Chapter One
Vatican Orphanage
Thursday, 8:30 A.M.
Enrico Maxwell, head of Vatican Section XIII Iscariot, sat down at his desk in his office to handle a task many would call positively, absolutely, indubitably, mind numbingly boring: Paper Work. Yes, like any large organization the Vatican was too plagued by the annoying problem of red tape, and as a high ranking Vatican official; it fell into the hands of Enrico Maxwell to clear it all up. Of course, if he wanted to, Maxwell could always dump this task into the arms of a lower ranking official or priest. Yet, seeing how Section XIII spent most of its days in action, Maxwell got very little time to rest. So, he saw paperwork as a relaxing exercise for a peaceful morning. At least, that what he though.
"Please excuse me," said Father Renaldo as he stuck his head into Maxwell's office, "But a package was just delivered to us."
Maxwell looked up from the document he was reading and raised an eye brow, "A package?" He asked, "I'm not aware of any shipments from the Holy See."He got up from his desk an walked over to a filing cabinet. Opening it up Maxwell started to search the order forms double checking for any notifications.
"Oh this was not sent from Rome, it seems that this package was sent from a privet house hold." Father Renaldo informed him, "As per usual we sent it through the X-ray scanners and there doesn't seem to be anything dangerous inside." Renaldo continued as Maxwell glanced at him and closed the cabinet. "As far as we can tell, it seems to be some sort of plant." Father Renaldo concluded.
Maxwell leaned against the filing cabinet and weighed the risks in his head. "Send it in," he said going back to his desk and sitting down in his leather office chair, "I cant see any danger of opening it."
"Right away sir." Father Renaldo left the room and returned with a big box covered with golden wrapping paper and a big red ribbon.
Maxwell's eyes lit up when he saw it's grandeur, "Renaldo, you never told me it was a gift!" He said eying the box the same way a cat eyes his prey. Grabbing the gift Enrico Maxwell placed it gingerly on his desk, thanked Father Renaldo as he pushed him out of the door, and then, when he was alone, he rubbed his hands together with great anticipation. "My my," he thought as he looked the box over from every angle "This is a very big gift. Dare I say, a huge gift. I wonder who it is from, a very close friend for sure. Yes a very very close friend who holds me to a high regard. Maybe even His Holiness Himself!" Finally Maxwell's patience could stand it no longer. The possibility that it was a gift from the Pope (Having forgotten that Renaldo informed him that the package was not from Rome) fueled Enrico as he attacked the box.
Grabbing his golden letter opener from his desk Maxwell slashed away the paper, cut the ribbon, and threw the lid clear across the room. Alas, instead of being greeted by a beautiful gift, he was met with a sight of horror. The moment the lid was removed a plant, looking much like a sunflower, shot out of the box and hissed at him, while snapped with teeth flowers were never meant to have. Enrico shrieked in terror and jumped back, but tripped over his own foot which caused him to fall to the floor. Slam his head against the hard wood floor Maxwell lay there. "My God," He mumbled rubbing his sore skull as he looked at the monstrosity on the desk. "What in heavens name is this thing? How did it come into existence?" he slowly sat up, crossed himself, said a quick prayer, and stood up. The plant watched him with its glassy eyes, baring its teeth. HISSSSS!
Enrico Maxwell backed away slowly, "No, no this is not a gift." He thought "This is a curse of some kind, a monster. Who would send me such a thing? Such a vile creature?" as a response, the plant hissed. Enrico swallowed, just then his eyes came to rest on a small card on the floor. It had fallen out of the box when the plant revealed itself. In his terror Maxwell missed it entirely, now he had to get it, "Be brave Maxwell! Be brave!" he commanded himself. "You deal with monsters and creatures on a daily basis! You are the head of Section XIII, You are the master of Iscariot!" Chanting his mantra he crawled on his hands and knees to the card and retrieved it. Crawling back to a safe distance Enrico Maxwell flipped it over and read the golden writing stamped upon the card.
"Maxwell, This flower was created by our scientist during one of their experiments. I have no use for it and find it revolting. It was only natural that I thought of you. Please accept this "gift" from the Hellsing Organization. Thank You. Sir. Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing."
Maxwell's hand began to tremble as his left eyelid began to twitch, "That sow." he whispered "That disgusting, revolting, infuriating, insulting SOW! I WANT HER PUNISHED! I WANT HER DEAD!" Maxwell exploded in rage screaming at the top of his lungs. "ANDERSOOOOON!" he shouted.
In mere minuets the Judas priest burst into Maxwell's office. "Meh God!" he said when he saw the flower on the desk. "Wit terrible creature is dat" Anderson asked Maxwell, who was still sitting on the floor.
"I don't know! I don't care! Just kill it and remove it from my office!" Enrico Maxwell commanded, Anderson grinned and pulled out his bayonet, "Wit Pleasure." He purred.
Anderson slowly walked up to the desk, rubbing his bayonets together, sheeek... sheeek, the sound of metal on metal filled the room as Anderson prepared for the kill quoting the Bible as he did so. "And Te Lord Prepared ah woorm and when te moorning roose te next day it smote the goord that it withard...AMEN!" Anderson swung is bayonet at the plant the metal flashing in the light as it swiftly cut though the air. CLANG! The sound of the bayonet hitting something hard reverberated through the room, "Wit!" The sight that met Anderson sent a chill down his spine. The plant held the bayonet in its mouth with its teeth, glaring at him. With a quick jerk it slipped the bayonet out of Anderson's grip and flung out of the open window.
Anderson stared at the plant in shock. The plant hiss in return. Suddenly Anderson let out a yell and pulled out five more bayonets from his robes and started slashing without regard, "Dey yoo un'oly creature! I send ye back to which ye came!" When Anderson stopped slashing away he saw that he had only managed to destroy the office and the furniture in it. The plant itself was unharmed and still sitting on the desk angry as ever.
Enrico Maxwell jumped up from the floor. "Anderson! Look at what you have done! YOU DESTROYED MY OFFICE!" He scream "GET OUT! GET OUT!"
Pushing Anderson out the door Enrico Maxwell left his office, locking the door from the out side. He let out a long sigh "This calls for drastic measures...drastic measures indeed."