War:  Never Look a Gift Kitten...
Partly - Perkulators
Thurs.  8/1  5:30 am

Partly had been sleeping and dreaming of little brown books stolen from
her in moments of glory and dead friends who sent e-mail.  And like most
dreams just when she was going to figure it out, she woke up.  A furry
clump of hair and claws was jumping on her.  "Go away, Roo."  Still half
asleep, it took her a moment to fully wake up.  It couldn't have been Roo. 
A second kitten pounce, brought her completely awake.  She opened one eye
to see a cute gray kitten and a wadded-up paper ball by her face.  "Where
did you come from, sweetie?"  She stroked the kitten's head and was
rewarded by loud purring.  "You don't belong to any of us, and I don't
think the hotel would allow you anyway.  What's this?"  she wondered as
she uncrumpled the paper wad.  CERK stationery!!? 

At that precise moment, a loud "click" came from Jamie's direction, and
Garth Brooks' voice blared out. 

   "He's got a split finger wrap
   And his rope's pulled way too tight..." 

The kitten dove under Partly's covers; the loud music was almost
deafening.  Partly dropped the paper and it slid out of sight under the
bed.  She gabbed the small box that the noise was coming from.  She turned
it desperately around, pressing at all the sides, but she couldn't find
anyway to turn it off.  By the time the song started again, all the Perks
were in the room and Partly was sure the police were on their way. 

"TURN IT OFF!"  Lynne shouted above the song. 

"I CAN'T!"  Partly held it up for everyone to see.  The music seemed to be
getting louder. 

Suddenly Robin picked up the lamp off the dresser, grabbed the offending
object, set it on the floor and beat it into silence.  In the blessed
quietness that followed, Jamie sat fully up in bed.  "What was that?" 

"Garth Brooks singing Fever, I believe," Partly answered.  "Why couldn't
they have picked one of his good ones?"  She reached over and examined the
goodies left for them, finally ending with the note.  It read: 

     Dear Jamie,
        I just wanted to let you know how
        much we all appreciated your kind
        gesture Sunday morning.  I know this
        isn't men in spandex, but I hope
        you'll accept it in the spirit in
        which it was given.  Enjoy!
                         A friend

They all looked at Jamie.  "Oh great.  I hope this isn't the start of a
whole series of retaliations."  Partly said.  "We got to get you back to
the 'Pack." 

"Who's Jamie?"  Jamie asked, laying back on the pillows.  She was still
very weak and tired.  She wondered if this Jamie person would interfere
with her getting back to Vachon.  She felt sure, since she was now with
her people, they would take her back to him. 

Partly groaned.  "Now think.  Jamie.  She was a cousin, then a merc,
finally joined the NatPack.  She's ListMommy..." 

Jamie thought for a moment and then brightened.  "I remember.  I remember
it all now."  Everyone relief fell as she continued.  "I traded one of
Nick's pictures to her for a KISS tape.  [War 5-- ed.  Note] She was very
nice."  Jamie yawned and pulled the covers up.  "I wonder what I did with
that tape."  She closed her eyes. 

"Well, I'm going back to bed."  Frederic said.  The other Perks agreed and
left, all except Robin who began searching through the "gifts". 

"Mints, diet Pepsi and ice cream.  Strange taste in breakfast foods.  Is
this all?" 

Partly pointed to the debris on the floor.  "And the gift of music."  She
sat on her bed and stared at Jamie, who had fallen asleep.  "I was really
hoping sleep would bring her to her senses."  Suddenly the kitten,
reassured by the silence, jumped onto Partly's lap and began purring
loudly.  Partly, having forgotten about the stowaway, jumped to her feet
in surprise.  The kitten clawed it's way up the front of Partly nightshirt
and sat on her shoulders, still purring. 

Robin, who never let anything surprise her if she could help it, just
stared at Partly.  "I don't recall you having a cat." 

Partly gently removed the animal and looked at it more closely.  She was a
gray female, just a little more than five pounds, with beautiful gold
eyes, and faint, very faint, tabby markings.  She still purred. 

"Hello, pussycat."  Partly said.  "You came with the gift, didn't you?" 
The cat purred. 

"Do you think she was supposed to?" Robin asked as she headed for the
computer.  Time for the daily ritual of downloading. 

Partly shrugged.  "I don't know.  I doubt it, but we'll keep her until
someone claims her."  She looked at the cat again.  "We've got to have a
name for you." 

"Hikaru Two."  Robin suggested.  Hikaru -- Roo, for short -- had been
Partly cat.  He had died the summer before. 

Partly scratched the purring animals ears.  "Kind of reminds you of him,
doesn't she.  But I couldn't."  It was too depressing.  "What do you
think, Pussy --- Pussywillow.  Willow?"  The cat purred loudly and licked
Partly's hand.  "We have a winner.  Willow it is."  She placed the cat on
her shoulder and walked over to Robin.  "Any mail from you-know-who?"  She
asked. 

Robin nodded and pointed to the screen. 

TO:  PartlyK FROM: GoodCopT MESSAGE:  Must meet you.  My apartment.  11 pm
8/1. 

"It has to be a joke," Partly said. 

"Or attack," Robin pointed out.  "I'm going with you." 

Partly nodded.  Either way they would get to the bottom of this.