ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

(James)
=Removing my backpack, I shook m head=
"No. We grab some ammo, then look for food. We don't have much left to eat."

*Trevor*
"Hey, if you two want I can stay here, pack up the guns and ammowhile you two look for anything to eat."

(James)
"Hell no, we stick together."

Hibiki shook her head. "We need it all James. Pack everything up. Drop it at the boat. Go back for food. We need two trips. All this ammo...the army we need to topple the shepherds will need it."
She grabbed a duffel and started pacming shotguns and shotgun rounds into it.

(James)
"Army we need to topple? Think it's too late for that now. All we can do right now is survive."
=I started filling my pack with boxes of ammo while I left the larger guns to the others=

(Andrew)

=I looked to Ace, who would be a godsend out here. This was her neck of the woods=

You want to take point, Ace?

=I phrase this as nicely as I can=

I mean, it's your neck of the woods.

(Ace)

I raise an eyebrow, giving him a funny look.

"You calling me a hick?"

I spit and laugh walking to the front.

"I'm just kidding, yeah I can take point."

Finding duffels, Hibiki started to throw everything she could in there, starting with assault weapons and ammo, plus any explosives. Once that was filled, she went for shotguns.
"Trevor, get the pistols."

(Andrew)

=I nod=

Thanks.

=I give her a genuine smile=

Because, in all honesty, you know the terrain better than Cooper does.

*Trevor*
"Got it."

--Train--

*Dex*
=Standing out on top of a moving train was......interesting, for Dex. It was also a little pointless, since the sniper rifle wouldn't be that effective up here, but at least it offered a decent view of the surroundings=

*Cooper*
"Dex, how's it looking up there?"

*Dex*
"It was clear ten minutes ago sir, now it's......still clear. A few walkers, even a small horde but nothing to worry about."

--Caravan--

(Sam)
=We finally reached the town, a sign outside saying "Welcome to Equality, Il." It looked like a large community, though it was also somewhat devoid of life. Well, human anyway. We passed a few dogs on the way in, and they scattered. There were even a few deer down the street, not in our path thankfully so they weren't scared. But there were also walkers, not a huge horde but definitely nothing to be relaxed around. We stopped just short of the town center, plenty of abandoned cars blocking our way inside. I got out, grabbing my weapons as did everyone else short of the children. We got in tight groups, taking down walkers as they came at us=

Eve stayed in the car, knowing Sam wouldn't let her fight. She hid as best as she could, holding her gun tightly.

(Sam)
=We managed to clear enough of the walkers to afford some breathing room, but in all honesty it was a pointless fight. With no walls or way to fortify a position, they'd just keep coming=
"Get a team in one of the large buildings and clear it out for the non-combatants!"

=One of the groups hopped to it, and went to the closest building, a diner by the look of it. I didn't focus on them, the walkers having my attention=

--Boat--

(James)
=Once the duffels were packed, we moved out of the sheriffs building and headed for the docks south of the office. I didn't want to do this.....but we needed to signal the boat. So I grabbed the flare gunk had in my jacket pocket, and fired it into the air, angling it so the flare would arc away from us and the docks but still be visible to the boat=
"We need to move, fast."

Peeking out, Eve saw what was happening. She grabbed her stuff, preparing to run.

Hibiki nodded. "Got another flare?"

(James)
"Yeah, but I'd rather save it for an emergency. Lets just get to the dock, load the gear and get back on land for any food."
=Granted, the chances of finding decent food were low, but we had to try=

--Caravan--

(Sam)
=We managed to clear out the street, heaps of dead walkers laying at our feet. But that didn't change the fact that we were exposed=
"Get the bus to block one side of the street! Have whatever cars we can spare line up in front and behind, form a wall!"

=More shouts of agreement, and the bus roared back to life and began to move, along with two other cars. It wasnt perfect, each vehicle needing enough space to get out when the time came, but we had one street blocked off. Now we had to find a way to secure the other=

Seeing an opening, Eve left the Impala and managed a shaky run towards the obvious fortress they were creating. Staying low and keeping close to her allies, Eve made it to the diner and hide behind a car, two soldiers to her left.

Hibiki sighed. "yeah..."

She immediately started off, not held back by the three duffels of guns at all.

(James)
=Trevor and I ran after her, though it was going to be a long run to the dock. Even as we ran, dozens more walkers appeared out of the buildings or from where they had lain dormant, some trying to move for us.....but others going for the flare that still hovered above the ground. Apparently, bright and flashy was a big distraction for the undead, something I'd have to remember=

(Sam)
=Once the impromptu wall was made, I rushed back to the impala, but to my horror I found that the door was open and Eve was nowhere to be found=
"Eve? Eve? EVE!!! Where are you?"

Eve's stomach sunk. Oh, Sam was going to murder her.
"I'm here!" She shouted, waving her hand above the hood. Guns firing, like she'd really risk getting shot again!
"I'm ok!" She shouted again.

Hibiki was booking it, taking a moment to scoop up something breakable and toss it somewhere else. "Hurry!"

(Sam)
=Running towards her voice, I found her crouched behind a car. God help me, nearly slapped her=
"What the hell were you thinking? You were supposed to stay in the car!"

(James)
"I'm moving as fast as I can. Looks like they're distracted though."

Eve looked up utterly terrified. "I...I didn't want them to surround the car...I...I'm sorry."
The girl nearly cried. "I didn't mean to worry you...I...I" She looked at the ground. She gave up speaking. Sam had every right to be mad.
She could almost feel the sting of the slap that Eve could picture Sam giving to her.

"Good." Was all Hibiki said.

(Sam)
=I didn't slap her. Despite how mad she made me, I couldn't bring myself to hit her. So all I did was hold out my hand for her to grab=
"Come on, if I can't keep you in the car, I can at least plant your ass in the diner."

(James)
=We reached the dock soon enough, and the boat was already pulling up alongside the dock, the ramp being deployed=
"Come on, we can reach it!"

=Behind us, more walkers gathered outside, and I realized then as I looked back there was no hope of going back. There too many now=
"Forget the food, and lets get the hell outta here!"

Hibiki threw the duffels over into the boat, then turned and adopted a crouch. She was scanning, and if a walker got too close, she'd shoot.

Eve shakily acccepted the hand. "Yes ma'am."

(James)
=Trevor and I jumped aboard, pulling the ramp with us as the boat pulled back and we went down river again=
"Dammit....so much for food."

*Trevor*
"Still, got some ammo. That's good right?"

(Sam)
=Pulling her other feet, I guided her inside the building=
"Stay here, or next time I will hurt you."

Eve sat down in a booth without pause. "Yes ma'am."

Hibiki collapsed onto her ass, panting. "Next stop for food."

(James)
"Definitely. That or I can try fishing again."
=I collapsed next to her, breathing hard=

(Sam)
"Don't call me ma'am, just don't make me worry, okay?"

"Good luck." Hibiki chucklde.

Eve looked at her lap. "Okay..." She finally looked up. "Don't make me worry either..."

(Sam)
"I'll try."
=With that,I left her there and headed back out to join everyone else=

(James)
"Hey, I managed to catch a few things."

Eve sat there obediently.

Hibiki sighed. "Yeaaaah...you should practice more."

(James)
=The boat began picking up speed, and soon we were putting some major distance between us and Metropolis. Only when we turned at the next bend did I stand up and relax=
"Okay....lets get the weapons secured."

=Trevor nodded, and grabbed two of the bags and carried them over to a rectangular box, opened it and then began placing weapons inside. I climbed the small staircase up to the bridge. Our pilot was still there, hands on the steering wheel=
"Hey, anything on the radio?"

=He shook his head, eyes constantly forward. Still, it was about time to do our regular check in, so I walked to the radio and grabbed the walkie, clicking the button=
"This is Lady Luck to any St. Louis survivors. Anyone there, over?"

(Sam)
=So, things were getting....interesting. With one side of the street blocked off, that left one other side of the street to focus on, as walkers began moving in. They still weren't in a swarm, but a chunk of us were taken up securing the diner. I and five others had to deal with the walkers, grouping together and making noise to draw them in so we could finish them off=

--Train--

=It was another mile or two the train gained, before it slowly but surely came to a stop, out of fuel and unable to keep going. Metal screeched on metal as it came to a standstill, until finally it was silent, unmoving. But still very occupied. The side door on the middle car opened, and the occupants jumped down into the field the tracks cut through=

Hibiki helped Trevor put everything away. She sighed softly.
"Let's hope the next stop has food."

Eve sat there quietly, listening to the echoing gunfire.

=The radio in the bus crackled a little, some static coming through along with barely detectable words. Even then no be could hear any of it, too caught up with the walkers and securing the area=

(James)
"Say again this is Lady Luck, anyone there over?"
=Still no answer, so I gave up, and walked back down to the deck=

"No answer. Either we're out of range......or their batteries ran out."

(Sam)
=We managed to take out the walkers coming up on the rear, and lined a few more cars up to form a wall. There were also a few abandoned cars we cold use, though we'd have to push them into place once enough walkers were killed. That said, there was breathing room enough for me to fall back int the diner and check n Eve=
"Hey, how you doing dummy?"

=I said the last bit with a teasing tone and a smile on my face=

I jump down from the car like everybody else. But unlike some, I put my hand on my gun and scan the area.
There were a few of them scattered among the fields. But those were so few they didn't matter really.
So everyone was safe, for now. And that's always good. Especially since most of all, myself included, can hardly walk.
I mean we were on a train for nearly a month.

Eve blushed badly.
"I...I'm good Sam..."
She looked at her lap. "Um...has everything quieted down now?"

(Sam)
"Not really, but we've got some breathing room. And I think I saw some deer on the way here, so we may go hunting later for lunch."

*Trevor*
"Probably put of range. So......should we get out the fishing poles then?"

(James)
"Sure. I'll get the hat."
=The hat, was something I found in the closet of my cabin. Left b the previous owner no doubt, it was a baseball cap with the Bass Pro logo on the front, and I took to wearing it whenever I tried my luck at fishing=

Eve rubbed her shoulder a bit.
"let me guess...sit here and don't move unless I have to go to the bathroom?"

(Sam)
"That, or since you're feeling good enough to leave the car and move, you can help me catch some food."

Eve paused. "I still have trouble with my arm Sam...running for my life out of fear...that's different then hunting..."
She looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry I'm so useless."

(Sam)
"Nah, you're not useless. You're just in the penalty box is all."
=I sat down next to her as everyone in the diner worked to board up windows and search for any food=

"Don't see much point in fortifying. Not like we're staying here."

(James)
=We got the fishing poles out, along with the bag of bait. The bait, was really just those creepy rubber things that you skewered on the hook=
"Hibiki, care to join me? Maybe with some extra people we'll actually catch something."

Hibiki sighed. "No thanks."

Eve smiled a bit. "Thanks."

(James)
=I shook my head=
"Care to at least sit with me? This gets boring when I'm on my own."

(Sam)
=Getting up, I planted a light kiss on the top of her head=
"Stay here, and don't do anything stupid."

Hibiki sat behind James, pressing her back to his.
"Of course."

Eve smiled a bit more. "With that payment, I can't resist."

(Sam)
"I can't imagine. Anyway, I'll be back soon."
=Leaving the diner, I stood outside and took a look around. Both lines of cars were mostly secure, very little walkers now actually moving for us. Now came the fun partof dodging them while finding those deer=

(James)
=Both rods were set up, while I sat down with Hibiki. No beer on board, so nothing for me to drink=
"So.....how far down river do you think we'll go?"

"Pretty far..." Hibiki said. "Unless we end up finding the others that is."

Eve sat there quietly...then she dug into her bag...
"Oh."
Her book, her new book, Catching Fire, was stuck under...Mommy's...
Eve's cheeks went hot, then she dug the book out.
"Stupid....mommy..."

Eve quickly started to read her book.

(Andrew)

=I hear the train grind to a halt and swear=

Well...this is bad. We're stuck up shit creek, and we ain't got a paddle...

=I looked to Cooper=

Well...how are we going to do this now, Cooper?

(James)
"Hopefully we find them. But then again.....it's not that bad actually, being out here on the river. Would be nicer if we were out on the coast or something."

(Sam)
=Grabbing two other people with me, I took a weapon from the impala......Eve's bow and arrows. I'm sure she'd be fine with me borrowing it, especially since I needed a silent way to kill those deer=

*Cooper*
=Standing by the door, he looked from Andrew, to the grass below, then back again. He arched a brow, as if the whole thing was explanatory enough=

Mira gathered her things.
"We're leaving the train?"

"I agree." Hibiki said. "The coast...maybe the beach."

*Cooper*
=He looked at Miranda=
"We're out of fuel, so this train ain't going anywhere now. So, we walk. Follow the tracks far enough to maybe find a town, or somewhere we can find vehicles."

(James)
"Chances are we'd find way more fish there."
=The rods were static,though fishing was all about patience=

"If we find Eve and Sam......do we leave the boat and join them, or ask Trevor and Mark to trade bunks with them?"

Hibiki sighed.
"We'd go with them...James...we wanted to destroy the Shepherds. They win one victory...and now we're...running..." She rested her weight more against James. "We...have to fight back. Find more survivors. Find more Elites. We live in hell James. It's about time we stopped being defeated dogs and go fight back."

Mira nodded. "Ok."

(Andrew)

=I look to the rest of the group=

Getting to the town would be a good first idea. We need the shelter now.

=I list priorities mentally=

Vehicles are second.

=I look to Mira reassuringly=

And don't worry. Sarah and I have your back, Mira.

(James)
"I know....but a defeat like that almost makes me think of just hiding away somewhere. After all, it would just be us, wouldn't it?"

*Cooper*
"Still have no idea how long before we get to the next town. So conserve whatever water you still have, and get set for a long walk."

"James. What I'm about to say is for your own good." She paused. "Grow your balls back." Hibiki rubbed her temples. "You gain an entire Elite Compound. You help defeat the Shepherds at multiple turns. You have a fucking MAP of their camps. And, after one defeat in a war...you want to give up?"

Hibiki stood. "I thought I married an American, not a Frenchman."

(James)
=I didn't even stand=
"You realize I said almost, right? Right now, I want to tear the shepherds a new one. But at the moment, all we can do is retreat, regroup, and find a safe place to hole up."

=One of the poles began to bend, and I had a bite=
"All it takes, is patience."

"Good."

Hibiki turned to watch James real in the catch.