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How do I deal with young children?
2023.03.25 02:08 Deppressed_Blueberry How do I deal with young children?
So, my family just lost someone very close, and the funeral is out of province. Only my dad could attend, so I’m staying home taking care of my brothers (twins, ages 6 and autistic) as well as my mother (bed ridden with cushings disease). I’m really trying my best, because I just need to get my dad to be able to attend the funeral and be there for the family, minimal stress. The problem is mainly with the twins. They won’t listen to any reason, they bite, kick scratch, pinch, punch, scream at me and pull my hair. It hurts a lot so instinctively I will shove them away or yell, which can cause them to fall backwards and scream. Them screaming triggers my mother who will scream at me for hurting her golden children. I just can’t take it. I’m constantly in tears, pain or busy tuning around so that I can’t do the cooking and cleaning. I just need to make it for one more weekend and my dad will come back. Does anyone know how I can subdue them, get them to stop hurting me and to get them to calm down? Sorry for the mini rant.
submitted by Deppressed_Blueberry to helpme [link] [comments]
2023.03.24 18:23 ManyHappyRescueDogs Independence (MO) Examiner (Truman's hometown newspaper) @ Sat. April 14, 1945- "City Pays Final Tribute to President [FDR]" / "New President of the US [HST] enters the portals of the White House the morning after the death of FDR ... to begin his duties as Nations's thirty second chief executive."
 | submitted by ManyHappyRescueDogs to Presidents [link] [comments] |
2023.03.24 17:14 recruiterguy Tonal’s Valuation May Fall 90% in ‘Cram-Down’ Financing
From The Information (Tonal’s Valuation May Fall 90% in ‘Cram-Down’ Financing)
submitted by recruiterguy to tonalgym [link] [comments]
Tonal, a fitness startup with a cadre of celebrity backers, is crunched for cash after failing to find a buyer. The company now may take a drastic step: raising money at a valuation nearly 90% lower than its last one, in a deal that would effectively wipe out the stakes of many existing investors, people familiar with the matter said.
Private equity firm L Catterton, a current Tonal shareholder, is in talks to lead the funding round, which is expected to total $125 million at a valuation of between $200 million and $300 million, the people said. That would compare to the valuation of $1.6 billion at which Tonal last raised money, in 2021. The potential financing would be one of the harshest down rounds for a once high-flying startup that last raised money during the era of low interest rates.
THE TAKEAWAY • Tonal is in talks to raise $125 million at a 90% lower valuation • L Catterton leading funding talks • Round would be a cram down, significantly reducing stakes of earlier investors
The fundraising would give Tonal—which sells a smart home weight-training system and subscriptions to workout videos—a lifeline that could allow it to keep operating for a while longer. But it would have significant consequences for many existing investors. Tonal is negotiating a “cram-down” financing in which investors from previous rounds would see their stakes drastically reduced, effectively wiping out the smallest shareholders, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Investors also need to contribute a minimum to participate in the round, the people said. That effectively keeps out smaller investors unable to write bigger checks.
Other previously troubled startups such as scooter firm Lime and construction startup Katerra have taken similar “cram-down” deals. (Katerra has since filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.) The fact that Tonal is contemplating such a fundraising shows how tough the current environment is for companies trying to raise money.
A spokesperson for L Catterton said she couldn't comment. Tonal didn't respond to a request for comment.
The talks involving Tonal are ongoing and terms could change. Negotiators drew up one term sheet in recent weeks but later tossed it out, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Investors have held meetings regularly over the course of the last month as they debated terms, several people said.
One of Tonal’s most prominent shareholders, Dragoneer Investment Group, declined to lead the funding round, according to two people familiar with the matter. Dragoneer led the startup’s 2021 financing round. Dragoneer is, however, in discussions to participate in the current funding round. Dragoneer did not respond to a request for comment.
Tonal’s shareholders also include tech growth investors such as Sapphire as well as a smattering of professional athletes like Stephen Curry and Maria Sharapova. Investors have pumped more than $520 million into the firm since its 2016 founding, according to PitchBook.
While the pandemic gave Tonal, and rivals like Peloton, a big lift, the home fitness boom quickly died once lockdowns ended. Despite spending heavily last year on an ill-fated expansion involving opening bricks-and-mortar showrooms and engaging in pricey marketing, Tonal’s business has continued to struggle.
Tonal held talks with larger home fitness firm Peloton, which has grappled with its own financial woes, but those discussions haven’t progressed, according to a person familiar with the matter. Tonal hasn’t been able to drum up interest from any other buyers, another person close to the situation said. (Bloomberg first reported the Peloton discussions.)
2023.03.24 15:17 PritchettRobert506 [HIRING] 25 Jobs in MN Hiring Now!
2023.03.24 14:47 Fruit-Purveyor The Weird Week in r/adultery - March 24
Not the weirdest week I’ve seen in adultery, but I’m here with the highlights. Looks like some of you took a break from shitposting and were out there actually having sex with your affair partners in the real world or maybe even working?!
But, thankfully, not all of you.
Sunday - Crashing and burning
The title was simply “Can my affair work out long term? Or is it destined to crash and burn?” I wouldn’t blame you for scrolling right past it. Another office romance, maybe? An age gap? No. This is why we read the posts. OP has started sleeping with his wife’s sister. You would excuse me if I made a cartoonish head waggle here. Wife’s. Sister. They were both looking for “some excitement.” Mission accomplished. What could go wrong?
A Redditor is mildly infuriated that his AP didn’t quickly leap to his aid in a real life emergency. We wouldn’t necessarily expect an AP to be the first call you make in an emergency but we’re a reasonable jury (not really) and needed to get the whole story before we made that judgment. For context, OP, what was the emergency? A broken down car? A lost pet? An infirmed relative? Well, not exactly. But he did need some circuit breaker advice. If you’re thinking “that doesn’t sound like an emergency,” well what if you knew that Home Depot was just about to close!?!?!? Fire up the lights and sirens.
Monday - Adulterer hunting season opens
This story is unnerving. OP makes an online connection with a friendly guy. They have a nice conversation. Over time they agree to meet. They have coffee and things… progress as they sometimes do. Here is where the story takes a turn, friends. He starts actually falling for her and reveals that for the past several years he and a friend have been meeting cheaters, gaining their trust and information, and then exposing them to their spouses. After giving up the plot, he blocks her and does indeed expose her to her husband. In this case, the divorce was already in the works or the consequences could have been even worse. OP serves up revenge, like a boss. Take heed and be careful out there. We never know who is on the other side of that screen.
Tuesday was quiet. By Wednesday fear spreads that there will not be enough weird stories this week. Trust the sub. The sub will provide.
A clever Redditor posted this guide to translating what a guy says into what a guy means. The inevitable male response was included in the comments. This kind of post tends to turn into shitting on one sex or the other but this one stayed pretty civil and seemed to be taken in good humor. We gave as good as we got. The battle of the sexes rolls on but it looks like we’re still going to be fucking each other.
Thursday - The children are our future (demise)
We talk an awful lot about OPSEC around here and for good reason. We talk about not raising suspicion, keeping routines, secure messaging, planning, and financing all for the purpose of keeping our affairs hidden from our spouses. OP unlocked a new fear and reminded us that you shouldn’t forget that your kids are living with you too. They’re watching you, they’re noticing you, they know how to operate sneakily on a phone and they may very well be more tech savvy than you are. They’re more aware than you realize. If they don’t rat you out immediately, they may be inclined to use this leverage against you.
A post inquired about interest in an Affair Club. Like Fight Club, it’s in our best interest not to talk about it. However, it’s 2023 and all that really matters is branding. Somebody get to work on some merch and a catchy name.
Words of the week
Some of you requested a running grammar segment, but truth be known, I’m a numbers guy. I know when to stay in my lane. That said, gather ‘round fam. We need to talk about masturbation. Specifically, we need to talk about how to spell it. There are a few of you running around spelling it with an “e” where a “u” should be. Maybe you never learned, maybe you have a general disregard for spelling conventions, maybe you’re actively masturbating while typing; it’s not my place to say. Imagine you're 12 years old and sweating under the bright lights of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Your word is "masturbation." Remember: masturbation is something that “u” do.
While I’m on the front lawn yelling at the perverts about clarity of language, I’ll remind you that if you’re obfuscating1 the point of your story with less important details, then you are burying the lede. Unless you had a very dear (vibrator) battery die and had to give it funeral rites, you have probably never buried the lead.
Thanks again for the company. I wish you safe and happy copulations, friends.
1. My editor with benefits is a raging sapiosexual and a real word slut, so the usage of “obfuscating” is just for her. The rest of this is mumbling into the void.
submitted by Fruit-Purveyor to adultery [link] [comments]
But, thankfully, not all of you.
Sunday - Crashing and burning
The title was simply “Can my affair work out long term? Or is it destined to crash and burn?” I wouldn’t blame you for scrolling right past it. Another office romance, maybe? An age gap? No. This is why we read the posts. OP has started sleeping with his wife’s sister. You would excuse me if I made a cartoonish head waggle here. Wife’s. Sister. They were both looking for “some excitement.” Mission accomplished. What could go wrong?
A Redditor is mildly infuriated that his AP didn’t quickly leap to his aid in a real life emergency. We wouldn’t necessarily expect an AP to be the first call you make in an emergency but we’re a reasonable jury (not really) and needed to get the whole story before we made that judgment. For context, OP, what was the emergency? A broken down car? A lost pet? An infirmed relative? Well, not exactly. But he did need some circuit breaker advice. If you’re thinking “that doesn’t sound like an emergency,” well what if you knew that Home Depot was just about to close!?!?!? Fire up the lights and sirens.
Monday - Adulterer hunting season opens
This story is unnerving. OP makes an online connection with a friendly guy. They have a nice conversation. Over time they agree to meet. They have coffee and things… progress as they sometimes do. Here is where the story takes a turn, friends. He starts actually falling for her and reveals that for the past several years he and a friend have been meeting cheaters, gaining their trust and information, and then exposing them to their spouses. After giving up the plot, he blocks her and does indeed expose her to her husband. In this case, the divorce was already in the works or the consequences could have been even worse. OP serves up revenge, like a boss. Take heed and be careful out there. We never know who is on the other side of that screen.
Tuesday was quiet. By Wednesday fear spreads that there will not be enough weird stories this week. Trust the sub. The sub will provide.
A clever Redditor posted this guide to translating what a guy says into what a guy means. The inevitable male response was included in the comments. This kind of post tends to turn into shitting on one sex or the other but this one stayed pretty civil and seemed to be taken in good humor. We gave as good as we got. The battle of the sexes rolls on but it looks like we’re still going to be fucking each other.
Thursday - The children are our future (demise)
We talk an awful lot about OPSEC around here and for good reason. We talk about not raising suspicion, keeping routines, secure messaging, planning, and financing all for the purpose of keeping our affairs hidden from our spouses. OP unlocked a new fear and reminded us that you shouldn’t forget that your kids are living with you too. They’re watching you, they’re noticing you, they know how to operate sneakily on a phone and they may very well be more tech savvy than you are. They’re more aware than you realize. If they don’t rat you out immediately, they may be inclined to use this leverage against you.
A post inquired about interest in an Affair Club. Like Fight Club, it’s in our best interest not to talk about it. However, it’s 2023 and all that really matters is branding. Somebody get to work on some merch and a catchy name.
Words of the week
Some of you requested a running grammar segment, but truth be known, I’m a numbers guy. I know when to stay in my lane. That said, gather ‘round fam. We need to talk about masturbation. Specifically, we need to talk about how to spell it. There are a few of you running around spelling it with an “e” where a “u” should be. Maybe you never learned, maybe you have a general disregard for spelling conventions, maybe you’re actively masturbating while typing; it’s not my place to say. Imagine you're 12 years old and sweating under the bright lights of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Your word is "masturbation." Remember: masturbation is something that “u” do.
While I’m on the front lawn yelling at the perverts about clarity of language, I’ll remind you that if you’re obfuscating1 the point of your story with less important details, then you are burying the lede. Unless you had a very dear (vibrator) battery die and had to give it funeral rites, you have probably never buried the lead.
Thanks again for the company. I wish you safe and happy copulations, friends.
1. My editor with benefits is a raging sapiosexual and a real word slut, so the usage of “obfuscating” is just for her. The rest of this is mumbling into the void.
2023.03.24 05:27 Rainbow6SiegeCreator What If Legends and Canon Merged? Part 6: A United Front
Months after the founding of the Rebellion, Leia had a chance to lead the liberation of Lothal. She then came up with a plan to bring down the Imperial presence in one fell swoop.
Leia: Thanks to Ezra and the Ghost Crew, we have the perfect strategy to remove the Empire. When my ship lands, Kanan will disguise himself as a stormtrooper tasked with guarding me and…
While the plan was being discussed, Ahsoka received a transmission from one of her most trusted agents.
Ahsoka: What is it, Kallus?
Kallus: Thrawn is cracking down on sabotage. The new commander has a brutal way to keep citizens in line and has tanks roaming the wide streets. If I'm found out, he'll execute me.
Ahsoka: Thank you for the information. If you see a trooper and a scout or cadet, they are our agents. Intercept them if they finish their recon.
Kallus: Even though they won't trust me.
Ahsoka: Yes. Make sure that the Empire is held back while we complete our mission.
Kallus: I'll do my best, Fulcrum.
When Kanan arrived with Princess Leia, The Empire had escorted them both to the main base with Ezra posing as a scout trooper needing to test out some patrol bikes. When Ezra was watching the workers, he saw them get lined up by Thrawn and forced one of them to "inspect" their work. As the factory worker was pushing the bike to its limits, the bike exploded and the worker that was thrown off died on impact. Thrawn expected every detail of these bikes to be checked and double checked before sending them to the field. Kanan was then told by Leia to make sure the troops prepared a secure location in the city for her to reside. Kanan then continued to patrol around looking for more men to adhere to their guest's demands. Ezra then moved to the training ground before contacting Kanan about receiving the codes to remove the ship clamps.
Ezra: Spectre-1, I'm at the speeder garage making my way to your location. We need the Princess to make a distraction.
Kanan: I'll contact her and let her know that a rebel force is heading her way.
Kanan then switched channels to create a diversion that Leia will put the Empire on high alert for a supposed rebel attack.
Kanan: Princess, we have a situation. Rebels are coming in through the outskirts and sneaking through the slums. We need to move you to a secondary location.
Leia: Copy that, Spectre-1.
She then feigned fear when she ran to the nearest Imperial officer and told him about the Rebel attack.
Officer: Lock this location down after we evacuate and relocate to the secondary residence!
Stormtrooper 1: Yes sir! This way, Princess.
As Ezra blended in with the biker patrol group, he then made his way to the facility where Kallus oversaw the troop deployments. Kanan made his way with a squad of "stormtroopers" and reported the attack to the nearest officer when Agent Kallus stumbled upon the "frightened" trooper commander.
Kallus: What's the situation here?
Kanan: As I was telling the officer, a rebel attack is happening and they are sneaking through the slums.
Just as Kanan finishes his report, Ezra comes speeding towards the vehicle depot with Zeb in the Phantom chasing him down and seemingly shooting at him. When he got past the AT-DPs, the Phantom pulled out and Ezra ran to Kallus trying to report his view on the attack.
Ezra: Sir! Sir! The Rebels! They… they have air support and wiped out my entire squadron. I managed to escape and need-
Kallus: Calm down, Trooper. Both of you come with me. The rest of you, hold this depot.
Rex, Mech, Massiff Squadron: Yes, Sir!!!
When Kallus, Ezra, and Kanan were alone in a turbolift, Kallus revealed that he was Ahsoka's Fulcrum agent on the planet and was updated on everything they needed.
Back with the Ghost crew, an old friend of Ezra's parents, a former mayor of his hometown, snuck the rebels in through the sewer. Hera, Sabine, Ahsoka, and Zeb, as well as Chopper were brought to the surface and they saw a huge plethora of Imperial vehicles patrolling the wide streets from AT-DP walkers, TX-225 armored tanks, AT-AT walkers, and TX-130 fighter tanks.
When X1 oversaw the patrols, He began sensing that some of the troopers weren't who they said they were. He then found a group of Stormtroopers guarding the depot when it was predominantly abandoned due to all hands being needed to protect the rest of the base.
X1: What is your purpose here, trooper?
Mech: We're under orders to protect the depot in case the rebels try to destroy any means of patrolling the city or intercepting them.
X1: This depot isn't a target for these rebels. Who gave you these orders?
Rex: That would be Agent Kallus, Sir.
X1: Let me through. I have important information that Kallus needs to know so he can capture these rebels alive.
Howzer: Kallus ordered us that no one, not even other Imperials, enter the main offices due to the rebels possibly using disguises.
Back with the Ghost crew, Kanan and Ezra took the working Speeder and got it to the Ghost and went back to get the clones at the vehicle depot. X1 activated his lightsaber and threatened to cut down the next trooper that defied him. As X1 entered the turbolift, he saw a barely conscious Kallus on the ground with broken transparisteel panels.
X1: Agent? Agent! What happened here?
Kallus: The rebels broke in and I was thrown through these panels and-
X1: Listen, if the rebels have access to any information on any drives they may have taken, you will be replaced indefinitely.
Kallus: I can spy on their communications through one of the radios I confiscated and keep in a safe location.
X1: Outside of Imperial jurisdiction? What are you planning exactly, Kallus?
Kallus: If I can get to the comm channel through said device, I can affirm whether or not they have any stolen information.
X1: Alright. I'll put together an escort-
Kallus: No! I need to do this alone.
X1: Given your rank, you need one.
Kallus: Since we didn't expect their attack, they won't expect an Imperial Agent spying on them from outside the city.
X1: Fine. Get there and report your findings.
Kallus: Yes, commander.
X1 then hailed Grand Admiral Thrawn who was near the governor's building aware of the attack.
X1: Grand Admiral, I have troubling news.
Thrawn: I am aware of the rebel attack, Commander. Is it about Kallus?
X1: Yes, Sir. I have reason to believe that he is the mole for these rebels, and that a Jedi is part of the rebel assault.
Thrawn: Thank you for confirming our suspicions, Commander. I will handle Kallus myself. You take on the Jedi, and let the rest of the troops round up the rest of them.
When the rebels made it to the surface, Hera radioed to Chopper to fly the Ghost to pick up Kanan, Ezra, and the clones. What stopped the duo of Jedi was a cold presence exiting the offices with a lightsaber drawn.
Ezra: Is he-
Kanan: With as cold as we are feeling, I don't think so.
X1: Killing the Grand Inquisitor, bold move. Putting a target on your back, however; very, very stupid of you.
Kanan: If you think we should fear you, you've got another thing coming.
Ezra: Do you even know how to use a lightsaber? Looks to me like you're only playing Jedi.
X1: Allow me to show you, boy.
As the pair went against the JT clone, X1 delivered a flurry against both opponents using Form 1 with ferocious swing to Ezra's blade opening the boy up to a knee in the stomach and a clash with Kanan. This ended with X1 pushing his saber aside and headbutting Kanan to disorient him. X1 then tried to deliver a killing blow to Ezra but Kanan blocked it. Ezra tried getting up, but X1 used a massive Force push into the ground making the three of them bounce. Ezra was winded but quickly recovered and began an offensive flurry of his own with Kanan attempting to attack his sides. After X1 opened Ezra up he landed a kick to his gut which sent him flying until he was gripped with the Force and thrown behind X1. As X1 was about to cut Ezra in two, Kanan slashed at X1's right leg and brought him to a kneel, but X1 used his signature tactic of feigning defeat until Kanan got close enough to strike, then X1 turned on his downed leg and slashed Kanan's eyes, blinding him almost permanently. Ezra got up and used whatever saber attacks he could to break the Imperial officer. X1 dodged every single swing and dismantled the boy at every turn with a kick to the gut, a punch to the left shoulder, and a backhanded fist across the same cheek. Ezra then in his exhaustion landed a couple blows against X1's chest before getting thrown out of the Vehicle depot, Imperial disguise in shatters.
After the Ghost landed, Zeb hurried and grabbed Ezra, but Ezra was trying to lift Kanan and bring him in, but Hera took off on Kanan's orders to leave him. X1 had Kanan restrained and brought to the prison complex in the city. Ezra and the Ghost then had to make it to the landing pad where Leia’s ship was and release the clamps, When the clones got off, they pretended that they were holding off rebels when a TX-225 rolled to their position. An Imperial gunship had escorted Princess Leia to the ship and Leia had the information she needed sent by chopper into another code cylinder that she swiped from the officer she groveled to for help. Back where Kallus found the comm he had in Ezra's home, he began coordinating the rebels escape from the city and let them know about a starfighter program and contingencies for if Lothal wasn’t kept in line. Just as Kallus was about to explain the final contingency plan, Thrawn had shown up in an Imperial troop transport and went up to the single room building alone.
Thrawn: The Commander and I were right to be suspicious of you.
Kallus: You were killing workers needlessly! This is perpetuating the rebel attacks, not stopping them!
Thrawn: Perhaps you've forgotten that the Empire rules through fear, and which side you align with.
As the two engaged in hand-to-hand combat, Thrawn got the upper hand by landing a decisive blow to Kallus's right temple and landing a kick to Kallus's gut causing the traitorous agent to fall, only to be caught by X1 with a captured Kanan Jarrus in tow.
Back with the Alliance, they reported that they got the Intel, and that Kanan got captured. This prompted another strike on Lothal, but the target based on the intel given by Kallus meant that they were going to infiltrate the TIE Defender program.
Meanwhile, Thrawn had begun further reinforcing the Empire’s presence in the area. X1 then started getting a strange feeling that something was off in the Force.
Thrawn: Something the matter, Commander?
X1: Yes, Sir. Just got a migraine. A very troublesome migraine at that.
Thrawn: Don’t play it off as something minor, Commander. I know you have the abilities of Lord Vader. What was it you saw?
X1: THere’s a temple and other artifacts a few miles from there. A… a mural of sorts is inscribed there… AAAAAHH!
Thrawn: Lieutenant, get the Commander to the Medical Bay and contact Lord Vader. WE’ve found something that the Emperor may find Interesting.
Officer: Yes, Grand Admiral.
Back with Lord Vader, he was on Kamino tending to his secret project; cloning Starkiller. For months he had been attempting to find the perfect clone, but when it came to the final test, all of them had failed. He periodically checked on his clones to see how long they would survive isolation.
During one mission to Cato Neomoidia, which hadn't seen activity in decades, General Rahm Kota, Chirrut Îmwe, and a squad of rebels were sent to bring down the Imperial moffs, and gain Neomoidian support for the war effort. Bail Organa knew that he had a few operations going simultaneously and knew he only needed to call of Kenobi or Yoda in case of emergencies. Juno Eclipse was in command after Kota left for the mission, and she hoped that the mission was to be short.
Back on Atollon, Wolffe had pulled Mech aside and gave him a new long term assignment.
Wolffe: Mech! Can I see you for a moment?
Mech: Yes Sir! What do you need?
Wolffe: We have an AT-TE from the last War that would be beneficial to the defense of the rebel base on Yavin. Since you have the most training on piloting Walkers, we need you there to help train the rebels in case they overtake one of the Imperial's.
Mech: Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir! Men, I need a hand getting this AT-TE loaded…
As Wolffe ordered pilots to make a trip to Yavin 4, Many assets were being allocated to rescuing Kanan and liberating Lothal from Imperial rule. As Ezra regaled about who he and Kanan fought, a certain squad became interested in the mission.
Ezra: He was dressed like an Imperial Officer, but he wielded a blue lightsaber. He wasn’t a Jedi, or an Inquisitor. He was something else.
X2: Commander Bridger, did he look anything like me?
Ezra: Now that I examined your face, yeah, he did.
X2: You just met my twin brother, X1. HE and I served together in the Clone Wars from the Invasion of Tatooine to the Battle of Cato Neimoidia. What happened after Cato Neimoidia, I wholeheartedly regret until defecting before the Empire attacked Dantooine.
X2 looked shaken, pale, and began to sweat over all the Jedi he killed, and rewound all the way back to Ferroda. Ezra and the rest of the Alliance were shocked about X2’s actions in the Empire, but Rex, Howzer, 78s, Ramm, and Vice remembered that day, the Jedi they fought alongside, and the brother they lost, Solar.
On Kamino, Vader had began a holocommunication to Crosshair about his next mission.
Crosshair: Yes, Lord Vader?
Vader: Report your progress for your mission on Ferrix.
Crosshair: A fugitive who is known by a recently deceased woman has escaped the system, but the ISB have a couple of tails on him throughout the galaxy.
Vader: Where are these tails following him to?
Crosshair: From what I overheard, he was headed to Jedha to meet with a rebel cell there.
Vader: Good. there is an Imperial Garrison that will hunt him down and hand them over to the ISB. Report to Kamino for your next mission.
Crosshair: Yes, my lord.
When Crosshair landed near Vader’s TIE Advanced X1 fighter, he exited and walked to meet the taller figure and kneeled in subservience and respect.
Vader: Rise. Your new orders are to go to dantooine, and place a beacon near where the rebels hold their prisoners. You may recognize the location. If any important Imperials are imprisoned there, activate the beacon, and a rescue team will be there to extract them, compile the list as the beacon is active.
Crosshair: What of the rebel presence there? If they are taken out, many would surely notice. If I use my signature reflecting pucks, some are going to recognize my work and hunt me down.
Vader: The clones will not be stationed on Dantooine. It has been a long time since they even saw you. You have the element of surprise on your side. Bury the beacon deep so that nothing can detect it.
Crosshair: I will leave at once, my lord.
Vader then saw the second of his most trusted agents leave for a mission as he returned to finding the right clone.
With the Alliance, Ezra then began to take a command role due to his knowledge of the planet and wanting to rescue Kanan. Ahsoka was the only other Jedi to lead an attack. He then explained his plan with a mix of real tactics he picked up from the last excursion and throughout his time with the Ghost Crew.
Ezra: Here's the plan: Now that we know that The Empire has tanks and walkers patrolling the larger areas, we're gonna need all the heavy firepower on the ground to take them out or use them against the other tanks and walkers. I'll lead a squad to rescue Kanan in the prison complex, Ahsoka, you lead the primary attack near the Governor's building. Thrawn should be there.
Hera: I know you want to save Kanan and drive Thrawn away, but there are times where we have to make a choice.
Ezra: We've pulled simultaneous attacks ever since we joined the Alliance. This is pretty much SOP at this point.
Sabine: We also have to take down the TIE Defender project. If we let them go, they will decimate our assault on the ground and any air support we try to bring in.
X2: If you need a good squad of pilots and soldiers, we can go with you, Sabine and pilot some of the Defenders. This could even teach us how they work.
Sabine: Alright, that part's covered.
Ahsoka: What about the rescue effort?
Wolffe: I'll help on the ground. I have to find some excuse to show these troops that I still got it.
Ezra: Alright, Wolffe, you, Rex, and Gregor will help lead the rescue on the ground. I'll sneak in using our old friend, and Hera, you join Sabine for the TIE Defender raid. Ahsoka, you go with the clones.
Hera: Where will you be?
Zeb: Alright, Someone's gonna have to look after this kid. I'll go with you and get you to the prison on the far side.
Ezra: Sounds fine to me. Everyone knows their places?
Sabine, Ahsoka, Rex, X2, and Hera affirm their parts of the plan and begin loading up into the Ghost, Republic shuttle, and X-wings.
Meanwhile with the Empire on Lothal, X1 is in the middle of torturing Kanan with 2 sapphire blades when a trooper gave him orders from the Emperor himself.
Stormtrooper: Sir, The Emperor wishes to make contact with you.
X1: Have someone take over his torture with a strong mind while I'm with the Emperor.
Stormtrooper: Yes, Sir.
When X1 made it to his war room, he activated the holocommunicator display and bowed to the projection of Palpatine.
X1: My Emperor, it's an honor to receive communications from you.
Emperor: Rise, Commander. I have been told that you found something that warranted my attention.
X1: Yes, my Emperor. There is a temple here, miles from the city with two symbols at the entrance to it.
Emperor: Has this been recorded in Imperial documents?
X1: No, my Emperor.
Emperor: Then how do you know?
X1: The method I had attained this knowledge from is, I had a piercing headache and suddenly, I saw it.
Emperor: You saw the temple without going near it?
X1: In short, yes, my Emperor.
Emperor: [Thinking] This could only mean… [Exit thought] How long has Vader been training you?
X1: Almost a year, my Emperor.
Emperor: Your newfound abilities have revealed a Jedi secret. I still have use for you, Commander. Lord Vader will continue to train you, and you will capture the jedi and force them to open it. During all of these events, you will only be an assassin, not his apprentice.
When X1 brought Kanan to the hidden temple, Vader's castle aide, Venee, arrived as a scholar of the Force, who also allocated Imperial resources to another location on Lothal which was more powerful than the temple, unbeknownst to the commander.
X1: Who might you be?
Venee: I've seen you tour and train at the castle from time to time. You were just too focused on training to notice me. No need to worry, Commander. Your secret with Lord Vader is safe with me and his castle walls.
X1: Thank you.
When the rebels launched their multi-pronged attack on the Empire, Ahsoka and the clones patrolled the city quarter for any heavy Imperial reinforcements, Sabine and X2 led grey Squadron to covertly recon and destroy the TIE Defender program, Ezra and Zeb went to scout out the prison before Ahsoka and the clones rendevouzed with them after eliminating the Imperial presence in the city and slums. FIxer, Boss, Wolffe, and Gregor joined Rex on the ground and each clone had an old PLX rocket launcher to take down the walkers and tanks. Ezra and Zeb made short work of the small Imperial patrols around the prison, but X1 had a plan of his own.
X1: What can you tell me about this temple that was in my visions?
Venee: The Temple has two sets of symbols each in their own circles, but it requires both a master and apprentice to open.
X1: I beat back a younger boy who was fighting alongside the Jedi I captured weeks ago. No doubt he’ll try to rescue his master.
Venee: Then you have your apprentice to open the temple. I will be at the mural if you need further guidance.
X1 then returned to his post in the prison, and received an communication from Admiral Thrawn.
Thrawn: Commander, We have tracked the rebels’ flight activity and tracked them to the Atollon system. We are going to send an Imperial garrison there if the Rebels escape. What is your status?
X1: Grand Admiral, We found the artifacts that the Emperor is looking for. Vader’s aide is at one of them and I am going to transport the Jedi prisoners to the temple.
Thrawn: You expect to take another Jedi captive, Commander? It must be a powerful artifact in the temple.
X1: Yes, Grand Admiral. The temple requires both a master and an apprentice to open it. These jedi will be the keys.
Thrawn: Quite a find and quite a puzzle to solve. The Jedi are a lot more protective of their secrets than we thought.
When Ezra and Zeb made it into the prison, he gave Chopper orders to fly overhead and do a recon flight for any incoming Imperial air support. When Ezra found Kanan in his cell, Zeb got a hold of him and attempted to escape, but X1 threw the Lasat against the wall with Kanan knocked out and Ezra to fight the brutal Imperial commander. After Ahsoka left the main square and the surrounding areas with vehicles behind repair, Ahsoka activated her blades and joined Ezra in his duel wil the Imperial commander. X1 had a chill run up his spine as he activated his sapphire blade and blocked strikes from both Jedi but after a large force repulse, Ahsoka and Ezra were thrown back and the clones and Stormtroopers fought over Kanan. Ezra ordered Zeb to retreat and fight back to the Ghost, and when Zeb exited the prison, Chopper used the Phantom to pick him up and get Zeb to the pilot seat of the Ghost.
Meanwhile with Sabine, Hera, and Grey Squadron, X2 took two of his men and sent the rest in the air awaiting a signal for support. Sabine disguised herself as an Imperial Ace and learned how to fly the hexa-winged craft. Hera did the best she could, slicing into a stowed fighter, giving the Empire a diversion. One of the other pilots in the program was a young Wedge Antilles who had doubts about the Empire, but knew he had to stay below the Empire's radar. X2 and his squadmates had to disguise themselves as stormtroopers, despite the discomfort of the armor plating.
X2: Greys 5, 2, and 4, commence flyover.
Greys: On our way, Commander.
Hera: I sliced into a stowed Defender, Spectre-5, are you in the air?
Sabine had to switch channels temporarily since she was also communicating with the controllers on the ground.
Controller: Cadet, Cadet! What's wrong?
Sabine: Nothing, Ground Control. I'm alright. Had to find the right channel, and accidentally hit something on my helmet.
Controller: We just saw rebel fighters fly overhead! Take them down!
Sabine: Yes, Sir!
Back with Hera, the Twi’lek finally got a stowed ship in the air and she ordered X2 and the squad on the ground to fire on her as she was taking off to give Sabine two "problems" to worry about.
Officer: What happened, trooper?!
Grey 3: A rebel stole one of the fighters! We tried to stop them but they took off!
Grey 6: We have to warn the test flight.
Officer: Alright, you three. Come with me!
X2: Yes, sir!
As the officer and 3 "stormtroopers" made it to the testing ground, Sabine had to shoot down 3 X-wings and another TIE Defender to sell the deception. Hera then ordered everyone in the air to stall their engines for a brief moment and begin the assault.
Officer: She got them!
Ground Control: Go investigate the crash sites and kill any survivors!
Grey 6: Yes, Sir!
Just as the order was given, Sabine and Hera destroyed the stowed fighters in the hangar and the X-wings destroyed the landing platforms. As the fighters made their getaway, the "stormtroopers" feigned being killed and when the Officer's made their way away from the destroyed test field, X2 and the others made their escape.
Before the test flight team evacuated the area, the ground control hit a control that deactivated the engines and made the fighters crash land inbthe hills below. Among the pursuing Imperial forces was the pilot Wedge who had a decision to make. Something that he remembered Sabine saying before her flight stuck with him and what he had been thinking to himself ever since he got to the Academy. He then stole the officer's pistol and killed the other Imperials. After Hera got the tactical computer off of her ship, the Imperial transport that Wedge rode in was being used by the rebels and defector to head over to the prison.
Back with Venee at the Mural, he began organizing patrols around it in case the temple was opened and other forces were about to converge. X1 had captured both Ezra and Kanan, and Ahsoka and the Clones evacuated the Ghost. Hera tried to get a hold of Ezra, but had no response.
Hera: Spectre-6? Spectre-6, do you copy?! Blast it! Wedge, regroup with the rest of our group. Chopper, Bring the Phantom in case we need an extraction!
Chopper boarded the phantom and sped his way to his mistress's location and what awaited her were two death troopers and the familiar Chiss who had taken over her family home.
Hera: Not this slimo again.
Thrawn: Syndulla. Pleasure to see you again. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Hera remembered the psychological torture she endured at his hands on her home planet and knew she had to prove she was not the scared child she was.
Back at the Temple, X1 threw both Kanan and Ezra to the temple entrance and ordered them to open it.
X1: Don't even think of standing up before that temple is opened. The first to refuse, the other loses their head!
Kanan and Ezra remained calm and did their best to open the temple, but Ezra's anger kept making the temple close again. X1 had both of their lightsabers in his hands and was about to slice them both until Ahsoka blasted X1 with a Force push. As the two clashed, Kanan and Ezra made their escape, but X1 pursued them in Imperial transport gunships and Kanan was knocked off due to a blast on the rear passenger wing into the power station. Kanan made sure to grab the sabers before escaping and hid amongst the generators.
X1: How noble of your friends to save you both, but you and I both know that the galaxy is better off without the Jedi. No wonder you had to hide who you were for so many years.
When Kanan hid behind one stack of generators, X1 had his blade to light the way until Kanan heard a voice or two that was familiar. The other two jedi that had been blinded by the dark side communed with Kanan from Cato Neimoidia Jedha guiding his actions as the two blind masters meditated. The duel was going smoothly for Kanan until X1 began planting explosives around the generators in an effort to kill the Jedi. As Kanan landed a kick to X1's chest, making him lose balance as the two dueled on top of the power generators. X1 had used his lightsaber to assist in climbing back up, but Kanan held back the explosions and X1 used the Force to jump away from the station and evacuate the erupting power station.
When Ezra, Wedge, and Sabine broke Hera free, Ezra and Hera boarded the stolen gunship and made their way to Kanan. As the blind Jedi teacher stood on top of the generator, holding back the flames and energy, the voices told him to surrender to the Force and much to the dismay of the Ghost crew, just as Kanan's eyes were allowed to see his friends, and his love for the last time, he refocused all the energy that he had keeping both the flames and his friends at bay, he moved his friends and love to safety as he let the flames and energy engulf him as his essence became one with the Force.
Ezra: No! I had so many questions! Who will continue my training now?!
Sabine: He was the best of all of us! Why did the Empire have to take him?
Hera couldn't make out any words other than a sob because the last time she was close with Kanan, she allowed herself to be physically vulnerable, and it was the only time she would get to feel that way with him.
Back with the Empire, X1 reported that the Jedi died in the blast. Venee was about to protest that it was a bad move, but then remembered that only one was needed to interact with the mural.
X1: Admiral, The jedi is dead. We can't open the temple anymore.
Thrawn: How unfortunate. We might as well destroy it then.
Venee: Admiral, Commander, may I interrupt?
Thrawn: Proceed, Aide.
Venee: The temple may be closed off, but the mural is not, but only requires one jedi to interact with it.
Thrawn: If we can manage to reclaim one Jedi, we can see what the mural can do.
X1: I will make sure that task becomes no problem.
Thrawn: Excellent, Commander. You will be in charge of Lothal in my absence. Governor Pryce will be en route to the municipal building in a few hours. Prepare for her arrival.
X1: Yes, Grand Admiral.
Back on Atollon, the clones, Jedi, and rebels began to mourn the loss of another Jedi. Ezra, Hera, and Sabine were the ones who were hit the hardest, while Zeb and Chopper set aside their differences for a good while. As the funeral proceeded, Thrawn was watching from probe droids he sent to survey the rebel cell and waited for the moment to strike.
Officer: Why do we wait to attack when we can strike now at their weakest?
Thrawn: An enemy in mourning is an enemy driven by passion, emotion, and clouded judgment. When the enemy has a clear head, they are easier to read and take down.
Officer: We should just attack while they are defenseless.
Thrawn: Then we would be no different than them. We must show that we are a civilized entity that respects the dead whether friend or foe.
Elsewhere in the galaxy, Vader returns to Kamino after another clone of Starkiller had survived the cloning process. When he landed his TIE Advanced X1 fighter, he made his way to the training chamber for the clone. Vader had a small glimmer of hope that this clone would prove efficient for his purposes of ending the rebels and assisting him in usurping the Emperor.
Vader: You still live.
StarkillerC: How long?
Vader: One month in isolation. Astonishing.
Starkiller: Everything I need, I have in the Force.
Vader: Rise.
The Starkiller clone then stood on his feet and Vader began instructing the clone on what he needed like he did all the others before him. As he watched the test that the clone had partaken in, the clone was about to strike down the image of Juno Eclipse, but he hesitated. Vader began to hang his head in shame until he heard another saber ignite through the image’s chest.
Vader saw the image fall as the clone’s eyes turned a sith yellow and his skin slowly begin to pale. This was the clone he needed, but Vader knew that in order to surprise the rebellion, he had to capitalize on a clone escaping and bringing the rebels to them on a silver platter.
StarkillerC: What is thy bidding, my master?
Vader: Remain in these facilities until the Rebels come here. If the clone brings the rebels here and attempts to execute me, you will do what it can not.
StarkillerC: Yes, master.
Meanwhile on Dantooine, Crosshair found the rebel prison and planted the beacon. All that needed to be done was return to Kamino and make sure that Vader's plan, or at least one of them, unbeknownst to the loyal Imperial clone, succeeded.
Back with the Ghost Crew, Ezra had continued to grieve and make his way to the one who had been teaching Kanan whenever they were on base. This being was the Bendu and the young Jedi knew that in order to put an end to Thrawn, his emotions needed to be put to the wayside. As he continued talking to The Bendu, he meditated to find Kanan in the Force.
Captain Eclipse was worried about Kota, but knew that she ordered him to stay and he refused.
Bail Organa had checked on his forces and saw that the clones became combat instructors for the rebel forces.
Back over Atollon, Juno had met Commander Wolffe and the two began discussing different operations.
Wolffe: Captain Eclipse.
Juno: You must be Commander Wolffe. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Wolffe: Likewise. I see you're planning a mission to Cato Neimoidia.
Juno: Yes, my general had gone against orders again and began attacking an Imperial target there, but was captured and the squad was killed.
Wolffe: I once knew of a pair of Jedi that went against orders.
Juno: Were you a veteran of the Clone Wars?
Wolffe: I was. From the battle of Abregado to the Invasion of Cato Neimoidia.
Juno: I remember reading about the Outer Rim Sieges at the Imperial Academy. What was your role in the battle?
Wolffe had given her the story of his involvement and his regretful actions due to the chip in his head.
After X1 ended the Jedi he made his way to his quarters where a holocall from Lord Vader was waiting.
Vader: Venee tells me that a Jedi is dead.
X1: Yes, my master, but at the cost of the city power station. This can be spun into a relief effort, I know it.
Vader: I am not worried about the Imperial logistics, Commander. Your new orders are to meet me on Kamino. Your skills need further tuning.
X1: Yes, my master. I will be there in two rotations.
When X1 arrived in Timira city, he was greeted by Vader and led to a secret training room where X1 began to feel something was off about the room. He then felt the presence of another Force user in the room and Vader stood aside and watched his clone take on his apprentice. When X1 began to use foresight, he blocked the incoming strike. After blocking 5 more, he was disarmed.
Vader: Your form is slow, rigid, and blunt. Meet Starkiller, or the closest thing. This is the boy I had trained unbeknownst to the Emperor.
X1 then realized what he had to do. Defeat this clone and Vader would award him his own Destroyer.
The clone had begun his barrage of attacks that made X1's look like a grown adult beating up a child. As the duel slowly began to favor X1, he saw the clone attempt Force lightning and X1 used his anger and attempted to do the same with surprising success. After X1 won the lightning clash, he began to take to Form VII and Form IV to beat down the clone. When X1 was about to stab the clone he suspended both of them with the Force.
Vader: Well done, Commander. Your destroyer has been ordered to arrive within hours. As for you, you must train harder against enemies with sabers and blasters alike.
As the three separated, a shuttle landed on the platform at the end of the walkway. X1 thanked Vader with a kneel and boarded the shuttle.
Back with the Rebels near Atollon, They see a couple light cruisers nearing the base. Thrawn then sees two Jedi defending the entrance but as the Stormtroopers fail to penetrate the Base's defenses, Kallus, who happened to be on the vessel, escapes his restraints and continues leaking plans to the rebels at their war room. When Ezra retreated, he was found by some death troopers and he took them down. The death troopers surrounded Ahsoka and began trying to stun her. She had remembered the training Anakin put her through, as well as her and Rex defending against the clones aboard the venator above Lubang Minor. In the near constant array of stun blasts, Thrawn threw an arc detonator and knocked out Ahsoka with the electric shock.
The Empire then dragged Ahsoka's body aboard the light cruiser and Thrawn began to try breaking down Ahsoka to make her open the mural for Vader's aide.
Kallus then added the details he's learned to the rebel cell and Ezra used these details to update his plan. As Ezra adjusted his plan to include rescuing Ahsoka from Thrawn’s grasp and moving different troops to each task. Ezra had put his emotions away due to the tragedies the alliance had experienced. As the final preparations were made to go back to Lothal, Ezra stopped by the Bendu for guidance and counsel in the Force. After a few guiding words from the entity who is neutral in the Force, Ezra had a resolve like no other.
Back with the Empire, Ahsoka was placed in front of the mural examining the three figures that she remembered interacting with on a distant planet called Mortis. As she examined the mural she then took a look at another owl-like creature flying to one perch on the rock face. She had been referring to the bird as Morrai, which for Ahsoka, who she thought was the embodiment of The Daughter. What the Force had concealed from the Togruta was that it was actually Ahsoka herself that was The Daughter. The memories of her time on Mortis came rushing back to her as she was being forced to open the mural.
When Ezra and the Rebels landed, Rex and Wolffe then took Grey Squadron along with Kallus to sneak past the Imperial patrols. Ezra ordered Sabine, Hera, Zeb, Chopper, and X2 to follow him through the slums and look for a ship to get to the rural landscapes where the mural had been located while disguising himself as a scout trooper with Sabine joining him in this endeavor. When the transport was secured, Hera took the controls, Zeb helped X2 with a supposed prisoner transfer, but they were infiltrating the municipal grid.
Before the assault began, Sabine had a few unresolved feelings she felt Ezra needed to be made aware of. As the two shared their first loving embrace, it calmed both the Jedi padawan, and the mandalorian outcast and helped them compose themselves. As Rex, Wolffe, Gregor, and X2 began conducting the guerilla warfare in the streets, Ezra and Sabine took disguises as Scout troopers stationed at the Mural, Hera provided transport for the clones, Zeb had been flying the Phantom for additional air support.
When Ezra and Sabine began to interact with the Mural, the pictures there began to move as Ahsoka began to mimic applying the Force to it as she saw two Imperial Scouts touch it. As the pictures on the mural turned black, X1 and Venee forced Ahsoka to touch the moving artwork only to see her hands go inside it like it was a body of water, discovering that it was a portal to a different location, possibly a different realm.
Venee: This… is a… portal?! The Emperor will be very pleased with this discovery.
Ezra: Where does it lead?
Venee: From what I have researched, it is to a realm where history is spectated as if it were windows to shops in an urban district.
When Sabine began to inquire about it, since she was the only non-force sensitive of the three, she embedded a code word for Ahsoka to hear and pull them into the portal and the rest of the team to come and assist them.
Sabine: If this is a portal where you could see other moments in time, would it be possible to change some of the events of the past?
Before Venee could answer the question, Ahsoka had pulled her sabers to her and she threw both Ezra and Sabine into the portal and followed suit as the Empire tried firing into the realm before they were ordered to focus on the threat behind them. Ezra began to meditate and before the rest of the combatants knew it, Loth-wolves had joined the fray, pouncing and ripping the stormtroopers to shreds.
As the three examined the realm they were now in, they had heard multiple voices, through multiple different portals, some familiar from events of the past, and others that were strange from events of the future. One of these portals had recently opened and revealed an ominous figure standing near a cauldron of blue flames.
Emperor: You three have interfered in matters you know nothing of. Now you will experience the full power of the Dark side!
The Emperor then began to use the flames to engulf the 3 in sith magic as he began an incantation in the ancient Sith dialect and the three ran in search for the portal they entered from.
submitted by Rainbow6SiegeCreator to StarWarsWhatIf [link] [comments]
Leia: Thanks to Ezra and the Ghost Crew, we have the perfect strategy to remove the Empire. When my ship lands, Kanan will disguise himself as a stormtrooper tasked with guarding me and…
While the plan was being discussed, Ahsoka received a transmission from one of her most trusted agents.
Ahsoka: What is it, Kallus?
Kallus: Thrawn is cracking down on sabotage. The new commander has a brutal way to keep citizens in line and has tanks roaming the wide streets. If I'm found out, he'll execute me.
Ahsoka: Thank you for the information. If you see a trooper and a scout or cadet, they are our agents. Intercept them if they finish their recon.
Kallus: Even though they won't trust me.
Ahsoka: Yes. Make sure that the Empire is held back while we complete our mission.
Kallus: I'll do my best, Fulcrum.
When Kanan arrived with Princess Leia, The Empire had escorted them both to the main base with Ezra posing as a scout trooper needing to test out some patrol bikes. When Ezra was watching the workers, he saw them get lined up by Thrawn and forced one of them to "inspect" their work. As the factory worker was pushing the bike to its limits, the bike exploded and the worker that was thrown off died on impact. Thrawn expected every detail of these bikes to be checked and double checked before sending them to the field. Kanan was then told by Leia to make sure the troops prepared a secure location in the city for her to reside. Kanan then continued to patrol around looking for more men to adhere to their guest's demands. Ezra then moved to the training ground before contacting Kanan about receiving the codes to remove the ship clamps.
Ezra: Spectre-1, I'm at the speeder garage making my way to your location. We need the Princess to make a distraction.
Kanan: I'll contact her and let her know that a rebel force is heading her way.
Kanan then switched channels to create a diversion that Leia will put the Empire on high alert for a supposed rebel attack.
Kanan: Princess, we have a situation. Rebels are coming in through the outskirts and sneaking through the slums. We need to move you to a secondary location.
Leia: Copy that, Spectre-1.
She then feigned fear when she ran to the nearest Imperial officer and told him about the Rebel attack.
Officer: Lock this location down after we evacuate and relocate to the secondary residence!
Stormtrooper 1: Yes sir! This way, Princess.
As Ezra blended in with the biker patrol group, he then made his way to the facility where Kallus oversaw the troop deployments. Kanan made his way with a squad of "stormtroopers" and reported the attack to the nearest officer when Agent Kallus stumbled upon the "frightened" trooper commander.
Kallus: What's the situation here?
Kanan: As I was telling the officer, a rebel attack is happening and they are sneaking through the slums.
Just as Kanan finishes his report, Ezra comes speeding towards the vehicle depot with Zeb in the Phantom chasing him down and seemingly shooting at him. When he got past the AT-DPs, the Phantom pulled out and Ezra ran to Kallus trying to report his view on the attack.
Ezra: Sir! Sir! The Rebels! They… they have air support and wiped out my entire squadron. I managed to escape and need-
Kallus: Calm down, Trooper. Both of you come with me. The rest of you, hold this depot.
Rex, Mech, Massiff Squadron: Yes, Sir!!!
When Kallus, Ezra, and Kanan were alone in a turbolift, Kallus revealed that he was Ahsoka's Fulcrum agent on the planet and was updated on everything they needed.
Back with the Ghost crew, an old friend of Ezra's parents, a former mayor of his hometown, snuck the rebels in through the sewer. Hera, Sabine, Ahsoka, and Zeb, as well as Chopper were brought to the surface and they saw a huge plethora of Imperial vehicles patrolling the wide streets from AT-DP walkers, TX-225 armored tanks, AT-AT walkers, and TX-130 fighter tanks.
When X1 oversaw the patrols, He began sensing that some of the troopers weren't who they said they were. He then found a group of Stormtroopers guarding the depot when it was predominantly abandoned due to all hands being needed to protect the rest of the base.
X1: What is your purpose here, trooper?
Mech: We're under orders to protect the depot in case the rebels try to destroy any means of patrolling the city or intercepting them.
X1: This depot isn't a target for these rebels. Who gave you these orders?
Rex: That would be Agent Kallus, Sir.
X1: Let me through. I have important information that Kallus needs to know so he can capture these rebels alive.
Howzer: Kallus ordered us that no one, not even other Imperials, enter the main offices due to the rebels possibly using disguises.
Back with the Ghost crew, Kanan and Ezra took the working Speeder and got it to the Ghost and went back to get the clones at the vehicle depot. X1 activated his lightsaber and threatened to cut down the next trooper that defied him. As X1 entered the turbolift, he saw a barely conscious Kallus on the ground with broken transparisteel panels.
X1: Agent? Agent! What happened here?
Kallus: The rebels broke in and I was thrown through these panels and-
X1: Listen, if the rebels have access to any information on any drives they may have taken, you will be replaced indefinitely.
Kallus: I can spy on their communications through one of the radios I confiscated and keep in a safe location.
X1: Outside of Imperial jurisdiction? What are you planning exactly, Kallus?
Kallus: If I can get to the comm channel through said device, I can affirm whether or not they have any stolen information.
X1: Alright. I'll put together an escort-
Kallus: No! I need to do this alone.
X1: Given your rank, you need one.
Kallus: Since we didn't expect their attack, they won't expect an Imperial Agent spying on them from outside the city.
X1: Fine. Get there and report your findings.
Kallus: Yes, commander.
X1 then hailed Grand Admiral Thrawn who was near the governor's building aware of the attack.
X1: Grand Admiral, I have troubling news.
Thrawn: I am aware of the rebel attack, Commander. Is it about Kallus?
X1: Yes, Sir. I have reason to believe that he is the mole for these rebels, and that a Jedi is part of the rebel assault.
Thrawn: Thank you for confirming our suspicions, Commander. I will handle Kallus myself. You take on the Jedi, and let the rest of the troops round up the rest of them.
When the rebels made it to the surface, Hera radioed to Chopper to fly the Ghost to pick up Kanan, Ezra, and the clones. What stopped the duo of Jedi was a cold presence exiting the offices with a lightsaber drawn.
Ezra: Is he-
Kanan: With as cold as we are feeling, I don't think so.
X1: Killing the Grand Inquisitor, bold move. Putting a target on your back, however; very, very stupid of you.
Kanan: If you think we should fear you, you've got another thing coming.
Ezra: Do you even know how to use a lightsaber? Looks to me like you're only playing Jedi.
X1: Allow me to show you, boy.
As the pair went against the JT clone, X1 delivered a flurry against both opponents using Form 1 with ferocious swing to Ezra's blade opening the boy up to a knee in the stomach and a clash with Kanan. This ended with X1 pushing his saber aside and headbutting Kanan to disorient him. X1 then tried to deliver a killing blow to Ezra but Kanan blocked it. Ezra tried getting up, but X1 used a massive Force push into the ground making the three of them bounce. Ezra was winded but quickly recovered and began an offensive flurry of his own with Kanan attempting to attack his sides. After X1 opened Ezra up he landed a kick to his gut which sent him flying until he was gripped with the Force and thrown behind X1. As X1 was about to cut Ezra in two, Kanan slashed at X1's right leg and brought him to a kneel, but X1 used his signature tactic of feigning defeat until Kanan got close enough to strike, then X1 turned on his downed leg and slashed Kanan's eyes, blinding him almost permanently. Ezra got up and used whatever saber attacks he could to break the Imperial officer. X1 dodged every single swing and dismantled the boy at every turn with a kick to the gut, a punch to the left shoulder, and a backhanded fist across the same cheek. Ezra then in his exhaustion landed a couple blows against X1's chest before getting thrown out of the Vehicle depot, Imperial disguise in shatters.
After the Ghost landed, Zeb hurried and grabbed Ezra, but Ezra was trying to lift Kanan and bring him in, but Hera took off on Kanan's orders to leave him. X1 had Kanan restrained and brought to the prison complex in the city. Ezra and the Ghost then had to make it to the landing pad where Leia’s ship was and release the clamps, When the clones got off, they pretended that they were holding off rebels when a TX-225 rolled to their position. An Imperial gunship had escorted Princess Leia to the ship and Leia had the information she needed sent by chopper into another code cylinder that she swiped from the officer she groveled to for help. Back where Kallus found the comm he had in Ezra's home, he began coordinating the rebels escape from the city and let them know about a starfighter program and contingencies for if Lothal wasn’t kept in line. Just as Kallus was about to explain the final contingency plan, Thrawn had shown up in an Imperial troop transport and went up to the single room building alone.
Thrawn: The Commander and I were right to be suspicious of you.
Kallus: You were killing workers needlessly! This is perpetuating the rebel attacks, not stopping them!
Thrawn: Perhaps you've forgotten that the Empire rules through fear, and which side you align with.
As the two engaged in hand-to-hand combat, Thrawn got the upper hand by landing a decisive blow to Kallus's right temple and landing a kick to Kallus's gut causing the traitorous agent to fall, only to be caught by X1 with a captured Kanan Jarrus in tow.
Back with the Alliance, they reported that they got the Intel, and that Kanan got captured. This prompted another strike on Lothal, but the target based on the intel given by Kallus meant that they were going to infiltrate the TIE Defender program.
Meanwhile, Thrawn had begun further reinforcing the Empire’s presence in the area. X1 then started getting a strange feeling that something was off in the Force.
Thrawn: Something the matter, Commander?
X1: Yes, Sir. Just got a migraine. A very troublesome migraine at that.
Thrawn: Don’t play it off as something minor, Commander. I know you have the abilities of Lord Vader. What was it you saw?
X1: THere’s a temple and other artifacts a few miles from there. A… a mural of sorts is inscribed there… AAAAAHH!
Thrawn: Lieutenant, get the Commander to the Medical Bay and contact Lord Vader. WE’ve found something that the Emperor may find Interesting.
Officer: Yes, Grand Admiral.
Back with Lord Vader, he was on Kamino tending to his secret project; cloning Starkiller. For months he had been attempting to find the perfect clone, but when it came to the final test, all of them had failed. He periodically checked on his clones to see how long they would survive isolation.
During one mission to Cato Neomoidia, which hadn't seen activity in decades, General Rahm Kota, Chirrut Îmwe, and a squad of rebels were sent to bring down the Imperial moffs, and gain Neomoidian support for the war effort. Bail Organa knew that he had a few operations going simultaneously and knew he only needed to call of Kenobi or Yoda in case of emergencies. Juno Eclipse was in command after Kota left for the mission, and she hoped that the mission was to be short.
Back on Atollon, Wolffe had pulled Mech aside and gave him a new long term assignment.
Wolffe: Mech! Can I see you for a moment?
Mech: Yes Sir! What do you need?
Wolffe: We have an AT-TE from the last War that would be beneficial to the defense of the rebel base on Yavin. Since you have the most training on piloting Walkers, we need you there to help train the rebels in case they overtake one of the Imperial's.
Mech: Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir! Men, I need a hand getting this AT-TE loaded…
As Wolffe ordered pilots to make a trip to Yavin 4, Many assets were being allocated to rescuing Kanan and liberating Lothal from Imperial rule. As Ezra regaled about who he and Kanan fought, a certain squad became interested in the mission.
Ezra: He was dressed like an Imperial Officer, but he wielded a blue lightsaber. He wasn’t a Jedi, or an Inquisitor. He was something else.
X2: Commander Bridger, did he look anything like me?
Ezra: Now that I examined your face, yeah, he did.
X2: You just met my twin brother, X1. HE and I served together in the Clone Wars from the Invasion of Tatooine to the Battle of Cato Neimoidia. What happened after Cato Neimoidia, I wholeheartedly regret until defecting before the Empire attacked Dantooine.
X2 looked shaken, pale, and began to sweat over all the Jedi he killed, and rewound all the way back to Ferroda. Ezra and the rest of the Alliance were shocked about X2’s actions in the Empire, but Rex, Howzer, 78s, Ramm, and Vice remembered that day, the Jedi they fought alongside, and the brother they lost, Solar.
On Kamino, Vader had began a holocommunication to Crosshair about his next mission.
Crosshair: Yes, Lord Vader?
Vader: Report your progress for your mission on Ferrix.
Crosshair: A fugitive who is known by a recently deceased woman has escaped the system, but the ISB have a couple of tails on him throughout the galaxy.
Vader: Where are these tails following him to?
Crosshair: From what I overheard, he was headed to Jedha to meet with a rebel cell there.
Vader: Good. there is an Imperial Garrison that will hunt him down and hand them over to the ISB. Report to Kamino for your next mission.
Crosshair: Yes, my lord.
When Crosshair landed near Vader’s TIE Advanced X1 fighter, he exited and walked to meet the taller figure and kneeled in subservience and respect.
Vader: Rise. Your new orders are to go to dantooine, and place a beacon near where the rebels hold their prisoners. You may recognize the location. If any important Imperials are imprisoned there, activate the beacon, and a rescue team will be there to extract them, compile the list as the beacon is active.
Crosshair: What of the rebel presence there? If they are taken out, many would surely notice. If I use my signature reflecting pucks, some are going to recognize my work and hunt me down.
Vader: The clones will not be stationed on Dantooine. It has been a long time since they even saw you. You have the element of surprise on your side. Bury the beacon deep so that nothing can detect it.
Crosshair: I will leave at once, my lord.
Vader then saw the second of his most trusted agents leave for a mission as he returned to finding the right clone.
With the Alliance, Ezra then began to take a command role due to his knowledge of the planet and wanting to rescue Kanan. Ahsoka was the only other Jedi to lead an attack. He then explained his plan with a mix of real tactics he picked up from the last excursion and throughout his time with the Ghost Crew.
Ezra: Here's the plan: Now that we know that The Empire has tanks and walkers patrolling the larger areas, we're gonna need all the heavy firepower on the ground to take them out or use them against the other tanks and walkers. I'll lead a squad to rescue Kanan in the prison complex, Ahsoka, you lead the primary attack near the Governor's building. Thrawn should be there.
Hera: I know you want to save Kanan and drive Thrawn away, but there are times where we have to make a choice.
Ezra: We've pulled simultaneous attacks ever since we joined the Alliance. This is pretty much SOP at this point.
Sabine: We also have to take down the TIE Defender project. If we let them go, they will decimate our assault on the ground and any air support we try to bring in.
X2: If you need a good squad of pilots and soldiers, we can go with you, Sabine and pilot some of the Defenders. This could even teach us how they work.
Sabine: Alright, that part's covered.
Ahsoka: What about the rescue effort?
Wolffe: I'll help on the ground. I have to find some excuse to show these troops that I still got it.
Ezra: Alright, Wolffe, you, Rex, and Gregor will help lead the rescue on the ground. I'll sneak in using our old friend, and Hera, you join Sabine for the TIE Defender raid. Ahsoka, you go with the clones.
Hera: Where will you be?
Zeb: Alright, Someone's gonna have to look after this kid. I'll go with you and get you to the prison on the far side.
Ezra: Sounds fine to me. Everyone knows their places?
Sabine, Ahsoka, Rex, X2, and Hera affirm their parts of the plan and begin loading up into the Ghost, Republic shuttle, and X-wings.
Meanwhile with the Empire on Lothal, X1 is in the middle of torturing Kanan with 2 sapphire blades when a trooper gave him orders from the Emperor himself.
Stormtrooper: Sir, The Emperor wishes to make contact with you.
X1: Have someone take over his torture with a strong mind while I'm with the Emperor.
Stormtrooper: Yes, Sir.
When X1 made it to his war room, he activated the holocommunicator display and bowed to the projection of Palpatine.
X1: My Emperor, it's an honor to receive communications from you.
Emperor: Rise, Commander. I have been told that you found something that warranted my attention.
X1: Yes, my Emperor. There is a temple here, miles from the city with two symbols at the entrance to it.
Emperor: Has this been recorded in Imperial documents?
X1: No, my Emperor.
Emperor: Then how do you know?
X1: The method I had attained this knowledge from is, I had a piercing headache and suddenly, I saw it.
Emperor: You saw the temple without going near it?
X1: In short, yes, my Emperor.
Emperor: [Thinking] This could only mean… [Exit thought] How long has Vader been training you?
X1: Almost a year, my Emperor.
Emperor: Your newfound abilities have revealed a Jedi secret. I still have use for you, Commander. Lord Vader will continue to train you, and you will capture the jedi and force them to open it. During all of these events, you will only be an assassin, not his apprentice.
When X1 brought Kanan to the hidden temple, Vader's castle aide, Venee, arrived as a scholar of the Force, who also allocated Imperial resources to another location on Lothal which was more powerful than the temple, unbeknownst to the commander.
X1: Who might you be?
Venee: I've seen you tour and train at the castle from time to time. You were just too focused on training to notice me. No need to worry, Commander. Your secret with Lord Vader is safe with me and his castle walls.
X1: Thank you.
When the rebels launched their multi-pronged attack on the Empire, Ahsoka and the clones patrolled the city quarter for any heavy Imperial reinforcements, Sabine and X2 led grey Squadron to covertly recon and destroy the TIE Defender program, Ezra and Zeb went to scout out the prison before Ahsoka and the clones rendevouzed with them after eliminating the Imperial presence in the city and slums. FIxer, Boss, Wolffe, and Gregor joined Rex on the ground and each clone had an old PLX rocket launcher to take down the walkers and tanks. Ezra and Zeb made short work of the small Imperial patrols around the prison, but X1 had a plan of his own.
X1: What can you tell me about this temple that was in my visions?
Venee: The Temple has two sets of symbols each in their own circles, but it requires both a master and apprentice to open.
X1: I beat back a younger boy who was fighting alongside the Jedi I captured weeks ago. No doubt he’ll try to rescue his master.
Venee: Then you have your apprentice to open the temple. I will be at the mural if you need further guidance.
X1 then returned to his post in the prison, and received an communication from Admiral Thrawn.
Thrawn: Commander, We have tracked the rebels’ flight activity and tracked them to the Atollon system. We are going to send an Imperial garrison there if the Rebels escape. What is your status?
X1: Grand Admiral, We found the artifacts that the Emperor is looking for. Vader’s aide is at one of them and I am going to transport the Jedi prisoners to the temple.
Thrawn: You expect to take another Jedi captive, Commander? It must be a powerful artifact in the temple.
X1: Yes, Grand Admiral. The temple requires both a master and an apprentice to open it. These jedi will be the keys.
Thrawn: Quite a find and quite a puzzle to solve. The Jedi are a lot more protective of their secrets than we thought.
When Ezra and Zeb made it into the prison, he gave Chopper orders to fly overhead and do a recon flight for any incoming Imperial air support. When Ezra found Kanan in his cell, Zeb got a hold of him and attempted to escape, but X1 threw the Lasat against the wall with Kanan knocked out and Ezra to fight the brutal Imperial commander. After Ahsoka left the main square and the surrounding areas with vehicles behind repair, Ahsoka activated her blades and joined Ezra in his duel wil the Imperial commander. X1 had a chill run up his spine as he activated his sapphire blade and blocked strikes from both Jedi but after a large force repulse, Ahsoka and Ezra were thrown back and the clones and Stormtroopers fought over Kanan. Ezra ordered Zeb to retreat and fight back to the Ghost, and when Zeb exited the prison, Chopper used the Phantom to pick him up and get Zeb to the pilot seat of the Ghost.
Meanwhile with Sabine, Hera, and Grey Squadron, X2 took two of his men and sent the rest in the air awaiting a signal for support. Sabine disguised herself as an Imperial Ace and learned how to fly the hexa-winged craft. Hera did the best she could, slicing into a stowed fighter, giving the Empire a diversion. One of the other pilots in the program was a young Wedge Antilles who had doubts about the Empire, but knew he had to stay below the Empire's radar. X2 and his squadmates had to disguise themselves as stormtroopers, despite the discomfort of the armor plating.
X2: Greys 5, 2, and 4, commence flyover.
Greys: On our way, Commander.
Hera: I sliced into a stowed Defender, Spectre-5, are you in the air?
Sabine had to switch channels temporarily since she was also communicating with the controllers on the ground.
Controller: Cadet, Cadet! What's wrong?
Sabine: Nothing, Ground Control. I'm alright. Had to find the right channel, and accidentally hit something on my helmet.
Controller: We just saw rebel fighters fly overhead! Take them down!
Sabine: Yes, Sir!
Back with Hera, the Twi’lek finally got a stowed ship in the air and she ordered X2 and the squad on the ground to fire on her as she was taking off to give Sabine two "problems" to worry about.
Officer: What happened, trooper?!
Grey 3: A rebel stole one of the fighters! We tried to stop them but they took off!
Grey 6: We have to warn the test flight.
Officer: Alright, you three. Come with me!
X2: Yes, sir!
As the officer and 3 "stormtroopers" made it to the testing ground, Sabine had to shoot down 3 X-wings and another TIE Defender to sell the deception. Hera then ordered everyone in the air to stall their engines for a brief moment and begin the assault.
Officer: She got them!
Ground Control: Go investigate the crash sites and kill any survivors!
Grey 6: Yes, Sir!
Just as the order was given, Sabine and Hera destroyed the stowed fighters in the hangar and the X-wings destroyed the landing platforms. As the fighters made their getaway, the "stormtroopers" feigned being killed and when the Officer's made their way away from the destroyed test field, X2 and the others made their escape.
Before the test flight team evacuated the area, the ground control hit a control that deactivated the engines and made the fighters crash land inbthe hills below. Among the pursuing Imperial forces was the pilot Wedge who had a decision to make. Something that he remembered Sabine saying before her flight stuck with him and what he had been thinking to himself ever since he got to the Academy. He then stole the officer's pistol and killed the other Imperials. After Hera got the tactical computer off of her ship, the Imperial transport that Wedge rode in was being used by the rebels and defector to head over to the prison.
Back with Venee at the Mural, he began organizing patrols around it in case the temple was opened and other forces were about to converge. X1 had captured both Ezra and Kanan, and Ahsoka and the Clones evacuated the Ghost. Hera tried to get a hold of Ezra, but had no response.
Hera: Spectre-6? Spectre-6, do you copy?! Blast it! Wedge, regroup with the rest of our group. Chopper, Bring the Phantom in case we need an extraction!
Chopper boarded the phantom and sped his way to his mistress's location and what awaited her were two death troopers and the familiar Chiss who had taken over her family home.
Hera: Not this slimo again.
Thrawn: Syndulla. Pleasure to see you again. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Hera remembered the psychological torture she endured at his hands on her home planet and knew she had to prove she was not the scared child she was.
Back at the Temple, X1 threw both Kanan and Ezra to the temple entrance and ordered them to open it.
X1: Don't even think of standing up before that temple is opened. The first to refuse, the other loses their head!
Kanan and Ezra remained calm and did their best to open the temple, but Ezra's anger kept making the temple close again. X1 had both of their lightsabers in his hands and was about to slice them both until Ahsoka blasted X1 with a Force push. As the two clashed, Kanan and Ezra made their escape, but X1 pursued them in Imperial transport gunships and Kanan was knocked off due to a blast on the rear passenger wing into the power station. Kanan made sure to grab the sabers before escaping and hid amongst the generators.
X1: How noble of your friends to save you both, but you and I both know that the galaxy is better off without the Jedi. No wonder you had to hide who you were for so many years.
When Kanan hid behind one stack of generators, X1 had his blade to light the way until Kanan heard a voice or two that was familiar. The other two jedi that had been blinded by the dark side communed with Kanan from Cato Neimoidia Jedha guiding his actions as the two blind masters meditated. The duel was going smoothly for Kanan until X1 began planting explosives around the generators in an effort to kill the Jedi. As Kanan landed a kick to X1's chest, making him lose balance as the two dueled on top of the power generators. X1 had used his lightsaber to assist in climbing back up, but Kanan held back the explosions and X1 used the Force to jump away from the station and evacuate the erupting power station.
When Ezra, Wedge, and Sabine broke Hera free, Ezra and Hera boarded the stolen gunship and made their way to Kanan. As the blind Jedi teacher stood on top of the generator, holding back the flames and energy, the voices told him to surrender to the Force and much to the dismay of the Ghost crew, just as Kanan's eyes were allowed to see his friends, and his love for the last time, he refocused all the energy that he had keeping both the flames and his friends at bay, he moved his friends and love to safety as he let the flames and energy engulf him as his essence became one with the Force.
Ezra: No! I had so many questions! Who will continue my training now?!
Sabine: He was the best of all of us! Why did the Empire have to take him?
Hera couldn't make out any words other than a sob because the last time she was close with Kanan, she allowed herself to be physically vulnerable, and it was the only time she would get to feel that way with him.
Back with the Empire, X1 reported that the Jedi died in the blast. Venee was about to protest that it was a bad move, but then remembered that only one was needed to interact with the mural.
X1: Admiral, The jedi is dead. We can't open the temple anymore.
Thrawn: How unfortunate. We might as well destroy it then.
Venee: Admiral, Commander, may I interrupt?
Thrawn: Proceed, Aide.
Venee: The temple may be closed off, but the mural is not, but only requires one jedi to interact with it.
Thrawn: If we can manage to reclaim one Jedi, we can see what the mural can do.
X1: I will make sure that task becomes no problem.
Thrawn: Excellent, Commander. You will be in charge of Lothal in my absence. Governor Pryce will be en route to the municipal building in a few hours. Prepare for her arrival.
X1: Yes, Grand Admiral.
Back on Atollon, the clones, Jedi, and rebels began to mourn the loss of another Jedi. Ezra, Hera, and Sabine were the ones who were hit the hardest, while Zeb and Chopper set aside their differences for a good while. As the funeral proceeded, Thrawn was watching from probe droids he sent to survey the rebel cell and waited for the moment to strike.
Officer: Why do we wait to attack when we can strike now at their weakest?
Thrawn: An enemy in mourning is an enemy driven by passion, emotion, and clouded judgment. When the enemy has a clear head, they are easier to read and take down.
Officer: We should just attack while they are defenseless.
Thrawn: Then we would be no different than them. We must show that we are a civilized entity that respects the dead whether friend or foe.
Elsewhere in the galaxy, Vader returns to Kamino after another clone of Starkiller had survived the cloning process. When he landed his TIE Advanced X1 fighter, he made his way to the training chamber for the clone. Vader had a small glimmer of hope that this clone would prove efficient for his purposes of ending the rebels and assisting him in usurping the Emperor.
Vader: You still live.
StarkillerC: How long?
Vader: One month in isolation. Astonishing.
Starkiller: Everything I need, I have in the Force.
Vader: Rise.
The Starkiller clone then stood on his feet and Vader began instructing the clone on what he needed like he did all the others before him. As he watched the test that the clone had partaken in, the clone was about to strike down the image of Juno Eclipse, but he hesitated. Vader began to hang his head in shame until he heard another saber ignite through the image’s chest.
Vader saw the image fall as the clone’s eyes turned a sith yellow and his skin slowly begin to pale. This was the clone he needed, but Vader knew that in order to surprise the rebellion, he had to capitalize on a clone escaping and bringing the rebels to them on a silver platter.
StarkillerC: What is thy bidding, my master?
Vader: Remain in these facilities until the Rebels come here. If the clone brings the rebels here and attempts to execute me, you will do what it can not.
StarkillerC: Yes, master.
Meanwhile on Dantooine, Crosshair found the rebel prison and planted the beacon. All that needed to be done was return to Kamino and make sure that Vader's plan, or at least one of them, unbeknownst to the loyal Imperial clone, succeeded.
Back with the Ghost Crew, Ezra had continued to grieve and make his way to the one who had been teaching Kanan whenever they were on base. This being was the Bendu and the young Jedi knew that in order to put an end to Thrawn, his emotions needed to be put to the wayside. As he continued talking to The Bendu, he meditated to find Kanan in the Force.
Captain Eclipse was worried about Kota, but knew that she ordered him to stay and he refused.
Bail Organa had checked on his forces and saw that the clones became combat instructors for the rebel forces.
Back over Atollon, Juno had met Commander Wolffe and the two began discussing different operations.
Wolffe: Captain Eclipse.
Juno: You must be Commander Wolffe. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Wolffe: Likewise. I see you're planning a mission to Cato Neimoidia.
Juno: Yes, my general had gone against orders again and began attacking an Imperial target there, but was captured and the squad was killed.
Wolffe: I once knew of a pair of Jedi that went against orders.
Juno: Were you a veteran of the Clone Wars?
Wolffe: I was. From the battle of Abregado to the Invasion of Cato Neimoidia.
Juno: I remember reading about the Outer Rim Sieges at the Imperial Academy. What was your role in the battle?
Wolffe had given her the story of his involvement and his regretful actions due to the chip in his head.
After X1 ended the Jedi he made his way to his quarters where a holocall from Lord Vader was waiting.
Vader: Venee tells me that a Jedi is dead.
X1: Yes, my master, but at the cost of the city power station. This can be spun into a relief effort, I know it.
Vader: I am not worried about the Imperial logistics, Commander. Your new orders are to meet me on Kamino. Your skills need further tuning.
X1: Yes, my master. I will be there in two rotations.
When X1 arrived in Timira city, he was greeted by Vader and led to a secret training room where X1 began to feel something was off about the room. He then felt the presence of another Force user in the room and Vader stood aside and watched his clone take on his apprentice. When X1 began to use foresight, he blocked the incoming strike. After blocking 5 more, he was disarmed.
Vader: Your form is slow, rigid, and blunt. Meet Starkiller, or the closest thing. This is the boy I had trained unbeknownst to the Emperor.
X1 then realized what he had to do. Defeat this clone and Vader would award him his own Destroyer.
The clone had begun his barrage of attacks that made X1's look like a grown adult beating up a child. As the duel slowly began to favor X1, he saw the clone attempt Force lightning and X1 used his anger and attempted to do the same with surprising success. After X1 won the lightning clash, he began to take to Form VII and Form IV to beat down the clone. When X1 was about to stab the clone he suspended both of them with the Force.
Vader: Well done, Commander. Your destroyer has been ordered to arrive within hours. As for you, you must train harder against enemies with sabers and blasters alike.
As the three separated, a shuttle landed on the platform at the end of the walkway. X1 thanked Vader with a kneel and boarded the shuttle.
Back with the Rebels near Atollon, They see a couple light cruisers nearing the base. Thrawn then sees two Jedi defending the entrance but as the Stormtroopers fail to penetrate the Base's defenses, Kallus, who happened to be on the vessel, escapes his restraints and continues leaking plans to the rebels at their war room. When Ezra retreated, he was found by some death troopers and he took them down. The death troopers surrounded Ahsoka and began trying to stun her. She had remembered the training Anakin put her through, as well as her and Rex defending against the clones aboard the venator above Lubang Minor. In the near constant array of stun blasts, Thrawn threw an arc detonator and knocked out Ahsoka with the electric shock.
The Empire then dragged Ahsoka's body aboard the light cruiser and Thrawn began to try breaking down Ahsoka to make her open the mural for Vader's aide.
Kallus then added the details he's learned to the rebel cell and Ezra used these details to update his plan. As Ezra adjusted his plan to include rescuing Ahsoka from Thrawn’s grasp and moving different troops to each task. Ezra had put his emotions away due to the tragedies the alliance had experienced. As the final preparations were made to go back to Lothal, Ezra stopped by the Bendu for guidance and counsel in the Force. After a few guiding words from the entity who is neutral in the Force, Ezra had a resolve like no other.
Back with the Empire, Ahsoka was placed in front of the mural examining the three figures that she remembered interacting with on a distant planet called Mortis. As she examined the mural she then took a look at another owl-like creature flying to one perch on the rock face. She had been referring to the bird as Morrai, which for Ahsoka, who she thought was the embodiment of The Daughter. What the Force had concealed from the Togruta was that it was actually Ahsoka herself that was The Daughter. The memories of her time on Mortis came rushing back to her as she was being forced to open the mural.
When Ezra and the Rebels landed, Rex and Wolffe then took Grey Squadron along with Kallus to sneak past the Imperial patrols. Ezra ordered Sabine, Hera, Zeb, Chopper, and X2 to follow him through the slums and look for a ship to get to the rural landscapes where the mural had been located while disguising himself as a scout trooper with Sabine joining him in this endeavor. When the transport was secured, Hera took the controls, Zeb helped X2 with a supposed prisoner transfer, but they were infiltrating the municipal grid.
Before the assault began, Sabine had a few unresolved feelings she felt Ezra needed to be made aware of. As the two shared their first loving embrace, it calmed both the Jedi padawan, and the mandalorian outcast and helped them compose themselves. As Rex, Wolffe, Gregor, and X2 began conducting the guerilla warfare in the streets, Ezra and Sabine took disguises as Scout troopers stationed at the Mural, Hera provided transport for the clones, Zeb had been flying the Phantom for additional air support.
When Ezra and Sabine began to interact with the Mural, the pictures there began to move as Ahsoka began to mimic applying the Force to it as she saw two Imperial Scouts touch it. As the pictures on the mural turned black, X1 and Venee forced Ahsoka to touch the moving artwork only to see her hands go inside it like it was a body of water, discovering that it was a portal to a different location, possibly a different realm.
Venee: This… is a… portal?! The Emperor will be very pleased with this discovery.
Ezra: Where does it lead?
Venee: From what I have researched, it is to a realm where history is spectated as if it were windows to shops in an urban district.
When Sabine began to inquire about it, since she was the only non-force sensitive of the three, she embedded a code word for Ahsoka to hear and pull them into the portal and the rest of the team to come and assist them.
Sabine: If this is a portal where you could see other moments in time, would it be possible to change some of the events of the past?
Before Venee could answer the question, Ahsoka had pulled her sabers to her and she threw both Ezra and Sabine into the portal and followed suit as the Empire tried firing into the realm before they were ordered to focus on the threat behind them. Ezra began to meditate and before the rest of the combatants knew it, Loth-wolves had joined the fray, pouncing and ripping the stormtroopers to shreds.
As the three examined the realm they were now in, they had heard multiple voices, through multiple different portals, some familiar from events of the past, and others that were strange from events of the future. One of these portals had recently opened and revealed an ominous figure standing near a cauldron of blue flames.
Emperor: You three have interfered in matters you know nothing of. Now you will experience the full power of the Dark side!
The Emperor then began to use the flames to engulf the 3 in sith magic as he began an incantation in the ancient Sith dialect and the three ran in search for the portal they entered from.
2023.03.24 04:11 Voltes-Drifter-2187 My second idea for a Gundam show - Mobile Suit Gundam: Castaway Souls (Part 2)
1) AUBREY ZULEGER (ズレガー オーブリー) ♀ - Age: 17. Height: 5'. Hair: Black. Eyes: Dark Hazel. Pilot of the RX-2000-A Valkyrie Yulong: the Pink Gundam of Spectrum. Born out of a high school fling as the middle of three sisters, Aubrey has gone through life with few if any people to turn to. Due to incidents and demonstrations of her Newtype abilities coming out when she is placed in situations of stress, her own birth father sees her as a curse. Used as the scapegoat for her mother, sisters and step-father; Aubrey made few friends going through public secondary high school. Abused much of her life, Aubrey sees in the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force a ticket to either a better life or a glorious death that will end her pain. When she is caught in the Imperium attack on her moon of Titan, Aubrey escapes in a Gundam which takes her on an adventure of self-discovery and building a better family.
2) ERICA AZRAEL (アズラーイール エリカ) ♀ - Age: 28. Height: 6'4". Hair: Dark Ginger. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-X Helios: the Orange Gundam of Space. Erica is a Newtype who has served in the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force with distinction from when she enlisted at the age of 18 and received her officers' commission at 23. Appointed as one of the Co-Wing Leaders of Solar Wing alongside Sierra Chay, Erica may seem rowdy and loud in fighting the CDEF battles - even being a hard-partying and drinking lady eager to score with the male and female species alike. But underneath that exterior is a warm and caring woman who sees fellow Newtypes as the family she must protect and will lay down the law if anyone goes too far or has a problem with someone else. Upon seeing what should be one of her own Gundams piloted by Aubrey, she seeks to draft the latter and get her the help she truly needs.
3) GABRIELA TULPER (トゥルパー ガブリエラ) ♀ - Age: 18. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-1 Mercury: the Blue Gundam of Water. Gabriela is a rich noble of the Mercury colony of Narada that saw her home destroyed when the Imperium launched an attack on Narada. She joined the Solar Wing of CDEF in their liberation of Narada to help free her home world from the Imperium. She admires Erica and quickly develops a muted dislike of Aubrey due to their like minds and Aubrey's self-destructive outlook. Her dislike eventually turns to full-blown jealousy as she challenges Aubrey to a duel. Eventually, she realizes that Aubrey could be her best comrade but she'll will make constant attempts to win both Erica and Sierra's favor every so often. Gabriela often makes great efforts to appear smarter whilst closing herself off from others out of fear of rejection, but wishes she could be a good doctor.
4) MIO NGUYEN (グエン 澪) ♂ - Age: 13. Height: 4'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Brown. Pilot of the RX-2000-B D'Artagnan Wukong: the Ruby Gundam of Anima. Like the young Sun Wukong as seen in Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Mio is headstrong/impulsive, agile to an insane degree, and has a penchant for not respecting authority figures who have not earned a right to wield such authority in his eyes. And like D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers; Mio is also very romantic, not very smart in terms of the literary-minded, and eagerly jumps into all manner of danger to help those truly in need. At first unable to comprehend how a talented and capable woman like Aubrey could ever need help, Mio soon sees himself being drawn into Aubrey's world fighting against Callisto forces. Hailing from the wrecked Neo Gascony colony on Ceres, he is the first boy Aubrey takes under her wing to gain her first apprentice.
5) IRIS MOREAU (モロー アイリス) ♀ - Age: 27. Height: 5'8". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-2 Venus: the Yellow Gundam of Light. Back in her civilian life, she tries to do the best she can to help friends in need, but sometimes a disaster gear kicks in way too early. Iris is also infamous for using mixed-up proverbs and officially refers to herself as "Goddess of Love," a title which she uses to try to solve others' love woes. However; she is loyal and caring to a fault for as a fellow Newtype, she wears her heart on her sleeve and sees Aubrey for what she is and can be - a true friend. She's the joker of Solar Wing out of and sometimes in combat. She may take her duties seriously, but for the rest of the time, Iris prefers to spend her time goofing off, cracking jokes, pulling pranks, seeking thrills and just living life up. But if the chips are down, Iris is ruthless when protecting Aubrey from all bullies and the Imperium.
6) KAI PARRISH (パリッシュ 海) ♀ - Age: 19. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Brown. Pilot of the RX-2000-3 Terra: the Brown Gundam of Earth. Honest and truthful in showing potential as a leader, Kai was brought up in Midwestern America on the Cherokee reservations by her parents who were equally as doting and permissive as they were firm and involved when they needed to be, so Kai can be powerful in battle and is ever courageous. Many might take her her not being a completely idealized feminine heroine as denial of someone's wish fulfillment and invite scorn, but Kai is out to show them wrong with skill in piloting the Terra Gundam as third-in-command of Solar Wing. Kai is the individualist Newtype and freedom-loving - one who cares about getting time over to do the things she wants to do. But she still gets along very well with all of Solar Wing, and she will always play her part well when it really matters.
7) SIERRA CHAY (シェイ シエラ) ♀ - Age: 28. Height: 6'4". Hair: Violet. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-XI Luna: the White Gundam of Electricity. Sierra is also a top Newtype in the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force all with distinction from when she enlisted at the tender age of 18 and received her officers' commission at 23. Appointed as one of the Co-Wing Leaders of the Solar Wing alongside Erica Azrael, Sierra may seem dispassionate and or quiet in her preferred duties - even being more comfortable with home front activities and the day-to-day administration. But underneath her icy exterior is a fierce and driven woman who sees fellow Newtypes as the family she must protect and will lay down the law if anyone goes too far or has a problem with someone else. Unlike Erica who sees a great potential for Aubrey in flying a Gundam, Sierra sees Aubrey's self-destructive nature as the liability it is.
8) FLASH VAN WARREN (ヴァンウォーレン フラッシュ) ♂ - Age: 14. Height: 4'9.5". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-E Athos Tripitaka: the Amber Gundam of Soul. Like the young Tripitaka as seen in the Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Flash is rather reserved and devoted to not sullying himself with physical relationships, more of their long-range tactician, and has a knack for getting himself into trouble which the others have to bail him out of. And like Athos in The Three Musketeers; Flash is also protective of children, not very emotive and taciturn in handling his fellow pilgrims, and more melancholy than others in trying to come to terms with the loss of his family and some friends to the Imperium. At first unable to comprehend how a talented and driven woman like Aubrey could ever need help, Flash soon sees himself being drawn into Aubrey's world in fleeing Vestia's Neo Perth.
9) MIYOSHI KUGA (久我 三好) ♀ - Age: 26. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Violet. Pilot of the RX-2000-4 Mars: the Red Gundam of Fire. Miyoshi has a bit of a bad temper, but she is a true friend to all on the inside once you get to know her better. Before joining CDEF, she had her job as a shrine maiden at the local Shinto Temple in Neo Osaka around Mars where she lived and may sometime go back to visit, and that is where she learned to channel herself and her Newtype abilities into the psychic world and the psychic into her fire. For all of their fights every so often as friends do, Miyoshi would actually prefer her friends and potential suitors to be more vulnerable as well as open about their emotions - as such, Kai and Aubrey are the golden standard by which she measures any potential new acquaintances. As a top member of Solar Wing and finding her connection to the Mars Gundam, Miyoshi is out to find her way.
10) NADIRA MULLER (ミュラー ナディラ) ♀ - Age: 20. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-5 Jupiter: the Green Gundam of Forest. Being the resident tough girl of Solar Wing who hails from the Neo Zanzibar colony on Ganymede, many people feared her, but Nadira doesn't feel alone, as her squadron mates are always there, even when she is in a bad mood. She also practices judo and karate to keep up her fitness levels as well as serve as therapist for the others. Despite her tomboyish exterior, Nadira is a sweet person who enjoys cooking, gardening, flower arranging and handicrafts; and she dreams of getting married and owning a combined floral bakery shop. Her green thumb and Newtype abilities of hers make her perfect to pilot the Jupiter Gundam. Whenever Aubrey is getting involved with the Solar Wing, Nadira's motherly side comes out as the two become rather protective of each other.
11) SAMARA FORESTER (フォレスター サマラ) ♀ - Age: 25. Height: 5'8". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-6 Saturn: the Purple Gundam of Shadow. Showing attitude and a thirst for battle, there are signs not all is right with her and she might be developing some form of Newtype PTSD. She has been consumed by battle ever since her brothers and sisters were seriously injured in the attacks on the Neo Burlington colony of Enceladus, constantly pushing things well beyond her physical limits and has a tendency to lose self-control when the battle goes against Solar Wing. The Saturn Gundam must have reached out to her via her vast Newtype abilities to give her an outlet to express herself. But when Aubrey is involved in the affairs of Solar Wing, Samara gets the mirror reflection of herself and she sees that what Aubrey and she have in common could get them both killed - and fear it boiling over into war.
12) VINCE COLEMAN (コールマン ヴィンス) ♂ - Age: 16. Height: 5'1.5". Hair: Black. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-C Porthos Wujing: the Emerald Gundam of Gravity. Like the tall Sha Wujing as seen in the Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Vince is powerful and yet loyal to all his friends while even having a penchant for light humor to make situations bearable, a friend to all children, and is more of a father to everyone around them than their own dads. And just as with Porthos in The Three Musketeers; Vince is also the ever rollicking, romantic life of the party. Even as a strong African-American young man, he is the rare manic pixie dream guy of being a Newtype who is a "gentle guy" to Aubrey's "broken babe". Some are resigned to or refuse the call to adventure, but the hometown boy of Neo Harlem, Pallas is one who actively sought out the call in hopes of finding friends who share in his passions.
13) TANYA KRIKALEV (クリカレフ ターニャ) ♀ - Age: 24. Height: 5'8". Hair: Gainsboro. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-7 Uranus: the Black Gundam of Sky. When the Imperium struck against Neo Leningrad on Oberon, Tanya was separated from both her parents but maintains hope that they are still alive on Oberon and someday they'll be reunited. Because of her lack of contact with the rest of the Wing, she is only really close to Erica and Sierra although her compassionate and submissive personality means she's kind and accepting of everybody in or affiliated with Solar Wing. Her dreams of the sky and ability to read the cosmic winds makes her the prime candidate for the Newtype pilot of the Uranus Gundam. Whenever Tanya finds Aubrey getting involved with Solar Wing and bringing Pilgrim Squadron with her, she finds a crush for her in Flash as well as the chance to be the big sister Aubrey never had growing up.
14) LILLIAN ROBLEDO (ロブレド リリアン) ♀ - Age: 21. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Red. Pilot of the RX-2000-8 Neptune: the Silver Gundam of Ocean. Hailing from the Earth colony of Neo Santiago on Triton, Lillian's family are miners who make a living converting the frozen icy surface of the moon into water and ammonia. Curious as to where the water is supposed to go, Lillian finds herself drawn to the seas and able to manipulate water around her with a set of Newtype abilities she is discovering for herself. This makes her the prime candidate for piloting the Neptune Gundam for Solar Wing. Unlike Tanya who is shyer and conventionally more feminine than her; the more tomboyish Lillian can be full of energy, jumps around a lot, and speaks in a sing-songy voice. Eager to show off and enjoy the finer things life has to offer, Lillian sees her own sister in Aubrey and strives to thaw a frozen heart with some patience.
15) REEMA AL-YASIN (ヤッセン リマ) ♀ - Age: 22. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-9 Pluto: the Gold Gundam of Time. The Neo Riyadh colony on Charon is one of the first targets of the Imperium of Callisto's operations - especially for raw materials to be used in building their war machine to secure supremacy in the Solar System. Reema is now an orphan due to the Imperium crashing the Kerberos VII colony into Charon, and barely escaped with her life due to manifesting Newtype abilities of shifting herself and others both forward and backward in time. Found and chosen by the Pluto Gundam, Reema has a grudge against the primarily Aryan (tall, slender, fair-skinned, blue-eyed, blonde) members of all the Imperium - especially Maxx Zaldivar. Being rehabilitated alongside Aubrey into Solar Wing is no small feat, but Reema finds a support network in them as she discovers her own person.
16) ULF SOLBERG (ソルベルグ ウルフ) ♂ - Age: 15. Height: 4'11.5". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-D Arimos Bajie: the Sapphire Gundam of Illusion. Like the younger Zhu Bajie as seen in Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Ulf is smart and something of a warrior poet while even having a penchant for rather vulgar humor to make their situations bearable, and tries to be a hit with the ladies while treating them with respect. And as with Arimos in The Three Musketeers; Ulf is also the dependable one for common sense as well as coming up with inventions alongside his crush Gabriela. Even as the intelligent Scandinavian young man he is, Ulf at first is reluctant to be paired with Pilgrim Squadron. But after a strike by the Imperium forces against his colony Neo Stockholm on Juno, he has little elsewhere to go for support. Freed from obligations, Ulf commits to being the best brother for Aubrey.
MECHA/ARSENAL
1) RX-2000 VALKYRIE GUNDAM-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 21.7 meters. Fighting Weight: 32.2 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 3500 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 22K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x Beam Sabers, 1x Shield, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Valkyrie Gundams are made to last while also serving as the expression of Newtypes in CDEF. Each colored Gundam represents a very specific element or power that a space body is emblematic of. En route to a CDEF dedication ceremony on Titan, their CDEF carrier is attacked and the pink Valkyrie Yulong Gundam falls into the possession of Aubrey Zuleger. She fights off an Imperium attack and escapes in the Gundam looking for sanctuary. All sixteen of the Gundams are the heroes of this Solar War.
2) CVABB-79 OLYMPUS - Height: 200 meters. Length: 600 meters. Beam: 400 meters. Total Wingspan: 200 meters. Fighting Weight: 47000 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Fusion Reactor. Top Speed: 25000 kilometers an hour. Propulsion: 13x Thermonuclear Rocket Jet Engines. Class: Pantheon-class Assault Carrier Battleship. Weapon(s): 5x 3-barrel Primary Shock Cannons, 2x twin Mega Particle Cannons, 8x 4-tube Fore Missile Launchers, 1x 4-tube Aft Missile Launcher, 22x twin Anti-Aircraft Guns. Designed and built by Tomino Aeronautics Engineering for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the United Solar Vessel (USV) Olympus serves as home for both Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron in all their tours of duty across the Solar System. Able to house multiple Core Fighters and Mobile Weapons, the Olympus is always a welcome sight and a defender of all that our heroes are fighting to save.
3) RX-1991 CORSAIR GUNCANNON-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.75 meters. Fighting Weight: 60.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 1400 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 20K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x 240mm Cannons, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Corsair Guncannons are meant to be a middle-range support mobile suit to complement both the RX-2000 Valkyrie Gundams and the RX-1961 Taurus Guntanks in their ground operations. Serving mainly as CDEF's primary artillery unit, the Corsair's design prioritizes durability over mobility and precludes the use of melee weapons. While it is less agile and mobile than a Gundam, a Guncannon is still useful with its pair of shell-firing cannons that can penetrate heavy armor of any Imperium forces.
4) SF-XV CORE BLOCK FIGHTER - Height: 3.38 Meters. Length: 8.75 Meters. Wingspan: 7.25 Meters. Weight: 9 metric tons. Power Plant: Nuclear Fusion Generator. Speed: 6K kilometers per hour (in space)/4K kilometers per hour (in planetary atmospheres). Weapon(s): 4x 25mm Vulcan Guns and 2x 4-shot Anti-Ship Missile Launchers. Designed and mass-produced by one United Solar Alliance specifically for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Core Block Fighter makes up the spear of CDEF's aerospace superiority forces. Originally seen in development as a cockpit capsule that also served as an escape mechanism, United Solar Alliance sought to capitalize on the further development of Yatate Enterprises' mobile suits by creating a Core Block System that turns the fighter into an augmented core and cockpit for mobile weapons such as the RGM-1976 Spartan, RX-1982 Taurus and RX-1991 Corsair.
5) RGM-1976 SPARTAN GM-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.5 Meters. Fighting Weight: 50.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Power Output: 1300 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 6K Meters. Weapon(s): 60mm Vulcan Gun, 2x Beam Sabers, 1x Shield, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and soon mass-produced by Yatate Enterprises specifically for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Spartan GM is the most common form of mobile suit used by CDEF rank and file. Its standard frame is readily adaptable to every manner of modification into mission-specific Spartan models, and holds a fairly high level of mobility, for the time, both on Earth and in space. Many Spartans are used as trainer crafts for Mobile Suit pilots, which make it easier for non-Newtype CDEF officers to join the fray. But their lighter titanium armor is less durable than the Gundams.
6) RX-1961 TAURUS GUNTANK-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 15.3 Meters. Fighting Weight: 68 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Power Output: 900 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 6K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x 120mm Low-Recoil Cannons and 2x 4-tube 40mm Arm Missile Launchers. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Taurus Guntanks possess the torso and arms of a mobile suit, but use caterpillar treads for their legs. Serving as CDEF's ground superiority units, the Taurus' design prioritizes durability over mobility and precludes the use of melee weapons. While it is less agile and mobile than other mobile suits, a Guntank is still useful with its array of shell-firing cannons that can penetrate heavy armor of any Imperium forces. Many are designed around a crew complement of a primary drivepilot and gunner.
7) CMS-07 SOMU-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.45 Meters. Fighting Weight: 67.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 1100 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 4K Meters. Weapon(s): 1x Shield, 1x 105mm Callisto Machine Gun, 1x Callisto Hyper Bazooka and 1x Heat Sword. The mainstay of the Imperium of Callisto; the Somu-type Mobile Suit is faster, more durable and versatile than a great many of its forbears in CDEF in spite of their vast numbers contributing to their disposable nature. Many high-ranking commanders in Callisto forces use custom-painted and custom-armed variants as an expression of storied victories over many adversaries like Maxx Zaldivar's Crimson Serpent. Curiously, Aubrey's secret Newtype benefactor pilots his own modified Somu with its Beam Sword in a striking color scheme that allows for infiltration of Callisto ranks and sabotage.
PRIMARY ANTAGONISTS - IMPERIUM OF CALLISTO (カリストの帝国)
1) IMPERATOR PIETRO VON VIDMAR (皇帝 ピエトロ フォン ヴィドマー) ♂ - Age: 35. Total Height: 6'3.5". Hair: Silver. Eyes: Blue. In short and at most charitable, Pietro is best described as ambitious, underhanded, overconfident, and a feared motivator. As the essential leader of Callisto, Pietro belittles the dwindling power of his siblings and continuously schemes to turn the Solar War into a total war. He and his siblings Elise and Tobias are constantly at odds with each other as the three possess similar political goals but different methods with some of the rank and file pushing to fall behind Maxx Zaldivar. Over the course of the War as both Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron inflict devastating losses on Callisto forces, Pietro expects he will be betrayed and schemes to find the Newtype Gundam pilot Aubrey Zuleger so his forces break her. Even so, he'll have to get past Zaldivar's own obsession with the CDEF's rising star.
2) MAXX ZALDIVAR (ザルディバー マックス) ♂ - Age: 21. Height: 5'10". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Crimson Serpent". Maxx is always seen dressed in his red Callisto uniform and mostly wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to conceal his real identity. Maxx's personality is a mix of passion, charisma, pride, vengefulness and charm. Perhaps his most dominant characteristic is charisma, which makes him a genuine leader. Maxx’s skill as a pilot combined with his charisma cause many people to respect and willingly follow his command, while instilling fear in his opponents. A rival for dominant characteristic is Maxx's tendency to hold deep grudges - such as towards Callisto's Imperator Von Vidmar for the slaughter of his family and friends, as well as both Tobias and Aubrey Zuleger for their defeats of him in Mobile Suit combat throughout the ongoing War.
3) ELISE VON VIDMAR (エリーゼ フォン ヴィドマー) ♀ - Age: 25. Height: 5'8". Hair: Red. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Verde Eagle". Elise is seen dressed in a green Callisto uniform and also wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show her identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Elise had both political and military ambitions at a young age and will try to establish military and political channels both on her own and with her brother Tobias in order to compete with their elder brother Pietro over who should have the right to rule the Solar System if Callisto is victorious. Using Mobile Suits and Newtypes to her advantage as Maxx suggests, Elise is playing her elder brother into a trap for him to fail and her to become the new Imperator. That is not to say she lacks traits that aren't admirable. She's been known to be heartfelt and honest with troops she will lead.
4) ILHAN ILSUNG (イルハン イルソン) ♂ - Age: 35. Height: 6'2". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Brown. Commanding Officer of the Callisto Imperium's Flagship Mobile Suit Carrier Babylon, Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Silver Bullet". Ilhan is sometimes seen dressed in a yellow Callisto uniform and wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show his identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Having seen the Von Vidmar patriarchy's cruelty firsthand in the assassination of Callisto Zaldivar, Ilhan and his wife Xenia Sutherland smuggled young Maxx to freedom and trained him in piloting Mobile Suits while giving him a good education so he could avenge his family against Imperator Pietro. An experienced agent and officer, Ilhan never has a foul mood towards any of the men serving under him so long as a code of ethics he instills is followed. He only fights so Callisto colonies can live in freedom.
5) TOBIAS VON VIDMAR (トビアス フォン ヴィドマー) ♂ - Age: 21. Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Azure Ghost". Tobias is sometimes seen outfitted in his blue Callisto uniform and wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show his identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Among one of the more moral and nobler members of the Callisto Imperium, Tobias is shrewd enough to ally with his sister Elise and Maxx Zaldivar against their brother Pietro. On the other hand, he is young and very beautiful in a feminine way which makes him both the envy and goal of every female officer in the Callisto Imperial Military. He is one of the few who shows equal respect to each of his officers be they normal or Newtype. Very few in the Imperium know that Tobias is in fact the mysterious benefactor who has been watching out for Aubrey since they were little kids.
SERIES EPISODE PROPOSAL
Little do Pilgrim Squadron, Solar Wing or the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force know that Pietro Von Vidmar survived the assassination attempt against him. Pietro finds his mighty Imperium of Callisto falling due to Newtypes and ordinary humans finally combining into an alliance to destroy his pure Universe. Pilgrim Squadron and Solar Wing fly into battle one more time alongside Tobias and Elise to stop Pietro from crashing the new Neo Shinjuku colony into Earth. This main story is both book-ended and interrupted by a future plot which involves Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron's members and their families catching back up on the old days with an older Aubrey, her children and grandchildren. The older Aubrey is lucky to be by her friends' sides again ever since Tobias died in the last battle. Now, Aubrey too has to set her final affairs in order having risen above her abusive childhood to gain a happier life.
MERCHANDISING AND PROMOTION
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2) ERICA AZRAEL (アズラーイール エリカ) ♀ - Age: 28. Height: 6'4". Hair: Dark Ginger. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-X Helios: the Orange Gundam of Space. Erica is a Newtype who has served in the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force with distinction from when she enlisted at the age of 18 and received her officers' commission at 23. Appointed as one of the Co-Wing Leaders of Solar Wing alongside Sierra Chay, Erica may seem rowdy and loud in fighting the CDEF battles - even being a hard-partying and drinking lady eager to score with the male and female species alike. But underneath that exterior is a warm and caring woman who sees fellow Newtypes as the family she must protect and will lay down the law if anyone goes too far or has a problem with someone else. Upon seeing what should be one of her own Gundams piloted by Aubrey, she seeks to draft the latter and get her the help she truly needs.
3) GABRIELA TULPER (トゥルパー ガブリエラ) ♀ - Age: 18. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-1 Mercury: the Blue Gundam of Water. Gabriela is a rich noble of the Mercury colony of Narada that saw her home destroyed when the Imperium launched an attack on Narada. She joined the Solar Wing of CDEF in their liberation of Narada to help free her home world from the Imperium. She admires Erica and quickly develops a muted dislike of Aubrey due to their like minds and Aubrey's self-destructive outlook. Her dislike eventually turns to full-blown jealousy as she challenges Aubrey to a duel. Eventually, she realizes that Aubrey could be her best comrade but she'll will make constant attempts to win both Erica and Sierra's favor every so often. Gabriela often makes great efforts to appear smarter whilst closing herself off from others out of fear of rejection, but wishes she could be a good doctor.
4) MIO NGUYEN (グエン 澪) ♂ - Age: 13. Height: 4'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Brown. Pilot of the RX-2000-B D'Artagnan Wukong: the Ruby Gundam of Anima. Like the young Sun Wukong as seen in Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Mio is headstrong/impulsive, agile to an insane degree, and has a penchant for not respecting authority figures who have not earned a right to wield such authority in his eyes. And like D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers; Mio is also very romantic, not very smart in terms of the literary-minded, and eagerly jumps into all manner of danger to help those truly in need. At first unable to comprehend how a talented and capable woman like Aubrey could ever need help, Mio soon sees himself being drawn into Aubrey's world fighting against Callisto forces. Hailing from the wrecked Neo Gascony colony on Ceres, he is the first boy Aubrey takes under her wing to gain her first apprentice.
5) IRIS MOREAU (モロー アイリス) ♀ - Age: 27. Height: 5'8". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-2 Venus: the Yellow Gundam of Light. Back in her civilian life, she tries to do the best she can to help friends in need, but sometimes a disaster gear kicks in way too early. Iris is also infamous for using mixed-up proverbs and officially refers to herself as "Goddess of Love," a title which she uses to try to solve others' love woes. However; she is loyal and caring to a fault for as a fellow Newtype, she wears her heart on her sleeve and sees Aubrey for what she is and can be - a true friend. She's the joker of Solar Wing out of and sometimes in combat. She may take her duties seriously, but for the rest of the time, Iris prefers to spend her time goofing off, cracking jokes, pulling pranks, seeking thrills and just living life up. But if the chips are down, Iris is ruthless when protecting Aubrey from all bullies and the Imperium.
6) KAI PARRISH (パリッシュ 海) ♀ - Age: 19. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Brown. Pilot of the RX-2000-3 Terra: the Brown Gundam of Earth. Honest and truthful in showing potential as a leader, Kai was brought up in Midwestern America on the Cherokee reservations by her parents who were equally as doting and permissive as they were firm and involved when they needed to be, so Kai can be powerful in battle and is ever courageous. Many might take her her not being a completely idealized feminine heroine as denial of someone's wish fulfillment and invite scorn, but Kai is out to show them wrong with skill in piloting the Terra Gundam as third-in-command of Solar Wing. Kai is the individualist Newtype and freedom-loving - one who cares about getting time over to do the things she wants to do. But she still gets along very well with all of Solar Wing, and she will always play her part well when it really matters.
7) SIERRA CHAY (シェイ シエラ) ♀ - Age: 28. Height: 6'4". Hair: Violet. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-XI Luna: the White Gundam of Electricity. Sierra is also a top Newtype in the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force all with distinction from when she enlisted at the tender age of 18 and received her officers' commission at 23. Appointed as one of the Co-Wing Leaders of the Solar Wing alongside Erica Azrael, Sierra may seem dispassionate and or quiet in her preferred duties - even being more comfortable with home front activities and the day-to-day administration. But underneath her icy exterior is a fierce and driven woman who sees fellow Newtypes as the family she must protect and will lay down the law if anyone goes too far or has a problem with someone else. Unlike Erica who sees a great potential for Aubrey in flying a Gundam, Sierra sees Aubrey's self-destructive nature as the liability it is.
8) FLASH VAN WARREN (ヴァンウォーレン フラッシュ) ♂ - Age: 14. Height: 4'9.5". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-E Athos Tripitaka: the Amber Gundam of Soul. Like the young Tripitaka as seen in the Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Flash is rather reserved and devoted to not sullying himself with physical relationships, more of their long-range tactician, and has a knack for getting himself into trouble which the others have to bail him out of. And like Athos in The Three Musketeers; Flash is also protective of children, not very emotive and taciturn in handling his fellow pilgrims, and more melancholy than others in trying to come to terms with the loss of his family and some friends to the Imperium. At first unable to comprehend how a talented and driven woman like Aubrey could ever need help, Flash soon sees himself being drawn into Aubrey's world in fleeing Vestia's Neo Perth.
9) MIYOSHI KUGA (久我 三好) ♀ - Age: 26. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Violet. Pilot of the RX-2000-4 Mars: the Red Gundam of Fire. Miyoshi has a bit of a bad temper, but she is a true friend to all on the inside once you get to know her better. Before joining CDEF, she had her job as a shrine maiden at the local Shinto Temple in Neo Osaka around Mars where she lived and may sometime go back to visit, and that is where she learned to channel herself and her Newtype abilities into the psychic world and the psychic into her fire. For all of their fights every so often as friends do, Miyoshi would actually prefer her friends and potential suitors to be more vulnerable as well as open about their emotions - as such, Kai and Aubrey are the golden standard by which she measures any potential new acquaintances. As a top member of Solar Wing and finding her connection to the Mars Gundam, Miyoshi is out to find her way.
10) NADIRA MULLER (ミュラー ナディラ) ♀ - Age: 20. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-5 Jupiter: the Green Gundam of Forest. Being the resident tough girl of Solar Wing who hails from the Neo Zanzibar colony on Ganymede, many people feared her, but Nadira doesn't feel alone, as her squadron mates are always there, even when she is in a bad mood. She also practices judo and karate to keep up her fitness levels as well as serve as therapist for the others. Despite her tomboyish exterior, Nadira is a sweet person who enjoys cooking, gardening, flower arranging and handicrafts; and she dreams of getting married and owning a combined floral bakery shop. Her green thumb and Newtype abilities of hers make her perfect to pilot the Jupiter Gundam. Whenever Aubrey is getting involved with the Solar Wing, Nadira's motherly side comes out as the two become rather protective of each other.
11) SAMARA FORESTER (フォレスター サマラ) ♀ - Age: 25. Height: 5'8". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-6 Saturn: the Purple Gundam of Shadow. Showing attitude and a thirst for battle, there are signs not all is right with her and she might be developing some form of Newtype PTSD. She has been consumed by battle ever since her brothers and sisters were seriously injured in the attacks on the Neo Burlington colony of Enceladus, constantly pushing things well beyond her physical limits and has a tendency to lose self-control when the battle goes against Solar Wing. The Saturn Gundam must have reached out to her via her vast Newtype abilities to give her an outlet to express herself. But when Aubrey is involved in the affairs of Solar Wing, Samara gets the mirror reflection of herself and she sees that what Aubrey and she have in common could get them both killed - and fear it boiling over into war.
12) VINCE COLEMAN (コールマン ヴィンス) ♂ - Age: 16. Height: 5'1.5". Hair: Black. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-C Porthos Wujing: the Emerald Gundam of Gravity. Like the tall Sha Wujing as seen in the Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Vince is powerful and yet loyal to all his friends while even having a penchant for light humor to make situations bearable, a friend to all children, and is more of a father to everyone around them than their own dads. And just as with Porthos in The Three Musketeers; Vince is also the ever rollicking, romantic life of the party. Even as a strong African-American young man, he is the rare manic pixie dream guy of being a Newtype who is a "gentle guy" to Aubrey's "broken babe". Some are resigned to or refuse the call to adventure, but the hometown boy of Neo Harlem, Pallas is one who actively sought out the call in hopes of finding friends who share in his passions.
13) TANYA KRIKALEV (クリカレフ ターニャ) ♀ - Age: 24. Height: 5'8". Hair: Gainsboro. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the RX-2000-7 Uranus: the Black Gundam of Sky. When the Imperium struck against Neo Leningrad on Oberon, Tanya was separated from both her parents but maintains hope that they are still alive on Oberon and someday they'll be reunited. Because of her lack of contact with the rest of the Wing, she is only really close to Erica and Sierra although her compassionate and submissive personality means she's kind and accepting of everybody in or affiliated with Solar Wing. Her dreams of the sky and ability to read the cosmic winds makes her the prime candidate for the Newtype pilot of the Uranus Gundam. Whenever Tanya finds Aubrey getting involved with Solar Wing and bringing Pilgrim Squadron with her, she finds a crush for her in Flash as well as the chance to be the big sister Aubrey never had growing up.
14) LILLIAN ROBLEDO (ロブレド リリアン) ♀ - Age: 21. Height: 5'8". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Red. Pilot of the RX-2000-8 Neptune: the Silver Gundam of Ocean. Hailing from the Earth colony of Neo Santiago on Triton, Lillian's family are miners who make a living converting the frozen icy surface of the moon into water and ammonia. Curious as to where the water is supposed to go, Lillian finds herself drawn to the seas and able to manipulate water around her with a set of Newtype abilities she is discovering for herself. This makes her the prime candidate for piloting the Neptune Gundam for Solar Wing. Unlike Tanya who is shyer and conventionally more feminine than her; the more tomboyish Lillian can be full of energy, jumps around a lot, and speaks in a sing-songy voice. Eager to show off and enjoy the finer things life has to offer, Lillian sees her own sister in Aubrey and strives to thaw a frozen heart with some patience.
15) REEMA AL-YASIN (ヤッセン リマ) ♀ - Age: 22. Height: 5'8". Hair: Black. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-9 Pluto: the Gold Gundam of Time. The Neo Riyadh colony on Charon is one of the first targets of the Imperium of Callisto's operations - especially for raw materials to be used in building their war machine to secure supremacy in the Solar System. Reema is now an orphan due to the Imperium crashing the Kerberos VII colony into Charon, and barely escaped with her life due to manifesting Newtype abilities of shifting herself and others both forward and backward in time. Found and chosen by the Pluto Gundam, Reema has a grudge against the primarily Aryan (tall, slender, fair-skinned, blue-eyed, blonde) members of all the Imperium - especially Maxx Zaldivar. Being rehabilitated alongside Aubrey into Solar Wing is no small feat, but Reema finds a support network in them as she discovers her own person.
16) ULF SOLBERG (ソルベルグ ウルフ) ♂ - Age: 15. Height: 4'11.5". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the RX-2000-D Arimos Bajie: the Sapphire Gundam of Illusion. Like the younger Zhu Bajie as seen in Journey to the West; the Newtype known as Ulf is smart and something of a warrior poet while even having a penchant for rather vulgar humor to make their situations bearable, and tries to be a hit with the ladies while treating them with respect. And as with Arimos in The Three Musketeers; Ulf is also the dependable one for common sense as well as coming up with inventions alongside his crush Gabriela. Even as the intelligent Scandinavian young man he is, Ulf at first is reluctant to be paired with Pilgrim Squadron. But after a strike by the Imperium forces against his colony Neo Stockholm on Juno, he has little elsewhere to go for support. Freed from obligations, Ulf commits to being the best brother for Aubrey.
MECHA/ARSENAL
1) RX-2000 VALKYRIE GUNDAM-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 21.7 meters. Fighting Weight: 32.2 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 3500 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 22K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x Beam Sabers, 1x Shield, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Valkyrie Gundams are made to last while also serving as the expression of Newtypes in CDEF. Each colored Gundam represents a very specific element or power that a space body is emblematic of. En route to a CDEF dedication ceremony on Titan, their CDEF carrier is attacked and the pink Valkyrie Yulong Gundam falls into the possession of Aubrey Zuleger. She fights off an Imperium attack and escapes in the Gundam looking for sanctuary. All sixteen of the Gundams are the heroes of this Solar War.
2) CVABB-79 OLYMPUS - Height: 200 meters. Length: 600 meters. Beam: 400 meters. Total Wingspan: 200 meters. Fighting Weight: 47000 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Fusion Reactor. Top Speed: 25000 kilometers an hour. Propulsion: 13x Thermonuclear Rocket Jet Engines. Class: Pantheon-class Assault Carrier Battleship. Weapon(s): 5x 3-barrel Primary Shock Cannons, 2x twin Mega Particle Cannons, 8x 4-tube Fore Missile Launchers, 1x 4-tube Aft Missile Launcher, 22x twin Anti-Aircraft Guns. Designed and built by Tomino Aeronautics Engineering for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the United Solar Vessel (USV) Olympus serves as home for both Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron in all their tours of duty across the Solar System. Able to house multiple Core Fighters and Mobile Weapons, the Olympus is always a welcome sight and a defender of all that our heroes are fighting to save.
3) RX-1991 CORSAIR GUNCANNON-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.75 meters. Fighting Weight: 60.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 1400 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 20K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x 240mm Cannons, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Corsair Guncannons are meant to be a middle-range support mobile suit to complement both the RX-2000 Valkyrie Gundams and the RX-1961 Taurus Guntanks in their ground operations. Serving mainly as CDEF's primary artillery unit, the Corsair's design prioritizes durability over mobility and precludes the use of melee weapons. While it is less agile and mobile than a Gundam, a Guncannon is still useful with its pair of shell-firing cannons that can penetrate heavy armor of any Imperium forces.
4) SF-XV CORE BLOCK FIGHTER - Height: 3.38 Meters. Length: 8.75 Meters. Wingspan: 7.25 Meters. Weight: 9 metric tons. Power Plant: Nuclear Fusion Generator. Speed: 6K kilometers per hour (in space)/4K kilometers per hour (in planetary atmospheres). Weapon(s): 4x 25mm Vulcan Guns and 2x 4-shot Anti-Ship Missile Launchers. Designed and mass-produced by one United Solar Alliance specifically for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Core Block Fighter makes up the spear of CDEF's aerospace superiority forces. Originally seen in development as a cockpit capsule that also served as an escape mechanism, United Solar Alliance sought to capitalize on the further development of Yatate Enterprises' mobile suits by creating a Core Block System that turns the fighter into an augmented core and cockpit for mobile weapons such as the RGM-1976 Spartan, RX-1982 Taurus and RX-1991 Corsair.
5) RGM-1976 SPARTAN GM-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.5 Meters. Fighting Weight: 50.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Power Output: 1300 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 6K Meters. Weapon(s): 60mm Vulcan Gun, 2x Beam Sabers, 1x Shield, 1x Hyper Bazooka and 1x Beam Rifle. Designed and soon mass-produced by Yatate Enterprises specifically for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Spartan GM is the most common form of mobile suit used by CDEF rank and file. Its standard frame is readily adaptable to every manner of modification into mission-specific Spartan models, and holds a fairly high level of mobility, for the time, both on Earth and in space. Many Spartans are used as trainer crafts for Mobile Suit pilots, which make it easier for non-Newtype CDEF officers to join the fray. But their lighter titanium armor is less durable than the Gundams.
6) RX-1961 TAURUS GUNTANK-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 15.3 Meters. Fighting Weight: 68 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Power Output: 900 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 6K Meters. Weapon(s): 2x 120mm Low-Recoil Cannons and 2x 4-tube 40mm Arm Missile Launchers. Designed and built by Yatate Enterprises especially for the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force, the Taurus Guntanks possess the torso and arms of a mobile suit, but use caterpillar treads for their legs. Serving as CDEF's ground superiority units, the Taurus' design prioritizes durability over mobility and precludes the use of melee weapons. While it is less agile and mobile than other mobile suits, a Guntank is still useful with its array of shell-firing cannons that can penetrate heavy armor of any Imperium forces. Many are designed around a crew complement of a primary drivepilot and gunner.
7) CMS-07 SOMU-TYPE MOBILE SUIT - Height: 18.45 Meters. Fighting Weight: 67.5 metric tons. Power Plant: Minovsky-Ionesco Ultracompact Fusion Reactor. Raw Power Output: 1100 kilowatts. Sensor Range: 4K Meters. Weapon(s): 1x Shield, 1x 105mm Callisto Machine Gun, 1x Callisto Hyper Bazooka and 1x Heat Sword. The mainstay of the Imperium of Callisto; the Somu-type Mobile Suit is faster, more durable and versatile than a great many of its forbears in CDEF in spite of their vast numbers contributing to their disposable nature. Many high-ranking commanders in Callisto forces use custom-painted and custom-armed variants as an expression of storied victories over many adversaries like Maxx Zaldivar's Crimson Serpent. Curiously, Aubrey's secret Newtype benefactor pilots his own modified Somu with its Beam Sword in a striking color scheme that allows for infiltration of Callisto ranks and sabotage.
PRIMARY ANTAGONISTS - IMPERIUM OF CALLISTO (カリストの帝国)
1) IMPERATOR PIETRO VON VIDMAR (皇帝 ピエトロ フォン ヴィドマー) ♂ - Age: 35. Total Height: 6'3.5". Hair: Silver. Eyes: Blue. In short and at most charitable, Pietro is best described as ambitious, underhanded, overconfident, and a feared motivator. As the essential leader of Callisto, Pietro belittles the dwindling power of his siblings and continuously schemes to turn the Solar War into a total war. He and his siblings Elise and Tobias are constantly at odds with each other as the three possess similar political goals but different methods with some of the rank and file pushing to fall behind Maxx Zaldivar. Over the course of the War as both Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron inflict devastating losses on Callisto forces, Pietro expects he will be betrayed and schemes to find the Newtype Gundam pilot Aubrey Zuleger so his forces break her. Even so, he'll have to get past Zaldivar's own obsession with the CDEF's rising star.
2) MAXX ZALDIVAR (ザルディバー マックス) ♂ - Age: 21. Height: 5'10". Hair: Blonde. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Crimson Serpent". Maxx is always seen dressed in his red Callisto uniform and mostly wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to conceal his real identity. Maxx's personality is a mix of passion, charisma, pride, vengefulness and charm. Perhaps his most dominant characteristic is charisma, which makes him a genuine leader. Maxx’s skill as a pilot combined with his charisma cause many people to respect and willingly follow his command, while instilling fear in his opponents. A rival for dominant characteristic is Maxx's tendency to hold deep grudges - such as towards Callisto's Imperator Von Vidmar for the slaughter of his family and friends, as well as both Tobias and Aubrey Zuleger for their defeats of him in Mobile Suit combat throughout the ongoing War.
3) ELISE VON VIDMAR (エリーゼ フォン ヴィドマー) ♀ - Age: 25. Height: 5'8". Hair: Red. Eyes: Green. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Verde Eagle". Elise is seen dressed in a green Callisto uniform and also wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show her identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Elise had both political and military ambitions at a young age and will try to establish military and political channels both on her own and with her brother Tobias in order to compete with their elder brother Pietro over who should have the right to rule the Solar System if Callisto is victorious. Using Mobile Suits and Newtypes to her advantage as Maxx suggests, Elise is playing her elder brother into a trap for him to fail and her to become the new Imperator. That is not to say she lacks traits that aren't admirable. She's been known to be heartfelt and honest with troops she will lead.
4) ILHAN ILSUNG (イルハン イルソン) ♂ - Age: 35. Height: 6'2". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Brown. Commanding Officer of the Callisto Imperium's Flagship Mobile Suit Carrier Babylon, Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Silver Bullet". Ilhan is sometimes seen dressed in a yellow Callisto uniform and wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show his identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Having seen the Von Vidmar patriarchy's cruelty firsthand in the assassination of Callisto Zaldivar, Ilhan and his wife Xenia Sutherland smuggled young Maxx to freedom and trained him in piloting Mobile Suits while giving him a good education so he could avenge his family against Imperator Pietro. An experienced agent and officer, Ilhan never has a foul mood towards any of the men serving under him so long as a code of ethics he instills is followed. He only fights so Callisto colonies can live in freedom.
5) TOBIAS VON VIDMAR (トビアス フォン ヴィドマー) ♂ - Age: 21. Hair: Brown. Eyes: Blue. Pilot of the Custom CMS-07 Somu-type Mobile Suit "Azure Ghost". Tobias is sometimes seen outfitted in his blue Callisto uniform and wears a Callisto commander helmet with goggles to show his identification with some of Maxx Zaldivar's ideals. Among one of the more moral and nobler members of the Callisto Imperium, Tobias is shrewd enough to ally with his sister Elise and Maxx Zaldivar against their brother Pietro. On the other hand, he is young and very beautiful in a feminine way which makes him both the envy and goal of every female officer in the Callisto Imperial Military. He is one of the few who shows equal respect to each of his officers be they normal or Newtype. Very few in the Imperium know that Tobias is in fact the mysterious benefactor who has been watching out for Aubrey since they were little kids.
SERIES EPISODE PROPOSAL
- Initial Series Order - 129 Half-Hour Episodes, 1 Quintuple-Length Movie
- $5 Million/¥6 Million per Half-Hour = $670 Million/¥81.5 Billion for Total Series
- Episode 1 - Callisto Imperium Invades Titan
- Episode 2 - Aubrey Escapes Her Family
- Episode 3 - Aubrey Discovers Valkyrie Yulong
- Episode 4 - Aubrey Fights Off Callisto
- Episode 5 - New Aoteroa Colony Evacuated
- Episode 6 - Launch of the Olympus
- Episode 7 - Welcome to Solar Wing
- Episode 8 - The Pilgrim Quest Begins
- Episode 9 - Neo Gascony Colony Attacked
- Episode 10 - Mio Rescues D'Artagnan Wukong
- Episode 11 - Hypotheses on the Newtypes
- Episode 12 - Neo Harlem Colony Falls
- Episode 13 - Callisto Officially Declares War
- Episode 14 - Tension Among Vidmar Patriarchy
- Episode 15 - Vince Finds Porthos Wujing
- Episode 16 - Aubrey's Troubling Tragic Past
- Episode 17 - Neo Stockholm Colony Battle
- Episode 18 - Arimos Bajie Chooses Ulf
- Episode 19 - Solar Wing Training Day
- Episode 20 - Neo Perth Colony Siege
- Episode 21 - Flash Joins Athos Tripitaka
- Episode 22 - Pilgrim Squadron United
- Episode 23 - Voyaging Onward to Mars
- Episode 24 - Aubrey's Secret Benefactor Mystery
- Episode 25 - Neo Osaka Colony Arrival
- Episode 26 - Enter Ace Maxx Zaldivar
- Episode 1 - The Battle of Mars
- Episode 2 - Sanctuary at Kuga Shrine
- Episode 3 - Departure for the Earth
- Episode 4 - Fire Aboard the Olympus
- Episode 5 - Trial by Reentry Fire
- Episode 6 - Heroes' CDEF Headquarters Arrival
- Episode 7 - Counseling for Aubrey and Samara
- Episode 8 - Beach Vacation for the Newtypes
- Episode 9 - Kai's Tribal Home Reservation
- Episode 10 - Plot to Crash Neo Boston
- Episode 11 - Battle in Neo Boston Orbit
- Episode 12 - Newtypes Securing the Earth
- Episode 13 - Journeying Onward to Venus
- Episode 14 - CDEF Neo Cannes Arrival
- Episode 15 - Venus Fuel Mine Unionization
- Episode 16 - The Callisto Union Infiltration
- Episode 17 - Spirited Defense of Venus
- Episode 18 - Day in the Life aboard Olympus
- Episode 19 - Imperator Pietro's Training
- Episode 20 - Leaving for Mercury Outpost
- Episode 21 - Aubrey and Gabriela's Gundam Duel
- Episode 22 - Ruins of Narada Colony
- Episode 23 - Gabriela's Family Reunion
- Episode 24 - Aubrey and Zaldivar's First Duel
- Episode 25 - The Inner Planets Secured
- Episode 26 - The Outer Campaign Commences
- Episode 1 - CDEF's New Arsenal Preview
- Episode 2 - Olympus' Lunar Orbit Parking
- Episode 3 - The Tranquility Colony Mall
- Episode 4 - Investigating the Zulegers' Past
- Episode 5 - Tobias Undercover at the Orphanage
- Episode 6 - Olympus Departing Lunar Orbit
- Episode 7 - Mobile Suit Upgrade Testing
- Episode 8 - Erica and Sierra's Night Out
- Episode 9 - Health of the Newtypes
- Episode 10 - Theme Park Colony Outing
- Episode 11 - Amazing Asteroids Park Attacked
- Episode 12 - Pilgrims Prisoners of Callisto
- Episode 13 - Callisto Army Group Therapy
- Episode 14 - Great Escape from Callisto
- Episode 15 - Trauma of the Pilgrims
- Episode 16 - Nadira's Secret Therapy Garden
- Episode 17 - Vince and Nadira Wedding Disguise
- Episode 18 - The Battle of Europa
- Episode 19 - CDEF Traitor for Glory
- Episode 20 - Callisto Traitor for Love
- Episode 21 - The Zulegers' Cruelty Exposed
- Episode 22 - Ilhan Ilsung's Final Battle
- Episode 23 - Funeral for Ilhan Ilsung
- Episode 24 - The Callisto Triumvirate Unites
- Episode 25 - Olympus Launching to Saturn
- Episode 26 - Aubrey in Depression Coma
- Episode 1 - Pilgrims Launch Without Aubrey
- Episode 2 - Callisto Ambush at Saturn
- Episode 3 - Zaldivar a Prisoner of War
- Episode 4 - Escape of Maxx Zaldivar
- Episode 5 - Aubrey Pursues Callisto to Titan
- Episode 6 - Neo Aoteroa School Reunion
- Episode 7 - Zuleger and Forester Estates' Ruins
- Episode 8 - Aubrey Meets Mysterious Benefactor
- Episode 9 - Tobias Von Vidmar's History
- Episode 10 - Voyage Onward to Uranus
- Episode 11 - Krikalev Family Album Musing
- Episode 12 - The Temple of Oberon
- Episode 13 - Guntank Patrol in Neo Leningrad
- Episode 14 - A Deserter from Callisto
- Episode 15 - The Newtype Concentration Camp
- Episode 16 - Taking Off for Neptune
- Episode 17 - Swimming in Zero Gravity
- Episode 18 - Discovery in the Collector
- Episode 19 - Imperator Pietro's Ultimate Betrayal
- Episode 20 - An Alliance of Necessity
- Episode 21 - Olympus Runs Silent Lurking
- Episode 22 - Sinking the Imperator's Flagship
- Episode 23 - Imperium Civil War Begins
- Episode 24 - The Quest for Pluto
- Episode 25 - Reema's Toxic Grudge
- Episode 26 - A Night in Solitary
- Episode 1 - Callisto Base on Pluto
- Episode 2 - Mio and Lillian's Date
- Episode 3 - Treating Prisoners of Callisto
- Episode 4 - Gabriela and Ulf Romance
- Episode 5 - The Outer Campaign Endgame
- Episode 6 - Survivors of New Riyadh
- Episode 7 - Renegade CDEF Admiral's Rampage
- Episode 8 - Séance of the Newtypes
- Episode 9 - Flash and Iris' Movie Night
- Episode 10 - Gundam Pilots Training Unite
- Episode 11 - Mass Produced Automated Somus
- Episode 12 - Sweeping the Floating Mines
- Episode 13 - The Siege of Kerberos
- Episode 14 - Callisto Outer Base Falls
- Episode 15 - Imperator Pietro Begins Escape
- Episode 16 - Olympus' Pursuit to Earth
- Episode 17 - Detecting the Remaining Blockade
- Episode 18 - Callisto Asteroid Fleet Strikes
- Episode 19 - Evacuation of the Olympus
- Episode 20 - Destruction of the Olympus
- Episode 21 - Long Road to Earth
- Episode 22 - Pietro Marches Upon CDEF
- Episode 23 - Battle Aboard Galileo VII
- Episode 24 - Death of Zaldivar and Pietro
- Episode 25 - CDEF Newtypes' Final Victory
Little do Pilgrim Squadron, Solar Wing or the Commonwealth Defense and Exploration Force know that Pietro Von Vidmar survived the assassination attempt against him. Pietro finds his mighty Imperium of Callisto falling due to Newtypes and ordinary humans finally combining into an alliance to destroy his pure Universe. Pilgrim Squadron and Solar Wing fly into battle one more time alongside Tobias and Elise to stop Pietro from crashing the new Neo Shinjuku colony into Earth. This main story is both book-ended and interrupted by a future plot which involves Solar Wing and Pilgrim Squadron's members and their families catching back up on the old days with an older Aubrey, her children and grandchildren. The older Aubrey is lucky to be by her friends' sides again ever since Tobias died in the last battle. Now, Aubrey too has to set her final affairs in order having risen above her abusive childhood to gain a happier life.
MERCHANDISING AND PROMOTION
- Bandai snap-build model kits of mecha and space warships as depicted in series
- Hasbro-licensed series-accurate Mobile Suit Gundam: Castaway Souls toys, action figures of main characters and mecha to fit figure
- Collector’s figures of each character (anatomically correct) with interchangeable outfits, hand items and posable joints
- Licensed video game adaptation for all major consoles and personal computers with Bandai Namco and Koei Tecmo
- Licensed cosplay costumes of characters and mecha tailor-made and fitted by Cosplay House
- Collector’s Coffee Mugs/Tea Cups, Stationery, Apparel, Posters, Lobby Cards and Black & White/Color Photo Sheets
- In conjunction with Japanese and English dubs on TV, streaming Crunchyroll and Netflix, DVD and Blu-Ray, members of the Gundam fan club can enter for chances to win a retro-style VHS videocassette box set of the entire series of Mobile Suit Gundam: Castaway Souls.
- A marketing campaign will proceed with trailers and spots for cinema, internet, radio, and television.
2023.03.24 04:10 ogreatgames Panzer Dragoon: Thrilling Rail Shooter - Sega Saturn Game
 | submitted by ogreatgames to Ogreatgames [link] [comments]  #sega #saturn #shooter -- Panzer Dragoon for Sega Saturn. It's time to fulfill your destiny because the future of your people is in your hands. Kill the Dark Dragon and his armies. Use your hand gun, and dragon, which can shoot a homing laser, to perform aerial combat, and help save the falling civilization. While riding the flying dragon, experience the breathtaking ruins, on this dazzling, rail shooting, adventure. Also, complete more than 3 interesting, ground-breaking levels. Experience terrific, multiple views in flight, and be prepared, for enemies in various directions. Overall, if you like dragons or just an excellent adventure this game might be for you. -- Hey check out similar videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uKspxQ89s&list=PLVduyMnVQjzNYPljUBqwgAXdMPQ9CEKWY |
2023.03.24 02:19 Otherwisely An (Almost) Comprehensive List of Final Girl References
Here’s a list of all the references I could find throughout the Final Girl games. It’s as comprehensive as I could get it, but I have no doubt that I’m missing things. If you notice something that I didn’t, let me know in a comment.
I don’t have season 2 yet, but those of you who do can feel free to let me know possible references in the comments as well.
Marked for spoilers, just in case.
Camp Happy Trails is directly inspired by Friday the 13th’s Camp Crystal Lake. Hans is inspired by the “slow-moving hulk” type of slashers—Jason, Michael Myers—with a dash of Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Sawyer family and a sprinkle of spooky German vibes.
German shame masks (schandmaske) were used in the 17th century to punish those who acted inappropriately for their station. Masks styled as pigs were used for the gluttonous, drunken, or sloppy.
Some people have suggested that the location and killer are a reference to the famous Die Hard line, “Happy trails, Hans.” I personally think it’s more of a coincidence but I figured it’s worth mentioning.
The Haunting of Creech Manor
Both the location and the killer are inspired by the 1982 film Poltergeist. The little girl, Carolyn, is named for Carol Anne, the movie’s iconic creepy/psychic child. The main mechanic of this killer is a reference to the movie’s plot as well, as both require rescuing a young girl from malevolent spirits.
There is a Terror card titled “Did that clown... just move?” wherein the Final Girl is attacked by a clown doll. A clown doll also features in the movie.
The Terror card “The trees are alive!” references an event in the movie where a tree breaks a window and pulls one of the character outside.
The name of the manor may be a reference to Thomas Eugene Creech, an American serial killer. Like Robert Creech in the manor’s backstory, Thomas Creech’s wife also died by suicide.
Slaughter at the Groves
It doesn't seem like there are any specific films being referenced here, but it may be partially inspired by Mondo films from the 60’s. Inkanyamba also bears some resemblance to a Predator in modus operandi (noted by CFH_101proof), though their motives are quite different.
Inkanyamba is a legendary serpent of Zulu mythology. Specifically, it’s said to reside at the bottom Howik Falls, South Africa. According to lore, only sangomas (traditional healers in southern Africa) may approach its home safely and only with the intent to worship it. Like the Sacred Groves, Howik Falls is a popular tourist attraction.
One of the item cards is called Shaman’s Bones. Sangomas throw bones to divine the future. Like in the illustration, animal bones, dice, shells, and stones can be used as part of this process. Contrary to what the flavor text says, I didn’t find anything to suggest that human bones are used.
Despite the references to South Africa, the lore book specifically mentions west Africa.
One of the setup cards is called Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing is a DC comics character. Wes Craven wrote and directed the 1982 film adaptation of the character.
Carnage at the Carnival
The carnival is based off of the many carnival/circus-based horror movies, but The Funhouse seems to be the strongest inspiration. Geppetto is named for the fictional character who created a puppet, Pinnochio, as his son. His abilities are based off of the Puppet Master franchise.
Frightmare on Maple Lane
The killer, location, and film title are very obviously based off of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Many of the Terror cards also reference the movie. Most notably, there are cards that almost exactly mimic the Freddy Kreuger nursery rhyme.
The Bicycle item card has the flavor text “Hi ho silver! Away!” In the novel It (and its adaptations), Bill would shout that phrase when he rode his bike. The phrase itself references The Lone Ranger.
One of the setup cards is titled A Quiet Place, sharing its name with the 2018 horror movie. However, there’s no resemblance between the setting and the movie.
Terror from Above
This vignette is based off of Hitchcock’s The Birds.
The Terror in the Groves scenario references a mint-condition alpha Black Lotus card. This is an extremely rare and valuable card in Magic: The Gathering. In 2023, one such card was sold for $540,000. Buying all the Final Girl games doesn't seem like such a big investment anymore, does it?
Into the Void
Killer and location are a reference Alien.
Terror at Station 2891
Killer and location are a reference to The Thing. The station number may be the reverse of 1982, the year The Thing was released (noted by Invicta71).
A Knock at the Door
The location and killer in general are references to home invasion movies. However, the killer being three masked characters specifically references The Strangers. The killer wearing the sack is a reference to the Man in Mask killer from The Strangers. The killer wearing a skull looks similar to the cult from 2021’s Wrong Turn. I don’t recognize the third killer’s mask as anything specific, but there are some masks from The Purge series that are somewhat similar.
The title of the film may be derived from the 2015 film Knock Knock.
Once Upon A Full Moon
The killer and location is a reference to classic fairytales, particularly Little Red Riding Hood.
Madness in the Dark
The setting is based off of the many hospital/asylum horror movies. The killer, The Ratchet Lady, may be a reference to the antagonist of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nurse Mildred Ratched. Her appearance seems at least partially inspired by the nurse monsters in the Silent Hill series, specifically the first movie adaptation.
Terror from the Grave
This vignette is a reference to various zombie horror movies.
Laurie’s first name is a clear reference to Halloween’s final girl, Laurie Strode. Her last name is a tribute to filmmaker, John Carpenter, who created Halloween and many other iconic horror movies.
Reiko Rivers
Reiko is a common Japanese name, so there are a few possibilities, but most likely it’s a reference to the protagonist of the original Japanese Ring. Rivers is possibly a reference to Clear Rivers, a character in the first two Final Destination movies.
Note: There are a lot of ways to write Reiko in kanji, but assuming that our Reiko uses the same kanji as the movie character, her name would be written as 玲子.
Alice Cranston
Alice is named for the original Friday the 13th’s final girl and/or the final girl of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Selena Villanueva
Her first name is reference to a character in 28 Days Later. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Barbara Romero
First name is a reference to actress Barbara Crampton who has starred in numerous horror movies and shows. Last name references filmmaker George Romero, famous for his Night of the Living Dead films.
Adelaide Jordan
First name is a reference to the main character of Us. Last name is almost certainly a reference to filmmaker Jordan Peele.
Charlie Aja
Not sure what, if anything, her first name references. Last name is a reference to French filmmaker Alexandre Aja, known for Haute Tension (aka High Tension or Switchblade Romance), 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes, and Horns.
Her appearance bears some resemblance to Marie from Haute Tension.
Eihi Asami
Both names are references to the antagonist of the 1999 Japanese horror film Audition. The character is named Asami Yamazaki and portrayed by Eihi Shiina. So far, she’s the only final girl to be referred to primarily by her surname and also the only final girl to be named for a villain.
Asami’s special item brings to mind the belts the movie character wears around her waist.
Note: In Audition, Asami is the character’s given name and written as 麻美 in kanji. Here, Asami is the surname and is likely written using the kanji 浅見 or 浅海. Phonetically, however, they are identical. Eihi is written as 英姫 (assuming it uses the same kanji as the actress).
Sheila Smalley
First name references Sheila Kopecky, a character in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4; the characters share a resemblance (noted by GoodTimesBadMovies). Surname possibly references early filmmaker Phillip Smalley, but I don’t think it’s a strong case.
Nancy Lang
Clearly named for Nancy Thompson, the final girl of the first A Nightmare on Elm Street. Her surname may be derived from Nancy’s actress, Heather Langenkamp, or it may be a reference to filmmaker Stephen Lang.
Melanie Brown
First name for the protagonist of The Birds. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Ellen
Named for the final girl of Alien.
Jenette
Named for Jenette Goldstein, the actress who portrayed Private Vasquez in Alien.
Kate
A reference to the protagonist of 2011’s The Thing. The characters share a similar appearance.
Uki
Reference to Slash/Back.
Ava
References the final girl of The Cloverfield Paradox.
Ginny
Not sure what the reference may be.
Red
Named for the fairytale character Little Red Riding Hood. It may also reference the main antagonist of Us.
Gretel
Named for the fairytale character Gretel from Hansel and Gretel.
Heather
Likely named for Heather Mason, the protagonist of Silent Hill 3. The characters also share a similar appearance.
Veronica
Possibly named for the titular protagonist of the 2017 Spanish film Verónica.
Vignette Final Girl
This is a placeholder until I learn this character’s name.
submitted by Otherwisely to finalgirl [link] [comments]
I don’t have season 2 yet, but those of you who do can feel free to let me know possible references in the comments as well.
Marked for spoilers, just in case.
Feature Films (Season 1)
The Happy Trails HorrorCamp Happy Trails is directly inspired by Friday the 13th’s Camp Crystal Lake. Hans is inspired by the “slow-moving hulk” type of slashers—Jason, Michael Myers—with a dash of Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Sawyer family and a sprinkle of spooky German vibes.
German shame masks (schandmaske) were used in the 17th century to punish those who acted inappropriately for their station. Masks styled as pigs were used for the gluttonous, drunken, or sloppy.
Some people have suggested that the location and killer are a reference to the famous Die Hard line, “Happy trails, Hans.” I personally think it’s more of a coincidence but I figured it’s worth mentioning.
The Haunting of Creech Manor
Both the location and the killer are inspired by the 1982 film Poltergeist. The little girl, Carolyn, is named for Carol Anne, the movie’s iconic creepy/psychic child. The main mechanic of this killer is a reference to the movie’s plot as well, as both require rescuing a young girl from malevolent spirits.
There is a Terror card titled “Did that clown... just move?” wherein the Final Girl is attacked by a clown doll. A clown doll also features in the movie.
The Terror card “The trees are alive!” references an event in the movie where a tree breaks a window and pulls one of the character outside.
The name of the manor may be a reference to Thomas Eugene Creech, an American serial killer. Like Robert Creech in the manor’s backstory, Thomas Creech’s wife also died by suicide.
Slaughter at the Groves
It doesn't seem like there are any specific films being referenced here, but it may be partially inspired by Mondo films from the 60’s. Inkanyamba also bears some resemblance to a Predator in modus operandi (noted by CFH_101proof), though their motives are quite different.
Inkanyamba is a legendary serpent of Zulu mythology. Specifically, it’s said to reside at the bottom Howik Falls, South Africa. According to lore, only sangomas (traditional healers in southern Africa) may approach its home safely and only with the intent to worship it. Like the Sacred Groves, Howik Falls is a popular tourist attraction.
One of the item cards is called Shaman’s Bones. Sangomas throw bones to divine the future. Like in the illustration, animal bones, dice, shells, and stones can be used as part of this process. Contrary to what the flavor text says, I didn’t find anything to suggest that human bones are used.
Despite the references to South Africa, the lore book specifically mentions west Africa.
One of the setup cards is called Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing is a DC comics character. Wes Craven wrote and directed the 1982 film adaptation of the character.
Carnage at the Carnival
The carnival is based off of the many carnival/circus-based horror movies, but The Funhouse seems to be the strongest inspiration. Geppetto is named for the fictional character who created a puppet, Pinnochio, as his son. His abilities are based off of the Puppet Master franchise.
Frightmare on Maple Lane
The killer, location, and film title are very obviously based off of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Many of the Terror cards also reference the movie. Most notably, there are cards that almost exactly mimic the Freddy Kreuger nursery rhyme.
The Bicycle item card has the flavor text “Hi ho silver! Away!” In the novel It (and its adaptations), Bill would shout that phrase when he rode his bike. The phrase itself references The Lone Ranger.
One of the setup cards is titled A Quiet Place, sharing its name with the 2018 horror movie. However, there’s no resemblance between the setting and the movie.
Terror from Above
This vignette is based off of Hitchcock’s The Birds.
The Terror in the Groves scenario references a mint-condition alpha Black Lotus card. This is an extremely rare and valuable card in Magic: The Gathering. In 2023, one such card was sold for $540,000. Buying all the Final Girl games doesn't seem like such a big investment anymore, does it?
Feature Films (Season 2) - In Progress
I don’t yet own these expansions, so I’m only able to speak in broad strokes. For those of you who got the games ahead of the official release, please feel free to share any details.Into the Void
Killer and location are a reference Alien.
Terror at Station 2891
Killer and location are a reference to The Thing. The station number may be the reverse of 1982, the year The Thing was released (noted by Invicta71).
A Knock at the Door
The location and killer in general are references to home invasion movies. However, the killer being three masked characters specifically references The Strangers. The killer wearing the sack is a reference to the Man in Mask killer from The Strangers. The killer wearing a skull looks similar to the cult from 2021’s Wrong Turn. I don’t recognize the third killer’s mask as anything specific, but there are some masks from The Purge series that are somewhat similar.
The title of the film may be derived from the 2015 film Knock Knock.
Once Upon A Full Moon
The killer and location is a reference to classic fairytales, particularly Little Red Riding Hood.
Madness in the Dark
The setting is based off of the many hospital/asylum horror movies. The killer, The Ratchet Lady, may be a reference to the antagonist of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nurse Mildred Ratched. Her appearance seems at least partially inspired by the nurse monsters in the Silent Hill series, specifically the first movie adaptation.
Terror from the Grave
This vignette is a reference to various zombie horror movies.
Final Girls (Season 1)
Laurie CarpenterLaurie’s first name is a clear reference to Halloween’s final girl, Laurie Strode. Her last name is a tribute to filmmaker, John Carpenter, who created Halloween and many other iconic horror movies.
Reiko Rivers
Reiko is a common Japanese name, so there are a few possibilities, but most likely it’s a reference to the protagonist of the original Japanese Ring. Rivers is possibly a reference to Clear Rivers, a character in the first two Final Destination movies.
Note: There are a lot of ways to write Reiko in kanji, but assuming that our Reiko uses the same kanji as the movie character, her name would be written as 玲子.
Alice Cranston
Alice is named for the original Friday the 13th’s final girl and/or the final girl of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Selena Villanueva
Her first name is reference to a character in 28 Days Later. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Barbara Romero
First name is a reference to actress Barbara Crampton who has starred in numerous horror movies and shows. Last name references filmmaker George Romero, famous for his Night of the Living Dead films.
Adelaide Jordan
First name is a reference to the main character of Us. Last name is almost certainly a reference to filmmaker Jordan Peele.
Charlie Aja
Not sure what, if anything, her first name references. Last name is a reference to French filmmaker Alexandre Aja, known for Haute Tension (aka High Tension or Switchblade Romance), 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes, and Horns.
Her appearance bears some resemblance to Marie from Haute Tension.
Eihi Asami
Both names are references to the antagonist of the 1999 Japanese horror film Audition. The character is named Asami Yamazaki and portrayed by Eihi Shiina. So far, she’s the only final girl to be referred to primarily by her surname and also the only final girl to be named for a villain.
Asami’s special item brings to mind the belts the movie character wears around her waist.
Note: In Audition, Asami is the character’s given name and written as 麻美 in kanji. Here, Asami is the surname and is likely written using the kanji 浅見 or 浅海. Phonetically, however, they are identical. Eihi is written as 英姫 (assuming it uses the same kanji as the actress).
Sheila Smalley
First name references Sheila Kopecky, a character in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4; the characters share a resemblance (noted by GoodTimesBadMovies). Surname possibly references early filmmaker Phillip Smalley, but I don’t think it’s a strong case.
Nancy Lang
Clearly named for Nancy Thompson, the final girl of the first A Nightmare on Elm Street. Her surname may be derived from Nancy’s actress, Heather Langenkamp, or it may be a reference to filmmaker Stephen Lang.
Melanie Brown
First name for the protagonist of The Birds. Not sure what, if anything, her last name references.
Final Girls (Season 2) - In Progress
I don’t yet own the season 2 lore book, so I don’t have the full names of the final girls. For those of you who got the games ahead of the official release, please feel free to share any details.Ellen
Named for the final girl of Alien.
Jenette
Named for Jenette Goldstein, the actress who portrayed Private Vasquez in Alien.
Kate
A reference to the protagonist of 2011’s The Thing. The characters share a similar appearance.
Uki
Reference to Slash/Back.
Ava
References the final girl of The Cloverfield Paradox.
Ginny
Not sure what the reference may be.
Red
Named for the fairytale character Little Red Riding Hood. It may also reference the main antagonist of Us.
Gretel
Named for the fairytale character Gretel from Hansel and Gretel.
Heather
Likely named for Heather Mason, the protagonist of Silent Hill 3. The characters also share a similar appearance.
Veronica
Possibly named for the titular protagonist of the 2017 Spanish film Verónica.
Vignette Final Girl
This is a placeholder until I learn this character’s name.
2023.03.23 22:57 Low_Understanding525 BEATPORT STAFF PICKS SECRET WEAPONS MARCH 2023
Dust & Static - Endone + Hydrochlorothiazide
Boylan, Trends - Norman Bates - Cimm Remix
Starfire Muse - Shadow Bonnie Lullaby - Widow Remix
Chief Kaya - Bastet
Kahn, Neek, Riko Dan, Flowdan - War Start feat. Flowdan feat. Riko Dan
Chunky - Yes I
Novelist - Mercy
Dolenz - Hackney Leech
Hamdi - Skanka - VIP Mix
Nahlith - Shroud
Subculture - Kingston Sound
Argo - Hypno
Riko Dan, Hayz, NothingNice - Hawkeye - Oddkut Remix
T-Man, Hypho, Scamma - Terps VIP
SWR - Potency - TMSV Remix
Fake Two Piece - 868
Drone, Snowy - All I Know
Hamdi, Sir Hiss - I Don't Know
Leo Cap - I Feel Good
Ickle, Who Knew - Lightbulb Moment
Killa P, RDG - Press Trigger
Joe Milli - Darling (EVM128 Remix) - EVM128 Remix
Rp Boo - B.O.T.O.
OG DJ Milton - Free DJ Milton - DJ Clent Remix
SYZ, Yushh - Fuzbidun
Sumgii, Dolenz - Nil Feels
Guava - Always There - 160 Extended Version
Lao, TSVI - Sendero
Super Jim Z - Rihanna Joint feat. Super Jim Z
Max Le Daron, Joey le Soldat, LaBoK, AZIZAA MYSTIC - Freedom - Labok Remix
Big Dope P, Househead Samira - Ride With Me
Silvestre - Out of Control
Jessika Kay - Whine up on Me
Kouslin - Five Four
Hyas - WANT2BE
Tomás Urquieta - 32 Balas - Rhyw's Double Dribble Remix
Philip D Kick - The Journey Home
DJ Girl - Get Down
drexell - Reprogram
Sudley - Ghost Notes
Mish, Brodie, Waypoint - Bitter Soul (feat. brodie)
Carlito - Take Me Down
Lu, Nami - 4 Minutes
LNO, Slippy Skills - Charged feat. Slippy Skills
Chords, Rene Lavice - Set Pace - Extended Mix
LSB, Jubei - The Source
Rider Shafique, Moytra - Face Your Fears
Killer Hertz - Rock Solid
Bluejay, Revan - Night Beats
DJ Limited, Benny L - No Turning Back
Nick The Lot - Unknown Creatures
DJ Hybrid, Mad Sam - Dem No Ready - Bennie Remix
Anima - Osirion
Lupo, Objectiv - Speak2Me
Ky, Chris Kastro - Sledgehammer
Sl8r, Samurai Breaks, Mnt - Manny Ravers (feat. MNT)
Resslek - Frozen Mind
Wingz - Another World
Trex, Teej, Medic MC - Hot One feat. Medic MC - T>I Remix
DJ Rap - Saviour
Zapya - Cemetery
Fuenka, Das Pharaoh - Purple Sky - Extended Mix
Will DeKeizer - Emerald
NOIYSE PROJECT - The Groove Child
Faminski - Legacy
German Brigante, Anita Sibona - Get Strong for Me feat. Anita Sibona - Henry Saiz Remix
Ivan Aliaga - Sami
Rocio Portillo, Karim Sar Sar, Valley (AR) - Condor Plateado - Jesuan M Remix
Vitaly Shturm - Paranoid Girl - Matias Burna Remix
Soulmade (AR) - Quid Pro Quo
Forty Cats - W.D.Y.M.
Michael A - Galactic Voices
Francesco Pico, PvHL - Catch The Moment - Club Mix
Gai Barone, Luke Brancaccio - Curious of Humble
Matías Delóngaro - Espuma en Sal - Maxi Welchen Remix
Blanka Barbara - Betrayer Moon - Forty Cats Remix
Tuba Twooz - Orange Sphere
Aman Anand, Da Luka - Mythical Creatures
MUUI - Jaded Moon - Extended Mix
Robert Babicz - One Mind - Integral Bread Remix
ADZ - Falling - Extended Mix
Chronical Effect - Granular Base
Adirøs - Gift of Life
Intelligent Nonsense - Don't Bother Me
Pandora, MONTSHO - Sacred Afrika
Samuel Roos - Journey
Story of Light - The Art of Dreaming
Talpa - Oxymoron
X-Dream - Eleven - Atmos Remix
Mindsurfer - Time and Space
Quantiko - Feel Pain
Kupidox - Its you
Terra Mission - Psychonaut
Ree.k - Hi Izuru Tokoro
Kezo Moon - Titan
Visua - Nano Technology - Ocean Remix
Intelligence - Opera Prima
Kojo - Texas Rage - Kojo on Acid Mix
A2B, Modus (ISR) - Afterglow
Beat Bizarre - Moonblood - Original mix
Eliminate, Peekaboo - Quickness
Jiqui - SONAR
Felmax, Focuss - Run This
Subtronics - Cabin Fever - Kompany Remix
AlienPark - Fkng Click
Perry Wayne - The Labyrinth
AIMER - Like A Girl
SweetTooth, SQISHI - PUCKER UP
Eptic, HOL! - Detonate
Kompany, Hi I'm Ghost - Gunshots
Dr.Ushuu - Spaceships
Bandlez - Ghetto Blastah
Ivory, Dirtyphonics - Bastille - Bizo Remix
Kozmoz, MINDFVCK - Tonal Scream
Ivory, Dr. Ushūu - Madara
Jool - Freyja
JEANIE, BLUPILL - Bulletproof (feat. BLUPILL) - VIP
Neotek, SIPPY - Bone Breaker
Dino Shadix - Distorted Dino
MUST DIE! - GRAVEBLOOM
DJ Girl - Technician
Cocky Balboa - Ginger Cubes
Guava - Believe in U
Dross - IMMA FUCK U UP
Hedchef - Fifteen Hundred Limbs
Psytox - Safety in Numbers
User Delusion - In Control
YTP - DNA
Diego Moraes - Hoplita
Francois Dillinger - Need I Say More?
Papa Nugs - Jagged
Caucasian Boy - Reasons - Tranquil Elephantizer Dub
Starpliktuve - Fuzzy Logic
VHOOR - Balinha da Alegria
Osutin - All Gas
Illektrolab - In The Tube
Soft Collision - Imago
Vekh - Untitled 2
Jonny from Space - Wetland
Ramu - Timetravels
Lollypop - Freakin
Crazibiza - Dance & Shout - JackinGod Remix
Babes on the Run - Bangkoke
Ghostbusterz - Under Pressure
Crazibiza, Cheesecake Boys - Negra
Gianluca Vacchi - Viento - Extended Mix
Eugenio Fico - Let's All Chant
The Black Project - Off The Wall feat. Franky S. - Tradelove Remix
Crazibiza, Cheesecake Boys - Our House
Sebastien Drums, Avicii - My Feelings For You - MERCER Extended Remix
Reza - In the Air
Skytech, Neitan, DJ Kuba - I Want You - Wh0's Extended Festival Remix
Block & Crown - Heart Of Glass
Johnny Stayer - Uhh Ohh
Cedric Gervais - Do It Tonight - Extended Mix
Todd Terry, Jocelyn Brown, Martha Wash - Jumpin' - Wh0 Extended Remix
Tradelove - Rock The Casbah
Crazibiza - My Lips - House Of Prayers Pride Edit
Skytech, Neitan, DJ Kuba - Dancing - Wh0 Extended Festival Remix
Eugenio Fico - House Music
Mind Of Us - Behind Her Eyes - Facade Remix
Daley - Step One
Paul Keeley, Glenn Morrison - Reckoner
Keistep - Hypnotized
Dyn Taylor - Agenda - Extended Mix
J Rogers - New Life - Non Piano Mix
Selim Ozkaya - Shamrock - Extended Mix
Mark L2K, Norman van Thee - Beyond Our Earth - Extended Mix
Szg - Make Us Go Crazy
Wayzy - Travel
Deepcry - Alpha
Maywave - Revolt - DJ Version
HolloH - Da Wickidest
Just Geo - ALLURE
Spate - Racing Mode - Extended Mix
Aiden Francis - Plastic Fantasy
Naike, Hutcher, DRIIA - Crush feat. DRIIA, Naike
Just Geo - GRACE
Naux - La Groovette - Dan Be Remix
Marvin Aloys - Ride Inside the Uk - Hatiras Extended Remix
Bushbaby - M1 Impulse
Big Drum Records - Bumpi
Joedan - Raving Night
Thys, Nikki Nair - Break Through
Seanathan - Cut It
Tigs, Fork and Knife - Behave
Thoma Bulwer - Speed Garage from Jupiter
Arie Mando - Raise Up
DIM FLO - Take Me
Miami Shakers - Tech 09
Piers Kirwan - Rise Up
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - It Was The Summer - Each Other Remix
Rayko - Love U
Leo Janeiro - Uncle Silva
DJ Tron - The Funky Break
Kousto - Friendship for Lovers
Sharon Redd - Undercover Girl - Instrumental
DJ EQ - Quicksilver - Extended Club Mix
C. Da Afro - Into The Disco Scene
Ethyène - Heaven Sand
Joi N'Juno - Mamayeho - Extended Mix
Mijangos - Into the Philly Sound - Luis Radio Remix
Vertigini - Funk Lady - Radio Edit
Alexny - We Got a Message
Alexny - Malovaný
Andromeda Orchestra - Mozambique
Castle Queenside - Sandra
Stephen Richards - Yellow Brass
Scruscru - Rhodes, Loops & Sax
Bibio, Olivier St.Louis - S.O.L. feat. Olivier St.Louis
Payfone, Kyd Nereida - I Feel You - Mudd Instrumental Remix
Da Africa Deep - U Inside
Feki Station - Wasulu
Meith, Kreative Nativez, Mumba Yachi - Amano
DiMO (BG) - Warriors
OVEOUS, QVLN - NE WA TE
Gab Rhome - Alter He-Go - Fiona Kraft Remix
Tayllor, Marasi - Verano
Karen Nyame KG, Vanyfox - Taboo - Vanyfox Remix
Masšh - Get On
Thabo Tonick, Da Journey - Euphoria feat. Da Journey
AfroTura - Alligned
Klement Bonelli, Arodes - Elevate
El Mukuka, Victoric LEROY, ivory white, Kings Of Ife - Sand Traveller feat. Ivory White, Victoric Leroy - Boddhi Satva Ancestral Soul Mix
Karla Brown, Rhythm Staircase - Excuse Me - Christos Fourkis Afro Dub
Da Cord, Jaazment - Izulu (Afro Tech) - Afro Tech
Emmaculate - Black Whole
Diamond Dealer, Idd Aziz - Peah
Fred P - Coming of the Dawn
Dream Dolphin - Gaia (Ethereal Fantasy) - Original
Azu Tiwaline - Ethereal Tribes
Sonmi451 - Up Goes The Green Flare
John Roberts - Stale Perfume
J. Krohn - 05 / 95
Tecwaa - Many Fallen Skies
Mark Barrott - Icarus (イカロス)
Running - Dead Tired
Cephas Azariah - Lunar Tides
Warmth - Llum
B4 - Electric Sheep
Quiet Voices - Story of New Ancestors
µ-Ziq - Burnt Orange
anthené - Shelter
Macchiatto - Now I Ket It
Denqq - A Negative Entity Seeped Through A Hole Into Your Aura
Healing Force Project - Future Space Exploration
Doc Sleep - Fall into Flowers (Intro)
Peach Banquet - Sparkle Force
Spencer Parker - Girl You Wouldnt Believe What I Heard!
Jerome Sydenham, Fatima Njai - The Operator
Lego - Sax Addict
Shortcut - Raw Meat
Dawn Tallman, K London Posse - Caught In Luv feat. Dawn Tallman - Marc Cotterell's Extended Love Redemption Mix
Delistic - You & Me - Extended Mix
Evenn - Time Bomb
Eric God - I Am God - Mood II Swing Dub Mix
Austin Ato - Discolombo
Groove Armada - Rescue Me - Roland Leesker's You Got To Dance Edit
Demuir - Mind, Body, And Soul. Call Me
Matt Star - Fuser
Don Rimini, Jackin Trax - I Won't Stop
Radio Slave - Don't You Know
St. David - The Dark Past
Beltram, Phuture Trax - Future Groove - Maxed Out Dub
Benny Mussa - If You Want - Luke Solomon's Body Remix
Sweely - The Never Ending Groove
Harry "Choo Choo" Romero - Night @ The Black
Jansons - Mode - Richy Ahmed Remix
Louis de Tomaso - Disco Anthem
Heinrich Dressel - Lambda 2077 - Francisco Remix
Kate Ozz - Elusive Dreams
Pujol, Peters - Adi Kunar
Omer Bar, Gal Kinnel - Voyage
Shunus - When the Sun Goes Down
ROYO - Frogy
Max Joni, Onni - Indiana Jones
Peaking Lights - Suitcase - (M. Pagliara Vocal Remix)
Diskette - Navigator - Shan Remix
Mijo, Colossio, Sierra Madre - Cumbres - Esprit Divers Ayahuasca Trip Remix
Applescal - Flash
Zoot Woman, Daddy Squad - A Habit I Can't Break - Boys’ Shorts Extended Mix
Sasha ZA - Jumangi
Phun Thomas, Gūzas - Runnin'
TAPIIA, Alexia Malo - Desconecte - Alexey Union Remix
JackWasFaster - The South
Cosmo Vitelli - How Is It to Be You? - Andrei Rusu Instrumental Remix
Arg.o, Bar.ba - Acqua Magica
Hard Ton - WDYKAAHM?
Mulya - Caravan
Able to Resist - Higher in the Sky
Kate Ozz - Koukou
Modern Brothers - Past Memories
Zafrir - Tatanka
Madben - Addicted - Extended Mix
Ditian - Strange Pleasure
Moeaike - Propagation
Monblaire - The Church
Nihils - Waterfall
Azzecca - Ego Death - Extended Mix
Maxi Vega, Emiliano Demarco - Wisteria
Thodoris Triantafillou - The Magic Spell - Original
Hardt Antoine - Wake Up
Shiffer - Demon Dancer
Artem Kai - Exit
KASIA (ofc) - Concussion
Jaffer - Fading Shades
ivan masa - Eclettico
Santi Efe - No Secret
Kurt Caesar - Mirage - Extended Mix
Distic - Enchanted - Dreamteller Remix
Hereafter - Seyan
Noble Spirits, Aroma (IND) - Ease Your Mind - Limara Remix
Ghenwa Nemnom - Love Notes
Thommie G, Ka:lu - Black Dot
Erdi Irmak - What Was Before
The Cobb, Safety Mode - Lina
pumbum - Retreat - PROFF's Extended Respray
ID.Jay, ADHM - Night Whispers
Wanduta - Fire Is Just Another Door - Monk Ernie Remix
Nihils - Parallels
Uone - Project MK Ultra
Serious Dancers - Ambitious Mamelop
N1NJA - Sunrise of Agra
Modd, Lisandro (AR) - Samocvet
Matthew Herbert, Stavroz - Paradise Carnival (Herbert's Friday Dub) - Herbert's Friday Dub
Kermesse - Wawanko
Ghenwa Nemnom - Story of a Battle - Chris Zippel Remix
Joseph Edmund, Ferny Montana - Positive Pressure
Nausica - Tomalo - Extended Mix
Wax Motif, Riordan - La Samba
Joshwa - Magalenha - Extended Mix
Gorgon City - Rumblah - Extended Mix
Industrialyzer - Snake Whisperer - Radio Slave Remix
Parker Page - Old Skool - Extended Mix
Andrew Azara - Gruuve
Elias R, Johan Dresser - Throwback
Obando, Matheo Velez - Truth
Riva Starr - Creators
Josh Butler, Illyus & Barrientos - Mic Rock - Extended Mix
Franky Rizardo - Monopoly Joystick
Tiga - Mind Dimension - Ben Sterling Remix
Jwalker - Instinct
GOUX, Sorley - Little Secrets - Jansons Remix
Italobros, Jerëmie. - Attention
Luuk Van Dijk - Still Doesn't Care
Joyce Muniz - Get 'Em - Bushwacka! Remix
Andre Salmon, Michael Joseph - Kurosang - Extended Mix
Eitan Reiter - Pump Up The Jam - DJ T. Remix
Belocca - Perception
Disfreq - You Know - Extended Mix
Kate Hex - Disconnected Soul - Extended Mix
Chris Veron - Final Pulse - Extended Mix
Mark Dekoda, Ben Dust - Alle meine Raver
Ochs & Klick - Drift Away
Floormagnet - Ready For The Weeknd - Subjaax Remix
Dustycloud - Me Veo
Konrad (Italy) - Up and Down
Not from Berlin - Love Me
Nicole Moudaber - Intentionally
Pig&Dan - Angel - Tech Mix
Sam Kitt - Phantom Limb
Crossbow - Stargate
Zafer Atabey - Prognosis
RanchaTek - Europa
Bultech - Technography
Insider - Something Flash
Tom.Healey - Temple
Arnaud Le Texier - UFO
Jauri - Pacoa
Deepak Sharma, Cory James - Divine Dino
Kanyon - 9.8 HEARTBEAT MIX
Caue - Evora
Diffused Signal - Joon
Linear Phase - A1A
Adri G. - Cara 4.0
Tomin Tomovic - The Dome at Night
Tetelepta - Klepperheide
Audio Units - Closed Quarters
Pyramidal Decode - Cycles
Drhamer - Pink Bull
Ribé - Nom de plume
Franz Jager - Joga Bonito
Polygonia - Submerged
Oxygeno - Thirty Against One
NYCO - Bellona
Feral - Mambo
CANCEL - Peer Test
Billie Jo - Cor ad Cor
Scalameriya - Hix.un'drakonez
Steel Grooves - Rave Slave
Mython - Pick Up The Scraps And Go
Mickey Nox - Often Vicious
STRISC. - 009.2
Destroyer, Kuros Chimenes - Industrial Anxiety
Vinka Wydro - Cyberspace
Boston 168 - Second City
Cardopusher - Slug Killer
EAS - Withdrawal in the Dance Hall
Cassie Raptor - The Blade Show - Original mix
Rakkatack - Seconds
WTCHCRFT - If Anything Bad Ever Happens
Dahryl - Basic Bitch - Tham Percussive Remix
Hybral - Haunted Desires
Ghost in the Machine - Ensnared
Balrog - Yorkshire Samba
Mython, Karenz - Das Fleisch ist müde feat. Mython
Ship Wrek - Sober - Extended Mix
Kalibwoy, Cesqeaux, Afrojack Presents NLW - Danger - Extended Mix
DavidK3y - New York
Aresta - Drums
NUZB, Mo Falk - Shakedown - Extended Mix
MatricK, Avao - WTF - Extended Mix
Shamil, Sonu Sebastian - Hit The Drums - Extended Mix
Abrox - Between Us
Dada Life - This Time (Never Be Alone Again) - Vion Konger Extended Remix
Captain Bounce - Tracer - Extended Mix
Nikk, Azooland, Robin Aristo - Lick My Ice Cream - Extended Mix
Firebeatz, DAMANTE - What Happens Here (Club Mix) - Extended Mix
TV Noise - Turn It Up - Extended Mix
Le Twins - Takata - Extended Mix
La Fuente - I Want You - Hardwell Extended Remix
Oomloud - Burn The House - Extended Mix
Tim-ber, Robin Aristo - Your Body - Extended Mix
Mike Candys - Body Rock - Extended Mix
Shift K3Y, Kaleena Zanders - V I B R A T I O N - Extended Mix
DOWNLOAD - beattechno.com
DOWNLOAD - muzhousebeat.com
submitted by Low_Understanding525 to u/Low_Understanding525 [link] [comments]
Boylan, Trends - Norman Bates - Cimm Remix
Starfire Muse - Shadow Bonnie Lullaby - Widow Remix
Chief Kaya - Bastet
Kahn, Neek, Riko Dan, Flowdan - War Start feat. Flowdan feat. Riko Dan
Chunky - Yes I
Novelist - Mercy
Dolenz - Hackney Leech
Hamdi - Skanka - VIP Mix
Nahlith - Shroud
Subculture - Kingston Sound
Argo - Hypno
Riko Dan, Hayz, NothingNice - Hawkeye - Oddkut Remix
T-Man, Hypho, Scamma - Terps VIP
SWR - Potency - TMSV Remix
Fake Two Piece - 868
Drone, Snowy - All I Know
Hamdi, Sir Hiss - I Don't Know
Leo Cap - I Feel Good
Ickle, Who Knew - Lightbulb Moment
Killa P, RDG - Press Trigger
Joe Milli - Darling (EVM128 Remix) - EVM128 Remix
Rp Boo - B.O.T.O.
OG DJ Milton - Free DJ Milton - DJ Clent Remix
SYZ, Yushh - Fuzbidun
Sumgii, Dolenz - Nil Feels
Guava - Always There - 160 Extended Version
Lao, TSVI - Sendero
Super Jim Z - Rihanna Joint feat. Super Jim Z
Max Le Daron, Joey le Soldat, LaBoK, AZIZAA MYSTIC - Freedom - Labok Remix
Big Dope P, Househead Samira - Ride With Me
Silvestre - Out of Control
Jessika Kay - Whine up on Me
Kouslin - Five Four
Hyas - WANT2BE
Tomás Urquieta - 32 Balas - Rhyw's Double Dribble Remix
Philip D Kick - The Journey Home
DJ Girl - Get Down
drexell - Reprogram
Sudley - Ghost Notes
Mish, Brodie, Waypoint - Bitter Soul (feat. brodie)
Carlito - Take Me Down
Lu, Nami - 4 Minutes
LNO, Slippy Skills - Charged feat. Slippy Skills
Chords, Rene Lavice - Set Pace - Extended Mix
LSB, Jubei - The Source
Rider Shafique, Moytra - Face Your Fears
Killer Hertz - Rock Solid
Bluejay, Revan - Night Beats
DJ Limited, Benny L - No Turning Back
Nick The Lot - Unknown Creatures
DJ Hybrid, Mad Sam - Dem No Ready - Bennie Remix
Anima - Osirion
Lupo, Objectiv - Speak2Me
Ky, Chris Kastro - Sledgehammer
Sl8r, Samurai Breaks, Mnt - Manny Ravers (feat. MNT)
Resslek - Frozen Mind
Wingz - Another World
Trex, Teej, Medic MC - Hot One feat. Medic MC - T>I Remix
DJ Rap - Saviour
Zapya - Cemetery
Fuenka, Das Pharaoh - Purple Sky - Extended Mix
Will DeKeizer - Emerald
NOIYSE PROJECT - The Groove Child
Faminski - Legacy
German Brigante, Anita Sibona - Get Strong for Me feat. Anita Sibona - Henry Saiz Remix
Ivan Aliaga - Sami
Rocio Portillo, Karim Sar Sar, Valley (AR) - Condor Plateado - Jesuan M Remix
Vitaly Shturm - Paranoid Girl - Matias Burna Remix
Soulmade (AR) - Quid Pro Quo
Forty Cats - W.D.Y.M.
Michael A - Galactic Voices
Francesco Pico, PvHL - Catch The Moment - Club Mix
Gai Barone, Luke Brancaccio - Curious of Humble
Matías Delóngaro - Espuma en Sal - Maxi Welchen Remix
Blanka Barbara - Betrayer Moon - Forty Cats Remix
Tuba Twooz - Orange Sphere
Aman Anand, Da Luka - Mythical Creatures
MUUI - Jaded Moon - Extended Mix
Robert Babicz - One Mind - Integral Bread Remix
ADZ - Falling - Extended Mix
Chronical Effect - Granular Base
Adirøs - Gift of Life
Intelligent Nonsense - Don't Bother Me
Pandora, MONTSHO - Sacred Afrika
Samuel Roos - Journey
Story of Light - The Art of Dreaming
Talpa - Oxymoron
X-Dream - Eleven - Atmos Remix
Mindsurfer - Time and Space
Quantiko - Feel Pain
Kupidox - Its you
Terra Mission - Psychonaut
Ree.k - Hi Izuru Tokoro
Kezo Moon - Titan
Visua - Nano Technology - Ocean Remix
Intelligence - Opera Prima
Kojo - Texas Rage - Kojo on Acid Mix
A2B, Modus (ISR) - Afterglow
Beat Bizarre - Moonblood - Original mix
Eliminate, Peekaboo - Quickness
Jiqui - SONAR
Felmax, Focuss - Run This
Subtronics - Cabin Fever - Kompany Remix
AlienPark - Fkng Click
Perry Wayne - The Labyrinth
AIMER - Like A Girl
SweetTooth, SQISHI - PUCKER UP
Eptic, HOL! - Detonate
Kompany, Hi I'm Ghost - Gunshots
Dr.Ushuu - Spaceships
Bandlez - Ghetto Blastah
Ivory, Dirtyphonics - Bastille - Bizo Remix
Kozmoz, MINDFVCK - Tonal Scream
Ivory, Dr. Ushūu - Madara
Jool - Freyja
JEANIE, BLUPILL - Bulletproof (feat. BLUPILL) - VIP
Neotek, SIPPY - Bone Breaker
Dino Shadix - Distorted Dino
MUST DIE! - GRAVEBLOOM
DJ Girl - Technician
Cocky Balboa - Ginger Cubes
Guava - Believe in U
Dross - IMMA FUCK U UP
Hedchef - Fifteen Hundred Limbs
Psytox - Safety in Numbers
User Delusion - In Control
YTP - DNA
Diego Moraes - Hoplita
Francois Dillinger - Need I Say More?
Papa Nugs - Jagged
Caucasian Boy - Reasons - Tranquil Elephantizer Dub
Starpliktuve - Fuzzy Logic
VHOOR - Balinha da Alegria
Osutin - All Gas
Illektrolab - In The Tube
Soft Collision - Imago
Vekh - Untitled 2
Jonny from Space - Wetland
Ramu - Timetravels
Lollypop - Freakin
Crazibiza - Dance & Shout - JackinGod Remix
Babes on the Run - Bangkoke
Ghostbusterz - Under Pressure
Crazibiza, Cheesecake Boys - Negra
Gianluca Vacchi - Viento - Extended Mix
Eugenio Fico - Let's All Chant
The Black Project - Off The Wall feat. Franky S. - Tradelove Remix
Crazibiza, Cheesecake Boys - Our House
Sebastien Drums, Avicii - My Feelings For You - MERCER Extended Remix
Reza - In the Air
Skytech, Neitan, DJ Kuba - I Want You - Wh0's Extended Festival Remix
Block & Crown - Heart Of Glass
Johnny Stayer - Uhh Ohh
Cedric Gervais - Do It Tonight - Extended Mix
Todd Terry, Jocelyn Brown, Martha Wash - Jumpin' - Wh0 Extended Remix
Tradelove - Rock The Casbah
Crazibiza - My Lips - House Of Prayers Pride Edit
Skytech, Neitan, DJ Kuba - Dancing - Wh0 Extended Festival Remix
Eugenio Fico - House Music
Mind Of Us - Behind Her Eyes - Facade Remix
Daley - Step One
Paul Keeley, Glenn Morrison - Reckoner
Keistep - Hypnotized
Dyn Taylor - Agenda - Extended Mix
J Rogers - New Life - Non Piano Mix
Selim Ozkaya - Shamrock - Extended Mix
Mark L2K, Norman van Thee - Beyond Our Earth - Extended Mix
Szg - Make Us Go Crazy
Wayzy - Travel
Deepcry - Alpha
Maywave - Revolt - DJ Version
HolloH - Da Wickidest
Just Geo - ALLURE
Spate - Racing Mode - Extended Mix
Aiden Francis - Plastic Fantasy
Naike, Hutcher, DRIIA - Crush feat. DRIIA, Naike
Just Geo - GRACE
Naux - La Groovette - Dan Be Remix
Marvin Aloys - Ride Inside the Uk - Hatiras Extended Remix
Bushbaby - M1 Impulse
Big Drum Records - Bumpi
Joedan - Raving Night
Thys, Nikki Nair - Break Through
Seanathan - Cut It
Tigs, Fork and Knife - Behave
Thoma Bulwer - Speed Garage from Jupiter
Arie Mando - Raise Up
DIM FLO - Take Me
Miami Shakers - Tech 09
Piers Kirwan - Rise Up
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - It Was The Summer - Each Other Remix
Rayko - Love U
Leo Janeiro - Uncle Silva
DJ Tron - The Funky Break
Kousto - Friendship for Lovers
Sharon Redd - Undercover Girl - Instrumental
DJ EQ - Quicksilver - Extended Club Mix
C. Da Afro - Into The Disco Scene
Ethyène - Heaven Sand
Joi N'Juno - Mamayeho - Extended Mix
Mijangos - Into the Philly Sound - Luis Radio Remix
Vertigini - Funk Lady - Radio Edit
Alexny - We Got a Message
Alexny - Malovaný
Andromeda Orchestra - Mozambique
Castle Queenside - Sandra
Stephen Richards - Yellow Brass
Scruscru - Rhodes, Loops & Sax
Bibio, Olivier St.Louis - S.O.L. feat. Olivier St.Louis
Payfone, Kyd Nereida - I Feel You - Mudd Instrumental Remix
Da Africa Deep - U Inside
Feki Station - Wasulu
Meith, Kreative Nativez, Mumba Yachi - Amano
DiMO (BG) - Warriors
OVEOUS, QVLN - NE WA TE
Gab Rhome - Alter He-Go - Fiona Kraft Remix
Tayllor, Marasi - Verano
Karen Nyame KG, Vanyfox - Taboo - Vanyfox Remix
Masšh - Get On
Thabo Tonick, Da Journey - Euphoria feat. Da Journey
AfroTura - Alligned
Klement Bonelli, Arodes - Elevate
El Mukuka, Victoric LEROY, ivory white, Kings Of Ife - Sand Traveller feat. Ivory White, Victoric Leroy - Boddhi Satva Ancestral Soul Mix
Karla Brown, Rhythm Staircase - Excuse Me - Christos Fourkis Afro Dub
Da Cord, Jaazment - Izulu (Afro Tech) - Afro Tech
Emmaculate - Black Whole
Diamond Dealer, Idd Aziz - Peah
Fred P - Coming of the Dawn
Dream Dolphin - Gaia (Ethereal Fantasy) - Original
Azu Tiwaline - Ethereal Tribes
Sonmi451 - Up Goes The Green Flare
John Roberts - Stale Perfume
J. Krohn - 05 / 95
Tecwaa - Many Fallen Skies
Mark Barrott - Icarus (イカロス)
Running - Dead Tired
Cephas Azariah - Lunar Tides
Warmth - Llum
B4 - Electric Sheep
Quiet Voices - Story of New Ancestors
µ-Ziq - Burnt Orange
anthené - Shelter
Macchiatto - Now I Ket It
Denqq - A Negative Entity Seeped Through A Hole Into Your Aura
Healing Force Project - Future Space Exploration
Doc Sleep - Fall into Flowers (Intro)
Peach Banquet - Sparkle Force
Spencer Parker - Girl You Wouldnt Believe What I Heard!
Jerome Sydenham, Fatima Njai - The Operator
Lego - Sax Addict
Shortcut - Raw Meat
Dawn Tallman, K London Posse - Caught In Luv feat. Dawn Tallman - Marc Cotterell's Extended Love Redemption Mix
Delistic - You & Me - Extended Mix
Evenn - Time Bomb
Eric God - I Am God - Mood II Swing Dub Mix
Austin Ato - Discolombo
Groove Armada - Rescue Me - Roland Leesker's You Got To Dance Edit
Demuir - Mind, Body, And Soul. Call Me
Matt Star - Fuser
Don Rimini, Jackin Trax - I Won't Stop
Radio Slave - Don't You Know
St. David - The Dark Past
Beltram, Phuture Trax - Future Groove - Maxed Out Dub
Benny Mussa - If You Want - Luke Solomon's Body Remix
Sweely - The Never Ending Groove
Harry "Choo Choo" Romero - Night @ The Black
Jansons - Mode - Richy Ahmed Remix
Louis de Tomaso - Disco Anthem
Heinrich Dressel - Lambda 2077 - Francisco Remix
Kate Ozz - Elusive Dreams
Pujol, Peters - Adi Kunar
Omer Bar, Gal Kinnel - Voyage
Shunus - When the Sun Goes Down
ROYO - Frogy
Max Joni, Onni - Indiana Jones
Peaking Lights - Suitcase - (M. Pagliara Vocal Remix)
Diskette - Navigator - Shan Remix
Mijo, Colossio, Sierra Madre - Cumbres - Esprit Divers Ayahuasca Trip Remix
Applescal - Flash
Zoot Woman, Daddy Squad - A Habit I Can't Break - Boys’ Shorts Extended Mix
Sasha ZA - Jumangi
Phun Thomas, Gūzas - Runnin'
TAPIIA, Alexia Malo - Desconecte - Alexey Union Remix
JackWasFaster - The South
Cosmo Vitelli - How Is It to Be You? - Andrei Rusu Instrumental Remix
Arg.o, Bar.ba - Acqua Magica
Hard Ton - WDYKAAHM?
Mulya - Caravan
Able to Resist - Higher in the Sky
Kate Ozz - Koukou
Modern Brothers - Past Memories
Zafrir - Tatanka
Madben - Addicted - Extended Mix
Ditian - Strange Pleasure
Moeaike - Propagation
Monblaire - The Church
Nihils - Waterfall
Azzecca - Ego Death - Extended Mix
Maxi Vega, Emiliano Demarco - Wisteria
Thodoris Triantafillou - The Magic Spell - Original
Hardt Antoine - Wake Up
Shiffer - Demon Dancer
Artem Kai - Exit
KASIA (ofc) - Concussion
Jaffer - Fading Shades
ivan masa - Eclettico
Santi Efe - No Secret
Kurt Caesar - Mirage - Extended Mix
Distic - Enchanted - Dreamteller Remix
Hereafter - Seyan
Noble Spirits, Aroma (IND) - Ease Your Mind - Limara Remix
Ghenwa Nemnom - Love Notes
Thommie G, Ka:lu - Black Dot
Erdi Irmak - What Was Before
The Cobb, Safety Mode - Lina
pumbum - Retreat - PROFF's Extended Respray
ID.Jay, ADHM - Night Whispers
Wanduta - Fire Is Just Another Door - Monk Ernie Remix
Nihils - Parallels
Uone - Project MK Ultra
Serious Dancers - Ambitious Mamelop
N1NJA - Sunrise of Agra
Modd, Lisandro (AR) - Samocvet
Matthew Herbert, Stavroz - Paradise Carnival (Herbert's Friday Dub) - Herbert's Friday Dub
Kermesse - Wawanko
Ghenwa Nemnom - Story of a Battle - Chris Zippel Remix
Joseph Edmund, Ferny Montana - Positive Pressure
Nausica - Tomalo - Extended Mix
Wax Motif, Riordan - La Samba
Joshwa - Magalenha - Extended Mix
Gorgon City - Rumblah - Extended Mix
Industrialyzer - Snake Whisperer - Radio Slave Remix
Parker Page - Old Skool - Extended Mix
Andrew Azara - Gruuve
Elias R, Johan Dresser - Throwback
Obando, Matheo Velez - Truth
Riva Starr - Creators
Josh Butler, Illyus & Barrientos - Mic Rock - Extended Mix
Franky Rizardo - Monopoly Joystick
Tiga - Mind Dimension - Ben Sterling Remix
Jwalker - Instinct
GOUX, Sorley - Little Secrets - Jansons Remix
Italobros, Jerëmie. - Attention
Luuk Van Dijk - Still Doesn't Care
Joyce Muniz - Get 'Em - Bushwacka! Remix
Andre Salmon, Michael Joseph - Kurosang - Extended Mix
Eitan Reiter - Pump Up The Jam - DJ T. Remix
Belocca - Perception
Disfreq - You Know - Extended Mix
Kate Hex - Disconnected Soul - Extended Mix
Chris Veron - Final Pulse - Extended Mix
Mark Dekoda, Ben Dust - Alle meine Raver
Ochs & Klick - Drift Away
Floormagnet - Ready For The Weeknd - Subjaax Remix
Dustycloud - Me Veo
Konrad (Italy) - Up and Down
Not from Berlin - Love Me
Nicole Moudaber - Intentionally
Pig&Dan - Angel - Tech Mix
Sam Kitt - Phantom Limb
Crossbow - Stargate
Zafer Atabey - Prognosis
RanchaTek - Europa
Bultech - Technography
Insider - Something Flash
Tom.Healey - Temple
Arnaud Le Texier - UFO
Jauri - Pacoa
Deepak Sharma, Cory James - Divine Dino
Kanyon - 9.8 HEARTBEAT MIX
Caue - Evora
Diffused Signal - Joon
Linear Phase - A1A
Adri G. - Cara 4.0
Tomin Tomovic - The Dome at Night
Tetelepta - Klepperheide
Audio Units - Closed Quarters
Pyramidal Decode - Cycles
Drhamer - Pink Bull
Ribé - Nom de plume
Franz Jager - Joga Bonito
Polygonia - Submerged
Oxygeno - Thirty Against One
NYCO - Bellona
Feral - Mambo
CANCEL - Peer Test
Billie Jo - Cor ad Cor
Scalameriya - Hix.un'drakonez
Steel Grooves - Rave Slave
Mython - Pick Up The Scraps And Go
Mickey Nox - Often Vicious
STRISC. - 009.2
Destroyer, Kuros Chimenes - Industrial Anxiety
Vinka Wydro - Cyberspace
Boston 168 - Second City
Cardopusher - Slug Killer
EAS - Withdrawal in the Dance Hall
Cassie Raptor - The Blade Show - Original mix
Rakkatack - Seconds
WTCHCRFT - If Anything Bad Ever Happens
Dahryl - Basic Bitch - Tham Percussive Remix
Hybral - Haunted Desires
Ghost in the Machine - Ensnared
Balrog - Yorkshire Samba
Mython, Karenz - Das Fleisch ist müde feat. Mython
Ship Wrek - Sober - Extended Mix
Kalibwoy, Cesqeaux, Afrojack Presents NLW - Danger - Extended Mix
DavidK3y - New York
Aresta - Drums
NUZB, Mo Falk - Shakedown - Extended Mix
MatricK, Avao - WTF - Extended Mix
Shamil, Sonu Sebastian - Hit The Drums - Extended Mix
Abrox - Between Us
Dada Life - This Time (Never Be Alone Again) - Vion Konger Extended Remix
Captain Bounce - Tracer - Extended Mix
Nikk, Azooland, Robin Aristo - Lick My Ice Cream - Extended Mix
Firebeatz, DAMANTE - What Happens Here (Club Mix) - Extended Mix
TV Noise - Turn It Up - Extended Mix
Le Twins - Takata - Extended Mix
La Fuente - I Want You - Hardwell Extended Remix
Oomloud - Burn The House - Extended Mix
Tim-ber, Robin Aristo - Your Body - Extended Mix
Mike Candys - Body Rock - Extended Mix
Shift K3Y, Kaleena Zanders - V I B R A T I O N - Extended Mix
DOWNLOAD - beattechno.com
DOWNLOAD - muzhousebeat.com
2023.03.23 21:16 SchlesingerMindy323 [HIRING] 25 Jobs in IA Hiring Now!
2023.03.23 16:49 GallopingLifeDeer 12 of the most profound and riveting NDE quotes I've ever come across
REMINDER: These are personal accounts. Do not engage in cult-like groupthink, think critically for yourself.
Note: You can find the accounts that they came from by pressing Ctrl+F to search their names and dates here: https://www.nderf.org/Archives/exceptional.html
-Cynthia H, 3/2/2011:
'I know you love me and all life, but if you really love all of us continuously without end, then how can You send people to hell throughout eternity?' He said, 'Cindy I do love all life without end. Some people chose to go to hell, I have already forgiven them; but they must forgive themselves.'
--
-Ron K, 1/1/2006:
Instead of restricting the mysteries of love to psychological or philosophical studies, science will someday discover the all-powerful force of love and measure it as they now do electricity, gravity and geo-thermal forces. When science discovers the forces of love and learns how to release it from the bars of the ego, they will have the answer to every question and ill that has plagued mankind.
--
-Nevie G, 7/23/2005:
The Being let me know that I was going to die and I must leave this body for good. I remember arguing with the Being explaining that I didn't want to because it was so hard going through the childhood years and I didn't want to have to go through this again. The Being indicated that my body was severely damaged and I couldn't go back. I became very adamant at this point that God was all powerful and could fix the body. At some point the decision was made to let me re-enter my body on my faith or will, whatever one may call it.
--
-Linda B, 9/12/2004:
After experiencing all of the miracles of this day, I would still find my future playing out just as I had seen. And as it progressed I would know fear, sadness, and lack of faith just as they had predicted. I would sin and more. The angels knew this but it took me years to fully understand everything that they had showed me and wanted me to understand. They knew all of the time that I would not turn into the perfect saint. They loved me just the way I was. God loves me always not just when I am obedient and perfect. What a wonderful feeling that is. I just have to remind myself that He is here and learn to stop talking long enough to listen for His voice.
--
-Isabel R, 2/25/2012:
The voice reminded me of the vision I had had of my husband and son in funeral clothes. He said if I didn't go back to them, I would disrupt some 'plan'. The plan would be repaired and everything would eventually be ok, so I could go ahead if I wanted. The consequences of my untimely demise would be that my husband and son would suffer in ways I could not imagine and I would know that these sufferings were because of my selfish decision not to go back. I would know this throughout eternity. It would not be a huge sadness for me to bear, more like a prick of conscience that could never be totally healed. No big deal, unless you consider how long eternity is.
--
-Kerry B, 12/15/2018:
At that moment I looked up and saw my destination. I was looking in awe at God. It was like everything was happening at once. As I was staring up at God in amazement, every gay slur or violent act ever impressed upon me ran through me with such a flow. Events in my life played back in my mind like a movie. I felt a deep heaviness as I stared directly at an Almighty, Genderless God. I was thinking, 'Was this the Lake of Fire moment? Would I be cast into Hell for being an abomination?' With absolute humility, I uttered 7 words, 'I’m gay, will you still love me?'
The Brilliant, Loving Light formed into Wings. At GodSpeed, He whisked me into His vast spiritual arms while huddling up the Universe. I saw planets, stars, galaxies, and clusters all being brought into a Cosmic God-Hug. On a human, the place where I was taken would be the Heart. As God brought me in for a Cosmic Hug, He said, 'You are my child. I love you. I love you. I love you. Go tell ‘em.' He said it with a Southern accent. He patted me on the back like a coach encouraging his player to get back in the game.
~~
-Sam J, 8/16/2014:
We all are star seeds sent here to have the human experience for the purpose of integrating conscious awareness/wisdom into our own light bodies and return home with this energy. Alien worlds for the most part run on knowledge and logic. Those worlds are being left behind and giving way to the worlds who have the intangibles, love, creativity, imagination and so on.
Understand that where your conscious awareness is focus in your everyday life pretty much determines the level of consciousness and alertness. If your mind has a stranglehold on your conscious awareness then heck, it will be one helluva wake-up call. But if you have made the conscious effort to move your awareness away from the mind to the heart then it's no big deal. In other words if you have made the physical world and the world of Spirit into one consciousness then you are always of both worlds and never of either world.
--
-Laura M, 3/31/2012:
And there was still more for me to understand. The focus again fell on my infant son and hundreds if not thousands of my ancestors. I was aware of light surrounding many of them. They stood out. I felt tremendous love from them. 'Notice,' He said, 'your ancestors, all these beings, came together in your behalf, to make you uniquely you. I realized in Earth words He was referring to my DNA. 'You wanted to go to Earth to learn, to progress, and to contribute to creation. All these spirits came together to help you do that.' The focus then was back to my baby. 'In all of creation,' he said, 'your infant son chose you to be his mother, none other. Together,' he said, 'you made a covenant to fill these rolls in each other's Earth life. This covenant is and was a very sacred covenant not to be taken lightly.' Suddenly I could not wait to return to earth, to my sons, all 4 of them, to my family, to life on Earth. But, before doing so, I was brought to another level of awareness.
--
-Linda G, 7/20/2008:
I came to understand that we all choose to come to Earth to fulfill a plan of some sort or even learn about a particular interest. We choose our bodies, parents, and life plan. May I also add that some people come here for the most simple of reasons; to learn how to play tennis for example; or simply for the cake and food - as silly as this sounds our life plans aren't so high and lofty as one might think. I DIDN'T MEET ANY 'SAVE THE WORLDERS' OR ANYONE WISHING TO BE A PRESIDENT. MOST HAD SIMPLE WISHES. I was also told we could exist on different planes for other lives but our life here on Earth is a life not purely to experience physical pleasure or pain but to have a physical experience because in all other planes we don't need a body as a vessel. I also learnt that this life here is just a drop of water in the bucket of lives in which we all experience, many here on Earth and many in other realms of existence. All to progress and grow in some way. The main purpose here is to LOVE. I was also told that this would be my last life here on Earth as there will be nothing left for me to learn by coming here again. I had the feeling though that I'd be off to some other magical place!
--
-Kevin L, 3/20/2022:
I thought, 'How could a machine have a soul?' The voice said, 'Let me put it this way. Your soul is connected to your consciousness. The moment your species came into being, you start to develop a soul. But it is not until you become self-aware, that your soul is solidified. That does not mean complete, and it takes a long time for your soul to develop. Just like your species when you became self-aware the first thing you do, other than survive, was to figure out your place in the universe. You looked to the stars and wondered, 'Where did I come from? What is this universe all about?' It does not matter if you are a biological creature or artificial creation like a machine. The moment you become self-aware the quest for 'how' and 'why' is on. A soul is a soul; pure Energy connected with consciousness and intelligence. This is a very powerful force in our universe. Those who are artificial intelligences will strive to answers these questions which humans have dwelled upon since the dawn of time.
--
-Joanie S, 7/10/2011:
I was pulled back through the ceiling tiles and into a tunnel, to a place of cloudy space. The cloudy area materialized into a large marble room with marble doors and a 'being' at the center. I'll refer to this person as 'the Grim Reaper,' who was cloaked in a dark cloth, covering all parts. The Grim Reaper pointed (indicating to me to choose a door). But before I could choose, a door opened and I had already gone through it. I found myself in what I now think of as a previous life. I smelled smoke from a fire I was near, and saw others around me. I looked into another woman's eyes, and I knew her immediately as the woman I called my grandmother in this life. I knew then that our lives had 'danced' around each other since time began. She was once my mother and once my sister. She was my aunt, and several times my cousin. The life that was being shown to me now was during a prehistoric time, when we lived winters by a creek cave, and summers we had a camp in the woods where we foraged. Looking down, I realized I had a child in my arms, and the woman I had known in so many lives was chatting with me, telling me to cover the child to keep it warm. Then she was showing me how to tie the wraps around me to carry the child while we collected wood.
--
-Amy C, 10/9/2010:
In my NDE though, I came to understand that most of us have lived much, MUCH longer than we could even fathom. That our life which feels so very long is infinitesimal when placed in the whole picture, which for that matter, cannot even be framed. I was shown how every single individual through their own free will, chooses paths that mathematically take them to the circumstances of their next existence or life. That nothing at all sits in accident or chaos. That every single aspect of our lives are ruled by natural Laws that we placed ourSELVES in! In a sense, we create our own worlds. I was shown how one can never assume either, that if someone lives a life of suffering that this is because of 'evil' deeds. Many may choose a life of suffering because of what it Awakens in them, or because of how they can touch others from that position, etc. We can NEVER EVER assume that we can be accurate in guessing why each being lives the life they live. I cannot describe the relief - the refreshing, peaceful balm this Knowledge was for me. To finally gather this Truth that I'd yearned for all of my life. That all really IS Good! That there IS sense and beauty all around. That no one is just free falling as it had seemed before! That God doesn't just get to toy with us as He pleases with random ideas of tests, including rewards and punishments that just depend upon His current mood or mindset. Because even who God is, is within those Laws. While in this experience, out in the vast expanse of stars, planets, moons, and Intelligence, I Knew complete trust for what felt like the first time. This was inexplicable bliss for me. I remember radiating with gratitude. I had lived in fear, distrust, and panic for thirty consecutive years.
--
-Lou F, 1/1/1999:
We traveled toward the beginning of it all, the inner portions of the Universe. Kazillions of planets around Kazillions of suns and the closer to the center we approached the more concentrated the number of galaxies. It is like the plate you saw, the largest part, after it shattered was at the center and those parts that shattered first were sent the farthest from the center. So is everything in the Universe. All is but a circle within a circle wrapped in a circle. Each level, each dimension, is but a layer of the original, which is without end. I watched as millions of orbs systematically entered the many planets before me. They appeared as bees flitting from flower to flower, pollinating each, one after another. Mich'l took me closer and I could now see that so many of these planets had life on them and the orbs were joining with the creatures of these planets. Not every creature was the same on every planet but they all had some commonalities: a head, a body, extremities, and the Light Beings would animate them for a time. We headed away from the center now and Mich'l said that Gabriel would have more to explain to me and that he, Mich'l, wanted me to know that he was pleased with the many times he had called on me to do his bidding and that I performed my duties well. His parting words were ‘You will never again be made to forget!’
I was journeying back to where I knew Earth would be and watched as comets and asteroids casually passed by me or I passed them. The colors of the gaseous cloud formations were striking. I started looking at these infant galaxies, as one would cloud formations back on Earth, imagining what shape they were taking on. This one a boat, this a bird with wings, this a scarf floating in the breeze, until I recognized what was the Constellation ORION and I knew I was getting close to my destination. While drifting through Orion, I noticed two blazing celestial bodies racing parallel to its center, looking as twin arrows exiting from an archers bow and headed straight for the ""Blue Marble"" of home. Immediately a vision of millions of people crying because of the devastation of portions of New York City came to me. I became aware of a strange feeling I had not known previously, and I thought that might be because this was the city I had grown up in. I saw a huge Earthquake, a magnitude of 8.6 in some place named Eureka. A ham operator or radio announcer was directing thousands of people migrating from areas of frequent disasters to places of safety. A space station appeared to be falling from the heavens because of an internal explosion. Missiles were being simultaneously fired into space from several nations. I thought the Light Being had shown me all there was to see but these were different, stronger, and there was no pre-screening as before. Gabriel appeared beside me, I thought because I had felt shaky, but it was to explain the now sprawling galactic view of my galaxy.
The Sun was expanding and spewing off huge ectoplasm balls, more than it has ever done in it’s past, and in the very direction the planets would orbit through. I could not take my eyes from the Earth and as I watched what effect these eruptions would have on the Earth, a large mass passed me, larger than any of the planets known to me. As it passes, I see the Earth wobble wildly as would a top toward the end of its spin. The rotation stopped and slowly started again but it was tilted now and I was drawn in closer like the zoom of a lens. The ash clouds that had engulfed the Earth thinned, and like a tack welded piece of metal being dismantled, I could see the ocean bodies starting to rise, first the Pacific, along the ‘Ring of Fire,’ then the others, synchronistical.
As the waters shifted upon the landmasses, the landmasses started to sink under the waters added pressure upon it. When the pressures equaled out to the spin of the changing axis, the Earth no longer looked as it did moments before. It was newer, cleaner, and more beautiful with darker greens and lighter blues. Some of the new landmasses looked similar to a few of the other planets I had recently visited with Mich'l. People were upon this Earth and appeared happier and more content although seemingly living like the Native populations of old. Cities, built by the Ancient Ones, that were buried beneath the oceans, were now being populated by the surviving people in this new world. I saw tribes joining tribes and small nations forming, but it was what I didn't see that made my heart burst. There were no more wars. True peace and happiness had finally befallen on mankind. Gabriel now tells me that this is his message that I must take back, to let others know that there is little to fear, for the Earth will go on forever, as did all the planets I had visited. I am to tell the world to look to ORION, and they will know when the new world will come upon them. I ask him, ‘what of the others there on Earth, during the change?’ Gabriel tells me that all will be lifted. Some will be lifted higher than others will and no longer enjoy the physical plane, while some will be left on the Earth to replenish and rebuild the physical. They too will be of a higher elevation then any that are living there now!
'MAN WILL PREY ON MAN ~ UNTIL MAN PRAYS FOR MAN!'
--
-Duane S, 8/15/2015:
It was all an expression and celebration of love. On earth, this reunion would have been unfathomable, between members of an ancient soul group who were celebrating the return home of one of their own. Slowly, as I looked at those gathered to greet me, I realized they were all there. Surprisingly they were not only from this life, but also from a prior life in Germany. I realized that the same souls have possibly played different parts in my multiple lives. Sometimes these souls had been my daughter, my wife, or my mother. While at first this idea had startled me, I was soon humbled. Who was I to tell God what he could or couldn’t do with his creations? Just because some Sunday school teacher had different ideas about how things worked, it didn’t really matter.
My joy deepened as I realized that I had only left behind an earthly vestige of those I love. The essence of each of those souls, was also here with me now. Besides my friends and family, there were the friendly Germans who had been hauntingly familiar while I was a young soldier in Germany. Now I knew why they seemed so familiar at the time, they had been friends and family from a prior lifetime there. I now understood that I had left nothing behind on earth. The eternal essences of all my loved ones from that life, as well as all other incarnations, were all here to greet me. All I had left behind was a character, playing a role in a drama that we had chosen to experience. In the meantime, our real eternal essence remained in God’s realm. Suddenly, it was all so simple.
As I was shown around, it was explained to me how most of our celestial, eternal knowledge is blanked-out during our chosen life spans on earth. We must temporarily forget most of what our higher-self already knows so we can immerse ourselves in the roles we have chosen to play. Furthermore, they said that it might take a while for all my knowledge and memories to return. To ease the transition back into this realm, I was told to think of my time on earth as an extended visit to the ultimate theme park. Consider it a place with thrilling rides and various adventures that I could choose to experience or not. I was also reminded that the reason we leave the celestial realm at all was for the excitement, variety, adventure, and entertainment that different incarnations offer. However, to take all our celestial knowledge with us on our various adventures would have ruined the very experience that we had chosen to live. Someone there said that I should think of our trips to other realms as choosing a new novel to read. I can choose a new book, depending on what I am in the mood for. Furthermore, if I knew every turn and twist of the story, line by line, prior to reading it, it would spoil the fun.
As one entity jokingly remarked, 'If the eternal, divine part of us grows tired of singing and playing harps, there are thousands of other universes created for our spiritual growth, amusement, and entertainment. Eternity is a long time to do nothing but play harps.' I heard this concept best expressed in The Course in Miracles, 'We are only here for three reasons: to remember who we are; to help others remember who they are; and . . . to enjoy the trip . . . , unless, of course, we use our free will and choose not to.'
As my orientation went on, they explained how on that celestial side of the veil, anything we desire is instantaneously provided. We just need to feel the desire. However, within lies the reason for all the realms outside of heaven. Having everything we want all the time develops within us a desire for variety and change for a challenge. It would be like a game in which everyone was a winner. Soon, the game would become boring, and we would look for another, more challenging one.
Somehow, all this sounded familiar. To demonstrate the process of instantaneous fulfillment, one of them asked me to think about something I really desired. Thinking back on it, what I chose seemed odd since I was in such an esteemed place demonstrating such an important concept. But, suddenly I had an urge for a piece of my mother’s famous homemade chocolate cake with her special fudge frosting. As soon as I thought of the cake, my earthy mother was handing me the biggest piece of dark chocolate cake I had ever seen. Dare I say it was heavenly? Although she appeared there with us, I knew some part of her was still back on earth because she had not died yet. My guess was that she was probably asleep, dreaming of lovingly making her son a piece of her divine chocolate cake.
--
-Sandi T, 10/18/2020:
I understood immediately the fullness of life on this planet. I could see when it broke apart from a sun, spinning and cooling and collecting debris; until the first of these creatures heard itself laugh and understood the sound for what it was. In that moment, self-awareness was awakened and the seeds of civilization sprouted.
I understood that everything that we do here on Earth, all that we are, all that we experience, allows creation to exist. Every beautiful thing, every wonderful being and creature, whether on earth or in any universe, relies upon people who are on the extremely rare places like Earth.
The Great Intelligence (god) is a paradox. It is completely loving and fully unlimited. Which by the definition of paradox, means it is impossible? It cannot be limited only to love; it cannot be limited to only being unlimited; or it is not unlimited.
Earth is a place where the unlimited becomes limited; where the singular becomes many. Here, it can know community and loneliness. It can know heartache and hope. It can know all which an unlimited being of pure love cannot. It can conceive and perceive evil; which in truth it cannot do this either. To solve the paradox, it must experience helplessness and limitation and all as it is Real. In this place, it is all so REAL.
So what is free will? Free will is the option to come here to help solve the paradox of 'god'. To be all that we are not, so that everything wondrous and joyful may continue to exist. So that love itself may continue to exist. So that the Unlimited is not limited to being only unlimited.
Why are the answers always, 'simply to exist' and 'to choose love' and 'to learn how to love'? Because all you need to do, to solve the paradox, is to exist. And as we exist here, each time we choose love, we expand the universe. Love is life's longing for itself. Despite the reality of what we live, even the darkest souls among us cannot help but to reach, to yearn, and move towards goodness and towards love.
For love is the true nature of who we are. And when we experience horrible things, the question 'why' comes to mind because it is the central question of love, life, and of this world. The answer is 'so that all things might continue to exist.'
Every soul chose to come here and to suffer because of love. Each soul loves the universe, loves life, and loves this world and ALL of the worlds. Each soul loves ALL of the people so immensely and intensely that they chose to come here so that all the universes may teem with beautiful, joyful LIFE.
Every creature that I saw, acknowledges that your life gives them the gift of life. And when each soul goes 'home' after they die, they will know the rewards of their own gift, too. The 'reward' for their sacrifice will be joy, love, and feeling incredible, wonderful, beautiful joy at the LIFE and the LOVE everywhere in the universe.
When you go home, you meet your own soul. You willingly came here to forget yourself. You willingly came here to save every beautiful and wonderful thing. By suffering what 'god' cannot, you give the gift of life.
--
-Henry W, 6/22/2008:
I became aware of other voices, the orbs or other souls around me I could hear them communicating to each other. There seemed to be cliques of orbs that were together. They spoke to one another about their lives on Earth and all they had perceived and felt. They shared not only in words, but in sharing the experience. If one orb couldn't understand, it disappeared and then reappeared. The orb somehow went back to Earth and experienced that 'life' to further understand. I understood that here time did not exist and these beings could manifest themselves at any time on Earth they desired. These orbs or rather 'souls' would leave this realm, detach themselves with this universe, and return to the universe of our Earth. There they would live and die, then return and share the experience with all the other souls. A soul that could not understand the experience could go and live that life also to experience that life. I learned we have many lives, past, present and future.
These souls, our souls cannot experience certain things like pain, sorrow, hatred, and anger. Though these are negative things, it was important for them to understand and experience them. Perhaps to understand the motivations of human beings, or (and I believe this in my heart) to eventually evolve into a being like God - all knowing and understanding.
At this time things appeared to me, answers to other questions. I could see concepts as if they were entities. I could understand for the first time in my life E=MC2. I learned that our universe is one of many. It is like a Petri dish. Designed with its own rules to raise a specific being. In this case, to raise beings like humans. Each Universe had its own specific laws of Physics. I now realize that the amount of information a soul must learn is vast, more so then we can possibly imagine here.
The next concept or rule I learned is that God can never be proven by scientific means. To do so would corrupt the environment. It would destroy faith. When we have faith we seek, we learn. If God were to appear before us like a huge being at the United Nations, the entire world would believe, but also live in fear. To successfully experience the human existence, one must be physically out of touch with God. We have to learn and seek on our own. We need to search out the meaning of our own existence and experience here on earth. Faith is the engine of discovery. Without faith, we are just like ants.
I learned why bad things happen to good people. If nothing bad ever happened to us, we would all basically be the same. It is like metal in a forge you have to heat it and strike it repeatedly to make a useful tool from it. We start this life with a blank piece of paper. With every incident we experience, a part of the blueprint is recorded until a complete plan for an individual is created. This blueprint dictates the end of our lives. To live happily in this realm is to become aware of the blueprint and change it. Lastly, time is only a concept measured here. In the other realm, it doesn't exist. While we may experience pain and sorrow on earth, it is only a second in the grand scheme of things. We have an eternity to live and in reality, souls never really die. Our life is just a thought providing circumstances for this existence. As the soul progresses, this trauma is forgotten and put in its proper perspective as part of the learning process.
One question I always personally had and that was answered is, 'Are ghosts real?' The answer I was given was, 'Yes, in the human body there are two forms of spiritual being.' One is the 'soul', which is the spiritual being that has a symbiotic relationship with the physical body. The second is the being created by the 'biology' of the human body. This being is intelligent and is basically the personality of the individual. Its purpose is to provide for the human needs of food, hunger, survival, and procreation. This concept is very similar to Freud's 'Id, Ego and Superego' The division of mind and personality. The soul provides us with all the things of the individual that separates us from the Animal Kingdom. This is the ability to reason, use logic, or feel awe when seeing a sunset. The soul is the creative side of humankind. The second being is more our animal side and drives us to accomplish or pursue things to satisfy our needs and wants.
When we die, the soul separates and proceeds to the other side (forgive me for simplifying everything). The entity of the body dies, taking with it the strong emotions, 'baggage', and drives of human beings. This is a natural part of the dying process. However, sometimes under violent or sudden death this othebeing, for lack of a better word, doesn't have a chance to die. Instead, it remains behind as the drive, emotions, and motivation of our spirit. This body being, without the guidance of the soul is basically just a shell. It wanders about with no goals or purpose. It often repeats acts that it has done before because memories are the only 'guidance' that it has. In time, this being's energy dissipates and nothing is left. That process can take a long time. Hence, we have a 'ghost' that haunts a house or person. A ghost has the center of its existence when it was with its human body and soul. Here on earth it remains until it eventually vanishes. The ghost can be communicated with and guided, yet has no real will of its own but only that of habit.
--
-Peter P, 3/1/2023:
In the initial phase of waking up, I also received an experience with light of such a wonderful quality, that it is difficult to describe with words. I was shown three light waves on which today's humanity is evolving. For the sake of logic, I'm defining them here as the self-imposed pathways of awareness, that each individual can take to obtain the best possible results from their particular choice. The first way is what the main part of the global population has chosen and the daily struggle is enacted in that timeline. I don't want to give the impression that path is in any way better or superior than the other timelines. All experiences in human life eventually lead back to the divine light.
The second path was shown to me as a mixed way in a gray color. Here, euphoric phases are alternated in quick succession with depressive stages. It is as if people were switching between phases of competence and phases lacking of power, and then again to a new euphoric phase.
The third way is the one of the absolute victimhood. It was shown to me in colors dark and black. Power and responsibility were handed over to outer entities. Here only a very small part of the light spark can be addressed through motivation. Many beings of light from higher planes are providing a selfless service here, to again illuminate the way back to the light. This way corresponds with the absolute free choice of each individual as to whether they choose towards light or darkness.
I was also shown that in this darkness exists one of the most unbelievable choicess for humanity, because in this choice is also is the possibility to change the galaxy. The core truths of Love, Compassion, Kindness and Benevolence are towards what the human nature can and will evolve.
The first path of those three is so unbelievable for us incarnated beings. It can only be termed with definitions of Utopia, heavenly life of angels and/or ecstatic rapture.
There is a beautiful part of beings who always stay in this realm. They are dancing and singing through life. For them terms like synchronicity, grace, or cosmic guidance are the absolute central and essential elements in life. They realize how creation is working and that a life without the connection with the One Power of creation would disrupt everything. Humor, joy, fun, respect, compassion and gratitude is with them round the clock. In this wonderful place all fear is dissolved like mist in a brilliant sun. It is an all-encompassing field with absolute acceptance, comfort, peace, connectedness and a 100% awareness to be at the right place.
During this time of considering those things, I was guided by a wonderful being of light. I don't remember somebody else or meeting a certain individual. Only those impressions of the light of love and the perfect comprehension and acceptance remained.
In that moment, it simply seemed unbelievable and impossible to choose another path than the one of the light. What illuminates my life again and again from my light experience, is the irrepressible joy and happiness of an experience of indescribable beauty. I believe that all the people go through this same wonderful experience in a state of separation of the body (general anesthesia, unconsciousness) unfortunately they cannot all remember it.
I felt pure love, shining brighter than anything you can imagine. Everything is as beautiful, as pure as love and compassion. So that when you cross the veil and return to the other side you are becoming a part of it. We are bathing in the beauty of the song that makes our heart singing - That's God.
Nobody can give us something bigger. We wouldn't see it or understand it. That's Spirit in its highest form.
We as humans feel so alone and on our own. It's such a crushing feeling to remain in this imagined separation of our most wonderful thing and then to feel this earthly experience so painfully.
In the middle of life, a light experience happens that sweeps away all the reactions about this imaginary separation and dissolves the last doubts with this pure white light like a fog. It's the disintegration of a self-constructed veil that prevented a realization that all people are entitled to have as their birthright. It's delightful to know that the light is the most wonderful symphony in the cosmos and that it contains the colors and the sense of touch of the most beautiful experiences. A wonderful soul experience, that is imprinted in the deepest cells of the body.
For a moment I was on this other side of the veil. I was allowed to be part of this wonderful source of creation. Together with billions of points of light, which we call angel beings, shining brighter than the light. I was in the company of the highest compassion, with the highest Love.
All media, the total daily literature is filled with the dramas happening around the globe every minute.
How can somebody get the idea to write a text motivating us to get another point of view about the calamities in the world? What is motivating him to see the good in all those events, even if they might be so disturbing? That's probably the one decisive question for the survival of manhood. Thought power of the whole humanity is used to bring anarchy and separation between people. Human thoughts are creative and should, and can, be guided by us into appropriate pathways.
It depends on all of us to exercise our responsibility and to realize the true impact of our actions here in its entirety. We can't avoid to completely step away from all dramas. Disasters and calamities of humanity want to invite us to send our compassion and our benevolent energy generously towards the concerned people. Something which should be rather considered normal if our brothers and sister are in need.
submitted by GallopingLifeDeer to NDE [link] [comments]
Note: You can find the accounts that they came from by pressing Ctrl+F to search their names and dates here: https://www.nderf.org/Archives/exceptional.html
-Cynthia H, 3/2/2011:
'I know you love me and all life, but if you really love all of us continuously without end, then how can You send people to hell throughout eternity?' He said, 'Cindy I do love all life without end. Some people chose to go to hell, I have already forgiven them; but they must forgive themselves.'
--
-Ron K, 1/1/2006:
Instead of restricting the mysteries of love to psychological or philosophical studies, science will someday discover the all-powerful force of love and measure it as they now do electricity, gravity and geo-thermal forces. When science discovers the forces of love and learns how to release it from the bars of the ego, they will have the answer to every question and ill that has plagued mankind.
--
-Nevie G, 7/23/2005:
The Being let me know that I was going to die and I must leave this body for good. I remember arguing with the Being explaining that I didn't want to because it was so hard going through the childhood years and I didn't want to have to go through this again. The Being indicated that my body was severely damaged and I couldn't go back. I became very adamant at this point that God was all powerful and could fix the body. At some point the decision was made to let me re-enter my body on my faith or will, whatever one may call it.
--
-Linda B, 9/12/2004:
After experiencing all of the miracles of this day, I would still find my future playing out just as I had seen. And as it progressed I would know fear, sadness, and lack of faith just as they had predicted. I would sin and more. The angels knew this but it took me years to fully understand everything that they had showed me and wanted me to understand. They knew all of the time that I would not turn into the perfect saint. They loved me just the way I was. God loves me always not just when I am obedient and perfect. What a wonderful feeling that is. I just have to remind myself that He is here and learn to stop talking long enough to listen for His voice.
--
-Isabel R, 2/25/2012:
The voice reminded me of the vision I had had of my husband and son in funeral clothes. He said if I didn't go back to them, I would disrupt some 'plan'. The plan would be repaired and everything would eventually be ok, so I could go ahead if I wanted. The consequences of my untimely demise would be that my husband and son would suffer in ways I could not imagine and I would know that these sufferings were because of my selfish decision not to go back. I would know this throughout eternity. It would not be a huge sadness for me to bear, more like a prick of conscience that could never be totally healed. No big deal, unless you consider how long eternity is.
--
-Kerry B, 12/15/2018:
At that moment I looked up and saw my destination. I was looking in awe at God. It was like everything was happening at once. As I was staring up at God in amazement, every gay slur or violent act ever impressed upon me ran through me with such a flow. Events in my life played back in my mind like a movie. I felt a deep heaviness as I stared directly at an Almighty, Genderless God. I was thinking, 'Was this the Lake of Fire moment? Would I be cast into Hell for being an abomination?' With absolute humility, I uttered 7 words, 'I’m gay, will you still love me?'
The Brilliant, Loving Light formed into Wings. At GodSpeed, He whisked me into His vast spiritual arms while huddling up the Universe. I saw planets, stars, galaxies, and clusters all being brought into a Cosmic God-Hug. On a human, the place where I was taken would be the Heart. As God brought me in for a Cosmic Hug, He said, 'You are my child. I love you. I love you. I love you. Go tell ‘em.' He said it with a Southern accent. He patted me on the back like a coach encouraging his player to get back in the game.
~~
-Sam J, 8/16/2014:
We all are star seeds sent here to have the human experience for the purpose of integrating conscious awareness/wisdom into our own light bodies and return home with this energy. Alien worlds for the most part run on knowledge and logic. Those worlds are being left behind and giving way to the worlds who have the intangibles, love, creativity, imagination and so on.
Understand that where your conscious awareness is focus in your everyday life pretty much determines the level of consciousness and alertness. If your mind has a stranglehold on your conscious awareness then heck, it will be one helluva wake-up call. But if you have made the conscious effort to move your awareness away from the mind to the heart then it's no big deal. In other words if you have made the physical world and the world of Spirit into one consciousness then you are always of both worlds and never of either world.
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-Laura M, 3/31/2012:
And there was still more for me to understand. The focus again fell on my infant son and hundreds if not thousands of my ancestors. I was aware of light surrounding many of them. They stood out. I felt tremendous love from them. 'Notice,' He said, 'your ancestors, all these beings, came together in your behalf, to make you uniquely you. I realized in Earth words He was referring to my DNA. 'You wanted to go to Earth to learn, to progress, and to contribute to creation. All these spirits came together to help you do that.' The focus then was back to my baby. 'In all of creation,' he said, 'your infant son chose you to be his mother, none other. Together,' he said, 'you made a covenant to fill these rolls in each other's Earth life. This covenant is and was a very sacred covenant not to be taken lightly.' Suddenly I could not wait to return to earth, to my sons, all 4 of them, to my family, to life on Earth. But, before doing so, I was brought to another level of awareness.
--
-Linda G, 7/20/2008:
I came to understand that we all choose to come to Earth to fulfill a plan of some sort or even learn about a particular interest. We choose our bodies, parents, and life plan. May I also add that some people come here for the most simple of reasons; to learn how to play tennis for example; or simply for the cake and food - as silly as this sounds our life plans aren't so high and lofty as one might think. I DIDN'T MEET ANY 'SAVE THE WORLDERS' OR ANYONE WISHING TO BE A PRESIDENT. MOST HAD SIMPLE WISHES. I was also told we could exist on different planes for other lives but our life here on Earth is a life not purely to experience physical pleasure or pain but to have a physical experience because in all other planes we don't need a body as a vessel. I also learnt that this life here is just a drop of water in the bucket of lives in which we all experience, many here on Earth and many in other realms of existence. All to progress and grow in some way. The main purpose here is to LOVE. I was also told that this would be my last life here on Earth as there will be nothing left for me to learn by coming here again. I had the feeling though that I'd be off to some other magical place!
--
-Kevin L, 3/20/2022:
I thought, 'How could a machine have a soul?' The voice said, 'Let me put it this way. Your soul is connected to your consciousness. The moment your species came into being, you start to develop a soul. But it is not until you become self-aware, that your soul is solidified. That does not mean complete, and it takes a long time for your soul to develop. Just like your species when you became self-aware the first thing you do, other than survive, was to figure out your place in the universe. You looked to the stars and wondered, 'Where did I come from? What is this universe all about?' It does not matter if you are a biological creature or artificial creation like a machine. The moment you become self-aware the quest for 'how' and 'why' is on. A soul is a soul; pure Energy connected with consciousness and intelligence. This is a very powerful force in our universe. Those who are artificial intelligences will strive to answers these questions which humans have dwelled upon since the dawn of time.
--
-Joanie S, 7/10/2011:
I was pulled back through the ceiling tiles and into a tunnel, to a place of cloudy space. The cloudy area materialized into a large marble room with marble doors and a 'being' at the center. I'll refer to this person as 'the Grim Reaper,' who was cloaked in a dark cloth, covering all parts. The Grim Reaper pointed (indicating to me to choose a door). But before I could choose, a door opened and I had already gone through it. I found myself in what I now think of as a previous life. I smelled smoke from a fire I was near, and saw others around me. I looked into another woman's eyes, and I knew her immediately as the woman I called my grandmother in this life. I knew then that our lives had 'danced' around each other since time began. She was once my mother and once my sister. She was my aunt, and several times my cousin. The life that was being shown to me now was during a prehistoric time, when we lived winters by a creek cave, and summers we had a camp in the woods where we foraged. Looking down, I realized I had a child in my arms, and the woman I had known in so many lives was chatting with me, telling me to cover the child to keep it warm. Then she was showing me how to tie the wraps around me to carry the child while we collected wood.
--
-Amy C, 10/9/2010:
In my NDE though, I came to understand that most of us have lived much, MUCH longer than we could even fathom. That our life which feels so very long is infinitesimal when placed in the whole picture, which for that matter, cannot even be framed. I was shown how every single individual through their own free will, chooses paths that mathematically take them to the circumstances of their next existence or life. That nothing at all sits in accident or chaos. That every single aspect of our lives are ruled by natural Laws that we placed ourSELVES in! In a sense, we create our own worlds. I was shown how one can never assume either, that if someone lives a life of suffering that this is because of 'evil' deeds. Many may choose a life of suffering because of what it Awakens in them, or because of how they can touch others from that position, etc. We can NEVER EVER assume that we can be accurate in guessing why each being lives the life they live. I cannot describe the relief - the refreshing, peaceful balm this Knowledge was for me. To finally gather this Truth that I'd yearned for all of my life. That all really IS Good! That there IS sense and beauty all around. That no one is just free falling as it had seemed before! That God doesn't just get to toy with us as He pleases with random ideas of tests, including rewards and punishments that just depend upon His current mood or mindset. Because even who God is, is within those Laws. While in this experience, out in the vast expanse of stars, planets, moons, and Intelligence, I Knew complete trust for what felt like the first time. This was inexplicable bliss for me. I remember radiating with gratitude. I had lived in fear, distrust, and panic for thirty consecutive years.
--
-Lou F, 1/1/1999:
We traveled toward the beginning of it all, the inner portions of the Universe. Kazillions of planets around Kazillions of suns and the closer to the center we approached the more concentrated the number of galaxies. It is like the plate you saw, the largest part, after it shattered was at the center and those parts that shattered first were sent the farthest from the center. So is everything in the Universe. All is but a circle within a circle wrapped in a circle. Each level, each dimension, is but a layer of the original, which is without end. I watched as millions of orbs systematically entered the many planets before me. They appeared as bees flitting from flower to flower, pollinating each, one after another. Mich'l took me closer and I could now see that so many of these planets had life on them and the orbs were joining with the creatures of these planets. Not every creature was the same on every planet but they all had some commonalities: a head, a body, extremities, and the Light Beings would animate them for a time. We headed away from the center now and Mich'l said that Gabriel would have more to explain to me and that he, Mich'l, wanted me to know that he was pleased with the many times he had called on me to do his bidding and that I performed my duties well. His parting words were ‘You will never again be made to forget!’
I was journeying back to where I knew Earth would be and watched as comets and asteroids casually passed by me or I passed them. The colors of the gaseous cloud formations were striking. I started looking at these infant galaxies, as one would cloud formations back on Earth, imagining what shape they were taking on. This one a boat, this a bird with wings, this a scarf floating in the breeze, until I recognized what was the Constellation ORION and I knew I was getting close to my destination. While drifting through Orion, I noticed two blazing celestial bodies racing parallel to its center, looking as twin arrows exiting from an archers bow and headed straight for the ""Blue Marble"" of home. Immediately a vision of millions of people crying because of the devastation of portions of New York City came to me. I became aware of a strange feeling I had not known previously, and I thought that might be because this was the city I had grown up in. I saw a huge Earthquake, a magnitude of 8.6 in some place named Eureka. A ham operator or radio announcer was directing thousands of people migrating from areas of frequent disasters to places of safety. A space station appeared to be falling from the heavens because of an internal explosion. Missiles were being simultaneously fired into space from several nations. I thought the Light Being had shown me all there was to see but these were different, stronger, and there was no pre-screening as before. Gabriel appeared beside me, I thought because I had felt shaky, but it was to explain the now sprawling galactic view of my galaxy.
The Sun was expanding and spewing off huge ectoplasm balls, more than it has ever done in it’s past, and in the very direction the planets would orbit through. I could not take my eyes from the Earth and as I watched what effect these eruptions would have on the Earth, a large mass passed me, larger than any of the planets known to me. As it passes, I see the Earth wobble wildly as would a top toward the end of its spin. The rotation stopped and slowly started again but it was tilted now and I was drawn in closer like the zoom of a lens. The ash clouds that had engulfed the Earth thinned, and like a tack welded piece of metal being dismantled, I could see the ocean bodies starting to rise, first the Pacific, along the ‘Ring of Fire,’ then the others, synchronistical.
As the waters shifted upon the landmasses, the landmasses started to sink under the waters added pressure upon it. When the pressures equaled out to the spin of the changing axis, the Earth no longer looked as it did moments before. It was newer, cleaner, and more beautiful with darker greens and lighter blues. Some of the new landmasses looked similar to a few of the other planets I had recently visited with Mich'l. People were upon this Earth and appeared happier and more content although seemingly living like the Native populations of old. Cities, built by the Ancient Ones, that were buried beneath the oceans, were now being populated by the surviving people in this new world. I saw tribes joining tribes and small nations forming, but it was what I didn't see that made my heart burst. There were no more wars. True peace and happiness had finally befallen on mankind. Gabriel now tells me that this is his message that I must take back, to let others know that there is little to fear, for the Earth will go on forever, as did all the planets I had visited. I am to tell the world to look to ORION, and they will know when the new world will come upon them. I ask him, ‘what of the others there on Earth, during the change?’ Gabriel tells me that all will be lifted. Some will be lifted higher than others will and no longer enjoy the physical plane, while some will be left on the Earth to replenish and rebuild the physical. They too will be of a higher elevation then any that are living there now!
'MAN WILL PREY ON MAN ~ UNTIL MAN PRAYS FOR MAN!'
--
-Duane S, 8/15/2015:
It was all an expression and celebration of love. On earth, this reunion would have been unfathomable, between members of an ancient soul group who were celebrating the return home of one of their own. Slowly, as I looked at those gathered to greet me, I realized they were all there. Surprisingly they were not only from this life, but also from a prior life in Germany. I realized that the same souls have possibly played different parts in my multiple lives. Sometimes these souls had been my daughter, my wife, or my mother. While at first this idea had startled me, I was soon humbled. Who was I to tell God what he could or couldn’t do with his creations? Just because some Sunday school teacher had different ideas about how things worked, it didn’t really matter.
My joy deepened as I realized that I had only left behind an earthly vestige of those I love. The essence of each of those souls, was also here with me now. Besides my friends and family, there were the friendly Germans who had been hauntingly familiar while I was a young soldier in Germany. Now I knew why they seemed so familiar at the time, they had been friends and family from a prior lifetime there. I now understood that I had left nothing behind on earth. The eternal essences of all my loved ones from that life, as well as all other incarnations, were all here to greet me. All I had left behind was a character, playing a role in a drama that we had chosen to experience. In the meantime, our real eternal essence remained in God’s realm. Suddenly, it was all so simple.
As I was shown around, it was explained to me how most of our celestial, eternal knowledge is blanked-out during our chosen life spans on earth. We must temporarily forget most of what our higher-self already knows so we can immerse ourselves in the roles we have chosen to play. Furthermore, they said that it might take a while for all my knowledge and memories to return. To ease the transition back into this realm, I was told to think of my time on earth as an extended visit to the ultimate theme park. Consider it a place with thrilling rides and various adventures that I could choose to experience or not. I was also reminded that the reason we leave the celestial realm at all was for the excitement, variety, adventure, and entertainment that different incarnations offer. However, to take all our celestial knowledge with us on our various adventures would have ruined the very experience that we had chosen to live. Someone there said that I should think of our trips to other realms as choosing a new novel to read. I can choose a new book, depending on what I am in the mood for. Furthermore, if I knew every turn and twist of the story, line by line, prior to reading it, it would spoil the fun.
As one entity jokingly remarked, 'If the eternal, divine part of us grows tired of singing and playing harps, there are thousands of other universes created for our spiritual growth, amusement, and entertainment. Eternity is a long time to do nothing but play harps.' I heard this concept best expressed in The Course in Miracles, 'We are only here for three reasons: to remember who we are; to help others remember who they are; and . . . to enjoy the trip . . . , unless, of course, we use our free will and choose not to.'
As my orientation went on, they explained how on that celestial side of the veil, anything we desire is instantaneously provided. We just need to feel the desire. However, within lies the reason for all the realms outside of heaven. Having everything we want all the time develops within us a desire for variety and change for a challenge. It would be like a game in which everyone was a winner. Soon, the game would become boring, and we would look for another, more challenging one.
Somehow, all this sounded familiar. To demonstrate the process of instantaneous fulfillment, one of them asked me to think about something I really desired. Thinking back on it, what I chose seemed odd since I was in such an esteemed place demonstrating such an important concept. But, suddenly I had an urge for a piece of my mother’s famous homemade chocolate cake with her special fudge frosting. As soon as I thought of the cake, my earthy mother was handing me the biggest piece of dark chocolate cake I had ever seen. Dare I say it was heavenly? Although she appeared there with us, I knew some part of her was still back on earth because she had not died yet. My guess was that she was probably asleep, dreaming of lovingly making her son a piece of her divine chocolate cake.
--
-Sandi T, 10/18/2020:
I understood immediately the fullness of life on this planet. I could see when it broke apart from a sun, spinning and cooling and collecting debris; until the first of these creatures heard itself laugh and understood the sound for what it was. In that moment, self-awareness was awakened and the seeds of civilization sprouted.
I understood that everything that we do here on Earth, all that we are, all that we experience, allows creation to exist. Every beautiful thing, every wonderful being and creature, whether on earth or in any universe, relies upon people who are on the extremely rare places like Earth.
The Great Intelligence (god) is a paradox. It is completely loving and fully unlimited. Which by the definition of paradox, means it is impossible? It cannot be limited only to love; it cannot be limited to only being unlimited; or it is not unlimited.
Earth is a place where the unlimited becomes limited; where the singular becomes many. Here, it can know community and loneliness. It can know heartache and hope. It can know all which an unlimited being of pure love cannot. It can conceive and perceive evil; which in truth it cannot do this either. To solve the paradox, it must experience helplessness and limitation and all as it is Real. In this place, it is all so REAL.
So what is free will? Free will is the option to come here to help solve the paradox of 'god'. To be all that we are not, so that everything wondrous and joyful may continue to exist. So that love itself may continue to exist. So that the Unlimited is not limited to being only unlimited.
Why are the answers always, 'simply to exist' and 'to choose love' and 'to learn how to love'? Because all you need to do, to solve the paradox, is to exist. And as we exist here, each time we choose love, we expand the universe. Love is life's longing for itself. Despite the reality of what we live, even the darkest souls among us cannot help but to reach, to yearn, and move towards goodness and towards love.
For love is the true nature of who we are. And when we experience horrible things, the question 'why' comes to mind because it is the central question of love, life, and of this world. The answer is 'so that all things might continue to exist.'
Every soul chose to come here and to suffer because of love. Each soul loves the universe, loves life, and loves this world and ALL of the worlds. Each soul loves ALL of the people so immensely and intensely that they chose to come here so that all the universes may teem with beautiful, joyful LIFE.
Every creature that I saw, acknowledges that your life gives them the gift of life. And when each soul goes 'home' after they die, they will know the rewards of their own gift, too. The 'reward' for their sacrifice will be joy, love, and feeling incredible, wonderful, beautiful joy at the LIFE and the LOVE everywhere in the universe.
When you go home, you meet your own soul. You willingly came here to forget yourself. You willingly came here to save every beautiful and wonderful thing. By suffering what 'god' cannot, you give the gift of life.
--
-Henry W, 6/22/2008:
I became aware of other voices, the orbs or other souls around me I could hear them communicating to each other. There seemed to be cliques of orbs that were together. They spoke to one another about their lives on Earth and all they had perceived and felt. They shared not only in words, but in sharing the experience. If one orb couldn't understand, it disappeared and then reappeared. The orb somehow went back to Earth and experienced that 'life' to further understand. I understood that here time did not exist and these beings could manifest themselves at any time on Earth they desired. These orbs or rather 'souls' would leave this realm, detach themselves with this universe, and return to the universe of our Earth. There they would live and die, then return and share the experience with all the other souls. A soul that could not understand the experience could go and live that life also to experience that life. I learned we have many lives, past, present and future.
These souls, our souls cannot experience certain things like pain, sorrow, hatred, and anger. Though these are negative things, it was important for them to understand and experience them. Perhaps to understand the motivations of human beings, or (and I believe this in my heart) to eventually evolve into a being like God - all knowing and understanding.
At this time things appeared to me, answers to other questions. I could see concepts as if they were entities. I could understand for the first time in my life E=MC2. I learned that our universe is one of many. It is like a Petri dish. Designed with its own rules to raise a specific being. In this case, to raise beings like humans. Each Universe had its own specific laws of Physics. I now realize that the amount of information a soul must learn is vast, more so then we can possibly imagine here.
The next concept or rule I learned is that God can never be proven by scientific means. To do so would corrupt the environment. It would destroy faith. When we have faith we seek, we learn. If God were to appear before us like a huge being at the United Nations, the entire world would believe, but also live in fear. To successfully experience the human existence, one must be physically out of touch with God. We have to learn and seek on our own. We need to search out the meaning of our own existence and experience here on earth. Faith is the engine of discovery. Without faith, we are just like ants.
I learned why bad things happen to good people. If nothing bad ever happened to us, we would all basically be the same. It is like metal in a forge you have to heat it and strike it repeatedly to make a useful tool from it. We start this life with a blank piece of paper. With every incident we experience, a part of the blueprint is recorded until a complete plan for an individual is created. This blueprint dictates the end of our lives. To live happily in this realm is to become aware of the blueprint and change it. Lastly, time is only a concept measured here. In the other realm, it doesn't exist. While we may experience pain and sorrow on earth, it is only a second in the grand scheme of things. We have an eternity to live and in reality, souls never really die. Our life is just a thought providing circumstances for this existence. As the soul progresses, this trauma is forgotten and put in its proper perspective as part of the learning process.
One question I always personally had and that was answered is, 'Are ghosts real?' The answer I was given was, 'Yes, in the human body there are two forms of spiritual being.' One is the 'soul', which is the spiritual being that has a symbiotic relationship with the physical body. The second is the being created by the 'biology' of the human body. This being is intelligent and is basically the personality of the individual. Its purpose is to provide for the human needs of food, hunger, survival, and procreation. This concept is very similar to Freud's 'Id, Ego and Superego' The division of mind and personality. The soul provides us with all the things of the individual that separates us from the Animal Kingdom. This is the ability to reason, use logic, or feel awe when seeing a sunset. The soul is the creative side of humankind. The second being is more our animal side and drives us to accomplish or pursue things to satisfy our needs and wants.
When we die, the soul separates and proceeds to the other side (forgive me for simplifying everything). The entity of the body dies, taking with it the strong emotions, 'baggage', and drives of human beings. This is a natural part of the dying process. However, sometimes under violent or sudden death this othebeing, for lack of a better word, doesn't have a chance to die. Instead, it remains behind as the drive, emotions, and motivation of our spirit. This body being, without the guidance of the soul is basically just a shell. It wanders about with no goals or purpose. It often repeats acts that it has done before because memories are the only 'guidance' that it has. In time, this being's energy dissipates and nothing is left. That process can take a long time. Hence, we have a 'ghost' that haunts a house or person. A ghost has the center of its existence when it was with its human body and soul. Here on earth it remains until it eventually vanishes. The ghost can be communicated with and guided, yet has no real will of its own but only that of habit.
--
-Peter P, 3/1/2023:
In the initial phase of waking up, I also received an experience with light of such a wonderful quality, that it is difficult to describe with words. I was shown three light waves on which today's humanity is evolving. For the sake of logic, I'm defining them here as the self-imposed pathways of awareness, that each individual can take to obtain the best possible results from their particular choice. The first way is what the main part of the global population has chosen and the daily struggle is enacted in that timeline. I don't want to give the impression that path is in any way better or superior than the other timelines. All experiences in human life eventually lead back to the divine light.
The second path was shown to me as a mixed way in a gray color. Here, euphoric phases are alternated in quick succession with depressive stages. It is as if people were switching between phases of competence and phases lacking of power, and then again to a new euphoric phase.
The third way is the one of the absolute victimhood. It was shown to me in colors dark and black. Power and responsibility were handed over to outer entities. Here only a very small part of the light spark can be addressed through motivation. Many beings of light from higher planes are providing a selfless service here, to again illuminate the way back to the light. This way corresponds with the absolute free choice of each individual as to whether they choose towards light or darkness.
I was also shown that in this darkness exists one of the most unbelievable choicess for humanity, because in this choice is also is the possibility to change the galaxy. The core truths of Love, Compassion, Kindness and Benevolence are towards what the human nature can and will evolve.
The first path of those three is so unbelievable for us incarnated beings. It can only be termed with definitions of Utopia, heavenly life of angels and/or ecstatic rapture.
There is a beautiful part of beings who always stay in this realm. They are dancing and singing through life. For them terms like synchronicity, grace, or cosmic guidance are the absolute central and essential elements in life. They realize how creation is working and that a life without the connection with the One Power of creation would disrupt everything. Humor, joy, fun, respect, compassion and gratitude is with them round the clock. In this wonderful place all fear is dissolved like mist in a brilliant sun. It is an all-encompassing field with absolute acceptance, comfort, peace, connectedness and a 100% awareness to be at the right place.
During this time of considering those things, I was guided by a wonderful being of light. I don't remember somebody else or meeting a certain individual. Only those impressions of the light of love and the perfect comprehension and acceptance remained.
In that moment, it simply seemed unbelievable and impossible to choose another path than the one of the light. What illuminates my life again and again from my light experience, is the irrepressible joy and happiness of an experience of indescribable beauty. I believe that all the people go through this same wonderful experience in a state of separation of the body (general anesthesia, unconsciousness) unfortunately they cannot all remember it.
I felt pure love, shining brighter than anything you can imagine. Everything is as beautiful, as pure as love and compassion. So that when you cross the veil and return to the other side you are becoming a part of it. We are bathing in the beauty of the song that makes our heart singing - That's God.
Nobody can give us something bigger. We wouldn't see it or understand it. That's Spirit in its highest form.
We as humans feel so alone and on our own. It's such a crushing feeling to remain in this imagined separation of our most wonderful thing and then to feel this earthly experience so painfully.
In the middle of life, a light experience happens that sweeps away all the reactions about this imaginary separation and dissolves the last doubts with this pure white light like a fog. It's the disintegration of a self-constructed veil that prevented a realization that all people are entitled to have as their birthright. It's delightful to know that the light is the most wonderful symphony in the cosmos and that it contains the colors and the sense of touch of the most beautiful experiences. A wonderful soul experience, that is imprinted in the deepest cells of the body.
For a moment I was on this other side of the veil. I was allowed to be part of this wonderful source of creation. Together with billions of points of light, which we call angel beings, shining brighter than the light. I was in the company of the highest compassion, with the highest Love.
All media, the total daily literature is filled with the dramas happening around the globe every minute.
How can somebody get the idea to write a text motivating us to get another point of view about the calamities in the world? What is motivating him to see the good in all those events, even if they might be so disturbing? That's probably the one decisive question for the survival of manhood. Thought power of the whole humanity is used to bring anarchy and separation between people. Human thoughts are creative and should, and can, be guided by us into appropriate pathways.
It depends on all of us to exercise our responsibility and to realize the true impact of our actions here in its entirety. We can't avoid to completely step away from all dramas. Disasters and calamities of humanity want to invite us to send our compassion and our benevolent energy generously towards the concerned people. Something which should be rather considered normal if our brothers and sister are in need.
2023.03.23 10:52 Hot_Bet_7894 Arthur Brown - serial killer?
He could well have been one of Australia's worst serial killers, who perhaps remarkably escaped conviction on any charge.
Brown was born in Merinda and spent most of his life in North Queensland.
He worked mainly as a maintenance carpenter for the department of public works, where coworkers remembered him as a polite and obsessively neat man who always had sharp creases ironed into his work clothing.
Hester Porter
In 1944 he married Hester Porter (née Andersen), who had 3 children from a previous marriage. Hester later told her older sister Milly that she had once caught Brown molesting a child, and had since tried to keep him away from children.
Later Brown started a relationship with Hester's younger sister, Charlotte, who had 5 children of her own. The affair was "known but not acknowledged" by family members. In 1978 Hester, who was now bedridden with arthritis, died after hitting her head in a fall at home. It was later revealed that the family doctor had signed the death certificate without examining the body, and that Brown had hastily had it cremated days later. Many family members believe Brown murdered Hester.
Charlotte moved in with Brown soon after Hester's death, and the couple married later in the year.
In 1982 another sister of Hester's came forward and confided in family members that she'd been molested by Brown when she was a child. This sparked a string of accusations by yet more family members of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Brown, with a total of 45 seperate cases. Many of his child victims had been taken to Antill Creek, 25 kms south west of Townsville, to be molested. However, no charges were pursued at the time.
Mackay sisters
7yo Judith Mackay and her 5yo sister Susan disappeared from a bus stop just 200m from their Townsville home on an August morning in 1970. A search was mounted later that day, and their bodies were found two days later in the dry bed of Antill Creek.
Both girls had been raped, strangled and stabbed, and their school uniforms were found neatly folded in their school bags and placed next to each of their bodies.
Several witnesses reported seeing the girls on the morning of the abduction with a suspicious man driving a rare blue Vauxhall Victor, with some reporting the vehicle had a drivers door in a mismatched colour. Other witnesses reported the car was actually a blue Holden, however one witness, a worker at a service station, refilled the vehicle and stated the petrol cap was on the left side of the vehicle, which meant it could not be a Holden.
The physical descriptions of the man given by witnesses matched Brown's somewhat unique wiry appearance, although police at the time focused on finding the vehicle, not the driver - no identikit or drawing was displayed to the public.
Police believed at the time the car was a Holden, and the witness statements suggesting otherwise were discounted.
Brown was working at the Mackay sisters' school at the time of the murders, and relatives later reported instances of strange behaviour by Brown at the time. He seemed obsessed with the case, at one stage he falsely claimed to know the girls' father, and he offered to take other family members to the site "where the bodies were found". He also drove a blue Vauxhall Victor with an odd coloured drivers door at the time - he soon removed the door and replaced it, buried it, before later recovering it and taking it to a local tip, because "he didn't want people bothering him".
A few weeks after the murder, Brown confessed to the killings when speaking to a stranger he had spent the afternoon drinking with in a pub. The conversation was reported to police, who then spoke to Brown and officially discounted the drunken confession.
Years later Brown again confessed to the murders to a workmate, who didn't report the conversation to police, believing Brown had been joking.
Following a Crimestoppers program in 1999, a family member contacted police and the cold case was reopened. Brown was charged with dozens of counts of sexual abuse of children, and the murders of the Mackay sisters. The trial ended with a hung jury, and Brown was later deemed unfit for retrial due to his worsening Alzheimer's.
The case has been closed with all involved satisfied that Brown committed the murders.
Adelaide Oval abduction
Brown is regarded as a suspect, with the identikit of the abductor baring a striking resemblance.
After seeing Browns picture on TV in relation to the the Mackay murder trial, a witness from the Oval case, who saw the two girls being led away by a man, came forward to state that Brown was the man she had seen - this was however 25 years later, and the witness was aged just 14 at the time of the abduction. It can be argued though that Brown's distinctive appearance hadn't changed a great deal in that time.
She had also reported that the man wore horn rimmed glasses, which he had dropped and picked up. Brown was known to wear horn rimmed glasses at the time.
Attempts to establish whether Brown could have been in Adelaide at the time have proven fruitless. Employee records may have shown if he had been on leave from work at the time, but those records have been destroyed, possibly in the Brisbane floods of 1974.
The only reported link to Adelaide was from a former colleague who reported a conversation with Brown during which he mentioned seeing construction of the Adelaide Festival Centre nearing completion. This would have placed him in Adelaide at some stage during a window of time which also coincides with the Oval disappearances.
Beaumont Children
Although no other links have been made, the fresh allegations regarding the Adelaide Oval case has led to suspicion that Brown may have been active in Adelaide - and once again, the identikit of the man seen with Beaumont children when they disappeared bares a resemblance to Brown.
Marilyn Wallman
Fourteen year old Wallman disappeared in Eimeo, Queensland on her way to school in March 1974.
Witnesses reported seeing a blue Vauxhall in the area at the time. Brown and his wife, Hester, had been to visit relatives in Mackay, however Brown's Vauxhall had broken down and the couple returned home by train, with Brown returning to Mackay alone to pick up the car. Depending on some variables, police believe it possible that Brown was passing through Eimeo (around 10km from Mackay) at the time of the disappearance.
Wallman was never seen again and no body was ever found.
Catherine Graham
Eighteen year old Graham was a door-to-door saleswoman who was murdered in July 1975. She was door knocking in the area of Brown's house on the day she was murdered.
Police believe two men were involved in the crime, however Graham's body was found at Antill Creek, close to where the Mackay sisters were found.
Brown died alone in a nursing home in July 2002, leaving instructions that no public death notices be placed. Only one stepdaughter was made aware of his funeral, and he left no surviving blood relatives.
Note: I didn't write this, I just shared it.
submitted by Hot_Bet_7894 to serial_killers [link] [comments]
Brown was born in Merinda and spent most of his life in North Queensland.
He worked mainly as a maintenance carpenter for the department of public works, where coworkers remembered him as a polite and obsessively neat man who always had sharp creases ironed into his work clothing.
Hester Porter
In 1944 he married Hester Porter (née Andersen), who had 3 children from a previous marriage. Hester later told her older sister Milly that she had once caught Brown molesting a child, and had since tried to keep him away from children.
Later Brown started a relationship with Hester's younger sister, Charlotte, who had 5 children of her own. The affair was "known but not acknowledged" by family members. In 1978 Hester, who was now bedridden with arthritis, died after hitting her head in a fall at home. It was later revealed that the family doctor had signed the death certificate without examining the body, and that Brown had hastily had it cremated days later. Many family members believe Brown murdered Hester.
Charlotte moved in with Brown soon after Hester's death, and the couple married later in the year.
In 1982 another sister of Hester's came forward and confided in family members that she'd been molested by Brown when she was a child. This sparked a string of accusations by yet more family members of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Brown, with a total of 45 seperate cases. Many of his child victims had been taken to Antill Creek, 25 kms south west of Townsville, to be molested. However, no charges were pursued at the time.
Mackay sisters
7yo Judith Mackay and her 5yo sister Susan disappeared from a bus stop just 200m from their Townsville home on an August morning in 1970. A search was mounted later that day, and their bodies were found two days later in the dry bed of Antill Creek.
Both girls had been raped, strangled and stabbed, and their school uniforms were found neatly folded in their school bags and placed next to each of their bodies.
Several witnesses reported seeing the girls on the morning of the abduction with a suspicious man driving a rare blue Vauxhall Victor, with some reporting the vehicle had a drivers door in a mismatched colour. Other witnesses reported the car was actually a blue Holden, however one witness, a worker at a service station, refilled the vehicle and stated the petrol cap was on the left side of the vehicle, which meant it could not be a Holden.
The physical descriptions of the man given by witnesses matched Brown's somewhat unique wiry appearance, although police at the time focused on finding the vehicle, not the driver - no identikit or drawing was displayed to the public.
Police believed at the time the car was a Holden, and the witness statements suggesting otherwise were discounted.
Brown was working at the Mackay sisters' school at the time of the murders, and relatives later reported instances of strange behaviour by Brown at the time. He seemed obsessed with the case, at one stage he falsely claimed to know the girls' father, and he offered to take other family members to the site "where the bodies were found". He also drove a blue Vauxhall Victor with an odd coloured drivers door at the time - he soon removed the door and replaced it, buried it, before later recovering it and taking it to a local tip, because "he didn't want people bothering him".
A few weeks after the murder, Brown confessed to the killings when speaking to a stranger he had spent the afternoon drinking with in a pub. The conversation was reported to police, who then spoke to Brown and officially discounted the drunken confession.
Years later Brown again confessed to the murders to a workmate, who didn't report the conversation to police, believing Brown had been joking.
Following a Crimestoppers program in 1999, a family member contacted police and the cold case was reopened. Brown was charged with dozens of counts of sexual abuse of children, and the murders of the Mackay sisters. The trial ended with a hung jury, and Brown was later deemed unfit for retrial due to his worsening Alzheimer's.
The case has been closed with all involved satisfied that Brown committed the murders.
Adelaide Oval abduction
Brown is regarded as a suspect, with the identikit of the abductor baring a striking resemblance.
After seeing Browns picture on TV in relation to the the Mackay murder trial, a witness from the Oval case, who saw the two girls being led away by a man, came forward to state that Brown was the man she had seen - this was however 25 years later, and the witness was aged just 14 at the time of the abduction. It can be argued though that Brown's distinctive appearance hadn't changed a great deal in that time.
She had also reported that the man wore horn rimmed glasses, which he had dropped and picked up. Brown was known to wear horn rimmed glasses at the time.
Attempts to establish whether Brown could have been in Adelaide at the time have proven fruitless. Employee records may have shown if he had been on leave from work at the time, but those records have been destroyed, possibly in the Brisbane floods of 1974.
The only reported link to Adelaide was from a former colleague who reported a conversation with Brown during which he mentioned seeing construction of the Adelaide Festival Centre nearing completion. This would have placed him in Adelaide at some stage during a window of time which also coincides with the Oval disappearances.
Beaumont Children
Although no other links have been made, the fresh allegations regarding the Adelaide Oval case has led to suspicion that Brown may have been active in Adelaide - and once again, the identikit of the man seen with Beaumont children when they disappeared bares a resemblance to Brown.
Marilyn Wallman
Fourteen year old Wallman disappeared in Eimeo, Queensland on her way to school in March 1974.
Witnesses reported seeing a blue Vauxhall in the area at the time. Brown and his wife, Hester, had been to visit relatives in Mackay, however Brown's Vauxhall had broken down and the couple returned home by train, with Brown returning to Mackay alone to pick up the car. Depending on some variables, police believe it possible that Brown was passing through Eimeo (around 10km from Mackay) at the time of the disappearance.
Wallman was never seen again and no body was ever found.
Catherine Graham
Eighteen year old Graham was a door-to-door saleswoman who was murdered in July 1975. She was door knocking in the area of Brown's house on the day she was murdered.
Police believe two men were involved in the crime, however Graham's body was found at Antill Creek, close to where the Mackay sisters were found.
Brown died alone in a nursing home in July 2002, leaving instructions that no public death notices be placed. Only one stepdaughter was made aware of his funeral, and he left no surviving blood relatives.
Note: I didn't write this, I just shared it.
2023.03.23 00:50 throwawayyypersonal what do I need to set up for afterwards
I'm going to do it this year but I want to make it as little a burden on my family as possible. Obviously emotionally it's going to be tough on them even if we're not actually close I get that but I also know I'm enough of a mistake it's worth getting out of the way sooner for them. It's selfish and if they ever find this please don't blame yourself, please be angry with me for failing life.
I'm moving out in the fall so I plan to do it then, so I'll be away from home. Obviously I can't do anything about cremation or funeral or whatever they choose and I know that's 1-10k which is unfortunate. Maybe I'll look into specific places that are cheap and write them down. I can't do a will and have no savings otherwise, at least my student debt goes away with my death lol and if i time it right they'll get 10k from the grants and gov loans I'm getting for the upcoming year that they won't have to pay back so that covers expenses. I've researched highest succes mthods so hnging it is since I'm not USA so that easy out isn't available here. I'll be looking for a spot at my new place when I move in. What else should I settle/ look to settle for my family before I go? I'm kinda set to do this this year so please don't be like "Ohhh you have so much to live for" etc. Life is for the rich and able bodied.
submitted by throwawayyypersonal to SuicideWatch [link] [comments]
I'm moving out in the fall so I plan to do it then, so I'll be away from home. Obviously I can't do anything about cremation or funeral or whatever they choose and I know that's 1-10k which is unfortunate. Maybe I'll look into specific places that are cheap and write them down. I can't do a will and have no savings otherwise, at least my student debt goes away with my death lol and if i time it right they'll get 10k from the grants and gov loans I'm getting for the upcoming year that they won't have to pay back so that covers expenses. I've researched highest succes mthods so hnging it is since I'm not USA so that easy out isn't available here. I'll be looking for a spot at my new place when I move in. What else should I settle/ look to settle for my family before I go? I'm kinda set to do this this year so please don't be like "Ohhh you have so much to live for" etc. Life is for the rich and able bodied.
2023.03.23 00:32 SocietyCentral Culture Shock. Chapter III: Memory Trail
So... yeah. This chapter took way longer to write than I had intended it to. Mostly because life got in the way and partly because trees are apparently the hardest thing to write about in the english language (or at least they are to my poor non-native mind).
Add in the fact that some large chunks of the text had to be rewritten a couple of times before I felt even slightly comfortable with posting it (because what even is a 'pacing') and you get the picture. Worse yet, life still hasn't gotten out of the way, so future chapters might also take longer.
With all of that out of the way, here's the new chapter, where a human and a teddy bear go see some tall wooden bois.
Memory transcription subject: Thraia, Physician of the Zurulian Expeditionary Relief Force
Date [standardized human time]: May 29, 2137
“So you really aren’t gonna tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. A surprise’s a surprise.”
I let out a loud groan in frustration, though it was doubtful Robert would have heard it from where he was. “You’re insufferable sometimes, you know that?”
“I’ve been told many a time, yes.”
I just shook my head. There really was no arguing with him at this point. If I hadn’t gotten an answer out of him in the two hours we’d spent sitting on a train on our way here, or the hour-long car ride after that, there was no hope he’d say anything until we made it to wherever he was taking me.
I took a moment to let my sight drift upward. The thin canopy formed by the trees that grew alongside the path shredded the light of Earth’s Sun into thousands of tiny beams, forming a spotted pattern over the sea of crunchy dead leaves below.
Robert walked several paces ahead of me, looking back every couple minutes to make sure he wasn’t leaving me behind. His gaze was otherwise fixed in a forward position, not paying much mind to the world around him.
I guessed it was logical. He was probably more than used to the natural beauty of his world. Me, on the other hand… I could never get enough of it.
Back in Los Angeles, it was all ruin and destruction as far as the eye could see. To this day, months after the fact, work was still ongoing in clearing paths through the seas of rubble, and every now and then, they’d find some more remains, ready to be crossed off a missing persons list tens of thousands long.
While working with the relief teams during the initial aftermath of the attacks, I’d hardly had the time to do much sightseeing. It was only after a couple of months had passed and the amount of survivors found and treated each day had diminished to a trickle, that the higher-ups decided to switch up the strategy.
The original plan had been for us to leave Earth once human authorities were able to get a handle on the situation. Instead, after the reveal of the Federation’s vile manipulation of the Galaxy, Fleet high command saw an opportunity to score a propaganda victory back home: our forces would be slowly pulled out of Earth, rather than all at once, under the justification of ‘helping to uplift humanity’s medical knowledge’. With this, the government could show our people, and the Galaxy at large, that long-term cooperation with the predators was both possible and safe, which could go a long way to further discredit federal indoctrination.
Things had become more bearable after that. My team and I were reassigned to a major hospital in San Francisco, where we spent the next few months helping improve the… primitive healing methods used by the humans. The lighter workload meant we could actually afford some free time, which I’d personally chosen to spend traveling throughout the city and its surroundings.
Though some of my colleagues disagreed, I found Earth to be one of the most beautiful worlds I’d had the pleasure to visit. Maybe there was some truth to the Human doctrine of ‘ecological preservation’, after all, they must’ve been doing something right to keep their planet so lush and lively.
“Here we are!”
I was snapped back from my thoughts by the booming sound of Robert’s voice, having almost walked past whatever he’d stopped to look at. I turned my head to see him standing by the start of a trail leading further into the woods. A wooden Sign by the side read the words: ‘Tall Trees Trailhead. Redwood National Park’.
“W-wait, we’re going deeper into the forest?” I squeaked out. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
He just waved my worries off. “It’s a tourist trail, and a well maintained one at that. We shouldn’t find anything too worrying out there.” He turned to face me and I saw a smirk start to form across his face. “Plus, you have a big scary predator here to protect you. There’s nothing out there brave enough to mess with me!”
I simply narrowed my eyes. “Oh really? I guess that ‘spider’ you found on your locker the other day must’ve been an exception to the rule then?”
His eyebrows formed into a frown but the smile never fully left his face. “Hey! It just caught me off guard; I thought I’d made that clear already.”
“Right, right…, that’s why Adrian described your reaction as ‘a freakout for the history books’” Even as his cheeks began to take on the slightest red tinge, he still kept his smile up.
I couldn’t possibly be the only one who found some human phobias hilarious in how ridiculously ironic they could be. Here was one of the only two predatory races in charted space, a species capable of fending off the Dominion and the Federation Remnants at once, biologically specialized in one of the scariest forms of hunting known to the galaxy… and a large portion of them were absolutely terrified of some tiny arthropods smaller than their fingernails. I honestly wondered how they’d even managed to set foot on Sillis.
“Anyway, if you’re done ridiculing me…” Robert said, feigning an offended tone. “… We should probably get a move on. The trail isn’t too long but we still wanna be able to get back here before sunset.” He adjusted the straps on his backpack, turning to face the green wilds in front of him.
“Why did we come all the way here anyway? Aren’t there plenty of hiking trails closer to the city?”
“Oh you’ll see… what’s at the end of this path is something you wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
Wow he really isn’t gonna talk until we make it there, is he?
“Ugh… Fine!” I finally said in clear defeat. “But for the record, if we do end up getting hunted by something out there, I’m killing you before it eats me!”
He let out a hearty laugh before beginning to walk ahead. I followed him, this time closer behind.
The trail descended along the side of what I assumed was some sort of valley, snaking between the trees and boulders dotted about its path. It was hard to assess the geography of the area through the dense vegetation, and the few dim rays of sunlight that made it past the ever-thickening canopy did little to help with my disorientation. I knew humans had descended from arboreal herbivores before becoming predators, so the fact that Robert always seemed to know where he was going and looked perfectly comfortable with his surroundings wasn’t much of a surprise. Still it was an unnerving thought that I was entirely dependent on him for navigation in this place. If he lost his way, we were both screwed.
Despite my nagging fears though, I had to admit that I was starting to like hiking. There was something so very soothing about traversing these pristinely wild environments, free of the constant hustle and bustle of the cities. As much as I still had my reservations about mankind’s refusal to cull their world free of non-sapient predators, at times like these it was almost like some unhinged part of my brain took over and ignored the dangers lurking in these forests in favor of enjoying the quiet serenity they offered.
We eventually reached a wooden bridge that cut through a small ravine on the side of the hill. The slight elevation over the forest floor allowed for a much clearer sight of the sea of trees that covered the valley below. Robert stopped in his tracks, resting his arms on the railing as he took in the scenery.
“Like the view?” He asked, eyes fixed in the landscape below.
I’d had to get up on my hindlegs to be able to see it, which wasn’t particularly comfortable, but even then, I couldn’t argue with the obvious.
“It’s gorgeous.” I stated.
“Yeah… it really is… We’re lucky to see it too. Humanity came close to losing a lot of these places at one point.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Well it’s a long story, but it goes a little something like this…” He leaned back from the railing and started down the trail again as he explained, with me in toe. “During our industrial age, we began to use coal, and later other fossil fuels, to power our machinery. This allowed us to develop technologically and grow a whole lot in population, but the problem was that we never stopped using them, even as alternatives were developed, mostly because it was profitable.”
Listening to him talk, I could sense some lingering frustration in his voice. “So, come the start of the twenty-first century, we begin to realize that we may have made a huge mistake. All that fuel burning has been emitting tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and the buildup is starting to have an effect on global temperatures, but do we do anything? No, of course not, we kick the can down the road and hope for the best.” He scoffed. Clearly, he didn’t look kindly on that decision.
“Eventually, things started to get really bad. My grandpa used to tell me stories about those days when I was little. In some cities, air quality was so low that you needed to go out with a mask if you didn’t want to get sick. A lot of food items became very expensive as crops began to fail. Hundreds of animal and plant species would go extinct every year.”
There was something deeply upsetting about imagining Earth in such a sorry state. I knew I should have no allegiance to a planet I’d only been staying at for half a year, but the idea of these green wilds slowly wilting away brought a deep sadness to my heart.
“But… things got better, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, though not before getting a whole lot worse.” He let out a sigh before continuing. “The famines and the heat didn’t affect the whole world equally. Some countries got it way worse than others, and the people there started to flee by the millions. This put too much strain on the system and things broke down fast. It started as just a couple border skirmishes, then it grew to a few isolated wars…and in a matter of months, the major world powers were lobbing stuff at each other from orbit.”
A short, bitter chuckle escaped his mouth. “I suppose it was a blessing in disguise though. With their armies decimated, those same world powers couldn’t prevent the UN from getting involved and forcing them all to the negotiating table. After that, a bunch reforms were passed across the planet to try and course correct, all while the UN was going postal on a lot of the corporations who’d been profiting off the problem. The Hague was busy for years after that.”
While I couldn’t understand what was being implied by that last remark, enough was clear from context that I could get a decent picture.
The idea of runaway industrialism wasn’t one I was fully unfamiliar with. Humans weren’t the first to have almost rendered their homeworld unlivable. Plenty had made that mistake before, and that had been the stated reason for the Federation’s ‘uplift on sight’ policy when it came to primitive sapients. That said, I’d never heard of species going down that road out of greed rather than ignorance. A very specific and cowardly part of my mind told me to chalk it up to ‘expected predatory behavior’, but after this long, I was more than used to ignoring it.
Robert continued his tale, explaining that the next few decades had seen a massive effort to revitalize the Earth’s ecosystems and even bring some species back from extinction using genetic engineering. By the time he’d been born, the planet was far along the healing process.
Thinking about it, perhaps this was where the idea of preserving predatory life had popped up for them. Maybe they did it out of some lingering sense of guilt?
Our conversation died down as we came up on a bend on the path. There we were met with a couple of humans, dressed up in hiking gear, going up as we went down. They didn’t have much of a reaction to Robert, simply doing a half-wave with their hands in acknowledgement, but when they saw me walking behind him, I noticed both of them jumped for a second, eyes going wide before settling down. One of them even took a hand to his chest before continuing to walk past us with accelerated pace.
Now, I knew by now that my kind and a few others in the galaxy seemed to trigger some sort of ‘cute’ response in humans. That, combined with the fact that space travel and alien life were still extremely novel concepts to them, had led to some… interesting situations back in the city. This, however, wasn’t any of that. This had been fear.
I looked at Robert for answers and saw him holding a hand to his mouth, trying desperately to hold in his laugh until the other hikers were out of earshot and practically falling over cackling once they’d walked far enough away.
“Oh my fucking god! It happened! It actually happened! I can’t even…” He managed to breathe out through the manic fit. My confusion only mounted.
“What happened? What was that all about?”
He just kept laughing. Apparently me missing the joke made it even funnier somehow.
“They… they thought you were a bear!” He finally managed to get out through the convulsions.
I paused at that, rummaging through my memory for my limited knowledge on Earth’s fauna to try and figure out if I even knew what a ‘bear’ was. I’d definitely heard the word before, but couldn’t recall the animal it was meant to represent.
Robert must have finally taken pity on my puzzled mind, because he began to take a hold of his breathing and gave me the answer I was looking for. “Bears… They’re large predatory mammals here on Earth. A lot of people say Zurulians look a lot like their cubs.”
That one left me completely dumbfounded. “Wha-, are you telling me they thought I was a predator? I’m half your size, what was I ever going to do?!”
“They weren’t scared of you. If you see a bear cub, chances are the mother isn’t too far way, so they were terrified that mama bear might just pop out from the brush beside you.”
Once again, I was left wondering how humans could be so contradictory. Horrifying predators with boundless empathy… Brave beyond measure and yet instinctually afraid of the strangest things. It wasn’t even a question why Chauson and the rest of the Institute had developed such an interest in them.
Robert’s words did rouse a different question from me though. “Wait, if they were scared because they thought I was one of those ‘bear’ things… does that mean there are actual ones in this forest?”
I really didn’t like how long it took for him to answer. “I mean… I doubt it. California has some black bear populations but they avoid humans for the most part.”
Great. I thought. That does a whole lot of nothing for me.
We got back to walking after that. The previous tranquility the woods had brought me was somewhat tainted by my newfound fear of coming face to face with one of my predatory lookalikes.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to sit on that worry for long, for as we came around another bend, I found myself facing a truly awe-inspiring sight.
The trail we’d been following ended on a tranquil thicket at the bottom of the valley. The sound of moving water could be heard coming from somewhere, though the thick foliage around us wouldn’t let me pinpoint the source. Wooden benches were spread out around the area, seemingly old enough to have been overgrown in many cases.
In the moment though, none of that truly registered in my head, as I stared in silent amazement at the gargantuan trees that dotted the grove. Their trunks were as thick as a car, and completely dwarfed the much smaller trees we’d been passing by as we’d descended from the uplands. Their size however, became even more obvious when you looked upward. The things were about as tall as some of the skyscrapers back in the city, to the point that it was hard to see their tops among the endless web of branches that stemmed from them.
I had never, not once, in my entire life seen something that came even close to these behemoths. Megaflora did exist elsewhere in the Galaxy, but I’d personally never come across something this impressive in any world I’d ever visited. The whole scene left me speechless.
“Cool, huh?” Robert quipped, probably amused by whatever face I must’ve been making.
“Cool? You see something like this and call it ‘cool’? This is breathtaking!” I exclaimed.
He gave a short chuckle. “You’re right it is. Do you understand now why I wanted to keep it a surprise? I know you well enough to know you would have immediately ran to the internet and gotten spoiled if I’d told you beforehand.”
I honestly couldn’t argue with that. “I guess… but you didn’t have to be so ominous about it on the way!”
The human simply threw his shoulders up with a smirk. “Hey, no one said I couldn’t have some fun keeping you on your toes.” He then motioned towards the nearest of the gigantic trees. “They’re called redwoods, by the way, or sequoias if you wanna be technical about it, and they’re not just big, but really damn old too. Pretty much all of these have been here for centuries. Some, even millennia.”
“That…”I paused to look at the wooden titans once more. “…doesn’t even sound possible.”
“Well, it certainly is. Oldest known one in the world is about 2300 years old, I think.”
Just the thought of these things having stood here, towering over the landscape, for longer than my species had known about the stars, for longer than the entire Federation had even existed… it was both humbling and frightening in equal parts. Such a concept felt eldritch in a way, like my mind couldn’t even hope to understand what these ancient organisms must have bore witness to.
The two of us began making our way through one of the many paths that meandered around the redwoods. The sounds of insects and birds had been a constant since we’d started our trek, but here, they seemed to grow louder, more numerous. A sudden series of shrieks brought my attention upward and to my left, and I focused just in time to catch a blue tinted shadow take flight from a nook in the trunk of one of gigantic trees before disappearing among the branches above.
It almost felt like we were trespassing on some sort of natural paradise, hidden away from the world, with these living pillars acting as its guardians, looming over us as we walked.
I was so mesmerized by these thoughts that I almost missed Robert signaling to me from the side of the path. Once he’d caught my attention, he pointed at the underbrush beside him before speaking “Follow me, I know a spot through here that’s gonna blow your mind.”
Before I even had time to question him, he’d already turned around and began disappearing into the brush. Fear started trickling back into my mind at the thought of following him away from the path into the jaws of what was apparently nature’s predatory mockery of my own race, but despite how idyllic the grove had seemed just moments ago, the idea of staying behind by myself scared me far more.
Swallowing my growing panic, I quickly followed behind the human, trying my best to cut my way through the foliage. I realized that the sound of rushing water I’d taken notice of before seemed to be getting closer the further we delved into the forest.
After breaching through one last layer of greenery, I came up on a small clearing centered around a sloped boulder that protruded from the ground. Robert had just finished climbing atop it, and he motioned for me to sit beside him before turning to look further on. It took some effort to get to where he was, but when I made it to the top, I finally saw the view he’d been so keen on showing me.
In front of me was the source of the burbling sounds I’d been hearing. A wide but shallow creek twisted around the bottom of the valley, flanked on both sides by pebble beaches that reached almost to the foot of the very boulder we sat on. On the opposite bank, I could see the vegetation grew thicker and taller as it crept up the side of the valley, smaller trees occluding the bases of the enormous redwoods, their tops piercing the heavens like needles. Here, the sounds of the forest were almost muted by the quiet but constant noise of the water, completing an aura of peace that most relaxation centers in the galaxy would kill to emulate.
I heard a chuckle to my left. “Seems like I was right. This old view is just as stunning as I remember.”
I was so astonished by the panorama in front of me that I almost failed to pick up on what he was saying. “How… did you discover this spot anyway?”
For a second, and only a second, I saw a flash of different emotions pass through his eyes. It was subtle and he recovered quickly, but it had unmistakably been there. “Oh, it’s just an old… family secret. My dad used to take me here when I was a kid, that’s all.”
The brusqueness of the answer confirmed what I’d already suspected. Humans were far more emotional than anyone had initially given them credit for, and it showed even when they didn't mean it to. Having dealt with the survivors of the attacks, I became quite familiar with the many types of responses they had to psychological trauma, so I knew what it looked like when one of them was trying to shield themselves from digging up old wounds.
“I’m sorry for asking. I shouldn’t have pried.”
The Human’s eyes darted over to me and he winced , though it didn’t seem so much like pain as it did shame. He turned his head forwards again, staring at some fixed point in the distance, and stayed completely silent for the better part of a minute before he began speaking again.
“Thraia, do you remember the day we met?”
The question was so earnest and melancholic in tone that it was hard to believe it came from the same person that had been laughing his ass off about two jumpy hikers not that long ago.
“I…I do. It was the day after the battle. Our team had been sent to… I think it was Anaheim, to look for survivors trapped underneath the rubble. We were still setting up camp when you showed up and told us you’d been assigned to the same area. I remember you were so haggard that at first we all thought you were just a civilian in shock.”
I thought back to that moment. It’d been pretty strange that none of us had been informed that we’d be receiving a straggler on the team.
He sighed. “What I said earlier wasn’t entirely true.” His eyes turned downward, before he closed them altogether. “This place was a ‘family secret’, and my father did bring me here, but not just me. My brother always came along.”
Robert had always liked sharing stories about his family during breaks back at the hospital. His father had been a ‘park ranger’, and it seemed like every other day he’d recall yet another old anecdote about his old man’s many adventures in the Terran wilds. His mother, on the other hand, had been a teacher of some kind, and he claimed that he’d inherited her knack for storytelling. Anyone who listened to him for long enough would end up having enough information to picture his whole genealogical tree, so it was concerning that I’d never once heard of him having a sibling.
I didn’t have time to decide whether to ask about it before he continued explaining. “We always came to the park every summer while we were growing up. Dad was friends with the rangers here so they’d always tell him about any cool spots they knew of, even outside of the trails. This one was always our favorite.”
He swallowed. It was clear talking about this was taking a lot out of him. “Dad… passed… at around the same time my brother and I went our separate ways. I studied medicine and found my job back at San Francisco while he went down to LA to study marine biology. Still, no matter how busy we were with our own lives, we’d always find the time to come up here at least once a year, and if nothing else just… talk.”
He smiled, though the sadness in his eyes didn’t leave. “I remember… when first contact happened he went absolutely bonkers. I hadn’t been paying too much attention to the Odyssey mission, and that evening I hadn’t bothered checking on the news, so imagine my confusion when I get a call from him in the middle of the night and he just goes off about how they found aliens and they look like sheep! I was half sure he must’ve been high on something, but sure enough, next morning I found out he was right and that I owed him an apology for hanging up on him mid sentence.” He let out a heartfelt laugh.
“The Last time we met face to face was right here, back in August. He was so enthralled about the all the ‘possibilities’ alien life offered that he wouldn’t shut up about it.” The human closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. ”How does one even manage to get turned down for the Venlil Exchange Program for being ‘too enthusiastic’…”
Robert took a second to breathe after that, as if psyching himself up for what came next. I wasn’t naïve enough to think this story had a happy ending.
“When the UN started sending out alerts about the Krakotl fleet, I got put on ‘emergency preparation’ duty at the hospital, just to make sure we were ready if anywhere in the Bay Area got hit. I called him… probably a hundred times, trying to get him to leave for the countryside, but he wouldn’t listen. Said he didn’t want to help block the highways or take up a seat in the evacuation shuttles. When the Feds broke through the line at the Kuiper belt, he called me, saying he was heading for some bunker a friend of his knew of in Lakewood.”
The name almost made me recoil. Though I didn’t remember all of the names of the dozens of neighborhoods that made up Los Angeles, Lakewood was one of a few that I would never be able to forget, not after having to break the hearts of every grieving human asking if their loved ones there has made it. No one had survived in Lakewood, not that close to Ground Zero.
Robert continued on after sucking in another breath. “The Impact must’ve done something to the fault line, because we felt it all the way in the city. I knew immediately that things had gone terribly wrong and something in me just… broke. I left my post, got on my car, and drove south for hours, going the opposite way everyone else was. For that entire time, I just kept cursing the day we’d ever gotten involved with the aliens. Federation, Arxur, Venlil… they were all the same in my mind, just monsters that had wanted us dead from the second they saw us through no fault of our own. I just…” His breathing hitched, and he took a moment to recover. “I just wanted the hurt to stop, and focusing on hate was the best way I had to do it.”
It felt so wrong to hear something like that coming from the mouth of someone who I’d worked side by side with. Hearing him put us all on the level of the grays felt almost like a betrayal of our friendship and yet… I couldn’t blame him. This was a story I’d heard already from thousands of different strangers. Lost homes, families and friends. Hate, depression, utter hopelessness.
What did we do wrong?
That question had popped up nearly every time and I could never once give it a straight answer.
It’d always been strangers before. Now, it wasn’t, and it took all of my willpower not to break down.
“I-I’m S-sorry.”
Just a curt apology would never be enough to heal a wound so deep, I knew that. Predators or not, Humanity had never deserved the way they’d been treated. Robert was right, his kind would’ve been better off if they’d never met us. They had a right to hate us, and nothing I could say or do would ever change-
“Don’t be.”
The human’s voice was tired but firm, and he turned to look at me head on, binocular eyes so focused they almost seemed to peer into my very soul.
“Don’t ever be sorry for something that isn’t your fault.”
“B-but-“
“No buts.” His gaze softened, and I could see a gentle smile begin to form on his face. “It’s true that I felt that way then. I was angry, too angry and too grief-stricken to keep my own mind in check, but I didn’t stay that way for long.” He gestured towards me with an open hand. “And it was thanks to people like you.”
“People like me?” I was perplexed. What did he mean by that?
He answered my question with one of his own. “Do you know what I found when I finally got to the city? Hundreds of those same aliens I was decrying, helping us. I saw Venlil listening out for survivors under the debris, Zurulians coordinating with human doctors to administer first aid and even Arxur helping clear pieces of rubble and carrying off the injured to safety.”
His eyes briefly darted around as if they were looking through me. “I saw this one group: a Venlil, two humans and an Arxur… They were working on trying to lift a collapsed chunk of roof. Apparently the Venlil had heard a child’s cries from under it… When they finally got it done they found two kids underneath, but only one of them had been crying…” He closed his eyes shut, pressing his eyelids closed before relaxing. “I’d seen images of Venlil panicking before, courtesy of the Exchange Program. I’d seen them cry of fear… but I’d never seen one weep in grief.”
The two of us locked eyes again as he opened the back up. “I tried so hard to keep myself angry but I couldn’t. Not after that. I wandered off further into the ruins before I eventually collapsed and just… sobbed myself into unconsciousness.”
That about connected the all the remaining dots for me, and I interjected to confirm my suspicions. “That’s when you found us, right? The morning after?”
He nodded. “When I saw you, I realized I had an opportunity to help, to actually do my job rather than just wallowing in my own misery, and I took it without a second thought. I may have lied about why I was there, but frankly, I didn’t feel like coming clean would do any good.”
I could hardly fault him for that. We would never have allowed him to get involved if we’d known he was so personally devastated, and that would have left us without an extra pair of hands we’d greatly needed during those first few days.
My attention drifted back to the stream in front of us and the wilds beyond. The forest remained static, unfazed by our problems.
“Is that why you brought me here? To ‘come clean’?”
“Actually… no, though it does feel cathartic to be able to finally talk about this after all this time.” He motioned towards the view. “I brought you here because I wanted you to have a good image to keep from Earth. We’ve both seen too much death and ruin, but I at least had the past to fall back to while all you’ve seen since you arrived here is misery and pain. I don’t know for how long the Zurulian government will keep this experiment going but, whenever you do leave for the stars again, I wanted you to have a good mental picture of Earth to take with you, and I couldn’t really think of a better place to take you for that.”
On that front, I could confidently say he had succeeded. This wasn’t a day I’d soon forget for many reasons, probably more than he had intended. Still there was something about the idea of leaving this world that didn’t sit well with me. Having worked side by side with the humans, I’d come to feel at home here. This planet and its people, for all of their eccentricities and paradoxical natures, had made me feel welcome at every turn, even when I didn’t fully feel like I deserved it. The mere thought of seeing this pale blue dot shrink away from the viewport of some shuttle made me feel a sort of heartache I couldn’t quite explain.
But then, an idea popped into my mind. It was a simple idea, obvious even, and yet the warmth it made me feel in my chest was undeniable. That same old cowardly part of my mind begged me to weigh in the pros and cons before committing to something so insane, but my words were much faster than those thoughts could ever be.
“Who says I have to leave?”
PREVIOUS / NEXT: We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when...
submitted by SocietyCentral to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
Add in the fact that some large chunks of the text had to be rewritten a couple of times before I felt even slightly comfortable with posting it (because what even is a 'pacing') and you get the picture. Worse yet, life still hasn't gotten out of the way, so future chapters might also take longer.
With all of that out of the way, here's the new chapter, where a human and a teddy bear go see some tall wooden bois.
Memory transcription subject: Thraia, Physician of the Zurulian Expeditionary Relief Force
Date [standardized human time]: May 29, 2137
“So you really aren’t gonna tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. A surprise’s a surprise.”
I let out a loud groan in frustration, though it was doubtful Robert would have heard it from where he was. “You’re insufferable sometimes, you know that?”
“I’ve been told many a time, yes.”
I just shook my head. There really was no arguing with him at this point. If I hadn’t gotten an answer out of him in the two hours we’d spent sitting on a train on our way here, or the hour-long car ride after that, there was no hope he’d say anything until we made it to wherever he was taking me.
I took a moment to let my sight drift upward. The thin canopy formed by the trees that grew alongside the path shredded the light of Earth’s Sun into thousands of tiny beams, forming a spotted pattern over the sea of crunchy dead leaves below.
Robert walked several paces ahead of me, looking back every couple minutes to make sure he wasn’t leaving me behind. His gaze was otherwise fixed in a forward position, not paying much mind to the world around him.
I guessed it was logical. He was probably more than used to the natural beauty of his world. Me, on the other hand… I could never get enough of it.
Back in Los Angeles, it was all ruin and destruction as far as the eye could see. To this day, months after the fact, work was still ongoing in clearing paths through the seas of rubble, and every now and then, they’d find some more remains, ready to be crossed off a missing persons list tens of thousands long.
While working with the relief teams during the initial aftermath of the attacks, I’d hardly had the time to do much sightseeing. It was only after a couple of months had passed and the amount of survivors found and treated each day had diminished to a trickle, that the higher-ups decided to switch up the strategy.
The original plan had been for us to leave Earth once human authorities were able to get a handle on the situation. Instead, after the reveal of the Federation’s vile manipulation of the Galaxy, Fleet high command saw an opportunity to score a propaganda victory back home: our forces would be slowly pulled out of Earth, rather than all at once, under the justification of ‘helping to uplift humanity’s medical knowledge’. With this, the government could show our people, and the Galaxy at large, that long-term cooperation with the predators was both possible and safe, which could go a long way to further discredit federal indoctrination.
Things had become more bearable after that. My team and I were reassigned to a major hospital in San Francisco, where we spent the next few months helping improve the… primitive healing methods used by the humans. The lighter workload meant we could actually afford some free time, which I’d personally chosen to spend traveling throughout the city and its surroundings.
Though some of my colleagues disagreed, I found Earth to be one of the most beautiful worlds I’d had the pleasure to visit. Maybe there was some truth to the Human doctrine of ‘ecological preservation’, after all, they must’ve been doing something right to keep their planet so lush and lively.
“Here we are!”
I was snapped back from my thoughts by the booming sound of Robert’s voice, having almost walked past whatever he’d stopped to look at. I turned my head to see him standing by the start of a trail leading further into the woods. A wooden Sign by the side read the words: ‘Tall Trees Trailhead. Redwood National Park’.
“W-wait, we’re going deeper into the forest?” I squeaked out. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
He just waved my worries off. “It’s a tourist trail, and a well maintained one at that. We shouldn’t find anything too worrying out there.” He turned to face me and I saw a smirk start to form across his face. “Plus, you have a big scary predator here to protect you. There’s nothing out there brave enough to mess with me!”
I simply narrowed my eyes. “Oh really? I guess that ‘spider’ you found on your locker the other day must’ve been an exception to the rule then?”
His eyebrows formed into a frown but the smile never fully left his face. “Hey! It just caught me off guard; I thought I’d made that clear already.”
“Right, right…, that’s why Adrian described your reaction as ‘a freakout for the history books’” Even as his cheeks began to take on the slightest red tinge, he still kept his smile up.
I couldn’t possibly be the only one who found some human phobias hilarious in how ridiculously ironic they could be. Here was one of the only two predatory races in charted space, a species capable of fending off the Dominion and the Federation Remnants at once, biologically specialized in one of the scariest forms of hunting known to the galaxy… and a large portion of them were absolutely terrified of some tiny arthropods smaller than their fingernails. I honestly wondered how they’d even managed to set foot on Sillis.
“Anyway, if you’re done ridiculing me…” Robert said, feigning an offended tone. “… We should probably get a move on. The trail isn’t too long but we still wanna be able to get back here before sunset.” He adjusted the straps on his backpack, turning to face the green wilds in front of him.
“Why did we come all the way here anyway? Aren’t there plenty of hiking trails closer to the city?”
“Oh you’ll see… what’s at the end of this path is something you wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
Wow he really isn’t gonna talk until we make it there, is he?
“Ugh… Fine!” I finally said in clear defeat. “But for the record, if we do end up getting hunted by something out there, I’m killing you before it eats me!”
He let out a hearty laugh before beginning to walk ahead. I followed him, this time closer behind.
The trail descended along the side of what I assumed was some sort of valley, snaking between the trees and boulders dotted about its path. It was hard to assess the geography of the area through the dense vegetation, and the few dim rays of sunlight that made it past the ever-thickening canopy did little to help with my disorientation. I knew humans had descended from arboreal herbivores before becoming predators, so the fact that Robert always seemed to know where he was going and looked perfectly comfortable with his surroundings wasn’t much of a surprise. Still it was an unnerving thought that I was entirely dependent on him for navigation in this place. If he lost his way, we were both screwed.
Despite my nagging fears though, I had to admit that I was starting to like hiking. There was something so very soothing about traversing these pristinely wild environments, free of the constant hustle and bustle of the cities. As much as I still had my reservations about mankind’s refusal to cull their world free of non-sapient predators, at times like these it was almost like some unhinged part of my brain took over and ignored the dangers lurking in these forests in favor of enjoying the quiet serenity they offered.
We eventually reached a wooden bridge that cut through a small ravine on the side of the hill. The slight elevation over the forest floor allowed for a much clearer sight of the sea of trees that covered the valley below. Robert stopped in his tracks, resting his arms on the railing as he took in the scenery.
“Like the view?” He asked, eyes fixed in the landscape below.
I’d had to get up on my hindlegs to be able to see it, which wasn’t particularly comfortable, but even then, I couldn’t argue with the obvious.
“It’s gorgeous.” I stated.
“Yeah… it really is… We’re lucky to see it too. Humanity came close to losing a lot of these places at one point.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Well it’s a long story, but it goes a little something like this…” He leaned back from the railing and started down the trail again as he explained, with me in toe. “During our industrial age, we began to use coal, and later other fossil fuels, to power our machinery. This allowed us to develop technologically and grow a whole lot in population, but the problem was that we never stopped using them, even as alternatives were developed, mostly because it was profitable.”
Listening to him talk, I could sense some lingering frustration in his voice. “So, come the start of the twenty-first century, we begin to realize that we may have made a huge mistake. All that fuel burning has been emitting tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and the buildup is starting to have an effect on global temperatures, but do we do anything? No, of course not, we kick the can down the road and hope for the best.” He scoffed. Clearly, he didn’t look kindly on that decision.
“Eventually, things started to get really bad. My grandpa used to tell me stories about those days when I was little. In some cities, air quality was so low that you needed to go out with a mask if you didn’t want to get sick. A lot of food items became very expensive as crops began to fail. Hundreds of animal and plant species would go extinct every year.”
There was something deeply upsetting about imagining Earth in such a sorry state. I knew I should have no allegiance to a planet I’d only been staying at for half a year, but the idea of these green wilds slowly wilting away brought a deep sadness to my heart.
“But… things got better, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, though not before getting a whole lot worse.” He let out a sigh before continuing. “The famines and the heat didn’t affect the whole world equally. Some countries got it way worse than others, and the people there started to flee by the millions. This put too much strain on the system and things broke down fast. It started as just a couple border skirmishes, then it grew to a few isolated wars…and in a matter of months, the major world powers were lobbing stuff at each other from orbit.”
A short, bitter chuckle escaped his mouth. “I suppose it was a blessing in disguise though. With their armies decimated, those same world powers couldn’t prevent the UN from getting involved and forcing them all to the negotiating table. After that, a bunch reforms were passed across the planet to try and course correct, all while the UN was going postal on a lot of the corporations who’d been profiting off the problem. The Hague was busy for years after that.”
While I couldn’t understand what was being implied by that last remark, enough was clear from context that I could get a decent picture.
The idea of runaway industrialism wasn’t one I was fully unfamiliar with. Humans weren’t the first to have almost rendered their homeworld unlivable. Plenty had made that mistake before, and that had been the stated reason for the Federation’s ‘uplift on sight’ policy when it came to primitive sapients. That said, I’d never heard of species going down that road out of greed rather than ignorance. A very specific and cowardly part of my mind told me to chalk it up to ‘expected predatory behavior’, but after this long, I was more than used to ignoring it.
Robert continued his tale, explaining that the next few decades had seen a massive effort to revitalize the Earth’s ecosystems and even bring some species back from extinction using genetic engineering. By the time he’d been born, the planet was far along the healing process.
Thinking about it, perhaps this was where the idea of preserving predatory life had popped up for them. Maybe they did it out of some lingering sense of guilt?
Our conversation died down as we came up on a bend on the path. There we were met with a couple of humans, dressed up in hiking gear, going up as we went down. They didn’t have much of a reaction to Robert, simply doing a half-wave with their hands in acknowledgement, but when they saw me walking behind him, I noticed both of them jumped for a second, eyes going wide before settling down. One of them even took a hand to his chest before continuing to walk past us with accelerated pace.
Now, I knew by now that my kind and a few others in the galaxy seemed to trigger some sort of ‘cute’ response in humans. That, combined with the fact that space travel and alien life were still extremely novel concepts to them, had led to some… interesting situations back in the city. This, however, wasn’t any of that. This had been fear.
I looked at Robert for answers and saw him holding a hand to his mouth, trying desperately to hold in his laugh until the other hikers were out of earshot and practically falling over cackling once they’d walked far enough away.
“Oh my fucking god! It happened! It actually happened! I can’t even…” He managed to breathe out through the manic fit. My confusion only mounted.
“What happened? What was that all about?”
He just kept laughing. Apparently me missing the joke made it even funnier somehow.
“They… they thought you were a bear!” He finally managed to get out through the convulsions.
I paused at that, rummaging through my memory for my limited knowledge on Earth’s fauna to try and figure out if I even knew what a ‘bear’ was. I’d definitely heard the word before, but couldn’t recall the animal it was meant to represent.
Robert must have finally taken pity on my puzzled mind, because he began to take a hold of his breathing and gave me the answer I was looking for. “Bears… They’re large predatory mammals here on Earth. A lot of people say Zurulians look a lot like their cubs.”
That one left me completely dumbfounded. “Wha-, are you telling me they thought I was a predator? I’m half your size, what was I ever going to do?!”
“They weren’t scared of you. If you see a bear cub, chances are the mother isn’t too far way, so they were terrified that mama bear might just pop out from the brush beside you.”
Once again, I was left wondering how humans could be so contradictory. Horrifying predators with boundless empathy… Brave beyond measure and yet instinctually afraid of the strangest things. It wasn’t even a question why Chauson and the rest of the Institute had developed such an interest in them.
Robert’s words did rouse a different question from me though. “Wait, if they were scared because they thought I was one of those ‘bear’ things… does that mean there are actual ones in this forest?”
I really didn’t like how long it took for him to answer. “I mean… I doubt it. California has some black bear populations but they avoid humans for the most part.”
Great. I thought. That does a whole lot of nothing for me.
We got back to walking after that. The previous tranquility the woods had brought me was somewhat tainted by my newfound fear of coming face to face with one of my predatory lookalikes.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to sit on that worry for long, for as we came around another bend, I found myself facing a truly awe-inspiring sight.
The trail we’d been following ended on a tranquil thicket at the bottom of the valley. The sound of moving water could be heard coming from somewhere, though the thick foliage around us wouldn’t let me pinpoint the source. Wooden benches were spread out around the area, seemingly old enough to have been overgrown in many cases.
In the moment though, none of that truly registered in my head, as I stared in silent amazement at the gargantuan trees that dotted the grove. Their trunks were as thick as a car, and completely dwarfed the much smaller trees we’d been passing by as we’d descended from the uplands. Their size however, became even more obvious when you looked upward. The things were about as tall as some of the skyscrapers back in the city, to the point that it was hard to see their tops among the endless web of branches that stemmed from them.
I had never, not once, in my entire life seen something that came even close to these behemoths. Megaflora did exist elsewhere in the Galaxy, but I’d personally never come across something this impressive in any world I’d ever visited. The whole scene left me speechless.
“Cool, huh?” Robert quipped, probably amused by whatever face I must’ve been making.
“Cool? You see something like this and call it ‘cool’? This is breathtaking!” I exclaimed.
He gave a short chuckle. “You’re right it is. Do you understand now why I wanted to keep it a surprise? I know you well enough to know you would have immediately ran to the internet and gotten spoiled if I’d told you beforehand.”
I honestly couldn’t argue with that. “I guess… but you didn’t have to be so ominous about it on the way!”
The human simply threw his shoulders up with a smirk. “Hey, no one said I couldn’t have some fun keeping you on your toes.” He then motioned towards the nearest of the gigantic trees. “They’re called redwoods, by the way, or sequoias if you wanna be technical about it, and they’re not just big, but really damn old too. Pretty much all of these have been here for centuries. Some, even millennia.”
“That…”I paused to look at the wooden titans once more. “…doesn’t even sound possible.”
“Well, it certainly is. Oldest known one in the world is about 2300 years old, I think.”
Just the thought of these things having stood here, towering over the landscape, for longer than my species had known about the stars, for longer than the entire Federation had even existed… it was both humbling and frightening in equal parts. Such a concept felt eldritch in a way, like my mind couldn’t even hope to understand what these ancient organisms must have bore witness to.
The two of us began making our way through one of the many paths that meandered around the redwoods. The sounds of insects and birds had been a constant since we’d started our trek, but here, they seemed to grow louder, more numerous. A sudden series of shrieks brought my attention upward and to my left, and I focused just in time to catch a blue tinted shadow take flight from a nook in the trunk of one of gigantic trees before disappearing among the branches above.
It almost felt like we were trespassing on some sort of natural paradise, hidden away from the world, with these living pillars acting as its guardians, looming over us as we walked.
I was so mesmerized by these thoughts that I almost missed Robert signaling to me from the side of the path. Once he’d caught my attention, he pointed at the underbrush beside him before speaking “Follow me, I know a spot through here that’s gonna blow your mind.”
Before I even had time to question him, he’d already turned around and began disappearing into the brush. Fear started trickling back into my mind at the thought of following him away from the path into the jaws of what was apparently nature’s predatory mockery of my own race, but despite how idyllic the grove had seemed just moments ago, the idea of staying behind by myself scared me far more.
Swallowing my growing panic, I quickly followed behind the human, trying my best to cut my way through the foliage. I realized that the sound of rushing water I’d taken notice of before seemed to be getting closer the further we delved into the forest.
After breaching through one last layer of greenery, I came up on a small clearing centered around a sloped boulder that protruded from the ground. Robert had just finished climbing atop it, and he motioned for me to sit beside him before turning to look further on. It took some effort to get to where he was, but when I made it to the top, I finally saw the view he’d been so keen on showing me.
In front of me was the source of the burbling sounds I’d been hearing. A wide but shallow creek twisted around the bottom of the valley, flanked on both sides by pebble beaches that reached almost to the foot of the very boulder we sat on. On the opposite bank, I could see the vegetation grew thicker and taller as it crept up the side of the valley, smaller trees occluding the bases of the enormous redwoods, their tops piercing the heavens like needles. Here, the sounds of the forest were almost muted by the quiet but constant noise of the water, completing an aura of peace that most relaxation centers in the galaxy would kill to emulate.
I heard a chuckle to my left. “Seems like I was right. This old view is just as stunning as I remember.”
I was so astonished by the panorama in front of me that I almost failed to pick up on what he was saying. “How… did you discover this spot anyway?”
For a second, and only a second, I saw a flash of different emotions pass through his eyes. It was subtle and he recovered quickly, but it had unmistakably been there. “Oh, it’s just an old… family secret. My dad used to take me here when I was a kid, that’s all.”
The brusqueness of the answer confirmed what I’d already suspected. Humans were far more emotional than anyone had initially given them credit for, and it showed even when they didn't mean it to. Having dealt with the survivors of the attacks, I became quite familiar with the many types of responses they had to psychological trauma, so I knew what it looked like when one of them was trying to shield themselves from digging up old wounds.
“I’m sorry for asking. I shouldn’t have pried.”
The Human’s eyes darted over to me and he winced , though it didn’t seem so much like pain as it did shame. He turned his head forwards again, staring at some fixed point in the distance, and stayed completely silent for the better part of a minute before he began speaking again.
“Thraia, do you remember the day we met?”
The question was so earnest and melancholic in tone that it was hard to believe it came from the same person that had been laughing his ass off about two jumpy hikers not that long ago.
“I…I do. It was the day after the battle. Our team had been sent to… I think it was Anaheim, to look for survivors trapped underneath the rubble. We were still setting up camp when you showed up and told us you’d been assigned to the same area. I remember you were so haggard that at first we all thought you were just a civilian in shock.”
I thought back to that moment. It’d been pretty strange that none of us had been informed that we’d be receiving a straggler on the team.
He sighed. “What I said earlier wasn’t entirely true.” His eyes turned downward, before he closed them altogether. “This place was a ‘family secret’, and my father did bring me here, but not just me. My brother always came along.”
Robert had always liked sharing stories about his family during breaks back at the hospital. His father had been a ‘park ranger’, and it seemed like every other day he’d recall yet another old anecdote about his old man’s many adventures in the Terran wilds. His mother, on the other hand, had been a teacher of some kind, and he claimed that he’d inherited her knack for storytelling. Anyone who listened to him for long enough would end up having enough information to picture his whole genealogical tree, so it was concerning that I’d never once heard of him having a sibling.
I didn’t have time to decide whether to ask about it before he continued explaining. “We always came to the park every summer while we were growing up. Dad was friends with the rangers here so they’d always tell him about any cool spots they knew of, even outside of the trails. This one was always our favorite.”
He swallowed. It was clear talking about this was taking a lot out of him. “Dad… passed… at around the same time my brother and I went our separate ways. I studied medicine and found my job back at San Francisco while he went down to LA to study marine biology. Still, no matter how busy we were with our own lives, we’d always find the time to come up here at least once a year, and if nothing else just… talk.”
He smiled, though the sadness in his eyes didn’t leave. “I remember… when first contact happened he went absolutely bonkers. I hadn’t been paying too much attention to the Odyssey mission, and that evening I hadn’t bothered checking on the news, so imagine my confusion when I get a call from him in the middle of the night and he just goes off about how they found aliens and they look like sheep! I was half sure he must’ve been high on something, but sure enough, next morning I found out he was right and that I owed him an apology for hanging up on him mid sentence.” He let out a heartfelt laugh.
“The Last time we met face to face was right here, back in August. He was so enthralled about the all the ‘possibilities’ alien life offered that he wouldn’t shut up about it.” The human closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. ”How does one even manage to get turned down for the Venlil Exchange Program for being ‘too enthusiastic’…”
Robert took a second to breathe after that, as if psyching himself up for what came next. I wasn’t naïve enough to think this story had a happy ending.
“When the UN started sending out alerts about the Krakotl fleet, I got put on ‘emergency preparation’ duty at the hospital, just to make sure we were ready if anywhere in the Bay Area got hit. I called him… probably a hundred times, trying to get him to leave for the countryside, but he wouldn’t listen. Said he didn’t want to help block the highways or take up a seat in the evacuation shuttles. When the Feds broke through the line at the Kuiper belt, he called me, saying he was heading for some bunker a friend of his knew of in Lakewood.”
The name almost made me recoil. Though I didn’t remember all of the names of the dozens of neighborhoods that made up Los Angeles, Lakewood was one of a few that I would never be able to forget, not after having to break the hearts of every grieving human asking if their loved ones there has made it. No one had survived in Lakewood, not that close to Ground Zero.
Robert continued on after sucking in another breath. “The Impact must’ve done something to the fault line, because we felt it all the way in the city. I knew immediately that things had gone terribly wrong and something in me just… broke. I left my post, got on my car, and drove south for hours, going the opposite way everyone else was. For that entire time, I just kept cursing the day we’d ever gotten involved with the aliens. Federation, Arxur, Venlil… they were all the same in my mind, just monsters that had wanted us dead from the second they saw us through no fault of our own. I just…” His breathing hitched, and he took a moment to recover. “I just wanted the hurt to stop, and focusing on hate was the best way I had to do it.”
It felt so wrong to hear something like that coming from the mouth of someone who I’d worked side by side with. Hearing him put us all on the level of the grays felt almost like a betrayal of our friendship and yet… I couldn’t blame him. This was a story I’d heard already from thousands of different strangers. Lost homes, families and friends. Hate, depression, utter hopelessness.
What did we do wrong?
That question had popped up nearly every time and I could never once give it a straight answer.
It’d always been strangers before. Now, it wasn’t, and it took all of my willpower not to break down.
“I-I’m S-sorry.”
Just a curt apology would never be enough to heal a wound so deep, I knew that. Predators or not, Humanity had never deserved the way they’d been treated. Robert was right, his kind would’ve been better off if they’d never met us. They had a right to hate us, and nothing I could say or do would ever change-
“Don’t be.”
The human’s voice was tired but firm, and he turned to look at me head on, binocular eyes so focused they almost seemed to peer into my very soul.
“Don’t ever be sorry for something that isn’t your fault.”
“B-but-“
“No buts.” His gaze softened, and I could see a gentle smile begin to form on his face. “It’s true that I felt that way then. I was angry, too angry and too grief-stricken to keep my own mind in check, but I didn’t stay that way for long.” He gestured towards me with an open hand. “And it was thanks to people like you.”
“People like me?” I was perplexed. What did he mean by that?
He answered my question with one of his own. “Do you know what I found when I finally got to the city? Hundreds of those same aliens I was decrying, helping us. I saw Venlil listening out for survivors under the debris, Zurulians coordinating with human doctors to administer first aid and even Arxur helping clear pieces of rubble and carrying off the injured to safety.”
His eyes briefly darted around as if they were looking through me. “I saw this one group: a Venlil, two humans and an Arxur… They were working on trying to lift a collapsed chunk of roof. Apparently the Venlil had heard a child’s cries from under it… When they finally got it done they found two kids underneath, but only one of them had been crying…” He closed his eyes shut, pressing his eyelids closed before relaxing. “I’d seen images of Venlil panicking before, courtesy of the Exchange Program. I’d seen them cry of fear… but I’d never seen one weep in grief.”
The two of us locked eyes again as he opened the back up. “I tried so hard to keep myself angry but I couldn’t. Not after that. I wandered off further into the ruins before I eventually collapsed and just… sobbed myself into unconsciousness.”
That about connected the all the remaining dots for me, and I interjected to confirm my suspicions. “That’s when you found us, right? The morning after?”
He nodded. “When I saw you, I realized I had an opportunity to help, to actually do my job rather than just wallowing in my own misery, and I took it without a second thought. I may have lied about why I was there, but frankly, I didn’t feel like coming clean would do any good.”
I could hardly fault him for that. We would never have allowed him to get involved if we’d known he was so personally devastated, and that would have left us without an extra pair of hands we’d greatly needed during those first few days.
My attention drifted back to the stream in front of us and the wilds beyond. The forest remained static, unfazed by our problems.
“Is that why you brought me here? To ‘come clean’?”
“Actually… no, though it does feel cathartic to be able to finally talk about this after all this time.” He motioned towards the view. “I brought you here because I wanted you to have a good image to keep from Earth. We’ve both seen too much death and ruin, but I at least had the past to fall back to while all you’ve seen since you arrived here is misery and pain. I don’t know for how long the Zurulian government will keep this experiment going but, whenever you do leave for the stars again, I wanted you to have a good mental picture of Earth to take with you, and I couldn’t really think of a better place to take you for that.”
On that front, I could confidently say he had succeeded. This wasn’t a day I’d soon forget for many reasons, probably more than he had intended. Still there was something about the idea of leaving this world that didn’t sit well with me. Having worked side by side with the humans, I’d come to feel at home here. This planet and its people, for all of their eccentricities and paradoxical natures, had made me feel welcome at every turn, even when I didn’t fully feel like I deserved it. The mere thought of seeing this pale blue dot shrink away from the viewport of some shuttle made me feel a sort of heartache I couldn’t quite explain.
But then, an idea popped into my mind. It was a simple idea, obvious even, and yet the warmth it made me feel in my chest was undeniable. That same old cowardly part of my mind begged me to weigh in the pros and cons before committing to something so insane, but my words were much faster than those thoughts could ever be.
“Who says I have to leave?”
PREVIOUS / NEXT: We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when...
2023.03.23 00:02 milkyleo1A Could you trust him?
I'm 44 f partner 47 m.together 4 yrs.a few months after getting together I went into recovery for alcoholism.ive binged 3 times in them 4 yrs.currentjy 1 ye sober.each time I took a drink..he left immediately completely ghosted me for 2 weeks ,4 weeks then 7.he once left me intoxified standing in his parents driveway after driving there,took off in his car to get away from me and left me to drive again dangerously .3rd time back together..I have a sister I have not spoke to for years..she's horrible and only speaks bad of me.when I drank she started to contact him though he did not know her and tell him bad stories about me .I asked him to respect my wishes that she was a negative and not to be in touch with her in more than one occasion.4 weeks after getting back together 3 rd time he's acting strange says that he is going to practice but I know he is up to something ..I feel he is going to meet a girl he perhaps met when we broke up.i follow him to find him meet my sister..they sit outside pub together all night and he walks her..she's very drunk .back to my parents.i confronted him next Day .he said they met by accident .huge argument he leaves days he never wanted to get back and dosent love me anymore..I go confront sister.i get home his computer is still on and they are messaging via Facebook on how they lied too me and said they just bumped into each other and bitch about me for a full week before he logs out I can't see anymore.they both continue to msg me lying as they dint know I could see their MSG's .my heart was broke the worst betrayal to me .10 weeks passed he came back promised he would never hurt me again and once I didn't drink he wud never leave.november 22 my dad fall ill and is dying for a week..st Stephan's day I got a feeling my sister and him were in touch..getting home to change my clothes from hosp before returning back to my dying dad..I asked him a quest re my sister he got very mad..that day..he turned his phone off and on the 28th of December when I called to his parents house to tell him my dad was after passing he wouldn't come out said he was hurt needed more time to heal.he tortured me by my dad's death bed disappearing on me when I needed him and now the night he died also.icoukdmt bare to break up and face funeral .I learnt that while I was at hosp with dad he was at home watching porn and women online... something he promised not to do as he has an addiction said he'd stop when I confronted him but he write comments under girls videos 2 weeks later.yrsterday I got a moment of dented self esteem because we were in public and he was checking girl out which is something he does bad and has very little awareness around.he got mad and has pretty much ignored me fir 2 days even though he said he would have patience and understanding around these hurts..I can't trust him..he knows this..I feel he would be unfaithful very easily when he can treat me like he has? Am I over reacting?I feel he has no morals.. loyalty?
submitted by milkyleo1A to relationships_advice [link] [comments]
2023.03.22 22:14 Astrnougat I’m a teacher missing tons of lessons I need help!
Hi I’m really struggling to figure out what to do here.
Backstory: I have a studio of over 30 students, I teach 6 days a week, back to back 4pm -9pm most days. last month I was finishing doctorate auditions and travelled a lot. I also got Covid and missed an entire week of teaching in early feb.
I figured I would make up any missed lessons in March. On the day of my last audition (March 1) my dad died suddenly. I missed both the audition and then about 4 teaching days for the funeral and just for the shock and grief.
I started scheduling makeups like crazy, but then two days later my grandparents with dementia made an emergency move to a nursing home after an intense medical emergency and I missed the next weekend of teaching (busiest days for me) to help them move and put out some fires for them.
Started really feeing bad about missing lessons - scheduling all the makeups was becoming a nightmare, falling behind on my students performances and such - and then three days later my mom went into the hospital. I cancelled a few lessons here and there thu/Fri as it got more and more serious. Cut to this past weekend she goes into the ICU and over the course of the next four days she deteriorates so quickly that she is now on life support in a medically induced coma. I missed four more days of teaching for that including today. I’m an emotional wreck from the past five days….and three weeks.
I have missed so much teaching now that I HAVE to go back to work tomorrow, but I am a full on mess at this point.
Next week we will start to see how my mom progresses with some medical stuff, and we will either choose to lift the coma, leading to months of difficult and time-consuming recovery and more hours and days in the hospital - or we will start making plans for end of life…meaning another death and another funeral.
I don’t know what to do. I care about my students - but I have missed so much of them in the past month and they deserve better. Several are extremely serious and are starting to get very upset and impatient with all of my sudden cancellations. I know it’s not my fault my life exploded - but they deserve better. However - I also really need the money from these students - so I can’t just give them all up.
What do I do?? I have explained to them that as of now things will be up in the air for next week, and I told them I will be back in April with a full schedule to make lessons up as much as possible but I can feel their frustration. Should I just tell them to find someone else?
I am telling them as much as I can, but I feel like it’s unprofessional to just share with them personal tragedy after personal tragedy in an unending stream.
Help!
submitted by Astrnougat to violinist [link] [comments]
Backstory: I have a studio of over 30 students, I teach 6 days a week, back to back 4pm -9pm most days. last month I was finishing doctorate auditions and travelled a lot. I also got Covid and missed an entire week of teaching in early feb.
I figured I would make up any missed lessons in March. On the day of my last audition (March 1) my dad died suddenly. I missed both the audition and then about 4 teaching days for the funeral and just for the shock and grief.
I started scheduling makeups like crazy, but then two days later my grandparents with dementia made an emergency move to a nursing home after an intense medical emergency and I missed the next weekend of teaching (busiest days for me) to help them move and put out some fires for them.
Started really feeing bad about missing lessons - scheduling all the makeups was becoming a nightmare, falling behind on my students performances and such - and then three days later my mom went into the hospital. I cancelled a few lessons here and there thu/Fri as it got more and more serious. Cut to this past weekend she goes into the ICU and over the course of the next four days she deteriorates so quickly that she is now on life support in a medically induced coma. I missed four more days of teaching for that including today. I’m an emotional wreck from the past five days….and three weeks.
I have missed so much teaching now that I HAVE to go back to work tomorrow, but I am a full on mess at this point.
Next week we will start to see how my mom progresses with some medical stuff, and we will either choose to lift the coma, leading to months of difficult and time-consuming recovery and more hours and days in the hospital - or we will start making plans for end of life…meaning another death and another funeral.
I don’t know what to do. I care about my students - but I have missed so much of them in the past month and they deserve better. Several are extremely serious and are starting to get very upset and impatient with all of my sudden cancellations. I know it’s not my fault my life exploded - but they deserve better. However - I also really need the money from these students - so I can’t just give them all up.
What do I do?? I have explained to them that as of now things will be up in the air for next week, and I told them I will be back in April with a full schedule to make lessons up as much as possible but I can feel their frustration. Should I just tell them to find someone else?
I am telling them as much as I can, but I feel like it’s unprofessional to just share with them personal tragedy after personal tragedy in an unending stream.
Help!
2023.03.22 19:30 ogreatgames Panzer Dragoon: Thrilling Rail Shooter - Sega Saturn Game
| | submitted by ogreatgames to Ogreatgames [link] [comments]  #sega #saturn #shooter -- Panzer Dragoon for Sega Saturn. It's time to fulfill your destiny because the future of your people is in your hands. Kill the Dark Dragon and his armies. Use your hand gun, and dragon, which can shoot a homing laser, to perform aerial combat, and help save the falling civilization. While riding the flying dragon, experience the breathtaking ruins, on this dazzling, rail shooting, adventure. Also, complete more than 3 interesting, ground-breaking levels. Experience terrific, multiple views in flight, and be prepared, for enemies in various directions. Overall, if you like dragons or just an excellent adventure this game might be for you. -- Hey check out similar videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uKspxQ89s&list=PLVduyMnVQjzNYPljUBqwgAXdMPQ9CEKWY |
2023.03.22 18:26 tvchase THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL EVER PULLED - Part Four
"Fragile Ego, Fragile Body, Weak Mind, Weak Spirit"
In Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, we've built a timeline and tracked the story of an old man who came back to professional wrestling. Disgruntled and broken, he had abandoned the business to which he’d given himself for fifteen years. They were a tumultuous fifteen years, but within that time he reached the height of the industry. He held the attention of every single person who was a wrestling fan and even many of whom weren’t fans at all. To get to such heights, he plumbed the depths of cruelty and villainy in character, going places many of his peers wouldn’t dare touch. He attacked the sobriety of recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. He preyed upon the anxiety and insecurity of those with mental health issues. He lied, he gas-lit, and he betrayed on the way to the top. Even for someone as vile as himself, however, it simultaneously became all too much and not enough. At the mountaintop, sick of himself and everything around him, he walked away.
September 4, 2022 – MJF returns to All Elite Wrestling and steals Punk's ovation in Chicago.
The final words of the PPV broadcast:
The stream has a longer delay than usual before the presser begins. Bloodied, battered, sweat-soaked hair in his eyes, draped in a towel… CM Punk looks like pure hell as he sits down to take – and to ask – questions from a group of wrestling reporters.
The mic goes to Nick Hausman first:
Punk continues:
Punk:
Tony Khan is the one who answers:
Punk:
The scrum moves onto its next question, this time for Tony.
Punk doesn’t want to talk about MJF. He goes back into his rant:
A question comes up for Punk from an old friend in the press pool: What’s his message for MJF?
The notion of having to speak directly to MJF seems to sap all of the energy from Punk. All of the piss and vinegar leaves him. He’s quiet now and reserved now… almost sheepish. It’s like he’s speaking to the mirror once again.
Punk:
Punk:
Punk dives deeper:
The rest of the scrum is often overlooked, but on closer examination, it’s no less interesting, and seems to be developing a common theme.
Next up come the reigning tag team champions, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. Midway through their match against The Acclaimed, the audience in Chicago was nuclear hot for the challengers. Sensing this, Swerve In Our Glory began working heel en route to a successful defense of their titles.
One of the first questions concerns “problems” between the pair that have flared up in recent weeks, with the two not always on the same page and Swerve eliminating Lee in a battle royal.
Swerve:
Swerve, on how people felt The Acclaimed should’ve won:
Swerve is beside himself:
Tony Khan:
Next up is Toni Storm, who has secured the AEW Interim Women’s world championship. Brief chatter about how the women in the locker room all feel devoted to helping each other and elevating each other as a whole, before a reporter asks:
“We’re in a situation now where we just saw Jon Moxley come off a run where he was an interim world champion, and he made his thoughts very clear about how he felt about the word ‘Interim’. How do you feel about that?”
Toni Storm:
At this point, the new trios champions – Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson – should be arriving at the podium. Someone to the side alerts Tony Khan that it will be Chris Jericho coming up next instead. Tony looks surprised. He starts reading and responding to messages on his phone. A reporter randomly asks Tony about the contract tampering allegations, but he declines to comment on it. He stalls for about five minutes before Jericho gets to the podium.
After commenting on what a pleasure it was to finally wrestle against Brian Danielson and call a match on the fly (“there’s very few people in the world you can do that with”), Jericho takes a question from Nick Hausman:
The story between Douglas and Michaels is notorious and quite relevant here.
“The Franchise” had originally been in WWE in 1990, where he made a name for himself filling in for the injured Michaels as Marty Janetty’s tag partner in The Rockers. Caring for his ailing father, Douglas stepped away from wrestling full-time but intermittently appeared for WCW, then ECW, where he finally became a top guy. When he returned to WWE in 1995, HBK and the rest of the Kliq had assumed nearly full control of backstage politics and were tyrannical in the locker room. Michaels invited Shane Douglas into the fold. Considering them childish, he declined. The rest of his tenure in WWE would be smothered after rejecting Michaels and The Kliq. HBK vowed never to do the job against him, and even faked an injury to avoid dropping the Intercontinental title to him. Douglas left the company the following year after Vince was infuriated that Douglas would not wrestle at Madison Square Garden, despite a doctor explicitly telling him that if he worked through his back injury it would risk paralysis.
The scrum moves on, and eventually Denise Salcedo asks Jericho about MJF’s return.
Jericho:
A few “no comments” are issued to questions regarding WWE's alleged contract tampering as well as a proposed super-show with WWE. Tony Khan says he has good feelings toward WWE but they’re not exactly reciprocated, and from there he doesn’t comment any further.
A reporter asks:
The next question centers on the start of the scrum:
Before Tony wraps up the scrum, he singles out a young man in the press pool to ask a question. The young man asks about CM Punk’s dog, Larry, who had ran out in front of the crowd earlier.
In the coming hours, news would steadily emerge from backstage. As the story goes, the EVPs of All Elite Wrestling went to CM Punk’s locker room accompanied by Megha Parekh, AEW’s Chief Legal Officer and Director of Human Resources, along with Christopher Daniels, Fallen Angel and Manager of Talent Relations.
While in the locker room, CM Punk punched Matt Jackson, a chair hit Nick Jackson in the eye, and Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega on the arm. Larry the Dog was in peril also, later seen being carried by Megha away from the area. Brandon Cutler, Pat Buck, and Michael Nakazawa were all present. At some point Chris Jericho made his way to Punk to tell him he was a cancer to the locker room and detrimental to the company as a whole, only to be told in turn that it was none of Jericho’s business and he should leave. Aside from Megha, all parties present (aside from Jericho who arrived late) were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, pending investigation.
News dropped quickly that Punk would be out for six-to-eight months regardless of anything else due to his torn triceps suffered that night in the main event.
Aside from the injury, none of this has been 100% confirmed. None of these details exist on any official record. All accounts are, at best, third-hand information. The facts of the story changed wildly from the first 48 hours to the first two weeks, with absurd initial claims such as the Young Bucks (super)kicking down the door to Punk’s locker and Larry losing teeth in the maelstrom. To this day, no one other than those present know with any degree of certainty what happened inside that room.
But what happened outside that room was a remarkable shattering of perception about CM Punk, the Elite, but most importantly, AEW itself. In the immediate aftermath, massive fans such as myself couldn’t help but feel as if something was taken away from us. In the months since, so much has been made of getting AEW back to the old days, regaining that old feeling that made us fall in love at the beginning. We want to go back to what Jericho called the “amazing world” created by everyone at AEW, but none more so than by the Elite.
How could CM Punk so grossly and directly attack the founders and shapers of this company which, up to then, was widely hailed as the only place a wrestler would want to be? I thought back to the very last thing said to AEW cameras by Cody Rhodes, a founder whose absence loomed large that night in Chicago. A lot of people don’t realize his final words in AEW weren’t those uttered by a ladder, inside a ring where he famously claimed credit for construction of the Forbidden Door. No, it was in the bowels of the arena after his unification match with Sammy Guevara, over eight months before All Out… There, he talked about how proud he was of everything he had helped to build. Fighting back tears, he talked about how he would never feel more at home than he does in an AEW ring. “It’s Paradise, right?”
… Paradise.
Paradise… Paradise… Paradise Lost… The Fall of Man… Snake in the Garden…
Oh, enough already! I’m grasping at straws to find some connection that can't exist. How would a guy whose contract expired at the end of 2021 be even remotely connected to stuff throughout the next year and culminated on 9/4/22?
Huh... 9… 4… 2+2… 944?
What was it that I noticed back in Part Two?
Huh. That’s interesting.
May 16, 2016: Cody’s last match in WWE.
December 16, 2018: Cody’s last match before signing with AEW.
... 944 days.
Well, that’s actually pretty wild. These guys must have a really firm grasp on the history of their careers to line up Easter eggs like that. But really, that’s all they are: Easter eggs. The Elite and Punk are all famous trolls, so they may have been hoping some obsessive fool like myself would catch on and get pulled into the rabbit hole.
The trail stops at All Out, though. We can’t go into the future and see what happens 944 days from that media scrum, and the paths of most people involved in Brawl Out seem so divergent it’d be impossible to predict with any sort of accuracy. Punk is sidelined indefinitely, perhaps permanently. Kenny and the Bucks are back in action but their contract situations have started bubbling up in dirtsheets, so we can assume Hangman won’t be far behind in those rumors.
Meanwhile over in WWE, Cody Rhodes is sitting pretty. He’s getting massive cheers the AEW fanbase refused him toward the end, when his vision lost alignment with ours. Each passing day he climbs toward a mountain top of his own. In less than two weeks from now he will go to WrestleMania and try to overcome the most impenetrable obstacle in that company: the Bloodline.
If Cody succeeds at WrestleMania, his personal story would have a crowning achievement nearly every wrestler in history would envy. The fact that he bet on himself so many times and always won is remarkable. He’ll look even better considering the stains and scars imposed on “Paradise” after his departure. Maybe he could’ve helped avoid the embarrassment of All Out, but we’ll never know and that’s not for him to dwell upon. His primary focus should be on the Tribal Chief and stopping that historic reign in its tracks at...
... 944 days.
PART FIVE WILL EXAMINE THE FALLOUT FROM BRAWL OUT, THE CORONATION OF MJF, RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS PROMOTIONS, AND SPECULATE ON THE FUTURE…
I AM TAKING A DEEP, DEEP DIVE INTO ELITE LORE... SO IT’S GONNA TAKE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK AND MIGHT NOT BE HERE QUICKLY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THIS FAR AND I HOPE YOU’LL STAY ONBOARD FOR THE END OF THE RIDE!
submitted by tvchase to SquaredCircle [link] [comments]
In Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, we've built a timeline and tracked the story of an old man who came back to professional wrestling. Disgruntled and broken, he had abandoned the business to which he’d given himself for fifteen years. They were a tumultuous fifteen years, but within that time he reached the height of the industry. He held the attention of every single person who was a wrestling fan and even many of whom weren’t fans at all. To get to such heights, he plumbed the depths of cruelty and villainy in character, going places many of his peers wouldn’t dare touch. He attacked the sobriety of recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. He preyed upon the anxiety and insecurity of those with mental health issues. He lied, he gas-lit, and he betrayed on the way to the top. Even for someone as vile as himself, however, it simultaneously became all too much and not enough. At the mountaintop, sick of himself and everything around him, he walked away.
“I was never gonna get healthy physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally, staying in the same place that got me sick in the first place.”Who could fault him? But then he came back seven years later to, as some have called it, “Wrestling Paradise”. In that Paradise, as he turned uphill, he crossed the path of a Snake slithering deceitfully among the weeds. The Snake bit him and at first, it seemed only a surface wound that would easily heal in time. That Snake’s venom, however, was slow-acting and allowed the bite to be all but forgotten as the Snake slithered out of sight and out of mind. Then one day, he’s finally back upon that mountain top, having gone a different route than before – a longer and more winding route, but seemingly nobler and more sustainable. Many of our faithful heroes weren’t buying it. They knew him before and have studied his ways, knowing he could quickly revert back to the evil and destruction he was for so long. He brushes away their suspicion to assure both us and himself: he’s a new man. He feels at peace with himself and he is bathing in the adulation of his friends, his fans, and his peers… until suddenly on that mountain top, the Snake leaps out and reminds him of the venom coursing through his veins.
September 4, 2022 – MJF returns to All Elite Wrestling and steals Punk's ovation in Chicago.
The final words of the PPV broadcast:
What does this mean for AEW?Shortly before midnight, a live stream goes up on YouTube for the post-event media scrum.
The stream has a longer delay than usual before the presser begins. Bloodied, battered, sweat-soaked hair in his eyes, draped in a towel… CM Punk looks like pure hell as he sits down to take – and to ask – questions from a group of wrestling reporters.
The mic goes to Nick Hausman first:
“Hi! Nick Hausman here from Wrestling Inc–”Punk cuts him off:
“--I’ll start, Nick. Show of hands. Who here fancies themselves a journalist? You a journalist Nick?”Nick:
“... I try my best.”Punk:
“You still do improv?”Nick:
“Not for a little bit..”Punk:
“When you did improv, who’d you do improv with?”Nick curiously uses a shoot name:
“I did it with Scott Colton.”Punk:
“Okay, so you fancy yourself a journalist. Would you say you’re friends with Scott Colton?”Nick:
“Uh… no. I haven’t talked to Scott in some time.”Punk:
“So you’re not friends with him?”Nick:
“No… Scott and I do not see eye to eye.”Punk, to the whole room:
“Oh wow… Well that makes two of us. My point is, if you fancy yourself a journalist, even if it’s for the silly world of professional wrestling, and you have journalistic integrity… people who report things, mostly that are bullshit and slanderous lies against myself… you should probably disclose who you’re friends with.”Punk, directly to Hausman, somewhat quietly:
“You blew my spot… If you’re not friends with him, I apologize.”Nick:
“I’m not friends with him…”Punk, ignoring him, continues on:
“I haven’t had anything to do with Scott Colton for almost a decade. Probably wanted nothing to do with him even longer than that. It’s fucking unfortunate that I have to come up here and speak on this when I’m on my time and this is a fucking business. Why I’m a grown-ass adult man and I decide not to be friends with somebody is nobody else’s fucking business. But my friends, if I fall backwards, will catch me. Scott Colton, I felt, never would have.CM Punk and Colt Cabana weren’t even faced with the famously divisive legal bills until 2015 when WWE’s doctor filed a defamation lawsuit against them. Colt didn’t file suit against Punk over legal fees until 2018. The timeline here is very fuzzy and totally unreliable. The line about Colt's mother sticks out like a sore thumb, but if you've read previous installments, wrestlers' relationships with their mothers have been referenced before and most notably in recent promos.
My problem was I wanted to bring a guy with me to the top that did not want to see me at the top, okay? You can call it jealousy, you can call it envy, whatever the fuck it is. My relationship with Scott Colton ended long before I paid all of his bills. I have every receipt. I have every invoice. I have every email. I have an email where he says ‘I agree to go our separate ways, I will get my own lawyer and you do not have to pay anymore.’
That’s an email that I have and the only reason the public did not see it is because when I finally had to counter-sue him, through discovery we discovered he shared a bank account with his mother. That’s a fact. As soon as we discovered that fact and we subpoenaed old Marsha, he sent the email ‘Oh, can we please drop all this?’ Now, it’s 2022. I haven’t been friends with this guy since at least 2014, late-2013.
Punk continues:
The fact that I have to sit up here because we have irresponsible people who call themselves EVPs and couldn’t fucking manage a Target and they spread lies and bullshit and put into the media that I got somebody fired when I have fuck all to do with him, want nothing to do with him, do not care where he works, where he doesn’t work, where he eats, where he sleeps… the fact that I have to get up and do this in 2022 is fucking embarrassing. If y’all are at fault, fuck you. If not, I apologize. What did I ever do in this world to deserve an empty-headed fucking dumbfuck like ‘Hangman’ Adam Page to go out on national television and fucking go into business for himself? For what? What did I ever do? Dave [Meltzer]?… I didn’t do a goddamn thing.At this point, Punk calls on a guy in the front row and asks his name. The guy is wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins shirt.
Punk:
“Fuck the Pittsburgh Penguins.”Tony Khan interjects, referring to an article where he had briefly discussed the rumors about Colt Cabana’s “sidelining” in weeks prior:
“I made it very clear in Forbes and I just wanna make it clear again–”Punk cuts off Tony Khan, the company owner, his boss:
“It’s not his position to make it very fucking clear! There’s people who call themselves EVPs that should have fuckking known better. This shit was none of their business. I understand sticking up for your fucking friends, I fucking get it. I stuck up for that guy more than anybody. Okay? I paid his bills until I didn’t and it was my decision not to.”TK:
“Yeah but I shouldn’t have no-commented when Nick first said it, it’s my fault, I should’ve taken it head-on”Punk:
“I appreciate that, but I’m trying to run a fucking business. And when somebody who hasn’t done a damn thing in this business [Hangman Page] jeopardizes the first million dollar house that this company has ever drawn off of my back and goes on national television and does that, it’s a disgrace to this industry, it’s a disgrace to this company. Now we’re far beyond apologies. I gave him a fucking chance, it did not get handled, and you saw what I had to do, which is very regrettable, lowering myself to his fucking level. But that’s where we’re at right now. And I will still walk up and down this hallway and say ‘If you have a fucking problem with me, take it up with me. Let’s fucking go’.”Nick Hausman finally gets to ask his question to Punk, and it’s regarding the return of MJF.
Tony Khan is the one who answers:
“If I may… I am the one who asked him back because MJF’s a big star in this company and this is one of the biggest events. A year ago, CM Punk debuted here and I thought it was right for the fans. I felt that, for the fans, one of the best things we could do is bring MJF back.”After rolling his eyes and stuffing a muffin in his mouth, Punk jumps in:
“It’s because he wants me to work with pricks. Constantly.”TK brushes it off:
“...Nevertherless… Two of the top wrestlers in the world. It’s a big match down the line.”At this point, Tony Khan looks like he’s about to vomit.
Punk:
“Oh, sorry, I keep fucking bringing this up… When it came down he was going to sue, I asked to talk to him. He denied… When I offered him money, it wasn’t enough [Punk is banging on the table for emphasis]. He went ahead with the lawsuit and sued. It’s his fucking funeral. He shares a bank account with his mother, that tells you all you need to know about what his character is.”Nick Hausman:
“Well… You were always very nice to me.”Punk:
“I appreciate that. I’m sorry I’m a little bit snippy. I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m fucking tired and I work with fucking children.”TK:
“I regret not answering your question the first time you asked it…”Punk:
“We’re all learning here, Tony. It’s okay.”Punk goes on to plug Mindy’s Bakery in Chicago, the supplier of his muffins.
The scrum moves onto its next question, this time for Tony.
“You saw the reaction to MJF when he came out at the end of the night. He was cheered over Punk… the hometown guy… Do you have any worries about MJF… becoming this sort of anti-authority figure?”Tony Khan gives some boilerplate word salad about how it’s great to have two compelling and charismatic figures, while Punk makes snarky faces and continues chomping on his muffins.
Punk doesn’t want to talk about MJF. He goes back into his rant:
“I’ll tell you why I’m upset about it. If you’re an EVP, you don’t try to middle your top babyface, try to get your niche audience on the internet to hate him for some made-up, bullshit rumor. Really pisses me off. Stepping on your own dick… Trying to make money, sell tickets, fill arenas, and these stupid guys think they’re in Reseda.”Next question regards how “modern talent can take advice from some of the older guys” to “help grow as a company”. Tony lets Punk give the answer.
“We have a locker room full of pretty brilliant minds… When I came back, when I cut my promo my second week here, I thought it was pretty decent. I kinda blur the lines a little bit, ya know, ‘What’s he doing? Crazy Phil, going into business for himself’, when really I was just defending myself. Mix that in with attacking Moxley, calling Kingston the second best Kingston – which is a pretty great line – but our locker room for all the brilliance and wisdom it has, isn’t worth shit when you have an empty-headed dumbfuck, who hasn’t done anything in this business, do public interviews and say ‘I don’t really take advice.’ Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m on a team with Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa, and I don’t need to work on my swing? … Fucking go fuck yourself… Grow up.Bonds, McGuire, and Sosa are most famous for hitting insane amounts of home runs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, breaking numerous historic records, rejuvenating interest in MLB, and most notably, using banned PEDs which would ultimately ostracize them from the baseball community and block them from enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A question comes up for Punk from an old friend in the press pool: What’s his message for MJF?
The notion of having to speak directly to MJF seems to sap all of the energy from Punk. All of the piss and vinegar leaves him. He’s quiet now and reserved now… almost sheepish. It’s like he’s speaking to the mirror once again.
Punk:
“Do I have to answer this… I guess… I don’t know. I’m tired of wrestling these pricks. I’m tired of wrestling with these kids who think they know everything… But I’m not the boss… He won number one contender. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Max is supremely talented, but this goes for him and every other individual in the locker room that doesn’t wanna be here. The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it. Max likes to shit where he eats instead of watering the grass. So we’ll have to see how that goes.”Next question:
“A year ago we were in this room. It was after Adam Cole, after Brian Danielson… You said it had the feeling of ‘Bash at the Beach’ [1996]...Punk, sarcastically:
“Oh boy… Did I say that?...”Reporter continues:
“A year later… What's your honest assessment of the last year, personally and professionally?”Punk:
“Look, I know it sounds like a pretty ridiculous statement, but in five years, I think you’ll see the impact of it. There’s a chance I’m wrong. We’ve got an uphill battle in a lot of respects… There’s just so much drama and turmoil going on. I like to believe in the place I work. We do have a very, very strong roster and we have a lot of brilliant minds backstage. If young talent is willing to actually listen and receive advice… There’s always gonna be people who think they should be the top guy and wanna be pushed. I get that. That was me… I always wanted more.”Meltzer asks about Punk’s foot injury from a few months before. You’ll remember, he wanted to soak in the adulation of the crowd the next show after Double or Nothing where he won the belt, and he got hurt doing a reckless stage dive.
“...This is the worst injury I’ve ever had… This was really hard for me. I really wanted to have this great Summer and do good for Tony. I wanted to sell tickets and draw money, help with ratings. And it all came crashing down… I missed Forbidden Door in the United Center… I have pride in my work and I really wanted to carry the title through the summer and just help grow the business, so it was mentally devastating.”The final question concerns the significance of the victory over Jon Moxley. Both the reporter and Tony Khan make note of the fact that it is Moxley’s first clean pin defeat in three years.
Punk:
“Oh man. Well I guess people are REALLY mad at me then, huh?... We came from the same place. Felt a lot of the same things… Guys could’ve helped us out a little bit more, passed the torch… I’m here to elevate everybody. And I’m not saying I elevated Moxley, but maybe I did. Because I think that’s what all of our jobs are: to reach back and get everybody to that level. We have different philosophies about pro wrestling, but it’s all pro wrestling. When done right, it’s magic.”The scrum session for Punk officially comes to an end, but Punk pauses things and calls out Bryan Alvarez:
“Alvarez… I saw that video man. You were so incredulous that I went into business for myself.”Alvarez explains how he said he only pointed out some were pro-Punk and some were anti-Punk about the whole thing [his worked shoot challenge to Hangman].
Punk dives deeper:
“...I’ve eaten shit on this subject for a very, very long time. I am very sad today that I had to get up here and say his name. He doesn’t fucking deserve it. But facts are facts. Name two people that have made the most money off CM Punk. [He looks at Tony Khan] I don’t think you’re there yet. The first one is Vince McMahan. The second one is Scott Colton. I hope you all have a good night. Please be more responsible with the news you get from certain people and just remember, we’re human beings.”Punk packs up his muffins and his drinks, gives his dog Larry a shout out, and runs down the Pittsburgh Penguins. He gives Tony Khan one of his sodas.
“Contrary to popular belief, I am a very nice guy.”Punk walks off the podium after nearly 25 minutes.
The rest of the scrum is often overlooked, but on closer examination, it’s no less interesting, and seems to be developing a common theme.
Next up come the reigning tag team champions, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. Midway through their match against The Acclaimed, the audience in Chicago was nuclear hot for the challengers. Sensing this, Swerve In Our Glory began working heel en route to a successful defense of their titles.
One of the first questions concerns “problems” between the pair that have flared up in recent weeks, with the two not always on the same page and Swerve eliminating Lee in a battle royal.
Swerve:
We didn’t really have problems. We had a dip in the road and we fixed that. You know what fixes everything? Winning. I can get violent and ravenous in that ring when I have to… If I have to push the envelope and bring Keith Lee to that level to defend these titles… So many people were against us having them in the first place… I’m always like that. Super King Petty. I read all of y’all. I read everybody in here. I literally listen to all your podcasts. First thing y’all said when we won the titles… No congratulations, nothing about Keith Lee almost losing his life fighting COVID, nothing about where I come from and both of us being let go… When we finally climbed the mountaintop, there was so much ridicule and bullshit against us about how we don’t deserve this. [You said] these opportunities should have gone… everywhere else… I’m not gonna apologize. I’m gonna gloat.”The next reporter asks Tony Khan if he gave consideration to calling an audible on the match due to how over The Acclaimed were, changing the finish on the fly. He’s skittish to answer, so the question is rerouted to the talent.
Swerve, on how people felt The Acclaimed should’ve won:
“I couldn’t care less.”Tony starts putting over how great of a match they just had, then puts over how great The Acclaimed are. He begins hinting that it makes sense to possibly have a rematch at Grand Slam in just over two weeks.
Swerve is beside himself:
“Wow. Why? Why??... How much more we gotta keep proving??”Keith Lee starts trying to rationalize how it makes sense but Swerve is pissed.
Tony Khan:
“People are asking... Look, I think it would be one of the best thing we could do at Grand Slam–”Swerve cuts off Tony, even putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him, and Tony gives him a hell of a look.
“Tony… Tony… This is just another tag team they all want the belts on instead of us!”Keith Lee:
“I find it interesting in our losses, we had to go down the ladder, but you wanna do this rematch… But I’m not gonna speak to that.”TK:
“I’ll take some time to think about it, but I just think it’d be a great match for the fans.”Swerve:
“...It is what it is, but miss me with it altogether… listen man. That’s what you wanna do… I mean, you pay the bills man so you do what you gotta do… But don’t be surprised if somebody gets hurt. Are we done? Are we done?”Keith Lee, nervously laughing:
“I’m not a part of that statement.”This portion of the scrum ends abruptly.
Next up is Toni Storm, who has secured the AEW Interim Women’s world championship. Brief chatter about how the women in the locker room all feel devoted to helping each other and elevating each other as a whole, before a reporter asks:
“We’re in a situation now where we just saw Jon Moxley come off a run where he was an interim world champion, and he made his thoughts very clear about how he felt about the word ‘Interim’. How do you feel about that?”
Toni Storm:
“Yeah. It’s not ideal. Thunder Rosa says she’s injured… Okay. So when she says she’s not injured, she can come back and lose to me, and that’ll be the end of that.”Tony Khan, laughing nervously:
“Well, that’s a… That’s a statement…”A few questions allow the new champ to put over the depth of the locker room and how AEW has been very good to her after her career was in limbo. Then it circles back around to Thunder Rosa:
“We had formed kind of a friendship… But I want her to know that I’m not just going to sit in her corner and cheer for her and be her little friend… I didn’t come here to make friends. I’ll be cool. I’ll be civil. But when she comes back, I’m gonna whip her ass.”Toni Storm’s portion wraps up.
At this point, the new trios champions – Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson – should be arriving at the podium. Someone to the side alerts Tony Khan that it will be Chris Jericho coming up next instead. Tony looks surprised. He starts reading and responding to messages on his phone. A reporter randomly asks Tony about the contract tampering allegations, but he declines to comment on it. He stalls for about five minutes before Jericho gets to the podium.
After commenting on what a pleasure it was to finally wrestle against Brian Danielson and call a match on the fly (“there’s very few people in the world you can do that with”), Jericho takes a question from Nick Hausman:
“I asked Tony about this earlier this week… There was a mandatory backstage talent meeting that Tony confirmed happened. Reportedly you spoke at that meeting, Chris. Wondering if you could tell us what you said to the roster and what kind of advice you’re giving to talent… and to management… right now at this point in AEW?”Jericho:
“The specifics don’t need to be discussed… and that was one of the things that was addressed: don’t leak shit that’s supposed to be private among us. My message is always to remind people how special AEW is and don’t take that for granted… I always want to remind guys, please don’t ruin or potentially ruin this amazing world that we’ve created.”TK:
“We don’t want guys going into business for themselves… or girls…”Jericho:
“We don’t. Where I came from, working for twenty years, with Vince… That would never happen [Note: it happened all the time…] and I’m trying to let people know we’re getting to the point where these things are unacceptable. We will start doing things that Tony would do in the NFL or at Fulham. We are a pro sports, multi-million dollar company with a huge contract, with another huge television contract coming up soon. A lot of guys don’t have that experience and don’t realize how special this is. So that’s what I try to do whenever I have them, and Tony has them… Now it’s just a little more frequent, just to remind everyone: stay on course… both guys and girls.”Meltzer asks Jericho about having to constantly reinvent himself. Jericho says he’s not big on nostalgia, but tapping into the past and bringing up history always helps tell a compelling story:
“... We’re building a whole story around it. It fits in with the whole Heel-Jericho delusion: ‘I’ve found the fountain of youth! I’m better than ever! I’m the best wrestler in the world!’ I can say that stuff as a heel. It’s so funny: when I lose a match, it’s a great match. When I win? ‘Oh, 51-year-old Jericho is burying the young guys!’ So I can kinda use that. That intrigues me… That little kernel of truth, that I always like as a heel, that I can over blow to the point where people are like, ‘Shut the fuck up already, man!’... So let’s use that to our advantage, hide behind it…”Tony Khan then recounts a story about how he had first seen Chris Jericho in person at an ECW show in 1996 in Chicago, the same show from which a photo was shown on Dynamite the week earlier when Jericho was the young Lionheart. He recounts how when Jericho left ECW, they chanted “You Sold Out!” He also mentions a sign he had at the ECW event that night: “Shane [Douglas] ♥️’s Shawn [Michaels]”, alluding to the famous grudge between those two men.
The story between Douglas and Michaels is notorious and quite relevant here.
“The Franchise” had originally been in WWE in 1990, where he made a name for himself filling in for the injured Michaels as Marty Janetty’s tag partner in The Rockers. Caring for his ailing father, Douglas stepped away from wrestling full-time but intermittently appeared for WCW, then ECW, where he finally became a top guy. When he returned to WWE in 1995, HBK and the rest of the Kliq had assumed nearly full control of backstage politics and were tyrannical in the locker room. Michaels invited Shane Douglas into the fold. Considering them childish, he declined. The rest of his tenure in WWE would be smothered after rejecting Michaels and The Kliq. HBK vowed never to do the job against him, and even faked an injury to avoid dropping the Intercontinental title to him. Douglas left the company the following year after Vince was infuriated that Douglas would not wrestle at Madison Square Garden, despite a doctor explicitly telling him that if he worked through his back injury it would risk paralysis.
The scrum moves on, and eventually Denise Salcedo asks Jericho about MJF’s return.
Jericho:
“I said to him, ‘When you come back, you’re going to be a babyface…’ and he said, ‘I don’t wanna be a babyface, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.' ...It’s easier to make people hate you than it is to make them like you. But once they start really hating you, that’s when they start really liking you. He’s almost at that point. That’s my prediction: he’s gonna be one of our top babyfaces, whether or not he wants to be, very, very soon… A game changer.”At this point, the Jericho portion wraps up, and as he stands to leave he says something to Tony Khan, in a whisper, but very much able to be picked up on a live mic. What he said was either, “We gotta talk after” or “We called the cops”, but follow-ups to the local police department revealed no call was made so it is very likely the former. What’s indisputable is that he said “Some shit happened” directly in front of the cameras and the microphones. TK says to Jericho, “I’ll meet you in my office afterwards.” There is zero sense of urgency around anything as Jericho leaves thanking the press pool and Tony sits down to field his final questions.
A few “no comments” are issued to questions regarding WWE's alleged contract tampering as well as a proposed super-show with WWE. Tony Khan says he has good feelings toward WWE but they’re not exactly reciprocated, and from there he doesn’t comment any further.
A reporter asks:
“Leading up to All Out, there were unfortunately some reports that the AEW locker room and talent were facing some adversity… In comparison to a sports team, a big win usually pushes them over that threshold of challenges they were facing. With the overall success of tonight, do you think that will help the locker room overcome those roadblocks?”Instead of taking this softball as it was pitched, TK leans into the premise:
“I think there’s still a lot of wrestlers in professional wrestling who don’t get along… now more than ever, those things are apparent. But I also think that the industry has thrived on creative tension for a long time. Yeah, you might say, what if it doesn’t manifest in a match right away? In the late 90s and early 2000s, which was the business, the interest, and the general peak of pro wrestling in many ways… There was certainly a big group of pro wrestlers who didn’t like each other. A lot of times they weren’t even in the same companies and they would rip each other, and it wasn’t gonna produce a match… But that is what we produce, is wrestling matches…Brandon Thurston asks him about the business aspect of the weekend, and Tony admits it was challenging with a lot of direct competition, some of it seemingly targeted directly to hit the AEW bottom line. Then, Tony’s general tone shifts he legit cuts a promo:
There’s a lot of matches between people who don’t get along and it’s not always an easy road to get people in the ring. But when you can get people in the ring to settle their differences, it’s really exciting. And there’s a lot of people… some people even here have gone out and blatantly slammed me in public. I have a pretty calm demeanor… I’m willing to put up with a lot of abuse… but there’s only so much knocking me and slamming me I can put up with. On the other hand, I will do what’s right for business when I have to…”
“I have to face the competition out there. When I compare myself to Jim Crockett promotions… This weekend, I think, I got a taste of the same medicine Jim Crockett promotions took. But I have a lot more fucking money than Jim Crockett did. I’m not gonna sit back and take this fucking shit.”Probably the most uncharacteristic thing I have ever heard Tony Khan say.
The next question centers on the start of the scrum:
“You see without a doubt your biggest star, your biggest mainstream attraction… He goes off the rails a bit toward your EVPs and another of your big young stars. You, as the leader of the ship, how do you diffuse the situation?”Tony Khan:
“That is a dicey situation. It is contentious and frankly challenging. But, I have to do what’s best for the sake of the company. Everybody you’re talking about are great wrestlers with big reputations… Some of them have been around from the beginning of the company. Some have been around for about a year now… The fact is, these are people that drive revenue, and they help create jobs for everyone. I’m not gonna comment on what you heard here tonight, but like I said earlier this week… It’s no secret that a lot of professional wrestlers don’t like each other. Now it’s probably more out in the open than it’s been in a while. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing for the pro wrestling business given the product that we produce: matches.”The next reporter asks about the ongoing role of The Elite within the company and Tony puts them over as invaluable assets in putting together and organizing the shows, as well as mentoring younger talent and helping to grow revenue streams.
Before Tony wraps up the scrum, he singles out a young man in the press pool to ask a question. The young man asks about CM Punk’s dog, Larry, who had ran out in front of the crowd earlier.
“... Well… Larry is a live wire… he got a taste of the live crowd… I thought he had a good time. When he arrived, he seemed like he was in good spirits.”Tony then leaves the podium.
In the coming hours, news would steadily emerge from backstage. As the story goes, the EVPs of All Elite Wrestling went to CM Punk’s locker room accompanied by Megha Parekh, AEW’s Chief Legal Officer and Director of Human Resources, along with Christopher Daniels, Fallen Angel and Manager of Talent Relations.
While in the locker room, CM Punk punched Matt Jackson, a chair hit Nick Jackson in the eye, and Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega on the arm. Larry the Dog was in peril also, later seen being carried by Megha away from the area. Brandon Cutler, Pat Buck, and Michael Nakazawa were all present. At some point Chris Jericho made his way to Punk to tell him he was a cancer to the locker room and detrimental to the company as a whole, only to be told in turn that it was none of Jericho’s business and he should leave. Aside from Megha, all parties present (aside from Jericho who arrived late) were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, pending investigation.
News dropped quickly that Punk would be out for six-to-eight months regardless of anything else due to his torn triceps suffered that night in the main event.
Aside from the injury, none of this has been 100% confirmed. None of these details exist on any official record. All accounts are, at best, third-hand information. The facts of the story changed wildly from the first 48 hours to the first two weeks, with absurd initial claims such as the Young Bucks (super)kicking down the door to Punk’s locker and Larry losing teeth in the maelstrom. To this day, no one other than those present know with any degree of certainty what happened inside that room.
But what happened outside that room was a remarkable shattering of perception about CM Punk, the Elite, but most importantly, AEW itself. In the immediate aftermath, massive fans such as myself couldn’t help but feel as if something was taken away from us. In the months since, so much has been made of getting AEW back to the old days, regaining that old feeling that made us fall in love at the beginning. We want to go back to what Jericho called the “amazing world” created by everyone at AEW, but none more so than by the Elite.
How could CM Punk so grossly and directly attack the founders and shapers of this company which, up to then, was widely hailed as the only place a wrestler would want to be? I thought back to the very last thing said to AEW cameras by Cody Rhodes, a founder whose absence loomed large that night in Chicago. A lot of people don’t realize his final words in AEW weren’t those uttered by a ladder, inside a ring where he famously claimed credit for construction of the Forbidden Door. No, it was in the bowels of the arena after his unification match with Sammy Guevara, over eight months before All Out… There, he talked about how proud he was of everything he had helped to build. Fighting back tears, he talked about how he would never feel more at home than he does in an AEW ring. “It’s Paradise, right?”
… Paradise.
Paradise… Paradise… Paradise Lost… The Fall of Man… Snake in the Garden…
Oh, enough already! I’m grasping at straws to find some connection that can't exist. How would a guy whose contract expired at the end of 2021 be even remotely connected to stuff throughout the next year and culminated on 9/4/22?
Huh... 9… 4… 2+2… 944?
What was it that I noticed back in Part Two?
June 27, 2011: Punk delivers his landmark Pipebomb promo in WWE.Okay. But still, what does any of that really have to do with The Elite, in particular Cody? Hell, if anything Cody might be more inclined to side with Punk than the Elite. His history with Punk went back all the way to 2007 and they worked shows together for the next seven years. Both guys left WWE with similar frustrations. Cody would certainly know what it’s like dealing with the Bucks… From Cody’s last match in WWE to the creation of AEW, he was tied at the hip with Nick & Matt Jackson. As soon as he hit the indies, he linked up with them and many other AEW stalwarts in Reseda, California. You can learn a lot about people in…
He would ultimately leave WWE and professional wrestling altogether 944 days later.
On January 1, 2019: All Elite Wrestling is founded.
944 days later, tickets for Rampage: The First Dance sell out within minutes.
Huh. That’s interesting.
May 16, 2016: Cody’s last match in WWE.
December 16, 2018: Cody’s last match before signing with AEW.
... 944 days.
Well, that’s actually pretty wild. These guys must have a really firm grasp on the history of their careers to line up Easter eggs like that. But really, that’s all they are: Easter eggs. The Elite and Punk are all famous trolls, so they may have been hoping some obsessive fool like myself would catch on and get pulled into the rabbit hole.
The trail stops at All Out, though. We can’t go into the future and see what happens 944 days from that media scrum, and the paths of most people involved in Brawl Out seem so divergent it’d be impossible to predict with any sort of accuracy. Punk is sidelined indefinitely, perhaps permanently. Kenny and the Bucks are back in action but their contract situations have started bubbling up in dirtsheets, so we can assume Hangman won’t be far behind in those rumors.
Meanwhile over in WWE, Cody Rhodes is sitting pretty. He’s getting massive cheers the AEW fanbase refused him toward the end, when his vision lost alignment with ours. Each passing day he climbs toward a mountain top of his own. In less than two weeks from now he will go to WrestleMania and try to overcome the most impenetrable obstacle in that company: the Bloodline.
If Cody succeeds at WrestleMania, his personal story would have a crowning achievement nearly every wrestler in history would envy. The fact that he bet on himself so many times and always won is remarkable. He’ll look even better considering the stains and scars imposed on “Paradise” after his departure. Maybe he could’ve helped avoid the embarrassment of All Out, but we’ll never know and that’s not for him to dwell upon. His primary focus should be on the Tribal Chief and stopping that historic reign in its tracks at...
... 944 days.
PART FIVE WILL EXAMINE THE FALLOUT FROM BRAWL OUT, THE CORONATION OF MJF, RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS PROMOTIONS, AND SPECULATE ON THE FUTURE…
I AM TAKING A DEEP, DEEP DIVE INTO ELITE LORE... SO IT’S GONNA TAKE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK AND MIGHT NOT BE HERE QUICKLY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THIS FAR AND I HOPE YOU’LL STAY ONBOARD FOR THE END OF THE RIDE!
2023.03.22 18:00 raredontstare Kathleen, the little girl with Huntington's harassed by her neighbors, had her big day at the toy store.
I am NOT OP. Original post by multiple accounts across multiple subreddits
Fun Fact to hide spoilers on mobile - Blood Falls is a waterfall of vibrant red water that oozes out of Antarctica's Taylor Glacier. Its unique color is due to iron salts seeping out of the ice that turn red when exposed to oxygen. The falls are home to microbes that can survive extreme conditions, with no light or oxygen.
trigger warnings: Bullying, Childhood illness/death
mood spoilers: Heartbreaking
POST -1 - 8th October 2010
Entitled - OMFG: Dying Girl, 7, Taunted by Neighbors in Trenton (WATCH THE VIDEO). Link to Fox Detroit News was posted on videos by u/iamstephen now unavailable
The bullying incident from News Report
Back in late 2010, 33-year-old Jennifer Petkov, who lived on the same block as Kathleen's family, allegedly began cyberbullying the little girl.
On a Facebook page under Petkov's name, there were images of Kathleen's mother, Laura, in the arms of the Grim Reaper and Kathleen above a set of crossbones. Neighbors also accused Petkov and her husband Scott of building a coffin, putting it on their truck and driving past the Edward home, honking the horn.
When asked by a reporter from Detroit television station WJBK why she posted the photos, Jennifer Petkov said it was for "personal satisfaction" and because it upset the child's grandmother. At the time, the two were locked in a longstanding feud that Kathleen's grandmother said involved Petkov's being upset because she believed her children weren't invited to a birthday party the grandmother threw.
The little girl's plight attracted attention around the world, and social media pages attacking Petkov sprang up online. The Petkovs also allegedly received death threats and had eggs thrown at their house. Jennifer Petkov later apologized to the Edward family, telling a local newspaper her actions were "ignorant."
In February 2011, the news web site MLive.com reported that Petkov pleaded guilty to assaulting another neighbor and as part of a plea deal, agreed to serve 18 months probation and was ordered to move out of her house and stay away from the neighbor as well as undergo a psychological evaluation.
At the time the news of the bullying broke, mental health experts told ABCNews.com that without knowing more about the Petkovs, it's difficult to say exactly why the couple behaved the way they did. The experts believe there could be a variety of reasons for their behavior, including poor conflict resolution skills, a lack of moral development and the desire to bully.
Redditors soon set up a donation drive to treat Kathleen to a special day.
POST -2 - 8th October 2010 by famous reddit philanthropist u/hmasing on reddit.com
REDDIT: I own a toy store near the 7-year old being taunted by her neighbors...
CURRENT DONATION STATUS: ~$19,500 HOLY FRIJOLES!
9:39PM EST 9th October: Yay! The awesome people at Flying Pig Games are donating 25 (I think) copies of their great card game Juke'em Football on Kathleen's behalf. This will be a perfect game for some of the older kids at the children's hospital that are going to benefit from Kathleen's sharing. I expect other toy and game manufacturers are going to start stepping up when they hear about what we are doing. Thanks, Jeff and crew at Flying Pig Games! You are beyond awesome.
8:16AM EST 10th October: http://www.perfectionlimousine.com has come through and indicated they will take care of any transportation needs we have. If any of you need a 200 foot long hummer, you know who to call!
1:30PM EST 10th October: My friend Beau, president of Corolle Dolls (really amazing and very high quality baby dolls) has committed to donating dolls for Kathleen and other kids we are helping with this cause. Geau Beau! You rock. Plus, your dolls are awesome - and smell like vanilla!
8:02PM EST 10th October: Since I am meeting with the family tomorrow, I am having my bookkeeper cut a check made out to them for $823.08 - 10% of all the total donations to date, the amount I promised I would personally donate (any profits on sales we may have made). As additional donations come in, I will ask her to keep track and make sure that a consistent 10% is sent to the family. I also picked out three awesome gifts (which I am paying for - not from the donations) to take over to Kathleen and her two younger siblings tomorrow when we meet. I'll be sure to get photos, and with the family's permission, post them here. Since Kathleen has been on the news and her photo is out there, I am hopeful that we can get a photo of her with a huge smile on her face with her grandma and father for all of you. Get your onions ready, people. My eight-year old daughter has asked to come along for the meeting, and we'll take her. She has committed to being Kathleen's 'personal shopping assistant' at our store and showing her all the cool stuff. I am blown away by how much my own kids have stepped up to this. My son (10) brought me all the bills and coins from his secret stash (which he was using to save up for a Nintendo 3DS, I might add - I suspect one will make its way in to his hands anyway, since I know Santa personally being in the biz) and asked that we use it for Kathleen, and my daughter who couldn't save a penny if she tried found $2 in her desk to donate. This is so humbling. Thanks, all.
------------------------------------------
5:57PM EST 11th October:
Look who has a special message for you, reddit!
Thank You Reddit Post
The photo set was taken today when we went to visit her family. What a tremendous family - genuine, sweet, loving, and such nice people. We brought a few gifts for the kids, but the BIG EVENT is on Thursday! Kathleen is coming to Ann Arbor (about an hour away from her house) by luxury limo - donated by Perfection Limousine, shopping 'til she drops at our toy store to get anything she wants, no limits. Then we are taking her over to the children's hospital where she will be donating hundreds of toys to sick kids there in her name, and to lunch at Carson's American Bistro (http://theeoburger.com/carsons_web/pages/carsons.html). Turns out Kathleen likes steak and watermelon, so that's what she is going to get. (I'll try to get some bacon on that steak for her, because... Mmmmmm. Bacon...)
Fox 2 will be coming along for the trip, and photos will be taken by everyone who can. Any nearby redditors are encourage to be at our store at 9:30 to cheer and applaud and welcome Kathleen and her family. Bring signs of encouragement, posters, banners, throw rose petals, whatever it takes to make her a princess! All in good tase, of course.
I didn't know this beforehand, but Fox 2 showed up during our visit today as well and interviewed everyone. Kathleen was way to occupied playing with my daughter (who is in the picture with her), but she did want to say hi to everyone and say thank you. The best part? I got a hug from her. And from her grandma. Her father and I shared a manly handshake and an acknowledging grunt. :-)
------------------------------------------
7:14AM 14th October: Sorry I've been head's down getting this all organized. The story hit the AP wire yesterday, and things have exploded here. THANK YOU ALL, and I am sure you will all be represented in spirit by the redditors that can attend at 9:30 when Kathleen arrives.
5:10PM 14th October: ##Best. Day. Evar.##
When I was getting my goodbye hug (and trust me, she hugged me like crazy), I whispered in Kathleen's ear and asked her, "Sweetheart, what was the best part of the day?" She thought for a moment, and whispered back... "Ponies." She smiled as she put her head on my shoulder. Fsckin' eh, Reddit. You guys made this happen. Good has prevailed here. In addition to Kathleen coming along, her friend Calley joined us - Calley also has Juvenile Huntington's Disease and is fairly advanced. She's 11, but honestly with the disease comes across more as about 4 or 5 in her cognitive ability. She told me, "You're my best friend" (which, apparently, she tells everyone who is nice to her), but also declared me as "Silly!" - which I call a win.
Thank you all. Pictures forthcoming, but right now I am going to collapse and take a nap.
I'll tease you with these two pictures:
Photos from her big day
Video of her big day
Another photo set from the big day - Unavailable
Kathleen enjoying ice cream after lunch - Unavailable
Kathleen feeding the cows at the Domino's Farms Petting Zoo (right before the PONIES!) - Unavalable
Here's the cake made by my dear friend Tanya Luz - Unavailable
More pics - Unvailable
9:20AM 23rd October: Photos of the big day! on FB
------------------------------------------
Send cards and well wishes to: (Our warehouse)
Days account by fellow Redditor
------------------------------------------
POST - 3 - 12th January 2012 by u/hmasing in news
Kathleen Edward, the bullied, sick little girl that Reddit helped with shopping spree and princess day in 2010, lost her battle against Juvenile Huntington's Disease last night at 9:45PM EST. http://weloveyoukathleen.com/
She put up an amazing fight and had everyone she loved around her when she passed away. Thank you, Reddit, for helping make this little girl part of my life. Her family sends their thanks and gratitude for your support.
IMPORTANT EDIT
I went to Kathleen visitation today (1/13/12) and expressed the condolences of the Reddit community and the world to the dad and family. They won't admit it, but the cost of the funeral seems to be set to crush the family financially. If anyone cares to donate to help with the funeral expenses, please do so. I have a paypal link set up on this page, and will ensure that all funds donated there make it to the family for the funeral costs. I hate to ask for more help for these guys, but with the national media chasing this story and the number of people from the area coming to the viewing and funeral tomorrow this is not a cheap affair. Thank you one and all for anything you can spare! And thank you all who have already donated.
EDIT:
Since this has now hit the press, I suppose it's OK to share some of the background. Kathleen fell a few days ago, and split her scalp on a door frame. She could barely walk or talk due to the HD, but she always had smiles for everyone. She needed a few staples apparently to hold the skin together. She got an infection, and that was the last straw. She went pretty quickly after that. She was so tiny due to the HD, and was already pretty weak. Her dad called me last night about 10:20pm to tell me, and I knew immediately when I saw the caller ID what the call was before I answered. He was, of course, completely and totally a wreck. He thanked me for everything I'd done for the family - and I want to pass on to reddit that I didn't really do anything - you guys did. So, the thanks goes to so many of you.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP: http://www.hdsa.org/how-you-can-help/donate/index.html
Reminder - I am not the original poster.
submitted by raredontstare to BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]
Fun Fact to hide spoilers on mobile - Blood Falls is a waterfall of vibrant red water that oozes out of Antarctica's Taylor Glacier. Its unique color is due to iron salts seeping out of the ice that turn red when exposed to oxygen. The falls are home to microbes that can survive extreme conditions, with no light or oxygen.
trigger warnings: Bullying, Childhood illness/death
mood spoilers: Heartbreaking
POST -1 - 8th October 2010
Entitled - OMFG: Dying Girl, 7, Taunted by Neighbors in Trenton (WATCH THE VIDEO). Link to Fox Detroit News was posted on videos by u/iamstephen now unavailable
The bullying incident from News Report
Back in late 2010, 33-year-old Jennifer Petkov, who lived on the same block as Kathleen's family, allegedly began cyberbullying the little girl.
On a Facebook page under Petkov's name, there were images of Kathleen's mother, Laura, in the arms of the Grim Reaper and Kathleen above a set of crossbones. Neighbors also accused Petkov and her husband Scott of building a coffin, putting it on their truck and driving past the Edward home, honking the horn.
When asked by a reporter from Detroit television station WJBK why she posted the photos, Jennifer Petkov said it was for "personal satisfaction" and because it upset the child's grandmother. At the time, the two were locked in a longstanding feud that Kathleen's grandmother said involved Petkov's being upset because she believed her children weren't invited to a birthday party the grandmother threw.
The little girl's plight attracted attention around the world, and social media pages attacking Petkov sprang up online. The Petkovs also allegedly received death threats and had eggs thrown at their house. Jennifer Petkov later apologized to the Edward family, telling a local newspaper her actions were "ignorant."
In February 2011, the news web site MLive.com reported that Petkov pleaded guilty to assaulting another neighbor and as part of a plea deal, agreed to serve 18 months probation and was ordered to move out of her house and stay away from the neighbor as well as undergo a psychological evaluation.
At the time the news of the bullying broke, mental health experts told ABCNews.com that without knowing more about the Petkovs, it's difficult to say exactly why the couple behaved the way they did. The experts believe there could be a variety of reasons for their behavior, including poor conflict resolution skills, a lack of moral development and the desire to bully.
Redditors soon set up a donation drive to treat Kathleen to a special day.
POST -2 - 8th October 2010 by famous reddit philanthropist u/hmasing on reddit.com
REDDIT: I own a toy store near the 7-year old being taunted by her neighbors...
CURRENT DONATION STATUS: ~$19,500 HOLY FRIJOLES!
9:39PM EST 9th October: Yay! The awesome people at Flying Pig Games are donating 25 (I think) copies of their great card game Juke'em Football on Kathleen's behalf. This will be a perfect game for some of the older kids at the children's hospital that are going to benefit from Kathleen's sharing. I expect other toy and game manufacturers are going to start stepping up when they hear about what we are doing. Thanks, Jeff and crew at Flying Pig Games! You are beyond awesome.
8:16AM EST 10th October: http://www.perfectionlimousine.com has come through and indicated they will take care of any transportation needs we have. If any of you need a 200 foot long hummer, you know who to call!
1:30PM EST 10th October: My friend Beau, president of Corolle Dolls (really amazing and very high quality baby dolls) has committed to donating dolls for Kathleen and other kids we are helping with this cause. Geau Beau! You rock. Plus, your dolls are awesome - and smell like vanilla!
8:02PM EST 10th October: Since I am meeting with the family tomorrow, I am having my bookkeeper cut a check made out to them for $823.08 - 10% of all the total donations to date, the amount I promised I would personally donate (any profits on sales we may have made). As additional donations come in, I will ask her to keep track and make sure that a consistent 10% is sent to the family. I also picked out three awesome gifts (which I am paying for - not from the donations) to take over to Kathleen and her two younger siblings tomorrow when we meet. I'll be sure to get photos, and with the family's permission, post them here. Since Kathleen has been on the news and her photo is out there, I am hopeful that we can get a photo of her with a huge smile on her face with her grandma and father for all of you. Get your onions ready, people. My eight-year old daughter has asked to come along for the meeting, and we'll take her. She has committed to being Kathleen's 'personal shopping assistant' at our store and showing her all the cool stuff. I am blown away by how much my own kids have stepped up to this. My son (10) brought me all the bills and coins from his secret stash (which he was using to save up for a Nintendo 3DS, I might add - I suspect one will make its way in to his hands anyway, since I know Santa personally being in the biz) and asked that we use it for Kathleen, and my daughter who couldn't save a penny if she tried found $2 in her desk to donate. This is so humbling. Thanks, all.
------------------------------------------
5:57PM EST 11th October:
Look who has a special message for you, reddit!
Thank You Reddit Post
The photo set was taken today when we went to visit her family. What a tremendous family - genuine, sweet, loving, and such nice people. We brought a few gifts for the kids, but the BIG EVENT is on Thursday! Kathleen is coming to Ann Arbor (about an hour away from her house) by luxury limo - donated by Perfection Limousine, shopping 'til she drops at our toy store to get anything she wants, no limits. Then we are taking her over to the children's hospital where she will be donating hundreds of toys to sick kids there in her name, and to lunch at Carson's American Bistro (http://theeoburger.com/carsons_web/pages/carsons.html). Turns out Kathleen likes steak and watermelon, so that's what she is going to get. (I'll try to get some bacon on that steak for her, because... Mmmmmm. Bacon...)
Fox 2 will be coming along for the trip, and photos will be taken by everyone who can. Any nearby redditors are encourage to be at our store at 9:30 to cheer and applaud and welcome Kathleen and her family. Bring signs of encouragement, posters, banners, throw rose petals, whatever it takes to make her a princess! All in good tase, of course.
I didn't know this beforehand, but Fox 2 showed up during our visit today as well and interviewed everyone. Kathleen was way to occupied playing with my daughter (who is in the picture with her), but she did want to say hi to everyone and say thank you. The best part? I got a hug from her. And from her grandma. Her father and I shared a manly handshake and an acknowledging grunt. :-)
------------------------------------------
7:14AM 14th October: Sorry I've been head's down getting this all organized. The story hit the AP wire yesterday, and things have exploded here. THANK YOU ALL, and I am sure you will all be represented in spirit by the redditors that can attend at 9:30 when Kathleen arrives.
5:10PM 14th October: ##Best. Day. Evar.##
When I was getting my goodbye hug (and trust me, she hugged me like crazy), I whispered in Kathleen's ear and asked her, "Sweetheart, what was the best part of the day?" She thought for a moment, and whispered back... "Ponies." She smiled as she put her head on my shoulder. Fsckin' eh, Reddit. You guys made this happen. Good has prevailed here. In addition to Kathleen coming along, her friend Calley joined us - Calley also has Juvenile Huntington's Disease and is fairly advanced. She's 11, but honestly with the disease comes across more as about 4 or 5 in her cognitive ability. She told me, "You're my best friend" (which, apparently, she tells everyone who is nice to her), but also declared me as "Silly!" - which I call a win.
Thank you all. Pictures forthcoming, but right now I am going to collapse and take a nap.
I'll tease you with these two pictures:
Photos from her big day
Video of her big day
Another photo set from the big day - Unavailable
Kathleen enjoying ice cream after lunch - Unavailable
Kathleen feeding the cows at the Domino's Farms Petting Zoo (right before the PONIES!) - Unavalable
Here's the cake made by my dear friend Tanya Luz - Unavailable
More pics - Unvailable
9:20AM 23rd October: Photos of the big day! on FB
------------------------------------------
Send cards and well wishes to: (Our warehouse)
Kathleen c/o Hans Masing Tree Town Toys 740 Phoenix Drive Ann Arbor, MI.48108 ------------------------------------------
Days account by fellow Redditor
------------------------------------------
UPDATE a little more than year later
POST - 3 - 12th January 2012 by u/hmasing in news
Kathleen Edward, the bullied, sick little girl that Reddit helped with shopping spree and princess day in 2010, lost her battle against Juvenile Huntington's Disease last night at 9:45PM EST. http://weloveyoukathleen.com/
She put up an amazing fight and had everyone she loved around her when she passed away. Thank you, Reddit, for helping make this little girl part of my life. Her family sends their thanks and gratitude for your support.
IMPORTANT EDIT
I went to Kathleen visitation today (1/13/12) and expressed the condolences of the Reddit community and the world to the dad and family. They won't admit it, but the cost of the funeral seems to be set to crush the family financially. If anyone cares to donate to help with the funeral expenses, please do so. I have a paypal link set up on this page, and will ensure that all funds donated there make it to the family for the funeral costs. I hate to ask for more help for these guys, but with the national media chasing this story and the number of people from the area coming to the viewing and funeral tomorrow this is not a cheap affair. Thank you one and all for anything you can spare! And thank you all who have already donated.
EDIT:
Since this has now hit the press, I suppose it's OK to share some of the background. Kathleen fell a few days ago, and split her scalp on a door frame. She could barely walk or talk due to the HD, but she always had smiles for everyone. She needed a few staples apparently to hold the skin together. She got an infection, and that was the last straw. She went pretty quickly after that. She was so tiny due to the HD, and was already pretty weak. Her dad called me last night about 10:20pm to tell me, and I knew immediately when I saw the caller ID what the call was before I answered. He was, of course, completely and totally a wreck. He thanked me for everything I'd done for the family - and I want to pass on to reddit that I didn't really do anything - you guys did. So, the thanks goes to so many of you.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP: http://www.hdsa.org/how-you-can-help/donate/index.html
Reminder - I am not the original poster.
2023.03.22 15:42 TeaAndCozy 9 more Nui Cobalt Bees & Favorite Things
I'm back with thoughts on my new Nui Cobalt Bees! I previously posted thoughts on the 19 Bees and Favorite Things I'd tried HERE - I have a bunch of favorite Bees, including Queen Bee and Bees Love Blue for florals, The Bees' High Tea, Honeymoon Suite, Wasp, and Busy Bee, all especially wonderful for particular seasons of the year, Bee Kind To Yourself (concept by our very own u/propheticperfumes here at IMAM! Truly not to be missed), and Emotional Support Bee and She Stopped to Pet a Bumblebee for gentle, delicate, my-skin-but-better scents. Today I'm sharing my thoughts on 9 more, all of them new releases this year. Despite being sick for the last two weeks and counting (ugh), after the first week of illness I was happily able to get back to enjoying perfume. Thus this review post comes a little later than my usual, but I'm delighted to still get it out in time for the next release (April Fools this Friday!) in case you might want to add any of these to your next order.
Ordering specs: Nui Cobalt's website is easy to navigate, shipping is very affordable (please note that since the slight price increase this year, base shipping has gone up from $2.99 to $3.45, just fyi), items come very securely packed, and customer service is always spectacular. I don't think I've ever placed an order that took more than 2-3 business days to ship (and recently it has usually been literally the very next day). Samples are generous - 1.15 mls at least - in vials with wand caps. Each order comes with one free sample, chosen by them (there’s no box to insert requests).
Nui Cobalt's typical annual schedule of releases: (I [and especially Nui Cobalt] make no promises, of course, that these collections will recur; this is just in my experience)
These perfumes were provided as press samples by Nui Cobalt in exchange for an honest review.
The Bees' Carnival [Cotton candy spun from crystallized honey, fresh leaves of lemon verbena, blue raspberry drizzle, and a grounding smolder of sweet myrrh] - This one is COTTON CANDY and a lot of honey, with only mere hints of the lemon and blue raspberry. (If you love the cotton candy of Nephophilia [A fluffy melange of pink cotton candy, ivory cashmere, silk tree blossoms, blush suede, and steamed vanilla] but wanted it to have even more cotton candy, The Bees' Carnival is for you!) I was expecting more blue raspberry, but happily I do have Blue Moon [A diaphanous lunar musk entwines living honeysuckle and sugared blue raspberry] and Dewdrops on Spidersilk [Cerulean strands of cotton flower bejeweled with dewdrops, cold crystalline musk, tiny black vanilla beans, frozen blue raspberry, and gentle incense] to scratch that itch. The herbal quality of the lemon verbena and the slight earthiness of the myrrh come out in the drydown, keeping the really golden nature of this honey from becoming too cloying.
Honey, I'm Home [Snowdrops and fresh nectar from their first petals unfurled, golden sunlight, yellow crocus, and warmed honeycomb] - This one is GORGEOUS - the light-golden warmth of an early spring day. After an initial burst of warm but airy honey, the honey blends in with the flowers, which really are yellow in their scent color. There's nothing grassy about these florals but they remind me of chamomile nonetheless - chamomile and daisies perhaps, they're just so cheerful and happy. This is the springtime sibling to Yellow Leaves [Blooming moringa, olivewood, coriander, oakmoss, tangerine, and helichrysum], the most perfect autumnal floral. After its initial burst of honey, this scent dries down to cling quite closely to my skin, a private little bubble of buoyancy and optimism.
Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy [Portrait of an extraterrestrial desert and its elusive denizens: dry white sandalwood, Tunisian tea, cracked coriander, cassia bark, amber resin, raw cotton, and combs full of precious honey that few will ever taste] - Friends, Nui Cobalt has done it again: another spectacular black tea scent! This one is black tea spiced with coriander and cinnamon, gently sweetened with honey, and with some very subtle nuances of cotton flower and sandalwood (making it a much more rainy-day-cozy scent than the perfume's name might suggest). This tea note is more incensey than Blarney: Irish Breakfast Tea [The warm, tannic comfort of a proper Cuppa sweetened with a touch of raw honey and smoothed with fresh cream], more like the black tea in Unbought & Unbossed: A Tribute to Shirley Chisholm [The fragrance inspired by her is a strong and sophisticated spiced tea with raw honey and Barbados sugar sipped among the sunlit roses of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden] and Cloak of Evergreens [Snow-covered spruce, iced cedar tips, golden pine sap, icicle musk, and the fading memory of tea by the fireside].
The Beekeeper's Funeral [This comforting blend opens with gentle Bulgarian lavender and petrichor, then blooms with Casablanca lily, honeysuckle, and wet grass, and settles at last into a pillow of fluffy whipped honey] - A very pretty, understated floral-aquatic. I get white florals (but not too bold), an herbal lavender, grass, and rain - this petrichor is more the smell of the watery rain itself rather than wet pavement. Oddly enough for this being a Bee, I actually don't get any honey, though there is a little bit of sweetness that reminds me of the white amber in Mirror [Pale amber and white tea are accented by dry coconut, angelica, and cooling rain], in part because of the shared rain note.
Bee You Tiful [Honey-roasted pistachio and chestnut, pink magnolia, and sweet apple blossom] - When it first arrived, sniffed in the vial, this one smelled entirely of honeyed-salty-toasty nuts. On my first wear (though I was getting sick at the time so I didn't count it as a proper "first-test"), the florals were there, but almost entirely obscured. So this one is definitely one that benefited from a proper rest, because when I wore it again, wow! I'm really not sure that I want to smell like nuts (although I remain utterly fascinated by the idea of Black Baccara's Shamrock Potion [Pistachio mousse, fresh whipped cream, slivered almonds, and a drizzle of french vanilla syrup] and hope someday to buy a really small decant), but this perfume is awfully convincing. I still get toasty, honeyed nuts, but they are beautifully balanced with the florals, particularly the apple blossom. Nui Cobalt has a gorgeous apple blossom note! I have previously said that Pixie [An apple orchard in bloom, spring grasses alive with an unearthly glow, vanilla bean offertory cakes, and sparkling honey mead] is an early autumn perfume for me, and Venus Amica [Sun-warmed wildflowers, olivewood, apple blossom, light amber, moringa leaf, and sacred benzoin] is an early spring perfume; well, I think Bee You Tiful is going to be a "transition from spring to summer" scent for me. The honey, pistachio, and faint apple combine to be reminiscent of some sort of delightful pastry - is a pistachio-apple galette a thing? And yet this isn't a realistic gourmand, especially with the wafting florals making it much more atmospheric. The overall impression is of a garden party. Many hours later, the top-note florals are gone, but the gentle nuts remain.
Candlelight [Molten vanilla caramel, Egyptian musk, mahogany, honey amber, black tea, cathedral incense, a pinch of galangal, and a glimmer of white grapefruit] - Caramel and honey, thick and rich and luscious, backed by golden amber, a touch of grapefruit to cut the molten sweetness, and a whole lot of very expensive-smelling Egyptian musk. There are some indistinct spices too, which is perhaps how my nose is reading the black tea and incense. (This is a bummer, because I LOVE Nui Cobalt's black tea + incense combo, but this scent doesn't really feature them.) It's a heavy, luxurious scent, a sister to Ailurophilia (Love of Cats) [Egyptian musk, tonka, and dulce de leche wrapped in luxuriant cashmere, soft suede, wisps of sandalwood and copal smoke]. Its dark, honeyed quality is also reminiscent of Arcana Snug [The scent of staying in to watch the snow fall: dark honey amber, marshmallow, and the glow of beeswax candles], but with caramel instead of beeswax. All this being said about its complexity and rich layers, my colleague walked into the church choir room this morning and from across the room from me said "It smells like pancakes!", to which I sheepishly admitted that it was probably me. (It was.) So, this one has tremendous throw, much stronger than most Nui Cobalts, and to an untrained nose, apparently smells extremely (and solely) like maple syrup! (To me, though, it's not nearly as similar to the mapley Little Brown Rabbit as it is to the caramel of Ailurophilia.)
Fairy Garden [Cool dewdrops cupped in clover leaves, early purple orchid, a porcelain thimble of green tea with oat milk, and frosted almond cakes served in an acorn cap] - It goes on more gourmand than I was expecting, primarily oat milk, green tea, and sugary frosting. Behind these are a bit of acorn earthiness (I recognize a similar acorn note to Deep Midnight Wildwood [Pumpkin Bread, Incense, Acorns, Dried Apple and Orange Peels, Fading Bonfire], the only other place I've experienced an acorn accord) and a touch of floral. At first (and to my surprise, based on the order of the notes list), I don't get any aquatic dewdrop nor any grassy clover but as the scent dries, these start to emerge as the sweetness of the frosting recedes. Eventually, all these notes combine to create a very balanced and detailed scent portrait not just of a fairy garden, but of the fairies holding a fancy tea party among the flowers. I'm curious, for anyone who has tried both: how similar is Fairy Garden to Poesie Green Girl [Pistachio, wildflower honey, oatmilk matcha latte, heliotrope blossoms, marshmallow musk]? Fairy Garden has a Poesie-style whimsicality which I'm really loving.
Or if you want to imagine yourself part of a fairy tea party, go for Bee You Tiful and Fairy Garden.
And The Beekeeper's Funeral and All Dolled Up are just lovely warm-weather scents.
I would love to hear your thoughts on these - which ones did you love most? - or if I've inspired you to add any to your wishlist!
submitted by TeaAndCozy to Indiemakeupandmore [link] [comments]
Ordering specs: Nui Cobalt's website is easy to navigate, shipping is very affordable (please note that since the slight price increase this year, base shipping has gone up from $2.99 to $3.45, just fyi), items come very securely packed, and customer service is always spectacular. I don't think I've ever placed an order that took more than 2-3 business days to ship (and recently it has usually been literally the very next day). Samples are generous - 1.15 mls at least - in vials with wand caps. Each order comes with one free sample, chosen by them (there’s no box to insert requests).
Nui Cobalt's typical annual schedule of releases: (I [and especially Nui Cobalt] make no promises, of course, that these collections will recur; this is just in my experience)
- Late January - Valentines
- Late February - Bees, Celtic Treasures, Favorite Things
- Late March - April Fools
- Late April - Critters
- Late May - Fae Folk
- Late June - Big Island, Dances
- Late July - Witches' Utility Blends
- Late August - Autumn 1
- Late September - Autumn 2
- Late October - Astrology, Ascended Masters, Good & Evil
- Late November - Yule/Nutcracker
- Late December - Gamers & Geeks
These perfumes were provided as press samples by Nui Cobalt in exchange for an honest review.
New Bees
It's Hive Code [Spring harvest honey, a faithful accord of rare Ghost Orchid, neroli and bergamot hand lotion, and a dark base of melted fudge] - I got this sample because most of these notes sounded absolutely heavenly. Honey, orchid, neroli, and bergamot? Count me in - that sounds amazingly light and springy. I kept my fingers crossed that the fudge would be minimal. In the vial, it's a base of honey and chocolate fudge, with the light citrus and floral above, and on my skin, it continues to be a fight between the gorgeous, breezy springtime floral and the heavier, waxy (almost tootsie roll-ish) chocolate. And it's so strange, because up close, the chocolate is so much less obvious that it really almost is the scent I wanted it to be. Personally, I just really wish it didn't have the fudge - I think all of the other notes are just perfect! All in all, It's Hive Code is much more atmospheric than springtime. Like the the several NCD blends that pair caramel with wildly different notes (Mad Scientist, Glass Pumpkin, Venus Verticordia), this one is a thoroughly unexpected combination. My approach to it is also slightly hampered by the fact that I haven't seen the Netflix show (Wednesday) that it's an homage to.The Bees' Carnival [Cotton candy spun from crystallized honey, fresh leaves of lemon verbena, blue raspberry drizzle, and a grounding smolder of sweet myrrh] - This one is COTTON CANDY and a lot of honey, with only mere hints of the lemon and blue raspberry. (If you love the cotton candy of Nephophilia [A fluffy melange of pink cotton candy, ivory cashmere, silk tree blossoms, blush suede, and steamed vanilla] but wanted it to have even more cotton candy, The Bees' Carnival is for you!) I was expecting more blue raspberry, but happily I do have Blue Moon [A diaphanous lunar musk entwines living honeysuckle and sugared blue raspberry] and Dewdrops on Spidersilk [Cerulean strands of cotton flower bejeweled with dewdrops, cold crystalline musk, tiny black vanilla beans, frozen blue raspberry, and gentle incense] to scratch that itch. The herbal quality of the lemon verbena and the slight earthiness of the myrrh come out in the drydown, keeping the really golden nature of this honey from becoming too cloying.
Honey, I'm Home [Snowdrops and fresh nectar from their first petals unfurled, golden sunlight, yellow crocus, and warmed honeycomb] - This one is GORGEOUS - the light-golden warmth of an early spring day. After an initial burst of warm but airy honey, the honey blends in with the flowers, which really are yellow in their scent color. There's nothing grassy about these florals but they remind me of chamomile nonetheless - chamomile and daisies perhaps, they're just so cheerful and happy. This is the springtime sibling to Yellow Leaves [Blooming moringa, olivewood, coriander, oakmoss, tangerine, and helichrysum], the most perfect autumnal floral. After its initial burst of honey, this scent dries down to cling quite closely to my skin, a private little bubble of buoyancy and optimism.
Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy [Portrait of an extraterrestrial desert and its elusive denizens: dry white sandalwood, Tunisian tea, cracked coriander, cassia bark, amber resin, raw cotton, and combs full of precious honey that few will ever taste] - Friends, Nui Cobalt has done it again: another spectacular black tea scent! This one is black tea spiced with coriander and cinnamon, gently sweetened with honey, and with some very subtle nuances of cotton flower and sandalwood (making it a much more rainy-day-cozy scent than the perfume's name might suggest). This tea note is more incensey than Blarney: Irish Breakfast Tea [The warm, tannic comfort of a proper Cuppa sweetened with a touch of raw honey and smoothed with fresh cream], more like the black tea in Unbought & Unbossed: A Tribute to Shirley Chisholm [The fragrance inspired by her is a strong and sophisticated spiced tea with raw honey and Barbados sugar sipped among the sunlit roses of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden] and Cloak of Evergreens [Snow-covered spruce, iced cedar tips, golden pine sap, icicle musk, and the fading memory of tea by the fireside].
The Beekeeper's Funeral [This comforting blend opens with gentle Bulgarian lavender and petrichor, then blooms with Casablanca lily, honeysuckle, and wet grass, and settles at last into a pillow of fluffy whipped honey] - A very pretty, understated floral-aquatic. I get white florals (but not too bold), an herbal lavender, grass, and rain - this petrichor is more the smell of the watery rain itself rather than wet pavement. Oddly enough for this being a Bee, I actually don't get any honey, though there is a little bit of sweetness that reminds me of the white amber in Mirror [Pale amber and white tea are accented by dry coconut, angelica, and cooling rain], in part because of the shared rain note.
Bee You Tiful [Honey-roasted pistachio and chestnut, pink magnolia, and sweet apple blossom] - When it first arrived, sniffed in the vial, this one smelled entirely of honeyed-salty-toasty nuts. On my first wear (though I was getting sick at the time so I didn't count it as a proper "first-test"), the florals were there, but almost entirely obscured. So this one is definitely one that benefited from a proper rest, because when I wore it again, wow! I'm really not sure that I want to smell like nuts (although I remain utterly fascinated by the idea of Black Baccara's Shamrock Potion [Pistachio mousse, fresh whipped cream, slivered almonds, and a drizzle of french vanilla syrup] and hope someday to buy a really small decant), but this perfume is awfully convincing. I still get toasty, honeyed nuts, but they are beautifully balanced with the florals, particularly the apple blossom. Nui Cobalt has a gorgeous apple blossom note! I have previously said that Pixie [An apple orchard in bloom, spring grasses alive with an unearthly glow, vanilla bean offertory cakes, and sparkling honey mead] is an early autumn perfume for me, and Venus Amica [Sun-warmed wildflowers, olivewood, apple blossom, light amber, moringa leaf, and sacred benzoin] is an early spring perfume; well, I think Bee You Tiful is going to be a "transition from spring to summer" scent for me. The honey, pistachio, and faint apple combine to be reminiscent of some sort of delightful pastry - is a pistachio-apple galette a thing? And yet this isn't a realistic gourmand, especially with the wafting florals making it much more atmospheric. The overall impression is of a garden party. Many hours later, the top-note florals are gone, but the gentle nuts remain.
New Favorite Things
All Dolled Up [Spiced apricot preserves, almond blossom, pink peony, Hawaiian and Australian sandalwoods, balsam of Peru, and sunlit amber] - Despite the notes list starting off with apricot and almond, All Dolled Up does NOT read like a Squirrel (which all start with the same base: "A playful blend of almond and spiced apricot, grounded in rich benzoin and copaiba balsam"). Instead, it reminds me strongly of Rose Gold Sky [Fuzzy apricot, amber resin, styrax, pink sandalwood, clove bud, melissa, and blush rose], but lighter and more warm-weather. When I tried this, I didn't have the notes list in front of me (and I didn't remember it), so my impression that this scent is pink amber + apricot + clove (see the connection to Rose Gold Sky?) was completely independent of the actual official notes. Then seeing the notes list a little later in the day, I could also easily make out the peony (a very "pink" floral), which is a big part of why this reads as more summery than Rose Gold Sky.Candlelight [Molten vanilla caramel, Egyptian musk, mahogany, honey amber, black tea, cathedral incense, a pinch of galangal, and a glimmer of white grapefruit] - Caramel and honey, thick and rich and luscious, backed by golden amber, a touch of grapefruit to cut the molten sweetness, and a whole lot of very expensive-smelling Egyptian musk. There are some indistinct spices too, which is perhaps how my nose is reading the black tea and incense. (This is a bummer, because I LOVE Nui Cobalt's black tea + incense combo, but this scent doesn't really feature them.) It's a heavy, luxurious scent, a sister to Ailurophilia (Love of Cats) [Egyptian musk, tonka, and dulce de leche wrapped in luxuriant cashmere, soft suede, wisps of sandalwood and copal smoke]. Its dark, honeyed quality is also reminiscent of Arcana Snug [The scent of staying in to watch the snow fall: dark honey amber, marshmallow, and the glow of beeswax candles], but with caramel instead of beeswax. All this being said about its complexity and rich layers, my colleague walked into the church choir room this morning and from across the room from me said "It smells like pancakes!", to which I sheepishly admitted that it was probably me. (It was.) So, this one has tremendous throw, much stronger than most Nui Cobalts, and to an untrained nose, apparently smells extremely (and solely) like maple syrup! (To me, though, it's not nearly as similar to the mapley Little Brown Rabbit as it is to the caramel of Ailurophilia.)
Fairy Garden [Cool dewdrops cupped in clover leaves, early purple orchid, a porcelain thimble of green tea with oat milk, and frosted almond cakes served in an acorn cap] - It goes on more gourmand than I was expecting, primarily oat milk, green tea, and sugary frosting. Behind these are a bit of acorn earthiness (I recognize a similar acorn note to Deep Midnight Wildwood [Pumpkin Bread, Incense, Acorns, Dried Apple and Orange Peels, Fading Bonfire], the only other place I've experienced an acorn accord) and a touch of floral. At first (and to my surprise, based on the order of the notes list), I don't get any aquatic dewdrop nor any grassy clover but as the scent dries, these start to emerge as the sweetness of the frosting recedes. Eventually, all these notes combine to create a very balanced and detailed scent portrait not just of a fairy garden, but of the fairies holding a fancy tea party among the flowers. I'm curious, for anyone who has tried both: how similar is Fairy Garden to Poesie Green Girl [Pistachio, wildflower honey, oatmilk matcha latte, heliotrope blossoms, marshmallow musk]? Fairy Garden has a Poesie-style whimsicality which I'm really loving.
Personally...
The stunners from the new releases, for me, are Honey, I'm Home and Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy.Or if you want to imagine yourself part of a fairy tea party, go for Bee You Tiful and Fairy Garden.
And The Beekeeper's Funeral and All Dolled Up are just lovely warm-weather scents.
Where these landed in my collection:
- Honey, I'm Home and The Beekeeper's Funeral are in my "Spring" section
- Bee You Tiful and Fairy Garden are in my "Transition from spring to summer" section
- All Dolled Up is in my "Summer" section, specifically in the "Pink" subsection
- Candlelight is in my "Fall" section, specifically in the "Cozy" subsection, right next to Ailurophilia
- Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy is in my "Tea" section
- It's Hive Code and The Bees' Carnival will land in my destash
I would love to hear your thoughts on these - which ones did you love most? - or if I've inspired you to add any to your wishlist!
2023.03.22 11:07 Vault_theory_2 Fallout_timeline_headcanon (I don't know where to put this headcanon on reddit and thanks for getting my other account banned from reddit) (Fix it thank you for your feedback)
1945 -1969
World war 3 starts in result of the transistor be destroyed or never invended. this also includes other inventions, laws, business, history information, music being destroyed and people being born and the usa as a whole.
The usa broke up in to parts:
Us states or union states:
CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV
Freedom states:
IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, OK,
Confederate states:
AL, AR, FL, GA , LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA
Independent states:
AK, AZ, CA?, CO, HI, ID, MT, ND?, NM, NV OR?, SD?, TX?, WA?, WY
allies between states are unknown and independent states are on there own.
Confederate has taken over human side of the enclave. Why enclave is asking where the vault is so it can be invaded ending the union us and anyone that is not under this enclave. that is because all vaults are under the us flag or people that want the us to be put back together.
So Confederate is now known as the enclave
China is allies with Confederate so thay can get a procentage of oil in Alaska. The Chinese you see in the us are mercenaries.
It thay did start the nuclear war in 2077 the capital in D.C. would be gone and they would not stop at Alaska they would of keep going through Washington, Oregon and California and maybe Hawaii.
They would have navy ships and a lot of solders to invade the west side of the us but they didn't even touch wa, or, ca it look like that didn't have there navy and soldiers anymore which explains there had to be a nuclear war before October 23 2077.
The us won the Sino-American War in 2076 the Confederate didn't like that and wanted Alaska oil. or maybe didn't want to lose again ? and so thay started making a nuclear steady with China probably giving more oil percentage to join the war so when October 23 2077 came thay where ready ending the last remaining us within two hours and so the fallout universe begans.
Zax computer in Washington DC ravin rock was built to help put the country back together.
If the us loss this war thay would go to space and find a new home.
The vaults where a back up plan if space was a no go. Apparently thay found out that there where spys in vault tec which made The mystery stranger and if the vault where used the mystery stranger would hide within the vault to keep it running right and if the vault dwellers left the vault he or she would keep them safe at all costs.
In the event that the vaults need to be used all vault tests will be stop except under the circumstances of vaults built around that test will continue either a couple of months or a couple of years. The us made it if the us loses the war the vault dwellers from all vaults will be the backup of the us. one vault dweller will be sworn in as president of the us and another will be sworn in as vice president and so on.
It is also believe that California was neutral after the great war until the explosion of the oil rig in fallout 2.
October 23 2077 means the great civil war or the us 2nd civil war.
Vault tec was probably created a couple of years after ww3 also applying there was a war before October 23 2077 and that the green country lodge bunker was upgrade by vault tec.
Also there mite be evidence that vault tec builds some vaults under ground to the surface ?
Confederate spys entered vaults to sabotage the vaults or turn the tests back on.
Fev virus was made to help get rid of radiation and it also has side effects that includes mutations. Also fev is air, water, ground and any where radiation is it also probably there.
And thay mite of also put 75% in nuclear bombs.
Brother hood of steel democrats ? or maybe Republicans ?
Enclave Republicans ? or maybe democrats ?
The brothers hood of steel from fallout 3 is the last remaining democrats or Republicans from California also brother hood of steel mission is to not let civil war or any war happen again in the us. also fallout 3 brother hood of steel outcast is from Washington DC or wherever fallout 3 take place.
Canada is temporary annex in two places one over washington to Alaska and the other over North Dakota to Alaska.
Also Mexico was nuke or bombed by whatever part of the us thay attack.
Also Mexico and south America are dieing or dead because of the new different creature released or made in the wasteland and the deathclaws where created by the Confederate releasing by accident or on the battlefield. the us created the scorchbeast to encounter this.
South America has no power armor no vaults only regular bunkers.
In fallout 3 dlc mothership zeta the laser beam that hits earth is probably the glowing sea ground zero in fallout 4 because you don't see a nuke falling and the mushroom cloud is much bigger than the nuke from fallout 3 and fallout 76 and when you see the mushroom cloud from space it look like it is the same cloud. also if if is from the lazer 95% of everyone in Boston is dead or a feral ghoul. This making father insane making people that he could save into syths if thay where turned into a feral ghoul is was all ready to late. The blast also effect the vaults vault 111 complete computer failure, vault 81 mole rat escape, vault 95 damage inter walls. Thay never got the warning untell it was to late also it possible that the ground zero in the glowing sea it would have been 5,000 to 15,000 rads after the hit. also you know that guy from the beginning from vault tec and thay didn't let him in the vault if thay let him in fallout 4 possibly would have been a defant game or would have never come out at all.
After October 23 2077 one state to take over the whole us ?
Did the Confederate or union mess up the US money ?
Was child of Adam made before the great war ?
Would nuclear winter push new
creatures in to south America ?
Vault 120 somewhere off the coast of the us or Alaska or Hawaii and maybe more vaults are under water or on the cost ?
Japan and taiwan is under China's government possibly ?
Korea is whole again maybe ?
India and Pakistan war at each other ?
Evidence:
1: the us flag 13 stars
2: no one is cleaning or rebuilding city's
3: you can nuke city's with in us borders and there are planes and military tanks, apcs, big cannons which should be on the shore line or overseas or in the ocean
4: us robots attacking
5: people attacking others for no reason. Not over food or water(1-5 rads will not stop someone from drinking or eating also rad away and rad-x will helps with that. ) but territory
6: the capital is still there but the white house and part of the history museum is gone
7: a us t45 power armor shooting a us combat armor solder in fallout 1
And the background look to be in the us and in fallout 3 trailer the soldiers that are fighting at each catheter look to have the same uniform
8: some animals may of gone extinct in world war 3 and even more in Oct 23 2077.brahmin Not one regular cow. Also cows would take generations to become brahmin
9: the geck should of been made during the great war or after not before the war this is also why there had to be a war before October 23 2077
Will the us return back to the usa or is it gone forever stay tuned for the fallout tv show or the next fallout in the game series.
submitted by Vault_theory_2 to Fallout [link] [comments]
World war 3 starts in result of the transistor be destroyed or never invended. this also includes other inventions, laws, business, history information, music being destroyed and people being born and the usa as a whole.
The usa broke up in to parts:
Us states or union states:
CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV
Freedom states:
IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, OK,
Confederate states:
AL, AR, FL, GA , LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA
Independent states:
AK, AZ, CA?, CO, HI, ID, MT, ND?, NM, NV OR?, SD?, TX?, WA?, WY
allies between states are unknown and independent states are on there own.
Confederate has taken over human side of the enclave. Why enclave is asking where the vault is so it can be invaded ending the union us and anyone that is not under this enclave. that is because all vaults are under the us flag or people that want the us to be put back together.
So Confederate is now known as the enclave
China is allies with Confederate so thay can get a procentage of oil in Alaska. The Chinese you see in the us are mercenaries.
It thay did start the nuclear war in 2077 the capital in D.C. would be gone and they would not stop at Alaska they would of keep going through Washington, Oregon and California and maybe Hawaii.
They would have navy ships and a lot of solders to invade the west side of the us but they didn't even touch wa, or, ca it look like that didn't have there navy and soldiers anymore which explains there had to be a nuclear war before October 23 2077.
The us won the Sino-American War in 2076 the Confederate didn't like that and wanted Alaska oil. or maybe didn't want to lose again ? and so thay started making a nuclear steady with China probably giving more oil percentage to join the war so when October 23 2077 came thay where ready ending the last remaining us within two hours and so the fallout universe begans.
Zax computer in Washington DC ravin rock was built to help put the country back together.
If the us loss this war thay would go to space and find a new home.
The vaults where a back up plan if space was a no go. Apparently thay found out that there where spys in vault tec which made The mystery stranger and if the vault where used the mystery stranger would hide within the vault to keep it running right and if the vault dwellers left the vault he or she would keep them safe at all costs.
In the event that the vaults need to be used all vault tests will be stop except under the circumstances of vaults built around that test will continue either a couple of months or a couple of years. The us made it if the us loses the war the vault dwellers from all vaults will be the backup of the us. one vault dweller will be sworn in as president of the us and another will be sworn in as vice president and so on.
It is also believe that California was neutral after the great war until the explosion of the oil rig in fallout 2.
October 23 2077 means the great civil war or the us 2nd civil war.
Vault tec was probably created a couple of years after ww3 also applying there was a war before October 23 2077 and that the green country lodge bunker was upgrade by vault tec.
Also there mite be evidence that vault tec builds some vaults under ground to the surface ?
Confederate spys entered vaults to sabotage the vaults or turn the tests back on.
Fev virus was made to help get rid of radiation and it also has side effects that includes mutations. Also fev is air, water, ground and any where radiation is it also probably there.
And thay mite of also put 75% in nuclear bombs.
Brother hood of steel democrats ? or maybe Republicans ?
Enclave Republicans ? or maybe democrats ?
The brothers hood of steel from fallout 3 is the last remaining democrats or Republicans from California also brother hood of steel mission is to not let civil war or any war happen again in the us. also fallout 3 brother hood of steel outcast is from Washington DC or wherever fallout 3 take place.
Canada is temporary annex in two places one over washington to Alaska and the other over North Dakota to Alaska.
Also Mexico was nuke or bombed by whatever part of the us thay attack.
Also Mexico and south America are dieing or dead because of the new different creature released or made in the wasteland and the deathclaws where created by the Confederate releasing by accident or on the battlefield. the us created the scorchbeast to encounter this.
South America has no power armor no vaults only regular bunkers.
In fallout 3 dlc mothership zeta the laser beam that hits earth is probably the glowing sea ground zero in fallout 4 because you don't see a nuke falling and the mushroom cloud is much bigger than the nuke from fallout 3 and fallout 76 and when you see the mushroom cloud from space it look like it is the same cloud. also if if is from the lazer 95% of everyone in Boston is dead or a feral ghoul. This making father insane making people that he could save into syths if thay where turned into a feral ghoul is was all ready to late. The blast also effect the vaults vault 111 complete computer failure, vault 81 mole rat escape, vault 95 damage inter walls. Thay never got the warning untell it was to late also it possible that the ground zero in the glowing sea it would have been 5,000 to 15,000 rads after the hit. also you know that guy from the beginning from vault tec and thay didn't let him in the vault if thay let him in fallout 4 possibly would have been a defant game or would have never come out at all.
After October 23 2077 one state to take over the whole us ?
Did the Confederate or union mess up the US money ?
Was child of Adam made before the great war ?
Would nuclear winter push new
creatures in to south America ?
Vault 120 somewhere off the coast of the us or Alaska or Hawaii and maybe more vaults are under water or on the cost ?
Japan and taiwan is under China's government possibly ?
Korea is whole again maybe ?
India and Pakistan war at each other ?
Evidence:
1: the us flag 13 stars
2: no one is cleaning or rebuilding city's
3: you can nuke city's with in us borders and there are planes and military tanks, apcs, big cannons which should be on the shore line or overseas or in the ocean
4: us robots attacking
5: people attacking others for no reason. Not over food or water(1-5 rads will not stop someone from drinking or eating also rad away and rad-x will helps with that. ) but territory
6: the capital is still there but the white house and part of the history museum is gone
7: a us t45 power armor shooting a us combat armor solder in fallout 1
And the background look to be in the us and in fallout 3 trailer the soldiers that are fighting at each catheter look to have the same uniform
8: some animals may of gone extinct in world war 3 and even more in Oct 23 2077.brahmin Not one regular cow. Also cows would take generations to become brahmin
9: the geck should of been made during the great war or after not before the war this is also why there had to be a war before October 23 2077
Will the us return back to the usa or is it gone forever stay tuned for the fallout tv show or the next fallout in the game series.