Problem Thirty Three: Go, Go, Go Shinji... So who's going up to Heaven?
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- Editor: Help Wanted Apply from with in...
Sitting in the Music Wing of the Pilots School, SenseiChisaki Hama studies the sounds she hears in the air with mixed decisions on its quality. The vibrant and soothing sounds of a violin are sweet to anyone's ear, and the level of play is incredible. However what in differs her is definitely not the player but the instrument being played. It is out of tune just enough that only a trained ear could tell, and Chisaki's ears are very trained. The playing stops and the young teacher hardly move as she plays back what she heard in her head.
"Well..."
The soft and shuddering voice of Asuka brakes the silence she sits opposite of the teach holding her violin on her lap.
"Your skill is top notch..." The Teachers complement brings a wide grin of Asuka's face. "But..." The grin vanishes as the teacher continues. "The Violin is out of tune."
They redhead looks to her instrument and then to her teacher. "No it isn't... is it..."
"Very much so..." The teacher goes and retracts her statement. "Well to a fell musician it is..."
Asuka frowns a bit as she stares at her violin. "Sensei Hama, could you tune it..."
She gives a thoughtful look and when she sees Asuka look sadden she goes to Asuka's side resting her hand on her shoulder. "It's very difficult to tune a violin... besides, only a musician could tell its out..."
"But I want to play it for a Musician..."
Little does Asuka know that she is blushing as she speaks. This doesn't slip by the teachers well trained eyes. "Looking to impress someone maybe..." Asuka claps her mouth shut and looks away so not to give anything else away. "Its okay Ms Souyu you don't have to hide it. Your sudden eagerness to practice your Violin, and how you act in class..."
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Asuka stands and begins to put away her Violin keeping her back to her teacher. "Please like I have any interests in the perverts that go to this school..."
"Excluding Mr. Ikari..."
Asuka freezes at the sound of the name her face becomes red and her breathing increases. "Especially that baka! Running around with what's-her-name..."
"Ms Kirishima..."
"Yea!" Asuka slams her case shut and shoulder's her satchel turning back to the teacher ready to go. "What does that dork see in that girl anyway?"
In pleasing silence Chisaki watches as Asuka storms out, with the shake of her head she turns around and goes to the window, the midday sun shines through brightly, however the weather out side is masked by the suns deception, for nearly a week the weather has become anomaly colder. Outside she looks to see the students of the school wearing scarves and jackets. Some females wear stockings to protect their legs from the chilly winds. It has also been a week since Asuka came to her to practice in private and in secret. Both give up their lunches, but for Chisaki it is a joy to see Asuka's change of heart. Little does she know that that's not all that has changed. The Pilots have been a small interest of hers since their arrival. She was told by Yukari one day that she arranged that the class would have music this quarter. She is also aware that all have a Musical talent. Shinji and Asuka are both proficient in the strings, Cello and Violin respectively. The twins have there Voice, Rei however has kept her's a secret. The only reason why Chisako knows is because for the school fair last year Rei was in the chorus and despite her lack of experience, Rei was a perfect soprano and the only one besides Hikari that wasn't tone deaf. Mana Kirishima was the latest pilot but she was excellent in the woodwind able to play all types of Clarinet.
'To think Ikari is in the center of these girls... Go Shinji'
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Out in the brisk weather is the warmth of a rekindled relationship. Shinji and Mana look off into the city as they sit under the courtyard tree enjoying hot tea and their Bento. Mana is one of the few girls that elected to wear stockings, black in color her legs huddle up against Shinji's. She also rests her head on Shinji's shoulder happy to be in his caring arms once more.
'Things have been quiet...' Of course Shinji would be the last one to complain about such a thing. He allows Mana warmth to comfort him and cherry red hair tickles his cheek. 'I should be happy... I should be grateful... but I'm not... something is not right...'
Mana shifts her position and raps her arms tightly around Shinji he returns the gesture but his thoughts aren't wavered.
'What is missing... ?'
"Shinji..." Taken from thought Shinji looks to Mana with a smile. "I think Yukari wants you."
Shinji follows his girl friend's eyes to see Yukari with a signal flare waving back and forth. With the roll of his eyes the boy gets up allowing Mana to kiss him on the cheek as he leaves. Straightening his jacket and not to happy about leave the warmth behind he approaches his fellow pilot.
"Yukari..." The girl doesn't take notice it takes Shinji to physically remove and extinguish the flares from the pilot's Emergency field kit to get her attention. "Yes... Yukari..."
"Hey bro..." Yukari fumbles around her thought as if trying to make it up as she goes along. "Sorry for bugging you... you know... but..."
"Yes..."
Rolling her eyes Yukari points off to two Section two agents off in the distance. "I regret to remind you... that the captain... you know Misato... and well NERV in general... Don't want you to, you know have lovey dovey with fellow pilots..."
"Yukari..." Shinji puts his hand on Yukari's shoulder. "I don't care what my father wants, NERV or Misato... I'm happy cant I just be happy..."
"You got yelled at yesterday... the day before... and the day before, and don't forget the day before, for fraternization... I was told to stop you..."
"By who..."
Again Yukari is forced to grasps for words. "Kinda by Misato..."
To Yukari's surprise Shinji gives a small laugh. "What are they going to do suspend me...? I'm the best pilot they have; NERV is helpless with out me..."
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"You're suspended..."
Misato states as she takes a sip of her beer, still dressed in her uniform from a long days work. Shinji, the receiver of the news stares in stark silence as he holds a pot of Curry in his hands. Yukari is also brought to a stand still as she is on all fours playing with her cat.
"Yea right..."
"No..." With a long swig Misato finishes off her can of beer. "You're suspended... I warned you a gazillion times."
Placing the Curry down Shinji gives a sarcastic laugh. "Who are you going to get to defeat the Angels?"
Grabbing a bowel Misato fills it with curry. "Aren't we brazen... This girl friend of yours had really given you a back bone."
"Jealous..."
Yukari who has made her way to the table with Servo on her head looks to see Misato giving Shinji the 'stare of death.' She looks to Shinji to see he's not flitching. "Um... Oh crap..."
"What the hell was that?" Misato flings her bowl of curry unable to move quickly enough it lands right onto Yukari's face. Now standing Misato takes Shinji by the ear and pulls his head to the table. "You think because you have a girl friend your god! Well guess what your grounded!"
"That's not stopping me from seeing from school!"
"Really!" Misato pulls around the table and begins to drag Shinji. "Well guess what your not going to see her there!"
"How!"
"I'm switching her school!"
"Then I quiet!"
"You cant quiet!" Out of Sight all Yukari can do is remain still as the curry runs off her face. "Because you're grounded!"
"Meow..."
Yukari looks up to see Servo covered in curry. She also begins to her a burst of laughter from PenPen as he points to his arch rival. Before she can think Yukari hears a slam of a door then moments later Misato walks by and goes out onto the balcony shutting the door. Despite her efforts Yukari can still hear a muffled scream coming from the balcony.
"Go Shinji..."
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Late at night day's later, at NERV Headquarters Fuyutsuki stands in one of the many briefing rooms with Ritsuko, Misato, and the rest of the NERV battle staff. There tone is serous and risqué for members of a super elite organization.
"I don't like this game..."
At the head of the table Commander Fuyutsuki leans up against a wall over looking Misato who just made the comment. He has his arms crossed and gives a sigh. "Leave it to the UN to jump to conclusions."
"Ten more... its insane..." Maya speaks with a dry voice as she has been fighting a cold for a couple of days now. Thanks to the abnormally cold weather a lot are suffering from the aliment. "That would cost over... 15 trillion... where are they getting this kind of money..."
With a small smirk Ritsuko leans in to the table. "SEELE and the UN need no money..."
"Doctor Akagi is right..." Fuyutsuki looks over his small group. "The big question is do we go to America for aid."
Stretching his arms Shigeru looks at the time. "We have no choice, the second branch and sixth branch are the only ones we have left..."
Not so enthusiastic Hyuga looks to his comrade. "You're asking for trouble... the American will try to take over..."
"Not to mention that they been building their own Evangelion's'." Ritsuko takes a sip from her coffee all in all the discussion has been all bad news for her but she is used to this type of thing. "We have both of the US's Eva's they have an interest in aiding us... If we get a US presence here the UN will be less likely to invade us... However..." The good doctor takes another sip of her coffee. "They will want a controlling share of responsibility... They also don't know that we know that they are developing more Eva's thirdly they could become hostile if we don't."
A sneeze rings out in the room and everyone looks to Maya, who is rubbing her nose with a tissue. "What's with the weather?"
Ritsuko smiles and points downwards, gesturing to the room of Gauf. "You can thank our Angel POW... She has been taking it upon herself to right the earths Axis..."
"Isn't that nice of her..."
Before Misato can finish the first stage alert goes off. It takes a few seconds for everyone to respond and as they do Fuyutsuki makes a broad statement.
"Thank you for your input I will take it all into consideration."
In a matter of moments the NERV battle staff is at the ready in the Command and Control room. Misato has her arms crossed as she states at the most angel like Angel yet as it floats in sub orbit. His latest news has disturbed her, and she also can't help but be distracted by it.
"Captain..." She is also used to be called a major so it takes Ritsuko a couple of times to get her to look at her. "How do you want to set this up?"
"Unit Three and the Zero child will be our defense front line defense." Misato responds as she goes over some data on the Main hub. "Have the Rei and Asuka ready the Possitronic sniper rifle. Rei will be the sniper Asuka will be the spotter."
"What about Unit Four... and the new pilot..."
Maya's question goes unanswered at first. All Misato can do is stare at the hub, but before Maya can ask again Misato answers. "Have Unit Four shadow Unit Three, arm it with long ranged weapons..."
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On the surface Unit Four and Three are the first to rise from the Geo-Front. They make their way and take hold of Possitronic Rifles. Mana who sits inside Unit Four is extremely nervous; she wears a light silver and blue plug suit its design is that of the Ayanami sisters. Yukari however is in a more cheerful mood as she attaches the Rifle to her shoulder hard points it to the sky.
"Hey Yukari..." The Nervous Mana says. "Am I doing okay..."
Playfully Yukari gives a laugh and waves her hand in dismissal. "Please Mana, your doing great all we have to do is make sure nothing happens until my sis gets the big sniper rifle and kills the Angel..."
"What if it attacks?" Looking up to the sky rain begins to pour on to the Evangelion's. Taking this as a bad sign Mana cringes. "Is this normal..."
"Normal as in how normal..." Yukari holds out the Eva's hand and examines the rain. "It looks pretty normal to me... Look just keep that gun pointed to the sky an...."
Piercing through the clouds in a blaze of glory a light bright then any star could produce shines down onto the two Evangelions. With a frown on her face Yukari looks into the light.
"Ahhh... man, not again!"
In the command center everyone goes into over drive as the attack rains down onto the Eva's. Misato seems the most worried as she points to the Main hub to see the light focused on the Eva's and for some reason she gets a song stuck in her head.
"What the hell is that, a particle beam weapon!"
Shigeru turns to Misato. "Negative no heat emission detected!"
Maya looks over to Misato quickly. "Abnormal readings in both Yukari and Mana's psychograph. Mental contamination immanent!"
Ritsuko darts over to her pupil reading over her shoulder. "My God it is attacking through their ego borderline!"
"What is that beam made of?" Misato calls out as the battle staff scrambles around her.
"Some kind of energy oscillation using invisible wavelengths, it's similar to an AT Field!" Hyuga responds as he types at his station.
"Ready the Positronic Sniper Rifle for a shot as soon as possible!" Misato call out yells as he steps forward.
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In the void of the unknown, away from the reality of the world a ghostly white figure floats with a faint glow. All around it is nothing but darkness, how everup ahead is a small set of tables there sits three figures of different sizes. The aspersion goes to the first figure to be greeted by an adult, in her early forties she drinks from a cup of coffee.
"May I help you...?"
In slight confusion the ghostly figure raises a hand. "Yes please. I am a being known as an Angel and I came to explore the mind of..."
"Wait a sec..." The older looking Yui takes a sip of her coffee. "Could you please try the next table, I'm on brake..."
'Oh, right...'
The Angel moves to the next table to see the yellow eye blue haired Yukari sitting at the table with a smile as she puts down a Manga. "May I help you, sir..."
'Please do not panic...'
With the nod Yukari goes back to her Manga. "Thank you sir, I won't panic."
'I am a being known as an Angel.'
Putting her Manga back down Yukari studies the figure. "Oh..."
'and...'
"And... what sir..." Yukari picks up her Manga for a second time.
'I'm an Angel here to dive into the mind of a living human soul...'
"Who's mind?" Still reading her book the young girl shows not fear.
'The soul...'
"Oh..." Yukari point back in the direction the Angel came. "There's no soul here sir."
'Honestly, I felt the soul and I know one is here...'
"No, sorry sir I don't have one."
'Maybe but there is a soul with in my grasp, I felt her, she is fragile yet strong. I come as a messenger to discover what is inside the human mind to learn all a creation of god is.'
"I know what you mean, sir."
'Yes, well, enough of this gay banter. Please hand over the soul now or I'll have to destroy you.'
"I see..." Yukari stands up and crosses her arms. "May I see how you are going to..." The young girl uses her fingers to drive in the quotation. "Destroy me." The Angel places its hand on the desk and it melts away into nothingness. "Is this the destroying method of choice, sir?"
'Well of course it is, you twit. What other way would there be? Now please hand over the soul or I'll really have to destroy you.'
"Of course..." With the table gone Yukari steps forward to be get closer to the Angel. "May I inquire as to whether or not you have a pass or not?"
The Angel's mouth hangs open for a second. 'No I don't have a Bloody pass, you idiot! Give me the soul or I'll really destroy you!"
Biting her lip Yukari looks over to Yui only to be flicked off then to her other side to see a young Rei pounding her head into her table as Servo sleeps on her head. Well that's going to be a little difficult as you don't have a pass. I'm afraid that's Servo's policy..." Yukari looks behind the Angel. "Next!"
'Servo?'
"Yes, Servo sir..."
'It's the cat's policy for you to get destroyed?'
"I'm sorry sir..." Yukari gives a sad look for the Angel. "But it's the rule. Would you care to buy a pass?"
'Oh, shut up and leave me alone!'
"Oh..." Yukari gives a warm smile. "You'd like a loan! Do you have any collateral?"
The Angel responds incredulously. 'I have massive power!'
Rolling her eyes Yukari leans in to whisper to the Angel. "Yes, and you have very nice powers, indeed sir, but I don't think it will be quite enough security.
The Angel pushes Yukari away completely fed up. 'Look, I don't want a loan and I don't want to buy a pass. What I want is for you to leave me alone and give me the soul!"
Stupefied Yukari responds. "What, give it to you? With out a pass?
'Yes that's right.'
"Why I never heard of such a thing!" Yukari places her hands on her hips. 'Do you realize what would happen if I let any Angel go with out a pass because they marched to me waved great power and demanded a soul?"
'Yes, you would finally be providing a worthwhile service...'
"No sir!" Yukari points to Servo. "It would be anarchy! Servo would rain terror upon the land, and no to mention fire me... I have forms to process, and if you don't have a pass there's nothing to process and fill out- I'd be out of a master and a job! Look, I'm sorry but I can't give you a soul unless you've-one-already have a pass-two-meet the requirements and buy a pass. It's more then the wrath of Servo, sir... or my job."
'The cat?'
"Yes sir..."
The Angel looks to the cat then to the girl in front of her. 'I give up what will it cost to get the soul?'
"Asuka Langley Souyu's dead soul."
With a snap of his figures Asuka Langley Souyu appears naked next to the Angel looking around in a daze. 'Here you go.'
"Thank you, sir." Yukari hands the Angel a sheet of paper that says pass. "Is there anything else I can do for you today?"
"Give me the soul or I'll destroy you."
Asuka looks around in total shock. "What the hell is happening..."
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"Fire!"
Rei pulls the trigger and braces for the massive output of the Positronic Sniper Rifle. The ground shakes and windows blow out as the beam skyrockets into to the Heaven's harmlessly bouncing off the Angels AT Field. Not willing to wait a second longer, Asuka charges to the closes Eva trapped in the Angel's attack. As soon as she begins to hear Mana cry out in pain Asuka body tackles Unit Four out of the light and is now trapped in it place.
"Asuka!"
Rei cries out as she watches to see her run in, to her for a second she thought that, she was the real Asuka. That simple thought dives her to tears, of course in truth she has been crying since the clone came to her. This porcelain shadow, she feels is her fault her responsibility. The curse to those who come close to Rei is to become Rei, a clone. Of course for Rei Ayanami it has been her life for years. Not to touch, not to feel not to care. She has broken the three primary rules set down by her father. Right now despite the cursing of her own blind life, Asuka was first and foremost she quickly sprints after Unit Two. When she reaches the beam of light her artificial vision is striped from her and she tumbles into darkness.
In the Command Center of NERV the Angel has just taken out every fighter they have. All but Unit Four that's pilot is trying to recover from the shock that was inflicted.
"Maya! Stabilize the Fourth Child and get read to arm it with a N2 mine!"
Everyone glances over to Ritsuko for such an order. Misato quickly goes over what she is possibly thinking and finds no need for such a weapon. "What the hell for!"
Expecting Misato's demand for clarification, Ritsuko looks to her with a cold and deadly stare. "We will detonate the N2 mine next to the Eva's trapped in side. If the Angel is linked to their minds it will surely destroy it!"
"You're shitting me!"
Maya turns to Ritsuko not believing the plan described. "We would loss two Eva and the pilots!"
"Ready the plan!" With sharp gazes to the Con, everyone looks to Gendo as he stares down at them. "Losing those to pilots is expectable."
With a simple nod Ritsuko removes Maya from her seat and begins to send an N2 mine to the surface. She quickly stops when she sees a USP .40 next to her temple. Misato with her firearm level at Ritsuko's head calls out to the Fourth Child. "Maya get the hell out of their recover Unit Zero and regroup at sector ten."
"I don't need her..." Ritsuko looks to the two trapped Evangelions. "They are only a block from a trapdoor."
"So help me!" Misato ever so slightly tightens the grip on her pistol more then willing to shot Ritsuko if she tried to kill Asuka or Yukari. "If you send that bomb I will kill you."
From above Gendo looks to see the Mutiny from below. He goes to call in NERV Security Forces but he to be found facing a handgun. The owner is Ryouji Kaji he stands at the door way giving Gendo a smirk.
"I don't think so..."
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Far from any of the drama of NERV; deep with in the universe of the unworldly, Yukari and her small gang of personalities stands next to a very disgruntle Angel. The Angel is male and has whiskers drawn on his cheeks in marker.
"You tricked me..."
Shrugging her should the old Yui takes a sip from her coffee. "She learned your secrets her self..."
"All of this just so a Lilm can meet her replacement."
"No..." Yukari sways on the ball of her feet. "So she can meet her mother..."
Just in viewing distance Asuka Langley Souyu floats naked seeing everything but unable to more. Appearing in front of her is what has replaced her, the clone of her body. In her plug suit Asuka II seems confused and vulnerable as she stares at the original.
"Asuka..." The whisper from the clone fades as she reaches out and touches the naked girls face.
"You are both Asuka..." Everyone turns as from behind the Angel and Yukari is a tall woman of mix European Asian decent. She has short brown her and pail skin wearing simple robs "It took you long enough..."
Yukari bows her head just as both of Asuka's cry out in unison. "Momma!"
Kyoko reaches both girls giving them a warm hug. The simple touch from her mother releases Asuka's soul and she embraces back. The clone becomes more reserved and steps away crestfallen. It takes nearly Asuka and Kyoko a minute to let go of each other.
"Momma I've missed you so much!"
"I have missed you too..."
Wiping tears from her eyes Asuka keeps her hands on her mothers arm. "Where are you even in death I'm with out you..."
"I'm not dead..." Kyoko looks away ashamed at what she must tell her daughter. "I live in Eva... I have been protecting you but then you left... you died..."
"It's my fault..." The clone begins to cry uncontrollably. "If I wasn't..."
"Stop it..." Asuka barks to her look-alike. "This was my own damn fault! I was the idiot I fell for that bastards trap!"
"Gendo..." Yukari approaches the small group with the Angel at her side. "Asuka... I wish I realized sooner... I could have stopped you..."
'I guess it would be pointless in arguing the fact that an Angel was involved'
"Angel or no Angel... Asuka points to the ghostly aspersion. Clone or no Clone..." She turns to who she speaks of. "I... I died because of my own greed... my own selfishness... Because of it I'm dead..."
Kyoko takes the hands of both Asuka's and brings them together with a smile. "Asuka you can still live... This being that looks like you, has a Soul... it has a heart, and that heart is yours..."
"What do you mean?"
First to answer Asuka's question is Yukari. "Ergo she is you... the only difference is that she cant remember much..."
"No that's not right..." The clone says. "I will never be her... How could I be as good as her...?"
"Come..." Kyoko takes both Asuka's and they begin to walks together way from Yukari and the others. "Yet us help you..."
A grunt is heard from Yui who is sipping from her coffee. "So what do we do with Angel boy...?"
"We could eat him!" The Young Rei pronounces as it takes a bite from the Angel.
With serious looks Yukari and Yui study the Angel as it screams out in pain from the bite. "He is right here..." Scratching her head, Yukari steps next to Yui. "So we don't have to worry about killing its body..."
With a sip of her coffee Yui sighs. "We can't keep it... We kept that one and now look at the mess we are in..."
"We kept it so Instrumentality can't be started with out us having a say."
"Well... if our theory is correct it's within Your AT Field..."
"I really don't have one just a fake one..." Yukari gives a pock at her hip. "Manipulating the reality within my AT field is possible but I want it to be flashy..."
"You could sing your way out of it..."
With a snap of her fingers, Yukari breaks a smile. "I love singing!"
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"Don't do it!"
Misato cries out to her friend that readies to send an N2 mine to destroy Unit's Two and Three. She still has her gun raised to Ritsuko's head and ready to pull the trigger."
"There is no other way!"
Fuyutsuki gets the pleasure of seeing Gendo also being held at gun point but by Kaji. After hearing Ritsuko statement he goes to prove her wrong. "We could use the Lance..."
"The Lance of Louganis!" Gendo points downwards. The only thing we having keeping our prisoner at by is by the lance."
"Sortie Unit One..." Maya is also desperate not to see any pilots die so she interjects with her own idea.
Ritsuko looks to her student with spite. "That would take twenty minutes we don't have that long." She looks to her monitors then to Gendo. "I'm ready to launch the N2 mine."
"Ritsuko!" Misato slams the tip of her gun to Ritsuko's temple. "I will kill you!"
"Over the pilots!"
Not expecting to get a response from Maya, Ritsuko is shocked when she does speak. "Better you then them."
"What the fuck!"
From above Gendo looks to see that Ritsuko is sticking to his side just like her mother, but he also doesn't feel the need to keep her just like her mother. So he stands pulls out a Glock and levels it down to where Ritsuko and Misato are. "Send the N2 mine..."
Two gun shots ring out, and the sound brings every one to silence. Before anyone moves a third shot is heard. Maya was first to coward from the sound but she is first to look up as she is covered in blood. The blood and grey brain matter comes from who she feared, in her seat hanging limp to one side is Ritsuko Akagi. However she also looks to see Misato Katsuragi on the ground and Security Force Members at her side giving medical attention. Her gun lies on the ground next to her. From above Gendo drops his gun and quickly takes hold of his wounded arm.
"You shot me... You shot me right in the arm..."
Pinned to the ground by Security Forces, Kaji looks up with a smirk on his face. Feel lucky these guys tackled me..."
Fuyutsuki stares in shock at what just happened, Gendo just shot two of his command staff. He replays to what just happened with simple thought.
'The first shot fired was by Gendo. It was a blind eyed shot and struck Captain Katsuagi in the upper back. The second shot also goes to the Commander. It blew the brains out of Ritsuko, nothing less from a forty five cal handgun. The third by Kaj... Shit...' Fuyutsuki turns to face the battle staff they lay in chaos. "The N2 was it deployed...!"
Hyuga looks to blood stained consul. "Um... yes..."
"Shit..."
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Next Problem... Murderers and Musicals... Rebellion and Donuts...
