"I agree. Professor Pierce and myself will cover for your classes, Hank. If anyone ask, I'll say the two of you are in Albany, and Kurt is apply for his teaching certificate. I'd suggest going tonight to avoid raising any suspicions."
"I agree. Professor Pierce and myself will cover for your classes, Hank. If anyone ask, I'll say the two of you are in Albany, and Kurt is apply for his teaching certificate. I'd suggest going tonight to avoid raising any suspicions."
"I'll go get ready," I respond to the two men in front of me. I stand, and then I remember that I'm in this thought world, "Ummm...Professor Xavier?"
"Oh, right, I'm sorry, Kurt," he smiles as the lawn dissolves into his office. "I completely forgot. Now, go get ready for your trip to Albany. I'd bring your image inducers. You know how finicky those bureaucrats can be."
I nod and head out of the office, towards my room. Once I reach it, I find Amara waiting for me, "You took quite a long time."
"Yea, zhe professor wanted to talk to me," I smile and pull a bag from beneath my bed and throw some clothes into it. "He's agreed to let me teach. Professor McCoy and I are headed to Albany for my certification."
She gives me an eye and says, "You really are a terrible liar, you know? What do they have you doing now?"
I sigh outwardly. She really can read me like an open book. Either that or I can't lie to her. Then again I've really never been able to lie to anyone. "Classified. But I'll see you when I get back. And if anyone asks, I'm in Albany."
Leaving my room and giving Amara a kiss, I head for the hangar, and wait for Dr. McCoy to show up.
"Batman, it's Spider-man. I'm currently fighting Venom...and half of New York. But Robin is here and hurt pretty bad. I'd recommend coming to help if you can."
Robin swung his staff straight towards The Joker, the clown soon grabbed it with his hand buzzer the electric circuit went across Robin body, He screamed in pain.
Its really tingly isnt it HA HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Robin then let go to avoid further injured, Joker then picked up his staff hitting the boy wonder in the face.
Tell me Robin, Do you have a GIRLfreind or do you bat for the other team, Those NICE tights would let me assume that you do HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!
The Joker said pounding Robin with his own staff, blood was all over the boy wonders face; Joker then stopped and dropped the blood stained staff, Robin could still walk but he was injured badly.
It only takes me a few seconds to cross the oceans. And I'm home every night to spend time with Joan. But after all these weeks, I really miss home.
Over the last few weeks, the situation back home has gotten worse. Luthor was able to secure passage of his Registration Act, despite the efforts of both Superman and Batman to stop him. Things have only gone downhill from there for the hero community. A number of heroes have come forward and registered, and the government is obviously portraying them as the real heroes, while we're just lawless vigilantes. Conveniently ignore the fact that I've put my life on the line for the country for more decades than most people have been alive.
So far, I haven't heard of any backlash from those who have registered. No attacks on family or their private lives. And even the mutants who have signed up under the act seem to actually be getting some respect from the anti-mutant segments. I still hate the idea to it's very core, but these results really muddy the waters and force me to reconsider a number of ideas I've been holding on to.
And as tumultuous as things have been in the States, the've been pretty busy on this side of the Atlantic as well. When Doom first came to the Brownstone with this idea, I wasn't sure if he was crazy, brilliant, or both. I'm pretty sure it's both, but there is a definite method to his madness. Now, with everything that's happened, Doom's plan to create a European version of the League makes even more sense. A league not bogged down by governments, free to defend the other side of the world with native heroes who will be readily accepted.
"Any sign yet, Flash?" The Crimson Fox's voice crackles over my earpiece?
"Not a one, Fox. I don't think they're exaggerating about her being a ninja. Three weeks, and nothing."
"I told you it wouldn't be easy. Although...I wasn't quite expecting this,"the thickly accented voice of Pete Wisdom says over the line. Wisdom was the second addition to the team, a few days after Fox. Sometimes, I think he only joined just to keep ogling Fox. Then other times he impresses me with his skill in a fight and connections within the spy community. He's a bit of a conundrum, that's for sure.
I speak into the line again. "Sage, are you certain about this?"
Our resident tech expert is quick on the reply. "There's a 90% chance she's still in the village, Jay."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I have brief glimpses of her on three different cameras. It's strange. One moment she's there, the next, it's as if she's melted into the shadows."
I do another sweep of the surrounding neighborhoods faster than the eye can follow. "If she's here, she's either a speedster or a teleporter."
"I can't confirm either. We're mostly running on rumor and speculation." "Maybe she can turn invisible?" a young voice says. Meggan is our newest recruit, and I was rather resistant to having someone so young and inexperienced on the team. But Doom insisted rather strongly she would be invaluable, and she does have some useful abilities. If she just wasn't so green. But, as Ted would say, how else are they gonna learn to swim if you don't throw them into the deep end?
I run up the side of the local clocktower to try and get a better view of things. "I'm telling you, she's taken advantage of the ten percent and run off-" and before I even realize what's happening, I find one arm pinned behind my back and a blade at my throat.
"Why won't you people leave me alone?"
***
Doom stands behind Sage and watches the computer screens.
"Why won't you people leave me alone?"
The voice that filters in over the speaker makes him grin beneath his mask.
Kurt's waiting for me in the hangar by the time I show up, my briefcase in one hand and my overnight bag in the other.
"Albany is only a few hours drive from here. No need to waste the Blackbird's fuel. While Charles has a considerable fortune, I'm almost certain the current price of gas will drive him into the poorhouse if we keep using the Blackbird like we do. We'll take my car."
Kurt and I go into the garage and find my Prius. We ride in silence mostly in silence for the first few hours, making small talk about what's going on at the Institute and the students and faculty. Once we've crossed into Pennsylvania, I pull over at a rest stop on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
"I need to stretch my legs for a moment," I say while point a finger outside the car. Kurt follows me out the car and towards the rest stop.
"Sorry about the small talk, but I assumed that the car might be bugged. Paranoid? Perhaps, but is it really paranoia if someone is out to get you? My musings aside, we'll be in Metropolis in about an hour or so. I wanted to talk over what our next move may be when we get there and how best to move forward."
As I drop to my knees after the transformation, I look up at Superman, "Superman...I don't know what happened. A dart hit me in the neck, and the next thing I know I'm freaking out. And then of course the big guy comes around. What's going on?"
A dart? Meaning this was a planned attack by someone, and from the fear the Hulk showed earlier, I can only assume that it's the Scarecrow. Coordinated attacks from both sides of the country. Not Scarecrows MO. Meaning he isn't working alone and someone wants us distracted and separated.
But I can't worry about that now. Bruce Banner lays at my feet a broken and scared man, and if I know SHIELD, they're already on their way to try and pick him up. I need to get my friend out of here, "I don't know what's going on Bruce. But we need to get you out of here."
Looking back to Iron Man, "Tony, I think you should get home. Luthor won't think twice about trying to bring you in."
"You got it, Blue," he nods. "You know where to find me if you need me."
With that he rockets off towards the sky, and I return my attention back to Banner, "Let's go, I'll take you home."
He takes my hand and we speed off into the night sky, and when we land, Bruce Banner finds himself back at his desert hideaway, "Superman I don't know if I can stay here. I've been alone for so long. I need some sort of human interaction."
"I'm not going to take you into society, Bruce," I respond sternly. "You may be my friend, but I'm not going to have innocent lives on my hands because I brought you back to the real world. You can go back on your own, I'm not going to stop you. But I can't help you either. You're just too unpredictable. Good luck, Bruce."
Without another word I float back up into the sky and head for the League Brownstone. There's more important things to deal with.
"I need to stretch my legs for a moment," I say while point a finger outside the car. Kurt follows me out the car and towards the rest stop.
"Sorry about the small talk, but I assumed that the car might be bugged. Paranoid? Perhaps, but is it really paranoia if someone is out to get you? My musings aside, we'll be in Metropolis in about an hour or so. I wanted to talk over what our next move may be when we get there and how best to move forward."
The first few hours of the trip is uneventful, until Professor McCoy pulls the car over and we begin conversing. The fact that we can't even speak in our own vehicles makes me a bit worried, but I really can't let that show right now. I need to be strong in a time like this, and it's not like I'm the only one who has to deal with this.
"I'm all ears, professor," I nod. "Vhere do we start? Zhe parents?"
The first few hours of the trip is uneventful, until Professor McCoy pulls the car over and we begin conversing. The fact that we can't even speak in our own vehicles makes me a bit worried, but I really can't let that show right now. I need to be strong in a time like this, and it's not like I'm the only one who has to deal with this.
"I'm all ears, professor," I nod. "Vhere do we start? Zhe parents?"
"I would like to start there. When Charles and I did the initial background check, it said that Conner's parents were supposedly life long residents of Metropolis as was their son. If that's the case, I'd suggest we go to the court house and attempt to see their birth certificates."
"I would like to start there. When Charles and I did the initial background check, it said that Conner's parents were supposedly life long residents of Metropolis as was their son. If that's the case, I'd suggest we go to the court house and attempt to see their birth certificates."
"Sounds like a plan to me," I nod to Professor McCoy and head back towards the car.
The time remaining in the car is spent in silence. As we approach Metropolis, the two of us find a hotel to crash for the night.
The next morning, we both put on our image inducers and head for the Metropolis City Courthouse. Once there, I approach a clerk and try to hide my accent as best as I can, "Hi there, my name is Kurt and this is Hank. The two of us are reporters for Time Magazine, and we're writing a piece on the city that shaped our great president. We were wondering if we could look at some of your records to find some normal, everyday citizens we could interview."
"Well...I don't know..." he responds, a bit suspicious.
"Well how bout this...we interview you as well," I smile, or rather Humphrey Bogart smiles, since that's what my image inducer makes me look like. What? I'm a movie buff.
"Well, I guess you looking at the files won't hurt," he smiles. "Right this way."
He leads us to a large room filled with cabinents and shelves, and once we're alone, I turn to Beast, "Wow...I did not think zhat vas going to work. It vould be nice if we had Zhe Doctor's psychic paper, no?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," I nod to Professor McCoy and head back towards the car.
The time remaining in the car is spent in silence. As we approach Metropolis, the two of us find a hotel to crash for the night.
The next morning, we both put on our image inducers and head for the Metropolis City Courthouse. Once there, I approach a clerk and try to hide my accent as best as I can, "Hi there, my name is Kurt and this is Hank. The two of us are reporters for Time Magazine, and we're writing a piece on the city that shaped our great president. We were wondering if we could look at some of your records to find some normal, everyday citizens we could interview."
"Well...I don't know..." he responds, a bit suspicious.
"Well how bout this...we interview you as well," I smile, or rather Humphrey Bogart smiles, since that's what my image inducer makes me look like. What? I'm a movie buff.
"Well, I guess you looking at the files won't hurt," he smiles. "Right this way."
He leads us to a large room filled with cabinents and shelves, and once we're alone, I turn to Beast, "Wow...I did not think zhat vas going to work. It vould be nice if we had Zhe Doctor's psychic paper, no?"
"Well done, Kurt. I was prepared to break out the IRS badges and put the fear of the state into that clerk, but I suppose you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
I look down at my hands, the image inducer is an illusion, but the furless, almost middle aged man the rest of the world sees is pretty close to what I would actually look like if I were....I don't want to say normal....conventional, that's a better word.
"Let's get started, shall we?"
Kurt and I spend the next hour going through the records room, trying to find anything we can about Conner and his parents. The parents turn out to be a dead end, but Conner's birth certificate, and social security number are all on file.
"We have the proof, but it's not true proof. I know how we can find proof, but it involves bringing someone else into it."
I pull out my phone and dial a number. After a few rings, the line picks up. "Hello?"
"Kitty Pryde, it's your favorite chemistry teacher."
"How are you, Professor Xavier?"
"Ouch, thine arrows slick fast in me."
"I'm just kidding, Hank. How are things at the academy?"
"Interesting, to say the least. I trust you are getting along well in Gotham?"
"I'm actually thinking about coming back. But that's not important right now, what can I help you with?"
"I know that you are a whiz at all things electronic. I was wondering if you would assist me in something a bit...roguish. I have a social security number, I need you to find out all you can about it."
"Hack into the Social Security network? That shouldn't be too much of a problem. Give me the number and wait on the line."
I give Kitty the number and wait for a few moments while she works.
"Alright....still there?"
"Still here."
"I've got something. The social security number was used by a baby, Conner Krummet, born June 13th of 1995."
A boy of fifteen, going on sixteen. That's Conner's age, and it matches the information on his birth certificate.
"What else can you tell me about the baby?"
"Let's see....born to parents Angela and Arnold Krummet in Corvallis, Oregon."
"Wait a minute, that's not right. The Conner Krummet we're looking for was born in Metropolis to parents named Beth and Mike. I'm looking at the birth certificate right now."
"Well, Hank...I hate to say this, but it's a fake."
"Are you sure of that? Can you do a search of people with that name? Perhaps it was a clerical error."
"Alright.....nope, there are twenty more Conner Krummets in the United States, and none are even close to being that age." "What more can you tell me about the boy this social security number belongs to?"
"Hold on a sec....I've got a copy from the Corvallis Gazette-Times' obit section, dated November 23rd of 2001. It says Conner Krummet died in a car accident with his parents."
"Kitty, let me call you back in a moment."
I hang up and stuff the phone back into my pocket before turning to Kurt.
"The birth certificate is an outright forgery and the social security number belongs to a boy who has been dead for almost ten years. We've been had, but this has to be more than just the work of the mother and father."
Venom springs into the darkness and blends in, I take the time to check on my teammates. I know Venom will come after me eventually, and without the use of my spider sense, it'd be suicide to go after him. Better to stay here in the light where I have some semblance of a chance.
I lean over Jamie to find that aside from a nasty hit on the head, he looks to be breathing normally. Robin on the other hand seems to be in pretty bad shape. The car Venom tossed at him hit him pretty dead on. He's out cold, and doesn't seem to be breathing with the most ease. I take out my League communicator and send a quick message to Batman, "Batman, it's Spider-man. I'm currently fighting Venom...and half of New York. But Robin is here and hurt pretty bad. I'd recommend coming to help if you can."
Once I'm done with the message, the street lights go out above me and the block is plunged into darkness, "Double terrific."
I try in vain to search the shadows for my opponent, but to no avail. And out of the darkness, two tendrils lash out ripping across my face and send me sprawling to the ground. Another grabs my foot and slams me to the pavement. The pain runs through my body, and I remember how much of a toll a fight with Venom takes on my body. He knows how to hurt me, and he's going to hurt me as much as he can.
Another tendril comes at me, and I manage to catch it. but before I can react, I'm pulled towards my unseen foe who lands a haymaker across my face. I drop to the ground and with my normal senses alone deliver a swift kick to Venom's crotch, doubling him over. Even with my head spinning I stand and drive an uppercut into Venom's jaw.
Reeling from the blows from his enemy, Venom staggers backward. Enraged, he lounges at Spiderman again, however the Wall crawler flips out of the way, firing webs into his face.
Venom frantically rips at the webs covering his maw as Spiderman launches himself at the monster, feet first in an attempt to land a flying dropkick.
However, Venom sidesteps the young hero, grabbing him by the ankles and slamming him hard onto the concrete.
Reeling from the blows from his enemy, Venom staggers backward. Enraged, he lounges at Spiderman again, however the Wall crawler flips out of the way, firing webs into his face.
Venom frantically rips at the webs covering his maw as Spiderman launches himself at the monster, feet first in an attempt to land a flying dropkick.
However, Venom sidesteps the young hero, grabbing him by the ankles and slamming him hard onto the concrete.
"Ugh," I groan as my body bounces off the pavement. I manage to roll out of Venom's grasp and attempt to steady myself on a nearby lamp post.
But Venom doesn't plan on giving me time to think. He charges me, with that evil hunger in his eyes. With a desperation move, I web a broken piece of metal from the street and slam it against the pole. The vibration that resonates off the pole stops Venom in his tracks.
The symbiote's only known weaknesses are fire and loud noises and vibrations. But the vibrations don't keep him down for long. Acting quickly, he knocks the metal out of my hand with a tendril and then snatches me up, drawing me closer to him.
I hang up and stuff the phone back into my pocket before turning to Kurt.
"The birth certificate is an outright forgery and the social security number belongs to a boy who has been dead for almost ten years. We've been had, but this has to be more than just the work of the mother and father."
I should be surprised, but the first emotion that rushes through me is fear. Conner is incredibly powerful. More powerful than anyone I've ever seen, and right now he's in the only building I've called home and with the only people I've called family. If he does anything to them...
"If zhis is something serious, ve need to move fast, professor," I respond. "Vhere do ve go next?"
"Ugh," I groan as my body bounces off the pavement. I manage to roll out of Venom's grasp and attempt to steady myself on a nearby lamp post.
But Venom doesn't plan on giving me time to think. He charges me, with that evil hunger in his eyes. With a desperation move, I web a broken piece of metal from the street and slam it against the pole. The vibration that resonates off the pole stops Venom in his tracks.
The symbiote's only known weaknesses are fire and loud noises and vibrations. But the vibrations don't keep him down for long. Acting quickly, he knocks the metal out of my hand with a tendril and then snatches me up, drawing me closer to him.
"Naughty, naughty, Parker." Venom says as he clutches the Web slinger in his grasp.
As Venom tightens his grip, the "mask" of the symbiote receeds, and Spiderman is looking not into the eyes of Venom, but the eyes of Eddie Brock.
"When you die Peter, I want the last thing you see to be my face. And I want you to know that when I'm finished with you, I'm going to go pay a visit to your Aunt, and then maybe I'll take a trip down to Gotham to finish what I started with that cute little girlfriend of yours."
"When you die Peter, I want the last thing you see to be my face. And I want you to know that when I'm finished with you, I'm going to go pay a visit to your Aunt, and then maybe I'll take a trip down to Gotham to finish what I started with that cute little girlfriend of yours."
Brock shows me his face, just as full of anger as Venom. But something he says strikes me. At this point, I'm not going to get away. I need to keep him talking and hope someone comes to help me, "Aren't you caught up with the rumors, Eddie? I'm not dating Babs anymore."
"And even if I was," I continue, "what then, Eddie? What will you do when you kill everyone I'm close to? Where will you go from there? Because this thing that's controlling you isn't going to change just because I'm gone. It will continue feeding on you until there's nothing left."
Brock shows me his face, just as full of anger as Venom. But something he says strikes me. At this point, I'm not going to get away. I need to keep him talking and hope someone comes to help me, "Aren't you caught up with the rumors, Eddie? I'm not dating Babs anymore."
"And even if I was," I continue, "what then, Eddie? What will you do when you kill everyone I'm close to? Where will you go from there? Because this thing that's controlling you isn't going to change just because I'm gone. It will continue feeding on you until there's nothing left."
Parker's words hit Brock with the force of a mack truck. But he doesn't let the impact of what Parker said show on his face.
"It doesn't matter Peter. There hasn't been anything left for a long time...and it's because of you. You've taken everything from me....everything. And we...I'm just returning the favor. Once you're dead, we're going to kill everyone that you've ever loved. Their deaths will be on your hands...even moreso than ours."
Venom holds Spider-Man in his grasp, thirsty for the killing blow. But the trash and debris in the street suddenly starts swirling around them both, catching their attention until they decide look up at the source of the winds.
The batwing hovering silently above them.
Suddenly, two small objects drop to the ground on either side of the pair, making a metallic clank as they hit the pavement.
"Oh fu-"
The flashbangs go off, filling the alley with deafening sound and blinding light. The explosions are quickly followed by me as I use me cape to guide my fall and plant my boots in Venom's chest, sending him flying. I push away with the impact, and pull off a backflip, landing behind Parker who's now lying on the ground stunned.
I'm standing over Parker in a flash, lifting him by the front of his costume. His head lulls around and I give him a slap to the face.
Batman smacks me in the face to try and come around. He's such a loving anc caring ally. "Glad to see you too. He's out in the street. Got anything that emits a sonic sound? I could use some help here."
Batman drops me and heads for the street, but tosses something behind his back. I catch a small disk and turn back to Venom, who is regaining his footing. Not knowing what to do with the disk, I toss it at the monster's feet and instantly, a cone of sonic sound engulfs him. The man and the symbiote writhe in pain as they are trapped in a prison of sound.
Pulling out my communicator I send a message to the Titans and Reed, "Guys, I got Venom here, trapped. Reed, come pick him up. I know you've got a prison that-"
Before I can finish, Venom smashes the disk to pieces, and slams a tendril across my faces and drives my head into the wall. I groggily stumble about, "Hey Bats! Any chance I can get some help here?"
Batman smacks me in the face to try and come around. He's such a loving anc caring ally. "Glad to see you too. He's out in the street. Got anything that emits a sonic sound? I could use some help here."
Batman drops me and heads for the street, but tosses something behind his back. I catch a small disk and turn back to Venom, who is regaining his footing. Not knowing what to do with the disk, I toss it at the monster's feet and instantly, a cone of sonic sound engulfs him. The man and the symbiote writhe in pain as they are trapped in a prison of sound.
Pulling out my communicator I send a message to the Titans and Reed, "Guys, I got Venom here, trapped. Reed, come pick him up. I know you've got a prison that-"
Before I can finish, Venom smashes the disk to pieces, and slams a tendril across my faces and drives my head into the wall. I groggily stumble about, "Hey Bats! Any chance I can get some help here?"
Dammit! I should have realized that Robin wasn't the only one who's been on the wrong end of this fight.
I tuck the homing device away and turn back towards the pair. Running towards them, I reach into my belt and pull out my butane torch and mace, and light Venom up.
"You get Robin!" I shout. "I'll take over here!" and make the bastard pay...
Dammit! I should have realized that Robin wasn't the only one who's been on the wrong end of this fight.
I tuck the homing device away and turn back towards the pair. Running towards them, I reach into my belt and pull out my butane torch and mace, and light Venom up.
"You get Robin!" I shout. "I'll take over here!" and make the bastard pay...
For a moment, I don't move. Because even in the state I'm in, even though I've been beaten every which way, you just can't turn away from the awesomeness that is Batman lighting someone on fire. He may be a jackass most of the time, but I'll be damned if he isn't also a badass.
Turning back to Robin and Jamie, I'm surprised to see a figure dressed in red, blue, and yellow floating in the air, "Need some help, bug-boy?"
I smile at my friend Supergirl, "Kara, if I was single I'd kiss you right now. Take Robin and Jamie to the Baxter Building and make sure they're alright. I'm not leaving Batman to fight my fight."
She nods and takes them into the air, and I turn back to the fight. Venom lunges through the flames towards Batman, but he's met by my foot as I swing through the air and crash into him.
As Venom crashes back toward the ground, he reaches up, gripping Spider-Man by the ankle and swinging him hard into the side of the same dumpster which he had thrown on top of Robin.
With Spider-Man dazed, Venom gets back to his feet. He snares Batman's wrist with a tendril, just as the Dark Knight was about to hurl a batarang at him.
The batarang is knocked from my hand as Venom pulls me towards him.
"Now, let's see what you've got."
"Sure."
I pull my free hand from behind my back and punch Venom in the face with my electric brass knuckles, giving him a nice taser jolt to go along with it.
He drops me, giving me the chance to equip my other fist. I leap into the air, and give him a punch across his face. Then a quick uppercut. And then I box his ears.
I finish up by jumping into the air and planting both boots into his chest, slamming him into a wall.
I flip myself back up into a fighting stance.
"Had enough?"
The batarang is knocked from my hand as Venom pulls me towards him.
"Now, let's see what you've got."
"Sure."
I pull my free hand from behind my back and punch Venom in the face with my electric brass knuckles, giving him a nice taser jolt to go along with it.
He drops me, giving me the chance to equip my other fist. I leap into the air, and give him a punch across his face. Then a quick uppercut. And then I box his ears.
I finish up by jumping into the air and planting both boots into his chest, slamming him into a wall.
We rush at each other. Venom is fast. Impossibly so. It almost catches me off guard, but I'm quick enough to hit the ground and slide between his legs, tossing a handful of gas pellets into his face.
Knowing how dangerous Venom is, I don't let up. I run up behind Venom, removing my cape. I leap on his back and wrap my cape around his head, dropping a few more gas pellets inside.
As Venom bucks and spins, I hold on and reach into my belt with my free hand. I remove one of the darts filled with Hulk sedative (never know when he'll be rampaging through town again) and jam it into Venom's shoulder just before he finally sends me flying into a wall.
I should be surprised, but the first emotion that rushes through me is fear. Conner is incredibly powerful. More powerful than anyone I've ever seen, and right now he's in the only building I've called home and with the only people I've called family. If he does anything to them...
"If zhis is something serious, ve need to move fast, professor," I respond. "Vhere do ve go next?"
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