Shattered Freedom, Chapter Five

Story by whipblade on SoFurry

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#20 of Decision & Sacrifice


Biker Mice From Mars

In

Shattered Freedom

By: Whipblade

Chapter Five

"Ooooohhhhhhh" Paige gasped looking out the window as Duo Scythe settled down in a large parking lot empty of cars. "It's so unique!"

"Jade, activate our cover." Lance ordered.

"Hrmm" Jade purred clicking her green nails over her keyboard. "An apartment building? Office tower or vacant space?" she asked looking at the local tall buildings.

"Office tower. Something that is not too sought after." Lance said unbuckling himself. He stood. "How about a.... crumbling exterior of a Telemarketing company, called Duo-Express-Work-from-Home-Telemarketer's."

"Not only does that long name want me to run screaming, It makes me want to bomb this building." Jade giggled as the Exterior of Duo Scythe became cloaked in a false appearance.

"All right, let's find our boys." Clapping his hands Lance headed for the lift.

Come mid afternoon annoyed motorists parked along the street, glaring at the telemarketing phone company. Yet no one complained, questioned or even became curious as to the sudden arise of a building over night.

*******************************

"Mannnnnnn" Vinnie whined as he swerved yet another double parked car along the street. "Can't these people read?"

"Looks like they just annoyed bro. That building is new." Modo said as he swerved an on coming car trying to avoid the stupidly parked cars. "Wasn't that a parking garage before?"

Checking his mirrors only to see nothing but illegally parked cars, the white mouse peered at the new building. "It was yesterday." Vinnie replied. He saw the name but thought nothing of it as they whipped into the Last Chance Garage.

Throttle jumped out of the way as Modo and Vinnie skidded to a stop. Thick twin skid marks left on the concert. Glaring at the two, Throttle shook his head like a disappointed mother. "I just mopped that." he sighed.

"Hu?" Vinnie looked behind him at the skid mark. "And what a good job you did too bro!" jumping off his bike Vinnie grinned at the slightly annoyed tan mouse. "You'd make a great mom." Vinnie grinned.

Throttle smirked shoving Vinnie.

With a chuckle Vinnie removed his helmet.

"Did the construction keep you awake?" Modo asked eyeing the new building kitty corner across the street.

"Construction?" Throttle echoed. "There wasn't a sound all day. Other than shooing people trying to park in front of the bay doors, it's been pretty quiet."

"There's a new building where a parking garage was." Modo's eye narrowed, his voice dark.

"Hmmm." Throttle walked to the window. Seeing the new building, he raised a brow. "Yep, that is new." shrugging, the tawny mouse headed for the fire door.

"Hey, don't worry about it bro." Vinnie lightly punched Modo in the arm. "I doubt Limburger can pull something like fast construction so close and not have us notice."

Ignoring Vinnie's huge grin and playfulness Modo gave a short nod. "Wasn't Limburger I was worrying about."

The fur on the back of Throttle's neck bristled. He opened the heavy fire door. The Erie feeling followed him like a dark cloud. Fingers of dread played along his back and stomach. Sitting down the tawny mouse felt hot with cold ribbons running down his back.

"Throttle?" Charley looked at the tan mouse. "Are you okay? you look pale."

"Hu?" Throttle looked up to see Charley's concerned face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a chill."

Frowning Charley passed the tawny mouse a cool bottle of water. "Are the guys back?"

"Yeah.... yeah they are." Throttle couldn't think of anything other than Mace, and the fear he now felt of being found by him. Taking the drink he flashed a quick smile of thanks before wandering into the living room, he sat down in the leather arm chair, still fretting, he stood up again and began pacing the room, his ears twitching at the kitchen voices.

Concerned, Charley took a step towards her tawny friend. The fire door swung open, dislodging her attention towards the other two mice.

Modo and Vinnie both kicked dust off their boots. "Hey sweet heart. Did you notice that new building?" Vinnie asked sauntering to the fridge.

"What new building?" Charley asked Modo wrapping his arms around her, leaning down the two kissed deeply. "Worried?" she asked once they parted mouths.

"Building pops up in tha middle of tha night. No one hears a sound, no one seen equipment. No notices, nothing, just _POO F _ and it's there." Modo grumbled.

"Something isn't right, sweetheart." Vinnie agreed rooting around for a soda. "But it doesn't smell fishy."

"What else could it be?" Charley asked looking from one to the other.

Shutting the fridge door, empty handed Vinnie sighed. "Not what sweet heart. Who." he looked like a wounded animal. "Limburger doesn't know Throttle is here. No one from the Ikkywara or anyone knows that Throttle is even alive. But they know I am." Vinnie leaned against the fridge. "And I'm betting Mace is pretty peeved we escaped."

Charley frowned. "Mad enough to hunt you down to Earth?"

Throttle stood at the kitchens threshold unnerved at the mere mention of that beast.

"Well peeved, but I don't know about insane." Vinnie shrugged.

"Rat got connections." Throttle's voice interrupted. "He'd been to Mars before, I don't see why he wouldn't pay for information about us. We escaped. And that's just not acceptable." Throttle summed looking out the back door window to the fading sun.

Vinnie gave a nod as he crossed the room to the back door. Flicking the dead bolt to the lock position. "Maybe we should sleep in shifts."

"I'll get some sleep now." Throttle said heading to the stairs.

"I'll wake you up for second shift?" Vinnie asked looking at the setting sun.

"That'd be good." Throttle agreed ascending the stairs.

************

Caught up in another nightmare, Throttle tossed and turned as his memories invaded his mind, jerking his body and tangling the sheets once again around his thin body.

/////

Throttle sat motionless. All around him chatter and orders floated about. He tried to keep his ears perked for any key words, but it was so hard to these days. Nothing on his body didn't hurt. He felt afraid and alone as he sat on the floor beside Mace's feet. The short chain dangling from his owners wrist attached to his own neck.

Listless eyes slowly closed trying to block the pain, the knowledge that he was here on the bridge for a reason. A reason he wanted to forget.

Mace curled a lip looking down at his prize toy. Jerking his wrist hard, the lowly mouse sharply followed. "Look at the screen!" Mace's harsh voice ordered. "See?"

Throttle looked up at the screen, before him was the beauty that belonged to only one planet. "home" he croaked, his throat dry and raw.

"Yeah, Mars." Mace smirked with narrow eyes. "A place you will never set foot on again." Giving the chain one final tug, the rat soon ignored the mouse. "Pilot, Set her down on Phoebes." Mace ordered his crew.

"Aye Commander." The Martian canine drawled and drooled.

Throttle straightened up, eyes to the floor he started to worry. 'Vinnie going to be handed over to these stink clowns? No one will find him, no one will know he's here no one will rescue him....... but he could get away, go back to Earth, get home to Mars.... anything is better than this floating hell.'

**

Mace sat down on his bed behind him, whimpering in pain, laid his prize. Wiping the goo off his own softening cock, the vile rat yawned.

"Hammer bought some goodies off Phoebes. Wonder what I can get for us." Mace stood up, gathering his clothing he headed for the shower.

Throttle whimpered. He didn't want any more toys, he couldn't handle anymore pain. His throat, dry from screaming, his mouth sore from punches and his body aching from the rough vulgar sex. He didn't want to live anymore.

///////

Waking up with a start, pink eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. Recognizing his surroundings as safe, he rolled over and closed his eyes. Sleep quickly reclaimed him.

************************

Vinnie leaned his hip against the kitchen counter. Arms crosses, his ears tuned for any out of the ordinary noise, he closed his eyes remembering.....

Vinnie snorted as he looked up from his prison. He'd been transferred into some sort of cell weeks after he'd been captured.

"Well lookie here filth." The ugly yellow teethed rat Hammer snarled. "More toys." He held up a bag that rattled and clanked. "We'll have some fun now."

"Over my dead body." Vinnie snapped back.

Whacking a long metal rod against the cage, Hammer's crude jester with his tongue made Vinnie cringe, even with the ringing in his ears.

Crates moves out, and crates moved in, but nothing seemed to change as the ship left where ever it had been.

Shaking his head Vinnie opened his eyes. Blinking back his memory he wandered around locking the doors and windows. Ambling down to the basement, he made sure the lone window was locked. The others slept upstairs, or were suppose to sleep.

**

"Tell me what you said to make Vinnie change his mind." Modo asked casually, while thinking of ways to keep Throttle from taking his woman. Although only a few days had passed, he still didn't believe he could trust his tan bro.

"Hrm, more of what passed between us in silence than anything." Charley stated thinking back to that day.

"He must have realized that I wasn't going to leave you." Charley said kissing her big mouse. "I wouldn't leave you for the universe."

Modo frowned. "Must have been hard for Vinnie to finally let go." putting down the empty can of soda he wrapped his arm around her.

"I don't know. I think he was heart broken, but at the same time relived." Charley admitted. "I think it was more ego than anything."

Modo smirked. "Tha boys all ego." he leaned down and nuzzled her neck. "But I can think of something else."

Charley kissed her mouse on his thick red antenna. "So can I." reaching over she pulled the chain for the lamp turning the room dark.

***********

Throttle's eyes popped open. He first came aware of sounds of sex before he recognized the figure crouched in front of him softly calling his name. "Vincent?"

"Hey, your shift." Vinnie smiled. "Charley and Modo are making enough noise to wake the dead."

"I'll try and think of better things." Throttle grunted flipping the blankets off him. Vinnie stepped back, letting his bro wake up some.

"Hey, how have your bed been?" Vinnie asked slipping off his clothing.

Pausing Throttle smirked. "Dry."

"Got some feeling down there now?" Vinnie asked rooting inside his dresser for his sleep ware.

"No, not really. Just able to tell when I have to pee." Throttle shrugged rubbing his face with his hand. "Like now, for instance."

Vinnie chuckled listening to Throttle pad down the hallway to the bathroom. Gathering his night clothing, Vinnie dressed quickly, then jumped into the nice warm spot Throttle left in the bed.

***

Padding down the stairs, Throttle made the rounds to every window and door, making sure they were closed and locked. Coming up from the basement, he passed the locked weapons trunk and paused. Ears perked he listened. "Must be hearing things." He muttered out loud continuing through the garage and into the kitchen.

A trash can falling over out side made the tawny jump. Two cats hissing and scrapping could be seen as they fought each other across the street.

Breathing deeply through his nose, exhaling slowly through his mouth, Throttle calmed himself down slightly.

Hours had passed, the upstairs again became quiet and the lone humm of various household things kept the tawny mouse occupied as he sat in the dark of the living room.

Slipping down the steps, Modo peered into the darkness of the living room. He spotted the tawny mouse in sliver of pale glow the city cast between the curtain.

"Throttle?" His deep voice whispered into the night.

"Yeah?" Throttle replied not sounding tired. "You're shift doesn't start for another hour or so."

"I know bro." Modo sighed deeply. He trekked across the carpet. Sitting down on the other end of the couch, Modo looked to his smaller and still too thin bro.

Silence fell over them.

Modo reached over with his flesh hand, squeezing his tawny bros shoulder. "Hey, I'm sorry I got mad at you bro."

Startled with the physical contact, and sudden stop to the silence, Throttle blinked registering the words spoken.

Looking up at Modo, Throttle swallowed. "It's...okay..."

"Naw it's not." Modo shook his head his hand resting on Throttle's shoulder. "Charley n' ah've been having some hard times. The two of you showing up when yous did, just complicated things, is all." Modo smiled gently. "Ah just jealous that you get to spend time with her. It should've been me, but this war the humans don't know about...."

"Modo," Throttle cut in, his hand lifting to cover Modo's hand. "I know buddy, we are bros. And Charley isn't some fragile emotional chick, she's your girl. She made up her mind who she wanted to Marry, and that was you. Not Vincent, and certainly not I. I think you'd have to hit her with a pretty good brick to make her crawl into someone else's bed....,willingly." shoving the gray hand off of him was a relief.

"You're right." Modo nodded placing his hands in his lap. "Throttle..." his lone eye searched his bros face. "What happened to you?"

Throttle shifted uncomfortably. "A lot." he muttered unsure if his bro should even hear about such horrors.

"A lot, I gathered from Vinnie, but neither of yous talk to me about any of it." Modo said.

Throttle sighed, knowing his bro was worried enough to attempt a heart to heart. "Modo, you lived through a war on two planets. We've both seen our fare share of horrors. You don't need to know about mine. I'd rather no one did."

"You're caring heavy shadows on your shoulders bro. Does Vinnie know?"

"That visible hu?" Throttle looked at the floor. "Vincent doesn't know the half of it, or even the beginning. He only knows the obvious. I guess so do the handful of mice who rescued us do too."

"Why not tell someone you trust then?" Modo asked hopeful his bro still trusted him like before.

Pinching the bridge of his snout. Throttle took a deep breath, unable to even look at Modo.

"I don't need pity Modo. I don't even want to remember." standing, the tawny mouse headed for the stairs. " 'night."

Modo watched the tawny mouse he deeply cared for leave. Throttle's icy words shattered Modo's hope like a giant fallen stalactite.

**********************

Lance hadn't been able to sit still since landing on Earth. He scoured over city maps with his team during the previous evening until everyone else turned in. Hours after dawn and all bike shops marked with red stick pins, repair shops in blue stick pins, accessory shops in yellow dotted the map.

The area phone book was shredded as torn out car, truck, motorcycles and bicycle adds and numbers stuck to the wall. Pouring over the phone going over each number alphabetically to try and find the white mouse named Vinnie. It was beginning to wear on the commander.

But it was watching out the window in a dazed and tired stupor that proved more rewarding than any phone call or map. As dawn gave way to early morning, the bike repair shop across the street along with all the other small businesses around began their opening procedures.

Lance blinked thinking he saw a white Anthro-mouse on a very familiar red motorcycle zip out of the garage and down the street. The vehicle and rider had gone in a flash that Lance questioned if they had ever even been there. Then a big gray Anthro-mouse taking out a black bag of trash, setting it along the curbside before ambling back inside got Lance's attention.

Yelling excitedly into his communicator only managed to bring a ruffled and irritated Ma'ze to the board room.

"Wha?" Yawned the brindle rat blinking back sleep. "It's nine am."

"Watch there." Lance ordered as the back door of the garage once again opened, and the big gray mouse hauled a blue box piled up with soda cans to the curb.

"I'll be damned." Ma'ze smiled rubbing his face, cleaning the sleep from his eyes he blinked watching the Martian mouse head inside.

"We should get the others." Ma'ze said stifling a yawn.

"No time." Lance stated jumping to his feet. "We need to get over there and see if he knows Vinnie."

"He does." Magazine said wistfully watching the red bike he was still paying for fly down the street.

Lance turned around. His pointed ears twisted forward in alarm. The red bike and white furred rider flew into the garage. "Let's go!"

"But..." the words hadn't even left his mouth as the Doberman rushed out of the room. "I'll get dressed." Ma'ze yawned.

Lance and Ma'ze dressed in long dark coats, head wraps under ball caps, leather gloves and their lapels stuck up, obscuring their unusual features.

Weaving around the strangely parked cars. They approached the Last Chance Garage's door.

Lance tried the knob to find it locked. He knocked, and waited.

"I'll be over here." Ma'ze said. "If this gray mouse is anything like Snowball was those first weeks, I'd rather not be too visible."

"Point taken." Lance nodded knocking again.

Jug of ice water in hand, stack of cups in the other, Vinnie peered through the window and smiled. Using his tail he unlocked the door and swung it wide open. "LANCE!"

"SNOWBALL!" The two hugged.

"Bro, how are you? How'd you find us?" Vinnie asked a smile spread across his face.

Happy shouts of greeting got Throttle's curiosity. Peering from the office, the tawny mouse frowned seeing the canine of sorts taking off a ball cap and placing it on Vinnie's head.

"You've gained weight!" Lance smiled admiring Vinnie's body. "And some muscles too." he laughed poking at Vinnie's biceps.

"Yeah, gotta keep my shape." Vinnie joked.

"Wow. Your fur came in thick." Lance noted rubbing his thumb over the neck line. "Can't even tell there are scars under it all."

"Their faint." Vinnie admitted. "Where is everyone else?"

Lance shut the door. Taking the glass from Vinnie he let the mouse pour him a drink. "Sleeping I'd think, or looking for me." he shrugged. "Ma'ze is outside keeping a lookout, and hiding from the big gray mouse we spotted, it's how we found you. Just gazing out the window."

Chuckling Vinnie poured himself a drink and set the jug and glass on a work bench. "You don't say." Vinnie smirked. "He should stay out there. Throttle isn't all that friendly with 'em either."

He took a drink. "Spill, what's up with the crew?"

"Well...." Lance spotted the curious tawny mouse peering around a door frame. "Throttle?"

Throttle ducked back into the office. Shuffling papers could be heard.

"Come out here bro." Vinnie called. "It's Lance, he's one of our rescuers."

Throttle came out with a house coat over top his baggy pjs. "I thought the mice did..." he eyed the dog warily.

"They transported us both to Mars." Vinnie confessed, he flopped an arm around Throttle's shoulders.

Lance gave a toothy grin in jest as he elbowed Vinnie. "Mr. Cool here isn't impressed that he was saved like some princess."

Throttle chuckled at the image his mind conjured up. Vinnie in a dress being rescued by a Doberman in a suit of armor. "Vinnie isn'tn one to admit, he looks good in pink."

"Hey." Vinnie huffed giving a sour look at Throttle

Modo watched from the open fire door as Vinnie talked to an alien canine while Throttle seemed only to blink in confusion.

"You don't remember me do you?" Lance asked the tawny mouse.

Throttle frowned. "No. Almost recognize your voice, but I don't know from where."

"How's the Stargazer crew doing now?" Vinnie cut in.

"Usual, nit-picking and secretive" Lance answered sensing something was up with the way Snow ball continuously changed topics. "Although the Freedom Fighters have been keeping their eyes on us. Even with open communications. They still don't trust us."

"Oh?" Throttle looked to Lance. "What's a Stargazer?"

Vinnie poured Lance another glass of water. "Its this big observatory that houses roughly 500 personal and was to be a study of Native life on Mars Unfortunately we didn't realize that Mars had already been occupied by the Plutarkians. Damn fish." Lance nodded taking his topped up glass.

"So what happened to it?" Throttle asked thanking Vinnie for the fresh glass of water.

"Star Gazer turned into a shipping depot instead. When we transferred you to the Freedom Fighters care, the Ikkywara signed an agreement of trade."

"An agreement of trade? What does Mars have to offer?" Throttle inquired thinking of the rusty orange dust covering his home planet.

"Personal." Lance said simply setting his glass down. "The Ikkywara is always looking for new ideas and ways to get around the Plutarkians. Your planet is still there, it won against them. We want to know how."

"You do?" Vinnie asked surprised.

"Of course we do. Several Freedom Fighters and Civilians have already transferred to the Star Gazer residency." Lance gave a shrug. "Enough about me and the 'Wara. How are you two doing?"

"We've been better." Throttle answered spotting a shadow move outside. Modo caught the way Throttle froze, his choppy hair and dull fur stood on ends. Also spotting the movement outside, the big gray mouse strolled over and stood beside his thinnest bro. "Who's this?"

Lance stepped back. He hadn't seen a mouse so big before. Not just big in height, but brawn as well. The metal arm added a mean power to the new mouse. Trying not to show his fear, Lance offered a smile. "Lance, commander of Duo Scythe." He offered his paw.

Modo's head tilted to the side, taking the offered paw, he shook it gratefully. "Modo. Vin-man told me a bit about yah n' yer crew."

Relaxing Lance took it as a good sign, the new mouse used his metal hand, and didn't squeeze like he was going to render his bones to powder. "All good I hope." he smirked.

"Wouldn't be anything else." Modo paused looking to Throttle a little worried. "Also mentioned you have rats as crew members."

Throttle's head snapped around looking at Modo, then Vinnie with shock and horror written on his features.

"Yes we do." Lance said noting how horrified Throttle appeared. "But none of them are from Mars."

"Their still rats." Throttle spat in disgust.

Vinnie's ears fell. "They really are not that bad."

Modo caught on to Vinnie's line of thought, easing Throttle into liking these rats, as he himself had to be eased into the very thought of good rats. "They sound pretty decent bro. They never hurt either of yas. They even let the Freedom Fighters into this Star Gazer."

"They didn't kill anyone?" Throttle asked warily.

"Naw wouldn't do that." Lance said using his fist to lightly tap Vinnie in the shoulder. Mice are too rare to kill. The Ikkywara is all about saving, preserving and getting that blasted two-faced...." he trailed off, his ears flat. "Sorry."

Throttle raised a brow. "Hu?"

"Lance had a run in with Mace. That's how they found us, they were going to blow up the ship. But we complicated their plans." Vinnie explained.

"oh." Throttle looked miffed.

"Long story, I'll tell you sometime." Lance told Throttle. "Any ways, the crew just wants a quick check up on you both before we head back out. We caught a whiff of those Pi-rats trail."

Vinnie bit his bottom lip. Looking to Throttle the white mouse gave a weak nod. "We'll meet you over there in a couple of hours."

Taking his cue to leave Lance clasp Vinnie in a bear hug. "You better Snow ball. I know where you live."

Chuckling Vinnie hugged back, the two parted.

"Nice meeting you Modo. Throttle." grabbing his ball cap off Vinnie's head, Lance headed out the door. Two shadows walked past the bay windows.

"Vinnie." Throttle turned to the white mouse. "I thought mice rescued us."

"In a way......" Vinnie gave a soft shrug. "Come on. You gotta get dressed." with a bounce in his step Vinnie headed through the fire door.

"Modo," Throttle turned to the gray mouse. "When did Vinnie tell you about those creatures?"

"Mostly when we fought Limburger, or when you slept." Modo confessed.

Throttle stood confused and worried as he was left alone in the garage. Looking to the new building across the street, he felt something wasn't right. Wasn't being said to him, and it worried him to the quick. His bros, Vinnie who he trusted, was keeping something big and important from him. Un-nerved, Throttle headed for his room. Maybe they would tell him once he and Charley were in the same room.

***

Charley laid sprawled on top of her freshly made bed. Her hair framed her face as she watched her handsome mouse enter their bedroom. "Hey lover." She giggled. "I have some news."

"So do I." Modo grinned. It had been far too long since he saw Charley act silly. "You go first."

Her wide smile made her green eyes twinkle. "Remember, oh three months back, me and you had a very satisfying bout of lust?"

With a light chuckle Modo shook his head no. "The intense emotion from last night made me forget my name."

Squealing in delight Charley sat up. "Well...." She drew out a long breath. "The doctor just called."

"About those tests ya went for last week?" Modo questioned sitting down beside his unusually flighty wife.

"Mmmhmmmm" She hummed dropping her head against his check. "The doctor said that everything was normal and I shouldn't worry about another miscarriage."

"Another?" sadness seeped into his voice.

"Mmmhmmm.... Modo, darling sweet Modo." Charley's broad cat-like smile filled her face as she took a hold of his cheeks with her hands. "I love you." She whispered softly.

"I love you too."

"Daddy."

"Hu?" Modo blinked stunned.

"You're going to be a daddy." Charley repeated kissing his mouth.

"I am?" Blinking back shock he kissed her. "I'm a daddy?"

With a vigorous nod, Charley kissed her husband deeply.

Vinnie and Throttle both jumped at the booming voice from the other room.

"I'M A DADDY!!!!!!!!"

Relief filled Throttle. "Thank god. I was scared she'd never tell him."

"You knew?" Vinnie turned to his tan bro.

"It was by accident. She swore me to secrecy." Throttle shrugged hearing the insane laughter and giddy shouting from the other room.

"That's why you painted the store room yellow and green?" Vinnie asked picking out a sweater for Throttle from the dresser.

"Yeah, I had to do something. It was driving me insane not able to tell anyone."

The door burst open. "I'M A DADDY!!!!" Modo screamed grabbing Vinnie in a bear hug, lifting the white mouse off the floor.

"We heard." Throttle laughed, side stepping Vinnie's struggling body. "Congratulations."

"Ugh.... help..... bro.... good n' all.... air..... must have.... air..." Vinnie gasped.

"Oh? Sorry bro." Modo dropped Vinnie.

With a thud, the white mouse landed in a heap. "Thanks...." sarcastically scrawling at Modo, he picked himself up. "We going?"

Throttle held the sweater against his still PJ clad body. "I guess."

"Oh Modo" Charley sang from her bedroom. "I'm lonely."

Throttle cringed. "We'll go without you."

"Can't keep the mother of your child waiting." Vinnie grinned elbowing Modo.

"Nope. That I can't." He raced out of the room. The far bedroom door slamming shut in his wake.

"Let's get out of here before they start." Throttle said quickly pulling off his shirt.

Vinnie only nodded as the giggles and moaning started.

**********************************************************

TO BE CONTINUED

IN

SHATTERED FREEDOM CHAPTER 6

[email protected]

Whipblade

April 1st 2006