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bluestar22x · 21 days

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Finding Eden: Chapter 1

Summary: Zach stumbles upon you under attack

Pairing: Zach Wellison x F!Reader

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Attempted sexual assault, violence, death, fowl language

Word Count: 2,300(ish)

Author's Note: I've watched all of Zach's scenes and I'm very excited to take my shot at writing his character. I've enjoyed the fics I've read based on him.

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October 2017 (4 years after the end of the war)

Seated on the recently fallen trunk of an old pine tree Zach Wellison struck another line down on a mostly empty page in the leather bound journal he had spread out on his lap.

Fifty-two days.

He'd traveled a thousand miles on foot through rough terrain in under two months. Not bad.

He closed the journal with one hand and chucked it into the backpack leaning against his right leg along with the black ink pen he'd been using before standing up.

"Time to get back at it," he announced, throwing the pack over his right shoulder and snatching up the semi automatic shotgun that was to his left. He turned in place, glancing down at the large but lean tawny mass that had been lying at his feet and patted his thigh. "Athena, volg rechts [heel]!"

The mass stood, shaking off a red leaf that had swooped down onto her back while she'd been waiting for him and she barked happily before obeying, eagerly stepping into her spot by his side.

He patted her head gently, just above the dark mask that covered her face and he headed north, towards a far way destination he wasn't even sure actually existed.

At least it gave him a goal. Something to encourage him to continue placing one foot in front of the other.

There wasn't much left in the world that could do that anymore. Everyone he'd known before the war was either dead or missing, and he'd been forced to abandon society only a year after the riots had begun.

A motorhome parked in a secluded area in the Sierra Nevada mountains had become his after that for a long time, until a friendly drifter had informed him of a new city being formed in Alaska that was promising a return to before, but better.

Eden. Even the name made it sound too good to be true, but the drifter had insisted it was real, and had a map on him that he claimed he'd been given by a recruiter for the city. A map that marked where the city was.

A map that was now heavy in the front right pocket of Zach's faded and torn up light blue jeans.

With long, purposeful strides he carefully picked his path through the serene forest, eyes always searching, ears always listening.

As beautiful as his surroundings were, with colorful leaves and moss covered rocks everywhere, with nothing but the bright chirps of sparrows filling the air, Zach's old military training always kicked in when he was on the move.

When everything felt safe, too safe, that was when he was most alert.

Though he had Athena by his side and a shotgun hanging by a strap over his left shoulder, being without a comrade, someone to talk to and rely on, was making him wary, like an enemy could be just around a tree at any moment.

They could be, but it wasn't likely. More likely was a big ol' brown bear beating him down for being in their territory, which wasn't anymore appealing to him and equally deserved his hypervigilance as far as he was concerned.

Though he hadn't seen another person for almost a full week, it was actually humans who he ended up stumbling upon an hour into his hike that day.

He heard them before he saw them, so unlike any of the usual inhabitants of the northwestern wilderness.

There were indistinctive shouts from two men, and a sharp protesting cry from a woman in the distance.

A part of Zach, the survivor, wanted to move off away from the noise but the stronger part, the one that had naively signed up to fight a war in the Middle East, had him rushing towards it.

He hid behind trees as he made his way towards them, the barrel of his shotgun in the palm of his hand and his index finger pressed alongside the trigger.

Peering out from behind a thick copse of young deciduous trees he spotted them. Two middle aged men, both of larger statures than his, were hovering over you. You were down on the ground, propped up on your elbows. You looked disheveled, dark red long sleeved shirt partially torn at the shoulder seam, jaw clenched, eyes furious. Even in that state Zach couldn't help but notice your beauty.

"Over my dead body," you spat.

"That can be arranged," the oldest of the two men told you, mouth twisting into a sick grin that could easily be seen despite the wild beard he sported. "But I'd rather have you while you're still fighting. More fun that way."

Zach felt his stomach churn at the words and he jutted his jaw out. The two older men's intentions couldn't be more clear, especially as they started to close in on you like the two predators they were.

He had numbed, to some extent, to many different kinds of violence over the course of his adult life, but one of the kinds Zach had not grown a tolerance for was this.

When the slightly younger man forcibly shoved you against the ground by your shoulders and the older man knelt beside you to reach for the button of your jeans as you struggled against his companion, Zach took action, precisely aiming his shotgun and firing twice in quick succession.

The bullets hit both their targets, the center of each of the mens' heads - if they could be called men.

Their bodies collapsed limply on top of you and you screamed. You wiggled your way out from underneath them quickly, an expression of disgust on your face as you scrambled to your feet.

"Who's out there?" you shouted demandingly, obviously trying to sound commanding, but failing on the delivery due to your nerves.

Zach had two options. He could slink away unnoticed or he could reveal himself to you and risk a confrontation.

Typically he'd choose the former, but you were alone and apparently unarmed, what would be the harm?

He slowly stepped forward into view with his arms raised over his head and Athena loyally stuck by his side, looking up at his face for direction.

"Stay right there," you ordered him, eyes scanning his body up and down, analyzing his appearance. Though a person's looks could be deceiving, a lot of the time that's all people had to go off by before making decisions in this world.

Zach knew you didn't have the weapons to back your demands up but he listened to you anyway, not wanting to come off as pushy. "I'm not a threat."

You huffed and nodded at the bodies at your feet. "They said the same thing."

"I didn't shoot them to save you for myself," Zach promised. "I couldn't just let them do that to you."

Your eyes darted away from his for only a moment, but it was long enough for him to tell that knowing he witnessed their attempt bothered you. He may not have known you then, but he hated seeing it on your face. Embarrassment. Of all things.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," he said, "But any half decent person would've done the same."

"There's not many of those left," you pronounced.

"I know. I'm Zach, by the way. Zach Wellison."

You stated your name hesitantly, then gestured at Athena. "What's hers?"

He answered and you smiled a little. "The goddess of warfare. Fitting for the current state of the world."

"She is a veteran of the third world war," he informed you.

"And are you?" she asked, nodding at the black inked marine corps tattoo on his upper right arm that was partially peeking out from under the sleeve of his t-shirt.

He shook his head. "Afghanistan. Even if I'd wanted to fight in another war, they wouldn't have had me."

"PTSD?" you guessed. "My father was a marine vet too. Vietnam. Fireworks across town would have him flying out of bed and reaching for a gun that was no longer there."

"That's just good training," Zach argued. "You can take the soldier out of the war zone, but you can't take their training out of them."

He could see you visibly relaxing as the conversation went on, trust being built on his honestly and on the veteran status he shared with your father. Maybe Athena being there had something to do with it too.

"Can I pet her?" you inquired, glancing back down at the dog.

"Sure," he replied. Athena was fairly friendly when she wasn't taking commands. He knew she would be alright with you touching her as long as he was.

You approached Athena confidently but not too quickly, squatting before her to rub her cheek, making sure not to go over her head.

"You know reactive dogs?" Zach quizzed. Most people would've petted a dog on top of the head, no matter if it was their first interaction or not, which was fine for most dogs, but for some it would be seen as a threat.

"My father owned a retired army K-9, a German Shepherd," you explained. "He wasn't as great with strangers as Athena here. He tolerated me though. Athena's a Belgian Malinois, right?"

Zach nodded. "She is. I didn't adopt her from the army though. I inherited her from a friend."

Your expression turned solemn but you didn't say sorry and he appreciated it. It was pointless. Most people had lost all or most of their family and friends during the past several years and as far as he was concerned those two words were far too meager to soothe any of that kind of pain away.

After a few seconds of silence you stood back up and walked over to the dead men to collect a couple knives from their jacket pockets and a glock. "Mine," you said when you noticed him watching you add them to your person. "I ran into these guys yesterday afternoon and I thought we'd parted on friendly terms after trading some items, but turned out they trailed me after. Sneaked up on me while I was having a nap and stole my weapons then...well, you know the rest."

"What are you doing out here all alone?" Zach asked. It wasn't a smart move for a woman to choose to be alone in these times. Equals or not, the reality was that many men were physically stronger than a woman like you and would try to take advantage of it. Those two men would only be the first.

"I was traveling with my younger cousin and his wife," you responded bitterly, "But they had the brilliant idea of trying to steal a car from one of the old settlements the government set up and I couldn't convince them to not go through with their plan. They were both shot on sight by a pair of former policemen patrolling the outside of it. I managed to flee before they saw me.” You tilted your chin up at him. "You?"

"I was traveling with Athena's previous owner, Micah," he answered. "He got bit by a rattlesnake last month. There was no anti-venom at the abandoned hospital we tried raiding after."

"Awful way to go," you murmured, eyes downcast.

"It was." The memories of Micah's final hours had haunted Zach for many restless nights. Though he hadn't known Micah long, they'd become good friends in that time and he'd felt painfully helpless watching the other man swell up and die suffocating, all from a tiny bite he'd incurred because he noticed a snake a little too late.

Zach thought he should've known better, but that was the human condition, right? Everyone needs a connection, even if that means getting hurt when it is lost.

And for that reason, he was driven to make the same mistake again. "Do you wanna travel together?"

If your ears could've perked up like a dog's, they would have. "Where are you headed?"

"Some place in Alaska," he replied. "Micah's idea. There's supposed to be a new city forming up there called Eden. Supposed to be safe."

"I've heard of it," you told him. "It's fiction."

"Micah swore it wasn't," Zach said, pulling the map of Alaska out of his pocket and unfolding it to show you a circled area on it. "He claimed a guy from the place gave him this."

You pursed your lips. "It could be a trap."

"That's a stretch."

"So is this being real," you retorted, pointing at that circled part of the map.

Zach shrugged. "I'm not forcing you to come, but it's not like you have anything better to do, am I right?"

You sighed and kicked up some dead leaves that were by your booted feet. "You're right. Besides, even if it doesn't exist, Alaska in itself is an eden. Supposed to have the lowest violence in the states due to the isolation."

Zach had heard that too, on the news just before the violence in Los Angeles got too bad for the newscasters and reporters to do their jobs. He was sure it hadn't changed. Alaska's environment was tough, especially during the frigid cold winters. Most people wouldn't hack it up there or wouldn't want to.

"How are you planning to get into Canada?" you questioned.

It was a good one. Canada's border patrol was no joke since the last world war, and since they were traveling by foot crossing the country was the only way to get to their destination.

"Like many people trying to escape into a country different from their own," he informed you. "Going to cross late at night and book it for the nearest mountains."

"Sounds fun," you said, a hint of sarcasm in your tone.

Zach grinned. "Yeah, that's why all the cool people are doin' it."

"Well, if they're cool..."

"Is that a yes?"

You gave him a nod. "Let me find my backpack and you can take the lead, Mr. Cartographer."

"Sure thing."

He helped you search for your pack, finding it tossed behind a spruce tree a few feet away, and then you both began your journey, Athena keeping pace between you.

Neither of you truly had an inkling of what you were getting yourselves into.

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Note: Volg Rechts is "heel" in Dutch. The US police and military tend to use commands in either German or Dutch by tradition since many of their dogs were trained in those countries.

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Tagged: @harriedandharassed @morallyinept

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Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

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#Zach Wellison #Brothers & Sisters #Zach Wellison Fanfic (Mine)#Brothers & Sisters Fanfic #X Reader #Finding Eden Series

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1rsoldiersince2012 · 10 months

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Bound by Law (Matt Murdock x Reader)

Words: 3333 (chapter 29)

Summary:

You and Matt met in the courtroom. Now, you may think that Matt was a knight in shining armour and defended you in the name of all United States laws, but that was not the case. Matt was totally destroying your client, and you wanted to tear him into pieces right then and right there, because with Murdock as your rival, your head is on the firm's plate with each case. Did Matt care? No, he only cared about bringing justice, he was a human-machine, driven by the need to bring righteousness no matter the cost. Or was he just that? What happens when you get involved in Fisk's business and Daredevil's lies against your will?

UPDATES: expect the unexpected (probably next week)

Find my other accounts on ao3 and wattpad!

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/1rSoldierSince2012

wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/1rsoldierSince2012

29. World on Fire

In the SUV parked close to the Precinct, Fisk and Wesley discuss the events that unfolded in the interrogation room, agreeing it was fortunate that only Detectives Blake and Hoffman were in the room at the time. "They're taking statements from Blake and Hoffman. Our contacts in IAB will make it go away." Wesley assures concerned Fisk, intently watching the building.

Fisk sighs in disappointment, "Had there been someone else in that room with that Russian..."

"There wasn't. It was our people." Wesley states the obvious again.

"This time." Fisk mutters under his breath.

"Soon Vladimir won't have any comrades to whisper your name to." Wesley says pridefully.

"Is there anything else?"

"The '75 Brunello di Montalcino. It's a personal favorite." Wesley shifts in his seat, leaning on the window.

"Thank you, Wesley." Fisk says not turning his head to look at him. They both watch you and Matt finally leave the Precinct late in the afternoon, walking a little too close for Wesley's liking, not only crossed elbows, but shoulders touching as well. He gulps audibly, in an angry manner, and Fisk finally gives Wesley a disappointed look.

***

You and Matt return to the office, noticing that Foggy and Karen are not back yet.

"Huh, weird. I thought they'd be already back." You say, putting on a kettle for coffee.

"Maybe the Landman and Zach sharks did attack Foggy." Matt laughs, putting the bag of cupcakes that you picked up from the bakery on your way back on the table.

"Ain't it Marci whose representing Tully?" You ask, taking out sugar from the cupboard. "How much sugar?"

"Uh, 2, please." Matt leans against the threshold, crossing his arms on his chest. "And yeah, Marci's the big shark today."

"So, what's their story? Marci and Foggy I mean." You put the coffee in the cups, leaning against the counter.

"Wrong decisions probably." Matt smiles slightly, recalling his college memories. "But he's still head over heels for her."

"Well, she is smart, sophisticated... Sometimes too much even, but as a lawyer, she's pretty good." You fix your hair, letting them down for a moment to slightly massage your scalp.

"Yes, but Landman and Zach are really a shit firm." Matt chuckles, taking in the smell of your hair conditioner.

"Not expecting anything else with that big fancy building." You scoff. "Maybe you should call Foggy?"

"Nah, he's in good hands. I'm sure a little banter with Marci wouldn't hurt his ego too much."

"Ah, such a good friend, Murdock." You tease and turn to take the kettle. Matt seizes the opportunity to come closer to you and leans on the counter too. "Milk?" You grab a carton of milk from the mini fridge and expectantly look at Matt, avoiding to glance at his lips.

"Yes, sure." He smiles, not turning his head away from you, red glasses shining at the tiniest glimpse of the light. "So, what's your college story?"

You pour the milk in the coffee, and watch the black liquid turn light brown, feeling both sad and nostalgic. "Nothing interesting, just college stuff." You shrug and eye Matt for a moment.

"Seriously? No bad decisions, no mysterious lovers?" Matt grins slightly.

"No, just cramming the night before exam, and drinking after it."

"I choose to not believe that."

"Oh, and you, party animal?"

Matt chuckles, "there were some crazy moments but I was more dedicated to learning."

"As if every girl wasn't head over heels for you." You take the cups and put them on a small table, with just enough space for two people.

"Maybe they were, I was only half aware of it." He licks his lips before taking one of the cupcakes from the box. You look at them almost hypnotized and stop stirring the cup. The kiss you shared weeks ago was still fresh in your mind, still making your skin tingle.

"You know what you need?" You ask, taking a sip of still rather hot coffee.

"Hm?" Matt hums, mouth still full of the cupcake.

"Advertising."

"For what?" Matt asks, not catching your train of thoughts as it differed so much from the previous topic.

"The firm. You need a billboard or a poster somewhere. I mean how do clients even find you?"

"Mahoney refers us to potential clients." Matt swallows and gently blows the coffee to make it cooler.

"Now it makes sense why the business is so bad."

"Oh, come on."

"I wonder how Annie found you, and moreover, trusted you enough to win the case. But listen," You quickly continue before Matt gets butthurt, "you nee-"

"We. You're part of the team too, y/n." Matt smiles warmly and it pulls on your heart strings. Not once a company has referred to you as a part of the whole, part of the team. You all were kind doing your own business under the same roof.

"Okay, we. We need an ad in the newspaper. Make it come out in every number, uh, a sign on the building would be nice too, you know. And maybe a poster. A poster you can stick anywhere. Would Mahoney be mad if we hung it near the reception on the board? It's too early for the billboard because it's too expensive but eventually we can get there. What do you say?" You look at Matt expectantly, eyes big and shining. Matt reckons you should've chosen marketing as your major, not law.

"It all sounds fun but you know we have no money." Matt sighs, "All that we got from Annie went straight to rent."

"Money's not a problem, I'll fund the newspaper ad and the posters, we're gonna have a headstart and then money will start coming."

"Y/n, I can't really take your money." Matt shakes his head sadly.

"Don't be a showstopper, we both know how hard it is to compete with big companies but you can have something they don't." You continue enthusiastically.

"A debt?"

You stretch your hand and put on his. "You have that human connection that gets lost when lawyers only care about the profit." You smile before your next words, "also, compared to other firms, you guys are very cheap. And cheap means accessible to everyone."

"Accessible has to be accessible. I can't ask for hundreds or even thousands from an old lady." He argues, ignoring the warmth that spread through his body when your hand touched his.

"Matt." You bow your head down, slightly squeezing his hand. "You're not robbing the lady, you're kindly asking her to pay for the services. For that matter we can say that she can chose an installment plan. Every month she pays a certain sum that she can afford and everyone's happy." Looking at your hands together, you continue. "Just give me a chance, talk to Foggy about that, I'm sure he'll approve." You hesitantly pull your hand away, ignoring the voice inside your head telling you to keep the contact.

"I'll think about it. Now we have to keep Mrs Cardenas in her home." Matt takes a sip and raises his eyebrows slightly, "oh, I think we should call it a day soon, I have some business to attend."

"I can close. Not doing much tonight anyway." You shrug, not minding staying away from your flat. Those four walls were really begininning to feel claustrophobic.

"If it's no bother and please... Don't kick out potential clients." Matt shoots a smile and starts plotting his further actions.

***

Outside the precinct, Detective Blake receives a text message, just a moment before being attacked by Matt in still broad daylight. Blake screams out of surprise and pain when Matt twists his arm, "Scream and that arm becomes your good one. We clear?" Blake nods, still panting like crazy, "You killed that Russian in interrogation."

"I had no choice, he jumped my partner." Blake groans when Matt twists the arm again.

"You lie to me and I hurt you. You killed him 'cause he said a name, Wilson Fisk."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Matt breaks Blake's arm, he groans through gritted teeth. "Okay, okay! I shot him 'cause he said a name, so what? What I hear, you like to kill Russians too. You chopped Anatoly's head off."

Matt almost punches him again but then smiles, "And now I want his brother."

"I don't know where he is!" Blake screams again when Matt twists his arm, "I swear! I swear! I swear! Please. Please."

For a minute Matt listens to Blake hearbeat, which is steady, confirming that it's true. "How are Fisk and the Russians connected? Why did he kill Prohaszka for them?"

"Why? You don't know? Oh, man. You really are one stupid son of a bitch, aren't you?" Blake doesn't get to say another word when Matt breaks his arm completely, taking away his cellphone and leaving him lying near the dumpster.

Calling Claire from his burner, he quickly appears in her apartment where she examines the stolen phone. "There're no numbers in this, no contacts." Claire states after checking everything in the phone.

"It's a burner. Like the one I use to talk to you."

"It was buzzing."

Matt furrows his eyebrows in thought. "Did someone leave a message?"

"Um... No, a text. It's a list of locations.Four of them.47th and 12th.48th and 9th.42nd and 10th.44th and 11th." Claire reads the text out loud and looks at Matt.

"44th and 11th?" He thinks for a moment. "Troika Restaurant."

"Where they were holding that boy? Right?"

"These addresses, they're listing where the Russians are." Matt answers, finally putting the missing pieces of the puzzle.

"Where the hell did you get this?" Claire slightly panics, eyes wide and wild.

"Cop."

"I said go to the police, I didn't mean-"

"No, he was working for Fisk. Killed a Russian for him, right inside the precinct. Then later he gets that list of addresses. I'm betting I'll find Vladimir at one of them."

"Matt, wait, just... What are you going to do?" Claire stops him near the window, with mask resting on top of his head.

"Whatever it takes."

"You know how that sounds, right? Um, when we were on that roof you told that Russian that you hurt people because you enjoy it."

"And you said you didn't believe that." Matt argues back.

"I can't believe that.Because if I do, that means you're not the man that I believe you to be."

Matt slowly shakes his head, "I need to be the man this city needs."

"Hey, that's not a reason, it's an excuse."

Anger starts rising within him, "What do you want me to do, Claire? Let them tear Hell's Kitchen apart? Let them win?"

"What you do is important to so many people." Claire says desperately, not sure of what she's trying to prove to Matt.

"I get that." He answers firmly.

"I just don't think I can let myself fall in love with someone who's so damn close to becoming what he hates." Claire says, but quickly corrects herself, "but I feel that your heart belongs to someone else."

Matt smiles briefly, "You're right you shouldn't." and leaves Claire's apartment, letting the cold wind inside.

*** Vanessa and Fisk take their precious time in the restaurant, enjoying Wesley's recommended wine and the emptiness of the restaurant. Fisk wasn't sure if she'll come but deep down he never lost hope, especially when he had the big 'surprise' ready.

"What I said about what I want for this city is the truth.But money and influence is not enough to usher change on such a scale.Sometimes it requires force." He says, hand balling into a tight fist underneath the table.

"I know you're a dangerous man. That's why I brought a gun to a dinner date." Vanessa calmly says, hand slipping on the purse next to the plate.

Fisk looks at the purse with a challenge, "Would you like to leave?"

"No I'd like a reason to stay."

"I've done things that I'm not proud of, Vanessa. I've hurt people and I'm going to hurt more. It's impossible to avoid for what I'm trying to do.But I take no pleasure in it in cruelty. But this city isn't a caterpillar. It doesn't spin a cocoon and wake up a butterfly. A city crumbles and fades. It needs to die before it can be reborn." Fisk passionately speaks, looking right Vanessa in the eyes.

After a long thought, she finally asks a question, but not the one Fisk expected, "So I don't need the gun?"

"No, by my side is the safest place that you could ever be." He assures Vanessa and intently watches her take out the gun from her purse and hand it to him. He smiles as he puts it in his jacket, already feeling like a winner.

***

Bored at the office, you try to fix the broken equipment that Karen bought but your thoughts wander away from the office, to the other side of the city, where Foggy and Karen mysteriously disappeared for the entire day. At the Cardenas apartment, Foggy finally succeeds in fixing the sink, sleeves rolled up and hair sticking out to all sides. "Okay, try it now." He steps away from the sink, expectantly looking at it.

"Okay, yeah! I admit it. I'm impressed." Karen turns on the water which finally works.

"Hot still doesn't work, but at least it's a start."

Mrs Cardenas appears in the doorway and clasps her hands in surprise, "You, Señor Foggy, you... You stay, we eat."

"No, Mrs. Cardenas, we have to return to-" He tries to argue but gets shut up quickly.

"You stay.There is no 'no happen,' okay?" Mrs Cardenas appears with plates of food, already putting them on the table.

Foggy eyes the food with hungry eyes, after all he only had breakfast, but asks Karen nonetheless, "You want to eat?"

"Be rude not to." Karen shrugs and smiles at the woman.

"Mi madre make this, all the time in Guatemala. Now I make para ustedes, como gracias." Mrs Cardenas says kindly, making Foggy and Karen feel as if they were back at home.

But Foggy thinks for a moment, "Mrs.Cardenas, where did you make this? You don't have any gas."

"I cook in apartamento downstairs. Aquí, we take care for another." And adds something in Spanish, making Karen blush a deep shade of red before she leaves the room.

"What? Did she just... Did she... Is this a date?" Foggy asks puzzled, struggling to fully understand the language.

"Uh I sort of think it is, Señor Foggy." Karen says, laughing awkwardly.

***

You curse yourself for texting Wesley but you've been bored into bad decisions quite literally. A quick text to Foggy confirmed that they weren't going to come back to the office today, and Matt didn't plan to return either, but being alone in the apartment meant being alone with your thoughts. At least in the office you could start hunting for potential cases, but Matt messed up your mind today with his unsual sweetness and caring that you finally broke your promise to not text first and sent a message to Wesley.

Although busy with the operation, he still texted you back. How could he not, when you were constantly on his mind, eating his brain like a disease and polluting his senses with still lingering smell of your perfume.

"I wonder if Hell's Kitchen will have another charity event." You send, but then add another message, "perhaps this event occurs once in a million years."

Wesley chuckles softly to himself and couple of men in suits next to him share a look. "I hope I'll still be alive to take you there." He sends, imagining your cheeky smile.

You were about to type an equally cheeky answer when something went off with such force that even windows rattlled...

***

"Oh, God! Oh, I really wish I knew you guys back then." Karen laughs, listening to Foggy's college stories.

"Much better off knowing us now. We have our own practice. I'm a hell of a lot more dashing than I was in my awkward college days."

"Oh, yeah? Well, I'm going to need photographic proof of that, counselor."

Foggy laughs wholeheartedly, "I have dug myself another hole, haven't I?"

"Well, it's been about five minutes. You were due." Karen smiles again, failing to notice Mrs Cardenas's figure standing behind the door of the living room. "You know, there's something I gotta know.It's killing me."

"No, I do not kiss on the first date. Sorry, not gonna happen." Foggy jokes and Karen blushes again.

"No! No.What's the deal with the meat grinder in the pencil skirt? No, she just... She doesn't seem like your type."

"Marci?" He sighs heavily before his next words, "She was different back when I knew her. Or maybe she wasn't, I don't know. Matt's always getting involved with the wrong girl, so maybe he just rubbed off on me."

"Huh. Matt dates a lot?" Karen suddenly picks up interest in the conversation, finally fully paying attention.

"Date?" Foggy scoffs loud enough for Cardenas's neighbours to hear, "I wouldn't exactly call it that. He hasn't really been with anyone for more than a month or two." Foggy thinks to himself for a moment, recalling a change in Matt's recent behaviour. Karen hums under her breath, but Foggy continues, "It's kind of sad. On the plus side, he gets to touch a lot of pretty girls on their faces. Um, that's, you know, how he tells what people look like. Or at least that's what he tells the ladies. Although, he always seems to know which ones are hot before he puts his grubby little mitts on them." He chuckles to himself, "It's a real gift. He's like a sexual Rain Man."

"Does he know what you look like?" Karen asks, intently watching Foggy's face.

"He's got a rough idea."

"You ever tell him what I look like?" Karen chuckles, trying to hide her pink cheeks again, but conveniently for her, Foggy was busy eating.

"No, he doesn't need me to tell him. He's probably got a picture of you in his head. I don't like to mess with those."

Karen think for a moment, "Oh... Hey, Foggy. I want you to touch my face."

"Um, but I can see you, so..."

Karen falls right into her trap, "No, I... No, I know.I just, um I want to know how someone who's blind would see me."

Foggy thinks for a moment but no for long enough to find it weird, "Look, you do me then, then I'll do you."

"Yeah, okay." She laughs awkwardly, hoping to get away with this not developing in another awkward encounter. "You have to close your eyes."

Foggy closes his eyes and stretches his arms towards Karen's face when the force of explosion shatters the windows and they both fall on the glass-covered floor, rolling from the sudden pain when another wawe of explosions hits the building. Bleeding Mrs Cardenas appears in the doorway and almost falls into Foggy's embrace.

Matt gets blown away with huge force onto the ground as he was lurking next to one of the buildings where the Russians were located and tries to calm the ringing in his ears as much as possible before he could continue to run.

***

From the restaurant windows, Vanessa and Fisk see that there are four locations now on fire. Speechless, Vanessa just stares at the fire and the faint reflection of herself in the window.

"Did you read about the boy who watched his father being pulled from their car and beaten, before the boy was taken? The men that did that, they will no longer infect this city." Fisk says, lurking like a predator behind her back.

Something changes Vanessa's expression from scared to calm and she turns to look at Fisk, "Good."

"We should call it a night. I need to get you home before the roads close." Fisk says before leading Vanessa outside.

***

Matt comes to his feet as Vladimir and one of his men emerge, both injured, from the building. He attacks them, quickly knocking out the henchmen and concentrating on Vladimir, and beating him viciously, so much that he fails to notice the police.

"Hands on your head!" One of them shouts, and Matt stands up carefully, holding his hands in the air. Has this finally come to an end?

#matt murdock #foggy nelson #marvel daredevil #matt murdock x reader #netflix daredevil #bound by law #matts superhearing complicates things for you #lawyers #daredevil #marvel

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spacefinch · 1 month

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Incorrect Quotes: Wild Field Trips edition, part 2:

Ralphie: I'm in my mum's car, vroom vroom.

Dr. Tennelli: Get out of me car!

Ralphie: Awww.

Martin: You have entered RADICAL SATURDAY

Aviva: Today's Friday, though.

Martin: IRRELEVANT

Zach: Oh sorry, I fell asleep while I was waiting on you to make me a sandwich.

Gourmand: Go back to sleep AND STARVE.

Alternatives to “Ladies and gentlemen”:

D.A.: Ladies, gentlemen, and others

Carlos: Ladies and germs

Koki: Beloved friends and tolerated acquaintances

Wanda: Allies, enemies, and those I’m still deciding about

Zach: Fellow scoundrels

Tim: Entities of interest

Jenny: Guys, gals, and non-binary pals

Evan: All y’all

Tim: Folks

Dr. Tennelli: Distinguished guests

Ralphie: Comrades

Martin: My dudes

Chris: A warm welcome to everyone who managed to sneak past the Zachbots

Mikey: Eating chips with chopsticks is unironically galaxy brain. Your fingers don’t get greasy and it lasts for longer.

Ronan: Fork

Mikey: Oh, yeah, I’m going to stab my crunchy foods and make them fall apart like an absolute absentminded dunce, fool, clown, jester, like a monstrous moron, an idiot of Shakespearean proportions, a cretin.

Jimmy: Um, you seem to forget that ‘chips’ can also mean fries. And that’s probably what he was talking about, haha

Mikey: I did not forget anything. I purposely ignore the idea of using British vocabulary to do my part in helping it die out.

Keesha: Really? EVERYBODY was kung fu fighting? I find that hard to believe. Stop feeding me these lies.

Chris: Well it was really hard to see if it was everyone, you see they were as fast as lightning.

Carlos: And to be honest, it was a little bit frightening.

Ralphie: KNOWLEDGE is knowing that a tomato is technically a fruit.

Phoebe: WISDOM is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Ralphie: PHILOSOPHY is wondering if a tomato is a fruit, does that make ketchup a smoothie?

Dr. Tennelli, about to kick them both out of the kitchen: COMMON SENSE is knowing that ketchup isn't a smoothie.

Martin: I put my Creaturepod down and now I can't find it.

Chris: Want me to call it?

Martin: It's on silent.

Chris: I'll call it anyway.

*Everyone stands around listening for a faint buzzing sound*

Carlos: I'm going to give raccoons the gift of fire and then teach them ceramics and they will make little bowls with their little hands.

Aviva: You cannot give raccoons that kind of power!

Wanda: The opposite of "the elephant in the room" is "the centipede in the room." Something that's not actually an issue, but everyone's freaking out about.

Chris: As someone who has worked with venomous animals, I can assure you that a centipede in the room is in fact a very big issue.

Gavin: If you have knees, you are valid.

Phoebe: Homophobes have knees, too.

Gavin: Not for long.

Carlos: Who is teaching my dad Zoomer slang?

*earlier*

Mr. Ramon (via text message): What do you think? I totally stan it

Carlos: Stop

Keesha: Stop excluding the B from LGBT. I'm sick of it. British people should be proud of who they are. Screw you.

Zach: What means “I hate you” in dinosaur?

Carlos: No. Dinosaur is the language of love.

Katie: I almost dropped my Creaturepod on my soft carpeted floor but thank god I have lightning fast reflexes and was able to slap it into the wall instead.

Wanda: I heard my brother [Henry] say he was going to Dairy Queen, so I snuck in his car and he has no idea I’m here.

Wanda: He asked his friend what he wanted and I popped up from the floor and said “I was thinking about a milkshake." I have never heard two teenage boys scream louder.

Carlos: Do not stand near the open fire when you have a tube of cocoa butter in your thigh pocket.

Jenny: This is so oddly specific. What happened?

Carlos: I am confident in your ability to figure it out from the clues provided.

Aidan: You’ve heard of mom friends. Now get ready for: Anti-mom friend. They suggest every single impulsive thought that runs through their head like, "Hey, what if you jumped in that pond in the middle of the night?" to the group while the mom friend begs them to stop.

Phoebe: Eldest sibling friend.

(Both of them look at Carlos)

Keesha: Hi, could I ask how exactly does one accidentally set a lemon on fire?

Martin: Microwave for 40 minutes

Keesha: Why were you microwaving a lemon??

Martin: I read boiling lemons helps cover up bad smells (I wanted to cover up the scent of burnt oranges), but we don't have a big enough pot on the Tortuga.

Keesha: Did you burn an orange too? How??

Martin: Microwave for 40 minutes

Carlos: Love is dead and never existed. All you did was betray me as I lay sick and festering. You are the definition of dread.

Phoebe: Are you okay?

Carlos: My cat stole my freakign garlic bread.

Carlos: A theif

DA: Thief?

Carlos: Theif

DA: I before e, except after c

Carlos: Thceif

DA: No

Dr. Skeledon: Children, this is dirt.

Arnold, Carlos, and Phoebe: dirt? dirt? dirt? dirt? dirt?

Wanda: My mom is asleep, quick reblog this post with skeletons saying bad words.

Phoebe: 💀Tax evasion

Keesha: 💀Gerrymandering

Carlos: 💀Music piracy

Gavin: 💀Rug burn

Mikey: 💀Frick

#magic school bus #incorrect quotes #wild kratts #wild field trips

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cavalera-eternal · 8 months

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jack cammy pose ( + brazilian national pride ) comm from Comrade Zach

#jack cavalera #comm #look at her do a stretchy

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crystalkat6747 · 1 month

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Honkai Star Rail OC Kakeru

English VA: Zach Callison.

Kakeru is another one of my OC's and I will be sharing his lore and gameplay.

Kakeru is a lightning type character following the path of the hunt, he uses twin daggers created from his wings as his choice of weapon. His basic attack is a simple cross slash focused on a single opponent with his daggers, when Kakeru uses his skill he'll launch himself in the air and when he descends on his opponent he slashes them multiple times, And finally Kakeru's ultimate: Rain of lightning, where he reveals his bright purple wings and flies above a single opponent and tosses one of his daggers down essentially making it a lightning rod before sending a massive amount of lightning down on the opponent before landing with his back turned glaring with his now red eyes.

Because of his high pain tolerance he can inject lightning dust into his body to increase his power and speed, when Kakeru attacks an enemy or is attacked he accumulates kaminari and when it reaches a certain amount he'll inject a syringe of lightning dust into his body which will enhance his action and increase his attack at the sacrifice of a set amount of hp. (yes I was inspired by Hazel from rwby and I am incorporating dust from rwby into my OC's lore)

Like Kesshou, Kakeru is also a half Ali and is a couple years older than her.

Kakeru was accidentally conceived by his mother Ayano and his father who I will not reveal at the moment, though because Kakeru was accidentally conceived his parents did actually love each other, though because Kakeru was born before Ayano turned 25, when she was 23, she had to relinquish her title as heir to the throne because that was a law of Elsaria's royal family. Kakeru's father left when he was five years old because of an incident that left a bad cut on his face, not bad enough to scar, and that's the only thing Kakeru can even remember about his father, Kakeru couldn't even remember his father's name. Kakeru was originally the heir to Elsaria's throne and the commander of the crystal guardians, Elsaria's main fighting force, and he surprisingly healed very quickly but after he found a picture of his parents together he decided to abdicate his place on the throne and give it to Kesshou, and go on a journey in order to get answers and he took some comrades with him, the few that Kakeru trusted with his life and viewed as family.

(I'll happily do his voicelines, and if you want to guess who Kakeru's father is there is a little hint somewhere in the post)

#honkai star rail #hsr #honkai star rail oc

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poopyshitballs4000 · 11 months

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introduction

hi my name is zach and i am a trans boy who uses he/him pronouns :]]]

i am also a mentally berated piece of shit who tends to act out (bpd, adhd and autism) and yes im diagnosed im not just faking it like other kids on the internet who think mental illness is just shits and giggles

anyways im a ISFP 4w5 and uhh my alignment is chaotic evil.

my homestuck classpect is knight of rage and uhhh yes

also i am a certified weed smoker and slope player (233 high score)

shit i like

sonic the hedgehog (sonic X, sa2, shadow the hedgehog, and sonic prime if i ever have time to watch it)

sally face

gorillaz

rick and morty

papa louie (all of the -eria games)

homestuck (and pesterquest)

fnaf graphic novels

invader zim

scott pilgrim vs the world (comics and movie)

moral orel

dan vs

south park

bobs burgers

the lorax (1970s and 2012)

your favorite martian

total drama (s1 - s3 only)

telltale games the walking dead

doki doki literature club

tangled the series

omori

breaking bad

anyways uhh that's it so bye have a great day my fellow comrade

discord server:

my discord: karkiplier#2678

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overdrivepedal · 5 months

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Jam out, Lammy!!

#art #um jammer lammy #parappa the rapper #parappa fanart #tenacious d #comrade zach

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explosionshark · 1 year

Note

🍓

Zach, you're one of my favorite people in the WORLD let alone this silly website. My comrade in the eternal cosmic war against Claudio! I love hearing you talk about music! Art in general tbh. You're one of my favorite people to watch movies with because you possess both good taste AND a crucial sense of whimsy. Also you have this very casual but thoughtful way of sending texts or messages with a thing that reminded you of me that makes me feel very valued as a friend and a person. And sometimes a little called out. Cornbread and Cambodia. Still working on forgiving you btw.

You're a great guy, I feel better about the world knowing you're out there in it.

@ mutuals send me a 🍓 and ill compliment u!

#ask games #fuckyeahqueermusic

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andrewmoocow · 11 months

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Little Homeworld Life chapter 22: Seeing Black (originally posted on May 22, 2023)

AN: After almost a year of waiting, the Black Pearl Brigade have finally returned from their final battle with Cinnabar! It's been a while since I last wrote them, so bear with me as I try to get back into the swing of writing five or six characters who are almost the exact same. And in addition, we got another batch of new characters joining Black Rutile, one of whom we've already seen in De-Clustering during Tanzanite's flashback. The plot begins to thicken as we reach the epic climax of Little Homeworld Life.

Synopsis: The Black Pearl Brigade, now retired after defeating Cinnabar, decide to move to Earth. Meanwhile, Cinnabar is broken out of prison by another of Black Rutile's minions.

Cast:

Deedee Magno-Hall as The Black Pearl Brigade, Nacre, Pearl, Pearl Guards

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Gina Torres as Andesine

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Kimberly Brooks as Dalmatian Jasper

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Matthew Moy as Lars, Dante

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Nancy Linari as Martha

Kate Miccuci as Sadie

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Kathleen Barr as Púrén

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball

Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite

Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove

Zach Steele as Ronaldo

Uzo Aduba as Demantoid's Bismuths

Miriam Hyman as Demantoid's Bismuths

Shelby Rabara as Demantoid's Peridots

Featuring Barbara Dunkelman as Amber

And Kristen Schaal as Howlite

"Don't get too cocky, Andesine!" the red-clad captain of the Black Pearl Brigade yelled from her captain's chair at the other ship they were dogfighting with. "All systems, fire!"

"Will do, Cap!" Pony, the blue-dressed second in command of the Brigade, saluted before pointing the Servant's weapons at the ship. In the months since the fall of Black Rutile and Cinnabar, though the Black Pearls had planned on going wherever the winds took them, there were still members of the Rutile Rebels hiding across the universe that needed to be brought to justice. Andesine happened to be one of them. A former sergeant of Yellow Diamond feared far and wide for her sadism and patience, best demonstrated as Andesine heartlessly used her fleet as shields, the orange Gem dressed in samurai-like armor led an entire army of fellow Rutile Rebels in trying to conquer what territory had been lost by her master and comrades.

Along with Andesine were a long-haired orange Amber dressed in a tan jacket, brown zip-up overalls, and an orange scarf around her neck, and a Howlite with black veins spreading across her face wearing a turtle-necked sweater and a visor over her eyes.

"Lady Andesine, we seem to be evenly matched with these Pearls." Howlite cautioned her superior as Andesine's ship was at war with the Servant and the Sun Incinerator. "What do you suggest we do now?"

"I say we should keep firing, nerd!" Amber yelled at Howlite's face. "There's gotta be a weak point we can exploit or something!"

"Not everything can be solved with violence, you hotheaded clod!" Howlite argued with Amber. "Sometimes, we have to make a plan and wait for an opportunity!"

"Sometimes, plans don't always work out, and opportunities will fail too." Amber retorted. "Game, set, and match! Nailed it!"

"Can it, you fools!" Andesine commanded her two minions to cease their bickering. "While I agree with Amber that sometimes brute force can get good results, my current plan might be more Howlite's speed." This caused Howlite to stick her tongue out at Amber while Amber pulled down an eyelid. "What the Pearls don't realize is that I'm planning to break Cinnabar out of prison and bring her to Black Rutile, wherever she may be. My idea is to feign surrender so we can be taken to Revanche 666 and stage a breakout."

"That's a brilliant idea." Howlite agreed while side-eyeing Amber, who just rolled her eyes while folding her arms. "But how can we convince the Pearls that we surrender? Surely they'll get suspicious about what you have planned."

"Just follow my lead," Andesine answered before ordering her ships to stop firing and opening communications with the Black Pearl Brigade and the Off-Colors. "I'd like to arrange a formal meeting with the enemy fleet to reach a truce."

"What kind of truce?" Cap asked suspiciously.

"This better not be a trap, Andesine!" Lars shouted.

"No, there is no trap," Andesine promised while crossing her fingers behind her back, letting Amber and Howlite know she was telling a big, fat lie. "As of today, my associates and I peacefully surrender."

"Wait, already?!" Lars exclaimed. "We kinda thought that you'd resist just a little longer! What's with the sudden change in attitude?"

Andesine glanced at Amber, causing her to start speaking too. "Oh, well, uh," Amber stumbled over her words. "we just felt so tired by all the chasing and fighting and thought that it was time we tried changing ourselves for the better."

"That's right!" Howlite added just as shakily. "All this time, we were so lost and directionless; all this warfare just seemed so senseless!"

"I still do not trust them!" Braids, the Brigade's yellow-wearing strongman, said bluntly. "Bring them aboard our ship to see if they truly mean what they say!"

"Hey, you want a fight, Pearl?!" Amber yelled at Braids. "That's right, you and me! Right now! We're having it out! Come on, come on!"

"Everybody, calm down." Fluorite soothed the tensions between all three parties. "Now then, Andesine, are you really certain you surrender?"

"I am as certain as the universe is vast." Andesine replied before quickly flashing her two cohorts a smile. "Please bring us to Revanche 666 so we may consider what we've done."

"IQ, what can you make of this?" Braids asked IQ, the green-garbed intelligence officer of the team.

"Hm, I can indeed conclude they are suspicious." IQ nodded in response. "But if they want to surrender, that makes our jobs easier."

"Andesine is going to surrender, but she has something sinister planned!" Padparadscha Sapphire exclaimed.

"Ignore her," Andesine stated. "Please, take us away, for we are now the last of the Rutile Rebels yet to be arrested!"

"She's right, it's only this fleet left to go, and then we've caught them all!" Pony added. "In any case, you're all under arrest! Lay down your arms, and we'll take you in quietly!"

"At long last, we have them all." Tails, the pink-wearing sharpshooter, smiled in relief. "What a relief."

"Okay, you three, just stay right there while we take you to prison," Lars ordered the three Rutile Rebels as he ended communications with Andesine, who began grinning evilly as soon as their eyes were off her.

"Flawless victory." Andesine declared to Amber and Howlite. "Once we receive our sentence, we shall form a plan from there."

"I like the way you're thinking, boss!" Amber said, rubbing her nose with her thumb and smirking.

"You always were a very patient Gem who loved taking advantage of whatever situation you got in," Howlite added as Andesine's ship was seized by the Black Pearls and the Off-Colors, causing the three Gems to raise their hands in surrender. "I hope you know what you're doing here, Andesine."

"Trust me; I know exactly what I'm doing," Andesine assured with a smirk.

Soon, Andesine and her fleet were transported to Revanche 666 to be admitted into the prison and brought to their cells. By this point in time, the number of prisoners had slowly decreased as more and more of the Rutile Rebels were rehabilitated in confinement and allowed to rejoin society. However, Cinnabar and her cohorts were among the prisoners that refused to accept defeat no matter how much the Black Pearls, Peridots, and Bismuths tried to convince them to abandon their warmongering ways. Now, they were soon to be joined by Andesine, Amber, Howlite, and all the other Gems who pledged allegiance to the trio, just as Andesine had planned.

"Okay, all of you single file!" Lars commanded the Gems being shown to their cells. "Nobody makes a ruckus; this is a prison we're running here, not a fight club."

"Did they seriously turn our headquarters into a prison?!" Amber yelled in outrage.

"I recognize the irony as well, Amber," Howlite replied dourly.

"Well, I think that should be everyone," Rhodonite said happily. "At long last, the universe is free of the Rutile Rebels. That reminds me, how has Black Rutile been doing since she was exiled to Earth?"

"Probably off plotting her revenge or something; I don't care anymore," Lars replied. "I'm just glad we finally put these bigots down once and for all."

"LOOK WHO'S TALKING!" a fusion loyal to Andesine yelled from the line.

"Hey, what did I say about making a ruckus?!" Lars yelled back. "Anyways, what else should we do now that we finally have some free time?"

"Yes, I've been wondering that too." Nacre, the Brigade's latest recruit, and medic dressed in white and formerly known as Shell, stated. "In the time since I've gained a physical body, I don't think I've had enough time to think about how it feels. There is just so much about the universe that I want to learn more about!"

"Well, if that's the case, why don't we find somewhere to retire to?" Cap asked. "Any suggestions?"

"We could go back to Kyukanza." Braids suggested. "The atmosphere and scenery are positively glorious."

"Or we could go to East Walleef again." IQ added. "Surely, the townsfolk will welcome us after how we saved them from Mr. Manco."

"Hm, good choices, all of you." Cap nodded in recognition of her teammates' options. "However, my decision differs ever so slightly. From this day on, we shall become residents of Earth!"

"Oh, Earth!" Nacre exclaimed cheerfully. "I've only been there as an artificial intelligence, but to be there as a full Gem would be so exciting!"

"Huh, what a weird coincidence." Lars realized as his eyes widened. "I've actually been planning on visiting Earth sometime to catch up with everybody down there. Why don't we both go there?"

"That would be a good idea." Tails nodded in agreement. "We can make a day out of it, have a little fun, reconnect with old friends, and make a new home."

"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Pony exclaimed. "Let's get a move on already!"

As the Black Pearls and the Off-Colors boarded their ships and left Revanche 666 for Earth, Andesine was getting acquainted with her new living situation while being led to her cell. Around her, she could see Gems sitting in their small cells guarded by a destabilizing field. Dalmatian Jasper was bouncing a ball against the wall of her cell, Xenotime was facing the corner and didn't turn once, Pyrite had been tallying up how many days she spent in confinement, Kyanite shapeshifted her hand into a harmonica, Bloodstone paced around her cell no doubt coming up with new crackpot theories, and Zoisite laid on her bench to stare at the ceiling. And then there was Cinnabar. What Andesine thought was once a proud and confident leader worthy of being Black Rutile's apprentice now sat defeated in her cell, contemplating how her actions led to her downfall.

"We're sorry that we failed, my lord." Andesine said to the caged Cinnabar.

"Don't fret, Andesine." Cinnabar sighed in defeat. "I failed just as hard."

"Okay, this will be your home until you finally realize what you're missing here." A Black Pearl guard said as she guided Andesine to her cell and closed the destabilizing field behind her. "Don't think about trying to get out. These cells were made to poof anyone who tries to escape."

As soon as the guard left, Andesine heard a knock on the wall. Surprisingly, she had been placed right next to Cinnabar's cell. "So, how did you get here?" Cinnabar asked. "How badly did you lose?"

"We didn't lose; we surrendered," Andesine said, to the shock and horror of Cinnabar and her cohorts. "But that's what we want them to think. We feigned loss because we plan to break you out and return to Black Rutile on Earth." She revealed. "Hopefully, she'll welcome us back in spite of our past failures to conquer the universe in her name."

"Wait, you want to break out of here?!" Dalmatian Jasper yelled. "No Gem ever escapes from Revanche!" The ball she was throwing then hit her in the face.

"They got round-the-clock security, and the Pearls show no mercy to anyone trying to escape!" Zoisite added.

"This is basically a suicide mission!" Kyanite stated, taking a break from her harmonica playing to show her concern. "And I'm unsure if Black Rutile would ever want us back."

"Hold on, everyone, let's just hear her out." Pyrite calmed everybody down. "Now, why do you think you'll be able to break out?"

"Because I have a little thing called hope," Andesine assured. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

"Good to see you're so optimistic," Bloodstone said.

"Hope can be a far stronger tool than fear, you know," Howlite stated. "After all, fear is the mind-killer and the little-death that will bring total obliteration."

"Aw, but we just got here!" Amber complained. "I've been planning on stabbing someone with a shiv!"

"Just as long as that someone isn't me." Xenotime declared as she slowly turned her head from the corner of her cell.

"So what do you say, Cinnabar?" Andesine asked Cinnabar, who was now reinspired by her fellow rebel's words of wisdom as she knocked on the wall again.

"I'm in." Cinnabar declared eagerly.

Meanwhile, on Earth, the Pearls had touched down in Little Homeworld, ready to start new lives away from the menace of the Rutile Rebels. Upon landing outside its gates, the Pearls disembarked from their ship to tour the Gem town and were greeted by its inhabitants along the way. The sights around her utterly enamored Nacre, as she was only here as an AI before, but now she could live her life as a full Pearl.

"Oh, hello there, welcome to Little Homeworld." The Brigade could hear Pearl greet them before she realized who she was talking to. "Oh my, the Black Pearl Brigade, is that you? How have you been lately? And who's this new Pearl?"

"Oh, we have much to tell you about what we've done since we were last here." Cap laughed awkwardly. "First of all, this is Nacre." Nacre gave a polite shake of Pearl's hand. "You may know her better as Shell, but now she gained a physical body after saving us by restoring our memories after we were temporarily amnesiac thanks to Cinnabar."

"Wait, Shell? As in the Shell from the Reef?" Pearl asked just as Garnet and Amethyst joined her. "How did that happen?"

"Well, that is actually a long story." Nacre stated. "You see, it all started when the Pearls' ship crashed into the Reef during an adventure and-"

"Well, well, well." Black Rutile declared as she reunited with the Pearls. "Hello there, Brigade. Fancy seeing you back here. I see you've got a wardrobe change and a new recruit." She glanced at Nacre. "A little taller than the rest of you, I see."

"You must be Black Rutile." Nacre said. "I've heard about how cruel and selfish you were, but I never thought I'd see you in person someday."

"Those are all just facetious lies!" Black Rutile barked at Nacre. "Now then, Pearls, what brings you here?"

"We're actually planning on moving into Little Homeworld now that we've taken down all your followers." Cap announced to Black Rutile. "Andesine surrendered pretty easily, surprisingly enough, but we got a feeling she has something planned."

"That's Andesine for you, always planning ahead of everyone else." Black Rutile replied before looking to the Crystal Gems. "Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, why don't you go and make the Pearls at home while I talk with them?"

"Fine, but don't do anything funny!" Amethyst agreed before walking away. "Hey, where do you think we should put it?"

"Guess we'll just have to pick a random spot." Garnet declared as the three Crystal Gems got further and further away, allowing Black Rutile to talk with her former foot soldiers in private.

"You remember what we agreed upon last time you visited Earth, correct?" Black Rutile asked menacingly, pulling out her bowie knife to prove her point. "Tell anyone about our little scuffle, and I'll make sure they pay the price."

"Yes, we still remember." Pony proclaimed. "But if you think you can control us again, we will have no choice but to expose you."

"Wait, what deal?" Nacre asked curiously. "I was on the Servant then, so I'm a little lost here." At the same time, the Servant began hovering above Little Homeworld as Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl piloted it to a good spot where they could make it into a new home for the Pearls.

"Basically, Black Rutile forced us never to tell anybody she was hiding in the woods." IQ recounted. "But I guess that doesn't work anymore since everybody knows you're here now."

"Oh, you think you're cute?!" Black Rutile snarled angrily.

"Please, we're adorable!" Braids confidently answered. "Jokes aside, this place is now under our protection! I do no doubt that you are plotting glorious revenge, and we shall not stand for it!"

"Well, go ahead, make my day." Black Rutile grinned. "If you feel like you are this town's protectors, then I dare one of you to hit me as hard as you can. Which one of you dares?" The Pearls all looked at each other awkwardly, taken aback by Black Rutile's sudden challenge. However, Nacre was quick to accept the offer.

"I'll do it!" Nacre eagerly cheered.

"Wow, you're quite enthusiastic for a piece of fresh meat." Black Rutile laughed. "Hit me with your best shot; fire away if you have to!" Unfortunately for Black Rutile, she only got a gentle tap on the chest. "You're joking, right?"

Back at Revanche 666, a great escape was soon to take place. Headed by Andesine and Cinnabar, the Rutile Rebels that were still imprisoned were plotting to break out of their confinement and escape to Earth, where Cinnabar had stated Black Rutile was currently located. After ripping off a part of the wall in her cell, Howlite tinkered with the wires to hack into the security systems and deactivate the destabilizing fields so they could exit their cells safely and find somewhere to hide from the guards.

"Okay, everybody, here is the plan." Andesine declared. "Once Cinnabar and I return to our cells, we'll act perfectly natural while the rest of you follow our orders." She then began putting the Gems into groups based on their assignments. "Howlite, you, Xenotime, and Bloodstone will take over the security systems and free everyone else from their cells. Amber, Dalmatian Jasper, and Zoisite will hold all personnel hostage. Finally, Kyanite and Pyrite will find us a ship to steal so we can be home free. Are we clear on this?"

"One question," Howlite said. "If our plan is found out, how shall we compensate for such an event?"

"It's quite simple," Andesine answered. "In case that happens, we shall take no survivors."

With that, the escape plan sprang into action. Almost immediately, DJ and Amber pretended to start a prison riot to get the guards' attention, their acting skills working flawlessly as Zoisite also pretended to try and break up the fight.

"I'm telling you, the Viltrumites stand no chance against the Chimera Sui Generis!" DJ argued with Amber. "Their superior strength and superhuman abilities make them unstoppable!"

"But a Chimera Sui Generis is far more durable than you realize!" Amber yelled back. "They can take a beating without breaking a sweat! And that's not even taking into account their squid forms!"

"Please, you two, stop fighting over such trivial things!" Zoisite begged the two fighting Gems as a group of Black Pearl and Bismuth guards arrived on the scene.

"Are we going to need to intervene here?" one of the Pearls asked threateningly while pointing her spear at DJ.

"Well, you just happened to show up at the right time." Dalmatian Jasper smirked as her gem conjured a hook to snag the Pearl by the neck. "Let's make one thing clear here, Pearl! I'm in charge of this joint now, and anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to my friends!" Zoisite followed up on her partner's threat by pulling out her naginata and taking out a Bismuth in one fell swoop. Meanwhile, Amber pulled out her weapon, a kusarigama, and used the chain to strange another Pearl to the point of poofing. "Do I make myself clear?"

"How did you even escape?!" the Pearl exclaimed in horror.

"Let's just say some friends of ours are smarter than you think." Dalmatian Jasper grinned.

"I think we're on the verge of a breakout here!" a Bismuth operating the security cameras exclaimed as she watched DJ and Amber fight the Pearls before she gave orders to the rest of the prison staff. "All units, mobilize to subdue the prisoners! I repeat, subdue the prisoners!"

"I don't believe that'll be necessary." Howlite said as she stood behind the Bismuth and struck her down with her baseball bat. "Bloodstone, Xenotime, you take out the rest of the guards! I'll shut down the rest of the cells!"

"Sounds like a plan," Xenotime answered robotically as she made time freeze around her, stopping the oncoming Bismuths in their tracks and poofing them all with ruthless precision and mechanical grace. As soon as time resumed, it was like Xenotime defeated them all in less than a second.

"Cheater." Bloodstone grimaced. "Didn't even let me get a hit in."

"Wibbly wobbly timey wimey powers, deal with it." Xenotime retorted smugly before turning to Howlite. "How is everything going?"

"I'm in!" Howlite declared as she shut down the entire defense grid and allowed every remaining prisoner to escape, causing mass chaos in Revanche 666 as far as the eye can see. "I love it when a plan comes together." However, while all the security cameras have been shut off by Howlite's hacking, at least one was left unnoticed by the three Gems. And it was still running.

Cinnabar and Andesine emerged from their cells to see the rioting Gems wreaking havoc and overwhelming the guards with their anger at being kept away for so long. The two grinned at each other, as it seemed their plan had gone off without a hitch.

"It's official; this prison is ours." Cinnabar proclaimed before a Peridot was dropped at their feet.

"Why are you doing this?" the Peridot yelled in terror. "How did you plan all this?!"

"It's a secret to everyone." Andesine winked at the Peridot before pulling a communicator from the gem on her chest. "Kyanite, how is finding a ship going?"

"Well, funny you should mention that because me and Pyrite just ran into a problem." Kyanite nervously said.

"Oh no." Cinnabar moaned. "What is it?"

"Hessonite just came and destroyed all the other ships," Kyanite said on the other end as she and Pyrite came face to face with Hessonite and Citrine. Every other ship in the prison had been destroyed, leaving Hessonite's warship the only one left, and Kyanite & Pyrite were currently at the end of the line.

"We've been watching this prison for quite some time in the event something like this happens." Hessonite declared while presenting her sword.

"But how did you know?!" Kyanite yelled.

"That Howlite forgot to shut off a camera that was running on backup power," Citrine answered as she grabbed a defenseless Kyanite and Pyrite.

"What?! How was I supposed to know?!" Cinnabar screamed as the communicator was snatched from Kyanite's hand and crushed to bits.

"HOWLITE!" Andesine screamed for her chief scientist to meet her. "Why didn't you tell us that there was backup power here?"

"Well, because I wanted us to fail, and I was a mole for the Crystal Gems this whole time." Howlite smiled before she screamed, "OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T KNOW!"

"No matter, it's just Hessonite coming for us." Dalmatian Jasper stated as the other Rutile Rebels gathered around their two red-colored bosses. "We got a little thing called strength in numbers."

"Well, we're going to need a lot of that strength to complete the mission." Cinnabar stated as Hessonite and Citrine marched into the central area of the prison before they tossed Kyanite and Pyrite to her feet. "Pitiful."

"So this is what Andesine meant when she said she surrendered." Citrine observed the prison riot. "I should've known she was planning to break all of you out."

"And we won't let you tell anyone about it." Andesine said while drawing her flaming sword from her gem and motioning for her followers to attack. "CHARGE!"

"And that's how we narrowly escaped the Trandoshans." Lars recounted a tale of his adventures to his parents, the Crystal Gems, and his friends at a welcome-back barbecue held at his old home. "Moral of the story is don't get in the way of their hunts. They'll make sure you pay the price."

"Sounds like you've had quite the adventures since you were last here," Garnet said. "though I'm sure ours might be some good competition."

"Yeah, we had a shipping war, a beach party, a spy adventure, a krav maga tournament, a talent show, became celebrities! We even met ourselves from another dimension!" Amethyst eagerly added. "You would not believe all the crazy stuff we've been through!"

"Those do sound pretty exciting," Fluorite answered slowly. "I wish we had been there to experience all of that."

"Yeah, sounds like Earth just got a little more exciting." Lars's mother agreed. "Are you still sure you want to keep doing your space adventures, Lars?"

"I'm sure, Mom." Lars answered. "Besides, now that I'm pretty much immortal, I'm probably going to outlive pretty much everyone here, and I don't think I ever want to experience that."

"Well, you do you, Lars." Sadie accepted. "But if you ever feel like stopping by again, my mom and I always have a room to spare."

"Thanks, Sadie." Lars smiled at his old co-worker. "Sure, I've had fun traveling the stars with the Off-Colors, but it wasn't without some problems. Like these snake people I've had a few close calls with."

"Wait a second, did you say snake people?!" Ronaldo yelled as he slammed his hands on the picnic table. "I knew it; I knew they were real!"

"Never a dull moment with you, Ronaldo." Dante shook his head in amusement while everyone else just gave him weird looks.

Back at Little Homeworld, Nacre was taking in the sights and sounds of Earth. Such a wonderful planet to be on, she thought while exploring Little Homeworld and greeting all the Gems she passed by. She hadn't felt this amazing since she used her powers to restore her creations to normal and gain her physical body to join them in saving Homeworld. But now, after spending so much time in the cold darkness of space, she yearned for a change of scenery. Sure, the Pearls visited many planets in their travels, but they only stayed for a short time due to their missions.

As Nacre sat down on a bench and serenely felt the air comb her body, she suddenly heard a faint voice talking. "-was able to get through to that Reginald Johnson fellow you've informed me about." The voice said. "He was a prejudiced psycho who uses his media influence to spread his garbage takes, but he's also pretty agreeable."

"Who said that?" Nacre muttered as she turned around to discover a nearby house resembling Black Rutile's old headquarters. Tiptoeing closer to the home, Nacre spied on Black Rutile through the window and saw her conversing on a computer with a blonde human in glasses.

"Excellent work Sally!" Black Rutile thanked her human associate. "Talking to him should be very entertaining."

"I could feel my brain shrinking with every word he said." Sally Grove groaned in annoyance. "This is why I never trusted men; they're all the same dumbasses who not only do not realize how much is handed to them but still think they're the victims when they mess everything up because of their lazy entitlement and fragile egos."

"Yeah yeah, I've heard it a thousand times from your videos." Black Rutile declared before she realized she was being watched. "Hang on a second; I need to take this. See you soon." She shut off the video and marched towards the window to find Nacre trying to hide from her. "I know you're out there, Pearl."

"How did you find me?!" Nacre shouted as she tried desperately to hide, even though it was hopeless.

"Word of advice, little one, I am far smarter than you realize." Black Rutile smirked back. "TOPAZ!" On cue, Topaz appeared to snatch Nacre by the waist with her massive hands. "Return this Pearl to her friends at once."

"Yes, my Rutile." Topaz nodded obediently before looking down at Nacre. "No hard feelings, okay?"

"Let me go!" Nacre yelled as she tried to wriggle free from Topaz's grip while being carried away, leaving Black Rutile alone with her thoughts.

"Should've known someone was onto me." Black Rutile shook her head disdainfully before going back inside.

The Pearls were now getting themselves situated at their ship-turned-Earth home. Cap was modifying all the rooms to be homier, Pony had laid out a carpet in the bridge, IQ was helping Braids move a couch into the ship, and Tails was moving some decorations around. "Nice choice of carpet there." Tails commented on the ornate Persian carpet with gold tassels, a blue outer section, and a purple inner section with red and gold patterns throughout. "Really ties the room together."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Ooh, I wasn't expecting company so soon!" Pony exclaimed cheerfully as she walked up to answer it. "Sorry, we'll throw a housewarming party lat-" She then realized that Nacre was being delivered to the Pearls by Topaz, who had a message for the five.

"Black Rutile wants you to know that she doesn't want anyone interfering with her plans," Topaz said glumly. "Otherwise, and I hate to say this, but there will be consequences." She then tossed Nacre into the ship before walking away.

"Nacre, what happened?!" Braids exclaimed while dropping the couch on IQ's foot and racing to check on the team's healer.

"I was simply enjoying being on Earth when I overheard Black Rutile talking with this wicked human on the computer," Nacre explained what she went through. "Or at least, I think that's what she felt like. She said such awful things about other humans, and it made me suspicious. I think Black Rutile might be plotting her revenge or something."

"Well, if that's the case, someone has to know," IQ said as she shapeshifted her foot away from the couch. "Púrén?"

"Yes, IQ?" the Servant's primary AI, Púrén, asked.

"Signal the Crystal Gems; we must tell them what's up." IQ declared. "And I think it's time we tell them about where we found her."

As the Black Pearls left the Servant, Black Rutile had been watching them through one of her spy drones, and she was not happy at how they finally went back on her deal. "Alas, I can't seem to trust anyone on this planet." She shook her head in dismay before turning to Aquamarine and Eyeball. "You two, I have some disloyal Pearls that just moved here."

"What do you want us to do, my Rutile?" Eyeball asked.

"Fuse and terminate them." Black Rutile answered while making a slashing motion across her neck. "Are we clear?"

"Very clear." Aquamarine snickered before she and her Ruby sidekick joined hands and fused into Bluebird Azurite, who laughed maniacally before flying away.

Later that day, as the barbecue was winding down and everyone said their goodbyes, Lars heard something coming from the Sun Incinerator. Getting onboard the ship, he pushed a button on the console that showed him a staticky image of a fearful Hessonite. Lars had never seen Hessonite so timorous before. "Uh, is something wrong, Hessonite?"

"Lars, help!" Hessonite cried, but her message was too garbled for the pink human to get the whole message. "-evan-666-Cinna-Andesi-break-Citrine-ship, save us! Plea-" The message abruptly ended, leaving Lars wondering what she meant.

"This is where scum like you belong!" Dalmatian Jasper growled as she tossed a freshly poofed Hessonite and Citrine into the same cell and shut it behind them. "And lucky us, you gave us a ship to use, too, since you destroyed all of them."

The rioting began quieting as the Rutile Rebels began boarding Hessonite's warship to escape Revanche 666 and search for Earth. "Well, this plan has surely been more successful than I thought." Andesine commented while leading the Gems in hijacking the ship. "I was expecting at least one of our minions to give their lives for the good of our cause."

"That's not very comforting." Howlite said calmly.

"I was hoping to see you be used as a meat shield," Amber smirked.

"Don't you start, Amber!" Howlite yelled at Amber before Andesine broke them up.

"Enough bickering; we have work to do." Andesine proclaimed. "Cinnabar, I hope you have a good excuse for when Black Rutile sees you."

"I understand, Andesine." Cinnabar muttered in acceptance of her possible terrible fate. "Whatever Black Rutile must do, I shall accept."

"Yeesh, real bring-down prison has turned her into." Zoisite snarked while walking alongside Dalmatian Jasper.

"At least she's less nihilistic than Xenotime," DJ added, much to Xenotime's anger.

"You make a few overdramatic declarations, and suddenly you're the emo of the group!" Xenotime complained just as Hessonite and Citrine reformed in their cell to see everyone leaving. "Hey, look, they're back!"

"You see what happens when you put too much faith in Steven?" Cinnabar smirked cruelly at the two vigilantes. "This is where it'll get you."

"You won't get away with this!" Hessonite cursed Cinnabar as she and Andesine left with the other Rutile Rebels. "Don't think you can just take my ship and leave!"

"Uh, Hessonite, you kinda forgot one thing," Citrine stated. "Yours is the only ship left here since you destroyed all the others to try and keep them from escaping. Not a great plan."

"Well, looks like we're stuck here," Hessonite replied, realizing her own recklessness at the worst moment. With her ship now in Andesine and Cinnabar's hands, Hessonite was stranded on Revanche 666 with no known way of getting help.

Back on Earth, the Pearls were informing the Crystal Gems at the temple of Black Rutile's plans and how she threatened them. Outside, however, Bluebird Azurite was hiding from sight with her ice saber at the ready. "At long last, a chance to finally kill two birds with one stone." She laughed deviously as the cutlass lit on fire. "Or, in this case, one sword."

"I don't think so!" Lars cried as he grabbed Bluebird from behind and suplexed her onto the deck. "The Pearls told me everything, and I have something to tell you." He added while picking up Bluebird by her wing. "Run. Run away, Bluebird, back to your master. And tell her that no matter what she has planned, the Crystal Gems will be coming for her soon."

"And you just ran away?!" Black Rutile began yelling in Bluebird's face when the fusion returned to give her the bad news. "Whatever, they know what I'm doing! But they still don't realize what I'll do to get there."

"I deeply apologize, my Rutile." Bluebird apologized to Black Rutile just as they heard a loud rumbling sound from outside. "Is it just me, or are there tons of things just coming from the sky lately?"

"One second." Black Rutile said while pulling up her visor to check her surroundings, in which she discovered Hessonite's warship hovering over the forest where Jasper once made her home. "Hessonite? What's she doing here?"

"I don't think that's Hessonite, my Rutile." Bluebird observed. "Otherwise, she'd be landing somewhere to meet the Crystal Gems, not out in the woods. Someone must've taken the ship from her."

"Well, let's not dawdle for so long! Let's get moving!" Black Rutile said as she grabbed onto Bluebird, and the two flew towards the forest, where they found Hessonite's ship waiting for them. When the pair landed, a large reverse pyramid detached from the ship and descended on top of Jasper's old cave, destroying it and allowing Andesine, Howlite, Amber, and Cinnabar's cabal to disembark.

"Black Rutile, we have brought you Cinnabar." Andesine declared and shoved Cinnabar forward to meet her old master for the first time in months. "Do with her as you may."

"Hello again, Cinnabar." Black Rutile ominously greeted her former apprentice. "I've been told what happened when you went against those Pearls. And now, thanks to you, they are living here on Earth. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry for everything Black Rutile, those Pearls had me outfoxed at every turn!" Cinnabar begged for forgiveness while dropping to her knees. "I accept any punishment you shall give me!"

Instead of punishing her, however, Black Rutile picked Cinnabar up by the collar of her jacket and gave her a tender pat on the head. "No need to cry, my friend." She said sympathetically. "It's not entirely your fault because your failures can all be traced to one source."

"Do I even need to ask?" Andesine asked.

"Yes, Steven." Black Rutile proclaimed. "Everything the Pearls did was in service of that little tyrant's corrupted paradise! But slowly but surely, I have been taking control of the creatures he loves most: humans. Now then, let me ask you one thing. People talk loud when they want to sound smart, right?"

"CORRECT!" Bloodstone yelled loudly as a demonstration of Black Rutile's point.

"Well, that is what I've discovered recently." Black Rutile continued. "My ventures through the Internet have allowed me to discover that there are tons of people out there who, no matter how poor their moral character is, everyone will believe whatever they say. And naturally, I have taken advantage of this."

"So what are you saying?" Cinnabar asked nervously.

"I'm saying my new plan is more personal than ever before." Black Rutile responded. "Now then, are you all with me?" The rebellious Gems said nothing, only getting on one knee and bowing in reverence of their genius leader. "That's just what I needed to hear." She declared evilly as the Rutile Rebels began coming back together under her banner.

Only four chapters left until the finale, and we seem to be getting into the real good stuff. Andesine, Amber and Howlite, my resident Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock for this chapter, were based off an idea for a story by a reviewer that I'm sad to say doesn't fit into my current plans, but I was more than happy to insert these characters into this world and fitting them into the Rutile Rebels. In the meantime, we'll have two more slice of life episodes to get down before we move onto the big two-part finale I estimate will be sometime in late June. Keep watching the skies everyone, and see you real soon.

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