ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

(James)
=I noticed the same guy, all cleaned up now, waiving at us. Unsure what to do, I waved back at him, and started talking to Hibiki=
"So, any idea where they are?"

(Sam)
=We had been walking around the street, the whole place booming with activity. At some point, we arrived outside the hotel=
"No problem Eve."

"I'm already changed though."

I smirk happily, and lean over to you. "Do I still have stuff on my face?"

(Allie)

I do a quick scan,

"Nope, you got it all."

Joe felt like he was ignoring him a bit. So he walked to the front desk, grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down these words, "Do you need a medical Doctor? I used to be the head of my hospital before this all happened."
He walked up to Habiki and James with the piece of paper.

I smile and give you another peck on the nose before standing up and smiling wider.
"Okay. I'm gonna go and have a shower, I think, then I'm off to scavenge."

Hibiki sighs. "Outside or in their room? They looked on good terms at the wedding. They even held hands."

Eve laid her head against Sam's side. "No matter what has happened, you're a good person Sam."

(Allie)

I blush again and give a glare, but sad to be losing Sammy's ... unique... company.

"Okay then."

I self consciously sniff myself and grimace, smelling like blood and deer.

"I think I'm due for a shower also.."

I grin and grab your arm, pulling you up to your feet and grinning mischievously.
"It'd be wasteful for two full showers when we could very easily just share, don't you think?"

(James)
"Yeah, they must be getting along again. It's a good sign."
=The guy started following us, and it was, honestly, a little creepy. I was barely paying attention, still focused on trying to find Sam. The moment we exited the lobby though, I saw Sam and Eve, walking outside. But, I figured it would be rude to ignore the guy completely, so I turned to look at him=

"Yes Joe, what is it?"

(Sam)
"Thanks Eve. I appreciate it."
=I rubbed the side of her head affectionately, then I heard James' voice, and turned to see him standing outside the hotel, talking to someone=

Joe stopped and handed James the note, "Do you need a medical Doctor? I used to be the head of my hospital before this all happened." Joe looked at him with pleaing eyes. Hopefully he would say yes, if not... he would be on his way to the next city which was South west and one of the very few cities that he could actually stand... Denver.

(Allie)

I blush and think of something to say.

"I uhh... I don't think... it's just... I would do this but we just meet and plus I think you would try to do more than shower.."

I stand there awkwardly.

(James)
"Do we need a doctor'.....sorry Joe, but so long as we're living here in St. Louis, we don't need any more doctors, least as far as I know. We do need supplies though, medical supplies mainly."

Joe scratched his head, and wrote down some more. He looked up at James once more and kept writing.

After a bit he stopped writing and showed him the note, "Well if you don't need anymore Doctors, I shall be on my way. Sorry to take up your time. Also, if you need supplies, there is the town of Belleville just south east of here with a hospital. Lot's of supplies I'm sure. Anyhow, I am off to Denver. I heard there was a refugee camp full of survivor's there. Maybe I'll see you there one day."

As James read the note Joe was already opening the door.

Eve smiled happily.
She still had Sam...not how she wanted her though.
Well.
Not yet.
Eve was not a quitter...she was more of...a French General.
Advance in the opposite direction until abpe to counterattack.

Hibiki remained silent

(James)
=Even as I read the note, Joe was already gone. I doubted there would be anything down in Belleville, since my caravan had already passed through that area. Well, close enough anyway to see that it certainly didn't look like anyone was there. I would have told him, but he was already gone. So I decided to talk to Sam and Eve=
"Sam, Eve. You two okay?"

(Sam)
"We're fine James, thanks. Eve got a small cut, but it's nothing."

As Joe walked out of the Hotel, he looked back thinking that there could be more to say but there wasn't. So he just went forth. The guards near the destroyed gate moved out of his way as he unpacked his rifle and walked West towards Denver. Maybe on his way he would find people somewhere.

Eve nodded, still smiling.

Hibiki bent down to kiss Eve's forehead. "Glad to hear you're ok kiddo."
She straightened up to hug Sam. "Thank you for looking after her."

(Sam)
"Glad to do it. Not going to let anything happen to her."
=Once we were done hugging, I looked at James=

"So what's the plan?"

(James)
"We need to seal the hole in the wall, before the Raiders or walkers show up. So we're heading for the warehouse district, and going to try and find a truck big enough to plug the hole."

(Sam)
"Sounds good."

I blushed and stepped back, letting go of you and nodding. I quickly rushed off, eager to break the tension as I made my way to the apartment block, hoping more than ever a shower was free.
It was more than just steak sauces I needed to wash off now.

As Joe was walking West, he remembered the files he had from his office back in Detroit. Maybe the people here would make sense of them... or maybe they wouldn't. He stopped for a bit. Pondering the idea.

Eve now grinned. "Ready." She said.

Hibiki smiled somewhat sadly.

(Allie)

I cringe andm walk off back to my camp.ni needed to tslk to sammy soon , a real talk.

(Andrew)

=I head out and spot Derrick, much to my amusement, working on said rust bucket=

Hey, Derrick, you got a minute?

=He gets out from under the vehicle=

Derrick: What do you need, Andy?

Could I borrow the ATV for a little something that we're doing?

=He rubs his chin=

Derrick: I don't know man...

=I glare at him=

You owe me man...I'm calling in that favor.

=He blinks twice=

Derrick: Okay okay man...chill. You got the ATV. Just treat her right, man...

=I raise my hand=

I swear, D. I'll return it intact...well, mostly intact.

Derrick: Do I have your word?

Yes, man. You have my word.

=Derrick shakes my hand=

Derrick: All yours, buddy.

=He wanders off and I start trying the load bearing capacity of the ATV=

(Allie)

I take a quick walk around the compound so my food wouldn't set. I stop when I come across Andrew.

"Hey what's up?"

(Andrew)

=I look around to see Allie standing near the ATV as I worked on whether or not it would be able to carry the gas needed to move the trucks=

Oh, not much at the moment.

=I grin=

Mira and I got married...finally.

=I couldn't help it. I said it purely out of pride=

(Allie)

Grin happy for him.

"Congrats Andrew, I wish you the best of luck for ypu two."

(James)
=I noticed the sad smile on Hibiki's face=
"Something wrong?"

(Andrew)

=I smile=

Yeah...we'll need all the luck we can get.

=I test the starter, hearing the ATV's engine growl to life, I then turn the engine off, satisfied=

Well...at least I know that it still runs...

=I nod, satisfied=

(Allie)

"Plan on going somewhere?"

I look over the ATV.

(Andrew)

=I shake my head=

Nah...it's going to help deal with the hole the raiders left behind.

=I pat the ATV's flatbed=

This is going to help haul the fuel to get a truck started to plug the hole.

(Allie)

I don't fully understand but geuss its either a cement truck or something.

"Well good luck with that too."

I chuckle.

"Also I just killed a buck and im smoking the carcass. You and Mira are welcome to a slab, my treat."

(Andrew)

=I give a half smile=

I'll consider it.

=My stomach rebels, wanting to have venison for the first time in months=

It can wait...I got my own bow I can use...

=I then open the hood, checking to see if there was anything inside the engine=

(Allie)

I shrug.

"Its nothing compared to moose and elk but it counts, shame I don't have the right spices. Conside it a wedding present. If you don't want it, more for me."

(Andrew)

=I ponder the thought, making sure not to hit my head on the hood of the vehicle=

If that's the case...well, best not pass up a good meal. And I'm armed, so I can handle myself...

Ya'know? That actually sounds good, and it's been months since I had venison.

=I smile, being careful not to hit my head on the hood as I got my head away from the ATV's engine=

(Allie)

I laugh.

"Same, canned food and veggies don't have the kick of real meat. I'm slow cooking it ao it don't spoil, but if you got a flame i can cut you a piece whenever."

Kilroy dove into the house as bullets flew into and riddled the small porch. Apparently one of the bandits also had a pistol that Kilroy hadn't seen when he inspected them from afar. Kilroy stood up and ran to the back of the house for another door, which he found. The bandits seem to had stopped firing when they lost sight of Jacobs.

Kilroy kicked the door open and jumped down, it was about a three foot drop. He hit the ground, some dust jumping up as he did. The raiders may have heard him slam the door open, but if he moved quick he could still get a combat advantage.

=As the group stood outside the hotel, some semblance of order was restored to the compound. People were tense, but it was controlled as the guards took to the streets and manned the wall around the breach. Finally, the tank was rolling down the street, and placed alongside the wall and over the hole. It wasn't meant to be permanent, but it would do the job until team managed to get what was needed=

After awhile sitting in my room, er, apartment thing. I get up and head straight to Jennifer's. I knock once on the front door.

Eve was silent, staying close to Sam and enjoying what little she had left of their relationship turned friendship.

Hibiki kissed James' cheek. "Ready General-chin?" She said playfully.

As Joe was standing about a mile out from the gate, he started walking back. He hoped someone knew how to find a cure for the virus, maybe get the World back in order like it used to.

He walked back to the compound towards the guards. He put his weapons away and walked in, he began to head for the Hotel once more holding the files he once thought no one would ever read and understand but him.

As he headed towards the Hotel, he saw the group standing there. He held the files up, and pointed at them. Hoping someone would see him and ask him what he was doing.

(James)
=Ignoring the fact that my question had been ignored, I grinned at her=
"General-chin? Really? And yeah....I'm good to go."

=With that, I broke into a brisk pace for the South gate. It was the most direct way of getting to the warehouse district anyway=

(Sam)
=We followed James, and I frowned down at Eve=
"Why so quiet Eve?"

(Andrew)

=I listen to rumbling of vehicles=

I'll have to put a rain check on that venison. Sounds like it's that time.

=I give Allie an apologetic smile and head to the ATV=

Shame...would have made a good meal...

=I get in the ATV and hop into the driver's seat, starting the engine and then heading for the warehouse district=

Eve shrugged. "I don't know what to say Sam."

Hibiki giggled. "Chin is a personal, affectionate way to refer to someone in Japan. You don't really hear Genral-Chin."

Joe just kept standing near the Hotel holding up the files. He knew someone would know what he knew, someone did. He walked up to random people pointing at the file. On the file it read, "Virus research! DO NOT OPEN UNLESS AUTHORIZED TO DO SO!"

Everyone was sort of freaked out by Joe going up to them and pointing at the file. Joe needed to get his point across but it seemed as though everyone was ignoring his efforts. This could possibly be the most serious thing that the world could use, or to find out if there was a cure to the Virus.

(Allie)

I wave goodbye, then followed to see what was going down.

Joe ran up to Allie and showed her the file pointing at the wording saying, "Virus Research". He was hoping she might lead her to the right direction into where someone could help him with this.

As he pointed he was breathing hard, it could be heard from his mask. Sweat was running down the side of his mask also. His hands shaky and eyes real big. He just couldn't stop pointing at the file.

(Allie)

I look at him surprised, then at the file.

"What the hell is that, and where did you find it?"

(J)

I open the door and find tyler standing there.

"Oh, hey Tyler, whats up?"

Joe pointed at the files location name, "Detroit, MI"

He looked as if he was sighing in relief that someone understood. He tried to talk but all that was heard was grunting noises. He forgot for a moment about himself being mute. He looked down and frowned under his mask.

"Hey. Um, I just wanted you to know that I hadn't died. So uh, if you were worrying you don't need to."

(J)

I laugh and pull him in a hug.

"You're a moron."