ZRP-2: Brave New World

"We once were trapped in a warehouse. We were up on the catwalk, and zombies had just invaded the floor. We had barricaded the stairways, but it looked pretty hopeless...So, Mommy...did something completely insane. She drew her sword, and told me to hang onto her belt."

Eve grinned. "Then mommy went Kill Bill on the zombies and cut a path threw them after throwing a grenade we had found off a dead Shepherd as a distraction and booked it."

Hibiki slept.
Because she liked sleep.

(Sam)
"Whoa....your mom is a badass."
=What, she was=

"Yep. She is." She then relaxed her grin into a soft smile. "She's also kind...she took me in...she became my mother...She's...she's why I was able to break through the...the brainwashing. I...I didn't want to lose my...my mommy..."

=I then lay down, my body drained after what had happened=

Who would blame me for feeling like this...absolutely no one...

=I stare at the ceiling, my mind a rush of emotions once again=

It's that helpless feeling I had...I hate it...I hate it so much...

=I look to Miranda, and for the first time in my life, can't find anything to really say=

(Sam)
"Well by the looks of things, she doesn't want to lose you as well. And I guess....neither does James."
=I smiled a little as a memory crossed my mind=

"Now it's my turn to tell you a story. About James. Before I had joined up with the caravan, almost a year and a half ago now.....I was on my own, struggling to survive. I knew how to defend myself, but it wasn't enough when a four bandits attacked me. They were going to.....do more than steal from me and kill me. But before they could do anything else, an arrow killed one of them, and when they turned to fight, the rest were killed by James, wielding a knife."

=It shocked me a little, about how easy it was to tell this story. But I guess it wasn't just a story about how bad I once had it. It was a story about the man that saved me=

"When they were dead, he took off his jacket and covered me with it, helped me to my feet, and got me to the caravan. They had been in the area, looking for supplies and he had been the one that found me. He was the one that gave me a home."

"Woah. James is a badass." She said.
Eve was going to say something...then she paused, and reconsidered.
"I'm glad he saved you."

(Sam)
=I smiled a little, my feelings for him surfacing a little=
"Yeah, he is. But, I returned the favor eventually. See, after that he and I not only became friends, but we trained each other. Fighting, shooting, surviving. So when he was captured by the Shepherds, I was the one that managed to save him."

"You saved him, too?"
Eve smiled softly. "I saved him...because he made mommy happy...I could tell..." She then looked sad. "I almost took away their happiness..."

(Sam)
"And you gave it back to them. Eve, here's some advice I learned a while ago: Don't dwell on the past, or the mistakes you made in life. Holding onto the guilt......makes it difficult for you to live."

Eve closed her eyes. "I...the guilt...the pain...I...it won't leave me. I almost did that...because I wasn't strong enough to stop it."

(Sam)
=My heart sank a little, as I realized what she had hinted at. It only made me hug her, hold her close to me=
"Eve, you don't need to feel that way anymore. You have friends and family, people who love you. We've forgiven you for everything you've done. It's time you forgave yourself."

Eve seemed to melt into the hug.
"I...I'm afraid the brainwashing will kick in again. That I only have beaten it for a short time. I'm scared...scared that I will turn your forgiveness into nothing but regret."

(Sam)
"It won't kick in again. And do you want to know why? You've got something stronger than that brainwashing working against it. Family. Hope. Love. You have us Eve. Will you really let us be hurt?"

Eve looked up...her face with tears of happiness the rolled down around her smile.
"No...not now...not ever."
She clung to Sam tighter. "Thank you."

(Sam)
=When she hugged me tighter, her cheek brushed against mine, and those same odd emotions surfaced. I did what I could to fight them down, but what I couldn't made me hold the girl in a more tender embrace=

"I want to go to bed...but I don't want to leave..." Eve said softly. "I hate decisions...don't you?"

(Sam)
"Yeah, I know what that's like, having to choose. Tell ya what though: I don't have anything else to do, and I think James and Hibiki wanted me to keep an eye on you. So I'll be with you while you get some rest."

Eve smiles, taking her hands. "Thank you."
Eve gently started pulling Sam to the room, not wanting to make the other person lose their balance.

(Sam)
=Walking behind the girl, we both entered the room again. I just sat on my side of the bed, while she curled up on her own=

I wake back up in the inn room and look around.

I've must've drifted off...

I stand and test my leg, it was pretty good and only mildly hurt with the pain killers.

I'll see if I can get a crutch.

I head out into the main area.

--The Following Day, Noon--

(James)
=The next day, I was away from the inn, over by the warehouse where Marcus had assembled a small number of vehicles for me to look over. There were two cars, a minivan, a pickup truck, and a commercial jeep with some metal plates welded on for protection. I only had a chance to pick out two though, three at least=

Maybe I should wait until I know exactly how many people are joining us....


(Sam)
=James wasn't the only one at the warehouse. While he was busy appraising the vehicles, I got saddled with gathering supplies. Mostly ammo for our weapons, along with whatever food and water Marcus and the town could spare. Thankfully, I wasn't alone in this job=

Hibiki was using James as her leaning post. So far, she had thrown up an impressive four times in the past hour.
Poor hygenie and stuff for two years can do that. She was lucky she had always found some tooth paste, because honestly, fuck having bad teeth.
She sighed softly, one arm around James' waist, her head on his shoulder.


Eve was helping Sam gather supplies, which kept her mind busy...thankfully.
But, she was happily helping Sam out.

(James)
=Now, as much as I enjoyed having Hibiki lean against me, I did have some work to do and the emotions her proximity caused.....were distracting. That and her throwing up a lot had me worried=
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to rest? Maybe sit down?"


(Sam)
=Writing off a check list=
"Okay, several cans of tuna and vegetables, a few bags of chips, and as a last resort, several cans of Dog and Cat food. Beef and tuna.....well, let's hope it doesn't kill us. What have you got so far Eve?"

I sit in the chair in the Inn room. Just thinking. Yesterday I couldn't find this James man, which is unfortunate. I found Jennifer walking around though.

It's good she's up and about. Means she's getting better. Letting her use the rifle as a crutch was a good idea, better use then it's seen in awhile.
...
I wonder what this job is, if it's even open. And where is this James fellow? And what does he look like?

I look down at Wrex who had slept on the floor again. It's kinda early in the morning, which also explains why Jennifer is still asleep.

Hibiki laughed. "I'll be fine. I'm actually thinking the pickup truck would be best, as well as the really cool red Dodge Charger. I used to use one, before I transfered to SWAT. That will do perfectly."

Eve took a look. "I got a few nine-mill clips...five clips for Mommy's rifle...a scavenging group got more arrows...oh, and I got a bunch of bottles of water." she reported. "Oh, and, for some reason, I ended up finding a cat."
A small cat purred in her arms. "I wanna name her...Sammy."

(James)
"Well, the pickup truck would help with supplies, but it's a two seater. We've got you, me, Eve, Sam, Andrew and Miranda and maybe the kids. That's nine people so far......though I really am tempted to have the kids stay here. I'd pick the mini-van, just for the passenger space."
=I noticed how in the whole conversation, neither of us really moved from the other. I even found myself leaning against her as well=


(Sam)
"Eve, I really don't think bringing a cat along is a good idea. They wander off, and we'd have to feed her."

Well. Maybe if I ask the Innkeeper? Or just go around asking "Hey! Know where somebody named James Martin is?!"

The former sounded better, so I stand up and head out the door. I go straight to the counter where the woman sits.

"I know this is a bit of a strange question, but do you know anybody by the name of James? James Martin?"

I had to say it quick for fear of nervousness coming to haunt me.

Hibiki sighed. "The truck bed. We can fit others...and um...leave the kids here. They can't fight, remember?" She paused. "Me, you, Sam, Eve, Andrew, and Miranda can fit in the Dodge. If you and her share the front seat, or if she sits in Sam's lap. And supplies are more important then space for comfort."

Eve sighed. "I guess so..." She pauses. "I'll give her to Harry. The kids can take care of it, you know? They...they should have...something..."

*Marge*
=She peered at the poor kid, who looked so nervous he looked on the verge of wetting himself=
"I know him. He should be over by the warehouse, just down the street."

(James)
=Despite my best efforts, I couldn't help but think of a few other uses for the bed of the pickup, but that was rather moot. No privacy=
"Hmm, maybe. Eh, alright then, the pickup and the Dodge."

(Sam)
"That sounds like a plan Eve. I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

"Thank you ma'am."

I turn around and leave the building in a near sprint. Confident I'll find him today. But my mind wanders...

They should be awake soon, Wrex and Jennifer. I wonder what they'll think when I tell them.

Eve smiled. "Once we're done here, I'll take it over."

Hibiki yawned. "What's next? I'm still tired...And I have no fucking clue why..."

(James)
"Well, I think I have some idea of why you might be tired...."
=As I spoke, my hand idly drifted down towards her stomach=

(Sam)
"Cool. In the meantime, help me load the rest of this stuff together."

"It's barely a few days since. But fine." She sighed. "What's next.?"

Eve nodded. "Alright." She smiled, perching the cat on her...head...and starting to gather the supplies.
The cat mewed and settled on her head.
Because fuck logic.

(James)
"Well, I suppose the question would be if you want to stick to the schedule or not? We have the supplies and transportation, so we could leave now and make St. Louis by nightfall maybe."


(Sam)
=The sight of the cat on Eve's head, was just the most adorable thing I had ever seen. It was also the funniest, which was why I laughed a little=

"Hey, maybe I'll finally find the motorcycle I wanted." She joked.

Eve giggled as well, the cut purring into her hair. "It tickles!"

(James)
"You on a motorcycle.....I gotta admit, the thought turns me on a little anddidIreallyjustsaythat?"
=Me and my mouth.....of course I just said it=

I stop run/sprinting.I'm already starting to get tired. As big as I am and with the small amount of energy I have...

It's a wonder how I have survived these past two years.

"Yes, you did." Hibiki kissed him. "Maybe you'll see that one day."

Eve finished helping Sam. She reached up to pet the cat. "What now?"

(James)
=Kissing her back, I grinned a little, feeling like a boy in the schoolyard=
"Well hey, if it means I keep getting kissed by you, then I may as well say stupid things."

(Sam)
"Now, we go see what James and your mom are up to. Come on."
=I started walking for the door to outside the warehouse=

It looks like I found a warehouse type building. So, you gussed it, I walk up to it. Finally catching my breathe.

=I came up to the warehouse with Miranda in tow=

Showtime, devilman....

=I then see James outside the warehouse, a sort of silly grin on my face=

Thought you're going to leave without us? I'm hurt.

=I grin at the small joke=

Brook was outside of the lockdown town, looking around and thought to herself Hmm.. I wonder if there are people inside of it? I think I should avoid this place... She started to walk outside of the boundary and around the town to the west side of the town and saw that there was an entrance, with a bus in front of it. Now to the untrained eye most would say there was no one inside of it guarding the entrance, but she knew better. She figured she wouldn't even make it even close to the bus so she looked around and started to walk away int he opposite direction, trying to avoid any trouble. She heard something "Hey miss, you want in?" She turned around to see two guards and she looked around her to make sure that they were talking to her. Seeing no one else she shyly walked up to the men and nodded her head. "Ok, do you have any concealed weapons on you?" She took off her backpack and opened a pouch in the front, showing six knives and then on her tactical vest there was one hidden knife and two more and two in each boot under her jeans and one attached to her belt. The guards checked over all of the areas and then asked if there were any more.

"No." She quietly said back to him and he nodded. The bus slowly moved out of the way just enough for her to enter. She looked around and started to just walk through the town.

(James)
=I turned to face Andrew, walking towards us with Miranda in tow=
"No one's leaving yet Andrew. Just making a list of what we've got now instead of at the last minute."

=Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sam and Eve walk out of the warehouse. Eve had.....a cat, on her head. Okay then=
"Sam what's the word on those supplies?"

(Sam)
"We've got food and ammo James, enough to last a few days."

=I keep my grin=

Good, because the lady wanted to go and fight.

=I look to Miranda with a knowing smile=

(James)
"Good job Sam. We'll get it loaded up on the truck in a bit."
=Turning back to Andrew=

"Well, no shortage of that these days. But with luck, there won't be much fighting on this job."

Brook made her way to the Sheriff's office to try and see if she could get a small tour or get a job working with the town. She approached the building carefully and opened the door. She looked around and went to go sit down at a chair to wait for the Sheriff.

=I look back to James=

Well, let's hope that our luck will hold.

=I try to keep my smile, knowing the bitter truth of recent events=

(James)
"Holds and improves more like it. Wonder what we'll find at the Elite compound....."


*Marcus*
=Marcus was busy sitting at his desk, going over the map James had recovered, when a new person, not one of the town denizens, walked in. Folding the map up so she wouldn't see it, he stood up to address her=
"Hell, can I help you?"

=I rub my chin for a moment=

Good gear, plenty of ammunition...not to mention weaponry that makes ours look positively primitive.

=I shrug=

Not that there's any problems with the gear we have.

(James)
"Eh, I could still kick your ass with my bow and arrow. After two years of use I'd be disappointed if I couldn't."