WAR:  The Prodigal Merc
Partly - Perkulators
Friday, 8/2  9 am

Jamie bounced in the corner of the coffee shop, listening to a tape on her
walkman.  Partly was happy the other woman had given up her stronger
tendencies toward s&m outfits, even though she was one of the few people
who could pull it off.  Unfortunately, she hadn't given up on her belief
that she was Tracy.  It was beginning to wear thin.  Willow, who had been
sitting, purring, on her shoulders, suddenly got down and curled up into a
ball in the carryall that had been rigged for her.  She was currently
sharing it with a wine bottle wrapped in a plastic bag. 

Partly poured herself some more coffee and sighed.  She had talked to
Jennie, Queen of the NatPack, yesterday and had arranged to give the
problem over to them.  Last she heard, Jamie had joined the 'Pack, much to
the dismay of the Mercs.  Thinking of the NatPack, Partly frowned.  They
had sounded so...  strange over the phone.  Not that strange was an
unusual thing for the NatPack, it was just that they had sounded stranger
than usual.  Then again, Partly doubted if that were possible. 

Jamie bounced over to Partly.  "I don't understand why I should go with
the NatPack.  You're my faction.  If I should go anywhere, it should be to
the Vachon."  Partly was startled to see that Jamie was almost pouting. 
She obviously wasn't over her infatuation with Vachon yet, either. 

"I told you, Jam--Tracy."  Partly explained for the tenth time.  "You'll
be safer with them.  People will look for you by your faction, not by
Nat's."  Partly tried for an convincing lie.  "Vachon thought it was a
good idea." 

"Vachon?"  Jamie brightened at the name.  "Why didn't you say so."  She
bounced off again.  Partly considered that.  With all the bouncing that
Jamie was doing, she definitely belonged to the NatPack.  The Perks may be
perky, but they only bounced when duty called. 

Partly was finishing her third cup of coffee when Jennie entered.  At
least Partly thought it could be Jennie, except that her hair, glasses
(including lenses), and clothes were all varying shades of blaze orange. 
The room got noticeably brighter when she walked in.  She crossed to
Partly's table. 

"Hello."  She sat down and poured herself a cup of water, then pulled out
a small package of food coloring and dyed it orange.  Partly watched her
in disbelief. 

Partly finally managed to nod a hello, still staring at the *ORANGE*
person in front of her.  "Are you feeling alright, Jennie?" 

"I'm fine."  Jennie finished drinking her water and now had a orange
mustache to go along with the rest of her ensemble.  She glanced over at
the counter and exclaimed:  "Orange scones, my favorite."  She leapt up
and crossed to buy a scone. 

In the midst of this very bizarre behavior (even for Jennie), Jamie
wondered back over to Partly's table.  "Partly, who is that?"  Her voice
was soft and puzzled, and she was staring at Jennie. 

"That's who I told you about Jam --- Tracy.  Jennie's from the NatPack." 

Jamie suddenly pulled back.  "No.  No.  Not the NatBorg.  They'll
assimilate me.  I want my MercMommy!"  She backed all the way up into the
corner and stood looking at Partly, terrified. 

Jennie chose that moment to come back.  She looked at the frightened
Jamie, than back at Partly.  "What's up?" 

Partly shrugged.  "I don't know."  She walked slowly over to Jamie. 
"Tracy?  Tracy?"  Jamie didn't respond.  Partly tried something new. 
"Jamie."  Jamie finally looked at her.  Ah-ha.  We're back to Jamie,
Partly thought.  But that wasn't necessarily good, since when Jamie
thought she was Jamie, she also said she was a Merc.  "Just relax, Jamie. 
I won't let them take you if you don't want to go."  Jamie relaxed
slightly.  "Just listen to your KISS tape."  Jamie nodded and put the
headphones back on. 

"She thinks she's a Merc."  Partly explained when she got back to Jennie. 

Jennie nodded.  "The Mercs 'napped her earlier.  Then they must have lost
her.  Doesn't she want to come back?" 

Partly shook her head, smiling.  "She seems to think you'll brainwash her. 
Eeeeevil NatPack."  Partly grinned again, then turned serious.  "I don't
think we should push the subject.  She's still not quite up to par." 

Jennie nodded.  "You'd better take her to Merc headquarters, then."  She
quickly jotted down the address.  "Just let us know that she got there
safely." 

Partly took the paper and looked at her *very* orange friend.  "Is
everything OK, Jennie?" 

"Sure." 

"Why are you wearing orange?" 

Jennie stopped eating and gave Partly a intense stare.  "Is there
something wrong with orange?  Are you saying I don't look *good* in
orange?  Or do you have something against the color orange and people who
wear it?" 

Partly raised her hands.  "Hey, it was just a question.  I honestly think
that no one could wear orange as well as you can."  That wasn't a lie, she
just didn't say that she thought Jennie looked like a large day-glow
orange ad for hunter's safety.  Partly idly wondered if she should try to
have the NatPack's water tested. 

Jennie finished her scone.  "Well, I suppose.  I do have a war to contend
with." 

"Before you go, I was hoping you could do me a favor.  Ask Natalie if
she's sure Tracy was dead.  Ask her if she thought she could have been
revived or brought across." 

Jennie stared at her again.  "What's going on?" 

Partly shrugged.  "It might not be anything, depending upon Nat's answer. 
Just ask her, OK?" 

Jennie nodded and left.  Jamie crossed back to Partly.  "What are we going
to do now?"  Her voice was still soft and pleading. 

Partly took her gently by the arm, picked up the sleeping kitten in the
carryall and led her out of the shop.  "We're going to take you to the
Mercs, Jamie." 

"Oh, Goody!" 

******

Minutes later, Partly pulled the rental into the Mercs driveway.  Jamie in
tow, she walked up to the door and rang the bell.  Christina herself
opened the door. 

"I'm hooome," Jamie announced, pushing past the startled Merc and going up
the stairs. 

"She thought she was Tracy," Partly began, quickly explaining what the
errant Jamie had been up to the past two days.  "I was under the
impression she was a NatPacker, but suddenly she said she was Jamie, that
she was a Merc, and she wanted her mommy.  You, I presume?" 

Christina nodded.  Quietly wondering if the Perk leader always talked this
fast.  The most amazing part was that she could still be understood. 
"Thank you for returning her.  I'd say we owe you one, but you know the
rules about working for free." 

Partly nodded, then suddenly remembered something.  "I was wondering if I
could hire you to do me a small favor."  She reached into Willow's
carryall and pulled out the bottle the kitten had been sleeping next to. 
She handed it to the Merc.  I'd like to know what was in it and whose
fingerprints are on it.  You can just e-mail me the results and your
bill." 

Christina took the bottle gently from the Perk's hand, being careful not
to smear the prints on it.  "I'll see what I can do." 

*****

Partly got back to the hotel and downloaded her mail.  A message from
Christina was already there.  "Those Mercs do good work,"  she said to
Willow, who was assuming her now customary perch on Partly's shoulders. 

The message read: 

Contents of Bottle:  Fairly inexpensive red wine, consistent with
labeling. 
                              Chemical analysis available upon request.
Finger Prints:  Several unidentified partial prints
                       Three prints belonging to Partly
                       Two prints belonging to Tracy Vetter
Payment Due:  One large bag of milk chocolate-covered pretzels from RDM

Partly stared at the screen, then reached up and scratched Willow's ears. 
"Well, Willow.  The mystery deepens."  Willow just purred.