Would Aku have his scientists create the Internet but only for himself and close evil associates to use?
to answer this question, anon, we must look at What The Internet Is.
Does Aku's future have computers? Yes. Most of them look like 1960s-level technology, but they also have intelligent robots, so there's probably more advanced computer chips inside their brains somewhere.
Does his future have a globally-connected computer network?
pictured above: an employee at a space port telling a criminal refugee the coordinates of the village where he's been assigned to live, and apparently pulling up a live video feed of the location.
So the computers are connected to some kind of network, and it reaches different locations on the globe.
We don't know what kind of protocol suite their network is using, but it's enough to say that yes, they're operating something analogous to the Internet.
However:
we're probably talking something more like ARPANET than the Internet.
first: probably limited locations that connect to it.
second: it ain't going to look anything like what we imagine the "internet" to be. no web sites, no social media, no online shopping, no newspapers-that-turned-into-news-sites, no movie/TV/music streaming, no gaming, etc.
Whatever Aku's government is using is neither a beautiful tool of communication designed to collect and freely share the whole of human knowledge, nor a commercialized capitalist product designed to sell products to you or sell you to advertisers.
It's a government tool. It moves data and paperwork from one side of the planet to another.
the Aku internet has—among other things—a database of locations that have been earmarked as free parcels of land to hand to new refugees; access to video feeds (possibly security feeds?) streaming from those locations all over the world; access points at spaceport help desks where government employees can look up available locations; and, probably, a way to update the database from the spaceport access points by marking that a location has been claimed. The interface of this database probably looks less like an internet browser and more like a computer app built for a specific task; it just so happens that behind the surface this app also connects to other computers elsewhere.
Probably all the other uses of the "internet"—in fact, probably all other uses of computers—are designed similar ways: task-oriented programs and databases that make government work easier. no leisure/social functions. this is a government tool for government work, nothing else.
(Of course, if two machines have the ability to send messages to each other—and of course they would, government employees have to communicate—then the users of those machines can, and will, socialize. but this is equivalent to two coworkers chatting about the big sportsball game on their work email accounts, not two strangers talking about sportsball on twitter. the internet—and what gets on the internet—is wholly in the government's hands; and therefore nothing is getting built for the internet that doesn't serve the government's purposes.)
Diana 'Diamond' Ruffington-Bryte knew how to make an entrance anywhere she went.
She loved the feeling of being in a casino and being a master of whatever she playing, be it the games or the people. Sure it was the job, but it was the thrill.
That was until she saw her. Alyson. Although she had tried to find her several times since that shoot out in the plaza years ago, Diamond figured that Alyson was gone and well hidden. Her heart skipped a beat as she almost passed James the wrong card and that would have cost him the bank and his in. She caught herself in time though and James won the bank and he had his in.
Alyson walked over to the table and introduced herself as Lady Angelica Dodson. Diamond could not believe it. Alyson the street rat, had cleaned up and married a Lord known for his philanthropic efforts for refugee children. Diamond wanted to believe that she had turned a new leaf, but a red light was blinking in the back of her mind and she knew well enough not to ignore it. Alyson gave no trace of recognition and neither did Diamond. After a bit of small talk, Diamond excused herself because she had seen her part of the assignment.
The guest list was like the start of a bad joke. An arms dealer, a shipping magnate, several terrorists, a sheik, and now a philanthropist and his wife walk into a Shang Hai Casino. A shadowy figure known as the Auctioneer was putting together another auction and death was on the block.
Diamond spotted one of Sheiks known to be participating in the Auction, and that he had a taste for gambling and winning western women at the tables.
It went against Diamond's grain to play well enough to pique his interest but to eventually loose to a point that he would let her bet her virtue.
She lost just like she planned. Up in the Sheiks room, after a deep passionate kiss....
he was out light a light thanks to the special lipstick from Q branch.
Taking her equipment out from the lining of her fur coat, she slipped into the duct work of the casino from a hatch that was only accessible from the Sheiks room. Leaving a rose on the pillow, Diamond went into the duct work and soon found the junction for the casino's computers that she was looking for.
After attaching the device to the network, she went back to the ducts, bypassed most of the security system and confronted the timelocked vault and proceeded to crack it. As temping as it was to open the vault and help herself to what was inside, but she remembered her mission and just one click away from opening it, she triggered the alarm.
As the computer of the casino went into security mode, securing the building and tracking the intruder, the device Diamond had left in the network junction went to work, going into the system and finding all the most sensitive data that had been gathered together as part of the system's security protocol.
Diamond in the meantime was leading the guards a merry chase, taking them down several flights of stairs, till she got to where an elevated had been stopped by the computer, right where she expected it. She clipped an ascender to the cable and was pulled up to roof, where another prepositioned package awaited.
Waiting just long enough for the guards to arrive.. she fell backwards off the building...
and then lit off the latest of Q Branch's Flight Packs and took off across the skies of Shang Hai....
The following morning James woke up and checked his computer while having a drink before waking his companion from the previous evening. He smiled as he watched the data coming in. He was impressed with Diamond's work.
Diamond walked out of surf after a morning swim on the island she landed on... the swim had cleared her head of loosing at cards, and not cleaning out the safe... but the memory of Alyson was still there.
Detective Joseph "Joe" Recarey: The Lead Investigator Who Uncovered Epstein's Network.
The mysterious death of a Palm Beach police hero who cracked open the Epstein case? Or an untimely death of a man who was harassed repeatedly for his work in West Plam helping uncover the nightmares of many underage girls?
Detective Joseph "Joe" Recarey: The Lead Investigator Who Uncovered Epstein's Network.
Detective Joseph Recarey (often referred to as "Joe Recarey") was the lead detective from the Palm Beach Police Department charged with investigating Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes against minors (Court File page 15 of 26). He joined the Palm Beach Police Department in 1991 as an officer and was promoted to police detective in 1994 (Court File page 15 of 26).
Joe Recarey uncovered a Palm Beach secret. His boss went from being a strong advocate for justice to being a strong advocate for a case not being made, once Alan Dershowitz entered the scene. Why was the attorney for Jeffrey Epstein (and later Donald Trump) allowed to join in on the investigation?
Professional Background and Expertise
Throughout his career, Recarey worked in several specialized units:
• The police department's Organized Crime Vice and Narcotics Unit
• The Department of Justice and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit
• The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Public Integrity Unit (Court File page 15 of 26).
He handled high-profile cases and instructed law enforcement personnel and civilian members of the community about criminal and narcotics investigations (Court File page 15 of 26). Recarey received more than 150 commendations from the law enforcement community, including the Inaugural "Officer of the Year" Award by the Palm Beach Police Foundation in 2012 (Court File page 15 of 26). He was also responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of the security camera systems throughout the Town of Palm Beach (Court File page 15 of 26).
The Epstein Investigation (2005-2006)
Recarey's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein commenced in 2005 when the case was assigned to him in September of that year (EFTA00298263). He worked only on the Epstein case for an entire year (Court File page 15 of 26).
Key investigative findings and accomplishments:
1. Victim Identification: Between March 2005 (when the case opened) and seven months later when police executed a search warrant at Epstein's home, Recarey had identified 21 possible victims (EFTA00798534). By the time police felt they had enough evidence to arrest Epstein on sex charges, they had identified about 35 possible underage victims and were tracking down at least a dozen more (EFTA00798534).
2. Search Warrant Execution (October 20, 2005): During the search of Epstein's Palm Beach residence, Recarey and his team found:
• Computer monitors and keyboards but the CPUs were conspicuously missing (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• Disconnected surveillance cameras with videotapes gone (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• Message pads showing messages from many girls over a two-year span returning phone calls to confirm appointments to "work" (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3 & Court Files Document 204-3 page 40 of 348).
• Numerous photographs of naked young females of indeterminate age (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• Massage tables and oils (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• One victim's high school transcript (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• Items believed to be sex toys (Court Files Document 361-40 page 3 of 3).
• The layout and design matched victims' descriptions, including a green and pink couch (Court files Document 290-4 page 15 of 36).
• Investigative Methodology: Recarey reviewed previous officers' reports and interviews, conducted numerous interviews of witnesses and alleged victims himself, reviewed surveillance footage of the Epstein home, participated in and had knowledge of the search warrant executed on the Epstein home, and testified regarding the case before the Florida state grand jury against Epstein (Court File page 15 of 26).
Pressure and Obstruction Faced
Recarey and his supervisor, Chief Michael Reiter, faced significant political pressure during their investigation. In their first on-the-record media interviews about the case, they revealed they were pressured by then-Palm Beach State Attorney Barry Krischer to downgrade the case to a misdemeanor or drop it altogether (EFTA00798535 & EFTA00798534 & EFTA00798536).
"Alan Dershowitz flew down and met privately with Krischer," Recarey said. "And the shenanigans that happened, I don't think I've ever seen or heard of before." (EFTA00798535)
Former post on Dershowitz 1:
Former post on Dershowitz 2: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CJt8N9ykz/
Recarey described being surveilled and harassed: "I began to take different routes to and from work, and even switched vehicles because I knew I was being tailed. At some point it became like a cat-and-mouse game. I would stop at a red light and go. I knew they were there, and they knew I knew they were there. I was concerned about my kids because I didn't know if it was someone that they hired just out of prison that would hurt me or my family" (House_Oversight_016441, EFTA00798538).
Death and Timing
Detective Recarey died on May 25, 2018 (Court File page 13 & Court File page 15 of 26). The documents note his death but do not specify the cause. His death occurred approximately one year before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and 15 months before Epstein's death in August 2019. Many news reports state that Recarey died from sleep apnea.
Significance in the Epstein Case
Recarey's work was foundational to understanding the scope of Epstein's crimes. His investigation revealed that Epstein's operation involved systematic recruitment of underage girls over multiple years. Importantly, Recarey's investigation showed that not one of the alleged Epstein victims ever mentioned Ghislaine Maxwell's name during his initial investigation (Court File page 15 of 26), which became a point of contention in Maxwell's later trial. Is this because she was involved with other victims that he did not discover (another division of his crimes) or because she was not involved at the West Palm location? According to Maxwell, it was due to her innocence, which many survivors would quickly provide a rebuttal on.
In 2008 Jeffrey Epstein signed a Non-Prosecutorial Agreement (NPA) which is often referred to as the “Sweetheart Deal”. Please find more info about the sweetheart deal and the 4 Co-Conspirators here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AeicQHTcV/
His meticulous documentation and victim identification provided the evidentiary basis that would eventually lead to Epstein's 2008 plea deal and later federal prosecution. The 35+ victims he identified represented only a fraction of what would later be uncovered, but his work established the pattern of criminal behavior that spanned years.
If only someone had listened to Maria Farmer in 1996 (under the Clinton DOJ), this would not have happened in 2008 (under George W Bush's DOJ). Maria Farmer 1996 post here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Buo8s5tQF/
What's striking here: Recarey died just as the Epstein case was about to explode into national consciousness. He never saw Epstein's 2019 arrest, Maxwell's conviction, or the full public revelation of the network he helped uncover. The pressure he described—from being surveilled to political interference—suggests his investigation threatened powerful interests long before the public knew Epstein's name.
If you think the "sweetheart deal" and the Recarey death is an odd coincidence, wait until you see the details from the "seizure of evidence" on Epstein's Palm Beach home (future post).
We need an Independent Congressional Committee, comprised of individuals that are similar to a jury pool. The committee must be independent and operate alongside Congress so that the people can hold these elites accountable! We cannot trust the elites to take down themselves!
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Analise sighs, and double checks the location on her tablet.
Old Regret ProtoMech Annex, Zamardi, a mere 30 minute walk from the facility she had spend all of her life previously.
The squat, plain building looms before her, the administrative facility and welcome center of the ProtoMech Pilot program.
She's 20, she should be with thw rest of her sibko, hanging out and waiting for their assignments to arrive. Instead, she h a d failed at the last moment in her Trial of Position, and failed to secure even a single kill.
Instead, here she is faced with yet more training.
She pushes the door aside, and finds herself met by a barrsn lobby, a single aged laborer sitting behind a desk.
"W- Colt Analise, I have an appointment."
The old man stares over the thin rims of his glasses at her, before glancing down at his desk. "Oh, yes, room 13, down the hall on the left. They're waiting for you."
Analise nods thanks to the civillian, and walks down the hall until she finds the door labelled 13.
She checks her chronometer, adjusts her cadet tunic, and steps inside.
She's met by an equally short warrior in an odd skintight ridged suit, with a sleevelsess jacket over it, and a scientist who towers over both of them. Both of them stand in front of a roughly sphericle pod cluttered in structural frame, wire, and computer boxes.
The Wrangler steps forward when Analise enters. "Colt Analise, you are capable of punctuality, good. I am Wrangler Hald, this is Scientist Thil, amd this, is our Interfacr Training Pod."
Analise looks over the pod, and realizes that indeed, she must be looking at a ProtoMech cockpit pod, excised from the rest of the body, and plugged into the training facility power grid instead of a fusion reactor.
"This is the first stage of ProtoMech training, we test you for Integration potential. If you pass, you will recieve your implants." At this, he stretches out one arm, revealing the red circut patterns covering his skin. "This is the first, and most crucial test before you. If you fail, you will be tested out, either into the civillian castes, or maybe they have a helicopter waiting for you."
Analise grits her teeth at the veiled insult, and steps forward. Clan Hell's Horse may value vehicles, but Analise was born to rule the sky, not hide in fear at the merest implication of an enemy fighter.
"I will take the test."
"Excellent, you will need this." Hald tosses her a sheet of smooth fabric, that seems to flow like fine mail.
Analise inspects it for a moment, and notices the fine copper patterns along the inside, not unlike the sensor pad of a neurohelmet.
She strips off her shorts first, and then her loose, and when the Wrangler directs her to further, her undegarments go too.
It takes her a moment to figure out where the suit opens, but when she gets into it, it instantly fits to her, contracting into ridges, apart from some smooth areas of padding in the groin, knees, and chest, just like the trainer's suit.
The pod opens, and she steps forward, and climbs in. Hald points her to a miniature neurohelmet inside, and when she puts it on, the pod immediately shifts to hold her body in a comfortable position. Outside, the scientist taps away at a contol panel, and the hatch closes in on her.
There’s an electric jolt in her scalp, and accross her whole skin, and the world jumps outward with a stab of pain beyween her eyes. The systems of the pod becomes her body, and she falls even deeper, connecting into the sensors apparently integrated intonits outsiedw, and then throughout the base, and then into the city's netork. Each layer brings greater pain, and she's reaching for the planetary network, when it all shuts off, and there’s a feelingnlike every inch of her body had been seperated at once. She screams, and almost blacks out as the hatch opens.
She's helped out, and feels fear. The pain surely means she failed, she couldn't Integrate smoothly. But Wrangler holt smiles grimly at her, like his next words are announcing her death. Maybe she failed so bad she hurt her brain somehow, and the only way forward is euthanasia. At least she wouldn't be a burden.
"Congratulations, Colt Analise, you passed the Integration test with flying colors. With results like these, I have no doubt you will make a fine Proto Pilot. Let us get your onboarding finalized and schedule your surgery. "
The news hits Analise slowly, the euphoria of Integration fading slowly.
♡ Description - Embarking on a spy mission with your girlfriend Jihyo goes terribly wrong when you get severely injured (A/N: I hope you like this one 🐰 anon)
★・・・・・・★
Months after you first met, you found yourself in an extraordinary relationship with the skilled, brilliant leader of the secret spy organization TWICE: Park Jihyo. Together, you made a formidable team, tackling dangerous missions and growing closer with every challenge you faced side by side.
One day, you were assigned a critical mission that involved intercepting highly classified information related to a sinister global organization known as "The Black Lotus." This organization was notorious for its involvement in illegal arms trade, human trafficking, and acts of terrorism.
The intel you received indicated that The Black Lotus was about to finalize a deal with a rogue nation, supplying them with advanced weaponry and technology. If the deal went through, it could destabilize the delicate balance of power in the region, putting countless innocent lives at risk.
To prevent this catastrophic event, your mission objectives were twofold:
1. Infiltrate the High-Security Facility: Jihyo, being a master of disguise and stealth, was tasked with infiltrating the heavily fortified headquarters of a Black Lotus subsidiary. The facility was protected by state-of-the-art security measures, including retinal scanners, laser grids, and an army of well-trained guards.
Your mission was to guide Jihyo, providing her with real-time analysis and strategic support from a secure location. As an experienced spy, you had excess knowledge of surveillance cameras, could hack into the facility's communications, and process information swiftly.
2. Retrieve the Encrypted Data: Jihyo's task was to gain access to the facility's central computer system and download the encrypted data containing information about the impending arms deal. Her skills as an expert hacker and martial artist would be essential in navigating the complex security network.
★・・・・・・★
The day of the mission arrived, and tension filled the air as you and Jihyo prepared to execute the operation. Jihyo noticed a flicker of concern in your eyes.
"You seem a bit off today," Jihyo said, her voice tinged with worry. "Are you sure you're up for this, my love?"
You couldn't hide your hesitation from her penetrating gaze. "I'll be fine, Jihyo. We have a duty to carry out, and the stakes are too high to back down now."
Her hand gently rested on yours, her touch soothing. "I trust you, but please promise me that you'll be cautious. I couldn't bear to lose you."
"I promise," you replied, mustering a smile. "We make an unbeatable team, and we'll get through this together."
With renewed determination, Jihyo slipped into the role of a Black Lotus operative, blending seamlessly with her surroundings. As she ventured into the heart of the heavily fortified headquarters, you couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and anxiety.
"I'm inside," Jihyo's voice crackled over the communication device. "The security is tighter than we expected, but I'm adapting. Keep an eye on those cameras, okay?"
"Roger that," you responded, your focus intensifying as you monitored the facility's surveillance feeds. "Stay sharp, Jihyo. You've got this."
As Jihyo progressed deeper into the facility, her every move became crucial. Unexpected obstacles and guards blocked her path, but she tackled each challenge with her trademark skill and tenacity. However, the situation escalated beyond your initial intelligence.
"Jihyo, the security protocols are more complicated than we thought," you said, your voice tense with concern. "Be careful. There's a patrol headed your way."
"I see them," Jihyo replied, her breath quickening. "I'll find another route. Just keep guiding me."
Your heart raced as you navigated her through the labyrinthine hallways. Then, the unexpected happened – an alarm blared, and chaos ensued.
"Damn it!" Jihyo's voice was urgent. "I tripped an alarm. They're on high alert now."
"Don't panic," you said, trying to steady your own nerves. "Take cover, and I'll guide you through. You've trained for this."
Ducking into a nearby supply room, Jihyo's mind raced as she planned her next move. The adrenaline coursing through her veins sharpened her focus, and she peered through the cracked door to assess the situation.
The guards, armed with high-tech weaponry, spread out to sweep the area. Jihyo's heart sank as she realized the extent of the challenge before her. She knew that taking them down quietly would be nearly impossible, and she had no choice but to engage in a full-blown confrontation.
"Get ready, Jihyo. They're closing in," you warned, your voice a lifeline in the chaos.
With swift and calculated movements, Jihyo sprung into action. She leaped out of the supply room, surprising the guards with her agility. Before they could react, she disarmed the closest one with a well-timed kick, sending his weapon clattering to the floor.
However, the element of surprise only bought her a moment. The remaining guards opened fire, forcing Jihyo to take cover behind nearby crates. Bullets ricocheted off metal surfaces, and she knew she had to act quickly.
"Look for any advantage in the environment," you suggested, analyzing the situation from the surveillance cameras. "There's a storage unit on your right. See if there's anything you can use."
Jihyo's eyes darted around, and she spotted a rack of pipes and metal rods nearby. Taking a deep breath, she lunged toward them, her agility and combat skills allowing her to evade the onslaught of bullets. She grabbed a metal rod, using it as both a shield and a weapon.
With newfound determination, Jihyo sprang from behind cover, deflecting bullets with the metal rod as she closed the distance between herself and the guards. With precise strikes, she incapacitated two of them, leaving the rest scrambling to regain their composure.
But one guard managed to get a clean shot, and a bullet grazed Jihyo's arm, causing her to wince in pain. However, she gritted her teeth and fought through the injury, knowing that time was of the essence.
"Jihyo, you're injured. G-get to cover," you urged, voice strained but your concern palpable.
Ignoring the pain, Jihyo pressed forward, taking down the remaining guards one by one. With sheer determination, she cleared a path to the central computer system, but the struggle had taken its toll. As she initiated the data download, her injured arm trembled with exhaustion. Despite the pain, she refused to give in. The encrypted data was her prize, a testament to her unwavering dedication and the strength of your partnership.
"Y/N, I have the data," Jihyo breathed out, her voice pained from her wounds. "I'm heading to the rendezvous point." She awaited your acknowledgment but didn’t receive anything in return. Even in her weakened state, Jihyo started to panic, rushing to the extraction point to find you.
★・・・・・・★
As Jihyo fought her way through the intensified security, you remained focused on providing real-time analysis and support. The pressure to guide her safely through the facility weighed heavily on your shoulders. In your determination to ensure her success, you inadvertently neglected your own well-being. As she faced an onslaught of guards, you fought with your mind, utilizing your combat knowledge and quick thinking to guide Jihyo as best as you could.
Unbeknownst to you, The Black Lotus guards detected your presence within their facility. Recognizing the threat you posed, they quickly surrounded you, outnumbering you by far. Armed and highly skilled, they launched a coordinated attack, making it difficult for you to defend yourself and help Jihyo.
Despite your valiant efforts, the odds were stacked against you. You managed to take down a few guards, but fatigue began to set in, and your movements slowed. A powerful blow to your side left you staggering, and another struck you on the back of your head, causing your vision to blur. With every ounce of strength, you tried to fight back, but the guards were unrelenting. In a final, desperate attempt to protect yourself, you swung wildly, but a skilled adversary managed to deliver a decisive blow, knocking you unconscious.
As darkness enveloped you, the sound of Jihyo's battle cries faded away, leaving you in a state of vulnerable unconsciousness. Your body lay motionless, and the guards, satisfied with their victory, left you there to succumb to the darkness.
★・・・・・・★
As Jihyo discovered you lying unconscious and injured at the rendezvous point, panic and anguish washed over her. She knelt beside you, gently cradling your head in her hands, desperately trying to rouse you.
"No, no, this can't be happening," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Wake up, my love. Please, wake up!"
Her heart sank and tears streamed down her cheeks at the sight of your unconscious form. With a mix of worry and determination, she carefully assessed your injuries. Her skilled eyes scanned over your battered body, noting the cuts, bruises, and the gash on your forehead where you were struck. Her hands trembled slightly as she gently touched your wounds, making sure not to cause you any further pain. Jihyo's mind raced, guilt gnawing at her, believing that it was her actions that led to this devastating outcome. She couldn't bear the thought of having put you in harm's way.
With a trembling hand, she activated the communication device to call for backup and medical assistance. Her voice was steady, but it quivered with an underlying layer of distress.
"This is Jihyo. We have an emergency at the rendezvous point. I need immediate medical assistance. Hurry!"
As she waited for help to arrive, she refused to leave your side. Gently, she brushed a strand of hair away from your face and spoke softly, as if her voice could somehow reach your unconscious mind.
"Don't worry, my love. Help is on the way," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I won't leave you. You mean everything to me, and I promise to keep you safe."
Finally, the sound of approaching footsteps and the arrival of medical personnel filled the air. Jihyo stepped aside, allowing the medical team to take over. She watched anxiously as they carefully assessed your injuries and worked swiftly to stabilize you.
"I'm sorry," Jihyo said to the medical team, her voice heavy with guilt. "I should have been more cautious. It's my fault he's hurt."
One of the medics placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll do our best to take care of them. You did what you could, and they’re in good hands now."
As they prepared to transport you to the hospital, Jihyo insisted on accompanying you. She couldn't bear to be separated from you, even for a moment.
In the hospital, Jihyo never left your side. She held your hand tightly, silently praying for your recovery. Her mind was filled with regrets and promises to never let anything like this happen again.
"I love you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't lose you, not like this. Please, wake up."
As the days passed with you unconscious in the hospital, Jihyo remained by your side, consumed by worry and love. She hardly ate or slept, her focus entirely on your well-being. Her appetite vanished, and her nights were spent restlessly, unable to find solace without you awake and by her side. Her dedication to your recovery was unwavering, and she refused to leave the hospital room, knowing that her presence might be the anchor that brought you back to consciousness. Jihyo's determination to be there for you, regardless of her own needs, was a testament to the depth of her love and the unbreakable bond between you.
As you slowly regained consciousness in the hospital bed, you noticed tears streaming down Jihyo's cheeks. She looked both relieved and distraught at the same time.
"I'm so sorry," she choked out, her voice trembling with guilt. "I should have been there to protect you from getting hurt. This is all my fault."
You mustered all the strength you had to reach out and gently wipe away her tears. "No, Jihyo, don't blame yourself," you reassured her, your voice soft but earnest. "You did everything you could, and it was a dangerous mission. We knew the risks. I don't blame you for what happened."
She looked into your eyes, her own filled with emotion. "But I promised to keep you safe," she said, her voice breaking. "I love you so much, and I never want to see you hurt like this again."
You smiled weakly, your heart swelling with love for her. "You being here now, by my side, is all that matters," you said, squeezing her hand gently. "We'll get through this together. I love you too, and I know that with you here, everything will be okay."
In that moment, you found solace in each other's presence, knowing that your love and support were the pillars that would help you overcome any obstacle that came your way.
DOGE technologists Edward Coristine—the 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls”—and Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the Cybersecurity
Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old engineer with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) known as “Big Balls,” is now on staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), WIRED has confirmed. He is joined by another member of the DOGE team, 38-year-old software engineer Kyle Schutt, who is now also on the CISA staff, according to a government source.
CISA referred WIRED to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which it’s a component agency, when reached for comment. DHS did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Coristine—briefly an intern for Musk’s brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, as WIRED has reported—has been working his way through numerous federal agencies and departments as a DOGE operative since January. He has been tracked at the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Personnel Management, the State Department, and FEMA. At State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, he potentially had access to systems containing sensitive information about diplomats and many sources and spies around the world who provide the U.S. government with intelligence and expertise.
As the journalist Marisa Kabas was first to report, he has now moved to CISA, a division of DHS. He is listed in the staff directory as a senior advisor.
A second DOGE worker, Schutt, has also joined Coristine at CISA. Schutt has reportedly also been at the GSA. Prior to his work with DOGE, he worked on the launch of WinRed, a fundraising platform for Republicans that helped the party raise $1.8 billion during the 2024 election campaigns.
It’s not clear yet what level of access Coristine might have to data and networks at CISA, but the agency, which is responsible for the defense of civilian federal government networks and works closely with critical infrastructure owners around the country, stores a lot of sensitive and critical security information on its networks. This includes information about software vulnerabilities, breaches, and network risk assessments conducted for local and state election offices. Since 2018, CISA has helped state and local election offices around the country assess vulnerabilities in their networks and help secure them. CISA also works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency to notify victims of breaches and process information about software vulnerabilities before the information becomes public.
Coristine, as WIRED has previously reported, worked briefly in 2022 for Path Network, a network monitoring firm known for hiring reformed blackhat hackers. According to security journalist Brian Krebs, an account once associated with him was also previously linked with a loosely-formed cybercriminal community known as The Com, whose members have been responsible for various hacking operations in the last few years, including the hack of numerous Snowflake accounts. Coristine has not been associated with the Snowflake breaches, but as WIRED has reported, an account that has been associated with him did appear to suggest the owner of the account was seeking help to conduct a Distributed Denial of Service attack—a criminal technique that involves launching extensive traffic at a domain to disable it and prevent legitimate traffic from reaching it. Krebs also reported that Path had fired Coristine for allegedly leaking internal company documents to a competitor.
The Washington Post reported last week that Coristine had been assigned to the DHS as a senior advisor, but didn’t indicate what part of the sprawling agency he had joined.
“What’s the point of fighting cybercrime if we’re just going to give access for government networks to people with cybercriminal gang affiliations?” says a cybersecurity researcher who tracks cybercriminal groups.
The keys on the keyboard produced light clicks as gloved fingers tapped over it with practiced ease, the rows of code appearing on the monitor incomprehensible except to the two tailed fox who was entering it.
Nearly finished with the self assigned task, Tails took a cursory glance at the time displaying in the corner of the task bar and continued with the completion of the code that would wipe away any signs of his intrusion from the Eggnet.
The entire day had been spent trying to stop the hordes upon hordes of badniks from invading Central City. The bots had arrived without a warning this time with the orders to overwhelm and they just kept on coming. Even with Sonic giving it his all and the others joining in to lend a hand, it hadn't been enough. For every ten bots that were taken down, thirty more took their place and the group of heroes was put in too much of a time crunch to be able to seek out any Chaos Emeralds.
That left them with no choice but to switch the strategy and Team Dark suggested to take out the source, basically stop the production and launch of the badniks altogether. While the fighters and heavy hitters worked on keeping the invading hordes from causing more damage to the city and worked on protecting the people, Tails headed home to manually hack into Eggman's network and switch the automated commands. It took quite a while, having to not only stop the badniks that were already sent off but also cancel all the continuous production and deployment commands from the various factories. Then there was the matter of rerouting the transportation crafts.
Evening had arrived by the time he finished with his task and then went on wiping all signs of his existence from possibly getting detected. It was a cautious process, considering how much tight the upgraded security on the network had become. He constantly had to fight back from getting his own connection hacked. It had been a couple of hours since he rerouted the last of the sent out vehicles, working on thoroughly analyzing any possible viruses that could've been sent out to infiltrate his personal network. The only updates he got from the strike and defense teams were that any more new badniks had stopped coming and they were working on beating and clearing out the hordes that were already present.
Finishing with typing up the code and deploying it, Tails leaned back and stretched. Taking into consideration the amount of badniks present when he had left the city to work behind the scenes, the amount of people that were in potentially harm's way and how spread out the armies were, he had concluded that it would take the others a few hours at most to complete their mission. Considering what the time was, that meant that his brother was probably done and on his way back right about...
Boom!
Now. Tails smirked, satisfied at the accuracy of his estimation as he heard the signature sonic boom that accompanied his brother whenever the hedgehog broke the barrier of sound. Shutting down the computer, the twin tailed genius hopped off his office chair and headed out of the workshop area and towards the front door, passing the lounge. He hadn't even reached it before the knob turned and the door was pushed open, his blue furred brother stepping inside, the dark sky speckled with occasional stars visible behind the tired hedgehog, showing that night had already fallen.
"Hi, Sonic," he greeted. "How'd the battle go?"
"It got much easier after the badniks stopped arriving," the other responded with a tired grin as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "It took us a while to take out the last of them and help with post battle cleanup effort but we wouldn't have gotten that far without you, Tails."
"Well of course," Tails sent his brother a cocky grin, "Where would you even be without my tremendous skills and crucial work?"
Sonic chuckled in amusement, plopping doing on the couch with a sigh.
Tails studied him, a quick visual examination revealing that his brother was alright save for some superficial bruises and scrapes which would heal on their own. Aside from that, Sonic looked dead on his feet with exhaustion. Being in a constant battle since late morning without a pause and then not having the energy boost that followed the usage of Emerald's power resulted in even the hyperactive hero getting tired.
Approaching his brother before he could doze off on the couch, Tails took Sonic's arm and pulled him to his feet, keeping the other's arm around his shoulders to help the hedgehog to his room.
Some years ago, and still to this day, it would've been Sonic who'd carry a sleepy tired fox to bed and tuck him in. Now, it was the younger fox who returned the favour, supporting his exhausted big brother as they both headed upstairs, Sonic unable to hold back a drawn out yawn as he leaned on Tails. He resisted the hold of sleep, preventing himself from dozing off right where he stood so he wouldn't pass out on his little brother.
He knew Tails was strong enough to carry them both when he couldn't, someone he could always trust to fall back on, his wingman, his partner in crime, his brother. He could always depend on Tails.
Once they had climbed to the upper floor, Tails dragged his droopy, nearly half asleep brother to his room, Sonic following along without a fuss as he let out an incoherent mumble.
Once inside, he allowed the weary hedgehog to plop down on the bed and kick off his shoes, telling him to lie down as soon as he did. Sonic complied, releasing a soft sigh as his head hit the pillow, eyes already falling shut due to drowsiness.
Tails smiled and draped a blanket over the other, carefully tucking him in as he adjusted the fluffy covering and once rubbed his brother's blanket covered shoulder.
"Tails."
"Hm?" Tails responded as Sonic's eyes slid open to glance at him, sleepy but grateful.
"Thanks, lil' bro."
Tails perked up at that, smiling as he gave the other a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
"Goodnight, Sonic."
"Night..." Sonic mumbled, voice barely above a whisper as his eyes slid shut once again and his breathing turned deep, soft snores beginning to escape him as he fell into a deeper slumber.
Tails still had a contented smile on when he silently left the room, turning off the lights and closing the door on his way out.
