Stuart, a time-traveling alien, has accidentally brought a bride named Elle aboard his spaceship, the TARDIS, on her wedding day. Elle is shocked to find herself in outer space. Stuart works to return her to her wedding chapel on time. However, when they arrive, the TARDIS seems to be malfunctioning. Elle realizes they have not landed in the right location.
Stuart, Elle, and Tristan discover a secret underground lab beneath the military base. Stuart determines that Elle has been dosed with deadly Huon particles, which were being manufactured in the lab. Their presence alerts General Raikov, who reveals that Tristan has been working with him all along and was responsible for dosing Elle. Tristan's true identity is Colonel Tristan Smith, Raikov's second in command, showing that he betrayed Elle from the beginning.
A woman calls her best friend Drew for their daily check-in after having sex the previous day. They jokingly rate the previous night's encounter, with Drew insisting it was better than the woman's rating of "fine". Drew invites the woman over for lunch at his place, implying they will have sex again. The woman is unsure where their relationship stands as they continue joking and flirting with each other.
My name is Areena bhatti. i am 15 years old. i love stories and poems. VICNITY is my series of stories.
THE BIGGY BAG is its first part which is extremely funny and horror....
- Hero has a revelation that she is in love with her ex, Kendrick, after speaking to a mysterious cloaked woman.
- She calls her friend Chantal for Kendrick's location, learning he is leaving town the next day.
- Hero rushes to find Kendrick before he leaves, hoping to reconcile and confess her love for him.
Melanie and Dean sneak out of a party early and have sex at his house. Melanie feels used and disgusted afterwards. The next day at school, Dean brags about their encounter, upsetting Melanie further. She confides in her friend Angelina about what happened. Angelina tries to reassure her it was just a mistake, but a comment about pregnancy worries Melanie even more about the potential consequences of that night.
Tyler has arrived at La Fiesta Tech university after being sent by his father Jon Smith to find Marella. Marella is excited to see Tyler again after searching for him all semester. They plan to meet up again soon. Meanwhile, Evil Susan is annoyed by Marella's constant talking about Tyler. Vauxia has been interrupted during a date by a crying mascot cow but manages to scare it away. He plans a toga party with Sorex for the next day.
Rhiannon reveals to her father Toren that she has the ability to communicate with the dead, identifying herself as a medium. Toren assures her he will help her learn to control her gift. Their bonding is interrupted by Rhiannon's brother Lir, who engages her in playful pretend battles. Meanwhile, Tristen meets with the dark elf matriarchs to discuss retrieving a dangerous plant, but tensions arise with one of the matriarchs, Jules. Rhiannon is later unkind to her younger sister Xanthe, prompting an intervention.
Stuart, Elle, and Tristan discover a secret underground lab beneath the military base. Stuart determines that Elle has been dosed with deadly Huon particles, which were being manufactured in the lab. Their presence alerts General Raikov, who reveals that Tristan has been working with him all along and was responsible for dosing Elle. Tristan's true identity is Colonel Tristan Smith, Raikov's second in command, showing that he betrayed Elle from the beginning.
A woman calls her best friend Drew for their daily check-in after having sex the previous day. They jokingly rate the previous night's encounter, with Drew insisting it was better than the woman's rating of "fine". Drew invites the woman over for lunch at his place, implying they will have sex again. The woman is unsure where their relationship stands as they continue joking and flirting with each other.
My name is Areena bhatti. i am 15 years old. i love stories and poems. VICNITY is my series of stories.
THE BIGGY BAG is its first part which is extremely funny and horror....
- Hero has a revelation that she is in love with her ex, Kendrick, after speaking to a mysterious cloaked woman.
- She calls her friend Chantal for Kendrick's location, learning he is leaving town the next day.
- Hero rushes to find Kendrick before he leaves, hoping to reconcile and confess her love for him.
Melanie and Dean sneak out of a party early and have sex at his house. Melanie feels used and disgusted afterwards. The next day at school, Dean brags about their encounter, upsetting Melanie further. She confides in her friend Angelina about what happened. Angelina tries to reassure her it was just a mistake, but a comment about pregnancy worries Melanie even more about the potential consequences of that night.
Tyler has arrived at La Fiesta Tech university after being sent by his father Jon Smith to find Marella. Marella is excited to see Tyler again after searching for him all semester. They plan to meet up again soon. Meanwhile, Evil Susan is annoyed by Marella's constant talking about Tyler. Vauxia has been interrupted during a date by a crying mascot cow but manages to scare it away. He plans a toga party with Sorex for the next day.
Rhiannon reveals to her father Toren that she has the ability to communicate with the dead, identifying herself as a medium. Toren assures her he will help her learn to control her gift. Their bonding is interrupted by Rhiannon's brother Lir, who engages her in playful pretend battles. Meanwhile, Tristen meets with the dark elf matriarchs to discuss retrieving a dangerous plant, but tensions arise with one of the matriarchs, Jules. Rhiannon is later unkind to her younger sister Xanthe, prompting an intervention.
The document is a continuation of a fictional story being told across multiple locations and characters. In the current part, characters arrive in a gladiator arena where Joe appears and is confronted by Gin wielding a sword. The story is comedic in nature and involves magic, transformations, and interactions between familiar characters.
This document is a collection of diary entries and dreams from a woman named Alex Destiny about her relationship and marriage to her husband Jimmy. The entries describe their nightly coffee ritual on the roof, followed by disturbing nightmares where Alex finds Jimmy behaving violently or her own dead body. She questions what is real and wakes up distressed. The dreams leave her feeling unsettled and make her question her relationship with Jimmy.
Turner has returned home after being injured in battle. He is helped inside by Alonzo but is grumpy and in pain. Alonzo mentions Turner's ex-fiancée Fanny has not married. Later, Alonzo visits Charlotte and mentions Turner has returned, hoping to stir up drama between Turner and Fanny who they know will soon visit. When Fanny arrives, Alonzo's news has little visible effect on her and she quickly takes her leave. Charlotte scolds Alonzo for his meddling.
Oriole has come through a portal from an alternate universe to recruit Ice Arcenciel, a Light Fae teenager, to help in a war against an evil Dark Fae queen. Oriole meets Ice's family and explains the situation, but his father Clark is distrustful. After Ice's grandparents Howlite and Kaelee pass away, Howlite's last words convince Clark to trust Oriole and that the war will spread to their universe, endangering Ice. Clark decides not to expose Ice to danger by agreeing to help Oriole.
The document describes strange occurrences experienced by the author, including auditory hallucinations of phone rings at night, unexplained scabs and marks on his body, and a long scar on his genitals of unknown origin. He is having trouble sleeping and experiences panic attacks. His doctor was unable to provide explanations for these events during an appointment. The author documents these incidents in a journal in an attempt to understand what is happening.
A Corporate Conspiracy Chapter 2.4 Where Mortals Fear To TreadStephanie Sahr
Jason, an elf warlock, drank a potion that caused him to lose consciousness. He awoke naked in an elaborate room with several women claiming to be divine creators. It becomes clear this was meant to be an elaborate roleplaying scenario, but things did not go as planned. The women explain that in their own realities they are creators, but in this reality they only have limited powers as allowed by the true creator of this world.
This document summarizes a personal experience the author had taking his niece Cheyenne, who has Tubular Sclerosis, to the Medical University of South Carolina for testing. Issues arose during their visit, including broken elevators requiring a stair climb, long wait times, and most concerningly, Cheyenne having a severe seizure that went unnoticed and unanswered by the nurse monitoring her room via camera who was instead on break without relief. The author expresses a loss of faith in the hospital's nurses and monitoring technology after this experience.
Alea holds a seance for the Thompson family at their home. During the seance, the spirit of the Thompsons' mother appears but cannot stay long. Other spirits grow angry and the ceiling collapses, killing the Thompson family. Alea wakes up confused and discovers people cannot see or hear her. She realizes she may be dead. After encounters where people walk through her, Alea meets with a psychic who confirms she is dead. However, Alea's sister is able to hear her on the phone, reassuring Alea that she is in fact still alive.
Frank has to choose between Star and Mary as the winner of his bachelor challenge. He cares for both women but knows he must pick one. After confronting the women about his decision, Star storms off upset. Mary comforts Star and they discuss how neither wants to lose the other's friendship after Frank's choice is made. Frank then tells Mary he has chosen Star, but loves them both. Mary understands his decision and says she could never hate Frank.
The document is a collection of 8 short stories or reflections from the perspective of a single narrator. The stories touch on themes of family, friendship, love, emotions, and finding meaning in life's simple moments. In one story, the narrator recalls fond childhood memories of lazy mornings spent with their parents and siblings. In another, the narrator finds comfort and understanding during silent moments spent with a loved one. An overarching theme across the stories is using life's challenges to cultivate appreciation, wisdom, and peace.
1) Desi kisses Puck at school despite knowing Charnell likes him, causing conflict between the sisters. Anton slaps Desi and kicks her out of their band in defense of Charnell.
2) Brielle comforts a crying Charnell in the bathroom and encourages her to stand up to Desi.
3) Later, Anton moves Charnell's bed into his room so she no longer has to share with Desi, showing his support for Charnell.
A snowstorm causes a man living alone in the countryside to lose power. In the darkness, he hears strange noises and feels unexplained touches. As he investigates further upstairs, a creaking sound leads him to an open door. Inside the room, he encounters a rocking chair that suddenly moves on its own, throwing him against the wall. As he tries to escape, something grabs his ankle and drags him into the night.
Salahuddin manages to build a shelter for himself after arriving in the post-apocalyptic town of Strangetown. He works to fix up an abandoned junk car, hoping it will provide safety and transportation. In the evening, a teenage boy visits and informs Salahuddin that there are other survivors nearby. Salahuddin is able to contact Bim on the phone, relieved to learn she is alive.
Moonlight Manifestation Window Opens 2 A.M. TONIGHT- law of Attractionssuser12e377
Law Of attraction .. Moonlight Manifestation... How To Harness The “2 A.M. Moonlight Manifestation Window”
To Start Living Your “Happily Ever After” Tomorrow!
Chandler expresses concern for his friend Daniel, who is still grieving the loss of his girlfriend Cherry. Daniel interrupts and says he does not want to discuss Cherry, as she was truly "The One" for him and he does not think Chandler understands what it is like to be totally in love with someone. Daniel says Cherry is constantly on his mind and he does not know how to move on from losing someone so special to him.
The Quest For Peace Redux: Chapter Eleven Pt. 1animeangel1983
Solan is accused of hacking into the college database to change his grades, but he denies doing so. An officer tracks the hack back to Solan's computer. Solan senses that his brother Liam was feeling smug, and realizes Liam must have framed him. Solan is upset that his own brother would set him up, but still loves Liam and doesn't want to hurt their mother Roxie by revealing what Liam did.
Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook have an intense sexual encounter in Rook's loft that coincides with an earthquake in New York City. After their passion leaves the room in disarray, they discover that the earthquake was centered in Sloatsburg, New York and caused some damage but no major injuries. Heat receives a call about a new case and prepares to head to a crime scene, as Rook jokes about trying to top their experience.
Chapter 23 of the Goldweaver family Legacy. The secret is out about the family's true origins and now all eyes are turned to Toren and his family. And even before the current storm has passed another rears its ugly head. Can Toren and the others do anything to stop this new disaster?
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.1 University DazeDi Meeeee
The summary provides context about the document while condensing the essential information into 3 sentences or less:
Alexandra attends finishing school and runs into her former well-dropper, Joe, at a local bar. Joe agrees to have tea with Alexandra but remains unsure about pursuing a relationship. Meanwhile, Edward and his cousins Theodore and Stanley start their first year of university.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter15.3 But I Love YouDi Meeeee
Theodore Harrison visits his family home and introduces his girlfriend, DrSupremeNerd, to them. At his father's birthday party, Theodore's grandfather encourages him to propose to DrSupremeNerd. Meanwhile, Alexandra goes dress shopping with her mother to prepare her trousseau for her upcoming wedding. On the day of the wedding, Joe Grundstrom calls off the wedding at the altar, devastating Alexandra. She runs home in tears as her dreams of married life are shattered.
The document is a continuation of a fictional story being told across multiple locations and characters. In the current part, characters arrive in a gladiator arena where Joe appears and is confronted by Gin wielding a sword. The story is comedic in nature and involves magic, transformations, and interactions between familiar characters.
This document is a collection of diary entries and dreams from a woman named Alex Destiny about her relationship and marriage to her husband Jimmy. The entries describe their nightly coffee ritual on the roof, followed by disturbing nightmares where Alex finds Jimmy behaving violently or her own dead body. She questions what is real and wakes up distressed. The dreams leave her feeling unsettled and make her question her relationship with Jimmy.
Turner has returned home after being injured in battle. He is helped inside by Alonzo but is grumpy and in pain. Alonzo mentions Turner's ex-fiancée Fanny has not married. Later, Alonzo visits Charlotte and mentions Turner has returned, hoping to stir up drama between Turner and Fanny who they know will soon visit. When Fanny arrives, Alonzo's news has little visible effect on her and she quickly takes her leave. Charlotte scolds Alonzo for his meddling.
Oriole has come through a portal from an alternate universe to recruit Ice Arcenciel, a Light Fae teenager, to help in a war against an evil Dark Fae queen. Oriole meets Ice's family and explains the situation, but his father Clark is distrustful. After Ice's grandparents Howlite and Kaelee pass away, Howlite's last words convince Clark to trust Oriole and that the war will spread to their universe, endangering Ice. Clark decides not to expose Ice to danger by agreeing to help Oriole.
The document describes strange occurrences experienced by the author, including auditory hallucinations of phone rings at night, unexplained scabs and marks on his body, and a long scar on his genitals of unknown origin. He is having trouble sleeping and experiences panic attacks. His doctor was unable to provide explanations for these events during an appointment. The author documents these incidents in a journal in an attempt to understand what is happening.
A Corporate Conspiracy Chapter 2.4 Where Mortals Fear To TreadStephanie Sahr
Jason, an elf warlock, drank a potion that caused him to lose consciousness. He awoke naked in an elaborate room with several women claiming to be divine creators. It becomes clear this was meant to be an elaborate roleplaying scenario, but things did not go as planned. The women explain that in their own realities they are creators, but in this reality they only have limited powers as allowed by the true creator of this world.
This document summarizes a personal experience the author had taking his niece Cheyenne, who has Tubular Sclerosis, to the Medical University of South Carolina for testing. Issues arose during their visit, including broken elevators requiring a stair climb, long wait times, and most concerningly, Cheyenne having a severe seizure that went unnoticed and unanswered by the nurse monitoring her room via camera who was instead on break without relief. The author expresses a loss of faith in the hospital's nurses and monitoring technology after this experience.
Alea holds a seance for the Thompson family at their home. During the seance, the spirit of the Thompsons' mother appears but cannot stay long. Other spirits grow angry and the ceiling collapses, killing the Thompson family. Alea wakes up confused and discovers people cannot see or hear her. She realizes she may be dead. After encounters where people walk through her, Alea meets with a psychic who confirms she is dead. However, Alea's sister is able to hear her on the phone, reassuring Alea that she is in fact still alive.
Frank has to choose between Star and Mary as the winner of his bachelor challenge. He cares for both women but knows he must pick one. After confronting the women about his decision, Star storms off upset. Mary comforts Star and they discuss how neither wants to lose the other's friendship after Frank's choice is made. Frank then tells Mary he has chosen Star, but loves them both. Mary understands his decision and says she could never hate Frank.
The document is a collection of 8 short stories or reflections from the perspective of a single narrator. The stories touch on themes of family, friendship, love, emotions, and finding meaning in life's simple moments. In one story, the narrator recalls fond childhood memories of lazy mornings spent with their parents and siblings. In another, the narrator finds comfort and understanding during silent moments spent with a loved one. An overarching theme across the stories is using life's challenges to cultivate appreciation, wisdom, and peace.
1) Desi kisses Puck at school despite knowing Charnell likes him, causing conflict between the sisters. Anton slaps Desi and kicks her out of their band in defense of Charnell.
2) Brielle comforts a crying Charnell in the bathroom and encourages her to stand up to Desi.
3) Later, Anton moves Charnell's bed into his room so she no longer has to share with Desi, showing his support for Charnell.
A snowstorm causes a man living alone in the countryside to lose power. In the darkness, he hears strange noises and feels unexplained touches. As he investigates further upstairs, a creaking sound leads him to an open door. Inside the room, he encounters a rocking chair that suddenly moves on its own, throwing him against the wall. As he tries to escape, something grabs his ankle and drags him into the night.
Salahuddin manages to build a shelter for himself after arriving in the post-apocalyptic town of Strangetown. He works to fix up an abandoned junk car, hoping it will provide safety and transportation. In the evening, a teenage boy visits and informs Salahuddin that there are other survivors nearby. Salahuddin is able to contact Bim on the phone, relieved to learn she is alive.
Moonlight Manifestation Window Opens 2 A.M. TONIGHT- law of Attractionssuser12e377
Law Of attraction .. Moonlight Manifestation... How To Harness The “2 A.M. Moonlight Manifestation Window”
To Start Living Your “Happily Ever After” Tomorrow!
Chandler expresses concern for his friend Daniel, who is still grieving the loss of his girlfriend Cherry. Daniel interrupts and says he does not want to discuss Cherry, as she was truly "The One" for him and he does not think Chandler understands what it is like to be totally in love with someone. Daniel says Cherry is constantly on his mind and he does not know how to move on from losing someone so special to him.
The Quest For Peace Redux: Chapter Eleven Pt. 1animeangel1983
Solan is accused of hacking into the college database to change his grades, but he denies doing so. An officer tracks the hack back to Solan's computer. Solan senses that his brother Liam was feeling smug, and realizes Liam must have framed him. Solan is upset that his own brother would set him up, but still loves Liam and doesn't want to hurt their mother Roxie by revealing what Liam did.
Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook have an intense sexual encounter in Rook's loft that coincides with an earthquake in New York City. After their passion leaves the room in disarray, they discover that the earthquake was centered in Sloatsburg, New York and caused some damage but no major injuries. Heat receives a call about a new case and prepares to head to a crime scene, as Rook jokes about trying to top their experience.
Chapter 23 of the Goldweaver family Legacy. The secret is out about the family's true origins and now all eyes are turned to Toren and his family. And even before the current storm has passed another rears its ugly head. Can Toren and the others do anything to stop this new disaster?
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.1 University DazeDi Meeeee
The summary provides context about the document while condensing the essential information into 3 sentences or less:
Alexandra attends finishing school and runs into her former well-dropper, Joe, at a local bar. Joe agrees to have tea with Alexandra but remains unsure about pursuing a relationship. Meanwhile, Edward and his cousins Theodore and Stanley start their first year of university.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter15.3 But I Love YouDi Meeeee
Theodore Harrison visits his family home and introduces his girlfriend, DrSupremeNerd, to them. At his father's birthday party, Theodore's grandfather encourages him to propose to DrSupremeNerd. Meanwhile, Alexandra goes dress shopping with her mother to prepare her trousseau for her upcoming wedding. On the day of the wedding, Joe Grundstrom calls off the wedding at the altar, devastating Alexandra. She runs home in tears as her dreams of married life are shattered.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 14.2 Summertime and the Living is EasyDi Meeeee
William buys Beth a bookshop as a birthday present. The shop does well in its first day, with various customers including William's sister Charlotta. However, one customer, Christy Stratton, had previously attacked Beth and threatens the family. William is unaware of this history. Later, his twin brother Henry stops by to wish both William and Beth a happy birthday, showing signs that he has changed from their childhood rivalry.
A Very Victorian Bachelor Challenge - Day 1Di Meeeee
Theodore Harrison has been set up by his grandfather in a "bachelor challenge" where he must spend a week getting to know seven simselves at a house. The women arrive and get settled in. They have tea in the garden where Doc tries to engage Theo, but he rebuffs her question about money. Jessica thanks Theo for his hospitality. Doc warns Jessica she intends to win Theo. After tea, some of the women play games while Theo plays Myshuno with Doc, unaware most don't like it. They then play cards where Doc tries to impress Theo with her dart skills. Theodore offers to open the buffet, but Gin jokes he only wants food because of a bad poker hand
A Very Victorian Bachelor Challenge - Day 4Di Meeeee
Theodore Harrison is participating in a week-long bachelor challenge where he must choose one woman to pursue out of seven staying at his home. He has individual conversations each morning to get to know them better. In this conversation, he speaks to Doc Nerd about her scientific interests and the possibility of human-like robots being created one day. He then speaks to Annie about issues like air pollution and climate change. Theodore is struggling to decide which woman to ask to leave at the end of the day.
This summary provides an overview of the key events in the document:
Eddie and his family return home from their honeymoon in Takemizu. Upon their return, they learn that Eddie's sister Alexandra gave birth to a baby boy named Mickey. Meanwhile, Bertie turns 13 and has his birthday celebration with his family. He remains close with his younger cousin Andrew and plans to attend Andrew's upcoming birthday party.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 21.2 I'm Getting Married in the MorningDi Meeeee
Eddie's lawyer Indy Vetinari arrives at Stuart's birthday party with good news - Eddie will retain custody of his children. Inside, guests are enjoying the party. Later, Eddie dances with his friend Carmen Leong in the garden, realizing he has feelings for her. Beth sees them and hopes Eddie finds love again. At Louisa's wedding, the children fidget in their formal clothes. Stanley is questioned by Peter about never marrying. Vicky is stressed about her new business having no clients, but Rosemary reassures her.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.3a But I Love YouDi Meeeee
Theodore Harrison visits his family home to celebrate his father's birthday and introduces his girlfriend, DrSupremeNerd, to his family. He hints at proposing to her soon. Meanwhile, Alexandra Legacy finishes shopping for her wedding trousseau with her mother. She finds the perfect dress and other items. That evening, she visits her fiancé Joe unexpectedly, wanting to see him before the wedding, though it is considered bad luck. He lets her inside to warm up. Alexandra returns home late that night in good spirits for her wedding the next day.
William confides in Miss Di that he has become embroiled in a criminal counterfeiting ring through his job. He is too deep in the operation to simply quit. Miss Di and her simselves brainstorm a plan to resolve the situation and protect William's family from the criminals. They prepare to enact their plan after Miss Di oversees the scheduled prison release of Henry, another character involved in previous events of the legacy.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 21.1 - Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside.Di Meeeee
Marielle has been forced to move into a small run-down cottage after being thrown out by her husband Edward when he discovered her infidelity. Inside the cottage, she is haunted by memories of her deceased mother and their impoverished past. Meanwhile, Edward's son Bertie is reluctant to leave home for a trip to Simmouth with his grandmother, as he has never been away from his father before. The story provides backstory on the characters and sets up future plot developments around Marielle adjusting to her new circumstances and Bertie being away from home.
A Very Victorian Bachelor Challenge - Day 3Di Meeeee
Theodore Harrison is participating in a bachelor challenge arranged by his grandfather where seven women are staying at his house for a week. On the third day, one woman, Gin, was eliminated. The remaining women are enjoying activities like relaxing in the hot tub and playing chess with Theodore in the evening. Some of the women are becoming more competitive as they try to impress Theodore.
The twins Lysander and Rosalind have recently moved to the rainy town of Flinton after running out of money. They view their new flat, which is in poor condition, as a temporary solution until Lysander can find work and earn enough for them to leave. However, Rosa is unhappy living there and misses the company of animals. Lysander interviews at a local pub for a part-time bar job in hopes of saving up enough to move on within a few months.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 20 An EndingDi Meeeee
Eddie seeks legal advice from lawyer Indy Vetinari about divorcing his neglectful wife Marielle after catching her in bed with another man. Earlier, Eddie had found their son Stuart alone, hungry, and in a dirty nappy. At Indy's office, Eddie explains he is unhappy in the marriage and wants it to end. Indy agrees to provide legal counsel on the possibility of divorce under Regalton law.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.2 University HazeDi Meeeee
- Theodore Harrison has returned to the Legacy Society after his summer project arranged by his grandfather to stay with 7 ladies. He tells his cousin Edward about one lady in particular, DrSupremeNerd, that he is interested in taking to dinner.
- Victoria Legacy leaves her family home to begin attending finishing school at the Acadamie, where she will be reunited with her sisters and cousins.
- Joe Grundstrom visits Victoria's family home to ask her father for her hand in marriage, however he struggles to convincingly say that he loves Victoria when questioned, causing her father to have doubts about Joe's intentions.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
The document recaps the story so far of the Victorian Legacy series and introduces the setting of a fall day in Simdon. It describes Bethany Smith sorting through her trousseau as she prepares for her upcoming marriage to Ezra Howard. Her mother Alexandra enters and has an unexpectedly candid conversation with Bethany about love, marriage, and avoiding mistakes, while also inspecting Bethany's trousseau and an advice book on wifely duties.
A Very Victorian Bachelor Challenge - PrologueDi Meeeee
Theodore Harrison, grandson of General Thomas Harrison, has arrived at Hope Springs House in Riverblossom Hills to participate in a supposed research project. However, he soon discovers that the project was fabricated by his grandfather in an attempt to encourage Theodore to court one of the seven female simselves who have also been recruited under false pretenses. Di confronts General Harrison about his meddling scheme, explaining that love cannot be forced in this manner.
The document provides a tour of the neighborhoods of Regalton and Simdon that the author has created for their legacy world. It shares pictures and descriptions of over 20 houses and lots in the neighborhoods, including details on the design inspiration and plans to remodel some houses. The tour gives a glimpse into the level of detail and history that has been built for these simulated communities over the past four years.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 11.2 Heirs not SparesDi Meeeee
Beth discovers that William has undertaken major renovations and expansions to their home without consulting her. When they inspect both the changes to their home and William's new acquisition of a florist shop, Beth expresses her frustration at being left out of these major financial and household decisions. William apologizes, realizing he should have involved his wife. Beth accepts his apology, seeing his desire to provide for their family, but stresses the importance of communication and partnership in their marriage.
A'Tuin tells Celeste that he thinks he is the killer who has been murdering students on campus. Meanwhile, Annabeth tells Chandler she thinks she knows who the killer is, and Anakin tells Sunny the same. Fear has been growing throughout the year as more students died unexpectedly. The chapter sets up mystery around the identity of the killer.
This summary provides context and key details from the multi-paragraph document in 3 sentences:
Elle is dating a new man named Tristan after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend Stuart, but her cousin Billy is concerned about Tristan's treatment of Elle and wants her to reconcile with Stuart. Billy asks Stuart to talk to Elle the next time they see each other in hopes that Elle will realize she can do better than Tristan. Meanwhile, Elle has been invited to a party by her cousin Edie but declines because she already made plans with Tristan, not realizing Stuart will be at the party.
Stella is summoned by the alien council to report on her observations of the humans at her university dormitory. She provides impressions of various dormmates like Frances, Klara, William, Aldric, and Blossom. The council debates having Stella continue her mission of observing Madeleine Doran and the humans. Back at the dorm, Frances suspects something unusual about Stella based on something he glimpsed. Blossom confesses her feelings for Almeric but he does not return them, though Klara develops a crush on him.
Azula and Dominic are stranded in Takemizu after their government imposed a travel ban. They believe they are being followed by someone from Azula's past. Back home, Elle is struggling with Azula's absence as she prepares to give birth. The situation grows more dire when they learn Azula is pregnant and may have to give birth in Takemizu. Their friends and family feel helpless to resolve the issue from Sierra Plains.
Tyler has a difficult conversation with Marella in which he apologizes for abruptly ending their date. Marella forgives him but says she cannot stay as she needs to pack for university. Tyler is unsure if he can also attend university but Marella encourages him to try. Their conversation is cut short as Marella needs to return home before her parents notice she is gone.
Alice follows a white rabbit into an IKEA store and becomes convinced she has returned to Wonderland. She encounters familiar characters like the Mad Hatter and grows increasingly paranoid and distressed. Store employees try to reassure her that the animals are toys and the furniture is for children, but Alice continues to lose grip on reality. She is eventually found curled up in the ball pit, unresponsive and muttering about the white rabbit.
The Wrongway family gathers at the beach to mourn the loss of Elizabeth. Grace proposes to Orlando at the beach. Later at a graduation party, Frankie proposes to Stella and she accepts. Alice meets a guy at the party named Jerry but tells him she doesn't date. Eli promises Knut he will try to bring Elizabeth back after graduation.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. A guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's crazy, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says there's no memory spell and the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret about having magic.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. However, a guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's mistaken, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret, as there is no memory spell they can use.
Juliet and Victoria sneak out to a nightclub called P.U.R.E despite being underage. At the club, Victoria drinks alcohol and a fight breaks out. Juliet meets a boy named Alvin but doesn't get his contact information before he leaves. Their grandmother Samantha catches them at the club and grounds them for the weekend. Victoria is frustrated about being stuck at home while Juliet urges her to avoid further punishment.
William, the heir to the Legacy family, has been arrested for receiving and selling stolen goods. His mother Beth goes to the jail to speak with Sergeant Kauker about the charges. Kauker explains that William knowingly sold an original stolen painting, though Beth insists William would have had no way of knowing it was original. News of the arrest spreads quickly through the extended Legacy family, with many shocked by the unexpected turn of events.
Wendy, a matchmaker, meets with Todd, Ivan, Charlie, and Alice to discuss a threat to their world. She explains that supernatural beings like herself have protected the world by interfering as little as possible to preserve free will. However, the threat is now too large for the world's "Simself" protector to handle alone within those limits. Wendy tries to convince them by mentioning altered memories, but Alice refuses to believe without proof. Wendy says the proof will reveal itself to the four friends and leaves, saying they will speak again once Alice comes around. Charlie thanks Todd and Ivan for coming. Ivan agrees to talk to Charlie's brother about making up with his boyfriend. Todd will now move into the Greek house with
Elle is participating in a bachelorette challenge organized by her friend Marina where she will spend a week getting to know seven male suitors in hopes of finding a romantic connection. Elle is very nervous as social situations make her anxious. Her sister Azula and Marina will be watching the house through cameras and communicating with Elle to support her. Elle tours the house and meets the seven bachelors. One named Abe breaks the ice by introducing himself which helps Elle start to feel more at ease.
Boolpropian Round Robin Legacy - Generation Five - Part Three
Staring Ainesly Doran, this begins her story in Veronaville, starting at the nearby Stratford Globe College.
The Quest For Peace Redux: Chapter Fourteenanimeangel1983
Julius and Marsha welcome their daughter Pandora into the world. Tavi realizes he forgot his spellbook and cauldron at college and Allison gifts him replacements. Meadow gives birth to twin girls, Pyrrah and Penelope. Marc Antony's hacking uncovers information about a disaster 30 years ago but an unknown entity called Omega warns him away. Amy gives birth to their daughter Psyche. Liam and Lilly marry secretly without Liam's family to avoid interference in his mission to reunite Jonah and Roxie.
This document provides samples of the author's writing in various genres including fiction, flash fiction, and travel writing. In the fiction excerpt, a woman named Isadora finds herself transported from her bedroom to a strange forest and encounters Alice from Alice in Wonderland. In the flash fiction piece, a shooting star named Kristalina falls in love with a human named Stefano and risks her existence to profess her love to him. The travel writing describes the author's experience working as an intern at Walt Disney World and how it revealed the magic and wonder of the place.
Elizabeth goes to visit Ralph and Ariel against warnings from her family. Inside, Ariel kills Elizabeth. Eli feels what is happening through his twin telepathy and collapses. In a vision, Eli confirms with Elizabeth that she is dead but tells him he must return to warn the others.
Eli confronts Deirdre about Orlando standing up Grace for their date. Deirdre says she hasn't seen Orlando since that night and that it's a situation for Orlando and Grace to work out themselves. Eli agrees Deirdre is right and thanks her for her help.
Eli confronts Deirdre about Orlando standing Grace up on their date. Deirdre says she hasn't seen Orlando since that night and that it's a situation for Orlando and Grace to work out themselves. Eli agrees and thanks Deirdre for her help.
This summary contains 3 sentences:
The document follows several interconnected storylines, including Angela fighting with Lillith, Tybalt going on a date with Bottom, and Juliette beginning a relationship with Mercutio after breaking up with Romeo. Other stories include Beatrice and Hal's relationship, Conrad asking Kaylynn out on a date, and Jill accepting Buck's marriage proposal. The characters experience romance, drama, deception and relationship changes throughout the multiple concurrent storylines.
Bertie has been training the university football team in intense heat. He sees Andrew and Peter who inform him that their grandmother has passed away. Nearby, Sophia and Lauren observe Bertie training without his shirt. Lauren encourages Sophia to thank Bertie for the sheet music he gifted her. Bertie apologizes for his state of undress and must leave for class, bidding the sisters goodbye.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 24.2b First ImpressionsDi Meeeee
Derri has not been writing back to his friend Celestia for months since leaving for university. Celestia is upset and losing her sparkle. Dean visits Derri at university to confront him about not writing Celestia. Derri admits he has feelings for Celestia but believes she only sees him as a friend. Dean calls Derri an idiot for giving up their friendship and insists he write Celestia a letter. Derri agrees to write the letter.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 24.2a First ImpressionsDi Meeeee
This document provides context and introduces characters for an upcoming chapter in a fictional story. It summarizes Bertie's first year at university and relationships between other characters. It then describes Bertie and his friends settling into their rooms at the Legacy Society for Bertie's second year and notes that Ezra has been spending a lot of time away from the house on unknown business.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 24.1 University Days are Here AgainDi Meeeee
1) Bertie has left for university, leaving his family missing him, especially his brother Stuart who is used to Bertie always being by his side.
2) Stuart tries to spend more time with Emmi to fill the void left by Bertie, but frustrates her with his overbearing presence during her piano practice.
3) During an argument, Emmi tells Stuart that she needs space and does not want him with her constantly. Stuart is initially upset but understands Emmi's perspective.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 23.2 Time Marches OnDi Meeeee
This chapter provides context for the next chapter of the author's Victorian Legacy series. It summarizes the previous chapter and introduces several storylines that will be explored further, including Emmi's musical talents, Carmen and Eddie wanting another child, Alexandra helping Zane feel more comfortable in his adopted home, and Christopher potentially facing consequences for dyeing a specimen at school. The chapter sets the stage for multiple characters and plotlines to progress in the next installment.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 23.1 End of an EraDi Meeeee
The document provides a quick recap of the previous chapter, mentioning the birth of Carmen's daughter Emina and Henry's death. It then introduces the new chapter, describing Alexandra getting her children ready to greet their new adopted son, Zane. When Zane arrives, Alexandra introduces him to the children and has David show Zane around the house. Zane seems nervous but is trying to make a good impression.
Hayley tells Rosa that she overheard elves discussing plans to kill Rosa and Lysander. Hayley warns that they are no longer safe and must leave Flinton immediately. Rosa is distraught at the thought of leaving without Hayley. Hayley offers to help them escape that night by calling in a favor, getting them far away from the town. However, Hayley will remain behind for now due to her obligations in Flinton.
Lysander had been planning an evening relaxing at home, but his sister Rosa convinced him to go out to the local pub instead. At the pub, he played a few games of pool and had fun, realizing Rosa was right that he needed a night out. Later in the evening, he noticed a beautiful woman watching him from across the room. He introduced himself and found their conversation flowing easily, though he was still unsure why she seemed so intrigued by learning he wasn't from the local area.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 22.1 HappinessDi Meeeee
The document provides an update on the Victorian Legacy story. It summarizes that the author is returning to share the next part of the story, which sees Edward getting engaged. It then describes several events that have occurred, including birthdays, births, university starts, and a kidnapping. It previews that more events are upcoming that will demand the characters' attention, beginning with Alexandra reflecting on her children growing up as they celebrate their birthdays. It also shares that Charlotta has passed away, deeply upsetting her twin sister Anne.
V. & R. Legacy Investigate the Case of the Viridian Child - Part 2Di Meeeee
Vicky follows a suspicious man she encounters at the bakery who purchases a large amount of bread. This leads her to a run-down factory where she overhears a group of men mentioning they have kidnapped eleven strangely colored children to sell to a freak show. Vicky realizes she may have found the kidnappers and children she has been searching for. She returns to tell Rosie of this new lead.
V. & R. Legacy Investigate the Case of the Viridian Child - Part 1Di Meeeee
Vicky and Rosie run an inquiry agency that has been lacking cases. Their cousin Theo and his wife Doc visit, distressed because their green-skinned daughter Celestia has gone missing from the natural history museum. The police dismissed Theo's report due to Celestia's appearance. Theo explains that seven years prior, he was part of a strange experiment at his university that he believes resulted in him becoming unexpectedly pregnant with Celestia. Vicky and Rosie agree to investigate Celestia's disappearance.
A Very Victorian Asylum Challenge - Part 4Di Meeeee
Bruce Rauscher has completed his investigation into Simdon-Leys Home for Irrational and Insane Women at the request of Mr. Archibald Wilson. In his summary to Wilson, Rauscher reports finding serious issues at the facility, including a lack of proper staffing and treatment, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, and patients being allowed to freely come and go and potentially endanger others. Based on these findings, Rauscher believes the fees charged are unfair, treatment is subpar, and the facility should be closed and patients moved elsewhere. Wilson agrees the report warrants further action regarding the facility and its director, Dr. Gavigan.
A Very Victorian Asylum Challenge - Part 3Di Meeeee
The document provides an overview of 7 female Sims and 1 controllable Sim who are inhabitants at the Simdon-Leys Home for Irrational and Insane women. It then describes tensions rising between two of the inhabitants, Brittany and Melody, who get into multiple physical altercations over petty arguments. The narrator expresses concerns about the implications of these fights and the declining mental states of several of the inhabitants due to the living conditions at the asylum.
The document discusses resizing a picture that was pasted onto a slide. It mentions Jamie's test and that the original picture was a raw picture pasted onto the slide. The picture was then resized on the slide.
This short document discusses testing something out for Jamie. It mentions a raw picture that was copy and pasted without any editing. The picture was then put through a resizing process.
A Very Victorian Asylum Challenge - Part 2Di Meeeee
- Marielle had a civil conversation with Brittany that turned heated when Brittany insisted her friend Carli was a half-elf, and that Marielle was secretly an elf. Marielle used the gyroscopic device to avoid further argument.
- Meredith continues struggling with her confinement, breaking down in the snow without proper clothing. Katherine comforted her.
- Marielle had a revealing discussion with Ari about Ari leaving home due to persecution and hoping to be reunited with her fiancé, though Ari did not want to provide details.
A Very Victorian Asylum Challenge - Part 1Di Meeeee
Marielle documents her first two days at the Simdon-Leys Home for Irrational and Insane Women. She finds the facilities disgusting and the other residents strange. On the first day, she witnesses Lisa struggle with the gyroscopic device and has an accident in front of Meadow. The second day brings arguments between Katherine and Meredith during their exercise. Brittany is injured after using the gyroscopic device. Marielle does not feel she belongs there but has no way out.
A Very Victorian Asylum Challenge - PrologueDi Meeeee
Robert and Miss Di meet with Dr. Gavigan to discuss having Marielle evaluated, with the goal of preventing her from gaining custody of her children in her divorce. They express concerns about Marielle's mental state and lack of attachment to her children. Dr. Gavigan agrees to evaluate Marielle, seeing signs of a need for treatment based on the information shared. He schedules an appointment the next day to begin her evaluation and determine a treatment plan. Miss Di worries this may not align with her desired outcome and plans to further influence Dr. Gavigan.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.3b But I Love YouDi Meeeee
Alexandra has accepted Anthony's marriage proposal despite just discovering she is pregnant by another man. Her family is supportive of the match as Anthony proves he genuinely loves Alexandra. Meanwhile, Eddie has returned from an upsetting trip with anger in his heart but finds solace playing piano with Theo and Stanley at the campus lounge.
Main news related to the CCS TSI 2023 (2023/1695)Jakub Marek
An English 🇬🇧 translation of a presentation to the speech I gave about the main changes brought by CCS TSI 2023 at the biggest Czech conference on Communications and signalling systems on Railways, which was held in Clarion Hotel Olomouc from 7th to 9th November 2023 (konferenceszt.cz). Attended by around 500 participants and 200 on-line followers.
The original Czech 🇨🇿 version of the presentation can be found here: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/hlavni-novinky-souvisejici-s-ccs-tsi-2023-2023-1695/269688092 .
The videorecording (in Czech) from the presentation is available here: https://youtu.be/WzjJWm4IyPk?si=SImb06tuXGb30BEH .
5th LF Energy Power Grid Model Meet-up SlidesDanBrown980551
5th Power Grid Model Meet-up
It is with great pleasure that we extend to you an invitation to the 5th Power Grid Model Meet-up, scheduled for 6th June 2024. This event will adopt a hybrid format, allowing participants to join us either through an online Mircosoft Teams session or in person at TU/e located at Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven, Netherlands. The meet-up will be hosted by Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), a research university specializing in engineering science & technology.
Power Grid Model
The global energy transition is placing new and unprecedented demands on Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Alongside upgrades to grid capacity, processes such as digitization, capacity optimization, and congestion management are becoming vital for delivering reliable services.
Power Grid Model is an open source project from Linux Foundation Energy and provides a calculation engine that is increasingly essential for DSOs. It offers a standards-based foundation enabling real-time power systems analysis, simulations of electrical power grids, and sophisticated what-if analysis. In addition, it enables in-depth studies and analysis of the electrical power grid’s behavior and performance. This comprehensive model incorporates essential factors such as power generation capacity, electrical losses, voltage levels, power flows, and system stability.
Power Grid Model is currently being applied in a wide variety of use cases, including grid planning, expansion, reliability, and congestion studies. It can also help in analyzing the impact of renewable energy integration, assessing the effects of disturbances or faults, and developing strategies for grid control and optimization.
What to expect
For the upcoming meetup we are organizing, we have an exciting lineup of activities planned:
-Insightful presentations covering two practical applications of the Power Grid Model.
-An update on the latest advancements in Power Grid -Model technology during the first and second quarters of 2024.
-An interactive brainstorming session to discuss and propose new feature requests.
-An opportunity to connect with fellow Power Grid Model enthusiasts and users.
HCL Notes and Domino License Cost Reduction in the World of DLAUpanagenda
Webinar Recording: https://www.panagenda.com/webinars/hcl-notes-and-domino-license-cost-reduction-in-the-world-of-dlau/
The introduction of DLAU and the CCB & CCX licensing model caused quite a stir in the HCL community. As a Notes and Domino customer, you may have faced challenges with unexpected user counts and license costs. You probably have questions on how this new licensing approach works and how to benefit from it. Most importantly, you likely have budget constraints and want to save money where possible. Don’t worry, we can help with all of this!
We’ll show you how to fix common misconfigurations that cause higher-than-expected user counts, and how to identify accounts which you can deactivate to save money. There are also frequent patterns that can cause unnecessary cost, like using a person document instead of a mail-in for shared mailboxes. We’ll provide examples and solutions for those as well. And naturally we’ll explain the new licensing model.
Join HCL Ambassador Marc Thomas in this webinar with a special guest appearance from Franz Walder. It will give you the tools and know-how to stay on top of what is going on with Domino licensing. You will be able lower your cost through an optimized configuration and keep it low going forward.
These topics will be covered
- Reducing license cost by finding and fixing misconfigurations and superfluous accounts
- How do CCB and CCX licenses really work?
- Understanding the DLAU tool and how to best utilize it
- Tips for common problem areas, like team mailboxes, functional/test users, etc
- Practical examples and best practices to implement right away
How to Get CNIC Information System with Paksim Ga.pptxdanishmna97
Pakdata Cf is a groundbreaking system designed to streamline and facilitate access to CNIC information. This innovative platform leverages advanced technology to provide users with efficient and secure access to their CNIC details.
Building Production Ready Search Pipelines with Spark and MilvusZilliz
Spark is the widely used ETL tool for processing, indexing and ingesting data to serving stack for search. Milvus is the production-ready open-source vector database. In this talk we will show how to use Spark to process unstructured data to extract vector representations, and push the vectors to Milvus vector database for search serving.
Programming Foundation Models with DSPy - Meetup SlidesZilliz
Prompting language models is hard, while programming language models is easy. In this talk, I will discuss the state-of-the-art framework DSPy for programming foundation models with its powerful optimizers and runtime constraint system.
Generating privacy-protected synthetic data using Secludy and MilvusZilliz
During this demo, the founders of Secludy will demonstrate how their system utilizes Milvus to store and manipulate embeddings for generating privacy-protected synthetic data. Their approach not only maintains the confidentiality of the original data but also enhances the utility and scalability of LLMs under privacy constraints. Attendees, including machine learning engineers, data scientists, and data managers, will witness first-hand how Secludy's integration with Milvus empowers organizations to harness the power of LLMs securely and efficiently.
Salesforce Integration for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions A...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on integration of Salesforce with Bonterra Impact Management.
Interested in deploying an integration with Salesforce for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Introduction of Cybersecurity with OSS at Code Europe 2024Hiroshi SHIBATA
I develop the Ruby programming language, RubyGems, and Bundler, which are package managers for Ruby. Today, I will introduce how to enhance the security of your application using open-source software (OSS) examples from Ruby and RubyGems.
The first topic is CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). I have published CVEs many times. But what exactly is a CVE? I'll provide a basic understanding of CVEs and explain how to detect and handle vulnerabilities in OSS.
Next, let's discuss package managers. Package managers play a critical role in the OSS ecosystem. I'll explain how to manage library dependencies in your application.
I'll share insights into how the Ruby and RubyGems core team works to keep our ecosystem safe. By the end of this talk, you'll have a better understanding of how to safeguard your code.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
HCL Notes und Domino Lizenzkostenreduzierung in der Welt von DLAUpanagenda
Webinar Recording: https://www.panagenda.com/webinars/hcl-notes-und-domino-lizenzkostenreduzierung-in-der-welt-von-dlau/
DLAU und die Lizenzen nach dem CCB- und CCX-Modell sind für viele in der HCL-Community seit letztem Jahr ein heißes Thema. Als Notes- oder Domino-Kunde haben Sie vielleicht mit unerwartet hohen Benutzerzahlen und Lizenzgebühren zu kämpfen. Sie fragen sich vielleicht, wie diese neue Art der Lizenzierung funktioniert und welchen Nutzen sie Ihnen bringt. Vor allem wollen Sie sicherlich Ihr Budget einhalten und Kosten sparen, wo immer möglich. Das verstehen wir und wir möchten Ihnen dabei helfen!
Wir erklären Ihnen, wie Sie häufige Konfigurationsprobleme lösen können, die dazu führen können, dass mehr Benutzer gezählt werden als nötig, und wie Sie überflüssige oder ungenutzte Konten identifizieren und entfernen können, um Geld zu sparen. Es gibt auch einige Ansätze, die zu unnötigen Ausgaben führen können, z. B. wenn ein Personendokument anstelle eines Mail-Ins für geteilte Mailboxen verwendet wird. Wir zeigen Ihnen solche Fälle und deren Lösungen. Und natürlich erklären wir Ihnen das neue Lizenzmodell.
Nehmen Sie an diesem Webinar teil, bei dem HCL-Ambassador Marc Thomas und Gastredner Franz Walder Ihnen diese neue Welt näherbringen. Es vermittelt Ihnen die Tools und das Know-how, um den Überblick zu bewahren. Sie werden in der Lage sein, Ihre Kosten durch eine optimierte Domino-Konfiguration zu reduzieren und auch in Zukunft gering zu halten.
Diese Themen werden behandelt
- Reduzierung der Lizenzkosten durch Auffinden und Beheben von Fehlkonfigurationen und überflüssigen Konten
- Wie funktionieren CCB- und CCX-Lizenzen wirklich?
- Verstehen des DLAU-Tools und wie man es am besten nutzt
- Tipps für häufige Problembereiche, wie z. B. Team-Postfächer, Funktions-/Testbenutzer usw.
- Praxisbeispiele und Best Practices zum sofortigen Umsetzen
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technologies, XML continues to play a vital role in structuring, storing, and transporting data across diverse systems. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present new methodologies for enhancing XML development workflows, introducing efficiency, automation, and intelligent capabilities. This presentation will outline the scope and perspective of utilizing AI in XML development. The potential benefits and the possible pitfalls will be highlighted, providing a balanced view of the subject.
We will explore the capabilities of AI in understanding XML markup languages and autonomously creating structured XML content. Additionally, we will examine the capacity of AI to enrich plain text with appropriate XML markup. Practical examples and methodological guidelines will be provided to elucidate how AI can be effectively prompted to interpret and generate accurate XML markup.
Further emphasis will be placed on the role of AI in developing XSLT, or schemas such as XSD and Schematron. We will address the techniques and strategies adopted to create prompts for generating code, explaining code, or refactoring the code, and the results achieved.
The discussion will extend to how AI can be used to transform XML content. In particular, the focus will be on the use of AI XPath extension functions in XSLT, Schematron, Schematron Quick Fixes, or for XML content refactoring.
The presentation aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of AI usage in XML development, providing attendees with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. Whether you’re at the early stages of adopting AI or considering integrating it in advanced XML development, this presentation will cover all levels of expertise.
By highlighting the potential advantages and challenges of integrating AI with XML development tools and languages, the presentation seeks to inspire thoughtful conversation around the future of XML development. We’ll not only delve into the technical aspects of AI-powered XML development but also discuss practical implications and possible future directions.
AI 101: An Introduction to the Basics and Impact of Artificial IntelligenceIndexBug
Imagine a world where machines not only perform tasks but also learn, adapt, and make decisions. This is the promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a technology that's not just enhancing our lives but revolutionizing entire industries.
TrustArc Webinar - 2024 Global Privacy SurveyTrustArc
How does your privacy program stack up against your peers? What challenges are privacy teams tackling and prioritizing in 2024?
In the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey, we asked over 1,800 global privacy professionals and business executives to share their perspectives on the current state of privacy inside and outside of their organizations. This year’s report focused on emerging areas of importance for privacy and compliance professionals, including considerations and implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, building brand trust, and different approaches for achieving higher privacy competence scores.
See how organizational priorities and strategic approaches to data security and privacy are evolving around the globe.
This webinar will review:
- The top 10 privacy insights from the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey
- The top challenges for privacy leaders, practitioners, and organizations in 2024
- Key themes to consider in developing and maintaining your privacy program
1. Smoothie Sims, Inc. and Di’s Victorian Emporium proudly present…
The Runaway Bride
(a joint Christmas special for A Villainous Apocalypse and A Victorian Legacy)
*The authors would like to extend their sincerest apologies to Russell T. Davies*
---
“When you're a kid, they tell you it's all... grow up. Get a job. Get married. Get a house. Have a
kid, and that's it. But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And
so much madder. And so much better.”
-Doctor Who, “Love and Monsters”
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. “What?!”
The strange woman’s mouth fell open, but no words came out.
“That is impossible!” Stuart exclaimed. He did not utter such words lightly—to someone as well
acquainted with the many eccentricities of the universe as he was, few things were actually,
literally impossible. He locked eyes with the woman, noting her silent fear. “We’re in flight, how
did you…?” His gaze traveled her whole length, and he realized that not only had a young,
attractive woman somehow materialized inside his spaceship while it was moving, but that she
was, very incongruously, wearing a wedding dress.
“Why are you wearing a wedding dress?” he blurted.
11. This seemed to galvanize the young woman into finding her voice. “Because I’m getting married,
or at least I was before you abducted me!”
12. “I did not abduct you,” said Stuart indignantly. “You appeared here without my assistance, and
quite impossibly too, may I add, since we are in flight.”
13. “Well, clearly it isn’t impossible, since I’m here…wherever here is,” she said flatly. “Where is here,
anyway?”
14. “You are in the TARDIS,” replied Stuart.
“The what?”
“The TARDIS,” he repeated.
15. He realized too late that she naturally had no idea what the TARDIS actually was. After another
moment of baffled silence, her expression transformed into one of panicked fury. “Well, you can
get me out of this…TARDIS right now, and take me back home!”
16. “Certainly,” he muttered, turning toward the TARDIS console so that he could do just that. It was
clear that the woman had no more idea of what had happened than he did, and the best course
of action seemed to be simply taking her home without any further questions. Not that he wanted
her to stay. After the day he’d had, a distraught stranger was the absolute last thing he wanted to
deal with. “Where do I—" His words died on his lips as he caught sight of the young woman
running toward the TARDIS door as fast as she could go. “No, don’t!”
17. On reaching it, she wrenched it open and stopped dead. There, looking as if it was close enough
for her to reach out and touch, was the Horsehead Nebula.
18. Stuart sighed and left the console to stand behind her. “You’re in space,” he said gently. “Outer
space. This is my…spaceship.”
He heard the TARDIS rumble slightly as if it took offense to being called a mere spaceship, when
in reality, it was so much more than that. The acronym stood for Time and Relative Dimension in
Space. It was a spaceship, a time machine, a miracle of technology, a fortress, a home, and a
companion—the only one he had. Yet how could he explain everything the TARDIS was to a
strange human he was about to deposit back where she had come from, never to see her again?
It was best not to elaborate on anything he did not absolutely have to.
19. Still she said nothing as she stared out at the nebula, awestruck. Stuart had seen it before. The
realization that they were somehow floating in space was something that rendered a lot of planet-
bound species incapable of rational thought for a while. “What is your name?” he asked quietly.
“Elle Fitzhugh,” she answered automatically, “b-but most people call me Ellie.”
20. “Human?” he asked, as he looked her up and down.
Elle blinked and looked at him. “Is that optional?”
“It is with me,” he replied in an undertone.
21. As Stuart had hoped, the exchange had the desired effect, and Elle’s brain seemed to kick back
into gear and realize details, including a very important one. “How am I breathing?”
“The TARDIS is protecting us.”
“You’re talking about it like it’s alive.” Elle gave a nervous laugh, which Stuart answered with a
smile.
22. “It is. It is also getting cold with these doors open,” as he spoke, Stuart grabbed each door and
closed them. He caught a glimpse of Elle’s disappointed face as he turned to walk back to the
console. “I really do not understand how you could materialize here like that, and I understand
most things,” he murmured. “It should be impossible; it is impossible, and yet…here you are.”
“Who are you?” called Elle, from where she still stood by the doors.
23. Stuart smiled as he turned to look at her. “I have many names,” he said, “but you may call me
Stuart.”
24. “What are you?” was her next question.
“I am a…traveler,” he replied carefully. “I travel from planet to planet, witnessing great events.”
“By yourself?”
25. He swallowed. That was one question he had not expected. “I…do now.”
“Oh.”
“I used to travel with my brother,” Stuart didn’t know why he felt he had to elaborate, but he did
so anyway. “But he is gone now. I…lost him.”
26. Elle walked over to him, and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry,” she said.
27. Stuart looked down at it for a short moment, before whirling away from her. “But never mind that!”
he exclaimed in mock cheerfulness. “You have a wedding to get to! Where are you getting
married?”
“The chapel in Sierra Plains,” replied Elle, watching as Stuart started a frenetic dance around the
console, twirling dials, sliding switches and pulling levers.
28. “I will have you there in a jiffy. Your family and your bridegroom to be will barely have noticed that
you are missing.” He flipped the final switch necessary to make the journey, and the TARDIS
gave a lurch, causing Elle to lunge for a grip on the console. “Sorry, should have warned you,” he
called over the din. She only grimaced as they hurtled toward their destination.
***
29. “Ellie?” Azula Fitzhugh tore open the door to the upstairs dressing room. “Are you—I guess not,”
she trailed off, staring at the tiny, empty space. Her sister’s street clothes and cell phone were
there, but Elle herself was not. Azula sighed deeply and shut the door again.
30. Downstairs, she found her mother jamming the ‘call’ button on her cell phone, as if that would
help the call get through any better. “I still can’t reach her.”
31. “Yeah, because her cell phone’s upstairs and she isn’t,” said Azula. “Have you tried the house?”
“No answer there, either,” Mya replied. She looked around at the frenzied guests beginning to
scatter. “Ugh, I should have known this would happen.”
32. Her son, Billy, walked up just in time to hear this last statement. “What do you mean by that?” he
demanded.
Mya waved a hand. “Something was bound to go wrong. Something always does, at a wedding.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she just got cold feet, but how she managed to pull that off…”
Billy immediately started in on her for that, and Azula bristled, disliking the idea of having to
witness yet another argument between the two. She turned away, scanning the room for either
her father or the groom.
33. The latter leaned against the arch, staring blankly at his cell phone. After a moment, he crossed
his arms and raised his eyes to the opposite wall. Immediately, Azula’s heart flickered with pity.
She had not known how to feel about Tristan Smith, given that she’d first met him on a blind date
and introduced him to Elle after the fact, but she could not help feeling sorry for him now. She
had no idea what she would do if her fiancée suddenly disappeared at the altar.
34. Before she could take a step to approach him, another man sidled up to Tristan and murmured in
his ear. Tristan’s brows furrowed, and he nodded. The newcomer clapped him on the shoulder
and hurried out of the chapel.
35. Azula frowned and quickly made her way toward him. “Tristan.”
He glanced up at her. “Azula. Did you get hold of her?”
“No, she left her cell phone and there’s no answer at the house. What did the General want?”
“Oh, he offered to put out a patrol for Ellie to see if he could find out where she ended up.”
36. She did not like the sound of that. “That’s probably not necessary, she can’t be far.”
“And if she is?” His eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression went cold.
She bit her lip. “We’ll find her,” she said, with certainty. “Let’s check the house anyway, she might
be there even if she’s not picking up the phone. We could leave someone here, or send them to
any of the other places she might be.”
37. “That’s a good idea,” he said. “We’ll take the family back to the house and try to stay calm until
we find out where she is.”
Azula forced down her uneasy feelings, nodded, and went back to Mya and Billy to try to break
up the fight.
***
38. “Oh!” The sight that greeted Elle as she hurried out of the TARDIS was not a reassuring one.
They had made it back to Sierra Plains, but the chapel was nowhere in sight. “Stuart!”
He walked out after her, but had not heard her. “Poor dear,” he said to the TARDIS, gently
stroking the blue wood. “What is it? What have you eaten?”
39. “Stuart!” cried Elle, frantic now.
“Hm?” He glanced at her. “Oh, I’m sorry. The TARDIS seems to have a bit of indigestion.”
40. She took a closer look at the machine then, eyes popping when she realized something else.
“Oh, my God.”
41. Stuart glanced over at her as she backed away, and seemed to register her panic, because he
hurried to her side. “It’s all right, Ellie,” he said. “She’s only bigger on the inside, that’s all!”
42. “How is that possible?”
He shrugged and smiled. “It’s common technology where I’m from. Anyway, we had better give
her a minute to recover, she seems to be recalibrating for some reason. Let’s get you to the
chapel.”
43. “Oh no, the wedding!” She pressed a hand against her stomach, to ward off the sudden wave of
guilt. She was about to miss her own wedding, and all she could think about was the strange yet
wonderful blue box and the glorious view she had just had of the stars. Focus, Elle, she told
herself. Tristan’s more important. “We’re all the way across town!”
“Are we?” Stuart glanced around.
44. Elle crossed her arms. Her family must be frantic, and Tristan—she couldn’t even imagine what
he must be thinking. “What time is it?”
He glanced at his watch. “Five past three.”
“We can still make it!”
45. “Lovely, why don’t you give them a call and tell them—" Her incredulous expression made him
falter. “What, you haven’t got one of those mobile telephones?”
46. “I do, but not with me! I’m in my wedding dress!” She gestured to her outfit. “I don’t have a purse
and I didn’t think that I’d need pockets!”
“Right, right.” He looked around again. “Well, we’ll have to hail a cab. Do they come through
here?”
47. “Not often, but my friend lives around here, maybe we could borrow her car—wait, wait there!” A
taxi began to rush by just at that moment. Elle ran to the curb and waved it down. Stuart followed
more slowly. She was not looking at him, or she would have noticed the concerned, studious
expression on his face as he assessed the driver. “Do you have any money with you?” she asked
him.
“No, I haven’t,” he said. “You?”
48. She turned and lifted an eyebrow. “Pockets? Remember?” He did not seem to register the
comment. She sighed and turned back to the cab, opening the door. “Excuse me, sir? Hi, I need
to get to the chapel. I don’t have anything with me, sorry, but when we get there I’ll have my
mother pay you. It’s dreadfully important, I’m already late.”
The Santa-impersonator at the wheel nodded his head slightly. Relieved, she began to get into
the cab.
49. “Elle, don’t!” Stuart cried suddenly, reaching for her, but by then she was already sitting in the
back seat. The door slammed shut before he could follow, the lock thumped down, and the driver
began to take off at an alarming pace.
50. “Hey!” Elle leaned over the seat. “We left my friend, we’ve got to go back.” She felt uneasy about
this, knowing that she would not be able to explain what had happened without Stuart. “Sir? We
need to turn back!”
51. The driver did not respond or turn his head. Instead, he directed the car not toward the chapel,
but down the long, empty road leading out of town, toward the military base. “Hey!” she cried,
scared now. “We’re going the wrong way!”
52. He had to have heard her. He had nodded when she got into the car, so he wasn’t deaf. Was he?
Maybe he was a lip reader, a bad one… She tapped him on the shoulder. No response. Utterly
frantic, she pulled a move she would not have otherwise, and yanked his hat off his head.
53. She did not expect his whole face to come with the hat. From beneath the mask, a gleaming
metal robot head emerged.
Elle screamed and pressed back against the seat. She took another moment to affirm that there
was, in fact, a robot driving the car, and then scrambled to the side door in an attempt to get it
unlocked.
54. A whoosh of air passed by the car, and the TARDIS materialized, floating clumsily through the air
along the highway. The door opened, and Stuart appeared, the end of a rope in one hand and his
sonic screwdriver in the other. He shouted something at her that she could not hear. “The door’s
locked!” she yelled in reply, pointing at the lock that would not come open so he would
understand.
55. He pointed the screwdriver at the lock and it burst open. She opened the window. “You’ll have to
jump!” he cried. “Whatever that thing is, it needs you, and whatever it needs you for, it’s not
good!”
56. Elle could not imagine anything worse. They were moving at a terrifying speed. If she did not
make it across the gap, she would be severely injured at the very least. “I can’t do it!”
57. “You have to!”
She shoved open the door and glanced at the ground, then across at him, gripped by terror.
Stuart held out his arms. “I’ll catch you! Trust me!”
58. “Is that what you said to your brother before you lost him? Did he trust you?”
59. A brief flash of pain crossed his face before it was replaced by determination. “He did, and he
isn’t dead, he is so alive. Now come on!”
61. The TARDIS wobbled and spun as it headed to a small park standing along the main road of
Sierra Plains, a little way away from the main block of houses. It bounced along the sidewalk,
before coming to rest at a drunken angle, barely missing the outdoor chess set. The doors were
flung open, and Elle stumbled out, Stuart hot on her heels, along with a plume of smoke and
steam.
62. Stuart coughed as the two of them made their way away from the open door. “Sorry, for a
spaceship, she does not do a lot of flying.”
Elle gave him a small smile and turned toward the buildings in the distance. “Did we miss it?”
asked Stuart, divining her thoughts exactly.
64. “Yeah, we can,” she agreed, and then turned back to him, arms folded defensively across her
chest. “Too bad your spaceship isn’t a time machine, we could go back and get there in time.”
Stuart smiled ruefully, to cover his alarm at her statement. “Yes, it’s a shame. But, even if I did, I
couldn’t go back on someone’s personal timeline…apparently, it’s a theory I’ve read, seems
pretty sound.”
65. Elle shrugged. She seemed too focused on the fact that she had missed her wedding to bother
scrutinizing his blunder, for which he felt thankful. “What was that thing?” she asked instead.
“A basic automaton,” replied Stuart.
“Like a Servo? We have one that my dad made.”
66. Stuart pulled a thoughtful face. “Not really. Servos are given a form of artificial intelligence when
they’re created, and are capable of deciding their own actions, whereas automatons are basic
drones. Someone, somewhere is controlling them.” He looked over at Elle. “The questions are
who, where were they taking you, and why do they want you?”
67. Elle sat down on one of the swings. “It could be because of who I am.”
Stuart took the other and looked at her profile as she looked out over Sierra Plains. “And who are
you, Elle Fitzhugh?” he asked quietly.
68. “I’m my family’s heir.” Stuart waited for her to elaborate, and after a moment, she did. “Sierra
Plains is under martial law because of a power plant accident that happened generations ago. It
pretty much devastated the whole region. The area was flooded with radiation, tons of people
died…” She swallowed. “Things were so bad they were calling it an apocalypse.”
69. “And how does your family factor into this?”
“My great-great-grandfather, Rhys Fitzhugh, was part of the university’s first graduating class.
Because of the military restrictions, he wasn’t allowed to leave the area, so he came back here.
His work in Natural Science brought plant life back to the region. His wife and daughters built on
it, going into other fields to try to help make things normal again, and we’ve sort of been doing it
ever since. It’s a family legacy, going into social work. And I’m the heir, so I’m expected to lead
the effort from here on.”
70. “And each of you have a different project?”
She nodded.
“Interesting.” It was a promising lead, but Stuart felt that there was still a significant chunk missing
from the picture. “What’s your job?”
71. “I’m…not really working on anything just yet,” she said sheepishly. “I just got out of college, you
see. My younger brother Billy’s still there. He’ll graduate at the end of Spring. My sister, Azula,
reinstated the legal system recently, so what we want to do this generation is build on that, get a
real government put in place and relax the labor laws and give our police force some real power.
Tristan—that’s my fiancé, Tristan—he’s working on the government part, he’s a Lobbyist right
now but they like him at the office so it probably won’t be long before he starts getting
promotions.” She paused, then quietly added, “I hope so, anyway.”
72. Her obvious concern over the matter sparked his curiosity. “Is there any reason he wouldn’t?”
73. “Not that I know of, it’s just…well, no one in the family’s been able to get a job in the Politics track
before, so it’s a big deal. We’re not exactly popular with a lot of the officials.”
74. “Is that why you’re marrying him?” Stuart knew that was an impertinent question, but he couldn’t
stop himself from asking it.
75. This time her silence went on too long. “No,” she said then, rather forcefully. “I mean, it’s a
bonus, but I do love him.”
76. Stuart decided not to say anything about her obvious hesitation. Instead, he picked up on
something else she had mentioned. “You say your family is not popular with some?”
77. She shook her head. “No. The current general, Dennis Raikov, hates my family. I don’t know
why. Maybe he thinks we’re interfering with him? He’s constantly waiting for us to slip up: to
break a law, or give him some other excuse to lock one of us up. He caught my uncle on
something to do with the occult while my mom was pregnant with me. My dad went into
Paranormal because of that—oh, sorry, I’m rambling. The point is, he’d do anything to mess us
up, and my parents are terrified of him.”
78. “So, you’re a thorn in this general’s side?”
“Yes. I think he’d be a whole lot happier if we all just disappeared.” She paused. “Do you think
he’s the one who sent those things after me?”
79. “It is a distinct possibility,” conceded Stuart. “The question remains, why, and just how did they
know where you were?” He got up and started pacing along the sand. “I could understand if they
abducted you from outside the chapel, somewhere everyone knew you would be, but from the
inside, out of thin air… They must be tracking you somehow. Stand up.”
80. She did as he bade, and flinched when he took out his sonic screwdriver and activated it, running
it through the air around her. “What is that?” she asked.
81. “Sonic screwdriver,” he muttered, frowning at it.
“What does it do?”
“All sorts of different things. Right now, it’s failing to tell me exactly how the drones knew where to
find you.”
82. He put the screwdriver back into his pocket, reached into the other, and pulled out a small gold
ring that looked for all the world like a wedding band. “This is a bio-damper,” he explained, on
seeing her face. “It will scramble any technology the drones may be using to trace you.” He
slipped it onto her finger and silently added, ‘terrestrial or otherwise.’ The screwdriver had picked
up some odd readings it couldn’t identify, and that worried him.
83. Elle looked down at it. “Well,” she said at last, “you can be the one to explain to my fiancée why I
disappeared from our wedding, only to turn up later with a strange man, and wearing a wedding
ring.” Her face fell. “Tristan. He’ll be so worried. Everyone will be.”.”
84. Stuart looked over at the TARDIS. “She should be alright by now. Do you want to go and find
them?”
Elle nodded. “Please.”
***
85. They did not find anyone at the chapel, save a janitor and a family friend who directed them to
the house (after a bit of relieved flailing), so Elle and Stuart got back in the TARDIS and went
there instead. She had him park on the flat roof where her family kept miscellaneous
paraphernalia. “So no one will come by and take your ship because it’s parked outside the zoning
limits,” she explained, as they ran down the stairs to the first floor.
“Ellie!” cried Azula. At this, the entire family leapt from their seats or stopped pacing and turned to
look at the pair.
86. “Where the hell have you been?” barked Mya. “How could you just up and disappear like that in
the middle of your own wedding? Nerves, cold feet? You didn’t have to make a show out of it!”
“Mom,” Elle whispered, backing away instinctively.
87. Tristan advanced from a different direction. “Who’s this?” he asked, gesturing to Stuart.
“Oh, I’m just passing through,” Stuart said easily. “Hello!”
Billy’s remark cut right over Tristan’s skeptical look. “We’ve been worried sick! What happened?”
88. “You know how long it took to make all the preparations,” added Mya. “We’re not going to be able
to get the chapel again until the end of Spring at the earliest, do you know that?”
“Mom, for God’s sake,” Azula said, giving her mother the stink-eye.
“Well, she should know!”
89. “Do you have any idea how scared I was that you weren’t coming back?” Tristan put in.
90. “How did you do it, anyway?” Harry asked. “I’ve never seen anything like it, not even during my
time as a Cult Leader.”
92. It was too much. Elle covered her face with her hands as she broke down in tears. Tristan moved
forward to hug her and the rest of them abruptly fell silent.
93. While Elle tearfully explained the bare basics (she didn’t know what happened, Stuart had found
her and helped her get back to them), Stuart mostly listened, and confirmed details when he was
asked to. After a while, they seemed satisfied. “Thank you for bringing her back,” Tristan said
then, putting a possessive arm around Elle’s shoulders.
Stuart’s stomach turned. “I could hardly do anything else,” he said, striving for lightness.
94. “Of course. Ah, I didn’t catch your name…”
“You can call me Stuart. And you are?”
Tristan held out his other hand. “Tristan Smith, soon to be Tristan Fitzhugh,” he said, grinning
down at Elle, who smiled faintly back.
Stuart shook his hand quickly, and tried to smile through the rest of the introductions.
95. “Gabriel, do we have enough rations for one more?” asked Mya, with a glance at the Servo
standing over her right shoulder.
“I believe they will be sufficient,” Gabriel replied, nodding.
“Then I hope you’ll stay for dinner, Stuart. It’s the least we can do to thank you, after all.”
96. “I would be happy to,” said Stuart, not out of any real need to eat, but a desire to study the family
a little more.
97. Tristan guided Elle to a seat at the table, and the rest of the family gathered around, Mya already
chattering away about rescheduling the wedding. Instead of following, Stuart leaned against the
nearby divider and simply watched them. He regretted this decision immediately when Azula
lightly touched Elle’s shoulder on her way to help Gabriel with the chef salad, and the two women
exchanged affectionate smiles. They were close, that much was clear, possibly closest to each
other out of everyone they knew.
98. Suddenly, the pain came flooding back again. He had forgotten, in all the excitement. “I’ll
just…pop upstairs to the loo really quickly,” he muttered, in case anyone was paying attention,
and ran up the stairs as fast as he could go.
99. The layout of the house, which he had only had time to glance at during their stampede to the
kitchen, distracted him somewhat. There were hardly any partitions—a quick peek behind the two
interior doors he discovered proved that only the restrooms were cordoned off from the rest. In
the main living area, the Fitzhughs had crammed in as many necessary items as they could,
leaving just enough room to walk between the furniture. He frowned. Why had they built their
house on such a small footprint?
100. Turning toward the stairs, he caught sight of a nearby bookshelf. On a shelf near the top was a
volume marked “Regulation Handbook.” He neatly retrieved it and began to thumb through it.
101. Sims’ houses may not occupy any larger than an 8x8 area, nor may any items be placed outside
this 8x8 area.
The pieces began to fit together in his head. Elle’s comment about the zoning laws had to have
been referring to this regulation. Stuart flipped to another page. Several items on it had been
crossed out, and another glance around the room and into the nearby restroom proved that these
were restrictions the citizens of Sierra Plains no longer had to follow. “Curious,” he murmured,
continuing to read.
102. When he went back downstairs, Azula and Gabriel were handing out plates of salad. Azula
caught sight of him and hurried over. “Thank you again,” she said, offering him a heaping portion.
“I’m so glad you found her. We were really worried.”
103. “No trouble at all,” said Stuart, with a smile. “Ah, do you mind if I ask you what happened at the
wedding, though? I mean, I know you don’t know, but…what did it look like?”
104. She frowned. “Well, she just…disappeared.”
“How?”
“She…faded out, I guess? It wasn’t all at once, she just went sort of transparent and then she
was gone.”
“There was that glittery light, too,” Billy added, coming up to them with his mouth full and his fork
already scooping up the next bite.
Stuart turned to him abruptly, eyes narrowing. “Glittery light? What color?”
“Goldish,” said Billy. “Why?”
105. “That sounds like Huon energy,” Stuart said.
“So you might know what happened?” Azula asked eagerly.
He nodded. “This kind of thing is my…field of expertise, you might say. It might be how I found
her, but…if it’s Huon energy, that’s ancient. It hasn’t existed for a long, long time. That means…it
means…” His eyes fell on the gold band around Elle’s ring finger. “It means it can’t be hidden by
a bio-damper!” He dropped his plate on the chess table and ran for the balcony.
106. “What does that mean?” Billy and Azula asked, in near-unison, as they followed him.
Stuart pointed to the autons advancing on the house. “No time to explain. Ellie!” He raced back
inside the house. “Ellie, they’ve found you, you’ve got to get out.”
107. “What?” Elle bounded up from her chair, eliciting a displeased grunt from Tristan, who had had
his arm around her.
“No time! Do you have a car?”
“Yes, the truck’s downstairs.”
108. “Right. You lot.” Stuart gestured to the family. “They’re far enough away that you’ve got time. Run
downstairs, get in your truck, and drive as far away as you can.”
“Do what he says,” Elle added, when they hesitated. “Go! It’ll be okay!”
109. They ran. “Go with them,” said Stuart, when Elle did not follow.
“Forget it,” she said. “I’m staying with you. If they can track me, even with this on, then I’m putting
my family in danger. Besides…I feel safe with you. You’re the man who keeps saving my life,
after all. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
110. Stuart nodded, contriving to look stern but secretly feeling a thrill at her words. “Come on, then.
We’ve got to get back to the TARDIS. I have a theory I want to investigate.” He hurried up the
stairs, and she followed, mumbling curses at her heeled shoes.
***
111. After helping his mother into the passenger seat, Billy hopped into the bed of the truck and
offered Azula a hand up. She took it, glancing back as she hoisted herself up. Her eyes widened
in alarm. “Where’s Elle?”
Tristan turned toward the front door. His bride was nowhere in sight. He ground his teeth. “She
must still be in the house with that man. I’ll get her.”
“Hurry!” Billy yelled. “They’re nearly here!”
112. Looking quickly between the oncoming group of autons and the distraught siblings, Tristan made
a fast decision. “Just go,” he said. “You don’t have time to wait.”
“What?” Azula cried. “No, we can’t leave Elle here!”
“I’ll get her out!” Tristan shouted back. “Start driving, double back and pick us up when it’s safe.
Those things want her for something, so they’re not going to hurt her. You’re in more danger than
she is. She’d want you to be safe, you know she would.”
113. The blonde bit her lip. “You promise you’ll get her out?”
“I promise. Trust me, Azula.”
Billy pointed a finger toward Tristan. “If she gets hurt—"
“You’ll end me in a thousand terrifying ways, I know,” said Tristan, barely rolling his eyes. “Get
moving.”
114. The truck screeched as it barreled backward out of the driveway. Tristan immediately ran for the
stairs, not waiting to watch them go.
115. “Ellie!” The shout, accompanied by pounding footsteps on the stairs, cut through the chill winter
air. Stuart stifled a groan as Tristan’s head appeared through the opening to the roof. “Elle? What
are you doing?”
“I’m going with Stuart,” explained Elle.
116. “Why?” Tristan demanded, striding over to them. “He shows up, steals you away, ruins our
wedding and then brings those things here. Why are you going anywhere with him? Did he
threaten you?”
117. “No!” exclaimed Elle. “He would never threaten me, and he didn’t steal me away! There’s
something going on here, Tristan, something big, and Stuart thinks he knows what. I have to go
with him. I have to find out what really happened to me at the wedding. Please understand that.”
She left out the part about only feeling safe around Stuart; she doubted it would go down well
with her fiancée.
118. Tristan looked from her to Stuart, before gently caressing her cheek. As he did so, Stuart fought
an irrational urge to knock his hand away from her face, and looked away. “I think I do
understand,” said Tristan quietly, “but I can’t let you go alone. I’m coming too.”
119. Elle smiled. “I’d like that, and I’m sure Stuart won’t mind.”
“It doesn’t matter if he does. You’re my fiancée. I’m coming.”
Stuart’s eyes narrowed, but he had to concede the point. “Oh, very well. Do as I say, and don’t
touch anything.” He turned on his heel and stalked into the TARDIS.
120. “Why is he going into that old blue box?” Tristan asked.
“It’s more like a box of wonders,” replied Elle, with a smile. “Wait until you see inside it.”
121. Stuart was already tapping at something on the centre console when Elle and Tristan entered. He
heard Tristan’s step falter. “But, but…”
“Yes, it is bigger on the inside than the outside,” said Stuart flatly, as he moved to a different
station on the console.
122. “This can’t be terrestrial,” said Tristan, looking round in awe.
“It’s not.” Stuart spun a control.
“Then you are,” Tristan paused as he looked at Stuart, “alien?”
123. Stuart gave Tristan a pointed look. “With a razor sharp brain like that, it is easy to see what Ellie
sees in you.” He danced around to another panel.
“Stuart…”
124. Elle’s admonishment got lost as Tristan asked, “So where are we going?”
Stuart turned back to the console. “There is a military base a few miles away. We’re going to start
there.”
125. Tristan snorted and turned to look at all the knick-knacks scattered around. “What’s this?” he
asked picking up a brown leather sphere. “Some sort of alien egg?”
126. Stuart looked over and his entire demeanor changed. “I told you not to touch anything. Put it
down now.”
127. “Why? What is it?”
“It is a football. Put it down.”
“Doesn’t look like a football.”
128. “Mr. Smith, there are dozens of rule sets for football on every planet in the universe. On Pesch
there is a complicated rule in one set that states that a player can’t kick the ball unless at least
three of his feet, but not more than five, are in contact with the ground. You do not have a
monopoly on the game. Now I’m telling you again, put the football down.”
129. The redhead sneered as he did so. “Okay, okay. I get it. No touching your belongings.”
130. “That does not belong to me,” muttered Stuart, as he turned his attention to the console once
again.
“Is it your brother’s?” The quiet question made him look up. With his attention focused on Tristan
and the football, he had missed Elle walking up to the console. He nodded tersely. “What
happened to him? You said he’s not dead, but you’re acting like he is.”
131. Stuart paused, his hand hovering over a switch.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have to tell me…”
“Do you remember a little while back, the time of ghosts?” asked Stuart quietly.
Elle nodded. “Yes. They were everywhere. Dad was even called out of retirement to help try to
lay them to rest.”
132. “And have you heard of the multi-verse theory?” He twiddled a knob as he spoke.
“The theory that there are thousands of other mini-verses out there, some of which are similar to
our own, some of which completely different?”
133. Stuart nodded. “Yes. There was another mini-verse which had come too close to our own. It was
pressing against ours, blurring the line of reality between the two mini-verses. The beings we saw
weren’t ghosts. They were the inhabitants of that other mini-verse; we would have appeared
exactly the same to them.” He paused. “Two mini-verses trying to occupy the same space is a
Very Bad Thing. People disappearing, toddlers wanting twenty simultaneous lovers, Fireball
Visible from Space bad. Bertie and I had to stop it from happening.
134. “We tracked the weakest point between realities to Simbridge, and with the help of a journalism
student at the university, set about separating the two mini-verses. However, something went
wrong with one of the transducers. There was a feedback, or build up of energy of some sort and
it exploded, causing the veil between the two realities to rip. It was obvious that the only way to
close the rip and pull the two mini-verses apart, was to close the rip from the other mini-verse.
Bertie and I were arguing about how best to do that, and not get trapped there, when Sophia
snatched one of the working transducers from Bertie’s hand and ran through the rip. As soon as
he realized what she was planning to do, Bertie dove after her, but it was too late. She had
already started the sequence to close the rip as soon as she had gone through. It closed with
both of them on the other side.”
135. Elle’s breath caught in her throat. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly.
“Closing the rip worked and the two mini-verses moved apart,” continued Stuart, as if he hadn’t
heard her. “Like ripples on a pond, the effects spread out, from Simbridge, and by a strange quirk
of fate, one of the last places where the two mini-verses ceased to touch, was the Simlish
seaside town of Simmouth. There, beneath the pier, was the last time I saw my brother. He
seemed quite happy. The mini-verse they are in is apparently stuck in the Victorian era, and
Sophia is having a hard time adjusting to wearing a corset, but I’ll place bets on them marrying
within the year.” He tried to smile as he spoke, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” repeated Elle.
136. Stuart shook himself. “So, there I was, wallowing in my sadness at losing Bertie, and then you
appear, quite impossibly, in my TARDIS.” This time the smile was genuine.
137. Elle was about to return it, when Tristan put his arms around her. “As touching as all of this is,
aren’t we supposed to be heading somewhere?” he asked.
138. Stuart glanced at him. Lost in the past and his grief, he had forgotten all about Tristan’s
presence. “Of course. Hang on.” He punched a button and fought to hide a smirk as Tristan lost
his footing at the sudden movement, while Ellie retained her balance like a pro. He caught her
eye and winked and grinned at her. He was gratified when she returned his smile.
***
(The Runaway Bride will continue in Part 2!)