ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

(Sam)
=I walked over to her, and took hold other hands=
"Like this."

(James)
"Well, you never know. Earlier may have been the last time we get to do that kind of thing, if the Shepherds attack today."

Eve let Sam guide her hands, paying attention.

And slightly wishing this wasn't to put a gun together but Sam...
She paid more attention to the building of said gun.

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

(James)
"Heh, maybe that will be the reason we fight. Not for a family, not for the right to keep living. But for the chance to have sex, for many more days."

(Sam)
=My cheeks warmed a little, the warm feel of her hands beneath mine. But I focused enough on guiding her hands, and directing her to rebuild the gun=

"I'd rather see sex as the icing, not the cake. Icing alone sucks if there is no cake to go with it. Fighting for family, the right to live, and sex. All or nothing."
She scooted out, her cheek smudged with grease. "Hand me the flaslight."

Eve blushed a bit after a minute, but, with Sam's guidance, had the shotgun put together.
"Um...thank you..."

(Sam)
"No problem Eve. It's what I'm here for."

(James)
=I handed her the flashlight=
"True. But with those out, can you blame me?"

"I could remove the bra, but I might give Eve and Sam a heart attack. And you might have an accident."
She scooted back under the bike with a smile.

Eve looked at Sam's hands...she gently turned hers over to Sam's palms were resting against her own. She carefully slipped her fingers through Sam's.
"I'm scared of what's coming." She said quietly.

(Andrew)

=I went back to work, looking to one of the men=

Shouldn't we get something substantial to hold them off, like some explosives?

=I give a serious look=

I mean...this reinforcement can only do so much.

(Sam)
=I squeezed her hand=
"So am I."

(James)
"Nah, it's fine. But you may want to bundle your shirt up under you, beats laying on cold concrete."

Eve gently leaned back against Sam, pulling Sam's arms, very slowly and carefully to avoid a freakout, into an X across her chest.
"Whatever happens Sam...please know I'll always love you, ok?"

Hibiki shrugged. "Keeps me awake at least."

(James)
"Isn't that what coffee is for?"
=To be honest, the sight of her laying on her back with nothing but a bra on......that and working on the bike, with a smudge of grease. Had to admit, made her look.....somewhere between hot, and cute=

(Sam)
=Shifting my arms a little, I made it so I wasn't holding her quite that intimately=
"I love you too. But we'll get through this, just like everything else."

"You try and brew a good cup of coffee now." She retorted.


Eve relaxed. "Promise?"

(James)
"Is that a challenge?"
=Granted,I didn't know how to actually make coffee. Most I knew was get some water, boiled, and then run it through a filter with ground coffee beans=

(Sam)
"Promise."

"It is a challenge. Hop to it Starbuck." Hibiki laughed.

Eve closed her eyes. "That's all I need..."

(James)
"Well hey now, I don't remember accepting the challenge."

(Sam)
=I let go of her, and went back t work=
"Okay, want to try again?"

"You obviously wanted the challenge." Hibiki countered.

Eve nodded. "Yeah."
She carefully disassembled the shotgun, then began to reassemble it.

(James)
"True I guess. But I could have sworn they had a pot of the stuff back in the cafeteria."

(Sam)
"Not bad Eve. Looks good."

Eve smiled happily, putting the shotgun down.
"I did it!"

Hibiki scowled. "Shut up."

(James)
=I grinned down at her, and even felt tempted to run a finger along her stomach and feel the smooth skin and the toned muscles=
"What, don't like where they keep the coffee?"

(Sam)
"That you did. Now do it again."

Eve did it again, faster this time.

Hibiki scooted back out to glare up at James.
"Want me to come knock the smile from your face?"

(James)
=Grinning at her, I leaned back a little from where I sat=
"Oh, I don't know. Do you want too slap me?"

(Sam)
"Good. Again. Do it five more times."

"Worse." Hibiki answered.

Eve started to do so five more times.

(James)
"Worse huh? What, you intend to break an arm or something?"

(Sam)
"Good, definitely getting better."

"Nah. Worse then a slap, less severe then breaking bones." Hibiki grinned.

Eve was pretty happy. "Thank you." She gave Sam a soft, quick hug. "It's because I have an amazing teacher."

(Sam)
"Nah, you're just a good learner."

(James)
"Wow, really Hibiki? Come on, focus on your bike."

"Both." Eve said with a smile.

Hibiki laughed and sat up, now presenting her back to James as she worked on the sides of the bike.

--Shepherd Camp--

=The shepherds had begun rounding up walkers, building a herd. Keeping them contained several impromptu cages, they would be put in large vans and moving trucks. The vehicles would be plague ships sent right into the walls of the Elite compound=

--Elite Compound--

*Cooper*
=As good as their defenses and weapons were, they needed a fallback plan, a way to retreat and evac should the attack prove too much. The boat was one option, but the train could serve as another. And if they had enough fuel for the cars, they could try and blow through the Shepherd lines. But he hoped it wouldn't come to that=

Ask around? It's not like you can call her on her cell.

I bee line directly to the elevators and head down. Already thinking bad thoughts.

[i]What if she's been kidnapped by shepherds? Or raped by some crazy guy? Or murdered by serial killer?

The MG came to a halt in front of the old Lockdown town Abel had been to once before. The bus that was normally blocking the entrance was missing and he didn't see anyone from where he was. Abel shut the vehicle off and got out, shotgun in hand and at the ready.

Slowly, he approached the town, passing the walls and inside the cities limits. Not one person.

Strange.

He noticed a large hole in one of the walls, looked as if a truck rammed through it.

Were they attacked?

"Where in the hell is everyone?"

Abel was responded with a loud moan coming from one of the alleys. A Deadone came lumbering out, and soon, Abel saw another dozen, as if the were just hiding behind the buildings, waiting for the perfect time to ambush Abel. Of course he knew that was absurd, it was just his speaking that brought them out.

Either way, he was gonna have to get hell out of there quick. He bolted to his car. These zombies obviously weren't fresh, for their speed was at a slow jog, at best. After jumping into the driver's seat, he started the car up and began his way to the Elite fort.

Maybe they know what happened.

--Shepherd Camp--

(Pariah)
=As he walked around the camp, he tried to remember how long he had set the timers for on the explosives. An hour.....hour and a half? Two hours, the longest. Either way.....the top floors of that hotel were going bye bye very soon. And the column of smoke would not only signal the other encampments to attack, but it would also draw every walker for miles to the city=

--Elite Compound--

=Without warning, the top three floors of the hotel building exploded, the explosives the Pariah smuggled detonating on time. They were shaped charges, their explosion aimed upwards. Three sets, one for each floor and placed in key areas. The leaders of the compound, Clarissa and her compatriots, their guards.....they all died in a blaze of fire=

(James)
=I heard the booming sound, even in the armory. Considering everything that had happened, it could not be good, at all=
"Shit! Weapon up guys, lets move! Ace, get to a high point, we need someone with a sniper. I'll take care of the claymores."

(Sam)
=The moment I heard the sound, I already reached for my gun and got up and almost ran towards the door=

(Book)
=The ceiling shook, as did the room I was in. Dust fell from above, shaken loose from where it was attached. From outside, I could hear the shouts of soldiers, and I knew something was happening=
So....they finally made their move.

(Andrew)

=I heard the boom as well, my face falling=

Aw shit...

Sis...can you shoot that gun?

=I give Sarah a glance at the statement=

(Sarah)

=I nod, a look of concern on my face=

Damn right I can.

=I beckon to Andrew, who hops down from the wall=

(Andrew)

=I hop down from the wall, getting onto the ATV and starting the engine=

You might want to hold onto something.

=I hit the gas and head straight for the stadium=

Eve had her gun drawn and was up and ready.
She ran after Sam.

Hibiki's assault rifle was peimed and ready.
"Cooper?" She shouted as she ran.

Mira sat up. "Wh-wh-what the hell?"

*Cooper*
=The moment he heard the explosion, felt the dull quake of the explosion, he looked up in shock as the top of the hotel exploded, the glass blown outward and raining down to the street=
"Take cover now! Get under something!"

=People ran for cover, moving to get under cars or inside buildings. The unlucky ones were cut down as glass shards tore into them=

(James)
=As we got out of the armory and into the sunlight, I noticed it was darker, as if a cloud had blotted out the sun. But when I looked up, I saw it was no cloud. It was smoke billowing out from the top of the tower=
"Oh my god....."

(Sam)
"Jesus Christ.....is this an attack? Are we under attack?"

(James)
"You have to ask?"

Eve looked up.
"Head of the snake..."
The girl holstered her gun and drew her bow. "Head of the snake. Pariah took out the leaders to throw us into disarray."
Eve stomped her foot. "Fuck! I should have known that! Fuck fuck FUCK!"
The girl was beginning to cry as Hibiki raised her rifle.
"James with me. Sam, take Eve and run a perimeter sweep." She ordered. "We need to locate Cooper."

(Sam)
"Got it. Eve, come on, we need to move now!"
=I grabbed her hand and dragged her with me=

(James)
"We need to find him and Marcus. Marcus should be with his people in the apartments, so lets move!"
=We ran, and already I could see people coming out of the buildings, screaming in confusion, fear, and in some cases pain=

(Andrew)

=I gun it to see James and Sam coming out of the stadium=

Uh...you don't mind if I leave my sister with you?

=I point my thumb to Sarah=

And don't worry, she can shoot.

(Sarah)

=I hop off of the ATV=

He's right. You need every gun you can get.

=I pat the ATV and Andrew guns it for the hotel=

(James)
"Wow, really Andrew? I'm not a babysitter-- no offense Sarah."

(Sarah)

=I give a thin smile=

None taken...

=I load a magazine into the rifle and rack in a round=

Besides...I think he has serious sense of deja vu going on in his head.

Hibiki glanced back. "Go find Sam and Eve and sweep the perimeter."

Eve was kinda dragged along. She was uneasy.

(James)
"Everyone just watch out. No telling what's going to happen."

--Two miles outside St. Louis--

=As the column of smoke rose higher int th sky, walkers all around began to see it. Like moths to a flame, they were drawn in, moving en messe towards the smoke, and to the city=

--Shepherd Camp--

(Pariah)
"Alright people, the first stage is in motion. Send in the plage vans. Gentlemen."
=He turned t face the drivers of the vans, all volunteers, all knowing it was a one way trip=

"Two to a van, and in the event the driver is shot the spare takes over. Get them through the wall, and into the compound."

(Sarah)

=I nod, barely keeping the sarcasm out of my voice=

I'm on it, mom...

=I head to where the two might be and spot them=

Uhh...you guys need a hand or something? Because a certain someone directed me here.

(Andrew)

=I make it to the hotel, an old nightmare running in my head unbidden as I hopped off the ATV and bolted for our room=

Please be okay, please be okay...

=I ran to the room and flung open the door, hoping Mira was alright=

"Call me mom, then you gotta obey my rules!" She shouted.

Eve looked back. "Sarah. Get every sjiper around the walls. Plague vans are coming."

(Sam)
=I stopped running and turned to look at Eve=
"And how the hell do you know that?"

(James)
=I just ran for the apartments, and already saw Marcus running out the doors to pears Cooper=
"Marcus, Cooper! What the hell is happening?"

*Marcus*
"James? I don't know. The whole top of the hotel just blew up. Where's Clarissa? Is she..."

*Cooper*
=He shook his head=
"No. She was up there, along with everyone else. They're all dead."

"I know Shepherd tactis dammit! Distraction then plague van a fortified position like this! It was embedded in my head Sam! Stop fucking doubting me AND TRUST ME DAMMIT. EVRYONE WILL DIE IF WE DON'T DEFEND AGAINST THEM. If I am wrong, then we are already dead."
Ege was a bit hysterical.

(Sarah)

=I nod mutely, my old training knowing that it was part two in every Shepherd assault=

Eve's right...it's step B in every Shepherd assault. Even I know that.

=I give them a look=

And if we don't start getting a move on...we're going to have a disaster of biblical proportions on our hands.

=I look to both of them=

Now let's get moving and save some lives here, dammit!

(Sam)
=I couldn't believe what I was about to do......but I slapped her across the cheek, then gripped her shoulders firmly=
"Get ahold of yourself Eve! You want to defend this place? Then drop the hysterical act, and get your head in the fucking game!"

(James)
"Dammit....so who do we have?"

*Cooper*
"We've got us. Marcus, get your people armed and on the wall or in a building. James, you're with me. We're taking the West wall."

(James)
"Got it."

Hibiki nodded. "We need to get civilians to the stadium. Use the tank and bus to form a defense line. Ae need that done now."

Eve looked at Sam, hand on her cheek.
"Yes ma'am." She said numbly.

As he was driving, Abel thought he heard thunder in the distance, but after looking around, the skies looked pretty clear, as far as the eye could see, that is.

Abel would soon find out it was not thunder. As he got closer to the city in his MG, he saw a huge cloud of smoke, traveling into the sky.

"Oh shit. That can't be a good sign."

That looks really close to the Elite compound.

*Marcus*
"There aren't that many civilians Hibiki, and even then most of them are already trained. We needed a militia after all."

(James)
"Then have the women and children moved to the stadium now. And have them get the cars ready to move, just in case."

*Cooper*
=He turned from the group to take out his walkie=
"Dex, looks like we're going to need you back here a little early. Can you get back to the compound?"

*Dex*
"Uh.....we can try sir. But we heard that explosion from all the way over here, and so did a lot of walkers that we never saw before. They're in the streets now, headed for you."

*Cooper*
"Shit....alright, remain where you are. And try and get that train moving, and if you can.....see if you can attach any available cars. I'm not anticipating the worst, but...."

*Dex*
"Got it sir. Good luck."

I decided go back to my room and wait. Not even two minutes later there's a booming sound, like a F-14 breaking the sound barrier.

"The hell?"

I go to my window and look out outside. My room darkens with the smoke cloud climbing overhead. Then the screams only confirm what I'm thinking.

Abel drove over a hill and his eyes couldn't believe what he saw. The top part of the hotel in the Elite's compound was smoldering from some sort of explosion.

"God...damn..."

He left the car on and opened the door, exiting the vehicle. Abel heard screams from down in the city. Abel knew who did this, the only people who would, if they could.

The Shepards have this kind of power?

"Shit."

He went into his car and grabbed his shotgun, making sure it was fully loaded before putting it in the passenger seat of the car. He did the same with his pistol then holstered it in his dropleg. He didn't know what he was about to go into, but he'd be ready.