bamaHulkers
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She stumbled again. One hidden blade became not so hidden, but she managed to get it sheathed again. She knew she wasnt the most graceful woman, but this was embarrassing. All she had ever wanted was to become one of the elegant killers known as Widows. She had been given her chance, and she was ******* it up. Bad. She was moving about the test area like a newborn colt, every trip and misstep making her more nervous than when she started. Finally, maybe even mercifully, the lights came on in the testing area. She knew they had been watching her, knew they had seen every gaffe, and knew they were almost certainly unimpressed. She had failed her dream, and nothing to blame but her genetics.
She exited the room, returning to a small locker room where she turned in the Widow gear, and changed back into street clothes. The other stop would be the worst; she would have to face a representative of the examiners, and hear the verdict she already knew was coming. She bit her lip not to cry in frustration when it did.
As she left the building, the hallway was suddenly blocked by several Bane Commandos. They wordlessly gestured her to stand aside, one even threatening her with his energy mace. "Must be someone important," she thought as she obediently stepped back. Four Fortunatas entered the door, a chill following them in. The light in the hallway took on an instant gloom, and the sultry revenant known fearfully as Ghost Widow entered the building. Her entourage began to move in phalanx fashion, moving almost silently back the way the girl had exited.
In one fluid movement, Ghost Widow stopped and turned to face the girl. Her void black eyes met the girls and she spoke. "You failed. Leave." The phalanx parted; there was nothing between the girl and the door now. She looked longingly at the daylight outside. She could easily re-enter that world; todays defeat would fade eventually. But even dreams of becoming a killer die hard. Her body may have failed her, but her looks never had. One last try, she thought.
She blinked purposefully, her lashes fluttering. A mocking pout turned into invitingly pursed lips. She blinked again. "Is there nothing I can do to be one of your girls ?", she growled softly. Ghost Widows laugh was like a small explosion in the absolute silence. "Get some grace," she replied, sounding like an amused lioness facing a mouse. The final try had become the final embarrassment. It turned to anger, and for a long moment, the girl entertained dreams of slapping the smirk off Ghost Widows face. Of gouging those obscene puppy dog eyes with her thumbs. She had a spark of what made her desire the life of a Widow.
Ghost Widow laughed again. "Most people forget that I can read minds. Of course, they dont regret it long because that revelation comes just before their untimely death." She let the words fall on the air like dead leaves. "However, that wont be your fate. At least not today," she smiled. "Few people have had the nerve to stand a breath away from me and wish my violent demise. Even fewer resist the urge to run like a terrified animal once they realize how foolish they are being. You have the instinct to want to kill, and the nerve to stand in the face of your enemy. We can work with that."
For the first time in hours, the barest hint of a smile crossed the girls face. Maybe her last ditch effort hadnt failed after all ? Maybe shed be given another chance ?
Ghost Widow heard the thoughts, and grinned, enjoying what was coming next. "Report to Black Scorpion. Well make you a Soldier."
************************************************** ******************************
She was jammed into the black Soldier armor; "good fit" was not a requirement in the trainees equipment. She was given a scratched and dinged Arachnos pistol, and sent to the range to learn how to use it. Her graduation exercise was a raid on a Crey lab, the goal to eliminate as much resistance as needed to obtain some needed computer files. She and five other Soldiers entered the lab.
One hour later, she alone emerged. Her armor was scarred by energy blasts, her helmet showed signs of physical combat. Blood was visible at the corner of her mouth. She added to this image by spitting a small puddle of it on the ground in front of the Bane in charge. Red tinted her grinning teeth as she produced a briefcase with the data discs inside. "Where are the others ?", the Bane asked. She spit again, laughed hoarsely, and told him.
************************************************** ********************************
Scorpion and the Bane studied the Crey data as it crossed the screen. Scorpion had shown a particular interest in the results of the graduates first mission together, so the Bane had forgone a formal presentation for merely answering questions as the armored brute asked them. Scorpion nodded at some of the answers, laughed loudly at others. Finally, he wanted to know the lethality of the latest crop of recruits, especially "the new girl on the block."
The Bane paused for a long moment. Even though he knew this question would come, he also knew the answer could mean a quick death before the explanation was done. He breathed in through gritted teeth and began.
"One hundred and ten percent kill, Scorpion." The Bane said "The new girl was squad leader."
"How did she get a one hundred and ten percent kill ?, " Scorpion asked, his brow furrowed as he was forced to comprehend numbers.
"She also killed her partners" the Bane replied.
************************************************** ************************************
"She doesnt play well with others, I guess. She can be Makos problem" Scorpion had finally concluded after talking to the girl. "I like her style, but shes ******* crazy. She can take orders, she can definitely kill, but she cant work as part of a team. Let Mako have her for his pet project. "
The Bane nodded dutifully, and turned to leave the room. His exit was interrupted by a booming laugh from Scorpion, followed by a bemused order from the villain.
"And get me some more recruits. It seems she depleted our stock."
************************************************** ************************************
The young woman sat in a rusted lawn chair on the paving stones next to what would appear to a very large koi pond. She was waiting patiently for the ponds sole occupant to rise to the surface. She knew better than to go swimming with it. If the breeze of the ocean could be blended with the clinging atmosphere of a sewage treatment plant, this room would be the result. She smile despite herself, and waited. This was her last chance to work with Arachnos before being forced to return to the streets in utter defeat. Maybe walking, maybe in a dumpster. Maybe in several dumpsters, given the reputation of the pools occupant.
A splash of murky water drenched her totally as he exited the pool, landing with a wet sound in front of her. She had heard about Captain Mako, but like most people still living, she had never actually seen him. The sight of the severely mutated man caused her first wavering since she failed so miserably in the Widow testing.
His eyes were beginning to slit like his namesake. His hands were like webbed talons, and his skull actually seemed to be molding itself into something more streamlined. And his teeth. He grinned down at her, much like a rabid cat would gaze at a crippled rodent. She remained in her chair, but only by concentrating hard on not running. If this man was to be her new boss, then so be it.
************************************************** ************************************
It was actually pretty simple. "Some bank robbing *****" had "been making noise down south," Mako had said. This in itself wasnt the problem, Mako had noted, since everyone had a right to make a living how they saw fit. Even when it involved killing people in horrible, torturous ways, which, Mako added with a grin and maybe too vigorous nodding of his mishapen head, "was always a nice touch." No, this bank robber and her boys had only come to Arachnos attention when she started using the organizations money laundering banks as her means of sudden and violent income. This was bad for business, Mako explained sagely.
Makos newest associate had shown her willingness to kill, and her unwillingness to work with anyone else. "A perfect candidate", Mako had laughed when given her folder. "A simple killing," he told her, handing his protégé a stack of printouts. "We have the womans image, her name, and managed to intercept a recent call of hers to a local doctor. I want you to hire on with this man, and when our little annoyance makes her appearance on his doorstep, I expect you to make me proud and waste a lot of bullets doing it."
Her grin made Mako grin.
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Definately nice work ! Creepy as hell in some parts, but nice ! LOL
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First, I apologize for the sappy fest of the last chapter...
Hopefully this bitterness will help offset that
(or maybe it should be 
)
Also, I want to thank everyone who comments. It helps more than you know
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She watched the children on the tidy playground. Squeals of joy filled the air as they ran, smiles on their small faces. A breeze made the leaves of a nearby Japanese maple move in small spasms. The sunbeams played hide and seek, darting frantically behind random leaves and branches of another tree.
Jill was miserable.
She had given "the boys" the day off, lying that banks were too busy on a Saturday. When the truth actually was, the poison was getting to her. Not the treacherous physiology that was her worst weapon now, but the soul-deep poison of all-encompassing doubt that had crept up on her slowly.
The money was good. She could stop now, divide the sum of their jobs among the surviving crew, and her portion would carry her for many years to come.
Utterly alone.
A childs laughter. A mother calling. She looked across the way at a young couple. The woman rested her hand on a noticeable "baby bump" A man (must be the dad) toted a small ice chest to the bench where the woman sat. He kissed the pregnant womans cheek. They smiled at each other.
Utterly alone.
Jills hand went behind her, the familiar heft of a pistol butt filling it.
Two children ran by, screaming.
Jills hand back around smoothly, moving the gun to her lap.
It looked like the man was making a sandwich for the woman. She patted her belly and smiled at him.
Jill knew from experience she could bring the pistol up, peer down the sight and target the womans forehead, all in one fluid motion. She would then pull the trigger smoothly, and the womans head would cave in slightly as the bullet passed through that happy face. The womans curly hair would be matted at the back of her head, leaving surprisingly little bone and tissue fragments as the bullet exited.
And I will still be utterly alone.
The pistol whipped around. Finger to the trigger now.
The couple kissed.
Jills finger placed tension on the trigger. Her eyes narrowed. Aiming. Her eyes narrowed.
And began to well with tears.
A motion, and the gun was back in her waistband. A return motion. A small box appeared in her hand. She snuffled as she pushed buttons, then began to cry again as a familiar voice spoke.
"Youve reached Michael Hunter, please leave a message." -
Quote:The story is hard, wear a helmet ! LOLOriginally Posted by Ice9_
Conall's getting cozy with Sooner Spirit herself...
Six-four is angling to dig deeper into what's going on with the Hellions in King's Row...
And now, just when he begins hunting the traitor within the Ghosts, Vir is called away on a family emergency...
The board is in flux, the players are dashing to and fro...
Take your seats ladies and gentlemen, I suspect we're in for a bumpy ride!
Nice juggling act, Sooner. Not difficult to read at all
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Quote:Damn Boricua... I looked at those pics and my bloodline changed !Originally Posted by Boricua
1. Soy Boricua....always with rice
2. Soy Boricua.... we always have plenty to spare, if you have ever eaten at a Puerto Rican house you know damm well you aren't leaving until you have eaten enough food to feed a 3rd world country.
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I'm really linking how we're seeing more dimension to Six this time, as opposed to him just being the token "Bad Boy" Very nice work !
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Quote:Would be fittingOriginally Posted by Sooner
I like that too!
'Twould make an awesome screenshot! Too bad the Raid can't hold more than it does
How about simultaneous raids (Blue and Red ?) or back-to-back if all we can muster is blueside teams ? I'd go two in a row for the cause ! -
Quote:Subtle has already been to the Tailor, and is now (proudly !) sporting the black teeshirt with a big white T emblem, and the Major T hair !Originally Posted by Sooner
We DO love you, T. Anyone who knows you at all knows you are a man of integrity.
Tomorrow, any character I bring in will go to the tailor and change into a black tee shirt with a white "T" emblem on it, as a show of support for our Major T.
Who's with me?
(First time ever he's had hair !) He is parked in AP as we speak. In addition, any toon I bring in will head to the Tailor (or the Facemaker !) in support
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Very nice twist, Sooner Nice to see things in Heroland aren't always "happily ever after"
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Major T has always been the model of class and generosity with knowledge that I'd like to strive for as a player in this game The fact he can do these things AND retain a great sense of humor is just extra WIN !
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Knew she'd deliver when it mattered most
Excellent as always
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::brawny birthday hugs for my Soonerbud !!!!!::
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It's a bouquet of win !
Very, very nice how this is all unfolding. Well done indeed !
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Quote:It's not so much a matter of "fair" as a matter of not enough people have shown an interest in a redside Hami raid lately to bother going through the motions of organizing it, just to have not enough folks to go forward on "game day", as it were. No conspiracy, no hate, just not enough people.Originally Posted by lordseraph23
That's just not fair to the villains who might want to do it.
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26 and Counting...
Impervium Plated No-Prize to whoever can tell me where I got the chapter title from (and what IS a no-prize anyway ? LOL)
and Sooner... at least you KNOW when you'll be done !
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Robbie was bored, but had no words that would explain just how much. That was up to Hunter, and after so long without a decent challenge to his knowledge, he was failing miserably. So they sat and looked at each other across the large wooden office desk. Robbie looked blankly at Hunter and let out a breathy sigh. Hunter laughed softly at the purity of his expression. No malice, no manipulation, no ulterior motive; he was just bored.
Hunter studied the few test results gathered so far. Files from the group home were next to useless, with only the barest basics. Once a person was in there, they were a meal ticket, no longer a human being with emotions and a soul. Just a dollar sign on a balance sheet. So, other than clinical data which explained Robbie’s disabilities, there wasn’t much to work with. Again, Hunter was failing to make progress.
Sure, there were still tests to be run, both medical and psychological, but Hunter realized Robbie was essentially as lost at the Institute as he had been at the group home. The difference was there was no oversized roommate trying to slam his head into the paneling here. Robbie had developed coping mechanisms, and now that the dangers were gone, he was ironically free to do whatever he wanted without any suggestions as what his choices were.
He broke the silence. "Robbie, is there anything you’d like to do ?’, he asked. Robbie looked back blankly at Hunter. "Teevee ?", Robbie answered, his voice still fairly flat, showing little enthusiasm. Hunter frowned; television had clearly been a babysitter at the group home, and he was reluctant to reinforce that mental limbo by sitting Robbie down with a television to vegetate. Besides, there was only one TV he knew of in the Institute so far, and it was in Spider Silk’s room. Surely she wouldn’t want to entertain a retarded man just because Hunter was stumped for ideas. He began to thumb through the folder again, hoping for something to jump off the page.
Lost in thought, Hunter didn’t hear the footsteps come to the door. Even though the door was wide open, Spider’s boyfriend Junk Chunker tapped on it with one massive fist. The sudden thumping caused Robbie to startle and turn around as fast as his compact form allowed. Hunter simply looked up, smiling at the man in the doorway. "Hey Junk… everything okay ?" he asked warmly. Junk’s voice rumbled a bit with the reply. "Uh…yeah. Me and Spider was…" he began, looking into the room at the new arrival. A laugh echoed in the hallway behind Junk, and Spider stepped around his bulk. "We were," she began, correcting Junk’s grammar, "wondering if we could get to know the new kid on the block ?" Hunter grinned at the young girl’s directness. "Well, Spider, you can actually do more than that. You can help me think up something interesting for him to do. He says he’d like to watch TV, but I don’t want to park him on a couch so he can watch Family Feud."
"How about a movie ?," she replied quickly. "Movies are a bit more stimulating than that broadcast crap. Bet they didn’t have movies in that shithole he came out of. He might like a movie." Her rapid speech amused Hunter. When she and Junk had officially moved into the Institute, she had been soft spoken, speaking hesitantly until Hunter had gained her trust. Junk was still protective of the waif-like young woman, but she seemed to be- sometimes literally- stepping out of his shadow more and more. Her idea broke the logjam in Hunter’s head, and gave him one of his own. He rose from the chair and began to root around the cardboard boxes still stacked against one wall of the office. After some muttering, he found what he needed; a small video camera with a tripod.
"What I’d like you two to do is film Robbie. I need to see how he interacts with…people that aren’t trying to cave his skull in," he began, turning back to the couple. "Just set this up behind the TV, hit record and do…whatever." A rough laugh burst from Junk’s lips. Hunter looked up at him, and was greeted by a poorly contained grin. He tried hard not to laugh as he walked over to the big man. "No, Junk…", he laughed softly, "you can’t borrow it later." Spider looked back at her boyfriend, who failed to quit grinning in time. A small fist struck him in the ribs harder than seemed possible.
Hunter smiled, biting his lip so he wouldn’t laugh and share Junk’s fate. Spider glared briefly at both of them, then a giggle escaped her lips as well. She took the equipment from Hunter. Junk started to laugh again. "Is this stuff insured, because I’m about to beat his *** with the TRIPOD !", she threatened weakly, looking back at Hunter. "Enjoy the movie," Hunter smiled, biting his lip once again.
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Spider peered through the viewfinder of the camera. For such a small camera, it had good resolution, and a number of features. She could see the whole side of the room, her colorful tapestries showing up well in the small screen. Junk waved at her, making a funny face for her amusement. It worked. She grinned at his clowning, and went to join him on the couch. "Good enough," she thought.
Robbie sat stiffly on the love seat on one side of the room. They had asked Hunter if there was anything additional they needed to know about Robbie before they took him. Hunter had paused, then said flatly "Don’t get him wet…don’t feed him after midnight." He laughed as Spider struck him on the shoulder, then assured her that- outside of the obvious- Robbie was an otherwise normal adult, and was actually older than they were. "You’re not babysitting, Miss Silk," he smiled, returning to the name he called her when they were first acquainted, "You’re just watching a movie with a new friend."
Robbie’s portly physique prompted Spider to offer Robbie a diet soft drink, which he was now slurping softly. "He seems so uncomfortable," she thought, a gentle frown crossing her face. A silence hung on the room as she stared at the newcomer to "their little family" as she had began to think of the few people the Institute housed. Junk broke the silence by starting the movie playing. A burst of seventies style "Kung Fu" music burst from the speakers as the movie began. Robbie startled, his eyes getting wide behind his thick glasses, then the bright colors and fast cuts of the opening credits caught his attention. As was his habit at the group home, he sank lazily back into the cushions as the movie started.
"Ninety minutes of nothing," Spider thought, "That’s what Doctor Hunter will see. Us sitting on the couch, watching a cheesy Bruce Lee movie. For ninety minutes." She sighed, frustrated with Junk’s choice of movies. "And poor Robbie will probably be scared ******** fifteen minutes in. Oh yeah…this will be delightful."
But to her surprise, Robbie seemed to gain interest as the movie went on. Little by little, he inched forward on the love seat until he was on the edge. He began to smile during some parts, his rapid speech becoming unintelligible to her as he continued. "He’s laughing at the fight scenes," she thought, a smile starting on her face as well. Even when the action slowed for a dramatic passage, Robbie was plainly watching the movie with interest now. She relaxed, and snuggled up to Junk on the thrift store couch they sat on.
Finally, the fight between Lee and The Bad Guy came along. After some poorly dubbed dialogue, Lee and the villain began to dance around each other, throwing attacks at each other at random. Robbie was grinning now, and jabbering excitedly. He rose to his feet, and with a step was in the middle of the room. He began to wiggle, a clumsy mimicking of the onscreen action. Both the younger metas laughed as Robbie made gestures like Lee. The action increased, with Lee showing the blindingly fast moves he was famous for.
Spider watched as Robbie began to shake. He was moving much faster now. His motions seemed more compact, he wasn’t as comical. Yet, his laughter began to echo off the walls of the small room. He was enjoying himself, but that shaking was starting to scare Spider. Had Hunter said something about Robbie having seizures ? She looked at him again. He was fairly vibrating now. Was he actually blurring ?
"Junk, he’s seizing !" , she blurted. "Get him and I’ll get Hunter !" She jumped up and was almost to the door when she heard two thumps behind her. The first was a smacking sound, like skin hitting skin. The second was Junk’s bulk falling to the floor. She turned around quickly. Robbie had stopped moving. Junk was propped against the couch, slowly regaining his feet.
She looked first at Robbie. He was frowning now, his eyes wide again behind his glasses. "Are you okay ?", she asked, placing a hand on his cheek. "Are you hurt ?" "No, no hurt," he replied, still looking shocked. "Show me your tongue, Robbie. Let me see if you bit it." He stuck out his thick tongue. "No, no blood." She sat him down on the couch. She clumsily fetched a cold drink from the small refrigerator in the room, quickly opening it and offering it to Robbie. She didn’t know what else to do.
Junk rose to his feet. "What the **** was that ?", he asked the room. "What the hell happened to me ?" He looked down Robbie, his body making an eclipse of the room’s light as he bent toward him. "What did you do ?" "I not do NOTHING !", Robbie protested. Junk growled at the much smaller man, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to figure out why he just ended up on the floor. "Let him alone, jackass !" Spider threatened. "Can’t you see he’s scared ? You’re probably giving him flashbacks of that goon trying to beat the **** out of him in that group home! "
Indeed, Robbie had backed up on the love seat, now wedged firmly into the cushions. He was drinking the coke in small sips, his eyes darting toward Spider in apparent fear. She frowned, speaking gruffly to Junk over her shoulder. "Make yourself useful and grab the camera. Maybe Hunter can make some sense out of this."
Junk grabbed the entire assembly, removing the camera from the tripod and handing it to Spider. She pushed the playback button, and they both watched. The images didn’t help much; Junk approached Robbie to help him, then was suddenly knocked back, losing his feet and ending up on the floor. They rewound the action, watching it again. Both were quiet as answers didn’t come. "Slow it down," she finally spoke. She pushed the button to do so, and gasped.
Robbie was trying to copy Bruce Lee. He wasn’t seizing, he was moving. His pudgy legs danced clumsily around on the rug beneath his feet. His short, thick arms whirled about him in bizarre windmilling motion. He even hopped a few times. And he was smiling and laughing. He was happy. There was no real focus to the motions; they were just joyful physical outbursts from someone enjoying themselves for a change.
And they had been a blur to the "normal" people in the room.
He had been that fast.
The images played on as Junk moved painfully slow in comparison to Robbie’s joyous frenzy. Then a wild gesture caught Junk squarely across the jaw, and he collapsed backwards to the floor. Robbie hadn’t been seizing. Robbie was a meta. This short, frightened, mentally retarded man was a meta. "Junk, honey, take the tape to Hunter. I’ll be right there." Junk paused, then strode out of the room.
Spider squatted down so that she was eye to eye with Robbie. She touched his face again with her hand, getting a smile from him. "Welcome to the family, little bro," she smiled, a tear in her eye. -
Quote:Yeah, I think it's make or break time for Cerise. Girl gotta step up or step away.Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja
You just want to smack some sense into that girl.
Nice work with Cerise and Ahren... the frustration really came through
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First...YAY FOR STOREEZ !!!!
Second, you could leapfrog A and B options, A,B,A,B... failing that, A would be great
Third... I have someone in mind for the cruise (And no, NOT Subtle 
)
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I can pony up Subtle again if there's an evening run and you need him.
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Quote:Celebrityjoker.com has the image. And some others... not so clothedOriginally Posted by Sooner
Where did that pic come from? It's not from Buffy.
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Quote:Yeppa...that was Daoine (same one you ran with, Jerikko). I recall we had also had two (?) Tanks that had run the KTF several times, and it went ridiculously easy (in part) because of that.Originally Posted by Knowmad
Bama (on his Blaster I think) and I (Warshade of course) also got both MOKTF and MOITF on the first try on the same night back in December. It was a PUG no less and not everyone was even level 50! The one thing in common on every successful MO* run I've done has been one or more Sonic Defenders.
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I like how he got to the point without being rude
Quote:Nicely done !The only question is whether its the bad guys... or if the good guys get hurt because she wont fight the bad guys -
I was on the #9 Team with Jerikko, and I'd like to say he accepted the Kheldian sneak attack with a good bit of grace
I've been on Master runs where the death was on the last mission, and the leader yelled at the team in Team chat, threw a fit in general, and refused to finish the TF, even when some of the team didn't have the "normal" badge. Jerikko continued, and we had a strong finish.
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Quote:Fix'tOriginally Posted by bamaWolfie
>.>
<.<
I have a BADASS kin I could volunteer to help with this.
>.>
<.<