[IC] War Never Changes

[Tsar Gatto]

Charlotte grimaced as the figure of a stranger moved out of the darkness and announced herself, instinctively she wanted to run but resisted the urge. Jake and Quinn were between her and the newcomer and she was slowly starting to feel a little more trusting towards them, after all they had saved her and were now looking for somewhere to stop and fix up her leg.

Jake addressed the stranger and Charlotte waited nervously for any response. She was tired and pain still throbbed through her, she hoped this wasn’t the start of something and that they’d be able to stop for the night, having escaped the Blood Army and made it this far. She kept silent towards the back of the group feeling a little useless as Quinn surveyed their surroundings with a trained eye.

[Always]

Alyssa let the knife fall deeper into her hand as she saw them pointing the gun at her. She saw they put it down and her grip slightened slightly. Looking at thew man who asked her the question she shrugged slightly. "Only if your willing." She stated. She was slightly nervouse being around them. She sighed shaking her head as she sighed. She should of knew that they would be suspicious of her. "I'm not part of the blood army." She cleared out though she knew they weren't going to believe her. " I heard you were starting a settlement group?"

[jaybreezy]

Jake had a confused look on his face. Settlement? Not really. He didn't even know everyone that much. He knew Quinn probably wouldn't stay for long. He knew almost nothing about Charlotte. She could be planning to kill him in his sleep. He did give her the benefit of the doubt though, having some faith in her. He then focused on this random girl. "It's a possibility for the future." He said, looking around to make sure no one was going to attack.

[Always]

Alyssa half nodded as she sighed. She wasn't sure about what else to say. She must of heard them somewhat wrong. She shook her head. "Oh, okay then." She stated as she bit her lip. She shook her head as she sighed, as she placed her hands in her pocket. She sort of just awkwardly stood there for a moment before she shook her head. "Never mind."

[jaybreezy]

Jake felt bad that she was walking away. "Wait." He said, looking at Charlotte and Quinn before looking back at the girl. "Where are you going?" He asked, curious as to where she came from. This area was deserted for the most part and there weren't many houses. There was a lot of factories and industrial ares around them. Jake wasn't sure if she even had a place out here.

[Always]

Alyssa half turned around towards him. She was surprised he asked but she debated whether or not she actually wanted to tell him where she was going. Could she trust him? The thought that if he wanted her dead he would've tried came into her head as she thought about it. She sighed as she eyed him. "In a house I guess, such as." She stated simple not putting emphasis on it. She shrugged as she said. "I'll figure it out, don't worry about it." She didn't want to be a big worry for them, well she didn't want to be a worry at all. "I'll be fine."

[jaybreezy]

Jake's police side started to take over again. "Ma'am, if you need help, let me help you. I come in peace." He said, his gun lowered. He did keep in mind that she could be setting him up, but he saw no harm that she could cause. He looked at Quinn, knowing he wouldn't like the decision to try and help.

[Gelatinous Cube]

Quinn couldn't place it, but something about the girl seemed unnervingly familiar to him. It set his nerves on edge trying to suss it out, but he just couldn't quite put his finger on it.
If there was one thing he could tell, she wasn't Blood Army. They had a certain bearing about them that gave them away, and she didn't carry herself the same way. That detail helped him relax and he straightened, letting his gun return to it's holster at his hip.
"We're looking for a house," Quinn interjected raising his hands non-threateningly, "If you have one, we'll gladly make a trade for a nights accommodation. I have some tools, I can repair something if you need."

[Always]

She bit her lip as she shrugged. She nodded as she stated,"I currently got everything I need now." She stated. She shook her head to the house comment. "Well there are a bunch. Just pick a random one." She said. She didn't think of it as a hard process, nor a very complicated one. "Just make sure its abandoned." She added on shrugging.

She eyed her eyes glaring Quinn. His voice, it sounded familiar, very familiar. 'Only if it was light out!" She thought to herself. She couldn't see much. She wanted to figure it out so she stated. "But the one here should be fine." She stated. She had a few questions she wanted to ask Quinn.

[Gelatinous Cube]

Quinn glanced to Jake, checking his reaction. He seemed level-headed and the right guy to trust in this kind of situation. The light was fading fast and Quinn wanted to be indoors as soon as possible. Quinn felt a bead of sweat make it's way down his cheek from under his makeshift bandages.
No doubt Charlotte would appreciate somewhere to get off that busted leg.
He squinted at the girl for a second, still trying to pick that face and where he'd seen it before. It made him anxious, not knowing. After a moment that seemed like an hour, Quinn turned around.
"Come on, let's get you inside," he said to Charlotte as he extended an arm to her, "Gotta take a look at that wound."

[jaybreezy]

Jake couldn't help but let out a breath of relief. He was glad that this girl hadn't tried to kill them. Well so far. He put his gun away, slinging it around his back. He looked for a good house, spotting one a few hundred yards away. He let everyone know that's where he thought would be best.

He got back into the car, starting it up to go to a safer location. But something caught his eye out in the distance. Four figures running in a group. They were all synchronized with their movements and seemed to have some nice, matching gear on. "Guys...I think there are some Blood Army up there..." He said, pointing to the figures now walking towards them. They hadn't spotted Jake and everyone yet, but they'd surely do so if they didn't move now.

[Always]

Alyssa nodded. She heard the engine begin and turned towards it. In a way, it had been a while since she had heard one being started up, and in a way it brought up bad memory's. She shook her head trying not to think of that at the moment. 'The past didn't matter' she told herself, though Quinn had her on he edges of her feet. Something about him ringed a bell. She still hadn't been able to get a full scope of his face. 'Could she trust him?' She wondered.

She took a step toward the car, about to get in, when she heard him shout out the comment about the blood army. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of the four men that ran above. There was no doubt about them being blood army. It was impossible to deny. She quickly took a glance around her.

There wasn't much in site, but she could see plenty of hiding places. Two houses stood over a tall. In between the two buildings there was a small passage way. It was dark, and she had no clue where it lead to. There were to many places to hide, for all she new they were already trapped.

She threw a blanket over Charlotte's head. " Stay down." She told her. She could tell she was injured and wouldn't be able to run. "The rest of you need to run." She stated clearly. "They won't check the car inside out."

[Tsar Gatto]

Charlotte accepted Quinn’s arm for support as she continued to nervously eye Alyssa, though the others seemed to think she was alight she couldn’t help but notice that she was looking at Quinn a little funny. Fatigue prevented her from taking much more time considering why that may be, she was eager to settle down and rest for the night, her leg aching and the occasional stifled yawn escaping her.

Just as Quinn was about to lead her into the house Jake had selected his warning rang out, Charlottes mood once more sinking as he said the words ‘Blood army’. Her fatigue vanished and she squinted to make them out as best she could.

“Don’t these guys ever give up?” she groaned. Alyssa handed her a blanket to conceal herself and Charlotte looked nervously from her to Quinn and Jake.

“What are you going to do?” she asked uncertainly. She didn’t like the idea of hiding, the thought of staying hidden whilst her companions fought for their lives didn’t sit easy with her.

[Gelatinous Cube]

Just as soon as Quinn's gun was returned to the safety of it's holster, it was out again in his hand. His knuckles whitened around the grip and his jaw tightened.
In one swift motion, he pulled the crude poncho from his shoulders and tossed it to the ground. He also took the time to push two bullets into the empty chambers of his revolver.
He only had fifteen rounds left, but no doubt these four new assholes would provide something.
"I'm going to kill them all," Quinn said coldly, venomously.
A four man team suggested reconnaissance. Unless they changed the way they did things, Blood Army would send them out for a two or three day sweep. If they were lucky, they'd still be a day from returning. Meaning they wouldn't be missed for the time it would take for Quinn and the others to rest up over night and haul ass out of there the next morning.
Quinn looked again at Jake, "How do you want to do this?"

[jaybreezy]

Jake looked at Quinn and took a spare can of tear gas out of his bag. "I was saving this for when I needed it." He said. The canister was dented and scratched, blue letters missing and the white paint chipped off. He handed the can to Quinn and took his rifle off his back. "I have two plans. We both flank opposite sides, or we use you or me as a distraction." He suggested, checking the ammo in his rifle.

The 4 soldiers were walking a bit slow, obvious that they thought nothing was out here. They looked bored and uninterested, some laughs heard from the group. They were telling jokes rather than patrolling. One of the soldiers fired a round at a bird, missing the shot. Jake was more alert, putting his gun up in case he was being fired at. When he saw the Blood Army soldier was faced the other way, Jake let out a breath of relief.

[Kurai Assassin]

As soon as the Archangel saw the Blood Army recon team the sights of her rifle switched from Alyssa's head and onto the knee of the Recon team leader. Fuck those guys must be ready to take the others down as soon as i fire.she thought to herself. She slowly squeezed the trigger. the shot fired and the Blood army trooper fell to the ground clutching his knee. the guy was clearly going to die, the bullet tore through a main artery if he didnt die from the shot, he'd die from blood loss within a few minutes.

[Always]

The girl quickly chucked out her gun. She turned to Charlotte and stated,"Your armed right? If anyohe comes towards you, aim to kill. If you can, avoid using a gun. " She stated assuming she knew why. "If they find you run. Got it?" She nodded a bit as she looked up at them.

She jumped slightly at the sound of the gun going off for no reason. She eyed around to make sure no one was shot. She didn't hear a scream of pain at the moment, but that meant almost nothing. She turned back to Charlotte as she had asked the question of, 'What were they going to do. " Were going to the second to top floor. Guarding. Theres more protection there, and we can shoot anyone who comes near. Don't provoke them, only shoot if they provoke us." She announced her plan out just so the four of them could here it.

"It isn't fullproof but its the best, and safest thing to do. After saying the last line she realised how much she was acting like a soldier, but war was war. It wasn't fair and people died. Lots of people died, and she just had to fight for her life. "If they do catch you, I would just kill yourself there and then, but that's your choice." She said.

She turned away and began to head towards the latter when she heard their plan. She grabbed one if the grips on the latter as she turned to them. "What are you stupid?" She asked. "Or is the correct term crazy?" She eyed them pausing for a moment before she continued. "Your going to fight the blood army? And you expect to win? I don't know if you realise this, but kill one, and dozen more come to kill you. You don't even know how many of them are there!"

[Gelatinous Cube]

Quinn waved the tear gas grenade away.
"Need to do this quick, gas will just alert more."
Suddenly, a shot rang out in the air, and Quinn whirled around to see one of the men stumble and fall. Judging by the blood loss, the bullet must have hit his femoral artery. He'd be dead in seconds.
That crazy archangel really is looking out for us.

Quinn turned around to face the girl, who seemed to be acting somewhat hysterical.
"I know how the Blood Army operate. Been killing them a while now," he said, half-reassuringly.
By now the other three were on high alert, but rather than looking at ground level, they were frantically scanning the rooftops. Quinn motioned for Jake to follow him as he moved from the cover of idle cars, fences or bushes to get in closer. He wasn't much for long range shooting with only one eye.

As they got close enough, Quinn motioned for Jake to hold, hoping he would take his lead.
He counted down on his fingers for Jake to see, and when he closed his hand into a fist, he jumped up. He fired once and took one man in the throat. He went down fast, but the other two turned to face him, hesitating for a brief moment before bringing up their guns.
Hopefully enough time for Jake to finish them off. Otherwise they'd be caught in a firefight that Quinn didn't have enough ammo for.

[jaybreezy]

The now alert patrol looked around with their guns drawn. They searched hard for the source of the gunshot. The soldier that was shot crawled in agony, trying to get help from his buddies. Instead, one of the unharmed soldiers finished the job, firing a round into his own member's head. Jake flinched a bit, knowing that the Blood Army was ruthless. He then turned to the girl, nodding with Quinn's statement about the Blood Army. He then followed Quinn's lead as they were now only yards away from the three remaining Blood Army soldiers. After Quinn fired his gun, he heard his target fall lifelessly to the ground. Jake saw the last two turn, almost emptying his whole magazine into them. Blood flew everywhere as bullets ripped through their bodies. Jake wiped his face as he noticed the blood of the men he killed. He let out a sigh of relief and looked at Quinn.

[Gelatinous Cube]

Quinn mirrored Jake's sigh.
Dealing with the Blood Army was never pleasant, but every man dead was a deed well done. Still, they had only managed it because these men were sloppy and careless. And they'd had an angel looking after them.
Quinn muttered a quiet thanks to her, wherever she had ended up. She made good on her word and had protected them.
Still, there was little more time to waste. Darkness was encroaching fast, and Quinn could smell the faint odor of impending rain. It was just about the only bit of good fortune they had come across.
"Quick. Take whatever they have and hide the bodies. Rain is coming, should wash away the blood."
They would get through a night, of that Quinn was confident. Any longer than that and they'd be taking their chances.