(AN: Sorry about the update. I got struck by flu and forced me to take a rest for a while.
Also due to the fact I'm still a noob in fanfiction I don't know what kind of tag I used and I just change it into HS DxD x X-overs.
While it's true the main crossover in this fic will be HS DxD, Killzone, and Naruto there will be another several minor and major crossover in this story
But for now we will dwell in alternate universe/timeline of Killzone 3 universe first, before we jump into Naruto universe. Now, ON TO THE STORY!)
Story start!
Intro: Fall Out Boys – Centuries
First Arc: Helghast in Distress
Helghan, 2357
Phyrrus City
The largest city in Helghan. This city is also the first city founded and the first civilization established by the Helghan Administration before their downfall
Housing for about twelve million lives of Helghast workers and civilians alike.
Most of the city consisted of run-down housing and apartments, slums and factories were vastly stretch across the city along with ground cars scattered all over the place and several cable cars that leads to military complex and finally to Visari's Palace where the Autarch of Helghan lives
Overall, with so many people and slums that stretch across the city along with the Visari's Palace, Phyrrus is like a Washington DC of America but with living condition of 'Third World Countries'
But that's ten years ago
Phyrrus City now stood proudly with skyscrapers, landmarks, lushes of greens, Sea ports, and park -who the Autarch dubbed as Visari's park- and the blue sky
Gone the run-down housing and apartments now replaced by many first class house complexes and apartments. This is also reducing the slums in the city to almost non-existence
The factories in this city is also changed due to the change of environment, thanks to certain travelling Dragon God, the CEOs of every factories located In Phyrrus decided to processed their wastes before dumping it in order to preserve their home
Also, due to the terraforming, lands across Helghan have become very fertile suitable for cattle grazing and agricultural industry. This led private sectors arise on Helghan with many kind of business like agriculture, farms, restaurants, Clothing, and more.
The authorities didn't stop the Civilians to create their own business as they need more variations for their business and lighten certain company work like Thoralf-Sigurd-Vig. This company, not only producing trains, railways, and space ships but also large food production and distribution. Even though they only produced MRE and Protein bars, during their years of harshness this is the company that save the Helghast from starvation.
And thanks to the arising private own sectors, Thoralf-Sigurd-Vig company passed the responsibility to them and start focusing on what they does best, shipbuilding. Though, the company still produced foods but now focused on military MRE for additional fundings.
This is what Phyrrus today.
What was supposed to be a city filled with slums, now turned into an industrial metropolitan city with many variation of innovative businesses, the centre of Helghan economic hub and a symbol of their military strength
Visari's Palace
Dusk
Located above the hill of phyrrus was Visari's Palace, home of the Autarch of Helghan
Outside of the balcony of the palace was a bald man wearing decorated black coat over watching the capital city below him
This man is Scolar Visari, The man who have rebuild his nation and shaped it into how it is today, the man who rebuilt his nation's strength on par if not better than their oppressors, and the man who have rebuild their pride as a race that survives the harshness of exile into a prideful race with excellent economy and military strength
Down below him, Visari could see many of his people gather at Visari Square with confetti decorating the sky above the Square followed by fireworks covering the sky with beautiful sparks celebrating the Helghan Day
Helghan Day was a national holiday of Helghan where the Helghast throw a festival dedicated to celebrates the end of their sufferings and the starts of the year of prosperity… something they missed for one hundred and thirty eight years
Visari letting a small smile adorned his face Visari couldn't help but chuckle
"Imagine what my nation would've become if God didn't come to help us…" he commented with a deep noble voice
"It will stay as a city with many slums and surrounded by poverty. And didn't I told you I'm not a God"
Not expecting any response, the Autarch turn around to see a woman with a long black hair with pointy ears wearing black coat just like him but less decorated and hugs her supple figures especially around her chest
(AN: oh yeah kinda forget about it hehe it's double Ds IYKWIM)
"Lady Ophis? I thought you were down there enjoying the merriment?"
"I was, until Regret started sprouting dirty jokes with your officers"
"Oh… you have my sympathy"
"Nah… I'm used to it. 343 years with him you'll bound to endure his antics" Ophis shrugged him off as she walk toward the balcony standing beside the Autarch
"well how 'bout you? Why are you standing here over watching the city instead join the festivities? Every high-ranking Officers even Radec and the Generals join into the joy down there"
"…I would like to join… but for some reason I prefer watching my people up here rather than jumping into the liveliness"
Ophis sighed at the Autarch "Still can't believe it, can you?"
"To be honest, no I can't… I once thought to turn this planet into a Militaristic-Totalitarian Empire and reclaim our home of Vekta but you arrived into this world a decade ago and now look what you did" Visari held his hand forward gesturing 'all of this'
"You gave us hope, purpose and more importantly a bright future for every Helghast children and you brought happiness to my people something that I couldn't give. I'm still overwhelm with the sudden changes and how quick you did this" Visari said in disbelief
Seeing the Autarch Ophis couldn't help but giggle "Ara ara you don't need to fuss it over and over Visari, a word of advice don't think the common sense behind the power of Supernatural, you'll just hurt your mind ufufufufufu"
"Hmm… maybe you're right I shouldn't think about the reason behind your mumbo jumbo tricks"
"Visari, it's called magic and…" Ophis blinked several times as if she realised something and turn her head to him "did you just crack a joke?"
Visari form a small smile on his face "ten years with you I'm bound to pick up something from you my friend" the Autarch said while repeating certain part of Ophis words
"Oh you just being hilarious" Ophis scoffed
"Well I tried my best"
Both the Dragon God and the Autarch chuckled. It was nice to spent time like this chatting like this making bond with each other. Especially for the Dragon God, it's really good spending time like this with her precious one why would see craved for cold and lonely silence while there something so much better like the warmth of friendship and love?
Back then, Opis thought it was her duty to float around doing NOTHING while surrounded by said power in her home thus isolating herself from the rest of the world and get rid such trivial thoughts like emotions.
But again, after she meet her family she realised that nothing good can come from the hollows of Nothingness. She felt something strange during her first family activity filling her heart but dismissed it the feelings however, slowly but surely grows stronger every time they spend time together as if filling the nothingness in her heart with something but Ophis dismissed again but determined to find the true meaning of this feelings… too bad she found it too late
"Visari… as much as I like to stay here settling on Helghan I'm afraid I can't stay here any longer I'm going to leave Helghan tomorrow at noon"
Visari was in deep surprise when Ophis voiced her speech
"What? Why? I thought you said that Helghan is like your second home? What's with the sudden change of mind?"
"it is Visari, it is but…" Ophis closed her eyes. She knew he was going to say that after all she was the one that gave them a new home and the people of Helghast even Visari praised her like she's a god –well she is- but after the Apocalypse she didn't considered herself befitting of a god
Ophis open her eyes "God doesn't make sins, Visari" Ophis started "I made a lot of sins" The Autarch surprised by Ophis confession
"Helping your people is just small thing I obliged to do while there's something bigger out there waiting for my help or to simply travel to reflect my past mistakes"
"You may go" Visari said
"So that's why I asked you too—wait, you let me go? Easily like that? No pleading, reasons, or speeches? " Ophis spoke completely baffled by Visari statement
The Autarch sigh "Ophis, did you ever heard the word 'eyes is the window of your soul'?"
"Yes I heard that quite often"
"When you explained your reasons, I saw the look on your eyes… I can't describe it but that was the eyes of someone who had to pay a high and unnecessary prices for the something he or she did and now full of regret and sorrow. I don't know what you did that put so much burden for you and I believe you don't want to talk about it, yes?" Visari received a nod from her
"So that's why I don't want to hold you or forced you to stay if anything I should let you go" Visari said with a noble voice
Ophis put a weak smile on her face "Ara? Am I really easy to read now? But thank you Visari. I swear that I will visit this world someday in the future and I would like to see how Helghan going to be"
"Your welcome my friend, after what you did to Helghan we, Helghast people will always welcome you to our home" The Autarch replied "but can I ask a request?"
"What is it?"
"Come with me to the festival and allow me to announce to my people about your departure. Many of them considered you as an important figure in Helghan Empire if you leave without noticing us, there will be a lot of commotion knowing their saviour knowing is gone without trace" requested The Autarch
"Oh… of course, it would be improper for me if I just leave you like that, I would never do that. Just let me grab my bottle of Constantine wine and I'll join you"
Several minutes later both the Dragon God and the Autarch of Helghan join their people in the merriment
xXxHelghastxXx
12 years later, 2369, present day
"WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL IS GOING ON!?" to say Ophis is shocked would be an understatement of millennia
Ophis was expecting the marvellous city of Phyrrus like the one she saw 12 years ago with busy traffic of trains and cars, skyscrapers, blue skies, etc.
Not Phyrrus with:
Dusty skies
Destroyed buildings
Petrusite-based lifeforms scouring the ruins
Petrusite mists covering both the ruins and skies like aurora
Petrusite is a powerful element exclusive to Helghan only, this element is also the main power source for any simple electrical appliances to space cruiser fuel of Helghan. In 2349, Ophis and Regret managed to contain petrusite hazard place turning said element to be less dangerous and eco-friendly but
Ophis POV
'Aren't Petrusite supposed to blue in nature not green?' I thought. When I look throught the gateway I thought the Helghast found their own way to terraforming the rest of this planet. When I terraformed this planet I didn't completely converted all the planet surface, I only terraformed roughly 85% of the planet surfaces while the rest is nothing more than a hazardous zone designed to contain the petrusite
So when I saw the green mist covering certain part of Helghan I thought it was the Helghast doing in terraforming. That's why I thought they found a way to continue where I left off… it seems I was wrong
I know a lot about petrusite and its composition but this… clearly something new. I knew for a fact that Petrusite colour is blue and they act like Tesla reactor but 10 times more effective and more efficient unlike their Tesla counterpart but this is…
"Regret, Suffer scout the area search for any survivors help them anyway you can and give them protection from this green petrusite I've got a bad vibe coming from this substances"
"'Yes master"" complying my order, both of my servants use their blink ability vanishing from my sight
I look around the ruins and spot a pool of this green substances
I admit I'm a bit interest on how petrusite turns out like this but this is not the time for me to researching this new type of Petrusite
I walk toward the pool before I kneel beside it and proceed to uncover my right leather glove and cover my right hand with bluish black aura before I dip my hand in it
'Hmm… I was right this is Petrusite but what about the other composition?' as I put more energy into my hand I'm shocked by the revelation
"No it can't be…" I noticed two substances inside this new petrusite it's faint but I know what's kind of chemical substance merged with it
"Who? Who had the audacity to…" as I channel more energy into my hand it is clear what kind of substances it is
Plutonium-239 and Uranium-235…
Who the fuck dare to drop a thermonuclear bomb on MY beloved Phyrrus!
With Regret
As soon as master ordered us we quickly blinked ourselves away in order to search for any survivor from this holocaust. I went to a sector known as Visari Square… or what's left of it
Jumping and blinking from one place to another I couldn't help to wonder:
What could've caused this?
A war no doubt. I bet those fools inside ISA and UCN declared war or the Helghan Empire started a war
'No…'
I shook my head as I stop myself in front of a restaurant, unlike many buildings this one is still intact
Curious, I enter the building and quickly greeted by the sight of something that made my disgust to human arise
Laying in front of me is a pile of dead bodies of Helghast civilians and 2 soldiers ranging from adults… to children who looked no older than 8 years old I can tell the difference easily with human by their bald heads and ACUs
'The Helghast aren't the one behind this'
I decided to get some pictures of this place until my feet stumble upon something by something I mean a dead body of a soldier with different design ACU
I kneel in front of it and found something that made my hatred for humanity doubled
With Suffer
When I arrived into this world I was expecting the same thing like my master expected but instead we were greeted by something that coming out from World War 2 aftermath movies but with more radiation from unknown substance
Right now I'm in the middle of a wide field with craters and destroyed war machines
Damn… they knew there's no good coming out from wars so why they were bothered doing it?
Is it because of the natural resources crisis?
Is it because it's man nature to show who is the better fighter?
Or is it because of jealousy?
Sometimes war can be started by something so trivial like insults. During the 8 years I followed my master, I once saw a tribe fall to another tribe in a bloody civil war the cause? One of the fallen tribe villager insult the other tribe's leader
…how foolish…
But I've never saw a war as destructive as this… I'm familiar with the loss of kingdom, territorial conflict, corporate wars, but this… I lost words to describe it
I never like wars, never. But should a war happened it'd better be with a good reason not some stupid reason
….
Oh who am I kidding there's no war started with a good reason and we're talking about humans who loved to fight over something
What do you expect? World peace? For centuries humans always love fighting either it's in medieval time crusade to future galactic war like this accompanied with dark reasons behind it. One nation/tribe/planet suffer from the horror of the war while the other reap the fortune of it
Heck, I once went into a world where war is an economic activities. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES! How many lives is lost for a simple supply like food, water, and clothes? Ironically, said supplies were used to supply either side troops so they can fight again and again and again
They disgust me to no end which made me glad and grateful I'm no longer human
Hours later
Ophis POV
To be honest I'm scared
I'm scared of my precious people who lives here. I've been looking around Phyrrus only to discovered that many important building where my friends live or work has been destroyed
All of them.
Visari's Palace
Radec Academy
Visari Corporation
Stahl Arms
Heck, I even took a flight to Constantine city only to find out the city suffer the same fate as Phyrrus
All of them reduced to rubble and despite my servants and my own efforts we found no survivors, only dead bodies brought by Regret
Right now I'm observing my servants lining up several dead bodies in the middle of a clearing in Corinth highway
"Is this all of them?" I asked Regret as he finished lining up the corpses
"Yes master" I noticed there's something bothering him as I can hear his anger in his voice "is there something bothering you Regret?"
"Nothing master, nothing" he said but judging how he reply my question and looked away from me only make my suspicion grew bigger
"Regret, I know there's something bothering you can share it with me and discuss it"
"…" he only stand there in silent before answering "sorry master but I want to keep it for myself this time" he said with a sigh "I'll discuss it with you when the time is right"
Now I'm one hundred percent sure there's something bothering him "fine then" but right now I'll drop it as I focus myself on the dead bodies
Who could've than this? In the event of a war, aren't Stockholm treaty prohibited anyone to kill innocent civilians? I shook my head and sigh "alright then, I guess I'm going to seal the DBs before we-" I cut myself off as I'm picking some sound nearby something like… rapid footsteps… like running soldiers
"Master you noticed it?"
"Yes Suffer, I do"
"What would like us to do master?" Asked regret
"From what I've heard it seems they already spotted us, we'll play along" as soon as I said that, two dozen men with glowing red eyes from their mask while wearing HAZMAT suits come into view converging on our location armed with their Sta-52 bullpup assault rifles, Sta-11 SMG and Sta-3 Stova LMG.
They obviously spotted us as we're standing in the middle of a ruined Corinth highway with many dead bodies of the fallen Helghast
"FREEZE!" one of them said with a gruff muffled voice "put your hands in the air!" twelve of them quickly surround us pointing their weapons at us while the other guard the perimeter
"I said put your hands in the air!" the same soldier shouted it seems he's the leader of this group
I comply at his order as I gesture my servants to do the same
"On the ground NOW!"Again I comply his order seeing no reason to fight them "Bravo 2 and 3 secure the masked male 4 and 5 secure the hooded one" I keep my calm façade as his men restrain and forced us to kneel on the ground while keep pointing their weapon at us
Then I see the leader of this group pull something from his bag. A holo-scanner, I see… they knew who I am they just want to make sure they found the right guy er… woman. I keep my face straight as hold the scanner right in front of my face
I can hear some beeping as he starts scanning my face looking for matching identity in their database.
The beeping stop, it seems the scan is complete as he move away from me I can tell that he somewhat felt relief judging from how he loosen his grip on his rifle
"Thank the Grace… men, we found the VIP lower your weapons and release them" the soldiers that surround us lower their weapon and also look relief
"Sorry for the inconvenient Lady Hyoudou-Gremory. We're just been through war and need to be cautious all the time" he said with a bow. As the soldiers release their restrain on my servants and I, the soldiers help us to get up
How gentle
"It's alright soldier, and please call me Ophis and thank you er…" I wave my hand trying to ask his name
"Second-Lieutenant Alviss Fitzgerald at your service, Milady" he introduced
"Right. Thank you Lieutenant Fitzgerald"
"It's our pleasure Milady, now, would you please follow us? We were instructed by our acting leader to bring you and your companions to the underground shelter" the lieutenant requested
"Wait, how do you know I'm arrived at this place?"
"I'm sorry milady I do not know, all of your question will be answer by our acting leader later. Our mission to get you to the shelter"
Who is the acting leader? Acting leader usually elect if the actual leader is either absent, sick or…
No… it can't be… No… don't you dare think about it Ophis! Be optimist
"Just give me a few minutes and I'm ready" I tell the leader. I move toward the lines of the dead bodies, I gather my magic in my fingertips and start to draw a small magic circle with it
Third person POV
Many of the Helghast soldiers curious at whatever Ophis is doing she seems to gently drawing something in the air with her finger whole leaving blue trails. Said trails seems to shaped into circle with unknown letters
"Lieutenant" one of the Helghast soldier whispered "what is she doing?"
"I don't know sergeant, this is a first for me too" the lieutenant whispered back
Their chattering were cut off short as the magic circle drew by Ophis suddenly glow brightly before flying into the middle of the lined up dead bodies and latch itself on the ground
The soldiers noticed Ophis and the masked figures companion back away "you might want to back away to soldier" the hooded female servant told the Helghast soldiers
Seeing no ill intent from the masked servant, the soldier do as told and back away and took position behind Ophis
Then they see something that amaze all of them,
The circle suddenly expand itself several times its original size and start to glow brightly so bright that made the Helghasts to cover their eyes, when glow started to fade everyone in the vicinity can see the magic circle now covered the line up dead bodies
"Milady what are you-" The lieutenant's words died in his mouth as he and his forces saw the event transpired in front of them
The dead bodies were covered with a blue Aura before slowly dissolve into particles of light moving toward the centre of the magic circle forming an orb of blue light
When all of the light gather at the orb, the circle begin to spin at faster and faster before shrinking toward the orb, the orb than started to glow brightly once more and morph into a smaller rectangular form. As Ophis, her servants, and the Helghast watches the light dies down, the Helghast was leave speechless from the in front of them
The lined up dead bodies were gone replaced by a floating deck card-sized black card with a reaper wielding a scythe and a stylized 'Unrest' word written bellow the reaper
Ophis walk forward to grab the card with her hand and hold it gently while staring at the card sadly 'don't worry children of Helghan, until I found a suitable place for bury your bodies, you will be safe inside this card' she thought as she stretch her hand and let card float before dissolve into particle of light
Ophis face back to her servant and the lined up Helghast. While her servant looks normal, she can tell that many of the Helghast are either baffle or shocked with the event just transpired in front of them
"Milady-" the lieutenant tried to speak up but stop by a raised index finger courtesy of Ophis
"Before you ask, no, I didn't do anything to desecrate your fellow countrymen, I only seal them inside a stasis dimension, I will unseal them until I find a suitable place to bury the bodies" Ophis said with a stern voice "now would you kindly direct me to your shelter, lieutenant Fitzgerald?"
"uh… yeah please come with us , Milady"
Wasting no time Ophis, her servants, and the Helghast walk away from the ruins of Corinth highway and proceed for their next destination
An hour later
The shelter, somewhere in the outskirts of Phyrrus
Ophis POV
The trip to the shelter was uneventful save from one female Helghast soldier asking for my autograph, really? You're on duty for goodness sake! You can't just rushed to me and asking for autograph ignoring your duty! And where did you get that paper and pen when you're practically wearing HAZMAT suit!
Putting that matter aside, right now we're just disembark from Helghast tracked APC. It was strange though why they would use this obsolete APC? If I remember correctly the Helghast developed a new, versatile, and faster Hover APCs to replace the Tracked APCs so why they didn't use it?
"Please follow me to sanitation room, milady and that includes your… servants" the lieutenant requested "we need to make sure you're clear from petrusite radiation"
"We're fine lieutenant, we shield ourselves from the radiation" it's true though, the moment we're about to enter this world me and my servants already detected radioactive readings and Issued my servants to cover themselves with magic barrier preventing themselves from getting expose from the radioactive exposure from the irradiated petrusite
Yes, irradiated petrusite I asked about the green substance to the soldiers inside the APCs they quickly give me the answer. It turns out the Petrusite stored beneath the city of Phyrrus were exposed to the nuclear bomb causing a chemical reaction from the petrusite and change them into this new type of petrusite
"I'm sorry milady, it's the standard protocol. Even if you claim you're being protected by your magic we can't risk it, please understand this" the lieutenant rebutted
I sighed. I usually do something like Irina nee-san would do mainly complaining about why they won't believe me but the situation didn't let me so I just play along with the rules "Alright then lead the way"
xXxHelghastxXx
Ophis POV
"How come you didn't get poisoned? You were strolling around the ruins of Phyrrus which is considered as an area with the highest level of radiation! How can you be fine?" asked the lieutenant in disbelief he and his team now wearing standard Helghast Assault Infantry ACU. We are now walking toward the office of the current acting leader with me and my servants were escort by the lieutenant and 6 of the soldier through the underground shelter corridor
"I told you lieutenant, I and my servant covered ourselves with magic barrier it prevents us from getting exposed from radiation" unlike you most likely think the magic barrier we deployed is just like a suit and I mean really like a suit. It envelops our bodies from head-to-toes along with our clothes as oppose to normal spherical magic or magic circle barrier hence why we didn't get caught by the radiation
"But still, how you do that? I know you transformed Helghan to third earth which is a great feat but I still can't believe how you didn't covered -" I sighed at the lieutenant rambling before I cut him off
"Lieutenant Fitzgerald" I spoke with a stern voice at the same time I stop walking while rubbing my head the other soldier my servants also stopped themselves while the lieutenant seems to tensed
"May I remind you that you're now on duty to escort me to your leader? While I don't mind a company from my beloved people of Helghan, I expect some discipline from you to keep some talk in line is that clear" I reminded the lieutenant I know this is a bit cold but this magic talk is not really related to his mission
I can tell he's a bit down from his body language "I'm sorry milady" he slumped down "it won't happen again I promise"
"I do not dislike your attitude, lieutenant, like I said I don't mind a company from my beloved Helghan citizens and that include soldier of Helghan I'm just reminding you that not everyone will like an attitude like that especially during the mission, understand?" I continued at the lieutenant being seen which he reply with a nod
I notice something from him, unlike many high-ranking helghast officer I've met, who always stood strong with their opinion even when they're wrong and hard-headed the one in front of me is rather… I don't know… meek? Then something crossed in my mind
"Your new in military aren't you?" those words alone already show what he is as his shoulder slumped down again
"Yes… I just graduate from Radec Academy Officer School 7 weeks ago this is actually my first mission"
Great… I just criticized a green officer for any possibility he can be a civilian not familiar with military life trying to serve his country or an officer who is a top of his class always be praised never once get criticized. It's most likely the latter, seeing he has a good attitude on the field.
added the fact that I used magic to terraformed their home, it's not impossible for many people of Helghan to see me like I'm some sort of god and me 'scolding' him is like a god delivering a divine punishment and berate himself for becoming unworthy in my eyes
Then he did something that made the surrounding Helghast including me and servants shell-shocked. He turn around grovel on my feet "Milady please I-I-I'm sorry if I bothered you in such way please forgive this insolent low-life"
…
See what I mean?
I rub my face in exasperation and sigh at the grovelling lieutenant. See this is one of the many reason why I don't like being seen or called as a god "rise Alviss Fitzgerald" I said as I kneel in front him as he lift himself facing his mask to my face "you didn't do anything wrong, I just remind you about your mission, okay?" I tried to tell him with a soft tone
"I'm not angry nor disappointed at you, is that understand? You're not unworthy in my eyes, back in the ruins you showed a good leadership worthy of my attention" again I tried to speak with soft tone but this time I tried to add a more god-like speech which raise his spirit back and I don't know what gotten into me but I decide to grab his masked face and kiss his helmet which again raise his spirit two folds
"Now would you please escort me to your leader and to finish your mission?" I asked with a smile as both me and the young officer stand up
"Yes! Thank you milady! Now please follow me!" he answered with full of spirit and started leading the team again
Hmm? What was that? I just felt something strange sensation coming from him. Well I can find out later now I'm just glad that was over I just hope this godhood thing will not be a common occurrence
…
I just temp fate, didn't I?
-Done-
Outro: A7x – Dear God
(AN: aaaannddd finish. Alright that's the first chapter of the first arc is finish. The next chapter is already hallway done and I hope it will finish few days later
And also I want to say thank you to everyone who read my story and please give me a review, for it will be a pointer for me to create a better chapter in the future
I always welcome every reviews with open arms either its compliments or critics
But I'm not going to respond on flames, I either delete it or use it to grill my steak
Anyway that's it for now. See you later –Rectha101 signing off)