ZRP-2: Chapter Two, Paradise in Hell

(Sam)
Denied by the pussy cat......jeesh
=I turned over, onto my side, facing Eve and the cat=

Eve was fast asleep...but...
"I...love...you...Sam.." the girl said sleepily, her voiced muffled by the cat.

(Sam)
=Honestly, I couldn't tell if she was talking to me or the cat. But I decided to respond anyway=
"Love you Eve."

Eve murmured something incoherent...but Sammy moved a bit so Sam could see a small smile on Eve's face.

(James)
=The moment was short lived, unfortunately. Another knock at the door drew me away from Hibiki, and I opened the door, finding Cooper standing outside=
"It's time?"

*Cooper*
"It's now or never. Is she ready?"

(James)
"I'll wake her now. Wait here."
=Wheeling away from him, I went back to Hibiki, shaking her shoulder to wake her=

Hibiki's eyes open. She looks around to spot Cooper.
Nodding, she kisses James goodbye and grabs her things before following Cooper.
"Let's kick some ass.'

*Cooper*
"Let's."
=And that was all he said as he guided her back to the stadium=

(James)
Okay....what to do?

Once at the stadium, Hibiki headed to the tank.
"Do I have a full compliment of men?" She asked.

Meanwhile, Sammy had moved and was standing a silent vigil on the table as Eve slept peacefully.

*Cooper*
=He gestured at five other people clad in dark fatigues and donning bullet proof vests and weapons=
"We'll accompany you on this run. You drive, we shoot."

"I like it." Hibiki climbed into the tank, buckling in and doing her checks.
"Please get in and fasten your seat belts and prepare to hang on for dear life. I am a woman driver after all."

=One of the soldiers there muttered about her being an Asian driver to boot, but they kept the remark out of earshot. They all strapped in though while Cooper walked off to the other end of the garage, thumbing a button for the door to open. He then waived for Hibiki to drive the tank out=

Hibiki floored it out of the stadium, and then headed for the exit to the compound.
"And I also am an Asian driver, so I'd start praying."

=Cooper once she had cleared the entrance, someone took over for Cooper as he walked out, closing the entrance behind them as he piled into the tank=

*Cooper*
"Okay, we're good to go."

Hibiki put the pedal to the metal and shot off.
"Alright people. We're on the way. Prepare to make a door for us." She said over the intercom.

*Cooper*
"Door? Lady, you're making the door, just ram into the wall."
=They drove for one of the gates, the guards there opening the way for them as they kept driving=

Hibiki laughed. "Then make sure you clean the house thoroughly."

(James)
=After Hibiki had left, I figured I'd just sit around in the room, pass the time by doing....nothing. Which is why I was sorta excited when there was a knock on the door; meant something to do or someone to talk with, so I wheeled over to it, and opened the door. Imagine my surprise when I found someone I did not know, holding a gun on me=

*Charles*
"Mr. Slate would like to speak with you."

Hibiki neared the camp.
"Hang on. Making a door."

With a grin, she sped up, heading for the SUVs that were being the main gate.
A gate that never expected a tank.

(James)
"Well, I guess it would be rude to turn down such a direct invitation. And I'm not even wearing my tux..."
=Despite the sarcasm, my heart was beating a staccato rhythm in my chest. a) there was a gun on me, and b) I was more than likely being forced against my will to enter into a meeting with a hostile megalomaniac=

*Charles*
"Come with me, stay in front. Alert anyone I put one right into your brain pan."
=He stepped out of the way, allowing me to wheel out into the hallway=

"Elevator. Now."

Hibiki rammed through the barricade gleefully.
"Let them have it." She said as she fishtailed into a few Shepherds. Bullets pinged off the armored car. The soldiers prepared to get out.
"Fire the main gun."
The guy nodded, then started a slow, sweeping fire around.
"Clear!"
The six troops ran out, guns firing. The Shepherds had been caught with their pants down, and as the main gunner fired short, controlled bursts, the religious fanatics were being subjectedto highly-trained extermination.

It took an hour after the main gun ran out of ammo, but soon enough the only sounds left were the crunch of the boots of the men as they piled supplies into the backs of pickups and prepared to leave.

Tank. Beats. Everything.

(James)
=After the elevator ride, I found myself on the top floor, in Slate's villa out on the balcony, overlooking the city of St. Louis. Slate arranged for a tray to be next to us, a steaming pot of coffee and biscuits on it, with butter and a knife. He also had a gun pointed at me the whole time, while I was tied to the chair=
"Slate....finally, we meet face to face."

*Mr. Slate*
"You're a difficult man to see Mr. Martin. First incapacitated and out of the ring for two days, then protected by a wall of people."
=He waived the gun a little, looking a little confused=

"Tell me, do I seem that threatening to you and your Jap?"

(James)
"Don't call her that. And honestly, all I see is a man with a gun hiding in his tower. Nothing threatening about that."
=His eyes narrowed, and that was all the warning I had before he reached for the knife on the tray, grabbed my left hand, and brought it down on my pinkie, cutting it off. White pain erupted behind my eyes, and my face twisted in pain as I cried out. He took the pinkie, wrapping it in a napkin=

*Mr. Slate*
"Let me be clear James: you will fear me, before the night is over. You and your people are a threat to our way of life here and I will remove them. But since your Jap was so insolent, I'll be sure to teach her some manners, right in front of you even, before I kill you both."
=He waived his hand, calling Charles over, who was standing silently the whole time. He handed the man the napkin with my finger=

"Drop that off in their room, with a note if you'd please. Just to let the Jap know I'm serious about wanting to see her."
=With that, Charles left the balcony, headed for the elevator. He'd be in and out of the room in a few minutes=

The caravan rolled back into the compound to cheers as Hibiki parked the tank. She climbed on top.
"That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a Japanese Blitzkrieg."
To laughter and applause, she hopped down, and headed back to James.
She wanted to see her James.

All she saw was the note.
The pinkie.

Hibiki Ikezawa, the woman who wanted to become Hibiki Martin, screamed in rage and despair.

(Sam)
=The sound of screams woke me up, and for a brief moment I was back in the caravan during the attack=
"Harry, Jaime, get out of here run!"

=It didn't take me long to realize I was still in the hotel room with Eve. But the screaming was still very real, and I realized it was Hibiki's voice that was screaming. Grabbing the P90, I got up and out of the door, leaving Eve behind as I ran down the hall to James' room. I found here there, screaming, a note and something pink and red on the table across from her=
"Hibiki' what's going on?"

=I wake with a bit of a start. Now...it took quite a bit to wake me. What I heard made me fear the worst=

Not good, not good, not good...

=I look to Mira, who is fast asleep=

Forgive me for this...

=I put on my equipment, throw open the door, and rush to James's and Hibiki's room. I get there a little bit after Sam arrived=

This is bad...very, very bad...

Hibiki fell to her knees.
"Slate has James. He has him. He cut off his pinkie!"
She just sobbed, cradling the note. "I have...I have to go to Slate now...*She shakily stands, then starts disarming herself. She first hands the note to Sam.

Listen, Jap. If you ever want to see your friend again, you will come to my floor. Unarmed. Alone. Or he will die an agonizing death.

"Listen. I will get James back. I swear..." She then, once free of weapons, goes to Sam and holds the girl's face in her hands. "Promise me. Promise me. You will love Eve and never let her go. That you will protect her. Promise me that much...Please."

(Sam)
=The gravity of the situation hit me then, and I found myself on the verge of tears for my friend. All I could do was nod=
"I promise.....and we need Cooper. Now's as good a time as any for this plan."

=I nod=

Sam's right

=I put a hand on her shoulder=

Just remember, no matter what happens, we got your back every step of the way.

Hibiki gave Andrew a hug. "Find Cooper. He should be parking the tank. I...I will do my best to get James out. If all else fails, tell cooper...Plan B. Rocket. Got it?"

She smiled bravely...then headed for the door.
"Tell Eve mommy loves her."

(Sam)
"Just so long as you're coming back. I promise."
=I turned to Andrew=

"Come on Andrew, let's move. We need to find Cooper now!"


*Mr. Slate*
=He had tossed away the knife, and had wrapped the stub where Jamess' pinkie had been with a napkin=
"Sorry about such a crude bandage, but I don't want you bleeding all over my nice carpet."

=Still, he squeezed, hard, around the stub, making James scream despite the gag in his mouth. Slate wheeled him back into the villa, into his own room, a large bed against the wall, lavish couches everywhere, and a large window with a small balcony at the other end=

=I nod=

I'm right behind you.

=I make a run for the stadium=

Come on...time's not on our side.

Hibiki rode the elevator up. She stepped out, arms raised.
"That asshole is expecting me you dickless bastards."
The earned her a punch to the gut and a slap to the face.
She cursed in Japanese. :"I am pregnant morons. Aim for the face bakas."

The guards just shoved her along.

*Mr. Slate*
=He was sitting in a comfy chair, sipping from a glass of bourbon, when the guards brought in Hibiki. James sat across from him, bound to the chair, gag in his mouth, hand still bleeding through the napkin. He tried to make a sound through the gag at the sight of her there, but Slate brandished the gun at him=
"Ah, Jap. How nice of you to join us. Please, have a seat."

=He indicated the chair next to him=

(Sam)
=We found Cooper, walking back from the stadium. He looked slightly happy, I guess from the end of the job, but the look on my face must have alerted him=
"Cooper, Hibiki say's it's time. Slate has James, we need to act now!"

*Cooper*
"Shit....okay, I'll go on ahead, secure the elevator. When it's done I'll send it back down, the two of you get my men. They'll be in the dining room by now, so move!"

Hibiki took the seta, hands on her lap.
"What do you want."


Eve woke up as Sammy hissed in her ear. The girl frowned, then put on her shoes, grabbed her how, and ran off to the main lobby to find Sam, her cat on her head.

=I nod=

You heard him Sam.

=I run=

Let's move it, and fast.

(Sam)
=When I saw Eve, I just pointed back down the hall=
"Eve, go back to the room right now. Stay there."

=That was all I said before Andrew and i entered the dining room=

*Mr. Slate*
"I don't appreciate being insulted, the way you insulted me earlier Jap. Normally, I just shoot them in response but you and your friends are a special case. Threaten my world....insult me, and attempt to undermine me as well? An example has to be made, and you'll be the first."
=He leaned back in the chair, gun now aimed at her=

"Give us a little dance, Jap. Try and.....persuade me to let him live."


=Cooper, having authority to go to the floor, rode the elevator up to Slate's floor. There were only two guards on duty there, the rest flooded the villa for Slate. They were too trusting of him, which gave him the chance to shoot them both in the head and send the elevator down=

=I look to the men=

Cooper sent us.

=I look to Sam=

Slate's made his move. Time for plan B.

Hibiki gritted her teeth, but stood. "Do whatever you want to me...but let him go."

Hands tied, Hibiki started to dance for Slate...actually doing a decent job.


Eve did as she was told

(Sam)
"No, not time for plan B. We still have to get to the elevator."
=I looked again to the soldiers=

"Come with us, we have Cooper's authority."
=They got up immediately, weapons in hand as they followed us back to the elevators=

*Mr. Slate*
"Not until we're done. Strip, while your at it. Shake your hips......let your hands do the work."

=I nod, inserting a clip into the rifle and racking a round in the chamber=

Let's just hope this works.

=I mutter a silent prayer=

Hibiki did as she was told. She started slowly taking off her shirt, inching it up her stomach, revealing the smooth skin.

(James)
=I struggled against the restraints. Thankfully, I had the fortune of it being Slate tying the knots, and he was an amateur. He was so focused on Hibiki, that he didn't notice the bonds loosening=

(Sam)
=We all piled into the elevator and boy was it cramped. As we rode on up, I just prayed, prayed that James and Hibiki were alright=

Hibiki took her shirt off and threw it over Names' bonds. She ran her hands down her body, now moving to her jeans.
All the while glaring at Slate

=The shots had attracted the guards to the elevator lobby, but Cooper had them pinned with his well placed shots. Then the elevator doors opened, and Sam, Andrew, and the five other soldiers came pouring out. More gunfire sounded, louder now=

*Mr. Slate*
"What was that?"
=His head turned for the briefest of moments=

(James)
=Hibiki's shirt hiding my hands, I managed to loosen the bonds enough to free my hands, and when he turned his head I saw my chance and leaped from the chair, though my legs were still bound. It was enough to knock the gun from his hand though, and to the floor=

=I burst out of the elevator firing, dropping guards left and right=

Pick up the pace people, we got people to save.

=I continue to move, firing at what guards I saw=

The gun dropped.
Hibiki dived for it, grabbed it, and spun up, planted in her stance. She had Slate dead to rights.
"Stand up you fucker. Move towards him, and I swear to God, to Amaterasu, and to Posideon I will blast your head off and throw it out the window. Now back the fuck up. And don't stop until your back is to the window."

(Sam)
"Shut up and shoot Andrew!"
=Firing off shots from the P90, I hit one guard in the chest, the others behind me following suit and hitting two more behind the one I shot. We cleared the elevator room, and went down the hall. More guards were there but we took them down, and entered the villa. Still more, and they had cover=

(James)
=On the floor, we struggled for the gun, Slate and I. It lasted for a few brief seconds, but it was enough time for him to punch me once in the ribs, then he played dirty- he grabbed my hand, with the stump for my finger, and squeezed, the tip of his thumb digging into the wound and I howled in pain. That was before Hibiki grabbed the gun, and had Slate dead to rights. He scooted away from me, a panicked look on his face, standing up and well away from me, backing to the window=

Hibiki advanced, gun raised. Even half naked, she was not someone to balk at. "You cut off his pinky. You threatened to kill him. You threatened to take away my daughter and my unborn child's father. You Then forced me to dance for you and, if you hadn't been interrupted, done things only James can do. You are a blight, a man who has taken power and betrayed everyone. Now look at me and beg. Beg for your worthless life. BEG YOU FUCKER." She screamed at him.

*Mr. Slate*
=Even with a gun pointed at him, even when he knew he had lost, all he could do was sneer=
"Think I'll beg? Think I'll get on my knees and plead for my life?"

(James)
=Struggling, I got up to my feet, pain flaring from my stomach, from the wound. The tray was still in the room, the knife still on it. I grabbed it, just for some form of defense, but honestly....I just wanted Slate to shut up. Lurching towards him, grunting in pain, I rammed that knife into his side, slipping it between his ribs and more than likely into a lung=
"No.....I just expect you to shut up and die."

=In the villa, the gun battle waged. Cooper, Sam, Andrew and the others managed to cut down more of the soldiers, though Sam got clipped on the shoulder, a bullet grazing her and drawing blood. She got down behind a sofa, teeth clenched in pain=

=I look to Cooper=

Take care of Sam, because I'm about to do something incredibly dumb.

=I get out of cover, firing 30 single shots in rapid succession, 5 rounds missing, but 25 dropping from head shots as I drop the spent magazine=

Come on... come on...

=I then switch to my .44, firing three thunderous rounds as I moved up, three more guards dropping=

As Slate started to lurch, Hibiki shot the window out.
"you should have begged."
Before Slate could do anything, Hibiki started shooting him. As he went back with each shot, he got closer to the table, and the railing.
Hibiki then ran and executed a flying jump kick.

Slate hit the railing and flipped over it as the full force of Hibiki's hatred struck him.

He screamed all the way down as Hibiki turned, gun raised, at the door.