ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

Mira sat beside Sarah, the stroked her hair.
"You'll be ok."

(James)
"I wanted to talk, see how you were doing. I mean, what with the raider thing."

(Sam)
"Oh. Oh, that. Yeah....look, I've barely had time to recover and already there's this stuff with Eve, with the Pariah."

(James)
"Yeah. Yeah there has. But you haven't told me how you are Sam."

(Sam)
"What? You want to know that I had a nightmare? That I dreamed that I was being held down, and that Eve was also being...."

(James)
"I don't want to know this Sam. But I need to know. And you need to talk about this. You need to get this off your chest now, before it eats you from inside."

(Sam)
"Maybe that's what I deserve. I mean, look what happened with Eve because I couldn't keep my mouth shut."

Eve had woken up, and now sat behind the door, listening, as Hibiki sat beside her, nuzzling her hair softly.

(James)
"Sam, believe me you do not deserve this. Okay? What happened with Eve wasnt because you were a bad person or because you deserved it. You were just....a little stupid, with what you said."

(Sam)
"Yeah, I was...... She deserves better than me."

(James)
"You are exactly who she needs. And you need her. I don't know how far the two of you will go. Or what will happen in the next few days. But in this world Sam, it is a sin if you pass up moments like this."

Eve looked at Hibiki.
"I don't care what I deserve...I want her."
Hibiki smiled. "Then I doubt she'll be able to say no."

(Sarah)

=I close my eyes and smile=

I hope so.

=I let my mind wander in my sleep, just wanting to be with someone that I could trust=

(Sam)
"I want to be with her James. I care about her.....I love her. But.....I've screwed things up too often with us. It makes you think we're not supposed to be together."

(James)
"That's for you, and you alone to decide Sam. I know she won't force this, especially if its hurting you so much."

(Sam)
"It's not me that I'm trying to protect James. It's her."

That's when the door opened, revealing Eve.
"You IDIOT!"
Before anyone could say more, Eve was at Sam, hugging her tightly.
"I love you Sam. If it means I have to forgive you a million times a day so be it."
She sniffed, the precursor to crying. "Just forgive me and don't stop fighting. I don't need your protection Sam. I need you."
Burying her face in Sam's chest, she started to sob. "Just love me back. That's all I ask. That's all I need."

(Andrew)

=I looked back, and now seemed as good a time as ever to talk about it=

As if we don't have enough problems...

=I walk over and wait for a moment, gesturing at James at a good moment=

Do you mind if I talk with you for a moment?

I wander around some, looking for the games. Way back when the world make sense I was good at them. Good, but not great.
And when I found that there wasn't any my heart sunk a little. I was actually looking forward to some fun. Damn.

(Sam)
=I was caught off guard by Eve. Didn't even know she was behind the door. And now she was crying into my chest=
"Eve....I'll never stop loving you back. But this whole dance we've been doing, all the pain in it.....I don't know if I can do it. Not if it means putting you through hell, over and over again."

(James)
=I looked from Andrew, to the moment going on in front of me, then back to him=
"Andrew, you really pick the worst moments, don't you?"

(Andrew)

=I sigh=

Seems like it.

=I put a serious look on my face=

It's about last night.

Eve looked up.
"Then stop putting me through hell. Just say I love you back. Just kiss me back. Its not hard. Just love me."
Eve buried her face in Sam's neck. "Stop denying me. If you want to stop putting me through hell, then stop denying me."

(James)
=Sighing, I walked away from my family=
"Is this about the raiders?"

(Sam)
"I'm not denying you Eve. I don't want to. But you don't see this whole thing as pointless? All we've ever done is go back and forth between some joy, and more pain. It has to end."

(Andrew)

=I shake my head=

It's not about the raiders.

=I lower my voice=

It's about my sister. And the new arrival of that spy.

(James)
"She heard about that huh?"
=I walked with him, away from Sam and Eve for the sake of privacy=

"Let me guess: she's panicking?"

(Andrew)

=I shake my head=

One of Cooper's men came and told us.

=I shake my head=

It's more than that. It's her tormentor that's haunting her too.

=I keep my voice low=

Last night, I had to physically restrain her after I came back from the attack. I just came into the room, and took off my body armor. A few seconds later, she went mental and came after me.

(James)
"Well you're talking to the wrong guy Andrew. What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Hopefully the foods good?"

I say in more of a question then a statment while walking to a cart. At one point in it's life it might have said "Hotdogs" but it's pretty rusted now.

"Hey man. How's it goin'?"

He turns and looks at me. He seems surprised at the question.

Server - "Um. Good? Why?"

"No reason..... actually I was wondering what you had."

Server - "Oh, cooked rat."

"Pointless? "
Eve looked into Sam's eyes.
"It's pointless to love someone so much you will do whatever it takes to be with them, forgive them for every thing and every day want ro see them smile? Its pointless to you because you refuse to take what you have and be happy. Now you're doing to me what daddy did to you. Except you have no one." She sniffed. "You have me. Why aren't you happy that someone you love is returning your love beyond what you give?"

(Andrew)

Nevermind.

=I sigh=

Just voicing my concern.

=I turned and left, Abernathy still on my mind=

(Sam)
=And suddenly, I just couldn't take it anymore. The pain, the arguing. I just wanted us to go back to what we used to be=
"Eve....I want to be happy. I'm sorry."

=And then I bent down to hug her=
"But if you kiss me right now little sister, then we may have to renegotiate."

(James)
"Good luck man."
=I turned around to see that the drama seemed to have come to a head=

"How so?" Eve asked with a smile. "It sounds like a better compromise."

(Sam)
"Because after everything we've been through in the past three days, I think kissing is going to be out of the question for me for a while."

So, Eve kissed Sam's cheek softly.
"Last one then."
She took Sam's hands. "Don't leave me sis. Dont leave me."

(Sam)
"I won't. Promise."
=I stood up this time=

"So....what are we going to do about Pariah?"

(James)
"We get ready. I'll talk with Cooper, see if we can get defenses ready but first we need to find out where this army is coming from. Which means scouting parties."

"Ah... I think I'll stick to my vegatables. Thanks"

I turn and walk away. Whatever appetite I had deminished to nothing.

Never thought you would say that.

"Yeah..."

Eve stepped up beside Sam.
"He said he had ro build up an army." She reminded. "So we have some time."
She glanced at Sam. "We need to not focus solely on Elite guards. He could be anyone. He had a beard...but whose can be removed."
She tightened her grip on Sam. "And Sam is in more danger then you or mommy. He singled her out...so she has to be protected as much as me or Sarah."
Then she smiled softly at Sam. "You protect me, I protect you."

(James)
"If he's building an army, he won't stay here. At least not if he wants to make sure he's getting good stock. By now he's probably gone. But I agree, Sam should have an eye on her. Which is why you Eve, are staying with."

Eve blushed.
"Yes daddy..."
It was clear she was extremely happy about that.

(James)
"In the meantime, I think it would be best if we all check in regularly. Other than sleep, say once every hour, we meet back up in the lobby?"

(Sam)
"Sounds good."

Eve nodded.
"Ok."
She rested against Sam. "Anything else daddy?"

(James)
"Yes. We have to, above all else, keep this information under control. The last thing people here need to know is that an agent of the Shepherds, a hostile one at that, managed to slip in and out of here undetected. Loss of morale, panic.....it would severely damage us."

Eve touched her cut cheek.
"He's sadistic...he revealed in causing me pain..."

(James)
"All the more reason not to let anything on. We need to keep people calm until we can break this to them in a way that still makes us look in control."
=Oh great, I've become a politician=

Eve nuzzled intosam's shoulder, shaking a tad.
She was beginning to be. Hit more shaken up now, thanks to the topic.

(James)
"Sam, take Eve back to your room and stay there. That or find another room but for now stay in doors. As for me....I'm sorta at a loss for what to do."

(Sarah)

=I gave a brief shudder in my sleep, once again going through another nightmare. But the scenario was different=

I'm an animal...I'm not the hunter anymore...

=I will myself not to scream as I feel an almost certain death approaching=

Please...don't come here for me...

=I curl up a bit more as the nightmare progresses=

(Andrew)

=I walk around a bit more, tempted to give Cooper an earful. I resist the temptation, feeling it was risky to leave the two of them alone in the room=

I really shouldn't take any chances with this guy...whoever he is...

=I stand there in the lobby for another minute, then head back to the room=

Mira snuggled up to Sarah, holding her newfound sister close.

Eve nodded...but Hibiki stepped forward.
"We should stay together. We have two beds. We can share...please. I want to make suee you both are safe."
Hibiki...actually was pleading. Mostly with Sam.

(Sarah)

=I blushed slightly, but I was welcoming instead of abrasive=

It feels good to be part of a family again...

=I feel the nightmare go away briefly, my body relaxing a bit=

(Sam)
"In all fairness Hibiki, this guy walked right into the hotel, into Eve's room, and then out again."

(James)
"No she's right. We stick together, for now."

"Sam....please. For me...so I know my baby is safe. That the girl she loves, is safe. Please. For me."
Hibiki was ready to get on her knees.

(Sam)
"Alright, we'll stay. Besides, I don't think there's much choice in it."

(James)
=There really wasn't=

"You have no choice. Eve is my daughter and since you can't leave her alone you have no choice."
Hibiki put a hand on her Sam's shoulder. "Thank you. "

*Cooper*
"So, that's basically the gist of things ma'am."
=He was just now finished talking to Clarissa, informing her of what happened. She was white in the face=

*Clarissa*
"I see. So they managed to get in somehow. Cooper, I know military and security matters are your domain, but it would be best if we kept the public from knowing. As for our response, we need to figure out from where the Shepherds may attack us from."

*Cooper*
"I'm already working on scouting groups. We'll send out parties to all directions, see if they turn up anything."

Hibiki rubbed Eve's hair. "Ok...you two go get some rest. Me and James...we should go see Clarissa."

(James)
=Personally, I wanted to stay and rest like I was planning to, but I figured that my nap could wait=
"Alright. Sam, Eve, wait in the room. We'll be back soon."

(Sam)
"Got it James. Eve, come on."
=I dragged her into the room with me=

Eve was dragged.
But it was by Sam, so Eve was very happy.

"So...are we ever going to make a habit out of you dragging me to a room?"
Eve giggled, joking.

Hibiki sighed. "Let's go..."

(Sam)
"Heh, not anytime soon."

(James)
=Hiiki and I walked to the elevator, and I thumbed e button for the top floor. About halfway up though, I pressed the emergency stop button, and the elevator froze, dangling in the shaft=
"Hibiki....about what I said earlier, about my brother...."