“Berlin City is under attack!”

“Leaving out? It's dark!” Alicia replied, her words brimming with concern.

Moments later, the three rushed to the location of the German airship.

“Hold that ship!” Alicia yelled, the American Resistance soldiers immediately hoisting their weapons into the direction of such a Victorian-style masterpiece.

“What?” Preacher mumbled, quickly exiting the airship to confront her in person. “You have no authority to hold us here!”

“I'm temporarily in command of all things military in Washington City, and I'll be damned if I allow you to head into a night sky filled with Ancient warships!” Alicia responded, doing a bit of yelling herself.

“My people are under attack! MY PEOPLE...my countrymen!” he added, turning his long range communicator up to its highest volume.

Moments of heavy crackling broke in and out, compliments of the Guardian Angel grid above them giving off EMP bursts. But between the bursts, devastation told through words was communicated to them. News of a large battle, a battle that had broken the back of Humans in Berlin City; pushing them deep onto the outskirts of their own home.

“They are slaying at will,” Preacher said with desperation. “Berlin is my home. I have to do something!” he added, heavy-hearted as his voice lowered to one of panic.

“I understand,” Alicia replied. “But not tonight. Not like this,” she added, her own voice lowering a bit. “If you leave now, you won't live to see tomorrow's sunrise.” she added.

The two looked at one another, each hoping the other would back down.

“We are friends, and I will assist Berlin in every way possible,” Alicia added with sympathy in her voice. “But not under the shroud of darkness. Not when there is no chance for our own survival.”

“How then?” Preacher asked.

“Have your crew back down and exit the airship,” Alicia replied in a convincing manner. “Then we will meet to discuss everything, create a plan which has at least a minimal chance of success. You have my word.”

Staring at one another for a moment, Preacher finally turned to motion Certes for it to be done. In exchange, Alicia turned to quietly ask her own soldiers to lower their weapons. For they were all among friends and allied against a common foe.

 

“I've dispatched a scout group to head out beyond Washington City,” Alicia said. “Beyond the range of Guardian Angel. They will set up a small radio station to monitor the situation in Berlin throughout the night,” she added, surrounded by the most trusted among Resistance leaders. “At daybreak, we will be able to not only allow your airship to depart, but do so while giving you the friendliest place to land once you arrive home.”

“I appreciate that. Truly.” Preacher said, a bit emotional as he thought of his countrymen back in Berlin.

“It is the smartest move.” Certes added.

“It will also give us a chance to assess our own damages while shoring the defense of Washington City,” Alicia added. “And what manpower we can spare will accompany you at daybreak.”

“For such kindness we are in your debt.” Preacher replied.

“You would do the same for us. Focus on a good night of sleep, you will more than likely need it in the coming days.” Alicia said.

And as Preacher and Certes, along with two German soldiers, left the makeshift briefing, Alicia paused to allow them exit.

“Double the watch around their ship, it is to remain landlocked.” she said.

“You think they will try to return home anyway?” Calypso asked.

“I know I would.” Alicia replied with certainty.

 

The night chill continued to set in, a majority of the homes in Washington City spewing billowy smoke from their chimneys as wood burned to warm their skin.

It was a calm night, no weather to speak of, other than the bone-stabbing cold of a December night. Alicia sat on the concrete steps of what once was deemed the Washington National Monument, her hair swaying a bit in the wind as she continued her stare up into the safety net of Guardian Angel.

The firework-like bursts and sound of sizzle which emitted from the low orbiting satellites were a relaxing sight. A comfort during such terrible days. Days which might indeed prove to be Humanity's last.

“Peaceful night,” Jackson said, slowly approaching Alicia. “Mind if I join you?”

Alicia simply nodded, welcoming the company of such a faithful soldier.

“Still hard to believe such horror is taking place so close to us.” Jackson remarked, turning to notice a light shiver across Alicia's body.

Removing his flight jacket, he gently placed it across her shoulders and back, lifting his hands as she turned to glare with uncertainty.

“Relax. Doesn't mean we're an official couple or anything, you just looked cold.” Jackson said.

Alicia replied with a smile, chuckling a bit. “You are such a smart ass.”

“So, as we pick the bones of so many dead Ancients for supplies at our city's edge, what's the plan for Berlin?” he asked.

“Well, so much for peaceful.” Alicia replied with a grin.

“Now who's the smart ass?” Jackson said, laughing just a bit.

As she leaned in, holding one side of the flight jacket open slightly, they locked eyes as their bodies longed for the others touch.

“You look cold.” Alicia finally said softly, offering him the opportunity to join her under the jacket. An offer he gladly accepted, though the chills on his arms were no longer from the cold air of night, but rather his mounting feelings for her.

“I don't know,” she finally replied as they held one another, bursts of colorful lights illuminating overhead. “We can't spare many soldiers, I'm sure of that,” she added. “So the only real option is to escort the best soldiers I have with them to Berlin and provide help.”

“What?” Jackson said, immediately breaking free from her grasp to stand on his feet.