The Decepticon leader had little rest that night, and what he got was hardly relaxing. His thoughts were troubled with images of the traitor Solarius and questions about the stealth hunter, Ritterkreuz. Megatron rose early, refuelled, and ordered Ravage to send for Ritterkreuz.
The panther hissed, cringing back into the shadows, but Megatron barked a command and Ravage, tail tucked between his hind legs, obeyed. It was obvious that Ravage feared Ritterkreuz, but he feared Megatron¹s anger more. Moments later, Ravage returned with the dark jet at his side.
³Your little friend seems to dislike me,² Ritterkreuz noted as Ravage melted into the darkness.
³Perhaps he resents your cloaking abilities,² Megatron suggested. ³Until your arrival, Ravage was our master of stealth.²
³Hm.² The newcomer showed little interest in continuing that line of discussion. ³Have you given any more thought to my proposal?²
³I wish to know more. Where are these Quintessons located?² Megatron gestured to a star chart on a large screen.
The stranger walked up to the map, studied it for a moment, and then pointed out a small planet far off the regular spaceways. ³This is their homeworld. Quintessa. It has a small garrison of natives, but is beyond my capacity to destroy. The Quintessons have built themselves an army of half-sentient Sharkticons which devour any hapless passerby. My preferred target is their spaceships. These ships too are guarded by Sharkticons, but have structural vulnerabilities in their nuclear fusion cores which can be exploited by a soldier who knows where to strike.²
³Nuclear...nuclear fusion?² Megatron repeated, uncertain he¹d heard correctly. Fusion powered his arm cannon, but that was a weapon to destroy. The Decepticons had remained unable to harness nuclear fusion in a form that would provide a stable source of power.
³Yes. As a whole the Quintessons are more technologically advanced than Cybertronians. Their weaknesses are their soft physical bodies, which are the main reason they have built such complex weaponry, and their small population. One Quintesson ship is formidable prey, but an armada is close to invulnerable.²
³Such technology intrigues me,² Megatron mused, ³and yet I¹ve never heard tell of such a species.²
³Their ships do not frequent Quintessa. They are scattered...² He frowned. ³Their usual haunts lie beyond the reaches of your star chart.²
³This chart covers the entire galaxy, and beyond!²
³It¹s a big universe.²
Megatron stared at the stranger and realized that the dark Decepticon had not been making an attempt at a joke. His face was perfectly serious.
³You are proposing that I take my Decepticons on a wild hunt after an enemy that isn¹t even in this galaxy, and leave our defenses here vulnerable? You must be mad. I would be a fool to take my battle fleet into the far reaches of space in pursuit of your Quintessons while we are in the midst of another conflict here!²
³Conflict?² The dark fighter tilted his head. ³What conflict is this?²
Once again, Megatron wondered if Ritterkreuz was mocking him, but the stranger¹s face was devoid of any humour. ³The Autobots!² Megatron exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the table.
Ritterkreuz¹s features immediately developed a pained expression. ³Don¹t tell me that little tiff is still going on.²
³Little...tiff?!² The Decepticon leader was incredulous.
³Those ridiculous civil wars. Autobot, Decepticon, what does it matter? We¹re all Cybertronians, and you...WE...are idiots to waste our time and resources on infighting while the real enemy is out there!² Angrily, the dark Decepticon cast his arm out towards the window, as if to indicate a presence beyond the stars.
Megatron himself felt his temper rising. Who was this interloper to appear out of nowhere and begin lecturing the leader of the Decepticons on who he should and should not be fighting? ³If I were you, I would watch your words, Ritterkreuz,² Megatron warned. ³You bear on your chest the Decepticon brand. I am the supreme leader of all Decepticons and, by rights, you should take your orders from me!²
The dark jet¹s head snapped around; the lavender optics narrowed to slits. ³I am Decepticon in the original sense of the word. This logo was created to designate military hardware. It is not a statement of belief in a philosophy or commitment to a cause. The design is a trademark that also stands for my reason for being. I was built for one purpose--to search and destroy--and I see no reason to hide that fact. You delude yourself if you think you have any control over me.² His optics blazed with purple light. ³Once in my existence I knew a master. I will never have one again.²
For a moment, they faced off. Megatron stood his ground, deciding that it would be unwise to say anything else. He could tell that Ritterkreuz had absolutely no fear of either Megatron or his forces. Bluff, perhaps, but the silver leader remembered how Ritterkreuz had simply walked into Decepticon High Command, left his message, and waited for the appointed time. Odds were that all Ritterkreuz had to do was re-cloak, and then the entire Decepticon army could not find him if he did not wish to be found. Better to keep him visible and talking--then perhaps Megatron could get some more information out of him.
Similarly, across the table, the dark hunter recognized that Megatron would be a hard individual to intimidate, and really he had no desire to do so. Already coming to Polyhex had diverted him from his hunting and he did not want to be away from it for any longer than was absolutely necessary. Stalking a target, destroying it, finding a new target--that was what Ritterkreuz understood, and everything else was merely an irritant to be tolerated if it could not be avoided. Diplomacy was something foreign to him and, had the Quintessons not been building their forces, something he would have preferred to remain uninvolved in... But he would not bow down to Megatron. Ritterkreuz was his own master.
³I have no quarrel with you,² Ritterkreuz said at last. ³If you wish no part in my mission than that is your right. I will not waste my time on argument with you.²
Nor, Megatron thought, could he waste his resources in searching the galaxy for one rogue Decepticon. Especially one who would be as hard to find as Ritterkreuz. Weighing the odds, Megatron decided that the dark soldier was probably speaking the truth. With cloaking as powerful as Ritterkreuz¹s, if the stealth fighter had wanted to attack Megatron¹s Decepticons, he would have done so without any prior warning.
³I am busy at war with the Autobots,² Megatron replied. ³I cannot spare any troops to attack an enemy that is posing no threat to us.²
³They ARE a threat!² Ritterkreuz began, but Megatron cut him off.
³Not at this moment. Even gaining the technology your Quintessons are said to possess would not make the sacrifice of robots or resources worthwhile. In agreeing to your alliance I can see no significant gains for my forces--no fuel, no territory of note--and I would risk my current position as ruler of three-quarters of Cybertron. If these Quintessons attack us, then I will certainly retaliate! In the meantime, I have other concerns.²
The other¹s voice was cold. ³If you wait that long it may be too late.²
³That is a gamble I am prepared to take. I have more immediate threats to occupy my army,² Megatron added, thinking of Solarius.
Ritterkreuz nodded grimly. ³I cannot force you to change your mind. But be warned...when the Quintessons return to Cybertron, both Autobots and Decepticons will fall unless the Quintessons are repelled.²
Megatron chose to ignore the warning, but something in the stealth hunter¹s words intrigued him. ³Return to Cybertron?²
The hint of a cold smile played about Ritterkreuz¹s mouth. ³And who do you think built this planet into a world of machines?² the dark one answered. ³Who do you think were the legendary adversaries of your First Great War?²
The First...a conflict lost to history, until Decepticon historians debated whether it had really taken place at all.
³Your Quintessons...² Megatron¹s voice died away. These Quintessons were the ones who took generic robots, gave them the weaponry and taught them the battle skills that made them Decepticons? These were the beings that modified the Cybertronians into what they were today? These were the monsters, the slave masters of the First Great War? ³I cannot aid you in your war,² Megatron stated finally, ³nor can I put any of my troops under your command.²
³That I would not want. I am not a commander, Megatron. I am a solitary hunter. I do not take orders, but neither do I give them.²
Megatron believed him and felt somewhat relieved. A power conflict between himself and Ritterkreuz would be a long and vicious fight, one that Megatron was not certain that he could win. A pact would be much more useful...
Megatron offered, ³I would, however, be agreeable to an alliance. I could provide you with fuel and weaponry in exchange for a promise of allegiance and a few simple services.² Already he was wondering if the stealth fighter could penetrate Autobot defenses as quickly as he had those of Polyhex and slay Optimus Prime...
³If you are considering an attack upon the Autobots, you can forget it. I have no desire to become involved in your civil wars. I can give you my word not to attack you or your Decepticons, but in return you must accept that I will not attack the Autobots either.²
Megatron frowned. ³It seems to me that you already consider yourself a neutral. I would gain nothing from such a deal.²
³My interest is in weaponry, not in fuel. Throughout the solar systems of the universe, fuel is easily stolen by a single hunter who knows where to strike. Even those who would go to the effort to hunt me down for my small acts of thievery have notable problems in finding me. Weaponry is another matter. In the past I have experienced difficulties with weak photon charges and poorly manufactured rockets.² He snapped his left wrist open to display two small rockets in a concealed launcher, tactfully aiming them at the wall rather than at Megatron, and then, in another swift gesture, snapped the launcher closed.
³Our weapons are of high quality,² Megatron assured him, casting a critical glance over the stealth fighter. Ritterkreuz was the same height as Megatron, perhaps not quite as strong but likely marginally faster. However, while Megatron¹s armament was prominently displayed on his right arm for all to see and tremble at, Ritterkreuz seemed to carry no weapons at all save the sword. Megatron had to remind himself that the wrist rockets proved that Ritterkreuz was more dangerous than he looked. ³But if you are unwilling to fight the Autobots I cannot imagine anything you can offer that would be of use to me.²
³You¹ve dealt with your rebel air commander then?²
A loaded question. ~Clever,~ Megatron thought. ~Certainly a sly one.~ ³You would be willing to sully your hands on infighting within the Decepticons?² Megatron asked back, answering a question with another that carried just as much hidden meaning as the first.
³Assassinating your mutineer would do nothing to provoke the Autobots and, I think, represents a fair service in exchange for weaponry. I have no doubt that this ³Solarius² is already a marked mechanism. I would also propose that I could accomplish this mission faster and cleaner than your regular soldiers and...² An ice-cold smile split his features. ³...remember, search and destroy is my specialty.²
³Then we have a deal. Solarius for a full compliment of weapons. And in so doing, pledge non-interferance with one another.²
³Agreed,² the dark soldier said.
³We have a custom,² Megatron said. ³The Rite of Oneness. We mix a portion of our fuel and burn it as one. Whosoever breaks the bond gives his life in forfeit.²
³So be it,² Ritterkreuz agreed, allowing Megatron to take the lead. The silver Decepticon found a small metal vessel and filled it with a portion of his fuel, then offered the bowl to Ritterkreuz. Ritterkreuz opened an access panel in his lower chest--unusual construction, Megatron noted--and contributed his portion.
³Have you a laser?² Megatron queried.
³Wing mounted. Useful only in aircraft mode. I find them less effective than the rockets--or this.² He gestured towards the sword, which glittered strangely in the light. A blade of solid energon, Megatron marvelled. A very deadly weapon in close combat that could slice through metal even more swiftly than a diamond...but of little use at long range.
Megatron snorted. ³Prepare to receive a weapon, then.² With that, he transformed into gun mode, landing neatly in Ritterkreuz¹ hands.
³An interesting transformation,² the black warrior noted, firing the weapon and igniting the brazier of fuel with a single neat shot.
Megatron transformed and watched the flames rise. ³And with this sacrifice, so shall our bond be sealed,² he quoted, all the while analyzing new information. Ritterkreuz was an excellent shot with a weapon, though he seemed to carry none. That was soon to be remedied.
***
³You name it, I got it,² Swindle grinned as he led Ritterkreuz through the small armoury. This was Swindle¹s personal workshop, containing only one or two of each sort of weapon. Megatron had deemed it inadvisable to let the newcomer loose in the main Decepticon armoury, which was fine with Swindle--he loved a chance to show off. Besides, he thought, perhaps he could work a deal of his own with the stealth jet.
³What do you see, what do you like?²
³I need rockets. Like these.² Ritterkreuz snapped open his right wrist and carefully drew a small rocket from the leftmost of two launchers.
³Oh, yeah, these we got.² Swindle went over to a shelf and withdrew a box, then popped the lid to show Ritterkreuz the contents--row upon row of similar rockets. The dark Decepticon withdrew one, carefully fitting it into his loader, pulling out the others already loaded one by one to see how the new one cycled through.
³Fine fit...where can I test it?²
³I¹ll take you down to the range later. Say...you need anything else?²
³Like?²
³I dunno,² the light combat vehicle said, rubbing his chin with an exaggerated motion and studying Ritterkreuz up and down. ³You want a soldier¹s opinion?²
³Very well.²
³You need a gun. A big gun. Maybe some of those shoulder-mounted lasers, like the Seekers have.²
³Lasers are of little use against my targets.²
Swindle tried to cover his shock. ³Must be some tough-skinned Autobots...²
Ritterkreuz shot him a look of annoyance but could not be bothered to respond. Swindle, realizing he¹d made a mistake but not certain what that mistake was, tried to recover. ³Fine, fine. How¹s about a cannon then? Something like Megatron has. Something that says, Fear Me.²
The black warrior cocked an eyebrow ridge as if to ask, you do not fear me now?
³I gotta admit you got an impressive look,² Swindle said rapidly. ³Jet black, all pointy edges, very menacing. Problem is, on first glance you look unarmed.²
Ritterkreuz simply rested his hand upon the hilt of his energon blade.
³Sword¹s flashy,² Swindle retorted, ³but no good at a distance. That ain¹t gonna scare an enemy with lasers.²
³If my enemies live long enough to see me they are exceptionally lucky,² the dark jet replied. While Swindle was trying to decide if Ritterkreuz was bragging or serious, the stealth Decepticon was thinking. His ways were not the ways of the other Cybertronians. Perhaps the Combaticon had a point. ³For the sake of argument, what would you suggest?²
Swindle, relieved--it was not often someone tripped him up in conversation--pulled a large weapon off the wall. ³Try this.²
Ritterkreuz offered his right arm while Swindle performed a hasty attachment. The black jet brought his arm up in a swift moment, aiming the cannon across the workshop, and frowned. ³Too heavy. Too bulky.² He removed the weapon. ³My tactics have always been stealth and speed.²
³Okay, how about this then?² Swindle produced a light rocket tube. ³Big enough to scare the lugnuts off¹a anyone in your way, small enough to move easily...and gives you lots of flexibility for ordinance.²
The Combaticon suspected that Ritterkreuz was merely humouring him when he accepted the rocket tube and bracketed it to his arm, but as he moved his arm experimentally, a slow smile split his face. ³You may have a point.²
³To the range, then,² the light jeep replied, and led the way.
***
Direct hit.
Ritterkreuz lowered the smoking missile tube on his right arm and allowed himself a small grin of satisfaction. ³I think I will take this weapon.²
³An excellent choice,² Swindle replied, ³and that missile tube can be yours for the low, low price of only nine hundred intergalactic credits...²
The stealth hunter instantly frowned. ³Megatron promised me all the ordinance I wanted in exchange for a favour rendered.²
³Sure, sure, IF you¹d taken it out of the main armoury. You come to ol¹ Swindle¹s workshop, you¹re getting the good stuff, and...pal, it costs.²
³I have neither the time nor the means to dicker with you.² He slid the weapon off his arm, feeling a deep inner irritation, cursing himself for ever coming out of his solitude at all. Surely Megatron would not permit...
³No credits? Well then, on rare occasions--and just for you--I¹ll accept energon or raw materials worth the value of the weapon.²
³I¹m not here to buy from you,² Ritterkreuz said firmly.
Swindle snorted with annoyance. ³Well, well, ain¹t that a shame. You been alone out in space too long, Stealthy. Lemme teach you a lesson about how we do things here. You come along fixing to make a deal, you better be ready to pay your share of the bargain, to ANYONE affected.²
The dark jet turned slightly, for he could hear the sound of heavy footsteps in the corridor.
***
³There he goes again,² Thundercracker laughed, watching the image on the monitor.
³What is happening?² Soundwave asked in his toneless voice.
³Swindle¹s bein¹ Swindle, as usual,² the blue jet replied. ³Trying to bilk ol¹ Stealthy out of everything he can.²
³And he¹s got backup,² Starscream pointed out. On another monitor, the four other Combaticons could be seen heading in the direction of the range. ³Clever.²
³Figure we should go down and pull ol¹ Stealthy¹s plating out of the fire?²
³Negative,² Soundwave retorted.
³What?² Thundercracker spluttered. ³You want him to get trashed by the Combaticons?²
³I agree with Soundwave,² Starscream put in. ³Let¹s see just how tough Megatron¹s new friend really is.²
***
The door swung open. Ritterkreuz had been hoping that it would be Megatron and his retinue. Instead, it was four robots Ritterkreuz had never seen before, but the fact that they were painted in camouflage similar to Swindle¹s made their identity fairly obvious.
³You called?² Vortex asked in a taunting voice.
Ritterkreuz folded his arms and glared at Swindle. ³What is the meaning of this?²
Swindle shrugged. ³You deal by choice, or my pals can help you. Up to you.²
³So you¹re resorting to thuggery now.²
³Hey, don¹t get so testy...I¹m offering you a fair exchange. What do you say, guys?²
The other Combaticons nodded, though Brawl gave out a snicker and whispered to Onslaught, in a voice loud enough for Swindle to hear, ³I think Swindle¹s losing his touch.²
The light assault vehicle instantly scowled. It wasn¹t HIS fault that Ritterkreuz was so difficult! How would THEY like trying to make a deal with someone who seemed perfectly willing to walk away at any time?
Irritated, the dark jet said, ³Take your rockets back. We¹ll call it a draw and walk away.²
Walk right back to Megatron, Swindle thought, and wouldn¹t the Combaticons be in trouble then for adding their own conditions to the alliance. No, this had to be finished here and now. Ritterkreuz would take the deal on Swindle¹s terms and shut up about it, lest the stealth fighter have to confess to Megatron how the Combaticons had beaten him.
³Too late,² Swindle retorted. ³You should learn to finish what you started.²
The lavender eyes narrowed menacingly as the dark jet snapped his left wrist open.
³Nowhere to run,² Onslaught said, ³nowhere to hide.² The indoor range was large, well lit, and closed off. Even the most advanced cloaking wouldn¹t help an adversary who was trapped in plain sight.
³Phase shift.²
He vanished before their eyes. The Combaticons fired a volley of lasers into the spot where he¹d been standing, but there was nothing there. Brawl rushed forward, swinging both fists, and found only empty air.
³Where¹d he go?² Blast Off muttered.
***
In the monitor room, a whole crowd of Decepticons had gathered around the screen showing the scene taking place in the range.
³Hey, this is better than the gladatorial games!² Rumble laughed from his seat beside the monitor. Soundwave said nothing, though he seemed uncomfortable under his red visor and face plate.
³Ten credits says the Combaticons are going down,² Skywarp offered.
³You¹re on!² Ramjet replied.
³Not if they form Bruticus,² Dirge argued, and Skywarp paused, considering.
³Twenty credits says that guy could take Bruticus out!² Thrust chimed in.
Starscream said nothing as he watched the screen intently. Bruticus was huge, a force to be reckoned with. But Ritterkreuz¹ voice still rang in Starscream¹s audio sensors: ³Stealth and speed are my weapons.² Did it matter how strong you were, if your opponent found the perfect place to strike and hit you there when you were least expecting? Musing, the white Seeker watched the battle unfold.
***
³Get back here and fight, you coward!² Swindle shrilled, trying to hide the fear in his voice.
In the command room, Ramjet and Dirge were nodding. Perhaps Ritterkreuz could win the battle, but he certainly wouldn¹t earn the respect of the other Decepticons if he took the Combaticons out from hiding...
³Phase shift.² The whisper was barely heard over the noise of the raging Combaticons. There he was, melting out of the shadow near the door, and his right hand was reaching for the bronze cone on his chest. Pulling the item clear, the observers could see that it was in fact a small weapon, the size of a handgun.
³There he is! Get him!² Onslaught barked. ³Like we planned it...surround and restrain!² The missile trailer let loose a blast from his sonic stun-gun, but Ritterkreuz dodged, firing a gleaming beam from the bronze weapon...
...and suddenly Onslaught found himself holding empty air. Ritterkreuz¹s beam had struck Onslaught¹s weapon and actually disintigrated it. There was no explosion, no heat or light...one minute the sonic gun was there, and the next it was pulsing with oscillations that grew more and more pronounced until the gun had torn itself apart on an atomic level, leaving not even fragments behind.
³What the...?² the leader was asking, shocked, but Blast Off and Vortex ignored him as they rushed in at Ritterkreuz, guns blazing.
***
Megatron¹s voice rose over the excited babble of the Decepticons. ³What are you all doing standing around here?²
³The Combaticons jumped Ritterkreuz!² Frenzy exclaimed.
³Those idiots! How dare they? He is our best chance of taking out Solarius. Someone get down there and break it up!²
³Maybe we don¹t need to,² Starscream said, pointing at the monitor. ³It seems to me Old Stealthy is holding his own.²
³Hmm.² The crowd parted, allowing Megatron the position in front of the monitor, and the Decepticon leader observed the fight that was occurring several levels below.
***
A rain of blasts descended from Blast Off and Vortex¹s weapons. Ritterkreuz ducked, shielding himself with his wings, letting the shots bounced right off the wing metal. The wings, obviously made of some reinforced material, weren¹t even marked. Puzzled at the dark jet¹s resiliance, the two Combaticons paused. That was enough time for Ritterkreuz to raise his wing and use his bronze beam to disintigrate Blast Off and Vortex¹s guns. The space shuttle and the helicopter had no desire to have any parts of their bodies disintigrated and immediately backed off.
Brawl, however, was as usual too angry to think. As Blast Off and Vortex retreated, Brawl rushed the stealth fighter. His weapon, too, vanished in a beam of bronze light, but he didn¹t care...
***
³Are you getting readings on this?² Megatron demanded to Shockwave and Soundwave.
³I am still searching for a logical explanation,² Shockwave replied, confused. ³His cloaking technology is far in advance of ours. Simple light deflection would not be sufficient.²
³Anyone¹s guess what those wings are made of,² Starscream mused. ³They seem to deflect most weapon blasts just as his stealth cloaking deflects light and radar.²
³Location of heavy atoms detected in the room,² Soundwave said. ³I suspect that they are the remnants of the Combaticons¹ weaponry. Sensors detect a possible maser beam...magnetic oscillations...²
³Atomized,² Megatron breathed. He gave the screen a hard glance. Hopefully those stupid Combaticons hadn¹t soured Ritterkreuz on the entire Decepticon Army...
~There¹s only one of him...~ Megatron thought.
Another voice in the leader¹s head chimed in. ~Do YOU want to fight him?~
Megatron avoided the question with another thought. ~Not when I can give Solarius the honour.~
It was time to end this fight.
***
Brawl hit Ritterkreuz head-on and smashed him into a wall. The black stealth-fighter replied with a strong punch to Brawl¹s head. The berserker tank robot hardly noticed, completely wrapped up in his own internal battle rage.
Ritterkreuz phased out. Brawl kept slashing away, for a few moments seeming as if he were connecting with something, until he lost track of the invisible warrior¹s location. Seconds later, Ritterkreuz phased in behind Brawl. The Decepticons in the command room could see a gash in his left arm and the sparks of spitting wiring. Just because the dark Decepticon was phased out didn¹t mean he couldn¹t be hit...
...but the hitting was a lot harder when Brawl couldn¹t see what he was aiming at. There were a few moments of punch and counter-punch, with Brawl striking out, Ritterkreuz vanishing, phasing in somewhere else to land a blow and vanish before Brawl could retaliate. The battle ended when Ritterkreuz phased in airborne above Brawl and shut off his engines, landing with the full force of gravity on Brawl¹s head and driving him to the ground.
As Brawl fell into unconsciousness, Ritterkreuz raised his head and glared challengingly at the other Combaticons. Blast Off, Vortex and Onslaught backed away slowly. ³So much for Bruticus,² Onslaught muttered. ³We can¹t combine with Brawl passed out.²
³Get out,² Ritterkreuz hissed. ³This is between me and him.² The dark soldier gestured towards Swindle, who was cowering back, holding his guns on Ritterkreuz, knowing very well they wouldn¹t do him any good...
Onslaught nodded and left the room with Vortex and Blast Off right behind him.
³HEY!² Swindle cried. ³Hey, guys! You can¹t run out on me!²
³You picked the fight,² Blast Off retorted. ³You finish it.²
³You never told us we¹d have to fight the likes of him,² Vortex added, and slammed the door behind him.
Swindle gulped, trying to clear what felt like a lump of dirty oil in his throat, getting ready for the fight of his life.
And then the dark soldier¹s gun swung towards the monitor camera in the corner of the room. With one burst, the maser beam atomized the camera¹s metal components and sent the remnants crashing to the ground, where they fell apart.
***
³Hey, what gives?² Thundercracker grumbled.
³Show¹s over,² Dirge muttered.
³Now we¹ll NEVER know how the fight ends!² Skywarp complained.
Starscream wished desperately that he could see what was going on in the range, because if he¹d learned anything from the stealth fighter¹s tactics, now was the part he¹d most want to see...
***
On to Part 3
Darkness Visible Part 3
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