Rust oleum weathered gray stain
Need help with wooden fence design options
2023.03.24 05:11 GiveBearsLightsabers Need help with wooden fence design options
Moving into a new house with a fairly large (half acre) yard. Backyard is pretty wooded, private, and sloped, and I’m trying to decide what type of wooden fence I should have installed for my 2 medium sized dogs. Thought about a wood wire farm style but fencing contractor thought it wouldn’t look good with sloping yard and I do think my dogs might be a little less calm if they can see through it so they gave me a quote for a standard 6 foot privacy fence for about $5k (pressure treated pine). I’m now researching and wondering if there are advantages or disadvantages to a shadow box design.
From what I’ve read, the only real disadvantage is that the cost will be slightly more and it’s harder to stain, but I wasn’t really planning on staining it anyway (I think the weathered look will be fine in the wooded backyard). Am I missing something? Anything else I should consider? Thanks in advance.
submitted by GiveBearsLightsabers to Home [link] [comments]
From what I’ve read, the only real disadvantage is that the cost will be slightly more and it’s harder to stain, but I wasn’t really planning on staining it anyway (I think the weathered look will be fine in the wooded backyard). Am I missing something? Anything else I should consider? Thanks in advance.
2023.03.24 04:39 East-Bed-9460 Best Window Cleaning London
 | Keeping your windows clean is an important part of maintaining the aesthetics and health of both residential and commercial properties. In London, window cleaning services are in high demand, as the city's unique climate can cause dirt, grime, and staining to accumulate quickly. Whether you're looking for a professional window cleaner or trying to do it yourself, this article will provide you with all the information you need to keep your windows sparkling. Here we'll explore the different types of window cleaning services available in London, the cost associated with them, and tips on how you can get that streak-free shine without hiring a professional. submitted by East-Bed-9460 to u/East-Bed-9460 [link] [comments] Benefits of Window Cleaning LondonWindow cleaning London offer a range of benefits for both residential and commercial properties. Not only does it give your home or business an aesthetic boost, but it can also help to improve your health by removing dirt, dust, pollen and other allergens from the air. Additionally, regular window cleaning can prevent window damage from dirt buildup, increasing the value of your property and reducing energy costs.When it comes to improving the aesthetics of your home or business, window cleaning is essential. Clean windows allow natural light to enter and brighten up any room, making it more inviting to guests or customers. Furthermore, with clean windows you're able to see out into London's stunning cityscape while keeping damaging UV rays out. Window cleaning also helps remove dirt, dust, pollen and other allergens that can harm your health if they stay in the air too long. This is particularly helpful for those who suffer from allergies as these particles can easily cause problems such as asthma attacks or hay fever symptoms. Regularly washing away these pollutants ensures that air quality remains high indoors. Window cleaning can also prevent damage from occurring through dirt build up on panes and frames over time. This not only keeps them looking good but helps protect windows against extreme weather conditions like heavy rain or snowfall which could potentially cause them to crack or break due to extra weight on the glass itself. Finally, window cleaning is a great way to increase the value of your property should you decide to sell or rent it out in future years – clean and clear windows will always be attractive features for potential buyers! Similarly, cleaner windows mean better insulation which leads to lower energy costs as less heat escapes during winter months compared with when there are thick layers of grime obscuring their surfaces. How to Choose a Professional Window Cleaner in LondonWhen it comes to finding a professional window cleaner in London, there are several factors to consider. To make sure you choose the best window cleaner for your needs, it is important to do your research and compare different providers.Start by researching potential window cleaners in your area and checking their reviews online. Ask questions about the services they offer, such as whether they use organic cleaning solutions or have experience working with historic buildings. Platforms like Yelp can be useful for getting an idea of the quality of service that each provider offers, while also allowing you to compare prices. It is also important to make sure the window cleaner is properly certified and insured. This will ensure that any work performed is done according to industry regulations and standards, protecting both you and the contractor from any legal issues that may arise from improper workmanship. Additionally, review the company’s safety procedures to ensure that they are following OSHA regulations when performing their services. Finally, talk to each potential contractor and ask them questions related to their experience with window cleaning in London and how long they have been in business. This will give you an idea of what kind of customer service they provide as well as their level of expertise when it comes to providing quality results for clients. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you choose the best professional window cleaner for your needs. https://preview.redd.it/uvglkdq8ylpa1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=d52df062015c0acf3b482b26a925f9e96b6d105f Different Types of Cleaning Services Available in LondonThe window cleaning services available in London are varied and can be tailored to suit a variety of needs. From streak-free cleanings to window washing and glass polishing, professional window cleaners offer an array of solutions for both residential and commercial properties.For those who need more than just basic window cleaning, some companies offer additional services such as gutter cleaning or repairs. Gutter cleanings help ensure that rainwater flows away from the building’s foundation and helps reduce the likelihood of water damage or flooding. Window repairs can also help restore old windows to their original function while improving the appearance of both interior and exterior facades. In addition to these services, many professional window cleaners also specialize in eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for both your home and environment. Eco-friendly solutions use less water and fewer chemicals, making them better for the environment as well as your wallet over time. Finally, there are specialized services for windows that may be difficult to reach due to their height or size, such as those on high-rise buildings or large commercial structures. These often require special equipment and techniques in order to properly clean the windows without risk of damage or injury. Overall, the range of window cleaning services available in London is vast - from basic residential cleanings all the way up to complex commercial projects - so it is important to find a professional who can provide you with exactly what you need. By taking into account factors like safety procedures, eco-friendly solutions and specialized expertise when selecting a contractor, you will be sure to find someone who can provide you with quality service at an affordable rate. Cost of Window Cleaning Services in LondonSection 4: Cost of Window Cleaning Services in London Window cleaning services in London are not cheap, but it is important to remember that the cost is worth it for the results you get. The average cost of window cleaning services typically ranges from £25 to £45 per hour, with most professional window cleaners basing their prices on the size of the windows, number of windows and accessibility. Additionally, window cleaning services may charge an additional fee for travelling, ladder usage and specialised tools.When hiring a professional window cleaner in London, there are a few things to keep in mind when considering their rates. Firstly, check what type of equipment they use – some companies may use specialised tools or techniques that could reduce your costs overall. Secondly, look at any specific training they have had – this can help ensure you get a high-quality standard of service and avoid any untrained amateurs who may not do a good job. Finally, make sure you understand what’s included in the price quoted – some companies might offer packages that include more than just window cleaning such as gutter cleaning or repairs which can add to the final bill. Comparing different companies and their rates is also essential when looking for a professional window cleaner in London. It can be helpful to ask around for recommendations from friends or family who’ve used these services before. Alternatively you can look online at customer reviews and ratings on sites like Trustpilot or Google Reviews to get an idea of how reliable each company is and whether they provide good value for money. Getting a detailed quote before agreeing to any service is also important so that there are no surprises once you receive your bill. This should include information about the time frame involved (how long will it take them to clean all your windows?), details about any specialist tools that might be needed (such as ladders) and an explanation of any extra fees (like travel expenses). By taking these steps and researching different providers thoroughly, you can ensure that you find the best possible deal for your needs. Tips for Making Your Windows Shine Without Professional HelpSection 5: Tips for Making Your Windows Shine Without Professional Help For those looking to take matters into their own hands, there are a few simple tips that can make all the difference when it comes to window cleaning. With the right tools and techniques, you can make your windows shine without having to hire a professional window cleaner.One of the most important tools for window cleaning is a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are made from an ultra-fine material that is excellent at lifting dirt and wiping away streaks. When used with warm water, these cloths are great for both cleaning and drying windows. For stubborn dirt or grime, combine one part white vinegar with two parts warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto your windows and let it sit for several minutes before wiping clean with a microfiber cloth. This combination should help break down any dirt or residue without leaving behind any streaks or smears. Newspaper is another tool that works well for creating a streak-free finish on windows. The ink in newspaper helps leave behind an even and polished look after you’ve wiped the window down with a wet cloth. Just be sure to use plain black-and-white newspaper as colored newsprint may contain dyes that could damage your windows over time if left on too long. If you’re dealing with hard-to-reach spots or corners, an old toothbrush will come in handy for scrubbing them clean. Simply dip the toothbrush into some soapy water and scrub away until all of the dirt has been removed before wiping dry with your microfiber cloth for a perfect finish! Finally, don’t forget about regular cleaning of the window frames themselves – this will help prevent build up which can be difficult to remove if left unchecked! Use mild detergent mixed with warm water and wipe down frames using a damp cloth every couple of months, paying special attention to corners where dust tends to accumulate more quickly than other areas of the frame. With these simple tips and tricks you can easily make your windows shine without having to hire professional help – good luck! |
2023.03.24 04:30 CraftyPharmacist Looking for suggestions on how to clean or remove stain on red ceramic tile?
It looks like the tile is a red ceramic tile and has a gray glaze on top. The pervious owners must have had a rug on the floor and now the tile is stained. I’ve tried mopping with hot water and floor cleaner, rubbing alcohol and Clorox. I’m hesitant to try bleach or something stronger because I don’t want to damage the gray glaze. Any suggestions?
Please click on the link to see all the photos.
https://imgur.com/a/EbyjFow
submitted by CraftyPharmacist to HomeImprovement [link] [comments]
Please click on the link to see all the photos.
https://imgur.com/a/EbyjFow
2023.03.24 04:15 _Triple_ [STORE] 900+ KNIVES/GLOVES/SKINS, 50.000$+ INVENTORY. M9 Fade, M4 Poseidon, Kara Gamma, BFK Freehand, BFK Bright Water, Spec Gloves Kimono, Nomad Fade, M9 Doppler, Skeleton, BFK B.Steel, AWP Fade, Stiletto Fade, S.Gloves Slingshot, BFK Ultra, Kara Damas, Bayo Lore, Bayo Gamma, Flip Fade & A Lot More
Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory
Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.
All Buyouts are listed in cash value.
KNIVES
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $1867
★ Butterfly Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $1098
★ Butterfly Knife Blue Steel BS, B/O: $907
★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $789
★ Butterfly Knife Stained FT, B/O: $695
⎯★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $888
★ Bayonet Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $727
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $608
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $521
★ Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $253
★ Bayonet Night FT, B/O: $251
★ StatTrak™ Bayonet Lore MW, B/O: $751
⎯★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1343
★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $774
★ Karambit Rust Coat BS, B/O: $537
★ Karambit Boreal Forest FT, B/O: $488
⎯★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1008
★ M9 Bayonet Blue Steel FT, B/O: $534
★ M9 Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $449
⎯★ Flip Knife Fade FN, B/O: $703
★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $509
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $406
★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $228
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $332
⎯★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $292
★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $264
★ Falchion Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Falchion Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $133
⎯★ Stiletto Knife Fade FN, B/O: $822
★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $569
★ Stiletto Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $530
★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $396
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $172
⎯★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $830
★ Gut Knife Fade FN, B/O: $204
★ Gut Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $138
★ Gut Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $104
★ Gut Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $92
★ Gut Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $82
★ StatTrak™ Gut Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $93
⎯★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $165
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel WW, B/O: $80
★ Shadow Daggers Rust Coat BS, B/O: $74
★ StatTrak™ Shadow Daggers Marble Fade FN, B/O: $186
⎯★ Classic Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $311
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $163
⎯★ Talon Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $605
★ Talon Knife Scorched MW, B/O: $290
⎯★ Ursus Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $405
★ Ursus Knife Night Stripe MW, B/O: $162
⎯★ Paracord Knife Stained WW, B/O: $125
★ Paracord Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
★ Paracord Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $96
⎯★ Navaja Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $71
★ Navaja Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $71
⎯★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1015
★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $909
★ Bowie Knife Boreal Forest MW, B/O: $106
★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
GLOVES
★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $335
★ Driver Gloves King Snake BS, B/O: $270
★ Driver Gloves Lunar Weave WW, B/O: $113
★ Driver Gloves Overtake WW, B/O: $88
★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $67
⎯★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $171
★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $137
★ Moto Gloves Transport WW, B/O: $71
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $62
⎯★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1027
★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $654
★ Specialist Gloves Mogul FT, B/O: $295
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $277
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web FT, B/O: $275
⎯★ Sport Gloves Slingshot FT, B/O: $796
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $699
★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $656
⎯★ Broken Fang Gloves Unhinged BS, B/O: $60
WEAPONS
AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130
AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70
AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60
⎯AWP Fade FN, B/O: $864
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $84
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Wildfire FT, B/O: $59
AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $59
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
⎯Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Printstream FN, B/O: $155
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $58
⎯M4A1-S Icarus Fell FN, B/O: $414
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
⎯M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1402
M4A4 The Emperor FN, B/O: $152
M4A4 Asiimov WW, B/O: $97
⎯USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $65
USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69
StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $123
StatTrak™ USP-S Neo-Noir FN, B/O: $106
⎯AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $218
P2000 Ocean Foam FN, B/O: $139
Souvenir SSG 08 Death Strike MW, B/O: $81
CZ75-Auto Emerald Quartz MW, B/O: $61
Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory
Some items on the list may no longer be available or are still locked, visit My Inventory for more details.
Send a Trade Offer for fastest response. I consider all offers.
Add me for discuss if there is a serious offer that needs to be discussed.
2023.03.24 03:53 Guaraguao_pollero Civic 2019 rusty driver's seat sliding track.
 | Car has been in central Florida for 4 years and is seldom driven (only 24,000 miles). I had not noticed until now that the driver's seat gliding tracks are rusty. Are those rust stains normal? Are they dangerous? Do they ne fixing? submitted by Guaraguao_pollero to CivicX [link] [comments] |
2023.03.24 03:39 Ford9863 [Out of Time] Part 3
submitted by Ford9863 to Ford9863 [link] [comments]2023.03.24 03:20 moendopi Just a question about direction - Tamiya Leopard I
I'm looking for suggestions. I'm building Tamiya's ancient Leopard I kit. My style lately has been avoiding heavy mud, but weathering techniques like rust, chipping (rust underneath), and dust. I am looking for suggestions for ideas. I did an M18 Hellcat where I did multiple layers of rust and chipping and it turned out neat, even won an award. I recently did a small 1/72 scale T-55 inspired by the Beast of War, very dusty. Just looking for ideas. Thanks!
submitted by moendopi to modelmakers [link] [comments]
2023.03.24 02:52 JLGoodwin1990 Project Varanus escaped. I have to warn you of it.
I’m currently breaking about two hundred NDA’s by posting this here, including some that stipulate decades, if not longer jail time for me and worse, but frankly, whatever happens to me isn’t as important as getting the word out. Getting this warning out, to all of you who live in the United States, and perhaps the entirety of North America. If I attempt to leak the information I have anywhere else, the people in charge of making sure things like this don’t get out will sniff it out in a heartbeat and erase it from the internet completely. So, I’m posting this here, on a place that is one of the last they’d possibly look, in hopes that enough people see it, and can warn others, while there is still time.
I’m not going to tell you my real name, or what company I work for, as that would be detected by those that sweep the internet for such things, and would send up the warning sirens all around. It, along with the other people’s names I will need to use, will be changed with fake names.
But, what I can say is that I’m a very high level scientist who works at a corporation that deals in large part with genetics, and genetic engineering, among other things. One which has a lot of notoriety and acclaim in the world. Roughly about two years ago, as the rest of the world was in lockdown due to the pandemic, the company I work for was approached by the federal government, specifically the Department of Defense, to assist a top secret project they were undertaking for something which the paperwork referred to as Project Varanus. Only about half a dozen scientists and geneticists, myself included, were selected for our knowledge, skill, working speed, and most importantly, the ability to keep our mouths shut. They sat us down in the conference room of our building, and after giving only a vague interpretation of what task they wished us to assist them with (In the words of the stooge who spoke of the three of them, “To assist with our project on the genetic scale”), they shoved Non Disclosure Agreement after Non Disclosure Agreement under our noses to sign. The only reason we didn’t question, was because of the amount of zeros that we were told would be on our personal paychecks. We would be wealthy beyond our wildest dreams. Greed always gets people in over their fucking heads.
After given twenty four hours to get our affairs in order, we were all piled into the back of a Sikorsky helicopter and taken to the local airport, where we were placed onto a military C-130. They didn’t tell us what state we were heading to, and most of us were too excited about the money and the opportunity to care, murmuring excitedly to each other during the entire course of the six hour flight. We landed at a private airfield, one which I’m pretty damn sure isn’t on any aviation map, and led us into a large, three story building made out of black metal just to the right of the runway. This turned out to be the barracks, what would become our home for the foreseeable future. And we weren’t the only ones there. There were at least thirty or forty other people, some which were also scientist, but curiously enough, as we learned, about ten or twelve of them were animal wranglers or animal behavioral experts. “So whatever we’re doing, has to do with animals” Yurik, a Russian transplant and fellow scientist and friend of mine whispered to me as the bigwigs gathered us all up after letting us drop of our personal effects.
“Apparently” I whispered back, “What do you think the project is?” He shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve got me, Dexter. I guess we’ll just have to find out, yes?” I nodded, and we both fell silent as we were led back out of the building, and through a grey metal door which was set into the side of a hill across the way. This turned out to lead down to where we would be working; an underground complex which had to have stretched out for at least a mile or more. As we entered the first clean room, we were met with the first big surprise of our arrival. Taking up its own clean room, which opened onto the one we stood in with floor to ceiling windows, was a supercomputer which, by all means, should only be in the rough blueprint stage. If you’ve heard of the Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Frontier supercomputer, then you’ll know that it’s successor, the Aurora, is due to be completed this year, and will only be the word’s second exascale supercomputer. Except…it was already built a year or two in advance. The Department of Energy had leant the DOD it for this project exclusively. We all whispered in hushed tones as one of the men rattled off the system specs, which I’ll skip as many of you won’t know or understand them.
Then they led us to the second surprise of the day, and admittedly, even a bigger one than the computer. And, in my personal opinion, far more chilling. Inside a room which, unnervingly, had a row of cattle prods hooked into one far wall, along with, for some reason, a locked case containing what looked like shotguns, was another floor to ceiling window. The head big wig walked up and tapped the glass. “Our most durable glass, able to withstand a direct hit from a vehicle doing twenty miles an hour. We use it in secure rooms in the Pentagon” he boasted. For a moment, everyone looked around at each other in confusion, wondering why glass so strong would be needed in a lab setting. Until the three men stepped aside and let us finally see what the subjects of this project would be, earning more than a few gasps from myself and the others.
The room, or, I should more appropriately refer to as an enclosure, was made up to resemble what I can only describe as an Indo-Pacific jungle. I know, since I made a trip with my wife to that area of the world ten years ago. That wasn’t what had earned the gasps, though. It was what lay and stood inside the habitat. Instantly, I understood the name of the project, which, some bright bulb in the DOD hadn’t exactly been creative with. Varanus was the genus of the animal before us. Varanus komodoensis. Komodo Dragons. There were, from what we could see, about seven or eight of them; some were sitting and sunning themselves underneath the artificial lights mounted in the ceiling, while others lumbered around lazily, rivulets of drool hanging out of their mouths. As we stared in astonishment, the DOD men explained the goal of the project. According to them, they wanted to attempt to weaponize the lizards, using selective breeding, genetic modification and animal training, among other steps, to create the perfect killing machine for the black ops arms of the military in any location in the world. And it was our job to make that happen.
Things progressed slowly for the first three to six months of the project. We took genetic samples of tranquilized specimens and fed them into the supercomputer to map out the animals complete genome. Shockingly, it took the computer less than a week and a half to do so. Once we had a complete blueprint, we began removing genes and other molecular parameters that would hinder the new generation of Komodos to fulfill the parameters set down to us by the DOD. I won’t say every single thing we did, but I will, for necessities purpose, tell you some of the most important ones. Most lizards are cold blooded, meaning they can’t regulate their own body heat and need the sun to warm them up. Almost all lizards are this way, with the exception of one. The Argentine black and white tegu is the only known reptile which can regulate its own body heat, and thus, survive in cold weather without going completely dormant. Using genetic engineering, we were able to rack the tegu’s gene up to the point it could stay fully active all throughout the winter months and cold climates.
We also removed genes which limited the Komodo’s ability to see distinct shapes, and inserted ones which also boosted their visual range, allowing them to be able to see for at least half a mile away from them. We inserted chameleon genes to allow the creatures to naturally camouflage themselves for whatever location they would be dropped into. We heightened their sense of hearing and smell as well, along with increasing their skin density so that, short of a .50 BMG round or bigger, not much could penetrate their hides. The big one that the DOD wanted, though, was increased aggression. Komodo Dragons are already aggressive and territorial by nature, but for them, it wasn’t good enough. And so, for this, we inserted the testosterone gene from a bull shark, which has some of the highest testosterone levels in the animal kingdom, to boost their ferocity.
Finally, all the parameters we were set were reached, and through a complicated process which I won’t go into, for time sake, we began inserting the new genomes into the clutches of eggs that the females would lay, then returning them to their nests in the habitat. A few more months later, and the first genetically modified Komodo Dragons were born. And they were a complete fucking disaster. Some of the animals were born with mutations that made them die off quickly, such as missing two feet or, in one case, two heads. We realized we’d made a mistake and went back to the drawing board. After checking, double checking, and just to be safe, triple checking our work, we attempted again with a new clutch of eggs.
As the second clutch began to quiver and shake, everyone from us geneticists, to other scientists and animal experts, and even the ten man security staff gathered around the window in anticipation. The first egg cracked, and a black head poked out from it, its tongue flicking in and out of its mouth, tasting the air. A few moments later, more began to do the same, and as the first forced its way out of the egg, seemingly mutation free, we all turned to one another and applauded, cheering, patting each other on the back and shaking hands. “Congratulations, Dexter!” an animal behaviorist named Michelle said, smiling and giving me a hug. I’d developed a friendly rapport with her, and we had fast become friends. “Thanks, Michelle” I said, grinning back at her, “But now comes the test of time, to see how they do as they grow and mature” She nodded, and we turned to congratulate more of our colleagues. If we’d only known then what we did now, though, we’d have likely tried to incinerate the entire room while we had the chance…
The animals matured at an incredibly fast rate from then on, reaching full sexual maturity in less than a year instead of the normal eight to nine years, due to the genetic modification. They soon took up large amounts of room in the habitat, as the seven specimens which survived to adulthood; four males and three females, grew much larger than their natural parents, reaching lengths of about fourteen feet long, and likely weighing over five hundred pounds. We noticed a few new additions to the first generation Komods, as we came to call them to distinguish between the regular animals and them, such as their teeth having more of a shark like serrated edge to them from the bull shark genes, and a more mammalian like eye due to the chimpanzee genes for sight. Their natural skin color was dark black, much darker than their parents. And when they first camouflaged themselves, it was a sight that caused us to gasp in wonder. We had created a new subspecies, effectively, of the animal.
That was where the problems began. See, after congratulating us on our achievements, the DOD ordered us to begin the training process as soon as possible. They had some military skirmish coming up they wanted to give the animals a dry run on, about seven months out. And so, Michelle and the rest of the animal experts attempted to train them to attack on command. At first, it seemed they responded well to the orders, but very quickly petered out, ignoring verbal and visual cues. To make matters worse, they ended up turning on their parents, killing and devouring all eight of the natural animals during one night, which led us to walk into the lab the next morning, finding the glass splattered with blood and viscera. The Komods had been absolutely vicious on the recordings, moving as a pack to trap an animal at a time in a corner before quite literally tearing it apart. This gave us pause, as we didn’t recall putting in any increased intelligence genes into the animals, and pack hunting behavior was not only a sign of intelligence, but also a behavior not seen in Komodo Dragons. Everyone exchanged nervous glances with each other at this revelation.
That was about the time they…changed. They began to get downright eerie, if I’m honest. We would walk into the habitat viewing room, to find the animals standing still as a stone. Still, except for their eyes, which seemed to follow you all around the room, ones which began to seem far too human like and understanding. I know now that they were learning our patterns, our movements, sniffing out weaknesses and vulnerable spaces. Hell, you could be two rooms away, and still feel their eyes on you through the many layers of glass. They also began to camouflage themselves more and more, seeming to learn how to effectively hide themselves. When they stood still, it almost was impossible to distinguish them from the background. It was almost exactly the way the Indominus Rex from Jurassic World behaved, only, there were many of them, not just one. We reached out to the DOD to explain our concerns, but they were pushed aside like paper. The man on the phone told us that the three who had brought us here over a year ago, would be returning in two weeks to look at the specimens. “That is final” the gruff voice finished, before hanging up.
We were unsure of what to do. The animals hadn’t been trained, and their odd and eerie behavior was beginning to sow the first tendrils of doubt about what we had done into the backs of our minds. We had been too busy focusing on achieving our goals without stopping to think about the consequences, also preoccupied by the money we would be making. But we attempted to push the thoughts away. That’s when the next shoe dropped. As we entered the lab a week later, we noticed some, well, some things nestled in the old replica nests that once held the Komods themselves. I have to stress that, normal Komodo Dragons, it turns out, can lay up to 20 eggs at a time, which, between three females, would mean sixty eggs. There were closer to ninety eggs in total in the nests. “Okay, something isn’t exactly right here” Michelle said worriedly, gaining murmurs from the other animal experts. “They’re not supposed to lay eggs so soon, especially not this time of the year”
As we stared through the glass, one of the Komods uncloaked itself, the side of its head almost pressed up against the glass. “Fuck me!” I shouted, jumping back; I had been close to the glass myself, and when it had appeared, the two of us had almost been eye to eye with each other. That’s when Dietrich, another geneticist, dropped the bomb he’d hidden from the rest of us. Unbeknownst to the rest of us, he’d been approached by one of the bigwigs with a secret assignment. Apparently, there were two secret parameters that the DOD had asked for in the Komods; the first was an increased level of intelligence for problem solving and creativity skills using more chimpanzee genes. This alone caused everyone else to flip their shit. “Are you AND them out of your fucking minds?!” Clancy, one of the animal behaviorists screamed at Dietrich, “You basically engineered up the apex predator of apex predators, and then you gave it a fucking brain?!” Quieter than he had been before, he then told us the second secret parameter.
They had wanted to increase the animal’s lethality, and as such…had Dietrich insert the genes from one of the most venomous species of snake, the Black Mamba, into the Komods. One bite from the animals would be enough to insert enough venom to kill twenty full grown men. The discomfort and horror in the room was palpable. I quietly strode up to the man and asked him, in a voice quaking a little, “Do you have any idea what kind of monster you’ve created?” He merely stared at the floor and said nothing. I looked around the room at my colleagues, and at the security standing behind us. After a few minutes of deliberation, I opened my mouth and spoke. “We have to find a way to destroy these animals” I turned and looked at them, now all visible and staring through the glass at me. They all seemed to have their eyes on me, and me alone, and almost seemed to harbor a sense of anger towards me. I looked down and saw that the speakers which allowed the trainers to try and communicate with the animals had accidentally been flicked on. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they understood what I said…but that was ridiculous; they only understood basic commands, not full sentences. Nevertheless, I nervously flicked off the speaker, then turned back to the group.
“We need to find a way to destroy them” I repeated, and began to move across the room to the weapons locker containing the shotguns. That’s when the security guards stepped over to me. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t allow you to even attempt to destroy government property” the lead guard said, his face stony and lacking any emotion. “Are you serious?” I asked, dropping formalities. He repeated his sentence to me. I felt a rising wave of panic begin to overtake me as my mind raced with the implications. But, before I was able to do anything, I felt hands grab my arms from behind, wrenching them from behind. I felt handcuffs clench around my wrists and looked back up at the head guard. “You’re going to be placed into confinement until the superiors arrive here in three days, at which point they will decide a course of action for breaking subsection A303, paragraph 36, line four of your contract”
They led me out of the room, the other scientists looking both scared and upset at this abrupt intervention. As I left the room, I saw one of the guards rest his hand on the butt of his pistol while staring at the group. “There is to be no more discussion about the destruction of these animals” he proclaimed loudly. The symbolism of his hand on his gun was obvious. And then the door shut, and I was shoved forward. I was marched out of the lab and back across the ground to the barracks, where I was locked into a storage room with a toilet. Occasionally, a guard would bring me food and water, but they never spoke a word. I had nothing to occupy my time with but my thoughts; thoughts about the disastrous implications of those creatures down below breeding uncontrolled, or worse, escaping the military’s custody.
Three days later, as I sat on the floor with my head between my knees, I heard the door unlock, and looked up to see the guards in the doorway. Behind them lay two men in combat fatigues carrying assault rifles, and beside them were the three bigwigs, still dressed in their smarmy black suits and ties. I was pulled out of the closet and held by my arms in front of the three. “Doctor, doctor, doctor” one of them began, shaking his head slowly, “You disappoint us” He clucked his tongue. “We thought you, of all people would recognize the importance of such a project. The ability to create the perfect soldier, one that means not risking human lives and winning battles far more efficiently” I shook my head at him. “What you don’t understand is that, if you keep those animals alive, you risk something far worse and more disastrous for the area. Hell, the country, and maybe even the continent!”
But he didn’t listen. He waved at me. “Escort the good doctor down with us to see there’s nothing to worry about” he said dismissively, already turning away. This time, in between the two rifle carrying military police, I was marched back from the barracks to the lab. As they shut the door behind it, one of the suit wearing men locked the door out by pressing his hand into a scanner at the bottom of the stairs that I hadn’t noticed before. When we entered, all eyes turned in our direction, and I could see the guards had been forcing them to continue working under duress. Many looked like they hadn’t slept in two days. On the bigwig’s orders, we were all forced into the observation room. When we entered, I noticed something that nearly rooted me to the spot. There was only two Komods visible in the center of the room. Both lay slumped on their side, their eyes open and unseeing.
Instantly, the head suit turned to the guards, his face turning red. “You allowed two of them to die?!” he shouted at the head of security. The man’s face turned pale as he stared in confusion. “N-No sir!” he stammered, “They were up and moving about not even an hour ago!” But the suit wasn’t comforted. He rounded on Michelle and Clancy. “You two, are going to go in there, under the supervision of two of the guards, and you are going to attempt to revive our property” he hissed. They began to protest, but then the man shouted again. “If you do not do as ordered, by the power given to me in your contract, I will have the ability to have you executed for subordination!” The two animal behaviorists looked shocked at the man’s words, but still didn’t move. Not until the security team pulled their pistols out of their holsters. Michelle began to cry, and Clancy attempted to comfort her. But the suit strode forward, grabbed the two of them, and roughly shoved them towards the habitat door. “Now!” he barked.
Michelle stole one last look my way, her eyes rimmed red with tears and fear, and then, with the two security guards holding cattle prods behind them, they were forced into the habitat. As they stepped forward into view on the other side of the glass, I stepped up next to the suit, rage and panic overcoming me. “This is the stupidest fucking idea, you dumb shit! There’s only two in view, and there were-“ I was cut off as something slammed into the side of my head. My vision went blurry, and I collapsed to the metal floor in a heap. “Shut the hell up” the suit said, motioning for the MP who’d used the butt of his rifle to strike me to lift me up. As they did, I looked up to see Michelle kneeling down next to one of the Komods, my vision hazy. A thought crossed through my mind, one that sped through my brain like a bolt of lightning, and send ice buckets of chills to zap down my spine. They have the intelligence of primates, they have problem solving skills, they were watching us the whole time, they work as a team, they-
I snapped my head up, screaming. “Michelle, get away from it, it’s an ambush!” But, it was already too late. As she looked up at me, her eyes wide with understanding and terror, the Komod snapped up out of playing possum, lunging forward faster than I thought possible with its jaws agape. They snapped close around my colleague’s head, and I heard her begin to scream, a high pitched, unending one which pierced my ears even on the other side of the glass. At the same time, the others removed their camouflage, leaping forward at Clancy and the two guards. They tried to raise their prods, but couldn’t move quick enough as three of them overwhelmed them, dragging them to the ground. The other Komod playing possum had leapt onto Clancy. Within moments, the glass was stained with the splashes of blood from my colleagues and the guards. “Close the door!” the head suit screamed, all trace of bravado having left him. But, again, it was already too late, as with a mix of hisses and low growls, the seven genetically engineered killing machines dashed out of the enclosure and began the slaughter.
I didn’t stay to watch it, though. When I saw that the four in the enclosure were goners, I turned and, with my head still reeling from the rifle butt to my head, sprinted as fast as I could away from the room. I saw a few other of my colleagues do the same, and heard the eardrum piercing sound of multiple handguns and rifles being fired behind me. Along with the screaming. God, the screaming. It was like listening to the background of a horror movie during a nasty kill scene, only this time, the horror was very real. I thought fast as I heard the skittering of claws on metal somewhere behind me. And I did the only thing I could. I climbed tables and bookshelves, until I was able to climb on some ceiling mounted pipes and air ducting. I was up high enough, that even if they could jump, which I found out a few seconds later they could, as they leapt almost five feet off the ground towards me, it wouldn’t be high enough for them to reach.
From there, all I could do was watch. Watch in horror as the Komods grouped together as a pack, moving through the facility to kill the few colleagues of mine and guards who had escaped the initial carnage. They always found them, no matter where they were. They sniffed them out, they could spot them hiding in places most wouldn’t think to look. Very soon, the entire lab was splashed with blood on the floors and walls. It looked like they’d attempted to make their own macabre version of a Jackson Pollack painting. But the most frightening was when they came to a locker that the last guard had hidden himself in. I know those animals had never even seen a locker door before. But, somehow, one climbed slightly up on the metal, using its claws to hook into the grooves, turned its mouth slightly sideways, and gripped the lock between its teeth. It gently pulled it up, and the weight of it swung the locker door open. The guard managed to let out a single scream before they were upon him.
Finally, they were all gone. Everyone except me. I saw the Komods fan out through the lap, systematically moving through each room. Two reached the stairs, and I heard the click of their claws as they climbed towards the door. A few moments later, the slid back down, trapped by the lockdown the bigwig had set up. I let out a sigh of relief. But it quickly died in my throat as I saw one, what had to be the pack leader, move with a speed I didn’t know they could possess and crawl back into the observation room. There was a sickening sound of flesh and bone tearing for a minute or two. Then it reappeared, moving back across the lab with something in its jaws. I strained to see, then gasped as I realized what it was. It was the hand and wrist of the suit; the creature had torn it from his corpse. My mind raced as I watched it move towards the stairs again. Please, no, I thought. Please don’t let it be THAT smart!
My heart sank into my stomach as I saw the Komod reach the panel next to the stairs, climbing up and using its front legs to hold itself in place. Very gently, it dropped the suit’s hand from its mouth, letting it fall palm down onto the scanner. After a second, a robotic woman’s voice spoke throughout the facility. “Lockdown lifted. All exit doors now unlocked” “Shit…” I whispered as I watched it drop back down to the ground, and, moving in front, led the seven back up the stairs. A minute later, I felt the air pressure in the lab change, signaling they had managed to open the door. After about thirty seconds, it stopped. They got out. That was the thought that repeated over and over in my mind. They got out. Oh, god no, they got out.
That was how they found me when they came to search for everyone the next day, when the bigwigs didn’t report in. They found me clutching the ceiling ducts, almost desperately so, so as not to fall down to the ground. They ran a ladder up and coaxed me down. I thought I would be charged for the deaths of everyone here, but apparently, these people knew about Project Varanus. They took me out of the lab, away from the dismembered bodies of my colleagues and the others, away from the blood and putrid copper scent of it. When I stepped outside into fresh air, I immediately noticed the huge hole in the fence opposite us. “That’s how they got out” I whispered, and the man in the suit nodded. “We know, doctor. Don’t worry, we’ll find them”. From there, they made sure I was okay, then made me sign ever more NDA’s, stating I wouldn’t breathe a word about what happened. All which, I said at the start, I’m breaking now.
Yes, the financially compensated me for what I experienced, more money than I would ever know what to do with. Hush money. But, I can’t stay silent on this. For two reasons. The first being, all of my colleagues’ families were given some bullshit cover story about how they died in a gas leak, and the bodies were too contaminated to be able to be shipped home. The families deserve to know what really happened to their loved ones.
And second, and more important tenfold, is to warn people. Warn you. Warn everybody of what is out there now, sliding and hunting through the forests. Maybe even through suburban neighborhoods. Where they can camouflage themselves, they could be anywhere. You need to be on guard outside, no matter where you are. How many animal disappearances since they escaped could be their work? Hell, how many missing people could be their work? If you even think you feel eyes on you when nobodies around, run. If you think you hear soft hissing and low growling around you, run. It may not matter, though. Where they’re so fast, even if you run, they’ll most likely catch you and…well, you know what happens next. But that’s not what frightens me the most. That’s not what makes me stare up the ceiling fan in my bedroom, unable to sleep.
The eggs in the habitat were destroyed by the military. They saw to that. But, the Komods out there can still breed. And we saw how ninety eggs came from just those seven animals, those three females. They can breed very quickly, and they will. And when they breed, they will spread like wildfire, able to live in both hot and cold climates. And as it’s almost April, it’s almost prime time for them to mate and lay their eggs. Which would hatch this fall.
That is, if their breeding season wasn’t genetically altered as well.
All I can say is, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for what I helped to create. I’m so sorry for the deaths of all those who worked with me.
And I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry…for what is to come…
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I’m not going to tell you my real name, or what company I work for, as that would be detected by those that sweep the internet for such things, and would send up the warning sirens all around. It, along with the other people’s names I will need to use, will be changed with fake names.
But, what I can say is that I’m a very high level scientist who works at a corporation that deals in large part with genetics, and genetic engineering, among other things. One which has a lot of notoriety and acclaim in the world. Roughly about two years ago, as the rest of the world was in lockdown due to the pandemic, the company I work for was approached by the federal government, specifically the Department of Defense, to assist a top secret project they were undertaking for something which the paperwork referred to as Project Varanus. Only about half a dozen scientists and geneticists, myself included, were selected for our knowledge, skill, working speed, and most importantly, the ability to keep our mouths shut. They sat us down in the conference room of our building, and after giving only a vague interpretation of what task they wished us to assist them with (In the words of the stooge who spoke of the three of them, “To assist with our project on the genetic scale”), they shoved Non Disclosure Agreement after Non Disclosure Agreement under our noses to sign. The only reason we didn’t question, was because of the amount of zeros that we were told would be on our personal paychecks. We would be wealthy beyond our wildest dreams. Greed always gets people in over their fucking heads.
After given twenty four hours to get our affairs in order, we were all piled into the back of a Sikorsky helicopter and taken to the local airport, where we were placed onto a military C-130. They didn’t tell us what state we were heading to, and most of us were too excited about the money and the opportunity to care, murmuring excitedly to each other during the entire course of the six hour flight. We landed at a private airfield, one which I’m pretty damn sure isn’t on any aviation map, and led us into a large, three story building made out of black metal just to the right of the runway. This turned out to be the barracks, what would become our home for the foreseeable future. And we weren’t the only ones there. There were at least thirty or forty other people, some which were also scientist, but curiously enough, as we learned, about ten or twelve of them were animal wranglers or animal behavioral experts. “So whatever we’re doing, has to do with animals” Yurik, a Russian transplant and fellow scientist and friend of mine whispered to me as the bigwigs gathered us all up after letting us drop of our personal effects.
“Apparently” I whispered back, “What do you think the project is?” He shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve got me, Dexter. I guess we’ll just have to find out, yes?” I nodded, and we both fell silent as we were led back out of the building, and through a grey metal door which was set into the side of a hill across the way. This turned out to lead down to where we would be working; an underground complex which had to have stretched out for at least a mile or more. As we entered the first clean room, we were met with the first big surprise of our arrival. Taking up its own clean room, which opened onto the one we stood in with floor to ceiling windows, was a supercomputer which, by all means, should only be in the rough blueprint stage. If you’ve heard of the Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Frontier supercomputer, then you’ll know that it’s successor, the Aurora, is due to be completed this year, and will only be the word’s second exascale supercomputer. Except…it was already built a year or two in advance. The Department of Energy had leant the DOD it for this project exclusively. We all whispered in hushed tones as one of the men rattled off the system specs, which I’ll skip as many of you won’t know or understand them.
Then they led us to the second surprise of the day, and admittedly, even a bigger one than the computer. And, in my personal opinion, far more chilling. Inside a room which, unnervingly, had a row of cattle prods hooked into one far wall, along with, for some reason, a locked case containing what looked like shotguns, was another floor to ceiling window. The head big wig walked up and tapped the glass. “Our most durable glass, able to withstand a direct hit from a vehicle doing twenty miles an hour. We use it in secure rooms in the Pentagon” he boasted. For a moment, everyone looked around at each other in confusion, wondering why glass so strong would be needed in a lab setting. Until the three men stepped aside and let us finally see what the subjects of this project would be, earning more than a few gasps from myself and the others.
The room, or, I should more appropriately refer to as an enclosure, was made up to resemble what I can only describe as an Indo-Pacific jungle. I know, since I made a trip with my wife to that area of the world ten years ago. That wasn’t what had earned the gasps, though. It was what lay and stood inside the habitat. Instantly, I understood the name of the project, which, some bright bulb in the DOD hadn’t exactly been creative with. Varanus was the genus of the animal before us. Varanus komodoensis. Komodo Dragons. There were, from what we could see, about seven or eight of them; some were sitting and sunning themselves underneath the artificial lights mounted in the ceiling, while others lumbered around lazily, rivulets of drool hanging out of their mouths. As we stared in astonishment, the DOD men explained the goal of the project. According to them, they wanted to attempt to weaponize the lizards, using selective breeding, genetic modification and animal training, among other steps, to create the perfect killing machine for the black ops arms of the military in any location in the world. And it was our job to make that happen.
Things progressed slowly for the first three to six months of the project. We took genetic samples of tranquilized specimens and fed them into the supercomputer to map out the animals complete genome. Shockingly, it took the computer less than a week and a half to do so. Once we had a complete blueprint, we began removing genes and other molecular parameters that would hinder the new generation of Komodos to fulfill the parameters set down to us by the DOD. I won’t say every single thing we did, but I will, for necessities purpose, tell you some of the most important ones. Most lizards are cold blooded, meaning they can’t regulate their own body heat and need the sun to warm them up. Almost all lizards are this way, with the exception of one. The Argentine black and white tegu is the only known reptile which can regulate its own body heat, and thus, survive in cold weather without going completely dormant. Using genetic engineering, we were able to rack the tegu’s gene up to the point it could stay fully active all throughout the winter months and cold climates.
We also removed genes which limited the Komodo’s ability to see distinct shapes, and inserted ones which also boosted their visual range, allowing them to be able to see for at least half a mile away from them. We inserted chameleon genes to allow the creatures to naturally camouflage themselves for whatever location they would be dropped into. We heightened their sense of hearing and smell as well, along with increasing their skin density so that, short of a .50 BMG round or bigger, not much could penetrate their hides. The big one that the DOD wanted, though, was increased aggression. Komodo Dragons are already aggressive and territorial by nature, but for them, it wasn’t good enough. And so, for this, we inserted the testosterone gene from a bull shark, which has some of the highest testosterone levels in the animal kingdom, to boost their ferocity.
Finally, all the parameters we were set were reached, and through a complicated process which I won’t go into, for time sake, we began inserting the new genomes into the clutches of eggs that the females would lay, then returning them to their nests in the habitat. A few more months later, and the first genetically modified Komodo Dragons were born. And they were a complete fucking disaster. Some of the animals were born with mutations that made them die off quickly, such as missing two feet or, in one case, two heads. We realized we’d made a mistake and went back to the drawing board. After checking, double checking, and just to be safe, triple checking our work, we attempted again with a new clutch of eggs.
As the second clutch began to quiver and shake, everyone from us geneticists, to other scientists and animal experts, and even the ten man security staff gathered around the window in anticipation. The first egg cracked, and a black head poked out from it, its tongue flicking in and out of its mouth, tasting the air. A few moments later, more began to do the same, and as the first forced its way out of the egg, seemingly mutation free, we all turned to one another and applauded, cheering, patting each other on the back and shaking hands. “Congratulations, Dexter!” an animal behaviorist named Michelle said, smiling and giving me a hug. I’d developed a friendly rapport with her, and we had fast become friends. “Thanks, Michelle” I said, grinning back at her, “But now comes the test of time, to see how they do as they grow and mature” She nodded, and we turned to congratulate more of our colleagues. If we’d only known then what we did now, though, we’d have likely tried to incinerate the entire room while we had the chance…
The animals matured at an incredibly fast rate from then on, reaching full sexual maturity in less than a year instead of the normal eight to nine years, due to the genetic modification. They soon took up large amounts of room in the habitat, as the seven specimens which survived to adulthood; four males and three females, grew much larger than their natural parents, reaching lengths of about fourteen feet long, and likely weighing over five hundred pounds. We noticed a few new additions to the first generation Komods, as we came to call them to distinguish between the regular animals and them, such as their teeth having more of a shark like serrated edge to them from the bull shark genes, and a more mammalian like eye due to the chimpanzee genes for sight. Their natural skin color was dark black, much darker than their parents. And when they first camouflaged themselves, it was a sight that caused us to gasp in wonder. We had created a new subspecies, effectively, of the animal.
That was where the problems began. See, after congratulating us on our achievements, the DOD ordered us to begin the training process as soon as possible. They had some military skirmish coming up they wanted to give the animals a dry run on, about seven months out. And so, Michelle and the rest of the animal experts attempted to train them to attack on command. At first, it seemed they responded well to the orders, but very quickly petered out, ignoring verbal and visual cues. To make matters worse, they ended up turning on their parents, killing and devouring all eight of the natural animals during one night, which led us to walk into the lab the next morning, finding the glass splattered with blood and viscera. The Komods had been absolutely vicious on the recordings, moving as a pack to trap an animal at a time in a corner before quite literally tearing it apart. This gave us pause, as we didn’t recall putting in any increased intelligence genes into the animals, and pack hunting behavior was not only a sign of intelligence, but also a behavior not seen in Komodo Dragons. Everyone exchanged nervous glances with each other at this revelation.
That was about the time they…changed. They began to get downright eerie, if I’m honest. We would walk into the habitat viewing room, to find the animals standing still as a stone. Still, except for their eyes, which seemed to follow you all around the room, ones which began to seem far too human like and understanding. I know now that they were learning our patterns, our movements, sniffing out weaknesses and vulnerable spaces. Hell, you could be two rooms away, and still feel their eyes on you through the many layers of glass. They also began to camouflage themselves more and more, seeming to learn how to effectively hide themselves. When they stood still, it almost was impossible to distinguish them from the background. It was almost exactly the way the Indominus Rex from Jurassic World behaved, only, there were many of them, not just one. We reached out to the DOD to explain our concerns, but they were pushed aside like paper. The man on the phone told us that the three who had brought us here over a year ago, would be returning in two weeks to look at the specimens. “That is final” the gruff voice finished, before hanging up.
We were unsure of what to do. The animals hadn’t been trained, and their odd and eerie behavior was beginning to sow the first tendrils of doubt about what we had done into the backs of our minds. We had been too busy focusing on achieving our goals without stopping to think about the consequences, also preoccupied by the money we would be making. But we attempted to push the thoughts away. That’s when the next shoe dropped. As we entered the lab a week later, we noticed some, well, some things nestled in the old replica nests that once held the Komods themselves. I have to stress that, normal Komodo Dragons, it turns out, can lay up to 20 eggs at a time, which, between three females, would mean sixty eggs. There were closer to ninety eggs in total in the nests. “Okay, something isn’t exactly right here” Michelle said worriedly, gaining murmurs from the other animal experts. “They’re not supposed to lay eggs so soon, especially not this time of the year”
As we stared through the glass, one of the Komods uncloaked itself, the side of its head almost pressed up against the glass. “Fuck me!” I shouted, jumping back; I had been close to the glass myself, and when it had appeared, the two of us had almost been eye to eye with each other. That’s when Dietrich, another geneticist, dropped the bomb he’d hidden from the rest of us. Unbeknownst to the rest of us, he’d been approached by one of the bigwigs with a secret assignment. Apparently, there were two secret parameters that the DOD had asked for in the Komods; the first was an increased level of intelligence for problem solving and creativity skills using more chimpanzee genes. This alone caused everyone else to flip their shit. “Are you AND them out of your fucking minds?!” Clancy, one of the animal behaviorists screamed at Dietrich, “You basically engineered up the apex predator of apex predators, and then you gave it a fucking brain?!” Quieter than he had been before, he then told us the second secret parameter.
They had wanted to increase the animal’s lethality, and as such…had Dietrich insert the genes from one of the most venomous species of snake, the Black Mamba, into the Komods. One bite from the animals would be enough to insert enough venom to kill twenty full grown men. The discomfort and horror in the room was palpable. I quietly strode up to the man and asked him, in a voice quaking a little, “Do you have any idea what kind of monster you’ve created?” He merely stared at the floor and said nothing. I looked around the room at my colleagues, and at the security standing behind us. After a few minutes of deliberation, I opened my mouth and spoke. “We have to find a way to destroy these animals” I turned and looked at them, now all visible and staring through the glass at me. They all seemed to have their eyes on me, and me alone, and almost seemed to harbor a sense of anger towards me. I looked down and saw that the speakers which allowed the trainers to try and communicate with the animals had accidentally been flicked on. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they understood what I said…but that was ridiculous; they only understood basic commands, not full sentences. Nevertheless, I nervously flicked off the speaker, then turned back to the group.
“We need to find a way to destroy them” I repeated, and began to move across the room to the weapons locker containing the shotguns. That’s when the security guards stepped over to me. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t allow you to even attempt to destroy government property” the lead guard said, his face stony and lacking any emotion. “Are you serious?” I asked, dropping formalities. He repeated his sentence to me. I felt a rising wave of panic begin to overtake me as my mind raced with the implications. But, before I was able to do anything, I felt hands grab my arms from behind, wrenching them from behind. I felt handcuffs clench around my wrists and looked back up at the head guard. “You’re going to be placed into confinement until the superiors arrive here in three days, at which point they will decide a course of action for breaking subsection A303, paragraph 36, line four of your contract”
They led me out of the room, the other scientists looking both scared and upset at this abrupt intervention. As I left the room, I saw one of the guards rest his hand on the butt of his pistol while staring at the group. “There is to be no more discussion about the destruction of these animals” he proclaimed loudly. The symbolism of his hand on his gun was obvious. And then the door shut, and I was shoved forward. I was marched out of the lab and back across the ground to the barracks, where I was locked into a storage room with a toilet. Occasionally, a guard would bring me food and water, but they never spoke a word. I had nothing to occupy my time with but my thoughts; thoughts about the disastrous implications of those creatures down below breeding uncontrolled, or worse, escaping the military’s custody.
Three days later, as I sat on the floor with my head between my knees, I heard the door unlock, and looked up to see the guards in the doorway. Behind them lay two men in combat fatigues carrying assault rifles, and beside them were the three bigwigs, still dressed in their smarmy black suits and ties. I was pulled out of the closet and held by my arms in front of the three. “Doctor, doctor, doctor” one of them began, shaking his head slowly, “You disappoint us” He clucked his tongue. “We thought you, of all people would recognize the importance of such a project. The ability to create the perfect soldier, one that means not risking human lives and winning battles far more efficiently” I shook my head at him. “What you don’t understand is that, if you keep those animals alive, you risk something far worse and more disastrous for the area. Hell, the country, and maybe even the continent!”
But he didn’t listen. He waved at me. “Escort the good doctor down with us to see there’s nothing to worry about” he said dismissively, already turning away. This time, in between the two rifle carrying military police, I was marched back from the barracks to the lab. As they shut the door behind it, one of the suit wearing men locked the door out by pressing his hand into a scanner at the bottom of the stairs that I hadn’t noticed before. When we entered, all eyes turned in our direction, and I could see the guards had been forcing them to continue working under duress. Many looked like they hadn’t slept in two days. On the bigwig’s orders, we were all forced into the observation room. When we entered, I noticed something that nearly rooted me to the spot. There was only two Komods visible in the center of the room. Both lay slumped on their side, their eyes open and unseeing.
Instantly, the head suit turned to the guards, his face turning red. “You allowed two of them to die?!” he shouted at the head of security. The man’s face turned pale as he stared in confusion. “N-No sir!” he stammered, “They were up and moving about not even an hour ago!” But the suit wasn’t comforted. He rounded on Michelle and Clancy. “You two, are going to go in there, under the supervision of two of the guards, and you are going to attempt to revive our property” he hissed. They began to protest, but then the man shouted again. “If you do not do as ordered, by the power given to me in your contract, I will have the ability to have you executed for subordination!” The two animal behaviorists looked shocked at the man’s words, but still didn’t move. Not until the security team pulled their pistols out of their holsters. Michelle began to cry, and Clancy attempted to comfort her. But the suit strode forward, grabbed the two of them, and roughly shoved them towards the habitat door. “Now!” he barked.
Michelle stole one last look my way, her eyes rimmed red with tears and fear, and then, with the two security guards holding cattle prods behind them, they were forced into the habitat. As they stepped forward into view on the other side of the glass, I stepped up next to the suit, rage and panic overcoming me. “This is the stupidest fucking idea, you dumb shit! There’s only two in view, and there were-“ I was cut off as something slammed into the side of my head. My vision went blurry, and I collapsed to the metal floor in a heap. “Shut the hell up” the suit said, motioning for the MP who’d used the butt of his rifle to strike me to lift me up. As they did, I looked up to see Michelle kneeling down next to one of the Komods, my vision hazy. A thought crossed through my mind, one that sped through my brain like a bolt of lightning, and send ice buckets of chills to zap down my spine. They have the intelligence of primates, they have problem solving skills, they were watching us the whole time, they work as a team, they-
I snapped my head up, screaming. “Michelle, get away from it, it’s an ambush!” But, it was already too late. As she looked up at me, her eyes wide with understanding and terror, the Komod snapped up out of playing possum, lunging forward faster than I thought possible with its jaws agape. They snapped close around my colleague’s head, and I heard her begin to scream, a high pitched, unending one which pierced my ears even on the other side of the glass. At the same time, the others removed their camouflage, leaping forward at Clancy and the two guards. They tried to raise their prods, but couldn’t move quick enough as three of them overwhelmed them, dragging them to the ground. The other Komod playing possum had leapt onto Clancy. Within moments, the glass was stained with the splashes of blood from my colleagues and the guards. “Close the door!” the head suit screamed, all trace of bravado having left him. But, again, it was already too late, as with a mix of hisses and low growls, the seven genetically engineered killing machines dashed out of the enclosure and began the slaughter.
I didn’t stay to watch it, though. When I saw that the four in the enclosure were goners, I turned and, with my head still reeling from the rifle butt to my head, sprinted as fast as I could away from the room. I saw a few other of my colleagues do the same, and heard the eardrum piercing sound of multiple handguns and rifles being fired behind me. Along with the screaming. God, the screaming. It was like listening to the background of a horror movie during a nasty kill scene, only this time, the horror was very real. I thought fast as I heard the skittering of claws on metal somewhere behind me. And I did the only thing I could. I climbed tables and bookshelves, until I was able to climb on some ceiling mounted pipes and air ducting. I was up high enough, that even if they could jump, which I found out a few seconds later they could, as they leapt almost five feet off the ground towards me, it wouldn’t be high enough for them to reach.
From there, all I could do was watch. Watch in horror as the Komods grouped together as a pack, moving through the facility to kill the few colleagues of mine and guards who had escaped the initial carnage. They always found them, no matter where they were. They sniffed them out, they could spot them hiding in places most wouldn’t think to look. Very soon, the entire lab was splashed with blood on the floors and walls. It looked like they’d attempted to make their own macabre version of a Jackson Pollack painting. But the most frightening was when they came to a locker that the last guard had hidden himself in. I know those animals had never even seen a locker door before. But, somehow, one climbed slightly up on the metal, using its claws to hook into the grooves, turned its mouth slightly sideways, and gripped the lock between its teeth. It gently pulled it up, and the weight of it swung the locker door open. The guard managed to let out a single scream before they were upon him.
Finally, they were all gone. Everyone except me. I saw the Komods fan out through the lap, systematically moving through each room. Two reached the stairs, and I heard the click of their claws as they climbed towards the door. A few moments later, the slid back down, trapped by the lockdown the bigwig had set up. I let out a sigh of relief. But it quickly died in my throat as I saw one, what had to be the pack leader, move with a speed I didn’t know they could possess and crawl back into the observation room. There was a sickening sound of flesh and bone tearing for a minute or two. Then it reappeared, moving back across the lab with something in its jaws. I strained to see, then gasped as I realized what it was. It was the hand and wrist of the suit; the creature had torn it from his corpse. My mind raced as I watched it move towards the stairs again. Please, no, I thought. Please don’t let it be THAT smart!
My heart sank into my stomach as I saw the Komod reach the panel next to the stairs, climbing up and using its front legs to hold itself in place. Very gently, it dropped the suit’s hand from its mouth, letting it fall palm down onto the scanner. After a second, a robotic woman’s voice spoke throughout the facility. “Lockdown lifted. All exit doors now unlocked” “Shit…” I whispered as I watched it drop back down to the ground, and, moving in front, led the seven back up the stairs. A minute later, I felt the air pressure in the lab change, signaling they had managed to open the door. After about thirty seconds, it stopped. They got out. That was the thought that repeated over and over in my mind. They got out. Oh, god no, they got out.
That was how they found me when they came to search for everyone the next day, when the bigwigs didn’t report in. They found me clutching the ceiling ducts, almost desperately so, so as not to fall down to the ground. They ran a ladder up and coaxed me down. I thought I would be charged for the deaths of everyone here, but apparently, these people knew about Project Varanus. They took me out of the lab, away from the dismembered bodies of my colleagues and the others, away from the blood and putrid copper scent of it. When I stepped outside into fresh air, I immediately noticed the huge hole in the fence opposite us. “That’s how they got out” I whispered, and the man in the suit nodded. “We know, doctor. Don’t worry, we’ll find them”. From there, they made sure I was okay, then made me sign ever more NDA’s, stating I wouldn’t breathe a word about what happened. All which, I said at the start, I’m breaking now.
Yes, the financially compensated me for what I experienced, more money than I would ever know what to do with. Hush money. But, I can’t stay silent on this. For two reasons. The first being, all of my colleagues’ families were given some bullshit cover story about how they died in a gas leak, and the bodies were too contaminated to be able to be shipped home. The families deserve to know what really happened to their loved ones.
And second, and more important tenfold, is to warn people. Warn you. Warn everybody of what is out there now, sliding and hunting through the forests. Maybe even through suburban neighborhoods. Where they can camouflage themselves, they could be anywhere. You need to be on guard outside, no matter where you are. How many animal disappearances since they escaped could be their work? Hell, how many missing people could be their work? If you even think you feel eyes on you when nobodies around, run. If you think you hear soft hissing and low growling around you, run. It may not matter, though. Where they’re so fast, even if you run, they’ll most likely catch you and…well, you know what happens next. But that’s not what frightens me the most. That’s not what makes me stare up the ceiling fan in my bedroom, unable to sleep.
The eggs in the habitat were destroyed by the military. They saw to that. But, the Komods out there can still breed. And we saw how ninety eggs came from just those seven animals, those three females. They can breed very quickly, and they will. And when they breed, they will spread like wildfire, able to live in both hot and cold climates. And as it’s almost April, it’s almost prime time for them to mate and lay their eggs. Which would hatch this fall.
That is, if their breeding season wasn’t genetically altered as well.
All I can say is, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for what I helped to create. I’m so sorry for the deaths of all those who worked with me.
And I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry…for what is to come…
2023.03.24 02:50 StoinksBoinks Painty Paint time
 | submitted by StoinksBoinks to tacticalgear [link] [comments] |
2023.03.24 02:28 Dohoonster [Riyi002 explorer mod] Strap change
![[Riyi002 explorer mod] Strap change](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/2L1Rn1OUdX_23FCBIUOPW6WNIdxTI59XZlfFM7hhGUE.jpg "[Riyi002 explorer mod] Strap change") | Changed bracelet to a gray NATO strap for a warmer weather ahead. Still love this build after a year of wearing! submitted by Dohoonster to SeikoMods [link] [comments] |
2023.03.24 01:59 Kablooee207 How well does this stuff work compared to the 20-25$ cans from citadel and army painter?
 | submitted by Kablooee207 to PaintingWarhammer [link] [comments] |
2023.03.24 01:15 bellevueheadlines TOP 7 AFFORDABLE HOG WIRE FENCES FOR YOUR HOME
Are you looking for an affordable yet stylish way to hog wire fence your home? Look no further than hog wire fences! These versatile and chic fences are perfect for a variety of homes, whether you’re going for a rustic look or something more modern. Best of all, they won’t break the bank! In this post, we’ve rounded up our top 7 picks for affordable hog wire fences that will add both style and security to your property. So let’s dive in and find the perfect fence for your home!
Pros:
-It is the fences are generally more affordable than other types of fencing. -These fences can be used in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and agricultural. -That fences are durable and can last for many years with proper care and maintenance. -fence wire can be customized to fit the specific needs of your property. -Hog wire fences offer good visibility while still providing a certain degree of privacy.
Cons: -This fences can be difficult to install yourself and may require professional help. – Fences can be susceptible to damage from high winds or other severe weather conditions. -It may rust over time if they are not properly maintained
submitted by bellevueheadlines to u/bellevueheadlines [link] [comments]
INTRODUCTION
If you’re looking to add a hog wire fence to your property, you’re in luck. Hog wire fences are not only affordable, but they’re also easy to install and maintain. In this article, we’ll show you some of the top affordable hog wire fences on the market. We’ll also provide a brief overview of hog wire fencing so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s right for your home.TYPES OF HOG WIRE FENCES
Hog wire fence are made from panels of steel wire that are welded together. The panels have a mesh pattern that is designed to keep hogs contained while allowing for ventilation and visibility. There are two main types of hog wire fences:- Welded Wire Fences: Welded wire fences are made from panels of steel wire that are welded together at each joint. This type of fence is very strong and durable, making it ideal for containing hogs. The downside to welded wire fences is that they can be difficult to install and repair if damage occurs.
- Woven Wire Fences: Woven wire fences are made from panels of steel wire that are woven together at each joint. This type of fence is less strong than welded wire fences but is much easier to install and repair if damage occurs. Woven wire fences are also more visible than welded wire fences, making them a better choice if you want to deter hogs from entering your property.
PROS AND CONS OF HOG WIRE FENCES
Hog wire fence are a popular option for many homeowners looking for an affordable fencing solution. There are some pros and cons to consider before deciding if a hog wire fence is right for your home.Pros:
-It is the fences are generally more affordable than other types of fencing. -These fences can be used in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and agricultural. -That fences are durable and can last for many years with proper care and maintenance. -fence wire can be customized to fit the specific needs of your property. -Hog wire fences offer good visibility while still providing a certain degree of privacy.
Cons: -This fences can be difficult to install yourself and may require professional help. – Fences can be susceptible to damage from high winds or other severe weather conditions. -It may rust over time if they are not properly maintained
TOP 7 AFFORDABLE HOG WIRE FENCE OPTIONS
When it comes to finding affordable hog wire fence, there are a few options that stand out above the rest. Here are the top 7 affordable hog wire fence options that you can consider for your home:- galvanized steel welded wire fence
- aluminum alloy welded wire fence
- plastic-coated welded wire fence
- black annealed wire fence
- chain link fence with barbed wire topping
- electric fence with polywire or monofilament line topping
- woven wire fence
2023.03.24 01:15 MathematicianClean80 What can this organism be?
Culture site: Ear swab
Gram stain: Gram negative diplococci
SBA/BAP morphology: no growth
CHOC morphology: small, gray, smooth, convex colonies
MAC morphology: no growth
THIO broth: no growth
I believe it's Haemophilus influenza because the fact that it only grew on the chocolate agar tells me it needs X and V factor to grow but the gram-negative diplococci is throwing me off.
submitted by MathematicianClean80 to microbiology [link] [comments]
Gram stain: Gram negative diplococci
SBA/BAP morphology: no growth
CHOC morphology: small, gray, smooth, convex colonies
MAC morphology: no growth
THIO broth: no growth
I believe it's Haemophilus influenza because the fact that it only grew on the chocolate agar tells me it needs X and V factor to grow but the gram-negative diplococci is throwing me off.
2023.03.24 00:59 DietrichVanMeier 23 M Europe - History and Literature Enthusiast
Hi. I'm looking to talk to some new people, maybe make some friends
They are:
History, especially the 19th-20th century but with more broad and general knowedge in other time periods. I'm not an expert or anything but I am pretty passionate about it and tend to read/listen about one event or the other on a pretty regular basis.
Literature, especially old novels. I recently read Demian, Day of the Oprichnik, Heart of Darkness, the Perfume and Little Prince. Currently started reading Blood Meridian. Some of my favourite works would include: "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Faust part I" (need to get to part II) and "No Longer Human". I also like to write short stories and book reviews.
Languages. I know three, with one being a bit rusty. I'm currently working to scrape off the rust and then when I'm finished with that will begin to learn a fourth language. It's fun to go through different works in multiple languages. For example, I read the aforementioned Faust part I in all three.
Games. I recently played Cyberpunk 2077. Now that the dust has settled and the bugs mostly removed...It's not that bad! The main questline at least, Fallout 76 (Very average, I'm dissapointed with what they made the "RPG" system) and will try out Deus Ex Manking Divided again ( Got inspired since it's somewhat similar to Cyberpunk). I was waiting to play Elden Ring but it ended being too stressful for me. Go here and get beaten up go there and get beaten up, repeat...Besides that I'm a big fan of Paradox strategy games...like EU IV and HoI IV . I am definitely looking forward to try out Victoria III, after they add more content to it. I also got Modern Warfare 2, since the first MW had great multiplayer gameplay.
Anime and Manga. In recent times my interest has waned but I still watch the occasional series here and there. Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Which I found to be rather mediocre) and the very good new season of Bleach. Some other favourites include: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Death Note, Fate;Zero, Psycho Pass , Higurashi (season 2 is a bit weak but the first one is a masterpiece of horror), Code Geass, Attack on Titan and others. My favourite Manga is Berserk...I hope it gets a good ending..the first couple of new chapters were...a bit rough but the new author seems to have got his footing.
Anyway, that should be enough information to give you a good picture... Before I go, I would like to ask for you to include the title of the last book you read in your reply. A minor request, I feel. I'll be ignoring those that don't
submitted by DietrichVanMeier to Needafriend [link] [comments]
They are:
History, especially the 19th-20th century but with more broad and general knowedge in other time periods. I'm not an expert or anything but I am pretty passionate about it and tend to read/listen about one event or the other on a pretty regular basis.
Literature, especially old novels. I recently read Demian, Day of the Oprichnik, Heart of Darkness, the Perfume and Little Prince. Currently started reading Blood Meridian. Some of my favourite works would include: "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Faust part I" (need to get to part II) and "No Longer Human". I also like to write short stories and book reviews.
Languages. I know three, with one being a bit rusty. I'm currently working to scrape off the rust and then when I'm finished with that will begin to learn a fourth language. It's fun to go through different works in multiple languages. For example, I read the aforementioned Faust part I in all three.
Games. I recently played Cyberpunk 2077. Now that the dust has settled and the bugs mostly removed...It's not that bad! The main questline at least, Fallout 76 (Very average, I'm dissapointed with what they made the "RPG" system) and will try out Deus Ex Manking Divided again ( Got inspired since it's somewhat similar to Cyberpunk). I was waiting to play Elden Ring but it ended being too stressful for me. Go here and get beaten up go there and get beaten up, repeat...Besides that I'm a big fan of Paradox strategy games...like EU IV and HoI IV . I am definitely looking forward to try out Victoria III, after they add more content to it. I also got Modern Warfare 2, since the first MW had great multiplayer gameplay.
Anime and Manga. In recent times my interest has waned but I still watch the occasional series here and there. Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Which I found to be rather mediocre) and the very good new season of Bleach. Some other favourites include: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Death Note, Fate;Zero, Psycho Pass , Higurashi (season 2 is a bit weak but the first one is a masterpiece of horror), Code Geass, Attack on Titan and others. My favourite Manga is Berserk...I hope it gets a good ending..the first couple of new chapters were...a bit rough but the new author seems to have got his footing.
Anyway, that should be enough information to give you a good picture... Before I go, I would like to ask for you to include the title of the last book you read in your reply. A minor request, I feel. I'll be ignoring those that don't
2023.03.24 00:58 DietrichVanMeier 23 M Europe - History and Literature Enthusiast
Hi. I'm looking to talk to some new people, maybe make some friends
They are:
History, especially the 19th-20th century but with more broad and general knowedge in other time periods. I'm not an expert or anything but I am pretty passionate about it and tend to read/listen about one event or the other on a pretty regular basis.
Literature, especially old novels. I recently read Demian, Day of the Oprichnik, Heart of Darkness, the Perfume and Little Prince. Currently started reading Blood Meridian. Some of my favourite works would include: "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Faust part I" (need to get to part II) and "No Longer Human". I also like to write short stories and book reviews.
Languages. I know three, with one being a bit rusty. I'm currently working to scrape off the rust and then when I'm finished with that will begin to learn a fourth language. It's fun to go through different works in multiple languages. For example, I read the aforementioned Faust part I in all three.
Games. I recently played Cyberpunk 2077. Now that the dust has settled and the bugs mostly removed...It's not that bad! The main questline at least, Fallout 76 (Very average, I'm dissapointed with what they made the "RPG" system) and will try out Deus Ex Manking Divided again ( Got inspired since it's somewhat similar to Cyberpunk). I was waiting to play Elden Ring but it ended being too stressful for me. Go here and get beaten up go there and get beaten up, repeat...Besides that I'm a big fan of Paradox strategy games...like EU IV and HoI IV . I am definitely looking forward to try out Victoria III, after they add more content to it. I also got Modern Warfare 2, since the first MW had great multiplayer gameplay.
Anime and Manga. In recent times my interest has waned but I still watch the occasional series here and there. Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Which I found to be rather mediocre) and the very good new season of Bleach. Some other favourites include: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Death Note, Fate;Zero, Psycho Pass , Higurashi (season 2 is a bit weak but the first one is a masterpiece of horror), Code Geass, Attack on Titan and others. My favourite Manga is Berserk...I hope it gets a good ending..the first couple of new chapters were...a bit rough but the new author seems to have got his footing.
Anyway, that should be enough information to give you a good picture... Before I go, I would like to ask for you to include the title of the last book you read in your reply. A minor request, I feel. I'll be ignoring those that don't
submitted by DietrichVanMeier to MakeNewFriendsHere [link] [comments]
They are:
History, especially the 19th-20th century but with more broad and general knowedge in other time periods. I'm not an expert or anything but I am pretty passionate about it and tend to read/listen about one event or the other on a pretty regular basis.
Literature, especially old novels. I recently read Demian, Day of the Oprichnik, Heart of Darkness, the Perfume and Little Prince. Currently started reading Blood Meridian. Some of my favourite works would include: "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Faust part I" (need to get to part II) and "No Longer Human". I also like to write short stories and book reviews.
Languages. I know three, with one being a bit rusty. I'm currently working to scrape off the rust and then when I'm finished with that will begin to learn a fourth language. It's fun to go through different works in multiple languages. For example, I read the aforementioned Faust part I in all three.
Games. I recently played Cyberpunk 2077. Now that the dust has settled and the bugs mostly removed...It's not that bad! The main questline at least, Fallout 76 (Very average, I'm dissapointed with what they made the "RPG" system) and will try out Deus Ex Manking Divided again ( Got inspired since it's somewhat similar to Cyberpunk). I was waiting to play Elden Ring but it ended being too stressful for me. Go here and get beaten up go there and get beaten up, repeat...Besides that I'm a big fan of Paradox strategy games...like EU IV and HoI IV . I am definitely looking forward to try out Victoria III, after they add more content to it. I also got Modern Warfare 2, since the first MW had great multiplayer gameplay.
Anime and Manga. In recent times my interest has waned but I still watch the occasional series here and there. Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Which I found to be rather mediocre) and the very good new season of Bleach. Some other favourites include: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Death Note, Fate;Zero, Psycho Pass , Higurashi (season 2 is a bit weak but the first one is a masterpiece of horror), Code Geass, Attack on Titan and others. My favourite Manga is Berserk...I hope it gets a good ending..the first couple of new chapters were...a bit rough but the new author seems to have got his footing.
Anyway, that should be enough information to give you a good picture... Before I go, I would like to ask for you to include the title of the last book you read in your reply. A minor request, I feel. I'll be ignoring those that don't
2023.03.24 00:51 theeverydaykitchen Top 12 Best Japanese Knives 2023
Editor’s Choice: Shun Cutlery Premier 7-inch Santoku Knife
"A Santoku knife with a sharp 5.5 or 7-inch long blade made from 34-layer VG-MAX steel and a walnut-colored PakkaWood handle."
Premium Pick: Miyabi Birchwood SG2 Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with three size options, a sharp blade made from SG2 micro-carbide powder steel and a good-looking handle made from Karelian birch."
Best Wooden Handle Japanese Knife: Yoshihiro VG-10 Japanese Chef's Knife
"A high-quality Gyuto knife with three size options, sharp blade made from 46-layer hammered Damascus stainless steel and a rosewood handle with mahogany bolster."
Best VG10 Steel Japanese Knife: Miyabi 34313-273 Fusion Morimoto Edition Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with three size options, sharp blade made from 65-layer VG10 super steel and a triple-riveted glass-bead-enhanced POM handle."
Best Warranty: DALSTRONG 7-inch Santoku Knife
"A 7-inch Santoku knife with 66-layer stainless steel blade, rust/corrosion resistant cladding and military-grade triple-riveted G-10 handle."
Best Large Japanese Knife: Enso Large Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with two size options, 37-layer Damascus stainless steel blade, 12° cutting edge and a double-beveled handle."
Best Carbon Stainless Steel Knife: Zelite Infinity Santoku Knife
"A Santoku knife with 67-layer high carbon stainless steel blade, tapered bolster and a triple-riveted G-10 handle."
Best Dishwasher Safe Japanese Knife: Global 8-inch Chef's Knife
"An 8-inch chef’s knife with a molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel blade, razor-sharp edge and a stainless steel handle."
Best Sashimi Japanese Knife: KEEMAKE Sashimi Sushi Knife
"A Sashimi sushi knife with three size options, a stain-resistant blade made of premium Japanese High Carbon Stainless steel, and a rosewood handle."
Best Nakiri Knife: Yoshihiro Nakiri Vegetable Knife
"A 6.5-inch Nakiri knife with a VG-10 Japanese stainless steel blade, full-tang design and a mahogany wood handle."
Best Starter Japanese Knife: Shun Classic 2 Piece Starter Knife Set
"A set of a paring and a chef’s knives with a 16-layer VG10 stainless steel blade and a D-shaped, ebony PakkaWood handle."
Best Value: Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series Utility Knife
"An inexpensive 4.5-inch utility knife with a ceramic blade and a proprietary zirconia handle, available in a variety of colors."
submitted by theeverydaykitchen to theeverydaykitchen [link] [comments]
"A Santoku knife with a sharp 5.5 or 7-inch long blade made from 34-layer VG-MAX steel and a walnut-colored PakkaWood handle."
Premium Pick: Miyabi Birchwood SG2 Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with three size options, a sharp blade made from SG2 micro-carbide powder steel and a good-looking handle made from Karelian birch."
Best Wooden Handle Japanese Knife: Yoshihiro VG-10 Japanese Chef's Knife
"A high-quality Gyuto knife with three size options, sharp blade made from 46-layer hammered Damascus stainless steel and a rosewood handle with mahogany bolster."
Best VG10 Steel Japanese Knife: Miyabi 34313-273 Fusion Morimoto Edition Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with three size options, sharp blade made from 65-layer VG10 super steel and a triple-riveted glass-bead-enhanced POM handle."
Best Warranty: DALSTRONG 7-inch Santoku Knife
"A 7-inch Santoku knife with 66-layer stainless steel blade, rust/corrosion resistant cladding and military-grade triple-riveted G-10 handle."
Best Large Japanese Knife: Enso Large Chef's Knife
"A Gyuto knife with two size options, 37-layer Damascus stainless steel blade, 12° cutting edge and a double-beveled handle."
Best Carbon Stainless Steel Knife: Zelite Infinity Santoku Knife
"A Santoku knife with 67-layer high carbon stainless steel blade, tapered bolster and a triple-riveted G-10 handle."
Best Dishwasher Safe Japanese Knife: Global 8-inch Chef's Knife
"An 8-inch chef’s knife with a molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel blade, razor-sharp edge and a stainless steel handle."
Best Sashimi Japanese Knife: KEEMAKE Sashimi Sushi Knife
"A Sashimi sushi knife with three size options, a stain-resistant blade made of premium Japanese High Carbon Stainless steel, and a rosewood handle."
Best Nakiri Knife: Yoshihiro Nakiri Vegetable Knife
"A 6.5-inch Nakiri knife with a VG-10 Japanese stainless steel blade, full-tang design and a mahogany wood handle."
Best Starter Japanese Knife: Shun Classic 2 Piece Starter Knife Set
"A set of a paring and a chef’s knives with a 16-layer VG10 stainless steel blade and a D-shaped, ebony PakkaWood handle."
Best Value: Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series Utility Knife
"An inexpensive 4.5-inch utility knife with a ceramic blade and a proprietary zirconia handle, available in a variety of colors."
2023.03.24 00:18 _Triple_ [STORE] 900+ KNIVES/GLOVES/SKINS, 50.000$+ INVENTORY. M9 Fade, M4 Poseidon, Kara Gamma, BFK Freehand, BFK Bright Water, Spec Gloves Kimono, Nomad Fade, M9 Doppler, Skeleton, BFK B.Steel, AWP Fade, Stiletto Fade, S.Gloves Slingshot, BFK Ultra, Kara Damas, Bayo Lore, Bayo Gamma, Flip Fade & A Lot More
Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory
Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.
All Buyouts are listed in cash value.
KNIVES
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $1867
★ Butterfly Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $1098
★ Butterfly Knife Blue Steel BS, B/O: $907
★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $789
★ Butterfly Knife Stained FT, B/O: $695
⎯★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $888
★ Bayonet Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $727
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $608
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $521
★ Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $253
★ Bayonet Night FT, B/O: $251
★ StatTrak™ Bayonet Lore MW, B/O: $751
⎯★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1343
★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $774
★ Karambit Rust Coat BS, B/O: $537
★ Karambit Boreal Forest FT, B/O: $488
⎯★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1008
★ M9 Bayonet Blue Steel FT, B/O: $534
★ M9 Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $449
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★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $509
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $406
★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $228
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $332
⎯★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $292
★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $264
★ Falchion Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Falchion Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $133
⎯★ Stiletto Knife Fade FN, B/O: $822
★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $569
★ Stiletto Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $530
★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $396
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $172
⎯★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $830
★ Gut Knife Fade FN, B/O: $204
★ Gut Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $138
★ Gut Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $104
★ Gut Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $92
★ Gut Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $82
★ StatTrak™ Gut Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $93
⎯★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $165
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel WW, B/O: $80
★ Shadow Daggers Rust Coat BS, B/O: $74
★ StatTrak™ Shadow Daggers Marble Fade FN, B/O: $186
⎯★ Classic Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $311
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $163
⎯★ Talon Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $605
★ Talon Knife Scorched MW, B/O: $290
⎯★ Ursus Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $405
★ Ursus Knife Night Stripe MW, B/O: $162
⎯★ Paracord Knife Stained WW, B/O: $125
★ Paracord Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
★ Paracord Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $96
⎯★ Navaja Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $71
★ Navaja Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $71
⎯★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1015
★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $909
★ Bowie Knife Boreal Forest MW, B/O: $106
★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
GLOVES
★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $335
★ Driver Gloves King Snake BS, B/O: $270
★ Driver Gloves Lunar Weave WW, B/O: $113
★ Driver Gloves Overtake WW, B/O: $88
★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $67
⎯★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $171
★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $137
★ Moto Gloves Transport WW, B/O: $71
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $62
⎯★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1027
★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $654
★ Specialist Gloves Mogul FT, B/O: $295
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $277
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web FT, B/O: $275
⎯★ Sport Gloves Slingshot FT, B/O: $796
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $699
★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $656
⎯★ Broken Fang Gloves Unhinged BS, B/O: $60
WEAPONS
AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130
AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70
AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60
⎯AWP Fade FN, B/O: $864
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $84
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Wildfire FT, B/O: $59
AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $59
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
⎯Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Printstream FN, B/O: $155
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $58
⎯M4A1-S Icarus Fell FN, B/O: $414
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
⎯M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1402
M4A4 The Emperor FN, B/O: $152
M4A4 Asiimov WW, B/O: $97
⎯USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $65
USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69
StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $123
StatTrak™ USP-S Neo-Noir FN, B/O: $106
⎯AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $218
P2000 Ocean Foam FN, B/O: $139
Souvenir SSG 08 Death Strike MW, B/O: $81
CZ75-Auto Emerald Quartz MW, B/O: $61
Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory
Some items on the list may no longer be available or are still locked, visit My Inventory for more details.
Send a Trade Offer for fastest response. I consider all offers.
Add me for discuss if there is a serious offer that needs to be discussed.
2023.03.24 00:00 Jacob_Cicero [A Blessed Death] Chapter 1 - Broken Towers A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Tale
Greetings from Felix to his friend Thoth,
My dearest Librarian. Your incessant requests for information have broken me down at last. You will find enclosed the first Chapter in my writings on Titus Julianus, whose deeds I am certain you have already heard a great deal of. You have known me for quite long enough to trust my methods of information gathering, and thus I will not go into great detail as to just how thorough I have been. His legend has certainly grown in the telling, but I can assure you that there is only so much exaggeration a bard can do. I trust that these letters will not leave the Woven Library. I am afraid the initial Chapter of our tale is a dreadfully sad one, but I am bound as your friend to relay what I know. Farewell.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A shattered keep. Smoke leaking into the sky from broken towers. The scent of burning flesh. Broken bodies. The hollow, dead faces of friends and family.
A single pair of glassy eyes surveyed the carnage. Their bearer was a tall, muscular youth, standing before his home with a pack llama beside him, its fleece matted and filthy. He ran a dirty hand through his long, brown hair. In better times, the young man's family had called him Titus.
Something inside the boy broke. He would never know which part of him was broken, but it would never be fixed, no matter how long he lived. There would be pain lurking within his heart until the day he died. Even in the sweetest of moments - the throes of passionate love, the headrush of glorious victory, the ecstasy of drug-fueled relief - he would always know that he was broken.
He stumbled through the village he had once called home, heavily booted feet stained with ash and soot. A central road wended through the little village, leading to the parapet walls of a once-impenetrable fortress that had guarded their clan for uncounted generations. Few roofs remained, burned away by some all-consuming flame. Narrow alleyways peaked shyly from between broken buildings, ashamed of their failure to prevent the fire's spread. Titus tramped between scorched stone and brick wall, eyes raking over corpse and ash with equal resignation.
Broken bodies lined the street, empty eyes staring out from dead faces. There was Hanno, the baker. He had made the best flat-bread in a hundred miles. How many times had Titus tasted that bread, fresh from the oven? How many times had he hauled flour for Hanno, his only payment the taste of a fresh batch of Baklawa? And there was beautiful Beatrice, Palaestrio's widow. The woman's face was torn in a rictus of agony, her tunic in tatters about her body.
Titus shuddered as he trudged onward, trying to erase the image of her bloody body from his mind, praying that her death had been swifter than he feared. Names flashed through his mind, faces that would never smile again. There was Apidicus, the thatcher. Elder Adonis, eyes torn from their sockets. Cousin Sulla's head, lying upon the ground with lips stretched into a hideous grin.
Titus latched his eyes onto the ground in front of him. His stomach surged. His eyes burned. His stride shrank into a shuffle, each step an effort. His mind was blank, his heart empty. He felt it was an eternity before he at least reached the broken gates leading into the main Keep.
There would have been over two dozen men on watch, even if this had been a surprise attack. Gore soaked the dirt before the gate, though most of the bodies had been cleared away. What few bodies remaining had been stripped of their armour and left to rot.
Titus's eyes locked onto the keep, its once proud stone walls now rent into pieces. Stone bricks were strewn across the courtyard as though cast aside by the hand of a giant. Billows of smoke drifted lazily from the heart of the keep, but Titus knew that no fire could harm the Keep's true treasure.
As the boy entered the courtyard, the dirty llama beside him started to pull on her lead, gurgling sadly. He turned toward her, looking at her travel-worn fleece for a moment before softly stroking her neck and whispering into her ear,” it's okay, Pulkra. You don't have to go any farther.” At the sound of his voice, the distressed animal stopped pulling at him, allowing him to tie her lead off on a nearby fencepost. Titus leaned his head against her cheek. He found solace in her. She was his last and only companion.
Inhaling the scent of death, the young warrior steadied himself.
Heavy boots scraped against firm stone as Titus stepped into the broken keep. A steely resolve smoldered beneath his grey eyes as he strode purposefully into the keep. At the center of the great hall sat a terrifying skeleton, a large pile of rotting flesh at its feet. Flies buzzed about the mound of rotted meat. The smell was indescribably horrible. Only once in the boy's life had he smelt something so wretched, in circumstances only less horrible because they had happened to someone else.
The huge skeleton sat rigidly, its back straight and hands laying regally on each arm-rest. Bits of gristle clung to its mighty frame, though its features were indistinguishable.
Titus didn't need to recognize a face to know who this was. It could only be Scypio, the largest man in the whole of the Branch. Weathered war leader. Skilled hunter. Victor of a thousand battles. Slayer of monsters. Savior of countless men, women, and children over the course of decades. Dead.
Scypio had been the only Blooded warrior at home when the attack came. How many times had Titus been taught by this legend of a man? How many lessons had the boy learned? How many times had Scypio knocked him on his ass, only to help him back up? Memories played across the screen of Titus's mind. Behind his eyes, he saw Scypio's toothy grin. His ears heard Scypio's rasping voice. Titus felt nothing.
The massive skeleton sat upon a mighty throne - a coal-black seat crafted from the scales of hundreds of slain Var'shun. It was the symbol of the Clan's countless victories, emblazoned upon their armor and stitched into the banners that flew overhead. But now the armor had been stolen, looted by whatever unnamed wretch had orchestrated this attack. The banners had been burned. The symbols destroyed. All that remained was the throne itself - a sad reminder of victories long past.
Titus strode past Scypio, eyeing his path carefully. Ashen bootprints covered the whole of the great hall. He knew in his heart that whoever had attacked them couldn't have found it - only a Blooded warrior would know where it was, and Scypio would die a thousand times before betraying the Tribe's secrets.
There were few corpses inside the Keep, most of the Branch's militia having fallen in the courtyard. Nonetheless, the young warrior was deliberate with each step, careful not to further desecrate his fallen people.
He made his way into the back of the great hall, down a steep flight of winding stairs. Soon, sunlight no longer penetrated the holes in the wall, and he was forced to light a fire of his own. Titus bent his elbow and raised an index finger, conjuring a thimble of harsh flame mere inches from his finger. Weak light battled against the darkness, casting the whole staircase in shades of grey.
Roughly 10 steps down, Titus began singing. His voice quavered slightly with each step, a gradually strengthening tenor that bounced off the cold, grey walls.
The words came to him easily enough, for he had sung this song a thousand times. It was The Guardian's Song. Every Guardian's Song was unique - it spoke of The Tribe's victories and defeats. It spoke of heroes long dead. It spoke of fathers and grandfathers, of mothers and grandmothers. It spoke of the Architect, and the sacred charge he had given to The Tribe.
The final verse was his own. It was the tale of his Clan and his Keep, his family and his teachers. It ended with his own victory, the slaying of the Var'shun Lion; he had made himself a Blooded warrior that day, one of only a handful in the Clan. That was the day he became a Guardian like his father, a protector of the people against the monsters that lurked in the night. That was the day he had earned his armour.
As the final words left Titus's lips, he paused on the staircase. Turning toward a wall on his left, Titus raised both hands and pressed his palms against the wall. Closing his eyes, he breathed deep, focussing his mind on each palm. With a sharp grunt, Titus sent a blast of flame from each palm into the wall. Instead of rebounding off the wall, though, the flame sank into the seams between each stone brick. A dull rumble reverberated through the air as a narrow passageway revealed itself in the stone, unlocked by The Guardian's Song and The Guardian's Flame.
The last time Titus had come here, that sight had torn a giddy laugh from his throat. This time, however, his heart was empty and his face was blank. With nary a moment to breathe, he stepped into the passageway, and marched firmly onward. It wended along for ten metres or so, twisting several times.
After several seconds of walking, the youthful warrior trudged out into a massive chamber. Walking into the chamber felt like walking into an oven, hot air striking his face like a physical blow, but he knew that its inhabitant reveled in the heat.
Titus's dead eyes raked across the room, taking in the sight of the Song Forge, the Keep's greatest treasure. The scent of sweat and oil and hot steel coloured the air. The forge and bellows dominated the center of the room, though the forge was dead - in all likelihood, this was the first time the forge had gone out in a hundred years. Various racks held tools, freshly forged by the Keep's Steel-singer. A half-forged lump of steel lay on an anvil, its surface looking rumpled as though it had been kneaded by a baker. On the opposite end of where Titus stood, a doorway led deeper underground. A great trove of iron, bronze, and various other metals was carefully sorted in one corner of the chamber, a store of metal greater than most royal smiths could boast of.
Incredible wealth was arrayed across this chamber, if one had eyes to see it, but Titus's eyes were drawn invariably to a pair of wooden mannequins pushed against the back wall. One wore the traditional scale cuirass of a Custos militia-man, a masterwork of armor that outstripped what many Noble Lords could boast. And there - right there, on the right!
Titus reached out, his hairy hands tracing the edges of the armour. A ghost of a smile slid across his face before disappearing into the pit of nothing that was Titus's heart. This was the armour he had earned when he slew the Var'shun Lion. He was to receive it upon returning from his last hunt.
It was a complete suit of steel plate, a marvel of craftsmanship that none but a Custos Steelsinger could hope to forge. Its value was greater than a horde of jewels. It had been tailored to his precise measurements, built specifically to fit his body like a glove. Each joint was coated with plates, intricately interwoven so as not to impede movement. The breastplate curved gracefully, projecting just far enough forward to deflect stabbing spears and arrows. A slanted script danced along the edge of each gauntlet, recounting in classical calligraphy the tale of Titus's battle with the Var'shun Lion. For a blooded warrior, his armour was his life. His greatest victories were inscribed upon it by a Steel-singer, imbuing the Armour with a life of its own. This was Titus's inheritance.
The young Guardian pulled his hand back in a moment's hesitation. If the Song Forge was unlooted, then that meant...
“Clopay!” the dead-eyed Guardian shouted,” are you here? Did you survive?”
There was a crash and a yelp from behind a door on the far end of the chamber. A latch clicked. The door slammed open.
Standing in the doorway was a squat, swarthy man - barely taller than five feet - clad in naught but an apron and a thick pair of boots. Curly, black hair coated a powerful body, and a heavy set of eyebrows weighed down a wrinkled face. Clopay squinted at Titus, piercing black eyes peering into the boy's soul. There was little warmth in those eyes.
“So,” Clopay grunted,” you're the first Guardian to come home.” Sorrow weighed Clopay's shoulders down as he stepped into the room. “And tell me, was it you who brought them? Did you sell us out for a fistful of silver?” Heavily callused hands clenched at Clopay's sides for a moment, then relaxed. “No, no... yours wouldn't be the first face I saw if we had been betrayed. No, I'd already be dead.”
“Everyone is dead,” Titus's voice was monotone and hollow. A tinge of sympathy coloured Clopay's gaze.
“Aye, boy. I'd have joined the fighting, but duty bade me stay. We didn't know they were coming until they were already upon the Keep. Didn't want to risk opening the passageway. You know why.”
Titus nodded,” aye,” he murmured. He knew he should have been angry. Or sad. Perhaps he should have hunted for his parents in the vain hope that they had survived. Perhaps he should have asked Clopay if anyone had hidden here with him. But the young man knew better. Hope is for fools.
Titus's dead, grey eyes met Clopay's. “I don't know what to do.”
submitted by Jacob_Cicero to redditserials [link] [comments]
My dearest Librarian. Your incessant requests for information have broken me down at last. You will find enclosed the first Chapter in my writings on Titus Julianus, whose deeds I am certain you have already heard a great deal of. You have known me for quite long enough to trust my methods of information gathering, and thus I will not go into great detail as to just how thorough I have been. His legend has certainly grown in the telling, but I can assure you that there is only so much exaggeration a bard can do. I trust that these letters will not leave the Woven Library. I am afraid the initial Chapter of our tale is a dreadfully sad one, but I am bound as your friend to relay what I know. Farewell.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A shattered keep. Smoke leaking into the sky from broken towers. The scent of burning flesh. Broken bodies. The hollow, dead faces of friends and family.
A single pair of glassy eyes surveyed the carnage. Their bearer was a tall, muscular youth, standing before his home with a pack llama beside him, its fleece matted and filthy. He ran a dirty hand through his long, brown hair. In better times, the young man's family had called him Titus.
Something inside the boy broke. He would never know which part of him was broken, but it would never be fixed, no matter how long he lived. There would be pain lurking within his heart until the day he died. Even in the sweetest of moments - the throes of passionate love, the headrush of glorious victory, the ecstasy of drug-fueled relief - he would always know that he was broken.
He stumbled through the village he had once called home, heavily booted feet stained with ash and soot. A central road wended through the little village, leading to the parapet walls of a once-impenetrable fortress that had guarded their clan for uncounted generations. Few roofs remained, burned away by some all-consuming flame. Narrow alleyways peaked shyly from between broken buildings, ashamed of their failure to prevent the fire's spread. Titus tramped between scorched stone and brick wall, eyes raking over corpse and ash with equal resignation.
Broken bodies lined the street, empty eyes staring out from dead faces. There was Hanno, the baker. He had made the best flat-bread in a hundred miles. How many times had Titus tasted that bread, fresh from the oven? How many times had he hauled flour for Hanno, his only payment the taste of a fresh batch of Baklawa? And there was beautiful Beatrice, Palaestrio's widow. The woman's face was torn in a rictus of agony, her tunic in tatters about her body.
Titus shuddered as he trudged onward, trying to erase the image of her bloody body from his mind, praying that her death had been swifter than he feared. Names flashed through his mind, faces that would never smile again. There was Apidicus, the thatcher. Elder Adonis, eyes torn from their sockets. Cousin Sulla's head, lying upon the ground with lips stretched into a hideous grin.
Titus latched his eyes onto the ground in front of him. His stomach surged. His eyes burned. His stride shrank into a shuffle, each step an effort. His mind was blank, his heart empty. He felt it was an eternity before he at least reached the broken gates leading into the main Keep.
There would have been over two dozen men on watch, even if this had been a surprise attack. Gore soaked the dirt before the gate, though most of the bodies had been cleared away. What few bodies remaining had been stripped of their armour and left to rot.
Titus's eyes locked onto the keep, its once proud stone walls now rent into pieces. Stone bricks were strewn across the courtyard as though cast aside by the hand of a giant. Billows of smoke drifted lazily from the heart of the keep, but Titus knew that no fire could harm the Keep's true treasure.
As the boy entered the courtyard, the dirty llama beside him started to pull on her lead, gurgling sadly. He turned toward her, looking at her travel-worn fleece for a moment before softly stroking her neck and whispering into her ear,” it's okay, Pulkra. You don't have to go any farther.” At the sound of his voice, the distressed animal stopped pulling at him, allowing him to tie her lead off on a nearby fencepost. Titus leaned his head against her cheek. He found solace in her. She was his last and only companion.
Inhaling the scent of death, the young warrior steadied himself.
Heavy boots scraped against firm stone as Titus stepped into the broken keep. A steely resolve smoldered beneath his grey eyes as he strode purposefully into the keep. At the center of the great hall sat a terrifying skeleton, a large pile of rotting flesh at its feet. Flies buzzed about the mound of rotted meat. The smell was indescribably horrible. Only once in the boy's life had he smelt something so wretched, in circumstances only less horrible because they had happened to someone else.
The huge skeleton sat rigidly, its back straight and hands laying regally on each arm-rest. Bits of gristle clung to its mighty frame, though its features were indistinguishable.
Titus didn't need to recognize a face to know who this was. It could only be Scypio, the largest man in the whole of the Branch. Weathered war leader. Skilled hunter. Victor of a thousand battles. Slayer of monsters. Savior of countless men, women, and children over the course of decades. Dead.
Scypio had been the only Blooded warrior at home when the attack came. How many times had Titus been taught by this legend of a man? How many lessons had the boy learned? How many times had Scypio knocked him on his ass, only to help him back up? Memories played across the screen of Titus's mind. Behind his eyes, he saw Scypio's toothy grin. His ears heard Scypio's rasping voice. Titus felt nothing.
The massive skeleton sat upon a mighty throne - a coal-black seat crafted from the scales of hundreds of slain Var'shun. It was the symbol of the Clan's countless victories, emblazoned upon their armor and stitched into the banners that flew overhead. But now the armor had been stolen, looted by whatever unnamed wretch had orchestrated this attack. The banners had been burned. The symbols destroyed. All that remained was the throne itself - a sad reminder of victories long past.
Titus strode past Scypio, eyeing his path carefully. Ashen bootprints covered the whole of the great hall. He knew in his heart that whoever had attacked them couldn't have found it - only a Blooded warrior would know where it was, and Scypio would die a thousand times before betraying the Tribe's secrets.
There were few corpses inside the Keep, most of the Branch's militia having fallen in the courtyard. Nonetheless, the young warrior was deliberate with each step, careful not to further desecrate his fallen people.
He made his way into the back of the great hall, down a steep flight of winding stairs. Soon, sunlight no longer penetrated the holes in the wall, and he was forced to light a fire of his own. Titus bent his elbow and raised an index finger, conjuring a thimble of harsh flame mere inches from his finger. Weak light battled against the darkness, casting the whole staircase in shades of grey.
Roughly 10 steps down, Titus began singing. His voice quavered slightly with each step, a gradually strengthening tenor that bounced off the cold, grey walls.
The words came to him easily enough, for he had sung this song a thousand times. It was The Guardian's Song. Every Guardian's Song was unique - it spoke of The Tribe's victories and defeats. It spoke of heroes long dead. It spoke of fathers and grandfathers, of mothers and grandmothers. It spoke of the Architect, and the sacred charge he had given to The Tribe.
The final verse was his own. It was the tale of his Clan and his Keep, his family and his teachers. It ended with his own victory, the slaying of the Var'shun Lion; he had made himself a Blooded warrior that day, one of only a handful in the Clan. That was the day he became a Guardian like his father, a protector of the people against the monsters that lurked in the night. That was the day he had earned his armour.
As the final words left Titus's lips, he paused on the staircase. Turning toward a wall on his left, Titus raised both hands and pressed his palms against the wall. Closing his eyes, he breathed deep, focussing his mind on each palm. With a sharp grunt, Titus sent a blast of flame from each palm into the wall. Instead of rebounding off the wall, though, the flame sank into the seams between each stone brick. A dull rumble reverberated through the air as a narrow passageway revealed itself in the stone, unlocked by The Guardian's Song and The Guardian's Flame.
The last time Titus had come here, that sight had torn a giddy laugh from his throat. This time, however, his heart was empty and his face was blank. With nary a moment to breathe, he stepped into the passageway, and marched firmly onward. It wended along for ten metres or so, twisting several times.
After several seconds of walking, the youthful warrior trudged out into a massive chamber. Walking into the chamber felt like walking into an oven, hot air striking his face like a physical blow, but he knew that its inhabitant reveled in the heat.
Titus's dead eyes raked across the room, taking in the sight of the Song Forge, the Keep's greatest treasure. The scent of sweat and oil and hot steel coloured the air. The forge and bellows dominated the center of the room, though the forge was dead - in all likelihood, this was the first time the forge had gone out in a hundred years. Various racks held tools, freshly forged by the Keep's Steel-singer. A half-forged lump of steel lay on an anvil, its surface looking rumpled as though it had been kneaded by a baker. On the opposite end of where Titus stood, a doorway led deeper underground. A great trove of iron, bronze, and various other metals was carefully sorted in one corner of the chamber, a store of metal greater than most royal smiths could boast of.
Incredible wealth was arrayed across this chamber, if one had eyes to see it, but Titus's eyes were drawn invariably to a pair of wooden mannequins pushed against the back wall. One wore the traditional scale cuirass of a Custos militia-man, a masterwork of armor that outstripped what many Noble Lords could boast. And there - right there, on the right!
Titus reached out, his hairy hands tracing the edges of the armour. A ghost of a smile slid across his face before disappearing into the pit of nothing that was Titus's heart. This was the armour he had earned when he slew the Var'shun Lion. He was to receive it upon returning from his last hunt.
It was a complete suit of steel plate, a marvel of craftsmanship that none but a Custos Steelsinger could hope to forge. Its value was greater than a horde of jewels. It had been tailored to his precise measurements, built specifically to fit his body like a glove. Each joint was coated with plates, intricately interwoven so as not to impede movement. The breastplate curved gracefully, projecting just far enough forward to deflect stabbing spears and arrows. A slanted script danced along the edge of each gauntlet, recounting in classical calligraphy the tale of Titus's battle with the Var'shun Lion. For a blooded warrior, his armour was his life. His greatest victories were inscribed upon it by a Steel-singer, imbuing the Armour with a life of its own. This was Titus's inheritance.
The young Guardian pulled his hand back in a moment's hesitation. If the Song Forge was unlooted, then that meant...
“Clopay!” the dead-eyed Guardian shouted,” are you here? Did you survive?”
There was a crash and a yelp from behind a door on the far end of the chamber. A latch clicked. The door slammed open.
Standing in the doorway was a squat, swarthy man - barely taller than five feet - clad in naught but an apron and a thick pair of boots. Curly, black hair coated a powerful body, and a heavy set of eyebrows weighed down a wrinkled face. Clopay squinted at Titus, piercing black eyes peering into the boy's soul. There was little warmth in those eyes.
“So,” Clopay grunted,” you're the first Guardian to come home.” Sorrow weighed Clopay's shoulders down as he stepped into the room. “And tell me, was it you who brought them? Did you sell us out for a fistful of silver?” Heavily callused hands clenched at Clopay's sides for a moment, then relaxed. “No, no... yours wouldn't be the first face I saw if we had been betrayed. No, I'd already be dead.”
“Everyone is dead,” Titus's voice was monotone and hollow. A tinge of sympathy coloured Clopay's gaze.
“Aye, boy. I'd have joined the fighting, but duty bade me stay. We didn't know they were coming until they were already upon the Keep. Didn't want to risk opening the passageway. You know why.”
Titus nodded,” aye,” he murmured. He knew he should have been angry. Or sad. Perhaps he should have hunted for his parents in the vain hope that they had survived. Perhaps he should have asked Clopay if anyone had hidden here with him. But the young man knew better. Hope is for fools.
Titus's dead, grey eyes met Clopay's. “I don't know what to do.”
2023.03.23 23:13 SpookyCinnaBunn Lol, my ref is different again
 | submitted by SpookyCinnaBunn to u/SpookyCinnaBunn [link] [comments] |
2023.03.23 21:37 Ravenredd65 The Outcasts Ch. 10
Hello all and welcome to a (I assure you) totally wholesome episode of The Outcasts! Another week, another step forward for the lives of Evra, Jessie, Ref, and Kikri as they try to settle into a steady rhythm after all the excitement recently. So stay tuned and I hope you enjoy!
As always thanks to u/Bluefishcake for the universe, and thanks to u/roboticstatic, u/shneekeyTheLost, u/catsintrenchcoats, and everyone on the Discord server for helping with editing! Without further ado, Chapter Ten!
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Kikri watched as Jessie fell into slumber beside them and her sisters, a somewhat troubled expression on Jessie’s face as they dreamt. Then, taking a hand and lightly caressing Jessie’s face, Kikri let out a small mewl of sadness that their mate was still suffering from night terrors, albeit less severe now. She had been watching Jessie closely these past several days because she enjoyed watching them and keeping an eye on their mental state, having been terrified when Jessie regressed after the first night they spent in bed with the polycule. Kikri could tell Jessie was trying to deal with their repressions, but she could also know that it wasn’t going well despite how it looked. Better, most definitely, but not the best.
Jessie’s scent had been changing as well since the incident. The tinge of constant fear was still there in Jessie’s pheromones, but a new addition, smelling almost sickly, had appeared and been growing since. The smell reminded Kikri of her first kill on Dirt, but she could not place why. Certainly, Jessie was physically healthy, so the scent wasn’t a precursor to some disease, and yet, when the smell flared up in Jessie’s scent, it made her uneasy, just like during the incident on their date. When that happened, her instincts would always tell her one thing.
Death.
Despite this, Kikri held Jessie close and dear to her, as did Ref and Evra. And Jessie held them just as dearly, Kikri assumed from their pheromones. Which is why the Rakiri was worried. She was well aware of her species’ penchant for ‘losing themselves’ to their urges during courtship and feared that with Jessie’s issues and things moving too quickly to be safe, in her mind, her being with Jessie first would undoubtedly cause problems. So, after making sure Jessie was indeed asleep, she called her sisters over to the table to have a small girlfriend meeting. Prying themselves free of Jessie was no small task, with how heavily Jessie began clinging to them in their sleep. After a few moments, however, Ref, Evra, and Kikri gathered. With a deeply held breath, Kikri looked to her sisters and said the words that instantly made them stiffen their postures.
“We need to talk about Jessie.”
The previously sleepy Ref and Evra instinctively bolted upright with concern. Neither of them doubted Kikri’s nose for things like this, her having been proven right so many times before boring any distrust of her senses out the window. So instead, the Helkam and Nighkru waited for their Rakiri sister to continue, the former’s ears twitching while the latter fidgeted with her hands.
“Is everything okay with her?” Evra asked, glancing back at Jessie for a moment. It had been less than a week since Jessie had broken down on that couch, and the incident was still fresh in her mind. ‘Jessie is the nest now. We have to protect Jessie.’ Her thoughts were easily readable on her face when she returned to looking at her sisters.
“Nothing worse. I wouldn’t say that Jessie is fine, but perhaps on the way there now,” Kikri explained, causing both Ref and Evra to look at her in confusion. But, of course, if everything were fine, Kikri wouldn’t call for a little meeting like this for no reason.
“If things are improving, what should we be concerned about?” Ref said, wiping her eyes clean. She had been just about to follow Jessie to the world of dreams when Kikri called for them, and it showed, despite her upright posture.
“That’s precisely why we should be. Jessie is pushing herself far faster than is normal. I’m not sure why, but we need to be prepared for if things get more..intimate,” Kikri slowly explained, choosing her words carefully enough that neither girl would mistake what she meant.
Two bright blushes appeared on the girls’ faces as their minds presumably imagined such a scenario. Neither looked concerned, and Kikri had to snap her Nighkru sister out of it, sensing she was losing herself in another fantasy.
Since Jessie moved in, getting alone time has been difficult. Jessie’s scent having more masculine pheromones and feminine ones had made things difficult for Kikri and Evra, who were more susceptible to such traits. As such, Ref frequently had to cover for them so they could get away and recover themselves at times without Jessie knowing. Evra, however, always came back just a bit more frustrated than relieved.
“S-should we really be discussing this?!” Evra whisper-yelled, but Ref instead put a hand to her cheek, thinking.
“Kikri’s right, we do,” Ref spoke evenly after a long pause. "If Jessie makes a move to progress our relationship, we need to be careful with the order. Kikri’s conscious that her species tends to go overboard. Meaning you or I should ideally be first."
“Wha…t-then you’ll be his first time, Ref?!” Evra said, causing Kikri and Ref to look at her quizzically.
“Jessie would need someone affectionate and positive for their first time due to what they’ve been through. I am neither, so no.” the ever-clinical sister explained, while Kikri simply sat neutral, letting them hash it out.
“W-wait, that means….” Evra started, utterly shocked at this turn of events.
“You were the one who calmed their episode and knew to call Dr. Amelia. And Jessie often says you are very ‘bubbly.’ So you are the ideal choice, Evra.” Ref continued.
‘Oh no, no, no, no.’ Evra’s mind repeated the sentence over and over. So she would have to be Jessie’s first?!
But she had no experience!
-Two Days Later-
‘Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous.’
Jessie’s inner voice said as they rode in the transport. Jessie, Ref, Kikri, and Evra were on the way to Shau’tari Marine Base as their leave was up. Kikri and Ref would take the first rotation to work on base, while Evra and Jessie would drop them off and return home. At least, that’s what Jessie took the conversation yesterday to mean. Right now, Jessie was too busy gripping Kikri’s and Ref’s hands in each of hers, having developed a bit of anxiety about leaving the apartment now since the past couple of times ended up in attacks. Cold sweat dripped on the nape of Jessie’s neck, her leg bounced incessantly, and even her eyes moved around quickly as if on high alert.
‘Almost there. Then drop Ref and Kikri off, then head home. No biggie. I can do this, I can…Shit, there’s the gate.’
As they pulled up to the building gate, a small box beside a metal gate complete with built-in sensors, Kikri signaled Evra to stop there and drop them off. Jessie inhaled deeply as they pulled over to the side, where the drop-off area was. A relatively well-maintained tarmac parking lot, with several vehicles or transports parked there, most likely the vehicles from those fortunate enough to live off-base.
“ It’s alright, Jessie. We’ll be fine. We aren’t going on deployment but staying on base. Ref is helping out in medical, and I’ll be in the armory.” Kikri said kindly, her arm reaching out to gently cup Jessie’s face.
“You okay?” Evra asked, glancing over at Jessie with a slightly concerned look, her own hand gingerly moving to rub the outside of Jessie’s thigh, more out of support emotionally than anything else.
“I’ll be fine. Just nerves, is all.” Jessie’s hands moved to cup each of their girlfriends’ hands in turn, putting on a brave smile for them. But, truth be told, the idea of Kikri and Ref not being home terrified Jessie.
“You know you don’t have to hide your anxiety with me, Jessie. I get it too.” Evra said comfortingly. Jessie knew she did, but that thought did little to comfort the nauseating feeling in their stomach at the moment. Kikri and Ref gave a longing look at Jessie, but time waited for no sapient, so they, unfortunately, had to leave. As the two stepped out, however, they each gave a knowing look to Evra, entrusting Jessie’s safety and care to their Nighkru sibling.
“I know. Let’s just..head home? Being out here gives me a bad feeling.” Jessie managed to eke out without showing too much of the discomfort they were feeling. The disquieting pause afterward and the slight change in Evra’s face were as far from imperceptible as one could get.
“Alright. But Kikri and Ref will be gone until Shel. So why don’t we try working on your anxiety a bit?” Evra asked as she turned the transport, heading back home. Jessie didn’t really give her an answer as they stared out the window to their right. Ordinarily, the passing sights of New Orleans would be a comfort, but right now, it just felt…bleak, as if someone took a grainy, overexposed photo and set the color and brightness to zero. Even the weather seemed to agree as it again began to rain.
A little while later, they were back home, with Jessie visibly relaxing inside the safety of the apartment. It was still morning, and as this was one of the few days Jessie had a training break, they settled on the couch. Flipping through the channels on the omni-tv but not finding much worth watching, Jessie instead glanced to see Evra go to take a shower with a particular curiosity. Nighkru bathing was a slight issue regarding their algae, as certain cleaners were quite harmful to them even though they were subdermal. Still, Evra always seemed to take longer than anyone else in the bathroom, and Jessie’s curiosity sometimes made them want to ask why it took so long, among other things, ashamedly. Of course, they never would, but they wanted to.
‘Monster.’
‘Shut up, Derrick.’
Derrick’s voice still occasionally popped up, but it was quieter and easier to tell off. Jessie wondered if it was the medication or the girls who were a more significant impact. They had already saved Jessie multiple times and asked Jessie out on a date after knowing Jessie’s past. Not to mention the essentially numerous confessions several days ago…or had it been a week already. Jessie wasn’t sure as time had become a bit of a fog around the girls now.
‘Freak.’
‘Shut up, Derrick.’
Still, the only times Derrick was truly silent was during training and the “snuggle fests” afterward. And depending on how stressful Jessie’s day had been, it could get harder to tell that voice off. Right now, it was particularly tiring due to emotional stress, so Jessie decided to busy herself with something nice to do for Evra. So, naturally, it was making a meal.
Standing up from the beanbag-like couch, Jessie walked a few feet over to the kitchen and began looking through the pantry/fridge. Most of their biology study on Nighkru basic had been finished, so Jessie had a rough understanding of what most Nighkru liked to eat flavor-wise. Picking out a few ingredients, Jessie grabbed an apron to put on and began preparing a meal.
‘Small knife for trimming, large for butchering meat, and that one for the veggies,’ Jessie thought to herself as they began preparing the meal. Nothing too complex, as they weren’t exactly a professional chef, but something like a grilled meatball salad with scallion and shaved cheese was doable. Though as they thought about it, a steak and tomato salad would probably be better. They began cooking by grabbing some Angus thick cuts, fresh cherry and heirloom tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, an avocado, and some wine vinaigrette.
One of the few things Jessie did grab from their apartment or instead had Kikri seize the other day was a set of cast-iron pans their mother used. No Louisianian worth their salt would cook without a well-seasoned cast iron, and Jessie was no different. Trimming up the steak, Jessie made a blend of garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and various other seasonings to make a good rub for the meat and set it aside, Letting the flaked salt draw out the moisture to mix with the seasoning and be reabsorbed for better flavor. At the same time, they worked on the other ingredients.
Taking an onion, they chipped it up into long, fine strands and threw it into the skillet with butter and bacon fat. It turns out Kikri really liked bacon, almost as much as any human. Jessie had plenty of flavorful fat to use as a medium for sauteing onions. While that was going, they began cold-soaking the lettuce and chopping up tomatoes.
By the time Evra came out of her shower, Jessie had begun cooking the steaks, filling the apartment with a beautiful aroma. Evra looked at Jessie cooking in the kitchen with a practically voracious expression, even having to wipe away a bit of drool, which Jessie found adorable. The lithe space elf with horns and freaky eyes had certainly grown on Jessie, especially after saving them from their own mind during an episode. Since then, however, Jessie had been having conflicting feelings about her and the other girls in general. Jessie definitely felt closer to them, but the closer they became, the more worried Jessie became and the more confusing their feelings became. Jessie felt like they wanted to be even closer to them, but the only way she could think to do so involved…that, and Jessie wasn’t sure if they could, if Derrick had ruined them from ever being able to be…intimate.
‘Weak little abomination’
‘Shut. It. Derrick.’
‘Not like a monster deserves happiness. End it before you hurt them, too.’
‘I said, SHUT IT!’
“Wow, Jessie. I didn’t know you could cook like this. It smells amazing! What’re those yellow plants?” The adorable Nighkru asked, looking at the finished salad with a particular hunger. Jessie froze, her face showing her puzzlement as she stopped what she was doing. It took Jessie a moment to figure out what she was talking about since the color was off, but then she remembered Nighkru couldn’t see red. Taking the steaks over to a cutting board, Jessie began cutting them into thin strips to add to the salad.
“Those are tomatoes. Ordinarily, they’d be tart with a slight bitterness, but they should be a bit sweeter and a little zesty in this salad. Those light shavings are avocado, the leafy stuff is lettuce, and the cooked brownish stringy stuff is grilled onions. Once the steak is done, I’ll toss it all with a light champagne vinaigrette, and then it’ll be ready.” Jessie explained, particularly proud of figuring out food they liked that most of their girlfriends could eat too. Kikri would have a bit of an issue from so much roughage, but Ref and Evra should be okay with this. Evra seemed rather shocked at not only the fact that Jessie could cook but that Jessie had already taken into account the increased appetite she and her sisters had based on the portions she was making.
“Why're you acting so surprised? I lived alone for years. I had to learn to cook for myself, you know.” Jessie asked curiously as they returned to cutting the steak. Stealing a glance at Evra, Jessie had to admit. She was rather striking today. It certainly didn’t help that the black undergarments she was wearing, and only that, were as tight as spandex leaving little to the imagination. A bit of water still glistened on her skin, giving her an almost ephemeral appearance. Jessie quickly had to turn their gaze back to the steak out of fear of getting distracted and cutting themselves.
“Jessie, you may not know it, but for those of us in the rest of the galaxy, seeing a guy in an apron cooking in a kitchen is like..like… Goddess, it’s so hot.” Evra started to explain but couldn’t find the right word. Jessie wasn’t sure why they were talking about the temperature, though; it was relatively cool despite the cooking. It was a pregnant pause before Jessie, with a bright blush they attempted and failed to hide, realized what she meant.
“Well, half a guy, I guess,” Jessie mumbled, moving the steak into the salad bowl with the other ingredients and adding the vinaigrette to toss the salad. Evra moved around the corner she was leaning against and walked over to Jessie, softly placing a hand on their forearm and breaking Jessie’s thoughts. She leaned over, breaking their vision that had been concentrating on the food with her face, alight with a warm smile.
“You’re not half anything, Jessie. You’re you. I’m unsure if you have seen our males, but human males are very different. They’re built more like women than our males are. So you being lithe like you are and androgynous enough to appear like both? It doesn’t detract anything in the slightest. To most in the Imperium, you’d be quite the catch!” Evra said, not really making much sense to Jessie, but they knew she was trying to cheer them up. Rather than respond directly, Jessie, for some reason, blurted out a somewhat out-of-character line.
“Quite a catch, huh? And what do you think, Evvie?” Jessie teased before realizing exactly what they’d said. A bright blush appeared across both Evra's and Jessies faces as Jessie immediately started stumbling over themselves to apologize, the salad tossing wholly forgotten.
“I-I’m sorry, Evra. I don’t know why I said that. It was stupid and childish of me to say, and I shouldn’thavebutIdidand-”
“Jessie,” Evra said, interrupting them and giggling from seeing Jessie so flustered. “It’s fine, really. It was kind of cute, actually, almost as adorable as you. Very boyfriend-ish. Oops, I mean girlfriend…Um...actually, which do you prefer?”
“Oh, um..uh..ahem,” Jessie started, giving thought to her question before mumbling a response, though it was too quiet for Evra to hear.
“What did you say? I couldn’t understand you, Jessie.”
“I said, erm...” Jessie trailed off with another mumble, awkwardly trying to play it cool as they covered their blush with one hand.
“Um, Jessie, I can’t hear you if you hide your mouth with your hand and mumble like that.”
“I...I said Mate, okay? Kikri said it, and um...I um…So yeah, that one.”
Evra giggled, leaning closer to Jessie, close enough that Jessie could feel her warm breath on the side of their face. Then, whispering in their ear, Evra said in an out-of-character and rather sultry voice.
“Thank you for the meal, my wonderful mate.”
Jessie froze, blood rushing to her face and other places as Evra giggled and grabbed the salad bowl for herself. She gave Jessie a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving them further stunned and causing Evra immense joy as she watched Jessie’s brain try to restart several times.
Jessie wasn’t ready for that step yet, though, much as they, and their body, wanted to be, so they instead gave Evra a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down to eat. Evra was kind enough not to point out the ‘perkiness’ Jessie’s body was showing, and Jessie was kind enough not to point out the faint gray blush forming on Evra’s cheeks. Neither really knew how to continue the conversation after that, and so chose to spend the meal in quiet silence, letting the flames die down a bit, so to speak. Afterward, the two romantics ended up cuddling on the couch, watching some Shil movie about a warrior prince.
“I’m sorry, I’m not ready for that yet, Evvie,” Jessie finally broke the silence as they held her close, Evra’s head resting against Jessie’s shoulder and both holding hands in a gentle, loving manner.
‘Coward.’
‘Shut it, Derrick. It’s your fault.’
Always hiding behind someone else, Jessie.’
“It’s okay, Jessie. Take your time. Don’t try to rush it for our sake, okay? Evra replied, squeezing Jessie’s hand just a bit tighter as if to emphasize her point. Jessie said nothing in response, but the look of conflict on their face was worrisome to Evra. Deciding not to speak of it anymore, Evra returned her attention to the movie, enjoying her one-on-one cuddle session with her ‘mate.’ Petting Jessie’s head gently, a very different kind of turmoil was brewing within the young Nighkru…
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“This is turox-shit,” Kikri said with a growl. So rather than having them go out with other pods for patrol, somehow Kikri got assigned to helping out logistics with inventory while Ref was pulled for hospital duty. Kikri didn’t like this at all. Seeing the explosives in the long warehouse, having to get into a bucket-of-bolts exo-suit, having to handle the explosives…It reminded her of the bombs she failed to deactivate back in Washington, reminded her of the kids on the bus, and reminded her of the carnage afterward.
The warehouse itself wasn’t much to write home about. Around 400 meters long by 300 wide, the thermocast-reinforced concrete building offered little in the way of beauty. It was essentially a large rectangle, with a requisitions office at one end, completely closed off by a gate made of steel and, once again, that purple alloy. The inventory racks went up to the ceiling as if they barely even fit. They were all loaded with various supplies such as extra power cells, medication, uniforms, essential needs, and weapons, too much for the relatively diminutive armory.
Setting down the explosive her suit was holding and placing it into its rack slot, Kikri breathed relief. Truth be told, she had avoided demolition duties. Just seeing an explosive was enough to trigger a flashback, and each time it hurt. Still, she was a warrior, a Rakiri, a marine. So she grit her teeth and bore it, moving one explosive after another and saying nothing. Speaking out would not do any good here.
“Oh look, it’s that Rakiri!” A shill pointed out. Kikri already didn’t like her. She smelled of pompousness and decadent lifestyle, scents Kikri usually flagged as ‘people to avoid because they are so annoying.’ Still, this one was rather large, even by Shil’vati standards, at over eight feet tall and all muscle. Kikri had to wonder if it was natural or some illegal gene mod. She could already tell the girl had gotten at least one to get that strange blue hair.
“So, Rakiri, how does it feel to have to be protected by a male? A primitive one at that!” The girl snickered, but Kikri ignored it. As much as she wanted to bare tooth and claw to the girl, the repercussions of such an action made it less than ideal as far as Ideas go.
“Jessie has the spirit of a fighter and is wise beyond his years. Your attempt to shame me through him will not work, only make me prouder in my choice of mate, Shil,” Kikri said in response, moving the old, orange-colored exo down the line to continue her next explosive.
“I don’t know. He seemed pretty weak. I bet I could beat him.” The Shil spoke, still trying to get a rise out of Kikri, smiling and snickering at her own words.
“You are welcome to try if you find him,” Kikri said, focusing on her job. This next crate of explosives was particularly finicky and dangerous, so she wanted to take her time with it.
“Maybe I will then. Then, maybe afterward, I’ll steal your mate, Rakiri. He looks like the kind who likes to get…’ physical’ during sex. Think I should give him a punch or two while we do the deed?”
Kikri tried to ignore the comment, but blood was boiling in her veins. A mere pup who had yet to wet her claws was threatening her mate, and every instinct in her told her to use her own to extol the price in blood and flesh.
‘How dare an impudent bitch insult Jessie like that! And how dare she insinuate she would beat him.’
Releasing the exo, Kikri dropped to the ground, her limber five-foot eleven-inch frame now on full display. She did not posture herself, acting every bit like this was a standard process.
“And you’re a runt too! Haha, No wonder that male had to-guh”
Kikri calmly walked over to the woman, not letting on her intentions. Like the attack of a serpent, however, her arm lunged out and grabbed the girl by the throat before she could respond. She smiled in the satisfaction that her claws, now extended, drew a bit of Shil blood from pricking the bitch’s neck. Then, pinning her against one of the racks, Kikri used her free hand to grab her thermocast knife and put it to the woman’s face.
“Say whatever you wish about me, clawless whelp, but speak ill of Jessie again, and I’ll start with the face before removing your fingers and shoving them up your clam! Are we clear!” Kikri growled, fanged mouth showing as the girl struggled for a breath. Her fur stood on end, making her look larger than usual, not that it was needed. The Shil girl evidently hadn’t expected Kikri to get so aggressive, and honestly, Kikri couldn’t believe she was so quick to do it, either. Then she thought of this Shil actually trying to do what she insinuated to Jessie, causing doubt in her actions to disappear.
“T-threaten all you want; we both k-know you wouldn’t risk your sisters for it,” The girl managed to spout out before Kikri dropped her hold and put her blade to the woman’s throat. For half a moment, she imagined running the bitch through and spilling more of her ugly blue blood on the floor for threatening Jessie. But, barely holding herself back, she instead used her words.
“I’ve killed many more than you have counted, shellsucker. And if you EVER threaten MY MATE or my kho-sisters again, I will make you wish you had met the deep so quickly you’ll be gone before you hit the floor. It will be long, slow, and painful. I will take your mind to deny your deepminder. Your family won’t even have anything left to bury, and your goddess won’t have anything left to free. You will slowly waste away, knowing you weren’t even worth enough for me to take a trophy from. And if by some miracle I am caught, I will make sure to tell the truth that you were a man-beater and a coward. You begged for death in your last moments, powerless and helpless. Your service will be stricken, and your records will be struck from the annals of history. You will become a ghost no one remembers, never having achieved anything. Now leave.” Kikri’s voice was low, growling almost like an animal. A heavy grinding sound from gritting her teeth from wanting to bite this bitch’s skull in half only added to the intensity. This wasn’t a threat, and it wasn’t even a statement. It was a fact. Should she continue pushing this, Kikri would make good on her word; no Rakiri would make such a promise idly. And the Shil bitch knew it.
The Shil nodded, fear strongly present in her scent as Kikri let her go. The Shil marine began scrambling her way up and running out of the warehouse as quickly as possible. After all, Kikri had a reputation on this base, and most of the women here knew it. She sighed, watching the Shil ran off, even stumbling a time or two, evidently from the liquid residue of her fear... This was going to lead to more paperwork for her. Again.
She grabbed the mop to go clean up the mess.
------
“Have the preparations been made for the operation?” Lieutenant Commander Derval asked, sitting in her office while looking at an omnipad. There were various shuttle paths, flight plans, and inventories for inbound and outbound system traffic. Derval’s face was more tired than last time, having been pulling multiple all-nighters for the past few weeks in order to bring everything together for this plan of hers.
“Yes, Lt.Commander Derval. The bribes have all been accepted as of 0643 today. The teams are prepping for the exercise and have all been sworn to secrecy. In addition, we’ve implanted the stolen Consortium designs as well. So there is no risk of leakage.” A voice, gruff and low, said over the pad. Sergeant Xixian was a competent leader and an excellent soldier, Derval’s right-hand woman. She had personally volunteered for this mission even after knowing the stakes.
“Good. Make sure there are no survivors. And make sure nothing points back to us. Once the mission is over, activate the implants.” Derval said resolutely, leaving no room for argument.“I…Yes, Ma’am, I understand.”
It would be a loss having to give up valuable pawns from the DHC candidate course, even if they had been dropouts. Still, Derval was flying under the radar for both sides, and it was best to leave no loose ends. The fact she would lose Xixian from this mission also weighed painfully on her chest, especially since Xixian didn’t know she had an implant. Still, this was the job of a commander in war, and with a grim face, Derval accepted it.
‘Soon, you will cease being a problem, Jessie Reider.’
PREV FIRST NEXT
submitted by Ravenredd65 to Sexyspacebabes [link] [comments]
As always thanks to u/Bluefishcake for the universe, and thanks to u/roboticstatic, u/shneekeyTheLost, u/catsintrenchcoats, and everyone on the Discord server for helping with editing! Without further ado, Chapter Ten!
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Kikri watched as Jessie fell into slumber beside them and her sisters, a somewhat troubled expression on Jessie’s face as they dreamt. Then, taking a hand and lightly caressing Jessie’s face, Kikri let out a small mewl of sadness that their mate was still suffering from night terrors, albeit less severe now. She had been watching Jessie closely these past several days because she enjoyed watching them and keeping an eye on their mental state, having been terrified when Jessie regressed after the first night they spent in bed with the polycule. Kikri could tell Jessie was trying to deal with their repressions, but she could also know that it wasn’t going well despite how it looked. Better, most definitely, but not the best.
Jessie’s scent had been changing as well since the incident. The tinge of constant fear was still there in Jessie’s pheromones, but a new addition, smelling almost sickly, had appeared and been growing since. The smell reminded Kikri of her first kill on Dirt, but she could not place why. Certainly, Jessie was physically healthy, so the scent wasn’t a precursor to some disease, and yet, when the smell flared up in Jessie’s scent, it made her uneasy, just like during the incident on their date. When that happened, her instincts would always tell her one thing.
Death.
Despite this, Kikri held Jessie close and dear to her, as did Ref and Evra. And Jessie held them just as dearly, Kikri assumed from their pheromones. Which is why the Rakiri was worried. She was well aware of her species’ penchant for ‘losing themselves’ to their urges during courtship and feared that with Jessie’s issues and things moving too quickly to be safe, in her mind, her being with Jessie first would undoubtedly cause problems. So, after making sure Jessie was indeed asleep, she called her sisters over to the table to have a small girlfriend meeting. Prying themselves free of Jessie was no small task, with how heavily Jessie began clinging to them in their sleep. After a few moments, however, Ref, Evra, and Kikri gathered. With a deeply held breath, Kikri looked to her sisters and said the words that instantly made them stiffen their postures.
“We need to talk about Jessie.”
The previously sleepy Ref and Evra instinctively bolted upright with concern. Neither of them doubted Kikri’s nose for things like this, her having been proven right so many times before boring any distrust of her senses out the window. So instead, the Helkam and Nighkru waited for their Rakiri sister to continue, the former’s ears twitching while the latter fidgeted with her hands.
“Is everything okay with her?” Evra asked, glancing back at Jessie for a moment. It had been less than a week since Jessie had broken down on that couch, and the incident was still fresh in her mind. ‘Jessie is the nest now. We have to protect Jessie.’ Her thoughts were easily readable on her face when she returned to looking at her sisters.
“Nothing worse. I wouldn’t say that Jessie is fine, but perhaps on the way there now,” Kikri explained, causing both Ref and Evra to look at her in confusion. But, of course, if everything were fine, Kikri wouldn’t call for a little meeting like this for no reason.
“If things are improving, what should we be concerned about?” Ref said, wiping her eyes clean. She had been just about to follow Jessie to the world of dreams when Kikri called for them, and it showed, despite her upright posture.
“That’s precisely why we should be. Jessie is pushing herself far faster than is normal. I’m not sure why, but we need to be prepared for if things get more..intimate,” Kikri slowly explained, choosing her words carefully enough that neither girl would mistake what she meant.
Two bright blushes appeared on the girls’ faces as their minds presumably imagined such a scenario. Neither looked concerned, and Kikri had to snap her Nighkru sister out of it, sensing she was losing herself in another fantasy.
Since Jessie moved in, getting alone time has been difficult. Jessie’s scent having more masculine pheromones and feminine ones had made things difficult for Kikri and Evra, who were more susceptible to such traits. As such, Ref frequently had to cover for them so they could get away and recover themselves at times without Jessie knowing. Evra, however, always came back just a bit more frustrated than relieved.
“S-should we really be discussing this?!” Evra whisper-yelled, but Ref instead put a hand to her cheek, thinking.
“Kikri’s right, we do,” Ref spoke evenly after a long pause. "If Jessie makes a move to progress our relationship, we need to be careful with the order. Kikri’s conscious that her species tends to go overboard. Meaning you or I should ideally be first."
“Wha…t-then you’ll be his first time, Ref?!” Evra said, causing Kikri and Ref to look at her quizzically.
“Jessie would need someone affectionate and positive for their first time due to what they’ve been through. I am neither, so no.” the ever-clinical sister explained, while Kikri simply sat neutral, letting them hash it out.
“W-wait, that means….” Evra started, utterly shocked at this turn of events.
“You were the one who calmed their episode and knew to call Dr. Amelia. And Jessie often says you are very ‘bubbly.’ So you are the ideal choice, Evra.” Ref continued.
‘Oh no, no, no, no.’ Evra’s mind repeated the sentence over and over. So she would have to be Jessie’s first?!
But she had no experience!
-Two Days Later-
‘Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous.’
Jessie’s inner voice said as they rode in the transport. Jessie, Ref, Kikri, and Evra were on the way to Shau’tari Marine Base as their leave was up. Kikri and Ref would take the first rotation to work on base, while Evra and Jessie would drop them off and return home. At least, that’s what Jessie took the conversation yesterday to mean. Right now, Jessie was too busy gripping Kikri’s and Ref’s hands in each of hers, having developed a bit of anxiety about leaving the apartment now since the past couple of times ended up in attacks. Cold sweat dripped on the nape of Jessie’s neck, her leg bounced incessantly, and even her eyes moved around quickly as if on high alert.
‘Almost there. Then drop Ref and Kikri off, then head home. No biggie. I can do this, I can…Shit, there’s the gate.’
As they pulled up to the building gate, a small box beside a metal gate complete with built-in sensors, Kikri signaled Evra to stop there and drop them off. Jessie inhaled deeply as they pulled over to the side, where the drop-off area was. A relatively well-maintained tarmac parking lot, with several vehicles or transports parked there, most likely the vehicles from those fortunate enough to live off-base.
“ It’s alright, Jessie. We’ll be fine. We aren’t going on deployment but staying on base. Ref is helping out in medical, and I’ll be in the armory.” Kikri said kindly, her arm reaching out to gently cup Jessie’s face.
“You okay?” Evra asked, glancing over at Jessie with a slightly concerned look, her own hand gingerly moving to rub the outside of Jessie’s thigh, more out of support emotionally than anything else.
“I’ll be fine. Just nerves, is all.” Jessie’s hands moved to cup each of their girlfriends’ hands in turn, putting on a brave smile for them. But, truth be told, the idea of Kikri and Ref not being home terrified Jessie.
“You know you don’t have to hide your anxiety with me, Jessie. I get it too.” Evra said comfortingly. Jessie knew she did, but that thought did little to comfort the nauseating feeling in their stomach at the moment. Kikri and Ref gave a longing look at Jessie, but time waited for no sapient, so they, unfortunately, had to leave. As the two stepped out, however, they each gave a knowing look to Evra, entrusting Jessie’s safety and care to their Nighkru sibling.
“I know. Let’s just..head home? Being out here gives me a bad feeling.” Jessie managed to eke out without showing too much of the discomfort they were feeling. The disquieting pause afterward and the slight change in Evra’s face were as far from imperceptible as one could get.
“Alright. But Kikri and Ref will be gone until Shel. So why don’t we try working on your anxiety a bit?” Evra asked as she turned the transport, heading back home. Jessie didn’t really give her an answer as they stared out the window to their right. Ordinarily, the passing sights of New Orleans would be a comfort, but right now, it just felt…bleak, as if someone took a grainy, overexposed photo and set the color and brightness to zero. Even the weather seemed to agree as it again began to rain.
A little while later, they were back home, with Jessie visibly relaxing inside the safety of the apartment. It was still morning, and as this was one of the few days Jessie had a training break, they settled on the couch. Flipping through the channels on the omni-tv but not finding much worth watching, Jessie instead glanced to see Evra go to take a shower with a particular curiosity. Nighkru bathing was a slight issue regarding their algae, as certain cleaners were quite harmful to them even though they were subdermal. Still, Evra always seemed to take longer than anyone else in the bathroom, and Jessie’s curiosity sometimes made them want to ask why it took so long, among other things, ashamedly. Of course, they never would, but they wanted to.
‘Monster.’
‘Shut up, Derrick.’
Derrick’s voice still occasionally popped up, but it was quieter and easier to tell off. Jessie wondered if it was the medication or the girls who were a more significant impact. They had already saved Jessie multiple times and asked Jessie out on a date after knowing Jessie’s past. Not to mention the essentially numerous confessions several days ago…or had it been a week already. Jessie wasn’t sure as time had become a bit of a fog around the girls now.
‘Freak.’
‘Shut up, Derrick.’
Still, the only times Derrick was truly silent was during training and the “snuggle fests” afterward. And depending on how stressful Jessie’s day had been, it could get harder to tell that voice off. Right now, it was particularly tiring due to emotional stress, so Jessie decided to busy herself with something nice to do for Evra. So, naturally, it was making a meal.
Standing up from the beanbag-like couch, Jessie walked a few feet over to the kitchen and began looking through the pantry/fridge. Most of their biology study on Nighkru basic had been finished, so Jessie had a rough understanding of what most Nighkru liked to eat flavor-wise. Picking out a few ingredients, Jessie grabbed an apron to put on and began preparing a meal.
‘Small knife for trimming, large for butchering meat, and that one for the veggies,’ Jessie thought to herself as they began preparing the meal. Nothing too complex, as they weren’t exactly a professional chef, but something like a grilled meatball salad with scallion and shaved cheese was doable. Though as they thought about it, a steak and tomato salad would probably be better. They began cooking by grabbing some Angus thick cuts, fresh cherry and heirloom tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, an avocado, and some wine vinaigrette.
One of the few things Jessie did grab from their apartment or instead had Kikri seize the other day was a set of cast-iron pans their mother used. No Louisianian worth their salt would cook without a well-seasoned cast iron, and Jessie was no different. Trimming up the steak, Jessie made a blend of garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and various other seasonings to make a good rub for the meat and set it aside, Letting the flaked salt draw out the moisture to mix with the seasoning and be reabsorbed for better flavor. At the same time, they worked on the other ingredients.
Taking an onion, they chipped it up into long, fine strands and threw it into the skillet with butter and bacon fat. It turns out Kikri really liked bacon, almost as much as any human. Jessie had plenty of flavorful fat to use as a medium for sauteing onions. While that was going, they began cold-soaking the lettuce and chopping up tomatoes.
By the time Evra came out of her shower, Jessie had begun cooking the steaks, filling the apartment with a beautiful aroma. Evra looked at Jessie cooking in the kitchen with a practically voracious expression, even having to wipe away a bit of drool, which Jessie found adorable. The lithe space elf with horns and freaky eyes had certainly grown on Jessie, especially after saving them from their own mind during an episode. Since then, however, Jessie had been having conflicting feelings about her and the other girls in general. Jessie definitely felt closer to them, but the closer they became, the more worried Jessie became and the more confusing their feelings became. Jessie felt like they wanted to be even closer to them, but the only way she could think to do so involved…that, and Jessie wasn’t sure if they could, if Derrick had ruined them from ever being able to be…intimate.
‘Weak little abomination’
‘Shut. It. Derrick.’
‘Not like a monster deserves happiness. End it before you hurt them, too.’
‘I said, SHUT IT!’
“Wow, Jessie. I didn’t know you could cook like this. It smells amazing! What’re those yellow plants?” The adorable Nighkru asked, looking at the finished salad with a particular hunger. Jessie froze, her face showing her puzzlement as she stopped what she was doing. It took Jessie a moment to figure out what she was talking about since the color was off, but then she remembered Nighkru couldn’t see red. Taking the steaks over to a cutting board, Jessie began cutting them into thin strips to add to the salad.
“Those are tomatoes. Ordinarily, they’d be tart with a slight bitterness, but they should be a bit sweeter and a little zesty in this salad. Those light shavings are avocado, the leafy stuff is lettuce, and the cooked brownish stringy stuff is grilled onions. Once the steak is done, I’ll toss it all with a light champagne vinaigrette, and then it’ll be ready.” Jessie explained, particularly proud of figuring out food they liked that most of their girlfriends could eat too. Kikri would have a bit of an issue from so much roughage, but Ref and Evra should be okay with this. Evra seemed rather shocked at not only the fact that Jessie could cook but that Jessie had already taken into account the increased appetite she and her sisters had based on the portions she was making.
“Why're you acting so surprised? I lived alone for years. I had to learn to cook for myself, you know.” Jessie asked curiously as they returned to cutting the steak. Stealing a glance at Evra, Jessie had to admit. She was rather striking today. It certainly didn’t help that the black undergarments she was wearing, and only that, were as tight as spandex leaving little to the imagination. A bit of water still glistened on her skin, giving her an almost ephemeral appearance. Jessie quickly had to turn their gaze back to the steak out of fear of getting distracted and cutting themselves.
“Jessie, you may not know it, but for those of us in the rest of the galaxy, seeing a guy in an apron cooking in a kitchen is like..like… Goddess, it’s so hot.” Evra started to explain but couldn’t find the right word. Jessie wasn’t sure why they were talking about the temperature, though; it was relatively cool despite the cooking. It was a pregnant pause before Jessie, with a bright blush they attempted and failed to hide, realized what she meant.
“Well, half a guy, I guess,” Jessie mumbled, moving the steak into the salad bowl with the other ingredients and adding the vinaigrette to toss the salad. Evra moved around the corner she was leaning against and walked over to Jessie, softly placing a hand on their forearm and breaking Jessie’s thoughts. She leaned over, breaking their vision that had been concentrating on the food with her face, alight with a warm smile.
“You’re not half anything, Jessie. You’re you. I’m unsure if you have seen our males, but human males are very different. They’re built more like women than our males are. So you being lithe like you are and androgynous enough to appear like both? It doesn’t detract anything in the slightest. To most in the Imperium, you’d be quite the catch!” Evra said, not really making much sense to Jessie, but they knew she was trying to cheer them up. Rather than respond directly, Jessie, for some reason, blurted out a somewhat out-of-character line.
“Quite a catch, huh? And what do you think, Evvie?” Jessie teased before realizing exactly what they’d said. A bright blush appeared across both Evra's and Jessies faces as Jessie immediately started stumbling over themselves to apologize, the salad tossing wholly forgotten.
“I-I’m sorry, Evra. I don’t know why I said that. It was stupid and childish of me to say, and I shouldn’thavebutIdidand-”
“Jessie,” Evra said, interrupting them and giggling from seeing Jessie so flustered. “It’s fine, really. It was kind of cute, actually, almost as adorable as you. Very boyfriend-ish. Oops, I mean girlfriend…Um...actually, which do you prefer?”
“Oh, um..uh..ahem,” Jessie started, giving thought to her question before mumbling a response, though it was too quiet for Evra to hear.
“What did you say? I couldn’t understand you, Jessie.”
“I said, erm...” Jessie trailed off with another mumble, awkwardly trying to play it cool as they covered their blush with one hand.
“Um, Jessie, I can’t hear you if you hide your mouth with your hand and mumble like that.”
“I...I said Mate, okay? Kikri said it, and um...I um…So yeah, that one.”
Evra giggled, leaning closer to Jessie, close enough that Jessie could feel her warm breath on the side of their face. Then, whispering in their ear, Evra said in an out-of-character and rather sultry voice.
“Thank you for the meal, my wonderful mate.”
Jessie froze, blood rushing to her face and other places as Evra giggled and grabbed the salad bowl for herself. She gave Jessie a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving them further stunned and causing Evra immense joy as she watched Jessie’s brain try to restart several times.
Jessie wasn’t ready for that step yet, though, much as they, and their body, wanted to be, so they instead gave Evra a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down to eat. Evra was kind enough not to point out the ‘perkiness’ Jessie’s body was showing, and Jessie was kind enough not to point out the faint gray blush forming on Evra’s cheeks. Neither really knew how to continue the conversation after that, and so chose to spend the meal in quiet silence, letting the flames die down a bit, so to speak. Afterward, the two romantics ended up cuddling on the couch, watching some Shil movie about a warrior prince.
“I’m sorry, I’m not ready for that yet, Evvie,” Jessie finally broke the silence as they held her close, Evra’s head resting against Jessie’s shoulder and both holding hands in a gentle, loving manner.
‘Coward.’
‘Shut it, Derrick. It’s your fault.’
Always hiding behind someone else, Jessie.’
“It’s okay, Jessie. Take your time. Don’t try to rush it for our sake, okay? Evra replied, squeezing Jessie’s hand just a bit tighter as if to emphasize her point. Jessie said nothing in response, but the look of conflict on their face was worrisome to Evra. Deciding not to speak of it anymore, Evra returned her attention to the movie, enjoying her one-on-one cuddle session with her ‘mate.’ Petting Jessie’s head gently, a very different kind of turmoil was brewing within the young Nighkru…
------
“This is turox-shit,” Kikri said with a growl. So rather than having them go out with other pods for patrol, somehow Kikri got assigned to helping out logistics with inventory while Ref was pulled for hospital duty. Kikri didn’t like this at all. Seeing the explosives in the long warehouse, having to get into a bucket-of-bolts exo-suit, having to handle the explosives…It reminded her of the bombs she failed to deactivate back in Washington, reminded her of the kids on the bus, and reminded her of the carnage afterward.
The warehouse itself wasn’t much to write home about. Around 400 meters long by 300 wide, the thermocast-reinforced concrete building offered little in the way of beauty. It was essentially a large rectangle, with a requisitions office at one end, completely closed off by a gate made of steel and, once again, that purple alloy. The inventory racks went up to the ceiling as if they barely even fit. They were all loaded with various supplies such as extra power cells, medication, uniforms, essential needs, and weapons, too much for the relatively diminutive armory.
Setting down the explosive her suit was holding and placing it into its rack slot, Kikri breathed relief. Truth be told, she had avoided demolition duties. Just seeing an explosive was enough to trigger a flashback, and each time it hurt. Still, she was a warrior, a Rakiri, a marine. So she grit her teeth and bore it, moving one explosive after another and saying nothing. Speaking out would not do any good here.
“Oh look, it’s that Rakiri!” A shill pointed out. Kikri already didn’t like her. She smelled of pompousness and decadent lifestyle, scents Kikri usually flagged as ‘people to avoid because they are so annoying.’ Still, this one was rather large, even by Shil’vati standards, at over eight feet tall and all muscle. Kikri had to wonder if it was natural or some illegal gene mod. She could already tell the girl had gotten at least one to get that strange blue hair.
“So, Rakiri, how does it feel to have to be protected by a male? A primitive one at that!” The girl snickered, but Kikri ignored it. As much as she wanted to bare tooth and claw to the girl, the repercussions of such an action made it less than ideal as far as Ideas go.
“Jessie has the spirit of a fighter and is wise beyond his years. Your attempt to shame me through him will not work, only make me prouder in my choice of mate, Shil,” Kikri said in response, moving the old, orange-colored exo down the line to continue her next explosive.
“I don’t know. He seemed pretty weak. I bet I could beat him.” The Shil spoke, still trying to get a rise out of Kikri, smiling and snickering at her own words.
“You are welcome to try if you find him,” Kikri said, focusing on her job. This next crate of explosives was particularly finicky and dangerous, so she wanted to take her time with it.
“Maybe I will then. Then, maybe afterward, I’ll steal your mate, Rakiri. He looks like the kind who likes to get…’ physical’ during sex. Think I should give him a punch or two while we do the deed?”
Kikri tried to ignore the comment, but blood was boiling in her veins. A mere pup who had yet to wet her claws was threatening her mate, and every instinct in her told her to use her own to extol the price in blood and flesh.
‘How dare an impudent bitch insult Jessie like that! And how dare she insinuate she would beat him.’
Releasing the exo, Kikri dropped to the ground, her limber five-foot eleven-inch frame now on full display. She did not posture herself, acting every bit like this was a standard process.
“And you’re a runt too! Haha, No wonder that male had to-guh”
Kikri calmly walked over to the woman, not letting on her intentions. Like the attack of a serpent, however, her arm lunged out and grabbed the girl by the throat before she could respond. She smiled in the satisfaction that her claws, now extended, drew a bit of Shil blood from pricking the bitch’s neck. Then, pinning her against one of the racks, Kikri used her free hand to grab her thermocast knife and put it to the woman’s face.
“Say whatever you wish about me, clawless whelp, but speak ill of Jessie again, and I’ll start with the face before removing your fingers and shoving them up your clam! Are we clear!” Kikri growled, fanged mouth showing as the girl struggled for a breath. Her fur stood on end, making her look larger than usual, not that it was needed. The Shil girl evidently hadn’t expected Kikri to get so aggressive, and honestly, Kikri couldn’t believe she was so quick to do it, either. Then she thought of this Shil actually trying to do what she insinuated to Jessie, causing doubt in her actions to disappear.
“T-threaten all you want; we both k-know you wouldn’t risk your sisters for it,” The girl managed to spout out before Kikri dropped her hold and put her blade to the woman’s throat. For half a moment, she imagined running the bitch through and spilling more of her ugly blue blood on the floor for threatening Jessie. But, barely holding herself back, she instead used her words.
“I’ve killed many more than you have counted, shellsucker. And if you EVER threaten MY MATE or my kho-sisters again, I will make you wish you had met the deep so quickly you’ll be gone before you hit the floor. It will be long, slow, and painful. I will take your mind to deny your deepminder. Your family won’t even have anything left to bury, and your goddess won’t have anything left to free. You will slowly waste away, knowing you weren’t even worth enough for me to take a trophy from. And if by some miracle I am caught, I will make sure to tell the truth that you were a man-beater and a coward. You begged for death in your last moments, powerless and helpless. Your service will be stricken, and your records will be struck from the annals of history. You will become a ghost no one remembers, never having achieved anything. Now leave.” Kikri’s voice was low, growling almost like an animal. A heavy grinding sound from gritting her teeth from wanting to bite this bitch’s skull in half only added to the intensity. This wasn’t a threat, and it wasn’t even a statement. It was a fact. Should she continue pushing this, Kikri would make good on her word; no Rakiri would make such a promise idly. And the Shil bitch knew it.
The Shil nodded, fear strongly present in her scent as Kikri let her go. The Shil marine began scrambling her way up and running out of the warehouse as quickly as possible. After all, Kikri had a reputation on this base, and most of the women here knew it. She sighed, watching the Shil ran off, even stumbling a time or two, evidently from the liquid residue of her fear... This was going to lead to more paperwork for her. Again.
She grabbed the mop to go clean up the mess.
------
“Have the preparations been made for the operation?” Lieutenant Commander Derval asked, sitting in her office while looking at an omnipad. There were various shuttle paths, flight plans, and inventories for inbound and outbound system traffic. Derval’s face was more tired than last time, having been pulling multiple all-nighters for the past few weeks in order to bring everything together for this plan of hers.
“Yes, Lt.Commander Derval. The bribes have all been accepted as of 0643 today. The teams are prepping for the exercise and have all been sworn to secrecy. In addition, we’ve implanted the stolen Consortium designs as well. So there is no risk of leakage.” A voice, gruff and low, said over the pad. Sergeant Xixian was a competent leader and an excellent soldier, Derval’s right-hand woman. She had personally volunteered for this mission even after knowing the stakes.
“Good. Make sure there are no survivors. And make sure nothing points back to us. Once the mission is over, activate the implants.” Derval said resolutely, leaving no room for argument.“I…Yes, Ma’am, I understand.”
It would be a loss having to give up valuable pawns from the DHC candidate course, even if they had been dropouts. Still, Derval was flying under the radar for both sides, and it was best to leave no loose ends. The fact she would lose Xixian from this mission also weighed painfully on her chest, especially since Xixian didn’t know she had an implant. Still, this was the job of a commander in war, and with a grim face, Derval accepted it.
‘Soon, you will cease being a problem, Jessie Reider.’
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2023.03.23 21:16 Uncle_Tim Planning on selling 1972 c10 longbed
 | I'm planning on selling my 1972 GMC c10 longbed. submitted by Uncle_Tim to classictrucks [link] [comments] Engine was swapped before I bought it, Odometer reads 56,378 which is how many miles is on the new engine, I'm not sure how many miles the rest of the truck has. The paint job isnt perfect, a couple minor dents, a few areas are flaking and the bed is a little rusty but on the road it looks nearly mint, can only really see the imperfections if you are looking for them. Runs great, ac and heater works, no modern stereo however the original raidio works fine (I've just been using a jbl boombox for music which works surprisingly well). Bench seat has holes In the drivers side which I "fixed" with tape. It also has a white weather guard toolbox which I think makes the truck look a whole lot nicer, and it provides more storage since its a single cab. So, what I'm trying to figure out is how much this truck is worth, and if there is anything I can do to increase its value before selling. Like a new paintjob would definitely increase its value, but I bet I'd end up spending more on the paintjob than the trucks increased value, so probably not worth it to get a paintjob, but what about fixing the seat? Would spending $500-$1500 on either a seat cover or new upholstery increase the trucks value more than the cost of the upholstery? Or should I leave the truck as is? Or what about adding a modern stereo? What I need help with is determining the tucks value, and which fixes would increase the value of the truck more than the cost of the repair. So basically how can I maximize my profits when selling. Also I live in california so the sale will likely be in california, but Ive heard more humid states will pay more for california vehicles because they don't rust as much, would it also be worth it to try and make the sale in a state like flordia? |
2023.03.23 21:12 NZVengeance Panel Liners and Weather Conversion?
Hello,
I have some painting guides that call for some products from AK and Tamiya. I was wondering if anyone know an equivalent in Ammo by Mig? (easier to source for me)
submitted by NZVengeance to minipainting [link] [comments]
I have some painting guides that call for some products from AK and Tamiya. I was wondering if anyone know an equivalent in Ammo by Mig? (easier to source for me)
- Tamiya Panel Line Accent -Black
- AK Interactive Paneliner - AK2073 Sand & Desert Camouflage
- AK Interactive Weathering Enamel - AK013 Rust Streaks