Guardian Angel Read online

Alicia and Calypso walked slowly, approaching the third member of their team, G. Gregory-Hawthorne Laurenitis got his nickname largely in part because Alicia hated spouting off such a long name, so G it was. Either way, he was damn deadly with his silhouette blade, which was a perfectly cut sword.

  The stringy-haired man carried the blade on his back, along with several of his personal affections which were tied snugly into a leather knapsack. From first glance, G looked as though he were preparing to stand in a soup line, rather than continue the fight against a race of warriors from beyond the stars.

  His blade had been diamond shaved and angled to do massive damage, no to mention hand sharpened by G personally on a regular basis. In the event that the silhouette blade didn't seal the deal, he always had his ranger pistol to fall back on. It was a simple design, mostly wooden with only two shots of black powder in the barrel. And while G took great pride in the condition of his blade, the opposite could be said for his sidearm.

  Immediately upon glancing at the weapon, it became obvious that he cared little for it. The pistol had seen no action, and when it was in use, the heavy scarring of its wooden shell pointed to the fact that it was getting tossed somewhere.

  The truth was, G had long wondered if it would even fire. And it was for that reason that he refused to clean it, shunning the idea of handling the weapon any more than he had to. The Resistance had plenty of sidearms, all of which were a lot more up-to-date. But the pistol he carried, which closely resembled one of a high seas pirate, was a gift from his father. One of his only reminders of a world that once was. So G carried the weapon, along with his love for music, as a reminder to continue the fight.

  The city around them, at least what remained of it, bore similarities to a civilization that once thrived. Skyscrapers and transit systems were in place, though Humans had been knocked back into a time of horse and buggy.

  Streets were once again equipped with wax lanterns which hung from poles on every corner, requiring a crew of lamplighters to travel through the city near dusk. Some survivors had oil lamps as well, however, with the highly-flammable fuel in such short supply, they generally only burned oil during special events and holidays.

  Just as if it were the nineteenth-century all over again, the streets of Washington City were dirty, overcrowded and no longer a place to gather. They were simply means of getting from one area to another, and that was further reinforced by wagons full of armed soldiers for the Resistance. They had taken the place of a police force that once was, and maintaining a suitable life for the survivors inside of the city had proved itself nearly as taxing as the war on those who sought to take it away.

  Living in Washington City meant living under the protection of the Guardian Angel grid system above. It was a double-edged sword, allowing them a safer place of living, while forcing them to survive as though it were hundreds of years behind the actual calender date.

  Calypso was a bit more hardcore than G when it came to weaponry, a mini-gun hanging from his shoulder on a thick leather strap. An old relic pulled from a downed combat helicopter, it had been rusted heavily at one time, but Calypso had done a solid job of cleaning the weapon.

  Every soldier who was Resistance sworn, at least in Washington City, carried a primary and secondary weapon. It was a standard loadout. And accompanying such a massive gun, one that pulled the warrior's frame a bit lower from the gravity of weight, was a pump-action shotgun. Solid black and basic in style, it was the type of gun that commanded attention. Its unique sound while pumping accepting no less from those around it.

  Alicia Lucard was simplistic when it came to weaponry as she stood there with the men, the scorching sun bearing down on them as two Glock-style pistols were strapped to her legs with thick nylon holstering, and well-defined hand to hand combat skills if it came down to it.

  Before Invasion Day, she had been an accountant. Funny how her top priorities used to include quitting time, grocery lists and what programming to pack onto her DVR. Now, her short list had been replaced with living every day to its fullest, staying one step ahead of her peers when it came to survival and slaying as many aliens as she possibly could. Aliens! Before Invasion Day, Humanity had questioned if life beyond our own planet was even a possibility. Now we had grown used to a life with them here.

  As she began to think back to her days of sampling the newest latte in her office of modernized distractions, Alicia looked up above them and watched Guardian Angel for several moments.

  It looked like a series of neon lights hovering above Washington City, but in reality, it was a cluster of low orbiting satellites which emitted electromagnetic pulses on a timer, rendering the superior air capabilities of the Ancients defenseless.

  Not to mention, it was damn beautiful. At least to Alica. Much like the society of old had driven to work, passing by life's true beauty with disregard, the society of new had long-forgotten the beauty of Guardian Angel.

  The lights of the man-made cloud of protection above burst out every few seconds, each shudder of electromagnetic pulse sending a small wave of color. It had been designed that way in order for surviving military craft to navigate through it more easily. Each color beginning a sequence of bursts that fell into a larger pattern. If an aircraft pilot was good enough, and used his onboard navigational unit properly, he or she could fly through the bursting cloud as though it were a well-mapped out minefield.

  Guardian Angel was tough to see during the day, not that it mattered. The Ancients remained indoors while the sun was out unless it was very necessary to do otherwise, their weakness for a specific ultraviolet ray forcing them to do a majority of their work from sun down to sun up.

  From the moment the sunset came, the wastelands would become a war zone, littered with Ancient ships and Human Resistance. Because of the protection of Guardian Angel, if the Ancients launched an assault against Washington City, it came on foot and with heavy losses. What remained of the United States military had fallen back into the safe zone, literally turning the entire city into a huge military base of operations. The city of Berlin, Germany was just the same, making them the only two standing reminders of a society that once was.

  Once you left the protection of either city, or safe zone, all bets were off. The Ancients controlled about eighty percent of the wastelands, the other twenty held by either Separatists or the Resistance. The Resistance was a mixture of American and German soldiers who had dug in and were fighting like hell to stave off constant attacks by the Ancients. Separatists, on the other hand, just tried to survive one day at a time. Usually in secluded villages, caves or even on water barges which roamed the oceans.

  It took weeks for a steam powered airship to travel from Berlin to Washington, only having the ability to fly during the day. And it was an airship that Alicia and her team waited for as they stood near the landing section of the city.

  Several Washington airships were departing, not an uncommon sight as it was the only reliable way of trading with factions and Separatists throughout the wastelands. A small military crew would accompany the ship's flight crew and cargo, that was the standard procedure.

  The Resistance had even been known to trade with Separatists on a regular basis, giving lower-end weaponry in exchange for the one luxury they couldn't get enough of. Food. They had very little ability to grow their own food inside the asphalt grid of Washington City, so it was a deal that worked for both parties involved. They would scavenge from the dead after battle, trading anything they had plenty of to Separatists with large farms. Separatists who had an abundance of food, but the desperate need for weaponry in order to keep themselves safe.

  Some Separatists had even started forming their own governments, each fighting for their own home and their own flag. It was the biggest difference between being considered a Separatist or Resistance sworn. Separatists had accepted defeat at the hands of Ancients, now focusing their attention to organizing those around them and living in peace. Those for the Resistance, however, remained fo
cused on the survival of Humanity. A world that once was.

  There was no true government in place when it came to the Resistance. The surviving military helped survivors throughout the city, distributing food and supplies routinely and asking that those who were capable of doing so, assist them with maintaining a safe environment. It was this very request, which saw groups of lamplighters do so every evening. Groups, which usually numbered near a dozen, openly patrolled the city streets. They were armed men who had sworn to help an already taxed military force, policing the streets and offering assistance to any citizen who needed it.

  Larger buildings in Washington City had been designated for military use, which meant there was a guaranteed place to sleep, hot meals and fresh clothing for those who volunteered to take up arms against the Ancients. Alicia Lucard was one such person. She had been with the Resistance since the death of everyone who had ever mattered to her. With no place to go and no one else who seemed to give a damn, she joined the open arms of a Resistance force.

  They had taken an accountant, a worn-down woman with no understanding of handling a weapon, and turned her into a trained killer. Her hate for the Ancients and what they had done to change her life forever, bled into a kind of hatred that was rarely seen. And, in fact, was the biggest reason she had become so deadly, swiftly moving through the ranks of those around her.

  Alicia was widely regarded as one of the greatest soldiers left on Earth, having sent over a thousand extraterrestrial warriors to a very Human hell below. But even with the ruin of destruction surrounding her at every turn, Alica still took the time to admire that which was beautiful.

  Be it the bursting lights of color above, a snowfall blanketing lamps of candle wax on the streets or Humanity's ability to pull together and help those around them in need. In Alicia's eyes, beauty was beauty.

  So that was the normal sight in Washington City, large fortresses of the sky departing for trade, while others, many filled with supplies, would land and distribute according to need. Smaller airships would also traffic themselves, filled with strike teams of soldiers who tried to hinder the Ancient war efforts anytime they could. But today brought a different sight, one that was rarely seen.

  Today's incoming ship from Berlin was anything but standard, or so Alicia's team would soon find out. A loud bell began ringing throughout the city, making all military personnel aware of an incoming airship, one bearing the flag of the German Resistance as it began to quickly descend.

  It was more of a sky armada, the huge galleon of aged wood and brass molding coasting down, visible guns mounted in various places. It was odd to see such a war-capable ship landing in Washington City, at least one that brandished the flag of German Resistance.

  Alicia's attention was captured for a moment by the revolving Gatling guns that were placed near the landing area of the city. They were primitive, not to mention steam powered, but inside of the Guardian Angel where modern technology simply wouldn't work, they were a damn solid line of defense.

  “What do you think this is all about?” Calypso asked the group, all of them keeping their eyes on the airship which had landed and was being anchored down.

  It was obvious within an instant that this was no ordinary transport. The markings were a bit different, which let the entire group know it wasn't a trade ship. It carried higher ranking officials from the German Resistance. The question each of them pondered was why?

  “Who gives a damn. It's just our job to hold their hands and walk them into the command center.” Alicia replied, G breaking his stare to watch four airships bearing the United States Resistance flag take flight.

  After the initial invasion, the United States of America simply became known as the Resistance. Rightfully so, the flag had been redesigned to fit the times. Every faction which had dedicated itself to the fight against Ancients, had the same design. A white flag with a single, large star on its middle. The star contained a reminder of the country or area that once was. In this case, the large star contained stripes of red, white and blue.

  It had been designed that way for a single reason. Unity. It symbolized a single cause, or star, against the Ancients. The Germans had placed the colors of their original flag into the star of their Resistance flag, and other factions, smaller factions who had sided with the Resistance, had used the same design as well, placing their own colors inside of the star.

  No matter a soldier's country, origin or current mission, he or she could be sure of one thing. When a single-star flag was nearby, it was a place which shared a common goal. Defeating the Ancients at all costs.

  And so the airships took flight, none of them heading into the direction of Berlin, which meant they were either being dispatched to trade for needed supplies or to recruit new soldiers in the war against the Ancients.

  Nearly a dozen heavily armed soldiers were first to exit the German Resistance marked air fortress, fully uniformed as they stepped cautiously from the stained wooden deck of the ship onto the hard pavement of the landing zone.

  It was a huge area, formerly a parking lot that was set up near what had once been a large outdoor sports stadium. Back before hunting Ancients for the survival of the Human race had become the one and only sport that mattered. As the soldiers looked thoroughly across the surroundings, they motioned for the remainder of the passengers to join them.

  “Must be pretty damn important for them to arrive with such a large security detail.” G muttered.

  “Must be.” Alicia agreed.

  He was right, normally an escort group consisted of only two soldiers. The idea was, if you ran across a group of Ancients, you were more than likely dead anyway. So large of an escort meant that the Germans wanted whoever was aboard the airship to damn well arrive in good condition.

  When Nadia Jacobson first exited the ship, Alicia's group stood speechless. Tight black military grade pants topped off her solid grey shirt. Their full attention began to shift to her brilliant blonde hair as Nadia casually stepped onto the blacktop. Her lipstick a darker red tint, seemingly shimmering in only the faint light of day as she glanced into the direction of Alicia's group for a moment before turning back to watch her companions.

  Preacher was the next to find his footing on solid ground. Alfons Scheper was anything but a holy man, earning his name from the large, Heaven-Six model sniper rifle that he chose to wield. It was man-sized, standing nearly six feet tall(a fact which earned it the name) as the stock of the weapon easily rested on the pavement. His short white hair was soon forgotten in favor of his scarring and leather-like skin. It was obvious to all onlookers that he had earned his keep in a war against the Ancients, and he carried a stone-faced grin to prove it.

  Alicia's group began to walk forward to meet them when the third and final passenger of great importance jumped to the ground, falling only a couple of feet as his solid black boots hit the hardtop with a loud thud. Instantly, guns were on him, Alicia's pistols the first to take aim on the Ancient soldier as Calypso and G quickly followed suit.

  “Stop, he's with us!” Nadia yelled loudly, stepping into the line of fire to protect Certes.

  Without so much as a whisper, Alicia pushed the safety on both pistols to live fire, continuing her dead stare with the demon as Preacher and Nadia reluctantly pulled their weapons up to take aim on Alicia's team.

  “Put your weapons down, or I swear by all that nobody will walk away from this.” Nadia said calmly, her words accented thick with German influence.

  “I dunno, I've walked away from a lot better.” Alicia replied with sarcasm.

  “There are no better.” Nadia replied quickly, steadily holding her chrome pistol in Alicia's direction. It was polished to a shine that led to believe it had never been used, a smooth wooden grip handle accenting it.

  “Alicia! Put down your weapons this instant!” a man yelled as he briskly ran to them on foot.

  Wearing a thick brown coat of leather and boots to match, his green eyes cut into her through glass lenses a
s he held an arm out and motioned for them to holster their weapons.

  “For God's sake Alicia, I asked you to escort Nadia's group into the command center, not draw down on them!” he said sternly.

  “You never mentioned they would have an Ancient with them.” Alicia replied as she continued to hold the unwelcome alien at gunpoint.

  “I don't have to explain myself to you! It's one of the perks of being your commanding officer. Now put the damn guns away!” Commander Snelling shouted.

  Seconds later, Alicia slowly holstered her pistols with a single motion, quickly followed by the members of her team.

  “My apologies Nadia, I assure you I had nothing to do with your team being put into danger.” the man said apologetically.

  “My team was never in any danger.” Nadia replied delightfully, quickly turning her attention from Snelling to Alicia and looking through her as if she weren't there.

  The group had started to walk into the direction of the command center, which had formerly been known as the Washington Monument. After Invasion Day, however, it had been designated for military conversations of a sensitive matter.

  “I think I'm in love.” Calypso said quietly, his eyes locked onto the curved backside of Nadia Jacobson and his mind on her attitude.

  “Shut up Calypso.” Alicia said, glancing at him for a moment before the three followed the group up the steps and into the meeting.

  “It's imperative that your group makes it to Texas.” one of the Resistance advisers said, directing the comment to Commander Snelling.

  “What's in Texas?” Alicia whispered under her breath to both Calypso and G as they stood in the rear of the meeting, which included nearly a hundred top Resistance officials.

  “Lackland Air Force Base. Or at least what remains of it.” Nadia Jacobson said loudly, glancing into Alicia's direction as the entire room turned to face her.

  Giving both G and Calypso a quick glance of disbelief, Alicia turned back to face the woman who had an unbelievable knack for hearing.

  “And when we get there?” Alicia finally responded, letting the blonde bombshell know up front that her team could accomplish anything.

  “Our sources have confirmed that the Ancients are holding a power cell there. We need you to retrieve it and bring it back.” Commander Snelling said.

  “Holding a power cell?” G asked, a rare vocal appearance on his part.

  “They are using it to power one of their forward operating bases.” a government adviser replied, wearing his tuxedo style overcoat with black and grey pinstriped hat.

  “So you want us to infiltrate an Ancient forward operating base, steal their only source of power and then slip out unnoticed in hopes of beating them back here?” Alicia asked, stunned by what had just been thrown onto her plate.

  No replies came for a few tense moments.

  “And there's gonna be Ancients there?” Calypso asked.

  “Of course there are going to be Ancients there!” Alicia said under her breath as she forcefully slapped him across the upper arm.

  “Don't worry, my team will be going along to assist you.” Nadia Jacobson said proudly.

  “My only worry was for the unfortunate Ancients who get in the way,” Alicia replied loudly. She then added “bitch” under her breath, knowing Nadia would surely hear her.

  “You will also have full support from the Norfolk Naval Base. They consider this a top priority mission.” Commander Snelling added, trying to reassure his team.

  “Naval base?” Preacher asked.

  “Yes. The Ancients pushed what remained of the American people into the protection of Guardian Angel. As we watched and waited from the streets of Washington City, they systematically destroyed every single military base in the country. One by one they fell, until the Ancients hit Norfolk Naval Base. The remaining U.S. Forces continued to fall back until they were all in and around Norfolk, and when the Ancients showed up for business as usual they got their asses handed to them.” Commander Snelling replied.

  “Our army doesn't have the manpower to push its way back out into what remains of the United States, but we do have plenty to hold Norfolk, even without the protection of a Guardian Angel system there.” he added.

  “Impressive,” Nadia said. “In Germany, we are not so fortunate. What remains of our military has been reduced to armored Tank divisions and foot soldiers. Nothing outside of the Berlin Safe Zone is free of Ancients.” She added.

  “And when we recover the power cell, our people plan to send another series of satellites into orbit?” Alicia asked.

  Nadia and her team gleaned at the Commander as he nodded his approval.

  “It's alright, Alicia's team has level-five clearance.” Snelling said.

  “We are not planning to launch another Guardian Angel, no. The power cell is for a ship.” Nadia replied.

  “A ship?” Alicia asked, puzzled at passing on the chance to create a third safe haven for the human population.

  “Our scientists have been working with the Germans in constructing a large space craft that will launch and go into direct combat with the Ancients' mother ship.” Commander Snelling replied.

  Alicia and her team simply stood there, trying to soak up all of the information.

  “We have three power cells at the moment, and this final cell will be enough to launch against them. If our ship is successful in destroying the Ancients' mother ship, their air superiority will be gone and the entire planet will become a safe zone. They will be reduced to fighting us in a conventional war campaign.” Nadia added.

  “I see,” Alicia said. “And this ship?” she asked.

  “The ship is approximately the size of six standard aircraft carriers, and is currently in the final stages of production deep inside of the Berlin safe zone,” Nadia replied. “Just help us get through the wastelands and retrieve the power cell, and I promise you that the Ancients will finally begin to regret the war they created. We will show them that the Human race is much more than the weak, mindless cattle they believe us to be.” she added.

  “Get your team's needed supplies in order and then get some rest. First thing tomorrow we will be sending the convoy on its way.” Commander Snelling said, nodding to his team of elite soldiers with Alicia nodding back before leaving the meeting, both Calypso and G closely behind.

  “Don't worry Nadia, my team will deliver. They always do.” Snelling added as he turned back to her group.

  “I'm sure working together will lead to imminent success.” she replied with a grin, slowly gathering her group to exit into the streets of Washington City.

  As she sat on the worn rooftop of a building close to the safe zone perimeter, Alicia looked across the landscape, her arms wrapped around her legs. The rooftop had long been her home, a shelter as well as many comforts around her. A glimmer waved across her dark hair as she began to look directly above, watching for several minutes the glowing lights which reflected above the city in unison.

  Even during the day, Guardian Angel shielded them, though it was common knowledge that the Ancients very rarely travelled during the day. It had something to do with the grey pigment of their skin and the effects of a particular strain of ultraviolet light sent down by the sun's gleam. At least that's what she had always been told. Still, at times, the Ancients would travel during the day. Shifting their forces, but always heavily shielded when doing so.

  Alicia's attention was quickly pulled from the defense system above as she began to follow an earth shattering screech, followed by a second. United States Navy planes, F-16 Fighting Falcons to be exact and hauling ass to say the least as they swept past the city with ease, more than likely to execute a tactical strike on a military target nearby.

  The Human race was depleted, but not extinct. And those who had survived the initial strike on Invasion Day, had a score to settle. The Ancients sent their ships in behind a wave of Hydrogen bombs, a very advanced type that fed water into the tip of the missile moments before impact. It all
owed the weapon to cause mass destruction, while leaving no traces of radiation behind.

  Entire cities wiped out within minutes, the only memory of them implanted into those who survived to fight back. At first, the might of Earth's largest armies fought valiantly. Yet, after only weeks, they too had fallen for the most part. The United States and Germany remained. The fact that the United States had its army stationed all over the world made it hard to be tracked down. And though it remained, the greatest Human army to ever march was down to about ten percent in strength.

  The Germans were also hovering around ten percent of their force prior to Invasion Day, possibly even less. The grit of the Russian Army held the Ancients back much longer than expected. Long enough for Japan, China and North Korea to arrive in full-force.

  The War of Stalingrad lasted just over a month, millions of Human warriors falling and taking with them hundreds of thousands of Ancients. For the first time, the alien race had known the true loss of war, and it was that very loss that led to their first defeat in battle. Berlin.

  The weakened race of star-born murderers went into Berlin expecting swift victory, but instead found themselves backing away just two weeks later. The Germans had held, at least what remained of them. And their scientists worked around the clock with the brightest minds of the United States in developing Guardian Angel.

  It was a network of low orbiting satellites, each emitting a burst of EMP on a timer. Together, they formed Guardian Angel, and ensured that nothing of a digital manner could be used. Nothing technologically advanced, and that leveled the playing field for the Humans, at least inside of Guardian Angel, which sparkled in the night sky as though stars were randomly bursting.

  Humans had become dependent on a more basic way of living. A society fueled by steam power, mixed with a thirst for revenge against the grey-skinned bastards who forced them into this life. And the Ancients continued to come, though it was limited to ground based fighting and the most simplistic weapons from their arsenal. In fact, they had developed their own weaponry for use inside of Guardian Angel.

  The most commonly used loadout was a Puncher(fancy term for a semi-automatic rifle that was steam-fed and packed the punch of an American .50 Caliber rifle) and a man-chete. It had a toothed blade, was arm sized and machete-like. The Ancients had decided to call it the man-chete as if to mock the Human race, the blade killing countless men since it had been put into use.

  Daylight was the biggest ally for Humans in this war of species, and what remained of the military-trained wasted none of it, wringing every second of every day in order to inflict as much damage as they possibly could to a race of beings who deserved nothing less.

  “From Norfolk?” Nadia asked, approaching the seated vixen with caution. “I hope you don't mind. Snelling let me know where you were staying.”

  “Yea. More than likely be hearing it all day.” Alicia replied in a calm voice, turning for a moment to acknowledge her face to face. “And no, I don't mind.”

  Before Nadia could respond, a squadron of the older style F-14 Tomcats blazed overhead, locked and loaded as both women were able to catch a glimpse of the fighters and their inventory of attached missiles.

  “So I see,” Nadia replied. “You guys are lucky to have such a military force still intact.” she added.

  “Lucky?” Alicia asked, turning to stare into the area of several large boulders that lay between the horizon of the wastelands and the edge of Washington City.

  “Less than a month ago, the Ancients made it to that exact spot, nearly taking the city.” she added.

  “But your air power?” Nadia asked as she sat down.

  “Power? Sure, they fly by in the morning ready to get into the fight,” Alicia said. “But by dusk, the few who are lucky enough to make it back are hauling ass with their tails tucked between their legs.” she added.

  A silence fell across them both for several minutes, the sound of airships landing nearby as well as explosions in the far reaches of the landscape. A direct effect of the missiles seen only moments before.

  “So. The Ancient?” Alicia asked with dedicated calm.

  “Which one?” Nadia replied, bursting into laughter moments later as Alicia gave her a sarcastic, yet playful look.

  “Certes came to us a little over two years ago.” Nadia added.

  “Willingly? As in, to aid in our defense or willingly die?” Alicia asked.

  “No. He showed up at the gates of the Berlin safe zone one rainy day, said he and a few others were against the innocent slaughter of any race. Provided us with a lot of important information. To be honest, none of us trusted them at first either. But, Certes has personally saved my life more than once.” Nadia replied.

  “Them? You mean there are more of them?” Alicia asked, stunned at the idea.

  “Yes. Close to two dozen of them live in Berlin and aid our military. Several more who are loyal to us remain in the ranks of the Ancients, supplying us with information. Trust me, once you see what they can do in a hand to hand fight, you'll understand why Certes escorted us here.” Nadia replied.

  “I wish we had the same luxury here.” Alicia responded.

  “It comes at a great price,” Nadia said. “The faction of Ancients who fight us for Berlin are a different monster. Your enemy at the gates wishes to enslave you, ours prefers the salty taste of Human flesh,” she added. “I've seen them do things. Terrible things,” Nadia said before pausing. “Watching the soldiers around me having their tendons pulled from the skeletal frame beneath during battle, only to watch them feed the hunger of the bastards who slay us...it's not something I signed up for.”

  “I understand.” Alicia said, turning to Nadia for a moment as silence fell across the two.

  There were no words to follow, only a gaze of exploration on the part of both women. Nadia reached out a bit, smoothing the bottom of Alicia's chin with her hand as they continued their stare of forbidden expression.

  “I have not been introduced to beauty such as yours in a long time, if ever.” Nadia finally said softly, her lips seeming to command Alicia's every thought.

  Alicia was attracted to everything about Nadia. Her gorgeous figure, pursed lips and even the thick of her accent. She could tell that Nadia was a woman of high standards when it came to physical attraction, her attention to detail the giveaway.

  “And I've noticed your eyes on me. In me,” Nadia said. “Am I right?”

  Rather than verbally reply, Alicia continued her stare, gently bringing her tongue across her lips, before leaning in a bit.

  Less than a second after Nadia had leaned herself, ready to begin a kiss which would surely lead to much more, the concrete block directly to the right side of her head burst into compacted dust, the sound of an extremely loud gunshot hanging through the streets of their section in Washington City.

  Alicia lunged to Nadia, knocking her to safety as they both lay on the rooftop, Alicia straddling Nadia in what quickly became an intense, yet awkward moment, lips nearly touching. Had the situation been any different, she would have taken advantage of the moment by feeling Nadia out with both her hands and lips. However, her insatiable lust would have to wait as they took fire.

  Pulling her two combat pistols out, Alicia's arm was quickly grabbed by Nadia, who looked at her with embarrassment.

  “It's Preacher.” she said as Alicia stood there speechless.

  “Your own team shoots at you?” she asked in disbelief as Nadia walked to the ledge of the roof.

  “What did I tell you about doing that!” Nadia yelled into the direction of Preacher as he stood with Calypso on the street below.

  She too had longed for a kiss that nearly took place, cursing in her mind the grimy sniper who had shattered such a perfectly-sexual moment.

  “I was just showing him what the...” Preacher replied, cut off in mid sentence.

  “I don't give a damn, stop doing it!” Nadia yelled, turning to Alicia and making their way to the steps.

&nb
sp; “Sometimes I feel like a broken record around these social rejects.” Nadia added in a much calmer voice.

  “Again I ask,” Alicia said, her thoughts on the near kiss only moments before. “Your own team shoots at you?” Alicia added as both ladies made their way to the streets below.

  “Damn man, I am impressed.” Calypso said, holding the Heaven-Six rifle for himself and admiring the beauty of the weapon.

  Its huge size allowed the weapon to carry the kick of a bolt action rifle, while giving the range and semi-automatic capabilities of a less powerful weapon.

  The defining trait of the gun, however, was its power source. The large stock of the rifle contained a small cell, which was an Ancient technology that was normally designated for their own weapons. The glowing yellow tube had all of the properties of a highly powerful battery, though the cell technology also contained a self-charging unit.

  Because of the simplistic design of the weapon and its glowing power cell of concentrated steam, it could be used inside of Guardian Angel. And in the right set of hands, used well.

  Preacher could either fire shots in succession, each burst doing a decent amount of damage. Or he could harness a majority of the cell's power to fire a single shot, and a crippling one at that. Doing so forced him to wait a short time for the cell to recharge by way of steam, but it gave the sniper one thing that every soldier needs. Options. And he was damn deadly with the weapon to say the least.

  “I swear to God the next time you pull that stunt I will kill you dead myself!” Nadia yelled, her chrome Luger of German design in hand and pointed into the direction of the sniper.

  “Alright, alright! Easy already, damn!” Preacher replied frantically, moving his body around in the event of a misfire by Nadia's pistol.

  “And I thought we had our own problems.” Calypso said with a grin.

  “Shut up Calypso.” Alicia calmly replied as she walked up behind the perfectly shaped body of Nadia, her attention on the rounded ass of the German knockout rather than the strongman of her team.

  They had remained indoors for most of the day, resting and double checking their supplies. Weapons and rations were the two most important, although Alicia's team packed an extra satchel full of anything they thought worth trading. Anyone familiar with the wastelands knew that it was filled with Ancients as well as Nomads. Just a fancy name for Human survivors, it was actually very misleading. Most of them did no moving around, instead residing in full communities that were usually located in remote areas or even caverns.

  There was one striking difference between Separatists and Nomads, however. Separatists lived in peace while Nomads took what they wanted by force. They were essentially an organized gang that lived by its own rules. Rules that included the occasional ransacking of a Separatist town, kidnapping of other Humans for the purpose of breeding, slaying Ancients they came across and outnumbered, and sadly, even killing Resistance soldiers. They were groups without conscience. A fuck the world attitude combined with weapons, a kill to survive mentality and their very own agenda.

  Some of the more aggressive Ancients, the type at Berlin's doorstep, would kill humans on sight. However the ones who controlled what used to be North America, simply considered Nomads to be one of two things. A good resource for slave trade or a complete waste of time. The fact was, in the eyes of the Ancients who moved across these lands on their way to Washington City, Nomads presented no real danger. They were glorified farming communities with no real weapons to speak of.

  The Ancients instead focused on the ongoing fight against remaining military forces. Even worse, some Nomads had even sold out their own kind in exchange for the freedom of being left alone.

  Inside the secure confines of Washington City, Alicia and her team were some of the most elite freedom fighters left in what was once considered the United States.

  Once outside the safety of Guardian Angel, however, they were nothing more than survivors, at least in the minds of Nomads and Separatists. Taking goods to trade would give them a better chance of finding safe houses among the Humans who had accepted Ancient rule, and present them with a much better chance of completing the task.

  “He doesn't talk much huh?” Alicia asked of Certes.

  Alicia and Nadia had both done their part to avoid the other throughout the day. The biggest reason was their fear of the group becoming wise to their lust for one another. And, of course, they weren't sure that they could practice self-control a second time.

  “No, not a lot.” Nadia replied as both teams were inside the same small barracks-style building which stood near the edge of Washington City.

  “What a coincidence, he doesn't either,” Calypso said, looking into the direction of G. “Of course Certes outweighs him by about three hundred pounds and G is cursed with a face that only a mother could love.” he added before glancing around the room and bursting in laughter.

  “I know. Shut up Calypso.” he added after catching a stern look from Alicia.

  No argument or plea of defense came from the direction of G. Calypso was right about all of it, only leaving out the most important part. G was feared. A well-earned fear.

  Though not large by any standard, he was a slayer of demons, having more kills to his name than anyone else in the room. When it came down to a fight to the death, G was prepared to do anything to continue living.

  That was a well accepted trait among his peers, much more so than his hobby. The violin. It seemed to calm him when playing, and the vintage Guarneri violin he had managed to salvage during a raid in Old Virginia was a sight to see. Absolutely an antique, the wooden masterpiece had very few gashes, just enough to remind everyone of a time that once was. A time before demons walked among men. Of course, their respect for the instrument quickly faded when G began playing. Though he considered himself a formidable violinist, he was anything but.

  However, he was a very important part of their team, and if that meant he was cursed with the face that only a mother could love, as well as a severe lack of musical talent, so be it.

  Nadia and Preacher both spent several long moments staring at G, who was crouched over and sharpening the long blade which normally rested in a sheath on his back. As they both wondered what kind of person would willingly carry a violin into battle as though it were a weapon, their attention turned to the large window which faced the front side of the building.

  It had a direct view of the city's edge, which was the best seat in the house as Washington City's bell began to ring loudly; dusk quickly setting it. Several Resistance fighter jets came screaming overhead, multiple Ancient fighter planes behind them.

  Nadia had never been this close to the Ancients' air superiority, having only faced their ground forces in the past. The small black ships blazed into the direction of Washington City, silver writing placed on them in what what resembled a tribal design.

  Firing on the F-14 Tomcats that were in full retreat, the Ancient ships dispersed glowing yellow tracer rounds in mass quantity, pummeling one of fighter planes as it quickly fell into the far reaches of the horizon.

  Moments later, the Ancient ships were forced to break pattern as the steam-powered Gatling guns which were mounted into strategic towers throughout the city began firing back. Man made lead retaliated, forcing the most dominant species known to man into a full retreat.

  Small arms fire could easily be used within the safe area of Guardian Angel, however anything as large as an aircraft would fall right from the sky because of the constant electromagnetic pulse that was given. The Resistance had been intelligent enough to change the pattern of Guardian Angel each and every day, and their pilots had the magnetic blanket of protection plotted into their navigational systems. The Ancients didn't.

  While the Human pilots could simply weave in and out of the waves of destruction, the Ancients would be in a virtual minefield and knew well enough to turn back when they had gotten this close. The pounding guns of steam power placed throughout Washington City just added to
their reasoning.

  Of course, the Ancients had tried to ransack Washington City by way of foot in the past, expecting to walk through the streets in force and conquer at will. Resistance soldiers had staved off more than one attack, usually led by Alicia's group. They had gotten close to taking the city on several occasions, even once taking a small portion of Washington City for nearly a week.

  After suffering huge losses, the Humans eventually regained control of Washington City, keeping what Ancient weapons and supplies they could in doing so.

  The city was actually in a lot better shape than Berlin. Although it was also under a shroud of protection from above, the Germans had fought off and on for nearly a year inside the city to remain in control. It was the help of Russian survivors that finally pushed the Ancients out, which was ironic if you follow the history of things.

  There was no more United States, no more Germany, Russia or any other country that stood before the invasion. Now there were just those who had succumb to the rule of Ancients, those who survived day-to-day and by any means necessary and the Resistance.

  As they all lay in their bunks for the night, Nadia and her team found it hard to rest. Slowly, it became evident to them that the thundering skies in the background were in fact explosions. She wasn't sure, but Nadia felt the noise must have been traveling all the way from the Norfolk base as she could almost make out the sounds of planes streaking across the sky, both Human and Ancient.

  However, Nadia's thoughts quickly drifted to Alicia. Her body longed to be with the brunette, laying under the same blanket of warmth and sharing passion through the night. She wondered if Alicia slept, or if in fact, her own thoughts were on Nadia in the same fashion?

  Either way, it didn't matter. She had been sent to do a job, and her work had to come first, even if it meant doing the unspeakable.

  It seemed like a different world outside the walls of protection that surrounded Washington City. Out there, spaceships were locked into dogfights with near-obsolete military jets. While in here, citizens traveled through the streets by horse and buggy in a Victorian style that was reminiscent of three hundred years prior.

  Forced to survive by torch and lamplight, while living in modernized skyscrapers was a bit strange at first. But they had all gotten used to it, though Nadia's thoughts remained on the cream complexion and welcoming lips of Alicia Lucard.

  When they had heard the word caravan, the entire group had pictured something a bit, well a bit bigger. Instead, the six of them stood in the morning sun staring at a medium sized buggy. It looked more like a western stagecoach, complete with a steam powered engine and long wave radio which could be used once they entered into the wastelands.

  Nadia began to think of the buggy as more of a time machine in the sense that it was taking them from a world of high rise buildings and into the despair of primitive living.

  She had also hoped to spend a bit of time with Alica. Possibly get to know the brunette who currently fluttered her heart with glances across the room. Subtle looks, but looks that were blanketed in the yearning for more time alone.

  Nadia returned them with a look of her own, smiling slightly and attaching it to her dedicated stare. The rest of the group had no idea of the mounting chemistry between the two bombshells, due largely to the fact that Calypso continued his barrage of bitching.

  “You mean to tell me we got the backing of the Norfolk Naval Base, and yet, we gotta ride around in this piece of shit?”

  “I think they mean to be inconspicuous,” Alicia replied, never breaking her stare with Nadia as if it were a two-way conversation. “They want to make sure everything is perfect before putting all of their cards on the table.”

  “On the table my ass, this is fucking embarrassing.” Calypso replied.

  “I disagree,” Nadia said, walking to the stagecoach which sat in front of them. “She's solid, and made of only the finest material,” she added, gently placing her hand onto the wood of the buggy as she slowly smoothed it across the fine grain. “I believe that no matter what she's put through, she will handle herself just fine.”

  Alicia had picked up on the covert conversation, looking Nadia in the eyes as she once again rubbed the tip of her tongue to such spongy lips.

  “Yep, looks to me like she could take a pounding if necessary.” Alicia replied, looking Nadia's perfectly trimmed body up and down.

  “Why does the stagecoach have to be a she?” Calypso asked. “Everything a woman sees, she just assumes it's a woman too.”

  “Oh, she's a woman,” Nadia replied. “I can tell by the rounding of her bottom and firmness of her top.” she added.

  “I don't see anything but wood?” G added to the conversation, his violin secured tightly to his upper back.

  “Which is why it'll just be another trip for you. For me, on the other hand, I'm hoping it turns into one hell of a ride,” Nadia said. “If I'm lucky.”

  “If you're lucky.” Alicia replied softly as she knelt down to check the spokes of the wheel closest to her. Purposely, of course, placing her lips only inches from the thighs of Nadia's elegant body.

  Nadia glanced back as the buggy began forward, looking solidly for several moments at the German airship that remained docked and under the protection of the soldiers who had escorted her team into Washington City.

  Preacher and G sat on the wooden bench at the front of the stagecoach, horses pulling it to assist with the steam which flowed through several copper pipes beneath the frame of the transport. Meanwhile, Alicia, Calypso, Nadia and Certes remained inside, sitting in what greatly resembled the single compartment of a passenger train.

  For the longest time, Alicia felt very uncomfortable being in such close proximity to an Ancient, but trusted Calypso with her life and was well aware of his abilities in battle. If somehow this was a trap, the Ancient would be hard pressed to make it out of the crew cabin alive.

  She also felt a bit overwhelmed, sitting so closely to Nadia and being able to do nothing about it. A small part of her wondered what consequences would follow if she simply leaned in to kiss the German-born blonde? What if she just dropped the expectations of others and began making out with the woman who continued her stare onto Alicia? Eventually, Nadia paused from her stare to turn her attention out of the small window beside of her, Alicia studying her every figure closely closely.

  As another reminder of protection, a formation of F-14 Tomcats flew by, diving down close to the hard deck for a second to let the crew know they had a lot of air support. During the daytime at least. They had traveled several hundred yards outside of the safe zone, when Calypso leaned over to turn their long range radio on.

  The battery powered unit fired up as the strongman began slowly spinning a large knob on its exterior, finally picking up a transmission.

  “The invaders continue to try their luck at the Norfolk Naval Compound. Just as surely as this transmission is being broadcast to our surviving brothers and sisters abroad, the invaders continue to be turned away. Time and time again. Yesterday our birds executed a tactical strike near the Old Baltimore settlement, and sources on the ground are confirming massive Ancient casualties. Stay strong fellow Humans, and together we will drive the invaders away and rebuild our civilization.” a man's voice slowly said.

  “Serves the bastards right.” Calypso said proudly as the radio transmission began to loop. “Oh, sorry.” he added apologetically to Certes.

  “Don't be,” the Ancient said, taking both Calypso and Alicia by surprise, hearing him speak for the first time. “It does serve them right. The murdering bastards,” he added in a deep and concentrated voice as he continued looking out of the buggy at the wastelands around them. “Not all of us believe as they do. We should not kill simply because we possess the ability to do so,” he added, turning back to look at the group. “Some of us wanted a peaceful return to Earth...not the murder and slavery that has taken place.”

  “There's something that has always escaped me, if you don't m
ind?” Alica asked with seriousness.

  “Ask. By all means.” Certes replied.

  “From what I understand, the Ancients were here during the rise of the Egyptian empires,” Alicia said as she looked to the Resistance-sworn demon, the tint of his eyes enough to frighten most to their bones. “But then you left, and after all this time...you return?”

  “We have been gone for quite some time according to your standards, that much is true,” Certes replied. “But according to ours, it has not been so long.”

  “But why return now? Why at all?”

  “Earth is only one of many planets which we harvest from, the force which arrived here only a fraction of our species.” Certes answered.

  “Have you told the Germans this? Would it make any sense to even attempt a fight against the Ancient mothership if this is the case? Wouldn't your race just send more?” Alicia asked.

  “No.” Certes replied.

  “No?” she asked.

  “My race, much like your very own, is divided in its beliefs,” Certes said. “Division breeds weakness,” he added before turning back to face the landscape outside of the window. “The very faction which slaughters innocent Humans in Germany has had many wars with the Ancients at your own doorstep.”

  “And so your race is waiting. Figuring the strongest of the two factions has earned its right to control Earth?” Alicia asked.

  “Exactly,” Certes replied. “The plan was to invade Earth and quickly control its inhabitants, at which point the real war was to begin.”

  “And if Humanity was to somehow prevail?” Alicia asked.

  “It was decided long ago by our governing body that should Humanity somehow defeat us, that they would be allowed to live in peace.”

  “Maybe I misjudged you. Maybe you can be trusted.” Alicia said jokingly to try and lighten the mood, thick tension running amok throughout the cabin area of the buggy.

  “A lot more so than many of your own people.” Certes replied, immediately getting an icy stare from Nadia.

  “What do you mean by that?” Alicia asked.

  “We got company!” Preacher yelled back to the group as he pulled the horses back with the attached leather straps. Alicia, like the rest of the passengers, immediately broke away from the conversation to pull her weapons into play.

  Two men on horseback approached, both wearing crimson red overcoats with gold sashes hanging from their waists. They each had a long barrel shotgun, but the weapons were holstered onto the sides of their horses.

  “Nomads. Their sashes are a giveaway.” Alicia said in a soft voice.

  “Should we be concerned?” Nadia asked.

  “It depends on whether or not they are the aggressive type,” Alicia replied, turning to look at the woman of complete beauty. “If so, your concern should be for them.” she added with a smile as Calypso placed a hand onto the shotgun which remained holstered to his thigh.

  The buggy came to a complete stop, both of the horsemen barely visible in front of it as dust clouded around the group for a moment.

  “Can we help you?” one of the horsemen yelled in a friendly but probing tone.

  “Just passing through the wastelands, trying to make our way to Old Mexico. Looking for a place to lay low for the night and perhaps do a little trading.” Preacher responded, looking innocent enough as he awaited a reply.

  The group inside of the stagecoach listened quietly, each awaiting the fate of what was to come. Either a fight for survival would ensue, or they would be allowed to pass. Alicia's crew hoped the latter was the case, as they made a living killing Ancients, not their own race.

  Though they had done so on many occasions, in fact, any member of her team could more than likely kill both riders with nothing more than a rock in hand. They were that good. Still, as they sat in an unmarked stagecoach and looked the part of simple travelers, they each hoped for peace, having no idea how many more Nomads resided nearby.

  “What are you transporting?” one of the horsemen asked abruptly.

  “Well, here we go.” Alicia said softly, pulling one of her pistols to the ready and waiting for official word of the fight to come.

  “Only the supplies we have for trade. Which way?” Preacher replied loudly, serving warning to the men that he and his crew were prepared to defend what was theirs.

  A stare-off began to take place. Many Nomads were like the schoolyard bully, at least to a degree. If they thought you would allow them to take your belongings, they would. But Nomads were survivors, just like any other Human. And if they felt you would be a threat to their survival, in some cases they would allow a live and let live attitude. Unless, of course, they needed whatever you were carrying badly enough to kill you for it.

  “Beyond that ridge,” the horseman replied, turning to point into the direction of a small line of mountains. “A couple of hours ride to New Kinneston. Plenty of trading and lodging there.” he added.

  “Ancients?” G asked, still holding an unseen pistol across his lap, one of filth and questionable firing ability.

  “Not very often. Usually only see them blazing through the air.” the horseman replied.

  “Much obliged friend.” Preacher said loudly, both horsemen nodding and riding away quickly.

  “They look too organized to be garden-variety Nomads, but we should be alright there for the night.” Preacher said, his head turned as he relayed the message to the four passengers of the stagecoach, Alicia approving the plan with a simple nod.

  As she turned her attention from him, Alicia quickly picked up the look of Nadia. One of desire. A stare that was quickly returned with one of her own, both of the women looking onto each other as though the world ended tonight and they couldn't be fast enough about exploring the body of the other.

  Chapter 2

  *Beware Bad Things*