A/N: Now we start speeding up the action as pieces fall into place. And congrats to StormBlazer for guessing the surprise right, though I suppose it was a bit obvious.
He reached up and flicked a switch on the overhead console, powering up the transponder that broadcast the information to an airport's control tower. He glanced back at the back of the cabin as the door opened and Alucard's lanky form came in, settling into the co-pilot's seat.
"How long?" he asked as he glanced across the controls with a slight air of distaste.
Hunter gave a loose shouldered shrug. "Ten, maybe fifteen minutes to Los Angeles, then maybe another thirty minutes if the landing pattern is full." He adjusted the radio frequency to that used most often by American airports. "In any case, I need to get ready and broadcast our approach. If you want to go and get a bite to drink or something, be my guest."
The vampire stood and left as Hunter adjusted the altitude and glanced at the slats control, making sure it was still in the locked position. The N-22 had a problem with the slats deploying in mid-flight in the past, and while only a novice pilot would have difficulty correcting the problem, he wanted to avoid things like that occurring in the middle of trying to land the plane. He pulled the microphone on his headset a bit lower and hit the transmit switch.
"LAX Tower, this is Hellsing 257 out of London, approaching your airspace. Requesting permission to enter the landing pattern."
A voice came back a moment later, cool and rather bored. "Hellsing 257, LAX Tower. Permission granted to enter the landing grid. Hold position at Angels 3 by two."
Hunter acknowledged the orders and descended to three thousand feet and proceeded to hold a circling pattern two miles out. He set the autopilot to hold this position and stood, going to the back cabin to check his 'baggage' and get something to eat. Alucard was perched in one of the chairs, long legs crossed and a half-drunk blood pack in his hands. His coffin lay in the aisle, the dark wood gleaming in the cabin lights.
"So, how are you going to get my coffin through the security?" asked the No-Life King.
Hunter shrugged as he pulled a sandwich from the small refrigerator in the galley. He took a large bite out of it and sat down in a chair facing the vampire. "I thought about using some of your mind control on the customs official, but why do that when we can simply have the plane 'transferred' to another base for routine maintenance? The Norton factory isn't too far from here, and this one is old enough that having it return to the factory for upgrades wouldn't be out of the ordinary."
Alucard gestured to the case that sat at the Dhampir's feet. "And that?" he asked.
He toed the case with his left foot. "Well, let's just hope that whoever lets me through hasn't seen Desperado."
The control panel pinged, indicating that there was someone attempting to contact them through the radio. Hunter rushed up to the cockpit, pulling his headset on and hitting the transmit switch.
"Tower, H 257, go ahead."
A different voice came on the channel, one that sounded younger and with a trace of urgency in it. "H 257, you are cleared for immediate landing on runway one. Repeat, you have clearance for immediate landing on runway one."
Hunter frowned. The voice sounded familiar."Tower, H 257. Not that I'm objecting, but why the clearance? I count five planes with prior arrivals."
The voice came back. "H 257, Tower. You are cleared because we have a situation in the terminal that requires your, unique, touch."
Hunter stiffened. "Tower, H 257. Define 'situation' if you would, please."
"H 257, Tower. It's bad, and civilians are involved as well."
Shit. "Alucard! The terminal! GO!"
He felt the shift as the vampire phased from the plane, as well as the sense of expectation of fun.
"Tower, H 257. Help is en route. Coming in for a landing."
"Roger H 257. Call the ball."
As Hunter lined the small plane up, he called out to Alucard.
Leave some for me, will you?
Hurry up then, Thanatos.
Seras sat back and smiled at Integra's shocked look. The master of Hellsing was up a moment later, coming forward and hugging the woman.
"Congratulations," she said, smiling. "Have you told James yet?"
She shook her head. "No, he was gone before the results came in, and at this distance telepathic communication is iffy at best, as you know." She smiled, a hand brushing across her abdomen. "But I still can't help but wonder if this is the right thing, to bring a child into the world at this time, with all that's going on."
Integra smiled warmly. "I'm sure our parents asked the same question, Seras. After all, the world is always in turmoil, and the prospects of parenthood are daunting." The taller woman trailed off, her mind drifting.
"London to Sir Integra," came the soft voice of Seras. She shook her head, clearing her musings. She smiled apologetically at the other woman.
"Sorry, don't know where I went." She brushed her hands against her sleeves, flicking away non-existent lint from the material.
Seras smiled softly. "Have you and Alucard talked about it?" she asked.
Integra smiled wistfully. "The question had been raised, but it never really went any further than discussion. Still though, there have been times that I envy those with a family, something that I feel I had to leave behind when I took the reins of this organization."
Seras reached out and gripped the older woman's hand.
"There are still a lot of years left where you can have that family, Integra. Meanwhile," she grinned. "You want to leave the serious part of our duties behind and go out like two normal women?"
"And do what, Major?" asked the blonde, her eyes smiling.
"Well, I am pregnant," she said, rising. "That means in nine months we're going to have to have a nursery set up." She took her friend's arm and guided her for the door.
"Who better to help me design the room's décor than one of my friends? Sides, Eugene would just start crying at the idea."
They both laughed as the image of the normally tough commander shedding tears of joy went through their minds.
James did a post-flight in record time, leaping from the pilot's chair and racing for the aft compartment, pausing long enough to snag his pistols from their hiding place inside the guitar case, placing the weapons slides against his legs and pushing down, causing them to slide back and snap back into place, chambering rounds. He then phased out to the terminal in time to see Alucard thrusting his hand through the chest of a large FREAK that leapt at him. He spun as motion caught his eye and fired Abel into the skull of the ghoul that had levered itself out from behind the baggage claim.
There weren't any civilians left, save those that were now ghouls or dead. James shook his head. More senseless losses. He fired another round to his left without looking, dusting the FREAK that rounded the corner. He could feel his eyes shifting, fangs growing slightly. He grinned as he tucked his pistols away for a moment, letting himself take a few on with his bare hands as his comrade was.
Alucard meanwhile had picked up one of the ghouls and flung it across the room, driving it and one of its companions back into a small sculpture, impaling them on one of the sharp spires that rose from the abstract art. He grinned and turned to fire the Jackal at another ghoul, the round ripping through it and the one behind it, depositing both on the ground as ashes.
He took a moment to consider his pistol, rebuilt so carefully after the incident with Incognito. He had gotten it back just in time to go to Rio de Janeiro, the fight with the military police and Tubalcaine Alhambra. What a rout that had been, one worthy of his time, though it had been frightfully brief. His moment of reflection over, he fired another two rounds, clearing the last of the FREAKS and ghouls out from his sight.
Hunter similarly finished his hunt and brushed his hands off. "That was fun," he said, smirking.
"It's about time you two got here," a voice said.
Turning, Alucard saw a tall, broad shouldered man step from the shadows. He had a wool coat over his frame and his short hair wasn't combed quite straight.
"Well, well," said the No-Life King. "It's been quite some time, Angelus."
"Actually, Alucard, its Angel now," said Hunter, stepping forward and extending his hand. "I thought it was your voice on the comm. How've you been?"
The tall man shook his hand and smiled. "Bout as you'd expect. Still got Spike to deal with and Buffy is taking her sweet time in choosing between us. But then, I ain't getting any older."
"How'd you know we were coming?" purred Alucard.
"The scientist in charge of the facility you were planning on visiting has a good friend of mine in their employ, someone I used to know as Fred. She passed the word on to me, and I merely made sure that I was on hand when the time came. Good thing, too, otherwise this place would have been turned into a buffet." He stuck his hands into his pockets. "Shall we?"
Hunter looked at Alucard and shrugged.
"What about cleanup?" asked the Dhampir.
Angel waved it off. "People in LA have seen worse than piles of dust and bullet ridden walls. After all," he said as he turned to stalk away.
"There have been at least four apocalypse attempts since I've been here."
Ezekiel Kane smiled at the report from Doctor Thompson. "You're sure of this?" he asked.
The doctor nodded, fear evident in his eyes. "There is no mistake. This is the tracer enzyme common to both samples. I could give more information if I had more to work with, but you haven't told me much other than to look for a common enzyme in two blood samples."
The man nodded and waved his hand in dismissal. "Very well. You've earned a few days rest. Use them well."
The doctor fled as well as he could on his injured leg.
He considered the implications of this find. A new change to the virus. One that would be able to take care of all vampires, not just the artificial ones and the weak fledglings.
He smiled, allowing his sharp teeth to show. It was all going according to plan.
Piano intro
Cut off the light, take a look
There's nothing beyond but pain
Suffer in the deepest void
The flame of hope is gone
What have I done?
Denied the Father and the Son
For a moment it seemed
There's space beyond the spheres
Aflame the night
So clear and bright
Unstable light
You've been sacrificed in fear
Now there's one thing for sure
I'm not afraid anymore!
Day after day we've been fixed in this bowl for so long
For ages we're captured in shells and crystallized walls
Predestined or punished by Man or God?
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me
And for a while astronomy's moved the Earth
And we've turned around the Sun
Sanctum Officium
Has made me believe
Has made me believe
Has made me believe
"We know for sure you're lying
Would you like to mess with Holy Scion?
You know the fear of dying
Would it be worth it to hear you crying"
I've slaughtered truth and I've shattered my heart
Far too long I have played with hellfire
And science has turned into madness
But I should have taken it higher
So I feel, so I feel
Like Judas must have felt before
That Wednesday night near by the tree
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me
Day after day we will gratefully suffer for more
Predestined's our part so we bleed in the name of God
Don't believe in their eternity
We're still held in blindness
And I've been turned into a liar
If there is no Heaven there won't be release
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me
Preview
Seras: So I'm going to have a baby?
Author: Yes, but don't get too worked up about it yet, that's still many chapters and nine months away.
Seras: Don't get worked up about it? How can't I?This is great news, HUGE news. James!
Hunter: What?
Seras: Did you hear?
Author: Actually, Major, I'd like it if you would give the preview for the next chapter before informing your husband.
Hunter: Inform me of what?
Chapter 8:Peacekeeper
