Guy's sharp, Comstock mused.  "We've thought about all those questions a lot, actually.  Reconstruction is a priority, and Gamma will be drilling to do just that.  For prisons and courts, the Teragen and the UN both have prospective plans for nova courts, which would alleviate that particular concern.  Meanwhile, one of our safe houses is pretty hard to get away from, but a far cry from a hospital bed in a secret underground lab with regular mox injections."

"But yes.  Your core question's an important one.  Yes, we'll be chasing our own tails.  We'll be putting out brushfires.  And yes, we're going to make a lot of enemies just for revealing criminal activity.  And yes, there will be bloodshed.  I don't have an endgame for this.  I just know I can't sit around and hope."

"The situation's already outside anyone's control.  I just want to try and do the right thing."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
EDIT: For fixing bad grammar.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Tue 19 Nov 2013.

Joe blinked and shook his head. @#$%.

Pulling his phone out of its bag, Joe phoned the boat.

"I'll be back soon, while I'm on my way why don't you see if you can't find me a way to reach someone in charge over at Utopia? Proscribed technology... I just had an interesting conversation."

"Sir, every failed anarchist's epitaph reads exactly the same way, 'There was no plan, I just wanted to do the right thing.' With no endgame plan you effectively have no plan, per se, with no message that can be used to sway the masses.
Breaking down the components of this non-plan, i see several critical problems.
Firstly, given novas' extreme capacity for non-standard locomotion, your 'safe house' is a priori extra terrestrial, either The Moon, Mars, or one of the larger asteroids in the belt.  Perhaps even on one of the moons of the gas giants.  Is there going to be re-education and rehabilitation, or will they go there to rot?  Will there be medical care, will their powers be stripped from them via Mox, or some more exotic pharmaceutical, or will these inmates be running on a full charge, able to disintegrate, fly, teleport, turn invisible and possess their re-educators'/captors' minds?
Will this course of action be better for individuals and states than the status quo?  If so, how? If not, why do it?  What will you do if various world powers, like China, The US, the syndicates, and various multinationals declare you persona non grata and bring enough of their resources to bear to eliminate members of the organization, one by one.  It would be foolish to assume that these organizations do not have dossiers on every major nova player, and most of the lesser knowns, with all their suspected abilities, vulnerabilities, and assets detailed, and a variety of scenarios laid out for containment or elimination, should such be necessary.  Not that I'm opposed to the idea, I'm just concerned that being involved is a death sentence."

Phantasm had taken up a position of rapt attention when Comstock started talking.  Lead by example and all that.  When the questions started coming in, she let him field them, only chiming in to reinforce his position.

"When he says there isn't an endgame, part of that is because the situation is evolving.  We have goals, but the game is just starting."

"We don't have a one size fits all solution to prisoners.  Some of them will go back to utopia or their governments, some will get sent... away, and a nova terrorist in the middle of blowing up a city block will probably just be killed, at least if I'm making the call anyway.  But our real goal is to provide a different path; for every nova we take out or lock up, we'll have saved half a dozen others, whether from government abuse, choices they made out of ignorance, or their own powers. Just ask around, there's more than a few in this room to attest to that."

At the elite's mention of a threat, Phantasm smiled and her eyes glowed a vivid green.  "As far as them threatening us, they'll have a hard time.  It isn't pride when I say this, just fact: this organization is backed by some of the smartest, strongest, and most skilled novas in the world.  They'll have a rough job ahead of them if they want to take us out by force, and they know it.  Now, you're stuff about the media though, that's spot on..."

Daphne looks at the file for a second before closing and looking around. She slides closer to Serenade before finally getting up the nerve to speak.

"Ummm... not to sound grateful for the offer, but this seems all way over my head. I don't know how much use I could really be as a spy. I have never really done anything like this. I mean, how am I going to infiltrate anything like Utopia."

Daphne looks around sheepishly as she realizes she almost started babbling. "Sorry everybody, I am just kind of new to all this stuff."

Daphne steps even further behind Serenade and looks down at the floor.

"We train you," Dragón said, turning to face Daphne.  "Before I went to jump school, I didn't know the first thing about parachuting.  Just thinking about it scared the hell outa me.  But by the time I made my final qualifying jump, I went out the door with a big grin on my face.  The difference was that I understood what was happening, exactly what I was expected to do, and what to do if something went wrong.  Don't worry, we won't be sending you out to do anything you're not ready for."

Guy's annoyingly sharp, Comstock mentally corrected.  "Phantasm's got the right of it.  There isn't a perfect solution, and grabbing for one transformed the Utopia I helped build into the Utopia that manufactures WMDs for selective killing and nova containment.  You're asking me how this will make anything better?  It won't be that.  That's the only fair promise I can give."

"I won't make a meat puppet of a human being, nova or otherwise."  Comstock's face hardened, something intensely personal lending weight to those words.  The particularly astute could tell he resented association with mad anarchy.  "And the fact that I told Director Laragione myself what I was doing and nothing's come of it yet tells me that there's space for us to do what needs doing.  Or that they're afriad of what I'll do if they come after my own again."




"There's too much free information now.  People like Kraken and Gustav Keld have built institutions to keep our eyes open.  And we have a few tricks of our own to ensure our side gets heard."  Comstock held out his hands.  "After that ... people have to make up their own minds.  I know once we release our information, they'll say it's propaganda and BS.  We'll just have to be persuasive and honest."




"For you, infiltration would be the easy part.  But you're not infiltrating anything until you've had a few rounds with Dragón.  No one here is to take a risk they aren't prepared for.  If you want in, you're going to get training.  A lot of it."

"I do not understand why there is argument.  We were given powers, we should now be heroes.  This is not complicated.  We do what is right, that is all."  Antonio was indignant when he responded.  To him this was a simple decision, and he found others questions irrelevant at best, and at worst insulting to his hero Comstock.

"Oh, it seems that we're starting.  Just think about it sir, and let me know.  There are no strings attached."  Saul quieted as the others started talking, allowing them to go on at length before he interjected.  "I know that there is going to be violence, it is an inescapable part of human conflict.  I want no part of it myself though, and I'm not joining with the intent of playing medic to a bunch of terrorists.  I have faith in Dillon, that is why I'm here, but if time and tides take us to a place where massive violence, or violence for the wrong reasons, is considered acceptable... well, I'll be leaving then.  I want to see criminals reformed and violence prevented where possible.  Cures spread for those that need them, promising technology released to the masses.  Those are the reasons I am here."

"Relajar, mi amigo," Dragón said, holding up a placating hand, "no one here means any offense.  You've been blessed with a very clear vision of your path in life, you feel no hesitation in moving forward.  Not everyone is granted that blessing.  Many are just as committed to doing the right thing, but can't always immediately see what that is.  Let's try to be patient a little longer."

Sean made a mental note to never, ever, under any circumstance ever be in any situation where his success or survival depended on Cruz.  Zealots were the same regardless of which flag, deity, or cause they marched under.  He was going to get himself killed, and probably take a few people with him when he did, unless Sean missed his guess.
Also, interestingly, this nascent organization placed itself beyond human laws, thus aligned itself with some of the core tenants of the Teragen, but professed a distrust of many in that organization, regardless of Gravitas' and Solitaire's participation here.  Curious.  More curious was Johnny's presence here, as a T2M member this was the last place that he should be, and consorting with know terats, elites, and anarchs.  Very curious.
Sean wasn't sure that these novas knew what they were getting into, but there was no reason alienating so many movers and shakers, especially important clients like Herr Forster, and potentially important clients like Serenade.  "I'm willing to help train people as well, I'm fully versed in espionage, both physical and electronic, as well as counter espionage.  I'm also willing to put my talents at your disposal, as long as I am not forced to compromise the interests of my employer to do so."

Daphne looks up after realizing she didn't make a complete fool out of herself. She takes a step out from behind Serenade and speaks again.

"I would appreciate any training that I can get. I am definitely interested in helping this organization out in anyway I can. So, when were you wanting to get this little group off the ground? Do you already have things planned for these teams or is it a kind of do things as they pop up organization?"

"Hah," said Kitten, slapping Daphne on the shoulder, "We're already off the ground. You don't think we gathered all these people here together at the same time on a whim, did you? Picking likely allies and such has already taken quite a bit of time. And, well, yes, part of responding to things is being reactive - like that Singapore dealio earlier today or the riot at the concert," she turned toward a wall and shook her fist in indignation at a part of her entertainment being interrupted.

"Anyhoo, a big part of what we'll be doing is," she turned towards Phantasm, "and please correct me if I'm wrong," she turned back to Daphne, "keeping our eyes and ears open. Stopping major terrorist events or getting to newly erupted novas before Utopia or whoever isn't going to be something we'll be able to predict very well. Not without folks keeping their fingers on the pulse of the media and such, anyway."

"And some of us are more visible than others," Gale added, finally chiming in on the conversation.  She made a motion to Comstock and herself. "We're too high profile to be seen anywhere we're not expected.  There's only one metal man and one woman with wings.  That's why we need the teams.  It gives everyone a chance to do the most good that they can with their resources and skill sets."

Laura pursed her lips in thought and finished reading the portfolio while Comstock gave his speech.  "And this is why it was important for it to look like I was detained by Vigilance.  The train wreck of a pop star who was arrested couldn't possibly be working as a spy for the organization that attempted to bring her to task for her actions.  That is the thought, no?  Our group is about infiltration?"   She tapped a slender finger thoughtfully on her lower lip as her nova enhanced mind raced with the possibilities and options.

Comstock nodded to Serenade.  "Something like that.  I'm not going to lie: I don't like anyone laying into crowds of people.  But yes, I'll take the opportunity for what its worth.  If you want to participate, you're welcome.  If not, we'll let you off with a warning."

From Comstock's perspective this was going ... about as well as could be expected.  "We are already off the ground.  Utopia and the Directorate are looking for their scapegoat, Dr. Worm, and I have two other new friends out looking for him too since I don't think he'll get anything resembling a fair trial.  We've already helped another two novas disappear back into society to try to live normal lives.  And once we're done here I'll be getting back to the task of bankrolling this operation: we may be extra-legal and extra-national, but I'll bleed out before I'll let this operation become just another cartel."

"I want everyone to think about this.  You've got four weeks.  If you all still feel the same way after that time, we'll start making uniforms, badges, and all that crap."

Jumping at Shadows
Justin turned to the group, looking at the collected faces and unblinking eyes.  "We don't need a new player on the scene, especially not one of this nature.  Elimination is not an option, for reasons already discussed.  We also cannot risk taking direct action against them, given both their erratic nature and the danger posed by publicly acknowledging them.  That leaves us with few options.  You know my plans of course, but I'm open to suggestions before we move forward."

As expected, Jeong was the first to engage, telepathically projecting her thoughts for clearer understanding.  We need to move amongst them, find someone willing to help us, to keep us apprised of their movements and plans.  Where force cannot oppose, subtlety may yet guide...

Anne spoke next, predictably opposed to subtle maneuverings.  "Just cut them off and be done with it.  I know these people; they're powerful and smart, but not really clever or independent enough to be a successful threat, or at least not the kind of threat we're really worried about.  Take out their resources, make life hard on them, they'll be too busy to do anything that matters."

A low mental hum indicated the korean woman's disapproval and the beginnings of a thought projection, but one of the teleconferenced members cut in.  Otho.  "I think that Jeong has the right of it, and I think I know someone who fits into the pattern perfectly, if we can convince him.  He was even nice enough to give us a call, right after the incident in Singapore."

Justin nodded. "Alright then.  Anne, we are doing that, but we need more.  I agree with Jeong as well, it was where I was hoping the discussion would go actually.  We will assign someone to make contact and--"

Whitley, silent to this point, spoke firmly despite his advancing years.  "I will make contact, and handle the situation.  I have a more friendly touch, after all."

Justin eyed the man, friend and opponent for so long.  "Unexpected, but fine.  Just don't deviate, we have a plan and I mean to see it accomplished this time."

---

New Friends
Whitley spoke politely to the woman that answered the phone.  "Yes miss, if you would be so kind.  Yes, when he gets back in please let him know the time of the proposed meeting.  Thank you so much, and pass on our thanks to him as well.  Goodbye now."  Terri seemed a nice woman, though her background and current life choices spoke volumes about her troubled mental state.  Still, it never hurt to be polite.  As she hung up the phone, he could here her begin speaking to her boyfriend, "You oughta go..."

If things went well, Joe would agree to the meeting, set at a small diner in Kennebunk, Maine.  It was a statement, both that they knew the man's background, and that they were willing to deal with him on his terms.  Transportation was available of course, or he could come in by boat, so long as he made it on time.  Whitley didn't approve of tardiness at all.

---

Gambling
Dillon sat in a private booth, curtains mostly drawn.  The show on the floor, dancers artfully displaying their flesh for the bored Russian elite, was coming to a temporary close.  Not that many of them took notice.  The majority of the patrons were more interested in gambling, and the auction set for later in the evening.  That was why Dillon came, after all.

The famous Metal Man was only able to get in thanks to his new-found notoriety; being on the international wanted list apparently had a few perks.  On the way in, he noted a several Russian politicians and a ranking figure in the Eastern Orthodox church, all rubbing shoulders with Russian cartel members.  It wasn't just a local affair though: a Saudi sheik, Japanese power brokers (both legal and illicit), a Chinese general, and wealthy american arms dealers were all in attendance.  As a waitress laid down his drink, Dillon caught a glimpse of two elites sitting down at a nearby table, and more troubling, a nova criminal he'd hoped was dead.  Juan Trajillo was seated in his own booth, less than 10 meters away.

Russia's anti-utopia stance, loose law enforcement, and corrupt government made it an ideal meeting place, and the involvement of so many powerful "legitimate" individuals made the likelihood of exposure minimal, as few were organizations were interested in the kind of fallout that would come from such revelations.  Neither Utopia nor the Directorate wanted news reports detailing how the worlds rich and powerful were buying black tech and access codes to government secrets at secret meetings after all.

As the auction grew closer, Dillon realized he would need to place his people and decide on a course of action.  He had contingencies of course, but he'd left things open so that he could adapt to the situation.  Now that people were starting to mingle a bit, the gambling tables were picking up, and the auction was only a half an hour away, he needed to make some decisions.

Hopefully the night would be worth the trouble.

---

Gods and Men
The air was sticky and hot in Eastern India, as the group trekked through the dense forest to find one of the villages the refugees had reported.  So far there were no signs of abuse, or even signs of any nova presence, at the small villages they had passed.  As the forest grew thicker and the heat more oppressive, it was tempting to turn around, but the claims of the refugees needed to be investigated: obscene rituals carried out in the name of self-styled nova "gods," small wars fought between pantheons, and the presence of religious doctrine that was suspiciously close to the dogma espoused by the Host of Eternity.

After a day of travel into the densest portion of the forest, the group came to an open clearing, trees and vegetation burnt away under intense heat that only military grade weaponry or nova powers could generate.  At the center of the clearing was a towering stone column.  Attached to it was a perfect replica of a tiger-headed woman struggling to free her raised hands from where they were clamped to the column.  Surrounding the strange monument were what appeared to be local villagers, armed with old rifles and machetes.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Insert yourself where you like, just include the title of the section you want to join in on in your post.

---

Sean stood alertly behind his current client. The prince had requested a bodyguard, and since the complications in Singapore, word had gotten around. His new rates were very much welcome, but his busier schedule left little time for the things that really mattered. Sean noted Dillon sitting at his table a short distance away, but made no indication that he knew the man. He was working.
With an effortlessness that almost made it look like he was bored and spacing out, Sean scanned the room. Whatever happened he'd be ready.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:39, Mon 10 Feb 2014.

Dragón held himself in perfect stillness in the jungle shadows.  His dragon scale suit and mask were shifting colors to perfectly mimic the background.  His eyes sought out details in what he could see, hear, and smell.  Scanning the burned patch, he looked for any signs of regrowth that could tell him how long ago the damage occurred.  He also paid careful attention to the actions of the natives around the statue, hoping he could learn something about the significance of it.

Phantasm trekked through the jungle, taking up the rear while Angelo took the front.  She wanted to be in Russia with 'Stock, but he needed to develop the skills to operate on a different sort of battlefield.  The best way she could help him do that was by letting him stand on his own, and she had the added benefit of getting to spend time with Angelo, though things hadn't quite warmed up after the initial Vigilance meeting.  Just a lack of time, or was it something else?  They had both grown since Bahrain, though she wasn't sure it was in the same direction.

Thoughts regarding her relationships continued to race through her brain even as she scanned the area for danger and analyzed the details of their situation.  The joy of processing faster is that you have all the time in the world to worry.  Looking at the burnt out patch of forest, Phantasm finally had a decent distraction.  Applying the full force of her mental abilities to the task, she attempted to decipher what exactly was going on.  She did not, however, show herself; no reason to give away an advantage after all.

Serenade leaned a little closer to her date for the evening, a high ranking member of the Bratva named Alexei Nevsky, so that her golden hair lightly tickled his ear as she pursed her ruby painted lips and made a show of blowing on the dice that he held up to her.  It was quite easy to get into the underground club once they had a name.  The wildly popular Novox star Serenade had an excuse to attend almost any party that she wanted to, and once they knew that Alexei was their man Vigilance orchestrated a chance meeting at a fundraising event.  From then it was child's play for her to play the unsuspecting criminal in her game of seduction...funny how Russian men underestimated women sometimes even if they were novas.  Alexei threw the dice onto the table, and the crowd was distracted by yet another ridiculously high stakes roll, as Serenade very briefly made eye contact with Comstock conveying that she was in position and ready for the auction.

The others in the cadre traveling through the forest were managing to do so with a fair amount of stealth. Gravitas, however, had only minor training in such things. So, while the others edged closer to the clearing, getting better views of the scene without being detected by the armed baselines, he stayed well back.

He assumed that they had some reason to want to maintain an element of surprise. Perhaps they thought a nova might be present? It was certainly a possibility. If not, well, they were only baselines. It wasn't as if they were some sort of threat absent much heavier weaponry.

He opted to check the nearby area for unknown novas. He concentrated on the series of masses in his brain that made up his Mazarin-Rashoud node and the energies that it detected. He immediately discounted the novas in his own small force and any excess energy generated by their equipment. Similarly he was able to dismiss other known sources of intense energy, such as the sun. Detecting nova-scale energies from someone not actively using their powers was a difficult task, and usually limited to a fairly small area - fifty or sixty meters from his own location - but it wasn't impossible and, often, was a quite useful trick to have practiced.

OOC: Attempting quantum detection for unknown nova signatures. Range is 60 meters. Dice pool is Node.
Today: Gravitas rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the Target Number system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,9,3,1,5,8. Node - Quantum Detection.
Not a bad roll, really.

Gale was grumpy.  The branches brushed against the edges of her wings, and she frequently had to duck.  Trekking through the jungle on the ground felt grossly inefficient.  However, any stealth advantage would have been lost by having the winged woman in the sky.  So she followed Phantasm's lead, staying close to Gravitas.

Her face seemed permanently set in a frown.  Normally, a stealth mission like this wouldn't be her thing, but the Host of Eternity might be involved.  For reasons that she hadn't yet articulated to herself, she felt like she had to help keep Prodigal in check. If his people were causing this, well, she didn't want to leave it to somebody else to take care of.

Waiting for Phantasm and Dragon to give a signal, she stood next to Gravitas and cracked her knuckles impatiently.

New Friends
Whitley waited patiently at the arranged location, frightened by the future looming ahead, and annoyed by the tardiness of his contact.  In his many years, he had learned that timing was often everything… His memory wondered for a while, reviewing his long and exceptional past, until his constant companion interrupted.  I do not believe he is coming.  This is good, yes?  Our own plans require things move a bit more slowly than Justin and Enlil would prefer.  Yes my friend, if we are to pull this off we’ll need extra time.  I certainly hope we can convince them in what little remains.

Gambling
The dice fell, a 3 and 4.  Nevsky cursed and nearly threw his glass, but he quickly remembered where he was and thought better of it.  Instead, he stalked away from the table, pulling Serenade along with him.  He sat down in a booth with one of his men at his side, and waved angrily for another drink, ignoring the beautiful woman near him, though he still roughly held her arm.

The sheik, at a table nearby, chuckled quietly.  He gestured to his bodyguard, a discreet wave of the hand to bend close and listen.  “Wheelman you go by, yes? Wheelman, I do not think the criminal is having a good night.  I would like to make his night worse, and also would like the pretty American star at my table.  Go my friend, convince her to join me, there is a bonus for you if you do.  No, do not worry, my life is more secure here than anywhere else we’ve visited today.  The security would not let anything happen, it would be terrible for business.”

The man was right, of course.  The security, both human and nova, was impeccable.  Men in suits stood silently, waiting for orders to act from their bosses, undoubtedly monitoring every detail of the scene through the surveillance devices hidden around the room.  Three elites in garish dress that set them apart from the clientele, patrolled the area and a fourth nova stalked the place unseen.  Every nova in the room caught a glimpse of, or more likely was allowed to see,  a the fourth elite: dressed in black, skull mask adorning his face, shining spears held in each hand, the legendary elite was intimidating enough to quell any thought of nova violence.

Dillon, alone at his table, was handed a menu as he waited.  Others nearby were receiving menus of their own.  A tablet computer, delivered by two of the suited security staff, conveniently programmed with the preliminaries for the auction, the list of the night’s items, and the minimum starting bids.  The staff discreetly explained that it was also used for placing initial bids, then waited for a moment to answer any further questions before moving on to the next table.

The menu displayed many minor contraband items banned by Utopia and the majority of the world’s governments, mostly for the convenience of the extremely wealthy clientele interested in discreet access to taboo luxury items.  The higher profile items, the reason that so many important players were present, were further down the page.  Two prototype devices guaranteed to work, but too dangerous to put into production: a quantum field disruptor of unknown strength, and a device that allowed for one-way mental connections via a brain scanner similar to a double-wide MRI, both priced at 10 million euros.

At the bottom of the menu were two extremely troubling pieces of data for sale at a starting price of 15 million euros each: a complete listing of DeVries personnel with human resources information included, and the complete utopia files on Team Tomorrow Americas from the period immediately following the Columbian War.  Psych profiles, power breakdowns, virtually everything useful in predicting or opposing the novas in question.

Gods and Men
The Vigilance operatives took in the scenery.  Dragon’s military experience, Gale’s knowledge of plants, and Grav’s knowledge of everything else, made it fairly obvious that the burning took place roughly 3 weeks ago.  Traces of ruins dotted the area, leftovers of dynasties past, and likely made this a culturally significant spot for the battle that took place here.  The odd tableau spread at the center of the clearing was focused on the column and the impeccably carved woman attached to it.  The impromptu militia surrounding the statue were occupied by clearing away new vines, only recently emerged from the fire scorched soil, and leaving meagre offerings of food at the base of the statue.  Their faces held mixed, but powerful, emotions: anger, love, shame, sadness, loss.

It took a moment for them to notice the presence of the novas in their midst, hidden as they were by the forest; a young boy holding a rifle that was likely a leftover from the Great War, was the first to spot them as he moved through the forest to join the rest of the villagers.  Upon seeing Gravitas and his inky eyes, then Gale and her angelic wings, the boy prostrated himself on the ground.  Oblivious to the pain as he cut his knee on one of the many branches littering the forest floor, he exclaimed a few words in Bodo, the language spoken by many of the peoples native to the forests of the Assam province.  With the boy’s shouts from the forest, the others looked up from their work and quickly followed his example despite the fact that the novas were not in the villagers’ line of sight, falling into the same prone position and exclaiming the same words.

Phantasm and Gravitas, the two linguists in the group, had versed themselves in what limited written and recorded linguistic records of Bodo were available online.  Though not fully proficient in the language, they could both make out the words “Praise,” “Mercy,” and “Property”.  The last word, property, was followed immediately by the title of a powerful Hindu goddess, “Durga.”  Phantasm and Gravitas could easily tell that there was a religious element to all of this, likely a religious conflict that ended in loss for the villagers, but the specifics still remained obfuscated. The puzzle grew more complex as Gravitas sensed a faint pulse of quantum energy as the people spoke, emanating directly from the statue.

Dragon, his attention split between possible threats in the surrounding area and the scene in the clearing, sensed that there were others in the nearby forest.  As he edited out the noises of the local fauna, he discerned more details: A solid group, at least 10 strong, smelling of fire and gunpowder, at least 100 but no farther than 300 yards out.

After reporting the approach of the small force, Dragón - still heavily camouflaged - slowly shifted his position so that, if they attacked here, he'd be able to flank them.  He also kept half an eye on that statue.  It seemed strange to him that such poor villagers would have such an expertly carved statue as their shrine.  And if it were a relic of one of the earlier periods, would time have not dulled its features somewhat?