Ive got a 1970 standard vw bug thats been sitting for 5 years and ive been slowly working on it when i have time for the past 2 years, ive finally gotten around to fixing the brakes cause i found out they didnt work after the first test run. I was able to easly get the front 2 wheels bled and working but the back 2 dont drain. I assume there must be a clog of some sort. Any tips on how i could get the back wheels bled with minimal removal of parts / not replacing them?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated

So, I am looking at purchasing a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, 1 owner with 120,000 miles on it. The car looks to be in beautiful condition, but when I looked over the CarFax, I noticed something possibly a little strange? I will put the miles and what was serviced down below. I just don't want to waste my money on a car that may need a ton of work as soon as I purchase it. Thank you in advance for any advice you may have!!
112,953 - 8/23
Vehicle serviced
Drivability/performance checked
116,130 - 10/23
Vehicle Serviced
118,592 - 12/23
Vehicle Serviced
And then it looks like the vehicle was sold at 121,000, because all of the service down below was performed by the dealership that listed it for sale at the end of February.

• Vehicle serviced
  • Front brake pads replaced
  • Brake rotor(s) resurfaced
  • Front license plate bracket installed/replaced
  • Air filter replaced
  • Oil and filter changed
  • Tire(s) balanced
  • Tires rotated
  • Light bulb(s) replaced
  • Wiper(s) replaced
  • Glass checked
  • Windshield repaired
  • Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
  • Emissions or safety inspection performed

Hey guys. I can't seem to find anything on this. I got an M2 Air about a month ago and never had problems with it until moving and getting T-Mobile's 5G internet (It's literally the only thing out here that provided decent speed). I do have to give T-Mobile credit: their home internet is fantastic where we are now. We can see a tower and I am getting 300 down and 90 up on my S24 somehow.
That isn't the case with my shiny new expensive trial of what Apple has to offer. My speed tests on google and ookla average at like 5mbps down and I don't even know if it has ever given me an upload speed. I can't even watch a video in 480p. Reddit took forever to even load.
I haven't really messed with anything too much yet. I cycled both the MacBook and the router, deleted my history(idk how that would help), renewed the DHCP lease, and messed with the WPA options and nothing has seemed to help. If I run a speed test right after connecting to the network, I'll get about 100 down, but that only lasts for one test. And no, I've never had any problems with all of the other networks I've connected to. Even my hotspot gets me like 200 somehow lol.
Any ideas would be great. I'm suffering :)

BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK RACCOON ESCAPE MANUAL
KEVIN RYMAN (p.022) Age: 31 Height: 182cm Weight: 89kg Occupation: Police Officer As can be seen from the R.P.D. written on his uniform, Kevin's a cop in the Raccoon Police. An excellent marksman with top-class athletic ability among the police. He has many friends who are attracted to his personality since he's an optimist who doesn't adhere to the rules. He has twice taken the S.T.A.R.S. selection test but failed both times. If you compare his uniform to the other police officers you'll notice that it's different, could he belong to a special division?
BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK PERFECT CAPTURE GUIDE
Kevin Ryman PERSONAL DATA Age: 31 Height: 182cm Weight: 89kg Occupation: Police Officer Item: 45 Auto for Kevin A police officer who works for the Raccoon Police Department. He has excellent athletic ability and is a fantastic marksman (he has won shooting competitions in the past). He's an optimist at heart and doesn't get hung up on trivial things. However, perhaps due to his personality, he has failed the S.T.A.R.S. recruitment exam twice.
BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK
Kevin Ryman (p.018) A Raccoon Police Department officer. He has highly athletic abilities and shooting skills, but his optimistic personality has caused him to fail the selection exam for the special forces unit S.T.A.R.S. twice in a row.
BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK FILE 2 Survival Manual
KEVIN RYMAN (p.018) Age: 31 / Height: 182cm / Weight: 89kg As can be seen from the R.P.D. on his uniform, Kevin's a cop in the Raccoon Police Department. He's an optimist at heart, and many of his colleagues adore him because of his no-nonsense personality. Although athletic and an excellent marksman, he has failed the S.T.A.R.S. recruitment exam twice. His physical strength and foot speed are best among the eight characters.
BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK FILE 2 PERFECT CAPTURE GUIDE
Kevin Ryman PERSONAL DATA Age: 31 Height: 182cm Weight: 89kg Occupation: Police Officer Item: 45 Auto for Kevin A police officer with the Raccoon Police Department. He has excellent athletic ability and is an excellent marksman. He has twice failed the S.T.A.R.S. selection exam due to his optimistic nature.
BIOHAZARD OUTBREAK FILE 2 OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK
Kevin Ryman (p.024) Age: 31 / Height: 182cm / Weight: 89kg P.OFFICER A policeman in the Raccoon Police Department. An optimist at heart, he's a good-natured man who doesn't care for details. He likes to drink and smoke, has a habit of borrowing money, and is always late, so for those unfamiliar with his personality, he appears unsuitable for a job that requires discipline. He wants to join the special forces unit S.T.A.R.S. but has failed the selection exam twice. However, he's blessed with great physical abilities and is an excellent marksman, winning first prize in the department's shooting competition.
With These Guides we can safely assume that Kevin Ryman is the strongest of the 8 survivors and is an excellent marksman, who won shooting competitions.
"His physical strength and foot speed are best among the eight characters."
"An excellent marksman with top-class athletic ability among the police."
"He has excellent athletic ability and is a fantastic marksman (he has won shooting competitions in the past)."
"He has highly athletic abilities and shooting skills,..."
"Although athletic and an excellent marksman,..."
"he's blessed with great physical abilities and is an excellent marksman, winning first prize in the department's shooting competition."
Not only that, but its heavily implied that Kevin Ryman would have passed in the S.T.A.R.S selection exam if not for his personlity.
"He has many friends who are attracted to his personality since he's an optimist who doesn't adhere to the rules. He has twice taken the S.T.A.R.S. selection test but failed both times."
"He's an optimist at heart and doesn't get hung up on trivial things. However, perhaps due to his personality, he has failed the S.T.A.R.S. recruitment exam twice."
"his optimistic personality has caused him to fail the selection exam for the special forces unit S.T.A.R.S. twice in a row."
"He has twice failed the S.T.A.R.S. selection exam due to his optimistic nature."
This means Kevin should scale in skill to at least the general level of S.T.A.R.S members.
BIO HAZARD Director's Cut Official Perfect Guide inside of BIO-HAZARD
"FILE 1: S.T.A.R.S. INTERNAL DOCUMENTS (p.013) This file is a textbook prepared for the S.T.A.R.S. officers just before the Biohazard Case in Raccoon City. At a glance it looks like an ordinary manual but based on the fact it describes hostiles presumed to possess higher-than-human capabilities, it's considered indirect evidence of the encounters between the S.T.A.R.S. officers and Bio Organic Weapons having been set up. In addition, the preface by S.T.A.R.S. Captain Albert Wesker is introduced below.
...I was delivered this manual concerning various skills you should master as my S.T.A.R.S. officers. However, these are the bare minimum essentials and you should be informed of further skill acquisition to be performed through actual combat."
"As mentioned earlier, the missions of S.T.A.R.S. are special operations, but specifically, its four main duties are preserving public order, VIP escort, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue. In counter-terror ops in particular, their capabilities are estimated to be equal to the SAS (Special Air Service), known as the best in the world."
This means Kevin Ryman should have a high enough skill level to face hostiles possessing higher-than-human capabilities(and he did in the outbreak games), as its an basic skill for STARS members. And at least should have skill level similar to a SAS (Special Air Service) soldier, known as the best in the world. But Kevin can be scaled higher due to his feats in the outbreak games.

Hey guys. I can't seem to find anything on this. I got an M2 Air about a month ago and never had problems with it until moving and getting T-Mobile's 5G internet (It's literally the only thing out here that provided decent speed). I do have to give T-Mobile credit: their home internet is fantastic where we are now. We can see a tower and I am getting 300 down and 90 up on my S24 somehow.
That isn't the case with my shiny new expensive trial of what Apple has to offer. My speed tests on google and ookla average at like 5mbps down and I don't even know if it has ever given me an upload speed. I can't even watch a video in 480p. Reddit took forever to even load.
I haven't really messed with anything too much yet. I cycled both the MacBook and the router, deleted my history(idk how that would help), renewed the DHCP lease, and messed with the WPA options and nothing has seemed to help. If I run a speed test right after connecting to the network, I'll get about 100 down, but that only lasts for one test. And no, I've never had any problems with all of the other networks I've connected to. Even my hotspot gets me like 200 somehow lol.
Any ideas would be great. I'm suffering :)

I'm sorry if this has been asked previously, but I wasn't having much luck with the Search Bar on this one...
Just purchased a Medium Home freeze dryer from Tractor Supply on clearance. Went in to get a shop air compressor, and walked out with a freeze dryer - the price was too good to pass up.
After doing my bread run, and a first batch, I defrosted and then went into the test screen. I wanted to change the system time/date as it was off a bit more than an hour.... and was tapping around the time/date on the screen hoping I could change it there... I must have tapped the A/B setting and it ended up going back and forth and I can't recall "which" setting was the default on my machine. The A/B setting toggles the temperature display by a few degrees, so I suppose this is an atmospheric pressure compensation or maybe selects the type/model of thermocouple that is in the machine.
Machine has the latest firmware now, 5.1.25 (c).
TL;DR I can't tell what the default setting should be ... A or B. Any way I can figure this out? I might just let the machine rest powered off until the morning, then compare the temperatures to ambient and set it to "A" or "B" to get the most accurate temperature at that moment if there's no preferred setting. I think it was at "B" before I started tinkering with it.

S02 E04 · The Aftermath May 19, 2024 The new-look teams do battle over land, sea, and air in Hamilton, Ontario; fierce rivalries continue to ignite; another team gets dropped from the competition.

Hi,
I took the calipers off my 2016 Suzuki Swift Sport for a refurb and change of pads & discs. To do this, I crimped the brake lines which I don't like to do but it's all I could do in the time frame I was dealing with. I also, which I realise now was a mistake, is took the brake+clutch fluid reservoir cap off and left the brake pedal in it's resting position. I'm concerned the brake fluid level dropped down when disconnecting the calipers, but I can't be sure but I'm assuming it has because my clutch developed issues straight after this work. My understanding is the clutch line is quite high up in the master cylinder.
Once I finished the job, bleeding the brakes using a one way valve bottle, opening the nipple and a friend pumping on the brakes, tried the clutch pedal and it felt awful, couple weeks ago now this work was but I'd say it was lighter than usual, almost just springy but was moving up on it's own.
So we started the car, didn't sound particularly awful or anything other than some noise coming from the front brakes as the discs used don't have the retaining screw and rely on the wheels being on to button up, quickly killed the car because of the noise and daylight had ran out but attempted to bleed the clutch on axle stands. I can't remember what we did at present, but using the one way bleeder bottle and a series of different methods, before my friend had to leave for work in the morning.
At that moment, 2 weeks ago now, the clutch pedal was making a squeaking sound when being depressed in the middle of the throw from the engine bay area which after many fruitless bleed attempts has since mostly subsided and replaced with a slight knocking sound heard from the interior when pressing the clutch with the car switched off. Sounds like something engaging and disengaging.
The same squeaking can be heard if I pump the clutch with the clutch bleed nipple off.
Since then, I upgraded my arsenal to include a Sealey pressure bleeder. I've bled my front calipers I've changed a couple of times by using the pressure bleeder, not touching the brake pedal or anything, just cracking the nipple and letting the fluid run into a water bottle with some 5mm hose stretched over the nipple with a bit of fresh Dot4 at the bottom and the hose submerged. I've not touched my rear brakes, in general, and not bled them as the wheels will be seized on I haven't bothered because of that.
Amongst all this, what has since happened - the main issue as despite the above, my brakes work amazingly now, my clutch pedal is now vibrating. It can be felt in neutral, stroking the clutch up and down at higher revs, like when the car is starting or just revving the engine above 1000 rpm, when changing gear, and moving off. It's really sucked the joy out of this situation and I just want to get it resolved. This vibration didn't occur before the brake job at any point.
I've tried the one way bottle, a regular bottle and hose, having a friend hold down the clutch and cracking the bleed screw open and then close, pressure bleeder, without the pressure bleeder and for the life of me this vibration will not go away. Sometimes it does intermittently disappear for a few minutes and comes back.
Have I damaged my clutch now, starting the car with questionable clutch, despite the driveability being exactly the same in terms of bite point and every gear being fine?
Do I do what another friend suggests, using 20psi in the pressure bleeder, hold the clutch pedal down and ditch the bottle method and let the fluid spurt out as I loosen and tighten the clutch bleeder onto an old towel above the gearbox?
Did I get air into my ABS unit? Is it possible to bleed that system without a full diagnostic tool?
Do I just cut my losses and take it to a garage/shop?
I don't know, I'm just rambling and I know this was a long post but I'm at my witts end with this :(
Cheers

How do you guys feel about this invoice? Upper control arms, DSG Service, Brake Flush, Oil Change, Steering Knuckle Bolts, and Alignment.

Hi,
I took the calipers off my 2016 Suzuki Swift Sport for a refurb and change of pads & discs. To do this, I crimped the brake lines which I don't like to do but it's all I could do in the time frame I was dealing with. I also, which I realise now was a mistake, is took the brake+clutch fluid reservoir cap off and left the brake pedal in it's resting position. I'm concerned the brake fluid level dropped down when disconnecting the calipers, but I can't be sure but I'm assuming it has because my clutch developed issues straight after this work. My understanding is the clutch line is quite high up in the master cylinder.
Once I finished the job, bleeding the brakes using a one way valve bottle, opening the nipple and a friend pumping on the brakes, tried the clutch pedal and it felt awful, couple weeks ago now this work was but I'd say it was lighter than usual, almost just springy but was moving up on it's own.
So we started the car, didn't sound particularly awful or anything other than some noise coming from the front brakes as the discs used don't have the retaining screw and rely on the wheels being on to button up, quickly killed the car because of the noise and daylight had ran out but attempted to bleed the clutch on axle stands. I can't remember what we did at present, but using the one way bleeder bottle and a series of different methods, before my friend had to leave for work in the morning.
At that moment, 2 weeks ago now, the clutch pedal was making a squeaking sound when being depressed in the middle of the throw from the engine bay area which after many fruitless bleed attempts has since mostly subsided and replaced with a slight knocking sound heard from the interior when pressing the clutch with the car switched off. Sounds like something engaging and disengaging.
The same squeaking can be heard if I pump the clutch with the clutch bleed nipple off.
Since then, I upgraded my arsenal to include a Sealey pressure bleeder. I've bled my front calipers I've changed a couple of times by using the pressure bleeder, not touching the brake pedal or anything, just cracking the nipple and letting the fluid run into a water bottle with some 5mm hose stretched over the nipple with a bit of fresh Dot4 at the bottom and the hose submerged. I've not touched my rear brakes, in general, and not bled them as the wheels will be seized on I haven't bothered because of that.
Amongst all this, what has since happened - the main issue as despite the above, my brakes work amazingly now, my clutch pedal is now vibrating. It can be felt in neutral, stroking the clutch up and down at higher revs, like when the car is starting or just revving the engine above 1000 rpm, when changing gear, and moving off. It's really sucked the joy out of this situation and I just want to get it resolved. This vibration didn't occur before the brake job at any point.
I've tried the one way bottle, a regular bottle and hose, having a friend hold down the clutch and cracking the bleed screw open and then close, pressure bleeder, without the pressure bleeder and for the life of me this vibration will not go away. Sometimes it does intermittently disappear for a few minutes and comes back.
Have I damaged my clutch now, starting the car with questionable clutch, despite the driveability being exactly the same in terms of bite point and every gear being fine?
Do I do what another friend suggests, using 20psi in the pressure bleeder, hold the clutch pedal down and ditch the bottle method and let the fluid spurt out as I loosen and tighten the clutch bleeder onto an old towel above the gearbox?
Did I get air into my ABS unit? Is it possible to bleed that system without a full diagnostic tool?
Do I just cut my losses and take it to a garage/shop?
I don't know, I'm just rambling and I know this was a long post but I'm at my witts end with this :(
Cheers

I need help letting this go because things seemed like they were off to a great start with him and I have a hard time finding good dates in my city. Long story short - I (25F) was on a 3rd date with a guy (28M) and I was drunk and we kissed for the first time that night and I invited him up to my place because I wanted to kiss him more. I wasn't thinking about sex cuz I was dumb and drunk (I even had to throw up after we got to my place), so I had to stop us in the middle of doing stuff to say no to sex and I explained to him my boundaries (I wait till I'm in a relationship to have sex and I'd need him to get an STD test for oral sex).
After this, we talked about other normal stuff in between. We also tried making out here and there in between and at some point, he made what sounded like a passive aggressive comment about blue balls. He said earlier that this wasn't casual for him but this bothered me, so I made a couple comments about his intentions with me that came off quite rude. I tried saving the situation before he left by asking him to sit down to talk (he was all like "What do you need from me?" but sat back down). I tried explaining myself and my boundaries (I told him I haven't had the best dating experiences in the past but didn't go in more detail). He said that this wasn't a productive conversation and left. I could tell how annoyed he was by his face when he headed out.
The next day, I sent him a lighthearted message that I was feeling better about things and still had fun before the night ended weirdly, and he sent a text back right after and shut things down with me. I still feel like we would have been talking if I hadn't invited him up to my place. I know I should have been better about communicating my boundaries more in advance (and I will from now on!) but I don't like that he made me feel so awful over this. I understand sexual frustration but it was our first time doing stuff and I still tried fixing things. All we would have needed was a simple convo about it to clear the air but I guess he didn't want to. Like was he really THAT upset that he couldn't get any from a drunk person??

The B10 A5 2.0T engine will get up power bump to 275-280 hp 0-60 sec standard time in 5.0 secs with launch control possible 4.8 secs. The 40 TSFI get boost to 230 hp with 0-60 time in 5.9-6.0 secs but better gas mileage
A 48 volt mild hybrid system is standard on 2025 A5 it improve start-stop system, gas efficiency by 15%.
Interior will be Q6 inspire but base model will come with 11.9 inch display and higher trim 13.8-14 inch display slightly different step up.
Safety Enhancements: More advanced LIDAR and radar systems for better object detection, collision avoidance, and pedestrian detection.
Standard 5G connectivity, improved smartphone integration, and more seamless over-the-air updates. Next Gen Apple CarPlay 2 and Android Auto
Continuation of advanced 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, potentially with refinements for smoother operation and better efficiency.
Improved 360-degree camera system with higher resolution and better integration with parking assistance and collision avoidance systems.
Matrix LED Headlights: Enhanced matrix LED headlights with adaptive lighting for optimal illumination without blinding oncoming traffic. LED headlights are standard on base model but not Matrix LED headlights.
OLED Taillights: OLED taillights with advanced animations for signaling and a more distinctive appearance similar to Q6.
Customizable Ambient Lighting Extensive ambient lighting options inside the cabin, with customizable colors and intensities to suit the mood and driving conditions. Possible 64 different colors with more lighting than B9.
The B10 Audi A5 could introduce Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, allowing for hands-free driving under certain conditions, such as highway driving. This system would include advanced sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and make real-time driving decisions.
Traffic Jam Assist 2.0:
Building upon existing traffic jam assist technology, the B10 A5 could feature an enhanced version that provides more comprehensive autonomous driving in congested traffic situations.
It would allow the vehicle to accelerate, brake, and steer autonomously in traffic jams, reducing driver stress and fatigue.
New sensor systems and algorithms could enable the A5 to detect and mitigate potential collisions at intersections.
The B10 Audi A5 might introduce emergency maneuver assist technology, which assists the driver in evasive maneuvers to avoid collisions.
The B10 A5 could feature an optional virtual reality cockpit, providing an immersive driving experience with customizable digital displays and augmented reality overlays.
This technology would enhance driver engagement and situational awareness, presenting vital information in a more intuitive and immersive manner.
An advanced AR HUD could project critical information directly onto the windshield, overlaying navigation directions, speed limits, and hazard warnings onto the driver’s field of view.
The B10 Audi A5 might offer an upgraded connectivity suite with seamless integration of smart devices and cloud-based services.
Features could include advanced voice recognition, natural language processing, and predictive AI assistants to streamline communication and entertainment functions.
Digital Key 2.0

My name is Li Wei, and in my world, martial arts are everything. From the moment we are born, we are immersed in a culture that reveres strength, skill, and the pursuit of perfection through martial cultivation. Schools and sects dot the landscape, each dedicated to different forms and philosophies of combat. Our society is governed by these schools, with the strongest martial artists holding positions of power and influence.
For most of my life, I was ordinary. Born to a humble family with no notable lineage, I trained diligently but struggled to make progress in the traditional martial arts. My peers surpassed me, and I watched as they were recruited by prestigious sects while I remained in the shadows. I often wondered if there was a place for someone like me in a world where strength dictated one's worth.
Everything changed on my sixteenth birthday. It was during the Festival of Awakening, a grand event where young martial artists tested their affinities and received guidance from the elders. The town square was bustling with excitement as we gathered to discover our potential. I was nervous, fully expecting to be told that I had no significant affinity and to continue my life of mediocrity.
When my turn came, I stepped forward and placed my hand on the crystal orb that measured our affinities. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the orb began to glow with a faint, shimmering light, unlike anything the elders had ever seen. The light grew brighter, pulsing with a strange energy that seemed to warp the space around it. Gasps filled the air, and the elders exchanged bewildered looks.
"You have the affinity with Space Martial Arts," the head elder announced, his voice filled with awe and confusion. "This is unprecedented. We have never encountered such an affinity before."
I was stunned. Space Martial Arts? What did that even mean? The elders had no answers for me. They were as perplexed as I was. However, they knew one thing: my path would be different from anyone else's. They urged me to seek out the legendary Sage of the Void, a reclusive master rumored to possess knowledge of the most esoteric martial arts.
With little more than a name and a direction, I set out on a journey to find the Sage of the Void. My travels took me through rugged mountains, dense forests, and vast deserts. Along the way, I encountered other martial artists, some of whom were curious about my affinity, while others viewed me with suspicion or hostility. I had to defend myself more than once, using my nascent abilities to manipulate space, bending the distance between myself and my opponents.
Weeks turned into months, and just as I began to lose hope, I found him. The Sage of the Void lived in a secluded valley, surrounded by ancient stones etched with mysterious symbols. He was an old man, with a long white beard and eyes that seemed to see through the fabric of reality itself. He welcomed me with a knowing smile, as if he had been expecting me.
"Welcome, Li Wei," he said, his voice resonating with a deep, calming presence. "You have much to learn, and the path ahead will be arduous. But if you are willing, I will teach you the Art of Space."
Under the sage's tutelage, I delved into the mysteries of space. I learned to manipulate the very fabric of reality, creating portals, bending distances, and even distorting time to some extent. My training was grueling, pushing my mind and body to their limits. The sage was a harsh but fair master, demanding perfection and relentless in his pursuit of my potential.
Months turned into years, and my skills grew. I mastered the basics and began to understand the deeper principles of Space Martial Arts. I could teleport short distances, create pockets of distorted space to trap my enemies, and even phase through solid objects. My understanding of space allowed me to predict and counter my opponents' moves, making me a formidable fighter.
As my training neared its completion, the sage revealed the true purpose of my affinity. "The world is on the brink of a great upheaval," he told me one evening, as we sat by a crackling fire. "There are forces that seek to disrupt the balance of our realm, to tear the very fabric of reality apart. You, Li Wei, are the key to preventing this catastrophe. Your mastery of space will allow you to combat these threats and restore harmony."
With a newfound sense of purpose, I returned to the world, ready to face the challenges ahead. News of my abilities had spread, and many were eager to test their strength against mine. I joined a prestigious sect, the Azure Dragon School, where I quickly rose through the ranks, earning the respect and admiration of my peers.
However, not everyone welcomed my rise. Rival sects and power-hungry individuals saw me as a threat. They conspired against me, challenging me to duels and sending assassins in the dead of night. Each encounter pushed me to refine my skills further, to unlock new depths of my potential.
The real test came when an ancient evil, long thought to be sealed away, began to stir. The barriers between dimensions weakened, and malevolent spirits and creatures poured into our world. Chaos reigned as sects united to fight the encroaching darkness. I stood at the forefront of this battle, using my mastery of space to turn the tide.
In the final confrontation, I faced the Dark Overlord, a being of immense power and malice. Our battle raged across dimensions, tearing through the fabric of reality itself. The Overlord was formidable, but I had something he did not: the wisdom and training of the Sage of the Void. I used every technique, every ounce of my strength, to combat him.
In the climactic moment, I drew upon the deepest reserves of my power, creating a spatial anomaly that trapped the Overlord in a timeless void. With a final, desperate effort, I sealed the rift, restoring balance to our world.
Exhausted but victorious, I returned to my sect. The world hailed me as a hero, the savior who had prevented the collapse of reality. Yet, I knew my journey was far from over. The Art of Space was still a mystery, with countless secrets yet to be uncovered. I continued my training, driven by the knowledge that as long as I drew breath, I would protect my world from any threat.
In a realm where martial arts are everything, I, Li Wei, stand as the master of the most enigmatic and powerful art of all: the Art of Space. My journey is eternal, my purpose clear, and my resolve unbreakable. The legacy of the Sage of the Void lives on in me, and I will ensure that balance is maintained, no matter the cost.

It's raining outside. Getting my airguns together for an iguana hunt in the morning. #1 my daily Air venturi avenger .22 tuned to 42 ft lbs. Running 25 grain hades monsters at 865 fps. Gamo evo 10x .22 for the stragglers that survive my first fill of the day. Running JTS 18 grains at 650 fps for 16ish ft lbs. Budget iguana slaying loadout. I got lucky testing these 18 grain jts in the Gamo. That thing would only shoot gamo red fire, didn't like any jsb or fx pellets, it hated HN pellets, it was nightmare. Typical gamo bullshit. But those JTS 18s ran excellent and made the most power in it. The avenger ran flawlessly with every single projectile I've ever tried in it.

For context I have cyma sr25 Epes nozzle Stock piston head and piston Stock cylinder and cylinder head (not ported) Perun hybrid Warhead 35k. Guarder sp120 Zci CNC chamber (didn't like the stock design and you don't need Maxx) Maple leaf Mr bucking hopping .45 Lambda 363 m4 length barrel (I ideally wanted 400 but I lack the tools to cut a barrel although I could try a stepper bit since the 450 mm was too long).
The cylinder to barrel should be good for heavy ammo. I'm just curious if a dmr can shoot 300 ft effectively. Of course it only needs their a man sized target.at that distance and I have a vortex crossfire II rimfire scope. Because I don't need a shitload of zoom. I haven't been able to get out to the field to test it yet since It's flooded. Happens this time of year then we have to rebuild the tree forts the unfloods in the summer. Snowmelt is a bitch.
I know your vsr 10 and l96 can shoot 400 ft or even 500 but realistically 400 ft. Even your m40a3 sport line is capable of you know what modifications you need to do to fit a vsr chamber so you can r hop/Mr hop it and yes it uses a VSR10 cylinder. That's an issue with the amoeba and Lee Enfield.
I don't doubt HPA can do it you want ultra heavy ammo in your hpa to save air assuming you can get the pressure low enough to keep it at your field limits. I just don't have $1500 to buy a hpa rig and a g&g albeit any sr25 will work. But I want my externals a kac trades. The whole reason I didn't get that was because proprietary chamber and mag and a regular version 2 gearbox. But what about a sr25 AEG to shoot that far.

Previous chapter
“I hate it.”
Mareus slapped his mouth and bit down on his lips in a futile attempt to capture his half-asleep words. His body tensed while listening for any signs of the stranger, bracing himself for some monster of a person to come rushing from the dark to finish him off.
Though, it didn’t matter in the end if they were paying attention to him or not. They clearly already knew where he was and, for some reason, chose to leave him alone after pulling him from the rubble and treating his injuries.
He clutched at his stomach, his hunger pangs goading him to push aside the anxiety and crawl his way towards the bowl still waiting patiently for him. There were no signs of it being changed or infested by any of the creatures hiding away, in fact, a gentle warmth still radiated from it. A pleasant aroma floated through the still air as if it had a will of its own, enticing him like some carnivorous flower lying in wait.
Mareus ignored his pain and fatigue as he absentmindedly made his way closer to the beckoning meal. What was he so worried about? If the stranger hadn’t done anything yet, then they probably weren’t going to from the start. It wasn’t like he was in any state to resist them anyway.
That’s right. He justified. It’s just sitting there, waiting for me.
The bowl was only a breath away now. Mareus stretched against his bandages enough for the wrappings around his fingers to brush the rim before the markings let out a faint light and constricted his body. He was almost there and wouldn’t give up, one more time he resisted their binding and was able to hook his finger on the inside of the rim.
Putting all the strength he had into the one finger he fought against the rough, uneven ground to reel in his catch. A faint glow lit up the black stone and his heart stopped before his restraints forced his arm back. Spilling his only food in a mocking halo as the bowl rolled on its side.
That was it, his only food mixed in with the wet dirt of the cave floor. He almost dove at it before realizing the intense hunger and drive he had was now fading away. His hunger was still there to some degree, but now it was more like an emptiness scratching at the back of his stomach. The overwhelming desire to eat was almost entirely gone.
A faint breeze brought his attention back to the bowl and he watched as markings like the ones on his bandages let out one last dim breath of light. When they went dark his hunger returned to the back of his mind.
After crawling back into his hole, the cave was filled with the sounds of hundreds of insects rushing over and feasting on the spilled meal. The echoes of chitin tapping on stone and trudging through the mush assaulting his ears. Covering his ears only replaced their frenzy with the sound of his blood flowing through his ears.
Mareus alternated between listening to the rhythmic thumps lulling him to sleep and the chittering that convinced him, more than once, that the insects had crawled in his ears. The minutes drawing into hours, maybe even days, as reason began slipping away.
A gentle clack of wood being placed on stone silenced the world.
He carefully rolled over and saw another bowl, the insects were gone, the mess was cleaned. It was like everything that happened was a dream, only this time he didn’t have this unnatural drive compelling him to reach the bowl.
Whatever the markings were meant to do, this one didn’t seem to have them. He watched as the cave life made their way back to his food. They didn’t attack it right away this time, instead they circled their prey waiting for the right time. Mareus closed his eyes and focused on listening for their movements when he heard a damp thud that must have been one of them falling in the food.
That sound must have been the signal the rest were waiting for because they converged on the meal and devoured with a gluttony he didn’t know they were capable of. Despite the gut churning sounds, he focused on every bit as he counted his heart beat.
Two thousand four hundred and twenty…seven.
The cave had finally settled down again as the insects returned to their hiding places. Mareus kept counting though, he had to stay focused so he could figure out how to tell when the stranger was coming. He had no idea how often they came by but he needed to learn anything he could if he wanted to make it back home.
Twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Muffled steps approached the bowl and wordlessly replaced it with another, the gentle clank dancing around the cave walls. Words wanted to leave his mouth, to ask the stranger questions, to make demands. But, what would he say, what could he say?
Mareus’ chest tightened as he tried to find the words, his mind struggling with the growing distraction of the empty feeling in his stomach. They were gone as silently as they arrived.
He started counting again. Using the hunger pangs to fight his body’s cries for sleep he waited out another four or five changes of the bowl. He couldn’t remember exactly anymore as his guard lightened and the exhaustion wrapped around him like a warm blanket. Against his best effort sleep finally took him.
The elders were watching over the younger generations going about their routines. The whole village was in the middle of doing their morning exercises with the sunrise, the bigger clans and families had their yards filled with people flowing from stance to stance, while the smaller families gathered in front of the Elder’s Hall or practiced in their gardens.
Before he knew it, Mareus was running errands and was racing pass villagers tending to fields of medicinal herbs and vegetables while guards kept their eyes on the edge of the forest for any signs of wild beasts.
Then one day a doctor from some big sect visited them and told him that he had the cure to his diverted meridians. The village elders held a big celebration in front of their hall and they had a special ceremony where Granny Hua accepted him as a disciple. When he looked out to the crowd, the sun shone on hundreds of smiling faces.
Tears ran down his face as he smiled and waved at everyone. The salty taste made the world shimmer like a painting being washed away.
Please don’t go. He thought.
The infection of reality found its way into his heart and the dream continued to shimmer before warping and twisting the scene from before.
Mountains of rubble replaced the beautiful homes that stood for generations. One after another the people fell while letting out muted screams. Smoke began to fill the air like some ghostly fog and ash painted the now faceless bodies strewn everywhere. Bodiless cries fought with one another to be helped.
Mareus fell to his knees at the center of the destruction while pleading. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t take them from me again.”
The one eyed man towered over him, tall enough for his hair to brush the clouds. The evil in his clenched grin poured out like a thick miasma that choked him as he watched Sister Mai rushing over.
He tried to scream at her to stay away but his voice was now completely cut off. Mareus now stood over himself watching the helpless child he truly was, he followed his own pleading gaze and turned to watch a young woman he recognized but couldn’t place at the moment.
She picked up a piece of a wooden beam and charged at him, her tears turning to blood as she let out a voiceless scream.
Mareus quickly searched the sky for his enemy, Where are they? Why is it so quiet?
When he looked back down his arm was through the back of the woman and he finally recognized the angry face staring daggers at him as the light left her eyes.
He watched as the giant man turned back to him and let Mai’s lifeless body fall to the ground. The crimson drenching the monster’s hand leaking and painting his own with the blood of the woman he called his big sister.
The one eyed man shot into the air and the force of the impact shook him awake.
It was easier to fight his exhaustion this time as he waited for the stranger to replace the bowl. When they replaced it this time, they lingered as if they wanted to say something. This time the anger and pain he felt didn’t let him hesitate.
“Wh-“ His dry unused voice turned into a breath. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Why…”
The effort of forcing that whisper was already difficult, he wanted to say so much more. He couldn’t tell if they were still waiting in the dark, or if they were even willing to listen. His voice was clawing to get out, he was tired of waiting.
His skin buzzed as he waited and moistened his throat. The question was out there now, at least the most important part. ‘Why?’ There was so much more racing through his mind that he could add while the presence remained silent.
Why me? What made you save me? Why didn’t you leave me with them? Why do I have to be alone?
An unseen pressure grew in the dark as his question went unanswered. It was like the chill he would get coming back late at night and he felt like something was watching him from the forest, waiting to pounce. It kept growing sharper until a sudden cool warmth touched the nape of his neck and gingerly ran down the length of his back.
A cold, yet familiar feeling voice finally broke the silence. “It would be a waste. Letting such a potential vanish from this world.”
The stranger brushed the matted hair from his neck. Their simple and straightforward gesture giving off the feeling of a beast playing with its catch knowing it could kill it at anytime.
“I feel for your loss, truly. My heart aches for the ill fate that placed those ‘experts’ in your home. I couldn’t allow your path to end because of a game between mere children.” Their voice danced between compassionate and venomous.
The gentle pressure of them rubbing his back relaxed him and Mareus became even more aware of how tired and sore his body was. Although, as they continued it felt like everything faded away. Not so much as if he was being relieved of everything, it was more like everything was being taken away and swallowed by a void that wouldn’t make him take it back.
Mareus sat up slowly and with a hoarse voice he asked. “What makes me so special?” He inhaled, “Why didn’t you stop them?!” His scream tore into his lungs and filled his throat with the taste of iron.
Water filled his eyes as he faced the disembodied presence.
The stranger gently embraced him, their cool robes enveloping him. “Poor child.”
“You could have saved all of th-em.” His trembling voice couldn’t hide the pain any longer. Still, Mareus stared through blurry eyes and did his best to look them in the face.
A thin hand brushed away his tears. “My sweet boy, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there sooner. Their battle had already moved south, and what they left behind…” They trailed off.
While wrapped in their arms he listened to the grief in their voice. Unsure of what to think anymore. Why did they wait so long? Why did they leave me here in the dark? Were they hurt too? Mareus found himself wondering if he was being selfish.
“Before I could chase after them, I sensed the faint trace of your life clinging on to any shred of hope. After digging you out and applying some emergency medicine I lost track of their energies. Instead of searching for them I made the decision to at least make sure you survived.”
Mareus realized that there was something ethereal in the way they talked. Their tone wasn’t distant, but at the same time it felt like they were a world away from him. The image of a mother apologizing for something she wasn’t responsible for popped in his mind.
His body began to feel lighter than it had been since he woke up in the cave. “Thank you.” He relented.
He gingerly wiped away his tears as if testing if his body would suddenly start listening to him. When he opened them again, the dark world that surrounded him expanded and he could now see all the way to the other wall of the cave.
Am I really not in the afterlife? He thought.
The formless shadow of his savior was replaced with a celestial fairy that stepped out from one of Elder Guo’s stories and descended into this pit to comfort him. She wore a snow white hanfu with a wide sash that hugged tightly against her. The sleeves and hem were far longer than normal like if the seamstress forgot to remove the excess material.
Her otherworldly appearance stood out against the darkness with her iridescent skin illuminating the cave. Her shadow like hair, even darker than the surroundings blackness. She looked like a master craftsman had picked the most exquisite material to craft a lifelike doll that would shatter if you looked at it the wrong way. Only to the fill that doll with the essence of deepest parts of the night sky.
Mareus completely forgot his fatigue as he collapsed into a bow and laid his head to the floor. In an attempt to imitate the older members of his village when speaking to the elders, he said. “I apologize for being so disrespectful. I humbly want to thank the generous immortal for saving this life.”
His body trembled from the effort of supporting his weight, but he continued to wait as sweat formed on the back of his neck and ran down his face. Unsure of what this heaven-like being would do to him if he had disrespected her further.
Next chapter

2023 Street Glide St Wood 22xe Tab head pipes (catless) Tab 4.5 mufflers with zombie baffles ThunderMax tuner
Bike started and ran after install perfectly fine. Died on me going down the interstate. Couldn’t get it restarted.
Had it towed. Replaced air intake manifold with S&S.
Changed plugs as they were slightly fouled from running rich.
Reinstalled ThunderMax and redid the map. Current map is HXSSUDBAAN010423.
Bike refuses to start. Cranks just fine for about 3-5 seconds then acts like I just turned the ignition on. Smell of fuel coming out of the exhaust. Bike has spark.
Tried changing fuel pulse to 200 and cranking fuel to 9.9.
Reinstalled stock ECM and still no start.
Did a compression test and came out with about 180 in the front cylinder and 205 in the rear. Pulled the rocker box and head cover. Exhaust valves super carbon covered, intake valves clean. Lot of carbon on the piston.
Taking the valves to Harley tomorrow to see if they can test them to see if they are bent or anything.
I’m at my wits end with this thing. Any ideas?

My name is Dr. Smith, not my real name of course, but for purposes of storytelling it will have to suffice. I have been practicing medicine at an Asian country as a general practitioner. I'm relatively new and I practice at a small village, not too far from civilization, half a day's travel by car and a few hours by boat from the country's capital, but very rural nonetheless, complete with superstitious beliefs and customs. I decided to stay here when I first graduated and passed the licensure exam for two reasons: first, I have a place to stay here, my family's ancestral home (although none of my direct relatives have lived there for years), said ancestors being one of the first people to settle in the area and second, because my family had always been the physicians in this small community as far as anyone remembers. Me, my grandfather and his father before him all went to the city to study medicine and went back here to practice it, like there was a pull, a calling, to sacrifice the convenient, fast-paced city life for the quiet and serene. My mother hated the idea, as clingy as she is to me, saying things like she wanted me to always be around where she could protect me, but you can't really help it when purpose calls. To be honest, it feels good providing a wide range of services to the honest people of our small, humble town, no greater feeling than helping the less privelaged, educating them and dispelling preconceived notions and old wives tales which are aplenty in my country, especially here.
I still recall how everything began. I made a makeshift clinic at one of the rooms of my ancestral home, it used to be my grandfather's office, but it felt old, antique, and perhaps too... professional, nothing wrong with that, but I wanted my patients to feel a more homely setting. So, I rearranged a bit, removed the imposing self portrait of my great-grandfather wearing his white coat that hang on the wall and transferred it to a more private area of the house. I changed the dim, barely functioning lights into brighter, more modern ones, removed the exceedingly extravagant chandelier and equipped the room with materials and equipment that I deemed necessary for my practice. I retained the wooden floors, but outfitted the walls with charts and more colorful decorations, in anticipation for the occasional pediatric patient. It was beginning to look less like an old abandoned house where teenagers went for the spooks and more like a place of healing and betterment, a clean place offering a clean mind...or so I hope.
"Your grandfather would have a heart attack if he wasn't dead already, seeing what you've done with his old clinic" quipped Martha, our housekeeper. All I know about Martha is that my grandfather hired her as a young teen and she has been here since then, she babysat and raised my mother as her own, and even took care of me as a toddler. Considering her age, she mostly supervises the younger and more capable help rather than doing tasks herself. None of them stay at the house, but they get called upon when me or any of my relatives were expected. Most of the family consider her as one of our own at this point.
"Well i'm sure great grandpa on the other hand enjoys the change of view" I replied jokingly. "Besides, I bet the patients would appreciate not being treated in such a dark, gloomy room."
"You know how your grandfather was..." she replies, that the idea of a dark, gloomy, old man liking dark, gloomy, old places was a no brainer. "...but everything aside, it is so nice to see you again, have you been feeling better? What did your mother think of you staying here?" she said with what I felt as outmost sincerity, "I used to chase and carry you around this estate and now look at you, about to carry out your family's legacy as a physician yourself" she continued, with a hint of pride from her tone.
I smiled. I myself couldn't think of a reason why a well respected man, revered even, by this town and it's people for everything he has done would act nonchalant and depressed, always with a jaded look in his eyes and stay in an equally dim and depressing part of his house, I've always known him to be like that, but was he always?
"I am better now. It's good to see you too, I'm glad you're staying healthy, and mom sure did not like it but well...she told me to say hi on her behalf" I told Martha. She beams up and smiles on my mother's mention.
"Well...I took the liberty of digging up your grandfather's documents, records and his patient charts, I doubt many of them still live but I thought maybe you'd like to have a look, I placed them around your desk but I can relocate them if you want me to"
"No, that's perfect. That's something I actually intended to do, i'll give it a read, thank you" I replied. I know some of those patients were either old or probably dead to be honest, but seeing data as well as the cases my grandfather had to deal with might help me in the future.
"The villagers already know Dr. Smith's grandson is here, they know you're a doctor, so expect to have a patient one of these days, perhaps as soon as you give the word that your clinic is open" Martha said, as she walks out of the room smiling and slightly waving, signalling a goodbye.
"I'm not even surprised" I think to myself. Places like these, words spreads like wildfire on topics like these, the idea of someone from a known family, coming back from the city, not to mention deciding to stay indefinitely, like the whole village needed notification, like the village demands explanation.
Hours passed and as I was satisfied with my new setup for the clinic, I took a break, sitting down and looking at the mountain of paperwork and folders placed on and around my desk. I picked one, thinking to myself that I might as well have a look now, with nothing else of note to do.
Patient #010438 Name redacted 43/Female
History of present illness: Patient had 3 day history of undocumented fever, dysuria, and bilateral flank pain Did not seek consult, no medications taken
Past Medical History Unremarkable
Personal and Social History Unremarkable
OB history illegible
Physical Examination BP 110/80 HR 102 RR 20
Nonhyperemic tonsils No murmurs Clear breath sounds Nontender abdomen (+) Kidney punch test
Noted a signature of the patient claiming she was not pregnant as a form of waiver
"Jesus grandpa, couldn't your history and physical exam get any lazier?" I thought to myself. Seeing pertinent history not asked and multiple organ systems ignored on physical examination. Given, some of the writing were already faded, the quality of the paper had deteriorated greatly, and plenty of details already illegible, all in all the documents weren't that bad. It sure doesn't help though that he writes like someone in the middle of a warzone practicing heiroglyphs.
I skimmed through more of the documents and patient files, most of the cases are relatively benign, majority are outpatient visits, some are emergency cases and there are the rare ones requiring transfer to a more developed town hours from here with better services and equipment. Time passed and as I lay down the last folder in a pile, I noticed a moderately sized box, probably the size of a briefcase, placed on the floor, dusty but obviously ornate. It piqued my interest although in my mind, I was pretty sure it was nothing but more documents, I decided to give it a look.
I picked a stack up and I started to read:
Patient #00512c Name redacted 32/Female
"Weird" I thought, it was numbered differently, and definitely none of the other documents were lettered. I continued reading:
History of present illness: This is a case of a 32 year old female who came in on date redacted due to a chief complaint of multiple hematomas, abrasions, burn wounds and lacerations on her face, trunk and extremeties..."
"Trauma? An accident? Possible abuse?" I contemplated.
"...patient allegedly noticed easy bruisability 2 weeks prior to consult, followed by alleged spontaneous appearance of abrasions and lacerations 2-3 days from onset of bruising, supposedly waking the patient at night due to the sudden sharp and searing pain, initially small cuts 3-5cm widest on her extremeties and face but eventually progressing to deep cuts measuring approximately 10-50cm on her back, chest, abdomen and lower extremeties. 1 week prior to consult, patient started noticing burning sensations on her skin, causing extreme pain and leaving reddish burn marks on her body, patient also experienced lack of appetite and inability to sleep due to loud voices and..."
"Spontaneous appearance? Easy bruising could be a lot of things, but for it to occur with 'spontaneous' abrasions and lacerations? Not to mention burn marks?" I thought out loud, having doubts about the credibility of the use of the word "spontaneous". Surely it was not an accident, considering it started 2 weeks ago with noted progression. "It could be a hematologic problem with the bruising, but that wouldn't explain the sudden appearance of cuts...maybe accompanied by a dermatologic one, the patient is prone to breaks in the skin? But then again the burn marks...the voices..." I analyzed. I was leaning towards abuse, where the cuts and bruises were inflicted by someone else and the abused, whether in some form of fear or coping, decides that it was "spontaneous" rather than inflicted, but why bother lying to yourself, perhaps the one who did it to her is a partner? Or a loved one? It made sense, someone progressively becoming more aggressive with her as time went by, becoming more and more extreme, from bruises to eventually burning.
It could a combination of illnesses to be honest, one on top of another, perhaps an overly sensitive or extremely dry skin that breaks and peels until it bleeds, an allergic reaction prompting the patient to unconciously scratch till her skin became red and lichenified, voices due to lack of sleep or a mental disorder. But looking at my grandfather's physical examination of her, none of the findings solidifies the possibility of those i've mentioned. Truth be told I also partially allowed myself to tunnel vision on the prospect of an abuse, to the point I've skipped some of the chart's contents that I deemed weren't important and tried to look for information to support my claim, or perhaps to disprove it, rookie mistake, but well, I am a rookie then.
"Patient is widowed, lives alone at a secluded area near redacted, only goes out to buy some necessities from redacted but has very minimal interaction from anyone in the village"
Okay then, either she is hiding the fact someone was with her, who is abusing her like I initially thought of, or it's self harm. "I'm pretty sure grandpa considered everything that went through my mind right now. Let me check his initial impression" I thought, with a tinge of annoyance, considering I felt that the patient lied to my grandfather, and was lying to me, decades after the fact.

1 Trauma, to consider physical abuse versus self harm;

"Alright, now we're getting somewhere" I said to myself, with a bit of pride having the same thought process as a physician with decades more experience than I do.

2 To consider mental disorder, probably psychotic - premature dementia

I chuckled. Premature dementia, didn't think i'd see that term, I thought everyone including those from his time would have used schizophrenia already, then again medicine and medical knowledge isn't as easily passed around as it is now. Psychiatry as a science would be relatively new during his time compared to other disciplines so the fact he considered it based on the patient hearing "voices"? Bravo gramps.
"Well...", I thought to myself, "...plenty of things to consider and rule out, let me check what else is there." A bit of cockiness on picking my grandfather's brain out and feeling good about my train of thought, a practice consult and so far, I'm on my way to a perfect score...

3. To consider possession probably secondary to malevolent spirit

.................
I gave the document a stern look, unmoving, unblinking, emotionless. Time has stopped, and I haven't noticed. My brain trying to digest the information, the same way my stomach would probably digest a block of steel...it's just not possible. I read one of my grandfather's diagnosis again:

3 To consider possession probably secondary to malevolent spirit

I never been one for faith. Evidence is everything. Science is everything. You can replicate it, you can prove it. Most importantly...It. Makes. Sense. I look at beliefs not based on evidence and feel nothing but skepticism if not disdain. Why won't people listen to expert opinion? Why won't people believe in facts? Why explain the unknown in such convoluted ways, requiring submission of oneself when the only thing the truth requires is but comprehension. I looked at that diagnosis feeling disappointment.
Then I felt anger. "Grandpa, what the fuck is wrong with you?!" I thought to myself. Here is a woman, full of bruises, cuts and burns all over her body, claiming that she has been suffering for weeks, barely eats or sleeps, was having auditory hallucinations, in dire need of medical, if not emotional and psychological support and one of the things that comes across your mind is possession.
I tried to calm my mind, these are records of the past anyway, I thought. Maybe it was a resignation born out of incompetence. Maybe grandpa wasn't as good of a doctor as I thought he was, that the shortcomings of his knowledge and limited technology of his time prompted him to adopt a more...liberal viewpoint to medicine. Maybe he was just superstitious himself. Maybe the people of this place had leaked some of their local beliefs into his psyche. Maybe isolation changed the man. Or maybe...just maybe...there's something to it.
I've never been one for faith. That goes for my faith in science as well. To just say that something is stupid because it doesn't align with standard, accepted scientific belief is just as detrimental as its counterpart.
I decided to investigate further when I heard the entrance to the room open with force. One of the maids leaning onto the wall by the entrance, still grasping the doorknob and evidently out of breath.
"Sir...ma'am Martha...calling...for you...says...it's...it's...an emergency..." She says in between breaths.
I quickly stood up, feeling sorry for the woman, she just ran, obviously gasping for air as she arrived at the clinic and now has to lead me back to wherever she came from with the same urgency. At first I was worried something might have happened with Martha, what the maid said didn't really give much clarity, but upon arriving at the main hall I noticed Martha, standing beside a middle aged man and woman, carrying a child, no more than 10 years old. I notice the clear panic and worry on both of their eyes as the man held the boy, who was uncontrollably shaking.
"I know you're not taking any patients yet and I was considering the time, but nobody knows what to do so I..." Martha explains, quite concerned while I ordered the parents to put the child flat on the ground, with me assessing the situation. The first thing I noticed was that the child was burning hot, "possibly febrile seizure? No, too old" I thought. I asked both the parents important details while I ordered the other maid to time the duration of the child's seizure. All the while thinking of possible diseases that may present as such, "Seizure disorder? Epilepsy? Meningitis? Encephalitis?" Eventually the shaking stopped, much to the parents' relief, and I ordered them to carry the boy as we made our way back to the clinic.
"Was this the first time it ever happened?" I inquired, as I put the child on one of the beds in the clinic, securing the corners with additional pillows, noticing the sunken face and apparent exhaustion from the boy, possibly due to the ongoing fever and the recent seizure episode. Once secured, I face the parents and continued my inquiries, I eventually explained everything, elaborating on what I believe happened, I explained that for now, lowering the fever and investigating the source were what we could address, the battery of tests I plan to do (disappointingly, most of them cannot be done here, and I would have to accompany them to a hospital on another town as soon as first light breaks), and the medications and management I plan to give. Everything proceeded as planned and I asked both parents to relax and take a breather, offering them a seat and asking the help to give them water.
Things eventually settled, little Johnny's fever subsided and color came back to him. Nowhere near clear, he can worsen anytime, but that was the best that we could do at that time. The parents were still worried, understandably so, but to an extent reassured, we have a plan after all. Martha, as well as Diane (the help from earlier), now at a calmer state. We discussed the plan, how we would travel, who would accompany us and what we would bring. Eventually, our conversations became relaxed, started to shift to other things, trivial matters, such as were they lived in the village, the date and time of my arrival, recent gossip, where Martha was more than happy to share.
"I was worried the evil spirits might have gotten my baby..." Said the mother nonchalantly, as we talked about the occurrence on a lighter note. "...that's how they got Mrs. Johnson's middle child. That poor boy was never the same after."
I smiled. Not wanting to immediately correct them and sound like an uptight individual. It's part of our culture afterall, old belief systems and a way for people to cope with loss or difficulty, who was I to deny them that. I won't approach these people the hardheaded way, but I will slowly show them the realities and truths of the things they may not understand, well, at least with regards to their health.
"Well, little Johnny is safe here, we'll do what we can" pointing to their son.
Only, their son wasn't where he was supposed to be. I look at the parents, I look at both Martha and Diane, everyone who looked at where I pointed were just as shocked as I was, a split second of silence before panic ensued. Suddenly, everyone stood up on high alert and was looking everywhere. Under covers, under the bed, corners of the room, the desk, behind curtains, hell, I saw Diane look at one of the damn drawers, as if a 10 year old would fit there.
Suddenly I heard loud vomiting, retching, followed by sounds of splashing. I follow where the sounds came from and see a large pool of black, tarry liquid at a corner of my room. I slowly trace where it was coming from and there he was...little Johnny...standing...upside down...on the ceiling.
I hear everyone in the room scream, I was probably screaming too, I couldn't remember. I do remember little Johnny screaming with us though, extremely high pitched and mockingly, with bloodshot eyes, upside down, while black liquid poured from his mouth, covering his face and dripping from his hair. How was that even possible, screaming while liters of unknown fluid dripped from his mouth? I don't know.
Then he laughed, although I was pretty sure that wasn't his voice. It was deep and guttural, it cannot be the boy's voice, it cannot be any boy's voice.
Time seemed to move in slow motion, I was noticing every detail, every expression from everyone's face, I can feel the seconds hand on my wall clock move, the slow dripping of the viscous dark liquid from little Johnny, I can feel every drop of sweat on my body. I could not cope with what i'm experiencing, was it a trick of the mind, an organized prank, have I gone mad...again? So I did the only thing I know how to do...
I tried to diagnose.
"Maybe it was dengue shock all along!" I thought to myself. "Vomiting blood, paleness, fever, an episode of seizure and definitely change in sensorium" I reasoned to myself. I was coping, and I was coping hard. I was ready to drown on my self absorbtion when a booming voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"YOU DUMB FUCK, WILL ANY ILLNESS EXPLAIN WHY YOUR FUCKING PATIENT IS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE FUCKING CEILING?" Said little Johnny, or at least whoever was speaking on his behalf, because from where I'm standing, I can clearly see that the boy was not mouthing any of the words he said.
"YOU'RE A FUCKING FAILURE, DOCTORS LIKE YOU SHOULD KILL THEMSELVES! HAHAHAHA" he laughed, I never knew laughs could sound like that, as if the words were nails, and his voice box a chalkboard.
"OH WAIT, YOU FAILED AT THAT TOO DOC! FUCKING PATHETIC!"
Of all the things that were happening...a young boy hanging upside down, a mother crying on the floor hysterically, a father staring at his son, eyes wide open and mouth agape, Martha and Diane, both crying while sharing a rosary, in the act of what I assume to be prayer...the thing that snapped me out of my trance was the words that came from little Johnny. Knowledge nobody but the closest to me should know. A secret I planned to leave behind when I left the city, a wound I intended to forget as I started anew.
Visions of my memories came flashing back...medical school...overwhelming duty...familial expectations...failure...depression...my attempt...a bottle of medications...my mother...crying...on my bedside...
"LEAVE MY SON ALONE!" Johnny's father screamed. Starling everyone in the room.
Nothing matters, the past is in the past, I am better now, and that boy needs help, more than anything.
"YOUR SON? WHY DON'T WE ASK THAT CRYING WHORE IF JOHNNY REALLY IS YOUR SON" The voice says, laughing.
At that point the mother stops crying, looks up towards johnny, then towards his husband, in a state of shock. Like what the voice said is crazier than whatever was happening at the moment.
"THE ONLY REASON THAT WHORE STUCK WITH YOU WAS BECAUSE JOHNNY'S REAAAAAAAL FATHER WOULD NOT TAKE HER!" The entity says, continuing the hysteric laughter.
We were being played. It was toying with us. And from the look on the mother's face...it seems like little Johnny did not even need to lie to do it.
Then, to everyone's horror..."It" started to run.
It ran across the ceiling in a rabid frenzy, erratic and forceful, running and jumping, hopping sideways then going on all fours, still attached to the ceiling, splashing bile and blood all over the room, all the while making a "hihihi" sound...childish and terrifying. It ran and ran, repeating the same erratic change in movements, repeating the same eerie giggle until it reached the window, stopping and standing straight, it stared outside for what felt like forever...then all of a sudden...johnny just fell, like whatever was attaching him to the ceiling just gave, headfirst into the floor, giving a very audible cracking sound.
I heard a gasp from johnny's mother. I can at least detect some miniscule chest expansion, but that cracking sound cannot be anything good. As if thinking the same thing, Martha, who was the nearest to where Johnny fell, while still clinging tightly to Diane's rosary, approached the boy.
"Johnny?" She said softly, all the while approaching an inch at a time.
As she was almost at arms length of the boy's body, she gives the mother a knowing look, confirming that he was breathing. Martha suddenly produces a piece of cloth from one of the pockets of her uniform, possibly to pack the bleeding from the head. She intended to put the cloth on top of the boy's head, but looked towards my direction, urging me forward, perhaps for me to place it properly. I walk towards the boy, takes the cloth from Martha and as I fold the cloth to circle Johnny's cranium with Martha's help, the boy immediately sat up, looks at Martha and smiles ear to ear...literally ear to ear.
"GET YOUR WRINKLY HANDS OFF ME YOU DUSTY OLD FUCK!" He barks at her, Martha screams in fear and I was taken aback.
That was all the time Johnny needed to stand and jump towards the window, breaking it and running towards the mountainside. I hear his father scream his name, quickly breaking more glass so he could fit, and immediately giving chase. The mother was still on the floor, wailing towards the direction of her child and husband. Martha, in shock, still holding the cloth she intended to wrap johnny with.
It took me a while to notice Diane shaking me vigorously. "Doctor!" She screams. "Doctor Smith! What should we do!?" She voices out, with obvious desperation.
I ignored her.
I feel scared, but taking all into consideration, I predominantly feel tired. Defeated. Insulted.
I have nothing more to give in the face of whatever that thing that took Johnny was.
I slowly walk towards my desk, I open my drawer, I take a piece of paper and I pull out my pen.
Patient #00001a Name redacted 10/M
I write, giving no thoughts to the people on the same room as me, those left behind by little Johnny and his father. "Did he catch up to him? Was the boy alright now?...is his father alright?" I wonder. I'll find out soon enough, I figured, rumors spread like wildfire around here anyways.
I continued to write with resignment, absorbed in my own little world, consumed by the horror I witnessed, the breaking of my spirit, of my beliefs, the questioning of my knowledge. I want to escape it, deny it, but that's not what should be done to the truth. So I surrendered.

1 To consider possession probably secondary to malevolent spirit

END