Nightmares and Flash backs

              "Sta__er __is i_ 3 _ E__o req____ting imm___iate e__c.."

       Murmuring  incoherent gibberish  Ghost slept while the day slowly went away. Celestia's sun lingering in the middle of the sky.

                        shuffling around constantly, He was  experiencing the beginning of a  dream that

                   consisted of other dreams  making up his routine  night terrors.

                        Somehow managing to turn himself over, His back was now on the couch with his head resting

   on the left arm rest.  Arms resting on his torso, legs either  bent or spread out along the couch.

          *  30 minutes later *

                      "AAAH"

           Awakening abruptly his eyes shot open quickly sitting up.

    Rapidly Inhaling  then  Exhailing chopily  ,his  dog tags produced multiple soft clings that  rang from his chest,

     muffled by the dark blue v-neck and black hoodie he had on over it.

   Feeling the rapid but powerful beats of his heart within his chest almost as if trying to jump out begin to settle.

       Slightly extending one leg to rest on the couch, leaving the other bent at an obtuse angle. Feeling trickles of moisture flow down his chest and elevated knee joint.

      Ghost  Gasped the word.

                                                " Fuck!"

                Epinephrine secreted into his blood stream, racing through his veins thus returning his heart to its former  metronome. Frantically Scanning what was in front of him, an entrance to the kitchen greeted his vision left of the stairs leading to the second story. To the Right was a love seat with two small tables with lamps on both its ends. Dimly lit by the afternoon sun that spilled through the window refracting on the bright white carpet. Giving the entire living room an effect of soft illumination.

..

                  Relief washed over his chest seeing that he was no longer being water boarded.

      But now he was slightly disgusted upon realizing that the moisture was actually his sweat accumulated deep with in the    couches cushions, now severely damp along with the articles of clothing he had. That must've been produced by the friction made while moving around in his sleep.

                        "Gross."

            He knew he had a minor sweating problem but this was just ridiculous.

    Repositioning his upper limbs so both his  palms could rest against his head, slowly running them up and down along his

      Mow hawk.  Feeling his sweat catapult into the air by the stubbles of hair starting to growing on his scalp.

           His hair always grew fast  meaning he had to buzz cut it often, the mow hawk wasn't even visible anymore but as a wide strip of hair longer than the rest that narrowed out when viewed down the back of his head.

                Breathing deeply to make sure his lungs weren't punctured and intact. Convinced he closed his eyes, hearing familiar static induced voices of soldiers in his head. Images of that unfortunate day began replaying on the back of his eye lids. Clear as if they were television screens, once he opened them  what he saw made his heart sank into his chest.

      The all too familiar fowl stench of wet cement mixed with mud, rotting human remains, feces lingering in the hot stuffy air in the day to freezing cold at night. In a futile attempt to get up Ghost flinched to the excruciating pain that run through out his body. His dog tags, rusted due to always being drenched in some kind of liquid that found its way into the sewer drain 24/7 above him jingled as a result of the sudden movements made.

  Hair filthy and unkempt it had grown long enough to the point it could  cover half his face which inhibited some of his vision. In a way it was somewhat of an annoyance he grew accustomed to. clinging to his scalp and face growing nearly half way to his shoulders. Looking down he saw his bare bruised up body along with his left knee bandaged with dirty blood soaked rags.  Feeling the existence of his patella but in shattered pieces in between his Meniscus and articular cartilage.

      The pain of Both his severed  Anterior Cruciate Ligament  and lateral patellar tendon Dulled over time, but if he could remember correctly what hurt the longest was his partially torn medial collateral ligament convinced it hurt more because the ligament it self was still in the  the process of tearing considering he was absolutely certain that a piece of his patella was in-lodged  into the  the ligament.( To put it simple his knee was fucked up) He was never sure because everything was barely visible to him thanks to the black eye's he received for his lack of cooperation during all the  interrogations he's went through. An indication of the time was the sun light that poured through the sewer drain he was chained under.

                Time.........Ghost wondered to himself how long was he stuck in this shit hole. He used to have been able to tell by the day how long he was incarcerated. Because every night "they" would unchain him, drag him through the metal red door several meters in front of him with the hopes that he finally give in to the torture. Give in to the psychological mind games of seeing his fellow comrades slowly be tortured themselves then beheaded in front of him. But he never did, every night his screams of agony would continue to echo through out the sewer.

  It felt too real to Ghost, when in reality he knew it wasn't, But the pain felt real, the  pain of the infected Gash's reopening as he rubbed his back against the cold rusty pipe  he was chained to. The muddy rain water felt real, the rubbish that would drain  and envelope further infecting his open wounds felt real, the pain from his left knee felt real.

                 As if he was going through it all over again.

Hearing the door with its rusty hinges open much earlier than usual and slam shut a man concealed in the darkness approached ghost.

      The toes of dark brown boots were the only thing visible by the sunlight and sewage flowing along.

        With a heavily accented voice he spoke sternly

                   "هل أنت مستعد للحديث؟"

          Ghost knew perfectly what he was being asked and the interrogator knew it,

                  He gave a frustrated sighed when his question was left with out an answer.

             The man step forward his feet splashing in the sewer water as he approached The prisoner of war. Proceeding to kneel and be at eye level with the wounded soldier.

Grabbing a fist full of hair to pull the soldiers head up , a thick green liquid dripped down the mans wrist while he did so, examining the features of the human who's life decided on by him.

        To live or die the choice was his.

              Ghost was so close to "him" he could the smell remnants of his cigar and pistachios in his breath.

             He couldn't do it.....ghost couldn't look into the eyes of his torturer, not then...not now, He discovered a new found interest in the green algae that grew on the sewer floor shimmering from the rays of sunlight that peeked through the sewer drain above him.

                  "تبدو لي في عيون" The man ordered Ghost

                       Having no other choice than do what he ordered to do further encouraged when he felt the man run his index finger along his wounded knee knowing full well what he was going to do if he didn't comply

                    Finding the will to move both his Swollen purple lidded eye's up to make eye contact with this ....person .

The interrogator looked deep into Ghost eyes no trace of fear or hate or anything in them, just empty black pits of apathy.

           a thought popped into his mind. " How can one be so docile and non violent yet snap to become something of madness and blood lust" referring to Ghost's "episodes".

                The interrogator spoke in english in the hopes his prisoner will for once say something.

                  "Why do you hold your tongue? Your comrades have died because of you boy, your suffering will cease immediately if you just tell me what i wish to know."

              Ghost breathed in slowly, every breath hurt  due to the constant beatings he would receive during his interrogations

                        "I'm..."   Ghost had  to take in another lung full of air to speak his next sentence.

          "Not.........Telling.........you shit."

                "very well then so be it."

    He let go of his hair and wiped the muck that collected in between his finger with the bandages of Ghosts left knee very thoroughly, not forgetting to mix the bone around  his wounded knee.

                 Ghost's howls of agonizing pain echo'ed through out the corridors of his prison.

        The man yelled an order in Arabian as he made his way back to where he came. A trio  of terrorists surrounded Ghost learning from pasts mistakes they made sure he was properly restrained before they unchained him. even with a bad knee and suffering from malnutrition, he was still very capable of being dangerous not only to them but to himself.

                           "No........No"

    In vain he tried to escape from the inevitable.

What's worse than knowing you're in for a painful experience is to go over it again and again and again feeling every ounce of that pain over and over again.

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

           When Ghost closed his eyes in dreadful anticipation for what was about to happen.....He felt nothing.

      Opening his eyes he was back in his house sitting on the couch still soaking wet from his own  perspiration,

    Remembering that he was on a couch not back in the slums of Baghdad  Ghost

twisted his body to the right setting his feet back on the white carpet now sitting in an ideal manner.

Ghost then slouched resting his elbows on his knee's followed with descending  his head so it could rest upon his open palms feeling the few bumps of acne by his fingertips. Beads of sweat driven by the sudden change of gravity began flowing down his face collecting under his chin.

   Sitting in place quietly shivering from his cold sweats trying to calm his breathing by pacing it with the intervals of sweat that impacted the carpet drop by drop.

               Agreeing with himself that what ever was going on in his head...it was getting worse.

        *Sleep well?*

                   Ghost retaliated with a hostile   "fuck you." with his head still down.

     *You really should after your little display this morning.*

    Instantly Recalling the incident that took place earlier that day, Anything to get the remnants of recollections that was his past out of his head  and replace it with some thing else. A Feeling of regret soon poured into his chest Feeling its weight,.... feeling guilty.

            A whisper flowed from his lips.

        "I didn't mean to, i...i  was lost in the moment."

         *Still doesn't change the fact you fucked up big time buddy.*

                                    "How?!"

Ghost snapped a few decibles higher with a tone of aggression simultainiously  raising his head, his wrists now criss crossed inward between his legs.

       "Don't ask me, you know how."

             The voice was right,   He still felt horrible regardless

  of the excuses  he told him self. More horrible still was the fact she was trying to help him, actually bothering to muster up the courage to interact with a complete stranger that wasnt even of the same species as her.

  Simply to return a key. The thought made him feel more of a complete screw up.

                        "wait."

Ghost's brows furrowed thinking why was he suddenly such a douche at that moment. His contemplation only

deepened as he  stared at his reflection on the t.v in front of him asking himself why was he banging his head against his front door in the first place.

                      Something was very off, knowing full well he was capable of staying up for at least a night and never experience any kind of extreme mood swings like the one he had that morning.

                "Well then again I have a voice in my head so of fucking course that has something to do with it."

              "First things first....i need a shower." Quickly dismissing the thought he went for up stairs.

   Before his foot reached the first step he heard something with in him self. Like a cry reestablishing its existence once more to its owner.

                                "Holy shit I'm hungry."

       Never realizing that he hadn't had a single thing to eat from the time he was in the 6 star hotel in Dubai

  to being dropped off via V-TOL  to an air port no where near area 51 for "security reasons".  Being given civie's to change into and a "special " charter bus pass allowing him to pass military security with ease. Before that he was annoyed when ordered to give up all  of his hard ware to an Air Force technician promising that She would personally see to it that he receive them. Knowing too well that he wouldn't.

         Upon reaching the second story which consisted of one big bed room.

Windows draped in sky blue curtains that gave the room itself a light blue hue as the sun shone through them.

Ghost was parallel to them  standing at the back of the room examining the modern looking king sized bed with simple thick grey on top with white under sheets and two pillows placed in the middle of the room but moved against the left wall so who ever relaxed on it would see the right wall. To the left corner near the windows was an L shaped desk placed in a way that   the short side of the desk was to the wall then the long part facing inward the room leaving ones back to the windows.

  On the desk was a ultra thin silver lap top.

            To the right of the room was a closet, to the right of the closet was a touch screen panel that played music through a built in surround sound system in the house itself. Ghost of course showed no interest in what was around him, only taking a shower and clear his head with finding something to eat then find his "updated" gear some where underneath the floor boards of the kitchen not particularly in that order.

Stripping down to nothing but his dog tags he opened the closet to fortunately finding it filled clothes offering great variety on what to wear. Going through what he had to work with he noticed that the sizes went to fit him perfectly to slightly bigger.

                  "Guess i'm going to be here for a while."

               Getting just a towel and choosing boxers over compression shorts heeding the advice that was given to him by

           A close friend.  Compression shorts offer excellent comfort and is a must have in tactical situations

            Emphasis on tactical, as in short term.

          "They keep your junk from flopping around with the bonus of concealing your little soldier when it stands at attention. "

Hammond

    He couldn't help but smirk remembering the conversation he started with Hammond about the subject in the locker room of the U.S.S Washington. Hammond and Ghost cooperated with Navy Seals to Conduct a Sting operation on a oil rig in the Atlantic. The mission was simple assist in  "eliminating"  any hostile forces and rescue any workers taken hostage.

The owner of the oil company promised a considerable percentage of crude oil to the U.S military if they oversaw the mercenary's hired by the oil company actually do their job with out damaging the oil rig itself.

  What included the two special operatives was that the oil rig had terabytes of "crucial" data.

     They concluded their conversation even with the input of the AH-6 little bird pilot returning them to the carrier.

                     "Mark my words lad Compression shorts or going to be the shit."

      What Hammond didn't know was that wearing compression shorts for extreme periods of time like for day to day use

    makes you become sterile.

     Ghost was enlightened of this a few years before that day by a Highly Organized Gunman. A friend he made while training under him in the field. Similar to an apprenticeship Ghost  fostered a bond with the sniper that only strengthened over the years of working together. The sniper practically thought of him as one of his own kin....James.

                   Ghost accompanied James when he was sent to Fort Benning to train soldiers often. In his free time James would take Ghost to the firing range to personally train his god son him self. Further honing his skills and lethal accuracy.

There was more to this time, they would often have conversations ranging from philosophy to their preference of anything. But one conversation came to mind when somehow Ghost brought it up.

           "Alright Casper let me put it this way, Some HOG's have to stay in place place for days on end waiting for their target to reveal it self. I speak from experience when I say this :DO NOT  and I repeat DO NOT wear compression shorts for long periods of times."

    It was a chilly fall morning James and Ghost laid side by side prone in the frost covered grass with both their rifles mounted on bi-pods pointing down range. The early morning sun was just beginning to rise faintly illuminating the targets with a gold-orange light.

           Heads turned towards each other Ghost just stared at James his steady breaths visible in the cold morning air obviously ignorant of where his god father was getting at.

"Allow me to Explain my dear lad Your testes get pressed against the body when you wear them, say you are in a hot environment and you wear compression shorts. Your weights sag for a reason son. So if they don't droop when they need to you'll be killing sperm cells because they need to be at a certain temperature to survive. Otherwise they'll just die meaning you won't pack anything in the sac, Take it from me Casper just wear them when you need to."

Ghost's smirk was still planted on his face as he reminisced of old times with a pair of silver shorts.

He was about to turn around and look for the shower when he paused seeing images run across his vision again.

     "God Dammit" Ghost couldn't help but curse as he assumed he was about to take another trip down memory lane.

            ***********

    Mere seconds past as ghost snapped back into consciousness, He was silent....running over what he had just seen and who he talked to.

         Depression set in as Ghost slowly thought about what "He" said, "He" had a point.

        Hammond's voice ran through his head as he washed the sweat off his body.

         "you will never amount to anything."

            Ghost felt like the depression add more weight to his guilt.

         "Never be loved"

                   Ghost turned off the water and just stood in the shower .....listening to the water drip off him.

      Words.....voices were repeating the same words over and over again.....his voice. All of them accusing him of running     away when he was needed the most ,for being a coward, allowing those who trusted and love him die.

       Sliding the door open ghost walked out the shower and stood in place hearing the voices crescendo proceeding.

              "SHUT THE FUCK!!"

        They stopped immediately Ghost just stood in place staring at himself in the mirror seriously convinced that something was very wrong.

From his face he lowered his vision to his body looking at the battle scars he'd received in combat. Each one had it's own story he never really enjoyed getting into. Because to talk about a scar to him was to talk about a mistake made in his past, from either carelessness to recklessness, stupidity from never thinking his actions through, simply to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. In his mind a mistake was more than just that, good people lost their lives because of the mistakes he made.

Or so he believes, Always blaming himself for the blights in his past to not only befall himself but to others. Thinking he was responsible for letting it happen.

       How couldn't he? He was always the scape goat for everything being blamed for things when he had nothing to do with it but Ghost never really had the Back bone to stick up for him self. It's easier to just take the blame then argue in an argument he's already lost.

                  Before he could finish drying himself frantic knocking came from down stairs, Ghost simply paused while nude listening for it again.

               The knocking continued Ghost slipped on the boxers and shorts that he set on the toilet seat before hand. Finding a plane white t-shirt before double timing  it to the front door. Being cautious as ever he looked through the peep hole......unusually no one was there. Seeing nothing he Backed up from the door with the fear that his madness was still fucking with him. Until the door was knocked once more. easing his suspicion of insanity.

                         Instead of looking through the thing the soldier slammed open the door now confused to see nothing but the orange tinge of the afternoon sun radiate on the cobblestone road. Native adolescent's playing tag and shoppers minding their own business in the local grocery store across the street. A diner was to the left of the grocery store with ponies enjoying there meal. Ceasing to further examine his surroundings Ghost squinted his eyes towards the diner noticing a familiar coloured  mare in a similarly toned hoodie possibly a costumer because she sprayed out what ever she was drinking all over her cream coloured friend sitting across from her when they locked gazes .

She stared with wide surprised eyes at at him in the establishment across the street. Making a face mixed with getting what you wanted for Christmas to winning an important bet.   Ghost had little time to continue his confused expression while staring across the street wondering why the mare seemed so surprised to see him. Digressing because then again it's not every day locals see something that isn't even from this planet. (In the back of Ghost's head he made a mental note to remember how that grey mare from that morning didn't seem so enthusiastic when she met him.)  About a nano second later two men phased into existence and burst into Ghosts home immediately apologizing just as fast as they got up and closed the door.

   Both men wore khakis and slacks seeming like they just left teaching a seminar, both were panting to catch their breath

             "I am so sorry Ghost but we' were kinda in a hurry heh heh. "

            "Really Josh? ...."

       He paused to catch his breath.

                    " She's going to be upset when she finds out we left after she specifically told us not to."

   As the trio walked into the living room both his visitors settled on the white couch as they had their little argument.

           "Oh I'm sure spike will cover for us, besides I have to-"

             "Yeah yeah"    Josh's companion cut him off raising his hands doing air quote gestures doing a rather impressive imitation of Josh's voice.

       " To do the special black ops assignment given to me by special forces."

Putting his hands down crossing them against his chest while resting his left calf on his right knee. He continued obviously annoyed given the aggressive tone in his voice.

      " For the hundredth fucking time I know, all I'm saying is twilights going to be pissed when she finds us not studying Equistrian history. Still can't believed you lied to her so she could bend the rules and allow us to even be here, I mean really? How could you?"

          Messaging his temples Josh shot back the tone of his voice just as annoyed with his hands making a karate chop motion but pausing when they were parallel to the ground slightly going up and down.

    "Oh my god Ron get over it, it's not like we broke the law or anything we'll be back before she even knows we were gone."

    While both men argued to get the last word Ghost was already in the kitchen looking for something to eat.

Going through the pantry's. Saving the black 2 door refrigerator for last just to note where the kitchen appliances and silverware were placed. The thought of who were spike and twilight lingered in his mind.

    " How can I just get over the fact that  I was told that what we do here never took place."

     "That's just how black operations work Ron."

Completely ignoring the beginning of the end of his visitors argument piecing together that they must have been here for a reason considering what the one called josh had mentioned.

           "What is that smell?"

    With their discussion over Josh tried to change the subject.

     " So agent Ghost I believe you've already met my partner here back at dubai."

  "ya don shey?" Ghost walked back in the living with his mouth full holding  a box of generic saltine crackers when he was finished chewing and swallowed he continued.

                    "  You don't suppose you can hand me my hoodie back now can you? "

     Ghost really wanted the object because it held much sentimental value to him.

"Seriously Josh it smells like some one had sex on this couch."

      "   Eh heh heh "

Ghost simply lowered his head in embarrassment of what really was that smell Josh continued.

     "All in good time my friend let me properly intro-"

   The room went silent as knocking began once more.

    Both men ushered hurried whispers to Ghost getting the point across to him they were never here as they went for the kitchen to hide after noticing ghost nonchalantly going for the door.

   Not even bothering to check who or what it was that was knocking on his door Ghost opened it with the box of crackers still in hand tucked against him like a foot ball.

    Ghost wasn't surprised when it was the same aqua marine coloured mare he saw not too long ago.

"Oh my gosh,oh my gosh, oh my gosh."

  Like a fan girl who meets her idol in person...it seemed something like that.

She just stood in place repeating the same phrase over and over again in disbelief that the rumor's were true which was ironic because she thought it was just another media scare. And that now she's finally meet one she was freaking out acting in no way according to how she  fantasised  when she meet a real human.

Mentally storing every question she would ask if she actually met one.  Assuming that her first confrontation was dramatic of course, never in her life could she think of knocking on ones door in her home town. Always thinking she would discover one deep with in a secluded forest in some far away land or an  underground city or every possible place where the story books about them would mention.

  First noticing that she had a horn stunned Ghost for a few mili seconds before moving his gaze unto her mane noticing that it was another tone. he had to think about the name of the colour but it had  white highlights streaking.  Ghosts heart rate began to pick up when they both made eye contact and she finally regained her composure.

   "Hi I'm Lyra hea-"

With out giving any second Ghost slammed shut the door before he could take another step the door knocked once more.

Sighing in frustration he was determined to get this over with.

When he opened the door questioning she went right back to her introducing herself.

  "My names Lyra Heartstrings and -"

       Wasting no time to get to the point Ghosts voice was stern.

     "What do you want?

                         "Um" Lyra felt the hostility in His voice feeling a bit deterred as she quickly thought of something to say that was short and sweet.

       "I just want to talk to you and ask some questions?"

Speaking as if her answer was more of a question.

         Crackers still in had Ghost just wanted to get this over with.

     "Ok Lyra if you promise to go away I  promise to answer any question you have for me."

Lighting up with excitement in her eyes she gasped with joy her hoofs clutching chest happily asking.

                   "You really mean it?!?"

                         "Yes, now go away."

Slamming the door shut Ghosts right hand massaged the back of his neck thinking about what he just got him self into.

       Walking back into the kitchen through the entrance by the front door and left of the living room television. Both persons walked out a small laundry room at the other end of the kitchen. Setting the box of crackers on the dining table behind him Ghost then leaned on it with his arms crossed glaring at the two men walking toward him.

"You were saying?"

     Clearing his throat "I'm Joshua  Londergen and he's Ron Klaus, to put it simple we're both scientists employed by the military for research and development."

Josh offers to shake hand with his new co-worker. Leaving Josh hanging Ghost  was eating one last mouth full of crackers right after he was finished chewing he carried the conversation on.

  "So Josh and Ron, why are you here ?"

                    Returning his hand to his side Josh went back to being professional due to Ghosts behaviour. Seeing that this young man wasn't looking to make friends.

          "We need to calibrate your equipment."

              "Oh...."

Almost having completely forgotten all about his gear he looked around the dark green floor boards finding no indication or idea of what to look for.

  "Um allow me."

     Walking forward to Ghost Josh went on to saying.

    " If the schematics for this house is correct there should be-".

Giving strained grunts as he tried moving the dining table himself.

        "Do you mind giving me some help?"

    After moving the 4 chairs and dining table away from its former position the window that was behind the table was now draped by Ghost just in case.

      "Push down on this emblem Ghost, it's finger print sensitive and will  only open to your bio signature"

     Following with what  Ron said he  pointed with his toe where Ghost needed to push down

    The mark of the proud Air Force was just big enough to set a single fingertip on, Ghost kneeled on one foot to be in reach.

Deciding to use his left thumb he pressed it on the star "Ah!"  Quickly removing his thumb and inserting it in his mouth to suck on. Tasting copper while notice the out line of the emblem radiate a bright  sky blue, as the seconds passed Ron was getting board so he brought up some thing to talk about.

"How long do you think we've been gone Josh?"

     " Don't know but we really should do this quickly and head back Twi must be worried sick about us and gets getting dark."

Ron nodded an agreement before turning his attention on Ghost now up and about looking for something to bandage his thumb that was bleeding profusely.

      "How's your thumb Ghost."

         "I Don't know Ron the needle went in pretty deep and it hurts like a bitch.....I hate needles."

          "That's unfortunate. "

      Ron wasn't talking about the fact he got his thumb pricked and him bleeding.

  Just then the emblems out line went to green signalling that access was granted. A sharp mechanic click following a square of 2 and a half feet elevate and rest on the curtains revealing Its access point.

          "We'll guess we have to get in there now do we?"

      "Yes Ron we fall into the dark hole, Ghost I suggest you go in first."

    "What's the matter? Afraid of the dark Josh?"

        Teasing him before he went for the entry on the floor.

      "Just get in there already."

                     Ghost  feel in the fall was short has he purchased ground beneath him the toes of his bare feet made a soft slap.  Heels elevated his right knee rested on the ground while his left was raised (think of when you jump off something in assassin's creed holding down the sprint button but you stay in place, think of that position) feeling smooth tile with his left hand finger tips Ghost arose to see nothing but darkness around him.

          Then two strips of light pulsed to life making a small walk way before the entire corridor itself decided to light itself up.

Ghost walked forward examining what was in here. A desk along with multiple computer screens sat to the right of the entrance. But what really got his attention was in the center of the medium sized hall way on the right side.

                            "No way ."

   Mouthing the two words in disbelief as he slowly walked towards the wall taking in and recognizing every little detail of what was in front of him. Mounted on the wall was an M39 DMR not just any sniper rifle. His sniper rifle given to him by James when he was under his wing. Running his fingers horizontally across the gun feeling the dents and scratches on its frame.

        Josh walked behind the soldier gently placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Come on Ghost, we'll do one piece of equipment and do the rest later."