by John Davis
“Relax, it's just me.” Jackson said, freezing in place.
“Come in dear, we're just getting started.” she replied, lowering her weapon, but offering no further attention to the man she'd sworn love to.
Their group began to load every canned good, as well as boxes of anything they found edible into sacks, while Jackson waited by the front door with a small group of German soldiers.
Meanwhile, Alicia and Calypso began to quietly ransack the rear stockroom, grabbing anything they found useful. Each of them filling a small backpack with rested snugly to their upper backs.
Any building which had once been filled with supplies, had more than likely been hit before. Be it this group of soldiers or any group of survivors or separatists. Often times, especially near the original fall of Berlin, the ransacking groups would quickly find themselves limited on space to carry perishables. And more times than not, they would discard things deemed less important. The same things that had grown very important during the current times of survive by any means necessary.
It wasn't uncommon to find battle rifles emptied and laying, dropped during the initial invasion by German soldiers. Back when weapons were plentiful.
Now, the same discarded rifles were of the utmost importance. Especially when crates of ammunition were regularly found by other groups when raiding different locations in Berlin.
Their first priority was food, of course, which was an absolute must for basic survival. That said, any type of camping gear or means of staying warm were also damned important.
Then came the weapons.
After ensuring their survival by way of food, clothing and shelter; the remainder of humanity wanted firepower. It allowed them to hold power against other factions of survivors, or in this case, bring the fight to the Ancients.
Almost as if time had frozen, everyone who had filled their sacks with much needed supplies stood silent, the sound of Ancient armor filling the street outside.
Several vehicles, very comparable to what humans would consider tanks, began to line the street which rested on the outside of the entrance.
Where the hell is the Guardian Angel grid overhead? Alicia thought, feeling as though she was the only one to realize its absence.
“No,” Jackson said, motioning Calypso to lower the large chain gun, its chamber capable of chewing out several hundred rounds per minute. “I don't think they're here for us.”
“Oh no, why not?” Calypso asked, not yet ready to lower his weapon.
“Because we're still alive.” Jackson said, glancing back outside to the armored division.
Shortly after, Alicia joined her lover at the entrance of the small building, watching with amazement as her eyes scanned the large machines.
What appeared to be a set of large fangs comprised of steel, quickly bit into the cold-crusted soil, each tank following the same motion. Then, once each had firmly planted in, a large set of anti-aircraft guns began to rise from the top of each, pointing themselves to the sky.
And though it looked to be an entire division of anti-aircraft armor, the Ancients had made the mistake of sending but six warriors to defend it. Lack of either respect or resources to blame.
“But what the hell are they defending from?” Alicia asked.
“Oh, now you're talking to me?” Jackson replied with a quiet tone.
“I'm sorry,” she replied. “It's just the sight of our own people becoming nothing but cattle...then I thought you were dead out there. Truly. And you've seemed so distant since making it back.”
“I know,” he replied, softly placing his hand to her chin as he did everything he could to convince her that he truly understood. “And I'm sorry. I promise we'll talk soon enough, but now isn't the time.”
“For now I guess we wait.” Calypso replied, slowly approaching the two.
“Yea, but for what?” Alicia asked, her eyes panning back and forth from the armor to the sky.
Nearly an hour passed as a very tribal language of seemingly-satanic dialect between the soldiers outside was exchanged. No indication as to what was coming, that is until Guardian Angel began to flicker above, seconds later disappearing once more. This time catching the attention of the entire group.
“What the?” Jackson asked. “Who would have the knowledge or coding to do such a thing?”
“I think I may have an idea.” Alicia replied as Ancient sirens blasted throughout the city, glowing tracers firing from the long barrels of anti-aircraft gun placements.
Before Jackson could ask further, ships marked with both Ancient designs and the American flag began to swoop in, bombarding anything that gave fight back to them. Fighters of war zooming down and carpet-bombing strategic placements as the entire city of Berlin shook to its core.
“The alliance between Washington and the Ancients of North America?” Jackson asked.
But, before a reply came, Alicia had fired a single shot from her rifle which blistered into the skull of an Ancient warrior outside. Following the motion with several more shots which all sliced into the dying bastard of gray skin.
As the remaining turned to face the surprise assault, Calypso began to fire his own weapon, slinging piercing shots as his chamber rotated quickly, mimicking the sound of a jackhammer.
And long before any of the warriors could radio for help, spread truth of the assault by intruders inside of Berlin, Jackson joined the fray; firing his own rifle and cementing a death sentence onto the last surviving Ancient.
Six bastards thought to be immortal, quickly disposed of by the very species they considered to be cattle. Laying lifeless on the ground as their blood drenched the asphalt below.
And a large set of anti-aircraft weaponry remained at the ready, though they'd be used no further. At least by the demons who'd done so only moments before.
For several minutes, the group stood silently. Some gathered at the entrance of the building, while others ventured out into the road to examine the war above. Two Ancient factions fighting with grit as they battled for control of Berlin, one of them bringing the firepower of Washington with them. And though no clear winner had emerged, it quickly became evident as to who was winning. Evident as Jackson grabbed the arm of his lover and led her back inside to safety.
A large ground force, nearly five-hundred soldiers strong, marched toward them under the cover of darkness. Each soldier bearing the markings of the North American force.
An alliance between the humans of Washington City and the Ancients of North America had quickly forced its way into Berlin, using the coding of humans with Washington to deactivate the Guardian Angel grid above.
Stopping to investigate the slain Ancients in their path, a scouting party was dispatched to begin searching buildings as a second group was assigned to the armor; the Ancients quickly reprogramming the guns to fire on ships which remained true to the Berlin faction.
And at that very moment, Alicia realized the seriousness of their situation. The scouting party was bound to find them eventually, checking the buildings in order. There was simply nowhere to hide, and too many in their group to flee. Over half of them were not military trained, and several hundred proven soldiers were just feet outside of their front door.
“Find us an out, I'll cover the door.” Calypso said, kneeling to the entrance with his chain gun ready.
Wasting no time with a reply, both Alicia and Jackson began sprinting to the rear of the building, looking for anything that could possibly provide them with a spot to disappear.
“Shit!” she said with disappointment, quickly finding herself at the rear of the building.
“Depot...depot.” Jackson said, thinking on the fly in terms of hiding.
A few seconds later, he hurried to a large walk-in cooler, dragging a metal rack which was designed for stock with him.
“It'll be a tight squeeze, but most of these coolers have a buffer zone between its top and the ceiling. Get 'em in here quick.” he said.
And Alicia did just that, mo
tioning her entire group into the rear of the building and hurrying them up the rack. Each member of the group found it a tight fit indeed, but managed to squeeze in enough to provide the next person a spot. It would prove to be either a great hiding spot, or a death trap if they were discovered, having no possible way of escape.
As Calypso lifted each of them up, hands then snatched by Jackson as he pulled them to safe hiding, sounds of nearing Ancients became louder by the second.
And as Calypso came to terms with the fact that he didn't have time to join them, knowing well that the Ancient soldiers were already inside of the building and approaching fast, the muscle-bound warrior glanced up to his team.
“Make sure Gretchen gets back safely, alright?”
He had promised to keep her safe as long as she remained by his side. And he had kept good on his promise up to this point. Though he faced certain death, Calypso's only thought was on a promise which would be broken if Gretchen died in the hands of Ancients in the coming moments.
“Calypso, if you hurry you can still...” Alicia said, trying to negotiate with a soldier who had already accepted his fate.
Her words were cut short however, as the first Ancient warrior entered the confined room, instantly cut down by Calypso's stout offering of lead.
The loud whistling of his chain gun, combined with the powering thump of bullets cutting loose from the rotating barrel, was easily enough to attract a flock of warriors from the street outside. And Calypso knew it.
He had fought the bastards since the beginning, and taken out hundreds of the murdering race from the sky. He had done his part, never fearing death for a second. His thoughts weren't on inevitable demise, or the loss he would present to his team. His focus was on thinning out the Ancients outside, and in turn, giving the next soldier a better chance of winning. It was the mark of a true warrior.
And thin them out he did, laying down behind what little cover he could find, a supply rack which stood half empty. Once prone, Calypso positioned his weapon's bearing to the entrance, awaiting a wave of warriors which he knew would come.
“Yo,” Jackson said, nodding his respect for the hulking man. In doing so, he tossed a fully-loaded shotgun to the warrior. Pump-action and very capable. “It's been an honor.”
Calypso nodded back, turning his attention back to the door. As he heard the shuffling of feet and shock of confusion, Calypso also heard the faint crying of Alicia.
“Don't cry for me. You just get that girl to safety.”
She was losing her best friend, and though she tried to silence her emotions, her face buried into the chest of her lover, Alicia couldn't help but feel beaten.
Quickly, however, the crying came to a halt as the ringing of lead once again sounded out. This time answered by that of the Ancient soldiers.
“Come get it you grimy bastards!” Calypso yelled, continuing his barrage of uninhibited slaying, the gray-skinned warriors beginning to fall in mass.
And as his chain gun began to spool down, finally coming to a complete stop with no ammunition left to throw, Calypso stood quickly to his feet. Quickly enough to regret his decision, catching glimpse of a butcher entering the room.
The oversized murder of the heavens carried a leg-length machete by his side, the toothed blade designed with the intention of inflicting crippling pain.
The butcher's tongue could almost taste the salt of human blood on his lips, though the only blood to be seen was its own as several blasts from a shotgun tore into it. And as the hulking monster screeched with agony, Calypso stepped up a bit, smoothing the demon's head off with a single blast.
A soldier well trained, Calypso had counted his shots and knew he had indeed fired his last. Flipping the shotgun around and grasping it with both hands, he awaited the next fight. A fight that would prove to be his last.
Two more butchers entered, this time without fear of gunfire. And though Calypso swung hard, planting the thick plastic stock of the weapon into the face of an attacker, he died moments later on the blade of another. The beast yelled with rage, pushing the fallen soldier skyward, blood continuing to gush down the gleaming blade of such a savage opponent.
Nearly an hour had passed, Alicia and her team remaining silent as Ancient warriors continued searching the area for other possible resistance soldiers. Finally, however, the demonic force pressed forward, carving its way to the battle of Ancient factions which took place in Berlin.
Jackson was the first one down, dropping silently to the floor as the thick rubber of his boots absorbed the impact. Then, as he glanced out of the room's entrance with pistol in hand, the former pilot motioned the rest of his group.
“All clear.”
Alicia quickly jumped down, her perfectly-sculpted body landing onto the floor with ease and rushing to look her slain friend over.
“He gave them hell, gotta give him that.” Jackson said, slowly making his way to a grieving Alicia.
“He was a good man. A good soldier.” she replied, her emotions for Calypso obviously hurting deeply.
“And he'd more than likely tell us to get our asses moving.” Jackson added.
But her reply was simply one of a tear-filled goodbye to her good friend and fallen soldier.
“Alicia...he's gone.” Jackson added somberly, placing his hand to her lower back.
“Collect what you can from the fallen Ancients; everyone else fill your packs with food and let's get the fuck out of here.” Alicia replied, her sorrow steadily turning to hate for a race of demons who had already taken so much from her.
“I still can't believe our own kind is marching with the Ancients.” Jackson said, keeping his attention on a small window as soldiers from Washington City marched alongside Ancient warriors.
“Believe it. Politicians cover their own asses, it's always been that way.” she replied, pulling a few sidearms from the fallen Ancients.
“Yea,” he replied, continuing his stare through glass which had been shaded with crusted dirt. “One day I'd love to see someone knock the bastards off their high horses. Reunite all of the smaller groups of human survivors.” Jackson said.
“Yea, well I wouldn't look for it to happen anytime soon.” Alicia said.
Her words drew a strange look from the former aviator, obviously striking a chord with the man who held onto so many secrets.
“Alright, saddle up people.” Alicia said, handing Jackson an Ancient sidearm while passing a few more to their accompanying German soldiers.
“Can we talk for a second?” Jackson asked, walking away a bit to speak in private.
“We're leaving in five, ready up.” she added to the group, turning to address her lover in private.
“I think we should scout ahead. Let the bulk of the group head back while we recon as much as possible.” Jackson said.
“Are you kidding?” Alicia asked.
“No,” he replied, showing her the truth of his words through a single glance. “I'm tired of watching our people live hand to mouth while these bastards fight over Berlin. The least we can do is scout ahead. Find out what type of numbers are holding the city, and maybe locate some real food reserves.”
Alicia continued her dedicated stare to him.
“If you don't want to go I understand. Just give me an extra sidearm and go back to warm the bed for me. Let me scout it alone.”
“New plan folks. You two are on me,” Alicia said, turning to point out two soldiers, both of them heavily-armed. “The four of us are going to scout ahead while the rest of you head back.”
“What about me?” Gretchen asked, posing a danger to everyone in the room by merely holding a sidearm.
“I'd like to go with you. Calypso would want it that way.” Gretchen said.
Alicia quickly turned to face the woman of ill-chosen words.
“Do not tell me what Calypso would want,” she objected. “I knew Calypso better than anyone. He was the first to train me with a firearm, and has saved my life countless times. Calypso spec
ifically asked that you be taken back to safety, and I gave him a dying promise,” she added. “So either you walk your ass back, or I'll introduce you to the hard way. Either way, you're going back to safety.”
A bit of anger began to broadcast from Gretchen's face, though she didn't act on it, deciding instead to turn and prepare herself for a short journey back to Wernigerode.
“Alicia, maybe you should go back too,” Jackson said, grabbing her by the hand slowly. “You're emotionally invested now, and I don't want that to get you killed out here. I'm like Calypso, I want my girl to get back in one piece.”
“You're not like Calypso,” she replied with both shock and calm. “He's laying here dead while you prepare to scout ahead.” she added, jerking her hand from Jackson's grasp.
Several tense moments later, a large portion of their group broke off to the right, carrying much needed food to those who needed it most. Meanwhile, Alicia, Jackson and two heavily-armed soldiers broke left, working their way slowly into the direction of thunderous fighting.
“Sure hope you're right about this.” Alicia commented, her heart not completely into the mission ahead.
“Trust me.” Jackson replied with a grin.
Berlin had been torn to bits during the first days of invasion. The Ancients knew where to strike. They seemed to know our most populated cities, locations of our military bases and the ease of crippling us by first knocking out all things digital.
Its as if they had been watching us for decades from the heavens, waiting to strike in force.
We had slowly become a world of digital dependency, our entire lives wrapped around the belief that we could not live without our cell phones, internet and computers. And for most, it indeed proved true.
When the Ancients first arrived, they did so behind a wave of falling orbs. At first, we reported them as meteor showers, but soon learned the truth.
Small orbs falling from our skies, each of them emitting a crippling EMP blast that knocked out everything digital, which is damned ironic if you follow the history of things.
