ZRP-2: Brave New World

=I look up, a feeling of relief overwhelming me=

It's just good to see you alive.

=I go with Miranda=

Let's just get the hell out of here.

(James)
"Oh blah blah blah, always the same tune from you people. "God did this, the Lord punished that." You and your stupid religion, killed off the whole planet!"

*Jonah*
=He dragged the knife down my chest, cutting into my skin and drawing blood. I grunted in pain=
"Heretics, will be punished."

Miranda hurried Andrew along, Eve leading the way to the Motorpool. Upon arrival, Hibiki was standing beside a black 2012 Chevy Avalanche. The back was filled with fuel cans.
"Come here." Hibiki ordered Eve.
The girl came forward quietly, and Hibiki opened the door. Taking the cuffs, Hibiki restrained the girl's hand on the handhold on the driver's side. She told Miranda to get Andrew into the back, and she got into the driver's seat.
"Luckily, they keep the keys in the ignition. Arrogant bastards."
Eve whimpered a bit, probably because the handcuffs were biting into her wrists.
"Alright. We'll crash into the tent. Andrew, get James in. Then we'll blow this joint." Hibiki said.

=I nod, my eye glittering with hate=

Got it.

=I then check my gun=

Time for some payback.

Hibiki gunned the truck, spitting gravel. She roared towards the main tent, not bothering to swerve around anyone.
"Hand on. And pray we don't hit James."

The truck crashed through the entrance and fishtailed to a stop just a few feet in.

=I open the door and jump out=

That's right bastard...RUN!

=I then head over to James=

(James)
=Jonah would have said more, but when he heard the sound of an oncoming engine, he turned, and ducked right as the truck crashed through the tent, barely missing me. Out of the corner of my eye, i saw him roll under the edge of the tent, away from the truck=
"NO! GET BACK HERE COWARD!!!"

=I would have tried to run for him, but since my hands were tied. Besides, escape first. I saw Andrew get out of the truck and walk towards me=

=I walk up to James=

Come on James, we're getting the hell out of here.

=I then walk and yell after Jonah=

If I EVER find out you hurt my girlfriend, I'm gonna to skin your hide!

=I then get my knife and untie James=

(James)
=Freed of my bonds, I climbed into the truck, surprised as hell when I saw Eve=
"What the hell is she doing here?"

"She let me go. She got Miranda to Andrew...and she's my daughter, not that bastards. If you love me, you'll respect my decision. And I did handcuff her."
She still was crying as she floored it, heading for the barricade. "Hang on everyone."

(James)
=In all honesty, I wanted to argue, but now was not the time. All I could say, through gritted teeth was=
"We'll talk later."

=We crashed right through the barricade, sparks flying off the side of the truck=

=I sit and stare daggers at Eve=

It's taking all my control NOT to throttle her...

=I then grab onto the handle and hold on for dear life=

Miranda holds Andrew's arm warningly.

Hibiki floors it past, heading for the spot where the lockdown town's forces were. She skidded to a stop, throwing the door open. "It's us!" She shouted, climbing out. "We gotta get back to the town! Now!"

=The group of vehicles from the town were waiting for the signal, and instead they got a truck crashing towards them, and Hibiki opening the door shouting at them. The driver of the lead car kicked into gear, starting their engine while someone opened the door on the side=

(James)
=I climbed out of the truck, along with Andrew and a girl I didn't recognize, Eve between me and Hibiki. Everyone moved to get in through the open door but there wasn't enough room=
"Andrew, take the car over there, there's space."

"There's fuel in the back; someone take this truck." she said.

Hibiki kept Eve handcuffed, but she set her on her lap anyways. "Get Andrew in here."

=I get in with Hibiki and Miranda=

I'm coming.

=I get in the driver's seat, feeling a sense of relief for the first time in two whole years=

Hold on ladies, this ride's gonna be a bit bumpy!

=I then hit the gas and head out=

(James)
=I saw Andrew and the new girl get in truck again, while I climbed into the car, closing the door behind me. Every vehicle there jumped into life, and pulled a u-turn back to the town. I was dimly aware that I was still bleeding, but the first thing I did was check Hibiki=
"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine....Eve kept me from harm..." She looked at the girl, then hugged her close. "Why did you do it? Why Eve..."
Eve...started to cry.
"I was trained to. I was...I was..."

Eve devolved into a heaving little girl, holding her face in her hands, crying her eyes out.
Somehow, the words "I'msorry" manage to come out at random times during the drive back to the town.

(James)
=I was angry at Eve, though probably not as hurt as Hibiki was. She betrayed us both, and could have gotten me killed and Hibiki....worse. Seeing her cry like that didn't make me any less angry, but it did make me see that my anger was misplaced. I was angry at her, because of her association with Jonah=

=I look at Eve, a mixture of hate gratefulness on my face=

Serves you right, traitor...

=I continue to drive, watching the other cars in the convoy=

The ride was long, and Hibiki, while, hurt badly emotionally, still treated Eve like a daughter.
"I wanted to kill her, James. I wanted to. But then I realized what she was doing, back when we first met Jonah.

She was trying to protect me."
Hibiki nuzzled the side of Eve's head. "The Shepherds use questionable means, remember? I think...that two years, with someone who truly loves you, broke through whatever the Shepherds did..." Hibiki was crying a bit though. "Oh Eve...if only I knew what they did to you, I'd be able to forgive you faster...oh Eve..."
Hibiki broke down and cried again, burying her face in Eve's hair.

I went back inside after the cars had left. I didn't get any sleep though, so I decided to go on a walk. A real walk. Not some drinking session.

(James)
=Right now, I wanted to hold Hibiki while she held onto Eve. Sure, she was holding on to Eve....but who was there for her? So, despite possibly intruding on them, I wrapped my arm around both Hibiki and Eve, and gently pulled them close=

Eve looked up at James.
"I'm sorry I'm so so so so sorry..." She sobbed.
Hibiki laid her head on James' shoulder, kissing Eve's head. "Shh...shh..." Hibiki looked at James. "What will happen to her?" She asked.

(James)
"I don't know....Marcus will want blood for his men, and the fact that she was a traitor won't help. But she saved us, so that counts for something. I'll make sure of it."
=Looking down at Eve=

"It's.....going to be okay, Eve. I promise."

Eve looked up. "It's like you can't think. You can only do what they say...but deep down, I remained the fact... just wanted a mommy."
Eve buried her face into Hibiki's neck, after moving her handcuffed arms over and around Hibiki's neck.
The woman, stroked her hair. "What are your thoughts, James?"

I walk around the town aimlessly. I'd just like the light-headedness to go away now please.

(James)
"I know what the Shepherds are like, what they're capable of. Brainwashing a kid isn't low enough for them. Or Jonah."
=Still, i went through the scenario in my head, about what would happen when we got back=

"I don't doubt for a second that Marcus will want to throw her in a cell, ask her questions, and maybe even stand trial. I won't let that happen."

"Thank you, James..." She said. "I knew I loved you."
Hibiki managed a smile.

(James)
=Well that certainly brightened my spirit. I would have said something else, but I guess my brain finally decided to register the cut=
"Oh, crap I'm still bleeding."

=Scooting away from the two, I tore off a piece of my shirt, pressing it on the wound=

"Just a bleeder, so I'll be fine."
=It wasn't long before we reached the town, the school bus letting us pass. We pulled up in front of the Sheriff's office, and the first thing I saw was Marcus, standing outside. I got out, and he was on me in seconds=

*Marcus*
"James, what the hell happened? Why are you all back so soon?"

Hibiki got out, Eve hanging on her neck. Her handcuffs clinked as she was jostled, but Hibiki kept a strong grip on the girl. Despite her size, she was still in Hibiki's arms, crying.

Hibiki said nothing.

"I guess the cars are back..."

=I park the truck and get out, Miranda close behind me=

Well...good job Romeo...

=I look to Marcus, who was worrying over James=

(James)
"We ran into....complications."

*Driver*
=The driver got out of his car, and walked over to Marcus=
"That girl they've got is a traitor! I heard it while they talked in the back seat."

(James)
=I wanted to shoot that man.....but in all honesty, it was going to be said at some point. Marcus.....he went from concerned, to livid=

*Marcus*
"Is this true?"

(James)
"I wish it wasn't....but Marcus, there are special circumstan-- hey, where are you going?"
=He walked around me, right for Hibiki and Eve. I just ran to him, and got in his way=

"You want that girl, you're going to have to through me first. She saved our lives."

Hibiki 's gun was drawn, and her body was turned to shield Eve.
"She was brainwashed heavily by the Shepherds. She couldn't do anything but obey. They broke her, and I put her back together. If you want her, you all will have to face a SWAT Officer....No, a mother who's child is threatened, and you don't fuck with such an entity when she's pissed.

*Driver*
"And what about the other two that went with you? Where are they?"

*Marcus*
"Two of my men....are dead, because of her."

(James)
"And she made up for it by killing two more Shepherds. Marcus, taking it out on her won't solve anything."

*Marcus*
"Get out of my way James....she needs to punished."
=When he moved to go around me, I did the only thing I could. I slugged him, right in the jaw with a vicious hook=

(James)
"You. Will stay away. From her."

"She saved Andrew. She got our weapons back. She even got you a good chunk of fuel and a working truck from the Shepherds! Your men died from an ambush, and the Shepherds. Eve had no choice in the matter. Look at me and tell me you can stop being brainwashed at the drop of a fucking hat."

Hibiki never lowered her gun.

=I point my .45 at Marcus=

That girl maybe a traitor...but she brought me back someone I thought had died.

=I cock the pistol's hammer back=

She saved my life...now you better back off if you want to keep yours.

Eve cried.

She cried into Hibiki's neck, tears of regret mixing with the tears of thanks. James forgave her, and was defending her. Andrew was defending her.
Mommy was defending her.
But...
"I-I'll s-submit m-myself to th-the l-laws of this town." She said. "D-don't g-get h-hurt or th-thrown out over m-me. L-let m-me p-protect you now."

(James)
=I heard the click of a dozen weapons around us, and I noticed then that the other soldiers from the cars had their weapons drawn, and aimed at us=
"Marcus....I know you're angry and that you want someone to take it out on. But Eve is not your enemy, and she doesn't deserve your anger."

*Marcus*
=He was still standing a few feet from me, rubbing his jaw, eyes burning with fury. But I guess he came to his senses, and backed off=
"Lower your weapons. The girl....won't be harmed."

Eve cried.

She cried so much, it shocked people. That such a little body could cry herself for so long and so hard, with barely any break.

Hibiki holstered her weapon. "I will keep her restrained in my room at the Inn. Is that acceptable, Marcus?"

=I keep my pistol drawn, and look at Miranda, who gives me a concerned look=

Jonah is going to pay dearly for what he did...

=I then put the hammer on the pistol back, put it on safe, and back into my holster=

*Marcus*
"Just....keep her out of my sight for now."
=He turned, and walked back towards the sheriff's building=

"Someone unload that gas from the truck!"
=People began moving for the truck, picking up the containers. I just rushed back to Hibiki and Eve=

(James)
"You two okay?"

Hibiki nodded. "I'll put her in my room. Then I'll see you at yours, ok?"
She managed a weak smile before turning and carrying all her fucking stuff, as well as Eve's, and going to the Inn.

Because adrenaline and anger really help.

(James)
"Alright....."
=It was all I could really say. I didn't know what else to do at this point, though I figured getting the cut on my chest looked at would be a nice start. It had actually stopped bleeding, so that was good. I had also just noticed that I never buttoned it back up again, and the scars were showing again, so I quickly sealed it up, and headed for the Inn=

Hibiki closed the door and set Eve on the bed. For the moment, she cuffed Eve to the bedpost, and told her to wait.

Hibiki finally dug up some rope, and used it to keep Eve attached to the bed. Using a very complicated not, she gave the girl enough slack to the bathroom and where water was being left.
Hibiki then sat beside Eve, who flopped onto Hibiki's lap.

Hibiki stroked the girl's hair. "No matter what...you're my daughter. And I love you."

Eve only responded with a cry that sounded like "I love you mommy."


When Eve fell asleep, Hibiki knocked on James' door.


___________

Miranda threw her arms around Andrew.
"You came for me!" She sobbed into his chest. "You came..."

(James)
=I had returned to my room soon after, my shirt open again as I dabbed at it with the same piece of shirt I had torn off. When I heard the door knock, I quickly buttoned up and went to open it, finding Hibiki standing outside=
"Hibiki..."

=I placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her into a hug=

=I hug her back, a flood of emotions coming through me=

Of course I did...I made a promise. And I made sure it was kept.

=I continue to hug her, feeling that strength once again=

I thought I lost you...but now...I'm going to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Hibiki entered the embrace happily, and kissed James as deeply as she could.

She just wanted his embrace.

...maybe more.

________________

Miranda kissed Andrew's cheek. "My hero then."

(James)
=When she kissed me....all thought of Jonah, the torture I would have gone through, of Eve, just washed away. All that mattered was this woman here in my arms, kissing me. Gently pulling her with me, I did my best to kick the door closed. I noted how the general direction we were walking was towards my bed, and a large part of me was okay with that. But, to my stupidity, I broke the kiss, still holding her in my arms=

"How are you doing?"