Guardian Angel (15 page)

Alicia continued to hold Nadia at gunpoint, each of them studying the other. She searched for truth in Nadia's expression, while looking her beautiful body up and down. Things had just become very complicated, not just from a military standpoint, but also from one of a more personal nature.

She could read it on Nadia's face. The look of lust unexplored, which in most cases would be a godsend to her in such times. But she had promised her heart to another, and Jackson truly had grown on her in the short time they'd known each other.

“
Three. Two. One.” the Resistance soldier said quietly, holding his hand up all the while.

A split-second later, the six soldiers rushed through the doorway, each with a weapon extended and orders to arrest the group.

“
You,” the lead soldier said, pointing to another who had position in the rear. “We'll sweep the area, you double back and inform Evans that Alicia and her team are not here.”

“
Yes sir.” the soldier replied, turning to follow the stairwell back down.

“
I'm sorry for pulling a gun on you.” Alicia said to Calypso as they hurried back, using the cover of night and the cooperation of alleyways in order to remain undetected.

“
It's alright,” he replied with honesty. “I'm sorry for springing this on you at the last minute. I felt the same way when she showed up at my doorstep with Preacher.”

“
I know it's going to be hard leaving a place you've called home for so long.” Alicia said.

“
Yes, it will be, but thanks for asking.” Jackson said, chiming into the conversation.

“
Oh you,” Alicia said with a smile, reaching out to grab his hand. “You're such a smart ass.”

“
Yep, I'm a man of many hats.” Jackson replied.

“
I like this guy.” Calypso said.

As Alicia laughed with the group, she noticed Nadia's eyes on her. And though she held hands with Jackson, knowing her place was at his side, she couldn't help but to remain curios about the woman who had kissed her with such intensity.

It brought a lot of questions to light, and a lot of confusion to a time when confusion was a bad thing. She needed to remain sharp, readying herself for the coming war. Especially after seeing what lay before her this very moment.

“
Shit, they're here!” Calypso said in a desperate, but quiet voice as the entire group watched a large force of Ancient soldiers marching into Washington City. Only a few hundred feet away from the Ancients, stood Ryan Evans and a large group of Resistance soldiers, welcoming them into what everyone hoped would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“
Evans is spitting into the face of everyone who has died trying to protect this city,” Alicia said, her glare to him one of stern intent. “I'd like nothing more than to rush down there right now and take my shot.”

“
Maybe one day,” Calypso said. “Right now though, we have to prepare to leave.” he added, using hand motions to communicate to the group which remained loyal to them.

“
What of the German soldiers down there?” Alicia asked.

“
Preacher took his group and tucked them away. They're close and watching, just as we are,” Calypso said. “When day begins to break, we rush for those two ships. The one on the left is ours,” he added, pointing to two air galleons which sat nearest to them. “As we begin our sprint to them, the crew aboard each will pull the ropes and lay down cover fire if needed.”

“
Lay down cover fire on our own people?” Jackson asked.

“
The only people who are truly still ours, are sitting on those airships. The rest of the people in this city are now lost to our cause.” Calypso replied.

“
So, I guess you'll get a chance to prove where you loyalties are, huh?” Alicia asked of Nadia.

“
You need not worry,” the blonde replied with warmth. “Like I said before, I regret my mistakes. I've no intention of alerting the Ancients as we leave.”

And so the group waited, watching as the sun began to crest, just slightly over the hills near a city that would soon be integrated with the very race that had tried to exterminate Humanity.

“
And so, the terms of our agreement are simple,” Arch Templar Lagus said.

He was draped in a robe of fine cloth, markings which looked of tribal descent tattooing such a fine tapestry of blue clothing. Of course, he was surrounded by nearly a dozen Ancient Butchers, each holding their large blade of razor-toothing in a single hand, protecting the most important member of their faction.

“
You allow us militarize Washington City and use your sky-grid above for protection against our rival faction. The soldiers at your disposal become soldiers at our disposal, helping us rid Earth of the ones who seek to use your race for food. In return, you will be allowed to rebuild in peace, the families of your soldiers given a second chance at life.”

“
I agree with everything,” Congressman Ryan Evans said. “Except for the simplicity of our terms,” he added.  “We did not invite you here because we are accepting defeat. We've been grossly outnumbered and behind your technology since Invasion Day, yet we've held the city. We have more to offer than simply bowing,” Evans said. “If Washington City is to be integrated, then we wish to send a group of Humans to integrate with you as well. My soldiers will also demand they be given rank in your army as they will not simply continue to fight without recognition.”

“
Do you insult me?” Arch Templar Lagus asked.

“
No, not at all,” Evans replied. “But you must understand why we have been able to hold our ground for so long.”

“
And why is that?” Lagus asked.

“
My soldiers have fought because they have hope for the future. If I sign a declaration, essentially taking their hope away from them, they will not fight for either of us. Men fight for life when they chase one that is worth living. And that is the source of our zeal in combat.” Evans said.

“
I see.” Lagus replied, obviously deep in thought.

“
If we can agree to become equals, my soldiers will prove invaluable to your war effort. And once your faction topples the Ancients who control Europe, I humbly ask that our race be allowed a single continent in order to rebuild and thrive. In a non-military manner, of course.” Evans said.

Arch Templar Lagus mulled the offer. It seemed fair enough, even to a member of the superior race. They would no longer know of defeat at the gates of Washington City. No longer be hit with naval strikes during the day, which had become a thorn in the heel of their military. In exchange, they would have to allow the Humans to become a part of their own society, at least until the war of factions was over, at which time they would allow the Humans a continent of Earth to live.

Before Lagus could sign the declaration, however, explosions began to ring out around them. Buildings crumbling outside as guns began to ring out.

“
Report!” Congressman Evans demanded.

“
Nice fireworks display.” Alicia said as her group sprinted toward the air fortresses that awaited them.

Calypso had made arrangements for explosives to be planted throughout the city. Nothing capable of hurting anyone, but loud enough to distract those who needed to be.

As soldiers ran to the sources of explosion, both Human and Ancient, they quickly became aware that they were simply distractions and nothing more.

Nadia and Calypso broke from the group, entering the airship on the right that was filled with both Germans and soldiers of Washington City.

“
We'll see you up there.” Calypso said,explosions rocking the area around them as some of the city's soldiers had become aware of their plan.

“
Alicia and her team are escaping!” one of the soldiers yelled, relaying the message back until it eventually reached the meeting between Evans and Lagus.

“
Someone stop her! Load some ships of war and shoot them down if need be!” Congressman Evans yelled, furious that such an important meeting had been pulled to a standstill because of her.

Alicia, Jackson, Perk and Saunders were aboard one of the sky galleons, as were nearly a hundred Resistance sworn soldiers. They were also sworn to Alicia, because of her ability in battle and her unwillingness to treaty with the Ancients. A mutual hatred for the gray-skinned race was now their common thread.

Preacher, Calypso, Nadia and Certes were aboard the second fortress of the sky as both ships began to slowly lift into the dawn-filled air. Nearly eighty Resistance sworn souls were with them, as was a near-warehouse sized load of supplies and weaponry, most of it Ancient technology.

They would be doing their fighting against a more heartless variety of Ancients in Europe, and most of it would be without the protection of Guardian Angel. So Calypso had those making the trip, load the higher end weaponry.

Both galleons rocked back and forth a bit as the large ship the Germans had arrived in exploded, sending thousands of wooden splinters into the air as the soldiers sworn to Evans fell to the ground. Preacher had decided to eliminate the ship so it could not be used later to lure his people into a trap. He did, however, salvage one of the large flags from it first, helping Certes drape it over the side of their new warship.

Three smaller, but heavily armed ships began to lift from the asphalt of Washington City to give chase. They were under direct orders to fire onto the two fleeing fortresses, destroying them, along with the crews aboard which could pose a threat to them down the road.

Seconds later, however, the steam-fed guns mounted at the edge of Washington City began firing. Not on Alicia's group, but onto the three ships which gave chase. Soldiers who had lost so much to the Ancients, soldiers who had volunteered to remain behind and provide covering fire with the Gatling guns, knowing their death would follow shortly after. They were making the ultimate sacrifice to ensure Alicia Lucard and her soldiers continued to fight for the right cause. Freedom.

The two ships had slipped into the clouds, escaping into a sun-filled sky as they made their way to the war in Germany.

“
Tell me something,” Alicia said, her eyes flush with tears as she looked over the wooden banister onto a city which was quickly disappearing from sight. “The names of the soldiers who stayed behind to ensure we made it to safety?”

“
Langsford and Hicks,” Perk replied. “We tried to convince them to come with us, but they had already made the decision.”

“
They paid the ultimate sacrifice. The highest level of courage a soldier can give,” Alicia said, holding her tears back as she thought of them, as well as all the other lives lost in war so far. As she walked over to a desk that was mounted to the wall near the front of her airship's interior, Alicia grabbed a large marker.

She wrote
U.S. Langsford-Hicks
onto the wooden wall in front of her. Large letters of black marker to become a permanent reminder of those who gave their lives for freedom.

“
We'll paint it on the exterior of the ship later.” Alicia said, turning to the group of soldiers who had gained even more respect for her in that single moment. “Right now we need to bridge the ships together and figure out where we plan to hideout when night falls. You can bet your ass they'll have ships out looking for us,” she added, glancing to the fresh ink which had officially named her ship. “Both Ancient and American.”

“
I'm very sorry for such a moment.” Congressman Ryan Evans stated, knowing any hope of a treaty had been ripped apart.

“
There is no need for apologies Congressman Evans,” Arch Templar Lagus said, quickly leaning down to sign the pact between the Humans and Ancients. “I accept your offer, and fully intend to keep my end of the deal. Our people with be fully integrated, Humans who fight for our banner will receive rank based upon their abilities and when the wars are over, your people will indeed be given a continent to reside. Though you will not be here to see it.” Lagus said.

“
What?” Congressman Ryan Evans asked with a frightened pitch.

“
You see, in our culture, when a person of such high authority fails so convincingly, they are dealt with accordingly,” Lagus said without pause. “Who among you is next in line for command behind Evans?”

“
Um, that would be me.” General Bain said, stepping forward slowly.

“
And you agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this treaty?” Lagus asked.

“
I do.” General Bain replied, his sharply-cut military hair shining almost as brightly as the large mass of medals pinned to his chest.

“
Good.” Lagus said, turning to the group of Butchers which stood watch at the building's door and motioning them.