit, introducing myself and Yuudai. He pulled a holo-unit from his jacket, setting it on the table where it activated, spooling through the Rotik ship parts catalogue. "Deferential. What can I interest you in today?" "Thank you," I said. "We have a list of requirements." I glanced at Yuudai. Her gaze had wandered back towards the crasberry toy in the window. "Chief?" She blinked, pulling her gaze back on me, and pushed across a datapad. "Yes, Captain. Everything we need is here." She glanced one final time at the toys, before focusing on the Sales Rep and beginning her spiel. I sat back, listening with half an ear to the conversation. "I'll be right back," I said during a lull. I stepped away, waiting. Once Yuudai's attention was again held by the catalogue, I headed towards the shop, eyes on that orange and red crasberry plush.

#sbprompts23 #writing #starbound #starbound fanfic #starbound fanfiction #oc mio #oc yuudai #mio's crew #wandering words #hylotl

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lalsingh228-blog · 1 year ago

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Aquatic Robot Market to Eyewitness Huge Growth by 2030

Latest business intelligence report released on Global Aquatic Robot Market, covers different industry elements and growth inclinations that helps in predicting market forecast. The report allows complete assessment of current and future scenario scaling top to bottom investigation about the market size, % share of key and emerging segment, major development, and technological advancements. Also, the statistical survey elaborates detailed commentary on changing market dynamics that includes market growth drivers, roadblocks and challenges, future opportunities, and influencing trends to better understand Aquatic Robot market outlook. List of Key Players Profiled in the study includes market overview, business strategies, financials, Development activities, Market Share and SWOT analysis: Atlas Maridan ApS. (Germany), Deep Ocean Engineering Inc. (United States), Bluefin Robotics Corporation (United States), ECA SA (France), International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (Canada), Inuktun Services Ltd. (Canada), Oceaneering International, Inc. (United States), Saab Seaeye (Sweden), Schilling Robotics, LLC (United States), Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd. (United Kingdom) Download Free Sample PDF Brochure (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/177845-global-aquatic-robot-market Brief Overview on Aquatic Robot: Aquatic robots are those that can sail, submerge, or crawl through water. They can be controlled remotely or autonomously. These robots have been regularly utilized for seafloor exploration in recent years. This technology has shown to be advantageous because it gives enhanced data at a lower cost. Because underwater robots are meant to function in tough settings where divers' health and accessibility are jeopardized, continuous ocean surveillance is extended to them. Maritime safety, marine biology, and underwater archaeology all use aquatic robots. They also contribute significantly to the expansion of the offshore industry. Two important factors affecting the market growth are the increased usage of advanced robotics technology in the oil and gas industry, as well as increased spending in defense industries across various countries. Key Market Trends: Growth in AUV Segment Opportunities: Adoption of aquatic robots in military & defense

Increased investments in R&D activities Market Growth Drivers: Growth in adoption of automated technology in oil & gas industry

Rise in awareness of the availability of advanced imaging system Challenges: Required highly skilled professional for maintenance Segmentation of the Global Aquatic Robot Market: by Type (Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV)), Application (Defense & Security, Commercial Exploration, Scientific Research, Others) Purchase this Report now by availing up to 10% Discount on various License Type along with free consultation. Limited period offer. Share your budget and Get Exclusive Discount @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/177845-global-aquatic-robot-market Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: • APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) • Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) • North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) • South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) • MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa)Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows: Historical data – 2017-2022 The base year for estimation – 2022 Estimated Year – 2023 Forecast period** – 2023 to 2028 [** unless otherwise stated] Browse Full in-depth TOC @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/177845-global-aquatic-robot-market

Summarized Extracts from TOC of Global Aquatic Robot Market Study Chapter 1: Exclusive Summary of the Aquatic Robot market Chapter 2: Objective of Study and Research Scope the Aquatic Robot market Chapter 3: Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis Chapter 4: Market Segmentation by Type, End User and Region/Country 2016-2027 Chapter 5: Decision Framework Chapter 6: Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges Chapter 7: Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile Chapter 8: Appendix, Methodology and Data Source Buy Full Copy Aquatic RobotMarket – 2021 Edition @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=177845 Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA – 08837 Phone: +1 201 565 3262, +44 161 818 8166 [email protected]

#Global Aquatic Robot Market #Aquatic Robot Market Demand #Aquatic Robot Market Trends #Aquatic Robot Market Analysis #Aquatic Robot Market Growth #Aquatic Robot Market Share #Aquatic Robot Market Forecast #Aquatic Robot Market Challenges

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justinspoliticalcorner · 2 days ago

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Dan Pfeiffer at The Message Box:

Last week in the Oval Office, surrounded by his cabinet and the media, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders that instructed his Department of Justice to investigate two individuals for the crime of criticizing the regime. Miles Taylor is a former Trump staffer who anonymously wrote an op-ed criticizing Trump before going public and becoming a vocal critic of Trump. Christopher Krebs was a cybersecurity official in the first Trump Administration who dared to push back on the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen. There’s no inkling or evidence that either committed any crime. No allegation, no probable cause. All they did was publicly criticize the President of the United States. For 250 years, being free to criticize those in power was fundamental to our democracy. Not anymore. Not with Trump back in the White House. These executive orders are part of a larger, very disturbing pattern. In recent weeks, Donald Trump, with the full support of the Republican Party and acquiescence of much of American society:

Rounded up groups of people and sent them to a prison in El Salvador (CECOT) known for torture and starvation without any form of due process;

Sent a squad of plainclothes, masked officers to arrest a graduate student whose visa was revoked because she co-signed an op-ed;

Prevented a well-respected media outlet from covering major White House events because they refuse to use the term “Gulf of America” to describe the “Gulf of Mexico;”

Mused about revoking U.S. citizenship from certain individuals and deporting them to countries they have never even visited;

Targeted perceived opponents using the full power of the government to coerce compliance from universities and law firms; and

Convinced the Attorney General to appear on Fox News to threaten people who oppose the President’s most significant donor with prosecution.

If this were happening in any other country, we could easily recognize these actions for what they are — democracy falling into dictatorship. But because it’s our country — the United States, the leading force for democracy in the world — the media, society, and even many Democratic politicians do not talk about it this way. Why isn’t this a bigger story? Why isn’t it THE story? We never fathomed this happening in America, and for this reason, we lack the imagination and vocabulary to describe what's happening accurately. We believed our system of checks and balances and our institutions could withstand an attempt to grab ultimate power. What happens everywhere else could never happen here. Well, it’s happening. And it’s happening faster than even Trump’s most hyperbolic critics imagined. One by one, American institutions bend to Trump to avoid punishment. While there are exceptions, too many Democrats will not call out Trump, sidestepping core constitutional protections like due process and freedom of speech. Instead, most Democrats are talking about the price of eggs, the tariffs, tax cuts for billionaires, and cuts to health care programs like Medicaid.

The Messaging Debate

Democrats lost in 2024 because voters didn’t trust us on the economy. Our messaging was about protecting political institutions that most voters see as ineffective and corrupt. Democrats — and particularly Joe Biden — came to embody an unchanging, broken political system. I agree with this analysis. I have been a long and loud critic of Biden’s messaging. Democrats must do better on the economy. The data shows that our best message is about Republican support for tax cuts for billionaires paid for by cuts to Medicaid. It’s one of the best testing messages I have ever seen. People are pissed about high prices and Trump's approval rating on lowering costs is deeply underwater, so I understand the value of hitting him on prices — especially the tariffs. The voters who care about democracy tend to be college-educated political junkies who are already in our camp.

But this defeatist attitude has permeated Democratic messaging despite our more sophisticated and affordable message testing. Unlike the old days, there is no need to commission an expensive poll, get 700-1000 people to answer a phone, and then process the data. It is now possible to quickly test any message for its ability to persuade. It doesn’t end with expensive television ads. Campaigns are now testing lines from speeches, social videos, and even tweets. Every word uttered online or IRL is message-tested within an inch of its life.

These tools are incredibly valuable. I am a voracious consumer of the data they provide, but ultimately, these tools tell us what voters already care about. Perhaps the question Democrats should ask is, what do we want them to care about?

Voters are not sufficiently alarmed by American democracy crumbling. Instead of accepting that premise, Democrats should try to change it.

Because of my obvious biases, I try to imagine what Barack Obama would do now. Would he focus exclusively on an economic message or would he try to tell a bigger story and raise the stakes? The answer is clear. He would address the elephant in the room. I am confident of his approach because that’s what he did in 2008. The campaign he ran was largely about the economy, but he also talked about the arrogance and impetuousness that got us into the Iraq War, the incompetence that led to Katrina, and the avarice and corruption in Republican Washington. He talked about torture, illegal wiretapping, and wars of choice. He told a story about how Bush squandered his opportunity to lead through the politics of fear and division.

Times were different back then. The stakes are much higher now, but the politics can be similar if we tell a compelling story about what Trump is doing, how it's hurting families, and what Democrats would do differently.

How to Make the Case

You are observing me change my mind in real time. The more that I see from Trump, the more it feels like Democrats are playing small ball. How do we square the circle? How do we tell a bigger story that speaks to Trump’s dangerous actions but avoids defending broken institutions when the public has a ferocious appetite for change? I do not have all of the answers, but here are some initial thoughts on how Democrats could make the case:

No Fear: Senator Chris Murphy is one of few Democrats who have taken up this mantle. Despite a very successful record as a senator, Murphy was largely unknown only a few months ago. His national profile has grown significantly because he has become a Paul Revere of sorts — clearly and authentically explaining what Trump is doing and why it’s dangerous. He is sincere. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have taken a different approach, talking about the dangers of Trump through a class prism. Once again, it’s authentic. What do these messages have in common with each other — and with Obama in 2008? They are told without fear or political calculus. These are scary times; and Democrats seem more scared of their own shadow than whatever Trump is doing.

Don’t Try to Fuse Two Messages Together: The worst decision in politics is no decision. Pick a lane. Some of the Democratic messaging has been too cute by half. When Trump pardoned the January 6th rioters, Democratic politicians flooded Twitter with things like “Pardoning rioters does nothing to lower the price of eggs.” You can see how they got to this point. The communications director says we have to talk about what's in the news to get coverage and the pollster says high egg prices are a top concern. Voila, a terrible message. Pardoning violent criminals who beat police officers is bad enough. No need to inauthentically tie it to egg prices.

Corruption Explains Everything: Democrats can’t abandon talking about the economy, but we can’t also stand by silently as Trump shreds the Constitution. The best way to do both is to explain why Trump is abridging people’s rights, weaponizing government, punishing speech, and pushing through his agenda without regard for the courts or Congress, all in service of the ultra-wealthy and politically connected. It’s a government of, by, and for the billionaires. Nothing and no one else matters. They are the ones who will get the tax cuts, the handouts, and the preferential treatment. It’s pay to play, and only the wealthiest of Americans can afford it. Everyone else must fend for themselves. Trump will destroy every entity and institution that stands in the way of his power. The more power he has, the better things will be for Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and the rest of the oligarchs ruling America.

Running on a Reform Agenda: This is easier said than done, but Democrats need to do more than identify the problem. We need solutions. We need a reform agenda to address money in politics and corporate influence in government. We also need to ensure that someone like Trump can never again muster such an assault on our system. In the coming weeks and months, I will be writing more about what our reform agenda could look like, but there is no question in my mind that we need one. Having a plan to fix a broken system is the best way to avoid becoming the defenders of the broken system.

Maybe I am falling into the same trap as before — responding to my own emotions and the opinions of the highly engaged Democrats who dominate my network and social feeds. But it really does feel like something unprecedented is happening now.

Dan Pfeiffer is correct to note that Democrats need a bold message calling out Donald Trump and the GOP’s authoritarian project to remake America.

#Polling #Trumpism #Donald Trump #Authoritarianism #Economy #Chris Krebs #Miles Taylor

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