Knightie War Council
by Sandra Gray
Place: The loft
Time: Saturday, July 6, 2001, afternoon
Everyone used with permission


Sandra looked around the loft.  Most of her fellow Knighties were
up and dressed, including those Knighties who'd partied until the
wee hours at the Raven.  Beth was playing a soft song on the
piano.  Natbody was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

It was still hard to believe that Nick and Nat had actually
switched personalities.  But after what the returning Knighties
had babbled last night...she wasn't sure.  Sandra walked over to
Eowyn, who was sitting on the couch, and sat down beside her.
"Maybe it's time for a War Council," said Sandra.

Eowyn looked around the loft.  "You're right."  She stood up.
"Everyone...and Nick...gather around.  It's time for a War
Council."  As they assembled, she looked over the troops.
"Where's our leader, Katrinka?"

"She's locked in the bedroom," said Beth.

"Oh!" said Eowyn, remembering they'd locked her up because she
had been acting strange.  "Well, go get her."

"About time you let me out," grumbled Katrinka as she joined the
others.

"Sorry.  We were just trying to protect you from yourself," said
Nancy.

"So why are we all gathered like this?" asked Katrinka.

"We thought it was time for a War Council," said Eowyn.

"Oh," said Katrinka.  "Well, are we all just going to stand
around?" Everyone just looked at her.  "Let's get comfortable."

The crusade of Knighties found seats on the furniture and the
floor.  Natbody sat in a chair next to the couch.

"Well?" asked Katrinka.

"We have to discuss the switches," said Eowyn.

"Switches?  Between Nick and Nat?"

"Oops.  You were sleeping when everyone got back and I guess we
forgot to tell you," said Eowyn.  "At the party last night,
LaCroix was talking like Screed."

"That's right," put in Natbody.

"So it's not just happening to Nick and Nat?" asked Katrinka.

Several Knighties shook their heads no.

"So, does anyone have a klew what's happening?" asked Katrinka.

"Maybe it's an infection making this happen, like what happened
in Fever sort of?  Since LaCroix was Screed," offered Min.

"But how would that explain Nick switching with a mortal?" asked
Sandra.

"Maybe we should check Natbody--"  At this, Nick in Nat's body
looked up sharply.  "--for a fever," said Gemsong, a nurse.  She
went off to get a thermometer.  She popped it into Natbody's mouth.
Everyone waited silently.  At the beep, Gemsong removed the
themometer and looked at it.  "Normal."  She looked at the others.
"Which still doesn't necessarily mean an infection isn't to blame.
We could check her blood.  Right, Lisa?"

Natbody flinched and drew herself--himself--back into his chair.

Lisa, who had just finished her second year of medical school,
said, "Sure.  I'm trained in biology lab techniques."

"I don't see how an infection could be responsible for this," said
Sandra.

"But we should still check," said Katrinka.  She looked at Natbody
and added, "Later.  But if it's not an infection, what else could
it be?  Nat--Nick, how did you feel before the switch?"

"Disoriented," said Natbody.  "I had some disturbing dreams before
it happened too."

"What sort of dreams?"

"That I was Nat."

Nancy cleared her throat.  "I think I can confirm that.  Nick
called me and made a comment that sounded like something Nat would
say.  Then he apologized and said he had been having bad dreams."

"I remember," said Natbody.

"That's why I called all of you," said Nancy.  "I--thought
something was wrong."

"I think the Cousins are behind this," said Sandra.

"But they wouldn't want to switch LaCroix into Screed!" said
Brooksie.

Sandra sighed.  "No, I guess not.  Unless their plan backfired on
them?"

"Maybe," said Nancy.  "But wouldn't they be trying to correct
their mistake?"

"Maybe they are trying to do that right now," said Brooksie.

"Or maybe another faction is to blame," mused Sandra.

"Who?" asked Tracey.

"The Mercs," Sandra said.  "For the profit they'd get out of a
War," she continued.

"Maybe it's a temporal rift in the universe that's to blame,"
offered Lisa.

"This isn't War 8," said Sandra.

"There could be other kinds of rifts besides the kind from War 8,"
continued Lisa.

"Hmmm, it's a possibility," said Katrinka.  She slapped her hands
down on her knees.  "Whatever the reason, we have to find out
what it is and get everything back to normal."

There were murmurs of agreement from everyone, especially Natbody.

"Okay, let's check out some of these ideas, see what pans out,"
Katrinka said.  "Council is over."  People started to get up.

"One more thing," said Eowyn.  Everyone stopped and looked at her.
"If we do find out how to right things, we should tell the other
factions."

"Agreed," said Katrinka.

"Maybe we should ask the other factions to do the same?" asked
Brooksie.  "Or share information?"

"Sure," said Katrinka.  After a pause, she added, "Anyone else
want to say anything?"  No one did.  "Okay, council's over."

Natbody got out of her chair and started for the stairs.  "Not so
fast, Nick," said Gemsong.  She smiled and said, "I need a blood
sample."

Natbody groaned.


--Sandra Gray, forever Knightie
--sandragray@rica.net