Upstairs in the Comfy Cottage, Kyer checked herself over in her door
mirror. Black Ecuadorian shirt, black jeans, black hicking boots black Bolivian
vest and poncho, Black Peruvian cap.  And the five foot long scarf she had
gotten from a Dr. Who fan lent a nice jaunty touch as it hid her lower face.

Yep, she was outfitted for climbing okay.
And decently warm too.  (Sigh... she was missing all the good monsoon
weather back home..)

Spotting Mr. Spitz sitting forlornly on her bed, Kyer crossed over and
gave her polyester furred 'best friend' a sympathetic pat on the head.  "I know you
want to come, Mr. Spitz, but this is going to be dangerous and I don't want to
risk your getting hurt."

The llama gave her a blank, yet accusing stare.

"Aw..."  The Knightie wilted under the brown eyed gaze.  "Okay... you can
come along with me."  Going back into her closet, she returned with a black
doggie sweater and put it on the toy.  "There.  Now you look just like that guy
in Mission Semi-Impossible!  But promise me you'll stay out of trouble?
G(a)WD knows that there is enough to go around what with Dark being so strong in
my mind of late."

Kyer sighed as she sat down on the bed and hugged her puppet pal.  "No, I
don't know why she's been taking over lately.  Maybe its the proximity to
Toronto. Or this weirdness in the air  I've been hearing rumors of."  Her eyes
widened slightly as she recalled listening in on  the NightCrawler's monologue as
she had made her way to Toronto.  "You heard LaCroix the other night, Mr.
Spitz. Now that was WEIRD!  I don't like it.  We're going to have to keep on our
toes and hoofs, Mr. Spitz."

Kyer heaved another sigh as the clock struck the hour.  It was time to go
downstairs and meet her faction mates for the trip over to the Loft.  "I
hope that ladder fits in Jenieve's car okay," she mumbled to herself as she
picked up her llama and went down to the main floor.

Her minio---mates---were gathered there, waiting for her.  The sight of a
all of them decked out and ready to go on this mission brought Dark to the
fore. She grinned as she greeted them all.  Are we all ready?  Everything packed
in our vehicles?"

"I brought travel-sized bottles of Listerine<tm> if anybody's interested,"
Desiree  patted her jacket which showed lots of little bulges pressing
against the fabric.

"Instruments of torture, polished and shining, oh Fractured One,"
LaCountess smartly saluted her.

"Banner ready," Andrea added.  Then looked woefully at her bespeckled
clothing and hands.  "Paint's still a might wet, though."

"I'm sending my upholstery bill to you, you know that don't you?" Jenieve
whined from the couch.  "You want the odds on our pulling this off without
starting a war with the Knghties?"

"No!" everyone said before the teenager could elaborate.

"And any equine psychology ones incurred are going to you as well," Diane
gave her two cents as she addressed the Andean wannabe.  "Was dying Uppity
pitch black  and making him where that Incan war headress really necessary?  I
can't believe I'm putting my friend's horse in possible danger for this stupid
stu--"

"Oh yes, we are so ready," Dark Squirette cackled as she looked out the
window to where the thoroughbred was waiting.

"You know, Kyer," Lisa frowned as she accepted one of the mouthwash
bottles. "Why can't you just nicely ask Nick for a copy of his---"

"Where would be the fun in that?" Dark Squirette asked with a sincerely
puzzled look at her fellow war veteran.

She reached for the phone and dialed the Loft.  After the fourth ring, a
Knightie flunkie answered.

"Hello, Knight residence."

"Hello, this is.. Canadian Loan.  May I speak with your leader?"

"Um...sure."

Katrinka's voice came on the line.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Canadian Loan.  We are calling to let you know that your
payment is due soon.  Goodbye."  She hung up the phone.