"Arucard."
"Yes, Master." The ancient vampire slid head-first from his portal and slowly rotated 180 degrees. His Master watched with a slight frown, hands neatly folded on her desk. Her husband stood at ease beside her, hands behind his back and smirking. Arucard landed on his feet. Elizabeth was very much like Integra. Cool, precise, fiercely dedicated. She had overseen the changes dictated to the Hellsing Organization by the UEF with aplomb, something Integra would not have tolerated. Arucard idly wondered what would have happened if Integra had been alive.
"You will be in charge of the continent. These are the countries you may patrol as you will. Our bases there will keep you supplied as needed. Remember, you are not to feed on humans." Elizabeth's ice-blue eyes pinned him as she handed him a map. Arucard smirked and bowed slightly.
"As you wish, Sir Elizabeth." He glanced over the map. France, Germany, Poland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands. Strange how the ancient borders were still used, considering the humans had united under a world flag and government, calling themselves the United Earth Federation.
"Your train leaves tonight in three hours. Are you ready?" She asked, settling back in her chair. Her husband reached over and stroked her shoulder, playing with her dark brown hair. Arucard often wondered if Elizabeth's hair was from her unknown father.
"I only have one carryon." He reminded her, ignoring the affection between the couple. Another key difference between mother and daughter. Elizabeth dared to love.
"Ah, yes. Where will you be stationing that?"
"I was thinking Paris."
"Very well. I will alert our Paris office to expect you. The rest of the bases have arrangements made for you if you need them." Elizabeth's frown smoothed out when Arucard blinked at her.
"They do?"
"It was Michael's idea."
"It took some tweaking, but I got Iscariot to assist me. Romania is technically their domain." Michael said, grinning. Arucard returned the smirk, imagining the fuss Iscariot had put up.
"We have been under the same flag for fifteen years and they still insist on this petty rivalry." Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head slightly. Arucard chuckled softly.
"I don't think they've forgiven you two for falling in love." Michael had been one of Iscariot's elite priest-knights. When the UEF demanded all the undead hunter organizations to join forces, Iscariot had been the loudest protestors. Not even Asia's Witch Hunters, long known to be insular, put up such a fight. Elizabeth took control of that first meeting and proved herself Integra's heir and a true leader. Michael was floored. After several months, both admitted their feelings and took steps to marry. Iscariot nearly imploded. Arucard smirked, remembering Paladin Andersong's reaction. That had been quite amusing.
"Nor are they likely to. Iscariot always was hidebound. I speak from experience." Michael broke Arucard's reminiscing.
"I will have another secondary made for you here in case we need you."
"You are generous, Sir Elizabeth. I doubt Integra would have thought of my comfort." She never had, Arucard reminded himself. To Integra he had been a slave. Useful, but beneath her. Elizabeth treated him respectfully, the best agent Hellsing had. Michael, likewise, was courteous.
"Mother was only in charge of this island. I must think more broadly. Sending you to the continent is not to my liking, but the Council agreed it would be best to spread the vampire agents around. Even the X-Team has their two patrolling different areas of North America." Elizabeth shrugged off his compliment.
"For the best, I am sure, cara mia. Those two fought like cats and dogs." Michael chuckled at the memory.
"It was rather amusing." Arucard agreed.
"Enough. You are dismissed, Arucard. I expect daily reports."
"Until the next quarter, Master." He bowed slightly and disappeared. The continent to wander as he pleased! What a pity he could not hunt.
"Glad to meet you, Lord Arucard." Commander Lewis nodded as Arucard walked into the office through the wall. The vampire bared his fangs.
"Hello, Commander. I hope you have some fun for me."
"I think so. Here's what we have so far." Lewis handed Arucard a file. Inside were several sketches, detailed reports and a map with several black dots. "It's a nest. 4 elders and a dozen or so fledglings. They show up in a village once a week, snag two or three victims and take them back to the lair. The lair moves roughly on the same schedule. We've eliminated 20 fledglings so far and the elders keep making more. All the fledglings are in their late teens or early twenties. Street kids and gang members."
"Children like that do not deserve immortality." Arucard handed the file back.
"Maybe the elders have a fetish for young ones. We've captured a few, they referred to one as 'Father'. We think he's the eldest of the four. Apparently, he's the one that does the turning. His lieutenants take the fledglings out for hunting and pick up victims. We've been tracking the nest and we think they'll be heading to this village next. I've sent out an advance squad." Lewis pulled out the map and pointed to the location.
"How many targets?"
"We expect at least 15, mostly fledglings. They're easy to pick off. It's the lieutenants that are tricky. Fade into the woodwork like you do."
"Fascinating. I'd better be on my way."
"Oh, before you go. I want you to keep an eye out for rogue agents." Arucard's ears perked. This was new.
"Rogue?"
"We had a break-in about three weeks ago."
"Theft?" Arucard's eyebrows went up. Stealing from Hellsing had never happened before. This trip was getting better and better!
"You'd better see for yourself." Lewis stood and led Arucard to the weapons lockers down the hall. "We had several ex gang members volunteer some months back. They had lost…comrades to the nest and wanted revenge."
"How quickly did they die?" Arucard asked, smirking. Lewis grinned and shrugged.
"They lasted about four months, not bad for hot-heads. The break-in happened a week later."
"Someone talked."
"Exactly. There was no forced entry and the cameras had been scrambled. We changed the codes immediately and there hasn't been a repeat." Lewis unlocked one of the lockers. Inside were several pistols and rifles. One shelf, however, held a small pile of coins. Arucard took one out and examined it. A swastika was imprinted on one side.
"Gold?"
"Ancient at that. We tested it. Dates from the second world war."
"Nazi gold." Arucard bent the coin in half with his fingers and tossed it back in the locker disgustedly.
"Here's the kicker. With the gold market tanked as it is, all of that barely covers the cost of the two pistols that were taken."
"Serves them right. What else was taken?" Lewis opened another locker. Sitting on top of two cases of ammunition was a set of diamond jewelry. Arucard picked up the necklace and held it high. Light bounced off the stones, making a rainbow around him. The necklace was designed like a pair of fairy wings, with one large stone in the middle for the body.
"The jewels were for an entire case of ammunition, six clips and four stray boxes of bullets. The thief also opened our artifact lockers and took ten vials of holy water. They left bread, wine and fruit."
"Our little thief knows his history. Holy objects cannot be traded for material goods. Only offerings can be given." Arucard twirled the necklace. "I'm keeping this."
"Go right ahead. We have no use for it. Diamonds went the way of gold after colonization started." Lewis slammed the lockers closed. He cocked his head. "The advance team has arrived. They're searching the village."
"I'm on my way. This is turning out to be a most interesting trip." Looking forward to hunting, Arucard faded out. The advance team would be easy to find and from there… He whistled to himself, transformed into a flock of bats and flew off.
Arucard strolled through the village, limited control release open and enjoying the scent of blood in the air. The squad had engaged the enemy on the outskirts. While the fledglings threw themselves into the fight, the lieutenants had slipped into the village itself. Gunfire erupted in an alley off to his left. Arucard turned and watched a young woman run out of the alley, a 12" Casul clenched in her teeth while she changed the clip of a second. Arucard could see the words "Hellsing Organization" clearly written on the guns. The woman, dressed all in black except for gleaming silver around her throat and wrists, ducked into a doorway to finish rearming herself.
"Damned Hellsing. Why do they continue to waste time with the newborns when the elders are the true problem?" She muttered, switching guns. Arucard wandered over and peered into the alley.
"Elder? Don't make me laugh, little thief. This is a cheap copy, a worm trying to be a man."
"Thief?"
"Worm?" The vampire charged. Arucard brought up his Jackal and smiled as he blew the vampire's torso in half.
"That's not going to work, you know." The thief said, coming to the entrance of the alley. "I've already tried." Arucard glanced over his shoulder, then turned back. Sure enough, the vampire had regenerated.
"How wonderful! After all these years, another challenge worthy of an A plus! Come on, come out into the night. Let us fight without restrictions!" Arucard backed out of the alley, beckoning. The lieutenant frowned, glancing between him and the woman.
"Ah, Diane. Finally found yourself some help, I see. Why do you not come with us? You are wasted as a human." The vampire purred, sauntering closer. Diane snorted.
"Give it UP, Hensel." Diane raised her Casuls. "Maybe if we both aim for the head?" She whispered to Arucard.
"And deprive me of my fun? You really are a thief." Arucard shoved her aside and shot Hensel's arm off. "Come on, Hensel! Come on, come on! Join me out here where we may battle in comfort." Hensel glared as he pulled himself together.
"I know you. You're Hellsing's pet. It's been how many years, Arucard, and you still serve humans? Grow a pair already." Hensel unsheathed a sword and charged out of the alley.
"Blades at a gun fight. You must be confident." Arucard taunted, dodging the strike easily. Diane picked herself up from the cobblestones, only to dive out of the way as Hensel slid in her direction.
"Will you two watch it? Gods, boys with their toys." Diane yelled, standing. The vampires ignored her, tossing aside their weapons to fight with shadows and fangs. Diane gaped.
"Yes, yes, yes! Show me everything!" Arucard cried, his shadow-hounds howling in rabid joy. Hensel's hounds, gray and slobbering, charged in. A pitched battle raged up and down the street, verbal barbs danced between the opponents as gracefully as their shadows twined and lunged. Diane retreated to an alley and found a fire escape. She headed for the roof, eager to see this display of power. Arucard's hounds gained an edge, consumed Hensel's and closed in on Hensel himself.
"Is this all you have?" Arucard asked resignedly. Hensel glared from a hound's jaws.
"My father will avenge me."
"Suit yourself." The hounds tore Hensel apart and ate him hungrily. Arucard sighed as his hounds retreated back into himself. "Well, that was entertaining. Maybe the others will give me better sport." He walked off down the street.