Hello lo lo, minna-san! Okay, I know it's been over a month, but finally
the surprise elimination round continues. If I recall correctly, it is
still yet to be seen whether or not Madison wins her elimination round.
Will she? Before I let you find that out for yourselves, check this out:
MUGEN: Heyla! Thank you! I think that the battle in this chapter is a bit longer, so enjoy! * huggles *
MILLENIUM MUTANT: Why thank you! And I totally understand; in case you didn't notice, I'm a bit slow myself. * sweatdrops *
JAMFASE: Oh thank you for sparing my poor lungs! * face returns to normal color * I'm in the process of reading Angelic Triad, I'm just too lazy to update sometimes, but I will, so don't worry, ok? I like Destiny's fighting style too; that's why I gave it to her!
THE INSANE OTAKU AKA CATERFREE: Thank you, thank you! Thanks for your support! The girls (and their angels) appreciate it. I have continued, so feel free to scroll down and read!
MIDNIGHT FAIRY: Um, thanks. I think. Being alive is GOOD! Besides, if you kill me anytime soon, I won't be able to finish. So go satisfy your bloodlust somewhere else! * sticks out tongue * Of course I'll consult your for Nicole's turn in the tournament, she's your character, you louse. And you can't steal Jaelyn, she's MINE!!! My baby!!! You hear? So then I'll sick my little cuz, the child of many questions, on you. So HA, take that!
LI'AIN: Yup! And here's another!
ILYENA: I'll try to keep it up. And here's more!
SUBSTANTIVO: About time! About Madison's hair, it's originally black, but she dyes her bangs often. Sorry, sweetie, but I can't make any promises. You'll have to wait and see what happens in the finals. So please be patient, ok? * huggles *
PRINCESS AYEKA-ANGEL: Thank you and I did! Go ahead and read!
DR. THINKER: Thank you! Wait no more, because here it is!
LITTLE RABBIT F/LRPLI: Thank you, Haruka-chan!
JASON Q: Thank you, but calm down! All will be revealed in due time, my friend.
SPOOTASIA TOMOE: Aw, aren't you sweet? Thanks! * huggles * I know you're all waiting, but I'm slow. me sorry. I've updated now! That's good right?
LUINTHORON: You're welcome, and thank you!
RACHEL: Thanks sweetie! I wish there was too! But if they can build those Yu-Gi-Oh ! duel disks, then they should be able to make angels, right?
ANGEL OPHELIA: Thank you and I'll try!
MARTIAL ARTS MASTER: Oh, I'm very much aware of there being Angelic Layer DVDs in English, but my problem is lack of money. * pouts * Anyway, thank you! I'm glad I'm not making the theme totally OC, even if my characters are. * smiles *
FISHKISSER: Hey, thanks for the tip and the review! If you'll read below, I've taken your excellent advice. And believe me, it takes me about three days minimum to write a battle scene. Oi and I still have. TEN to go. o_O
Okay that's all the thank yous I have to dish out for now. And I've changed a few things in the last chapter, such as tweaking the battle scene so that it's a little better so MAKE SURE YOU GO BACK AND RE-READ BATTLE 8, ok?
Disclaimer: I do not own Icchan or the concept of Angelic Layer, therefore I cannot claim the credit. Madison, Celeste, and all other characters are MINE. So be the nice folks I know you are and don't use them without my permission.
Now, let the fun begin. ANGELIC FIGHT!!!
* BATTLE 9 *
In due time, Madison's turn came up, and she was ready to go. In fact, she was bouncing in her seat, she was so excited. Camden Weiss and her Angel, Sara, her opponents, stepped up to meet Madison and Celeste in the Layer.
Camden was a tallish girl with her short spiky blond hair with the ends dyed black. She wore a white Chinese top trimmed in black and a pair of black Dickies pants. Her Angel was perched on her left wrist.
Sara was dressed in a red gi, tied about her solid form with a black belt. A black sweatband that matched her black wristbands held her chin length blond hair back and her feet were bare.
Holding out a hand to Madison, she nodded her head once and murmured, "Good luck Madison."
Grasping Camden's hand, Madison shook it firmly, smiling at her opponent. "Same to you Camden," she replied. The girls then parted and took their places at opposite ends of the Layer. Slipping on their visors, Camden and Madison prepared to battle as the wings on their headgear spread out when they switched them on.
The referee stepped up to the Layer and declared, "Angelic Battle: Angel Sara vs. Angel Celeste. Angels to the Layer!"
Camden pressed the two first fingers of her right hands together, closing her eyes and bringing them up to her face along with her wrist that was seating Sara.
"Sara let your spirit soar to victory! Angel fall in!" Camden said as she tossed her Angel in the Layer. Sara's icy blue eyes opened as she catapulted forward and performed a short kata of short, sharp kicks and punches, clenching her fists at her sides then taking a karate stance, ready for battle.
"Let's win this together," Madison whispered to her Angel before tossing her into the Layer.
"Celeste, let the power of the Moon light your path and guide you to victory in the Layer! Angel fall in!" Celeste back flipped twice across Madison's palm, the second flip sending her out of her Deus's hands and flying into the Layer. She landed lightly on her feet like a cat, and her grey eyes snapped open as she struck a "v is for victory" pose and winked at Sara.
Looking at both Dei to make sure each was ready to begin, the referee called, "ANGELIC FIGHT!"
For a moment, Sara and Celeste stood looking at each other. Madison bit her lip. It looked as if Camden had something up her sleeve and was waiting for her to attack.
'She's probably trying to lure me into an attack. But if I don't attack first, I have a feeling that she'll use that to her advantage somehow,' Madison thought anxiously. She hesitated visibly, then schooled her expression and attacked.
Celeste sped towards her opponent in a blur. Sara looked unfazed as the celestial Angel came closer. Suddenly, Sara wasn't in front of her anymore, and Celeste skidded to a halt. She looked around warily for her opponent. The minute she turned her head, Sara appeared and dealt a karate chop to Celeste's neck, sending her flying across the Layer.
Madison gasped. 'How did she do that?' she thought incredulously, glancing over to a serene looking Camden. Frowning, Madison's eyes turned a stormy grey behind her visor, as Celeste got to her feet.
'Whatever she did to Celeste last time, I won't let it happen again,' she thought, focusing now only on the Layer and her Angel. Sure enough, Sara had pulled the disappearing act again; the karate Angel was nowhere to be seen.
On instinct, Celeste looked up discreetly and saw Sara camouflaging herself in the glare of the ceiling light that happened to be above the Layer.
'Jump' Madison willed her Angel silently, a wicked smirk crossing her face. Celeste leapt into the air catching Sara by surprise. It was Camden's turn to gasp; she thought that Celeste hadn't seen Sara in the glare of the light because she hadn't seen the celestial Angel look up.
Clasping her hands together, Celeste brought them down onto Sara's head, pounding the karate Angel into a downward plunge.
Quickly following suit, Celeste faced off with the quickly recovered Sara. Launching into a series of spin kicks, Sara managed to hit Celeste in the stomach. Madison winced at the damage being dealt to her Angel, but kept her focus.
'Dodge, Celeste! We have to use our speed to get out of this one!' she thought. Just before Sara could kick her again, Celeste back-flipped away from her opponent's onslaught, purposely keeping a certain margin between the two Angels.
Before Sara could pull out of her attack, Celeste dropped down and spin kicked her, then sprung up and flipped over Sara's body, using the opposing angel's stomach as a springboard.
Time was running out and both Dei knew it. Almost as if they'd agreed to do so, Camden went after Celeste with a kata of precise blows delivered at top speed. Even though she was able to dodge the first blow, Celeste could barely defend herself from the attack.
'Her movements are so precise and they keep hitting their mark!' Madison thought.
Madison could feel herself beginning to lose it as she watched Celeste get pounded, while Camden maintained her intense concentration.
'I have to do something fast or else Celeste will lose!' thought the grey-eyed girl anxiously. Then, suddenly she had an idea.
'I'll just have to use Sara's precision and reflexes against her.' The idea quickly turned into a plan, and Madison barely kept from smiling. Showing the slightest emotion could ruin her plan. Camden looked sharp enough to figure out what a change in expression could mean and Madison didn't want to take the risk.
Celeste was almost to the edge of the Layer, so Madison decided to go from there. In an impressive display of agility, the celestial Angel gripped Sara's shoulders, using them to flip her body over the karate Angel's head. Surprised by the sudden change in her opponent, Sara stumbled, but still managed to stay in the Layer.
When Sara turned to continue attacking, Celeste landed behind her and quickly curled her body into a leapfrog position. Just as Sara caught her balance, Celeste braced her hands on the layer as she elevated her body on her outstretched arms. She threw her legs up and out with all her might, hitting Sara squarely in the stomach.
As Madison had intended, the force of the blow was enough to force Sara out of the Layer.
"Layer out! Celeste wins!" the referee declared. Letting out a breath she hadn't realized that she'd been holding, Madison took off her visor and shook out her hair.
She turned when she felt a tap on her shoulder, and found herself face to face with Camden. To her surprise, the seemingly stoic Deus smiled and held out a hand.
"Congratulations, Madison. You earned it," Camden said. Unable to keep the grin off of her own face, Madison shook hands with the blond.
"It was tough battling you. I almost lost," she admitted, chuckling sheepishly.
"But you stuck with it. And for that I really respect you."
"Thanks Camden," the grey-eyed girl said sincerely.
"I should be thanking you. Because of what I've seen in this battle, I know what I might have been doing wrong before, so now Sara and I can become a better team and win next time."
"I didn't think you were the type to give up that easily," Madison told her enthusiastically.
"No, every defeat just makes me try harder." Camden turned to leave, cradling Sara in her hands fondly. "Farewell Madison," she said over her shoulder, not bothering to look back.
"Good luck!" Madison called after her. Tia came and threw her arms happily around her best friend's neck.
"You did it, Madison! Celeste kicked butt out there," said the curly haired girl excitedly.
"She did, didn't she?" Madison replied, kissing her Angel on the top of her head and carefully placing her on her left shoulder.
"Yup. And now we're both in the Finals." The girls looked at each other seriously.
"We both have to kick butt," Madison said solemnly. Tia nodded.
"Of course. But if we have to battle each other, let's just do our best and don't hold back. That way there are no hard feelings on either side because whoever wins in that situation would deserve to win since she did her best. Agreed?" Tia asked.
"Agreed. Now let's go. I can't wait to get back in the Layer. That was awesome!" Madison enthused as the girls headed downstairs to await further instructions.
~*^*^*~
"Very impressive," Ryoko remarked as she watched the last battle of the elimination round come to a close with an Angel dressed in black and red sporting gray angel wings threw her opponent out of the Layer.
The media room of Piffle Princess U.S.A was a spacious room littered with computer desks, fax machines, printers, large monitors, video equipment, and lots of paper. The floor was literally covered with electric cables in certain places. An open archway decorated with the Piffle Princess logo and the words "Main Office" marked the connection to the Piffle Princess U.S.A offices.
The second the last battle had ended, the computer that had been automatically calculating the outcome of each of the ten elimination battles immediately printed out a sheet of the finalists. The woman at the machine ran the sheet across the busy room to another employee who sent it to several destinations to be processed.
"I have to say, the Dei in America are very good," Shota said, looking over some of the tape from the battles.
"And Madison did well too," his superior remarked.
"Oh? Playing favorites, Ryoko?" Shota asked teasingly.
"Hmm. maybe, maybe not," she teased back. Then she calmed down a bit.
"Still, I can't wait to see how our ten finalists do on the new Layers," she remarked.
"Ryoko, you can hardly call them new. They've been out for awhile now in Japan," Shota pointed out.
Ryoko stuck her tongue out at him. "Well they're new here in America. They came out barely a year ago in Japan, so it's still pretty new anyway you look at it," she retorted. Ever the peacemaker, Shota just shrugged and grinned at Ryoko.
"You have a point there," he said. She cackled.
"OF COURSE I DO!" she bellowed, making the people around her cringe. A new employee who was especially nervous fell of his chair unceremoniously.
Quickly helping him up, much to the poor guy's embarrassment, Ryoko set off towards the elevator.
"We have to hurry Shota," she called, stepping in to the waiting elevator car. "If we don't, we'll be late getting to the arena. And don't forget you have a big job to do, so get your butt in gear!"
Shota barely made it before the doors closed. "Just in time," he breathed. Ryoko sighed in disappointment.
"Darn," she muttered, snapping her fingers.
"What'd you say?" Shota asked innocently.
Smiling sweetly, Ryoko answered, "Oh nothing; nothing at all."
'Sucker' she thought, cackling evilly in her mind.
* END BATTLE 9 *
So that's it for now folks! I gotta run, so don't forget to review! Until next time, ja ne minna-san!
MUGEN: Heyla! Thank you! I think that the battle in this chapter is a bit longer, so enjoy! * huggles *
MILLENIUM MUTANT: Why thank you! And I totally understand; in case you didn't notice, I'm a bit slow myself. * sweatdrops *
JAMFASE: Oh thank you for sparing my poor lungs! * face returns to normal color * I'm in the process of reading Angelic Triad, I'm just too lazy to update sometimes, but I will, so don't worry, ok? I like Destiny's fighting style too; that's why I gave it to her!
THE INSANE OTAKU AKA CATERFREE: Thank you, thank you! Thanks for your support! The girls (and their angels) appreciate it. I have continued, so feel free to scroll down and read!
MIDNIGHT FAIRY: Um, thanks. I think. Being alive is GOOD! Besides, if you kill me anytime soon, I won't be able to finish. So go satisfy your bloodlust somewhere else! * sticks out tongue * Of course I'll consult your for Nicole's turn in the tournament, she's your character, you louse. And you can't steal Jaelyn, she's MINE!!! My baby!!! You hear? So then I'll sick my little cuz, the child of many questions, on you. So HA, take that!
LI'AIN: Yup! And here's another!
ILYENA: I'll try to keep it up. And here's more!
SUBSTANTIVO: About time! About Madison's hair, it's originally black, but she dyes her bangs often. Sorry, sweetie, but I can't make any promises. You'll have to wait and see what happens in the finals. So please be patient, ok? * huggles *
PRINCESS AYEKA-ANGEL: Thank you and I did! Go ahead and read!
DR. THINKER: Thank you! Wait no more, because here it is!
LITTLE RABBIT F/LRPLI: Thank you, Haruka-chan!
JASON Q: Thank you, but calm down! All will be revealed in due time, my friend.
SPOOTASIA TOMOE: Aw, aren't you sweet? Thanks! * huggles * I know you're all waiting, but I'm slow. me sorry. I've updated now! That's good right?
LUINTHORON: You're welcome, and thank you!
RACHEL: Thanks sweetie! I wish there was too! But if they can build those Yu-Gi-Oh ! duel disks, then they should be able to make angels, right?
ANGEL OPHELIA: Thank you and I'll try!
MARTIAL ARTS MASTER: Oh, I'm very much aware of there being Angelic Layer DVDs in English, but my problem is lack of money. * pouts * Anyway, thank you! I'm glad I'm not making the theme totally OC, even if my characters are. * smiles *
FISHKISSER: Hey, thanks for the tip and the review! If you'll read below, I've taken your excellent advice. And believe me, it takes me about three days minimum to write a battle scene. Oi and I still have. TEN to go. o_O
Okay that's all the thank yous I have to dish out for now. And I've changed a few things in the last chapter, such as tweaking the battle scene so that it's a little better so MAKE SURE YOU GO BACK AND RE-READ BATTLE 8, ok?
Disclaimer: I do not own Icchan or the concept of Angelic Layer, therefore I cannot claim the credit. Madison, Celeste, and all other characters are MINE. So be the nice folks I know you are and don't use them without my permission.
Now, let the fun begin. ANGELIC FIGHT!!!
* BATTLE 9 *
In due time, Madison's turn came up, and she was ready to go. In fact, she was bouncing in her seat, she was so excited. Camden Weiss and her Angel, Sara, her opponents, stepped up to meet Madison and Celeste in the Layer.
Camden was a tallish girl with her short spiky blond hair with the ends dyed black. She wore a white Chinese top trimmed in black and a pair of black Dickies pants. Her Angel was perched on her left wrist.
Sara was dressed in a red gi, tied about her solid form with a black belt. A black sweatband that matched her black wristbands held her chin length blond hair back and her feet were bare.
Holding out a hand to Madison, she nodded her head once and murmured, "Good luck Madison."
Grasping Camden's hand, Madison shook it firmly, smiling at her opponent. "Same to you Camden," she replied. The girls then parted and took their places at opposite ends of the Layer. Slipping on their visors, Camden and Madison prepared to battle as the wings on their headgear spread out when they switched them on.
The referee stepped up to the Layer and declared, "Angelic Battle: Angel Sara vs. Angel Celeste. Angels to the Layer!"
Camden pressed the two first fingers of her right hands together, closing her eyes and bringing them up to her face along with her wrist that was seating Sara.
"Sara let your spirit soar to victory! Angel fall in!" Camden said as she tossed her Angel in the Layer. Sara's icy blue eyes opened as she catapulted forward and performed a short kata of short, sharp kicks and punches, clenching her fists at her sides then taking a karate stance, ready for battle.
"Let's win this together," Madison whispered to her Angel before tossing her into the Layer.
"Celeste, let the power of the Moon light your path and guide you to victory in the Layer! Angel fall in!" Celeste back flipped twice across Madison's palm, the second flip sending her out of her Deus's hands and flying into the Layer. She landed lightly on her feet like a cat, and her grey eyes snapped open as she struck a "v is for victory" pose and winked at Sara.
Looking at both Dei to make sure each was ready to begin, the referee called, "ANGELIC FIGHT!"
For a moment, Sara and Celeste stood looking at each other. Madison bit her lip. It looked as if Camden had something up her sleeve and was waiting for her to attack.
'She's probably trying to lure me into an attack. But if I don't attack first, I have a feeling that she'll use that to her advantage somehow,' Madison thought anxiously. She hesitated visibly, then schooled her expression and attacked.
Celeste sped towards her opponent in a blur. Sara looked unfazed as the celestial Angel came closer. Suddenly, Sara wasn't in front of her anymore, and Celeste skidded to a halt. She looked around warily for her opponent. The minute she turned her head, Sara appeared and dealt a karate chop to Celeste's neck, sending her flying across the Layer.
Madison gasped. 'How did she do that?' she thought incredulously, glancing over to a serene looking Camden. Frowning, Madison's eyes turned a stormy grey behind her visor, as Celeste got to her feet.
'Whatever she did to Celeste last time, I won't let it happen again,' she thought, focusing now only on the Layer and her Angel. Sure enough, Sara had pulled the disappearing act again; the karate Angel was nowhere to be seen.
On instinct, Celeste looked up discreetly and saw Sara camouflaging herself in the glare of the ceiling light that happened to be above the Layer.
'Jump' Madison willed her Angel silently, a wicked smirk crossing her face. Celeste leapt into the air catching Sara by surprise. It was Camden's turn to gasp; she thought that Celeste hadn't seen Sara in the glare of the light because she hadn't seen the celestial Angel look up.
Clasping her hands together, Celeste brought them down onto Sara's head, pounding the karate Angel into a downward plunge.
Quickly following suit, Celeste faced off with the quickly recovered Sara. Launching into a series of spin kicks, Sara managed to hit Celeste in the stomach. Madison winced at the damage being dealt to her Angel, but kept her focus.
'Dodge, Celeste! We have to use our speed to get out of this one!' she thought. Just before Sara could kick her again, Celeste back-flipped away from her opponent's onslaught, purposely keeping a certain margin between the two Angels.
Before Sara could pull out of her attack, Celeste dropped down and spin kicked her, then sprung up and flipped over Sara's body, using the opposing angel's stomach as a springboard.
Time was running out and both Dei knew it. Almost as if they'd agreed to do so, Camden went after Celeste with a kata of precise blows delivered at top speed. Even though she was able to dodge the first blow, Celeste could barely defend herself from the attack.
'Her movements are so precise and they keep hitting their mark!' Madison thought.
Madison could feel herself beginning to lose it as she watched Celeste get pounded, while Camden maintained her intense concentration.
'I have to do something fast or else Celeste will lose!' thought the grey-eyed girl anxiously. Then, suddenly she had an idea.
'I'll just have to use Sara's precision and reflexes against her.' The idea quickly turned into a plan, and Madison barely kept from smiling. Showing the slightest emotion could ruin her plan. Camden looked sharp enough to figure out what a change in expression could mean and Madison didn't want to take the risk.
Celeste was almost to the edge of the Layer, so Madison decided to go from there. In an impressive display of agility, the celestial Angel gripped Sara's shoulders, using them to flip her body over the karate Angel's head. Surprised by the sudden change in her opponent, Sara stumbled, but still managed to stay in the Layer.
When Sara turned to continue attacking, Celeste landed behind her and quickly curled her body into a leapfrog position. Just as Sara caught her balance, Celeste braced her hands on the layer as she elevated her body on her outstretched arms. She threw her legs up and out with all her might, hitting Sara squarely in the stomach.
As Madison had intended, the force of the blow was enough to force Sara out of the Layer.
"Layer out! Celeste wins!" the referee declared. Letting out a breath she hadn't realized that she'd been holding, Madison took off her visor and shook out her hair.
She turned when she felt a tap on her shoulder, and found herself face to face with Camden. To her surprise, the seemingly stoic Deus smiled and held out a hand.
"Congratulations, Madison. You earned it," Camden said. Unable to keep the grin off of her own face, Madison shook hands with the blond.
"It was tough battling you. I almost lost," she admitted, chuckling sheepishly.
"But you stuck with it. And for that I really respect you."
"Thanks Camden," the grey-eyed girl said sincerely.
"I should be thanking you. Because of what I've seen in this battle, I know what I might have been doing wrong before, so now Sara and I can become a better team and win next time."
"I didn't think you were the type to give up that easily," Madison told her enthusiastically.
"No, every defeat just makes me try harder." Camden turned to leave, cradling Sara in her hands fondly. "Farewell Madison," she said over her shoulder, not bothering to look back.
"Good luck!" Madison called after her. Tia came and threw her arms happily around her best friend's neck.
"You did it, Madison! Celeste kicked butt out there," said the curly haired girl excitedly.
"She did, didn't she?" Madison replied, kissing her Angel on the top of her head and carefully placing her on her left shoulder.
"Yup. And now we're both in the Finals." The girls looked at each other seriously.
"We both have to kick butt," Madison said solemnly. Tia nodded.
"Of course. But if we have to battle each other, let's just do our best and don't hold back. That way there are no hard feelings on either side because whoever wins in that situation would deserve to win since she did her best. Agreed?" Tia asked.
"Agreed. Now let's go. I can't wait to get back in the Layer. That was awesome!" Madison enthused as the girls headed downstairs to await further instructions.
~*^*^*~
"Very impressive," Ryoko remarked as she watched the last battle of the elimination round come to a close with an Angel dressed in black and red sporting gray angel wings threw her opponent out of the Layer.
The media room of Piffle Princess U.S.A was a spacious room littered with computer desks, fax machines, printers, large monitors, video equipment, and lots of paper. The floor was literally covered with electric cables in certain places. An open archway decorated with the Piffle Princess logo and the words "Main Office" marked the connection to the Piffle Princess U.S.A offices.
The second the last battle had ended, the computer that had been automatically calculating the outcome of each of the ten elimination battles immediately printed out a sheet of the finalists. The woman at the machine ran the sheet across the busy room to another employee who sent it to several destinations to be processed.
"I have to say, the Dei in America are very good," Shota said, looking over some of the tape from the battles.
"And Madison did well too," his superior remarked.
"Oh? Playing favorites, Ryoko?" Shota asked teasingly.
"Hmm. maybe, maybe not," she teased back. Then she calmed down a bit.
"Still, I can't wait to see how our ten finalists do on the new Layers," she remarked.
"Ryoko, you can hardly call them new. They've been out for awhile now in Japan," Shota pointed out.
Ryoko stuck her tongue out at him. "Well they're new here in America. They came out barely a year ago in Japan, so it's still pretty new anyway you look at it," she retorted. Ever the peacemaker, Shota just shrugged and grinned at Ryoko.
"You have a point there," he said. She cackled.
"OF COURSE I DO!" she bellowed, making the people around her cringe. A new employee who was especially nervous fell of his chair unceremoniously.
Quickly helping him up, much to the poor guy's embarrassment, Ryoko set off towards the elevator.
"We have to hurry Shota," she called, stepping in to the waiting elevator car. "If we don't, we'll be late getting to the arena. And don't forget you have a big job to do, so get your butt in gear!"
Shota barely made it before the doors closed. "Just in time," he breathed. Ryoko sighed in disappointment.
"Darn," she muttered, snapping her fingers.
"What'd you say?" Shota asked innocently.
Smiling sweetly, Ryoko answered, "Oh nothing; nothing at all."
'Sucker' she thought, cackling evilly in her mind.
* END BATTLE 9 *
So that's it for now folks! I gotta run, so don't forget to review! Until next time, ja ne minna-san!