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 Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:41 am
Coruscant, Eastport
Naht'anoj'ycats stared down at the lifeless body before him.
"Darth Septin?"
Formerly the body of a Sith minder, "Tan" glared at the shocked expression on his face with contempt.
"Darth Septin?"
"Not now," Tan ordered.
"Darth..."
"Not now..."
Tan, or Darth Septin as he was more commonly called, was standing in the middle of an eatery, a burnt, smoking husk lying on its back in front of him, with several chairs and table strewn about, collateral damage from a recent altercation. Tentatively, two medical technicians began to remove the body from his site. This was where the incompetent Sith minder had lost track of the Bothan pilot and let him escape. Unmindful of his surroundings, he allowed the Bothan's accomplice to knock him unconscious when they were right in front of him, publicly displaying a weak point in the Sith's fold, and ultimately only adding to Tan's already acute sinus headache accumulating above his left eye socket.
Tan's comlink buzzed and he reached his hand into his robe to retrieve it from the inner pocket. Flipping it open, he held it in place next to his ear.
"This is Darth Septin." Tan only listened for a few seconds before he replied. "What...? She what...? Did you contact her mother...? Because I'm..."
Tan turned away from the dead minder and moved out of the restaurant.
"Well, this really... Yes, but there's really nothing I can do at the moment," Darth Septin said, speaking to a very frustrated man on the other end of his comlink. "I'm at a crime scene that..."
Tan's nostrils flared as his caller spoke over him and he waited for the speaker to finish.
"What did she do this time?" Tan asked. "She what...? By the Code, no. No... No I didn't know she had constructed a... No, I certainly wouldn't have known she was bringing one to your sessions."
Tan moved away from the restaurant entrance and out towards the crowd of onlookers behind the barricade of local law enforcement.
"Is that an accusation Lord Nialc?" Tan demanded, the crowd of people before him becoming more and more of a possible outlet for his growing anger. "I think you should tread carefully with your words as you are speaking to your superior. I think you should confiscate the saber and continue with the session for now. I will deal with her myself... If you dismiss her, she will bear the least of my WRATH!"
Tan let the comlink go, but it did not drop to the ground. It moved in front of his torso in the blink of an eye, crumpled into a ball of scrap and then exploded outwards, sending bits of plastic, metal and wire out around him, some of it pelting the backs of the law enforcement facing the crowd.
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:37 pm
Coruscant, Zero Tolerance
The Zero Tolerance was purchased on Darth Septin's behalf. It could not be said how the dark lord could have obtained such an exorbitant lump sum of credits himself, but nonetheless the spacehook was property of the Sith Executor, at least in name only. It was here that Darth Septin preferred to command his operations over Coruscant from, whenever his obligations kept him pinned to the planet. It was also here that his daughter, Nyl'ody'newga was undergoing her apprenticeship. The loud and rebellious 11-year-old was sitting before her now, staring directly into her father's eyes he stared right back at her. An officer under Septin's command entered into his office unannounced.
"Darth Septin, Nim Ciru from Galaxy News Service is trying to reach you," the officer reported.
"Tell him I passed away," Darth Septin replied coldly.
Darth Septin continued to stare silently at his daughter as the officer let herself out without a word.
"What--"
"Nyl'oda'newga, I can't believe it!" Darth Septin snapped, rising from his chair. The lights above them flickered and the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. "I just can't. What were you thinking? Were you thinking? Where... Oh, where did you get a lightsaber?"
"I--
"I have all these people under my command and I can't get my own daughter to do me the simple courtesy of not threatening her master's life," Darth Septin went, interrupting her daughter. "What's your answer to that?"
"I..."
"Should I put you in lockdown for a night?" Darth Septin said, turning away from his daughter to pace around the room. "Would that snap you out of your insensibilities? They do far worse to little girls who try and fail to kill their masters whose fathers aren't executors, you know... They kill them."
Nyl'ody'newga stood up from her chair and moved to leave.
"Where are you going?" Darth Septin challenged, stopping his pacing and fixing his daughter with a death glare.
"I thought we were going to have a talk," Nyloda said. "This isn't a talk. This is you raging. Rage by yourself."
"Sit back down, young lady."
Darth Septin, with an application of the Force, gripped his daughter tightly, forced her to step back to her chair and pushed her down hard back into it.
"I have not spent a decade raising you, and seeing that you learn acutely from your master to have you simply walk away from me while I am telling you what you did wrong," Darth Septin sneered. "Your mistake was not threatening your master's life per se. Your mistake was threatening your master's life and ultimately ending up being unwilling to take it."
Darth Septin turned to face his daughter fully as he pulled his lips back into a snarl and raised his fist before his daughter.
"Your passion gives you strength, and your strength gives you power, but if your power cannot give you victory through which to free yourself with, then you are neither strong nor passionate enough to be my daughter or effective asset of the Sith,' Darth Septin explained.
"I shouldn't have hesitated," Nyl'ody'newga acknowledged sullenly.
"That is exactly correct!" Darth Septin exclaimed, some of his anger subsiding. "Only a true Sith can break his or her master's chains! If you cannot accomplish that upon your next attempt on Lord Nialc's life, then you will most assuredly meet your end! The fear that I can inspire among my inferiors only affects so much in the heat of battle. Your ambitious little caretaker may not act with caution towards his own ambition the next time you challenge him. And now that you have tried and failed this one time, your master has relieved you of your latest weapon. You have robbed yourself of your greatest opportunity to disarm him."
His anger fully returned and white hot now, Septin struck a blow across his daughter's face.
"I will not confess to know how you obtained a working lightsaber without someone's death preceding your possession, but now that your prize is lost, I will not help you reclaim it," Darth Septin declared, his anger quickly escaping him. "You must do that yourself. Now go, leave my sight and do not return until you have remedied your current inability to surpass your master."
Nyl'ody'newga stood up from her chair, shivering, and left the room without looking her father in the eyes. Darth Septin couldn't help but admit some disgust at thought of his daughter's will. She was too weak to survive on her own, still. Had their ancestors been so weak, the people on their homeworld of Csilla would never have survived the harsh glaciation of their tropical world. Darth Septin despised the weak, just like he despised that Sith minder for succumbing to a lowly scoundrel in a spaceport.
How could a representative of the Sith get caught so unawares by the people in his surroundings. He was called a 'minder' for a reason. The only way he could have been caught off-guard is if he could not read the mind of his attacker... Which suddenly left Darth Septin with a very unpleasant conclusion.
There were very few Force-resistant species in the galaxy, and the Sith, in fact, made a particular effort to keep tabs on all members of a species that traveled within their controlled space. This person, that managed to outsmart, attack and evade the Sith minder, was not a person of interest to these trackers. If that was the case, then that meant the Sith minder was a complete fool, weakling and incompetent, or the person that had attacked him was a Force-user.
The number of Force-users in the galaxy was not small by any stretch. In addition to the number of the Sith, there were also a great deal of beings at large that were part of their own religious sect, or that simply possessed some talent in applying the Force and were simply too weak or too old to be considered for indoctrination into the Sith Order. What concerned Darth Septin, however, was the possibility of an enemy of the state lurking just inside their midst, operating right underneath their noses and lurking about in places the Executor might be least likely to suspect. It had been many years before the Darth had been fortunate enough to have the pleasure of ridding the galaxy of a light side user. Too long, in fact, that his current work was grating against his ability to be good at it.
He should have figured out what had tricked the Sith minder in the first place and spared the Sith minder's life, giving him an immediate chance to repent for his slip-ups. It was not so often that a Jedi arrived on Coruscant that Darth Septin needed to execute every idiot in front of him for their slightest mistake. The Jedi were once a formidable batch, and even today a member of their fallen order was still considered to be dangerous.
Darth Septin strode out of his office, intending to head towards one of the hangar bays. Darth Septin needed to...
"Darth, your mother is trying to contact you."
Darth Septin snapped his head right and arched an eyebrow at an officer holding a comlink out for him to take.
"My mother is dead, you sycophant," Darth Septin snapped, snatching the comlink out of the officer's hands. And then, into the comlink: "Who is this? Why are you contacting me?"
"Hi, Darth, this is Nim Ciru from the Galaxy News Service. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"I hate you," Darth Septin said, cold hate seeping into his voice. "I really do."
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:01 pm
Kyra
Pilot, Firestorm
Bantha's Fodder, Coruscant Kyra sat in the dank room that she had rented for more than an hour, waiting for the time of the ball to come around. Finally, she glanced at her chrono and nodded, rising to her feet. At least this room has a decent sanisteam, she thought to herself as she slipped from her stained jumpsuit. A quick fresh later, Kyra dried her body and slipped into the dress she had purchased. Jewels, shoes and adornments went on afterwards to make her appear as a Commenran noblewoman. Examining herself in the mirror, she nodded and muttered to herself, "Barely recognize myself." She smirked and nodded again, then stalked from the room. Without her weapon, she felt naked.
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:11 pm
Iegres
Coruscant, Coruscant Spaceport
Iegres stepped out of the elevator, after his B1 battle droid body guards. He was followed by his Devaronian co-star Idnikaw, recently brought onto his show to attract more viewers. A crowd of nearly three-dozen barred his entourage's path, with the B1's having to muscle their way through to get past the grabbing fans and the journalists, all vying for his attention. Iegres decided to stop and give one journalist 60 seconds out of his day.
"Iegres, the world wants to know: What could possibly be on Coruscant for you to hunt that you couldn't find in another country?" the journalist predictably asked.
This was the question that hinged upon the episodes that would be airing off of this planet. What, on Coruscant, was there even to hunt? Well, Iegres was happy to tell them.
"I'm here to hunt a one-of-a-kind species," the Whiphid answered, his low, guttural voice coming out more like a growl. "I'm here to hunt a Jedi."
The journalist blinked, dumbfounded. Wiphid smiled, pleased at the journalist's reaction. He waited for the follow-up.
"And... Uh... What are you going to do with him if you find one?"
"Oh, I'm going to kill him with my bare hands."
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:28 am
Shadowport Spacebarn, Nar Shaddaa
Sunrise on a beautiful morning, your first time breaking atmosphere, the comforting hum of your very first light saber, all lease things came to her mind as the bright force signature that was Kit stirred from his restful slumber. Curiosity, awareness, and when Kit appeared at the top of the ramp she felt a dash of sadness with a touch of nostalgia enter the emotional mix that she could feel through the bond that master and apprentice shared. She grinned broadly at his comment and skipped up the ramp reaching out to clasp his hand with lighting fast reflexes in both of hers to pull him along as if she was a child entering a candy store with her reluctant father.
She would not have him focusing on such negative things in these dark times.
"I assure you, this merchant is not a figment of my imagination. He's as much flesh and blood as you or I and if he didn't have the part we wouldn't be several miles beneath the surface of this beautiful little moon.” She chatted excitedly as she led them through the maze park starships under repair, dodging the shower of sparks from plasma welders and piles of salvageable junk being sorted through by droids.
"But don't you worry, this shadowport, despite its location is one of the most secure I know." She tilted her head in the direction of the single starship sized opening on one wall of the Spacebarn that resembles more of a chute then the standard hangar bay doors one would find in a typical internal hangar bay.
"There's more firepower in their than any ship that can fit can handle, but that's besides the point.” She waved a dismissive hand as she led him up to an ordinary looking office door.
" I think my merchant is a little too old to ogle.” She giggled.
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:35 am
Iegres
Coruscant, The Elite
The Elite was one of the more luxurious hotels on Coruscant, located on skylane 4467 in the heart of Galactic City. It was here that Iegres and his holovid crew were residing in the Chancellor's suite for the duration of their stay on Coruscant. In the day light, Iegres was practicing one of his handstand exercises, focusing on honing his endurance and his upper body strength. His agent, a yellow-skinned Rodian stepped into the room and set a holo-display down onto of the tables nearby. Iegres didn't even try to spare him a glance. He heard the holo-display activate, however.
"What do you think?" Iegres' agent asked.
"Of what...?"
"Of this as the teaser holo?"
"I'm still not one hundred percent into this," Iegres growled, still not getting down from his handstand.
"Tough... This ship has left orbit," the agent replied emphatically. "The word is out. Don't sweat it, Iegres. That's what I'm for. I sweat. You hunt."
Iegres dropped down from his handstand and landed with a thud on his shins, now kneeling on the floor.
"It's cheap holodrama," Iegres retorted.
"It will keep you on the holonet for another two years, and that's all I care about," the agent argued. "It's all you should care about, too. We need 100 episodes: 100 and we're in syndication heaven, which means we'll lots of credits. 100 and then we all sip Corellian brandy atop the Gallo mountains."
Iegres glanced past his agent as the Devaronian co-star that had landed with him entered into his suite.
"At this moment in time, we are only at 66, and next, I tell you what else we need to do: We need to up her role in the show," the agent explained as the Devaronian stepped past him. "Having the hot girlfriend is good and we need to get her out in the spotlight. Some merchandising... Some holo spots... She is... She is... Idnikaw... Yowch!"
"Idnikaw" the Devaronian's stage name. She stopped and arched an eyebrow at the agent's exclamation of her name. Iegres didn't know her very well, but she knew she hated being used like some kind of a Dubravan slut. She took a step toward the agent and leaned her face in close to his. The Rodian leaned back away from her nervously. Iegres got up from the floor and approached the two of them.
"You know, this is the opposite of what you told me two years ago," Iegres moaned. "What happened to tempering the act for Core Worlds audiences? What happened to--"
"Two years ago, I was right, but now I am right again," the agent responded quickly, as Iegres and the Devaronian began circling him. "Iegres, for the next six months you are going to be sex and violence personified. Ratings go up. We hit our mark. After that, you can look in the holocam and read great literature for all I care."
The Rodian pointed back at the holo which Iegres only now just took a moment to look at. It depicted Iegres, in a moment of primal victory, suspending a hooded figure up into the air with the tip of his spear. It was an image that Iegres really detested, a show of arrogance on his behalf, as if the Wiphid would ever celebrate a kill in such a fashion.
"The good news for all of us is: You are sex and violence personified," the agent continued, ignoring the death stares he was receiving from "Idnikaw". "So, just be yourself. Be you, being you. Focus your prowess right here and right now. Have fun with it. Do your thing: Hunt..."
Iegres' eyes focused in on the holo-image. Of the spear piercing through the Jedi's heart.
"Say what you will, but I actually think this is going to be one of the biggest challenges of your career."
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:42 pm
Nar Shaddaa/ Shadowport Spacebarn
A sigh escaped the boys lips but he did smile at his Master knowing she did usually end up being right...alright just about every time...all the time. That still did not stop Kit from being cautious and wanting to be a bit protective of his Master. After all she had given him far more than he ever thought possible and the fact that she was easy on the eyes didn't hurt either. It was that fact though that had Kit always on the defensive even knowing full well what Asrial was capable as a Jedi both with the force and with her lightsaber, Kit felt he should at least be vocal about the subject or else he sometimes felt like he was not needed.
"Trust me Master, I don't think there is an age limit on ogling when its woman like you," Kit grinned and chuckled a bit as he fitted his cloak over his gear, "Places like Nar Shaddaa may have great protection from outside intruders, but it's the ones who get in easily that worry me. A few credits go a long way towards making sure someone's eyes stay closed when they come through," Kit placed his staff on the ground and leaned into it just a bit, "what do we do if the old guy isn't home?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:02 pm
Clint Cassel
Coruscant, Capital Terminal
"I"m here to hunt a Jedi, and I'm going to kill him with my bare hands."
Clint sighed and arched an eyebrow at the holo-display. He'd heard that tagline so many times today that he'd lost count. It was such a publicity stunt. Even if Iegres was a master hunter, everybody knew that there were no Jedi on Coruscant, let alone any other part of the galaxy. The Whiphid was just after the publicity ratings.
There was nothing on the net that seemed to pertain to Clint or the Bwua'tu. That was good. Even if the authorities were still after him, no one would be able to place his face. That meant he could go out in public.
Clint slurped up the last length of meat off of the side of his salar, and licked his jowls clean of any crumbs with his tongue. Getting up from his chair, he carried the plate of that had once held a meaty fish down out of the cockpit and deposited it in the galley sink. Out of the galley and past Siggy, who was deactivated and recharging next to a wall outlet in the entry area, Clint picked up his vest and belt off the top of a crate in the area and proceeded to exit out of the ship. It would be a little bit of a hitchhike to get out of the spaceport, but Clint was confident he'd find a client to transport off of Coruscant before the week's end. After all, Galactic City was one of the most voluminous traffic hubs in the galaxy. There had to be somebody that was seeking passage off of this techno-ball.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:16 pm
Kyra
Pilot, Firestorm
Higgin's Ballroom, Coruscant Kyra tried her best to walk in the high heeled shoes she wore, missing her boots and jumpsuit. She felt like a nexu in a dress with its nails painted. She scowled as she waited in line to be permitted to the ballroom. She scanned the crowd and almost didn't realize they were talking to her when they called, "Lady Ellanore Carrow, of Commenor!" She looked around and then stepped forward, presenting her invitation. The man ran a scanner over her, detected no weapons and let her pass through. Now, she thought, it's time to locate my contact, get my cargo and get the krif off this ball.
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:12 pm
Tanis
"... the cost of maintaining the penal colonies on Dathomir alone are exorbitant, let alone the fuel that both star destroyers are consuming on a daily basis in orbit of the planet."
"And the cost of what you are suggesting..."
"Is an investment, not an ongoing cost to this government. Once the satellites have been deployed it is a simple matter of monitoring the system. Even one small patrol ship heading through the Hydian way will be more efficient than the current deployment of troops, officers and ships that we have currently invested in the control of the Witches."
Tanis felt the carefully molded expression of complacency beginning to crack under the pressure of the minister's bickering. Between the finance minister's office alone there was enough discontent to fill a bantha's stomachs.
"Enough." She said finally, cutting through the rising debate of figures.
"President...?" Nial Varipol, the lead financial minister questioned, "We have not yet come to a decision..."
"How long have you been working in your office, Nial?" Tanis asked.
She saw him pause, unsure of what she was asking, but he answered nontheless. "Eight years, Madame President."
"Only eight? It took your predecessor longer to forget that sentient lives are more than figures in his ledger."
"With all due respect Madame President..."
Again interrupting, Tanis' voice grew sharp. "As a rule, I dislike any sentence that begins with the phrase 'with all due respect' because, as it happens, whatever follows that statement almost always lacks any respect at all. I have no desire to listen to whatever it was you meant to follow it with, Nial, nor do I have any desire to continue with this ridiculous suggestion. In fact, should I discover which one of the individuals in your office it was who came up with the idea of installing a night cloak above Dathomir then I can assure you that your office will be suddenly lighter of staff. That should amount to some savings in the budget, I should think."
"Madame President, we cannot simply dismiss a matter and sweep it under the rug. The concerns not disappear because one does not wish to think of them."
"There is nothing to discuss!" Tanis repeated, sitting up in her seat. Her anger was rising, but the touch of a small hand on her shoulder stilled her.
"It has been a long day for Madame President. Perhaps a day of rest for her and a day of preparation for more humane discussions on the matter of the Dathomiri penal colony would be better for everyone."
It was not often that Anais interjected, but Tanis was grateful that she had today. Of all of today's meetings this had been the one that she had been dreading the most, and that was before hearing of the disaster down at one of the cantinas in their spaceports. Once the room had emptied, Tanis stood with Anais' help and moved towards the refreshment table. Standing while Anais filled a water glass for her, she asked the girl, "Has there been any more information from the investigators?"
"None that you would wish to hear, Madame President." Anais replied, avoiding Tanis' eyes. The President did not doubt her, but said anyways, "Tell me."
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:33 pm
Darth Revenant
"Why not ask me yourself, Madame President?"
Standing in the doorway to the Presidential offices, the Sith Lord Revenant made an imposing figure in the phrik-weave tunic, sleeves and leggings, and the shining, unadorned songsteel armor that wove itself around his body like a lover. The mask that covered his face was the worst, a crimson and silver mirror that hid everything that lay beneath it and forced one to face themselves before facing the Darth.
If that were not enough, the mask also had the effect of distorting the Darth's voice into a hiss that was never quite feminine nor masculine, but more an echo of neither. His voice was like a phantom, haunting the room until garnering a response.
"Anais was closer." The President replied simply and curtly.
"And what does Anais have to say on the matter?" Came the phantom voice again.
"I-I-.. As of yet the identity of assailants has not been released to the public, but the investigation is on-going."
"Is that all that you know, girl?"
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:55 pm
Tanis
"Enough." the President spoke again before her aide could respond. Tanis could almost feel the palpable nervousness in her aide and knew that there was something Anais had meant for Tanis to hear, but no one else. "I assume you visit my offices with business, Lord Revenant, not the local gossip. If so, you should direct your questions to me."
"As you wish, Madame President."
"Anais, leave us for now." Tanis continued before the girl could be questioned again. She was young, far too young, to be trapped in a room with this Sith.
After the girl was gone, the Sith entered fully and moved to stand near the large, floor-to-ceiling windows that displayed the skyline of Coruscant. "I've come to offer my assistance, Madame President."
"Have you now?" Tanis said, barely managing to suppress her snort of derision."What manner of support do you offer the Republic this time?"
"I understand that your ministers are currently trying to come up with a solution to the troublesome matter of the Witches of Dathomir."
Tanis stiffened slightly, "And how did you come to understand such a thing?"
"So many Witches... it seems to me that the concern could easily become a matter of Republic security. If that were the case then it would be in my best interests to be aware of the concerns before they became an issue."
The President's stomach twisted. "You know as well as I do that arresting an entire planet's population is not only ridiculous, but dangerous as well. The Hapans still consider Dathomir to be a sister colony to their cluster, and it has been a political maelstrom of begging, ceding, offering and closing to have the Hapans accept military presence in the Dathomiri system, and only then it was largely because the Republic pledged the planet and its citizens as wards of the state. Any aggressive actions we take now in the system would make the entire planet political prisoners. The Hapian Queen is displeased enough with the Republic, we don't need them abdicating from their treaty."
"Abdicating... you do mean rebelling, don't you, Madame President?"
Worse and worse. "The Hapes Cluster is a formidable ally. It would be inadvisable for you to bring up the subject of rebellion while discussion our allies."
"I am merely assessing the situation, Madame President."
Turning away from the Sith, Tanis took a drink of her water before replacing the glass on the table with a look of distaste. "Your assessment is appreciated as always, Lord Revenant, however your assistance is not needed at this time."
Then the Sith was beside her, noiselessly closing the space that had existed between them not a second before, and Tanis felt her breath catch in her throat as a gloved hand raised itself to her temple.
"It would be so much easier for you if you did not resist me, Tanis." The Sith's voice had lowered to barely a whisper and Tanis was unsure if she was hearing it with her ears or if it existed inside of her thoughts. "Every day you grow older; more sick, more tired, closer to death. How much longer do you think you will be able to resist me?" As he spoke, he traced a finger along her aged face to her jaw and rested at her mouth.
"As long as I have, Darth." She replied coldly and, for a long moment, the two stood as still as statues until finally the Sith Lord stepped away.
"Then I hope you live many more years, Tanis Umbrea. This galaxy would not be half as entertaining without you in it." Then he was gone, and Tanis was left alone to watch the Coruscant skies.
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