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Post by Penny Royals on Sept 16, 2013 19:49:33 GMT -8
"Attention: All civilians MUST use Route 202, I repeat, ALL civilians must use Route 202..."
July 23rd , 1947 ; 22 : 08 P.S.T
The highway was filled, cars in the middle, bodies pressed up against all sides and into every possible crack, inching along the highway at a frantic snail's pace. A convoy of huge military vehicles shoved them all forward from the back and dragged them along from the front, attempting to get them all out safely. All around, the town's disaster sirens were blaring in ear shattering waaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaahs.
"You are advised to remain calm and collected while we move forward to our destination of Fort Justice, a distance of 9 miles; we ask that if you are incapable of walking that far that you remain where you are until the military vans can get you as they pass by..."
The sidewalks were equally crammed, with elderly persons, children, and general assorted other sitting down to wait for the line to move far enough to get them. Up above the heavy breathing of thousands of people in unison, the sky was cloudless and stars shone through. A halo of light surrounded the moon, an omen... but of what?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She forgot his picture.
The thought had only just occurred to her, towards the back of the line, about six cars away from the start of the military convoy's end. To pass the time, she'd been looking through her satchel at all she'd brought - the usual supplies, sure. But she'd forgotten the most important thing - the photo of her big(gest) brother Presley.
She glanced around. Her parents were a few paces ahead, and they were only a few blocks away from her house.
No one would notice if she went back a bit and came back, would they? Not even her parents? 'Course, if she was wrong, she was in for quite a licking when they all got safe again. Even so, she was willing to take that chance. She didn't want Presley's picture to be destroyed by some fire-breathing dragon or something like that.
With all the stealth she could muster, Mona set off towards the back of the line, finding a way in the crowd. As the sirens started to die down, and she got closer and closer to the end, another noise began to fill her head - but she couldn't tell what it was, exactly...
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Post by JW% on Sept 17, 2013 14:32:08 GMT -8
Jake had a heavy pack filled with 'essentials' and his toolbelt on, but mostly he had a scowl on his face. One of the trucks he had fixed up had been taken for service, and now he was riding in the back of it, along with a half dozen other people. Several of them in uniforms, taking up the rear of the convoy.
"So... what are you boys? Army?" He asked, looking over their uniforms. They certainly weren't police. National Guard would be most likely. "Any of you know what's got everyones garters in a tangle? Why the evacuation? I needed to get this truck back to old man Henderson. He still owes me for fixing the radiator. Lord knows what he'll do if something of his gets taken like this." Hell, the man would probably flip out if his garden gnomes were taken.
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 22, 2013 5:20:33 GMT -8
He really didn't mean to end up in the back of the line, surrounded by the stragglers and the wounded who had made their way to the convoy. His apartment was on the other side of the city and no-one was willing to give a guy carrying a rifle a lift.
As it was, he was almost touching the check-point that started the convoy. Soldiers regarded him with a bit more respect than some of the civilians, but all-in-all, it wasn't pleasant for anyone involved.
Clutching his rifle strap and bag, he turned to see a shorter figure than most pushing through the crowd. As she attempted to push past him, Eugene grabbed her by the forearm.
"Hey, kid. What the fuck are you doing?" He asked, having to speak a bit louder over the klaxons and collective urgency of the convoy. "You looking to get swallowed by some fucking dragon or some shit, kid?"
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 22, 2013 23:07:05 GMT -8
Ayako was only just now leaving her home. Her bag was heavy on her shoulders but she knew better then to leave without grabbing as much as she could.
"Oh Papa I hope you're safe." she muttered to herself. Her father had been in the middle of his long shift at the factory when the alarms had begun sounding, and she had been home alone beginning to get dinner ready for later. She felt bad for taking all of the money and such with her, but she knew her father would have wanted her to take every precaution to be safe. She just hoped he would get out safely and there'd be some way to reunite with him.
Her worries about her father caused her to stop watching where she was going, and she accidentally plowed into Eugene and Mona, "Gomenesai..." she mumbled as she got off the ground, hugging her bag to her chest so no one would step on it.
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Post by Penny Royals on Sept 23, 2013 14:19:51 GMT -8
Mona looked up to the man who stopped her, looking as determined as she could.
"I left something very important at my house. My house is right there-" She pointed down the road a ways, at a small white house with a picket fence and blue roof. "Surely I can go grab it real fast?"
She looked over to the girl who ran into her.
"No problems." She paused, listening. The sound was growing louder now. "...Do either of you hear that?"
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 24, 2013 0:54:42 GMT -8
As the girl explained herself, Eugene began to loosen his grip on the girl's forearm until she was completely out of his grasp, free to do as she pleased.
"Fuck, look... fine." He sighed. It was only a few meters away. Or yards. But metric is better. "Just... hurry it up."
"Ow. You alright, kid?" He asked, looking at the girl. He looked around. "You better catch up to your parents, girl."
"What... noise?" Eugene said. "What the fuck is going on? I've found myself in the shitty part of the convoy, haven't I?"
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Post by JW% on Sept 24, 2013 11:29:53 GMT -8
Old Man Hendersons truck rattled and rambled along the road, the armed forces that had taken it not bothering to stop for the two girls and the guy lugging a rifle that clearly was not part of the uniformed crew.
"Hey, somebody jump off and stop that girl." The driver said, refering to Mona. Ayako was just standing there where she'd bumped into Eugene after all, not making a break back into the city.
Jake had to jump out to let the three other guys get out, since Jake had been riding practically on the tailgate. Jake swore as he got out that he would be getting that truck back.
"Hey..." Jake shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know that's not the truck. What's that sound?"
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 24, 2013 14:19:14 GMT -8
"I don't know where my parents are," Ayako said. Well she knew exactly where her mother was, she was a pile of dusty bones in an unmarked grave, but she wasn't exactly gonna tell her life story to this stranger.
She looked at the other girl and listened, "...I hear something. I dunno what it is though."
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Post by Penny Royals on Sept 26, 2013 11:46:12 GMT -8
Mona stopped, along with most other people. The sirens were still blaring, but all other sounds stopped as everyone listened.
Click - click - click - click...
The sound was of scampering feet, impossibly light, sharp, creating clicks on the ground. Somewhere in the distance, blocks over, something was getting closer, and getting closer to them all fast.
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 27, 2013 1:39:27 GMT -8
Ayako began trembling, she withdrew the knife that she had placed in the pocket of her skirt. It felt comforting to her, reminded her of the time her father had subdued a man with it who had tried to take his anger out from Pearl Harbor on her family.
She really wished that he was there right now to comfort her, but she knew the best thing to do right now was to try to be as strong as he was in the face of adversity.
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 27, 2013 7:44:25 GMT -8
"We gotta' go." Eugene said with urgent attention, looking at the assembled group. His ears had finally perked up to the sound that the girl had almost sympathetically exposed him to. "T-... That sounds like It's getting closer to us."
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he gripped his rifle close. He checked to see if a clip had been chambered, which he had done so, before he looked to the girl's and their new-found ally. He spotted the girl's knife.
"Come on." He said, attempting to pull them slightly away from the rear of the convoy and through the group, away from the noise. "Whatever the fuck that is, we don't want to be near it."
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Post by JW% on Sept 27, 2013 12:53:45 GMT -8
"What the hell is it?" Jake frowned, not quite associating 'clicks' with footsteps. Yes, it was getting closer, but there was no ground displacement that he was associated with. He glanced back at the truck he had jumped off of with the two armed forces.
"Oh come on!" Jake groaned as he watched Old Man Henderson's truck driving away from them. "You really expect me to run to catch up with this pack on?"
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 27, 2013 13:36:06 GMT -8
"I'm not staying with that sound when the city is covered in giant ants and fucking dragons or some shit." Eugene attempted to justify, turning to look at the man. "Gimme' your fucking pack. I'll carry some, then."
"Why did you bring so much shit?" He asked, closing in on the man with his hands out, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "I presume packing light didn't mean shit to you?"
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Post by JW% on Sept 27, 2013 14:02:26 GMT -8
"This is packing light!" Jack snapped as the two armed forces encouraged him with shoves to get to jogging after the truck. "Better than just carrying a gun and thinking you can get anything from anyone that way. And what the hell is with everyone shouting about dragons all of a sudden? I ain't seen no dragons, no unicorns, nothing stupid like that. So why's everyone jumping to that conclusion? Ain't we being bombed or something?"
The two soldiers didn't answer as they tried to get Eugene, Mona, and Ayako to hurry up and catch up with the convoy too.
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 27, 2013 14:02:28 GMT -8
"Its better to overpack then to underpack." Ayako responded, "You never know whats going to happen"
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 27, 2013 14:22:02 GMT -8
"What the fuck do you think my backpack is for!?" He yelled over the ruckus. "The rifle is for protection! You think a million people are just going to get along once they're kicked out of their home!?"
"Giant fucking ants and shit is what I heard." He continued. "If we were being bombed, we'd know. Because... you know... we're hear fucking explosions."
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Post by Penny Royals on Sept 27, 2013 14:23:45 GMT -8
Mona twisted around, rushing after Eugene, trying to keep up with him, mostly as he'd grabbed her arm to pull her along. People throughout the convoy were starting to shift nervously, looking at eachother, those on the sidewalks stood up and started moving forward, others had already started moving. Several cars honked loudly and excitedly, attempting to push the line forward.
Towards the back of the convoy, at the opposite side of the road from the group, a large figure scuttled into the shadows, and then, into the light.
Standing under the spotlight of a streetlamp was a giant, spindly-legged spider, eying the convoy, locking eyes with pedestrians...
And then the crowd went crazy. People started running, screaming, falling and being caught under a stampede. The spider gave a shriek, darting towards the nearest thing - an armored car.
Seconds later that armored car was carnage and scrap metal.
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Post by JW% on Sept 27, 2013 16:54:50 GMT -8
Jake came to a stop when he saw the giant spider, and immediately decided to head the other direction, AWAY from the convoy and the spider attacking it. There had to be a building or something around that the thing couldn't get into...
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 30, 2013 17:07:51 GMT -8
Ayako had never liked spiders, whenever one showed up in her vicnity, she always screamed and begged someone to squish it.
And now the tables were turned and one was about to squish her. And instead of screaming, she was simply in shock, eyes wide, mouth agape, and taking slow steps backwards.
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Post by JW% on Sept 30, 2013 18:00:30 GMT -8
Jake let out a sound that could have been a groan or whimper of fear... or a growl of hostility. He gave Eugene a shove. "Move." He shouted as the rending of metal and the sound of gunfire could be heard. Jake braced himself, as though about to be hit by a tackle from the opposing line, and lurched forward. Both of his arms wide, he hit Ayako from behind, scooping her up in one arm, while the other caught Mona at about the waist and lifted her up onto his shoulder.
He had a target to run to. A big heavy stone building, a church he guessed from the steeple. That should, in theory, provide protection from the giant creature. It might be able to fine one of it's arms inside, but it wouldn't be tearing the building apart like it had the car, and like it was doing to the people in the convoy.
Jake hit the side door of the church with a kick, not bothering to slow down, keeping the momentum of the run with his heavy burden through it all. The impact jarred up his leg, but the door snapped open under the force. He could fix the latch later, if there was a later. For the moment, he just needed sanctuary.
Mona and Ayako were put down. "Basement." Jake said, looking at the windows and back at what was happening to the convoy of evacuees. "Place has to have a basement, or stormcellar, or... I don't know..." Just somewhere that could be used for shelter.
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 30, 2013 18:46:59 GMT -8
Ayako shrieked as Jake picked her up and manhandled her, kind of scared of what he was trying to do. But after he helped her find shelter she wasn't as mad. Hell he might of just saved her life.
She had never been in a church before, her family had still kept their original religion of Shinto when they came to America. She had walked past the church many times though, admiring the nice architect.
But now was no time to admire the building. She quickly scampered and hid behind one of the pews, trying not to cry as she heard the sound of carnage outside.
"Papa please be okay..." she begged.
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Post by Adlai Stevenson on Sept 30, 2013 21:03:33 GMT -8
"Doc was always encouraging me to keep a diary, or a journal, or something along those lines. It'll be therapeutic, says he. It'll do you some good. Never really bothered. Certainly, if I'm keepin' some kind of record, I have to assume it'll be read by someone else, don't I? Why keep a private diary? It's a silly thing, after all; I know what's happened to me. So, what does a guy like me write about in a diary? My everyday beat? Honest Abe's on the case, it's just what he does. I don't have the time for shenanigans like these. The weather? Colder than Christmas with the in-laws one day, hotter than the landlord's trophy gal the next. What I eat? Don't you go givin' me that bum rap.
"But that's all bunk, now. No matter what you are - newshawk with a flashy camera, shamus with only a badge and a gat to your name, or even some kinda ambulance-chasin' shyster, looks like everybody's playin' a role in this one last curtain call. What's good ol' Harry S say? The buck stops here? Looks like that's one promise we're holdin' ourselves to."
In the basement of the church, a low-hanging lightbulb flickered with each thud of heavy military machinery in action, and the resounding retort of something far more wicked coming this way. In comparison to the scrambling, bespectacled deacon fiddling with a dusty ham radio, frantically trying to tune into a signal for something or the other, the man in the blue fedora and tattered trenchcoat had kept a steady, if not cynical tone to his reverie as he talked and talked and talked, seemingly to no one in particular beyond himself. He struck a match off his belt buckle, and lit a Chesterfield regular stuck in the side of his stubble-surrounded mouth.
"As these things usually do," he continued, his eyes looking out to some kind of invisible audience. "it started with a broad and some bodies."
"It was a Wednesday night, so of course I was at the office when she came a'knockin. Just when I was making some headway into that Lizzy Short caper, too. Hadn't expected company for quite some time, so it took a moment of staring at the door like a simpleton before getting up out of my chair to answer it, like regular folks do.
"Cracked the door 'til the chain was taut, peeked out in the hallway. Blondie. A real dish, at that. Even though she was in that Army brown, it wasn't enough to stop me from admirin' a gal with curves like Big Bend. Packin' iron, too. The Reserve Corps jacket didn't leave much to the imagination, not even the heater she wore in a crossdraw hip rig underneath.
"Are you a Mister Abraham Habersham?, she asked, with a voice like somebody pouring syrup over hot buttered waffles. I arched a brow. I might be an ace detective, but I'm not the kind of fella people go and find, y'see. That's what it says on the door, I answered, smooth as black ice. She hesitated, stumbled over her words. Obviously taken aback by my charm. Are you Abraham Habersham? she asked again. Still warm, but a little less confident, like a dame on the run.
"So my mother informed me, yes I am, I said. Asked if there was anything I could do for her, a fine lady such as herself. Even opened the door for her, like chivalry wasn't dead. She gave me one of those sideways looks, then put a piece of paper in my mug. Evacuation, she says. Everyone must comply.
"Before I can so much as ask for a name, she's pulled me out the door and down the hallway. Couldn't even get my mitts up with the cadre of flat-topped gunsels she had with her, Uncle Sam's men of action with carbines over their shoulders. I ask what the big idea is, but they've gotten bigger fish to fry; I get tossed in the back of a truck with a bushel of other screamin' folks, like a potato sack. The jalopy's speedin' off when I see it; picnic ant the size of the Hindenburg, chewin' up a Packard with a poor sunuvabitch inside it.
"Rest of it was a blur, really," he said, this time to the the deacon at the radio. Looks like he had bigger fish to fry, too. "Fell off somewhere between Cross Street and the bridge, clawed my way in here. I'm no man o'God, but by golly, I wonder what the high hell he's cookin' up for us next."
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Sept 30, 2013 22:13:00 GMT -8
Ayako had been the first one to notice the door to what she thought was the basement. She crawled on her hands and knees, shaking as the sounds outside continued. When she reached the door, she stood up on her knees and gently opened the door, and was greeted to the site of a dusty old staircase leading to the basement and...something.
At first she thought it was some some radio program, one of the noir detective serials her father loved to listen to. And then she realized he was narrating about today's events. This was an actual person acting like this.
She stood there mouth agape for a moment wondering if she should just take her chances with the monster outside. Self-preservation ultimately won over, and she motioned to the others, and began descending the staircase, each step making a squeaky creak on the stairs that would of been definitly audible to Honest Abe.
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Sept 30, 2013 22:28:21 GMT -8
"Go! Fucking move!" Eugene said, staying somewhat behind Jake to make sure he got into the Church first. He had swung his rifle from his side and was holding it close as he back-peddled, keeping an eye on the approaching monster. "What the fuck is that!?"
Over the retort of weapons fire and panic, Eugene shoved himself into the Church. With a heavy thud, he pulled close the doors. He went to push a pew in front if to jam it, but whatever that thing was, he doubted it was going to use the door.
It was a disturbing factor when the resonance of artillery and distant gunfire was something you were accustomed to, as Eugene stood in a low-crouch, following on after the Japanese girl. He turned to look at the others, quietly gesturing to the basement.
Despite the fact that he heard all Human discussion, he still brandished his rifle in a ready stance. He hated to admit it, but the prospect of being murdered, rape or killed for supplies or safety was very much so prevalent.
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Post by Penny Royals on Oct 1, 2013 5:57:00 GMT -8
The deacon seemed to pay only some mind to the man who had found himself down here, quickly working to set up the radio, as well as find all the supplies down here to make sure they would be ready to house any visitors like the man - which, as it seemed, they would have to do...
"Holy-"
The several seconds between the spider's appearance and standing down in the cellar of a church with the others. She remembered being heaved over a man's shoulder, but that was about it. She looked around her party - the two men, and the Jap - and the stairs leading down to a place of light and quick, mild chattering.
"I... I guess we should go down there."
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Post by JW% on Oct 1, 2013 11:52:11 GMT -8
"Yeah..." Jake was looking out the window and saw that the spider thing had decimated what was visible of their part of the convoy.
He glanced over at Eugene. "Stop waving that thing around with that wild look in your eyes, with you? It's giving me the willies. You want to point it at something point it out there at your 'dragon'."
Glancing around the room he saw that they had found not only a basement, but also a few other people stashed away in the building. Jake wondered how he should feel about that. They were supposed to be evacuating after all. But then again, after what had happened to the convoy...
"We wait for it to leave... then we see if there's survivors out there." Jake suggested, not to sure about his idea. There were bodies out there yes... he could see parts having been strewn. The creature had not been all that clean in it's tearing apart of vehicles and other things. But survivors? "It comes near here, we barricade below. You don't mind... uh... Father, right?" What was the proper title to address this man? He was wearing the Cloth, this was probably his church, but he didn't look like a priest and Jake had never been a religious man so didn't know the rank structure and terms of address.
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Oct 1, 2013 12:00:53 GMT -8
Ayako stared at the people taking refuge in the basement, nervously putting her hands in her skirts pocket. " Am... Am I allowed to stay here?" she asked the head religious man... A pastor she believed was the right term. That was one thing she hd learned since December 7, 1941' the fact that's he was unwelcome almost everywhere.
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Oct 1, 2013 12:07:48 GMT -8
"Man, how the f-..." He cut himself off, realizing the place of sanctity he was in. He slung his rifle before he ran his hand through his hair, taking a seat on the stairs. "Oh, I'm sorry. Giant-spider is a far cry from your artillery, isn't it? Don't get uppity with me, guy."
"I'm not sure we want to follow that convoy." Eugene said, shuffling through his pack as he produced his nickname namesake, Lucky Strike cigarettes. He took it and light up, taking a drag and sighing. "That spider thing is probably following the prey all the way to the safe point, unless the military managed to take it out."
Cocking an eyebrow at Ayako, he laughed, a gentle chuckle as he attempted to keep his cigarette in his mouth. He took it out, blowing smoke from his nose.
"Kid, I don't think anyone is going to force you out with that thing out there." He said. "Just... relax. Find a seat and wait this out."
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Post by Fiery Firefly on Oct 1, 2013 12:17:36 GMT -8
" Thnk you.." she muttered. Ayako layer her bag down and rested her head on it likes pillow. Every once in awhile, a small sob or sniffle would escape from her, as she layer there worrying about her father. She had no idea how she'd survive if she was orphaned.
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lovely corte
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Post by lovely corte on Oct 1, 2013 12:22:37 GMT -8
"Oh, geeze. With the crying." Eugene said, muttering quietly so as not to disturb the girl. He sighed, clapping his hand onto his forehead and pushing the cigarette in his mouth to the corner, almost done. "Fuck."
"Hey, you alright?" He said, leaning forward to none too politely nudge her with his foot, standing over her. He was reaching through his backpack. He looked at the others around their assembled safe house, wondering if they had input on how to stop a pretty young girl from crying. "What's... with the tears?"
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