ZRP-2: Chapter 3, The Coming Storm

Eve sat up groggily.
"Sam?" She asked in her little-girl sleepy voice.

Hibiki deposited the stuff on a seat and started warming up the bus.

(Sam)
=I turned my head a little, back in Eve's direction before turning back to James=
"What's going on?"

(James)
"The town is moving to St. Louis, and it's moving today. So grab your gear and head for the bus. See you there."
=I didn't bother to answer any of the questions she was bound to now have. Walking away, I passed the preacher, Book=

"Book, we're leaving and the town is coming with us. You may want to come with, but you're call."

(Book)
"Well, my things are in the bus so....I'm stuck with you."
=I managed to pull off a small smile, before walking with him outside. We were both treated to an interesting site=

"Oh my."
=An entire row of vehicles, ranging from cars to vans to pick-ups, was lined outside the inn. People were moving all over the place, carrying boxes to the cars=

(James)
"Heh, whole new caravan by the looks of it."

Eve rubxbed her eyes. "Sam? Whags going on?" She asked, still waking up.

(Sam)
=Walking over to Eve, I sat on the bed as I gently rubbed her head=
"Town's leaving, and we're going along for the ride. Get your stuff."

(James)
"Okay, let's head for the bus. Looks like it will be the lead vehicle."
=We both headed for the bus=

She mewed again at the rubbing, responding with a kiss on Sam's cheek. "Ok." She said softly, getti g out of bed Nd gathering clothez. She took five minutes in the bathroom to get ready, and seven minutes later was standing by the door, dd inking some water.

(James)
=I climbed into the bus, giving Hibiki a quick kiss on the cheek=
"Hey, how are we doing?"

(Sam)
=Opening the door for her, we walked out of the inn. Marge was nowhere to be seen now, though when we walked out I saw her standing next to a car. Huh=

"All good." Hibiki answered.

Eve took Sam's hand gently.
"I'm going to nap on the bus." She informed Sam.

(Sam)
"Feel free."

(James)
"Good. We still need Andrew and Miranda, or at least need to know they're in the caravan. As for Ace.....chances are she'll find her way in this chaos."

Eve yawned. "Morning Sam...Love you..."she said softly, resting her head against Sam's arm.

Hibiki nodded. "Alright."

=I gave a weak smile=

Sorry bout that Mira...

=I look to see the others leaving=

Looks like we're packing up for St. Louis.

=I grab my gear and head for the Assault Bus, spotting the motley crew of ours, putting on a look of mock offense=

You were going to leave without us...I'm hurt.

I also walk up to the others, from whatever I was doing, and stand there looking around.

Whats the rush? Half us are going to be walking, anyways..

"Dibs on a bus seat if there's a open one.."





(Sorry If I have no clue whats really going on. I've been busy for the past week and haven't read up yet.)

(James)
=Nodding to both Andrew, Mira, and Ace, I simply pointed to the available seats.....right before I did a double take. Most of the seats in the back had suddenly been occupied by a mix of people, and mid-sized containers=
"Uh, wow......Okay, find a seat somewhere."

(Sam)
"Heh, love you too kiddo."
=When we got to the bus, we were standing behind Andrew, Mira and the new girl Ace. I peeked around them to see all the filled seats=

"Looks like you may be standing up Eve."

=I then sit down and lay my hands in my lap, trying to keep calm. Inside, however, I'm shaking like a leaf=

Goddamnit, Abernathy...why can't you just leave me alone...

=I take a deep breath, and I feel my hands trembling as my mind refused to let the past between me and Abernathy go=

(Allie)

I climb on the bus and grab the third seat on the left. I lean my rifle against the window and take off my hoodie and vest, leaving me in just a white tank top. I use my hoodie as a pillow against the wall and wait.

I get up from bed. I guess after awhile of talking we decided on sleeping. I can't remember the last couple minutes honestly. Guess I was just a little out of it.
Strangely enough I can still hear stuff moving outside. People talking. Okay, that's weird. Something I should probably check out.
I get my hat off the floor and put on my coat before heading outside. I see several cars, loads of people and boxes. It looks like people are leaving.
Or moving. I've moved alot in my old life so I'd know what it looks like.

Well. That's an interesting way to coop with an attack. But where would they go?

(J)

I raise my head from the pillow and yawn. I didn't remember falling asleep, but I did remember kissing Tyler.. ALOT. I blink as my eyes and stretch.

"Tyler..?"

I don't get a response so I curl back up.

I continue looking through the crowd to see who is all there. I spot Marge. The bartender and the general store guy.
And a couple others I've seen before. Then spot the huge city bus sitting in front. All boarded up with metal sheets and everything.

"Damn. Is that ours?"

I'd not attended the funeral. It wasn't my place to do it, and in the time since the funeral the inhabitants had started to move. Specifically, they were moving to a bus.

I clambered up onto it, looking around. I saw Allie, and a few others I still didn't really know. Jeez...
I walked over to Allie's seat and planted myself down next to her, silently.

(Allie)

I raise my head off of my hoodie and look over at Sam, letting out a yawn.

"Whats up?"

I smile and shrug, not looking at her. "Just got on."
I look over and smile sweetly. "You're tired, huh?"

=I go over to James and tap him on the shoulder=

Hey James, you got a moment?

=I give him a look=

I want to talk to you about something.

(Allie)

I laugh and nod.

"Yeah, I guess its just the waiting mainly."

"I can imagine." I lean over, gently, rubbing her leg, in what I assumed was a comforting manner.
"Don't worry. Just relax. Everything'll sort out, it'll just take a while."

Eve pulled Sam to the empty seat behind Hibiki, then sat the older girl down before sitting down in Sam's lap. She did this straight-faced.

Mira waited for Andy to sit, having throught the same as Eve.

(Allie)

I grin, blushing slightly but hide it.

"I'll probably end up taking nap, hope you don't mind."

(James)
"What is it Andrew?"
=I didn't turn to look at him, too busy making sure people were strapped in. Through the glass window, I could see everyone else getting into cars. We were about ready to go=

=My voice lowers a bit=

It's about the Shepherd attack on St. Louis...

=I then lower my voice even more=

I know the man who ordered the attack.

(James)
=Now he had my interest. I briefly turned to look at him=
"Who?"

=I take a bit of a breath=

He was an old friend of my late father.

=I keep my tone slightly hushed=

His name is Abernathy...and the man is self-taught tactical genius.

(James)
"Heh, not much of a genius if we managed to push him back."
=The last of the people were packed up and ready to go=

I rub your head and smirk, leaning back myself, resting a little. "It's fine, you're tired after all."
I pull you over to lean on my shoulder, smirking happily.

=I sigh=

Even so, best keep watch for another Shepherd raid on St. Louis...

=My expression turns grim=

If it's one thing he is...is that he is persistent.

(James)
"Maybe, but for now we have the advantage of numbers. Plus I doubt he'll see this coming."
=There was a shout from outside, the all clear. The gates opened and soon, we were free to move=

"Okay, get on the gun Andrew. We're moving out."

(Sam)
=I scrunched my face up a little. The seats weren't that comfortable, and since Eve was sitting on my lap it just pressed me down into the seats. More discomfort=

Copy that.

=I nod at give Mira an apologetic look=

Sorry...duty calls...

=I then get on the HMG and crank back the charging handle, taking the gun off safe=

I see that everyone was packed up and practically in their cars. And I think they're all going to be leaving. Well. Shit.
In a complete stupid instant of courage I run up to one of the cars and knock on the window. The person inside rolls it down.
Funnily enough it was the Bartender. He opens his mouth to speak but I stop him with words of my own.

"Hey man. Can I ask you a favor, please? I just now found out that the town is 'moving' and couldn't get a ride. Could my girl-"

Like I did to him he does to me. Basically he cuts me off in midsentence.

Ex Bartender - "Yeah, yeah. Hop in the back and get settled. This is going to be a long trip."

"Thank you! I'll go get her and our things. I'll be right back."

Ex Bartender - "Wait, you and...?"

I run back to the Inn to get Jennifer. Completely ignoring his last comment. I burst through the door and look around. Seeing she's still in bed.
"Hey! Jenny! Wake up."

(James)
=I climbed into the front turret, my stuff piled up in a space behind Hibiki. The men at the gates had already hopped down, and clambered into cars of their own=
"Okay Hibiki, floor it!"

=Soon enough, the bus started moving, and we led everyone out of town=

(J)

I groan an look up.

"What..?"

(Allie)

I nuzzle Sammy's shoulder and relax as the bus takes off.

"Lets hope this is a smooth ride.."

"Sorry to wake you up like this babe. But we gotta go before everyone else does."
As if one cue, I hear what no doubt would be the city bus taking off.
"The town is leaving. As in, packing everyone has packed their things and are leaving. I don't know where-"
Then it clicks. They're probably heading to St. Louis. Probably, I mean, if they secured the alliance. God I still feel stupid about that.

I stroke Allie's hair softly, holding her close to me and grinning as she spoke.
"I'm sure it wont be."

(J)

I roll out of bed and pull my shoes on.

"Crap! We got to go!"

(Allie)

I sigh happily from her soft strokes. I wrap my arm around her waist.

"Oh boy, I can't wait...."

I grab whatever we have and run outside. I look around and spot our car. I wave over to him as I run over.
After I open the car door I climb inside. Forgetting to let her in first. Well. I can blame the rush for it.

Mira sighed, adjusting herseld in the seat.

Eve snuggled up to Sam, falli g asleep.

Hibiki floored it.

=The caravan of vehicles soon sped its way out of the town gates, the bus at the head of the line of vehicles. It was noon, by the time they had left and already clouds were blotting out the sun. Dark grey, they were storm clouds, and soon there was a downpour of rain. A bolt of lightning shot across the sky, and there was a clap of thunder=

(James)
=When it started raining, I was immediately depressed. Being at the turret, I got soaked=

(J)

I run over and climb into the back of the car.

=I feel the rain fall down on me, immediately feeling cold and slightly miserable=

Wow...get a prairie fire going and I'll feel at home in this...

=I smile weakly=

The car immediantly drives off to catch up with the other ones.
"Sweet... we made it."

(James)
"Might be a bad idea to start a fire on the bus. Just grit your teeth, we'll get through this."
=Still, the lightning had me worried. We were around a lot of metal that was elevated. I did not want to think about getting struck=

You survived the Shepherds, the zombies, and all manner of hell in this world....only to get killed by a bolt of lightning

Hibiki drove on, paying attention to the road.

Mira was uncomfortable.

Eve slept like a baby.

=I smile=

Believe me, James, I've been through worse storms. I'll suck it up.

=I also start to worry about the lightning, scared with all the metal surrounding me=

(Sam)
=How the girl was able to sleep with the thunder, and now the rain pouring in through the open hatch, was beyond me. I glanced up at James from where he stood on the ladder=
"Having fun up there James?"

(James)
=I peered down at her=
"Oh I'm having a blast Sam. Why don't you come up here, you look like a weather girl."

(Sam)
"Ha, I think I'll stay here where it's nice and dry."