ZRP-2: Chapter Two, Paradise in Hell

(James)
"If it were that simple, they would have done it already. Besides, they need us to draw the walkers away from the breach so they can plug it. Once more, we need bait."

(Sam)
"I consider a date dinner, or a walk in the park. Classic stuff really."

"Then Eve. We all can set up an Ambush. She draws them to us. Not like you can pull such a stunt again."

Eve sighed. "Then may we go on a date after this?"

(Sam)
"Hmmm, maybe. We'll see Eve."
=Secretly though....yes=

(James)
"How about someone other than your daughter? What about Andrew, it's about time he risked his life doing something stupid."

"I'm afraid of giving the walkers indigestion. Andy won't let Mira go. You won't let me go. The others are.god knows where. And you try getting Eve to let go of Sam and let her do that."

Eve nods. "Ok."

(James)
"Well someone's gotta be the bait. Worst comes to worst we just do the usual shooting, but I'd like to be smart about this."

(Sam)
"Hey, you two have a plan for this yet?"

"I hate doing it, but letting Eve go is the only plan I got. No Brook or Tyler around at the moment. And Abel...I dunno."

She glanced at Sam. "Maybe."

Abel played with his ring while following the group.
Whistling lightly.

=I stare at the two, my gaze boring into Hibiki=

Why that little bitch...

=I feel my temper flare, feeling the urge to grab my knife, and then resisting it=

If wasn't pregnant, I'd kick her ass...

I can hear you two up there...

(James)
"Well then congrats Andrew, that makes you the first volunteer for bait."
=I inclined my head back to the others=

"Unless anyone else wants to attract the walkers?"

(Sam)
"Uh, I don't mind but I'm better at shooting than attracting. Note my lack of relationships before now."

=I turn silent for a bit, then take in the statement=

Wait...WHAT?!?!?

=Then it hits me=

Miranda will kill me before the walkers do!

(James)
"Only if you can't outrun them Andrew, so unless you mean to tell me you're slower than a walker, you're up to bat."

=I laughed a little at Sam's remark=
"Hey, if you want to run then run."

=My eyes narrow=

Good God, No. I can outrun a walker.

=I look to Mira=

I'm more worried about what Miranda would do to me.

"Good. Because I'm not about to send you out when you act less mature then Eve. For the record, I mean you too, James."

Eve looked at her feet. "If no one else can go, I will."

Mira scowled. "I'll go."

(James)
"Someone's going, we know that much. Do you guys want to draw straws or something?"

(Sam)
"James look I'll go. I'm fast enough to do it, way faster than you that's for sure."

Abel walked over to where the rest of the group was talking.
"Hey, uh... Seventh wheel here. What are we arguing about?"

(James)
"Abel, we're talking about who among us will run as bait to lure away walkers while a team of Clarissa's people work to plug a breach in the compound defenses."

"Do we really need bait? If we all take up good positions then the walkers shouldn't be trouble."

(Sam)
"We need to lure the walkers away from a breach in the wall Abel. Taking them out won't help, since the noise will attract more near the other side of the wall. If we attract the ones on this side, then we can give her people time and privacy to plant the explosives in the hole and plug it up."

"Then... aren't all of us the bait?"

=I look to Abel and nod=

Abel makes a good point.

=I purse my lips=

He would be right...technically speaking.

I'm at the armory now, finally. Took me awhile to find it. Then a bit more to get in. I had to say I was with James.
I'm not as popular, I suppose. That's okay, I can't handle people knowing me before I meet them anyway.
Wanna know the first thing I saw when I got in the armory? A 44. magnum. But it wouldn't be too helpful, sadly.
Loud, powerful shots. Long reloading time, for me at least. I'm not too quick with my hands. Isn't incredibly accurate.

Despite all that, I grab it anyway. Along with M1911. Oh and another Beretta. Oh! And even a flare gun.
Since pistols are the only thing I can handle, at least I think. I would practice with rifles if I had spare ammo.
Now isn't the time to start practicing either. I definitely wouldn't want to make a fool of myself trying to practice on the battlefield.
Since, you know, I'm barely in this party as it is. If I don't show that I can do this, I'll be cut off. And so will Jennifer.

Oh, right, I'm rambling. Guess I should be saying something like...
I left the armory with a bunch of pistols and ammo for them. Now I'm just trying to find the others before they begin.
I would hate it if I was left behind. Haven't shot anything in five days. Well, excluding that little shoot off with the Shepherds.

(James)
"Technically, yes we are. But for now we just need one person to work as a lure."
=I stopped on the sidewalk=

"So, who's it going to be? Sam, Andrew, or Abel?"

(Sam)
"Look I'll go James. I'm a damned good runner, so I can outrun them."

Eve held onto Sam's hand.
"I'm going with you." She said. "No buts."

Hibiki raised her arms in defeat. She wasn't going to contend with Eve.
She'd rather charge a thousand walkers with her katana.

(Sam)
"Eve, you really need to stop being so assertive about putting yourself in these conditions...."
=But honestly, I secretly welcomed the company=

(James)
"Sam if you're going mobile, let's swap weapons."
=I held out the P90=

"You'll need this more than the big shotgun."

(Sam)
=Taking the SMG, I handed over the SPAS shotgun to James, holding the odd gun in my hands. The stock and grip were....weird=

"I'm not a damsel in distress. I'm Katniss Everdeen. I will not be in the background. I will stay with you. End of discussion."
Eve's face was set, her soft voice making the determination eve crazier.

(James)
"Eve, you're not Katniss Everdeen. You're Eve, so act more like yourself and not a character in a book."
=Oddly, this was maybe the first time I ever acted more like a parent and less her friend=

"Start acting smart and not brave."

(Sam)
"Act smart.....you do know how you got in that chair right?"

(James)
=With a sigh, I looked at Sam=
"Let's not have this discussion now Sam."

"Then let me." Eve retorted softly.

=I sigh and roll my eyes in the background=

Good Lord...here we go again...

=I let my mind slowly wander=

(James)
=Perhaps I was more willing to but heads with Eve than Hibiki was, but even then I knew when to end the fight=
"Fine....just stay close to each other, okay? We don't need anymore martyrs now."

(Sam)
"No problem James. We'll come out alive."

"I'm not leaving her, and she's not leaving me. We'll be back...together." Eve promised.

Hibiki merely smiled, ruffling Eve's hair. "Go get them."

I shoulda grabbed something bigger anyway.

I keep on running back to the others. But come to a realization.

Wait. Where were they going anyway?

(Sam)
"Will do, just need to know where they are."
=I looked back at James=

"Where are they anyway?"
=A voice behind me answered=

*Cooper*
"Over on the east side of the compound, though we have them contained for now. Follow me."
=He started walking past Sam and Eve, not bothering to check if anyone followed=

=I shake my head, smiling=

My goodness, Cooper has that habit of showing up almost conveniently, doesn't he?

=I sigh=

"Let's go." Eve said. "We have to play the bait."

(James)
"That he does Andrew."
=I started wheeling off, following Cooper=

(Sam)
"Geez Eve, you sound almost eager to dangle yourself off of a hook."
=I walked with the group as we followed Cooper down the street. It was a bit of a walk, though I was curious as to why they needed so much room. Then it hit me: They wanted the breathing room, without the walkers right on their doorstep=

Eve sighed. "Faster it's done, faster I can spend more time with you."

(Sam)
"Heh, a little eager aren't we?"

(James)
"Can you both keep a clear head here? You're about to be bait for walkers, not going on a morning jog."

=I nod curtly=

Indeed he does.

=I follow behind James, my 416 in my arms=

That should send a message: Don't mess with us...

"Eager to spend time with you and learn more about you." She stated before looking at James.
"My head is clear. Faster this is done, the faster I am sure Sam is safe." She said to him with a frown.

=I chuckle a bit=

Eve certainly seems clearheaded about the matter, James.

=I shrug=

But who am I to say?

(Sam)
"Try and focus on staying alive yourself Eve. Look, just put it this way: There's no need to be a romantic or emotionally fueled friend now. I already know how much you care, and saying or doing all this won't do a thing to reinforce that fact."

(James)
"She seems more fixated on Sam then getting the job done....."
=But I wasn't going to argue anymore. Despite the risk, it was still good to see the girl acting this way. I had a feeling she needed it=

She hangs her head.
"I refuse to lose you." She stated.

=I nod, simply observing=

I say let it be for right now...but like I said

=I shrug once again=

Who am I to judge?

(Sam)
=I ignored Andrew=
"And you won't, but try and focus on the point of what we're doing here. This is not a romantic walk in the park, this is us being bait."

=I didn't want to be harsh with what I said but it seemed to me the only way to get the message through to her=

"I know what we are doing!" She said, raising her voice a bit. "I know exactly what we are doing. We are doing exactly what James kept me from doing at the lockdown town. We are being the bait so we can kill these walkers and give the soldiers here time to plug the breach. I know. All because I'm controlled by my emotions does not mean I have lost site of our objective or the seriousness of it."

(Sam)
=I placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently=
"Try and get a hold on them Eve, just for today."

(James)
=I would have said something, but then we reached the area they had blocked off. Three streets, all headed East, and there were were large walls built up, used in the days of the outbreak for containment. Those looked like they would have been able to keep back the horde, except for one thing: walkers were gathered outside the wall, and through the bars of it I could see them headed for an alley. Every now and then, shots would be heard coming from the inside of the building, and the horde would only moan loudly in response=
"Okay I think I see the problem."

=I cock up an eyebrow=

And what exactly is that problem?

=Because I could see it for myself=

(James)
"Andrew, they're coming in from the alley there, and there's a shit load. The hole they need to plug is the alley itself, and the walkers are making that all but impossible for them."

(Sam)
"So we distract the walkers there, lure them away, and they plug the breach?"

*Cooper*
"Pretty much."

=I nod, satisfied=

Easy enough on paper...

=I sling my rifle over my shoulder=

Let's see if this plan works in practice.

Moaning. There was alot of Zombie moaning far off to my left. I head off in that direction even if I barely heard it.