ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

*Cooper*
"Not exactly. Just planning on taking down the bulk of that horde outside, so when we run to the cars and they do see us, we won't have to face that many of them."

(Sam)
=When we got outside, people were already moving for the cars and I saw Marcus by the bus. Leading Eve to the bus, I shot him a quizzical look=

*Marcus*
"We need to move now. I don't want to risk those bandits having friends, so we're running now."
=It was only then that he saw Sam was down t her bra, and his face went red Ashe looked away=

"Uh, why are you down to your bra?"

(Sam)
"Eve needed a new shirt after her old one got soaked in blood. Here, take her in the bus, get her to lie down. I'll be ready to go in a few minutes."

*Marcus*
"Good. I don't want to stay here for much longer."

"Get ready for the Roads to be crowded.  Once roamers far off hear the explosions, they'll start making their way this way, alot by the road."

Abel found his cigar in his pocket and began chewing on it.

*Cooper*
=He frowned at Abel=
"They're not going to be that loud Abel."

"Really?  'cause if you plan on having those explosives blowing up multiple flesh-eaters, then they're probably gonna be louder than a firework, and it don't take much to get these things' attention."

Abel started walking away, before things got too heated, as he switched his cigar to the other side of his mouth.

*Cooper*
=He was really getting tired of Abel's attitude, but given what they had been through the past three weeks he was willing to let it slide=

(Sam)
=Walking back to the impala, I opened the trunk t grab my backpack. Unzipping it, I took out a fresh shirt and slipped it on=

*Marcus*
"Alright Eve, need any help getting in?"

Eve shook her head, climbing in. "Where do you want me Marcus?"

*Marcus*
=He pointed at the middle section, where the seats had been stripped and replaced with a flat, impromptu bed=
"Just lay there for now."

Nodding, Eve laid down, staring at the ceiling.

Thinking.

First time Sam saw her topless.

She wanted it to be special.

(Sam)
=Once I had a new shirt on, I climbed into the impala, twisting the key and turning her on. Other cars started rumbling, even the bus. People climbed into them, and soon we were good to go. That was when the first car jumped into motion, moving out of its parking space and freeing the bus to move. The wall we made came undone, and soon we started driving down the street, on our way outf the town. Which actually sucked, since we didn't have a chance to check for gas=

As the caravan rumbled away, Eve decided falling unconcious would be best; hard to stay awake with a lack of blood, right?

*Bandit*
"Dammit, they're getting away! Back to the vehicles now, and run them down!"
=They didn't even bother checking for wounded, as they rushed out of the buildings. Knocking a few walkers aside, they ran for their vehicles, desperate to take down the caravan. Those that reached the dirt bikes hopped on and kicked them to life, moving for the biggest target, the bus. Getting alongside it, they used their weapons--pipes, planks, baseball bats--to hit the sides of the bus and break the glass. They would have slashed the tires if they had anything sharp=

(Sam)
=Dammit, they were attacking the bus. Attacking Eve....=
"Like hell...."

=I stepped on the pedal and shot down the road,passing our own cars and ramming the front end of my bumper into the rear dirt bike=
"Oops, sorry didn't see ya there!"

Breaking ass usually wakes anybody up.
Eve was suppose to be an exception. Exfept when the glass falls on her, and she's weak. Then her sleepin' resolve screws with it.

Sitting up, she drew her gun and crawled to look at the bandit smashing the side. "Fucker." She said, then blasted his brains out. "I'm trying to fucking nap." She said miserably weakly as a bandit flew by, Sam's impala having rammed it.
Eve groaned and collapsed.
"This fucking sucks."

(Sam)
=My car bumped a little as it ran over the driver of the bike. The impact had tossed the driver forward and off the bike, while the bike flipped and tumbled to the side, leaving the next guy wide open. I would have rammed him, but there was a sudden sound of heavy gunfire, and the bike and driver were taken down in a hailof bullets from the turret on the bus, which only now had turned to bear on them=
These guys must be really desperate to attack us when we have guns like this.

=The guns turned to the bikers on the other side, and there was more gunfire as we accelerated out of the town and onto the road. The other bandits in their own cars still followed us, but the bus slowed down, pulling to the side and letting the caravan pass. Then it moved to block the road, broad side facing the oncoming bandits as its guns came down to bear on them, and fired. I couldn't see what really happened to them, but I pictured shattering glass, crashing cars, and so much blood=

Eve groaned as the guns roared to life.
"My head." She slightly whined, covering her ears.

=Eventually, the gunfire ended, and there was silence on the road. Not all the bandits had been killed, but those that were alive and unharmed were blocked behind the wrecks of their compatriots vehicles. They tried to go around and onto the side of the road, covered in grass and dirt, but when they got around the bus shot at them again=

*Gunner*
"We're running low on ammo Marcus. We have to go now, we bought them enough time!"

=Marcus nodded, and had the driver turn again and continue down the road following the caravan. The bandits then gave up, and from the trees came dozens of walkers, attracted to the sound of gunfire=

--Boat--

(James)
=After Hibiki and I had.....moved some of the furniture around, there was a knock on the door followed by Trevor's voice=

*Trevor*
"James, Hibiki. Mark says we're coming up on another town, so get ready. This time, we really need to stop for food. We'll be there in maybe five minutes."
=Then he left=

(James)
"Oh, again? So soon?"
=But I didn't linger, quickly disentangling myself from the sheets and my wife (the latter I was really enjoying being pressed against) and started to get my clothes on=

"Feel up for another walk?"

--Train Group--

*Cooper*
=Well, now was as good a time as any. So he contacted Andrew=
"Andrew. Lob the first explosive as close to the center of that group as you can. Take out the bulk, and as for the group in the other building, the second that bomb explodes, run for those cars."

(Andrew)

=I nodded sagely and hefted the explosive=

Got ya, Cooper.

=I took the explosive and cocked it back to throw, waiting for just the right moment=

Eve finally heard the guns die down, then groaned.
"My head..."

Hibiki looked sad as she kicked the sheets off, standing to stretch. She had been enjoying the quiet time, just her and James. But now it was taken away again.
She looked around. "James, did you see wbere my bra went?" She asked, slipping the bottoms on.

Mira and Jenn sat in the store, the latter trying to look around for Tyler.

(James)
"Uh.....not really. Did you check under the bed?"
=I had gotten my shoes on, and stood by the door=

*Cooper*
"Alright Andrew.....now."

(Sam)
=We drove on for another mile before stopping, and I pulled up near the bus. Getting out, I walked to the door and climbed in=
"Eve? You still okay?"

Checking, Hibiki produced them.
"Now...uh...you know what, I don't want to know."
She slipped them on, then dressed. "Alright. Lets go."

Eve groaned. "I have a headache."

(Andrew)

=I lob the explosive and give a yell=

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

=I then get back down and cover my ears, waiting for the bang=

=The bomb exploded, shrapnel flying everywhere and tearing through walkers. Some were knocked down, others were taken out by shrapnel to the head=

*Cooper*
"Okay move, now. Non-combatants straight for the vehicles, anyone who can fight provide cover while they get the vehicles working. And Andrew, keep tossing bombs down into that group."

(James)
=We walked out of the room, clothed and armed, and made our way out to the deck. Trevor stood there, rifle in his arms=
"Trevor, where are we stopping this time?"

*Trevor*
"Golconda."

(James)
"Never heard of it. Better not be a statue this time."

(Sam)
"Well, at least the pain means you're alive, right?"

Mira and Jenn got ready to move.

Hibiki frowned. "Weird name for a city..."

Eve groaned. "Doesn't feel like it Sam..."

(Andrew)

=I simply nodded=

Just tell 'em to keep clear, will ya?

=I toss another one, feeling the explosion=

*Trevor*
"Hey, that's what it says on the map. Besides, not sure the name matters if we can get food."

(James)
"True. So how's this going to work, same as last time?"
=As we stood there, the boat drew closer to the city, on the west side of the river. It was small, maybe the same size as Metropolis=

*Trevor*
"Yeah, three of us while Mark stays with the boat."

(Sam)
=Walking over t her, I pinched her on the shoulder=
"Feels like you're alive to me."

*Cooper*
=They opened the doors and let the civilians run out, while the fights coved them, never firing but making sure that f the walkers spotted and came after them, they would be taken down quickly=
"Andrew, hit them again!"

Eve glared at Sam. "Not funny."

Hibiki glanced out to see downriver. "Wish we had more people to guard the boat..."

Abel moved through the doors, right behind the large crowd.  He pumped his shotgun before scanning the area looking for a walking zombie that was a little too close for comfort, it hadn't taken long.  Raising his shotgun, Abel took aim, exhaled and pulled the trigger, with a loud crack, he dropped the monster to the ground.

(Andrew)

=I lob another explosive and hear it go off=

I'm doing just that, Cooper.

=I get another explosive=

Just keep those people moving.

(James)
"Yeah well our only defense is that it's in the water far away from land."
=Honestly though, I couldn't think of anything else. That really w all the boat had for a defense=

(Sam)
=I chuckled=
"It's sorta funny."


=The first to reach one of the cars opened the door and found that there were no keys, and instead the wires were already torn out, hanging limply. However, they grabbed the wires and managed to hot wire the car after a few tries. In the meantime, others performed the same thing while the fighters kept the walkers off them=

Hibiki rubbed her temples. "We'll have to pray."

Eve reached up, managing to touch Sam's belly* Are we there yet?"

Shot after shot, Abel kept firing at the walkers, kneeling next to one of the vehicles that a soldier was hot wiring. A gut sinking "CLICK!" came from Abel's shotgun.

"Shit! reloading!"

He began grabbing shells out from his pockets and feeding them into the shotgun's tube, as the walkers got closer and closer.

(Sam)
"I don't even know where we're headed, so probably not."
=Reaching down, I took her hand and moved it off my belly and simply held it in my hand=

(James)
"You can pray. I'll probably be.....I have no idea."
=We got close enough that I didn't need binoculars to see there were a few walkers moving around. Not a lot, maybe three or five=

"I'll probably be keeping them off our asses."

*Cooper*
=He ran out of the store, stopping to fire into the walkers coming towards Abel=
"You good?"

Abel pumped the shotgun, then fed one last shell into the empty space in the tube as Cooper moved over.

"Yeah, I'm good... Thanks."

Abel rose his shotgun to a limping zombie and blasted its brains out the back of its skull.

Mira started hotwiring a car with Jenn as the fighters kept the walkers at bay.

Hibiki looked through her scope. "Got a bow onboard?"

Eve smiled softly. "Wish you'd stay with me...but the Impala comes first, no?"

(Sam)
=I grinned a her=
"Someone has to drive it."

(James)
=I kept a blank look only face as I rolled my shoulder, my bow currently slung over it along with my arrows in their quiver=
"Uh, I don't know. Let me check...."

*Cooper*
"Don't take any chances. Once the cars are ready, get to one as fast as you can."
=There were shouts and gunfire coming from inside the building the walkers had been swarming. The occupants were aware that their rides were being stolen=

(Andrew)

=I take a peek down the rifle's scope=

Uhhh Cooper...you might want to hurry.

=I put my finger near the trigger=

I think they're not too keen on us stealing their rides.

Eve sighed. "Don't keep me waiting at least?"

Hibiki resisted the urge to slap James.
"Couldn't see them through your ego. It got inflated after you got some earlier." She said, blank faced and deadpan.

*Cooper*
=He screamed over the walkie=
"Then hammer them with more of the bombs. Keep them inside."

(James)
=As my face went red, Trevor made a choking sound, and I glared at him=
"Oh shut up you. And hey, what's the harm in a little sarcasm?"

(Sam)
"I'll try not to keep you waiting. But god knows how long we'll be on the road."

(Andrew)

=I lob another bomb=

Yeah...that should keep their heads down.

=I continue to keep watch=

"Don't have to tell me twice."

Abel heard the others making a alot of sound farther off in the other building. He continued to keep the walkers at bay, taking any small gap of time in between to top off his shotgun.

"You're pride." Hibiki said.

Eve whimpered. "Why is it so hard to cuddle someone these days?"

=More walkers went down, but the sound, as Abel had predicted, drew out more walkers that had been in hiding. People from the main group had already managed to get the cars working, and were loading with people, crammed tightly=

*Cooper*
"Andrew, get down here now, we are leaving!"

(James)
"Please. I have no pride."

(Sam)
"Because luck isn't on your side these days? I mean, you got shot, then tore the stitches, and I saw you naked but covered in blood. Not your luck lately."

(Andrew)

=I nod=
spr
I'm moving as fast as I can, Cooper.

=I then head down the roof and the down the ladder, then sprinting for the cars=

"There's the lazy ones."

Abel said, referring to the zombies that had stumbled from the shadows.  His shotgun, once again ran out of ammo, but instead of reloading, Abel just held it in his left hand as he drew his .45 and begun shooting the walkers with the USP, covering Andrew as he ran.

Eve blushed badly. "H-h-hey! D-d-don't say that loudly!" She protested.

Hibiki chuckled. "Right. Right. Riiiiiight."

=As the last of the people got crammed not the cars, the doors of the building burst open and two survivors, either the last ones alive or the ones who were free to move, emerged and aimed their weapons at the cars, firing off shots at the cars. Cooper turned and fired his weapon at them, making them dive for cover......and then they were attacked by walkers=

(James)
=We pulled into what passed for a docking area for the town, Trevor laying down the ramp for us. Mark came down, but only to bring the ramp back in, then the boat pulled away=
"Okay, let's look for food."

(Sam)
"What? Not like anyone cares."

"I'm allowed to want to keep things...private." Eve retorted.


Hibiki looked around. "Where too first?"

(Andrew)

=I piled into one of the cars with Sarah=

Let's get out of here, Cooper.

=I fire a shot back=

And don't spare the horses.

(James)
"Let's check for supermarkets or grocery stores. From there, any nearby houses. Lets not linger around for too long though."

(Sam)
"True. Then it'll be between us then."

*Cooper*
=The comment was so random, it made him blink=
"What horses?"

"Alright." Hibiki agreed.

Eve looked away. "What do you mean?"

(Andrew)

=I shake my head=

Nevermind...Just get us the hell out of here.

=I motion out of the town=

And fast.