St. Joan's Cross
Nick's Loft
Mon 8/5 after sunset
By Kira Chistiakoff, Merc
with input from the NatPack, the War-Mistresses,
Lisa Prince, Lane Lombardia, John Ewan, Liz the Lucky, (Mercs)
Lauren and Dotti Rhodes, Suze Campagna, Karen Tobin, (Knighties)
and Bonnie Pardoe (Vaq)


As the group of mercs walked up to the building, Lisa whispered, "Are you
sure you want to do this? It's still not to late to steal it." 

Naturally, the leader wasn't looking forward to facing a room-full of
suspicious Knighties, (especially with her twin-like resemblance to one of
the most vehement NatPackers) but why share that with the team? "We can't
steal it!  Don't worry, it'll be fine. Now, you all remember your
assignments? Good." 

In the elevator, she had to make a conscious effort to relax, and stop her
hands from shaking, so she made a show of petting her puppy. (received as
payment in The Cotton Candy Caper) //If he doesn't agree, he doesn't
agree, and there's nothing you can do about it. You'll just have to come
up with something else! But he *has* to agree, there *is* nothing else!//
the voices just wouldn't stop arguing about this. 

Liz was starting to worry about Kira, they'd spent so much time together,
that she could tell Kira was really nervous about this. Luckily she didn't
say anything out loud, knowing it would just make her mad. 

As the group stepped (or rolled in Liz's case) off the elevator, they were
faced with a room full of Knighties, most of whom hadn't yet noticed them.
But Perri was standing there, waiting to greet them. She never got the
chance.  Dotti, Lauren, Suze, and Karen at once screamed, "KIRA!!!" and
the leader of the group practically got smothered between them in a group
hug. 

When she finally extricated herself from amongst the group, and had calmed
down the puppy, introductions were made. "Dotti, Lauren, Suze, Karen, this
is my new baby, who doesn't have a name yet, and this is my backup team.
This is Liz, we drove out from CA together, that's John, Lisa, and Lane."
A chorus of Hellos and Hi's went around, and Lauren squatted down to play
with the puppy, at which point the leash was handed over, figuring Lauren
could use a distraction as much as the dog could.  Of course, they were
shortly joined by a few more Knighties who couldn't get enough of the new
puppy. 

Once everyone settled down a bit, the leader asked the all-important
question, "OK, where is he?" Whereupon she was pointed across the room
until she came face to face with the man himself. 

"I'd appreciate it if we could have a little bit of privacy," Kira told
him quietly. 

"I'm not too sure they'll go for that," was the reply. 

"That's what backup is for, isn't it? You should know that one!" 

While they had been talking, the backup team had surrounded them, and
slowly moved outwards, making the Knighties back off a bit, so they could
have a bit of privacy. 

Lane drew a pair of wooden tanto from beneath his coat and started to do a
complex kata.  Lisa began to demonstrate a nice little electric eye
security set-up, advising those nearby that it would be perfect for
skylights and other entrances and very affordable.  John pulled a pack of
postal and flash cards from the Cloisters in New York, offering them for
sale with the "..almost guarantee to cause a flashback with the
Nickdude..."  Liz the Lucky did a driving exhibition weaving in and out
and around the other three with her wheelchair that would have done an
Auto Thrill Show proud. 

The Knighties weren't too happy with the distractions, but the team was
holding it's own, for the moment. 

"They're pretty good," he commented.

"That's what they're paid for."

"That's a good point," he said, "but maybe they could use a little help?"

"If you feel you must," was the reply.

Apparently he felt he must, so he attempted to calm the group down. 
Succeding only nominally, he decided the point should probably be made. 

"So what did you want to see me for?"

"I was hired to do a job, a difficult one at that."

"OK, I'll bite, no pun intended, what's the job?"

"I have to convince you to give me the cross of St. Joan."

"Really, and how are you gonna do that?"

"Well, I figure there's only a few things more important to you...and I
can lead you to one of them." 

"What? Natalie? Tell me!" He grabbed her arm and squeezed, not realizing
he was hurting her until she hit him. Her hitting him set off the
Knighties.  Once he let her go, she sat and rubbed her forearm, watching
it turn purple, while he sat there with a puzzled look on his face. 

To the Knighties Kira said, "Chill out guys, he hurt me more than I hurt
him!" 

To Nick her only response was, "No, I don't know where she is, or what's
happened to her, but I do know some people who do." 

"The Pack?" 

"Naturally," was her reply. "The Pack knows, but they wouldn't tell *me*
anything. They don't know you're in town yet, but my agreement with them
was, if I could track you down *and* set it up, they'd be willing to meet
with you...But I'll only set it up in exchange for the cross." 

"Done." 

By this point, the Knighties were getting more than a bit perturbed at
being restrained. He pointed out where the cross was, she pocketed it, to
the extreme shock of the Knighties, and called off her team. 

"They'll be in touch," were her parting words. 

She got her puppy away from Lauren, said goodbye to her, Dotti, Suze, and
Karen, and hurried into the elevator before anyone could change their
minds. 

Back in the elevator, she congratulated the team on a job well done, and
made sure they knew they each had more than earned their payments for that
little trick. Upset Knighties are not a pretty sight. She told Lisa her 4'
teddy bear and $100 worth of nickels were on her bed, Liz could pick her
chocolate up at the shop whenever it was convenient, (well Lane's payment
is between him and me,) and she settled John's payment then and there. 
John took the cross reverently, looked it over for a moment and sighed. 
His lips moved for a short time and then he just smiled.  When his time
was up he handed the cross back to Kira.  There was an uncommon calm about
him and a slight gleam in his eyes as he turned away.