Guardian Angel Page 3
“Certes, it would be best if you remained here,” Alicia said with pause. “Don't want to alarm any of the locals.”
“It's alright. I get it.” the loyal Ancient warrior replied.
“The rest of you try to find us a place to lay low for the night. I'm going to see what kind of authority they have in place here. Possibly find out where the next settlement is located.” Alicia said.
“Need me to come with you?” Calypso asked.
“No thanks, I've got it,” she said with a bit of a smiling. “If I need help, I'll just yell really loud.” Alicia added with a bit of sarcasm.
“You do that.” Calypso replied, knowing good and well that she was presenting him with the facts. She could take care of herself, and in fact, rushed to his aid more times than not.
Nadia, Calypso and G headed off to find a place to lay low for the night. A hard task in a settlement full of people who immediately knew they weren't citizens; seemingly everyone casting stares to them as the group eased their way through the string of small businesses.
“I'm sorry we have to do this.” Preacher said as he waited outside the stagecoach, talking to his Ancient friend through a small window.
“It is to be expected.” Certes replied.
Of course he felt like a burden at times, people either drawing weapons or fearing him before an official introduction.
Sure, he was an Ancient, and as a species they were conscienceless murderers. But he was one of the good guys, one of the Ancients that actually gave a damn about others despite their differences. His team knew it, but felt hindered at times when trying to plead to others for the same type of understanding.
Certes was the first to notice. Maybe it was his superior senses, or just the need to be observant. Either way, he had counted eleven of the sash wearing Nomads in town. And though he was the first to notice, he wasn't alone.
As Alicia walked slowly up the wooden steps which led to a small building marked Sheriff, she paused for a moment to nod at one of the sash bearing men who sat in a wooden chair close to the door.
“Evening.” Alicia said softly, nodding her head to the man for a moment.
Though it came across as good etiquette, she was merely feeling the man out a bit. He carried a primitive styled revolver on his hip, and that was the information she required as she spoke, her gesture answered with a nod of the man's head.
Entering the building slowly, she approached a long desk made of cherry. The smooth wood of such a lavish desk struck her as odd, making Alicia wonder what type of lawman would have furnished his office at such expense. She then noticed a man sitting behind the desk, as well as another sitting in the far corner near the window of the building.
“Evening,” Alicia said to the man sitting behind the desk, her words quickly warded off with a stone glance. “The Sheriff in?”
“He's tied up at the moment, what can I do for you?” the man asked, his rough voice echoing loudly throughout the wooden confines of the building.
She had planned to ask him if there was an Ancient presence expected in New Kinneston, maybe even ask if there was a place to get the best meal home cooking could provide.
Instead, her questions were stopped short as she saw a man's feet through the narrow doorway which led into a back room. Laying down and tied, the man's feet kicked wildly.
A mere moment after realizing what she had walked into, the man behind the desk read Alicia's face well enough to know she understood the situation.
As he stood straight to his feet, pulling a side revolver to the ready, Alicia quickly grabbed his gun hand and fired four shots from the weapon, all four slugs hitting the man in the corner who had jumped up to aid his friend. The scrappy vixen then swung her free arm around for a moment, burying her elbow flush into the shooter's face and rendering him defenseless onto the floor.
Now holding his revolver, Alicia quickly pointed to the door and hit the man rushing in from the porch with one of the last two bullets, immediately aiming down to the floor and firing the last shot into the heart of the only man still breathing.
Three men dead and a hollow chambered revolver falling to the floor, all within the span of ten seconds. It wasn't even close to her own personal record, but damn impressive to say the least.
As Alicia made her way to the rear of the building, using great caution with her own pistols now in hand, she leaned around the corner of the doorway slightly. A man clad in brown leather, shiny silver star on the front of his jacket, lay in the floor with his hands, feet and mouth bound.
“You the Sheriff?” Alicia asked, her military-grade pistols catching his attention. He then glanced down to the star on his chest. A bit less chrome colored than to be expected, but shiny nonetheless.
Alicia began pulling the cloth gag from his mouth as he lay there, overwhelmed by her natural beauty.
“Can I help you?” the Sheriff asked, his extremities still bound tightly.
Alicia answered with a smug look.
“Yea, I get it. The whole bound and gagged thing.” he replied.
“Happen often?” Alicia asked with sarcasm.
“Now and again,” he replied as she stopped, staring at him with disbelief. “It's complicated.” he added.
“There you go Sheriff.” Alicia said, tossing the loosened rope to the corner of the room.
“Much obliged ma'am,” he said, extending his hand. “Name is Austin Garrett.”
“Good to know.” Alicia replied.
“And how about you pretty lady, got a name?” he asked.
“Yes. Are you hitting on me?” she asked.
“No,” Austin said, smiling a bit. “Well maybe, is it working?” he asked.
“Not so much.” she replied with a bit of smiling on her part.
As Austin walked into the main room of his office, finding three Nomads laying dead on the wood grain floors, he adopted a look of disgust.
“I figured you'd be a bit happier.” Alicia said, trying to figure out why Austin had such a look upon his face.
“I am happy to be out of rope,” he said, using his hand to stroke through the closely cut whiskers on his face. “It's just when the other Nomads find out about this, the people of New Kinneston are in for a lot of trouble.”
“I expect they heard the gunshots.” Alicia said.
“Doubtful, it's Tuesday.” he replied.
“Ah yes...Tuesday.” she replied with a grin, having absolutely no idea what bearing that had on anything.
“Tuesday is karaoke night. The rest of 'em are no doubt packed in the Moose Lodge listening to loud music and boozing up.” Austin replied.
“Moose Lodge...you're kidding?” Alicia asked, having no idea what to make of the fact that Humans had all but fallen to a superior race of warriors, yet there was still time for domestic beer and bad Country music.
Just as she was going to ask him to elaborate, the door sprang open abruptly. Calypso was the first in, his gun ready to chew into whatever it was tasked to. G followed, long rifle at the ready as Nadia was closely behind with a pistol in hand.
“Took long enough,” Alicia said loudly, stepping between Sheriff Garrett and the readied guns of her team. “There were only three, and I took care of them.” she added.
Only three? I think I'm in love. Austin thought as he watched the subtle motions of such a beautiful woman.
“Well it's dark, so let's just hope nobody else heard the gunshots.” Nadia said, her accent recognizable to say the least.
“No worries, I think our secret is safe.” Alicia replied, grinning at the lawman and thinking of his damn karaoke night.
“What are you people?” Austin asked.
Alicia wanted to tell him, but after glancing to her team and seeing Nadia warn her off, she simply answered with
a smile.
Nearly an hour passed in New Kinneston, the light of Guardian Angel barely visible in the distant night sky. The group of soldiers for Humanity were indeed a long way from the protection of their home. Still they sat, arguing with the Sheriff about such important matters.
“And that's why it's imperative that you allow us to stay here undetected overnight.” Nadia said, having finally been convinced that Austin could be trusted.
“I get that. It's just that I don't want the folks of this town drug into a mess between you and the Ancients. That's all.” Sheriff Austin replied.
“You were drug into the mess a long time ago,” Alicia said with a loud tone. “You are Human! The Ancients wiped out a majority of your own kind! The day they arrived, guns blazing, you and everyone in this damn town became involved!”
Rather than reply, Austin glanced around for a moment, quickly turning to exit his own building.
“I'll go and...” Alicia started to say, her words quickly squashed.
“No. I'll go, you've done enough already.” Nadia said, her hair shimmering of blonde as the woman of perfected beauty slowly made her way outside.
“Don't worry, I'm not going to sell you out or anything.” Sheriff Austin said, words dripping of sarcasm as he leaned forward, his hands gripping a wooden rail that nearly surrounded the front porch of the office.
“I came out here to check on you, that's all.” Nadia replied.
Austin continued to stare into the distant sky, and the battle explosions that mirrored those of a fireworks display.
“I know the Ancients are slayers of mankind. I don't need her to tell me that, I lost plenty during the first few weeks. My own family, not to mention friends and pretty much everyone I know.” he said with sadness etched into his face. “Knew.” he added.
“I know that,” Nadia replied, standing beside him and putting her own hands onto the railing of wooden white. “I too lost, we all have.”
“Other than the local Nomads, we've been allowed to live in peace. The Ancients have left this town alone, other than occasionally passing through on their way to that.” Sheriff Austin said, glancing directly onto the distant fighting which illuminated the night sky.
“You've been allowed to live peacefully because you are slaves.” Nadia said, turning to look into the battle as well.
“What you need to understand is the battle that seems so far away is Washington City. And for the people who live there, it isn't so far away. It's at their doorstep. They aren't allowed to live in peace, their eyes know of only war.” she added.
Both Nadia and Austin stood there for several moments, which seemed to bleed into minutes. Flashes of bright red and yellow bursting out above what was indeed the city of Washington.
“It looks beautiful from here, but for the people who live there, it isn't. They are losing family every day. Every explosion. Wives, children, husbands,” Nadia said, her voice as soft as the bloom of a flower. “Eventually you will have to choose your side in this war.” she said, turning away from him a bit. “I've chosen mine.”
Austin acknowledged her words with a nod, his mind locked onto the flashes of light as he remembered his own wife and children. They had perished during the war for Baltimore City. Less than two hours of soldiers exchanging fire changed Baltimore forever, not to mention his own life.
Nadia placed her hand onto his back softly for a moment, leaving the Sheriff to his thoughts as she once again entered the office in which the group had deemed the safest spot in New Kinneston.
Nadia was the last to be awakened, Preacher standing over her, covering her mouth as he used his lips to motion the words “Get up.”
No sound had escaped his lips, though the motion of them was enough to warn Nadia of danger impending.
Preacher placed a single finger over his lips, warning her to be quiet as he helped Nadia to her feet. The rest of the group was already up, aware and readying weapons in the most silent of fashions.
Sheriff Austin Garrett had put them up in the rear of the building, a small room that was away from everything else. They all prepared themselves, setting up into perfect defensive position as Nadia stood closely to the narrow door that led to the the rest of the building.
“I've seen no such group in this area.” Austin said, his voice never faltering.
Nadia felt happy, a sense of righteous coming from his words as she stood there, watching a man who had finally chosen the Human race in such chaotic times, and envying him for his clear conscience in doing so.
Her happiness seemed to fall from the sky, crashing around her feet like shattered glass as an Ancient soldier approached Austin and extended its gray hand of thick-skinned claws around his chin.
“If you're lying to us.” the Ancient said, its voice raspy and chilling, to say the least.
G grabbed Nadia's hand, which was reaching for her Luger. Shaking his head, he quickly let her know that they were grossly outmatched. It was an entire Ancient Division of soldiers, which meant thousands in numbers, making its way to a fight in Washington City.
“I have no cause to lie. You have allowed us to live in peace here, why would I endanger that?” Sheriff Austin replied with confidence.
“All the same, we will be leaving a team of warriors behind to remain in New Kinneston.” the demon replied.
“As you wish.” Austin replied.
As the Ancient made its way back outside, the thin wooden door shutting slowly, Austin sat back down in his chair, exhausted and afraid of what was to come. If he had sold out Nadia and her group, he and the people of New Kinneston would be allowed to remain living in peace.
Instead, he had chosen to finally take stance against the bastards who had slain his own family. Now he simply wondered how good Nadia, Alicia and their teams were.
As he sulked in his chair, the caring eyes of Alicia Lucard watched over him. She could see he was hurting deeply, both from the recent decision, as well as from the past which continued to haunt him. She wanted so badly to enter the room and hold the hurting man in her arms, his strength, in many ways, was more than her very own. Her compassion for the Human race would have been a disadvantage, if not for her appreciation of beauty. But comforting him at the moment would compromise the group.
“We need to get outside of New Kinneston. Radio Norfolk and have them air strike the town tonight.” Alicia said in a soft voice.
“Absolutely not.” Nadia replied with haste, her words accompanied by a stern look. It was not a look that Alicia had grown used to seeing.
“We have a chance to do the greater good here. Take out an entire Ancient Division within minutes!” Alicia said, her words a bit louder but still hushed by any standard.
“I said no,” Nadia replied as if to dare Alicia to respond. “I will not kill my own kind in order to slow the Ancients. Nor will I stand by and watch it happen.”
“This is my group, and as long as I am in charge...” Alicia said, her statement cut off sharply.
“That is your group,” Nadia said as she pointed to both G and Calypso. “And I respect your ability to lead them. But I swear to the Gods above if anyone tries to radio in an air strike, I will put a bullet between their eyes in order to save the people of this town. And that, my dear, is the greater good.”
And with her words, a crashing sense of realism came down on Alicia, squashing any desire to be with a woman whom she had only moments before considered to be so desirable.
“Well said.” Sheriff Austin replied, entering the room as Nadia and Alicia remained involved in a stare of ill intent.
“I just risked everything to help you people, and you're back here talking about killing the citizens of New Kinneston,” Austin said, looking at Alicia. “That's kind of tacky.”
Nadia wanted to continue her stare, she honestly did, but instead she found herself laughing a bit before turning to Austin. “You're kind of funny, you know that?”
“Just be glad we didn't meet at the Moose Lodge,” h
e said with a grin. “And when I don't have Ancients trying to kill me...there's always that too.”
“My Templar, should we continue our assault on Washington City?” an Ancient warrior asked, his extensive hair length an indication of both age and experience.
“Yes. But we will leave a team of Butchers behind, and they are to remain in New Kinneston.” the Templar replied. “Have them sweep through the town, and should they find any Resistance soldiers, kill everyone with a heartbeat.”
The Templar had knotted locks of grey falling down his back, piercing eyes of orange and a thin frame compared to most of those who fought under his command.
However, he carried two things that signified his authority among the Ancients. A reflective orange sidearm, which was semi-automatic but possessed a punishing amount of power; also a tattoo of black which was branded into his forehead.
Unlike Humanity's military system, the Ancients kept rank. Once proving themselves on a battlefield, they were judged based upon their leadership skills, ability to slay and precision when doing both.
After the Ancient Council determined a soldier's worth, they were branded to signify rank. Most soldiers carried a simple brand of tribal design on the right shoulder. However, Commanders were few and far between, easily recognized by that imprinting of flesh on the forehead.
And then there were the Butchers. They wore banded armor around their torso, though a large spot in the sternum area was open, a spot that revealed their branding. They had no hair to speak of, their scalps shaven to a shine of grey, with occasional scarring also finding its home there. Elongated bottom jaw teeth rose from their mouths, giving the illusion of fangs from a distance, as their shimmer-orange eyes looked almost like those during a possession of a demonic variety.
Lastly, they had huge blades strapped to their backs. Very crude, the blades had a rigid edge that, in most cases, seemed to cut like a set of teeth. Simply put, they were a larger version on the man-chete. And though the massive amount of arm strength that a Butcher could pull from usually cut its victim in half, at times it didn't, in which case they could pull the blade back to them, ripping out large bits of flesh and vital organ in doing so.
“Yes my Templar!” the soldier said, turning to execute his order.
“And have them monitor all radio traffic. We picked up a transmission less than one hour ago, it was Resistance coded and requested an air strike of this very town.” the Templar added.
“My Templar?” the soldier asked.
“The Resistance is here, I know it. Have the Butchers locate them, and spare no expense in doing so.” he replied, bone white teeth gritting roughly.
“At once my Templar.” the Ancient soldier replied.
And with that, several minutes passed as the Templar stood silent, his eyes skimming the surrounding buildings of New Kinneston. He wanted nothing more than to remain behind himself to find the Resistance fighters being harbored by the town. Murder everyone involved and then torch the city on his way out.
But, unfortunately for him, he was under strict orders from the Ancient Council. Sack Washington City at any cost. He had roughly six-thousand star-born beasts under his command, each with a hate for the Human race that knew few boundaries. Each was well experienced, well versed in the art of war and well aware that failure was not an option.
And though it took nearly thirty minutes, the entire Ancient Division headed out, most on foot while a few of the higher ranking demons did so by way of armored vehicles.
“Thought those bastards would never leave.” G said, turning to rejoin the rest of his group.
“Not all of them left,” Austin said as he entered the rear of the Sheriff's Office. “They left four behind.”
“Four? That's it?” G asked.
“Yea, but they are Butchers from the look of 'em.” Calypso replied.
With his words, everyone stood to their feet, each knowing the dangers associated with such a powerful unit. Certes slowly removed his hood, no longer needing to remain hidden. The town had made its choice from the lips of Sheriff Austin Garrett; for better or for worse.
“I overheard the Templar say they picked up radio traffic requesting a Resistance air strike.” Austin said.
“You bitch.” Nadia said, quickly pulling her sidearm.
Though it would do no good, her draw just a bit slower than that of Alicia, who held a weapon of her own in Nadia's direction.
“Don't worry, I didn't have time to call it in. Remember?” Alicia said, her pistol hand steadily waiting. “Now I'm going to give you just a moment to compute that, at which time you either back down, bitch, or I'll bury you.”
Nadia wanted to pin it all on Alicia, she honestly did. Sexual desires aside, they had gotten off on the wrong foot in their first meeting, and hated one another with passion since. But Alicia was right, she had to be, Nadia had been in the same room with her for hours. It wasn't possible for any of them to have called in and requested an air strike. They had all been together.
“Who then?” Nadia asked, slowly moving her hand away from the weapon which remained holstered onto her hip.
“I'm not sure,” Alicia replied, nodding a bit to accept the fact that Nadia had indeed backed down from confrontation. “Someone in this town or nearby. Has to be.”
“More importantly, what the hell are we going to do about the Butchers?” Preacher asked.
“I'd say that's a mighty fine question,” Austin said, turning to the rest of the Resistance soldiers. “How much experience have you all had against these big fuckers?”
“None, other than what I've read in textbooks and reports.” Nadia replied, Austin quickly turning as if to give her a look of shame.
“We've had our fair share.” Alicia said, her words gaining the attention of the Sheriff as well as members of Nadia's group.
“You have?” Austin asked, though his question was universal among them.
Alicia nodded, then turning to Calypso, who raised his shirt to reveal a scar. It began at the inner of his shoulder blade and ran down below his navel.
“Had a Butcher lay me wide open during an early battle for Washington City,” Calypso said. “Next thing I knew, Alicia was there with guns blazing and before I had time to blink, the Butcher was dead and I was on an operating table. She saved my life.”
Though the compliment of battle hit her ears, Alicia remained focused on a small portion of the window, her back turned to the group.
“Wait,” Alicia said abruptly. “Wait, what is that?”
As the group rushed to the window, she saw it once more. A glimmer of light flashing, almost in code fashion to them.
“Not sure, but whoever it is,” G said. “They're wearing a United States Naval patch.” he added as his eye pressed firmly to the scope of his weapon.
G watched through the magnified glass as the stranger reflected the small glimmer of light into their direction.
“Austin, the Butchers are doing a sweep of the town. Go out and make an appearance, otherwise they will begin to suspect you.” Alicia said.
He wanted to refuse. Even as the sworn law of New Kinneston, he wanted to be as far away from the sight of Butchers as he possibly could. But the fact that Alicia had indeed killed the bastards before established her as the true leader of this group. At least in his eyes.
And he trusted her instinct, simply nodding and reluctantly walking back outside to appear normal to both the townspeople and the monsters left behind with orders to slaughter on sight.
“G, you're with me. The rest of you ease out to see if you can find the Ancient supply cache. They must have left one for their warriors.” Alicia said.
“Good idea.” Certes admitted, knowing Nadia would never admit it for herself.
It was well known among Resistance soldiers that any town or location the Ancients frequented, a supply cache could be found. It usually was hidden well, but contained everything they considered vital for their own survival. Weapons, mobile shelter and a commu
nications device, among other things.
“Remember, ease out. The only thing we have on them right now is surprise, so let's keep it that way.” Alicia said, the group acknowledging her words as they turned to leave the building under a shroud of dark.
As Nadia made her way out, she turned for a moment to exchange glances with Alicia.
Their relationship had been complicated from the start, each having pulled a weapon on the other. Alicia had no desire for Germans in general, and certainly there was no love lost for a person who refused to air strike in such an obvious situation. Alicia had began to question how good of a solider Nadia was. While she respected Nadia's value of Human life, Alicia would have gladly sacrificed her own life for the chance to take out thousands of Ancients. She had known soldiers who had sacrificed theirs for much less.
Still, no matter how much she disliked Nadia as a person, her body longed for the touch of the German woman's lips. She didn't want to work beside her as a soldier, she just wanted to lay beside her as a lover. Just once.
Perhaps share their story of souls through the passion of lovemaking. But that was to be decided another day as Nadia left to locate the Ancient supply cache, her perfectly-sculpted ass only adding to the sexual desires of Alicia Lucard.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Nothing. Nothing for the past couple of minutes now.” G replied, continuing his stare of concerned study through the scope of his weapon.
“Well, keep on it. Someone obviously knows we are here.” Alicia replied as the door creaked open once more.
“I thought I told you...” she said, her words cut short by the sight of a Butcher filling the opening of the doorway. Alicia went for her sidearm, though even she wasn't fast enough to complete the motion before the massive Butcher slapped her down through the face, his powerful hand immediately breaking her will as she fell back into a corner of the small room.
In the time it took G to turn from his scope, the demonic beast born of the sky had pulled its sword, thrusting it toward the sniper. G's only option was to lean to his left, forcing his rifle to become a non-factor. The sniper did manage to bring it front a center moments later, the stock of the weapon barely deflecting a glancing shot from the demon's massive blade.
G had recovered, quickly pulling his silhouette blade to the ready.
“Well come on,” G said in a low voice. “You shirtless fuck.”
As the Ancient warrior cleaved its way down, the large blade chopping forward, G dashed to his right, momentarily, then thrusting forward he managed to plunge nearly a foot of the silhouette into the monster.
The plan was to push forward and bury the blade deeper into the demon in the process. Instead, as G moved in, the Butcher wrapped his large hand around the sniper's neck. Its commanding grip made G pay for his mistake, squeezing until inner bones and flesh popped under the pressure.
Loosening his blade in order to tend to the wounds of his throat, G immediately felt the cut of steel, stabbing deeply into the side of his thigh and bringing with it tremendous pain.
It was a second plunge of the blade into G's torso, however, that not only ended the sniper's life, but made the rest of the town aware of the battle; G screaming at the top of his lungs as his soul departed.
Alicia's eyes still watered heavily from the stiff backhand that had disoriented her, but even with a blur of tears, she could make out the massive figure standing over her.
Her instinct was to roll to her side, and the very instinct indeed saved her life. Alicia heard the massive blade clang onto the floor as she reached for her own weaponry. Still the monster came at her, so fast that she had no choice but to roll a second time, and escaping death this time came with a price, in the form of a small slice into her side. It wasn't deep enough to allow the blade's teeth to penetrate, thankfully, but the instantaneous pain served as a reminder of the severity at hand.
Alicia was a good enough fighter to parry the sword away with a swift kick, using a second foot to thrust her body into a standing position. Great tactics when fighting against another opponent, but the Ancient Butcher was a special case, hovering above her by nearly two feet and outmatching her in weight by at least three hundred pounds.
And at the very moment that Alicia had realized she overstepped in the fight, the Butcher buried a flush elbow into her face, this time bringing both tears and blood as the defenseless woman fell to the floor limply.
She was alert to what was happening, though her body seemed too sluggish to respond. Glancing up as if to admit defeat, Alicia watched through a veil of reddened-blur as the Butcher stood over her, smiling wide. A single gunshot ended all of that, the massive body of the Ancient warrior falling dead less than a foot beside her.
“Come, we need to go.” a strange figure said, extending his arm down to help Alicia to her feet. Though she had no idea who the person was, she was sure of two things. It was a man, obvious by the tone of his voice, and he had saved her.
“Wait...my friend.” she said faintly, concerned for G.
“I'm afraid your friend is dead,” the mysterious man said. “We'll come back for him when this is finished. I promise.”
Alicia was still unable to fully make out the man's face, but her judgment told her to trust him. She responded with a nod, trying her best to stand back to her feet.
When the man realized Alicia's inability to help herself up, he hoisted her onto his shoulders and fled the Sheriff's Office, knowing well enough that the other Butchers would return soon.
As Alicia came to, her first reaction was to quickly rise to her feet and reach for a weapon. When she found no weapons, she slowly fell back to a knee, compliments of an excruciating headache.
“Relax, I'm a friend.” the man said softly.
“My weapons, where are...” Alicia began to reply.
“They're right here. Just didn't want you to come to and start shooting, that's all.” the man replied, slowly returning them.
“Who are you? My friends...” Alicia muttered, her hand wrapped around her forehead as the blinding headache continued to hinder her.
“Your friends are fine, they're down there close to the Sheriff's Office hold up, watching the Butchers try to figure out what happened to one of their own,” he said. “And the name is Jackson Ayers. Lieutenant Jackson Ayers.”
“Lieutenant?” Alicia asked, looking into his direction, though her hand rested on the brow above her eyes.
“Unites States Navy, at least what's left of it. Stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. At least what's left of it,” he said with a chuckle. “Here, this should help your headache.” Jackson added, handing Alicia a cloth moistened with cold water.
He was a medium sized man, his body wrapped in military issue green pants and a thick bomber jacket; its polished leather a definitive signature of an aviator of the sky.
And he looked trustworthy enough to her, his face both innocent and experienced. As he smiled a bit, the slight stubble on his face reinforced the fact that he was indeed a friend.
“Long way from home.” Alicia remarked.
“Sure enough. Bastards shot me down about two clicks West of here a little over a week ago.” he said with truth. “Sorry about your friend down there.” Jackson added.
“He was a good man. A good warrior,” Alicia replied, not daring cry for G at the moment and add to an already overpowering headache. “But I guess this war has claimed many good men.”
“Claimed my RIO when we crashed, though the verdict on him was decent at best,” Jackson responded, chuckling at the light joke which even brought a smile to Alicia's face. “And you?” he asked.
Alicia paused for a moment. She had no suspicions about Jackson when it came to his position within the military. And she knew they were on the same side. Her worry was that the information inside of her head, particularly that of her current mission, was of a private nature.
“It's classified.” Alicia responded.
“I've got level five clearanc
e,” Jackson said, stopping for a moment to find his identification card and lightly toss it into her direction. “Try me.”
As she scanned the card, Alicia couldn't help but to raise her eyes to him a few times. Not because she questioned his identity, it wasn't for that reason at all. Instead, she found herself intrigued by the man who had swooped in to save her in the last moments of what should have capped her mortal life.
He had saved her life. And if that wasn't enough, the mere sight of his face seemed to sooth her soul a bit. His entire character was one of compassion and positive energy, or so it seemed.
“Well, in that case,” she said, still a bit hesitant as she found it increasingly tough to pull her eyes from his own. Pupils of dreamy blue swirls and purity. “Heading to Texas with the group below to try and secure...” she added, her words cut short.
“No you're not.” Jackson said.
“Excuse me?” Alicia said a bit defensively.
“Trust me, you're not going to Texas.” he replied.
The two sat there, doing their best to search the other out with a dedicated stare. Alicia wanted to tell him to stay out of her mission, but as she began to speak, he cut in sharply.
“If you're going to fetch' that power cell, you can forget it.”
“How the hell...?” Alicia began to ask in a demanding voice.
“My air unit, near seventy birds total,” he said, pausing for a moment to reflect. “Was our job to hit the Ancient fortress with tank busters.”
“Yea, and?” Alicia asked, already knowing they were supposed to have a healthy amount of air support for the mission.
“They knew we were coming.” Jackson replied.
“Huh?” Alicia asked, a silent moment of disbelief taking over her body.
“Every single one of us downed, most within the span of five minutes,” Jackson said. “It was a damn trap. I got in close enough to realize that there was no Ancient fortress, just a massive force waiting for us. There's no power cell to be had, just the guarantee of death. My RIO plotted an escape route, then we tucked tail and ran. Nearly made it to New Kinneston before they clipped us.”
“How can that be?” Alicia asked, her extremities still stunned by the development.
“What? The fact that it's a trap? Or the fact that such a damn good pilot got clipped?” he replied with a smile.
She simply responded with a glowing smile of her own.
“I've been asking myself the same question since I tucked into this town,” Jackson said. “It's pretty obvious that someone sold us out. Don't know if it was one of our own or a German, but someone created the perfect scenario for executing the best soldiers our Resistance has to offer.”
Alicia began to think it through. She wondered if Commander Snelling was capable of such treachery. Or, perhaps, one of his superiors. She wondered how high up the treason went, or if the Germans being involved had anything to do with it. Was Nadia in on it as well? A multitude of things blazed through Alicia's mind, and all of them led to the death of G, one of her longest standing friends.
“Ah, don't waste too much time wrapping your head around it. I made the same mistake at first. Then I realized it doesn't matter either way, we're just pawns in some sort of political game.” Jackson said.
“Yea,” Alicia said with disgust. “A shitty one that led to my friend's death.”
“Yea, and the deaths of a hell of a lot of good pilots. Including Russell,” Jackson said, turning his attention to Alicia for a moment. “My RIO.”
“If the past isn't that important, then the future is what matters right now,” Alicia said. “Where do we go from here?”
“Well, we sure in the hell don't go to Texas,” Jackson replied as they both laughed a bit. “I'd say the first order of business would be to get you back to your friends.”
“Agreed. Any ideas?” Alicia asked.
“Try to flash them,” Jackson replied.
“You want me to flash them?” Alicia asked, a sarcastic smirk on her face.
“With the flashlight dear,” Jackson said with a smile, tossing Alicia a small flashlight that was strapped to his thigh. “Unless, of course, you just want to flash them.” he added, his smile growing volumes with the mere idea.
“Wow, really?” Alicia said with a giggle, quickly turning to use the hand-held light and signal her friends.
Jackson was a good man by all accounts, a noble man, and not a single person had ever accused him of being otherwise. Still, he was a man. And Alicia had a way of distracting even the most well-intentioned of men, just as she was distracting Jackson this very moment.
Her curves were both voluptuous and capable, as the vibrant shimmer of her dark hair simply added to her allure. And though she had stood face to face with a Butcher only to be knocked on her ass, Jackson knew that she was still one of the best. Everyone sent into this damn trap that was blanketed with lies, every one of them had to be among the best, at least in his opinion.
And so he watched her every movement, especially the slight lean forward as she tried to communicate with the remainder of her group. It allowed her backside the opportunity to gain the attention that it deserved, almost as if it were a museum exhibit, which it very well could have been; at least in Jackson's mind.
As Alicia turned to let him know she believed her group understood it was her doing the signalling, she saw the slight hesitation, his eyes breaking from the view of her ass before looking into her eyes. Normally, it wasn't welcomed on her end. The typical guy would stare her down before offering to buy her drinks, quickly leaving with his confidence shattered.
But Jackson was no ordinary man, at least not in Alicia's eyes. She found him to be intoxicating, every word spoken by him filled with the strength of a dozen men. He was a bit rugged for a pilot, but still much too poised for the average grunt of war. Both Officer and Cowboy, intertwined within a single body; a body that Alicia could see herself holding tightly.
“Um,” she said, approaching him slowly. “I think my friends have figured out we're up here. So it'd probably be best to sit tight and wait for them.”
“I agree.” Jackson said, using his hand to check the bruises on her face once more. “Are you alright?”
No verbal reply came, just lips feeling one another out as Jackson wrapped his arms around her, the two warriors for the same cause of freedom kissing deeply, and without pause, for several minutes. Alicia finding herself at home in his strong arms, warming her body as it pressed against the leather of his flight jacket.
“Hell no, terrible plan,” Calypso said. “We move as a group, otherwise the Butchers will be too strong.”
“I just thought that...” Nadia began to reply.
“I agree with Calypso,” Certes said. “The Butchers would love nothing more than for us to split up before they find us.”
“And if they have already called for assistance?” Nadia asked.
“They haven't. They still have a majority of their group living, so they won't call for help. It would appear as though they are weak. They want to find us, slay us, and then report that one of their own was killed in the heat of battle. It's how they're wired.” Calypso replied.
“Well, looks like it's settled. Let's all go find Alicia.” Preacher said.
And as the group prepared to make their way to the flashing light which was located on the rooftop of a building several hundred feet away, Nadia grew tired of her command being trampled on. She longed for the sight of her German designed airship and the escort soldiers who stood guard around it.
The group slowly made its way into an alley which remained, for the most part, in complete darkness. They worried of the Butchers spotting them, and also that a citizen of New Kinneston would see them and give away their position. Though they remained indoors, the citizens feared the wrath of Ancients and knew the punishment for harboring a member of the Resistance.
Of course, there was also the possibility of a Nomad stumbling out into the streets, and they had i
ndeed seen Alicia's group enter town. But, with the heavy drinking and long hours of karaoke in front of them, it was a very slim possibility.
Either way, it was safe to assume that a majority of the folk who lived here would certainly turn them over to the Butchers in order to spare their own lives, or the lives of their children.
They would have taken a different attitude if their military filled with Resistance fighters would have given them any kind of hope. But the few years since Invasion Day had been filled with defeat after crushing defeat, each battle lost taking with it hope that Humanity would survive.
On Invasion Day, the Empire of Japan fell. Ships littered a sky which was painted with clouds only moments before, raining down missiles that were followed by large ships filled with battle ready soldiers.
We didn't even know they were ships until the first weapons struck Earth's surface. We had no idea who they were, why they were here or what that wanted from us. Eventually, we captured a few of them alive and began interrogation. The smartest minds on Earth required months to begin pulling their language together, and even then it was broken at best.
We dubbed them 'Ancients' after finding out they had been here before. Earth was just one of many planets that they harvested resources from, having left our ancestors here millions of years ago. Giving us time to fill our continents with the most valuable resource. Humans. We still don't know where their homeworld is located, or if they even have one. We just know that they are organized enough to disagree more times than not, especially when it comes to the fate of Humanity.
The only thing that has allowed us to survive is the fact that the Ancients use a strange system of organization, almost as if they have countries within their own race. Some of them harvest Humans for food, and those poor survivors of the Stalingrad Massacre know this all too well firsthand.
Others view us as cattle with the unique ability to lead other cattle, even going so far as to “reward” sympathizers in the Middle East by swearing them in as officers. Humans arresting Humans so that Ancients may not be hindered in doing so.
Lastly, as is the case with the group of Ancients in North and South America, Humans are considered slaves. Allowed to live out the remainder of their lives under two conditions. Humans do their labor and do not retaliate against them.
The fact that these demons do not always see eye to eye, often leads to war within their own race. And those few Humans who have pulled the courage to join the Resistance and fight back, have become wise to the Ancients and their inner squabbles. Many times, attacking in Ancient war machines marked with the logo of another faction.
Every battle has been important. Invasion Day, the Stalingrad Massacre, Tokyo City, the Butchering in Baghdad and even a rare victory in Washington City, at least what's left of it. But no battle has been nearly as important as the one taking place this very day and across the world. The battle among Ancients.
And the entire group of Resistance fighters held this information close as they escaped the alley and swiftly travelled down sidewalks in order to reach the building they had dashed for.
“I feel guilty for finding such peace in a time of war.” Jackson said in a subtle voice, his arms wrapped around Alicia as they sat on the roof's edge, looking up into the starry sky above.
Rather than reply, Alicia simply allowed her body to fall even deeper into the strong arms of Jackson. She too felt peace, noticing for the first time in a long time, the poetic canvas that the stars lay against on this night; the chilled air deflected, for the most part, by his capable hold of passion.
Jackson's grip loosened quickly, pulling his sidearm and turning as the roof's wooden door splintered from its hinges. Certes was first, holding a snub-nosed shotgun in his pasty gray hands.
“No!” Alicia yelled, pushing the pistol hand of Jackson as the first shot rang out, narrowly missing Certes. “He's with us.” she added.
“What?” Jackson asked loudly, wondering how such a Human woman could be traveling with a sky Demon.
“You dare fire your weapon at me!” Certes said angrily, his tone changing to one that was rarely heard by anyone who knew him.
“Halt.” Alicia demanded, her body still protecting Jackson as she turned to aim her own weapon at the Resistance sworn demon.
“What is the meaning of this?” Nadia asked, entering as Preacher followed behind her.
“You too. Both of you,” Alicia said, her pistol pointed into the direction of the entire group. “Calypso, take their weapons.”
“What?” Nadia asked loudly as Calypso hesitated for a moment, eventually carrying out Alicia's wishes.
“No, you put your gun down.” Austin said, the last to enter through the doorway as his pistol remained on the figure of such a beautiful Alicia Lucard.
Stepping from behind Alicia, Jackson held his own pistol at the ready, prepared to shoot anyone who threatened the young lady who had once again brought him sanity.
“Just tell me who to shoot first, and in which order you want the rest of them dead.” Jackson said, his sarcasm only picked up on by Alicia.
“Well, looks like a standoff,” Nadia said, shifting her head slightly as the blonde of her hair bounced a bit. “Your call.” she added.
“The mission to Lackland Air Force Base is a setup.” Alicia said, her intentions to inform the rest of the group, as much as they were to read their faces. Alicia had a knack for reading people very well, and she had read truth in the words of Jackson Ayers. Now it was time to see if anyone was covering their own lies.
Not that she would need to read anything other than a classified set of documents Jackson had shared with her only moments before.
“Nadia Jacobson,” Alicia said, her eyes locking onto those of the German soldier. “Or should I say Ancient Sympathizer number one thirty seven?” she asked.
“What madness are you speaking of?” Nadia demanded of the brunette soldier.
“Seems my hero had a set of classified documents with him. A list of military personnel which are sympathetic to the Ancients. Not to mention several classified photos, one of which puts you at a meeting on an Ancient ship.” Alicia said.
“What?” Nadia asked, changing her tone significantly.
“It's time to come clean. Confess, and perhaps I may spare your life,” Alicia said. “But choose your next words with caution, because I have no more use for lies. Lies that have lead to the death of a member of my team!” she added, her pistol aiming directly into Nadia's direction.
“Okay,” Nadia said, holding her hand out to ask for a moment. “Okay, it's true. But at least give me an opportunity to speak. Please.”
“Alright then.” Alicia replied, keeping her gun on Nadia while listening.
“We became aware of an impending war between Ancient factions.” Nadia said.
“Nothing new, they fight all of the time.” Calypso replied.
“Not like this,” Nadia said as if to convince them. “I mean an official war. They mean to chew at one another until only one faction remains. I'm just part of an organized group of officials who approached the faction at the doorstep of Washington City. They assured us peace if our Resistance groups were to lay down arms and fight alongside them in their war to come.” Nadia added.
“The group that approached the Ancients...Germans?” Alicia demanded to know.
“No,” Nadia said. “In fact, other than myself and the few Ancients who are loyal to our cause, no other Germans are involved.”
“It's true,” Preacher said. “I knew nothing of this treason!”
“Americans then?” Alicia asked, already knowing the answer that would follow.
“Yes, several of them. Politicians mostly.” Nadia responded.
Alicia stood there for a few moments. She knew Nadia spoke the truth, because the list of names backed up her story. They were indeed all Americans with the exception of a few Nomad groups.
“I have no such treaty with the Ancients. Just a promise to our own kind to du
st as many of those son of a bitches as I can, and I keep my promises,” Alicia replied. “Leave us.”
“But Alicia, if we don't go soon the Butchers,” Calypso replied.
“I said leave us,” Alicia said with a stern tone. “I'll be right behind you, but she won't.”
As the group began leaving into a dark alley by way of a side door, Preacher took enough time to stop and look to Nadia, giving her the look of a traitor.
“You mean to kill me then?” Nadia asked.
“No,” Alicia said, approaching her slowly. “I told you I'm a warrior who keeps her promises.”
“What is to become of...” Nadia began to ask, Alicia grabbing her hands quickly and holding them above her, pressing the German goddess to the wall as they kissed with passion. Their lips only began things as they soon exchanged tongues, breathing heavily in the process.
“I wish we could have met under different circumstances. I truly do.” Alicia said, her heavy breathing quickly silenced by Nadia's puffy lips.
“Perhaps one day,” Nadia managed to push from her lips, before they trembled for another deep kiss. “You'll remain on my mind until that time.”
“I'm sorry.” Alicia replied, kissing the blonde one final time, finally sweeping the butt of her pistol around and burying it into the head of the German.
As Nadia lay there, unconscious, Alicia knelt down, kissing her lips slightly before rising back to her own feet.
“Goodbye Nadia Jacobson.”
“I still can't believe Nadia betrayed us. Betrayed Germany.” Preacher said, as the group now included Alicia and had found shelter inside of a small house on the outskirts of New Kinneston.
“It's all right here,” Alicia said, taking a moment to hand the classified paper and photos to the sniper. “She was marching you into a trap,” Alicia said sternly. “All of us, she was marching us into the waiting arms of Ancient soldiers! There is no Lackland Air Force Base. Not anymore.” she added, her voice calming with despair.
“She's right, it's all right here in black and white,” Calypso said with solemn words before stopping on the list. “Wait.”
“I know, he's number eleven.” Alicia replied quickly.
“Who?” Preacher asked.
“Commander Snelling.” Alicia replied with reservation.
It hadn't fully hit them all yet, but Butchers waited for no one, especially Resistance soldiers filled with confusion. And they weren't to be taken as simple brutes of war.
As the door sprang open abruptly, Alicia was the quickest to respond, firing three shots which seemed to zip into the first Butcher.
Very large but equally injured, the demon fell to the ground in overwhelming pain, victim to her hot lead as much as his own haste.
Right behind the Butcher who had fallen into a pool of his own blood, a second charged, this time finding a victim of his own. Burying his serrated blade deep into the meaty area of Austin's shoulder, the Sheriff yelled loudly, a mixture of pain and shock to blame.
The demon's plan was to rip his blade back out quickly, but he ran short on time as Calypso stepped in, burying a flush elbow into the Butcher's face.
The Ancient warrior of great skill was huge, there was never a person to question it, but Calypso was no slouch in the department of physique. He too was large, his throbbing muscles damn capable of putting even the largest Ancient on its ass, and he had proven it to everyone as the Butcher lost its grip on the sword and stumbled back onto the ground.
Calypso had won the initial confrontation, only to lose moments later as he lunged on top of the Butcher and quickly found himself outmatched.
The last remaining Butcher charged, slowing momentarily at the sight of one of his so many guns on him. Less than a second later he slowed a considerable deal more, hit in both the legs and chest from gunfire. Jackson, Alicia and Preacher had all fired on the beast, and though a single round may have missed, with the combined skill of the soldiers it was unlikely.
Calypso draped his large arms across the neck of the second Butcher, pummeling it into the floor just a bit. And as the two struggled back and forth, Alicia fired a single shot that hit the heart of the Butcher and dropped it quickly; only to turn and fire two more shots into the chest of an already dying Butcher who lay on the ground.
“I'm out.” she said as she stood in the doorway, her lustrous hair flowing with the cool night breeze as she ejected a cartridge from her pistol and quickly replaced it with a full one.
As Jackson extended an arm to help Calypso to his feet, they turned to Sheriff Austin Garrett, who lay on the ground in dire pain. The Butcher's sword was still inside him, its teeth weaving in and out of tissue that was vital to his survival.
”Get him onto a table, that should help with the loss of blood.” Alicia said as both Jackson and Calypso quickly scooped him up and carefully left to head further inside the house.
“What now?” Preacher asked, his accent still thick with German descent.
“Well, my superior and those who have allied with him must be removed from power for their treason.” Alicia replied.
“I agree. How did you...” Preacher began to ask.
“According to Jackson, one of our own spies intercepted it only days ago. Been carrying it with him since, but when I was describing her group to Jackson, he recognized the name.” Alicia said.
“Well,” Preacher said, thinking of the treason of Nadia Jacobson. “Explains why she was so upset over the possibility of calling in an air strike.”
Alicia stood there for a few moments, her eyes studying the lifeless Butchers. “I just don't understand how a Human could turn on their own kind?”
“Yea, especially one that's so damn cute.” Jackson replied swiftly as he once again entered the room, his humor well received, Alicia smiling wide.
“I guess we best sit down and figure out our next move,” Alica said, her eyes still firmly connected to those of Jackson. “Going to have to get Austin back to Washington City if he's to survive.”
“He isn't gonna leave these folk here to die at the hands of Ancients.” Preacher replied.
“Yea, that's the real kicker isn't it?”
“Listen up everyone, please,” Sheriff Austin Garrett said loudly, at least as loudly as his injured body would allow.
He stood on the wooden porch of his office, nearly two hundred townspeople gathered nearby.
“Washington City is our only option now, and we have to go quickly. Take only the things...” he said, several people interrupting him.
“But this is our home!” a man near the rear of the crowd proclaimed.
“Not anymore. When the Ancients return to find their own soldiers laying dead, make no mistake. They will burn New Kinneston to the ground and spare no lives while doing so.” Austin said.
“We should not be forced to pay for their mistakes!” a second man yelled, bringing confusion to the crowd.
“I want you all to hear something,” Alicia said as she walked to the crowd of gathered survivors. “The only mistake made was your thinking this war would not eventually end up at your doorstep.” She added, before pausing for several moments. “Since Invasion Day, your own species has been slaughtered without reserve. Not just soldiers. Not just hardened men with weapons in hand. Everyone!” she added, her eyes cutting across the crowd of citizens. “I'm sorry that we had to be the ones to bring them to your doorstep, I truly am. But if you would choose to remain here and turn a blind eye to the slaughter of innocent women and children, then you don't deserve to live in the first place.” Alicia said, sobering those who listened as Jackson approached her.
“There are only two safe places left on this planet. Washington City and Berlin. You all have heard this on your radios, and each of you knew this day was coming,” Jackson said. “But the Ancients do not care if the time is convenient for you, and they don't care about your lives. We do. So those who choose to stay, are free to do so. Everyone else packs what they can carry and leaves for Washingto
n City with us.” he added a bit more calmly.
“One hour,” Alicia said with authority. “Everyone has one hour to collect what they can carry, at which time we will escort you to Washington City.”
Chatter and grumbles filled the crowd of people as the group of Resistance soldiers walked inside of the Sheriff's Office. Calypso hoisted Austin onto the long table of fine wood, his injuries worsening by the hour as the Butcher's sword remained plunged into him.
“I still say there is no way in hell we are going to make it. Too many people to escort, and not a single one of them has the training for it.” Jackson said.
“There's no choice,” Alicia said. “We have to try, if we leave these people here for certain death then we are no better than the Ancients.”
“I ain't leaving them here. I can't.” Austin said, cringing from the soreness of invasive steel.
“We're too far out for radio contact, I've tried seven times now.” Calypso said, working quickly with the transmission device they had brought with them.
“Save the battery, besides, the last thing we want is to bring the entire Ancient Division back to New Kinneston.”
“Can Washington City hold up against an entire Division?” Preacher asked.
“Don't worry, she'll hold. Just wish I was there to help.” Alicia replied.
“Everything has got to be a woman. Even cities now.” Calypso said with a wise tone.
“Yea, I'm getting that's why your group was led away from the real fight and right into a trap.” Jackson said.
“Well in that case,” Alicia said, a smile instantly painting her face a bit. “Let's set a trap of our own.”
And as the hour passed, dragging into what seemed like a tense eternity of emotion, citizens of New Kinneston began to crowd back around the entrance of the Sheriff's Office. One by one, each bringing with them loved ones and what little personal affections they could carry.
“Where are the rest of them?” Alicia asked as Calypso helped Austin to his feet.
Even though a sword remained plunged into his shoulder, its steel blade half hidden by his own flesh, the Sheriff walked to the front door as daylight began to set in.
“This is barely over half,” he said, his words disheartening. “I have to try and convince the others to come.”
“There's no time,” Alicia replied. “The biggest resource we have right now is daylight, and we can't afford to waste another second of it.”
“Sheriff,” a man said, approaching the local hero a bit skittish. “Wondered if you might take my children to Washington City with you?”
“Mr. Ranford, I expect you will be able to take them yourself.” Austin replied.
“No sir, our home is here. The wife and I, we can't just pick up and leave when there's a good chance this will all blow over with time.” Mr. Ranford replied.
“You do realize the Ancients are going to return. And when they do,” Alicia said, stepping from the porch in order to approach the man. “They will kill everyone here.”
“Yes ma'am, I realize that's also possible, which is why I'm asking you to take my two children with you. Give them a life and a chance should that happen. I've lived my life, and don't exactly fear death. Just want to know they are in good hands.” Mr. Ranford said.
“But Mr. Ranford, I...” Austin said, his words cut short.
“Yes sir, we'll be glad to help. Lots of children in Washington City that will be glad to have a couple more playmates.” Alicia said, turning to Austin and glancing hard.
As the man turned to leave the conversation, saying goodbye to his children in hopes of seeing them again, Alicia pulled close to Austin.
“It's no use. He's made peace with his fate, and just wants his children out of harm's way. Only thing we can do is protect them now.” she said, Austin nodding a bit to acknowledge the truth of her words.
“Alright, we have to head out shortly,” Jackson said, stepping up to the group in his United States issued uniform. “How are we doing this?”
“Austin will ride in our stagecoach, Calypso and Preacher on the front of it. We'll ride horseback alongside, with the rest of the caravan behind,” Alicia said using a finger to pull a bit of hair behind her left ear. “If we hit trouble, our guns will be to the front. But if the caravan needs us, Jackson and I can fall back to assist them.”
“And the children we are to protect?” Certes asked.
“I want them in the stagecoach with me. If their parents are trusting me to keep 'em safe, then I damn well plan to.” Austin replied.
“Good plan. Now, about getting everyone ready to move.” Jackson said as the group turned to look at those who would be making the journey. Well over a hundred of them, many of which were women and children.
“Listen up,” Alicia stated firmly, her voice as commanding as it was melodic. “A lot of the men of New Kinneston have decided to stay and fight if needed. That's their call. And I've given them my word that once we reach Washington City, I will personally bring a strike team back here,” she added. “But they have asked that women and children make the first trip in, and believe me when I tell you that we are committed to protecting you all with our own lives.”
“That said,” Jackson added, nodding to her for a moment. “We ask that you trust our military training and do as we ask of you until we reach Washington City. Any questions?”
“Just get our people there safe!” a man yelled as the others who would remain behind locked and loaded their weapons.
“You need not worry about that,” Alicia said, firming her own pistols into holsters which attached to her thigh. “I'm a bit pissed off, and when I get pissed off...”
“When she gets pissed off, Ancients tend to die!” Calypso proclaimed as the group cheered loudly.
Moments later the caravan began heading out. A stagecoach, two horse mounted warriors and a string of older supply trucks tagging along behind, each filled with the women and children of New Kinneston.
“Hold the line!” a Resistance soldier yelled, dozens of his own entrenched at the edge of Washington City. The Division of Ancients had tried to sack the city in one fell swoop. Of course, the mortar fire intended to crumble major landmarks was instead knocked down by the protective shroud of Guardian Angel.
The Resistance Soldiers each shouldered single-shot rifles trimmed with both bronze and wooden grain. They had lived every single day since the invasion inside of Guardian Angel, so they knew its limitations. Rolling nearly a dozen black powder cannons onto the street which was closest to the Ancient encampment, the soldiers of Washington City began to ring out booming death.
“It pains me that we can travel the entire solar system within hours, but cannot take a city held by Humans. Humans!” the Ancient Templar yelled.
“My Templar, we have lost all communication with the Butchers who remained in New Kinneston.” one of the Ancients stated.
“Keep trying, just as we will keep trying to take this disease of a city.” the Templar said loudly.
“At once!” the Ancient replied with obedience.
“Form a ground assault team. When ready, have those who remain here lay down an ongoing stream of covering fire.” the Templar demanded, barely pushing the words from his body before an explosion rang true only feet away. A cannon shot that had decimated the area and injured the demon in command.
“My Templar, are you...” one of the Ancients asked as several soldiers rushed to his aid.
“My body will heal!” the Templar screamed, laying on the ground with gaping cuts across his stomach and shrapnel embedded into his upper back, exposing glimpses of transparent bones. “Just do as you were told. Get those cannons off of us or we will be beaten!”
“At once.” the Ancient replied.
As the Templar lay there, the sunlight adding to an already painful situation, he began to wonder if their race had overstepped.
To the Ancient race, Humans were cattle who possessed the ability to reason. They could be used for t
asks that otherwise hindered the Ancient race. But, just since the first minutes of Invasion Day, the Templar had seen so many of his own species perish. And though he dared not speak of it, an act that would be considered treason, he did wonder if the cost was worth paying.
The Ancients had planned to hit Earth strong on the first day and within a week own everything, and everyone, associated with the planet. It was to become a small planet that they could inhabit and manage, just as a farm. But the Templar knew the same thing that all Ancients knew deep down, though none would ever admit to it. They waited too long.
They knew Humans would advance, it was the natural progression of things. But, they had anticipated us to remain a peaceful race, one that would present little retaliation. Instead, they arrived to discover the grit of Human war. Humanity had been killing itself for centuries. Religion, politics, gold; all of it had led to Humans becoming more seasoned as warriors.
They had not arrived to find the weak cattle who were left here during the Egyptian ages, but rather, a race of warriors who were quick to unify when put to the test, coming together to face the doom of a star-born enemy.
And as the Templar watched those around him falling to their deaths, each body hitting the crusted ground of an extra-terrestrial planet, he realized that he had seen enough. Looking down to the wounds which had exposed his transparent bones only minutes before, he could see most of it repaired through the genetic skin grafting that allowed their race to heal so quickly.
“Enough!” the Templar demanded, standing to his feet just as his ground assault team was about to charge the city. His Division of soldiers was in shambles, cannon fire combined with that of the Human Torque Guns to blame.
“We will fall back to New Kinneston, find our Butchers and wait for reinforcements!” the Templar yelled.
Falling back from battle would look bad on his record of war. However, he had decided that should the Ancient Council call him out on it, he would cross examine them with a war they were losing badly. At least the war against Washington City.
And though his body was growing stronger by the minute, self-healing the wounds recently inflicted, it wasn't nearly strong enough for the wounds to come.
Nearly a dozen molten slugs passed through the alien's sternum and stomach, as they did on several other Ancient soldiers. All fired from a Torque Gun that was mounted to a rooftop on the edge of Washington City.
Chapter 3
*Hold Up For The Night*