Disclaimer: Not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Thanks for the kudos, reviews and follows. Since I already had a Lucien, I decided to replace Lucien Petrovitch with Gaspar Cortez and Billie, with Aurora de Martel. I wrote 4000 words in a day, suffice to say I enjoyed writing this chapter.


ALWAYS & FOREVER

IV (5x07)

Eve of Destruction

'Always and Forever, will come undone. If the prophecy is fulfilled, we will all fall: one by friend, one by foe and one by family' – Freya


Theresa Rubel or Trubel, for short, had a calling, at least that's what Meisner told her when he took over Hadrian's Wall after Agent Chavez's murder. Trubel's job was top secret, which made living with Nick and Adalind impossible. Her task was to find and destroy the Black Claw leaders in Bangkok, Paris, Beijing, and London and she was given whatever she needed for her travels, including a multimillion-dollar motorbike which belonged on a James Bond movie set.

Trubel had lost touch with all her friends, except Josh, whose postcards always found her. Diana's whereabouts became known to Hadrian's Wall and in a night raid, Meisner's agents, along with a 'weapon' Trubel had heard rumours about, apprehended the six-year-old and put her in a safe house with Foster parents for her own safety. Trubel's pleads to reunite her with her mother, Adalind, were refused. She would be under strict surveillance as her unique powers were being assessed.

Diana's power remained unmatched.

Weeks went by and Trubel worried for Diana's safety as Black Claw began a string of public executions to bring fear on Wesen and humans alike. The mystery agent kept to herself. Trubel had glimpsed her white-blond hair through a crack in the door. Agents called her 'the maiden of death' after hearing the torturous screams of her victims. Burying her curiosity for the time being, Meisner's endless jobs prevented her from discovering the maiden's identity anytime soon.


Rosalee and Monroe were giving Hayley a tour of the Spice shop whilst Kelly and Hope slept in the back room. There had been attacks on local businesses on the news – everyone was on high alert. Having Hayley and her family nearby cemented her worries that at least her brother's legacy would be protected. Mr Honeycutt, a florist, had been murdered in broad daylight by men wearing "animal masks."

Rosalee turned up the TV, "Oh my God, Monroe! It's Xavier's shop!"

Their friend owned the bakery next door to the reported deceased, Ken Honeycutt. Photographs of both men popped up on the screen with the Crime Stoppers number in large font beneath.

Monroe frowned, "Black Claw kill Ken, loot the shops, and kidnap Xavier? What the hell is going on?"

Portland police asked for community assistance in recognising the attackers.

Xavier's shop was ransacked with an ominous black claw mark left behind on the wall.

Detective Wu interviewed bystanders whilst Detective Griffin spoke with forensics.

Bud was being interviewed, "I went to high school with Ken's brother. How could somebody do something like this? I've got a bad feeling. I mean a bad feeling. I mean, a feeling so bad that it's got to mean something. Something bad," he frowned, wringing his hands.

Lurking in the shadows, Hayley saw Klaus and Nick, their faces obscured by baseball hats, melting into the crowd of witnesses who grew restless.

"Black Claw really want to start a War, don't they?" Hayley frowned.

Rosalee nodded, "They don't want to hide anymore, but they're breaking Wesen Law."

The alleged kidnappers flashed on the screen from CTV footage and Monroe turned off the TV, "most street riots were instigated by Wesen like the riots in Paris in 1789 as an example and The Boxer Rebellion, and the draft riots during the Civil War. History is repeating."

The Spice Shop door rang, and a child walked in, making Monroe jump at the abruptness of her arrival.

Her hair was unkempt, and her clothes tattered, giving Rosalee the impression she might be homeless.

"I need some m-medicine, my mother's sick with a fever."

Hayley and Rosalee exchanged worried glances, whilst Monroe went to check on Hope and Kelly.


Trubel had waited outside the agent's room for hours, sick of being kept in the dark. 'HW' was a rebellion against evil. She had done everything Meisner asked of her, and she deserved the truth. There was only one other person who could have been brought in the same night Trubel had been recruited, but she had been shot and killed by her crossbow arrow.

Trubel's theory that 'HW' had saved Juliette to harness her Hiexenbiest abilities as a weapon seemed incredible, yet the agent was only ever brought in for dangerous missions, making Trubel sceptical, especially when she saw Black Claw prisoners dragged from her chambers at early hours in the morning, their minds severely altered. It was time to ask the Source.

"You shouldn't have come here," Meisner slammed the door, blood on his knuckles.

"Why didn't you tell me Juliette was alive?" Trubel demanded.

"Because I needed you focussed on your tasks. I'll tell Burkhardt when the time is right."

"That's not good enough! I trusted you, Meisner!"

Trubel tried to duck beneath him to open Juliette's door.

"You're still hurt, and you'll only make it worse," Meisner warned with a deep frown.

Trubel didn't care. Meisner locked her arm, a move he had taught her.

"What did you do to her?" Trubel yelled, causing other agents to stir from the cells.

Meisner sighed, "What we had to. Look, we have a Black Claw sighting in a warehouse not far from here. I suggest you meet me in the garage with a much better attitude."

Meisner released her but did not move from his position.

"When can I see her?" Trubel asked, massaging her arm.

Meisner walked in the opposite direction, "When she is ready."

Trubel gave Juliette's door one last glance before trailing him to their next assignment.


"Why are you doing this, I don't want to die!"

"Shut up!"

Meisner and Trubel hid as a terrified Xavier was dragged through a warehouse, his head obscured by a paper bag which is removed by a girl with strawberry blonde hair. The middle-aged man leading the congregation of Black Claw members had burns across his arms and face. Trubel gripped her machete, should she need to use it, unafraid of Bonaparte's Lieutenant.

Meisner pointed to the girl, "She is not known to me, but most new recruits are initiated for bringing honour to their families. Black Claw thrive on loyalty, if not much else." Meisner pointed to the man, "Gaspar Cortez, rumoured to be from the 17th century," he muttered. "A Vampire."

Trubel frowned, "We're dealing with Dracula?"

Meisner took a photo on his phone and beckoned for Trubel to follow him.

"We're not going to fight them?" Trubel hissed looking put out.

Meisner shook his head, "We need to follow the messenger."

He raised his finger to his lips, and Trubel looked down at Cortez holding up a photo.

"Do you know who this is?" Cortez's voice reverberated through the warehouse.

Xavier shook his head, terrified, "N-no."

Cortez's face changed, dark veins formed beneath his eyes and fangs elongated from his mouth.

He crushed the photo against Xavier's nose, "Look again."


Monroe and Rosalee had received the call from Nick that Sergeant Wu and Detective Griffin had located Xavier and taken him to the hospital for his injuries. Xavier was shaken, his face bruised and bloody. He had been treated for shock and given large doses of morphine to help with the pain.

Rosalee squeezed his hand, "What did they want? Where did they take you?"

Xavier massaged his temple. "Some old warehouse, but it was dark, and when I got free, I ran and ran until I saw the St. John's bridge. That's where your Detective friends found me."

Hank showed Xavier a photo of the Black Claw symbol they discovered on the wall of his bakery.

"Do you recognise this symbol?"

Xavier shook his head, looking between Rosalee and Monroe for answers. "No, should I?"

Hank pulled up more photos, "Do you think you could identify some of your captors?"

Xavier looked alarmed and hesitated, "They'd kill me."

Hank asked Wu to close the door. Xavier blinked at the mugshot of Gaspar Cortez but made no indication he recognised him. Hank showed another photograph of Aurora de Martel. Klaus and Nick had given new information regarding Black Claw's motives to destroy anyone in league with Klaus Mikaelson or the Grimm. Conrad Bonaparte was well known in the Mikaelson's circle of enemies.

Xavier's shaking finger rested on Aurora's face, "I can't be sure, but she might've been one of them."

Hank and Wu left the hospital room with intent to bring in Aurora de Martel, leaving Rosalee and Monroe alone with Xavier. Xavier prodded his cut lip, then with a gasp of recollection, pulled a crumbled photograph from his pocket, "Oh, they wanted me to give you this."

Rosalee stared at Monroe when Xavier passed a crumbled photograph to her husband.

Monroe frowned at the target on his face, "And what else did they say?"

Xavier shrugged, "They weren't happy you were friends with a Grimm."

Rosalee was desperate for answers, "What did you tell them? Is my husband in danger?"

Xavier mumbled incoherent words, then said, "I told them I didn't know anything."

Rosalee turned to Monroe, "We'll call The Wesen Council, they'll know how to handle this."

Whilst Monroe signed Xavier's release from hospital, Rosalee called the Wesen Council, the number was saved in her phone. This wasn't the first time she had called them. She left a message with De Groot's assistant, Alexander, who seemed mildly interested and asked, "Was anyone killed?"

She dropped her voice to a whisper, aware of listening ears, "One, they left a mark, like a claw."

Alexander replied, "Schwarzkralle or Black Claw. We are aware of the problem. De Groot has organised a meeting with world leaders. We will advise our findings. Thank you, Miss Calvert."

Rosalee helped Xavier into her car. She had rung Hayley to say she wouldn't be much longer. There was some comfort in having a Hybrid caring for the Spice Shop in her absence. Monroe received a call from Nick notifying them of a possible raid with Hadrian's Wall taking place in a few hours if Aurora gave up Gaspar Cortez. She was being questioned back at the station.

Hank had called only minutes later to advise, "Aurora took the deal. We're meeting Nick at 3.15pm."

Monroe kissed Rosalee goodbye and shut Xavier's door.

"What did De Groot say?" he asked.

Rosalee sighed, "They're aware of the problem and are meeting with World Leaders tonight."

"Okay, I'll see you when we get back."

Rosalee sighed, always worried for her significant other despite him being a Blutbad.

"It's a brave thing you did by identifying Aurora," Rosalee said. "I wonder why they took you."

Xavier tapped his fingers against his knees, "I don't know. They… didn't say."

Rosalee smiled, "Don't worry, Monroe won't let them get away."

Xavier looked out the window, "You don't know what they're gonna do. They're crazy!"

Rosalee noticed tears running down his pudgy face, and her nerves rose in her chest.

"Why did you let Monroe go with them?" Xavier burst out.

Rosalee turned in her seat, "What's going on? Tell me right now what's going on?!"

Xavier blurted, "They made me do it. I thought they were gonna kill me. I didn't have a choice!"

Rosalee slammed on the breaks, giving Xavier whiplash, "Did you set them up?"

"I'm sorry," Xavier blubbered.

Rosalee smacked his head on her dashboard, rendering him unconscious for the time being.

Blood dribbled from his broken nose.

She fumbled for her phone, hitting Monroe's name.


Monroe, Nick, Hank and Wu walked with Aurora inside the deserted warehouse. Aurora didn't seem nervous at all considering she had taken the deal: witness protection in exchange for Cortez.

"I don't know what you mean," she muttered, walking a bit faster.

Monroe's phone rang, "Sorry, it's Rosalee, I have to take this."

Rosalee's frantic voice echoed in his ear, "It's a trap! Xavier set you up!"

Monroe looked at Aurora, running for cover, as figures swarmed them.

"They know," his tone was flat.

Aurora had disappeared, leaving Nick to curse, and Hank and Wu to draw their guns.

Monroe heard Rosalee's frightened voice, "What's going on?"

He shook his head, "I don't know, but there's lots of them."

Somebody grabbed him from behind, and he dropped his phone. With a growl of annoyance, Monroe launched the Black Claw member over his head, so he cracked his skull on the ground. Gunshots prevailed and Nick found a door, calling them to follow. Knowing Rosalee would be in a panic, Monroe picked up his phone to find he had no signal and the screen had cracked.

"I thought you said Xavier was your friend!" Nick shouted over his shoulder.

"He was," Monroe frowned, a tightness in his chest.

A Drang-Zorn dropped onto Wu from above, shot by Hank and Nick.

Wu thanked them in a shaky voice. Nick sees others trying to force entry and shoots them. Monroe pockets his phone and pushes against the door. Nick warns they need to conserve ammo. Suddenly, they hear screams and thumps from outside the door. Wu warns it could be a trap to lure them out.

Nick sneaks out and bolts the door behind them much to the group's uneasiness.

Monroe used his Blutbad senses to try to decipher what was happening outside.

Nick slowly looks around and sees members of Black Claw sprawled dead on the ground.

"I've never tasted a Grimm's blood before," Cortez grabs Nick from behind.

Nick feels the sharp point of Cortez's fangs pressed into his neck. He throws his head against Cortez's nose, "My blood is your undoing," he warned.

At least it had been true when he killed Adalind's Hiexenbiest the first time.

Could his blood kill a vampire?

His gun is kicked from his hands, a pipe swings where his head had been moments ago.

Cortez' broken nose healed, but the stench of his own blood only made him more vengeful.

"Perk of being a vampire," he sneered. "Now, I want to rip your Grimm head off."

Nick held his enemy's gaze; his reflexes matched the vampire's, but it was the feeling of being watched which disconcerted him. Then he saw her; a tall, thin woman exit the shadows. It wasn't Aurora de Martel. Cortez slammed a pipe against Nick's throat and laughed at his helplessness. He threw Nick onto the ground and raised his foot, "You are a cockroach, about to die beneath my shoe."

"I think not," Klaus Mikaelson appeared. "Cortez, you really should pick on someone your own size."

An untamed fury washed over Cortez' disfigured face.

"There's no shortage of vampires that loathe you, Niklaus Mikaelson. Over centuries, we have found ways of staying connected. The world evolved, and so did our agenda. Go ahead and kill me. But I will die knowing your sired will use the white oak to be rid of you for good. And at last, you will get the retribution you deserve!"

Klaus helped Nick to his feet. "You look like you've seen a ghost, mate?"

Cortez was thrown suddenly into the air, and never came back down.

Aurora was long gone.

The others had burst from their room, and the mystery woman backed from view.

Nick took a few steps to follow her, hesitant, "Juliette?"

She stepped forward into the light and Nick heard the others gasp in surprise.


Adalind couldn't sleep, and neither could Nick. It would be morning in a few hours anyway.

Nick massaged the skin on his nose and turned his head to look at her.

"Can't sleep?"

She sighed, rolling onto her side and pushed her pillow down so she could see him better.

"It's kind of hard to sleep after finding out the woman who tried to kill us and helped the Royals steal Diana is alive and well."

He sighed, "I won't let Juliette hurt you," he promised.

Adalind couldn't stop her worries from flowing from her mouth.

"Trubel said Juliette is a weapon. What if she's like the old Juliette and wants you back? I know you feel responsible for what happened to her, but it makes Kelly and I vulnerable too."

Nick took her hand in his, "Juliette being back does not change the way I feel about Kelly or you."

She raised her eyes to check on Kelly, who slept in his cot. His smile spread warmth through her, but there was also a wariness that struck her anxious heart.

"I wish having this baby had been our choice. I can't help but wonder if you think this should have been Juliette's child, not mine."

Nick squeezed her fingers, admitting a thought that had plagued him for some time.

"Juliette and I had a chance at a normal life, and you gave that to me when you stopped me from being a Grimm."

Adalind sighed, "That wasn't exactly my intention at the time."

Nick shrugged, "I know, but still, we had a chance, and we didn't take it."

Adalind still felt guilty for the part she played, "I wish I could take it all back, everything I did to you."

Nick felt the same, "Except for Kelly," he added.

Adalind smiled, "Except for Kelly."

She gazed into his stupid grin, and assessed his lips, wanting to kiss him, but knowing it would be a terrible idea. They were partners, friends, but no way was she ready for that commitment. What was she possibly thinking? He seemed to understand her desire and moved closer which only made things more confusing. She was surprised, and yet, there was only this moment, a sudden pull towards the Grimm she hadn't felt so strongly, and if she didn't act, she was afraid it would be gone forever.

So, Adalind kissed Nick, and pulled away, eyes scrunched tight in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, that was such a bad idea," she cringed.

Something occurred to her after Nick exhaled a shaky breath, he had kissed her back.

"I wouldn't say that. It's just a bit complicated right now," he said, letting go of her hand.

In fact, she realised, he didn't know where to put his hands, which she found sweet.

"Yeah, I thought about it a lot," she half apologised.

He averted his eyes. "Yeah, thinking about it is a lot safer," he admitted.

Adalind smiled, "I don't think there's anything safe about us. But if anything does, you know, get going, we should make sure it is about us."

The roller door opened, and Nick sprang out of bed to see Trubel had arrived, helmet in hand.

"Where've you been?" he blurted as if chiding a small child.

Trubel's reply came in a rush, "I spoke with Meisner."

She dumped her helmet on the spare bed.

Adalind made sure Kelly was still okay, before joining them for breakfast.

"What did Meisner say?" Nick sounded asked.

"You're meeting Juliette. He'll contact you later. It will be a public place," Trubel finished.

Adalind boiled the kettle, pulling three mugs from the cupboard.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked.

"I have to deal with this," Nick muttered.

"Yeah, you do," she whispered, scooping coffee into their cups.

Trubel opened the fridge and pulled out various containers of Chinese take-away.

"Yeah, I'm staying here. I'm tired and I'm hungry," she explained to Nick.

His phone rang. "Hank," he answered. "Is Xavier, okay?"

There had been an incident. His cellmate had been admitted for a petty crime, but the damage was done. A bloody claw mark was left in Xavier's cell, after the assassin beat Xavier's head against their shared bars in what Nick could only presume was an execution by Black Claw. But with Cortez missing, he wondered who was giving the orders? Bonaparte or Aurora de Martel?

"What happened?" Adalind asked, passing Nick his coffee as he received a photo of the attacker.

Nick sighed, troubled, "A Wesen woged in front of Langley after yelling 'Occultatum Libera'. Which according to Monroe means, 'free the hidden' or 'free what's hidden.' Langley shot him and now needs a psych evaluation. I'm going to have to call into Monroe and Rosalee's to let them know."

Adalind peered at the photo, "He's a Coyotl. They're suicidal."

Nick gave her an admiring look before drinking his coffee in one gulp. She drank coffee, whilst Trubel finished off the fried rice, Mongolian lamb, Beef in Black Bean and Lemon chicken.

"The Wesen Council must be up in arms," Adalind thought.

"Rosalee is awaiting a call from De Groot," Nick grabbed his jacket. "I'll call you."

Trubel raised her hand into a peace out symbol, buried beneath empty Chinese containers.

"We'll be fine," Adalind reassured him, as Nick pulled down the roller door.


Nick entered the Spice Shop, surprised to be greeted by Hayley instead of Monroe and Rosalee. Nick could see Bud in the back room playing with Hope, who was dressed in denim overalls. She was only a little older than Kelly. Monroe and Rosalee were amidst a community meeting, which Nick had forgotten took place every month.

He indicated to his phone and managed to get Monroe away from the crowd. With a heavy heart he told Monroe the news, to which his friend shuffled everybody outside feigning he needed rest and that everybody should resume their daily lives without fear.

Rosalee locked the door and turned the shop sign to 'closed'.

"What's going on? Is it Xavier?"

Hayley hung up her apron and relieved Bud of his duties, who joined them upon seeing Nick.

"He was killed this morning by a Coyotl in his cell. I'm sorry."

"So am I," Rosalee said, stony faced. "I'm just grateful you are all okay."

Nick agreed, "I'm meeting with Meisner and Juliette today. Did the Wesen Council call back?"

Rosalee glanced at Monroe, "Alexander called. The Wesen council were attacked by Black Claw. De Groot and the World Leaders were all killed. Alexander barely escaped with his life. I'm afraid we're alone, no help is coming."

Nick hung his head, "I guess we only have each other."

Monroe added, "And the Mikaelsons. Klaus is bringing as many of his siblings as he can."

Nick was grateful to have seen him before he left. He might even consider the Original, a friend.

He wondered what had happened to Cortez, whose body had not yet been found.

"There's something else," Nick stumbled over his words, his cheeks turning pink. "I kissed Adalind."

Monroe stared at him, "How was it?"

"It was weird," he shrugged, as Rosalee and Bud processed his news.

Monroe smirked, "Weird, good? Weird bad?"

Rosalee shushed him, "Love comes to us in many forms."

Monroe brought Nick into the back room, whilst Rosalee said goodbye to Bud.

"You and Adalind, well, stranger things have happened." Monroe clapped him on the back.

Nick wasn't sure what to think. Adalind was the mother of his child, and he felt more for her than just friends, but with Juliette back…. He needed closure before he let anything else happen.


Nick arrived at the Three Canaries to meet with Juliette, who had texted him. It was just after midday and the restaurant was busy serving lunch. The day had gone fast, and Nick had only managed a subway sandwich since he forgot to eat at Monroe's. At first glance he couldn't Juliette, but then he noticed her silver wig and red hood, propelling him towards her.

He sat opposite her in silence. He had thought of what he would say to her all morning, but when he saw her, all that came out was confusion: "I thought you were dead, Juliette."

Juliette adjusted her hood, her fingers wrapped around her sparkling water.

"It's Eve," she sounded different, emotionless.

Juliette glanced at the patrons around her. The menu lay closed beside her, untouched.

"It's not that easy to move on," he growled, caught off guard by her stance.

"It wasn't," she admitted, raising her glass to her mouth.

Nick remembered her betrayal and how he found his mother's head in a box, Kenneth's gift.

"You set me up... and you set up my mother. Are you going to pretend like it didn't happen?"

Juliette put down her glass, "I remember everything." She looked Nick dead in the eye. "I would have killed you if Trubel hadn't've stopped me."

It was almost as if she was telling him, it had to happen the way it did.

Nick frowned, at a loss, "What did Meisner do to you?"

Eve curled her hair behind her ear, "What he had to. They saved me, like I saved you."

Nick furrowed his brow. "Why save me? And what did you do to Cortez?"

When Juliette refused to answer him, Nick's frustrations grew.

"Tell me! Dammit Eve/Juliette! Look at me! Why did you even agree to meet?"

Eve blinked, "Because they need you." She watched three men get up to leave.

"What for?" Nick growled, grabbing her arm.

Eve looked down at his hand, and Nick let go quickly. His former girlfriend was still a Hiexenbiest but in the time she had been captive in Hadrian's Wall, she seemed to have more control of herself than when he had last seen her. He could do nothing but watch Eve stalk the men. In his uneasiness, she woged, making one man's eardrums rupture until he died. Two guards pulled their guns and woged into Schakals. Nick found himself a few steps behind.

He threw the first punch, stabbing one in the chest and pushed the other through the coffee shop window. He ran outside to find Eve, but she had vanished. He called Wu for back up and showed his badge to the on-duty policeman. He answered a call from Meisner who he saw across the street. Nick was going to kill him. This was not what he had in mind when he'd agreed to meet.

"The man is Samuel Rankin, Cortez's inner circle. This was the one opportunity we had. The others are his bodyguards. You probably figured that out."

Nick fumed, "A lot of innocent people could have been hurt," he snapped.

Meisner shrugged, "That's why we wanted you there. Didn't Eve tell you that?"

Nick frowned, "If this was some kind of test…"

Meisner smirked, "It was. I'll be in touch."

Nick dialled Adalind's number, relieved to be heading home after a crazy day.


Trubel pushed open the door to the safe house which was hanging off its edges. A sense of dread hit her as she saw two bodies left in the wake of the attack. Meisner kneeled beside the victims, checking for signs of life, but they were dead. Trubel picked up the drawings left behind on the kitchen table. Pencilled drawings of rainbows, a child holding hands with her mum and dad, and a castle on a hill.

Trubel followed Eve into Diana's bedroom to find it a time capsule of when they had left it. There had been no evidence of struggle, that made Trubel wonder if Diana had gone willingly. There was one person who had been enacted into Black Claw, and whom Diana would not run from – her father, Sean Renard.

"Do you sense her?" Meisner asked Eve.

She placed her hand on the wall and took the picture Trubel hadn't let go of.

A scared little girl of four looked up at her as the King notified them that his helicopter had arrived.

There was an urgency as Nick and his friends were hunting her. She had taken Kenneth's deal in exchange for Kelly Burkhardt. She hadn't known what would happen to Kelly, all she wanted was to escape Nick, and to live her Hiexenbiest life, free of judgement.

To embrace her powers. She was part of his world now, whether he liked it or not. She was also under the Royal's protection. Eve had offered Diana her hand and Diana had taken it. She knew in that moment, that she would be like a mother to her. Adalind had taken her child, it was only fair, she would take Diana as her own.

They had a connection, whether it was Juliette's maternal instincts or her Hiexenbiest powers, Eve used that connection to harness Diana's location.

"Diana left the safe house with Renard. Bonaparte killed her foster family. Diana misses her mother."

Eve opened her eyes, returning the drawing to Trubel, who stared at her in awe.

"How did you do that?" she breathed.

"Diana trusts me. She let me into her mind."

Trubel looked down and picked up a photograph of Diana with her fake-family.

She wondered if Diana even remembered Adalind after all this time.


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