ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

(Sarah)

=I roll my eyes briefly=

If you two are quite done...

=I gesture to the walls=

We got people save.

"Jennifer!"

I turn around and run out the door. Before I make it far though a bit of sense comes to me. I go back, get my coat, put on my boots and grab my two pistols.
Then run back out the door and straight to the elevator. Once inside I crush the button frantically, trying to go down.

(Sam)
"Good. Now, lets finish patrolling the perimeter, and head back to the main street. And....sorry, for slapping you."
=Then I broke back into a run, hoping they followed=

*Marcus*
=Marcus began barking orders, pointing at his men to start gathering those that were not fit to fight, or who had never held a gun, and move them to the stadium. Not aloof the civilians however agreed with this, and already some began demanding a gun=

(James)
"Cooper, we need to get the entry points lined with those explosives! Get your men and have them mine the points of egress into the compound. Get whatever civilians we have, that won't go to the stadium, and have them reinforce the walls with whatever they can find."
=He nodded, and began shouting at people, getting them moving and into action=

--Train Yards--

=The soldiers in the train yard were faced with the daunting task of getting any available train cars attached to the main engine. It seemed pointless, but there wasn't much else they could do. The engine was already on the tracks out of the city and fueled up with what they could find, but even then.....well, getting the other cars to move was a bit of a challenge. They had to drag them with their own vehicles, or in some cases push them. They moved maybe a few feet at a time. In the grand scheme of things, it seemed pointless, since by the time they got the cars attached the attack would already be underway=

Eve followed quietly, still kinda shocked at the slap.

"We need to get all vehciles to the stadium, too. Load everyone up, all fuel, ammo, food...we need to be ready to run. Walkers, Shepherds..."
Hibiki kept up with the others easily.

(Book)
=I ran out of the hotel, among other people. Others ran in, holding buckets of water gathered pm who knows where, heading for the stairs. Doubtless they planned to put out the fire. I saw James and Hibiki, running for the wall, and I ran for them=
"James! Hibiki!"

(James)
=I stopped and turned to face the running preacher=
"Book? Are you okay, what's going on?"

(Book)
"It's the Pariah, isn't it? And the Shepherds. They're attacking."

(James)
=I blinked at him=
"Uh, yeah, but how do you know that?"

(Book)
"I'll explain later. But right now you need to listen. I know what's coming, and in what order. They're going to let the walkers come, and wait for you to waste ammo. They'll wait a day, maybe two, as long as it takes. Then they'll come in force."

(James)
=I took a firm stance before him, and shot him a serious look=
"How the hel--"

(Book)
"I already said I'll explain later, but you need to move now."

(James)
"We're already doing just that. So I suggest you help us. And we will have words later."

(Book)
"That we shall."
=And then I left to do my part. Fate it seemed deemed it fit that my past would surface once more=

Hibiki frowned.
"James. I should head to the stadium. Supervise the loading and get people and supplies loaded. We need to get to the trains. Fast."
She started to change directions. "Protect our daughter!"

Eve was recovering.
She strung her bow. "Sam. Sarah. We won't finish before the plague vans get in. We need to conserve ammo and figure out where we can regroup.. " eve looked up at the smoke.
"We need another distraction. A way to divert the walkers..."

(James)
=As everyone was running around, I turned and grabbed Hibiki's hand=
"No! We stay together Hibiki. I don't know what else Mikey may have planned, and I'm not going to risk you being caught in another of his traps. So you're staying with me, no arguments."

(Sam)
"Eve, I don't think we have anything big enough. We need to fight, and do what we can to win."

(Sarah)

=I look to the ground weighing the options we had. And Sam was right=

Eve...she's right. We need to hold our ground.

=I look around=

Now what's taking my brother so damn long...

(Andrew)

=I had found Mira alive and unhurt. Thank goodness for that. Now I had to think on my feet=

Get her to a secure part of the compound. Get her to the stadium...

=I then get her to the ATV as fast as possible=

Well...shit has most definitely hit the fan...

"We have to get everything ready James! We won't survive unless we have our supplies!" Hibiki shook his hand free. "We have to get out of here. We're doomed in this position. We have to escape with eveyone and everything we can."

Eve growled. She obviously wasn't happy.
"This is not about winning! This is about survival!" She stomped her foot. "Dammit Sam, that is a beacon for the entire city of walkers to come at us. As e waist ammo on them, the Shepherds will come in and calmy gun us all down. We can't hold the line. We don't have the ammo, the supply lines. The walls. Dammit Sam, I lost you once. Do not make me lose you again."

(Sam)
"Nobody is lost, not yet. Not if we run. We've been running for too long, it's time to stand up and fight."

(James)
=I grabbed her by the shoulders this time=
"No Hibiki! Please. Everyone else, can do that. But.....I can't. I can't be here, knowing that something may happen to you."

"Not when you will die!" Eve screamed at Sam. "We are fucked because an entire city of zombies is coming after us! We have lost the tactical advantage! Stop thinking about revenge, payback. Start thinking about survival!"
Eve yanked Sam back and slapped her this time. "Why the fuck are you not thinking about how much danger you are putting yourself in for a battle that was lost when those floors exploded."

Hibiki scowled.
"James. Then folow me. I am going to consrve my bullts and get ready to fucking run. Because that beacon will bring more walkers then anything. Stop thinking about fighting. Start thinking about surviving. And running to regroup in a defensible location is the only option that will work!"

(Sarah)

=I look to the burning top floor of the hotel, my mind lost in thought=

We can't fight and win. Not today, at least. We need to withdraw and live to fight another day...

=I furrow my brow=

C'mon Andrew...where are you...?

(Andrew)

=I take Mira with me to where I figured the rest of our little band might be=

We need to get out of this mess...we can't possibly fight and win...

=I feel a sense of deja vu rush over me, and I didn't like it at all=

(Sam)
=I ignored the slap, and screamed at her=
"For the love of God Eve, this battle is not lost, you fatalistic little twit! It's only lost if we give in, if we turn tail and run just like we did at the lockdown town. Finally, we have a secure place to call home. And I will be damned if I'm letting the Shepherds run me out of this place. But if you're such a coward, then fine, run. Run and hide and simply survive. I'll stay here and fight, and if I die then at least I died taking as many of those bastards with me as I can!"

(James)
"Hibiki, all we've done is run. The caravan simply ran. We ran from the lockdown town. And now you want to run from here? No. Not today. Enough running. Now's the time we turn and face the monsters at our door, and firmly shout back at them, 'NO!'"

"Then die. Go die. GO AHEAD. FUCKING DIE. I HAVE A BABY. I HAVE EVE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIGHT BACK IN A SITUATION THAT IS HOPELESS."
Hibiki shoved James back. "I have to protect my children."
She ran for the stadium.

Eve looked at Sam. As tears filled her eyes, she began to shake.
"Then die."
Eve yanked Sam down, kissed her lips, then shoved her back, hard, so Sam fell on her butt.
"I still love you. Even if you will stop loving me for wanting to live with you."

Eve turned and ran.

(James)
"Dammit!"
=I wanted to run after her, keep her close. But if there was any hope of keeping her safe.....it was maintaining control of this city. Or what was left of it anyway. So I let her go, hoping she wouldn't leave. I made for the wall, and began giving orders=

"Alright people, we don't have a lot of time. I want teams to lay down explosives, whatever we can use to set up traps, on the three main points of entry to this compound. I want the streets lined to blow, and I want it all done by remote, or we'll just waste it on walkers. And I want sharpshooters, doesn't matter if they're snipers or not, up in the buildings on the corner points. Third, or fourth floor up. And someone get a recon team, on the roof of the highest building we have here. We need spotters people, lets move!"
=Maybe I had a better command of authority than I realized. Maybe they figured I was giving good orders. Either way, the soldiers jumped to it, running back t the stadium to grab explosives, others moving into the buildings I pointed out, and three apparently headed for the tallest building available=

(Sam)
"EVE!!!!!"
=But it was too late, she was gone. Cursing her and unwillingness to stand, now when we needed to stand together the most, I made for the most activity, the walls. There was a battle coming, and I aimed to be there to help turn the tide. This was our home, and you don't let someone run you out of your home without a fight=

Hibiki made it to the stadium around the time that Eve did.
Hibiki knew Sam had made the same decision.

The two didn't take any ammo really. Just two extra clips each.
Then Hibiki slung herself over the Hayabusa, Eve holding on from behind.

The motorcycle roared out of the stadium, heading for a bridge exit.

Abel drove to the front gates of the Elite compound and once within about thirty-meters from the gate, Abel's MG was shot in the hood from one of the buildings.

"Oh shit! Friendly!!!"

Of course he couldn't be sure. For all Abel knew, the place was taken over by the damned Shepards. He grabbed a bandage from his bag and started waving it frantically out the window of his car, using it as a white flag.

=The guards who fired on the approaching vehicle held their fire went they saw the white flag, but they didn't holster their guns, or open the gates=

(James)
=Running to the wall, and onto the top of it, I looked over to see the car they were firing at=
"Sorry, we're not accepting any visitors today."

"What about volunteers?! Looks like you guys have gotten yourselves into bit of a pickle while I was away!"

Abel opened the door, stepping out with his arms spread wide.

(James)
"What the....Abel? Where the flying fuck have you been?"
=I noticed that some of the guards lowered their weapons, but a few still had them trained on Abel. Hell, I would have as well, considering that he cut ties and ran from us=

"Oh, you know, just running some errands."

Abel avoided James' question.

"So... can I come in?"

(James)
"Normally, I'd say no. But since we have bigger problems than you on the way, and they've already got us lubed up for a pounding, come on in. Open the gates!"
=The gates opened enough for him to get in, while at the same time soldiers moved out not deal with him, it lay the explosives on the street. They were going to have to hide them though=

The gate wouldn't open.

Resting the bike off to the side, she looked to the rest of the compound.
They were fighting.
Hibiki looked to Eve.
"Guess someone believes we should fight."

Eve stared.
But instead of drawing her bow, she let out a frightened sob and ran, leaving Hibiki speechless.
But she merely mounted her motorcycle.
She would tend to her daughter later.

Eve ran.
She just ran, until she made it to the stadium.
And from there, she hid in the bleachers, sobbing quietly.

He gave James a thumbs up, then got back in the car.

"Bastards better not have damaged anything..."

It took a couple of turns of the key before the engine rumbled to life.

"Cool, cool."

Abel drove the car into the compound, then parked it out of the way and exited it.

=The gates stayed open, all of them save those for the bridges, long enough to let the soldiers carry out the explosives needed, set them up, and then get back inside. Each grouping had a radio transmitter attached, the range far enough to let them be detonated from behind the walls=

(James)
=I didn't get down from the wall to say hi to Abel. I might have punched him. But that aside, I had a feeling I was of more value up here=

Abel walked over to the bottom of the wall that James was stationing up on.

"We still shooting at the Shepards per usual?"

As Eve hid beneath bleachers, Hibiki finally had located James...
To which she tripped and ended up skidding a foot on her knees, nearly knocking him over.
"Ow..." She said, panting.
She then looked up.
"Can we skip the crying and me begging for forgiveness and the bullshit and just kiss and go kick some ass?"

(Andrew)

=I had placed Mira inside the Stadium, hoping she'd be safe=

Mira, just stay here okay. I'll keep Sarah alive. You have my word.

=I then grabbed a gun and some ammo and went to the ATV=

Time to kick some ass...

=I got back on the ATV and headed to the wall, spotting Sarah on the way=

Sarah, hop on! Let's get moving.

=Sarah hopped on, and made it to the wall defenses=

You two don't mind a couple extra rifles?

(James)
=I was about to answer Abel, when something collided with me and knocked me down. Since the walkway I stood on was barely wide enough for two people.....I nearly fell down maybe ten feet, on my back. That said, I ended up laying along the length of the walkway, and found Hibiki staring at me=
"Oh hey, glad you could make it. Enjoy your trip?"

Abel sighed.

"Still falling for each other, I see."

He wasn't too proud of his bad joke, but it still made him smile a bit.

"Eve's gone...she ran and hid..."
She looked ashamed. "James. I'm sorry...but...I'm scared. For the baby, Eve, you, Sam...I didn't see an out..."
She sobbed. "I'm sorry."

(James)
=I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently=
"Hibiki, get ahold of yourself. You're the one telling me, to always keep things in control during moments like these, where people are counting on you. So I'm counting on you now Hibiki, to get ahold of yourself, and find a spot on the wall. And Abel, yes we are fighting Shepherds, and Sarah, Andrew, grab a spot on the north wall, we'll hold the west."

Abel held his hands out, like he didn't want trouble.

"Where do you want me? I'm willing to fight."

(James)
"Abel, take the south side. Follow whatever orders they give you short of throwing yourself down as bait."

"Yessir."

Abel gave James the M*A*S*H salute then went to his car to arm himself with his shotgun, pistol and sword. Abel asked one of the Elites where the south wall was located and he was pointed in the right direction.

(Andrew)

=I nod=

You've got it.

=I revved the ATV's engine=

C'mon Sis...let's knock some heads.

=Sarah grinned wickedly, racking a round in the chamber=

(Sarah)

Let's kick some ass.

=I look to Andrew with fierce determination=

(Andrew)

=I nod and head to the north wall, praying Mira would be okay without me=

Hibiki nodded, standing up and unslinging her G36.
"James. The moment there is a lull, get Sam to find Eve. No matter what, that girl always seems to be able to locate my baby."
She crouched on the wall, aiming out. "I got here."

(James)
"Something tells me I won't have to. Besides....as important as Eve is to her, I don't think that Sam is goi g to leave whatever she's doing just yet. But just to be safe...."
=Grabbing my walkie, I thumbed a button=

"Sam, Hibiki wants you to find Eve. Right now."

(Sam)
=I was busy by the south wall, when I heard James voice over the walkie. Grabbing it, shouted back=
"Really? Now? Jesus Christ.....I'll see what I can do, but no promises."

=Hell, I needed ammo anyway, so I headed for the stadium. Doubted she was in the armory, but wouldn't hurt to try=

Abel passed a woman who looked somewhat familiar, probably from James' caravan, but he didn't take the time to say "hi" it looked like she had somewhere to be. He made it to the south wall, then climbed up the stairs(?) to the top.

"Reporting for duty."

"Dammit James, AFTER there is a lull. Right now, she's freaked out and scared. I know she'll be safe. Tell Sam to make sure we have time to look for her. Not now. Not right this second."
Hibiki sighed. "I didn't mean now, James. I meant later."

(James)
"Look, now is better than later. Because at this point I have no idea what's going to happen next. So at the very least, we can take control of the next few seconds, and holy crap there's a walker already."
=Sure enough, there was a walker moving down the street towards us. Then two....three now=

"Save your shots people. They're no harm."

(Sam)
=Heading for the armory, I passed more people outside the hotel, some of them blackened from the soot of the fire, others still going in with more water=

(Andrew)

=Sarah and I took position on the North wall and braced ourselves for the coming assault=

This is where we make our stand...here. Not one step back...

=I rack a round into the rifle's chamber. This was going to be an interesting fight=

I made sure to leave a walkie on Mira. I just hope she'll be okay...

"Alright..." Hibiki sighed.
She lowered her gun. "Gime a flare or two. I'm gonna see about chucking a flare far over there and see if they take the bait. Might give us a minute or two of respite, yeah?"

Eve shivered under the bleacher, sobbing a bit harder.

Abel loaded his shotgun off, while he sat on a stack of crates, waiting for danger to come to them. He would've asked for a rifle, as shotguns aren't exactly known for their range, but he wasn't too sure if he could even use one accurately.

Best to stick with what you know.

He then topped of his pistol mags.

(James)
"Give the lady a flare gentlemen, and stand back."
=One of the guards on the wall walked over to her, handing her a red stick with a white tip=

(Sam)
=Running into the armory, I wasn't surprised to see it swarming with people, grabbing ammo and grenades, getting ready for the impending battle=

Hibiki cracked the flare and chucked it to a land, far, far away, then waited.

Eve just kept crying.

=Some of the walkers began to move for the flare, but since there were so few to begin with it didn't really matter=

(James)
"Hope that flare lasts a few hours, otherwise that was a bit of a waste Hibiki."

(Sam)
=Once I had what I needed, I exited the armory. But the hall was crowded, and I needed to move fast, so I had to cut through the field. It was a little busy there, some of the non-combatants crowded inside. I paid them no heed though=

"It was a test..." She scowled. "Alright then. Guess we'll just hope they ignore us for now."

Eve...hasn't moved.

(James)
"Well, so long as we stay quiet we should be good. And out of sight."

"Aye. Ask Sam if she's found Eve. Quietly."
Hibiki stuck a tongue at her husband.