ZRP-2 Chapter 7: Mutation

"After what you did to me in bed, I'd be surprised if you werent." Mira said. "Just hold me...I wont let go of you, kay?"

Sarah didn't let the hug go, "Alright...you got a deal." She then went a bit red-faced, at the first part. "And if I ever go that hard on you again in bed...you have every right to pay me back in full."

"Yeah well, in this world we take allies where we can find them.......though not all the time I admit. Look the point is, if we really want to stick to nailing the Shepherds, we need the support to do it."

Ella blinked, saying "Wait wait wait: Nail the Shepherds? You want to fight them?" James simply nodded, and Ella blinked again. "Oh, okay......just wanted to make sure my hearing was still good."

Mira giggled softly. "Don't tempt me."

"This entire fight was to nail them Ella." Hibiki said. "Um...listen. I have to be straight with you. Eve berself was a Shepherd. She defected awhile ago, and that's why she's a bit...strange. She's getting better at being normal...but it's slow."

Ella, for the third time, blinked. "Former.....Shepherd......now this day is just full of surprises." Unfortunately for Eve......a member of the mob had been skulking outside the house, plotting to get revenge of Hibiki and James for the hurt inflicted on the leader of the mob. But this.....was more than they ever hoped for, and they soon ran off, a plot in mind.

Eve nodded. "I was part of this sect that sent children out to radio caravan movements." She said. "I...I defected...because i wanted a mommy instead...instead of a man who only wanted power."

"I.....I see," Ella said. "And the others, do they know?" James thought what she meant by others, before saying "Everyone in the caravan knows......but the town residents don't know, and I'd like to keep it that way."

Hibiki nodded. "Would be best for everyone."

"Maybe," Ella said. "But hiding stuff like this only makes the negative impact worse the longer it's kept a secret. Believe me I know," Ella said, referring to the time she told her parents she was gay.

"We an't now. We were going to tell Clara soon, but with these attacks it's a horrible idea." Hibiki sighed softly. She looked at the stairs. "Those mob members...what would they do to that kid, just for being forced into the Shepherds?"

"Crucify her maybe," Ella said darkly. "Burn her at the stake. I'm not suggesting it's something she deserves," she added when James gave her a look. "But you just know they'd find it poetic since the Shepherds are religious fanatics."

"They won't. I'll be dead before i let them crucify my daughter." Hibiki said.

"Dead.....or the town's been burned down" Jason said, a faint smile on his face.

"Town burned down and me dead amidsts the bodies of most of the mob members. And the tank burning. Oh. And my sword broken." She added.

Sarah gave a light giggle, "I'll try not to. But don't say it won't happen again." Her sobbing stopped, a smile appearing on her face. She was a bit happier than she was before.

Andrew wasn't exactly the happiest man right now. And the agitation of the mob wasn't doing him any favors.

"Okay so one of everything then.....and I assume this is after our child is born?" James asked, almost casually.

"Of course. Our child will grow up and lead the world to peace." Hibiki grinned.

"I think I'd settle for them just having a good life despite this world," James said. Ella snapped her fingers, getting their attention again. "Okay so back to the present.....James, speak to guys in charge and get a lay of the land here, get a read on what might happen." He nodded in agreement.

"I'll watch the house. Go ahead Jason. Find Clara." Hibiki shooed him. "Go!"

"You're shooing me?" James asked, rather taken aback by the gesture. Still, he left the house and headed off for....well, wherever Clara and Marcus were. He headed for the sheriff's office for starters.

Hibiki turned away. "Ella, stick with Hayley. I'm going to see if Eve doesn't mind taking a nap.with me."
she jogged upstairs.

James went to the Sheriff's office, but didn't find either Clara or Marcus there. In fact, they were at the bus, standing watch with the others in case the raiders returned. He climbed up to join them, and the nodded. "James," they said. "Clara, Marcus......what happened back there? Caught most of it but still.....what's going on?"

Hibiki found Eve.
"Hey kiddo...want to go take a nap?"

Eve saw the look. Kissing Sam if she was present, Eve folkowed her mom into the next room, where the two apooed tofether. Hibikihugged Eve close, and fell asleep.
this left Eve to fall asleep on her own.

"People aren't happy," Clara said flatly. "That mob you saw doesn't like the caravan being here, since they think you're going to eat our food and leave nothing left. And to add to it, they think that all our current problems are because of you, that you brought the Shepherds on us, which lets face it, you kinda did." James bristled at the words. "Like they never would have come for you before," he said through clenched teeth. "They're going to attack everyone, not just us. So our best bet is to stand together against them."

Hayley finally found her way to Ella.
"Hey. Holding up ok?"

"Yeah, I'm doing fine," Ella said. She hadn't seen Estel or Aiden, assuming they were still in the basement. "You?"

"Don't you think I know that?" Clara demanded. "But what I know doesn't matter, it's what they feel. And they feel threatened by you. All of you. This is how they react."

"I could use a friend..." she was quiet. "This will seem bloody childish Ella...but..." she offered her hand. "C..can...no, will you...pleaee...for a little while....just hold my hand, so I know I'm not alone?"

Without answering, Ella reached for Hayley's hand and took it, squeezing gently. "Not letting go Hayely.....I'm here if you need me."

James flushed red, anger welling up inside him as he glared at Clara. "It's not like we wanted all this to happen! All I wanted was a safe place to raise a child for fuck's sake!" Marcus moved to James, placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Calm down James, shouting won't help. Clara, I understand how you feel, I've been there myself. But there has to be a compromise of some sort that we and your people can agree on."

Hayley gripped back and relaxed. "Thank you."

Hibiki nuzzled Eve's hair. "I love you." She whispered.

Clara was silent for a moment, and it let a new sound come in: the sound of the undead, as they were gathered by the bus, a large grouping of maybe thirty or forty undead. They were all trying to flip the bus over, but someone had the bright idea to park a few cars on the other side, keep the bus anchored. It sorta made James feel a little stupid for arguing about this, but then again it added to the urgency. "We hold a meeting," Clara said. "And bring up the subject....of whether or not you should leave this compound. Not Owensboro, just this compound."

James nodded, having gone over the same conversation with the others. "Think that will be enough?" he asked. Clara shrugged her shoulders, saying "It's a start." Satisfied, for now at least....James left.

Hayley's head was gently pulled down. Ella had her settled in her lap, and had begun to stroke Hayley's hair, almost motherly.
The girl began to relax. "Thank you."

"Sure thing," Ella said as she continued to stroke the girls hair. She felt tired though, and slowly began drifting off to sleep. Sam had gone to her room, laying in bed as if in wait of something to happen when the door to the house opened, and James walked in. He headed up to meet Hibiki in their room, and found her curled up with Eve on the bed, helping their daughter sleep. "Hey," was all he said as he walked over and rubbed her shoulder.

"Hey." Hibiki looked up. "What's the word?"

Hayley whimpered. "Thank you...for trusting me, Ella."

"Well," James said in a hushed tone, "there's going to be a meeting later, to determine whether we stay in town or not. If not, we leave the compound but stay in Owensboro, stake a claim somehwere else close by."

"Alright." Hibiki said. "I'd rather stay here...but to be fair, we have one major bargaining point..we leave...our bus comes with us."

"Heh, true," James said. He sat down on the bed behind Hibiki, stroking her hair as he looked at her and Eve, the latter dozing off. "I just wish we could stay like this."

"I know James. I know." Hibiki said.

Hayley gripped Ella's hand more.
"This...feels nice..."

Before falling asleep, Hayley's voice bade her stay awake a little bit longer. She chuckled a little, saying "Yeah, and I haven't been using moisturizer for a bit too."

His look solemn, James lay down behind Hibiki and snuggled up against her, inhaling her scent as he rubbed her arm. "I love you," he said.

Hayley heard the sleepiness. "Um...don't suppose...I could join you? I...I just...feel.comfortable...l...like you're a mother..." she admitted.

"I love you too James." Hibiki replied.

"Thought you already joined me," Ella said as she continued to hold Hayley's hand.

Kissing her neck, James settled in where he lay, wondering if sleep was a good idea or not.

Hayley carefully climbed onto the couch fully, head moved to Ella's stomach. "You're really nice...I didnt know kindness could still exist..."

Hibiki held Eve closer, herself silent.

Back at the bus, Marcus talked with Clara, and convinced her to hold off on the meeting until tomorrow, so they could deal with the threat of the bandits first. She agreed, though she didn't like the idea of giving the mobs emotions time to fester.

-The Next Morning-

It late in the morning, the sun low in the eastern horizon but steadily rising, as the group of attackers from the compound headed for bandits. Or rather, searched for them. In their cars they drove through the streets, looking for any sign of the bandit whereabouts. James sat in the tank, Hibiki at the wheel, unsure what was outside.

Hibiki was being careful with gas; they needed every drop. Mira had come with Andrew, and Eve sat beside James.
the silence was palpable.

"Are we there yet?" James asked, earning him a glare from some of the occupants. "What?"

Ella and Sam stayed behind in the house, with Ella stuck on the couch. Estel had come up to check on Ella, going so far as to poke the wound (earning her a black eye from Ella) before she left to sit outside. Aiden remained stoic, sitting in an armchair quietly.

Hayley had moved off Ella and was curled up at Ella's feet, napping.

"Not the time to be funny, daddy." Eve muttered.

"What's wrong with laughing in the face of impending danger? Come on I always laugh in the face of danger," he said, laughing a little.....until he caught Hibiki's glare in the mirror, and shut up. Laughing in the face of danger was fine. Laughing in the face of Hibiki.....not so much.

Hibiki smirked for a sec, then resumed paying attention.
"Still nothing..."

"Look for a gathering of undead," James said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were ganging up on them."

"Uh...hey. there." Hibiki turned. "I'm seeing this zombie horde over to the right. Going to kove closer...then we should send in some scouts." She said.

"That works," James said. He grabbed a gun and got ready.