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The ship shuddered as another impact hit the shields, this one from one of their particle acceleration cannons. It illuminated the shield bubble in front of the ship on the screen and I looked on in concern. The ships weren't perfectly evenly matched, ours was a stronger and newer model but they still had powerful weaponry. The Sovereign was more a personal cruise ship while the Sphinx class we were faced was a battleship, specifically designed for combat. It had thicker and stronger hull plating and more weapons platforms than the Sovereign. However it was slower at manoeuvring and had a lower top speed and the shields system was less powerful.

I stayed on my knees watching everything not wanting to get up even to get a new leash. Master had all of his attention on three holographic displays that had come up in front of him and what was on the view screen. I knew he was concerned for me seeing as he had looked at me with worry when the leash snapped.

“Hunter torpedos away, firing particle canons," Tactical called and we could see their shields light up with the cannon impacts “Minimal damage to their shields, ours are at ninety six percent... Torpedos intercepted."

“They still haven't changed position even though we are going right at them," Master said as we continued to exchange fire “How did they see or intercept those torpedos?"

“Second wave intercepted," came a report a moment later “Shields to Ninety Three percent, still no movement." Something wasn't making sense. Why weren't they moving? Broad siding was so much more effective as it let all of the ships side cannons come into action but they just sat still not even using evasive manoeuvres. How were they intercepting our torpedos? Hunter torpedos were invisible to all sensors after they were launched, then something seemed to click with a scary clunk.

“HELM! Change course to 195.83!" I called out and everyone looked at me in shock, Master in particular.

“That's not where they are, that's fully ninety degrees to port!" Master snarled at me “It would permit them to target our flank!"

“I know Master," I said shrinking a little under his gaze “but think about it, they haven't moved because they can't and the shots weren't intercepted by them... they have laid a Mine field around their ship, they were waiting for us, it all makes sense tactically."

“What makes you so sure?" he asks and I just blushed softly looking to one side not wanting to admit it was a tactic I had used at one point “Fine lets test it, helm make the course change. Tactical, deploy shrapnel torpedos detonate them thirty seconds before impact with their ship. Continue targeting our canons on the previously listed targets." the crew retorted with an 'aye sir' and followed his orders.

“Sorry master I..." I started and he put his paw in front of my face to silence me.

“Later!" he growled out and I nodded. I knew I was in trouble, I had broken several major slavery laws when I ordered the course change and spoke without permission. Hell the fact I wasn't currently on my leash was another big one. I was mildly relieved when there was a large scattering of explosions around their ship showing the field was indeed there.

“Attack pattern Joka five, take out that field with another full spread of shrapnel torpedos, rotate the shields primary face to face their fire," Master ordered “Launch another wave of hunters after first volley of shrapnels are away." there was another round of explosions and then several directly on their shields.

“Impacts with mines confirmed, we now have a path through as well, their shields are down to sixty percent, ours are at eighty three, Cannons are starting to over-heat, switching to secondary cannon systems, launching another volley of hunters." the tactical station reported and Master sighed as they were launched.

“This could go on for an hour and they will more than likely escape by then... Arm Jumper torps and launch when ready," Master called “Same targets as stipulated before, whatever you do, try not to hit any personnel areas or life support." Jumper torpedos were a new technology, they had miniature jump drives built in and could make a jump of several kilometres before the drive burned out. This permitted them to bypass shields, however they were expensive and sometimes unreliable, their drives sometimes causing the warhead to detonate.

“Torpedos away," came the calm response “Impact in three... Two... One..." there were a series of bright flashes and large explosions on the opposite ship in several set locations.

“Targets hit, their engines are off-line... weapons and shields down... they are dead in the water." the science station informed “Life support is online, escape pods have been disabled."

“Excellent, contact them, tell them to surrender their ship and prepare to be boarded," Master calls “Where did they get the ship? Do we have an ident yet?"

“Just made contact with backup I.D.C. systems," the science station reported “Ident confirmed as the I.F.S. Algeron, It's one of ours."

“Of course it is one of ours, that is a Sphinx class. The Algeron? Wasn't that lost a year ago?" Master asked befuddled.

“Yes sir, along with the Odyssey and Prominence, they were seeking the remains of the Eternal and Deliverance." Came the response and I felt my skin prickle, everyone knew of those ships.

The Eternal had been the final battleship built during the last war. It used extremely controversial engines, weapons and power systems. It remained top secret but rumours abound that its shield systems were powered directly by a jump drive engine making them impenetrable to anything but jumper torpedos. It and its sister ship, the Deliverance, had ended the last war, forcing the coalition to submit to the Imperial throne but then the two ships just vanished, lost with all hands, including the previous Emperor.

The only ship that was as famous and possibly more mysterious was the I.F.S. Divine. Launched several years before the last great war, it sported an, as yet, undisclosed form of F.T.L. travel. One of the largest ships ever built at just over three kilometres long, it housed impressive defensive systems and science capabilities. It left space dock successfully and reached its first destination just outside of its home system like clockwork. Its last transmission is almost legendary. After they activated the experimental drive, then just vanished there was one last message from the ship that was received several months later and simply said 'Lost'.

All attempts to find the ship came up fruitless, every single member of its nine thousand crew lost. What made the enigma more perplexing is the last message received was a voice message but it didn't match any automated computer voice or any of the crew.

“I want that ship boarded Immediately!" Master ordered loudly standing up “Clear the mine field and dock us at once! All external windows on the Sovereign are to be darkened immediately! Download everything you can from that database, access the black box computer and download all files! Contact all fleet ships in the area to jump here at once, Omega level priority! All personnel on board are to be detained, strip searched and interrogated! Everything is to have Omega level encryption! There is to be NO mention of the Algeron on ANY channels!" he seemed panicked like if he didn't act soon enough everything would be lost. He helped me up before walking to the lift with me in tow.

“David, I am disappointed in you," he said sadly before looking down at me once the doors closed “I should be angry, you spoke without permission and gave an order out of place in a time of crisis, however, I am not. You may have saved the ship when you made that order. So I will thank you for that however you must still be punished for your actions. For now though, you will be accompanying me... as much as I would like to leave you in our quarters, I don't have time to get back there, Kaydex is busy with Reon, Reon is injured, Joka is coming with me, Asyr is on assignment off ship and Neos is helping Kaydex. So I have nowhere to send you... So you will be coming with me on the boarding party. Now these are my rules for you. You are being given a huge deal of trust here as you will be off leash for this. You stay with me or Joka, do not fire first, stay safe and DO NOT try to sacrifice yourself to save me or anyone else in the party, am I understood?"

“Y...Yes Master," I respond and shiver a little under his gaze “I...I'm sorry Master..."

“We will talk about that later," he says simply cutting me off as the lift reached its destination and he walked off and into the Armoury at the end of the hall. everyone turned to look at us “Fit him with a level three. Joka, keep an eye on him, he goes nowhere without one of us." The large hybrid simply nodded and motioned me over to a locker and simply told me to get dressed.

“The Penitence, Red Pride, Judicator, Valerian, Patriarch, Furor, Ardent Spire, Providence and fleets Two, Four, Six, Seven and Nine are on route," Joka read off from a holo display as he helped me get dressed “They will be here in two hours to secure the sector. The Red Pride, Patriarch, Valerian, Second and Seventh fleet will escort the Sovereign the rest of the way to the Thar system while the rest remain here to secure the area and tow the ship to dock."

"The Patriarch, the Valerian and the Second Fleet? My brother's attack force? I had thought they were in the Devon system..." He tapped his claw on his locker in thought as he mulled over the information "I suppose they heard he was injured somehow... Thank you, Joka."

What I was equipped with looked like a standard body suit armour. Helmet, vest, pants. When it was all on however I felt something be connected to my back and the helmet lit up with a heads up display showing I had a personal shield and a Com-link. From the outside I would look like just another armoured human and I guess that was what Master was after.

Joka was armoured up as well in his own gear making him look like a walking tank. The same symbol that was on his loincloth, his family crest of a roaring white lion head, emblazoned on his chest plate showed it was him. Masters gear was more elegant. It was white as usual, with some gold plates on his chest and the ears of his helmet. It almost looked like he was just covered in a metal layer with his jacket on over top. The guns everyone was armed with were the standard energy rifles and a smaller hand pistol.

“Coms check." Master ordered as I was handed my own guns and I attached them where I could get to them easily.

“Confirm channels open, Coms system online." I retorted and there was a series of responses around the room.

“Ok ladies, this is simple, we are going in and securing the ship." Master started briefing us on the mission “The rest of the fleet will join us in twenty minutes. We aren't the only party however we are to secure three main areas of interest, bridge, primary database and main engineering. Expect heavy damage and possible resistance." Master finished and there was a chorus of 'Yes sir!' and one 'Yes Master!' in reply and he chuckled softly.

“David, Joka, Melania, You three will secure the bridge." Master said starting to split us into groups “Deb, Dresdil, Sparks, you will be securing Engineering. Donna and Saber, you will be accompanying me to primary Database. Shoot to stun unless you have no other options, I want them alive if possible." we all nodded and made our way to the airlock.

“Private channel open, David, Joka, listen to me Carefully," Master suddenly said making me jump a bit “David I am trusting you to behave and do exactly as you are told. If Joka say jump, you don't question, you jump, if he tells you to run, you run understood? Joka, act as normal but he is your responsibility understood? Outside of our team, no one is to know who is inside that armour."

“Yes my Emperor," Joka responded “If I may ask, what makes this so important that you need to get involved on a boarding party? You're not supposed to leave the ship without extenuating circumstances."

“Project Trinity." was the only response given. Joka nodded and I could almost picture his eyes widening in his helmet.

“Understood, changing weapon load-out." he answered after a brief hesitation and taps the side of his guns before holstering them.

“David, I expect you to answer me when I give you orders," Master said a soft growl in his voice showing he was still upset with me and I jumped again blushing “I told you what I want you to do, now answer me and repeat what I told you."

“Yes Master, sorry Master," I answered “I am to remain with Joka, If Joka tells me to jump, I jump, if he tells me to run, I run, no questions asked."

“Good boy. I will contact you two when we reach the objective. Till then radio silence unless it is an emergency." he said and the com-link closed. The ship shook a little and loud clunks and metallic noises were heard before the airlock opened. We race on, not encountering any resistance, easily getting down the hall to a fork in the road.

“You all have your assignments, go!" Master said over the com-link and we split up and headed deeper into the ship. I was surprised at not finding any opposition, the ship seemed to be deserted but it did show signs of recent inhabitation.

“Joka, Sir," I said activating the com link “Something isn't right here, it's too quiet... even if they are running a skeleton crew, there should be more people..."

“I know." Was his simple reply “Stay alert we are almost there..." I nodded a little keeping my eyes out for any signs of life. As we progressed to the bridge the signs of a combat increased. Burn marks on the walls and barricades that had been blown open. Something big had breached some of them, the large solid blast doors used to lock off the bridge in case of intruders on board were still in the closed and locked position but had huge hole punched through the centre of them like something had just ploughed through them.

“Whatever hit these was strong," Melania said inspecting them “It's been torn open like tissue paper." when we reached the bridge the doors wouldn't open and they showed signs of heavy damage.

“Manual override." Joka said and opened a panel close by, punching in a code a handle appeared and he pulled it the door popping open an inch “Stand behind me, Melania open the doors please." he gestured to the door as I shifted to stand behind him. She stepped forward and grabbed the door and pulled it open by force. Joka rushed forward, gun raised and ready but found nothing. I followed behind him, Melania behind me and we started looking around. I walked to the tactical console and pressed a few commands.

The systems were sluggish and badly damaged, a side effect of the battle If I needed to guess and the main computer being down. It took a bit of work around to get it to tell me what I was after especially after changing it to text I could read easily.

“It says here the ship has been set to automatic and it's gone into standby mode," I said looking up to Joka as he stepped over to look over my shoulder “But... that's not possible Sir, they contacted US with demands, the ship responded to ours dynamically with tactics a computer wouldn't use... The standby is easy to explain away, the ship has nothing to do with almost every system down."

“Hmm... Computer! Command input override, Joka, Siera, Sigma, Pie, three, three, nine. Clearance level Ten, Royal command clearance." Joka called out and there was a 'beep beep' response.

“Command Override accepted, All primary systems locked down to authorised personnel only." Came the computers calm response.

“Sir, the bridge is deserted," Joka reported contacting the Emperor “The whole ship seems deserted... everything here was set to automatic." he waited seeming to get a response and there was then a growl from him, clearly not good news.

“Check everything," were the next words out of his mouth and he looked down at me “Try a different station, I doubt tactical will tell us anything." I nod moving to one of the science stations under his instructions while Melania was inspecting the tower console. It was bizarre, there were signs everywhere that people were on board but at the same time, no signs at all.

“Sir... I have an idea," I say looking something up as Joka walked over to me “It was a tactic that we came up with once... hmm where is it... there." I pulled up a few commands and then selected the life signs detector, it of course came up with nothing except the security teams on the display.

“I am not impressed so far." he retorted crossing his arms and I held up one finger as if to say sorry and please wait before I started working again.

“If you look, it SHOWS us but it says here that there is almost three hundred on board that aren't our people." I told him pointing to the numbers listed “But there is one area that is always missed on the sensors unless its changed manually. That's the Maintenance ducts, they run the length and breath of the ship like intestines and have access to almost every room..."

“I see what your getting at," he said and leaned over typing in override commands and the layout of the ship lit up with signals and life signs “They are literally in the walls... How did you know about that?"

“I've had a lot of time to get accustomed to the set up of ships sensor grids," I told him “It was important to do back when we were raiding cargo ships."

“Seems like something we will need to change I think... Sir can you hear me?" he said suddenly changing to try to talk to the Emperor “Sir? Donna? Sabre? Come in please..." we waited watching him then the tactical console lit up, Melania quickly running to it.

“Weapons fire near the Primary Database," she said “Engineering has been secured... one of the other teams has joined Sparks, Deb and Dresdil."

“They are all moving towards the Database," I said watching the screen in front of me “They are ignoring everything else, Engineering, tactical, environmental, escape pods, docking bays... they are all being ignored."

“Joka to Deb, hand over engineering to our security teams, get moving to Secondary Database, secure it and the Black Box computer." Joka called over the com and we looked to the door as one of the other security teams turned up “You six remain here, Mel and you, come with me! NOW." he grabbed my shoulder and pulled dragging me along behind him.

We made our way quickly through the ship, running down the halls that we could. When we were a few corridors away the sound of gunfire was becoming louder and easier to hear. As we rounded a corner the sight was extraordinary, dozens of heavily armed men all trying to shoot at something through one small door.

“Stay. Here." Joka instructed me firmly and I nodded as he went on ahead with Melania. It didn't take long for them to start shooting, guns set to scatter shot. They had taken down over half the opposing forces before said forces realised they had been surrounded. Just as they were taking down the last one I felt a hand grab my arms and quickly pull them behind my back.

“Well Look what we have here... It's the emperors new slut!" a deep voice said right next to my ear. How the hell did he know? My helmet and armour should have hidden my identity and outside of the secure communication channels I hadn't been named. I struggled to get free, unable to break my arms from his tight grip as a knife was pressed to my throat instantly making me freeze. The personal shielding was useless against something moving so slowly and by time he had the knife there it was too late to stop him “Now now, no making any noises... You are coming with me!"

To say I panicked would be an understatement, finding the emergency beacon command in my HUD I activated it sending out a signal to any allied forced in the area that I was in extreme peril. Joka and Melania came around the corner a second later, guns raised and I whimpered a little as I felt the knife press more firmly against by throat.

“Back off!" he called out “Or he dies! I want clear passage off this ship and a jump capable ship to take me to the Eldon Theocracy!"

The Eldon Theocracy was one of the primary antagonists against the Empire during the war. Ruled by their religious casts, they had strong beliefs almost as strong as their weapons and ships. They looked down on any race that wasn't them, believing that the universe was made for them by their gods and that they were rightful rulers with everyone and thing being nothing more than animals to be enslaved or slaughtered.

They were a race of conquerors, enslaving every planet they came across in great 'crusades' and forcing their religion upon them. If they couldn't convert the populations, they killed them, simple as that. Their religion did set a strong sense of morality, yet when it involved anything that wasn't Eldon, everything was fair game. Their planets and cities were always clean, however the enslaved races at their command were the ones who pulled off that feat. They were very materialistic, everything looking expensive and high quality while they severely mishandled their slaves.

Killing or dying in the name of their gods was revered, with many being turned to martyrs upon death during the war. Often with lavish shows of condolence to the families and loved ones of the new martyrs, entire communities would turn up on their families doors with gifts of food, clothing or prayers. Any who turned from their religion or 'lost their faith' were dealt with harshly, usually with execution or enslavement. Their leader was said to speak with their gods constantly and while it was believed to be nothing more than technological trickery by the Empire, it was usually a grand spectacle when he did.

They had almost been wiped out during the war, being forced back to a small sector of the galaxy that circled their home planet before surrendering. This ended the conflict as they were the last member of the Coalition to still be standing at that time. After that the empire had effectively quarantined their space making it a capital offence to enter their space or share technology with them.

Rumours abound that they were rearming to attempt another offensive against the Empire but there was no evidence to prove it. However long range scans had detected an increase in their fleet sizes but it was believed the empire was ahead of them technologically.

“You commandeer one of my ships, use that ship to attack the Imperial flagship resulting in a severe injury to my brother, then you take one of my men hostage and you expect me to let you to just walk out?" Master called and my eyes widened as he came around the corner “I always knew there was something wrong in the head with you Elden, now don't move." the guy scoffed as master raised his own gun.

“As if I would do as YOU tell me to!" he called but I knew maser wasn't talking to him. I stayed as still as I could. Both I and the guy were shocked when the gun went off and missed my head and shield by millimetres. It struck the guy in the face sending him flying backwards from me and crashing to the floor unconscious a meter or so back.

“Are you ok?" Joka asked rushing forward to help me and I nodded slowly rubbing at my throat.

“I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes" I muttered softly “Never knew it would be that unpleasant."

“Ooo let me know next time, I love a parade!" Melania declared jovially with a chuckle making me roll my eyes.

“Good, were heading back, I have what I came for," Master said and looked back to see Donna and Sabre carrying some huge piece of equipment “Leniad to Sovereign, we are returning, have engineer crews ready. Also we have a security leak, I want every communication made in the last three hours checked." he waited for confirmation before nodding.

“We're going to check on Reon." was the last thing Master said before walking towards the airlock. We were silent the whole time that we walked and changed out of our gear into clean clothes. Master was in so much of a hurry to see his brother he didn't even bother with my leash but I ran along behind him to keep up.

We were forced to wait, Dr Kaydex and Neos apparently still working furiously. Apparently the report that one of his 'boys' had died was incorrect but he was gravely wounded. Master wasn't happy that he had to wait. He would have preferred to be at his brothers side but he was forced to wait. When finally we were permitted in master rushed past them making me play catch up and run again just to keep up with him.

Three beds were made up in the royal medical bay. One contained a large bull who had bandages covering his chest and half of his face. He was resting peacefully, softly breathing and possibly snoozing off his medication and treatment. The Centre bed was empty but was defiantly made up for someone.

“What are you doing out of bed?" Master demanded, seeing his brother in a chair beside the last occupied bed. He didn't get an answer, the prince was hunched over the bed, his boys hand in his as he held it under his chin, a look on the lions face that suggested he was holding back tears.

The lion had been injured in the blast from the earlier attack. His right leg was bound in a flexible cast that looked like the leg of a jumpsuit. He was clad in only a pair of black briefs, his chest was covered in white plaster bandages and most of the fur on his right side was singed or missing showing burned skin. Master was right, he should have been in bed recovering, but even I could see why he wasn't and I wasn't going to join master in berating him for it.

This was the first time I met any of the Princes boys and it was not a good way to see him. On the bed lay a fox about my age. Slender body, soft black fur with white dots covering him that looked like a star pattern where it wasn't missing showing deep burns. The left side of his body was covered in the same casing as the princes leg, and there were various tubes in his nose, in his chest and through his neck. A machine near the bed was whirring softly, the only thing currently keeping him alive.

“He... He pushed us out of the area before it was sealed off," Reon said softly without looking up. His voice wavered, like he was trying not to cry “Do we know who did this?"

“We do," my master said slowly and carefully. The prince nodded and said nothing as he held his foxes hand in his.

“We have them I assume?" It didn't feel like a question but more like a demand. “And you are going to make them pay."

“It's not as easy as that," my master said slowly. “There are...political issues at stake here..." He didn't get a chance to finish before his brother looked over at him with a glare so angry that he might have killed him if it was possible.

“Twenty seven people in that area of the ship are dead. Fourteen because they got sucked out of the ship and into space before the emergency shields went up. My fox is....." Reon gritted his teeth and screwed his eyes shut as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. “Those people that did this... you will capture them and you will punish him, do you understand?"

“Brother it's not as simple as that and you know it, if this isn't handled carefully it could lead to War with the Eldon Theocracy of all people." Master answered but it seemed to have Little calming effect on his brother, if anything it just made him more angry.

“If you are going to use the political excuses on me again, then get the fuck out of here!" the prince snapped at his older brother. “Fuck your treaties and fuck the political shit storm you claim you're trying to avoid. You find the ones who did this, and you punish them. Or is the Empire just for appearance? Show a little backbone!" the prince finished talking as the tears finally flowed out of his eyes behind his glasses as he turned away from my master and held his foxes hand up to his face as he began to cry.

I looked at my master and I could see the conflict in his face. Does he comfort his brother when he needs it, or does he do his royal duty? This was not an easy decision to be made and I was glad I wasn't the one making it but I knew I would need to be there for him afterwards. It took a few minutes for him to find his voice to speak.

“What can I do to help you?" he asked slowly. Prince Reon said nothing for a few long minutes before he did speak.

“Five minutes with their leader in a locked room. No cameras, no guards, no witnesses and when I'm done with him, you will execute him. Publicly." he said slowly and firmly, to make sure his brother heard every word.

If my master had any argument against it, he wisely kept it to himself. Instead, he slowly nodded and walked over and gave his brother a squeeze on the shoulder. The prince didn't flinch or pull away but he did tremble as if he was about to break down.

“It won't be easy but I will try," the white lion said “However I must put some rules in place of my own if we are to do this... I will discuss it more with you later." he let go of his brothers shoulder and left the medbay with me, finally calming down enough to grab a leash for my collar.

He didn't say anything to me when we got back to our quarters and I just sat out of his way as he conferred with all manner of people, some who looked important and others who didn't. I didn't try and listen in but they were talking too fast and using words I didn't want to understand anyway.

It was a few hours later when my master finally sat down beside me with a large bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured one for himself and one for me.

“This has not been a good day," he said as he took a long drink. I didn't touch mine, at least not yet “First the jump drive problems strand us for an extra half day, then the attack which only adds more time to the wait, then discovery of one of our lost ships in the hands of the damned Theocracy. A ship that has diplomatic immunity which was agreed upon by every damn political power there is and now my Brother..."

“Is your brother going to be ok?" I asked him and he didn't seem bothered by he fact I missed out calling him 'Master'. He didn't answer right away, he looked to be thinking.

“We know who attacked our ship," he said slowly. “We have them in custody. The minute we announced we had arrested them, their government contacted us. In order to keep the alliance going, we have to send all the perpetrators to their home world, without charging them for anything. According to them, they allegedly were attacked by our ship and they can't be charged without a formal trial, even with all evidence we have stacked against them."

“But...but you're the Emperor," I said in disbelief. “I've seen you fire people just for looking at you wrong. How can you just bend over like that and hand over the people that tried to kill us?" My master said nothing for a moment or two.

“Because the people and lords I fired, answered directly to me," he said with a huff “This is a demand from a neighbouring government, who we need to be on good terms with. If I don't send these criminals back, it could have consequences. Dire ones at that."

“But they were trying to kill us. They killed people... Your people, hell one even tried to take me hostage," I said to him as I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. “How can you just let them go, after seeing how badly your brother is suffering? How badly they've all suffered?" He squeezed my hand back, before he turned to me.

“We haven't been able to formally prepare all the evidence against them yet. We are still trying to recover the files from the Database core we recovered but in the time we have until we do, there will be room for negotiation," he said still seeming thoughtful and he took another quaff of his wine “I will work something out and I will do my best to give my brother some kind of compensation for this. If I can't, he will not like it... but I know he will understand that I tried." I sat up a bit and wrapped my arms around my masters neck and pulled him close, my turn to hold him when he needed it earning a purr and return hug for my efforts.

“Don't think I have forgotten your punishment as well David" he said “However after what happened on the ship, with you being held hostage, I am willing to drop it and say you suffered enough of a punishment for your earlier infraction."

“What did you have planned?" I asked as I took a sip of the wine that had been offered and he simply smiled showing off every one of his shiny white teeth.

“Oh David, you don't want to know." was all he answered with.