Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thank you for everything, from the support to the wonderful feed back on this story. I love you all, and I am so very thankful that you take the time to read this story, so I hope you enjoy the chapter!

12| INTERCEPTION

"Lucy?"

The said blonde looked up at the purple haired boy who held his teddy to his chest, and she offered him a gentle smile. Out of all the brothers, she wasn't really on any terms with Kanato. Sure he had tried to hurt her, he's fed off her blood, but he never really threatened her much. Much being the key word, because like all the other brothers, Kanato had a temper.

"Kanato, did you need something?" Lucy asks, patting the spot next to her on the stairs she sat on outside.

Making a face, Kanato sat after a few moments of looking at her, leaving them to sit there in silence, "I was wondering something that I overheard the others speaking about before they said you were out here."

Lucy felt her smile waver and she let out a soft sigh looking back out at the sky, "What was it you were wondering?"

"Are you leaving us? To go back to the people who left you?" Kanato asks, direct to the point.

Three hours ago Lucy had gotten the news through magazines that the Fairy Tail Guild was back together, it was all over and people were celebrating. Well, not the people of Stella but the people of Fiore. She was relieved, happy even, that her family was back together and they were safe. Even if she wasn't going back.

How could she? She knew this contract was one of the reasons she left her home, that she left her father and ran. The reason she went to Fairy Tail in the first place, but she promised to never break a promise and a contract was binding. She was stuck, but somehow these brothers made an impact on her life.

Lucy would always love Fairy Tail, she loved her adventures and the memories they had. They would always have a home in her heart, but when they were gone when she needed someone in her life the most, the Sakamaki brothers and Mukami brothers, and even Yui were there to fill that void.

Every good thing had an end eventually. It was something she was reminded about time and time again.

It had been a rough year, no sugar coating that with the missions taken, or the threats and violence of the brothers. Yet they took care of her and Yui, and they hadn't been as violent and lately were a little more human. They thought about them, not just themselves and that was something Lucy wasn't going to give up on.

She had a new goal, make these brothers feel emotions. Have them be one with humanity and find it deep within themselves because it was there. Everyone has humanity, even those born none human. Just like the exceeds did, her spirits.

"No, Kanato." Lucy smiled, reassuring him and grabbing his hand gently. She was allowed to touch him, according to Kanato, Teddy liked her. "I'm not going anywhere when my family is right here."

The boy looked pleased with this answer, but still wore a frown, "Don't you miss them?"

Lucy smiled sadly, "I do, but they will live on and so shall I. Here, with you, with the others and with Yui."

Kanato looked pleased still, liking her answer and smiled at her with that weird smile of his that still sent shivers down her spine. He always rubbed her the wrong way, dark and twisted like Jackal, but more contained than the said demon.

"Will you turn and stay with us forever then?"

She never answered, being whisked away from Kanato by an irate Yuma.

Up on the stage of a bar in the royal capital of Altair, Lucy Heartfilia spun on one leg with perfect balance, her long twin ponytails swaying with the movement of her hips to the music. Her brown eyes scanned the bar of men who cheered with beer mugs in hand, looking for the one man she targeting in particular as she striked a pose with a wink at the end of the song.

"Tell me why I agreed to this again." Lucy sweat dropped, looking over at where Gray was concealed behind the stage curtains.

"Don't complain." Gray chuckled, arms crossed at the normality of the situation. "It suits you."

Walking in the bar holding a tray of drink while wearing a bunny suit, Erza keeps her eyes out as well. They have one shot at this and can't afford to blow their cover so early on, which was why it was a good idea not to have Natsu here and that the household leader, Reiji, decided that the only one to accompany them was Shuu, who stayed at the inn out of the way with Gajeel and Levy. Juvia stayed with her own motives, but none of them had time to figure those out.

"Zash allegedly preserves the various duties in a tower in the castle." Erza says in a little device that only Lucy and Gray have on their persons to over hear. "The key to this campi is in his ring. No matter how evil he may be, he is the minister of a country."

"If we take it by force, there is an international conflict. So we're going to have to get his ring in this bar that he comes to often without being noticed"

Gray hums in response and looks back over to his blonde teammate, "Lucy, draw the attention back to yourself."

Hearing him, she gives a nod as Erza concludes with a simple, "We begin our operation."

The spotlight then turns back onto Lucy with her bending slightly then putting her arms behind her head with the starting beat of the music, swaying her hips left to right with jingles of bells coming off her her bracelet and anklets. At the change of a beat, she returns to balancing on one leg, arms out to retain that balance as she lowers that leg down, putting one arm in the air and the other across her stomach.

Using her momentum, she spins her body and balanced herself once again on one leg as she makes sight of their target, Lord Zash. Her brown eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she moved to slide down, caressing a man's face as she passed with a slight smirk as she left him with hearts in his eyes.

A few more turns and one legged moves, Lucy turned one more time with a wink and lowley muttered the name of one of her beloved spirits, "Gemini."

Across the bar where Zash sat, an exact replica of Lucy appeared on her hands and knees in front of the man, moving to lean back and beckon the man with her foot looking completely at ease. Zash's eyes were completely on Gemi Lucy, who spun in front of him as if she were his personal dancer.

She might as well have been as she mesmerized him into focusing just on her as she dropped back down to her knees on the bartop and cupped his face as Erza closed in and slipped his ring off without his notices. Once the ring was secured, Erza went to the back where Gray waited.

"Make a copy of it." Erza instruced, handing Gray the ring.

"One second is enough." Gray boosted, closing his fist around the metal and using his ice magic to copy the ring exactly.

"I'll take it back now." Erza says, walking back out with the original ring.

Turning towards the other side of the room, Gray looked at the two exceeds and handed Carla the ring copy, "Happy, Carla."

"We will bring it to Natsu and Wendy." Carla confirms.

Happy raises a paw, "Leave it to us. Let's go!"

With that, the two exceeds fly out the window to their dragon slayers.

Out out of the ways Gajeel thought he'd spend this mission, it was not playing babysitter with Levy and Juvia. Erza had instructed the three of them to stay at the inn with Shuu Sakamaki, who Lucy seemed to have argued with and beat the male in said argument.

Which was how Shuu Sakamaki laid across one of the inn beds with his headphones in place as he tried to drown out the world around him but was hyper aware of the three in the same room as him. He was mentally scolding Lucy, because he was supposed to be watching her. He was supposed to be by her side, not put into some inn room with three other people who obviously did not want to be here either.

Only Lucy had sweet talked him yet again, twisted his words and used them again him as she gave him that look that would make any man cower. There was something about that woman that was changing, how she honestly didn't fear him or his brothers. She was a challenge, but one they accepted seemingly.

Lucy Heartfilia was able to change people, a natural light in a sea of darkness. Even when tempted by the darkest beings, surrounded by violence and personality issues, she stayed faithful to herself. Wavered, yes, but never changed completely.

It was why he shut his mouth and let Lucy boss him around, because he saw in her brown eyes how much she just needed this. She needed this and then that was it. A silent agreement that if he just let her take control of this, then she would hold her end of the deal.

"Oi, are you even paying attention?!" Gajeel shoved Shuu of the bed by flipping the mattress forcefully when the blonde bluntly ignored him.

Levy went to calm down the iron dragon slayer, but Juvia was quick to shake her head and pull Levy back. Usually Juvia would be one for not allowing violence, but she knew that Gajeel was now trying to find answers. That was why Erza really left Gajeel here with Shuu, knowing that Gajeel would get down to business to make sure this man was no threat, yet they all knew he was. Just by allowing his brother to grab Lucy in such a way, it was a huge no no.

Shuu's eyes snapped wide open when his face collided with the floor, a low growl in the back of his throat that caused Gajeel's eyebrow to raise. Most humans don't do things like growl, and from he could tell the blond wasn't another dragon slayer.

"What the hell is your issue?" Shuu muttered darkly, standing up and adjusting his headphones. His blue eyes narrowed into a glare that settled on the iron dragon slayer, who was now sizing Shuu up.

"What did you do to Lu-chan?" Levy surprisingly demanded the other male, stepping up in front of Gajeel.

Now it was Shuu turn to size up Levy, titling his head to the side and taking her look in a way that did not please Gajeel in anyway. He then finally looked over at Gajeel and looked him over and hummed with a nod to himself, not even sparing Javia a glance.

"Levy McGarden and Gajeel Redfox, the best friend and the other dragon slayer." Shuu says, his blue eyes settling on Levy. "Some best friend you are, leaving her all alone. Perhaps I should have said pervious best friend. Yui has that titled claimed now."

Levy frowned at this man, frowned at the fact Lucy could have replaced her that easily. Wasn't what this man said true? He had been with Lucy the last year, what right did she have to deny what he said?

Gajeel didn't like the man before him, not one bit and not with how he seemed to be pushing Levy's buttons, which in turn pushed his buttons. He thought for a moment that maybe he should be upset Lucy shared information about them, but in reality it was generic information to go with names. No real invasion of privacy.

"Yui and Lucy are close?" Levy couldn't help but ask with that pang of jealously blossoming in her chest.

Shuu only smirked, "Who do you think was there with her when she needed girl talks? When she cried? When she woke up nightly from nightmares about Aquarius? Wasn't you, that's for sure."

Levy almost flinched, almost. Instead she stood her ground, it was selfish really, but she hadn't known. She didn't have to be there twenty four seven to make sure Lucy wasn't breaking down, but as soon as that thought came it went with guilt staying. Lucy would have made sure she was okay, and Levu knew she'd have done the same. Should have done the same.

"What the hell are you?" Gajeel snarled, taking a step forward. "Bunny girl ain't here to step in. You sure as hell don't smell human or like anything else I've come across."

Shuu wasn't intimated at all. If anything he was just minding his business and Gajeel came at him, but really, the slayer could probably kick his ass but Shuu could give him a run for his money. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Shuu decided to taunt the slayer, smirking seeing that annoyed twitch.

The moment Gajeel was about to lunge, Shuu caught Lucy's scent waffing close by. He could smell other people that were not from Fairy Tail and frowned. Which was why the moment Gajeel did decide to make a move, Shuu teleported away, causing Gajeel to throw a lamp at the wall.

"Damn it!" He yelled, Levy coming up to put an hand on his arm.

"Calm down." She says softly. "What just happened."

Gajeel took a deep breath, "They aren't human, Shrimp. At least he's not, but if he's not then the others aren't. Bunny girl got herself into some shit for sure this time."

Meanwhile Lucy was in quite the predicament as she put her hand up in front of her and gave a nervous smile at Lord Zash, who currently had her trapped between him and the wall. She had come backstage since her job was finished, with Gray leaving for only a second and then Zash had came in and placed an arm against the wall next to Lucy's head. Between her and the door.

"Ahm.. dear guest." She tried to convey some excuse, bring words to mind to get Zash away from her.

"But you are a pretty thing." Zash complimented as he leaned in closer, his cigar smoke wafting Lucy's sense of smell and it took everything in her not to bunch her nose up in disgust.

"They embarrass me." Lucy feigned embarrassment, trying to remain calm which was relatively unnerving as she was used to having specific males around her so close.

Zash looked amused, "Why is that?" He came close again and this time Lucy leaned back nearly gagging as he says, "I will make you my wife. Eh?"

Lucy was done with people trying to wife her up and marry her, and where she would have felt scared before she felt annoyed. She wanted to slap this man in some type of retaliation, but that would blow her cover and she couldn't do that.

"Dear customer." Gray's voice cut in, much to Lucy's relief. "Could you please refrain from harassing the dancers in this bar?"

In that same moment the door to the back room was thrown open and people with guard uniforms bursted into the room, "Lord Zash, the staff! The staff has been stolen!"

His whole demeanor changed then from the creepy flirt to outright rage.

Gray's teeth clenched while Lucy refrained a sigh already for seeing this coming from her pink haired partner that made things more than obvious when on missions. Natsu, this idiot exposed us too damn early. Without a second thought, Gray pulled his fist pack to throw it forward at Zash's face, but the older man caught it with complete ease.

The surprised look on Gray's face alerted Lucy, even as Zash gripped his fist tighter and for the first time, looked at Gray. "Who the hell are you?"

The only response Gray had given Zash was a smirk as ice covered his body due to Gray using his magic to freeze their enemy. "Smoking is prohibited in this bar."

Lucy sweatdropped at her comrade's lame remark as the two guards who worked under Zash dropped to the floor due to Erza effectively taking them out quickly, not looking quite as pleased with the turn of events with her hand on her hip, "This way. We're leaving now."

Lucy only nodded as her and Gray quickly followed Erza out, needing to make up for the sudden time they had lost. Not even a minute after the three of them had left, the ice that contained Zash broke and he growled deeply to himself.

"Men from Fiore." He glowered to himself, taking his cigar and tossing it on the growing before smashing his foot against it to put it out. He would make them pay for infiltrating this kingdom, and make them pay for making a fool of him.

Meanwhile in the city streets, Wendy and Natsu were running with all their might with Happy and Carla flying after them as the guards chased after them. Natsu had a tight grip on the Dragon Cry staff, the pain of the dragons still fresh on his mind. He would not let anyone use this staff, and Fairy Tail would take this staff back to Fiore. Not only that, they would take Lucy home.

Away from that house, from those men- no matter what. Lucy Heartfilia was their second objective here.

"Stop!" The guards yelled at them.

Natsu was itching for a fight, just wanting to blow them all away with one single blow and leave as much as everyone else. "The nerve of these guys! I just want to fight them!"

Wendy was quick to fixtate her eyes on Natsu, narrowing them slightly with the seriousness of this situation, "You can not! The soldiers have not done anything evil!"

Right after she says this, like fate wanted to play her words against her, a guard took aim with his crossbow and shot it straight forward. The arrow itself nicked Wendy's upper arm and that was all it took for Natsu to disregard Wendy's previous warning as she let out a cry of surprise and Carla called for Wendy's name with a worried tone.

The onyx irises of Natsu shrunk with anger as he muttered, "All who hurt my comrades are my enemies!" He pivoted quickly to face the guards rushing after them, slightly impressed that they didn't tie the miles they chased, skidding to a stop a few feet after with the help if his free left hand acting as a brake dragging on the ground.

"Wendy, take care of the staff!" Natsu called, tossing it towards Wendy- who caught it with ease she she continued to run pass him.

"Yeah!" She called, exceeds still following her to ensure the staff stayed in their possession.

Knowing that the staff was in capable hand, Natsu let out a battle cry as his flame ignited and he launched himself at the guards with his arm pulled back ready to strike. Upon impact, flames blew the guards back, gaining a bit more time.

"Wendy, is your injuring okay?" Carla asked as the continued on their path.

"No, it's nothing." Wendy reassured, glancing down at the staff in her hand. "The staff is much more important-"

"Above!" Happy cried out, gaining Wendy's full attention and averting her gaze upwards towards the rooftops the surrounded both sides of her.

There were guards stationed up there, just waiting as Wendy ran into their territory. The moment she was in the right range, they opened fired with some of their magic based guns, surprising Wendy enough to cause her to trip and lose her grip on the staff, "The staff! Happy!"

"Aye sir!" Happy went to grab the staff that bounced away from Wendy, missing it by mere inches. Wendy in turn went to grab for it next, mistimed it as well and missed it by mere inches as well.

A determined gaze came upon Wendy's face then as her eyes set on the staff and timing it just right. Slowly she raised herself up, hands flat on the ground with her hips sticking upwards with the new placement of her footing- a lunge going forward. Without much effort, she used her sky magic to gather air and use it as a speed booster to lunge towards the staff before it made it's fourth bounce and into the guard's waiting hands.

Twisting through the air, she obtained the staff again in her possession and continued her mission. To run and find the others, which didn't take long as Erza's voice called for her on the rooftops, "Wendy, here!"

"Catch!" Wendy yells, tossing the staff up with more might to ensure it reached the end of the desired destination.

With ease like Wendy had, Erza caught the staff the same moment more guards appeared in front of Erza and took aim with their guns. Not even hesitating, they began to open fire on the red head who dodged the bullets with expert ease, requipping into her Armadura Fairy armor, taking the guards out with a mere swing of her arm as she ran past.

Gripping the staff, Erza turned towards her left and brought her arm back, "Gray!" She called, throwing the staff at the ice mage.

In the glow of the setting sun, Gray nodded and caught the staff without missing a beat in his step on the rooftop. Around them, the town they were in was now under a lockdown with the locals until the staff was obtained and they were either caught or killed. Probably the latter, Gray thought to himself as he noticed three guards coming up behind him with swords ready.

Jumping forward, Gray flipped himself over but during that flip his left hand touched the rooftop and he smirked at the guards, "Sorry guys." He said unsympathetically as he froze the roof and landed safely onto the next as the guards slipped off.

Yet the moment he landed, he was surprised for a moment to see that guards were there waiting for him and shot their arrows. He was quick to shed his vest and dodge the arrows with pure and utter luck, but once he got his footing he dodged the arrows and advanced on the men with pure skill.

Jumping, Gray kneed the man and bulldozed the others, but more were still coming. Looking down, Gray saw Lucy running alongside his building from the opposite direction and nodded at her, "Lucy!" Then dropped the staff off the side.

Catching the staff, Lucy ran towards a small opening and sliding through the opening, where on the other side men waited with the guns pointed at her. "Open, gate of the Scorpion, Scorpio!" She had pulled his key out quickly, calling her spirit who answered with quickness.

It had been a while since his beloved master called on him, almost a year, and there was so much he wanted to say to her. He was all aware of her current situation, wanted nothing more than to help but she never called him. Then again it was given since she didn't call on any of them recently unless she was on a mission, like now.

He also assumed because of Aquarius that Lucy couldn't either, one- call on him due to guilt, or two- because she didn't want to pull him away or hear things the angry siren had to say. Which was a lot now, since his love only wanted to beat sense into Lucy and hug her to comfort the girl.

Acting quickly, Scorpio took aim and narrowed in on his opponents, "Sand Buster!"

In the powerful whirlwind of sand that Scorpio provided, the guards blocking Lucy's path were blown away without a second thought, not even having time to grab ahold of anything to keep themselves grounded.

Grinning, Lucy hopped up and gave that grin to Scorpio, "Very good!" It was a praise he longed waited for. Before he went back he wanted to be the one to reassure her now that Aquarius was okay, and beg her to just go home to fairy tail. He had hope maybe she would listen to his reason, since he was Aquarius's partner, and that maybe it would lighten the guilt off the blonde celestial mage just a little bit, if that.

Yet before he got the chance, a quick shin caught his attention through his sand at the end of it, causing his attention to hone in on his master, "Lucy!"

Not even a second later was Zash there in front of her, a bang echoed once and Scorpio jumping in front of her. As quick as it was to process, Lucy put two and two together when Scorpio took the hit, cried out and disappeared back into the Celestial World, leaving Zash pointing a gun right at her head.

Well there's that. Lucy thought bitterly to herself, once again rendered useless as she stared down the end of the barrel, but she wasn't fearful at all. No, because if Zash pulled that trigger, not only would he declare war with Fairy Tail, and piss off some vampire, but he was relieve her of this world.

She'd be free.

Lucy had landed on her ass from Scorpio blocking the hit, she had been sitting there not attempting to stand as she held dragon cry tight in her hands. It was a quick reminder she had a mission and it was not about her, so she'd push those morbid thoughts aside. Instead, she opted to glare at Zash, which only earned her a harsher glare in return.

She would not yield.

"How did you enter the treasury?" Zash demanded from the blonde who looked pathetic in his perspective. He stepped closer, his gun pointed right between her eyes- a clear shot to execute the issue at hand, only she did not flinch like the others.

The brown eyes of the woman who fooled him at the tavern were hard, they did not waver. It pissed Zash off that he could not strike fear into her, but also made him that much more intrigued by her as well. Most would be begging for their lives by now. Perhaps her life meant nothing to her at all.

Pitiful.

"That door should not be opened without my ring being present." Zash continued to say, and this time he only got a harder glare from the woman, who he decided wasn't going to give up her secrets of how she obtained the staff. Or who she was working with from Fiore. "Give up, I won."

That struck a nerve in Lucy, because she was not going to give up this staff so easily. Not when it has so much potential to hurt others if not sealed or guarded properly. Yet he continued to come closer and boast about his position, "Do you know why I was charged with protection of this empire?"

He tossed the gun away then, and for a second Lucy felt her body relax only to tense up again because this man wasn't normal. He had to possess a magic, and what kind- she didn't know. It wasn't in any of his files, it wasn't something Lucy took to mind or planned for. This was something she wasn't mentally ready for and that unnerved her. She liked knowing the others involved in missions and what they were truly capable of. Zash, he was an unknown to her.

"I am the strongest man in this kingdom!" Lucy say Zash's right eye glow red, and her body tensed for what was to come.

Like always, someone came to her aid at the last given moment. While she was completely useless, she had to have someone else pick up the slack. Selfishly she had given her bets to Natsu being the one to come to her aid, to yell out and crash a fiery fist into Zash's face.

She hadn't expected Shuu to be the one to sock Zash in the face, using his vampire speed and inhumane strength that was on par with a dragon slayers. Zash was going to crash into the ground, but Shuu had gripped him by the neck before he could do that. He had growled something out at the dazed Zash, too low for Lucy to hear, then went to sink his fangs into the mans neck- no doubt to rip his jugular out.

"Shuu!" Lucy yelled, standing quickly and pulling at Shuu's arm.

A million things were going through her head in that moment. What if Gray, or Erza or Natsu saw Shuu about bite into Zash's neck and probably murder him in cold blood? There was no doubt they'd try to fight Shuu, kill him maybe, or pull Lucy away. They would never leave Lucy alone, they would be exposed for this world to know. They could very well be arrested by the magic council.

Just because they drank blood, healed fast, lived a very long time, and had superhuman abilities did not make them invincible. Not in this world, and they all knew that. Only Shuu seemed to throw that out the window, and now that Lucy's hand was on his shoulder, she could feel him shaking.

Shuu Sakamaki was pissed that someone dared to threaten Lucy. She felt touched, and her breath hitched when those blue eyes snapped onto her. There was a storm in those beautiful blue eyes, and she wasn't sure how to handle this.

"You can't kill him." She whispered, wondering where the hell Gajeel and Levy were at. "You're risking everything right now."

It was enough of a distraction for Zash to move, gaining Shuu's attention again. Only Zash was ready, catching Shuu in that red gaze and suddenly Shuu dropped Zash and turned towards Lucy with a low growl ripping through his lips.

Lucy tensed at that sound, at the predatory gleam in his blue eyes being directed onto her now. She mentally yelled, panicked, and had an anxiety attack all at once. This wasn't a Shuu on a full moon, who was aware of what he was doing but did it because he wanted to. No, this Shuu was feral and not in control. He would kill her.

"Shuu." She muttered, as Shuu stared her down. Waiting no doubtingly for her to make a move to pounce.

Lucy knew she had to be fast, grabbing Loke's key and getting ready to call him out, but she's only human. Shuu was fast, lunging at her and nearly in reach of grabbing her before a flaming fist collided onto Shuu's cheek and send him flying into the wall a few yard away.

"You okay Luce?" Natsu asked, looking her over and giving a nod seeing she was unscathed. "What the hell was his problem?"

Lucy shook her head, "Not his, Zash's. Somehow Zash is able to control him, so avoid eye contact!"

Natsu gave a nod, ready to give Zash a good beating for nearly hurting his nakama, but Zash was nowhere in sight. Frowning while he wonder where the hell the enemy could have gone, he looked back over at Lucy to ask what happened but she wasn't there. Looking around, his onyx eyes landed on Lucy shaking Shuu and sweat dropping when the unconscious blond waved her off.

He felt a pain in his chest, seeing Lucy worry over the other male. Sure he'd seen her worry over Gray or Loke, but this was different. They way she placed the scepter down besides her, brushing the hair from his face. She cared about the man more than she let on, a man who was not from home and was now a threat to Natsu.

A new obstacle of taking Lucy out of that house Natsu promised he'd take her from.

"Luce?" Natsu says, touching her shoulder to get her attention since she didn't seem to sense him approaching.

Lucy closes her eyes for a moment, taking in the heat his touch ignited on her skin. A warmth she longed for for so long, the one she missed invading her bed at night. One she had forgotten and relished in the reminder for just a moment. Just a moment she allowed that touch before softly pushing his hand off her shoulder.

She no longer needed that touch.

"Can you carry him back to camp? Erza would want to know that Zash left the scepter with us out of nowhere, and prepare a line of defense because he could have easily taken it from us." Lucy pointed out, earning a nod from the pink haired dragon slayer as he complied and tossed Shuu over his shoulder.

"Weren't Gajeel and Levy supposed to be keeping Shuu at the inn?" Natsu asks, not surprised Gajeel failed a task as simple as that. The man was an idiot head for screws for brains.

Lucy sighed, rubbing her temples not even answering that question.

Happy Thanksgiving again! I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families!

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