- 2 -

The sounds of battle echoed through the distance. Bloodcurdling screams of pain, ripping flesh, the splash of men marching through the rivers of blood, and then, silence.

The sounds of war.

As dawn broke on the horizon, the Wallachian prince crawled painfully forward towards the brilliant orb of light. He struggled to stand on his bare, mangled feet to survey the landscape. Hands and head constrained by a wooden stock, the Turkish soldiers offered no aid, snickering at the mad king. There was nothing left in this world for him. He had sent his men, his people, to fight for their God, and God had forsaken them all. The God they fought for, won battles in the name of prayed to, worshipped and kneeled before, had betrayed them. He had betrayed them too. Killed in the honor and the name of their indifferent god! They were all dead, mangled and murdered, all because they followed him. God be damned, just as he knew his very soul would soon be.

Uuungh. Where is this, what am I looking at? Oh. This is the past,me just before...

Shadowy mountains of freshly dead corpses, nothing but husks piled one atop of the other, blocked his view. It offered him an unbiased look at both his men, and the enemy forces.

Lifeless.

There was no real distinction between the mangled forms; blood is the currency of the soul, the vehicle of life, and the landscape was painted crimson.

Pain lanced through his heart, without a physical wound to show for it, not there at least. Fire burned in his eyes from the anger; the injustice of it all burned right to his very soul. He would not die in vain. No, he would not let his people die in vain. His closest friends, fathers, brothers, sons, uncles would not disappear into obscurity. His wives, and his son Mihnea were gone too, everyone had abandoned him, or had he, betrayed them?

Amongst the rancid stench of decay, and death, a different scent caught his attention. Carried on the breeze, the fragrance of the finest vanilla and some other sweet scent assaulted his nostrils. It was the smell of hope, love and light, so out of place in a barren space such as this. It stirred a hope within him, and helped lighten his all too heavy body, that was ladened with despair.

"What, is that smell?", he rasped through his dry, wanting throat.

"We smell nothing but your repulsive filth you dog!", sneered one of his guards.

Through blood drenched hair he peered, seeking out the source of the unfamiliar scent. Westward, a lone silhouetted figure stood, bright against the bloody, barren landscape. Was this the source of the pleasant scent? No, he was delusional, he had to be. The figure came closer, not wearing armor nor bathed in blood, but her scars told tales of battles previously fought.

A woman, how strange that she was here in this wasteland.

Drawn to her, weakly he reached out, trying to get closer to the source, but she was just out of reach.

"M'lady, what are you doing here?"

She looked upon him, wordlessly from a distance.

You mustn't stay… are you a harbinger send by God? I must know, please come closer.

Like everything, it just wasn't enough, he wasnt enough. The dragon had been tamed by the Ottoman Turkish forces and he had nothing… nothing to show for it.

A spear pierced his back causing him to stumble, tripping over the corpse of one who bore his sigil. Desperately he looked up to find the woman, but was struck again. His dried bloody lips soundlessly cried out in pain.

"Voivode Dracul, may you rot in hell", said a soldier, as brute of a man wearing a bag over his head, wielding a giant axe readied himself.

"I forsake God and all he stands for, I will NEVER be defeated. By the blood of my men and the souls of my enemies, I will avenge them for all of their unanswered prayers!" He swore the oath in his mind.

Labouring he stretched out his tongue, to lap the pungent blood off the ground. Just as his

head was unceremoniously separated from his body, he felt the warmth from the light in the direction of the woman, and heard a woman's voice yelling.

"Master. Master! Wake up!"

Alucard woke up in his chair, blinking slowly.

Huh. Dreaming, I was dreaming. He thought to himself as he wiped the crimson from the corner of his eyes.

"MASTER!"

"Quiet Police Girl! You're liable to wake the dead"

"Sorry my master, but why weren't you answering me?", asked Seras as she phased through the wall. "Normally you are awake by now?"

"Let's go Police Girl", he said gruffly, as shadows enveloped him "My master is calling."

Sera's grumbled. "I know that, it's why I was trying to wake you up". She rolled her eyes as she faded through the wall to join him.

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Sir Integra was standing facing the wall of windows, back facing the door when she heard footsteps.

"Alucard, you're late.", Integra scolded

"I was getting a bite to drink", he lied.

"Do not lie to me!", she turned quickly, yelling at him. Greying hair whipped around her fiercely, as her eyes blazed, causing her wrinkled skin to crease.

Alucard chuckled.

"There's still as much fire in you now, as there was when you were a girl"

She softened somewhat as she noticed Seras watching the exchange between her and the towering vampire.

"We have a problem. There has been a significant amount of activity lately, by Iscariot. Apparently they are tired of laying low."

"Oh, how interesting." said Alucard as he casually rested against the wall, arms crossed.

"We need to figure out what they are up to. My sources say they are heading to North American, Canada to be precise."

"Canada sir? I've always wanted to visit there, it always looks so pretty on the tele."

Integra glanced at the young vampire. "Yes. I'll be sending Alucard to investigate and protect our target. You are to stay here to guard the estate, understood?"

"But sir–"

"Do not dare question me, is that understood?"

"Yes sir.", Seras replied, defeated. You're mean.

Alucard strode towards the huge oak desk, smirking.

"What are your orders my master"

Integra slid a manilla folder to the edge of the desk. "All of the information required is in here. You leave in two hours"

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"Bishop, vhen do ve proceed to find the target?"

"Patience Heinkel, patience. We've waited this long to finally put an end to those traitorous Protestant scum and their pet vampires, what's another few days?", Makube said.

"But vhat about zee others?"

"You needn't worry about that my loyal Heinkel, everything in it's own time. The Pope has given me direct orders to keep our new… friend, secret for now."

"Ah. So, how vill ve find her? Do we know vhere she is now?" Inquired Heinkel Wolfe has she sat on the corner of a small desk. Her scarred and bandaged face danced with shadows from the light of the desk lamp.

Heinkel Wolfe had taken over as head Paladin after the loss of Alexander Anderson at the hands of Alucard. She was still scarred from the shot to her face courtesy of the Captain during the "Zepplin incident" a little over thirty years ago. Her regenerative powers had strengthened, but not enough to heal those wounds. Now skilled with the blessed blades as well as her guns, she was a force to be reckoned with, and often crossed paths with Seras.

"You worry far too much my dear. We just need to bide our time. She, will come to us."

"But how Bishop? What about Hellsing, surely they have her in their sights as vell?"

Makube sighed and leaned forward, fingers laced together, and elbows resting on his desk.

"Those protestant dogs are in much the same state as us. Recovering from that battle thirty years ago. Although recovering, Iscariot still has a few tricks up our sleeves to do something as simple as track a girl."

"Do not underestimate them Bishop, they made a fool of us before". Heinkel sighed as she moved a bandage out of her field of vision

"I said don't worry, it'll all happen as the almighty wishes it."

Makube sneered as he leaned back in his chair in front of a wall of books. Yes, everything will work out exactly how God wishes it.

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"Alucard, there's been a change of plans!"

"Oh?" said the nosferatu as he passed through the wall

"Instead of sending you to Canada, we're going to send our target here, under the guise of designing a new weapon for the Hellsing Organization.

"A new weapon? That sounds, most intriguing"

"Indeed. We shall know within the next several days what to do once she arrives."

"Yes my master. Keep me informed" he strode through the wall, caped duster coat floating behind him.

Seras followed closely behind him, slightly aggravating him by clinging so closely to him. Since he came back about a month ago, she has very rarely let him out of her sight, although understandable so he supposed. After all, he had been gone for 30 years.

"Police Girl? What do you want?"

"Well...um. Do you think you could bring me back something when you go?" She stopped and looked up at him, hoping she hadn't crossed a line.

"No."

"No? Awww, why not!" she pouted

"I won't be going"

Seras became giddy, thinking that Sir Integra changed her mind and decided to let her go instead of her master. They were walking in the sub basement and had just passed her room on the way to Alucards chambers.

" Does this mean that I get to go instead. Oh my god, I need to go pack." She turned around to go to her room.

"Should I pack it in my coffin, or do I need to take that with me, I –"

"No Seras. Neither of us are going. Our target is coming to us."

"Oh." Seras' head drooped towards her red hellsing uniform, and her shadowy arm swirled in an almost sad and lazy fashion.

"Don't worry Police Girl. I have a feeling that this could be fun." Alucard took off his fedora as he sat down on his chair. Gracefully picking up a wine glass he poured the thick red liquid from the bottle and swirled it around the edges of the glass as he crossed his legs.

"I think this will be, quite interesting indeed."

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"Kira, I need to see you in my office right away". Thomas, her boss stated while walking past her office.

"Sure, just let me save this file, and I'll be right in". Kira rubbed her eyes, as her weariness caught up with her.

She grabbed her tea and went next door to Thomas' office.

"Please, grab a seat"

"Sure. What's up?

"We have a special high profile client and we need you to travel to them, to accommodate their needs. They are in Britain"

Kira almost dropped her mug. "Britain?"

"Yup. They requested I not disclose the project specifics for security reasons, but you'll be gone for at least six months. All of your accommodations there will be taken care of as you'll have an office on site. As well, your place here will be taken care of as well for when you return." the swivel chair squeaked as Thomas leaned back, adjusting his teal tie on his black shirt.

"And you can't tell me what they want designed? Sounds like it'll be interesting though. I don't have a passport yet, will that be a problem?"

"No. We've made arrangements to expedite that process. You'll be leaving tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow?!" She couldn't hide the shock and dismay on her face.

"Don't worry Kira. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't think you could handle it. You are our best designer, I know you haven't traveled, but it's really not that bad. Actually it's pretty exciting once you get used to it. You'll be there before you know it, and hey, you'll get the chance to see some historic landmarks."

"Very true. Well, thank you so much for the opportunity." She rose from the chair "I had better get a move on, if I'm to get my photo taken for my passport, and get my things packed up."

"Oh and also, we've sending you with a brand new computer, and IT has already set it up to link with the network so you can access everything you need. Seriously, you're the best one for the job. It's a huge contract, but I have full confidence in your ability to please our client"

"Thanks so much, that's great! Is there anything else I need to know about before I leave?", said Kira excitedly.

"Absolutely.. I'll leave a packet for you with your plane tickets, company credit card and everything you shall need. Enjoy your trip across the pond." he ran his hand through his graying hair, and smiled his usual genuine smile.

She grabbed her gym bag and left the office, waving to the receptionist on her way out. Distracted by the to-do lists running through her head, she rounded the corner on her way to the car parkade, and bumped into someone.

"Oh! I'm sor - I'm so sorry, excuse me" she exclaimed.

"No trouble at all my dear." the face of a middle-aged priest looked back at her. His white collar contrasting bright against the black of his cassock.

"I'm so sorry father. Have a great day!" she exclaimed as she hurried off towards where her car was parked.

"God's blessing upon you my child."

As Kira hurried towards her car, she didn't hear the priest talking into his blue tooth piece hidden in his ear.

"Bishop. Target sighted, engage?"

"No Starj, keep you're distance, just observe"

"Confirmed"

Oblivious to having just bumped into a member of the Iscariot, Kira excitedly opened the door on her hybrid teal Rav 4.

"Holy crap, I'm going to Britain.. Tomorrow! Oh no, I hope my nightmares take a 6 month break. This is going to be completely… crazy. I wonder what the top secret project is?" she thought.

She ignored the rest of the excited thoughts running through her mind, as she pulled out of the parkade, singing along to the radio as she headed home to pack.