ZRP-2 Chapter 7: Mutation

James followed him out, a little bit angry. "Then maybe you can try keeping your thoughts to yourself unless you have a way to actually help the situation? Because my family is on the line here, just like yours so we both need to do what we can to get them out of the crosshairs you lazy dick. What are you doing to help?"

Andrew sighed, "I'm not trying to be lazy. I'm sorry if I'm letting you down." His tone felt hurt at what James said to him.

"Look...I've just been here to be an extra rifle most of the time when I haven't done any driving. If anything...I could always be a mechanic." His tone was still a hurt one.

"Like I said before...I'm sorry if I'm letting you down. I should be doing more, but I haven't."

"Yeah, you really haven't," James said with a certain degree of venom. He stalked off past Andrew and made to return home. Sam and Ella meanwhile remained in the house, waiting for the return of their friends.

Hibiki was already home.
"So. We get to infiltrate a Shepherd camp."

Andrew's hurt look changed into one of slight anger, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the man walk away.

He's well within his rights to be mad at me. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

He followed after him, his mood cycling from bad to worse. The mood had him itching to get at the Shepherds. Only the mood of his sister had improved, to a certain degree.

James stopped, sighing and turned to see that Andrew was behind him. "Look, I'm sorry you didn't really deserve that. It's just....things are kinda tense right now though I guess that goes without saying."

Sam and Ella looked up at Hibiki, a little....surprised. "That's the first thing you say?" Ella asked. "Not how it went or who they're suspecting, just 'We get to infiltrate a Shepherd camp'?"

"They suspect Eve and it went badly. I thought telling you we were infiltrating a camp would make the fact I put my sword to Clara's throat for accusing my daughter of the sabatoge...less." Hibiki admitted.

Andrew nodded, seeing the state his sister was in only served as a reminder at how tense it was around here. You could cut the tension with a knife.

"True. Everyone's tense about this. Right now, Sarah's practically jumping at shadows." His tone measured as he said it.

"Well hopefully we can fix all this," James said. "If not......we may have to move again."

Sam gripped Eve's shoulder gently, and Ella whistled. "Wow, mother of the year much?" she asked. "Not sure how much that'll help our situation though."

Eve smiled. "You dont threaten the cub when the mama bear has a sword and was trained to be bear cavalry." She joked. Hayley facepalmed as Hibiki chuckled.
"Bloody hell. James, you married into a family of crazies." Hayley told him.

Andrew made a bit of a face before composing himself again, not excited at the prospect of having to move once again.

"I'd hate to have to move. Sarah would hate it as well. But...it's something I've gotten used to over the past two years," his tone not its jovial self.

"Yes well get ready for the worst case scenario. Make sure you have you're panic gear ready, in case we need to leave in a hurry. In the meantime, meet back by the gate in twenty," James said before leaving Andrew and walking back into the house. "Okay, so we've gotta get ready to move folks. The compound is ready to kill us on sight unless we can get the place more ammo."

Sam was about to say 'Nice to see you too,' but held off on it. Ella though was not as controlled, and said flatly "Good to see you too James. I'm not having a panic attack at all thanks." James glared at her, and said "Not the time for this Ella. Look, we've got a destination, and to be safe we need to all go. I won't risk leaving anyone vulnerable behind for these people to attack."

Hayley nodded. "I can watch after her." She promised.

Eve looked a bit uneasy, and moved back so she could wrap her arms around Sam's waist. She buried her head in her girlfriend's side as Hibiki detached herself from the wall she had taken residence on.
"How long until we move out?"

"Half an hour," James said. He looked at Hayley, and said "Sorry, but you're coming with us. You're a new arrival so they'll think you know something and I'd rather avoid you getting waterboarded."

Hayley sighed. "Then...who's gonna look after Ella?" She asked. Hibiki absconded away upstairs with Eve, both intent on getting their gear ready.

Andrew and Sarah were readying their gear, Sarah finally having regained some of her composure. Neither of the two said much, Sarah's mind was still in a bit of a state, so the quiet between the two was a bit of a comfort for her.

However, one thought did echo in Sarah's mind: I'm headed back into the lion's den...

The sheer madness of the idea sent a shiver up her spine.

Ella suddenly caught on, and said "No one. I'm coming with, aren't I?" James nodded gravely. "Yeah, along with Estel and Aiden; won't risk any of you staying here and getting lynched." Sam looked troubled, and said "You think it's going to be that bad?" James thought for a moment, before he nodded.

Hayley hugged herself. "Great."

Ella placed a hand on Hayley's shoulder, and whispered "It'll be alright Hayley. All we have to do is stick together and watch our backs." James grunted in agreement, before he turned to look at Estel and Aiden, the two of them standing by the entryway to the kitchen. "You two, get your gear and head for the motor pool by the tank. Hayley, if you could help Ella with the same I'd appreciate it." Ella rolled her eyes, saying "I'm not helpless James. Geesh." She got up, though on shaky legs, and moved for the stairs to the basement. James shrugged his shoulders, and looked to Sam though she spoke before him. "Don't say it, I know what to do," and she walked up the stairs to her room, James close behind her as he headed for his own room.

He found Hibiki and Eve busy getting their gear set, and grabbed his own. There was silence between them, and he could not think of anything to say that would break it.

Hayley helped Ella all the same. "You still need to stay off that leg." She said. "So like it or not, you're stuck in my care. But hey. Least I'm not demanding you let me help you bathe now, right?" She teased.

Hibiki fitted Eve's holster on, and then helped her clean her gun. As James was walking in, Hibiki had taken it a bit further and was nuzzling Eve's hair.
"Love you kiddo." She said softly. Not hearing James, she kissed Eve's forehead and helped her fit the quiver on. Despite the girl being able to do so with her eyes closed, she had relented in favor of giving Hibiki the knowledge everything could return to what it was.

That's when Hibiki noticed James. "Hey James. Just getting Eve ready."

"Yeah," Ella said with a smirk. "No way that's going to happen anytime soon."

"So I see. Eve, you up for this? I mean, assaulting a Shepherd camp?"

Eve nodded. "I am."

"So, not going to say never but leave me with some hope?" Hayley teased.

Ella sighed, and said "Look if you're fishing for something, just say it please. I mean we're about to go on a raid of a Shepherd camp; not like there's much hope of us coming out of there intact."

"Good," James said, and he placed a hand behind her head and brought her close to him, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I just don't want to thrust you into this sorta thing if you're not ready Eve. Hell I'm not completely for it."

"Ok...Uh...was fishing for you actually..." She blushed and looked away.

Eve smiled. "I understand daddy...but we can do it..."

Ella......actually chuckled a little. "Wow, very blunt aren't we. Well I'm flattered but uh....I tend to wait after I get to know someone better. I mean all I know is that you were a captive of raiders and are a pretty damn good medic. You fixed my leg but that won't get my pants off right away," Ella said as they reached the end of the stairs. "Wait what?" Estel said from where she stood, getting her stuff together.

"Here's hoping though that Mikey isn't there......otherwise things are going to get complicated," James said.

"I-wait-No not pan -" She clammed up as Estel was waiting. She backed up, then ran away, face flushed and in a panic. Totally wrong thing to say, entirely messed up.
She just ran upstairs and sat on the couch, looking at the ground.

Hibiki drew her katana. "If he is, I'll decapitate him."
Eve winced. "Okay..."

James chuckled, though it was hard to detect any humor in it. "Good luck with that," he said. When he was ready, he started moving down the stairs. Sam was all packed up, ready to move out. In the basement Estel stared after Hayley as she ran away, then back to Ella who raised a hand and said "Just don't Estel. You two ready to go yet?" Aiden looked at her and said "Yeah, I'm good." "Same here," Estel said.

Eve and Hibiki followed, but Eve got down first. Seeing Hayley, she looked at James.
"Wasn't she looking after Ella?"

"Yeah, she was. Hayley, everything okay?" James asked her. Right as he said that, Ella, Aiden and Estel clambered up the stairs from the basement, Ella supported by Estel. She took one look and said "My bad. I made her squirm." James just gave his old friend an exasperated look and said "Really? You couldn't have left that back at Highschool?" Ella flashed him a wicked grin, and said "What? Making girls squirm was always my specialty."

Eve took Ella's hand and led her to Hayley. "Ok, so, her face is red. Can you two explain that to me?" She asked. Hibiki chuckled. "I'm not helping you two with that."

Eve's eyes executed the form of eye stare not many can resist.

Eve had done it.

Eve activated...Bambi Eyes.

Ella blinked, and looked at both James and Hibiki. "Is she okay? She looks like she's strung out on drugs," Ella asked, and Estel burst out laughing.

Eve poked Ella.
"She's flushed and I heard running, and then you two talked weird. Doesn't take a rocket scientist." She shrugged and headed over to Sam and leaned against her side. "So...when will we go?"

"In a few minutes, we head for the motor pool," James said, still unsure of what was going on. Ella blushed a bit and said "What? We talked, no big deal."

"Sorry." Hayley sighed. "I got scared when Estel appeared, so...yeah...I uh...didn't mean what you thought. I prefer cake with my icing, thanks."

Eve took Sam's hand. "Alright...we'll need a good scope."

"Scope? You mean sniper?" Sam asked Eve. James looked from Ella to Hayley, then to Hibiki and said "Deja vu huh?"

"Yes...or binoculars...I need to scout it out..." Eve explained.

"So, if I started singing love is in the air, would I get hit?" Hibiki asked.

James gave her a brief, sour look, before grabbing his stuff and walking out of the house. "Come on, they won't wait forever," he said. Sam blinked, and said "Why you? We could have James or your mom do it. Hell we've got Aiden and Estel, let them risk their necks." Estel said "Oi, I'm not your personal redshirt!"

"Sam." Eve said. "Let's just go."

"Just wait," Sam said to Estel. "You'll take a bullet for me, I'm sure of it." Estel bristled, but said nothing as she followed them out. James led them to a gathering of cars, the tank among them. Marcus and Cooper were there, along with several men from the caravan who were all armed for bear. "Marcus," James said. The older man just nodded. "James, we're good to go but I think it'd be best if we actually came back with ammo, and a lot of it. We'll tank the tank, and a few of the cars but you take point, we'll follow you."

Eve remained silent, just holding Sam's hand.

Hibiki stayed with Ella and Hayley. "So. I want you two in the same car and stay there. Alright? I don't want you with your leg hurt in any more danger, and you..." She looked at Hayley. "Need to stay safe. If anyone needs first aid, we can't protect you in the middle of a firefight."

"Okay mom, I get that you're trying to keep me safe but I'll be fine. If James is risking his neck out there, I've got no right to do any less."

Hibiki stopped, grabbing Ella's arm.
"He isn't fucking shot. He isn't currently having a problem walking without any problems. If you were not recently shot in the fucking leg with an arrow, I'd be making my entire don't be a hero speech. But you nearly became a Skyrim meme. So do not be sarcastic. If it was up to me I'd leave you behind where you can rest and recuperate so I don't have to act like this. But you're coming with us, and if you don't stay in the fucking car, then the Shepherds are the least of your worries. End of discussion. If I have to tie you up in the car and gag you I will."

Hibiki let her go. "Famous last words, I'll be fine. You've got no right to make James have to worry about you hurt and having to move slow because your leg. This isn't about what you want Ella. This is about getting ammo, and you're useless with your leg. So you stay behind and let us do this fast, because if we don't, we all die. From Shepherds or a lynch mob, who knows."

Ella glared at Hibiki, sparks flying behind her eyes. James knew the look, the same one she got when used to beat the shit out of bullies and immediately James stepped between them. "Whoa now that's enough. Ella, she's got a point; with that leg you'll be a liability to us. Stay in the tank, mount the gun, and give us covering fire when we need it, okay?" he asked, and Ella briefly glared at him.....then sighed and said "Okay. At least I get to do something."

Hibiki brushed past James, dragging Eve and Sam behind her as she stomped into the tank. She obviously was not thrilled with Ella's attitude, and she wasn't going to risk killing the bitch herself.

Ella glared after Hibiki, not caring that her friends wife was probably pissed. "Boy James, you sure like the feisty ones don't you?" she said dryly. James gave her a sour look, saying "Just get in the tank Ella, because I'm really not in the mood anymore." She could tell, and nodded her agreement as she walked off to the tank, getting behind everyone else.

Hibiki ignored Ella, and sat down in the driver's chair.
"Strap in. James, you navigate. We'll drop Eve off around the edge of the camp and let her scout it out with Sam as backup, then we'll need to form a plan once Eve has her intel. Understood?"

"Got it," James said. Meanwhile, everyone else taking part in the attack got in their cars, and made ready to move out.

The tank rumbled to life.
"Let's go."

Abel sat in the back on one of the trucks, fully loading his shotgun. He hadn't had a lot of shells left, just a handful or so. That combined with about a mag and a half of pistol ammo would hopefully be enough. He breathed deeply as he tried easing his nerves, but Abel's hands always shook.

Andrew sat in the back of the tank with his sister, who was still a bit on edge. She knew as much as Eve did on the layout of Shepherd camps, but wanted to sit back, hoping to dish out some retribution against her tormentors.

Her face showed her nervousness. Andrew, for the moment, remain stoically silent.