by John Davis
“Most women do.” Jackson replied with a grin.
“Oh, you're such a wise ass.” she commented, beginning to pull away before being reeled back in by the strong arms of her dark haired, handsome lover.
“Yes, I know. And the feeling is mutual.”
“Wait. The feeling of love or wise ass?” Alicia asked with a smirk.
“Of love dear. I love you.” he replied, kissing her deeply before facing another day of nightmarish survival.
“Hard to believe it's back to this shit already.” Alicia said as both she and Jackson exited the small house, one that had the look of a cabin, its chimney spewing gray smoke.
The small town of Wernigerode seemed so elegant at first glance. Many of the smaller homes built with simplicity, yet accented with hand-carved wood.
Their streets were lined with lampposts, which had once stood for the exclusive use of electricity, having been converted to candlelit following the invasion.
And the humans who remained had settled in here. A small town nestled inside of the cover of German mountainside, its homes filled with civilians, as well as soldiers. Both German and American.
Though Jackson didn't reply, he knew she was right. To leave such a beautiful moment with your lover, only to return to the grime of war. It should have been a crime.
So the lovers slowly walked from the comfort of their small home into the biting cold of a German morning. Their skin feeling a bit of mist as they approached those who were tasked with the short trip to come.
The Germans had been pushed from Berlin, and had called Wernigerode home for the last few months. That said, food was scarce in the mountain town, forcing small groups to enter Berlin and try to scavenge what they could.
What had once been an enjoyable trip of scenery from the countryside into Germany's prized city, was now a guaranteed journey of chaos and peril. Their main focus now around the stealth of gathering supplies.
The battle of Berlin had been brutal, but swift. The Germans had fallen within days, a majority of their survivors taken away in chains by the Ancients. To be used as a food source, though they were none the wiser.
What that meant was a seemingly deserted city full of weaponry, food, medicines and supplies needed for long-term survival. The bad news, of course, was that all of the above had to be lifted and carried back to town. Which was a tough task, Berlin currently controlled by Ancients.
So the plan, as it had been for several months, was to divide the military-trained into groups. It provided each group a workload, decent amount of rack time and, most importantly, structure. Something many of them desperately needed.
One group was led by Preacher, who, according to German laws, was the highest ranking officer left. He traveled with Nadia Jacobson, and whatever soldiers could be scraped together.
A second group consisted of Lazon, who was the ranking officer when Berlin fell. He knew the area well, and had been paired with Perk and Saunders. Both men were Americans, and before the invasion had been contract killers for the Gambino family. However, war has a way of changing people. And both men had proven their loyalty and abilities numerous times since arriving.
Of course they traveled with a group of worn-down soldiers, as did the last group, which was led by Alicia, Jackson and Calypso. And worn-down would have been a nice way of putting it as they looked onto their group of soldiers.
The American soldiers that arrived were quickly integrated with what Germans remained. And though they wore different uniforms, they shared two common traits. They were Human and they were exhausted.
Be it related to the ongoing war, hunger or simply a universal loss of hope, every soldier who hoisted a weapon looked as though a quick death was welcome.
“Alright, listen up,” Alicia said. “We've been tasked with hitting an old military supply depot about two-clicks inside of Berlin. We're looking for anything with an extended shelf-life, as well as anything else deemed useful. Expect Ancients, though we're unsure of how many.”
And as Alicia finished her words, skimming the group of hardened warriors turned desperate, twelve of them total, she spotted something worthy of pause. Gretchen.
“Ah shit.” she said under her breath as Calypso already seemed to be off-mission and on the ass of a German seamstress turned soldier.
“Those of us who can shoot,” Alicia said, pausing to look at the shame on Calypso's face. “Will remain on the outside of the group, while those of us who can't shoot,” she added, seemingly turning her attention directly to Gretchen. “Will remain to the inside of the group and are expected to carry a bulk of the supplies.”
“Which side do you need me guarding?” Gretchen asked, struggling to keep a firm hold on her pistol.
“I'd rather you stayed to the inside where you'll be safe. Don't worry,” Calypso remarked with a smile, readying his pump-action shotgun with a single hand. “Old Calypso will take care of you.”
You mean Old Calypso is an idiot. Alicia thought, staring at the budding couple with the finest smile that fake interest could provide.
“Well, this should be fun.” Jackson commented.
He wore a bomber jacket which covered his United States Navy uniform. A pilot by trade, he'd been shot down and taken in by the Resistance, not to mention Alicia's heart. At least that was his cover story.
“That's a fact,” Alicia replied, her attention remaining on Calypso and his love interest. “Just stay sharp, I have a feeling that our resident Romeo is pretty much worthless as of this moment.”
“Just stay to the inside where you'll be safe,” he replied, doing a horrible job with voice impersonation. “Old Jackson will take care of you.”
“Oh Jesus, this is gonna be a fun trip.” Alicia replied with heavy sarcasm.
“Grab a quick bite of hot chow and meet back in thirty-minutes.” Jackson said, the group quickly dispersing in order to feast on beans and gear up their weaponry.
It resembled the break of a football huddle. Aside from the fact that it wasn't football, they weren't huddling and most of them weren't athletic in the least. But no matter. Calypso still began his version of a most valuable player strut.
“Dear God,” Alicia said, watching the musclebound soldier strut away with his non-shooting, ass-having girl wonder. “Can you grab us a few extra clips...maybe a couple of smoke markers?” she asked, turning to her lover.
“Sure thing baby,” Jackson said, pecking her on the cheek with warm lips before turning to collect the bit of extra gear. “Did you want me to strut away too, or walk away like the sex-deprived soldier of malnutrition I am?”
“Just be yourself honey. Your cute little, wise ass self.” she replied with a smile.
“This I can do.” Jackson said with a wink, turning to collect extra ammunition.
An errand of the moment, of course, as Alicia had locked eyes with Nadia Jacobson. And as the German bombshell slowly approached the most-accomplished American woman, Alicia began to feel her pulse quicken a bit.
“Our last run in, we saw roving patrols outside of Berlin. So be careful.” Nadia said.
“I will.” Alicia responded.
“And the group on standby is mine, so...” Nadia said with pause. “If you need me I'll be there. Don't worry.”
“I know...thank you.” Alicia replied, her words shaky at best.
“Or in the words of Calypso,” Nadia said, grinning as she turned to the muscled soldier. “Don't worry, old Nadia will take care of you.”
Replying with laughter, Alicia just shook her head a bit while continuing her stare onto the German vixen. Mentally cursing her muscle-bound friend with each passing moment.
If ever there was a time she wanted to branch out and openly kiss Nadia's lips, now was that time. A continued stare between two women from entirely different backgrounds, yet a common wanting for the other.
A handful of minutes passed, with no words exchanged. Just lust-filled glances between the two women. Each of them enticing the other by the
smallest of gestures. A light rubbing of a tongue across the lips. A sigh, followed by fresh air filling lungs.
They simply wanted each other in the most sophisticated, yet animalistic of ways.
“Went and fetched everything you needed,” Jackson said, hurrying back to the love of his life. “Except the beans.” he added with a smile.
“I hear they're excellent.” Nadia replied with sarcasm.
With a bit of laughter, both Jackson and Alicia began to walk away, preparing for a feast of well-done beans from a can. Though Alicia turned several times to exchange glances with Nadia once more, who continued to watch her leave. Wanting with every passing moment a single opportunity to hold the woman of her dreams.
As the small group of soldiers departed, weapons and growling stomachs in hand, the German beauty watched with intensity. A reminder to herself of the attraction that was building even more fiercely for Alicia Lucard.
They would have a decent amount of walking in front of them, nearly two-hours worth. And though the German countryside was littered with God's beauty, a lush of trees complimenting the chirp of birds throughout, the group remained cautious.
It took but one Ancient to ruin them. A single gray-skinned devil to make the short radio communication which could bring others to them. So, for nearly two-hours, the group proceeded with the utmost caution, relying on the wits of its leaders to keep them safe from harm.
“I'm not seeing any patrols, just a lot of activity near the center of Berlin.” Alicia said, her eyes pressed firmly to binoculars.
And as she lay on her stomach beside Jackson, both of them overlooking the city of Berlin from a cliff, Alicia slowly handed the binoculars to her lover.
“Yep, looks like a pretty clean entrance, especially if we're using the cover of nightfall.” Jackson replied.
“What's your idea for our best approach?” Alicia asked.
“Well,” Jackson replied, studying the city once more through magnified glass. “I'd say with a clean entry, the quickest possible. Stay as a single group, insert at dusk and be gone within the hour.”
“I agree. Let's give everyone the news.” Alicia said, sliding easily from the overhang of the cliff, eventually standing to dust her stomach off, as did Jackson.
“Um,” he said, standing up beside her. “Got a bit of dirt on the fanny.” he added, pointing to her backside.
“No, I really don't.” she replied with sarcasm after turning to check things for herself.
A moment later, her information proved false, Jackson slapping her on the ass slightly while leaving a handprint of dirt.
“Just saying.” Jackson commented with a smirk.
“Really? Really?” she asked, underestimating his brash advances. “Keep it in the pants cowboy.”
“Listen up people.” Jackson said, standing with the group and waiting on his lover to speak.
She took a moment, staring at Jackson and despising his ability to turn her on in situations that forced her to work through the attraction.
“We're going to set up a small perimeter right here and wait it out until dusk. Then we'll move in as a single group, collect what we can and be back out as quickly as possible.” Alicia said.
“I'd say their focus is on other Ancient factions right now anyway.” Calypso replied.
“Stay sharp either way, it only takes a single Ancient to alert the others.” Jackson responded.
And as the group began to relax, hardened soldiers digging in around them in a concealed perimeter, Alicia began to remember her journey up to this point.
Her constant fight for survival following the Ancients' invasion of our planet. The countless slaughterings that followed, which dwindled our population down to almost nothing. And the worst of it all, the United States entering into a joint-war effort with one of the Ancient factions, essentially admitting defeat and throwing itself to the mercy of the Ancients which now controlled North America.
It had been the single reason that Alicia and those loyal to the resistance had fled to Germany, allying with humans who hated our sky-born enemy far too much to ever ally with them.
She was no longer an American, nor was she German. Alicia, as well as the survivors who fought beside her, were simply humans. A race that was once considered mighty, now humbled to the point of stealing supplies to ensure their own survival.
And as she glanced down to her battle rifle of military-grade steel, Alicia knew the time to return the fight was almost here. As if a stare-off was ending with a massive serpent, and a single attempt to lunge in and grab its neck before it could strike them was inevitable.
And as she thought of the loss...the horrors of what she had seen the Ancients do to her people since arriving; Alicia planned to grab the serpent and squeeze with fury until it had no hope of surviving. Even if her squeezing would come by way of a gun's trigger.
She would avenge every single person who had suffered at the hands of an Ancient. Every damn one. A strong sense of retribution in the mind of a woman who used to punch computer keys for a living. But a dangerous one nonetheless.
She had become the ideal soldier. For the most part. She feared no enemy, carried no regrets and fought for the side of just. Her only flaw in terms of soldering, or personal life for that matter, was the love triangle which had become herself, Jackson and Nadia.
When she was with her lover, she thought of nothing but Nadia. But when Nadia was in the room, most times she thought of how incredible Jackson was.
Alicia had started to harbor guilt because of her emotions, no matter how uncontrollable they seemed. Guilt which clouded her judgement at times, letting her know that a resolution was needed soon if she was to stay alive.
Jackson motioned his hand, a movement that was quickly followed by the shuffling of feet as the remainder of their group hurried to him. Night had slowly crept in to drape across the sky above, further cloaking Calypso, who guarded the their flank with a large chain-gun.
Clinching her fist abruptly, Alicia ordered the entire group down before turning to join Jackson in watching the patrol. At least twenty Ancient soldiers, all of them heavily armed and following a single butcher.
It was hulking with muscle by every definition, arms nearly dragging soil while hoisting a large blade across its back. And though the larger of the aliens preferred the simple brutalization of its opponents, the butcher's smaller soldiers-in-arms did not; each of them carrying the standard battle rifle.
The butcher, simply put, was a tank of flesh and bone that had the ability to join battle and turn the tide of it. Normally taking several critical wounds to hinder the beast, much less kill it entirely.
Moments later, two more butchers walked passed, though their arms did anything but drag soil. Instead, the two star-born beasts pulled a large cell of iron bars on wheels, a cell which contained human survivors.
“They have children in there!” Alicia said, her voice one of a fierce whisper.
“Just remain low,” Jackson replied with a whisper of his own. “Way too many of them.”
“They are going to eat those people Jackson, otherwise they'd already be dead! Children.” she replied with disgust.
“The time to liberate these people is coming, but we have to choose our fights,” Jackson said, once again turning to see the the eyes of fear on the survivors, their bodies covered with a look of torture and filth.
“Pretty soon there will be nobody left to liberate.” Alicia said, her eyes filling with tears a bit as she turned to rejoin her group with caution.
And with their heated exchange, though at a whisper, Jackson remained focused on avoiding any further patrols before joining Alicia with the group.
“Listen, I'm sorry.” Jackson said minutes later, pulling her off to the side as the rest of the group rested.
“Jackson I,” she replied with a tremble of tears. “I promised to always help those who needed it. At least as long as I had the ability. I'm here, I have a gun, we all do. We should have at least
tried to to help those people. It's our job.”
“If I thought we stood a chance at freeing them, I would have tried.” he said.
“We're no better than the Ancients are. Watching them take those people away and doing nothing...it's just the same as killing them ourselves.” Alicia replied with sadness.
“Calypso.” Jackson said, motioning to the strongman.
“What are you doing?” Alicia asked.
“I'm gonna make this right.” Jackson replied, turning to await their musclebound friend.
“What's up?” Calyspo asked.
“You in the mood to do a little killing?” Jackson asked.
“Always.”
“Good. That group that passed us earlier...” Jackson began to say, though he was quickly cut off.
“Oh hell no. They had three butchers with them son.” Calypso stated.
“Yea, I know. I thought you said you were in the mood for killing?” Jackson asked.
“I am, but damn man.”
“It's the right thing to do Calypso, and you know it,” Alicia commented. “And it won't take us long to free the prisoners and get the hell out of there.”
“No dear, you're staying here. Just me, Calypso and Gretchen.” Jackson replied.
“Huh? Are you serious? Gretchen?” Alicia asked with a bit of stun in her voice.
“Yea. I'm not letting you set foot near those Ancients. You want those people free, fine, I get it. But I'm doing it my way.” Jackson insisted.
“But why Gretchen?” Alicia asked.
“You said it yourself, the girl can't shoot worth a damn. She's gotta pop that cherry sometime.” Jackson replied.
“Oh, I'll take care of the cherry popping.” Calypso said with a grin.
“Oh God, please,” Alicia replied with a disgusted look. “Besides, I'm thinking someone popped that a long time ago.”
“No...yea? You think?” Calypso asked, turning to glance at Gretchen.
