Chapter 2: An Unexpectedly Expected Package
There was only a bit of sun left on the horizon. Sir Integra Hellsing continued to work on bringing down the ever-rising pile of paper work that never ceased. Orders had been given out already and the night's missions were well underway. A light, firm knock at the door caused her to pause briefly, "Come in".
It was Walter. "Sir, I arrived with dinner" he announced as he pulled the cart in.
"It never ends does it, Walter. The work I mean".
No, I don't suppose it does. If it did, how would we ever pay the bills"?
Integra allowed for a small smile to form on her face. Sitting back against the high backed chair she gently squeezed the bridge of her nose. She was admittedly tired, possibly borderline fatigued but, rest was a luxury for those in her line of work. Taking a deep breath she asks, "Anything of urgency come in this afternoon's mail Walter".
"No sir, except for this peculiar package from France I believe, hand delivered. It has been secured and examined, other than that I have no idea what it could possibly be". Walter placed the oversized yellow envelope in Integra's outstretched hand. It was a heavy package, addressed to her, with large red lettering on one side reading 'DO NOT BEND', she noted as she reached for her letter opener. Tearing it open she removed several folders containing numerous documents, photographs and a CD case. A smaller white envelope was the last to fall out. Seeing it as the best place to start Integra opened the letter and proceeded to read its contents:
To the esteemed Director of the Hellsing Organization Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing,
This letter has been written in request of you and your organization's aid in a most urgent matter. Accompanying this letter are several items for your perusal regarding a most severely classified case currently underway.
"Is that all it says?" Walter asked after handing the letter back to her.
Integra searched the document front and back only to find nothing else written. She picked up one of the photographs that now littered her desk. It was black, most likely over exposed. The others were in the same condition. Looking through the document filled folders she found that they too were blank. An exasperated Integra pushed them all away from her; several photos teetered on the edge of the desk.
"What type of bullshit farce is this? Who the hell delivered this Walter?"
"We are not sure sir. It was found with the rest of the mail, sans postage stamp or return address".
Thoroughly annoyed Integra snapped, "Then how did you know that it comes from France?"
Without betraying any emotion Walter responded "A poor assumption sir, but there is a small French flag drawn on the bottom right corner of the envelope. If I may be so bold, though the letter did state that is was a 'severely classified case', perhaps there is more than meets the eye in this strange package".
Integra's brow furrowed "Perhaps, Walter, you may have a point", she said this as she reached for one of the photographs. There was a strange white blur in one of its corners.
"What do you make of this Walter," Integra asked quietly.
Walter scrutinized the photo, "Not sure but, it looks like words or I dare say numbers shot out of focus"
"Get this scanned onto a computer as soon as possible. Let's have a more thorough look then".
***
"The numbers we got off of the photo, sir, are consistent with an I.P. address".
An hour had passed since Integra's discovery of the unique photo. Once delivered to her technical experts it was only a matter of time before things would begin to make sense.
"Are you sure? Are we secure enough to access it?" she asked not wanting to take any chances on this newfound information.
"Yes, sir" the tech answered as he began to type in the address. "We are using are most sophisticated and secure software to contain any mishaps, quite separate from our mainframe. Walter insisted on it". Integra glanced back at the butler, 'strategic and precautionary as always' she thought.
"You can never be to sure," Walter muttered under his breath.
"This is all that comes up", the tech responded as he moved aside to give his employer a better view. It was the website of the archive section of an obscure French newspaper. There was only one image displayed and it was of two men on fishing boat proudly holding up the prized catch of the day. The tech moved to make himself more comfortable when his elbow hit the mouse. Onscreen it passed over the image when it changed.
"What was that?" Integra exclaimed. The tech repeated the action purposely only to show the image was now inverted in color.
"It's a mediocre effect sir. Designer's do it for fun, a display of skill if you will".
"Whoever sent this, I doubt greatly, wanted to merely show us their skill", Integra said as she took over the mouse. "Everything up until now has been hidden in plain sight, we just need to make the effort to see better".
"Wait sir", it was now Walter's turn to exclaim. "In the background, in the sky don't you see it?"
Behind the image of the two men was a patch of empty blue sky, however, when the image was inverted there was a disruption in the same area. Integra rolled the mouse over when the pointer changed into a hand.
"It's a link", the tech breathed. Without hesitation Integra clicked and the website slid away to reveal a command prompt screen. At the top it read 'PLEASE INSERT DISK'.
The tech explained that they were still on the Internet but in a closed network. The CD that had accompanied the package had been thoroughly analyzed, only to reveal that it held an encrypted program. At Integra's order the disked was inserted and it automatically executed its program. The screen had gone blank once more, the cursor incessantly blinked at the top of the screen when…
BONVENUE HELLSING!
I HOPED THAT THE PACKAGE HAS REACHED YOU HAVE EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS IN UNRAVELING THE PUZZLE SO QUICKLY.
"This is live sir," stated the tech as he vacated his seat to allow his employer access to his desk.
AND YOU ARE?
ALL WILL REVEAL ITSELF IN DUE TIME, I ASSURE YOU. THIS CONNECTION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SO THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE DATA ON THE CASE THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE BRIEF LETTER SENT. UNFORTUNATLEY THIS CASE REQUIRES THE UTMOST SECRECY SO THAT UNWANTED AUDIENCES WILL NOT MAKE ANY INAPPROPRIATE INQUIRIES OR APPEARENCES. MY AGENCY IS IN NEED OF YOUR EXPERTISE AS WLL AS YOUR ARSENAL…
AT THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE DOUWLOAD OUR CONNECTION WILL BE SEVERED.
AGAIN WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS ALL THIS ABOUT?
IMPATIENCE IS HARDLY A TRAIT THAT IS BECOMING OF ONE IN YOUR POSITION. THE TENSION WOULD WRINKLE THE FINE MATERIAL OF YOUR HANDSOMELY TAILORED CHARCOAL SUIT.
An image came up on the screen of Integra, taken earlier, in profile, sitting in her office smoking a cigarillo. Walter was about to sound for the alert when another response entered.
I MEAN YOU AND YOURS NO HARM. BESIDES, THE IMAGE WAS TAKEN AT A VERY GREAT DISTANCE, NOTHING SHORT OF MISSILE RANGE I ASSURE YOU.
"A satellite shot," Walter rejoined but Integra was far ahead.
FOR SUCH A TRICK IT SEEMS THAT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR QUITE AN EXTENSIVE ARENAL. WHY ARE YOU IN NEED OF ARE MINE THEN?
BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS WORLD THAT MONEY CANNOT SIMPLY BUY, AS WELL AS THERE ARE THINGS THAT GUNS AND SUCH CANNOT SIMPLY ELIMINATE.
ACCEPT DOWNLOAD? Y/N
If it was a trap it was one that Integra would willingly step into. Not out of curiosity, she was better than to succumb to something so simple, childish really. It was a raw sense of duty that she liked to think was what compelled her to push that particular key.
Images and forms flooded the screen. A massive amount of information passed through. All the while one word kept popping up every so often: UNSOLVED. At the conclusion of the download there was one more message to be read.
IF YOU WISH TO PROCEED, ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE AS WE SPEAK. PLEASE WAIT FOR YOUR ITINERARY IN TOMORROW MORNING'S MAIL. D'ACCORD ET BON VOYAGE.
"Is the connection truly severed?" exasperated, Integra asked.
"I'm afraid so sir. We've been returned to the original website which I'm afraid is no longer accessible. I tried to retrieve the prior connection but the entire site has just been taken down".
"To establish the connection they would have to have been close by, perhaps still in the area?"
The tech sighed and explained woefully "Not really sir. They could be anywhere, bouncing their signal off any number of sites. The information as promised is on the computer if you want us to check it out for any viruses".
"That won't be necessary. I'll look at it myself. You are dismissed". Integra located the file on the desktop and began going through the folder when Walter who remained in the room spoke.
"Are you really going to pursue this, sir?"
"Walter you read between the lines as well as I did. Make ready for tomorrow's departure." At that Walter left the room with a less than reassured look on his face.
Several hours had passed when the intercom buzzed just when Walter had begun taking inventory in the kitchen.
"Walter", the voice of a weary Integra came through, "As soon as Alucard and Officer Seras Victoria come in from their mission have them come to my office".
Walter acknowledged in the affirmative and released the intercom button. 'I believe this has become dreadfully serious'.
Some ways off…
A resounding click came from the closing of a laptop in the large richly furnished office. Across from the desk sat a lone figure draped in a long evergreen wool hood and cloak in a high wingback chair. Elaborate embroidery, old and much faded decorated its hem. Her crossed leg, clad in high, worn, dark brown leather riding boot, bobbed lazily over her knee. A faint smile graced her face as she leaned her cheek on her hand.
"All is progressing well, I hope", her rich lilting voice asked.
From behind the desk her companion answered as he effortlessly nipped the tip of his cigar, "I believe that by tomorrow evening we will be expecting several guests. So, I believe that the answer" lighting his cigar, "to your question" inhaling its rich flavor "is yes".
The billowing smoke escaping from his lips, wafted across the room to make its way to the seated figure. He stood now and absently looked out of the large double paned Teflon coated fiberglass windows and into the night sky. It was a spectacular view that looks out all the way to the sea several miles away. Although only a ridge of the ocean could be seen, it complemented the expanse of forest and scattered lights from homes and roadways before it.
"You should be pleased. The end of all this is near", he said nonchalantly as he inhaled anew.
"Your right", she responded. Reflected in the window he saw that she stood now, nothing more than a shadow standing before the roaring fireplace. But then her form changed. The dark cloak was gone replaced by a long flowing high waist white gown. Bare feet peeked from below its hem. Dark ringlets hid her eyes from his view. "The end is almost near. But, I won't be pleased until it's done". He turned around to see her move towards the door. His face betrayed no emotion, his eyes glazed over slightly from stubbornly refusing to blink. The door darkened slightly just before she moved through it smoothly. Turning back around he resumed his window watching as if nothing were amiss. He only hoped that she would leave house without his mother witnessing her current troubled state.