Hellsing: The Order/The Beginning
Rating: PG-13
Chapter 1: Destination New Spain
Disclaimer: I don't own Hellsing, don't claim to, only doing this for fun.
"Good work Andrew," said Pope Urban VIII, smiling almost benevolently upon his favored servant. He picked at some nonexistent dirt beneath his fingernails, and asked in a somewhat less jovial tone, "You were recently in the north, how goes the war?"
"Horrid as ever when Christians fight Heretics," declared Father Andrew Bervaldi, "The Habsburgs may claim they hold not loyalty except that to the Church, but they merely seek to protect their own interests. The Swedish intervention continues to drive back our Catholic League, and Wallenstein was killed months ago by one of his own soldiers for attempting to negotiate a cease fire."
"Despite that unfortunate news, I believe you know which war I was referring to," said Urban VIII with an icy tone, but still benevolent smile on his face. He didn't have to spell it out for the Priest before him, and he knew it. He had Generals and Kings to tell him the state of that war that had begun with the Bohemian Revolt.
"The war my new…Order…wages against the Undead amongst the Protestant forces goes as well as can be expected Holiness," said Father Andrew Bervaldi softly, lest there be listeners behind curtains elsewhere in the room, "We've yet to lose a member, and we recently slayed one of the vampires that has been giving us trouble. We believe he was once a Swede."
Silence pervaded the room, and Andrew Bervaldi knew that his superior was digesting this information mentally, committing it so firmly to memory that he would never have need to write it down. Upon creating the Iscariot Order, Pope Urban VIII had decreed that no information about its existence would ever be committed to paper; all in all a wise decision befitting someone of the Papal tiara.
"What of your friend, Galileo," asked Father Bervaldi carefully, "I understand that he has been in the hands of the Holy Office of the Inquisition since April?"
"Unfortunately," said Pope Urban VIII his frown deepening, "He has yet to recant the beliefs he unfortunately espoused in the Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. I've unfortunately had to order he be given the Examination of Intention."
"I see," said Father Bervaldi, frowning also. He knew that Urban VIII must be feeling deep pain at having to issue such an order. That his friend be shown the instruments of torture that the Holy Office of the Inquisition would use in coercing a confession, and under his order, would undoubtedly be taking a toll upon him.
"Leave me with my thoughts Andrew," said the Pope sullenly, "I will summon you back to my chambers when I have need of you again."
To Father Andrew Bervaldi's surprise he was summoned again the next day by the Pope to come to his chambers. As he entered, a Cardinal in red left the room hurriedly. Cardinal Barberini, the Pope's nephew. It would seem that Galileo's trial had been concluded with less than satisfactory results. He entered the room and kneeled briefly, "I am sorry to His Holiness about his friend's trial."
Pope Urban VIII nodded briefly, "At least he has been spared burning at the stake, and I believe I can stop his prison sentence and commute it to a form of house arrest. He has admitted his guilt due to his regrettable state of physical unwellness. He has been said to abjure, curse, and detest his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. Which as we both know is heresy."
"Of course, heresy of the highest order," agreed Father Andrew Bervaldi quickly, not saying that he believed Galileo might have had a good point in all of his works. He bit his lip, "I take it the heretical work is being burned, and that it has been placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum?"
"It has," said Pope Urban VIII, "As must be the case for all heretical works. Even if we must sacrifice those we call friends, we are called to defend the faith from heresy, from blasphemy, and from the minions of the Devil. Even if Lucifer's demons inspire those we would give mercy, we must be ever vigilant against them. That is part of why I have summoned you here Andrew…our vigilance is growing stronger here in Europe, but the New World is woefully undefended from native superstitions mixing with our own Christian beliefs to create heresies."
"As well as the Protestant power of England and her colonies," surmised Andrew Bervaldi with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed. Your mission to fight heresy and the undead minions of Satan will be quite dangerous in both Catholic and Protestant territory," said Pope Urban VIII in a dangerously calm tone, "The Huguenots have been crushed by Richelieu in France, and he has reinstated his lap dog Samuel de Champlain as commander of New France. You may wish to tread carefully in New France should you go to that territory. However, I'm sending you to New Spain as a starting point. It seems that a heresy has begun to spread on the outskirts of the capital, Havanna. Once there, I'm certain that you will find other jobs to do. Report back to me in one year."
"Holiness," said Father Bervaldi with a bow. Then he rose and left the room. He would have to pack, and leave behind instructions for which of his subordinates would lead the newly formed Iscariot Order here in Europe while he was doing God's Work in the New World.
