CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: WHAT IS THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX?

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Five realised that the bar was a bad idea to talk with his family while strangers was around them. So he deiced to lead them all upstairs so they can have the conversation.

When they were all around the pool tables Five started telling them about the grandfather paradox.

"Paradox Protocols. The Complete Commission Guide to Temportal Anomalies Chapter 68 'The Grandfather Paradox' It's New Jersey, 1953, and Elmer Tatelman hates his grandfather. Elmer blames everything on his grandfather. His mother's pain, his father's dead, and his own sad life. This could have been just another sad tale about soup, except for one thing. Elmer is about to invent...time travel. You see, Elmer has decided the key to his future happiness is to go back in time and kill his grandfather. Elmer completed his mission, but he's made one crucial mistake. He went too far back in time. You see murdering his grandfather in 1905 meant that Elmer's mother didn't exist to meet his father in 1925. Which made certain that Elmer himself was never born. Elmer killed his grandfather so his mother was never born. But if his mother was never born, Elmer no longer exists. But if Elmer no longer exists, how could he possibly kill his grandfather? And around and around we go. Elmer has created a paradox, the grandfather paradox. The most pernicious problem in The Commission Handbook of Paradox Protocols. This story is not true. But if it were, Elmer would have placed, time, space, and every living thing in grave peril. Don't be an Elmer! We've been lucky so far. With your help, constant vigilance, and a little strategic violence, the Commission will make certain nothing like this ever happens. Or God help us all' Well, that is what we learned in The Commission" Five explained while they were all standing by the pool ball table on the second floor in the hotel.

Stan let out a grunt as he was doing some ninja move while swinging a pool ball stick while Mitch and Andy was sitting on the couch next to Lara.

"I'm so confused" Diego said "Shocking" Allison muttered causing Diego to glanced at her "Well, someone killed our mothers, so we shouldn't exist" Viktor said while Klaus was laying on the floor, repeatedly hitting himself in the face with the book.

"But clearly, we do exist and the universe can't handle it, which is a problem" Viktor said "Big problems" Five said and let out a sigh as he was holding a mug of coffee before taking a sip.

"YAH" Stanley shouted as he jumped and kicked his leg out in front of him.

"STANLEY!" Diego shouted as he pointed his knife at him and Stan looked at him "Now is not the time to be doing karate, okay?" Diego said "Mom said I need to practice" Stan said "Yeah, well, she's not wrong. You're very bad" Diego said with a nod as he was flipping his knife with his hand "Well, I saved your pathetic ass!" Stan shouted at him.

"Okay, hold on. Dad, so we caused a paradox?" Mitch said and Five turned a bit to look at his son as he was holding his mug "What does that mean?" Mitch asked "It's hard to say. It's all been theoretical until now, but things have started to disappear" Five said "What things?" Viktor asked and Five put his mug down on the pool ball table "Right now? Uh, lobsters" he said "And a shit ton of cows!" Klaus said as he sat up while Andy let out a chuckled.

"But I have a feeling this is just the beginning" Five said "A feeling? Aren't you retired? Having some alone time with your girlfriend and sons?" Allison asked and Five looked at her "I want nothing more" he said.

"You know" Allison said as she walked over to Five before she stopped in front of him when he turned to her "You can't drag us through hell because you have an itch only an apocalypse can scratch and then expect us to deal with the fallout. You're not the boss" she said.

"Fine, I'm the messenger, and I'm telling you something terrible is coming. I think you are forgetting that I can't control if or when the world ends" Five said calmly "Then let's go attack the Sparrows, get the briefcase, and go home" Allison said "This is our home, Allison. Accept it" Five said "You are only saying that cause you have a partner and kids" Allison said.

But then there was a clattering noise breaking the silence and they all looked over at Stan who knocked over something with his pool ball stick.

"That's it! I'm telling your mom" Diego said "Ooh" Stan said, not sounding scared.

"Wait, where's Lila?" Five asked as he looked between Stan and Diego "Shower. I told her she could stay with us" Stan said "Wait. When did Lila get back?" Viktor asked and Five grabbed his mug before he turned around and walked towards the stairs "Five, where are you going?" Diego asked "Go talk to somebody who only has half her head up her ass" Five answered "Don't leave, Five. Don't leave" Klaus said "No, Klaus. I'm leaving" Five said as he walked away.

"Dad where are you going?" Andy asked "To talk to Lila. You boys stay here" Five said "I better go with you" Lara said as she got up "No Darling, let me---" "No, last time this Lila woman was here, she tried to kill you, so I better go with you just in case she try to kill you again" Lara said before she looked over her shoulder "You boys stay here, we will be right back" Lara said as her and Five walked away.

"I mean, he has a good track record with this stuff. I feel like we should listen to him" Viktor said as he pointed towards the stairs "Sure" Klaus said as he pointed at Viktor.

 "Hey, quick question" Klaus said before he stood up "Cobra Kai! Yeah!" Stan said as he practiced his karate.

"Do none of you heartless bastards care about our murdered moms?" Klaus asked as he walked over to Viktor before he dropped the book onto the pool ball table.

"Come on. We need to find out who did this! This is the thing" Klaus said before he dropped the book back onto the table "This is the main thing!" he said "Is that all you want?" Diego asked "Yeah" Klaus answered, sounding like a child.

"'Cause it's obviously Dad, all right? He knew where we were born. He hated us in '63. Boom. Murders" Diego said.

"You think Dad is capable of killing innocent people?" Klaus asked causing Allison to let out a scoff while Diego let out a laugh "Absolutely" Viktor said "Oh, it's Murder City, buddy" Diego said "Yeah, I guess so" Klaus said.

"But real question" Andy said and they all turned to look at him "If you are saying that Reginald killed our mothers" Andy said and Diego nodded "But how would he know what mom is ours?" he asked and the others shared a look, not knowing the answer.

Then Luther came walking up the stairs and over to them out of breath from running.

"Little late for a meeting, pal" Diego said to him "I was being held captive. By the Sparrows" Luther said as he extended his arms out to his sides, holding a Sparrow tote bag and a drink in each hand while he was wearing a Sparrow outfit set.

"What?" Allison asked "Wait. Did none of you notice?" Luther asked.

"We're happy you're home safe and sound" Viktor said "Yeah. Oh my God" Klaus said "Stop lying" Allison said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah. Okay. Nice" Luther said as he walked over to the pool table.

"Did they hurt you?" Mitch asked "Who? The Sparrow?" Luther said and shook his head "God, no. Not at all. Excellent hosts. Really quite charming, actually" Luther said as he put down the bag on the table and Allison looked in the bag while Klaus touched Luther's Sparrow jacket.

"Oh, and you should see their gym. Outstanding! I really think we got these guys all wrong" Luther said as he slurped on his drink and Allison pulled out a Sparrow Academy record with Marcus, Ben and Alphonso on the front cover "Says the guy they kidnapped" she said.

"Well, it didn't look like they treated you bad" Andy said as he had his hands on cross in front of his chest. 

Diego then let out a whistled causing Luther to look at him "What did they want?" he asked "Oh. Marcus. He's missing. They want him back. Unharmed" Luther said "We don't have him" Viktor said "Well, damn. I was hoping we'd solve that one quickly and then move on to problem number two. Disappearing people" Luther said and they all looked at him "People disappearing?" Mitch asked and Luther nodded.

But Stan accident hit a vase with his pool stick causing the vase to break "Ooh!" he said and we all turned to him "Uh, it was...it was the wind" he said "Who's the kid?" Luther asked.

---

"Why do you need to talk to this Lila woman anyway?" Lara asked "I need her help. She is the only other person than me that knows about this paradox" Five explain before the two walked into the bathroom and Lara's eyes widened when they saw Lila in the bathtub with her leg up as she was shaving it.

"The hell are you doing in here?" Five asked "Shaving my nest, you little perv" Lila said as she drop her leg down into the water "Don't flatter yourself, Lila" Five said as he put his hands in the pockets "I like my women a little less likely to kill me in my sleep. Beside I already have only one woman in my life" he said as he tilted a little bit to the side before he looked at Lara who smiled.

"We're learning so much about each other" Lila said "Mm" Five said as Lila slowly pulled up a knife before throwing it towards Five, but he reach to grab Lara's hand before he blink away.

Lara and Five both appeared behind Lila on the other end of the bathroom and she turned to him before she blinked away causing Five's eyes to widened.

She then appeared behind him and she grabbed Lara before she push her away from Five causing her to spun around before her stomach hit something hard right causing her to let out a grunt as she put her hands on her stomach.

"Lara" Five said but then Lila grabbed his shoulder before she threw him into a small mirror behind her causing him to let out a grunt while his fedora fell of his head and onto the floor.

Five stumbled backwards and she swung a kick at him, hitting him in the stomach causing him to let out a groan and she punched him in the face.

She then kicked him in the face causing him to fell to the floor.

Lila was panting as Five put his hands on the floor underneath his head.

He turned his head before he spotted a small towel that was laying on the bathtub's edge and he grabbed the towel before he got up and turned around to look at her, ready to fight again.

Lila let out a grunt as she threw a punch at him but he dodged the punch before he with his elbow push her arm down but she punched him on the waist with her other arm and he punched her in the face.

He then wrapped the towel around her throat before he went behind her back and he grits his teeth as he put his knee on her back before he started choking her causing her to gasp for air.

But then she blinked away before she appeared over by the door to grabbed the knife that was stuck in the door.

She turned around before she blinked away and as Five ran towards the door, she appeared in front of him causing him to stop in his track.

She pushed the knife towards his stomach but he reach to jump back before the blade could hit him.

She spun around before she swung a kick at his chest causing him to stumble back.

She then swung the knife towards his face but he reach to ducked down before he got up and punched her right in the face causing her head to fall back a bit.

Five then spotted a small tray with towels that was laying on another bathtub edge.

He grabbe the tray with both hands before he put it between himself and Lila, using it as a shield as she swung the knife towards him.

She lifted the knife up over her head before she moved it towards his face but he put the tray between which cause the knife to hit the tray making half of the blade to go through the tray causing the metal make a creaks sound.

Both Lila and Five was grunting and gritting their teeth as they both was pressing the knife and the tray towards each other.

"Guys, I don't think killing each other is gonna help us with this" Lara said before she let out another grunt in pain. 

Five cried out as he push the tray closer towards Lila before he managed to push the tray away so the knife and the tray landed on the floor.

Five threw a punch at Lila but she moved her head to side, dodging his fist.

He threw another fist at her but she blocked it with her hand before she with her other hand push his arm away.

She threw a punch at him but he grabbed her arm before he threw a punch at her but she blocked it.

She swung her arm towards him but he ducked down before he got up and kicked her in the waist.

"Stop both of you. Otherwise I will finish it" Lara said.

Five then threw a punch at Lila but she blocked the punch with her arm before giving him a knee in the stomach.

She swung another punch at him but he ducked down before he got up and blocked her arm with his arms.

He then spun around, going behind her before he gave her an elbow in the back making her stumbled forward.

He then grabbed a bottle with some shampoo and he took some steps back before he splash it in her face causing her to let out a groan as she put her hands on her face when it hit her in the face.

He then spun around before throwing a circle kick at her face causing her to stumbled backwards.

Both Five and Lila threw another fist towards each other

"Okay, that's enough" Lara said and before the two fist could hit each other she grabbed both of their fist causing them to look at her.

"Playtime is over, kids" she said before she flipped Lila over causing her to cry out in pain as she landed on her back while Five let out a small chuckled.

"What the fuck are you laughing?" she asked before she also flipped him over causing him to cry out in pain as his back hit the floor.

"Are you two both done?" Lara asked as she put her hands by her hips.

"Yeah, we're done" Five said as both him and Lila grunt while they got to their feet.

"Good" Lara said before she put her hand on her stomach and sat down by the edge of the bathtub, knowing that the fight was over while she was hoping that the baby didn't took any damaged.

Five kept his eyes on Lila "Enough" she said as she wipe some of the shampoo off her face and Five let out some heavy breaths and he started panting, knowing the fight was over.

Five then looked at Lara who had her hand on her stomach "Darling, you okay?" he asked as he rushed over to her "I'm fine Five" she said as she let out a deep breath "Do you need anything? Water?" he asked worried "Jesus Five, I'm fine okay, no need to worry, I'm not dying" Lara said.

Lila then bent down before she grabbed a towel from the floor and she wrapped the towel around her naked body.

"I'd forgotten how much I hate you, you puny little turd" she said as she finished wrapping the towel around her body "The feeling's mutual, Lila" Five said as he sat down on the edge of the bathtub, putting his hands on each side of his waist on the edge of the bathtub "As much as I'd love to stand here shivving each other, we have bigger concerns than you" he said as he slid some of his hair away from his face.

"Yeah? Like what?" Lila asked as she rubbed her right eye, to get some of the shampoo out.

"What do you know about the grandfather paradox?" Five asked as he walked over to her before stopping in front of her.

"Well, I read the same training manuals as you did. Why?" she asked "Because it's happening" he said "You being serious" she said "Hand over your briefcase. I need to go to Herb and find out how he let things get so cocked up" he said and she leaned her back against the wall "Over there with my knickers. Toss them to me, will you?" she said as she pointed over by the bathtub.

Five walked over to the bathtub and he bent down, grabbing her knickers before throwing them to her.

He then saw that she had two of The Commission briefcases "Lila, why is it you have two briefcases?" he asked as he lifted up both briefcases before he put them on the bathtub's edge.

"Mmm. One's yours. Nicked it from the Sparrows" she said as she pointed on one of the briefcases before looking back at him "Go on. Give it a go" she said and the sound of a briefcase latch clicks was heard as Five got ready to open one briefcase and he put down the other briefcase on the floor before he put both hands on the briefcase that was standing on the bathtub's edge.

"First, we try yours" she said and Five opened it before looking down inside of it while it was making a sputters sound before it power down causing Five's eyes to widened while Lila let out a small nod.

He then closed the briefcase before he put it down and grabbed the other one, ready to opened it and the sound of briefcase latch clicks was heard while Lila sat down on the other edge of the bathtub.

"And then we try mine" she said as she was looking down on the floor while Five opened the briefcase but only for the briefcase to make the same sputter sound before it also powered down "Yeah" Lila said as Five's eyes widened "That's not good, right?" Lara asked "It's definitely not good" Five said as he took a quick glance at Lara before looking back at the briefcase.

"This can't be happening" he said as he looked inside the briefcase "The odds of one of them failing, it's in the millions. But two of them..." "Astronomical. Yeah" she said, cutting him off before she looked at him "So, what does that mean exactly?" she asked as she rubbed her right eye with her right hand before she put her right hand on the bathtub's edge "End of the world?" she asked as she pointed her left finger on him "Oh, it's much worse than that" he said as he closed the briefcase before he put it down on the floor again.

"It means you and I are gonna have to work together" he said as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Shit" she said.

"Listen I know you love fighting and trying killing each other, but you need to work together for this" Lara said.

---

"Discipline. That's what you need to learn" Diego said to Stan as they were walking through the hotel hallways "When I was your age, I was up at dawn, all right? I was training, honing my skills. The biggest thing" Diego said before he stopped in the middle of the hallway, turning Stan to him "I was becoming a real man" he said "Right. Is that why you wear those tight pants?" Stan asked.

Then the door to the bathroom opened and Lila stepped out "Lila" Diego said as he walked over to her "Hmm?" Lila asked "You need to take this kid with you" he said as he pointed back at Stan.

But then Five walked out of the bathroom with a briefcase in each hand with Lara next to him

"The hell were you doing in there?" Diego asked him "Bathing" Lila answered "Together?" Diego asked before he looked Lara "I thought you and Five were---" "We are" both Five and Lara answered.

"Then why are you two bathing together with Lila? Are you two having a threesome now?" he asked and the couple rolled their eyes "Oh, okay" Five said as he rolled his eyes "I will go back to our room" Lara said and Five nodded.

Lara then kissed his cheek before leaving

"Listen Diego, we don't have time for this. Lila and I have got some important shit to do" he said before he walked passed Stan and Lila followed after him "Wait. What's more important than family?" Diego asked as he walked after the two with Stan behind him "End of the world, genius" Five said as they walked down the hall.

Five stopped in front of the elevator and he sat the briefcases down for a moment to press the button "Lila?" Diego asked as he grabbed her arm "What's more important than us?" he asked "There is no us, Diego" she said before the sound of the elevator bell dinged and Five picked up the briefcases as the door to the elevator opened before he stepped into the elevator.

"Come here" Diego said dragging Lila closer to him "What do you mean?" Diego asked her "Look, for you, it's been a couple days. For me, it has been over a decade. I've moved on. I've slept with many, many people. Many. The only relationship we have left is the one with our child. So you better not screw that up" she said before she turned around and walked into the elevator where Five was waiting.

"Wait! What am I supposed to do with him, huh? I got important shit going on too!" Diego shouted "I doubt that. Figure it out, Diego. Be a dad" Lila said before the elevator's doors closed.

"How many is 'many people'?" Diego asked "Way more than you, Papi" Stan said and Diego glanced at Stan causing Stan to let out a gasp before he bolted off down the hallway as Diego chased after him.

---

Luther, Allison, Mitch, Andy and Viktor was standing on the the second floor talking about the disappearing of people.

Viktor was standing by a pool ball table while Luther was sitting on another pool ball table while Mitch and Andy was leaning up against a pillar.

"So, all the people on the street just disappeared?" Allison asked "Well, no, not all of them, just...half of them" Luther said "Well it's the snap all over again" Mitch said "Well Five did say animals were disappearing" Viktor said.

"Okay, well, now is definitely people" Luther said "Marcus was supposed to meet up with Viktor earlier" Mitch said "But he never showed" Viktor said "What, you think this grandfather thing took Marcus?" Luther asked "It can't just be coincidence, right?" Andy asked "Great" Allison said with a sigh "Now those Sparrow psychopaths think we took their Number one. We're never getting the briefcase back" she said "Okay, what if..." Viktor said before he took some steps forward "What if we just told the truth? Marcus is gone, and maybe we're partially responsible" he said "That'll go well. They'll throw us a party" Allison said sarcastically "I bet they throw fantastic parties" Luther said.

"Listen. Marcus was ready to give us back the briefcase. If the rest of his family are even half as open-minded, you know, maybe we can come to some kind of an agreement, get it back" Viktor said "Yeah, yeah. Okay" Luther said before he jumped down from the pool ball table "Well, if you guys are heading over there, I should probably come along. You know, uh, for protection" he said.

"We will go" Mitch and Andy said "I'm sorry, but you kids can't, your parents would kill me" Viktor said "Right, still grounded" Mitch said and Viktor nodded before he looked at Allison

"Yeah" she said and took the last sip from her glass before she put it on the table "Nice try, Stockholm" she said before she walked towards him "Your ass is staying here" she said and patted him on the shoulder as she walked passed him.

"Wha--?" Luther asked confused "She's right" Viktor said "What? Who put you two in charge?" Luther asked "Look, Allison...She needs something to take her mind off Clarie. So, we'll handle this" Viktor said "Yeah. Copy. Hey, um...Thanks for looking out for her" Luther said and Viktor nodded before walking away.

---

Lara was standing in the bathroom with her hands on the sink as she was trying to find a way how to tell Five that she is pregnant.

A part of her was scared of telling him since she don't know how he will react.

But since he is the father. It was his child she was carrying. He deserve to know as soon as she can tell him. 

Then the door to the bedroom opened "Lara are you here" she heard Five called out.

"Okay, better now than never" she said before walking out of the bathroom so see Five turning his head towards her "Hey" they said to each other.

"You look handsome as hell" she said as she looked at the new new tailored black suit Five was wearing "Thanks" he said with a smile.

"It look like the suit you were wearing when we first met?" she asked and he nodded "It does. Glad you remember" he smiled "Of course I do. One of the best moments of my life" she said.   

"So are you okay?" Five asked "Yeah, I'm fine" she said "That's good" he said "So what is your plan?" she asked "Lila and I are gonna go to The Commission to find a way to stop this" Five said and she nodded "I hope there is a way" she said "I hope that too and then we can continue where we left off" he said and she nodded.

Five smiled as he slide a piece of her hair away from her face and behind her ear.

It was now, she could wait, but she wanted to tell him now.

So she took a deep breath "Are you okay?" he asked "I have something to tell you" she said "Is there something wrong?" he asked as he got a bit nervous.

"It's just something I want to tell you, it can wait but I don't want to wait if now things turn to shit again" she said "What is it?" he asked.

"It can wait" she said "No, please tell me, you are making me nervous" he said.

She took a deep breath "No matter what it is, we are gonna figure it out and I'm not going to leave you" he said.  

"I'm pregnant, it's yours" she said.

There was a few seconds of silence as he was kinda froze.

"Please say something" she said as she was looking at her froze boyfriend whose eyes were widened.   

"Are you serious?" he asked and she nodded "But we used protection last time" he said "Not the time in Dallas when we were drunk or that time before you went to meet your older self" she said.

"Are you sure?" he asked "Took a test the night after the fight against the sparrows and it was positive. I'm pregnant" she said "I'm gonna be a father again?" he asked and she nodded.

Then his whole face light up "So?" she asked "Darling that is amazing, I'm so happy" he said with a big smile on his face "Really?" she asked "Of course" he said.

"I'm was scared in telling you. I know how your dad was and how you was absent from most of the twins' life. And I----" but then he put her face in his hands "I'm not gonna make that same mistake that I did with the twins. I want to be there for all our son's or daughter's life" he said and she smiled "Now I can make it up for all the years I have missed in the twins' life, I can make it up for this child" he said as he put her hand on her belly.

"I love you" he said "I love you too" she said and he smiled before he leaned closer.

But before their lips could touch the door opened and the twin step in.

"EWWW" they said "Please don't tell us you two were about too---" "No" the two said.

"Is there something wrong?" Mitch asked as he notice the tears in Five's eyes.

"Kids we have something to tell you" Lara said "Are you two leaving each other?" Mitch asked "No" the couple said "Are you two getting married?" Andy asked "No" they said "Then what is it?" Mitch asked with a little smile.

Five and Lara looked at each other before looking back at the twins.

"I'm pregnant. You two are gonna be big brothers" Lara said.

There was a few second of silence before the twins smiled "That's amazing" Andy said "Yeah, finally I'm not the youngest anymore" Mitch said before they hugged their mom "So you boys are happy?" Lara asked "Yeah, we are beyond happy. We are getting a baby sibling" Mitch said "Yeah, this is so good for us" Andy said and the couple smiled as they hugged their sons.

The four then pulled away "Is it a boy and a girl?" Mitch asked "I'm hoping for a boy" Andy said "Me too" Mitch said "We don't know yet. But let's not focus on this right now. We have more important thing to worry about" Lara said "You are right. I need to get going Lila is probably waiting" Five said before he gave Lara a quick kiss "I will be back as soon as I can" he said and she nodded.

"Wait dad, where are you going?" Mitch asked "Lila and I are gonna try to hot-wire a briefcase so we can travel to The Commission to find a way to stop this" Five said.

"Great, then we are coming with you" Mitch said "No, you kids stay here with your mom" Five said "Nope, you might need our help" Andy said "Boys--" "No mom" the twins said as they glance at their mother "Listen, we are not little kids anymore. Dad is probably going to need all the help he can get" Andy said "Yeah, and we are gonna help him. We want to spend more time with him, so please let us go with him" Mitch said and Lara let out a sigh before she looked at Five "They have your stubbornness so let them go with you. They need to learn, beside you want to spend more time with them" she said and Five let out a sigh "Fine" he said "Yes" the twins said before they fist-bump "But you kids stay near me all the time, got it" he said and they nodded "We promise" they said.

"Okay" Five said "Let's go" the twins said "Be careful boys" she said "We will" the three said and Lara kissed the twins on the cheek.

"Mom. We are too old for that" Andy said as they both rubbed their cheek.

"We will be fine. You stay safe too. Remember you are protecting two now" Five said as he put his hand on her belly "I know and this is the safest place I can be" she said and he smiled before he looked down at her belly and smiled even more.

He still couldn't believe that his baby was growing inside of Lara. He was not going to fuck this one up. He was going to be there every step of the way. He was going to be there, when the baby arrives, when it take its first step, say it first words. This baby was his second chance to make up and experience all the things he missed with the twins.

"I still can't believe we are having another child" he said "Remember to stay focus" she said "I will and I will be back as soon as I can" he said before he kissed her.

"Eww" the twins said which cause the couple to pull away "Come on, we are losing daylight" Andy said "Go. And be safe and careful" she said "I will. You be safe and careful too" he said and she nodded "I love you" he said "I love you too" she said and Five then turned around before the three left.

Lara smiled as she put her hand on her stomach happy over the family she have gotten. And she hope that this will be over in no time and she and Five could live together with their kids.

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