TITLE: And Hell Followed With Him
DISCLAIMER: All things BtVS belong Joss Whedon, the Hellsing universe belongs to Kouta Hirano, nothing is mine, only the extremely twisted idea...
December 12, 1998
16:12
Hellsing Estate, London.
"That's fucked up," Faith grimaced, wincing as Seras told them the tale of how she'd become a vampire, the indecent in Cheshire where she'd been sent to investigate a series of murders when the rest of her squad had been turned into ghouls by the vampire responsible.
"He was going to rape you?" Xander asked in disbelief.
"He said he didn't want a vampire with free will walking around," Seras shook her head, remembering the feeling of the vampire priest groping her as he threatened her, telling her what he was going to do to her. The memory of it made her skin crawl, even just talking about it now made her angry.
"So that's when the other vampire came?" Xander asked.
"My master," Seras nodded. "He… he asked me if I was a virgin."
"Right," Xander nodded, catching Faith's confused face. "These vampires can only turn you into a vamp if you're a virgin." He explained. "Otherwise you get turned into one of those ghoul zombie things." He grimaced, shaking his head at the thought.
"So you said yes?" Faith guessed, not actually sure if it was a good thing she wasn't a virgin or not anymore.
"Hmhmmm," Seras nodded, slightly embarrassed talking about it aloud.
"British vamps are fucked up," Faith laughed. "No offense," She grinned when Seras stared at her.
"None taken," Seras said, still staring and wondering what she meant by that. "So your vampires can just… turn anyone they want into another vampire?"
"Pretty much," Faith nodded. "Sun burns 'em to a crisp though, so you've got that going for you."
"Plus there's the whole, you still being you thing." Xander nodded, that one had definitely been a revelation. "Our vamps, it's just a demon walking around in a body, no soul, nothing." He explained. "You said you got to keep your soul?"
"Uhuh," Seras nodded again. "It's still me."
"Not seeing any downsides to this type of vamp," Xander frowned, looking at Faith.
"Thinking of joining up?" Faith grinned at him. "Gotta be a virgin for that." She laughed at him.
"Yeah," Xander frowned thoughtfully, he was still a virgin, but it wasn't something he was going to admit aloud, especially in front of Faith and Seras.
"Ah, there you are."
Seras turned from the discussion, feeling like she'd been smiling for the first time in years, as she heard Walter's voice from the doorway. She'd brought over her chair from the dressing table so she could sit with Xander and Faith, but was realising that Xander had been right, and if they were going to talk more like this, then she would need to make her room more welcoming for others, for humans.
"Yes Walter?" Seras asked, looking up.
"We have a mission tonight," Walter explained. "A simple house clean, Captain Steadler will be leading the assault. The team will leave at sundown."
"Alright, thank you Walter." Seras nodded.
"You don't like this Steadler guy then?" Faith asked, catching the look Seras gave when she heard his name being mentioned.
"Is there a problem Miss Victoria?" Walter asked, catching what Faith had said and waiting curiously. "Captain Steadler comes with the highest of recommendations from the SAS."
"Nothing Walter," Seras shook her head. "I'll be there."
"I'm game," Faith said, standing up from the table. "Could do with a stretch, get to see how you guys do things as well."
"It's a simple house clean Miss Faith, hardly something to get excited over." Walter explained.
"Sending one of your vamps right?" Faith asked, looking at Seras. "Gotta be something if you're sending the big guns."
"Possibly, but then again, it might just be a precaution." Walter hedged cautiously. "Of course, you're welcome to join them if you want to observe."
"Sweet," Faith nodded.
"I'll have body armour and a side arm brought to your room," Walter said with a nod. "I assume you are at least proficient in pistol use?"
"Better with a sword or stake," Faith shrugged.
"A sword then," Walter nodded. "Going against one of our enemies armed with a sliver of wood would be akin to suicide." He explained. "I'll have the items brought to your room, Miss Victoria can show you the ready area where the rest of the squad will leave from."
"Five by five," Faith nodded.
"Quite," Walter frowned before bowing slightly and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
"Yes Alucard?" Sir Integra asked, looking up from her papers and seriously considering giving up on her paperwork for the day.
"A slayer, really?" Alucard grinned as he faded into the room completely, moving through the shadows on the walls like they weren't even there.
"Slayers, plural." Sir Integra corrected him with a smirk. "Two of them in fact."
"And how did you wrestle these two away from The Council?" Alucard asked dryly, his tone saying everything he thought about The Council could have been boiled down to so much excrement and scraped off his boot.
"Didn't you hear?" Sir Integra smiled, looking up from her papers. "The Council was exterminated."
"And I wasn't involved?" Alucard raised an eyebrow as if he was actually sad that he hadn't been involved in wiping out The Council.
"Not that I'm aware of," Sir Integra frowned. "At least one vampire, possibly more, commanding an army of ghouls. They slaughtered their way through the entire building."
"Interesting," Alucard mused thoughtfully. "FREAKS?"
"Possibly," Sir Integra nodded. "We have no leads to be certain."
"Why would a True Vampire attack The Council?" Alucard laughed at the idea. "They're doing well enough cleaning up the trash that calls themselves vampires." He mocked.
"The demonic strain," Sir Integra nodded. "Hardly a threat compared to a True Undead," She said in agreement. "But still, The Council served its purpose well enough, a purpose we'll be taking over from now as well."
"Eliminating trash?" Alucard frowned disdainfully. "Hardly a worthy opponent."
"For you, no," Sir Integra shook her head. "For training exercises and sharpening our men to face the real vampires, they will do."
"Only slightly more dangerous than ghouls," Alucard shook his head. "And they dare to call themselves vampire?"
"They're within our purview now," Sir Integra frowned. "If you see one, eliminate it. Remove their heads with your hands if that's what you want. It makes no difference to me."
"I haven't met a Slayer in years," Alucard smiled wistfully. "They seem to have forgotten all about me." He said with a smirk.
"The Council wasn't well known for treating their Slayers well or keeping them informed." Sir Integra frowned over. "From what I'm told, neither Slayer knew anything about True Vampires before The Council was slaughtered."
"Pathetic," Alucard rolled his eyes at the idea. "Have they fallen so low?"
"They're extinct now." Sir Integra said simply. "The Slayer line now falls to us."
"Fascinating," Alucard mused thoughtfully.
"Do try not to irritate them," Sir Integra said, looking up and catching Alucard's eye. "As much as The Council deserved to be wiped from the face of the earth, the Slayers do a fine job in exterminating the demon breed."
"As you command," Alucard said simply before bowing and fading through the floor like a ghost.
"Wha…" Buffy stopped in her tracks, gobsmacked at the room that was beyond the doors she'd been told was hers while she was staying at the Hellsing Mansion. It was huge, with a four poster bed on one side of the room, an en-suite bathroom that would have made Cordelia cry with envy, wardrobes that spanned an entire wall and windows that reached up to the celling a dozen feet or so above her head. "Oh my god!" She cried out as she walked in, looking around in amazement. "I'm sooo taking that job." She grinned as she looked around the room, poking her head into the en-suite and going wide eyed at the size of a bath tub that looked big enough for her to swim in.
"Ah, yes, I was coming to see if your room was as equally as… opulent, as my own." Giles said from where he was stood in the door way of her room.
"Are all the rooms like this?" Buffy asked in amazement. "'Cause this is serious heaven here Giles."
"I'd assume so," Giles nodded, watching as Buffy darted about the room, looking over every inch before opening a wardrobe to look inside.
"Hey, they picked up our clothes?" Buffy asked, looking back at Giles from where her clothes had been neatly unpacked and hung up in the wardrobe neatly.
"Mine as well," Giles nodded. "I'd assume Faith's as well, but I haven't been able to find her or Xander yet."
"They'll be fine," Buffy shrugged.
"Perhaps," Giles mused thoughtfully. "We haven't had the best year so far, have we?" He asked, approaching the conversation gently. "Gwendolyn Post, Mr Trick, Angel returning, and Faith?"
"Same story," Buffy shrugged. "We deal."
"Yes," Giles nodded. "But how does everyone else deal with these things?" He frowned. "Xander, as loathe as I am to admit it, brought up some good points earlier."
"He was just angry you called him the doughnut boy," Buffy shrugged. "He'll get over it, after what happened with him and Willow, he should stay out of it for a bit."
"Hardly," Giles frowned at the thought. "What happened with Cordelia wasn't Xander's fault, you know that."
"And what happened with Angel was my fault?" Buffy demanded.
"You lied about him being back for weeks Buffy," Giles admonished. "I thought you would have at least felt something about how you treated your friends through that."
"And Xander tried to get Faith to stake him," Buffy shot back. "Not exactly seeing the friend there." She argued.
"Yes, Faith." Giles frowned. "That failure sits squarely on my shoulders." Giles admitted. "Something I mean to rectify as soon as possible." He frowned, turning away from Buffy. "Perhaps you should do the same with Xander and Faith, before they turn to others at Hellsing over you." He said simply before walking out of the room and leaving Buffy to her thoughts.
"Hey, Walter, wait up." Xander called as he jogged down the corridor away from Seras' room to catch up to where Walter had paused waiting for him.
"Yes?" Walter asked curiously, wondering what the young man wanted.
"I, uh, wanted to say thanks." Xander offered. "For all this."
"It was Sir Integra's offer, not mine." Walter said simply.
"You offered," Xander said with a smile. "The training, you said I could fight like you?"
"Did I?" Walter asked, remembering making no such comment. "With the right training, anyone can be a vampire hunter," Walter explained. "It takes someone of exceptional will to excel in such a dangerous profession, let alone survive."
"I want to learn." Xander said after a moment's thought, nodding firmly. "I can't shoot the big as… the big guns like they can, but there's other weapons right?"
"Of course," Walter nodded, gesturing for Xander to follow him. "Firearms are but one tool in Hellsing's armoury, an effective one, but far from the only tool we employ." He explained as he led Xander up the stairs to the main level.
"So, uh, what else is there?" Xander asked hopefully. "I mean, guns are good and all, and if they take down vamps I'm all for them. But I'm guessing there's a reason you have other weapons as well right?"
"Indeed," Walter nodded. "Some enemies, the calibre of bullet needed to damage such creatures is too large for a human to wield effectively. While your Slayers might be able to use such weapons, there are other ways to deal with such enemies." He explained, leading Xander through a corridor to another section of the house. "Our development room." He explained, opening the door and moving inside, turning on the lights as he did so.
"Whoa," Xander whispered, looking around at the various weapons that were scattered around the room in various forms, some half-finished, others being taken apart and reworked, and more in just parts ready to become something else.
"Quite," Walter nodded with a small smile. "I pride myself on furnishing our members with the best possible weapons for any occasion." He explained, moving through the room and standing at one of the side desks, waiting for Xander to join him. "My latest creation, the thirteen millimetre Anti-Freak Jackal." He explained, picking up the long black pistol from his desk. "Sixteen inches long, sixteen kilos in weight. It takes thirteen millimetre explosive hollow point rounds, blessed Macedonian silver of course."
"Of course," Xander parroted in amazement, looking at the gun in awe.
"Now, such a weapon is obviously beyond the capabilities of any normal human to use," Walter explained, putting the Jackal back on the desk gently. "But as I said, there are other weapons we use just as effectively."
"So, uh, what's your favourite?" Xander asked, looking around the various weapons that littered the room. "The swords?" He asked, noting five swords that were oddly shaped hanging on one wall.
"No," Walter shook his head, following Xander's gaze. "Those belonged to Paladin Anderson, he used them in an attempt on Miss Victoria's life. Blessed silver bayonets, one of the few weapons that can hurt a True Vampire."
"Ok, bad guy?" Xander guessed.
"A member of the Iscariot organisation," Walter explained. "A rather complicated matter to explain."
"Gotcha," Xander nodded.
"Though, perhaps one of these would be a good weapon for Miss Faith to handle tonight." Walter nodded thoughtfully, moving to retrieve one of the bayonets from the wall. "It would give her an edge if the team do come across any ghouls in the vicinity."
"Sounds good," Xander nodded, accepting the sword, no, bayonet he forced himself to correct and learn the proper names for the weapons, as Walter held it out for him to take.
"But my personal choice?" Walter asked, returning to the question at hand and moving to a side desk away from the others where several spools of oddly glistening strands were stored alongside various other tools. "Micro-filament wire," He explained, holding up one of the spools of the glistening thread. "Sharp enough to cut through steel, more than enough to remove a vampire's head." He explained, returning the spool of thread to its stand.
"Wire?" Xander asked in confusion as he watched Walter retrieve a pair of gloves from a drawer under the desk, inspecting them thoroughly through his monocle before removing his white gloves and replacing them with the newer pair that were thicker and had metallic rings at the base of each finger.
"Micro-filament is one of our most dangerous weapons," Walter explained. "Hard to control, even harder to master." He added, walking through the weapons around the room to a testing area at the far end where a combat dummy with various bullet holes and slashes was stored. "But when used effectively, they can be devastating." He explained, lashing one arm out sharply, letting Xander see the glittering threads float through the air before bringing his wrist down and twisting, watching as the combat dummy was eviscerated into foam and wood within seconds before bringing his wrist back up and flexing his fingers to recall the filament back to its housing.
"Holy…" Xander whispered in shock.
"Quite," Walter nodded, cutting off Xander's comment. "I must stress, weapons like these take years to master, and most who try have more scares than victories with them." He explained. "Though I'm sure with some ingenuity, we can find something more suited to your own use."
"It's like an invisible whip, but eight of them," Xander breathed out, still staring at the gloves Walter was wearing.
"Slightly more advanced, and with more applications, but the similarities are there." Walter nodded, accepting the small concession to compare the micro-filament wires with something the American was more familiar with. "Yes, I suppose a whip would be possible, given time and the appropriate materials."
"It'd be the most dangerous whip in the world," Xander laughed at the idea.
"Quite," Walter nodded in agreement. "It wouldn't be as fast, the nature of the micro-filament prevent the weight necessary for a whip to achieve its crack, but I'm sure we can think of something." He mused, thinking on the idea for a moment. "But that's something we can discuss another time, I have duties to perform and a team to equip for tonight's mission." Walter explained, peeling off the micro-filament gloves and returning them to his desk drawer.
"Oh, yeah, sorry." Xander said apologetically.
"No need," Walter shook his head. "If you could take that to Miss Faith's room, I'll have some body armour set up to her as well." He said, nodding to the bayonet that Xander was still carrying.
"Oh, sure." Xander nodded happily.
"The third floor, rooms twelve and thirteen have been set aside for you and Miss Faith." Walter explained. "I believe your luggage has already been seen to."
"Uh, thanks." Xander nodded, not really knowing what to say as he hadn't even been invited on the plane journey with Buffy and Faith when Giles organised it, he'd smuggled himself inside the luggage compartment with only a backpack of snacks and a few comics with him.
"If you do accept Sir Integra's offer of employment in the Hellsing Organisation, we do have a stricter dress code than The Council obviously did." Walter explained. "First impressions do matter you understand."
"Yeah," Xander nodded, realising that against Walter's cleanly pressed shirt, seamless waistcoat and pants combination, his loose shirt, jeans and t-shirt made him stand out more than anything.
"I'll have some things placed in your room," Walter said, noting the look on Xander's eyes. "It will be up to you if you wear them or not." He explained.
"Thanks," Xander nodded after a moments pause, thinking about the offer again. He was going to get paid to hunt vampires, have access to weapons like Walter's fancy gloves, and have people that would train him properly, not just give him a stake and ignore anything else like Buffy and Giles had done. Compared to the benefits, smartening up his clothes wasn't exactly a hard concession to make.
"Think nothing of it," Walter nodded. "Now, if you'll deliver that to Miss Faith, I do have other things to see to." Walter explained, gesturing for Xander to leave the room alongside him as he walked to the door and turned the light off.
"Faith?" Giles asked aloud, calling out to her as he saw her moving along the corridor he'd just turned down.
"Hey Giles," Faith shrugged, turning back to him. "What's going on?"
"I had been looking for you, both you and Xander." Giles explained. "I think we should talk about the things that were said earlier."
"No big," Faith shrugged the comment off.
"Regardless," Giles frowned thoughtfully. "Do you know where Xander is?"
"Went to speak with the butler guy," Faith said simply. "Talking tea or whatever else he does around here I guess."
"I'm sure making tea is hardly Walter's only job." Giles rolled his eyes at the thought. "Have you both been wandering around the mansion this whole time?" He asked, glancing at his watch and noting it had now been several hours since he'd last seen them both.
"Went outside to the firing range," Faith shrugged. "Met the vampires working here, no big." She grinned at the face Giles made at that one. "Proper Vamps, not the budget version." She smirked at him. "Girl could snap Angel in half like he was a stick." She grinned at the thought.
"The Hellsing organisation has vampires working here?" Giles asked in horror.
"Two, I think," Faith shrugged. "Talked with the girl a bit, she was pretty cool, for a vamp anyway. Killer body as well, bet the troops are drooling over her every chance they get."
"Faith, a True Vampire is hardly…"
"Yeah yeah, we got the skinny," Faith nodded. "Moves around in sunlight, hell of a lot faster than the SunnyD vamps, stronger too. Apparently her master has even more tricks, scary fucker too."
"You met her master as well?" Giles muttered in shock. "A master vampire in this mansion?"
"Tall, like, stupid tall." Faith nodded. "Crazy laugh, didn't get much more than that, aside from the urge never to be alone with him, like, ever!" She said firmly. "Vamp-Girl's out tonight on a mission with the troops, said I'd tag along, watch how they do things." Faith shrugged. "If I'm taking this job, might as well see what they do right?" She said with a nod.
"Found you!" Xander called from the other end of the hall, bringing Giles' and Faith's attention to him. "Giles." He said curtly before looking at Faith. "Walter said you'd want this?" He said, handing over the bayonet for Faith to take.
"Wicked," Faith grinned as she took the sword and looked at it glinting in the light. "Guys just handing out swords?"
"It's a bayonet," Xander corrected her, beating Giles to the correction. "Blessed silver, so be careful with it around Seras ok?"
"This thing can hurt her?" Faith asked curiously.
"Already did," Xander nodded. "Some paladin guy stabbed her with a few of them from what Walter said."
"Gotcha, thanks." Faith nodded, testing out how the bayonet felt in her hand before laying it on her shoulder gently.
"Walter will send up some body armour as well for tonight, Seras is still meeting you as seven right?" Xander asked.
"That's the plan," Faith said in agreement. "Heading out to do some damage."
"Just try not to hurt that captain guy too much alright?" Xander grinned at her. "He might just be an idiot, but he's working here already so we've got to play nice."
"Yeah yeah," Faith shrugged at what Xander was saying. "If the guys as bigger dick as Seras says, he'll get what's coming to him."
"Faith, I hardly think…" Giles trailed off, shaking his head. "Do try not to antagonise any of the soldiers if you insist on going on this mission tonight. While they may just be normal humans, they have been trained to hunt and kill creatures far stronger than you."
"No big," Faith shook her head. "Catch you then." She said before heading back to her room that she'd found earlier with Seras' help.
"Xander, I think we should…" Giles trailed off as he caught the look Xander gave him. "The reason I indicated to Sir Integra that you were a retainer for The Council was to give them a reason to allow you to work with us. Before Buffy, Slayers never had friends, or a support system that Buffy has with all of you."
"Yeah, I remember Kendra." Xander nodded.
"Exactly," Giles nodded back. "If I had simply said that you were Buffy's friend, with no other reason to be here other than you hid away on the plane against my explicit orders, there would have been no reason for her not to abandon you at the air field." Giles explained.
"Okay, I guess that actually kinda makes sense." Xander admitted bashfully.
"Both you and Willow have been integral to Buffy's continued success as a Slayer, I see that more than anyone." Giles explained. "I admit that I could have taken your training more seriously, but my focus had to be on Buffy, you must understand that."
"And what about Faith?" Xander asked. "Who was in charge of her training and finding her a place to live?"
"Yes, I admit I was rather short-sighted when it came to Faith." Giles nodded, accepting what Xander was saying.
"When we all found out Angel was back, you defended Buffy, you!" Xander shouted. "After everything Angel did."
"And I regret that," Giles admitted. "I did speak to her in private about my concerns, how I felt she had no respect for any of us if she kept that secret from us for so long."
"So why didn't you say that when we were all arguing about it?" Xander raised his voice again. "Even Cordelia saw how much of a threat Angel was, but you just sided with Buffy as always."
"As did Willow, don't forget." Giles frowned at him. "My personal thoughts aside, my job as a Watcher is to train and watch over Buffy, not you or Willow or Angel." He said firmly. "You are not blameless in this either Xander, it wasn't hard to connect the pieces when Buffy told me you came with her to stop Angelus from opening Acathla."
"He had to be stopped." Xander said firmly.
"Kick his ass," Giles raised an eyebrow. "Was that Willow's message? We've all made mistakes Xander, Buffy was just doing her job as a Slayer."
"Yeah, we got that. Like Buffy's job was to slay Angel, oh wait, no she didn't." Xander said before turning around and walking away, leaving Giles stood in the corridor. "Message received loud and clear." He said as a parting shot as he walked away.
"Blast," Giles muttered to himself, watching as Xander disappeared from view and wondering exactly when it had all gone wrong for them this year.
Sir Integra didn't even bother saying anything this time as the knock on her door interrupted her paperwork yet again, tossing her pen on the table she simply lifted a cigar out of her case and lit it, taking a moment to blow a cloud of smoke out into the room before answering. "Yes?" She called out.
"Ah, I hope I'm not intruding?" Giles asked as he slowly moved through the door and announced himself.
"What do you want?" Sir Integra asked, looking over at him. "I've got reports here of FREAK's involved in snuff films now, and the thought of what they're doing isn't sitting well with me."
"Ah, sorry." Giles frowned. "I can come back?"
"No," Sir Integra shook her head, standing up from the desk and stretching for a moment. "I could do with some time without looking at those pictures and reports." She said, looking down at the video captures Walter had produced for her in his latest briefing. "What can I do for you Mr Giles?"
"I had wanted to speak with you about a troubling matter," Giles admitted. "There were always rumours about the Hellsing special operative, not that many people put much stock in rumour."
"And now you want to know the truth?" Sir Integra guessed, raising an eyebrow before breathing in deeply from her cigar.
"I confess; I think I already do." Giles said softly. "A vampire?"
"Alucard," Sir Integra nodded. "The Hellsing family's greatest achievement."
"I see," Giles frowned.
"No, you don't." Sir Integra shook her head. "The vampire Alucard is no mere vampire," She explained, moving to lean against her desk as she enjoyed her cigar. "A hundred years of the Hellsing family's occult knowledge produced this achievement."
"I'll admit my knowledge on this form of vampire is limited," Giles explained. "The Council preferred to focus on the demonic breed, warning us to stay away from these types of vampire."
"For good reason." Sir Integra said with a nod. "Yes, we have two vampires working for Hellsing." She said, getting back to the original question. "Is that a problem for your Slayers?"
"I…" Giles frowned, thinking about it. "I don't think it should be." He admitted. "The True Vampires are very different from anything Buffy or Faith have encountered before. Though I would have liked to have been told of this before, out of curtesy."
"Will you give me the same curtesy then?" Sir Integra raised her eyebrow. "And tell me The Council's secrets?" She paused for a moment in silence, blowing out a cloud of smoke as Giles simply stared at her. "I thought as much."
"Our organizations were too different," Giles admitted with a nod. "Perhaps, in time, we can trust each other?"
"Perhaps." Sir Integra nodded.
"These FREAKs for instance?" Giles asked, hoping for at least some gesture from her.
"Artificial vampires," Sir Integra sneered at the idea, grinding out her cigar in the ash tray on her desk before turning back to Giles. "Engineered with electronic chips, even capable of turning a deflowered human into a monster."
"Oh," Giles said, not knowing what else to say at that point.
"Our scientists are working on identifying the exact procedure used," Sir Integra frowned, looking back at the reports on her desk. "But these FREAK chips are extremely advanced, it could take us years to unravel their origins."
"Perhaps I can help?" Giles asked, offering something in return. "While The Council itself has been killed, we do still have operatives around the world at our disposal. Field Watchers, custodians, operatives within certain organisations and museums around the world that keep a watch for various occult artefacts that shouldn't be in the public eye."
"Hmm?" Sir Integra raised her eye at that.
"I was planning to return to the Council Manor at some point, I could ask our men to watch for any of these FREAK chips around their areas, perhaps something will turn up?" Giles mused thoughtfully. "I can imagine that mass producing an electronic device capable of those effects must have quite a large organisation behind it."
"That was my thought too." Sir Integra nodded. "A worrying thought indeed."
"Quite," Giles nodded back. "I'll have the orders issued, if anything turns up, I'll have the information brought to you immediately."
For a moment, Sir Integra didn't know what to say, she simply looked at Giles before nodding slowly. "Thank you." She said, accepting the offer of help for what it was.
"Well, we are working together now, aren't we?" Giles smiled wryly at her.
"Yes," Sir Integra nodded, moving around her desk and pulling open the bottom draw, pulling out her spare sidearm and holster from where she'd always kept it before throwing it towards Giles for him to catch in the air. "Wear it." She said simply. "All our operatives are constantly armed, I expect you to be no exception." She said, moving to sit back at her chair.
Giles paused, looking at the belt holster Sir Integra had given him, sliding out the sidearm easily he noted the SIG Saur pistol wasn't standard issue and marked with the Hellsing Arms stamp indicating it had been modified by Hellsing for their own use.
"Nine millimetre hollow point rounds, blessed silver." Sir Integra explained. "Walter will see to any further ammunition needs you have." She said simply. "I assume you can use a gun?"
"Yes," Giles nodded quickly, sliding the pistol back into its holster. "Thank you." He said, accepting the gift for what it was.
"You'll be expected to use it, in the field, or in defence of Queen and Country," Sir Integra said, looking over at him. "Speak to one of our marksmen experts if you need to brush up on using it."
"I think I'll do that," Giles nodded. "Ah, Faith said…"
"Yes, Walter told me." Sir Integra said. "It's a simple mission, a ghoul infestation, he's already armed her accordingly."
"Yes, I saw the bayonet." Giles nodded. "You're sending one of the vampires along with the team?" He asked curiously.
"They need to get used to working with her." Sir Integra said simply. "They underestimate her, think she's one of them, when she could do the entire job for them in a quarter of the time."
"You want them to use her like a vampire?" Giles asked curiously.
"I want them to use the asset that she is." Sir Integra frowned. "Would you trust men that held your Slayer at the back and didn't use her to her full efficacy?"
"No," Giles admitted easily.
"There you have it." Sir Integra nodded. "Your Slayer will be fine, she'll need to face ghouls some time, and this controlled situation is the best we're going to get."
Giles nodded at that, accepting that at least in this situation, Faith would be covered by highly trained men who would be working alongside her. "Well, thank you again." Giles nodded, smiling at the in his hand. "I'll leave you to get back to your… well." He smiled as Sir Integra scowled at the paperwork on her desk.
It was just before nightfall as Faith walked alongside Seras and Walter out to the staging area where a group of armed men in Hellsing uniform alongside an APC were already waiting.
"Wow, you guys do this seriously," Faith whispered, noting the heavy body armour that the men were wearing along with helmets and pistols on their belts alongside the large automatic rifles they were carrying.
"Yes," Walter said simply. "I would have brought you the same armour, but I believed the lighter armour would offer enough protection, without limiting your movement like the heavy armour would have done."
"Sure," Faith nodded. She'd accepted the combat pants and shirt, wearing it loosely over a black t-shirt underneath. The Hellsing badge was displayed prominently on the left arm, while the sword Xander had given her was being carried over her shoulder casually.
"Obviously we can have a uniform tailored for your needs later on if you need," Walter nodded as they approached the APC. "But that is a discussion for later on, along with more personal weapons choices." He explained. "Ah, Captain Fargason." Walter smiled as he noted the Scottish man waiting for them.
"Aye," Captain Fargason nodded appraisingly, looking over Faith curiously. "Can't say I approve of the light armour lass, but it's better than nothing." He said before eying the bayonet she was carrying loosely over her shoulder. "Andersons?" He asked, looking at Walter.
"Yes, for now." Walter nodded. "Until the girls qualify on the range, I felt it best to allow them to play to their own strengths."
"Swords against ghouls," Captain Fargason frowned. "Sounds like a good way to get killed to me."
"I ain't you," Faith shrugged.
"Quite," Walter nodded in agreement. "A Slayer, while no match for a true vampire, is more than cable of handling several ghouls in close combat Captain. I suggest you don't underestimate Miss Faith."
"Aye, we'll see what you can do." Captain Fargason nodded before turning from them and looking at the main group. "Attention men, load 'em up. Wheels up in two minutes!" He shouted before walking away to the front of the APC and climbing into the passenger side door.
"Let's go." Seras smiled over at Faith, carrying her smaller thirteen millimetre rifle this time instead of the larger Harkonnen canon, along with a box of ammunition.
Faith nodded, waiting for the armed men to pile into the APC before Seras moved into the queue behind them waiting for Faith to follow her.
"You there,"
Seras and Faith stopped as the Hellsing Officer that was stood by the side checking everyone as they got into the APC called Seras to a stop.
"Sir?" Seras asked respectfully. "What is it?"
"I don't think you belong in a human field unit," The officer said, reaching out and holding Seras' chin, lifting it slightly so she was looking him in the eyes. "Even though you're a monster, do you ever feel the need for a man in your bed?" He asked with a smirk, staring at Seras eyes as they flashed red with anger.
"Keep that up, you ain't gonna be a man worth it." Faith said from the side, her blessed bayonet now pointed directly between the officer's legs with the sharp edge ready to flick up at a moment's notice.
"And who the hell are you?" The officer growled, looking over at Faith and letting go of Seras' chin.
"The girl that'll take those away from you if you keep it up," Faith said simply, bringing the bayonet up slightly so he could feel the blade pressing against the fabric of his uniform between his legs.
The officer didn't say anything for a moment before he actually laughed at her, looking over before turning and walking away from her. "At least the human's got more balls than the vampire." He laughed as he walked to the side of the APC. "Get in ladies, we're burning night." He said before slapping the side of the APC to indicate they were ready and climbing in behind Faith himself and claiming the last seat.
"Hmm?" Walter looked up from his computer, eying the person walking slowly into the room. "Well, it's a start at least." He said wryly, noting the tie and waistcoat were still missing from Alexander's ensemble, though he'd at least worn one of the pressed shirts and trousers that he'd had delivered to his room.
"Bit tight," Xander admitted, stretching in the grey shirt as he walked through the large library area to where Walter was sat.
"My apologies, I didn't have your measurements." He said with a small smile. "A good first step though if you want to consider Sir Integra's offer seriously."
"Yeah," Xander nodded as he came to the desk where Walter was sat. "I do."
"Excellent," Walter nodded, pointing to the computer screen. "Shall we begin then?" He asked, waiting for Xander to come around the desk to join him before clicking play on the video. "What we have here is a snuff film." He explained. "It was forwarded to us by one of our operatives who keeps an eye out for anything unusual that would pique our interest."
"Snuff film?" Xander asked, a bit disturbed by the idea. "Those aren't just an urban legend or something?" He asked, watching the video play as the man on screen was mercilessly shot. Thankfully the footage was grainy, and black and white, but the dark blood that was seeping out onto the floor in the video was certainly not faked.
"I'm afraid not," Walter shook his head. "But this is what brought it to our attention." He explained, pausing the video a few seconds on and hovering the mouse curser over a small area. "Tell me, what do you see?" He asked, gesturing for Xander to examine the video more closely as a masked man turned on the camera.
"Wait, isn't that…" Xander frowned, recognising the patch the man was wearing on his jacket as the same one Seras had been wearing on her uniform earlier on.
"The Hellsing coat of arms," Walter nodded, happy that Xander had indeed identified it correctly.
"How, I mean is this…" Xander trailed off as Sir Integra came in, closing the door to the library behind her as she looked over at the both of them.
"You wanted to see me Walter?" She asked, slowly walking through the library towards them. "Are you showing Alexander the ropes?" She asked wryly. "At least you've improved his dress sense." She smirked as she arrived at the desk.
"A work in progress," Walter admitted with a small smile. "However, managing to civilize an American is not why I asked to see you."
"As impressive as that feat may be," Sir Integra smiled, nodding at Xander to let him know she was only joking, well, half joking anyway. "What is it?" She asked, prompting him to get on with it.
"A snuff film," Walter explained. "We've been having trouble with them lately, as you know. But this one needed special attention."
"Oh?" Sir Integra asked, bringing out a cigar from her case and lighting it in a smooth motion. "Why?"
"Well, disturbingly, Alexander managed to correctly identify the Hellsing Coat of Arms appearing in the video." Walter explained.
"What?!" Sir Integra bellowed, the cigar falling from her lips onto the marble floor.
"Quite," Walter nodded, placing a hand on Xander's shoulder to steady him as he felt the young boy start to back up from Sir Integra's shout before moving around the desk and retrieving Sir Integra's fallen cigar and crushing it out in an ashtray he seemingly produced from nowhere.
"How many people have seen this?" Sir Integra asked, her calm voice returning after her outburst.
"There's no way to really tell," Walter admitted. "The film has already been online for over twenty-four hours."
"A day's a long time on the internet, right?" Xander offered, asking Walter.
"Quite," Walter nodded. "By now, it's managed to spread the way things on the internet usually do."
"Who's responsible?" Sir Integra asked, looking over at Walter and ignoring Xander for the moment.
"A TV station and some tabloid papers have already tried to publish this," Walter explained. "I'll have media management kill the story and all related information." He said quickly, anticipating Sir Integra's next order already.
"Make sure you do," Sir Integra nodded, turning to leave the library. "Hellsing's existence must never become known to the innocent masses." She said as she walked back through the library to leave.
"Whoa," Xander breathed out as Sir Integra left the library, leaving him alone with Walter. "She gets a bit intense?"
"From time to time," Walter admitted with a nod. "Sir Integra's anger was directed at the situation though, not at either of us." He explained.
"Still scary though," Xander smiled over, accepting the reassurance from someone who knew Sir Integra far better than the day he'd known her. "You know, for someone only a few years older than me."
"Yes," Walter nodded. "Sir Integra has had to grow up in rather a unique situation, as such, she never had the childhood that you, or the two Slayers, enjoyed." Walter explained. "The experience tempered her into quite the extraordinary woman you see today." He said with a smile. "Now, shall we see about killing that story?" He said with a smile, bringing over the phone from the desk and dialling through to the Media Management people under Hellsing's employ.
Camden Town
Adelaide Road
19:47
"Alright men, you're going in!" Captain Fargason ordered, watching as the eight men from the command unit let by Steadler marched out of the APC and stood at attention in front of him, with Seras and Faith coming out first and standing to the side. "You have fifteen minutes, follow Steadler." He said firmly, turning to nod at Steadler before stepping aside.
Captain Steadler saluted Captain Fargason respectfully first before turning to the assembled troops that were stood on the deserted road, it had already been cordoned off at either side and evacuated for their team to do what needed to be done. "Don't disappoint me, in and out in ten minutes." He said firmly, watching as the men chambered the rifles and turned to the building that had been targeted for their infiltration.
"Victoria!" Captain Steadler called her, pulling her away from where she was following the troops towards the building. "Planning to hide at the back were you?" He asked with a smirk.
"No sir," Seras shook her head.
"Then let's have that door down." Captain Steadler ordered, holding his hand out for her large thirteen millimetre rifle and handing her a grenade launcher to use. "You, cover the vampire." He said, looking at Faith who was still carrying her silver bayonet.
"Whatever," Faith shrugged, watching as Seras nodded before leading her into the building, moving through the main door and past the soldiers waiting for her towards the stairs and up to the level they had been told about.
"Guy's a dick," Faith muttered as she followed Seras, acutely aware of the eight other soldiers following behind her.
"Not now," Seras shook her head, in business mode now as they arrived at the second floor of the building, indicating to the soldiers following behind Faith to stand by the side while she took the lead. "I'll go in first." She said, nodding over to the troops who nodded back in confirmation.
"Right behind you," Faith said, following her with her bayonet at the ready, though feeling slightly under armed considering the large grenade launcher Seras was carrying and the assault rifles that the rest of the troops had.
The door practically splintered under her kick as she landed her boot squarely on the centre, moving quickly around and training her weapon into the room for any threat before walking inside when she'd cleared the room, noting only the uniformed man on the floor that was bleeding out from a vicious bite on her neck.
"Damn," Faith winced, following Seras into the room and looking at the twitching corpse on the floor.
"It's a mercy," Seras said coldly, leaning the grenade launcher on her shoulder and bringing out her sidearm, already loaded with blessed silver bullets, before shooting the corpse in the forehead. "They become ghouls otherwise." She explained, seeing the look on Faith's face.
"Right," Faith nodded, a bit shocked at the cold expression Seras had on her face as she'd put a bullet into the corpse.
"Follow me," Seras said, indicating for Faith to follow her out of the room where the rest of the troops were waiting. "Sweep on." She said, turning back into the corridor and moving to the next room.
The next two rooms were completely clear, but the groaning and shuffling noises coming from the last room told her they were close to their target. "On me," Seras ordered, stepping far back from the door and bracing herself, making sure the area was clear before firing at the door and obliterating it completely.
The smoke and debris took a few seconds to clear from the air, but the groaning sound that echoed through the corridor came barely seconds before the first few ghouls started moving through the smoke and dust.
"Ghouls!" Seras glared, wishing Captain Steadler hadn't replaced her rifle with the grenade launcher now, this sort of weapon was no good for close combat.
The rest of her thoughts were silenced immediately as Faith sprang into action, jumping ahead and swiping clean through three of the ghouls in one attack, sending their heads rolling to the floor as she landed herself.
"Down!" Seras ordered, watching in surprise as Faith immediately rolled away from the three decapitated corpses that fell to the ground with more following behind them. "Fire!" She ordered, stepping away from the men behind her that opened fire with their rifles, cutting the ghouls to shreds with their blessed ammunition.
Hellsing Mansion
"Yes," Sir Integra nodded, standing in the corridor with Giles where she'd found him. "The Roundtable meeting will be held on Sunday, not Monday as I'd hoped." She explained. "It seems Cornelius had an objection to Monday for some reason."
"I'm not familiar with Cornelius," Giles admitted, shaking his head.
"No matter," Sir Integra shook her head, it didn't really matter anyway, the Minister was an imbecile as far as she was concerned, too entrenched in his own society to care about the larger affairs of Queen and Country. "I've already had Walter begin preparations." She explained. "We can discuss…"
"Sir Integra!"
Both Sir Integra and Giles looked down the corridor above the stairwell in surprise at Walter's urgent shout, it was most unlike him to shout for her attention when he could have just come up the stairs and politely announced himself.
"There's something you need to see." Walter continued as Sir Integra and Giles looked on. "Urgently, you too Mr Giles." He explained, waiting for them both to start heading for the stairs before he moved to wait for them at the bottom.
"What is it?" Sir Integra asked as she came to the bottom of the stairwell with Giles following her.
"Please," Walter gestured for them to move through into the offices to the side where Xander was waiting for them. "Alexander notified me as soon as he saw it." He explained.
"It's on a live feed I think," Xander explained, turning the small TV on the desk around to face where Walter, Sir Integra and Giles were coming in to the office. It was grainy and in green hues, but was unmistakably night vision camera footage of the very mission Faith and Seras were currently on. The footage was currently showing Hellsing troops opening fire on ghouls, being broadcast live on television for all to see.
"We can't let ourselves be revealed on national television!" Sir Integra shouted. "This is a nightmare!"
"I've contacted Captain Fargason and ordered our men to pull back for the moment," Walter explained their current situation. "Our men in the media are trying to get through to the station now."
"Bring the car, I'll see to this in person!" Sir Integra ordered. "I want that footage off the air now!"
"I'll drive," Giles nodded. "Walter and Alexander are needed to keep an eye on things from here I'd believe?" He asked, looking at Sir Integra who simply nodded in response.
"Fine," Sir Integra ground out. "Let's go."
