ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

I smile as she does so and hug her back.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Somehow I manage to smile bigger and squeeze her tighter.

Kilroy made it past ran to the backyard of another house, then heard the bandits yelling. He wasn't sure what they were saying, he just kept moving around the houses.

(Abel)
Abel scanned the road for a newer looking model of car. Once he found one he looked around his surroundings for a throwing object. He found a rock about the size of his palm, then leaned out from the house corner. It was about a twenty meter pitch, not too difficult, but still hard enough to miss.

He brought his arm back chucked the rock right at the car. A quiet crack sound could be heard, but was quickly drowned out by a high-pitch whining and beeping from the car's alarm.

(James)
"Well, thanks for the name then."
=We had reached the gate, and waited for the guards to open it. However, before they were all the way open, I heard the sound of someone jogging towards us, and it sounded like they had a bunch of bags with them. I turned to see a guard coming towards us, a backpack in his hands=

*Guard*
"James, you forgot the walkies."
=He held out the bag for the group, and James quickly grabbed it=

(James)
"Thanks man, appreciate it."
=Unzipping the bag, I pulled out one of walkies. It was an odd contraption, a little handle on the side for cranking up the juice. A few little nobs were on the top next to the antenna, and there was some tape on the back, numbers scrawled on it=

"Guessing this is the frequency the walkies use?"
=All I got from him was a nod, he seemed out of breath. So I started handing them out to everyone else=

"Don't lose them....and where's Andrew?"

(Andrew)

=As if on cue, I roll up in the ATV, the engine growling like a lion=

You call?

=I grin, turning off the ATV's engine and patting the hood twice=

Here's the ATV I was talking about earlier. This is our little fuel mule.

(James)
"Yeah, only the damn thing will use up fuel itself. Here, catch."
=I tossed him the walkie, hoping to god he didn't drop it=

(Sam)
"Honestly Andrew....fuel mule? You couldn't think of something with a little more chutzpah?"

(Andrew)

=I quirk up an eyebrow, slightly surprised=

Sam...you know Yiddish? Cause that hit me a bit in the feels.

Well...you learn something new everyday...

=I smile anyway=

Eve frowned.
"What's a chutzpah?" She asked.

Hibiki sighed. "Let's do this."

(Sam)
"Yes Andrew, I know a little bit of yiddish, courtesy of one of my old foster homes. And Eve....it's just a word meaning courage, in a positive tone anyway."

(James)
"Okay....so while we all walk, Andrew rides the golden chariot and gets to be the biggest target. Good plan, let's go."
=With the gate open, we walked out at a brisk pace, headed for the warehouse district=

(Andrew)

=I chuckle slightly=

Well...I'm honestly not all that surprised...

=I climb back into the ATV and start the engine, keeping pace with the group=

Well...let's hope this plan works...

Eve drew her bow as they exited the compound. She prepared to open fire whenever needed.
She was not letting her family get hurt.

Hibiki drew her rifle. "This' ll be fun..."

(James)
"One can hope...."
=I wasn't sure what had me more worried though: the possibility of Raiders waiting for us, or the fact that there were still walkers around, no doubt drawn to and riled up by the explosion=

"Let's keep it silent guys."

(Sam)
"Oh, that didn't even occur to me. I was planning on singing at the top of my lungs while we walked through here."

(Andrew)

=I sigh=

Going to be kinda hard to be quiet with the engine here...

=I keep the ATV moving, the engine growling loudly=

"That was my idea Sam." She said deadpan.

Hibiki chuckled.

(James)
=Ignoring the jokes, I looked to Andrew=
"Andrew, move up a few blocks and be careful. Hate to do this to you, but you get to be the rabbit."

(Sam)
"Really Eve? Somehow, I doubt you actually sing."

(Andrew)

=I groan a bit=

Alright. I'll do what I can...but this rust bucket attracts enough attention on its own.

=I gun the engine, the growl deafening in my ears=

Well...if this doesn't kill me...nothing will...

(James)
"Just don't take any risks. You sense trouble, get the hell out."
=It was the last thing I was sure he heard, before he got out of earshot. The left the four of us to walk down the street alone=

(Sam)
"So....a redhead, a midget, a sack of scars, and a pregnant lady walked down the street...."
=I didn't even know a joke that suited that opening, but at least it broke the silence=

(Andrew)

=I nod=

Roger that.

I'm not that daft...

=I roar ahead, the sound of the engine the only thing I could hear=

Eve smiled slightly and took a breath.
Bless the Lord O my soul, Oh-oh my soul, worship thy holy name...sing like never before, O my soul"
Her soft, clear, beautiful singing voice sung the sole vers eof a song before falling silent.

Hibiki merely smiled.

(Sam)
=I blinked=
"Okay, a singing midget."

(James)
=I spun my head around, rubbernecking as I checked the streets=
"Okay, not exactly keeping a subtle profile..."

(Sam)
"Oh lighten up James."

"MIDGET?"
Eve glared a glare that could crush trucks at Sam before resuming her vigil.

Hibiki blinked. "Good luck. You're on your own."

(James)
=Maybe I took Sam's advice to heart, but I chuckled at Eve's response=

(Sam)
=I didn't even flinch=
"Okay, little person."

(Andrew)

=I slow down as I get further away from the group, erring on the side of caution=

Alright then... come out, come out, wherever you are...

=I trundle forward in the ATV, watching for any sign of movement=

=Unfortunately, the assumption that there were walkers drawn to the explosion proved to be true. Already, walkers began heading in the direction of the Elite compound, and the bulk was coming from the west...and the south=

(James)
"Oh shit..."
=I spotted a small group of walkers, maybe six, as they rounded the corner of the building two blocks in front of us=

(Sam)
"I see them. Shouldn't be too much of a hassle."

Eve didn't break stride.
"Don't start what you can't control."
Eve lowered her bow. "Go on big person. Go do what us little people can't."

(Andrew)

=I then spot the horde of walkers ahead of me, the explosion drawing them like bees to honey=

Well...Shit...

=I then turn the ATV around, gunning it back towards the compound and away from the approaching walkers=

(James)
"Sam, you and me. Melee only, no need to draw more. Eve, cover us with the bow."
=Without waiting for a response, I rushed forward, my knife already out. Sam ran beside me, her own blade drawn. The first walker I got to had its arms outstretched, jaws gaping wide as it moved to attack. Sidestepping the grab, I rammed the knife into the side of its head, and it died. Sam took the walker to my left, her knife going through its eye=

(Andrew)

=I gun it back to where I exited the compound, and then stop reassessing the situation=

Well...Bah, fuck it...

=I head back towards the group, intent on using the ATV's mass as a weapon=

Eve stood there, then let an arrow fly, skewering the eye and brains of a zombie trying to make a snack out of Sam's neck. Another arrow took out a walker to James' left as a third took out one between them.

(James)
=When the walkers down, I stood there panting, the knife dripping with blackish blood=
"Okay, little more tense than I hoped for. Let's keep moving, we need to get that truck and breach the hole."

(Sam)
"Only this time, we move quieter than before."

Eve jogged up to retrieve her arrows. She remained quiet as Hibiki sighed.
"I could have dealt with that."

(Andrew)

=I come back to the group, skidding to a halt with a screech from the brakes=

Note to self: Get grease for the damn brakes...

=I look at the mass of bodies=

Aww...and you didn't let me have any fun.

=I grin, my mood joking=

(James)
"Maybe so. How about next time?"
=I'd still fight beside her though. Then I looked to Andrew=

"And what brings you back here? I thought you were up ahead, scouting?"

(Sam)
=I grabbed an arrow myself, handing it back to Eve=
"Peace? Little girl?"

Eve looked at the arrow...then deftly took it back and replaced it before taking Sam's hand in both of hers.
"That's all I wanted to be, was your little girl."
She broke away and continued on.

(Andrew)

I was.

=I hitch my thumb in the opposite direction=

But I spotted a decent sized horde of walkers headed this way. Figured I'd come back and give a warning.

=I half smile=

Plus I'd like not to become walker chow, thank you.

(James)
"Uh, Andrew? That's what the walkies are for."

(Sam)
=I was a little hurt, by the cold tone of her voice. And how hurt she sounded=

Hibiki came up. "He forgot I bet."

(Andrew)

=I scowl=

I do not trust the range on those things...plus the warranty on those things must be shot.

=I sigh, letting the engine idle to conserve fuel=

(James)
"Andrew, just use them. They wouldn't have been given to us, if the range wasn't good. Besides, we're not that far apart. The warehouse district is only a mile away, well within range."

(Sam)
"And besides, what's the point of being a scout if you won't use the walkies?"

"If you won't, I will." Eve said to Andrew.

(Andrew)

=I sigh, muttering a curse in German under my breath=

Freaking logic...

Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Well...now's as good a time as any...

And consider this as a gift from one hunter to another.

=I smile, hand Eve a dozen razor tipped hunting arrows=

When you absolutely, positively have to put any psycho down...use those.

=I turn the ATV around, heading back towards the warehouse district=

And just tell me when they want the hole plugged, okay...

=I then speed off in the opposite direction, a hand near my holstered .45=

(Jenny)

I continue hugging back, resting my head on his shoulder.

Joe begins to show Allie the what is inside the file. The complex words and equations were filled inside of it. Diagrams and research papers and documents all inside this one file.

As Joe flipped through the pages showing Allie, he was hoping she would be pleased or something about all of this. Then an E-mail showed up (Printed obviously). It said, "Dear Doctor Pinkerton,
The virus tests have gone... alright. Unfortunately we realized that even though this virus can be used in Biological Warfare in a way, we can't let the Government know about it. Hold on, someone is coming into my office, will speak to you soon."

The E-mail had no name, nor did it give any incite on anything that had happened two years prior. Joe looked at Allie and closed the file, he looked at her with great intent. Maybe she would know something.

(Allie)

My face scrunches up and I stand there even more confused. I wasn't a scientist or a doctor, I was a sniper. Things like this tend go right over my head.

"Uhh..... does it say anything about a cure...?"

Joe shook his head in sadness. But he pointed at the file and then the hotel, writing a question mark on the file near where it said, "Virus Research". If she didn't get it, he might have to write it down on a piece of paper.

"I don't want to sound rude, but do you mind if I come in?"

I mean sure my room... er, apartment is a couple doors down...

(Allie)

I just blink and give him a funny look.

"It's not much help if we can't benefit from it... but if you care so much go talk to an elite or a scientist.."

(J)

I let go and step away.

"Sure come in."

Joe shrugged and looked at her confused. He didn't know who he could trust or who he could talk to about the file its self.

(James)
=Once it was just us again, we started walking again. I had my own bow out this time, ready to make a silent kill if necessary=

(Sam)
"So uh, what do we do if there's a herd coming through here?"

(James)
"What we always do; run like hell."

"Run like hell. Why not drop a building on them?" Eve said.

Hibiki facepalmed.

(James)
"If it were that easy....."
=Still, I smiled a little=

(Sam)
"I'll be sure to drop a building on the next horde we see kiddo."