P3: Chapter Eight

2¢op

She knew this principle was not original, visually it was identical to her last principle. The truth was she didn’t care, maybe if 1¢op’s Tokening had been involuntary she would feel stronger about starting fresh. As it was she felt that changing the number in her name was enough, and her weapon. 2¢op  had traded up from the tonfa to a massive wooden war hammer.

She left the city of Sha behind her heading directly towards the mountain, hoping to come across her long-lost husband. At first, she walked with purpose, looking only forward, soon her attention wandered and she slowed her pace taking in the scenery. She had started walking in grassland but as she neared the mountain the grass had given way to small rocks and dirt. It’s bleeck she thought, the only variation in color came from the purple berry bushes.

The uniformity was beautiful to her, it comforted her. It was then she knew she would find her husband. With renewed vigor, she set out knowing that if she walked around the mountain she would find him. That’s exactly what she did for a long time. Her optimism paid off and eventually, she saw motion on the horizon. As she got closer it resolved into the shadow of a large beast pushing a cart. Her nerves came alive, she knew her pray was within her grasp.

She flexed her shoulders and readied her mallet as she got close. It was the lazy goblin riding in the cart who noticed her first. “Hey look, it's that stupid lady who keeps coming around. Hey Lady! Scram! Whatever you want, we don’t have it! You keep coming around, every time you do you die. I’ll count to three then I’ll have my friend here kill you. If you don’t want to die, stop! Okay fine I’m going to count to three. One, twothree Kill her! Kill her!” The speed of the count had increased dramatically as 2¢op, undeterred by the goblins threats walked directly to the giant sloth pushing the cart and as it turned to attack, she swung her mallet and walloped the sloth on the side of its head. Two things happened first the sloth collapsed, the second was a series of numbers being ejected from his head. 2¢op quickly closed her eyes recording the numbers. By the time she had a picture she was happy with the sloth was up and swinging at her with its cruel claws.

Moments later she was in the clearing being asked by two signs if she wanted to return to the nearest town or to where she was killed. She made a different choice and opened her eyes. With the lights out shadow and gray dominated her room marking the contrast between this reality and the vibrant colors of AntruA. Rubbing her eyes she sat at her makeup table. She wasn't looking for makeup, she was looking for some desk space and a mirror, the makeup table provided both. She wrote a quick note to Agent Ness and attached the picture of the IP address, then she waited.

While wait she looked at the only thing to look at, her face. Looking, she realized she couldn’t remember the last time she had done this, look at her face in a mirror. Growing up it had been a daily task, often done many times a day, she had even deemed it important enough to have a piece of furniture which has the sole purpose of providing a mirror for her to examine herself. With Phil’s disappearance and her exploration of AntruA had put an end to that practice. She thought there must be some deep lesion or self-realization but she couldn’t think about that now. The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled her from her revery, she looked up and Agent Ness smiled at her from her mirror. “Agent Lopez I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive your message and image,”  he said as a way of greeting.

“Was that number truly an IP address?”

“What do you mean? You didn’t know?”

“Not really, I mean I hoped it was, but the tip which generated the info wasn't what I’d call reliable.”

“I can’t speak to the reliability of your CI, but I will tell you the IP address was good.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, the address 0.1000.100.01.0001.01.0101.1010 is generated at this warehouse,” Agent Ness held up an image of a warehouse which appeared to be constructed solely of corrugated steel, a small sign with the letters ‘DEZ’ embossed upon it was the only visible signage.

“Is that it? Is that where Phil is being held?” Penny asked.

“We don’t know. But my gut says it is.”

“While I value your gut, is there anything else. Maybe something we could use to build a legal case?” She shrugged

“There’s a little; for one, the IP address you found is one of around one thousand IP address being generated at this location, For two the amount of energy being consumed at that location is staggering. We don’t know what they’re doing there. But with that kind of energy use, it can’t be legal. While that is not much to go on, it was enough for a warrant.”            

 “Oh!”

“Yeah, do you want in on the assault team?”

“I don’t need to be on the assault team. But I would like to be one of the first in after them.”

“I believe that can be arranged. Why don’t you come in so we can go over some of the details of the assault and you can get geared up.”

“I’ll be right in,” Penny said and she broke the connection.