Guardian Angel (13 page)

“It is the smartest move.” Certes added.

“It will also give us a chance to assess our own damages while shoring the defense of Washington City,” Alicia added. “And what manpower we can spare will accompany you at daybreak.”

“For such kindness we are in your debt.” Preacher replied.

“You would do the same for us. Focus on a good night of sleep, you will more than likely need it in the coming days.” Alicia said.

And as Preacher and Certes, along with two German soldiers, left the makeshift briefing, Alicia paused to allow them exit.

“Double the watch around their ship, it is to remain landlocked.” she said.

“You think they will try to return home anyway?” Calypso asked.

“I know I would.” Alicia replied with certainty.

The night chill continued to set in, a majority of the homes in Washington City spewing billowy smoke from their chimneys as wood burned to warm their skin.

It was a calm night, no weather to speak of, other than the bone-stabbing cold of a December night. Alicia sat on the concrete steps of what once was deemed the Washington National Monument, her hair swaying a bit in the wind as she continued her stare up into the safety net of Guardian Angel.

The firework-like bursts and sound of sizzle which emitted from the low orbiting satellites were a relaxing sight. A comfort during such terrible days. Days which might indeed prove to be Humanity's last.

“Peaceful night,” Jackson said, slowly approaching Alicia. “Mind if I join you?”

Alicia simply nodded, welcoming the company of such a faithful soldier.

“Still hard to believe such horror is taking place so close to us.” Jackson remarked, turning to notice a light shiver across Alicia's body.

Removing his flight jacket, he gently placed it across her shoulders and back, lifting his hands as she turned to glare with uncertainty.

“Relax. Doesn't mean we're an official couple or anything, you just looked cold.” Jackson said.

Alicia replied with a smile, chuckling a bit. “You are such a smart ass.”

“So, as we pick the bones of so many dead Ancients for supplies at our city's edge, what's the plan for Berlin?” he asked.

“Well, so much for peaceful.” Alicia replied with a grin.

“Now who's the smart ass?” Jackson said, laughing just a bit.

As she leaned in, holding one side of the flight jacket open slightly, they locked eyes as their bodies longed for the others touch.

“You look cold.” Alicia finally said softly, offering him the opportunity to join her under the jacket. An offer he gladly accepted, though the chills on his arms were no longer from the cold air of night, but rather his mounting feelings for her.

“I don't know,” she finally replied as they held one another, bursts of colorful lights illuminating overhead. “We can't spare many soldiers, I'm sure of that,” she added. “So the only real option is to escort the best soldiers I have with them to Berlin and provide help.”

“What?” Jackson said, immediately breaking free from her grasp to stand on his feet. “You are seriously not considering taking this on yourself?”

“Who else?” Alicia replied. “It's my job. I kill Ancients. It's what I do.”

“I've been to Berlin,” Jackson said. “The bastards over there aren't your garden variety.” he added loudly. “Here, they want to enslave our race and allow us the chance to do their dirty work. But there, they harvest Humans for food...that's it!”

“Calm down and sit.” she replied.

“Like cattle Alicia, I've seen it firsthand! How could possibly even consider walking into that?” Jackson asked.

“What would you have me do then?” she replied, her tone raising a bit as well.

“Put their ass on an airship and wish them well come first light, hell, tonight even, if that's their wish!” Jackson said.

“I would be wishing them into suicide, you of all people know that! The night skies are controlled by Ancient warships!” she replied heavily.

“But preacher doesn't hold my heart in his hands,” Jackson replied. “You do. And I can't live without you.” he added, lowering his voice as he sat back down beside her. “I cannot lose you like I've lost everything else in my life. Everything that has mattered.”

Alicia turned her head away, lights bursting above them as distant explosions could be heard through the instant-quiet of their conversation.

“You don't feel the same for me?” he asked.

“Of course I do!” Alicia answered loudly, turning back to him. “It's taking everything inside of me to fight the feelings I have.”

“Why fight them?” Jackson asked.

“Because I've lost as well,” she replied with tears. “Everyone I have ever cared for is gone,” she added. “If I allow myself to get close to you, and then lose you...”

“That's not going to happen,” Jackson replied with sincerity, quickly changing to a smile. “The losing me part, I mean.”

Alicia's tears mixed with laughter as she slapped his arm, cursing his quick wit.

And for a moment, there was emotional buildup between the two, almost as if one of the satellites above were charging, preparing for a near-magical burst.

Alicia and Jackson remained close, each staring to the other in search of what the future might hold. Each scared, the thought of losing the other simply unbearable. A fear that instantly left as they kissed deeply, their bodies under a shroud provided by his flight jacket, which seemed to glow as the colorful bursts above exploded.

As the lovers engaged one another, both loving arms and tender lips, a soldier for the Resistance exited the building behind them.

“Alicia,” the soldier shouted, approaching with haste as he came to the steps of the former monument which now served as the building for their strategic high command. “Alicia, they are asking for you. It's urgent!” the soldier yelled.

What could possibly be more urgent than the man I love.
She thought as her arms slowly broke away from Jackson, taking advantage of every possible second.

“Tell them I will be inside directly.” she replied, turning to Jackson as the soldier returned indoors.

“Don't leave.” Alicia said, her lips close to Jackson's very own.

“Not a chance.” he replied, kissing her softly a final time.

As she stood to her feet slowly, her eyes never breaking from his, they both smiled as if it were an unspoken promise to each other. A statement of becoming an official couple.

“Any chance I could get my jacket back?” Jackson asked, the chill of night hitting him suddenly.

Turning to the man who waited for her return, Alicia smiled wide. “You're such a whiner.”

“Wait, is that a no?” he asked as the beautiful specimen of woman turned to enter the building, laughing aloud with every step.

“Our scouts have confirmed it!” a Resistance official said loudly.

“Confirmed what?” Alicia replied, entering what the high-ranking officials had begun to call the War Room. It was a large room, maps lining three of its four walls, and it was the place that their military efforts originated from. Currently occupied by just over a dozen souls.

“The scouts you dispatched with a radio have returned.” the man replied.

“Returned? They were to monitor the battle in Berlin!” Alicia responded with anger.

“Berlin has fallen,” the man said with regret. “The last radio confirmation we received said the surviving soldiers fell back to a town called Wernigerode. They will regroup and make a push back into Berlin.”

“Oh God,” Alicia said, her voice meshing with tears. “I will escort a group of our finest at daybreak. Accompany Preacher and his soldiers back to their new home to aid them in winning Berlin back.”

“You will do no such thing,” one of the higher ranking officials replied sharply. He was one of the few remaining Congressmen, and though he had no military power to speak of, Ryan Evans was still highly respected by those who carried weaponry. “We cannot afford the manpower or supplies, you know that.”

“I know that if the circumstances were switched, Berlin would already be on their way to assist us.” Alicia replied.

“There is nothing to debate, the decision has been made.” Evans replied.

For a man who carried no weapon, he certainly had the support of many. His influence; his political knowledge, easily helping him become such an important figure in Washington City.

“Good to know that even though the end of time approaches, politics remain.” Alicia said with sarcasm as she turned to the exit.

Ryan Evans had plenty of supporters here, but so did Alicia Lucard. Hers earned, not through political propaganda, but through respect. She knew of her own following, a large group of soldiers who had seen her do the impossible against such a superior race.

“What's going on?” Jackson asked, standing quickly to his feet as Alicia approached the steps once more.

“Berlin has fallen into the hands of Ancients.” Alicia replied.

“Huh?” Jackson asked, stunned. “What do they plan to do?” he asked of the officials in Washington City.

Alicia turned back for a moment, forcefully staring into the direction of the once mighty monument turned military staging building, before turning back to Jackson.

“Nothing,” she said with disgust. “Sit on their damn hands and do nothing. Isn't that what politicians are famous for?”

“You can say that again.” Jackson replied.

“We need to find Preacher, Certes and their group. They are expecting a huge American force to accompany them at dawn. Instead, they are going to get a political smack on the ass.” Alicia said.

“So a political smack on the ass, it goes something like...” Jackson began to ask, reaching for the vixen soldier's backside.

“Don't even think about it.” she replied with a grin.

“I don't understand?” Preacher asked, sitting in a chair to the rear of the slimy-casual pool hall. Alicia and her group frequented the place, an escape from both Ancient slayers and political scheming.

“I'm sorry, I just received the news myself.” Alicia replied.

“It's a lie! It has to be.” Preacher replied loudly, Certes and the German soldiers standing near their conversation, as well as Jackson, Calypso and eight of Alicia's closest military friends.

“They have fallen back to a town called Wernigerode, are you familiar?” Alicia asked.

“You mean what few Germans remain?” Preacher replied, the hardened sniper's eyes filled with the fluidity of tear. “Yes,” he added, doing his best to control emotion. “I know where it is. It's near enough to Berlin.”

“I'm not sure the survivor count, but it is safe to assume there is, at least, some military surviving. The last transmission was broadcast with a German Resistance identification number.” Calypso added, the large soldier feeling the grief throughout a room of those dreaming of payback.

“And Washington is going to do nothing for us?” Preacher asked, his tears turning from the thought of such a loss of life in what was sure to become a harvesting ground to the betrayal by a so-called ally.

“No. I fear there is too much political influence at the top.” Alicia replied.

“This would never happen in Germany!” Preacher yelled. “Ours is a military first society. Political positioning died a long time ago.”

“I'm glad to hear it, because when I abandon my people in order to go and help, I'll have to call Germany my home as well.” Alicia replied.

“What?” Jackson asked suddenly, his own question also painted to the faces of the Americans in the room.

“I took an oath to protect Humans when I joined the Resistance,” she replied softly, turning to her people. “There was no mention of American or German. Just Humanity. The citizens of Germany are as much our brothers and sisters as the very people of this city. I cannot in good conscience leave them to fight, even die, knowing I could have helped.”

“But Alicia, you need to think this through. Not just decide in the the moment. Not a decision like this.” Calypso added.

“Every Washington City soldier in this room has been loyal on the battlefield, and was chosen for this very meeting because they have no family. Nothing to tie them down here. They live only for the oath they have taken to protect Human life,” Alicia said, the luster of her hair bringing a bit of peace to Jackson's heart. “We can continue to live here in fear, continue to wait for the Ancients to show up at our doorstep,” she added sternly. “Or we can start taking the fight to them for a change.”

The entire room grew silent as every man considered his own future. They knew the risk, and for some it was too great. Others, however, knew heroes were born because of such courage in the moment.

“I need to know who is with me, and if you are not, I only ask that you remain silent about this meeting until we depart at sunrise.” Alicia said.

“I'm with you.” Jackson said, stepping across the room to join Alicia and the Berlin group, slowly placing his arm around her hips.

“I can't do it,” Calypso said regretfully. “I'm sorry Alicia. I'd travel into the pit of hell with you slinging bullets, but I can't do it knowing if somehow I survived I couldn't return home,” he added, approaching her a bit. “It's no disrespect to you or anyone here, I just can't leave a city I've always called home. Memories of my parents, my friends, it's all here.”