Guardian Angel Read online

  Pulling her two combat pistols out, Alicia's arm was quickly grabbed by Nadia, who looked at her with embarrassment.

  “It's Preacher.” she said as Alicia stood there speechless.

  “Your own team shoots at you?” she asked in disbelief as Nadia walked to the ledge of the roof.

  “What did I tell you about doing that!” Nadia yelled into the direction of Preacher as he stood with Calypso on the street below.

  She too had longed for a kiss that nearly took place, cursing in her mind the grimy sniper who had shattered such a perfectly-sexual moment.

  “I was just showing him what the...” Preacher replied, cut off in mid sentence.

  “I don't give a damn, stop doing it!” Nadia yelled, turning to Alicia and making their way to the steps.

  “Sometimes I feel like a broken record around these social rejects.” Nadia added in a much calmer voice.

  “Again I ask,” Alicia said, her thoughts on the near kiss only moments before. “Your own team shoots at you?” Alicia added as both ladies made their way to the streets below.

  “Damn man, I am impressed.” Calypso said, holding the Heaven-Six rifle for himself and admiring the beauty of the weapon.

  Its huge size allowed the weapon to carry the kick of a bolt action rifle, while giving the range and semi-automatic capabilities of a less powerful weapon.

  The defining trait of the gun, however, was its power source. The large stock of the rifle contained a small cell, which was an Ancient technology that was normally designated for their own weapons. The glowing yellow tube had all of the properties of a highly powerful battery, though the cell technology also contained a self-charging unit.

  Because of the simplistic design of the weapon and its glowing power cell of concentrated steam, it could be used inside of Guardian Angel. And in the right set of hands, used well.

  Preacher could either fire shots in succession, each burst doing a decent amount of damage. Or he could harness a majority of the cell's power to fire a single shot, and a crippling one at that. Doing so forced him to wait a short time for the cell to recharge by way of steam, but it gave the sniper one thing that every soldier needs. Options. And he was damn deadly with the weapon to say the least.

  “I swear to God the next time you pull that stunt I will kill you dead myself!” Nadia yelled, her chrome Luger of German design in hand and pointed into the direction of the sniper.

  “Alright, alright! Easy already, damn!” Preacher replied frantically, moving his body around in the event of a misfire by Nadia's pistol.

  “And I thought we had our own problems.” Calypso said with a grin.

  “Shut up Calypso.” Alicia calmly replied as she walked up behind the perfectly shaped body of Nadia, her attention on the rounded ass of the German knockout rather than the strongman of her team.

  They had remained indoors for most of the day, resting and double checking their supplies. Weapons and rations were the two most important, although Alicia's team packed an extra satchel full of anything they thought worth trading. Anyone familiar with the wastelands knew that it was filled with Ancients as well as Nomads. Just a fancy name for Human survivors, it was actually very misleading. Most of them did no moving around, instead residing in full communities that were usually located in remote areas or even caverns.

  There was one striking difference between Separatists and Nomads, however. Separatists lived in peace while Nomads took what they wanted by force. They were essentially an organized gang that lived by its own rules. Rules that included the occasional ransacking of a Separatist town, kidnapping of other Humans for the purpose of breeding, slaying Ancients they came across and outnumbered, and sadly, even killing Resistance soldiers. They were groups without conscience. A fuck the world attitude combined with weapons, a kill to survive mentality and their very own agenda.

  Some of the more aggressive Ancients, the type at Berlin's doorstep, would kill humans on sight. However the ones who controlled what used to be North America, simply considered Nomads to be one of two things. A good resource for slave trade or a complete waste of time. The fact was, in the eyes of the Ancients who moved across these lands on their way to Washington City, Nomads presented no real danger. They were glorified farming communities with no real weapons to speak of.

  The Ancients instead focused on the ongoing fight against remaining military forces. Even worse, some Nomads had even sold out their own kind in exchange for the freedom of being left alone.

  Inside the secure confines of Washington City, Alicia and her team were some of the most elite freedom fighters left in what was once considered the United States.

  Once outside the safety of Guardian Angel, however, they were nothing more than survivors, at least in the minds of Nomads and Separatists. Taking goods to trade would give them a better chance of finding safe houses among the Humans who had accepted Ancient rule, and present them with a much better chance of completing the task.

  “He doesn't talk much huh?” Alicia asked of Certes.

  Alicia and Nadia had both done their part to avoid the other throughout the day. The biggest reason was their fear of the group becoming wise to their lust for one another. And, of course, they weren't sure that they could practice self-control a second time.

  “No, not a lot.” Nadia replied as both teams were inside the same small barracks-style building which stood near the edge of Washington City.

  “What a coincidence, he doesn't either,” Calypso said, looking into the direction of G. “Of course Certes outweighs him by about three hundred pounds and G is cursed with a face that only a mother could love.” he added before glancing around the room and bursting in laughter.

  “I know. Shut up Calypso.” he added after catching a stern look from Alicia.

  No argument or plea of defense came from the direction of G. Calypso was right about all of it, only leaving out the most important part. G was feared. A well-earned fear.

  Though not large by any standard, he was a slayer of demons, having more kills to his name than anyone else in the room. When it came down to a fight to the death, G was prepared to do anything to continue living.

  That was a well accepted trait among his peers, much more so than his hobby. The violin. It seemed to calm him when playing, and the vintage Guarneri violin he had managed to salvage during a raid in Old Virginia was a sight to see. Absolutely an antique, the wooden masterpiece had very few gashes, just enough to remind everyone of a time that once was. A time before demons walked among men. Of course, their respect for the instrument quickly faded when G began playing. Though he considered himself a formidable violinist, he was anything but.

  However, he was a very important part of their team, and if that meant he was cursed with the face that only a mother could love, as well as a severe lack of musical talent, so be it.

  Nadia and Preacher both spent several long moments staring at G, who was crouched over and sharpening the long blade which normally rested in a sheath on his back. As they both wondered what kind of person would willingly carry a violin into battle as though it were a weapon, their attention turned to the large window which faced the front side of the building.

  It had a direct view of the city's edge, which was the best seat in the house as Washington City's bell began to ring loudly; dusk quickly setting it. Several Resistance fighter jets came screaming overhead, multiple Ancient fighter planes behind them.

  Nadia had never been this close to the Ancients' air superiority, having only faced their ground forces in the past. The small black ships blazed into the direction of Washington City, silver writing placed on them in what what resembled a tribal design.

  Firing on the F-14 Tomcats that were in full retreat, the Ancient ships dispersed glowing yellow tracer rounds in mass quantity, pummeling one of fighter planes as it quickly fell into the far reaches of the horizon.

  Moments later, the Ancient ships were forced to break pattern as the steam-powered Gatling guns which were mounted i
nto strategic towers throughout the city began firing back. Man made lead retaliated, forcing the most dominant species known to man into a full retreat.

  Small arms fire could easily be used within the safe area of Guardian Angel, however anything as large as an aircraft would fall right from the sky because of the constant electromagnetic pulse that was given. The Resistance had been intelligent enough to change the pattern of Guardian Angel each and every day, and their pilots had the magnetic blanket of protection plotted into their navigational systems. The Ancients didn't.

  While the Human pilots could simply weave in and out of the waves of destruction, the Ancients would be in a virtual minefield and knew well enough to turn back when they had gotten this close. The pounding guns of steam power placed throughout Washington City just added to their reasoning.

  Of course, the Ancients had tried to ransack Washington City by way of foot in the past, expecting to walk through the streets in force and conquer at will. Resistance soldiers had staved off more than one attack, usually led by Alicia's group. They had gotten close to taking the city on several occasions, even once taking a small portion of Washington City for nearly a week.

  After suffering huge losses, the Humans eventually regained control of Washington City, keeping what Ancient weapons and supplies they could in doing so.

  The city was actually in a lot better shape than Berlin. Although it was also under a shroud of protection from above, the Germans had fought off and on for nearly a year inside the city to remain in control. It was the help of Russian survivors that finally pushed the Ancients out, which was ironic if you follow the history of things.

  There was no more United States, no more Germany, Russia or any other country that stood before the invasion. Now there were just those who had succumb to the rule of Ancients, those who survived day-to-day and by any means necessary and the Resistance.

  As they all lay in their bunks for the night, Nadia and her team found it hard to rest. Slowly, it became evident to them that the thundering skies in the background were in fact explosions. She wasn't sure, but Nadia felt the noise must have been traveling all the way from the Norfolk base as she could almost make out the sounds of planes streaking across the sky, both Human and Ancient.

  However, Nadia's thoughts quickly drifted to Alicia. Her body longed to be with the brunette, laying under the same blanket of warmth and sharing passion through the night. She wondered if Alicia slept, or if in fact, her own thoughts were on Nadia in the same fashion?

  Either way, it didn't matter. She had been sent to do a job, and her work had to come first, even if it meant doing the unspeakable.

  It seemed like a different world outside the walls of protection that surrounded Washington City. Out there, spaceships were locked into dogfights with near-obsolete military jets. While in here, citizens traveled through the streets by horse and buggy in a Victorian style that was reminiscent of three hundred years prior.

  Forced to survive by torch and lamplight, while living in modernized skyscrapers was a bit strange at first. But they had all gotten used to it, though Nadia's thoughts remained on the cream complexion and welcoming lips of Alicia Lucard.

  When they had heard the word caravan, the entire group had pictured something a bit, well a bit bigger. Instead, the six of them stood in the morning sun staring at a medium sized buggy. It looked more like a western stagecoach, complete with a steam powered engine and long wave radio which could be used once they entered into the wastelands.

  Nadia began to think of the buggy as more of a time machine in the sense that it was taking them from a world of high rise buildings and into the despair of primitive living.

  She had also hoped to spend a bit of time with Alica. Possibly get to know the brunette who currently fluttered her heart with glances across the room. Subtle looks, but looks that were blanketed in the yearning for more time alone.

  Nadia returned them with a look of her own, smiling slightly and attaching it to her dedicated stare. The rest of the group had no idea of the mounting chemistry between the two bombshells, due largely to the fact that Calypso continued his barrage of bitching.

  “You mean to tell me we got the backing of the Norfolk Naval Base, and yet, we gotta ride around in this piece of shit?”

  “I think they mean to be inconspicuous,” Alicia replied, never breaking her stare with Nadia as if it were a two-way conversation. “They want to make sure everything is perfect before putting all of their cards on the table.”

  “On the table my ass, this is fucking embarrassing.” Calypso replied.

  “I disagree,” Nadia said, walking to the stagecoach which sat in front of them. “She's solid, and made of only the finest material,” she added, gently placing her hand onto the wood of the buggy as she slowly smoothed it across the fine grain. “I believe that no matter what she's put through, she will handle herself just fine.”

  Alicia had picked up on the covert conversation, looking Nadia in the eyes as she once again rubbed the tip of her tongue to such spongy lips.

  “Yep, looks to me like she could take a pounding if necessary.” Alicia replied, looking Nadia's perfectly trimmed body up and down.

  “Why does the stagecoach have to be a she?” Calypso asked. “Everything a woman sees, she just assumes it's a woman too.”

  “Oh, she's a woman,” Nadia replied. “I can tell by the rounding of her bottom and firmness of her top.” she added.

  “I don't see anything but wood?” G added to the conversation, his violin secured tightly to his upper back.

  “Which is why it'll just be another trip for you. For me, on the other hand, I'm hoping it turns into one hell of a ride,” Nadia said. “If I'm lucky.”

  “If you're lucky.” Alicia replied softly as she knelt down to check the spokes of the wheel closest to her. Purposely, of course, placing her lips only inches from the thighs of Nadia's elegant body.

  Nadia glanced back as the buggy began forward, looking solidly for several moments at the German airship that remained docked and under the protection of the soldiers who had escorted her team into Washington City.

  Preacher and G sat on the wooden bench at the front of the stagecoach, horses pulling it to assist with the steam which flowed through several copper pipes beneath the frame of the transport. Meanwhile, Alicia, Calypso, Nadia and Certes remained inside, sitting in what greatly resembled the single compartment of a passenger train.

  For the longest time, Alicia felt very uncomfortable being in such close proximity to an Ancient, but trusted Calypso with her life and was well aware of his abilities in battle. If somehow this was a trap, the Ancient would be hard pressed to make it out of the crew cabin alive.

  She also felt a bit overwhelmed, sitting so closely to Nadia and being able to do nothing about it. A small part of her wondered what consequences would follow if she simply leaned in to kiss the German-born blonde? What if she just dropped the expectations of others and began making out with the woman who continued her stare onto Alicia? Eventually, Nadia paused from her stare to turn her attention out of the small window beside of her, Alicia studying her every figure closely closely.

  As another reminder of protection, a formation of F-14 Tomcats flew by, diving down close to the hard deck for a second to let the crew know they had a lot of air support. During the daytime at least. They had traveled several hundred yards outside of the safe zone, when Calypso leaned over to turn their long range radio on.

  The battery powered unit fired up as the strongman began slowly spinning a large knob on its exterior, finally picking up a transmission.

  “The invaders continue to try their luck at the Norfolk Naval Compound. Just as surely as this transmission is being broadcast to our surviving brothers and sisters abroad, the invaders continue to be turned away. Time and time again. Yesterday our birds executed a tactical strike near the Old Baltimore settlement, and sources on the ground are confirming massive Ancient casualties. Stay strong fellow Humans, and together we
will drive the invaders away and rebuild our civilization.” a man's voice slowly said.

  “Serves the bastards right.” Calypso said proudly as the radio transmission began to loop. “Oh, sorry.” he added apologetically to Certes.

  “Don't be,” the Ancient said, taking both Calypso and Alicia by surprise, hearing him speak for the first time. “It does serve them right. The murdering bastards,” he added in a deep and concentrated voice as he continued looking out of the buggy at the wastelands around them. “Not all of us believe as they do. We should not kill simply because we possess the ability to do so,” he added, turning back to look at the group. “Some of us wanted a peaceful return to Earth...not the murder and slavery that has taken place.”

  “There's something that has always escaped me, if you don't mind?” Alica asked with seriousness.

  “Ask. By all means.” Certes replied.

  “From what I understand, the Ancients were here during the rise of the Egyptian empires,” Alicia said as she looked to the Resistance-sworn demon, the tint of his eyes enough to frighten most to their bones. “But then you left, and after all this time...you return?”

  “We have been gone for quite some time according to your standards, that much is true,” Certes replied. “But according to ours, it has not been so long.”

  “But why return now? Why at all?”

  “Earth is only one of many planets which we harvest from, the force which arrived here only a fraction of our species.” Certes answered.

  “Have you told the Germans this? Would it make any sense to even attempt a fight against the Ancient mothership if this is the case? Wouldn't your race just send more?” Alicia asked.

  “No.” Certes replied.

  “No?” she asked.

  “My race, much like your very own, is divided in its beliefs,” Certes said. “Division breeds weakness,” he added before turning back to face the landscape outside of the window. “The very faction which slaughters innocent Humans in Germany has had many wars with the Ancients at your own doorstep.”