Sock It To Me, Baby
July 29th, about 10 PM
The Morrigna Sisters Secret Hideout
Toronto

"Did you really have to blindfold us?" Kira groused.  Trusting their
fellow Merc to lead them safely went against her instincts. 

"Now, I'd hardly harm you when I have need of you, would I?" Lizbet said
slyly.  She unlocked the door of the command center, deserted now that
erica and Bianca were off doing... something. 

She maneuvered Liz's chair inside, helped Kira stumble in, shut the door
and turned on the lights.  "OK, you can remove your blindfolds now."  The
two Mercs blinked and looked around at the small but well-equipped area. 

"Nice," Liz said, "But why did you bring us here?  Wherever--here--is." 

Lizbet smiled.  Obviously, the hidden command center was well-hidden
indeed.  "Because I didn't want anyone to overhear our plans.  Are you
ready to hear what I have for you?" 

"Definitely!" Liz said.  "You've been mysterious all along." 

Lizbet perched on the table that held a computer a fax machine and said
reasonably, "I need you two to help me steal all the socks in Toronto." 

The two Mercs gaped at her.  "Um.  Socks?  Did you say *socks*?"  Liz
asked. 

"*ALL* the socks?" Kira asked. 

"Well, all the socks of people in the fac--uh, affiliations."

"Why?" Kira demanded.

Lizbet folded her hands in her lap and looked innocent.  "Because, that's
what I've been hired to do." 

Kira rolled her eyes.  "Clear as mud," she muttered.  "OK, what do you
want us to do?" 

Lizbet held a piece of paper out to each of the Mercs.  "This is a list of
all the affiliations and their headquarters.  There are 11.  We need to
split them up between us, invade them and get all their socks." 

Liz studied hers.  "I'll take the NatPack and the Vanqueras," she offered. 

Kira added, "And I'll take the Cousins and Perkulators.  If the
Perkulators are *in* Toronto, that is," she muttered under her breath. 

"I'll cover the Knighties and the Woofpack," Lizbet checked her list. 
"That's six.  What about the other five?" 

Liz offered, "I'll handle the Immortal Beloveds and the Nick&NatPack." 

"OK, then I'll take care of the DieHards and the Mercs," Kira said.

"Be careful, Kira," Lizbet warned.  "Remember that you can't *steal* from
your own Guild members.  Trick them, yes.  Steal, no." 

"Gotcha."  Kira grinned.  "Is that all?"

Lizbet nodded.  "I'll do the Ravenettes.  I've been wanting to get into
the Raven.  Yup, that's it." 

"Wait," Liz said.  We haven't discussed payment yet.

Lizbet raised an eyebrow.  "Mercenary Rule of Acquisition number eighteen: 
A Mercenary without profit is no Mercenary at all.  Well?  What are your
demands?" 

"One piece dark or Belgian chocolate per sock, rounded up to the next full
box," Liz said immediately. 

"Done.  Kira, what about you?"

"I can have *anything*, right?" Kira asked.

"Anything within reason," Lizbet said cautiously.  She still had this
minor cash-flow problem that this job was going to do *nothing* to help. 

"OK.  What I want is a full set of gourmet kitchen knives.  That's seven
knives and a whet stone." 

"Knives?  You want me to give you knives?"  Lizbet said weakly.  The idea
of sharp objects in the hands of a Merc was a little frightening. 

"I'll be paying my rent by cooking 3 meals a week for the entire guild," 
Kira explained.  "Deal?" 

"Deal,"  Lizbet agreed.  "Bring the socks to this address by Wednesday
evening."  She handed Liz a slip of paper with the address of the house
she had rented for the Fang Gang on it.  Kira, being a member of the Fang
Gang, already had it.  "Now put on your blindfolds again.  I have to take
you back."