Protector of Men Ch 51
"A hobo told you this address?"
"No," she sighed angrily, "I found it."
"A hobo told you where to look?"
"Look! He might not have been a hobo, okay?"
"Wait, so he was laying on the ground wearing rags and talking like he's drunk, but he's not a hobo?"
"Kemp. I know what I'm talking about, Okay? Keep your head out of this. Trust me, I wouldn't lead them galumphing off somewhere unless I knew what I was doing!"
Kemp was suddenly quiet and made a face.
"Fine then," she mumbled, getting up, "Just a little curious….don't have to be a bitch…"
Zandra gritted her teeth in frustration, but didn't respond. Instead she responded rather hastily by a rather rude hand gesture, which Kemp luckily did not see. Zandra felt embarrassed for her haste soon afterwards, and looked down in an attempt to keep her temper in check. Kemp had her own way of handling things, even if it was a little rude…
Suddenly she was alone in the mess room again. It had been a few hours since they had originally jacked in, mostly spent wandering around the ship in search of something to do. Shade had left her to go get cleaned up, and Alias was nowhere to be found. So she was alone for now, at least. Perhaps she'd go get a shower after Shade was finished. It would only be a few more minutes until he'd be out…
As she stood to get up, Cover walked in and took a seat. He watched her expectantly; she sat back down, expecting a lecture of sorts. She was right.
"I hear from Kemp that your informant was a bit of a shady character?"
Zandra shook her head in irritation, and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Kemp's got a problem."
Cover looked at her for a moment, a glance of warning that told her to watch what she said. She toned her attitude down a bit, but it was still present.
"He knew what he was talking about."
"What did he say?"
"Lemme just say he knew what he was talking about."
Cover merely looked at her. She continued.
"He said that I shouldn't be looking around everywhere for information when it was right in front of my face. He said that three or four times. Then he said the story was getting interesting, and something was much better than the other ones. And then he left."
"What makes you think that the information was correct?"
Zandra sighed.
"I just have a feeling about it," she told him, "There was an address, literally – right in front of my face. It wasn't just coincidence."
Cover leaned back and nodded.
"I believe in you, Zandra," he told her, "I'm on your side. But you can't talk to Kemp like that."
Zandra looked down in a mix of embarrassment and frustration. But Cover continued.
"She may decide she doesn't like this crew if things keep up."
"You think she'll switch?"
"She might. Right now she's mostly interested in operating."
"Why doesn't she want to go in?"
Cover was quiet a moment before answering, and his voice was hushed when he did.
"Zandra," he told her, "Not many people can safely go into the matrix anymore. Kemp isn't experienced – she wouldn't be able to handle it."
"As of this moment, only you, Shade, I, and possibly Trim can go in." Zandra took a moment to digest the information.
"What will Alias and Kemp do?" she finally asked.
"Alias is still our medic, and Trim will be teaching her some mechanics." He trailed off, watching the wall intently.
"Kemp?"
"I'm not sure yet. It's possible that with more training she could be let in, but it seems more like she's just happy to be in the real world."
Happy didn't seem like a characteristic of Kemp. Obnoxious was more like it. Cover detected Zandra's attitude again.
"You can't write her off, Zandra," he warned her, "She knows more than you think."
Zandra turned a little red and was quiet.
"Back to the subject at hand," he suddenly said, in a much brighter tone, "So you think this address is where the Merovingian is."
"Yes."
"But I thought you mentioned a Rennes-le Chateau-"
"I know," she answered quickly, "But I doubt we'd find him there."
"Why not?"
"It's a public place," she replied a little tentatively, "I don't think it would be that obvious." Cover nodded slowly and propped his chin up on his arm.
"I still think we need to make sure it isn't a trap."
Zandra didn't respond.
"Isn't there anyone that knows the informant well?"
"Well?"
"Or at all."
"Only one other person, and he's in Zion."
"Then we might want to pay him a visit."
"Now?"
"Soon, if you want to find Neo."
"Right."
And there the conversation ended. Zandra left soon thereafter, with only a few words goodbye to Cover. Soon after they'd begin to go back to Zion. To gather more information. Zandra was beginning to grow frustrated. If the Merovingian was so dangerous, wouldn't it be worse to have Neo waiting so long? Certainly the man would want him deleted… but if the Oracle was lying, did that mean he wasn't dangerous?
Maybe gathering more information is a good idea, she thought. Either way, things would definitely be slowing down for the next few days. Perhaps a break in Zion would be good. But who to stay with? Last time I – Zandra stopped walking, suddenly reminded of her past visit to Zion, when she and Stephen had stayed together. When they had talked, reminisced, kissed…
She began to walk slower to her bunk. Please don't have dreams.
