Chapter 10-Conversations

The Major was positively giddy at how things progressed. "Wunderbar! Ze plan es proceeding exactly how we predicted! Ze Syndicate, Hellsing and Iscariot…they know nothing! Pinch me, I must be dreaming!"

"It is marvelous," the Doctor said. "Our first real chance to observe the capabilities of an unknowing FREAK in a public setting. A very crowded public setting at that. The American media will eat it up like the sows they are."

The Major nodded. "All in good time, Herr Doctor. We still have to wait for Schrodinger to activate the equipment."

The Doctor nodded. "Jawhol, mein herr. Don't worry, the deadline was yesterday. With any luck," he grinned, "It's already started."

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The elder just puffed on his pipe through the ride, while Seras and Hedden stared at him. "I must say, it's a pleasure to see such cooperation from Hellsing on this sort of mission. Usually we have to go begging to Iscariot. This should really shake things up."

"Anything we can do to help!" Seras said cheerfully. Hedden just sat there, glaring behind his sunglasses. "So, what can you tell us about the target?" she asked.

"He's a wendigo, a creature from American Indian myth. The beast is like a vampire only in the fact that it has to kill other humans to survive. That's where the similarities end. You saw that it could go out during daylight without any protection. It also is incredibly fast, and doesn't have the side effect of creating ghouls. It's only purpose in this world is to consume."

"So…it's like a garbage disposal?" Seras asked nervously.

"Precisely," the elder answered. "The reason we can't hit it is because of it's increased metabolism. The virus that creates them-"

"Wait, virus? What virus?"

The elder just smiled. "We don't believe in magic or mystery here, Ms. Victoria. We follow the basic tenants of science. We've taken samples from almost every monster on Earth, and found the cause for all of them. You," he said, pointing at her, "Are a result of your restraint from sexual contact, keeping the Human Vampire Virus from mutating into the Human Zombie Virus."

Seras didn't know what to say. All the time she was at Hellsing, she had been told time and time again, "Vampires are creatures of Hell, and must be purged from the Earth." Now, hearing a scientific explanation, she started to feel more…understood.

The elder kept going. "The process of sexual intercourse is not merely physical in the sense you understand. It also occurs at a much deeper level. The cells of the two persons join together, destroying the barrier that prevents the virus from destroying the Cerebral Cortex. Does this make sense to you?"

Seras and Hedden just stared at the elder like he had grown a second head. Neither knew what to do with the wealth of information they had just been fed, and they certainly weren't in a position to do anything, with all the troops they had just seen. "Y-y-yes…that makes perfect…sense…"

'Glad you agree," the elder said. "Now, some of the essentials of the mission. The creature, Eagle's Breath, is still hiding somewhere near Mechanicsville. Local police have been flooded with reports of dead pets and livestock. They trace an indirect line straight to the capitol, and we believe the creature is going for a second try at the capitol for some reason. We don't know why, exactly, but we know this; his target is probably a very public figure. We can think of no other reason why he would make such a blatant attack."

Hedden just absorbed the information, the unimportant bits quickly filtered out and replaced with what he would need. Whatever the creature was, it had a fast metabolism, meaning it could heal from a gunshot incredibly fast. It also meant that the thing needed to eat constantly. "Maybe we could isolate and starve it? But that would have to mean there aren't any animals or plants at all. Capture and dump in a desert? But how would we capture it? And who's the target?"

A flash and boom behind them alerted them to the presence of the enemy, quickly followed by small arms fire and shouts of attack. "Damn rebels," the elder said. Grabbing at a walkie-talkie, he screamed, "All units, form a perimeter! The enemy is attacking the convoy!"

Without warning, an explosion threw the car over on its side, knocking Hedden and the elder unconscious. Seras, fighter she was, quickly kicked away the door and dragged out Hedden. Looking around with her vision, she saw a group of men with small arms firing all over the place, some soldiers dropping, blood pouring out. Then, she saw something that made her blood run cold. Out in the distance was a man, standing straight up, wielding a sword of the purest silver. "Oh no…" she whispered, before going for the nearest truck. Throwing away everything inside the bed, there was no trace of the Harkonnen. After two more trucks, she finally found it, though the combined weight of the gun and Hedden weighed her down greatly. Making due, she headed into a deep section of trees, leaving the Syndicate to themselves.

The warrior smiled, watching her prey run off. Grinning beneath her Kevlar facemask, they set off in the wondrous pursuit.

The elder quickly woke up, and slowly dragged himself out of the wreck. "Cease fire…" he moaned. "Cease fire…"

Slowly, the order went down the line, until the "rebels" were gathered at the flipped car. "Who set off that explosive?" the elder said.

"No one, sir," the "rebel" leader answered. "We followed out orders to the letter. Whoever set off that bomb wasn't with us."

The elder stewed as the men cleared up the drone truck and debris. In the air, a Huey whirled the winds this way and that, dust swirling around the elder as he took out his cell phone. "There's an issue…Yes, it was…none dead or wounded…probably think she's a programmed…Don't worry, I have a plan to draw them out…"

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Heinkel and Yumiko languished in the cell, each hour drawing on like an eternity. Hunt was still alive, they knew that. In what state, both geographically and physically, it was anyone's guess. "Heinkel," Yumiko said wealky, "What will happen to us?"

"Don't know." She frowned. "Iscariot has abandoned us, that much is certain. What we have to focus on is getting out. If we are put on trial…we'll certainly be found guilty." She didn't want to imagine what the inside of an American prison would be like. They would almost certainly separate her from Yumiko, and Heinkel knew how that would end. No one would protect Yumiko, and no one would be protected from Yumie. Drawing her legs close to her body, Heinkel felt moisture in her eyes and quickly shook it away. "Dammit! How did those FBI bastards find us!"

The locks on the door moved, and it swung open, a SWAT team on the other side. "Come with us, ladies, you're being moved."

"Where!" Heinkel shot off angrily. "Tell me where you're taking us, you heathen pigs!"

Silently, the team went in and started cuffing the women. "Please, you'll know when you get there."

"No!" Heinkel screamed. "Where's Father Hunt! What have you done with him!"

Her questions and shouts were greeted with a wall of silence, and soon, they were put into an armored transport van. Looking around, the two were greeted with a welcome surprise. "Father Hunt!"

Hunt just stared at the floorboards, his beard stained with tears. "Father," Yumiko said, slowly moving to him. "Father, please, tell me that we'll be fine…"

Hunt just kept staring down at the floor.

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Hedden felt his body swinging this way and that, his vision blurry and unfocused. Trying to focus, what he saw was a moving shadow, coming right at him. "No…no…I don't wanna die…"

Seras panted slightly, a habit she still hadn't broken from her time as a Human, lugging her unconscious partner on her back. Clay was no lightweight, plus he had all his weapons and her cannon. Not to mention the lunatic with the sword who was chasing them.

She caught a flash of silver in her peripherals, and quickly dodged to the side. She whipped her unsheathed Bowie knife in her had around, only nicking her pursuers clothing. She dove forward, unceremoniously dumping Clay on his head and pulling out his 9mm, whipping around to meet her opponent.

Not too tall, maybe 5'8 and change, short brown hair, clad in black body armor and a thin Kevlar mask. A gold emblem decorated his(her? Seres couldn't tell) right sleeve. He held a sliver saber that she knew, from the blackened, bleeding wound on her leg, had a seriously powerful blessing on it.

"Syndicate trash," The person hissed through his mask, voice distorted by the thick weave of the Kevlar, "Go to hell, with the rest of your traitorous kind." He threw a set of throwing knives into her hands, pinning her to the ground. "Die."

Seres watched the silver descend upon her and could not hold in her terrified scream.

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Clayton came to slowly, the sounds of a blade whipping through the air and a shrill scream. He whipped up his head in time to see a flash of silver descend on his partner.

Wait… Silver sword… Short brown hair… no curves to speak of…

"Ilyanya?" The person started, her sword missing by scant centimeters. She whipped around, pulling down her mask as she did so, face slack with suprise.

"Clayton?" Seres looked between them, still pinned to the ground.

"You two know each other?" Clayton's face split in a maniac grin.

"Know each other? Hell, we're practically siblings!" He stood up, went over to Ilyanya and clapped a hand on her shoulder. "How ya been, you old nut?"

Ilyanya smiled, "Not bad, but…" She pulled out from under his hand, sheathed her sword, and decked him clear across the face, "I still owed you that you lying bastard!"

"What did I do?!" he yelled, confused.

"You said you would only be gone for a few weeks! It's been 10 YEARS!" Clay rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Well, I kinda thought that you would figure it out…" He looked at the angry twitch in Ily's eyebrow, "Don't kill me!" He cowered.

"Umm," Seras interjected, "This is really touching and all, but do you mind?" She whined pathetically, pulling at the knives.

"Sorry." Ilyanya pulled them out and helped her up, "The names Ilyanya Cerkez, FBI Chief of Washington D.C."

"FBI?"

"Federal Bureau of Investigation; we investigate things." Seres cocked her head.

"What's a Federal agent doing hunting Vampires?" She questioned. Ilyanya smirked.

"Someone's got to do it, Ummm…" Ily started.

"Oh! Sorry, I'm Officer Seres Victoria of Hellsing." Ily's eyes widened.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry! I hadn't realized! I thought you where a 'programmed' vamp!" Seras cringed.

"No, I am pure-blood Nosferatu. My Master is Alucard." Ily nodded.

"Alright. Follow me. I'm sure Papá will love to meet you." She turned and looked towards the west. "I hope you can keep up." She took off at a dead run.

"Wait up!" They yelled, and ran after her.

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"D-d-d-d-uuuuuuuuuude, we are freaking wasted!" Sean screamed, staggering this way and that.

His friend Mike nodded, the two girls on his arms giggling madly. "I know!" But his smile darkened a bit. "I just wish there was more to do here."

"I can give you something to do," a voice from an alley said. Turning, the four saw a kid there, white, blond haired, with baggy clothes on. "If you want the ultimate adventure, I can give it to you, with so much more."

Sean and Mike just looked at each other, then started laughing. "Yeah right!" Sean laughed. "Go home, kid, your mommy is probably worried sick-HAHAHA!"

"Yeah," Mike sniggered. "You don't want to be late for show and tell…pffffft!"

The boy just shrugged his shoulders. "Very well. I guess you're just not man enough for it."

Now it was personal. "Hold on kid," Mike said, grabbing the boy's arm. "You got something? We'll see it. Just show us," he said, a manic glint in his eye. The boy just smiled.

In a few minutes, they arrived at a formerly abandoned warehouse, now filled with a machine of unknown use and origin. To Sean, the group's resident geek, it looked like a photon torpedo. "What is it?" he said, looking at the other pieces of equipment surrounding it.

"It is the latest in virtual reality simulation. It takes the user's memory, and combines it with information from the Internet, to create the most realistic world ever. In it's current configuration, it is designed to resemble a free-roaming simulation, where the player is a marauding vampire on the hunt."

"Al-right!" Mike said, almost jumping out of his skin. "Let's go already! This sounds awesome!"

"Hey, Mike, let's wait up a sec," Sean said, eyeing the machine with growing worry. "This stuff is way more than any kid can come up with, even if his parents are filthy freaking rich. There's something about this whole thing that doesn't seem right. Kid, how can you tap into the player's memory? Not even doctor's have found a foolproof way to do it."

"A small electrical jack is implanted in the skin, at the exact spot where memories are sent to and from storage.

Too wasted to understand, Mike yelled out "Sweet! Sign me up!"

The boy just grinned.

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"This wasn't supposed to happen!" The Texas elder shouted to the gathered council. "We were assured security was tighter than a bulls ass!"

"Calm down, you twit!" the Massachusetts elder barked. "We can't afford to go losing our heads this late in the game! We have to come up with a new plan, now!"

"We could bring her out," the California elder said slowly, and there was a murmur of interest through the room. "She has never failed our mission before. We could use her to capture the Hellsing Draculina, and reprogram her. We just need the will to make it happen."

The silence in the room was deafening, each member stewing over the implications of letting her out.

"We've been over those scenarios," the Pennsylvania elder said at last. "We can't afford to let her out again. The risks are to great to security."

The California elder interjected a quiet suggestion: "We could use the new program. It needs a test drive anyway, and if she is killed, it is no great loss." There was a rumble of consent across the room. The California Elder pushed the closed com-link, "Release…"

"Wait! We have not given our consent." The three remaining head elders halted his announcement. "If we cannot control her, what will we do when she loses control?" continued the Pennsylvania elder.

"The field units will take care of her. We captured her once, we can do it again."

"But that decades ago, when she could be fooled," the Massachusetts elder proclaimed.

"But we have grow cannier as well," the California elder said, "it will not be a problem." he turned to the link again' "Release…"

"No," the Maryland elder said. "We have to find her first. Once the target is located," he looked the California elder in the eye. "Then we release her."

"Very well. Stand by to release…"

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The three runners came to a sudden stop in some strange backyard. A large black dog barked at them from its cage. "Well," Ilyanya breathed out, "Home sweet secret base home."

Clayton staggered to them, gasping desperately for air. "Hey…where…are we?" he panted, close to collapse.

"Oh, come now," said Seras, "It wasn't that far a run."

"Maybe…for ya… you…freakin' vamp…" he gasped out. Ilyanya chuckled and led them to the front of the house. "What're you... laughin at…you bitch…"

"Nothing, nothing at all," she said mischievously, knocking on the door three times. The door opened a crack, then swung open all the way to reveal a beaming man the size of a grizzly.

"Ily!" he exclaimed happily, scooping her up in a bear hug, "where have ya' been lately!"

"Hey Greg." She said, laughing, "Ya' mind? I kinda like breathing." He chuckled and put her down. "Is papa awake?"

"Yeah, he's down in the war room. I'll send you down." They all went inside and Greg went to a closet off to the side and pushed the coats away to reveal a blank wall with a small crack in the plaster. He pushed the crack and a panel opened to reveal a palm scanner. He scanned his palm and it beeped, then shut off. Seras and Clayton blinked.

"Do we have to get in the closet?" Clayton asked hesitantly.

"Well that would be kinda hard, considering you never left, but no." Ilyanya said mockingly, laughing at Clay's indignant yelp; "We go to the bathroom." They blinked again. She led them to the main bathroom and opened the shower curtain to reveal a hidden lift. "Well? All aboard the war room express!"

Looking at each other nervously, Clayton and Seras tentatively stepped onto the lift with Greg following behind. Closing the shower curtain, a whirring noise sounded and it slowly began to crank down. It picked up speed until suddenly, it stopped. Ilyanya opened the curtain again to reveal a staircase leading down. They began to descend and came to a steel door with another palm scanner. Greg scanned his hand again, and the door slid open to reveal…

"Woah…" the two Hellsing agents breathed out.

Inside was a huge control center, filled with dozens of giant monitors and consoles manned by dozens of techs in blue suits. Three giant screens dominated the center of the room were showing giant maps of North America, each covered with blinking or colored lights. Up on a large center control consol was a tall man with gray hair, facing the maps. He spoke when Ilyanya came up to stand beside him.

"I thought I asked you not to bring your work home, innamorato." he said lightly.

"And I told you sometimes I can't help it, Papa. They're Hellsing." He chuckled and turned around. "Welcome to Vampire Command North America." Clayton's eyes widened commicaly at the sight of his face.

"Holy……It's… That's.... That's freakin' George Romero!"