Lisa slowly hung up the phone, her expression pensive. Morgaine, who had just come back from feeding her Space Chickens was the first to notice. "What's wrong?"

Everyone else looked up as Lisa took a seat on the couch and stared out the window. Everyone that is except Kyer and J.L. J.L. was likely still fine-tuning the computers in the basement level. It was her major duty in the Cottage and she applied herself diligently to it. That left...

"Where's Kyer?"

"Where else?" Anjali replied, nose returning to within inches of an interesting magazine article. "In her room as usual, listening to that Guatamalen stuff."

"Incan." Morgaine corrected her, knowing that Kyer could be really touchy on things like that. "You want me to call her down?" She started to get up to go to one of the intercom systems that dotted the cottage.

Lisa stopped her. "No, let me discuss this with you guys first. That was a call from a friend of a friend of an acquaintance. It seems the Nunkies Anonymous have been taking notice in Kyer's being here and not at the Loft as some had expected."

Margie shrugged. "So, maybe the NA just like to keep tabs on everybody. Why should that affect us?"

"It's just hearsay, mind, but my... contact.. thinks they may be planning on kidnapping her. Something about some fanfic she--"

"Whaa?!" Kyer, who had just come down the stairs in order to fix a jalepeno snack in the kitchen, was staring at them, jaw wide opened. "K-k-kidnap? Me?! That's... that's against the law!"

"Now, calm down, Kyer," Lisa implored, afraid the woman was going to have an attack on the spot. "It's only a rumor.." "They.. they can't kidnap me...I... I *bruise* easily! I'm an *AMERICAN CITIZEN*!" She turned on her heel and ran back up the stairs taking the steps two at a time while screaming hysterically. "AAAAAAAAAGH!! THEY'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!"

"Oh... sheesh" Morgaine exclaimed. "Kyer, wait!" She jumped out of her chair and ran after her friend, followed closely by Margie and Lisa. Anjali just shook her head and went back to her magazine.

"It's like a soap."

___________________

Upstairs, Lisa, Morgaine, and Margie burst thru the open doorway of Kyer's room. The place was habitually dark from the grey stone that surrounded everywhere but the solarium window. Mr. Spitz sat forlonly on the bed, keeping vigil over her belongings.

"Kyer?" Lisa called out softly. "Where is she?"

"Wait a minute, " Morgaine headed towards the closet and opened it up.
"Well, she's not in there." Margie sighed.
"Yes she is." Morgaine replied, taking hold of a small latch near the bottom of one wall. It moved sideways to reveal a small, hidden cubbyhole that was currently filled up with one blowdart wielding Arizonan.

<Pfft!>

Morgaine stared at the tiny dart that was partly embeddded in an article of clothing hanging close to her head.

"Oops." Kyer smiled weakly at her in apology.

Margie took the opportunity to snatch the primitive weapon away. "Gimme that thing! My God! This isn't poisoned, is it? What do you think you're doing?!"

"Curare. I've got to defend myself!"

Making a face of pure exasperation, Margie handed the primitive device to Lisa. Maybe they could call the local Poison Control to find out how to dispose of it. "This is ridiculous... now, come out of there and act reasonable." She noticed the Lisa and Morgaine giving her the raised eyebrow. "Well... *comparably* reasonable."

"No way!"

Morgaine tried next. "Kyer, you're perfectly safe here with us."

"Says you!" Kyer tried to shove the panel closed again. Morgaine held it open.

"I mean, JL's got the place rigged with more security than the U.S.S. Enterprise."

Kyer's eyes squinted. "Would that be the same starship that habitually loses red-shirted people?"

Her friend's eyes kinda went vacant as she remembered. "Oh... yeah. Especially in that episo-" She felt an elbow in her ribs. Margie shaking her head.

"Look, Kyer, " Lisa sighed. "You can't very well stay in the closet for the duration of the War."

"I can dang well try! I'm *allergic* to muggings and torture!" With that, she shoved the panel closed with all her might, leaving the others standing in the closet wondering what to do. At last they left-- Lisa to deal with the poisoned darts.