ZRP-2: Brave New World

Hibiki sat on the hood of the Dodge. "I need a break James." She said, hand on her stomach.

Mira pitched in.

The cat licked the sleeping Eve's cheek. She blinked awake and relocated to the hood of the pickup, where she leaned against the window and fell asleep with the cat curled up on her face.

Brook looked around at the others and followed Sam and James to go help pack up for the mission.

(James)
=I cast a glance at Hibiki, grinning=
"Take all the time you need Hibiki."

=And with that, I entered the warehouse, Tyler, Miranda and Brook hot on my heels. The place was still more or less empty, and the large pile of supplies was neatly arranged on a table to our right=
"Okay everyone, grab what you can carry, and take it back to the pick up truck. Try and keep it organized."

(Sam)
=I grabbed several cans of food, and a few bottles of water, walking from the table towards the door

I started grabbing the weapons and ammo. Just the stuff which people will kill with. A pistol, rifle. Small ammo boxes.
Which reminds me, I need to get my pistol from Jennifer. Then tell both her and Wrex where I'm going. Maybe they'll want to come?

Miranda started grabbing food, carrying it with them towards the truck.
"Hey James, is Hibiki ok?"

Brook grabbed some food a few more bottles of water, following Sam she brought out the supplies over to the vehicles to disperse them and go back to get more supplies and bring them back.

(James)
=I got a little nervous. I hadn't told anyone yet that Hibiki was pregnant. Kinda waiting for the right time=
"Uh, what makes you ask?"

=We had left the warehouse, arms still full of supplies, and deposited them in the bed of the pickup. I tried to keep my voice as low as possible=

"She usually isn't tired." She shrugged. "Just asking.

Miranda returned to putting the food in the truck.

(James)
"Well, I guess it's been a tiring past few days......"
=Actually, I wanted to tell Miranda the good news. But I guess I was terrified that by saying it, I'd jinx it, and that it all would be a false alarm=

"yeah..."
Miranda stopped questioning James and went about loading supplies.

(James)
=It didn't take long before the supplies were loaded up in the bed of the truck, a blanket draped over them to keep from prying eyes=
"Okay everyone.....good work. Let's head back to the inn, we'll meet there in the morning."

"Sound good to me. I need to speak with someone there..."

I started off towards the Inn, eager to speak with Wrex or Jennifer. Whichever is awake.

Brook heard James say they were done and nodded over in his direction. "Ok.." She said and looked around the town. "I think I am going to stay up a little.." She was more talking to herself than anyone and walked over to a bench near the entrance and sat down, crossing her right leg over her left she stared up at the sky.

Hibiki picked up Eve, cradling her in her arms.
"Sam, you'll watch her, right? I think she's grown fond of you."
Hibiki smiled. "She needs to have some friends."

My leg is still hurting but it feels better than before. Wrex isn't up yet, but I head down anyways looking for Tyler.

I make it into the Inn, say hi to the Innkeeper and go straight to our room. Without looking I bumped right into Jennifer!

"Ah!... Sorry."

(Sam)
"Of course I will."
=I reached to take Eve from Hibiki, and despite her size I was able to hold her up. The cat crawled onto my shoulder, mewling softly=

(James)
"Hey Hibiki, want to head back to the inn?"

I wobble a bit but grab Tyler to steady myself.

"Oh its ok. What are you doing?"

Hibiki smiles, kissing Eve's head. "Yeah."

(James)
=A smile on my face, I took her hand and started walking back to the inn, Sam keeping pace with us=

(Sam)
"So, Hibiki. Are you okay? You seem to be tiring out a lot more than usual."

Hibiki blushes. "Yes. I'm fine." She moved closer to James. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Eve slept. The cat licked Sam's cheek.

"I just came back ti tell you that I managed to find a job."

I look behind me and back to her.

"I'm fighting the Shepherds."

(Sam)
=The lick from the cat tickled a little, and I smiled at the sensation. We entered the inn soon after, and we parted ways, me taking Eve back to our room, laying her out on the bed, the cat curled into a ball by her face=

(James)
=Hibiki and I walked into our room, and the first thing I did was ask her something=
"Should we tell them? I mean, it's going to be evident eventually...."

=My hand drifted to her belly again, and I looked into her eyes=

"What! Tyler are you crazy? You'll get killed!"

"Not yet. Everyone will start telling me to rest or stop working or stop fighting." She sighed. "I'm not going to deal with that just yet.

Eve slept like a log. The cat mewled a bit, but stayed quiet.

(James)
"And what about me, Hibiki? I'm not trying to make you sound helpless, or be overprotective to the point of choking you, but.....it's our child. I want our child to be safe."

(Sam)
=I climbed into bed to relax, idly scratching the cats ear=

=I head back to the Inn and get into our room, my curiosity eventually getting the better of me=

Hey Mira, James seemed a bit dodgy when you asked about Hibiki.

=I think back to when I was a kid, and then it sort of, well, hit me=

And I think I know why the both of them are being a bit dodgy as well.

"I'm a a woman with a machine gun who bas SWAT training. I'll be fine James."

Eve's nose was licked by the cat, who purred louder at Sam's scratching.

Miranda frowned. "What, Andy?"

(James)
=I couldn't help but grin at her remark a little. She really was one of the strongest people I knew=
"Okay, guess I can't argue with that."

=I lightly planted a kiss on her lips=

(Sam)
Okay.....maybe we can somehow keep the cat. Certainly would make the journey a lot nicer.

=I lean in closer, lowering my voice to a whisper in order not to be overheard=

I think Hibiki is pregnant.

=The silence in the room become quite palpable=

Miranda was shocked. "What makes you think that?"

Hibiki kissed back. "Good."

The cat relocated to Eve's face.

=I rub my chin=

One, the fact that she's getting exhausted quickly.

=I then look to Miranda=

That, and did you notice how dodgy James got when you asked about her?

(Sam)
=I calmly scooped the cat up off of Eve's face, quietly whispering to it=
"Okay, come on now. She going to have to breathe."

(James)
=The kiss felt good, as it always did. I held her close, the both of us standing there in the room. I wanted more......but I left that up to her. After all, she was tired=

"No no no, I won't be fighting right away... I'm just... this should be able to get you food, water and a safe place to stay with this job."

I fight back a yawn, my fingers already finding themselves scratching my neck.

"The same goes For Wrex... look, I don't know you very well. But I uh... care you for you. It's why I'm doing this."

Brook lie down on the bench and stared up into the night sky, not very tired she stayed there and just enjoyed her time alone and not on the run.

Hibiki kissed back. "Maybe tomorrow." She said softly.

The cat looked at Sam like Excuse me! I was comfortable! then curled up on Eve's stomach.

Miranda sighed. "Yeah..."

His words touch me deeply. I smile and wrap my arms around his waist pulling him into a hug.

"Thank you... this means alot..."

I rest my head on his shoulder, and let a few tears run my check.

Don't worry dad, I'm in good hands...

(James)
=Still smiling, I walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge=
"Of course. Besides, I guess it would be kinda bad if in the middle of things you threw up on me."

(Sam)
"Well fine, be that way."
=I just sat on the bed, legs crossed, eyeing the cat=

=I point up my index finger, imitating a professor=

So, all I did was put two and two together.

=I smile=

But James has my word that I will keep it a secret from the others...and I intend to keep my word.

Abel was weighing his options while he walked about the town, taking in his surroundings. It was pretty large, to the point where it was probably a hassle keeping watch on all sides. But it seemed they had enough guards. After walking around a bit he saw a ladder leaning up against a what seemed to be an abandoned building. Abel climbed up the ladder, finding himself on a tilted shingle roof, pointing west towards where the sun began to set. He let himself fall unto his rump, then placed his shotgun to his side, along with his sheathed sword. He was humming a song, but not the same one that he whistled on the road, this one was different. The humming slowly turned into mumbled words.

"I'll be what I am..."

He pondered the thought of the next words to the song, thinking of what he'll do next.

It was kinda of sudden, the hug. So it caught me off guard. Nevertheless, I hugged her back.

"You- You're welcome."

I didn't really know what is to say.

I break the hug, I was still feeling pretty grateful and gave him a kiss on the check.

"Just... don't get hurt..."

Brook followed the man up to the roof, listening to him sing and hum for a while before she cleared her throat. "E-excuse me sir... Would you mind if I joined you? I mean, if you didn't... I don't mind. I would just like some company.." She smiled weakly, and looked at him with her eyes, but her head was faced down.

Hibiki laughed. "Exactly."

The cat looked back at Sam, the lightly headbutted Eve's stomach before settling down again.

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Right Holmes. Right."

Abel was a bit shocked for a moment. The whole people interaction thing was still coming back to him, after the past couple years, thankfully he talked to himself often, so that kept him sane atleast.

"Oh, um... Yeah, sure."

Abel slid over a bit to make more room.
Oh god, did she hear you singing? Should you even feel embarrassed about that?

=I want to go on, my point proven=

Guess I should shut up now, huh?

=I smile sheepishly=

That was something I hadn't felt before and made me smile.

"I wasn't planning on it."

(James)
=Still, I wasn't about to sit around doing nothing. Gently pulling her down to sit next to me, I cupped her jaw in my left hand, right still holding on to hers, and kissed her again, lingering there for a moment longer, savoring the feeling=

(Sam)
Cats....no respect.

She smiled and walked over to him and sat down carefully. "it's,..It's a very lovely sunset isn't it?" She asked, looking over west at the setting sun.

I return the smile.

"That's good."