ZRP-2 Chapter 7: Mutation

Finding a spot to park, the back ramp slowly opened. Eve was the first out, bow drawn.
"Clear."

James and others inside joined her, and thankfully the undead were more focused on the bandits in the building than them. However, some of them in the back heard the sound of the cars rolling up, and turned to face them. Seeing the new prey, they lunged forward and advanced, while some of the runners sprinted. "Take out the runners!" James said, firing a shot at one and bringing it down.

Eve let loose arrows, letting those with bullets save them.
"Archers first! Save the bullets for the bandits!" She called out. Leading them, Hibiki came up behind Eve and scanned the building, keeping an eye out. "James, call out if you spot any snipers!"

Andrew and Sarah followed along from behind, Sarah keeping an eye for any snipers as well. Andrew was happy for a diversion from the angry crowds that had mobbed them yesterday. Sarah, being his sister, knew there was still that tension he had.

If Andrew had any inkling that he knew of her confession to Mira, he didn't show it. His rifle was at the ready, watching the building for any activity.

Right as James was about to look up, a bullet whizzed too close and hit his right ear, tearing off the lobe and sending him down in pain and fear as he clutched his ear. "Fuck! Medic!"

Hibiki cursed. "Tear up the upper floors!" She ordered the gunners. Eve took cover.
"Daddy?" She called as a medic ran up.

Sarah's head flew around immediately, and she shouted, "Sniper!" going prone as she looked for the sniper. She then got eyes on the perp, lining him up in her sights.

She took a deep breath and fired, giving the sniper an involuntary frontal lobotomy as the bullet exited his skull. Sarah then exhaled as both Andrew and herself moved up under the cover fire.

"I'm fine.....sorta," James growled as he clutched his bloody ear. It wasn't serious but it was a flesh wound, so that meant bloody.....and the smell reached the undead and drove them crazy, drawing many of them over in his direction. Two of the fighters lit molotovs, and tossed them towards the walkers and created a small wall of fire between them and the undead.

Eve pulled back. "We lost the advantage of surprise." she reported. "We're kinda stuck." She peeked up and double checked. "So, I say we just burn the building down with molotovs. Smoke them into our forces in the back and hold here and get them if they try and get past our forces."

"That works, so guys just do what the girl said!" James yelled as the medic saw to his ear. It was going to be difficult, since they still had undead encroaching on them.

Eve frowned. "I need molotovs to the sides. try and make a half-circle trapping them near the entrance!" She called out.

Hibiki raised the door and backed up. The tank rumbled to the side and unleashed a burst of fire into the building. She paid attention to it all...and sighed.
"I need a few more men around the side. Toss any molotvs you can to burn the building down."

Nodding their heads, those that were on mlotov detail lobbed what they had at the building and set it ablaze, flames licking up the sides. The doors burst open, the raiders from before running out in desperation. Some were attacked by walkers, others shot down by the attacking group. And even more made it out to run elsewhere, away from the fighting.

"Cut them down from behind!" She cried out, letting an arrow fly. It took down one of the runners.

The fighters fired on the raiders, bullets taking them down. But they were running low on ammo, and this was not a fight that could be sustained for long.

Eve waited. "Throw a few more cocktails at any sort of opening and get the fuck out of here!" She called. "We have to get out!" She started to retreat to the tank. "We really need to get out before we run out of ammo!"

"No shit," said one of the fighters. James was dragged into a seat in the tank, his head wrapped in a line of bandages, right side bloody.

Eve followed them. Ignoring them, she settled behind Hibiki.
"We can get out now."

"Really?" James asked. "I mean they're still around, and this usually takes longer."

"They are burning to death and some ran. We're getting away from the walkers and leet's try to get to the Bandit vehicles."

"Hey, speaking of where are the--" James was about to say, right as the same vehicles came screaming down from an alley behind them and cut off their retreat. "Shit, they're trying to box us in!"

The turret opened fire, Swiss cheesing the truck and van. Hibiki sped up.
"Hang on guys!"

The Tank collided with the broken cars. "Bandits are scattered, let's get back to the town!" She said into her radio.

"What about the raiders?" Jason asked. "If they have cars won't they still be mobile?"

"We bloodied them. If we waste gas trying to chase them around, we'll just waste resources. If we don't keep our resources on a tight leash, we'll get screwed in the long run." Hibiki added.

Now having settled in the tank, the Harris siblings nodded in mutual agreement. Having been raised the way they had, they learned very early on about resource management.

"She's right.... we don't have a monopoly on supplies," Sarah said, "Even if we did, we'd still have to be smart with how we used them."

"We're already screwed in the long run," James said. "Like you said, we're low on gas and that's only going to get worse no matter what we do."

"So you want to waste it in a fruitless chase and have to ditch the tank? Our gas is at the town and right now we're gonna make it and only have a few gallons left. So excuse me oh fearless leader for doing the smart thing and falling back." Hibiki snapped. "It will get worse, but if you wanna walk back to the town, you go ahead and start doing so."

James just blinked at Hibiki, stunned. "Someone certainly woke up on the wrong side of the tree." And what she seemed to forget, was that the town itself was also running low on fuel.

"I'm pregnant. I always will wake up on the wrong side when im going to go fight." She muttered. "I dont think chasing them is a good idea. Desperate people are stupid. Let them come to use and die."

"Desperation also makes people more dangerous Hibiki," James said. "Even if they do come for us again, odds are they're going to be worse."

"We killed kost of them James. Now if we dont return while we have the chance, our desperation to end the threat could kill everyone." Hibiki said back, speeding up.

Abel had entered the passenger seat of one of the other vehicles that had been accompanying the tank, after the battle was done. He began loading the last of his shells into his shotgun. He noticed his hands shaking but just ignored it. That was something he was never able to help during combat, but it never effected his aim so it didn't hinder him.

After the tank climbed over a wall of derelict vehicles it stopped moving in its tracks. Abel spoke in a low voice.

"What the hell are they doing?"

"Alright alright," James said, slightly annoyed at how difficult she was being over this.

The town finally came into view. Taking a turn, Hibiki headed for the second gate around the side. Pulling into the compound, she parked.
"Last stop folks. Everyone out and get cleaned. Smells like a gym room in here."

"Yeah you're one to talk," James said as he got up and joined the others as they left the tank. He clutched his ear gently, or at least the wrapping over it. He started to head back home while Hibiki took care of the tank.

Eve hurried up to James.
"Daddy...She just doesnt want to lose the tank chasing scattered leaves."

"Better to take out all the leaves before they come back Eve," James muttered sourly. "But she's right, we don't have enough gas. So we need to get some."

"Chase the leaves ro loose the rake. And what would you do if more leaves arrived and you had no rake?" She asked.

"Tear up the leaves with my bare hands maybe. You either go quietly or you make it a fight at the end," James said as they reached the house steps. Ella was there, sitting out on the porch, almost enjoying the calm of the compound, the light wind tossing her hair slightly to the side.

It was a quiet trip back to town. Abel exited the car, stretching his arms a bit, before resting his shotgun on his shoulder. He then walked over to Cooper.

"Any idea why we didn't go after the rest of those bastards?"

Cooper, who had just exited the tank, stretched a bit before answering. Then he said "We're low on fuel and ammo. Trying to run the bastards down and end it all, would deplete what little we have left."

"Cars might've been able to run 'em down, without wasting much fuel."

Abel didn't like to dwell too long on 'What ifs' and 'What could have been dones' but he couldn't help it.

"Even so, the total would have been too much. We're going to need our ammo to defend the place if we come under attack."

Hibiki stretched. "James. You have to think of these things. In the long run, if we chased them down and lost the tank and a lot of ammo...what would we do when the next bandits arrived or even the Shepherds?" Hibiki placed her hands on her belly. "Soon I cant fight. Please. You have to think tactically. About the long run." She moved closer. "Plus...Eve kinda hates it when her favorite playpen is left behind." She teased.

James stopped, and closed his eyes as he did his best to not let his mind wander. "Please tell me that doesn't mean, what I think it means. Because I was sitting in there, remember."

"...goddammit James. She masturbates in her room, she acts like a child and plays Tank Ivasion when Cooper lets her play around! You really think Cooper would let her just go fucking her right hand in his tank?" Hibiki asked incrsdulously.

"Yeah..."

Abel racked the pump of his shotgun back, releasing a shell. He caught it before hitting the ground.

"Guess we are running low on these."

He pocketed the shell then did the same thing four more times, emptying the weapon.

Sighing, James shook his head as he idly scratched at his bandage. "Sorry, not exactly thinking straight," was the only excuse he had. He finally reached the porch of the house, and Ella saw the bandage. "What happened?" she said, standing up on shaky legs, since one was still recovering from an arrow. "Bullet to the ear," James said. "Don't worry it's fine.....missing some of my ear lobe but I'm fine." Ella gave him a flat look for a pregnant few seconds, then said "You're missing, a piece of your ear. How is that fine?" He gave her an equally flat look, saying "I can still hear."

"Which is why we need more ammo," Cooper said.

Hayley looked up. She had been curled up beside Ella, somewhat quiet.
"Welcome back."

Eve slipped over to Hayley and sat between the two women.
"So...we can relax for a bit?"

"So what do you think? Raid a bunch of gun shops? Most of them are probably dry by this point. Maybe a Military base? not sure if Kentucky has much for them. Probably already looted or locked up tighter than Fort Knox anyway."

"A bit," James said. "Hell, we might have the day." Still, he twisted his head around a bit, as if looking for anyone watching. "But I'd rather not let our guard down. Not here." Ella nodded, knowing full well what he was talking about. "Yeah, got it." James gave Hayley a look, asking "Hey Hayley.....hate to ask, but think you could give my ear a look? Just wanna make sure there's no risk of infection."

"We'll see. First, we need fuel to get anywhere," Cooper responded.