Frenzy & Torch

Chapter 30: Hand Fans

Annabelle was in the safe house office staring at one of many computer files that she received from an anonymous "friend" at the agency. That friend was Fang Fur, who was sending important files passed along to her by the agency.

She sighed and telekinetically raised the blinds so she could have a good view of the dusk sky and the beach. Jazz-funk music softly played on the speaker.

Elizabeth barged into the room in her nothing but her tank top and tight briefs, evidently not a fan of knocking; growing up in a household with nearly a dozen siblings erased any knowledge she had of "privacy." "Why have you got the damn blinds rolled up? Makes you a sittin' duck for somebody fixin' to shoot you."

Annabelle got a quick look at Elizabeth's bare legs before turning back to the computer. "I guess somebody shooting me would be an inconvenience, but I can handle it."

"Good Lord, it's half past one. Can't this wait till the mornin'? Pretty sure Xitanker sackin' most of his generals and advisors bought us some extra time."

"I know, which is why we have to keep up the pressure."

"You are so damn wound up. Whatcha lookin' at, anyway? Another one of them top secret files sent to us by a generous unnamed 'supporter?'" Elizabeth said with air quotes.

"Well, they led us to a secret laboratory and helped us track down that communist general. They haven't let us down so far— huh, interesting."

"What?" Elizabeth grabbed a chair and sat next to her.

"A news notification ... apparently, Mr. Goldsacs is dead."

"What the hell?"

Annabelle opened the article and scrolled slowly. "Found shot dead by his wife."

"Fuck, they put the crime scene photos in here, too?"

"Why are his pants down?"

"Better we don't ask. Anyway, what were you looking at earlier?"

Annabelle was glad to minimize the disturbing news story and go back to the document. "I was looking at a document that explained where Xitanker was getting his equipment from. Turns out most of it is supplied by a corporation called Fat Panda Tech. They specialize in military equipment, but they also have enterprises in film production and automobiles. Our generous and anonymous friend here provided the location of their HQ and their defenses."

"Defenses such as?"

Annabelle opened the attached pictures. "Automated turrets, armored vehicles, tanks, gunships, and a ton of full-time 'security personnel.'"

"Sooo ... soldiers?"

"Pretty much. There are also two 'special persons' who could give us a run for our money."

Annabelle pulled up a picture of a psychotic man, code name Marco, in the most advanced mech suit they had seen up to that point; it was ten feet tall, had two shoulder-mounted rocket pods, quad-mounted auto cannons for hands, and composite armor. The next individual was a beautiful Chinese woman named Fan. She was wearing a form-fitting qipao and holding two razor-sharp folding fans.

"Damn," Elizabeth commented, "she's fine as hell."

Annabelle gave her a disapproving look. "Elizabeth— "

"I can tell from her waist that she's got a heart-shaped ass— "

"Elizabeth!"

"Come on, don't tell me you can't see it!"

"Yes, she's very pretty, but I wouldn't go that far! The irony that you call Ronald a pig, yet you say these things about this woman from one picture."

"The difference is I'd ask this lady if I could touch her ass, first."