by John Davis
“Yes sir.”
-
“My queen.” one of the higher ranking Ancients said, entering into her chambers slowly.
“What is it?” she asked.
“We have Washington City surrounded and at our mercy, just as predicted. They await your orders.”
“I see.” the queen replied.
“Also, we have a small group of humans in custody at one of our gates. One of the humans matches the description of Washington's hero. Perhaps an attempt to get to you.”
Queen Karie turned quickly, intrigued by the notion.
“And you are sure it is her?” the queen asked.
“No, my queen. There is a good chance, however, as she's being detained by one of our gatehouses. Taken from one of our own vehicles without the proper paperwork. She claims to be a personal sympathizer to you, my queen.”
“I see,” Queen Karie replied with a grin. “The gatehouse is to let her pass.”
“My queen?”
“Let her through and make sure she's allowed passage to this ship. Heighten security throughout the ship.”
“She's a sympathizer as she claims to be?” the soldier asked.
“No, not yet anyway. I believe their champion and I share a lot of history. I believe she and I will see eye to eye in time.”
“Yes, my queen.” the soldier replied, bowing steeply.
“And tell the force at Washington City to hold. They will not fire another round unless directly ordered to do so by me. Anyone that does will answer to me, personally.”
“Yes, my queen. As you wish.” the soldier replied, turning to execute her orders.
Meanwhile, Queen Karie turned to the small window which overlooked the horizon outside of their mothership.
Love. It has the ability to save entire civilizations – and the ability to crumble entire nations.
-
“This was a stupid fucking plan.” Perk belted out in a whisper as the three soldiers nervously stood, their hands pressed firmly to their heads and backs facing one of the Ancient soldiers – holding them at gunpoint.
“It was the best we could do on the fly.” Alicia replied.
“No,” he replied. “Jumping on them before they knew what was happening, thinning them out for a fair fight. That would have been the plan I would have went with.”
Alicia glanced to him sternly, turning her head just enough to focus in on Jackson.
“Sorry,” Jackson said. “I'm kind of with Perk on this.”
“Bros before hos.” Perk said with a chuckle.
“It's not that,” Jackson replied, wanting nothing to do with the idiotic statement. “Really. It's not that.” he added, pleading with Alicia.
“Quiet!” the Ancient yelled in warning fashion.
Jackson silenced himself instantly, though he continued to shake his head in defense to his former lover.
“It's alright. Perk doesn't know any better,” Alicia commented. “He's used to women with very long track records.”
“Quiet I said,” the Ancient shouted once more, this time placing the barrel of his rifle directly to the back of Alicia's skull. “Otherwise I'll splatter your head against this wall.”
You bastard. I have a pretty head. Alicia thought. At least I've always thought so. Damn, now this idiot has me wondering.
“Remove your weapon,” the commanding Ancient shouted, approaching the positioned group. “They are exactly as they claim. Personal sympathizers to the queen herself,” the Ancient added. “Should any harm come to them, you will answer to our queen personally.”
As the Ancient quickly shouldered his rifle, the three survivors glanced to one another.
“We are?” Jackson seemed to ask aloud.
Smacking him across the arm a bit, Alicia turned to face the sky-born demons.
“I've taken the liberty of filling out a new set of paperwork for you – ensuring a hassle-free passage from this point forward. My apologies.”
Alicia snatched the papers from his Ancient grip, as if he were now answering to her.
“I will not inform the queen of your bad treatment of us,” she boldly stated. “But you would be wise not to hold us up any longer.”
“Of course,” the Ancient soldier replied. “You are cleared to pass.”
Wasting no time, Alicia led the group back to the crawler. Doing so hastily, while trying to appear relaxed.
“What the fuck was that all about?” Perk asked as the three soldiers entered the gleaming shell of the all-terrain vehicle.
“I don't know,” Alicia admitted. “But I need you to take the controls for a moment.”
“The fuck?” Perk replied. “I don't know anything about moving this flashy piece of shit?”
“Figure it out. Fast.” Alicia replied.
Perk slammed himself down into the driver's chair of the vehicle, grinding on gears for several moments in an attempt to put the rig in motion.
“Mangy ass piece of shit!” Perk grumbled – finally bringing it to a crawl. Although it sounded like raw metal against metal – gears grinding themselves unwillingly.
“I should really be up there helping him not break the crawler down.” Jackson pointed out.
“Don't talk,” Alicia replied, placing her finger over his lips. “Just listen.”
It was enough to get his full attention – her words followed by several moments of silence.
“I love you,” she admitted. “And yes, I know your wife is back. And yes, I know you love her. But I need you to hear me and understand that I love you. I do. With everything I have. I am in love with you and cannot see life moving forward without you. I'm not asking you to make a choice, I'm just asking you to hear me and think it over.”
“I hear you.” Jackson admitted with honesty.
“Good, now I'm going to kiss you. I don't expect you to kiss me back, I know your heart is in a bad place right now. But I do think you owe me the opportunity to kiss you one last time.” Alicia boldly stated.
Jackson offered no reply, though he didn't exactly fight off the notion of a kiss either.
Leaning in, Alicia felt the same thunderbolt she'd felt the very first time they kissed. As did Jackson.
Shifting roughly and out of her control, however, Alicia's head crashed against a metal shelving unit behind Jackson. A result of horrific driving.
“Fuck sakes man!” Alicia yelled, throwing her words to Perk with anger.
“Not my problem. I told you I couldn't drive this raggedy piece of shit.” Perk replied.
“I guess I should go take the wheel,” Jackson said, pausing for a moment to check Alicia's recently bruised head. “But I hear you. Loud and clear.” he admitted.
“Good.” she replied with a smile.
Because I can't live without you.
-
It's hard to believe what a long ride will do to the thought process. It forces you to mull over things that you normally wouldn't.
As Alicia sat in her perfect little corner of the Ancient vehicle, she did just that. Think. Moving her mind back to a time before war.
If only she would have known Jackson before all of this. Alicia began to wonder if they would have made the same connection under different circumstances. Staring at the man who held her affections as he controlled the vehicle steadfast. Perk riding shotgun and bitching along the way.
Had Jackson been such a true and loving man before all of this as he was now? Alicia found herself envious of Katie for having the answer to that and many other questions when it came to Jackson.
Alicia and Jackson had bonded through a time of war. Bullets continually flying at them with intent to kill, which did wonders for staying on top of life's priorities. Things that truly mattered. Things that were usually overlooked before all of this.
What would it have been like had Alicia and Jackson found each other back then? Could their love be as strong if he worked an office job nine hours a day and she was a stay at home mother? It was an interesting tra
in of thought, though all good things must come to an end.
“Damn it.” Alicia said loudly.
They crossed a rather deep hole in the road, and done so with speed. Slinging her into the air just enough to slam the side of her head to the steel interior.
“Sorry dear, had no way of seeing it.” Jackson replied.
Had it been anyone else, Alicia would have lit into their ass with a string of abusive words. But not Jackson. Not the dark-haired man who had rescued her from a life of wandering in circles with no clear objective.
Jackson had shown her a reason for living, and though she'd never admit to it, between his influence and his smile, Jackson could get away with anything by her book.
“Quit your damn whining.” Perk added.
“Whining?” Alicia questioned, quickly growing hostile. “How about you keep the mouth shut as to not let the bad breath escape, eh?”
He laughed it off – moments later cupping his hand to his mouth to test her statement.
“Bonehead.” Alicia said with a roll of the eyes.
“Slut.” Perk replied.
“Guys, seriously,” Jackson said, throwing his opinion in. “We're on our way to a damn alien monthership, and you two are arguing over bad breath and a whole lot of sexual partners.”
“What do you mean a whole lot?” Alicia questioned suddenly.
“He means a whole lot,” Perk replied with a grin. “And that's just the ones we know of.”
“Hey.” Jackson said, turning to his co-pilot.
“I'm just saying.” Perk replied.
“Yea, well don't,” Alicia said. “Because your breath smells like a water treatment plant.”
“That was a good one,” Perk said with a grin, turning to look at a girl that he considered to be like a sister. “Bet you don't hear that often. Especially following the drumming of a headboard.”
“Good Lord.” Jackson said.
-
“Now?” one of the German soldiers asked.
“No, wait,” Certes replied. “We've no idea how many Ancients are inside. It's best to hit them on foot so we know their numbers.” the large Ancient warrior added.
He'd been part of the original resistance, helping humanity try to fight his own race. Disagreeing with plans to butcher our society. As the resistance fell apart, however, he'd been cast out as a traitor to his own people.
Making matters worse, Certes and Alicia had their differences. Forcing him to survive the outskirts of Washington City on what resources he could find. Along with a handful of German-born soldiers who remained loyal to the hulking demon.
There were a few towns near the large city, but most remained neutral – even loyal to the Ancients at times. Making it impossible for him to seek shelter for fear of being killed in his sleep or turned over to his former race.
The circumstances had left Certes and his men alone and with little to look forward to. Using sleeping bags and basic camping gear to survive the elements.
A single thought kept the monster going. Revenge. Certes wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around Alicia's throat and shake the months of rough living from her dazzling body. To make her pay for casting them out so easily.
“How are we on supplies?” the Ancient demon asked.
“Not well. We grow short on both food and ammunition.” one of the German soldiers replied.
As Certes looked onto them, he grew angered. Not with the men in front of him – each had proven their loyalty many times over. Certes grew angry because the men were soaked from an earlier rain, not dressed well enough for the changing climate and obviously hungry.
“We must journey back into Washington City. It is the only way.”
“Sir, if we do that we run a risk of execution.” one of the men reminded.
“Our circumstances are slowly executing us as we speak. It is time to lay claim to a warm house, dry clothes and a freshly-prepared meal. I grow tired of watching our living conditions worsen.”
“Yes sir.” one soldier replied, while the others joined him in nodding approval.
The group wasted no time. Slinging battle rifles over their shoulders and waiting for the Ancient transport to finally break from their sight. Having no idea it contained humans. In fact the group of people directly responsible for their brutal living conditions.
-
“You're going to have to tell him sooner or later.” Gretchen commented.
“I know,” Katie replied, looking up at her friend during a meal of bread and beans. “I need to wait for the right time.”
The two women sat at a small table of wood. The top of it shined to an elegant sheen, standing out from the rest of the small home, which was basic in every sense. An oil lamp flickering between their meal plates.
“No, you're trying to convince yourself there is something between you worth saving.”
“Perhaps.” Katie admitted.
“Every moment you spend with Jackson for the wrong reasons is a moment you cheat yourself from happiness,” Gretchen said. “And him as well.”
“I don't understand why you are so emotionally invested in all of this?” Katie asked.
“Look, I like you,” Gretchen replied, pushing her plate aside slowly. “But Jackson is also a very good friend of mine. I don't want to see him get hurt. Knowing what I do and not saying anything to him makes me just as guilty as you are.”
“I don't know if I love him or not, OK?” Katie asked, shoving her own plate aside with aggravation. “Everything inside of me is trying to love him the way I used to. A lot of stuff has happened. It's not simply a matter of pulling straws here.”
Taking her time, Gretchen studied the look across Katie's face. Doing everything she could to read the woman. What the good-looking blonde lacked in soldering, Gretchen more than made up for in the realm of relationships.
“You love another?”
“What?” Katie asked, taken completely by surprise.
“Well, maybe not love,” Gretchen said. “But you have feelings for another.”
Katie knew at that very moment – she'd been found out. Her feelings not as hidden as she'd like to have thought. Turning away from Gretchen immediately.
“Oh honey, you have to tell Jackson.” Gretchen said.
“Look, I can't, because I don't know yet.” Katie admitted. Seeming desperate with her words.
“You don't know?”
“Jackson thought I was dead – well, I thought Jackson was dead too. I met a guy named Greg. He came in with the group of survivors, just as I did. We really helped each other out there when nobody else was around to help.”
“You love him?” Gretchen asked.
“I dunno. I thought maybe I loved him, but then finding Jackson again brought back so many memories. It really messed things up, but I'm glad it happened. Jackson was my world.” Katie said.
“I don't know what to say.” Gretchen admitted.
“You don't have to say anything,” Katie replied. “I know it's a huge mess. I know I have to decide how I feel about Greg so I can let Jackson be happy. I've tried. So far, I just can't.”
“You have to.”
-
“My queen, they approach.” one of the loyal Ancient soldiers commented, his attention glued to a very small window by her throne room.
“Good,” Queen Karie replied. “Let them come. Make sure they find their way to me.”
“At once my queen.” the soldier replied, bowing low and exiting her large room swiftly.
Queen Karie looked through the small opening which allowed her to look onto the stars when traveling through deep space. Thou, at the moment, it gave a clear view of the wastelands which separated her ship from Washington City. A single transport approaching.
Let them come.
“Alright Perk, this time I'm giving you permission,” Alicia said. “Take a damn gun.”
“You sure that's wise?” Jackson asked.
“Hell yes it's wise,” Perk said quickly, t
urning to their man behind the controls. “We should have popped a cap back there when we had the chance.”
“Jackson, I honestly have no idea what that was about back at the gate. I thought we were going to die. It was either stupid luck or something waiting for us here. Either way, I'm not chancing it again.” Alicia said.
“Fuck no,” Perk added. “Neither am I.”
“Well alright then.” Jackson nodded. Knowing good and well the decision had been made.
As their transport slowed a bit, it joined several more Ancient vehicles. All of them casting the same rugged look, in terms of craftsmanship, though everyone seemed to be carrying its own mission out.
Jackson was hesitant, but didn't want to appear to be. Instead he maintained a slow speed and began climbing a huge ramp at one of the mothership's many entrances.
The transport dug in a bit, the steel tread of its tires using raw power to pull them up the ramp, which elevated nearly two-hundred yards in a slow decline. Finally leveling back off and offering a huge bay door for entry into the ship.
“Wow.” Alicia said.
“First time huh?” Jackson replied. Watching the majestic look on Alicia's face as she soaked in the view inside of the mothership.
“Been a long damn time since Alicia could claim her first time...on anything.” Perk commented.
Turning her attention, Alicia began to stare at the longtime friend.
“You are such an ass.” she finally replied.
“This much is true.” Perk replied.
“Quiet,” Jackson said. “Don't you guys think it's a little strange that things are so damn quiet in here?”
“Not really mate, it's our first time,” Perk replied. “Well, mine. I'm sure Alicia has slammed her head against a few box springs aboard this ship.”
“Are you fucking kidding me with this?” Alicia demanded to know, growing irate with the man who called himself a friend. Wanting nothing more than to slap him for his verbal assault.