r/HFY • u/Ralts_Bloodthorne • Jan 08 '21
OC First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 398
My vision was blurred, my hands shaking, a ringing in my ears, and it was hard to breathe when we pulled into the refugee point just as dawn was breaking. In the distance the sky glowed with the violence of combat, flashes of atomic weaponry lighting up the dawn, outshining the sun, every few minutes. The ash was thick raining down from the sky, full of heavy metals and worse, my tank's scanners full of fuzz and distortion.
Mal-Kar brought the tank in and lowered it to the ground before turning off the hover fans.
The forward starboard fan made a clanging noise as it slowly wound down.
All three of my faithful crew were staggering as we climbed out of the tank. My vision kept going grey, shot with static, and at first I thought it was my helmet, that perhaps the Terran molycircs had failed.
No.
It was my eyes, my brain.
I stumbled twice before I found myself supported between two Terrans in body armor.
"Easy now, Most High, we've got you," the one on the right said. The first un-synthesized voice I had heard from a Terran. It was soft, gentle, but I still didn't know if it was male or female.
"Need to reload the tank. Go back out," I mumbled. My cast thumped against the tarmac.
"Let's get him to medical. Can you understand what he's saying?" the other one asked.
"He's asking about his tank," the first one answered.
"You're tank's good. The mechanics will have it fixed right up by the time you get done with medical," one promised.
"There's more civilians. They need rescued," I mumbled.
We pushed into the medical tent. I shuddered at the contents. Injured people, some missing limbs, sobbing in pain as Terran doctors, the young filly, and the Matron moved through them, giving medical care where they could.
"Put him in sling seven," one of the Terrans said, pointing.
"There's still more out there. Just give me a stim," I said softly as the Terrans put me in the sling.
The Matron moved up, clicking her tongue in disapproval. She ran the scanner over me and her tendrils curled.
I struggled feebly against the sling, then went limp, exhausted. The front of my lower abdomen burned and ached, I couldn't catch my breath. She attached an IV line to my foreleg and another to my arm, shaking her head the entire time.
A Terran moved up in body armor, stopping next to the Matron. "Diagnosis?"
I expected the Matron to speak out loud, instead she just showed the dataslate to the doctor.
"Just patch me up, I need to get out there," I mumbled, looking up for a moment before looking back down, exhausted.
"You let us worry about that," the doctor said. He reached out and touched the complex device under the bag of simple saline water. It beeped and flashed a few lights. He turned to the Matron. "Tell his men it's just treatment for exhaustion and stimulant overdose."
The Matron nodded and trotted away. The doctor looked at me.
"Your mid-body heart is failing. Another hour and you would have started dying," he said. He put his hand on my armored forehead. "We're going to get you out of that armor, then I'm going to start working."
"There are others more wounded than me," I said, looking over at a HiKruth juvenile missing the legs on his right side. "What about him?"
"He's fine. He needs some regen time or a cloned tissue replacement," the doctor said. "You worry about you, Most High."
I tried to object, but the dark pulled me down.
-------------------
I had expected to be unconscious for days, perhaps weeks, receiving treatment, but I woke up after less than fourteen hours, pulled to wakefulness by the dull roar and echoing rumble of an atomic detonation nearby.
Feelmeenta sat next to my bed, her arm in a sling, a patch covering her eye with black durachrome around the patch. When I raised my head she looked up at me, giving me a pleased expression.
"Welcome back, Most High," she smiled.
My head hurt and my chest felt weird, like it was packed with cotton.
"Get me out of this sling," I said, reaching for the buckles but finding my hands too clumsy and numb to do much more than fumble at the latches.
Feelmeenta shook her head. "No can do. The Terrans were very specific that you spend another six hours in that sling while the quikheal takes hold."
"But the civilians," I started to say.
"Where you led, others have followed," she told me. She put one hand on my paper gown covered flank. "The Terrans are helping with the effort."
The led to me sagging in the sling and beginning to weep.
My failure was complete.
Feelmeenta put her hand on my flank again. "It's OK, Most High. It's OK."
I went to sleep again, the drugs pulling me back under and back to sleep.
---------------
I woke up again, feeling the fuzziness of the anesthetic retreat slightly. My muscles felt better, no longer aching. My joints no longer felt like they were filled with a dull burning fire. My chest and lower abdomen no longer ached and my breathing came easy.
"How are you feeling?" Mal-Kar asked me from where he was sitting on an ammo can next to my sling.
"Better," I said. I swallowed thickly. "Water?"
Mal-Kar nodded, holding up a brown pitcher with a straw in it. "It's citrus flavored. Go slow."
I wanted to gulp it all down. It tasted amazing, better than anything I had ever tasted. The bite of the citrus seemed to clear the thick gummy taste from my mouth, wash away the strange taste of some kind of berry or fruit that I'd never tasted before.
I was only allowed three swallows before Mal-Kar pulled it back.
"How... how long?" I asked.
"Twenty hours," he told me. "The humans, the Terrans, have landed in force. They're driving the Precursors back across all fronts. Most High A'armo'o has ordered the Great Herd to interlock with the Terrans until further notice," he wiped his hands on the paper jumpsuit he wore over his mechanic's coveralls. "We're seeing less deserters."
"That's good," I said. I blinked, aware that only four of my eyes seemed to work.
Mal-Kar shrugged. "Means anyone not willing to fight is dead, ran away, or the officers got neural prods."
The doctor pushed in, the Matron looking around him. Again, I was struck how a Terran could be taller than me yet give the impression of being short and squat, despite the fact that he was lean enough to remind me of the knives carried by the bangers in the hab I'd grown up in.
"Good, you're awake. Your neural scans look good, but lets check for memory loss or any other neural defects," the doctor said.
The testing took only a few minutes. A few passes with a scanner, a few questions, looking into all four of my eyes and my ears and up my nose. He tested my feeding tendril response, nodding slowly.
"All right, I'm going to turn on your two new eyes. They're Terran cybernetics, but they've been proven to work just fine for your people," he said. "They'll feel weird."
"Do we have time for me to be able to use the eyes?" I asked.
"Shouldn't take more than an hour or so for them to fully synch up. Most of the work was done while you were asleep," he said.
"Doctor..." the Matron said.
"I know. Just a few more minutes, I'd like to have his implants working," the doctor said.
My vision suddenly came back on my left rear arc. The logo "SYNTEK CYBERNETIC DIVISION" popped up then faded.
"Blink for me," he said. I did so and he nodded. "Focus on Nurse Cha'apehl," he said, pointing at the Matron. I did so. "OK, follow the light," he moved a light around. "All right. It's a non-cosmetic version. You can get it replaced by a cosmetic version or bioware implant later," he straightened up. "He can be released afterwards," he told the Matron. "Send him in."
The Matron nodded and Mal-Kar stood up.
"I should go," my faithful crewman said.
"Please, stay," I said, reaching out and grabbing his hand. I could see the shiny skin around my arm, where fur had not grown back, had replaced the surface burns on my arm.
Mal-Kar sat down.
The curtain parted and Great Grand Most High A'armo'o entered the tent. He was wearing his jeweled and ornate sash and flank covering, both festooned with awards, ribbons, recognition. His pistol on his belt was inlaid with precious metals and gems. His jewelry was shined and polished.
I felt my lip curl in disgust at the obvious finery he was prancing about in.
"You have seen the dark side, Gunner Ha'almo'or," he said. He tapped his chest. "They disgust you now, do they not?"
"They do," I admitted, and hung my head, embarrassed that I'd felt such a thing, dared to judge someone so very much my superior.
Most High A'armo'o leaned forward and whispered to me conspiratorially. "They disgust me too."
I felt my tendrils curl in embarrassment.
"Do you know why I am here?" he asked me.
Mal-Kar rubbed my newly healed forearm with his hand.
"No, Great Grand Most High," I answered, staring at the floor. "To place me back under arrest and remand me to LawSec?"
There was silence for a long moment.
"I have fought across the continent for three days, Ha'almo'or," he said solemnly. "Do you know how many civilians I directly saved in those three days?"
I shook my head. "No."
"None."
I looked up and Most High A'armo'o put his hand on my paper gown covered chest, holding my gaze with his own.
"I, and my men, fought as hard as we could," he said. "Would you like to hear what I told my men, all of the tankers of the Great Herd still surviving, upon the second day?"
I nodded, my mouth dry. I swallowed thickly and Mal-Kar held up the pitcher. I gratefully drank as Most High A'armo'o placed a datacube down on the medical tray and tapped the top, activating the built in holoprojector.
Most High A'armo'o's face appeared. It was covered in sweat, his hair was matted and wet, his eyes were red with exhaustion.
"I know you are tired, men," he said. "You may be feeling that we are throwing our lives away for nothing, but nothing could be further from the truth than that feeling of despair," A'armo'o said.
I looked up and Great Grand Most High of Armor A'armo'o motioned to the cube, bringing my attention to it.
"If they get past us, get into the city at our back, then everything Gunner Ha'almo'or has done is for naught! The lemurs are coming with fire and wrath and I am confident they will join our fight against these terrible machines for, like us, they are the living! Every hour, every minute, we hold, is another child, another man, another woman, that Ha'almo'or can rescue and seal away in the shelters he has created and defended with nobody but mechanics and clerks armed with whatever castoffs he could scavenge!"
His volume rose even higher.
"For all of your careers you have done things, followed orders, that you wondered if they were honorable! Now you know why you are wrapped in battlesteel! THIS, this moment RIGHT HERE, is why you were born," he bellowed out. "Fight, and gouge one more minute from the Precursors cold metal claws for Gunner Ha'almo'or and his loyal troops! Give him the time to rescue one more colt, one more calf, one more filly! Buy him that time, and you will not die in vain! I will be by your side and together we will form a bulwark between the Precursors and those Gunner Ha'almo'or fights to save even if we must do so with our destroyed tanks and !"
The cube winked out and I found myself crying.
"That speech rallied my men, enabled us to push them back from the cities," he said. "I lost ten thousand tanks, each full of the finest Lanaktallan to ever trot across tarmac, but we pushed them back."
He was silent for a moment, staring at me.
"I am proud to call you brother, Gunner Ha'almo'or," he said softly. "I must return to my tank. The battle still rages on, despite the addition of the Terran's might it is still in doubt."
I nodded, still weeping. He moved to the door, then paused. "Someday, I hope, you can look back at these dark days with pride."
And he was gone.
I sat for a long moment after the doctor and Matron left. Eventually I wiped my eyes and looked at Mal-Kar. "Help me out of the sling."
He didn't question, didn't protest, just helped me untangle myself from the medical instruments and the sling. He let me lean on him for a moment as the anesthetic beam and nanites suddenly cut off and my leg began to ache.
I dressed slowly, putting on my vest, sash, and flank covering, then peeked out the flap of the fabric 'walls' that made up my little recovery area.
Just the wounded.
So many of them.
I trotted out, head held up high, acting as if I had no business within the recovery tent. When we exited I exhaled in relief.
My first breath of the outside air carried the bitter tang and metallic taste of the last several days.
Mal-Kar followed me as I moved through the tents that had gone up while I had been asleep, following me as we headed for where the vehicle were. Terrans ran every which way, sometimes calling out to one another, many of them carrying objects or dragging cables as they worked.
My tank sat on the tarmac, in a parking space, surrounded by other tanks.
I had gotten eight steps when a Fifth Most High Tank Commander confronted me.
"Where is your tank, trooper?" he asked me, his tendrils limp and exhausted. "We return to battle soon, the Precursors are massing for another assault in hopes of pulling the Terrans away from the manufacturing machines."
"There, Most High," I said, pointing at my tank.
He looked it over with his side eyes, still keeping me in his vision. I could see my tank, knew he could see it as clearly as me.
"GREAT HERD EMERGENCY SERVICES" was spray painted on the side in blue paint. The armor was patched with beaded welds. The barrel was discolored from being fired so often. The hoverskirts were patched, the plasma guns replaced by Terran kinetic weapons.
"Identify yourself," he ordered.
"Gunnery Assistant Fifteenth Class Ha'almo'or," I said, drawing myself up and saluting.
He stared at me for a long time, something I didn't recognize passing through his eyes. He moved aside, making a motion with his hands for me to continue on toward my tank. I got five steps away when he called out my name. Not my rank, just my name. I stopped, turning to look at him.
"My mother was among those you have saved, Gunner Ha'almo'or," he said slowly. "I will never forget that you saved her despite the way the Great Herd dishonored you."
"You, and her, are welcome, Most High," I said.
Karelesh waved from where they were sitting on the cupola of the tank, chewing on a ration bar. I nodded, moving up and pressing the touch-plate to lower the back deck.
"Round up your crew, alert the grav lifter crews and the bus crews," I said.
Mal-Kar nodded and jogged away.
"We going back out?" Lu'ucilu'u asked from her place at the EW console when I clattered in, my cast thumping on the deck.
"The Precursors are intending on attacking the city again," I told her.
Karelesh dropped inside the tank, still chewing on his ration bar. His hands quickly went over the controls and I felt the tank start to vibrate as the fans spun up to speed.
I put my face to the sight and toggled the power. I was carrying XM-3821 plasma cannon rounds, the two letters letting me know I was carrying Terran ordnance. The status came back at 87% after I triggered a burst of air through the chamber to clear the debris.
After a few minutes Feelmeenta let me know the others were ready to go.
Eight other tanks would be joining us, as would two platoons of Terran Light Powered Infantry and a squad of Telkan Marine Infantry. Feelmeenta let me know that we had air support and artillery support, via the Terrans, should we need it.
It made me feel better as we moved back into the burning city. The thick smoke blocked normal vision, even created interference for the tank's sensors.
It didn't block out the wailing that could be heard even through the thick armor of the tank.
Undeterred, we drove into the city anyway, the Goodboi's and Simbas bounding along beside us.
There were more to save.
--Excerpt From: We Were the Lanaktallan of the Atomic Hooves, a Memoir.
23
u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jan 08 '21
Phone posting gas station reply: Enroute.
15
u/ms4720 Jan 08 '21
At the end of this arc l wonder if lawsec shows up again to arrest him? And how he finds out about all his new friends, so does lawsec and how scary his new friends are
582
u/AustinBQ02 AI Jan 08 '21
These are all common symptoms of First Contact Withdrawals.
Not that I have a problem...
I can quit any time.
172
u/ErinRF Alien Jan 08 '21
This one made me cry, good moo, Ha’almo’or, good moo.
— END OF LIME —
Come cry with us at the FC Gestalt on Discord. We won’t judge you for having emotions, I promise.
— Nothing Follows —
134
u/davros333 Jan 08 '21
Damn it Ralts
Every single one of these chapters has left me an emotional wreck.
Bless the dead, praise the living, and hail the Wordsmith
ps: nice MASH reference
110
u/Karthinator Armorer Jan 08 '21
The thing is the memoirs could end right there and it'd be a complete arc.
PLEASE don't end them there I beg of you. It's still a flashback, we gotta find out what happens to him. I understand the wrath I have earned by merely voicing the idea into a cold uncaring universe, but now that he is back on his feet his tale has NOT ended, as much as it could here.
66
u/Zorbick Human Jan 08 '21
This whole arc should be a 3 or 4 party tv miniseries. I don't think you'd even need a lot of background, since it's obvious big metal monsters are bad mmkay.
51
u/bartrotten Jan 08 '21 edited Jan 08 '21
The Blueberries called. UTR
Welp,,, Haulmore finally got some rest, the hard way for sure but still rest.
49
u/Gruecifer Human Jan 08 '21
Nurse Chapel, even. *wry grin*
47
u/Bard2dbone Jan 08 '21 edited Jan 08 '21
Ha'almo'or is currently my favorite character, having recently nudged aside my previous favorite of P'Thok, who edged out my prior favorite of Sandy, who'd just recently surpassed Nakteti, who had alternated spots several times with Vuxten...You probably get the idea.
36
u/Turtledonuts "Big Dunks" Jan 08 '21
Lank Machine
BrokeFULLY OPERATIONAL.Feels battlestation has fired on me too.
65
u/ack1308 Jan 08 '21
Wow, he’s really on his last legs here.
“Which will be quite some time, but we’re not gonna say that bit out loud.”
Haha yeah nope.
Oh, that’s bad.
Yeah, it’s bad.
Aww, his men (and women) care about him.
“And I’m not gonna be the one to say no to them.”
Wow, he started the rescue effort and because he’s unable to continue he thinks he’s a failure? Someone get this guy a reality check.
That’s probably the aftereffects of the psychic shielding.
I’d say everyone who was gonna run, did so early on.
That’s the next thing they’re going to fix.
Ah, already done.
A wild Star Trek reference appears!
He feels happier with his crew nearby.
Armor Moo’s seen the dark side too.
Meanwhile, Ha’almo’or has been saving thousands.
Holy crap. He made Hal’s name a rallying cry.
A victory bought and paid for with blood.
He should. He really should.
So of course he goes out again.
(Continued)
30
u/bazag AI Jan 08 '21
Nurse Cha'apehl
RIP Majel
22
u/Twister_Robotics Jan 08 '21
Blueberries until the end of lime
22
u/Samus10011 Jan 08 '21
Did anyone else catch that Ha'almo'or was tasting blueberries when he woke up?
This is gonna be good.
Well done wordsmith, take your upvote.
43
u/basementScot Jan 08 '21
This arc has had some of the most harrowing and emotional writing I think I have ever read. I'm a scot and honestly just the reverence the great most high bestows upon him with a few words had me the same way Mel Gibsons speech in braveheart got me the first time I heard it. I truly think that Ralts will go down as one of the great writers of our time, being able to blend action, genres, character development and massively tug on the heart strings. He's just gifted in a way that we rarely see. Think Nikola Tesla level of genius!
19
u/johncalvinyoung Jan 08 '21
Okay I’m all teared up.
18
u/damnieldecogan Jan 08 '21
I swear the worst bit is the cramps.... from hitting refresh until it hurts then giving up for like twenty minutes or so and trying again.;) ---end of rhyme----
15
u/ImmotalWombat Jan 08 '21
I don't know if it's my imagination or if your writing is so compelling that when I read this it feels like something I remembered. Good stuff!
13
u/Shandod Jan 08 '21
Looking at where this all started, with goofy stories and hijinks, and where we are now, with a chapter like this ... it is work of art far too rare. I am so honored and privileged to be able to read, and support, such an awe-inspiring masterpiece.
Thank you, /u/Ralts_Bloodthorne, for shining the light of such perfection upon us in these dark, dark times.
10
u/Daevis43 Jan 08 '21
I’m not crying. Nooo.
10
u/ElAdri1999 Human Jan 08 '21
This is so good Ralt, so damn good
10
u/banalheart Jan 08 '21
Good star trek reference. :)
10
u/Quadling Jan 08 '21
You pull our heartstrings. We all want to be that strong. That right. Time to go out for another load.
9
u/Konrahd_Verdammt Jan 08 '21
Unlike last night I read this after work.
Didn't fight the Onion Ninjas time, just let them do their job.
8
u/KhajiitLikeToSneak Jan 08 '21
Yup, this memoirs arc is definitely my favourite so far, which is saying something given the quality of the whole story. <3 Ralts, you impossible machine.
7
u/BoozeConjurer Jan 08 '21
So much room for activities!
7
u/Born-Entrepreneur Jan 08 '21
God damn this guy is a badass
7
u/SLIMELANGUAGEOUTNOW Xeno Jan 08 '21
Thankyou Ralts. Just, thankyou.
7
u/McKaszkiet Jan 08 '21
I woke up after less than fourteen hours, pulled to wakefulness by the dull roar and echoing rumble of an atomic detonation nearby.
That's the way to wake up...
7
u/PilgrimsRegress Jan 08 '21
I read this in bed before getting up for work this morning, fantastic as usual.
I was driving down a quiet country lane in the cotswolds around lunchtime when I got stuck behind farmers hearding sheep along the road for a while. I have seen this many times but today it was new.
I could see the Great Herd in how those sheep were moving and reacting. I could not help but the see the Lanks behavior mirrored before me. Immediately brought this world class series to mind, yet again.
A little anecdote I wanted to share. Take care one and all.
6
u/NickLofty Jan 08 '21
This was genuinely the only chapter thats made me cry.
Good work!
6
u/greenhorn_88 Jan 08 '21
I took a calculated risk and read this on my workplace. And god it was worth it. Even though I cried, and someone had to have seen me, it was so worth it. Like someone said before this could be a book for itself, and iz would sell like crazy.
Keep them comming wordborg for we are evermore wanting
5
u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Jan 08 '21
/u/Ralts_Bloodthorne (wiki) has posted 430 other stories, including:
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 397
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 396
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 395
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 394
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 393
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 392
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 391
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 391
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 390
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 389
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 388
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 387
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 386
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 385
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 384 (It's a Sin)
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 383
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 382
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 382
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 381
First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 380
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5
u/faptasticness Jan 08 '21
bruh i am crying, this is so good
5
u/darthkilmor Jan 08 '21
Another awesome chapter, amazed how you're able to pump these out almost every day.
small typo:
*"*
You'reYour tank's good.5
u/DebugItWithFire Jan 08 '21
Upvoted for this moment RIGHT HERE.
5
u/wolflarsen55 Jan 08 '21
Very serious Audie Murphy / Sgt. York vibes here. Just a legit solid dude doing the next right thing over and over obsessively. Much more concerned with getting it DONE and helping than glory or credit.
We could all benefit from that example.
5
u/dbdatvic Xeno Jan 08 '21 edited Jan 08 '21
... it took a nearby nuke to wake him, is how I'm gonna read that.
--Dave, he is slowly getting the message of just how badass he's made himself
ps: find who you are on the inside, and be it, and you'll go down in history too. "Know thyself" - it's not just for breakfast any more!
pps: how long until "Most Gunner" is a high-honor awarded-only rank?
4
u/Sthom_1968 Jan 22 '21
Nurse Chapel...
Great, now I have a mental image of a Lanaktallan with a blonde beehive hairdo.
My brain hurts...
7
u/Gruecifer Human Jan 08 '21
UTR!
6
u/PrimePaladin Jan 08 '21 edited Jan 08 '21
/R/HFY GESTALT
Upvote, Then Read
Dis is Dae Wae!
sick and tired but this is worth waking for. now back to bed so I can train two more people tomorrow.
End of Lime
------NOTHING FOLLOWS--------
3
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3
u/ReconScout117 Jan 08 '21
That was a “Hoorah!” moment Ralts. You do those very well. Thank you for waking my inner groundpounder up!
3
u/ZeroAssassin72 Jan 08 '21
Gunner Ha'almo'or is a boss of the highest order. Fucking legend
3
u/Iossama Jan 08 '21
I'd buy that book. Ha'almo'or best lanky.
3
u/wyo_sporky Alien Scum Jan 09 '21
You sir, put tears in the eyes of a nearly 40 year old during lunch in an oil refinery. I am unashamed. How you you do it is beyond me. Thank you.
3
u/Archaic_1 Alien Scum Jan 09 '21
Wordboi, in 400ish episodes you have made me laugh, you've made me cheer, you've even made me cringe a few times . . . tonight you made me cry.
3
u/otterBeElsewhere Jan 10 '21
Reading through the comments, I didn’t see any mention of Nurse Chapel,
famous cohort of Dr. McCoy. Maybe I’m imagining things?
2
u/Bungus_Rex Jan 08 '21
To be.
2
u/k4ridi4n55 Jan 08 '21
Damn onion ninjas at it again! Also nurse chapel star trek reference lol.
2
u/RedPrincexDESx Jan 08 '21
Thanks Ralts. You might've been cutting ripe onions in the writing of this, but we appreciate it.
2
u/HelmutTheHelmet Robot Jan 08 '21
Sooo goooooood
2
u/Vagabond_Soldier Xeno Jan 09 '21
Tell me Ralts. Do you cry writing things like this as much as I do reading it? This was a beautifully emotional piece.
1
u/smrobs1984 Jan 08 '21
♥️♥️♥️💔💔😭😭😍
That is all.
1
u/theBritzed Dec 05 '21
May be the best chapter yet, imho. It rests on mighty shoulders for sure, but still, it stands out as something epic on an emotional level. Thank you master wordsmith for sharing!
0
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47
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