ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

Mira puts her arms around Sarah's back and head, snuggling the woman against her.
"I'll be your friend. And if your idiot brother asks, your sister."
She smiled, burying her face in Sarah's hair. "And. As your friend...I'll be herewith you."

*Cooper*
"Well, we have a few people that can operate a boat, so were good on that. The real issue would be the train. Maybe it's simpler than we think, but I doubt there's just standard fast, slow, and stop modes."

(James)
"We cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, our primary focus should be on the compound itself. That means policing all entrances, even the ones you people think are unlikely. This Pariah got in here somehow, and we need to make sure that doesn't happen again."

*Cooper*
"Sounds good. If I may, I'd like Hibiki to help on securing any possible entrances. As a SWAT officer, she's got the most experience on breaching tactics and how to enter secured areas."

Hibiki nodded.
"I'll help."

*Cooper*
"Excellent. Now, we're going to need everyone else to pitch in. Try and find Ace, and have her perched on a tower with that rifle of hers, keep an eye out. The boy, Tyler....get him trained up, properly. If we're building an army James, we need soldiers."

"Not expendable fanatics. We need everyone." Hibiki said.
She paused. "Guards will be placed with Sam and Eve, right? And Sarah?"

*Cooper*
=He grimaced=
"Only what we can spare Hibiki. Hate to say it, but the security of three compared to security of everyone in the compound.....I know Eve's your daughter, and that Sam is special to her. And that Sarah is the sister of Andrew. But my responsibility is to the compound first. I'm sorry."

"I didn't ask for a full platoon. Just what you can spare." Hibiki said, frowning. "Juat so inknow they are more safe."
Hibiki sighed.

(James)
"Hibiki, they'll do what they can. But if you really want them to be safe, then focus on securing the compound. The more secure, the harder it will be for the Pariah, or anyone else to get in."

"I know."
Hibiki sighed. "I know."

*Cooper*
"Ikezawa, I promise you that ill make sure they're both protected. But you have to do the job, for me to hold my end of the bargain. Okay?"

"You have to ask, Cooper? Tsk."
Hibiki rolled her eyes.

(Andrew)

=I give a snicker at the remark=

Have to find humor somewhere these days...

=My anger was replaced by a small bit of happiness at the overall plan=

(Sarah)

=I giggle a bit=

I agree with you.

=I smile a bit as I say this=

Andrew can be a bit dense. But that's part of his charm.

=I chuckle at the statement=

I start walking to the Apartment Building. I keep going back and forth on the question of 'Will she hate me or will she forgive me?'

*Cooper*
=He grinned=
"Alright, we all know what needs to be done. So lets get to it."

(James)
"Got it boss. Wait, what am I supposed to do?"

*Cooper*
"Figure it out. Everyone else has a clear goal. Make your own."

Hibiki placed a hand on James' arm.
"You watch our daughter. You keep her safe, Sam safe, you keep them all safe."

(James)
"Alright, I'll keep an eye on them. Just be safe Hibiki, okay? This guy threatened you too."

"He fucked with the wrong cop. No law. No rules. Just me, my katana, a chopping block, and...let's say,humiliation is the first step."
Hibiki smirked.

(James)
=Grinning, I started walking for the door to the room=
"Well, I guess we'll all find out just how dangerous this guy is, sooner or later."

*Cooper*
"Hopefully with us aiming several guns at him."

Hibiki looked out the window.
"Cooper. Whsre shall we start?"

*Cooper*
=He walked over to Hibiki, pulling out a folded piece of paper=
"This is a map of the compound, all its walls, entrances, and secure sections. Go with the team on the ground floor, and check each of these locations. Look for any weaknesses we overlooked. Fix them. Then, check the map again for any areas we overlooked that need securing."

Hibiki nodded.
"Alright."
Hibiki started to pour over the map quietly.

(James)
=While they were busy, I took the elevator down and headed for the ground floor. It was maybe on the third floor from the lobby that the elevator stopped. I wasn't sure why though, until the door opened and I saw someone standing outside. Garbed in a guards uniform and looking slightly impatient, they brightened up when they saw me. I saw the look in his eyes, the gleam of recognition, of joy. And I felt the bottom of my stomach fall out and my blood went cold=

(Pariah)
"Well now, isn't this a happy case of serendipity? Hello, brother."
=He walked into the elevator and grabbed James, pulling him into a hug.....as well as pressing his pistol firmly against his side=

Eve murmured and woke up. Sleepily sitting up, she found that she and Sam had fallen asleep. Still half asleep, she bent over and nuzzled Sam's neck, curling up at her side.
Sammy the cat snuggled in between them.

(Andrew)

=I wanted to read Cooper the riot act, but the feeling to give him a good hiding was gone=

Well...it's a bit of good news...

=I simply smiled, knowing my sister was probably doing fine without me=

(James)
=The elevator resumed it's little trip, going back down. The Pariah had taken position behind me, the gun hidden. He didn't have it pressed against me this time, though I could almost feel it as it was aimed at me from wherever he had it hidden=
"And here I was, thinking you had left the compound."

(Pariah)
"Ah, well I figured I'd stick around for another hour or two, keep tabs on things. And I'd stay hidden in the one place I knew these pompous Elites would never look. But I never imagined my luck would be this good."
=The doors opened, and they walked out, the Pariah keeping behind James and yet somehow not setting off any alarm bells with the other guards=

"And honestly? No family greetings, no 'nice to see you?' I'm hurt James."

(James)
"Good. Nice to know I can hurt you."

Mira murmured softly, face buried in Sarah's hair as she curled around her sister, spooning the womN who so desperately needed love.

(Sarah)

=I simply closed my eyes, smiling as I did so. And for once, I felt genuinely at peace=

Andrew...your opinion can shove it...

=I feel my face turn red briefly, but I still felt happy=

I walk past the fair or carnival or celebration or whatever and notice that there's a couple new guards... everywhere.

Odd...

(Pariah)
=Chuckling, he directed James down a hallway, right past his room in fact. It was the closest for the emergency exit=
"So be honest with me bro; ya miss me? Because honestly, I've missed you."

(James)
=My voice very nearly turned into a snarl=
"How the hell could I possibly miss you? You destroyed our home, my life. Our parents."

(Pariah)
"Yeah well, they were always annoying. What with their rules, and setting our lives up. But I finally found my own path man. My own life to lead, and I gotta say, I love it. It. Is. Awesome."
=Walking through the door, they emerged in an alley=

"Eve, that traitorous little slut, spoke quite highly of you when we met. Called you 'daddy.' Boy, I must say, you certainly like them young huh?"

(James)
"She's my daughter now you asshole. Not a lover."

(Pariah)
"Ah, yes that's right. It's the other one. Somehow, not surprised you would go for an Asian. I mean, they will do anything after all."

(James)
=Not caring that there was a gun aimed at me, I twisted and brought my elbow to his nose. He dodged it though, and grabbed my wrist, twisted my arm behind my back and shoved me against the wall=

(Pariah)
"Uh uh uh, no fighting for you little brother. Not yet anyway."

Hibiki drew circles.
"Alrighty. Bolster patrols or plain lock these things down."
She sighed. "And this...." she sighed. "We got any cables? That we can run into the water?"

(Andrew)

=I look around and spot that the elevator was coming up=

Well...best go check on my sister, see if she's clubbed Mira yet...

=I chuckle briefly at the thought, even though I felt slightly guilty for it=

(James)
"Oh, so there will be a showdown. Excellent, because I've got one huge amount of payback for you."
=He let go, and I pushed off the wall and massaged my wrist. He stood in front of me, grinning=

(Pariah)
"There's the bro I know and love. Always the fighter. But never really the thinker."
=He made a motion for James to keep walking, which he did=

(James)
"So if you're not going to kill me, then where are you taking me? Is this a kidnapping?"

(Pariah)
"Pfft, please. There won't be any negotiations, not at this point. A hostage doesn't mean a thing now. No, I just wanted a chance to catch up. This conversation is only going as far as my way into the compound."
=They left the alley and walked towards the park with the arch, towards the river=

(Andrew)

=I wait for the elevator to come up and go in, punching it for the lobby=

Might as well...since I have nothing better to do right now...

=I let the elevator head down to the lobby, my head filled with pleasant thoughts=

Mira paused.
"Sarah? Wanna mess with Andy?"

(Sarah)

=I open my eyes and grin childishly=

Sure...

=I chuckle=

I've been wanting to do that for years. So let's have some fun.

(Andrew)

=I go down in the elevator, finally hitting the ground floor=

Well, best check up on them then...

=In the meantime, I had no idea what the two of them were plotting=

(Pariah)
"So, how did it feel? Killing Jonah? Letting him fall like that? And before you ask, I went to where he was based. I saw what was left."
=His tone took on something close to approval=

"Cold. Cruel. We really are alike."

(James)
"We're nothing alike."

(Pariah)
"Keep telling yourself that. But we both take what we want James. We both fight and kill to keep it. And when it comes to it, we are both cruel. We're both killers, the best kind. Deny it all you want, but at your core James, you are very much like your brother."

Don't think about it. You'll over think it and probably conclude that everybody whose in charge is dead.

I get to the Apartment Building and go to the elevators. Going up to my floor, #13, then exiting into the hallway. Now I have a choice, now or later?

"Moment the handle turns." Mira grinned. "And...if I don't exactly stop soon, I just wanna know how it feels. Kissing a girl."

Hibiki sighed. "Alright...that should be it. Find some cables and a generator and we can make that defense I mentioned."

Eve kissed Sam's cheek. She coulsnt help it.
But she really missed Sam's hair. She wanted to nuzzle it, enjoy it's softness.

(James)
"We'll see, won't we Mikey? Before this is all over..."

(Pariah)
"One of us is going to be on the ground."
=They reached his entry point; the docks. A wooden platform had been set up, and tethered to it was a motor boat, the paint worn but all in all it was still in good shape=

"Now, just to make sure you won't try anything..."
=He frisked James, removing his gun and throwing it into a bunch of nearby bushes, then jumped down into the boat, keeping his gun aimed on James=

"Be a dear, and untie me from the dock."

(James)
=My teeth firmly clenched, I did as he ordered. The motor of his boat started, and he began to slowly back out=

(Pariah)
"It was good seeing you again bro! But don't look sad, be glad! Because pretty soon, we'll meet again!"
=And then he sped off down the river. Soon out of range even if James had grabbed his pistol=

(James)
"Fuck...."

(Sarah)

=I turn beet red at the statement, but I simply smile=

You and me both.

=I sit on the bed, nearly laughing at imagining the look on Andrew's face=

It'll be sooooooooooo worth it...

(Andrew)

=I let the elevator doors open, and I step into the lobby and head straight for the room=

I can't hear any screaming...so that's a good sign...

=I smile, completely oblivious of the plot that was made=

Mira nuzzled Sarah's face.
"You're so cute."

Eve just watched Sam.
She had nothing better to do.
The cat just laid there.
Snoozing.

(Sam)
=I had sorta dozed off at some point, but was quickly brought back to consciousness when Eve kissed my cheek. Waking with an almost automatic frown, I shot her a look that was both annoyed and amused=
"Could have sworn I said something about no kisses?"

(James)
=I didn't know how long I kept standing there, petrified to the dock, shaking with suppressed fury. It was him. My brother was here, in my home again, and he wanted to burn it down. Again. Kill my family. Again. My knuckles were white, my hands clenched so hard that my nails broke the skin of my palm and drew blood. Not this time. Not again. Not ever again=

Eve adopted the busted countenace..
"I....you were so cute asleep...and...I wanted...but your hair...cantnnuzzle..."

Eve gave up and slid off the bed. She went into the bathroom and splashed her face.
She sighed.
She couldn't do it .

Eve went out and grabbed her shoes, then padded for the door.
"I can't control myself. I'm sorry."
She opened the door to leave.

(Sarah)

=I giggle, blushing a little bit at the statement=

Thank you...

=I hear a pair of footsteps coming down the hall=

Perfect timing...

(Andrew)

=I get near the room, hoping the worst hadn't happened=

Well, can't hurt to check, right...?

=I place my hand on the door knob, not knowing of what was going to happen next. I then turn the door handle, wondering what had happened while I was gone=

(Sam)
=I nearly tripped over myself running after her=
"Eve, stay here. I'm supposed to look after you, remember? And I'm sorry about the reaction.....but I just can't. Everytime you kiss me...."

(James)
=At some point, I left the dock and searched the bushes for my gun. Finding it, I started walking back to the hotel, unsure of how I would explain this one=

The moment the handle turned, Mira kissed Sarah right on the lips sweetly, hugging her close.

Eve didn't look at Sam. But she was crying.
"I can't stay with you. Not right now. I can't control myself. I can't resist it. For once just let me go so you can sleep without worrying about me losing control. I can control my shepherd training. I can control a bow. I cant control my overwhelming desire to love you. I cant do this so dammit Sam. Let. Let me run away for your sake. Just let me run. You dont have to look out for me. I have to learn to do things on my own and not depend on you."
Eve peeked over her shoulder. "Or are you rescinding that?" Her voice wasn't hopeful, playful, etc. It was more...defeated.

(Sarah)

=I returned the kiss, resisting the urge to giggle, and hugging Miranda=

Well...this actually feels...good...

=I just relax for a brief moment, not noticing Andrew was there=

(Andrew)

=I open the door and just stand there, my expression of surprise and shock=

Okay...this is a bit awkward...but I can't see any problems...

=I really couldn't say much, the gesture leaving me speechless=

(Sam)
"No...I'm not. But here's something you need to think about. Something you need to get through your head. I....nearly had something vile forced past my lips. Very nearly had, everything I value about myself torn from me. And instead of respecting any form of boundaries I want to have right now, you kiss me? You do everything you can to stay close to me, to touch me? I love you Eve. But right now, I don't want anyone--not you, James, or your mom--touching me right now. Handshakes, simple brief hugs I'm fine. But that.....no."

(James)
=I got back to the hotel no problem, and managed to get outside my room. But I could hear something through the door. It didn't sound good=
"Dammit Sam..."

(Andrew)

=I stood there for another second before my mouth moves before my brain=

Uhh...Mind if I get a piece of the action?

=Hey horrible tact, thy name is Andrew. But what I saw, I just couldn't help myself=

"NOW YOU SEE WHY I'M LEAVING!"
Eve regained her composure. "I fucked up. Now let me give you your boundaries that my feelings ignore."
She pushed the door open and walked out, ignoring James and going into her room. Sam's stuff was deposited outside before the door closed and locked.

Inside, Eve locked herself further in and sat in the bathtub, crying.
"I only fuck it up. I can't even respect her wishes." She cradled her head in her arms. "Why do I try when it's always my fault?"

Mira broke the kiss off and looked into Sarah's eyes.
"Should he, for ignoring me?"