Moments of Epsilon

[Creator_Drake]

"Honour's all mine Natsume, just be prepared to throw out any previous notion you had for the definition of normal." Said Niri with a grin as she stood and stretched, making her bosom bounce with the motion. Sighing in content when her shoulder popped she walked over behind Mary, lightly resting on the Demi's head and shoulders just as Mary spoke to herself. Niri looked down at Mary with a grin.

"Honey, this is only the beginning. Just wait till we actually start training."

Drake chuckled a little at Niri's precaution; it wasn't his fault that strange shit happened to him....well, not all the time. Shaking his head he looked at Natsume as she spoke to him.

"Then go and speak with her. You don't ever need my permission with anything like this, just let me know ahead of time so I can change plans accordingly." He then looked to Pestilence as she walked up to him, nodding as she talked.

"Sounds good, and I will visit though probably after seeing your other sisters first; give you some more time to study that poision as much as you can. And that reminds me. If it's not too much trouble, suppose you could give both Mary and Niri a full physical just to make sure everything is A-OK? Or if you can't could you direct me to someone who could? I know you want to get to your lab quick, I just want to make sure the physical changes Mary went through are just that, cosmetic and not have something surprise us down the road hopefully."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Natsume bowed, chuckling a little at Niri's 'warning' and walked away, heading down to talk with her sister. To her surprise, however, she found Yumiko flirting with a Tamer and the Spider he had with him, the Spider nuzzling up against her heavily swollen belly.

Yumiko noticed Natsume standing there and smiled. "Oh! Hey sis. This guy and I were just talking about adopting a couple of my kits," she said. "Her Spider has some troubles with reproduction due to a Titan monster attack, so I volunteered to help out, let them adopt some of my kits."

Natsume smiled. "You always were a kind person," she said. "I have news, sister."

Yumiko gave her sister a curious look. The Tamer, understanding, took his Spider and went off to give them some privacy for the moment.

Natsume took a deep breath. "...I have decided to go with Drake-sensei. He has accepted me into his harem."

=====================

((You can have control of Mary from this point on. PM for full personality details.))

Pestilence nodded. "Mary, come here," she said, motioning for the angel Pokegirl to follow her to a small alcove.

[Creator_Drake]

Mary gave a quick nod, following the quadripedic prime easily. Coming into the alcove she slipped her arms through the shoulder straps of her dress before shrugging the garment off. Levitating into the air the Demi rose to match Pestilence's own height to make the physical go by faster.

"What would you like me to do first, Lady Pestilence?"

Meanwhile Drake himself decided to relax a little while he waited, so leaping into the air he held himself aloft while lying on his back as if resting on an invisible couch. He turned to lay on his side to look at Chronos and Elohim.

"Quick question for you both; which of your sisters should I go see next? And on that note, should I go see Lady Amaterasu now to get it over with or leave that meeting till later to give her some time, considering everything and all?"

[Fanfic Fetishist]

As Pestilence watched Mary flap her wings to lift herself off the ground and move to her level, she smiled her unsettling smile. "Just hold still," she said. "It may seem like I'm groping you, but I need to do this for my examination. If I were truly molesting you, you'd know."

"And I'd be throwing her out a window," Elohim muttered.

"You didn't protest so much when my hands were all over you last time I visited," Pestilence said, smirking. Elohim blushed, a smile coming to her face despite herself.

Pestilence coughed, returning to her work. She gently lay her taloned hands on Mary's body, slowly running them over her impressive bosom, tracing them over her shoulders and through her hair, gently touching her blood red halo.

Chronos shrugged. "It's your choice. Personally, I'd wait a bit until Orochi has a chance to talk to Amaterasu," she said.

"I'd kinda like to see Lady Lucifell again. Maybe have a snack in the Gluttony section of the Pit," Myriad offered.

[Creator_Drake]

Mary felt a slight chill at the smile Pestilence had but she trusted her aunt. Her taloned hands however, made her shiver at the touch and she resisted the urge to curl her wings in. She didn't feel like anything was wrong though, nothing hurt and her bond was strong as ever.

'I just hope nothing is wrong.'

Drake gave Chronos a nod. "That seems like the best bet, I might visit her last then; might even see both of them at the same time."

He then turned to Myriad. "That sounds like a good idea actually, could probably get some training done too. You also mentioned a school before that would help you get stronger and gain more control over your abilities right? Is it there or nearby?"

[Fanfic Fetishist]

After a few moments, Pestilence finished her examination. "Nothing wrong with you physically, mentally, or astrally beyond some soul-scarring, which is why you have the new 'goth angel' look," she said. "Unfortunately, the soul-scarring is permanent. The good news is that it makes you look really cool!" She chuckled, not reacting when Elohim slapped her on the back of the head in annoyance.

"Anyway, my job is done," she said. "I'm off."

Chronos bid her farewell as she trotted away.

Myriad chuckled weakly. "Well... it's weird. It appears on an 'as needed' basis in different places." She popped her neck. "But it's a damn fine place if you want extended lessons or just a quick boost."

[Creator_Drake]

"The scarring I can deal with, thank you." Despite her mother's retaliation, Mary blushed, taking the goth angel quip as a compliment. Floating back to the ground Mary placed her dress back on as Pestilence trotted off. Walking back she came just in time to see Drake floating in the air on his back, lower to the ground now by only a few feet. He held a hand to his chin before speaking.

"So if that's the case, then when the time is right and we truly need the lessons it has to offer, it'll appear when we need it most. As annoying as it is things usually work themselves out in the end in cases like these, so for now let's leave the academy in the back of our minds and move on. You said you wanted to visit the Pit again? Then we'll go there next, you did say you made a home there and I'd like to see it." Releasing focus Drake dropped back to the ground, landing on his feet as easy as a cat would. Niri had a pensive look, turning her head to the side while holding a finger to her lips.

"I don't know much about the Pit Myr, what's it like?"

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Myriad grinned. "It's great. It's like one of the most decadent places ever. Only the Ragnarok Las Vegas and Famine's Mall can match it, really. You ever read Dante's Inferno? It's set up like that, but most of the rings are, like, a party version of the rings. They glorify all the sins that were punished in the Dante's Inferno version of Hell, with two major exceptions. The Wood of Suicides is more of a memorial and a way for people to be talked out of killing themselves, usually by eating a Suicide Fruit, which puts you in a death-like state briefly and makes you experience the pain of those that would miss you if you died."

Myriad looked sheepish. "...I tried one once. Not because I wanted to die, but because I was curious. They're really tasty, but really mentally traumatizing..." She coughed, and continued.

"Anyway, the only other place in the Pit that isn't a party is the Ninth Ring, Betrayal. The river Cocytus. Lucifell HATES traitors and the whole place is decorate with pictures and statues of what she would like to do to traitors. Her personal quarters are in the dead center of the Ninth Ring." Myriad grinned. "The rest of the place, though, is one big party. The city of Dis has spas and massage parlors, the desert in Violence has places to just work out your aggression, Greed lets you SWIM in HUGE PILES of freakin money like Scrooge McDuck! Gluttony has some of the best food ever, and Lust is a giant Infernal sex party! It's awesome."

[Creator_Drake]

A wide grin appeared on Drake's face as he suddenly started laughing, albeit lightly. It was a smile Mary found infectious with the feelings she felt through the bond.

"So there were old Disney cartoons like Ducktails here too? Hahh~ the pre-millenium 90's had the best cartoons." He shook his head as his laugh halted, but the smile remained.

"Overall though it sounds like a good place to unwind, mingle and just have some fun. Much different from the usual versions I've been to." Niri snorted before hugging him from behind, resting her chin in the crook of her neck.

"Course they would, they're all made for suffering and punishment cause you know, it's Hell. Not like that's ever stopped you before; still can't believe you got to fight with both Ghostrider and Spawn."

"Heh yeah, that was pretty cool-"

"You're not stepping one foot in Lust though." That got a raised brow. "The only girls you're fucking are us and I'll be far more than Damned if some random girl's gonna jam that dick of yours in her and NOT be a part of our team." Mary felt the need to interject, blushing at the imagery.

"Lady Lucifell or one of her daughters might do that just that just to mess with you for fun if they hear that." Niri gave the Demi-Elohim a pout.

"Well if it's one of her daughters than she better be prepared to join us in this. The only pussy Master gets is that which stays with him." Drake held up his hands while looking between the 2.

"Whoa now settle down. Niri, you know me well enough that Orgies aren't my thing, so you don't have to worry about me going there. You are right though, the only girls I'm screwing on a permanent basis are you, Mary, Myriad, Natsume and whoever else joins us. Mary did have a point though; some girls will probably see what you said as a challenge and try to screw me just to screw with you. She wasn't trying to rile you up or anything, merely state a point." Niri whined a little before sighing, looking towards Mary.

"Sorry, didn't mean to say it so agressively." Mary shook her head with a smile.

"It's alright, you don't have to be sorry. You're being loyal to our master and I can agree with the points you made. I too wouldn't let just ANY woman sleep with Drake, I mentioned Lady Lucifell and her daughters since odds are she just might offer a night with her after we talk with her." Remembering the last time she visited the Pit brought a flush to her face, so many Infernal girls...

Drake's own face gained a slight flush as Mary's memories filtered through the bond; so that explained her want to have some fun with Niri a bit more. Shaking his head the flush disappeared as he looked between Niri and Myriad.

"Mary did bring up something though, something that I'd think would be pretty funny in a symbolic sense. If one of Lucifell's daughters did join us it'd be as if the forces of Heaven and Hell were going after Donovan's life. Odds are we probably won't come across any other Demis so the point is somewhat moot." He gave a casual shrug; if it happens it happens and if not then it wasn't the end of the world.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

((Added Naga, Dullahan, and Orochi Prime to the Pokegirls Epsilon section, along with a listing of blood traits.))

A wide grin appeared on Drake's face as he suddenly started laughing, albeit lightly. It was a smile Mary found infectious with the feelings she felt through the bond.

"So there were old Disney cartoons like Ducktails here too? Hahh~ the pre-millenium 90's had the best cartoons." He shook his head as his laugh halted, but the smile remained.

Myriad giggled. "What can I say? The classics last forever," she said.

"Overall though it sounds like a good place to unwind, mingle and just have some fun. Much different from the usual versions I've been to." Niri snorted before hugging him from behind, resting her chin in the crook of her neck.

"Course they would, they're all made for suffering and punishment cause you know, it's Hell. Not like that's ever stopped you before; still can't believe you got to fight with both Ghostrider and Spawn."

"Really, it's just modeled after Hell, it's not actually he..." Myriad started, shrugging when Drake continued.

"Heh yeah, that was pretty cool-"

"You're not stepping one foot in Lust though." That got a raised brow. "The only girls you're fucking are us and I'll be far more than Damned if some random girl's gonna jam that dick of yours in her and NOT be a part of our team." Mary felt the need to interject, blushing at the imagery.

"Lady Lucifell or one of her daughters might do that just that just to mess with you for fun if they hear that." Niri gave the Demi-Elohim a pout.

"Well if it's one of her daughters than she better be prepared to join us in this. The only pussy Master gets is that which stays with him." Drake held up his hands while looking between the 2.

"Whoa now settle down. Niri, you know me well enough that Orgies aren't my thing, so you don't have to worry about me going there. You are right though, the only girls I'm screwing on a permanent basis are you, Mary, Myriad, Natsume and whoever else joins us. Mary did have a point though; some girls will probably see what you said as a challenge and try to screw me just to screw with you. She wasn't trying to rile you up or anything, merely state a point." Niri whined a little before sighing, looking towards Mary.

"Sorry, didn't mean to say it so agressively." Mary shook her head with a smile.

"It's alright, you don't have to be sorry. You're being loyal to our master and I can agree with the points you made. I too wouldn't let just ANY woman sleep with Drake, I mentioned Lady Lucifell and her daughters since odds are she just might offer a night with her after we talk with her." Remembering the last time she visited the Pit brought a flush to her face, so many Infernal girls...

Drake's own face gained a slight flush as Mary's memories filtered through the bond; so that explained her want to have some fun with Niri a bit more. Shaking his head the flush disappeared as he looked between Niri and Myriad.

"Mary did bring up something though, something that I'd think would be pretty funny in a symbolic sense. If one of Lucifell's daughters did join us it'd be as if the forces of Heaven and Hell were going after Donovan's life. Odds are we probably won't come across any other Demis so the point is somewhat moot." He gave a casual shrug; if it happens it happens and if not then it wasn't the end of the world.

Myriad shivered softly, shaking her head. "Interesting situation I've put myself in," she said. She wasn't backing down for anything, but still, knowing that they were going after someone like Donovan...

Chronos just smiled. "You are welcome to stay for one more day, if you like. After that I must ask you to leave, as I have other matters that will put you in danger should you remain."

Elohim gave her a surprised look, but Chronos just nodded. Elohim winced. "...Yes, that's probably for the best," she said, going over to hug Mary.

[Creator_Drake]

Drake gave Chronos a sharp look, eyes narrowed slightly before giving her a firm nod. He didn't know what she was speaking of exactly, but he'd bet it dealt with time and he appreaciated the warning.

"That would be best; we'll probably leave early tomorrow morning, using the rest of today to get aquainted with Natsume. And thanks for the heads up Chronos, not every time user I've met has been that curteous. All I'd ask is if we could still use the transporters here to travel between the other Lair's of your sisters?" At the same time he spoke aloud he communicated with Mary mentally.

'Mary, why don't you take Niri and Myriad with you and find Natsume? Take some time and mingle just between you girls; I'll be back in the room looking over the databook and getting more accustomed with the glove once I'm done here.' The line of thought however jogged a memory that made him blink.

"Hold the phone; I haven't actually 'balled either of you have I? Huh, do that later tonight. Niri, where was your ball last? On the bedside table at home?" Niri sat up straighter, humming in thought.

"Hmm, it was either there or on the kitchen counter by the fruit-mixer last I checked."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Myriad cackled, following Niri and Mary down to where Natsume was, sitting on a bench with her sister, the heavily gravid Skunk smiling and hugging her sister tightly.

Natsume nodded to the others when she noticed them. "Ah, good to see you," she said. "My sister and I were talking about my impending departure."

Yumiko smirked at them. "I'm glad she's finally getting out and getting a steady Tamer," she said. "Partners at random are fine, but nothing beats a steady lover."

[Creator_Drake]

Niri smiled with a shrug.

"Master's the only lover I've known so I can't really comment on it. But I will say that I wouldn't trade him for anything." Mary had a smile on her face, blushing a little at the context as she took a seat.

"I know what that's like Yumiko and I'm glad to have met our Master; I don't think you'll ever regret your decision Natsume, he can be such a good lover." Her blush darkened as she recalled her first time with him on the table, holding a hand to her face while wearing a large demure smile. Niri huffed with a chuckled as she took her own seat to the other side of Natsume, idly adjusting the straps of her top.

"I can speak with the most experience on that miss I-got-a-True-bond-from-fucking-master-once. Still can't belive you got a Recognition after sleeping with him once, I've got 5 months worth on you and still only have a Delta bond." Mary simply smiled, giggling but saying nothing.

================================

Drake meanwhile had taken a thinking pose as the girls had left, walking towards the Primes slowly. As if walking up a set of stairs he came to a better height to speak with the pair better. He cast a glance at Elohim.

"So what can you tell me about Mary? In terms of personality and reactions towards training. I know with our bond being Recognition level I'll understand a good deal but that'll take time to fully come together, whereas you being her mother and helping her grow you have the years of interaction experience I lack for the moment."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

((Added the Doggirl and Catgirl to the main Epsilon topic))

Natsume went wide-eyed. "Recognition!" she said softly. "To find your soul mate... It is an honor unlike any other."

Yumiko whistled, visibly impressed. "And he's staying with all his other girls? Damn, that's a quality Tamer," she said. "Hell, if I wasn't loaded down with a giant belly full of kits right now and not interested in fighting, I'd offer to join as well."

Myriad blushed. "Some Tamers are just bond machines, Natsume," she said. "I was bonded on my first try."

Natsume grinned despite herself. Yumiko hugged her sister to one of her milk-bloated breasts.

================================

Elohim looked thoughtful for a moment, smile. "She's... sweet. She's naive, but realistic enough to accept things if they don't work out the way she expects. She's always been more of a scholar than a fighter, preferring to read a book than actively train. I and my daughters retain a muscle mass despite anything else, so she's always seen my workouts as an unneeded chore..." she said, shaking her head and smiling. "She's very much a cuddler, at least from what I remember of my times with her. If nothing else, she'll be very cooperative and recognize Niri's authority as your Lieutenant."

[Creator_Drake]

Mary gave the Yami-Bake sister a smile.

"A quality Tamer indeed Yumiko, it's only been a day since we bonded and already I feel like I've known him for years; no offence Niri." Said Leviathan stuck out her tongue childishly, getting a laugh all around.

"Yeah, from what he's told me Master was taught and raised to be as much a gentleman as he could be. Don't know if you two noticed it before but when he spoke with Pestilence, Mary's mother and especially Chronos, he kept his eyes firmly on their faces while talking with them. Sure when he gets into it he can be one hell of a flirt but like he said before when it comes to his work he knows how to keep his focus. Just wish he'd focus more on my chest on down time." Niri pushed out her chest a little to emphasize. "Don't get me wrong I love the attention he gives them already but I just want him to look more ya'know? He can be almost, TOO respectful fo women at times though."

============================

Drake gained a smile of his own, Elohim's words echoing his own first impressions, nodding at the info.

"Thanks Elohim I appreciate it; it'll help a great deal in how I help her train. Don't know if she'll have a specific or specialised role yet until the full team get's together but that doens't mean she won't get stronger in the mean time." Idly snapping his fingers a small portal, no bigger than a foot across, opened to his right. Sticking his arm in all the way to the shoulder he gave the pair of Prime's before him a sheepish shrug.

"Don't mind me, I can keep up with the conversation but I figure I might as well grab Niri's pokeball while I'm at it." It did indeed look strange; surrounding his shoulder was the Dark Blue aura of the portal but on the other side his entire arm was nowhere to be seen. He mumbled a little to himself as he moved and rolled his shoulder a little.

"Now lets see, no that's Niri's bra, that's one of my ammo clips... sorry but that reminds me, other than Mainframe's Lair where else could I get a good Anti-Material level Sniper Rifle? That is if those are available of course, just thinking it would be a good idea to have a weapon that could help me blend in, in a sense since I know that not every Tamer carries a gun and a pair of swords." He chuckled as he continued his valient if blind search for Niri's pokeball.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

"Then let him know that," Yumiko said, the Skunk rubbing her gargantuan stomach, her tail flitting about in amusement. "You won't get anywhere in any relationship if you don't just flat out say what you mean sometimes. Let him know that you want him for more than just your basic Taming needs." Yumiko chuckled. "A Pokegirl's got to take care of her needs, you know? Me, I'm already making plans with some pregnancy fetish websites to get some Tamers for me until I give birth.

Natsume sighed, laying up against her sister. Yumiko smiled, kissing her ghostly sibling. "You got me out before something bad happened to me, sis," she said. "You and Lady Chronos saved everyone there. I'm fine. I'm just REALLY pregnant and REALLY horny."

Natsume chuckled a little, smiling.

Myriad quirked an eyebrow. "You're taking your Breeding Factory curse quite well," she said.

The Skunk just flitted her tail in amusement. "I wasn't raped to get knocked up. They just stuck a needle in me," she said. "Plus, having this many kids wriggling about in me for the past few months has felt surprisingly good. And it's an excuse to stuff my face on all sorts of tasty stuff. Yeah, I got violated a little to be made like this. But I wasn't violated that badly. And I am by no means the type to just sit around and mope over my circumstances. I just learn to live with things and move on with my life."


============================

"You'd be surprised," Chronos said, quirking an eyebrow in amusement. "In this Pokegirls timeline, Tamers are militarized. Seeing a Tamer with a firearm and melee weapon is more commonplace than you think."

Elohim smirked. "Developing new weapons was the only way they could keep up with us during the Revenge Wars," she said, shivering a little and adding, "And ESPECIALLY during the Titan Wars when we fought Typhonna and her sisters..."

Chronos placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, sighing. "At any rate," she said. "You will find that finding weapons are easier than you think. There's varying types of plasma weapons, sonic weapons, things like that."

[Creator_Drake]

"That's a very good way of looking at things Yumiko." Mary passed the Skunk a brilliant smile while folding her hands in her lap. Niri gave a nod before sighing.

"Yeah, I agree with Mary on that. As for Master however, it's something I've talked to him about before but it isn't as simple. Myriad and Mary both know this and since you're joining Natsume you've got the right to know just as the other girls joining us will. There isn't a problem telling you about this Yumiko since being Natsume's sister makes you family, I'd just rather we have a bit more privacy than the open hallway we're in before discussing personal things about our Master. It's a precaution Master, and ergo me, take to make things easier while he's on the job. There are things he knows that not many should." Mary gave a firm nod, agreeing with her Alpha.

"Indeed, especially since the Purification Society would greatly wish to aquire him by any means necessary if certain knowledge became wide-spread."

================================

Drake gave a nod, understanding and accepting the knowledge. He arched his back, contorting slightly in order to stretch his arm as far as he could; he knew that damn ball was somewhere!

"That makes a lot of sense-tch not there either, maybe in the drawer-might take me some time to find one that I feel is up to my expectations, that or visit Mainframe's Lab again and see if there is any chance of having something custom made." He let out a soft sigh that was tinged lightly with annoyance.

"I understand completely and follow the rule of not bringing over vastly different technologies cause of the shit-storm they can cause, but sometimes I'm tempted to say screw it and bring over my customised M-98 Widow AM Sniper Rifle."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Yumiko gagged. "Those assholes? Why would they care beyond the fac... well, there is the fact that you have a DemiLegendary," she said.

Natsume nodded, believing she understood. "Those monsters despise our kind. They frequently target Tamers with DemiLegendaries."

================================

Chronos looked thoughtful for a moment. "Go ahead and bring it over," she said. "I don't see any extreme divergeances in the timeline. When you face the Commander, for example, it won't do any good, as he and/or she will prove to be a better shot even without the Brahmastra's tracking bulets."

Elohim nodded. "Exotic tech isn't uncommon here. War loves new weapons. Just register it and, if it's vastly different from the tech here, lie and say that you made it in its entirety."

[Creator_Drake]

Mary breathed out a sigh before erecting a sound-proof barrier around the group with a wave of her hand. Feathers black as Ebony floated lazily in the air around them as her eye's glowed a dark red. Niri looked at the feathers before giving Mary a nod.

"If that's a sound-proof barrier than thanks a ton Mary." The Levianthan gave a smile but it soon disappeared as she turned to Natsume and her sister. She pursed her lips as she pondered her words.

"You do bring up a good point about them targeting us because Mary has bonded with him but...it goes deeper than that. Drake he-he isn't from here, this version of Earth I mean. You remember when we told you earlier it was a long story when he displayed his powers? This plays a major part since Drake...Drake comes a version of Earth where Sukube and thus all Pokegirl kind as we know it, doesn't exist." She knew this was going to take a bit, but Natsume deserved to know this as she offered to join and was accepted.

===============================

Drake nodded without hesitation but still looked unsure.

"Thanks for telling me, but I'll keep it out of this realm for now unless The Author tells me I can. I mean no offence to either of you but in the eyes of my employers only HE has the authority to authorise something like this. If it wasn't like that you'd have seen it on me when I first visited your temple Elohim." He twisted a little, before his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Bingo! There we are." Moving to the left he brought his arm out through the portal along with Niri's pokeball. Something else tagged along however; drapped over his hand was a pair of hot pink, extremely lacy panties, their size denoting that only Niri could wear them. Blinking in surprise with a flushing face, Drake gave the pair of amused Primes a nervous laugh.

"Eh-heheh uh oops." Putting the ball in his other hand he quickly flung the panties back through the portal, the door closing just as the last part of lacy material passed through.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

For the longest moment, Natsume and Yumiko stared at the other Pokegirls, no expressions on their faces. After a few minutes of awkward silence, however, minutes that left Myriad squirming, Yumiko turned to Natsume and said,

"I was right," she said. "You owe me a thousand yen."

Natsume grumbled.

Myriad cackled, liking these two even more.

==========================================

Chronos and Elohim just smirked at Drake, clearly used to this sort of thing.

"Well, do what he says if you want," Elohim said, waving dismissively. "He's a miserable clown who keeps a copy of our dimension and every Pokegirl (including the Titans) just to have sex with and indulge his pregnancy fetish, but I do suppose we owe him for making our universe."

Unseen by all save Drake, a chibi version of the Author ran behind Chronos and Elohim, danced around for a bit with a baby alligator wearing fake big lips, and ran off again.