Back again folks. Yeah, I'm not going to beg for reviews this time, just going to get on with the story. I want you guys to read and review, but that doesn't mean its going to happen, so fine.

I'll leave it at, Hellsing does not belong to me, nor its characters. My characters are my own though.

Jeremy Cromwell paced back and forth, his feet beating down a steady rhythm and his eyes unconsciously following a rather similar one as they looked about. Nervous? Well yeah, the looking about was a sure sign that he was high strung. But then Jeremy wasn't hiding it from anyone, hell he was practically jumping out of his skin.

Jon should have been back, him, Alucard, Ceres, and Integra, that was their mission, to get the Hellsing Organization out of the tower. The Queen Mum herself had ordered them, well no ordered was the wrong word. Officially the Hellsing Organization was a terrorist group, even the queen couldn't turn back time and undo the news broadcast that had made it appear that the organization had attacked the tower. However, that wouldn't stop a certain special ops group from getting them out, all the guards were supposed to be in on it, or at least that was the way it was supposed to work.

When Jeremy and Jon got to the tower, well let us say that they had both smelled a rat. That was why they had gone into things with secret agent as their mum word. He and Jon had both agreed, in and out was the best strategy, they had to hurry, too many strange things had been happening lately. Too much and on too many fronts.

Something was up, there was some plan in motion that none of them could see, Jeremy was sure of it. All the vampires, demons, ghosts, and the devils. It all had to be connected some how, Jeremy didn't believe in coincidence. No, everything was happening for a reason, there was even a reason for Jon being late.

He surely didn't decide to stop and sightsee, so with that ruled out, the young British man could only think of one other possibility. Jon was in trouble, nothing new about that really, but it meant that it was time that Jeremy called for reinforcements.

Reaching into the breast pocket of the suit jacket he wore, Jeremy's fingers wrapped about the small cell phone. A press of a button had the phone slide open, the newest thing, something that spoke instantly of its tech savvy owner.

Jeremy loved technology, loved it almost as much as he loved his family's claim to fame. Whenever new bits of tech came out, the latest model this, the latest model that, Jeremy was always first in line and then back home seeing if there was something he could do to combine his passions. He was a simple creature that way, as composed and gathered as the suits he wore or the personality he challenged the world to hate, but right now Jeremy's composure was a fragile thing. It was the same as his voice when he pressed the "Prog." Button on his phone and got an answer on the first speed dialed ring.

"Jeremy?" The voice on the other end was a husky purr.

To most people, a voice sounding like this might have been disconcerting. There were only a few situations that got a woman's voice to sound that way, well that or genetics. In this case, Jeremy didn't have to be told it was genetics. Any one that had ever met the woman belonging to that voice would have known it was genetics.

"Yes, I'm here Lucia." Jeremy said.

"What's happened?" That was Lucia, like a stake, always to the heart of the matter.

"I'm not sure, ma'am. All I know is that the security set up was much removed from the files we received. Reality was a mess I'm afraid. Jonathan has infiltrated. He managed to get in unseen by the guard, though they were definitely not the English Royal Guard that the Queen promised. From Jon's descriptions there was a mix of the pre-prescribed policemen, the limited press that they are allowing in, and what looked to be special task force operatives. Rather they be M-I5 or not, well that we are unsure of. We are sure only that they are out in force."

The woman seemed to take all of this in silence, it was as if she were remembering every word, every observation, and taking it to memory. And since Jeremy knew how good her memory was, odds were pretty good that she was doing just that.

"M-I5 or no, I wouldn't be worried about Jon. But you think it is more than that, don't you?"

Jeremy paused, not sure what to say. Not one to go throwing ridiculous theories about, the last Cromwell considered his statement carefully. He thought it through, then spoke carefully.

"Well ma'am, I…"

She interrupted before he could get out a single of his carefully chosen words.

"Jeremy, I know you remember? We've worked together for years and our ancestors before us. Stop stalling I don't need a pretty speech. And besides, I feel the same way. Too many things have been happening lately. Just last night the vampire Incognito was silenced by Alucard, but only after almost sacrificing Sir Integra. Conveniently, not only us, but Lazarus as well were away from London It does not take genus."

Jeremy nodded, then realized that the woman couldn't see the expression. Was his nervousness growing so much? Probably.

"Yes ma'am, you're right." He answered.

She sighed, it was a sound as husky as her speaking voice and now it was a tired sound. It was heavy with a thousand concerns, a thousand theories, and less than fifty men and women. The recent events hadn't been kind, Jeremy knew that. He'd been a part of it. But it all felt so much worst hearing it flow out of one of the people that he respected most in the world. Coming from her lips, even only as a sigh, well it made Jeremy think that things were probably worst than he knew.

"We'll be there soon, Jeremy." The woman's tired voice said.

"I await your arrival…"Jeremy started to say, instead he simply clicked off his phone, because the line was already dead. Yeah, like a stake, sharp and to the heart of the matter. That was Lucia Elizabeth Solomon, and to the heart didn't give much time for pleasantries like; hello or good-bye.

"Good-bye Sir Lucia." Jeremy said to no one, on the other end of his phone line, then the phone was once again in his pocket and Jeremy began to pace again.

The vampire Alucard froze. No, not paused, he didn't just stop, he froze solid, unmoving and not breathing. He was simply present and perfectly still. Little more than a statue.

Astaroth stared at him, a pleased smile on his face. It was obvious that this was just the reaction that the devil had been expecting. As if to affirm this, the devil spoke again, his smile widening with each word.

"Just think of it Alucard…freedom. I kill her and you get the one thing that you've wanted more than anything else in your entire life. All I ask is that you consider joining us. My brothers would be glad to have our little brother join us…they'd be ecstatic."

Still Alucard was silent, like stone.

"Join you? He'll destroy you…every single last one of you."

Astaroth's smile wavered then, his eyes shifted from their place on Alucard and toward the voice. For a moment the devil simply looked at the werewolf, but the wolf wasn't looking at him. No, instead the big wolf-man was looking over his shoulder. The devil watched as his body tensed.

"You." The wolf's deep voice accused.

"Yes, me." The reply was that voice, that voice that had spoke of Alucard destroying him. Its reply was amused, teasing. Astaroth hated it, he'd tear out the speaker's vocal cords.

The werewolf stood for a moment longer, after the voice said. "Let me see him."

The seven foot tall man-beast looked as if it wanted to argue, it opened its muzzle as if it would speak, then closed it just as quickly. The ebony and ivory furred beast let out a soft growl, turned focusing golden eyes on the devil once again. He didn't look Astaroth in the eye, still being careful, the devil hated that, but still he noticed the beast's pure hatred. Such a thing was amusing coming from a lower life form like a werewolf, but something about the look that gave Astaroth pause. He knew instantly something wasn't right about the beast.

Astaroth and his brothers had defeated him and the others before, it hadn't been hard, but something wasn't right. Not right about him.

The werewolf moved, he and Alucard had been nearly shoulder to shoulder, the two of them had all but filled the hallway. Nothing could have been seen behind them, and so it was that it was a complete surprise when the werewolf moved backward. Four simple steps and suddenly the devil saw the cell doors, both wide open.

Then from behind the werewolf and Alucard respectively, two petite figures. The first one was a mere girl. A short golden blond in a short blue skirt, tight, a matching shirt. She was wearing a uniform of some sort, big in the chest, small in the waist, pretty, with red eyes but he could just barely tell. Tell about her eyes that was.

She wouldn't meet his gaze and it made Astaroth smile. Obviously she had been paying attention to the werewolf.

Bully for her.

It wouldn't save her, not her or that loud mouthed mutt. The fourth prince of hell would destroy them all, and Hellsing too.

That name, as soon as he thought it. The second figure, it was her. It was the woman that his master had sent him to kill.

"Integra Wingates Hellsing…" He hissed the name.

She smiled. The platinum hair woman, smiled at him.

The aforementioned Hellsing heir smiled a bright and definitely cynical smile, her pearly white teeth looking for all the world sharp and gleaming. They were the teeth of a predator, a lioness, and like a lioness baring her fangs, Integra brought with her a sense of dread. It was silly, absurd, Astaroth knew these things, yet he could not help but feel a sense of dread at the woman's expression. There was something there, something more frightening than any foe the devil could remember in his long and ancient memory.

What was it about her that made him feel this way? The devil lord truly didn't know, but he did know that it was annoying, that he should kill her brutally for it, yes kill her. It was his order, his master…he would be pleased, and that woman, she would never look at him like that again.

Astaroth's movement was a blur, no it was a breath of wind. A breath of wind like a hurricane, and all of that power it exploded in an aura of total and complete golden energy. It crept along his skin like electric force, jumping and crackling, when he stopped and his claw sunk deep. All the blood and gore that had been on that claw was gone now, and the scale like skin shimmered a metallic silver with only the lightest creep of gold still dancing along that limb.

The devil flexed his claws then, waiting for the scent of blood, the hot rush that should come with that meaty feeling that surrounded his claw. Oh, yes, how grand it would feel to have the woman's life blood flow between his taloned fingers. Astaroth licked his lips at the thought, then turned to look at Alucard, to see the surprise in his face at the speed at which his master had died.

It was then that the vampire's smiling face met the devil's gaze.

The smile was sharp and predatory, and Alucard wasn't at an angle as he should have been, no, he was just off to the devil's side and being slightly taller, looking down at the man. Astaroth understood then, he moved his fingers more, and realized instantly that it wasn't flesh that he had sank deep into. No, it was cloth, thick and fleshy, a coat to be exact. Alucard's coat.

The vampire laughed. It was a sharp and maniacal sound, and a moment later Alucard was smiling with eyes twinkling from behind the orange lens of his shades, with his crimson hat tilted downward to the point that it almost touched those strange lenses.

"Impressive. Had I not been expecting that, surely my master would be dead." Alucard said, his voice somewhere between compliment and insult, sounding both pleased and disappointed at the implied prospect of Integra's death.

Integra Wingates Hellsing was now standing between Ceres and Jon. The werewolf's arm was about her waist. Jon had been just as fast and expectant as Alucard, in fact through Alucard's movements he had gotten the plan. He had moved Integra just in time. He hadn't even seen Astaroth move. Damn he was fast.

Integra slapped his arm and instantly the lycanthrope released her.

"Ow…" He complained with a growl.

"That was for being so blasted forward."

Jon simply shook his lupine head. "Sorry." He muttered.

Alucard laughed, but never took his attention away from the devil that was now in his grasp. The vampire found his master's reaction to the werewolf most amusing, it was so extraordinary, yet so human. Funny. Silly humans.

Alucard had grabbed Astaroth a soon as the devil had worked his claw out of the crimson flow of his red over coat, and now the vampire held him, putting as much pressure as he could manage with his right hand on the wrist of the claw/hand. Had the arm been normal, human, vampire even, the bone would have snapped like dry kindling. As it was though, the devil gritted his teeth, but showed no other signs of discomfort.

"Alucard…" The devil growled the name, as if it was frustrating simply to utter the moniker.

Alucard grinned wider. "Yes?" His voice was casual.

The devil seemed annoyed at the reply, as if something about the casualness with which Alucard regarded him stroked him the wrong way, but regardless he ignored it.

"Alucard, your freedom. You would protect her, them, these vermin rather than have you freedom!"

Alucard's eyes narrowed.

"Vermin? You would dare call my master vermin? You truly are an arrogant one."

"Yes, yes he is." Integra's voice said, coming from behind Alucard. "That is why we are about the ride the world of his brand of filth. Destroy him Alucard."

The vampire's grin widened again, this time to the maniacal proportions that Alucard's enemies knew all too well. That look that meant death for most that had laid eyes upon it.

"Releasing control art restriction system to level two, release shall remain in effect until target is silenced." Alucard's voice chuckled. The vampire's expression had evolved from the neutrality that had sunk in at the devil's odd offer, to a maniac's excitement. Watching closely one could see the almost electric current run through the vampire. Oh yes, his eyes sparkled behind those cloudy orange lenses.

Alucard was ready to fight, to once again seek a suitable opponent.

Astaroth was tired of the games. If his master wanted Alucard, well he could pick up the pieces after he was done. Though he'd better bring a bucket. Play time was over.

The devil broke the vampire's grip with a quick tug of his arm. It wasn't as easy as it sounded, the vampire had grown surprisingly strong with the simple lowering of the mystic barriers that held his power in check. The problem was that Astaroth was without barriers and without mercy.

Pulling back, Astaroth slid his fingers open, muscles tensing down his forearm, and he thrust the claws into a finger jab. The blow glanced off of Alucard's forearm as he brought his left arm down. Moving, back and turning his body left. This gave the vampire breathing room, but not much, because the devil was on him again in a flash. The claw slashed, Alucard ducked, but not fast enough because those claws slashed the brim of Alucard's hat like it was air. The crimson material fell to the floor, but there was no time to think about that, because the devil's other hand.

That most human of appendages, it caught Alucard full. The impact rocked the vampire's jaw.

A smile.

Astaroth caught him again.

Then a kick, the devil smiled down at the fallen vampire. Kicking him, his foot falling in rapid succession, again and again Combat boots that the monster had approximated were quickly taken from black to red. A bright crimson that was thick and slick as he stomped the vampire, trying to beat him to death.

Alucard's form was quickly crumpling. Most notably the head. All but the first kick and the last couple had been aimed there. The devil had sought to incapacitate the vampire, it seemed it had worked.

"Jesus."

Astaroth smiled at the werewolf. "You haven't seen anything yet…" He chuckled.

Integra just stared, stared at the prone and bloody, nearly headless form. Integra knew that he wasn't dead, couldn't be, but by God it had been so brutal. So visceral. It only proceeded to be more so.

Astaroth kneeled, grabbing the prone body by the thick fleshy material of the red overcoat, and the suit jacket underneath. With an ease that showed in his smirk and his eyes, the monster lifted what remained of Alucard over his head. It looked ridiculous like something that should have been at home in a pro wrestling ring, but then the horror of the crimson leaking from the mangled head, dripping down the devil's body, made it all too real and too horrible.

Astaroth was shirtless, he wore only pants and boots. Integra guessed that the devil's clothing was approximated, the way that Alucard's were. It was will alone that had formed skin tight pants, now soaked with blood, that stretched the length of trim legs and boots that now glistened with it , with Alucard's blood. God help them, this thing, he was a monster.

The blood then trickled down Astaroth's muscled perfection of a chest. The blood seemed brighter against the pale contrast of his skin, brighter and more obscene as the ichor seemed to mold to his skin like sweat. This made the crimson flow seem worse as it soaked the top of the devil's pants, then blood was splattering everywhere as Alucard was crushed harder into the wall with a loud and resounding crack of bone and another shower of blood.

Another crack, slow this time, resounding and shuddering down the spine of everyone in the hallway. Astaroth had slammed Alucard farther into the wall, pressing the body face down. It was being smashed. He released it then, and with a turn of his body to build momentum and give gravity a moment to let the body drop, he smashed his claw's less than human elbow into the body's spine.

Another snap. Visceral. God.

The body separated in half at the elbow blow.

The thing was though, that the elbow wasn't an elbow anymore. Instead the bone that made up the top of the elbow had elongated, curved, and attached itself to the upper arm The last of the scaly skin was covering it as crimson dripped down the blade. It had to be nearly two feet, was curved like a scimitar and finished with the same silver colored flesh as the scales that made up the top half of that arm.

Standing there, looking every bit the conquer, Astaroth gazed down at the two chunks of flesh, torso and lower body, just looking at them brought a pleased smile to the devil's model perfect face.

"That was good." He sighed, then his gaze moving, his entire body turning with his eyes. Those eyes, as inhuman and monstrous as their owner, they turned on Integra and the devil smiled brightly as if he were thinking of inviting her to after noon tea. Instead his voice was a casual lithe as he said.

"Will you be reviving him to fight for real now? This is growing rather boring…"

Integra's eyes widened. She was speechless.

How could, well how would a devil know about Alucard? It was then that Integra understood. It was so simple, yet how? No, he couldn't know what Alucard really was. But then, if he didn't, how would he know to expect the vampire's regeneration. There were very few that knew what Alucard was capable of, and none that had expected it. Even with his reputation as the ultimate undead. God what was this monster, really what was he? Was he really some devil pulled up from the pits of Hell? The very thought made Integra wish for a weapon, and not just any weapon, something blessed. Prayed over and sanctified. Something made of silver and very very deadly.

Integra's voice was a husky whisper, but she still the strong willed Hellsing managed to make it sound every bit the command that it was.

"Alucard. Get up and destroy this monstrosity." Her eyes darkened with her rage. "Wake up Alucard!"

Gritting her teeth, Integra all but growled.

"Situation A! Unlock limited release control system to level one. Activate the Cromwell initiative! Your Master Hellsing commands it! Acknowledge approval!"

Nothing happened.

"Damn it Alucard."

"Language, my master. Language." Alucard's disembodied voice teased.

A laugh. A laugh slow and flowing, trickling and smooth. It rippled and shifted. It was a dark and compelling sound as if all the world's temptations were distilled and poured into that wonderfully musical and mercy less chortle. That laugh flowed down Integra's spine like silk, both a luxury and an annoyance. Then the chuckle dissipated and the voice boomed.

"Limited release approval is confirmed! Releasing control art restriction system to level one!"