And as the two struggled back and forth, Alicia fired a single shot that hit the heart of the Butcher and dropped it quickly; only to turn and fire two more shots into the chest of an already dying Butcher who lay on the ground.

“I'm out.” she said as she stood in the doorway, her lustrous hair flowing with the cool night breeze as she ejected a cartridge from her pistol and quickly replaced it with a full one.

As Jackson extended an arm to help Calypso to his feet, they turned to Sheriff Austin Garrett, who lay on the ground in dire pain. The Butcher's sword was still inside him, its teeth weaving in and out of tissue that was vital to his survival.

”Get him onto a table, that should help with the loss of blood.” Alicia said as both Jackson and Calypso quickly scooped him up and carefully left to head further inside the house.

“What now?” Preacher asked, his accent still thick with German descent.

“Well, my superior and those who have allied with him must be removed from power for their treason.” Alicia replied.

“I agree. How did you...” Preacher began to ask.

“According to Jackson, one of our own spies intercepted it only days ago. Been carrying it with him since, but when I was describing her group to Jackson, he recognized the name.” Alicia said.

“Well,” Preacher said, thinking of the treason of Nadia Jacobson. “Explains why she was so upset over the possibility of calling in an air strike.”

Alicia stood there for a few moments, her eyes studying the lifeless Butchers. “I just don't understand how a Human could turn on their own kind?”

“Yea, especially one that's so damn cute.” Jackson replied swiftly as he once again entered the room, his humor well received, Alicia smiling wide.

“I guess we best sit down and figure out our next move,” Alica said, her eyes still firmly connected to those of Jackson. “Going to have to get Austin back to Washington City if he's to survive.”

“He isn't gonna leave these folk here to die at the hands of Ancients.” Preacher replied.

“Yea, that's the real kicker isn't it?”

 

 

Chapter 4

“Listen up everyone, please,” Sheriff Austin Garrett said loudly, at least as loudly as his injured body would allow.

He stood on the wooden porch of his office, nearly two hundred townspeople gathered nearby.

“Washington City is our only option now, and we have to go quickly. Take only the things...” he said, several people interrupting him.

“But this is our home!” a man near the rear of the crowd proclaimed.

“Not anymore. When the Ancients return to find their own soldiers laying dead, make no mistake. They will burn New Kinneston to the ground and spare no lives while doing so.” Austin said.

“We should not be forced to pay for their mistakes!” a second man yelled, bringing confusion to the crowd.

“I want you all to hear something,” Alicia said as she walked to the crowd of gathered survivors. “The only mistake made was your thinking this war would not eventually end up at your doorstep.” She added, before pausing for several moments. “Since Invasion Day, your own species has been slaughtered without reserve. Not just soldiers. Not just hardened men with weapons in hand. Everyone!” she added, her eyes cutting across the crowd of citizens. “I'm sorry that we had to be the ones to bring them to your doorstep, I truly am. But if you would choose to remain here and turn a blind eye to the slaughter of innocent women and children, then you don't deserve to live in the first place.” Alicia said, sobering those who listened as Jackson approached her.

“There are only two safe places left on this planet. Washington City and Berlin. You all have heard this on your radios, and each of you knew this day was coming,” Jackson said. “But the Ancients do not care if the time is convenient for you, and they don't care about your lives. We do. So those who choose to stay, are free to do so. Everyone else packs what they can carry and leaves for Washington City with us.” he added a bit more calmly.

“One hour,” Alicia said with authority. “Everyone has one hour to collect what they can carry, at which time we will escort you to Washington City.”

Chatter and grumbles filled the crowd of people as the group of Resistance soldiers walked inside of the Sheriff's Office. Calypso hoisted Austin onto the long table of fine wood, his injuries worsening by the hour as the Butcher's sword remained plunged into him.

 

“I still say there is no way in hell we are going to make it. Too many people to escort, and not a single one of them has the training for it.” Jackson said.

“There's no choice,” Alicia said. “We have to try, if we leave these people here for certain death then we are no better than the Ancients.”

“I ain't leaving them here. I can't.” Austin said, cringing from the soreness of invasive steel.

“We're too far out for radio contact, I've tried seven times now.” Calypso said, working quickly with the transmission device they had brought with them.

“Save the battery, besides, the last thing we want is to bring the entire Ancient Division back to New Kinneston.”

“Can Washington City hold up against an entire Division?” Preacher asked.

“Don't worry, she'll hold. Just wish I was there to help.” Alicia replied.

“Everything has got to be a woman. Even cities now.” Calypso said with a wise tone.

“Yea, I'm getting that's why your group was led away from the real fight and right into a trap.” Jackson said.

“Well in that case,” Alicia said, a smile instantly painting her face a bit.