The group was finally all in one piece.  After washing off the day's
grime, everyone gathered in the Common Room to find their leader
fiddling with one of the 'walky talkies'.  They sat silently as yet
another "To infinity and beyonnnnnnnnnnnnd" cut through the air.

Kyer carefully put the device down, and replaced it with a slightly
damp, but clean Mr. Spitz.  "I've been doing some thinking," she
mentioned with a yawn, her time spent in the tunnels actually being
useful.  "Something struck me while I was watching all the rats
scurrying around."

The group became concerned, the 'something struck me' comment caught in
their minds.

Jenieve asked, "What did?"

"The party at the Raven.  More specifically, LaCroix.  He wasn't quite
himself.  I saw him pick up some kind of dog-"

"Dachshund."

Kyer focused tiredly on Nicole, pausing before continuing.  "He picked
up the Dachshund, and then I saw something in his pocket.  It was a
rat, a live rat, and he was talking like Screed."

Kezia jumped in, adding, "Then he dropped the dog and moved, very
quickly if I remember right, to the bar.  I remember that.  It didn't
seem too strange at the time, but I was wondering what he was doing
with the dog in the first place."

"And Natalie....she didn't quite look herself that night either.  She
reminded me more of Nick," Sunny mentioned.

'Something is definitely up,' and 'So, this is why we're here,' were
mumbled by a few of the group.

"We don't know that yet," one of them said, slightly louder than the
rest.

"No, that has to be why were here.  Has anyone noticed anything strange
other than the apparent switches, changes, or whatever is going on?"
their leader asked, and received eight blank stares.

Lisa looked around at the other CotKers, all remaining silent.  "I
guess we should do some research.  See what the other factions are up
to."

Sunny quickly suggested, "I could hack into Cerberus' computer.
They're bound to know something about what's going on."

"I'll help!" Diane and Desiree quickly volunteered, and no one disputed
them, nor suggested another plan.

The plan made Kezia nervous.  Hacking into the Cousins' computer wasn't
exactly the best option (at least for her), but it was the only
suggestion so far and she had to go along with the group.

Kyer, not awake enough to argue, decided it for them.  "Just try not to
get caught."

"We won't!" the three confidently and excitedly answered.  Together
they looked like three little girls promising to be good so they could
get lots of cake.  Lots and lots of cake.

"And we'll need other information as well," Jenieve added.

Before anything else could be said, Diane, Desiree and Sunny scampered
off to the computer room, not wasting anytime getting to work, or in
their minds, play.

Those remaining slowly dispersed, most heading to the kitchen to fill
their neglected and rumbling stomachs.