Astronaut in the ocean sus remix

When i watched it for first time in cinema, i liked it. But yesterday i rewatched it and now i think i was blinded with hype in first time.
First off, final fight was poorly written. Namor was dehydrated but he still could fight for not a short time, he could fly so high with high speed and the water was only 50 meters far from him. He could easily fly to the water and be strong again? He caught Shuri, flew with her and slammed to the ground. If he could slightly flew to the water, he could easily slam shuri to the ocean, but instead he continued to fight in sands.. He didnt become idiot when he was dehydrated, he was still fighting and moving well.
About war, Talokan's people must be so strong because they live in very deep in ocean without any suits. Their bodies can resist to huge ocean pressure. It is said in movie too and they have pure vibranium weapons. And yet they were still losing to the Wakandans without bombs? There is so much power difference between them and we saw Wakandas are not way more skillful than Talokans? even Talokans can be better than them because they are practicing martial arts without fearing death (they can all heal from lethal hits almost) and they are practicing in water.
Nakia's rescue scene was just awful. They know almost nothing about underwater nation, they dont know even where is Talokan and what are their defences. Talokan wants to stay hidden and captured world's the most powerful country's princess and Nakia easily find them and rescue them?
Also main plot was very bad and childish imo. Namor was asking to wakanda for just 1 scientist, if they dont get her killed, they will start war with Wakanda. They wanted to make peace with Wakanda but they threatened them and captured their princess first. After capturing her, Namor showed her to capital of Talokan and how to get there, the same Namor would start a war against war just for stay hidden. This is maybe not a plot hole but it looks like a 10 years old kid wrote to whole plot.

Hey, everyone! Let's dive into an intriguing topic today that might blow your mind: the potential existence of intelligent life hidden within the depths of our oceans. It's a scientific fact that over 90% of the deep sea remains unexplored and shrouded in mystery. So, could there be a chance that an intelligent species, potentially a copper-based hemoglobin humanoid, such as an octopus, has evolved and thrived in this enigmatic realm, completely unknown to us humans? Allow me to present some compelling hypotheses to support this captivating claim.
First, let's consider the extraordinary adaptability of octopuses. These incredible creatures exhibit exceptional problem-solving abilities, dexterity, and even a level of complex communication. They possess a unique intelligence among invertebrates, capable of exhibiting both learned and innate behaviors. Just imagine how their intelligence could have further evolved in the deep sea, with the scarcity of light and harsh conditions as driving forces.
Secondly, the deep sea provides a vast, unexplored territory that offers abundant resources and potential evolutionary niches. The extreme pressure, constant darkness, and diverse ecosystems found in the depths create an environment that challenges life to adapt and thrive. It's not uncommon for isolated habitats to foster the evolution of highly specialized and intelligent species. With limited human exploration and observation, it's plausible that these deep-sea beings have remained hidden from our understanding.
Additionally, the concept of copper-based hemoglobin presents an intriguing possibility. Earth's terrestrial life relies on iron-based hemoglobin for oxygen transportation, but what if deep-sea organisms developed a different solution? Copper-based hemoglobin has been hypothesized as an alternative respiratory pigment, potentially better suited for the deep-sea environment. If such a system exists, it could have allowed for the emergence of complex, oxygen-dependent lifeforms unique to the deep oceans.
Furthermore, octopuses possess astonishing biological features that set them apart from most other organisms. Did you know that they have not just one, but eleven brains? Distributed throughout their body, these decentralized brains contribute to their remarkable sensory capabilities and adaptive behaviors. In addition, octopuses boast three hearts, each serving a different purpose, including the circulation of their copper-based blue blood, which is unlike the iron-based red blood found in most organisms. These mind-boggling characteristics showcase the incredible diversity of life and raise fascinating questions about the potential sophistication of octopuses' neural and physiological systems.
Now, let's take a moment to reflect on the significance of this idea. Discovering intelligent life in the deep sea would revolutionize our understanding of the universe and the possibilities it holds. It would broaden our perspective on the diversity and resilience of life, challenging the notion that advanced intelligence is exclusive to land-dwelling species.
It's fascinating and amusing to me that humans have invested significant efforts and resources in exploring the vastness of outer space and the mysteries of the universe, aiming to uncover its secrets and search for signs of life beyond our planet. Yet, we often overlook the fact that our own blue planet, with its deep oceans covering over 70% of its surface, remains largely unexplored. The fact that over 90% of the sea remains a mystery highlights the vastness of uncharted territory right at our doorstep. It's a humbling reminder that there is still so much to discover and understand about the planet we call home. it's essential to remember that our own home planet holds countless mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Exploring the depths of our own oceans might just unveil a remarkable parallel civilization, evolving alongside us, yet remaining elusive and unknown.
What are your thoughts on this mysterious possibility? Let's dive into a spirited discussion and expand our horizons!

Hey, everyone! Let's dive into an intriguing topic today that might blow your mind: the potential existence of intelligent life hidden within the depths of our oceans. It's a scientific fact that over 90% of the deep sea remains unexplored and shrouded in mystery. So, could there be a chance that an intelligent species, potentially a copper-based hemoglobin humanoid, such as an octopus, has evolved and thrived in this enigmatic realm, completely unknown to us humans? Allow me to present some compelling hypotheses to support this captivating claim.
First, let's consider the extraordinary adaptability of octopuses. These incredible creatures exhibit exceptional problem-solving abilities, dexterity, and even a level of complex communication. They possess a unique intelligence among invertebrates, capable of exhibiting both learned and innate behaviors. Just imagine how their intelligence could have further evolved in the deep sea, with the scarcity of light and harsh conditions as driving forces.
Secondly, the deep sea provides a vast, unexplored territory that offers abundant resources and potential evolutionary niches. The extreme pressure, constant darkness, and diverse ecosystems found in the depths create an environment that challenges life to adapt and thrive. It's not uncommon for isolated habitats to foster the evolution of highly specialized and intelligent species. With limited human exploration and observation, it's plausible that these deep-sea beings have remained hidden from our understanding.
Additionally, the concept of copper-based hemoglobin presents an intriguing possibility. Earth's terrestrial life relies on iron-based hemoglobin for oxygen transportation, but what if deep-sea organisms developed a different solution? Copper-based hemoglobin has been hypothesized as an alternative respiratory pigment, potentially better suited for the deep-sea environment. If such a system exists, it could have allowed for the emergence of complex, oxygen-dependent lifeforms unique to the deep oceans.
Furthermore, octopuses possess astonishing biological features that set them apart from most other organisms. Did you know that they have not just one, but eleven brains? Distributed throughout their body, these decentralized brains contribute to their remarkable sensory capabilities and adaptive behaviors. In addition, octopuses boast three hearts, each serving a different purpose, including the circulation of their copper-based blue blood, which is unlike the iron-based blood found in most organisms. These mind-boggling characteristics showcase the incredible diversity of life and raise fascinating questions about the potential sophistication of octopuses' neural and physiological systems.
Now, let's take a moment to reflect on the significance of this idea. Discovering intelligent life in the deep sea would revolutionize our understanding of the universe and the possibilities it holds. It would broaden our perspective on the diversity and resilience of life, challenging the notion that advanced intelligence is exclusive to land-dwelling species.
It's fascinating and amusing to me that humans have invested significant efforts and resources in exploring the vastness of outer space and the mysteries of the universe, aiming to uncover its secrets and search for signs of life beyond our planet. Yet, we often overlook the fact that our own blue planet, with its deep oceans covering over 70% of its surface, remains largely unexplored. The fact that over 90% of the sea remains a mystery highlights the vastness of uncharted territory right at our doorstep. It's a humbling reminder that there is still so much to discover and understand about the planet we call home. it's essential to remember that our own home planet holds countless mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Exploring the depths of our own oceans might just unveil a remarkable parallel civilization, evolving alongside us, yet remaining elusive and unknown.
What are your thoughts on this mysterious possibility? Let's dive into a spirited discussion and expand our horizons!

Chapter 88 - From All I Believed
​
Morning, Two days before Shel
Captain Setar suppressed a smile as she watched the Ops door close. “Well, that was interesting…Ce’lani is a little cranky.” The last vestiges of sleep clung to her as she settled down into the command chair. She felt worn out, but it was the cusp of dawn, and Pod Seven had only just turned over control. “Report on station?”
“The perimeter’s secure,” Jelki replied crisply, pulling up the map of the campus on the main screen. “Pod One is on station and reports twelve by twelve. Sgt Ma’reis is already complaining about janitor duty.”
“Ah, first pod problems.” Setar shook her head, rubbing her eyes and blowing gently on her mug of tea. “What about the objective?”
“The objective’s secure,” Re’lan piped up, already sounding chipper. The woman could have been priestess of Jrafell. Her unwavering cheeriness would have been a character fault if she weren’t so devoted. As it was, it was a damned penance for everyone else at this time of day.
Jelke finished running the obligatory shift change checks and stretched. Things wouldn't get interesting until breakfast, but watching the perimeter was a given. It didn't keep the curiosity out of her voice, as she cocked her head and glanced over. “What was interesting with Captain Ton’is, Ma’am?”
“Mm! Well… it appears she’s expecting a call from Professor Warrick today,” Setar drawled out, taking a moment to savor their reaction. “She felt a need to remind me she’s devoted to Hele, and that if Be’ona or I let her sleep through the call, she’s going to ‘fuck us up the ass with a lasrifle and pull the trigger’.”
Re’lan was probably blushing like a cadet, but Jelke shook her head ruefully. “I expect there's a ‘but’ in there somewhere, Captain?”
“Well, yeah, she said that’s where the rifle would go…” Setar sniggered before taking a long sip from her tea, and slid a bit lower in the command couch. Her eyes wandered to the traffic on the board. “She also made it clear what’ll happen if anybody listens in.”
Thoughtful silence descended. Setar almost counted to twelve before-
“We’re going to anyway, right Captain?” Jelke asked nonchalantly. “You know, for security’s sake?”
“Sergeant, that would be a base infringement of Captain Ton’is’ privacy, which is in fucking short supply for everyone in this bunker.” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, watching the steam rise from her mug. “Deeps right we are.”
_ _ _
Lady Wicama regarded her guest with interest as their autocab plied its way about the outskirts of Prelitauri. While she’d been free and cheerfully able to accommodate Khelira’s request, Monsignor Santino Barcio, or Friar Barcio, as he preferred, was not at all what she’d been expecting. She supposed it was a matter of exposure…
The Palace had never quite been the same since Princess Yn’dara’s wedding. Yn’dara was one of those odd Royals who, though well-regarded, was seldom in the public eye. A perennial favorite of the Empress, indulging her unexplained absences passed as a matter of course for the Court. Widely known to be estranged from her mother, Princess Arduina, no one enquired either deeply or often, so when she suddenly resurfaced, her return would have equally passed without comment… if not for the wedding.
Yn’dara had shocked the entire Nobility.
While it was common for any woman to marry into an established family and become a kho, the wedding should have been singular for a Princess. Princesses didn’t marry into families, Princesses formed them. And while Yn’dara technically had done so, she’d taken on four unmarried women at the same time as her husband, who was a Human! Favorite or no, the wags in the court were agog that the Empress accepted Adam so readily! The Empress, however, had been adamant; Yn’dara and her family had her blessings, and were to be left alone.
However, time had proven to be on Yn’dara’s side as well as the Empress.
After a wedding seen across the galaxy, Yn’dara’s family settled into a life of public duty. They spent long trips away from Shil, and while quietly dismissed as ‘pleasure excursions’, her trips often showed the throne to the outer provinces. Although her public engagements were few, she’d become a vocal advocate of the Empress’ reforms against graft and corruption, and, gradually, the jealous mutters about scandalous excess and Human debauchery faded away. Her marriage remained an unusual footnote, but time had demonstrated the value of Yn’dara and her wives to the throne.
Then there was Prince Adam.
Rumor held the Prince had made a favorable impression on the Empress years before, at an event hosted by Yn’dara’s mother. While details had never been forthcoming, a more significant story about Adam wafted briefly through the ranks of the Golden Glaives.
Both stories had been effectively silenced, but Wicama knew who to talk to, and being Khelira’s guardian carried a certain clout all its own. Though that influence waxed and waned over the years, raising Khelira required being aware of events that could shape her future, and she’d proven herself to be discreet. Over time, doors had opened and words had flowed.
Time had been on Prince Adam’s side, as well.
As the years passed, she’d had an exposure to Prince Adam that few of the court and none of the public enjoyed. She’d been wary at first, but he’d been a good friend and mentor to Princess Khelandri before she joined the Marines, and however infrequent his presence, he always displayed a keen mind, a loving heart, and a steadfast duty to his wives. Privately, he absolutely doted on young Khelira and possessed a loyalty to the Empress that you could bend battlesteel around. The two got along famously - after all, he was a veteran.
Not Navy, mind you, but you couldn’t have everything.
And so, as Humanity began making forays upon the galactic stage, her first impression of the species had been favorable. She’d witnessed Adam mature into his role with the court, and while the issue of children remained unspoken, that faded as well. At the time, Yn’dara had been sixth in the line of succession. A year after the wedding, Kamaud’re became an adult, followed a year later by Khelandri, and the matter became largely moot.
As for a second impression on Humans, Khelira had provided enthusiastic reports about Thomas Warrick. While the Princess thrived at the Academy, Warrick seemed to be something special.
The absence of a father in her life had been a void that no woman could properly fill, but she’d done her best. Although she’d entertained a few qualms, as the months passed by, Warrick remained a positive influence. Khelira’s messages were infrequent by necessity, but she’d written about her distress over Warrick’s family and clearly been moved. Prince Adam carried his own scars, but what veteran didn’t? He hid them carefully around Khelli, and if Warrick had chosen not to, he’d provided a useful sense of perspective, instead. It was time for Khelira to grow up, and that meant facing the grist of differing opinions and ugly realities. That was what education was actually for, and Warrick seemed to be doing admirably well as a grindstone.
All of that was before the library incident, which settled her opinion once and for all. While erratic, irreverent, and capable of violence, Humans clearly could be a positive influence when channeled in the right direction. Yn’dara had shown what a good Shil’vati woman was capable of with Prince Adam, and Lady Pel’avon was following suit.
And at least the wags at the Palace wouldn’t speak of Yn’dara’s state wedding again. As a subject for spectacle, Miv’eire Pel’avon’s had put it to shame.
Still, it was good to see Warrick married. While Professor Ha’meres scandalous exploits had faded from the public eye, older wo… more mature women didn’t forget such things. The man had been a daring adventurer - and an inveterate gadabout - and an unmarried man around that many young women was too tempting for some girls. A wife or two… preferably more… resolved such idle fancies. If the Pel’avon ceremony had been somewhat… questionable in taste, compared to Adam’s, it remained legally binding. Warrick was willing to settle down, and by all reports his wife had a proper sense of decorum.
Human men seemed to be a trial from the Goddess, but hopefully she and her kho-wife could sort him with time, love, and kindness.
While exposure to only two Humans was not what she’d call a comprehensive sample, in both cases her impressions had been quite positive. And so, when Khelli asked her to escort a Human Priest about the city, she’d been entirely willing.
Thus far, it had been an enjoyable morning. While there had been occasional missteps, their conversation had been delightful as they traveled from property to property. Even so, she hadn’t expected to meet such a kindred spirit.
Admittedly she’d stammered a bit when he mentioned eating the flesh and drinking the blood of his redeemer. On the other hand, she compared it to the first time she’d bled into the ocean, mingling salt in her blood with the seas. He’d turned shockingly pale, so she changed the subject. It was a purely symbolic act to Drepna - just a cut on the thumb, for goddess sake...
She’d taken extra care afterwards. Barcio could be clearly a sensitive male, but diplomacy was part of her work. Even calling her role ‘work’ was deceptive. She’d raised Khelira in every way an Empress could not.
It was easy for other women to appreciate the prestige of her position, but few understood the depth of it - or the satisfaction.
During her career in the Navy, her flotilla had provided direct support for the Empress, and they’d come to work closely over three tours. After Khelira’s birth years later, the invitation came from the Royal Household to act as her guardian, and she’d never looked back. Competition had been fierce for the prestigious position, but applying had been the best move of her life.
Empress Kamilesh loved all her children and had spent as much time with each of them as she could, but her work was all-consuming, and after her husband’s act of… Well, the Empress had been there, but she’d born her pain privately. She had lost herself in her work for many years before recovering a semblance of her former self, and her absence had taken a toll on her children. Kamaud’re had taken it the worst. Khelandri had bounced back, while everyone doted on Lu’ral. Barely more than an infant, Khelira had been far too young to remember. Wicama had been there through all of it.
It was a good life, and the princess was a delightful girl. For Wicama, the absence of a man in her life was something she’d felt now and then, but she invested her life in Khelira. The Empress treated her as a member of the family in all but name… and in a very real sense, the child you raised was your child.
Looking back, some women might insinuate she’d given up her personal life to raise another woman’s daughter. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
She had her calling - just as Friar Barcio had his.
Yes, he was a priest, and his religious strictures were very unusual. A male priest in any of the Shil’vati faiths would never be placed under such restraints, and for a man to go unmarried was noteworthy…
But she understood having a calling. Oh yes, she understood that as few others could.
After discussing his needs, they’d set out to examine three properties around Prelitauri. The Friar’s individual requirements were deceptively difficult when taken as a whole. A complex coupling a generous auditorium, ample administrative space, and he clearly needed substantial grounds to properly convey a sense of aura. Such accommodations were seldom on the market, and since he expected his colleagues to arrive in weeks, his need was immediate.
Thankfully, urban renewal moved in waves. The tides of such fashions meant Prelitauri was once again an up-and-coming area. While difficult to find, three older structures had the potential to be suitable, and so it was that she’d enjoyed learning about her guest as they explored the tiny district.
The Monsignor spoke four other Earth languages fluently. He tended to break into his native tongue and hadn’t mastered contractions yet, but his Vatikre was passable and he listened carefully, seldom needing to ask about a word. After limiting her contractions when she spoke, their conversation flowed easily.
Barcio had shown little enthusiasm for the first two properties, but their conversation regarding other matters never waned. She expanded on her devotion to Drepna, Shil and the roles of each goddess while asking careful questions of his faith. His own inquiries proved thoughtful, and he was as avid in politely asking after her beliefs as explaining his faith.
After their second hour together, she’d taken the liberty of calling Prelate Hi’meta Merlamiss. As a priestess of Drepna’s second circle, Merlamiss had proven a valuable contact over the years. Well connected, she enjoyed a good relationship with many other prelates of the Divine Halls; she also got on well with Xinfess, the Rakiri’s Speaker of the Dark Mother on Shil. A meeting with Barcio would readily open doors for his group that might otherwise prove difficult to attain, and while Barcio’s accent strained now and then, it was clear the Monsignor and the Prelate shared a questionably low sense of humor.
Given a chance, they’d probably get on famously.
Certainly, that would be a blessing. Their hunt for a suitable facility had not gone nearly so well, and while Barcio had been conciliatory toward the first two facilities, she could tell he wasn’t taken with either. The last property wasn’t high in her expectations, so she found herself casting her head to the side when it swept into view and he clasped his hands in excitement.
”*È bella!* This is beautiful,” he exclaimed. “It reminds me a bit of my childhood home in Sacile!”
She looked out at the complex with its low gabled roofs, as their cab wound up from the entrance. Beside the drive, a small river meandered through the campus past the main buildings. She tapped the console to slow their ride and considered the place in a new light. “I’m… well, a bit surprised to be honest, Friar.”
“Please! We have been traveling for hours now, and I am not holding a service.” The Friar spared her a warm smile, before gazing back at the premises. “I would take it as a great kindness if you would call me Santino.”
“Very well - on the condition you call me Wicama.” It had been some time since anyone called her by anything but title or rank, and the informality was pleasant. Still, as their autocab closed on the end of the lane, she let such thoughts go and considered the location properly.
The buildings were low, sensible cubes, but that was largely an end to it. The architect had made some unusual choices in Helkam motifs that strained understanding. A long colonnade bordered the river, and that seemed nice enough, but the buildings! Forgoing purple was one thing, but they were beige! With unusual elements and the repressively bland color scheme, it was small wonder the clerk handling the property confessed that the space had lain vacant. Its original owners went into foreclosure. The exotic design had proven unable to attract interest, laying dormant ever since.
Barcio… Santino… seemed delighted, however, and she pulled up the specifications on her omni-pad. “This site has two smaller auditoriums besides the main one, while the central building has four floors. One is underground, but all the floors face an interior atrium.”
As the cab gently halted in the car park, she climbed out to hold the door but Santino had already scrambled out and was examining the gardens with evident interest. Tall stands of parago trees were losing the last of their fronds for the year, but she had to admit the grounds were substantial. Yesterday’s storm had left the morning air cold and crisp, lending the gardens an appealing aspect. Untended since the last owners, much could be done with them.
She had given up trying to escort the Friar anywhere after their first two stops, and now they fell into an easy pace side by side as they strolled toward the main building. She turned back to the property itself. “So, this reminds you of your home?”
It wasn’t exactly Helkam architecture - domes weren’t covering every possible surface - but the builder had clearly been nodding in that direction. A promenade wound to the entry, supporting white chevrons that arced into the sky. The bright morning sky shone through clever cutouts, making the unusual design at least look light, rather than oppressive and unappealing. With a decent renovation, the facility had possibilities, and the price was comparatively low.
“*Si!* Oh, not so much like home, but there is the sense of it. I was born near the sea, and this feels… similar.” He gave her a depreciating smile before rolling his eyes. “It may not please everyone who is coming, but ‘everyone’ is not here, so I am allowed some indulgence! Better to have something waiting than nothing at all. I confess, some of my colleagues thought we’d only manage when the bridge to Messina is finished.”
“You should not have been sent ahead alone! Surely your colleagues were not that worried about a poor reception,” she tutted. Priest or no, there were decencies about a man traveling alone to be observed. “You shouldn't need a bridge to find a place for your mission. I don’t know where Messina is, but I’m certain Prelate Marlemis wouldn’t stand for it!”
“Tch! Excuse my poor efforts! The older I get, the more I remember things like yesterday. Unfortunately, the yesterdays I remember so well were thirty years ago!” Barcio smiled wryly up at her as they walked. “The ‘bridge to Messina’ used to be a saying… People dreamed of building a bridge to Sicily, and it became something that never happened. My English friends would instead say ‘when hell freezes over’. *Un'espressione volgare*, but very much to the point.”
“Ah… I’m sure we can manage something, and this could be made presentable. Maybe change the beige to a pale violet?” she offered helpfully as she made it to the door first, holding it open. “The aura inside isn’t so bad.”
“You’ve said that several times, but I do not know what you mean?” He paused in looking around the entry, which had an open foyer exposing the two floors above and led out to the atrium beyond. “What is ‘aura’? I do not think I know the word as you mean it.”
“Aura is… Hmm…” Wicama paused thoughtfully and gestured at the atrium. The interior was in better shape than the grounds, and the architect had done something clever. Not yet noon, a bevel along the top edge filled the space with sunlight. “Have you ever walked along a beach and wanted to save a shell? When you are there, that is aura… When you take the shell home and think of the beach, that is aura, but… less focused. Diminished. You sense the beach because of the shell, but you are not at the beach. Places can have aura, but it is more than character. If you move through a place and find yourself experiencing it? That is aura.”
“Mhm! *lodevole!*“I like this idea very much. It would be right at home in the Vatican. Not everyone understands a space can move the spirit, or lend power to a message.” He nodded thoughtfully as he cast his eye about the open space. “With the right advice, perhaps we can lead others to these halls.”
“Perhaps. If you tour the Palace, I hope you’ll allow me to show you about? A lot of the real gems are hidden from the public.” She watched as he wandered toward the double-helixed stairways bordering the room. Those were definitely Helkam; walking up one side without meeting someone coming down the other was an interesting experience… once. After that, they could be an absolute nuisance. Spotting the elevators, she called him back. “The nice thing is this place is inexpensive! That will pad out your funds for a good remodel.”
Wicama quietly thanked the Goddesses that the builder’s had the good sense to install normal Shil’vati-style elevators. The sides were open, granting a wide view out over the atrium. The grounds were terraced to create a small park; that could make the underground space bearable, and the plans made them seem spacious enough. Not to everyone’s taste, but pretty. “I feel bad for asking, but can you afford the building? If the price of the first two bothered you, we can find others.”
“I would not hear of it! Thank you for your concern, but we are economical with our funds, and were sent with a generous sum. This is an important venture to everyone involved,” Barcio clasped a hand over his chest, as he shook his head. “I can not thank you enough for your help! You have surely spared me weeks, and I might not have found something half so suitable. As it is, the grounds are enough to gain me converts. Father Roscio and Pastor Weber will surely plant a vineyard before the inside is half done!”
“It’s not a problem. I have plenty of time,” she replied, dismissing the matter as inconsequential. “I work at the Palace, but with the Court away and my daughter at school, I’m a bit at loose ends just now. At the very least, I insist on helping you through the paperwork. I wouldn’t put it past some realty clerks to try and overcharge you… Someone from outside Shil, that is. I’ll ensure they stick to the listing.”
“To someone not from Shil… or someone who is not Shil’vati, perhaps?” His head canted slightly to one side, but he smiled as he said it. “*Certamente!* I would not dream of preventing you, though Rabbi Kleinbaum will be bitterly disappointed she has nothing to moan about.”
“I hope you won't take this badly, as I’ve only met one Human.” Wicama gave him a smile. She was long past girlish uncertainty, and the Navy had taught her a generous measure of professional poise to go with her skills as a markswoman. “You aren’t what I expected.”
“You know the professore, then?” He sucked in a breath and pursed his lips. “I am still deciding what sort of man he is.”
“No, actually, I know another Human but I’ve not… I have not… met Professor Warrick.”
“So. You mean that I am not *un barbaro*? I am here to make sure that we are seen as something more than savage warriors, *capisci*?” He studied her expectantly. “While the Imperium is doing good work on Earth, some still live in want. The Imperium provides enough for all to survive, but not all live in plenty. We need to present ourselves well.”
”That seems like a very secular outlook.” She offered, as they rode up to the third floor. Barcio asked for an explanation of the word, and by the time they’d made their way through the first offices he had the idea.
“My church has not always troubled itself with such things, but our holy father is greatly concerned with such inequalities. He takes it upon himself to address such matters with the Governess, when their time allows.”
“Your church has a good relationship with her?”
“È straordinario! The Governess adores our food, and while she was adamant about taking quarters in the Vatican, she has taken pains not to disturb us.” He shrugged dismissively. “*Cosa sai fare?* It seemed a small price, and we have endured far worse.”
“I used to hear terrible stories about red zones on Earth, though the Humans I’ve met don't seem the sort. It is good that your… pulp?” She tried the word and was rewarded with kind laughter and a gentle correction. “It is good that your pope concerns himself with the full welfare of the people and works with your governess. Our prelates share the same concerns.”
“I thought the Empress was the head of your church? Now, I find you have many…” he groped for a word, frowning, and gave up. “*Questo accento è una prova di fede!* ‘Denominations’ is not the right word, but she is the one revered, yes?”
“Of course! The Empress has to show all of our virtues and none of our faults, but that’s part of her role. To favor any divinity over the others could cause divisions. She has her personal preferences, of course, but never lets them be known.” Wicama explained carefully. “It would be in poor taste.”
“And poor politics, I think?” Santino gave her a long look. At his height it was difficult, but he managed. “This makes sense to me now, that the Imperium leaves matters of faith alone. *Una benedizione inaspettata.*”
Despite the serious topic, his fervent reply brought a smile back to her lips. “It seems your pope considers politics as well as economics.”
“People will always defend economic theories which assume that growth will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice. This has never been confirmed by the facts, and expresses a crude trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system.” He said, stopping to clasp a hand over his cross. “Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting.”
“That doesn't sound like scripture.” She offered cautiously, as they made their way into a wider suite of offices on the second floor.
“*Esattamente* The words of Pope Francis, a good and blessed man who appointed me to my position. His successor, his holiness John Paul the Third, is much of the same mind.” Santino said quietly. “Our savior washed the feet of others and urged all to do the same. The hardest step is to be involved. To work together for change, as well as to pray. That is why I am here.
“*I pigri di cuore trovano sempre una scusa* Some Humans, they are yet angry with the Imperium. Now they have enough, they are bitter not to have plenty. For some there is never enough - the true poverty lies within their hearts,” Santino said a bit testily. “Our faith teaches us to find salvation in eternal life, but others? *Pigrizia!* They see it as an excuse from taking agency in themselves. Jesus washed the feet of others - he did not lay down and wait for someone to wash his!”
Wicama turned the unfamiliar metaphor over in her mind but decided she had the sense of it. “Sham teaches us that helping our families and one another is the same as helping ourselves. ‘The rising tide bares us all from the reefs’.” It was a matter of faith… but that was why it was faith in the first place. On the whole, it seemed like a mature perspective that explained the changes she’d seen in Prince Adam over the years. “You’re here to meet with others, but this seems as much about knowing yourselves.”
“*Sì, non è una brutta cosa avere umiltà davanti a Dio.* Human beings, while we are capable of the worst, we are also capable of choosing the good. Of rising up to make a new start. We are entering the galaxy.” He gestured out the window at the world beyond. “If not now… when?”
_ _ _ “So, when are you going to explain this masterpiece you four have been cooking up?” Marin asked. Sammi and Sam were barely awake but the twins had already arrived, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, and Marin cursed the resilience of youth. The room was acceptably warm, but Ayen had complained about the cold and used the excuse to slip back into bed. She was considering her options for joining him.
Somewhere, somehow, Sammi had found their rabbit pajamas again. “Sam, explain it to her? You do it better.” Sammi yawned, but Marin suspected it was an act. Once something got their attention, sleep was usually an afterthought.
“What, now?” Sam had barely stumbled into the room and blinked. Bleary-eyed and barely awake, he looked like he’d been ambushed, which was exactly the case.
“Pllllllleeeease…?” They sat back pulling the ears, giving their best Roger Rabbit impression. Luminous green eyes peered out at Sam, imploringly.
“Alright… I need coffee, but fine.” Sam trudged over to the kitchenette and poked listlessly at the instant coffee. It was getting perilously low, but Marin was sure he’d brought more on the ship. Eventually Sam gestured at the K’herbhal sisters with his mug. “So the girls want to create an artificial topological soliton. It's like a black hole, except where it isn't… It's sort of a kink in space-time.”
“Made you say kink!” Sammi grinned impishly and the girls blushed. Marin shook her head but paid attention. It felt far too early after another late night, but once everyone was up you had to hang on for whatever came next.
“So, what's that got to do with this… hole you want to use for power?” Marin raised her voice just enough to drag the conversation back on track.
“It’s more like a side effect. If it cuts the right angle, it goes into a realm of space-time we can tap for power. Think of it as an obverse of an energy drain, so it's like a white hole.”
“Let me guess.” Marin shook her head and grinned, holding up a hand to forestall the inevitable. “Except where it isn’t?”
“Ummm… pretty much.” Sam grumbled, blowing at his coffee. Marin glanced back at the twins. With Sam busy, the twins had gravitated to either side of Sammi. There was room left on the couch, and she wandered over to settle in beside one of them.
The Sams had been complaining for years about a lack of ‘focal power’ for their mass compression technologies, and while a rubber duck inside a diamond was impressive, they’d wanted to do something more - a lot more. She suspected if the twins were providing the means, then they already had something about to surface from the depths of their imaginations. Over the years she’d learned to pick a bit, rather than take their answers at straight value. “And if things don’t cut at the right angle? You remember how long it took to get rid of the Navy, when you started talking about making black holes?”
“It's not our fault they didn’t understand,” Sammi said defensively, crossing their arms and pouting at her before the rabbit ears fell over their face.
“Who didn’t understand what?” Akeimei yawned at the door. She cast a wink her way before wrapping her arms around Sam and gave him a quick hug. “What did I miss?”
“Umm… a parallel universe, if the math is right,” Sam mumbled from the depths of his coffee cup.
“What? Like identical versions of us?” Marin watched Akimei’s nose wrinkled at the smell before she slipped away from Sam. Slipped down beside her, they rubbed shoulders a moment. “Tell me, is there one where I get more sleep?”
“More or less identical… though it's not like you need to go into a parallel universe for that sort of thing. There’s already a ‘you’ out there somewhere right now, to say nothing of past and future ‘you’.” Sam scratched his cheek idly for a moment “It's just the math. The universe is so vast that there are exact physical cosmic twins of us out there somewhere, not to mention even more almost-twins.”
“Sam’s right!” Sammi perked up excitedly, bouncing on the sofa. “Then there are quantum cosmic twins - which gets weird because particles exist in multiple states and you’d sort of overlap… but the easiest one is probably just another us elsewhere in the universe right now! That's sort of the point where things are since the universe is bigger than you can imagine!”
“So exactly the same… or almost.” One of the twins giggled. “Just like us!”
“Pretty much,” Sam nodded, slowly emerging from the depths of his coffee. “Another you out there on another Shil, or another me on a whole Earth, even - just a little bit different.”
“What? Like an Earth that never met the Imperium?” Marin canted her head, tossing out the obvious. It was hard to remember her life before, and she didn’t want to contemplate the alternative.
“Oh, I don't like that idea.” One of the twins stuck out her lip. “We want to come to Earth!”
“Yeah,” her sister nodded, though she suddenly looked glum. “I don’t know if Professor Warrick would mind though. He’d be with his wife and daughter, there.”
“Oh…” her sister's face crumpled. “I didn’t think of it that way.”
“Well, don’t…” Sammi hugged them both a moment, though they held the first twin a bit tighter. “The point is, somewhere he’s with them right now!”
“Wow, I guess so.” she brightened. “Just imagine! A whole Earth that never met the Shil’vati!”
“I wouldn’t worry, sis.” her twin nodded. “I think Professor Warrick is pretty happy right now.”
_ _ _
“I am not happy about this!” Tom glared at his omni-pad before tossing it down in frustration.
Miv looked up at her husband.
“It’s an honor!” She tucked her chin in and gave him a long, considered look, “What is it that’s bothering you - really? It wasn't Monsignor Barcio. Are you certain this isn't the same sort of thing?”
“Yes, I’m sure!” he growled, looking away like a guilty child. “Alright, maybe… but this uniform is the silliest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ll look like a mushroom, and the hat only makes it worse!" Tom grimaced at the omni-pad accusingly, "They won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, so now I’m on the rolls as a Warden Captain - whatever that is - and this ceremony is ridiculous!”
“The ceremony is traditional. Very symbolic... Besides, they don't make wardens out of anyone below the rank of captain - I looked it up. You were one before, so it's appropriate to make you one instead of a Warden Major or Warden Colonel.” She smiled at him serenely. “Surely, it can’t be the worst thing you’ve ever done.”
He turned to wag a finger her way. “I’ll take that bet!”
“Worse than our wedding reception…?” She crooned, teasing him. “Or maybe pre-term night? I swear by the Goddess no one will pinch your ass, except for Lea and I.”
“Fine… “ Her smile grew wider as he grumbled, but he was calming down already and there wasn't heat in it. Still, he stubbornly clung on to the point a while longer. "It’s in my top five.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive, husband. Now then, I have meetings all afternoon, so why don't you finish reviewing the menu? You’ll feel better when all this is over and you can go back to cooking, chess, or starting that eeeyiy club… You might even give Ce’lani a call or message her?” She gathered her coat and smiled demurely, though it harbored nothing innocent. “If I’m not here you’ll have perfect privacy… Just don't promise anything you wouldn't promise to me.”
“It’s iai-do…” Tom groused, but he was already picking up his omni-pad.
She blew him a kiss and made her way toward the commons. Tom would probably stew a while, but he’d make the call.
There would be time to meet with Ce’lani on the common, before she had to come home for dinner.
_ _ _
Tom looked over the banquet menu as if it might reach out and bite him. The words stared up at him with perfect innocence.
Appetizer: Fruit and Cheese Platter - Slices of various cheeses and fruits on a platter providing a delicate mix of sweet, tangy and creamy to invigorate the dining experience. Serve with a selection of sweet and semi-sweet wines.
Soup: Choice of Tomato or French Onion Soup - Served with a piece of baguette and cheese.
Salad: Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing -- an assortment of greens and fruit with a balsamic grain dressing to cleanse the palate.
Entree: Cornish Pasty - This herb-infused meat and pastry dish provides a counterpoint to the tangy taste of the salad and soup. Served with a creamy buttered mashed potato (a vegetable, humanely prepared!) with chives (also a vegetable). Served with a selection of wines or ales.
Dessert: Chef’s Sorbet Surprise - A sweet treat complemented by a palate cleanser, ending the meal on a piquant note.
His last call with Bherdin had been a trial and a half. Omni-pads were the definition of ‘high fidelity’, and hearing the little Shil’vati hyperventilate for ten minutes over the plan was pointless. At least Melondi had easier going with Vedeem on her side... one way or another this was happening.
As a final consolation, he relented on wearing matching suits. Bherdin frequently bemoaned Tom’s 'lamentable' fashion sense, and he perked up at that, promising to get him some appropriate formalwear for the occasion.
Privately, he suspected his Shil’vati friend was looking for a convenient alibi if a riot started.
In fairness, it probably wasn't a bad idea.
“Too late to use it myself…” he muttered. It wasn’t quite noon, and Miv was probably right. Instead of Chess Club or starting Iai-do practice or just cooking out at Human Food, he was stuck here at home. Miv’s place was bigger, but most of his stuff was still in boxes; it left him listless and climbing the walls. If this worked, at least things could get back to normal.
…Mostly normal…
He flipped back to the picture of the Warden uniform on his omni-pad. It was bad enough, but the hat made the whole thing look like a blue toadstool in silver filigree.
He swiped the picture away like an act of revenge, but didn’t toss the pad back on the table.
…Miv was right... and I promised to call Ce’lani…
Tom centered himself, pulling up the number. The universe was always in motion and a good Taoist accepted their part in what came. That was the lesson of ‘the Vinegar Tasters’, and it held true… The painting showed three men standing around a vat of vinegar. Each has dipped his finger into the vinegar and tasted it. The expression on each man's face showed his individual reaction.
The painting was an allegory for Confucius, Buddha, and Lao-tse. Confucius wore a sour look on his face. He believed life was out of harmony with the universe. As the second figure in the painting, Buddha had a bitter expression. Like the vinegar, life was painful and filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering. The last man, Lao-tse, was smiling at the taste. To him, harmony existed naturally and could be found by anyone at any time in any experience.
He thought about his buddy Dave. The old Marine would probably shake his head and tell him to ‘embrace the suck.’ It pretty much boiled down to the same thing.
Not that he was against calling. Miv and Lea had practically taken turns urging him on and giving their views on why it was a good idea. They hadn't harped about it, but he knew which way the wind was blowing. And Ce’lani’s message had been short, sweet in the literal sense, and the sound file she’d offered up had been…
…Pretty nice, really…
If he still said no, or decided he didn't like where this was going, they’d back his choice, of course. He didn't have a doubt in his mind… But with everything else in his life turned upside down, calling Ce’lani seemed like a calm in the eye of a storm.
…It's just a phone call. Leave the chaos at the gate…
He settled down on the couch to check his messages before giving her a call. It was nearly lunch…

I think an over the top cartoony story, in the way of Dreamwork's Madagascar or Blue Sky's Ice Age, would work quite well with the DKC series. A simple story works for me, always better. Something weird like... K. Rool finds an underground cavern with dinosaurs and enslaves these creatures. He uses his new army and kidnaps all the animal kings, who are all the rulers of a specific habitat, like a whale is the king of the ocean or a lion is the king of the savannah, etc. DK and his family have to stop K. Rool, so that the other animal kings can officially crown DK as the king of the jungles. We later find out, that K. Rool doesn't even want to be the new king of all the animal kingdoms. He only did this all to whip out grapefruit trees, because a grapefruit cost him to get his eye infected.
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---Esme’s perspective---
---Wednesday, 13th of September, 2682 Terran Calendar---
---Central Algeria---
“So, Mr Nasri… would you tell us about where the water comes from to irrigate these crops?” asks Ms Larch, a plump little half Denisovan woman with straight, dark hair and a limp that disqualified her from service.
She is a strong contender for the most boring woman alive… and is also my teacher.
“Of course…” smiles the tall, genial Amazigh man, in fluent (if heavily accented) standard English (as he can’t speak or understand Lallans Scots… which is fairly typical), gesturing at the fields around us “…the water comes from pipes, laid under the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic Ocean where they extend hundreds of kilometres off shore. It comes here, to the Sahara Agricultural band, and we use it to produce 45% of all Terra’s food!”
“And… could you tell us, why do the pipes need to be so long? Couldn’t the water just be collected at the coast?” asks the teacher, acting like she doesn’t already know.
The man smiles and laughs “Of course!… Mechanically, there wouldn’t be any problem with that! Ecologically, on the other hand, the problem would be that, with the enormous quantity of fresh water we need, we would be creating a huge plume of brine that would make the area around the collection point quite inhospitable to marine life… The desalination happens at the source, with only fresh water being let into the pipes and the salt being left in the ocean. The length of the pipes is necessary to… erm… what is the English word?…*snap* diffuse oversalinated water across a wide enough area not to be toxic to the marine ecosystem… Causing damage of that kind would be harmful to maintaining the habitability of our planet…”
“Fascinating, fascinating…” simpers Larch, seeming like she might have a bit of a crush on the agricultural engineer “…and, Mr Nasri…?”
“Please, call me Hassan!” smiles the good looking man.
“Well… err… Hassan, would you tell us a little about the role the Green Sahara played in the Reset?”
“I’d be honoured to!” he says, swelling with pride and turning to the class “You see, children… err… I mean… young ladies and gentlemen…” he corrects, obviously realising how ridiculous it is to refer to people almost old enough to serve as ‘children’!
He clears his throat and continues on his (obviously) heavily rehearsed spiel “…nearly a thousand years ago, back before the resurrecting of Homo Tshwane, Homo Longi, Homo Denisova or even Homo Neanderthalensis and before the creation of any uplifted or artificial sapients, when Homo sapiens were the only intelligent species living on Earth, our society experience the Industrial Revolution… which was a great thing for our technology and quality of life (generally) but not so great a thing for our planet!… By the late 21st Century, we were about to have a total collapse of Earth’s entire ecology!… It was at that time that Humanity United… Coming together to work to a solution to our dying world, we embarked on a grand project to terraform our own planet. This is known as the ‘Reset’… It took hundreds of years for us to fully undo the damage that had been done and the techniques we developed, here, were what allowed us to settle other planets so easily… The Green Sahara played three vital roles in preserving both our planet and our species: The first thing it did, was produce higher cloud cover, with the increased evaporation and transpiration happening here raising the planet’s overall humidity… This might not sound like much but, because the main problem we were facing was our planet’s increasing temperature, it helped in short term by increasing the albedo (the amount of light our planet reflects back into space). This bought us the precious time we needed to develop the technology that would rescue us from the calamity we had caused!… In medium to long term it made rebuilding the lost ice cover much easier by…”
Not really having the patience to listen (for the millionth time) to the story about how great we are for sorting out our own fuck ups, I lean in to Tommie and mutter “So it’s these guys’ fault that Stranraer is wetter than an otter’s pocket(!)”
Her whiskers swish up and down as she giggles at the joke.
“Is it just me or are you absolutely sweating your tits off out here too?” I ask.
“I’m… a little hot.” she breathes, hesitantly.
“I’ll bet! All that fur, you must be sweltering!... Is it…?”
“Ms Reid!” comes an angry voice.
“Yes, Ms Larch?” I respond, innocently.
“Is it too much to ask that you pay attention while Hassan hear is giving up his time to educate us about the history of his region?”
“No… Ms Larch…” I respond, abashed.
The rest of the class have a hearty giggle at my public shaming.
---later---
---Southwestern Scotland---
“The bitch has got it out for me!… Just ’cause she thinks I’m a ‘disruptive student’!” I grizzle, as I try and fail to skip a stone across the water toward the Man Peninsula, visible on the south horizon.
“You are a disruptive student, Mimi…” says Tommie from behind me.
I turn to stare daggers at her but find that she’s looking at her holopad.
“What’s the point in coming out hear to nature if you’re just gonna stare at your screen the whole time, Tommie?!” I challenge.
“It’s called homework, Esme(!) Not that you’d know anything about that(!)” she shoots back, coolly.
I scowl and turn back to the water.
“I just don’t really see the point of learning all this shit about history and ecology when I’m gonna be drafted soon!”
“You really want to come home with zero useful skills? Historically, it hasn’t ended well when societies have allowed there to be large numbers of unemployed people whose only talents are those related to killing folk…(!)”
“Easy for you to say… You get to stay here and raise an adorable little litter of kitten-puppy abominations-against-nature with Rex(!)” I tease.
“Actually… Mimi…” she starts, her tone serious.
I turn behind me, my eyes wide with disbelief.
“…I’ve been thinking I might try to… enlist…” she finishes, sheepishly.
I stand, frozen to the spot, for 3 long seconds, before I stride across the stony beach, my feet scattering pebbles with each footfall.
I reach the rock where she’s sitting and take her grey furred face between my hands, forcing her slitpupiled, amber eyes to meet mine.
She makes a silent whimper and folds her ears (more than normal) as I stare down at her, furiously.
“I forbid it!” I state, seething with anger.
“But…!”
“No buts, Tamsin Quinn!!!… I don’t get a choice about whether to fight… you do, but I’ll be bloody damned if I let you throw your life away for nothing!”
She stands up and bats my hands away with her paws “How is it fair that you have to fight and I don’t!?”
I give a slightly hysterical laugh as I answer “Fair?! Fair?!?!?!… Nothing about this stupid fucking War is fair!!!… Was it fair when it took my parents?! When it took your fosterdads?!… We spent our entire recorded history looking at the stars and imagining the people we could meet out there and, it turns out, to them, we’re the equivalent of the fucking xenomorphs!… On the 5th of February, 2679, fairness became an unaffordable luxury! So, you are going to thank your lucky stars that being an uplift means you don’t have to go to the same Hell that I do, you’re going to marry Rex (or maybe someone else, if things don’t work out with him) you’re going to have a million babies and, if I don’t make it back, you are gonna live my fucking share! Is that understood, Tamsin!?”
Looking extremely pained, she lets out a pathetic sob as she nods “OK, Esme…”
“Good!” I say, angrily, before pulling her into a heartfelt cuddle.
She holds me tight as I stroke my hands through the dark grey fur of her back.
I smile and joke “God, your fur is soft, Tommie!… If I make it back from the War and things don’t work out with Rex, how’s about you and me get married(?)”
She giggles as she says “We’re both straight, Mimi… Also, I’m not a muscular Neanderthal man and you aren’t a cute Canis boy!”
“So…(?!)” I grin “…did I say ‘lets get married and have wild, crazy sex every night’?”
“So your idea of marriage would be?”
“Simple(!) I go out to work and you stay home and keep the place clean, have a meal ready when I get home and then let me snuggle your fur(!)”
“It sounds like what you want is a live-in housekeeper more than a spouse(!)” she quips.
“Nah… I’d have to pay a housekeeper…(!) Plus, it’s generally considered harassment to make your employees snuggle with you(!)”
She gives a mirthful sigh as she says “You are incorrigible, Ms Reid!”
“I don’t know the meaning of the word(!)” I say (honestly) as I curl myself around her and sit her back down on the rock, cuddling her from behind now.
We look out to the south as the Sun gets low in the sky.
“I don’t only like muscly Neanderthal guys, you know…” I muse.
She snorts and answers “Oh, nooooo(!)… I’m sure you’re partial to a wide assortment of different types of man…(!) For instance, muscly Neanderthal hybrids, muscly Denisovans, muscly Denisovan hybrids and may even be persuaded to be attracted to a Sapiens or a Longi… if he was hench enough, of course(!)… I have to assume that even the most cut Tshwane would still be too skinny for your tastes.”
“Alright little Miss Only-Dates-Good-Boys(!)” I shoot back.
“Canis are fun and attentive, especially Rex!… I really don’t see the appeal of men who look like they’ve had their bodies carved out of marble and I don’t have the slightest inclination to Neanderthals!” she responds, resolutely.
“You don’t feel any sort of kinship with them… being a Scot?” I ask.
She gives a mirthful frown over her shoulder and demands “Explain exactly what it is that you think us and Neanderthals have in common, Mimi!”
“Well, to me it seems like we’re both proud races of intelligent folk (with lots of red hair) who, historically, got squashed under the bootheel of a more successful competitor, trying to erase our culture and identity and assimilate us into becoming them… Do you not agree?”
“You realise that, as a Sapiens, not only does that make you the Englishwoman of that little analogy but any hybrid kids you had with your lucky husband would also be part of the process of Neanderthal assimilation?”
“You call me an Englishwoman again, Tommie, and your gonna leave me with no choice but to wash your mouth out with soap(!)” I grin.
“I’m quivering(!)” she answers, dryly.
I give her a squeeze as we sit in silence, staring at the water for a while.
“Don’t you think it’s kinda bullshit that, right now, Terra considers me to be a wee baby, doing wee baby things, but, next month, they’re gonna press a gun into my hands and say ‘off to War with you!’” I say, eventually.
“You could always volunteer for Officer Training if you’re so keen to go off and die?” points out Tommie, dryly.
“I’m not…” I correct “…just commenting on the arbitrariness of it; Midnight strikes on my birthday and I magically transform from a poor little defenceless girl into a young body, ripe to be tossed into the meatgrinder, in the government’s eyes…”
She sighs and stays silent for a long time before saying “Promise me you’ll come back, Esme…”
I look to the ground and forlornly say “You know I can’t promise that, Tommie…”
“I know… I guess I just… wish you could!”
“I mean… who knows…? We’ve had the xenos on the run since we broke the Cordon… Maybe, by the time I finish Initial Training, they’ll’ve sued for peace!”
“Yeah… maybe…” she answers, letting me know with her tone exactly how likely she thinks that is!
“Do you think, if the situation was reversed, we’d’ve been any better?” I muse, idly.
“What d’you mean?”
“Like… if we’d discovered a planet with six billion xenomorphs living on it in Victorian conditions? Do you think we’d’ve been able to be all friendly with them, ignoring how absolutely lethal they were and how horrifying they looked to us.”
She shakes her head and answers “I think we’d’ve probably nuked the planet from orbit with someone saying ‘it’s the only way to be sure’… I am quite tickled by the image of a xenomorph wearing a tophat and reaching under his tailcoat to pull a pocketwatch out of his vestjacket, though!”
I giggle and the conversation ceases for another long moment.
Then my alarm sounds, letting me know it’s 6:59 and we’ve only got 40mins to make it back to the home before sunset and 1:01hrs to beat the curfew.
“Alright, Missus… you wanna call a capsule or shall we walk(?)”
“Oh, aye(!)” she smirks over her shoulder “Let’s trudge 50km home, over hill and glen(!)”
“Strathluce isn’t a glen, Tommie… It’s a strath!… Honestly, I thought you were meant to be the canny brainbox(!)” I say, smugly.
“We live in a glen, Mimi!” she retorts, calling a capsule on her holo.
“Glen Ryan doesn’t count! It’s all urbanised…”
We argue goodnaturedly, laughing until the capsule arrives to take us home.
---
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https://soundcloud.com/user-337265609

This is a master list of every official and unofficial track from the Debut Era (1993 — 1995). I have tried my best to make this an exhaustive list after comparing and referencing multiple sources. For remixes, only official and promo ones are included - which had at least one form of physical release, unofficial digital only remixes which came on years later by lesser known artists are not included. For Live versions, only the ones officially released are included. See something not on the list which fits the criteria, please comment.
Spotify Playlist — Playlist order : B-sides and bonus tracks followed by alternate versions and remixes in the order of album tracklist. Availability of songs on Spotify is subject to your location. Songs not marked as unavailable here are because they are available for me, and will most likely be for you too, unless you are in the US.
See a song not available for you on Spotify or another digital platform? Head to this post and fill out a form.

■■■

• Key:
  
  • ◆ — Unofficial / Promo
  • ♣︎ — Official but not on Spotify (yet) / Can be found on YouTube
  • ♣︎/ — Official but neither on Spotify nor on YouTube

■■■

B-Sides / Bonus:

• Stigdu Mig
  
• I Remember You
  
• Sidasta Eg
  
• Glora
  
• Play Dead
  
• Atlantic♣︎
  

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Features / Collaborations / Covers:

• Moðir (Live at Glastonbury 1994)◆
  
• Satisfaction (Live with PJ Harvey at 1994 Brit Awards) (The Stones Cover)◆
  
• Opening titles (with David Arnold)♣︎/
  
• Leaving London (with David Arnold, Play Dead with additional intro)♣︎
  

■■■

Alternate Versions [Demos / Promos / Live / Remixes]:

• Human Behaviour (Acoustic Version)
  
• Human Behaviour (Debut Live)
  
• Human Behaviour (Homogenic Live)
  
• Human Behaviour (Underworld Mix)
  
• Human Behaviour (Underworld Dub)♣︎
  
• Human Behaviour (Underworld Dub 2)◆
  
• Human Behaviour (Close to Human Mix)
  
• Human Behaviour (Dom T. Mix)
  
• Human Behaviour (Le French Touch)◆
  
• Human Behaviour (Underground Behaviour)◆
  
• Human Behaviour (Underground Behaviour Dub)◆
  
• Human Behaviour (Deep Behaviour)◆
  
• Human Behaviour (Bassheads Edit)
  

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• Crying (Debut Live)
  
• Crying (In My Bedroom) (Crying early version)◆
  
• B3 (Crying (In My Bedroom) Instrumental)◆
  

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• Venus as a Boy (Harpsichord version)
  
• Venus as a Boy (Debut Live)
  
• Venus as a Boy (Mykaell Riley Mix)
  
• Venus as a Boy (7" Dream Mix) aka (Hucknall Edit)
  
• Venus as a Boy (Anglo American Extension)♣︎
  

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• There's More to Life Than This (Non-Toilet Mix)

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• Like Someone in Love (Debut Live)

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• Big Time Sensuality (Debut Live)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Post Live)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Plaid Remix)♣︎
  
• Big Time Sensuality (The Fluke Minimix)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (The Fluke Magimix)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (The Fluke Moulimix) aka (Fluke Vocal Mix)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Dom T. Big Club Mix)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Dom T. Growly Dub Mix)♣︎
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Morales Def Klub Mix)♣︎
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Morales USA Mix)♣︎
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Morales Def Radio Mix)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Justin Robertson Lionrock Wigout Vox)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Justin Robertson's Prankster's Joyride)
  
• Big Time Sensuality (Nellee Hooper Extended Mix)♣︎
  

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• One Day (Debut Live)
  
• One Day (Post Live)
  
• One Day (Biophilia Live)
  
• One Day (Endorphin Mix)
  
• One Day (Springs Eternal Mix)
  
• One Day (Trevor Morais Remix)♣︎
  
• One Day (Adrenalin (Far Removed))◆
  

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• Aeroplane (Debut Live)
  
• Aeroplane (MTV 120 Minutes Live)
  

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• Come To Me (Acoustic Version)
  
• Come To Me (Debut Live)
  
• Come To Me (Homogenic Live)
  
• Come To Me (Vulnicura Live)
  
• Come To Me (Black Dog Mix)
  
• Come To Me (The Sabres of Paradise Mix)
  

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• Violently Happy (Vocal 12")
  
• Violently Happy (Live at Wembley)
  
• Violently Happy (Debut Live)
  
• Violently Happy (Domestic Mix) aka (Vocal & Organ Mix)
  
• Violently Happy (Fluke Even Tempered) aka (Short Tempered)
  
• Violently Happy (Fluke Well Tempered)
  
• Violently Happy (Massey Mix Long)
  
• Violently Happy (Massey Other Mix)
  
• Violently Happy (Masters At Work 12")
  
• Violently Happy (Basso Hitto Dubbo)◆
  
• Violently Happy (Vox Dub)
  

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• The Anchor Song (Acoustic Version)
  
• The Anchor Song (with the Brodsky Quartet)
  
• Um Akkeri (Icelanic The Anchor Song)
  
• The Anchor Song (Debut Live)
  
• The Anchor Song (Post Live)
  
• The Anchor Song (Homogenic Live)
  
• The Anchor Song (Black Dog Mix)
  

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• Play Dead (with the Brodsky Quartet)
  
• End Titles / Play Dead (Original Film Mix)♣︎
  
• Play Dead (Tim Simenon 7" Remix)♣︎
  
• Play Dead (Tim Simenon 12" Remix)♣︎
  
• Play Dead (Tim Simenon Instrumental)♣︎
  
• Play Dead (Tim Simenon Orchestral Mix)♣︎
  
• Play Dead (Dark Club Mix)◆
  
• Play Dead (Dark Edit)◆
  

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Debut related releases:

• The Best Mixes From The Album - Debut (For All The People Who Don't Buy White-Labels)
  
• Debut Surrounded [Remastered Version of Debut]♣︎
  
• Vessel [Live Video]
  
• MTV Unplugged & Live (Live Video)
  
• Debut Live
  
• Live at Shepherds Bush Empire (Live Video)
  
• Later (Live Video at Later with Jools Holland — Venus as a Boy)
  

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Step 1: Layout and Materials: Discover the complete list of materials you'll need to construct this small beach house and gather them in abundance. From stone stairs to stained glass, ensure you're well-equipped for the project.
Step 2: Find the Perfect Spot: Seek out a flat, picturesque location along the shoreline or an island surrounded by water. Once you've found the ideal spot, you're ready to commence construction.
Step 3: Lay the Foundation: Begin by creating a strong and stable foundation for your beach house. Follow the instructions to build an 8x8 square base using stone blocks and smooth quartz, ensuring a solid structure to build upon.
Step 4: Flooring and Ceiling: With the foundation in place, it's time to add the flooring and ceiling. Utilize stone blocks to separate the first and second floors, creating distinct living areas within your beach house.
Step 5: Craft a Charming Roof: Designing the roof is often the trickiest part of any Minecraft project, but fear not! Follow the instructions to create a simple yet elegant roof using stone stairs and slabs. Keep it low to maintain the beach house's aesthetic appeal.
Step 6: Ascend with Stairs: Build sturdy stairs leading to the entrance of your beach house. Add a pillar for support and consider adding a fence for extra charm and security.
Step 7: Embrace the Balcony: Enhance your beach house with a delightful balcony, where you can bask in the sun and enjoy stunning views. Follow the instructions to construct the balcony using stone blocks, jungle planks, and jungle fences.
Step 8: Windows and Doors: Transform your beach house into a light-filled haven with large, ocean-facing windows. Create an inviting atmosphere by using stained glass and adding doors strategically throughout the structure.
Step 9: Design the Interiors: Unleash your creativity as you furnish and decorate the interior of your beach house. From cozy bedrooms to a comfortable living area, make it your own by adding essential items and personal touches.
Step 10: Outdoor Oasis: Complete your Minecraft beach house by beautifying the surrounding area. Add lush bushes, palm trees, deck chairs, and lanterns to create an inviting outdoor space that exudes relaxation and tranquility

Hello there! 🖐️
My name is Matt, a Python Software Engineer with 7 years of professional experience, and a knack for turning big ideas into beautiful code.
In the ocean of developers, what makes me stand out? Two words: versatility and dedication. Let me show you what I mean by highlighting a couple of my projects:

• OptiTalk: A character generation service akin to character.ai, OptiTalk (https://optitalk.net/) showcases my proficiency in creating complex, innovative solutions from scratch.
• Apollo E-Commerce: This is more than just an e-commerce site (https://www.apolloecommerce.co/). It’s a comprehensive platform complete with a landing page, careers page, contact page, and more, illustrating my expertise in crafting user-friendly, full-stack web applications.

In addition to these, I specialize in the following areas:

• Full Stack Development: I design robust, user-centric websites using React and Flask, with MongoDB as my go-to database. However, I'm well-versed in a variety of other tech, ready to adapt as per your project's needs.
• Web Scrapers & Automation Tools: Need to automate tasks or scrape data from the web? I can develop custom tools that make your life easier.
• AI & Personal Assistants: I can craft AI solutions and personal assistants to rival Alexa herself, adding that touch of future tech to your project.

I’m not just about getting the job done; I’m about getting it done right. I deliver quality work on time and enjoy turning challenges into triumphs. My rate generally ranges from $20 to $30 per hour, but I'm open to project-based fees for smaller tasks.
Excited to bring your project to life? Let's chat! Send me a message, and let's turn your vision into a reality.

I don’t write a lot of reviews but there isn’t much info on the Alua properties which Hyatt bought last year and rolled into WOH early this year. So hopefully, my impressions will be of use to someone.
I just got back from staying at the AluaSoul Costa Malaga in Torremolinos, Spain. I spent about a week there in a Junior Suite. I am a WOH Globalist. I had a “Half Board” rate which included breakfast and dinner. I also had access to the “My Favorite Club” which serves refreshments all day (more on that later). Rates were incredibly affordable, around €80 per night for the junior suite. A regular room was just a few euros cheaper so I booked the higher category, I didn’t want to chance the lack of an upgrade given this is the start of the busy season. (the hotel was pretty full) I did not book a club room but was automatically upgraded to one. Points redemption was 12,000-15,00 per night for a standard double room so paying the rate was preferable.
Location: The hotel could not be better located for nightlife and food. You are in the center of town and surrounded by literally hundreds of restaurants and bars. You are also a 5-minute walk from Torremolinos’ main train station which connects directly to the airport, Plaza Mayor (large mall), and Malaga City. The airport is about 15 minutes via train, and Malaga is about 30. The walk from the train station to the hotel is an easy one with a wheeled suitcase. Escalator and smooth sidewalk. The hotel is also right next to the LGBTQ+ area, which is huge in Torremolinos. Lots of entertainment options and trendy places there as well. It is a walk down a cliff to the beach, but I found it very pleasant. There are 2-3 ways to take to the beach, and I found none of them boring. The town also offers an elevator to the beach at a rate of €0.50 each way, but I never thought to use it. An Uber from the airport to the hotel costs around €15-18 euros. There is a mini-mart 2 doors down, and another 5 doors down and there is a medium-sized supermarket a 3 minute walk away. There is a pharmacy next to the supermarket.
Check-in: The lobby is clean and modern, nicely decorated in a 4-star Spain way. Front desk staff were quick and efficient but the man who checked me in didn’t explain things so well, but I arrived VERY late. The female desk clerks the next day were far more helpful. Upon check-in, I was upgraded to a My Favorite Club room, and I was on the 10th floor (the hotel only has 11 floors).
Room: Room was ok. Fairly large but not a true suite. There is a sitting area with a couch long enough for a grown person to sleep on and a double bed that was 2 singles pushed together as you often find in Europe. The beds were not attached together, and the floors were smooth laminate, so they had a tendency to move, creating a gap in the middle. The bathroom was notably small, featuring just a sink, toilet, and shower. It's enough for 2 people, but just. There was also a small balcony with an ocean view, although also with many buildings. There were 2 large glass bottles of water on the table and the refrigerator was stocked with a few types of beer, a bottle of cava, and some sodas. There was a Nespresso machine and capsules and a boilekettle with tea supplies. This was complimentary. The room, and bathroom, were very clean but everything was about 10 years out of date. The TV was large, but didn’t feature any smart features and the HDMI cables were a bit hard to get to as it was firmly mounted on the wall. BBC News was the only English language channel (no regular BBC, and the guide showed CNN but it was not available) but they had several German and French channels as well as any Spanish of course. WiFi was good enough to stream and do video calls. The A/C worked great, shower pressure was good as was the hot water.
Club: My Favorite Club is basically their version of a Regency Club, except that it runs all day and is stocked with alcohol at all times. They had coffee/tea/soda, 3 types of beer, 6 types of wine, 8 spirits, and bottled mixers as well as 3 juices and milk. They also always had 4-6 types of tapas and they were refreshed often with different types. The spread was quite impressive and not many people had club access even though the hotel was full. That is good because the club literally only has 8 seats! I was actually amazed at how little the lounge was used given the hotel was busy.
Food: Meh. During my stay, I only ate breakfast 3 times and dinner 2 times even though it was included. That is mainly due to the fact that the food in Spain (outside of the hotel) is amazing and affordable. If you have to pay much extra for food options I wouldn’t. When weighing half board or all-inclusive places in Spain, Portugal, or Greece, consider the fact that local restaurants are incredible and usually cheap. The wine was €2-2.50 a glass for a generous pour at a restaurant. There were literally hundreds of places within walking distance. You could be better off getting a hotel with a nice pool, a great location, and perhaps a breakfast-only option. Even breakfast could be a waste as you often stay out late in Spain and would have to rush to shower and get ready just to eat some eggs, cold cuts, and a croissant to save €5.
Pool: Very nice pool with some shade and some sunny areas. Not huge but clean and relaxing. They feature live music at night, but end at about 11:00 pm to avoid disturbing guests. One night I had to go back to my room which was 10 floors above the pool, and the music was quite loud. Something to consider if you sleep early or get a low floor. People in club rooms also get a reserved area by the swimming pool with loungers, etc. This means a better chance of snagging a good chair. Poll was quite busy. Guests are a mixture of ages and nationalities. I heard Dutch, German, French, UK English, American English, Russian, and of course Spanish. There were college kids to retirees.
Edit: They were working on a rooftop bar when I was there, it looked nice, but it was not yet open. They were actively constructing it, so I suspect it will open in a few weeks. It will have basically the same view as my room.
Globalist recognition/benefits: As I mentioned above, my late arrival didn’t help. There was no verbal recognition upon arrival and check-in but I was upgraded to the club room.
Overall, I would say it’s a 3.5-star room, 4.5-star location, 4-star staff, 3-star food, 4.5-star club. The value is 4.5 stars, though. I would stay again based on the price for quality and the excellent location (for someone who likes local culture and food more than the beach).
Hotel site https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/costa-del-sol/costa-malaga-adults-recommended/ascma

Maryland is also known by the name of "America in Miniature" because of its numerous diversity in geography and culture. This makes it the perfect east coast location for those who like to see something of all. From amusement parks, beaches, historic sites and mountains There is plenty to do and see.
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has been in existence for more than 150 years. It was established in the historical Druid Hill Park in 1876. The zoo is one of the oldest Zoos in the world. Some believe it is the third or even the second oldest. The zoo includes five major areas: the Schaefer Plaza, Central area, Maryland Wilderness, African Journey, and Northern Passage. There are many events happening throughout the year that enhance the enjoyment of animals in the Zoo.
Salisbury Zoological Park Salisbury Zoological Park is the smallest zoo in Salisbury It has about 100 animals spread across 12 acres. They are focused on animals that originate from North as well as South America and Australia. The main attractions are the exhibit of a sloth and the exhibits that include Bear, Alpaca, and Jaguar. Museum is free, but they do accept donations. It is accessible all day, except during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Have dreams of flying to and touring your favourite tourist destinations on a budget? Book cheap flights from NYC to Maryland with Lowest Flight Fares and make them come true.
National Aquarium Few places can boast of being the national office and Baltimore's National Aquarium in Baltimore does. It is home to over 1.5 million people visiting it each year. The tanks contain 2.2 million gallons of water. They also house more than 17,000 of the animals. It includes things such as the Upland Tropical Rainforest, an Atlantic Coral Reef, an open ocean shark tank and an Australian region. The aquarium is situated on an inner harbour's waterfront. in Baltimore's downtown. Baltimore.
Glen Echo Park Aquarium This is an aquarium with a smaller size in Glen Echo Park, which is closer to D.C. than it is close to Baltimore however it is still too far away from Baltimore. It houses several hundred animals as well as a touch tank as well as interactive exhibits for kids as well as adults. It is mostly focused on the aquatic creatures in the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that drain into the bay. There is a pirate ship on which it is possible that you can meet pirates as well as search for treasure. The venue is available for birthday celebrations and other special occasions.
The Inner Harbor There is a beautiful waterfront, with an attractive walkway through which it is possible that you will be able to observe many birds and maybe some sea animals. There are several historic ships in this harbour dating from the 1800s. There are many museums to visit that include children's museums, as well as informative programs on sea animals and marine creatures that inhabit the Chesapeake Bay.
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve The Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is an area in which animals are allowed to live in the same way as its natural surroundings. It is home to bears, monkeys, panthers, zebras and many more in the park's 100 acres. It is situated somewhere between Thurmond as well as Hagerstown. There are several interactions with animals that are possible, and there are opportunities to feed and pet the animals. The zoo is closed for winter for a few months in the course of the year.
Plumpton Park Zoo It is located in the Plumpton Park Zoo is in the village located in Rising Sun, along Route 273 Also called Route 273, also known as Mason and Dixon Scenic Byway. It is accessible all year long, every day of the week; however, hours vary in the winter and summer months. The zoo houses more than 200 animals, the majority of them were brought in by individuals who were unable to take care of their animals anymore.
Insect Zoo There are many displays that feature insects like flies, spiders, roaches and a variety of other types of insects that are native to Maryland. Professional etymologists offer a guiding tour that explains everything you're interested in knowing about insects and how they can benefit our world. The insect aquarium is part of Maryland's University of Maryland.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge The Blackwater Wildlife Refuge was started in 1933 in order to protect the sanctuary of waterfowl as it is situated along the Atlantic Flyway for migrating birds. The region is well-known for its eagles as well. There is an eagle-themed festival every year. There are many bird of prey programs including children's programs and refuge tours.
Cranesville Subarctic Swamp The Cranesville Subarctic Swamp is a tiny sanctuary near Oakland in northern Maryland. It is a tiny forest which is home to a variety of species of unique animals, plants and birds. The swamp is an ancient peat bog which was formed around 15000 years ago following an Ice Age. This is an excellent spot to observe birds of all varieties, including threatened Bog Copper Butterflies.

So I'm new to PvP servers. I was itching to come back to wow in classic era, and only the PvP servers have sizeable oceanic populations. And I'm horrible at world pvp, I absolutely suck. I watch guides, formuate plans for what I'm going to do then get flustered, mentally blank and execute said plans horrendously.
But the worst part is aggroing random mobs. While it seems like my oppents can effortlessly weave between the aggro range of the mobs, if I take just one step to the left I'll pull aggro. If I get feared I'll definitely pull aggro. I can FD but I'll need to get back up while still in aggro range.
Absolutely sucks man, real frustrating. I still love classic era but man I'm having a miserable time with world PvP.

Since all the mcc pride teams are almost out, I think it's time to talk about things like the game that will be in and possible remixes? Well today I am going to pick out the obvious games that will be played, so lets get started.
I think to start there are some obvious games that are probably going to be in these are Build Mart, Sands Of Time, Grid Runners, Ace Race (maybe clouds) and maybe even Hole In The Wall. These games are more fun instead of competitive as they are very new commer friendly and are easy to figure out after some playing. As we saw in scuffed, Bingo was introduced once again and was very fun to watch, potential for Bingo in Pride? I feel like games like Melt Down or Parkour Warrior won't be played as many teams will have disadvantages if they have no clue how to play it and they are also very competitive for a fun event. What games do you think will be in