ZRP-2 Chapter 7: Mutation

"Ella can take the top bunk and Hayley can have some blankets. Sam and Eve will have to avoid anything intimate besides kissing and we have everyone settled. Estel and Aiden can stay downstairs...unless you'd prefer moving Ella and Hayley downstairs." Hibiki said.

"It may be better to keep Ella on the ground floor at least, so she doesn't have to use the stairs with her leg," James said.

"True." Hibiki crouched, allowing Eve to hop onto her back. She stood easily, and continued. "Hayley can stay with her then. We'll have everyone else in their rooms then."

"Guess that'll have to do," James said. They reached the house and he opened the door for them to enter, to which he found Sam sitting in one of the comfy chairs, waiting for them. Ella was sitting on the couch, looking worried. "What happened?" Sam asked. James explained what happened, and gave it a moment to sink in. When it did, both Sam and Ella went a little pale. "A traitor?" Ella said in a whisper. "Yeah, that's what it looks like," James said.

Eve slid from Hibiki's back and sat on Sam's lap carefully as Hibiki drew James to another chair.
"So everyone's on lockdown."

"Pretty much.....or rather we're keeping you, Eve, Hayley, Aiden and Estel here in the house until we sort this mess out," James said. "With what just happened, I wouldn't be surprised if someone's already ready to point fingers at us. We'll need to meet with Andrew, Sarah especially given what happened."

Eve nodded as Hibiki sat down.
"We need to stay calm though."

"Sure, that's doable enough," Sam said. "But what about the rest of the town? Not sure they'll be able to stay as calm as the rest of us after this shit."

Abel had been a bit late to the 'party', where the burned building with all of the ammo was kept.  It was nothing more than burnt wood and ash now.  He leaned against a building across from the burnt one, digging into his pocket for a lighter and the stub of a cheap cigar he had scavenged from a gas station a little over a week ago.  He ignited the tobacco with a Bic lighter and drew the smoke into the back of his mouth.

Abel had nothing to input to the situation, he just stood and watched, speechless.  The only ammo we had left... gone.

Hibiki sighed. "No clue."

"Well then we're fucked either way," Ella said. "No ammo to defend from future attacks, and now we're going to have a shitload of blame heading our way."

"We have ammo. Which means tthe town will come after us in an attempt to take over our own ammo supply. So yep. We're fucked." Hibiki agreed.

Abel spat out some stray tobacco that escaped the cigar and into his mouth, as he watched the smoldering building.  A few of the town's residents gave Abel a bit of a glaring look as they passed by him.  He didn't bother saying anything to them, they probably figured him or one of the group he came here with were to blame.  But, for all he knew, they may have been right.

James sat there, unsure of what to do. Sam spoke up and said "Well we're not left with a lot of moves here. Hell whoever's doing this, the traitor or spy......they really screwed us here. I mean if we fight back, we look guilty. If we give up the ammo, we're defenseless for when the town turns on us anyway. And we can't exactly leave because in addition to looking guilty.....we'd be leaving the town defenseless. I mean we can't do that, right?" Silence met the question, and she blinked. "Right?"

"Right. So our only option is to find more ammo." Hibiki said. "Which means we need to find the Bandit's own ammo, and possibly search..." She sighed. "James, we need the nearest Shepard base. Take out the handy dandy map please, and let's get this fixing up done."

Ella blinked, and said "Map? You've got a map? Of Shepherd camps?" James flashed her a guilty look, and withdrew the map from where he kept it folded up in his pocket, smoothing it out on the coffee table. "Well.....the closest one is due north, but it's a bit of a way's from here."

"We'll tell Clara. If she agrees to help, we can have Eve and Sarah lead an infiltration team to steal the ammo then set fire to the camp." Hibiki said.

The three had gone back to their home, with Sarah once again become unhinged at the incident. Andrew didn't like how she looked, and he needed to talk with someone about the situation. Because, sooner or later, the town would begin to point the finger of blame at them, and he didn't want to condemn Sarah to a lynch mob.

He resolved to go talk to James about this, and fast. Taking Sarah with him, he went over to their house, hoping they had some solution for this mess. A minute later, they made it there. Andrew knocked on the door, Sarah shaking like a leaf. She was in a state, and felt like a little kid once again.

James heard the knock on the door and stood up, drawing the curtain back slowly to see it was Andrew before opening the door. "Andrew.....guess you saw the fire?"

"Then...We'll have to make it us. Ella, Estel, Aiden, Eve, Sarah, Andrew, you, and Cooper. Us together, we can do it." Hibiki said. She looked over. "Speak of the devil."

Andrew nodded to James, Sarah hiding behind him, shaking like a leaf. One could only imagine as to why she was shaking like she was. "That I did, James. And so did Sarah. She's scared about what it might mean for her."

He then asked, "So...I assume you have a solution to the mess. Or at least, a plan." Sarah simply looked like she wanted to hide. She was a sad sight, really.

"Well we figure we're going to need to get more ammo, at least to help calm down the town before it gets too far. So......we're going to hit a nearby Shepherd camp, and take what they've got."

"Sounds good." Hibiki said. "We'll have to do this."

"Maybe we say less have and more want, when we fling this idea to the guys in charge?" Ella suggested. "Make it look less like we're doing this because of a twisted arm and more out of goodwill."

"What she said." Hayley piped up.

Sam nodded, seeing what it was Ella had in mind. "Good thinking. Least then that'll help keep whatever goodwill we still have."

"James, let's go." Hibiki said. "Cant waste time standing around."

"Can I waste time sleeping?" James asked seriously. It'd be nice if I could actually get some rest."

"Fine. I'll go alone. Watch the kids." She teased, then ran out to find Clara and Cooper.

Sighing, he got up and followed Hibiki out of the house and in the direction of the sheriff's office. There was already a crowd gathering outside, most of them angry. "Well, this could be a problem," James said.

Hibiki frowned. "Yep." She gripped her sword. "Ready to get to them?"

"To or through?" James asked, and he lead the way. Some of the crowd saw him approach and moved to block him, trying to yell or even grab him.....but he gave them a hard look and held his gun up, not aimed at anyone but keeping it where they could see it, and they parted. Eat your heart out Moses, he thought to himself.

Hibiki unsheathed her katana, holding it at her side. The sea kept parting, allowing them through.
"Lets go Moses." Hibiki said to James. "The promised land awaits."

Chuckling, James walked inside and found a heated discussion going on between Marcus, Clara and Cooper. "I know you've vouched for her already Marcus but this is too much! Someone set our ammo on fire and we've got nothing now!" Clara yelled, and Marcus somehow kept his cool as he responded "Yes but how many people actually knew where the ammo was? Not like we went around telling people where it was hidden." Clara snapped "Yeah well she's supposed to be a 'former--" she actually used her finger to air quote the word "--spy for the Shepherds. She's bound to know how to find things."

The katana quivered, the blade now against Clara's neck. Hibiki's face one of pure anger, she let the moment sink in.
"Accuse my daughter any more, and our caravan takes all our ammo, vehicles, and supplies, and we let you all die. Do I make myself clear? As Eve was with us before the explosion, and since she could not have gotten to there and back upstairs within the four minutes Sam left her alone...you will apologize. Now."

Clara's eyes narrowed at Hibiki, and it seemed clear that whil cautious she was not scared of Hibiki and her sword. "Fuck you. My ammo's gone and besides your group, we're practically defenseless. Your daughter was a former Shepherd, and I'm not ruling her out as a suspect just because you hold a blade to my throat."

"Its because of that fact we have a solution." Hibiki growled. "With Eve's past we can hit the shepherd campmtomthe north and steal their ammo to resupply you."

"Provided they don't shoot her first. Even if she isn't one of them anymore, what makes you think they won't recognize a traitor?" Clara demanded.

"The point is she knows them intimately. We wont have her go up front. She can lead us around the camp with more precision. And even so, the long range radios don't really work well. They wouldnt have known unless couriers were swnt out back in St. Louis." Hibiki said. "And if you still don't trust her, she will gladly stay right beside you, and probably ASK for handcuffs. So whats your choice?"

"How about this," Marcus cut in, alarm on his face. "She goes with you on the raid, Eve I mean. And if any more stuff happens then we'll know it wasn't her. And if they stop....then it was either her or whomever you brought along."

"And what if they stop? Eve is innocent; there's no real way to find the traitor by removing a suspect. If they do, and we return, what are you going to do? Kill my daughter?" Hibiki demanded, white-knuckle gripping her sword.

Clara didn't blink. "Not going to kill her, no. But that doesn't mean we can't exile her if she is the culprit." James stepped forward and said "Okay now that's enough, Eve is as much the culprit as I am. And you're forgetting the possibility that someone else may be behind this, or even framing her." Lifting his hand up and resting it on Hibiki's hand, he gently pushed her hand and sword away from Clara's throat. "So maybe we can put a hold on the hostilities until we can actually figure out what really, happened?"

Hibiki sheathed her katana, shaking with anger. "So how do you propose we get the ammo and clear Eve's name?" She demanded of James.

"Simple: We steal it from the Shepherds. They've got ammo and I doubt anyone will care if they lose it."

"And clearing Eve's name?" Hibiki demanded again.

"We start with everyone who knew what that building was for, then how many could get into it," James said.

"Sounds..." Hibiki sighed. "I'm going to go be with our daughter. You work out these logistics before I kill someone."
Hibiki turned around and began to head back home.

Andrew then took his turn walking up, his body language showing that he wasn't amused with the way Clara was treating them. And restraint wasn't on his mind. He simply stood there and watched, while Sarah wasn't put at ease by Clara's demeanor. In fact, seeing Hibiki almost made her faint.

That can't be a good sign...

He looked to James, "Yeah...work out a plan, genius. Because the mood here isn't doing Sarah's state any favors." He then walked his sister back to the house, the girl still not willing to say a word.

James sighed, heart racing at the situation that was diffused. Too close, he thought to himself, and turned back to Clara. "Look, give us a chance to do this and prove that Eve's innocent. We're even getting you ammo for Christ's sake, so can you tone down the paranoia and not make threats against my daughter?" Clara glared at him, but simply threw up her hands and walked away. He turned back in Andrew's direction, and said "You have anything useful to say, Andrew?"

Andrew shook his head, "If it means means having my sister being possibly handcuffed by Clara...No...that I do not. Other than the fact that we'll need to hit the Shepherds hard and fast if we need to succeed."

His tone was matter-of-fact as he said so.