Adding to the disclaimer, I don't own Babylon 5. (Though they have good dialogue, and Matthew's a sci-fi nut, so…)

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A short distance down the hallway, Alex knocked on a seemingly random door. A moment later, it opened. Matthew followed him in. This room had been a classroom once. Now, it was their armory. Near the door, he saw the room's guard setting down the weapon he'd been holding, hence Alex's knocking. What had been chairs and desks before were now weapon racks and work tables. There were a number of assault rifles, sub-machine guns, and pistols lining the walls. Alex led Matthew over to one side.

"Here, since you'll want a side-arm." He handed Matthew a Colt .45 grip first.

Matthew took it and looked it over. The extended grip and magazine identified it quickly. "This was one of Breka's," he said.

"Yeah. She left it here when she went to Australia. And here, before you start bitching about that being too small, or something."

Matthew looked over the weapon Alex passed over next. It looked something like a rifle, with a longer barrel and shoulder stock. But the pistol grip trigger group and large box magazine told a different story. "What is it?" he asked.

"Ten gauge magnum shotgun, semi-automatic. Right now loaded with slugs. Three inch long shells. We've got lead slugs for the shotgun and silver bullets for the Colt."

Matthew brought the shotgun up to his shoulder. "Yeah, this outta do. It have a name?"

"A name? No. Why name a gun?"

"Why not? And I think this one should be named… Mauler. Yeah, that's appropriately vicious."

Alex scoffed, starting from the room. "Oh, please…"

Matthew followed, setting the Colt, Mauler, and Amenthyl onto a nearby table. He looked at the guard. "Mind the sword. It's silver." Without another word, he followed Alex back into the hall.

///

"Understood… Yes, sir… Yes, sir, that's exactly what happened… No, he gave no hints at where he might be going next… Yes, sir. I'll tell the troops to stand down… Bye." Roland set the phone's receiver back onto its base and looked up at Akira. Roland might be a civilian there, but he was still respectful when the General called. "Well, that's that I suppose."

"Yeah…" Akira was still a little shocked at what had happened. Both what Matt had done, and how she'd reacted under fire. "Think you'll be needing me around here anymore?"

"When it comes to Jemeth, I would say probably not. If he can be brought in peacefully, we'll need to find another way." He paused a moment. "But, there's something else you could do."

Akira was pretty sure she knew where this was going. "And what is that, pray tell?"

"Join us," he said. "The DPSD isn't a wholly military organization. Probably knew that already from my sitting here. You have fast reactions and a sharp aim. I think you could do really well. And we could always use good people."

For several long moments, Akira was quiet. Then, slowly, she shook her head. "No. I don't think I could do that. Not day in and day out."

Roland nodded. "I understand. Just remember my offer, in case you change your mind."

///

They'd put it to something of a vote, and the others had decided to listen to any ideas Matthew came up with. Alex didn't like it, but he had little choice but to follow how the group decided. Now, he had to pass along a message back to Matthew. "Well, they bought the withdrawal idea. We're already packing up and getting ready to move to Columbia. With all the drug wars going on down there, we should be able to find ourselves a nice little pocket of chaos."

Matthew looked up from his desk. On it were maps of where he was thinking they move to. Alex walked over. "Good," Matthew replied. "Though we might need something else… You keep any records on your people? Who they are, what they can do, things like that?"

"Something like that. I'll get them over to you." Alex started for the door. 'Geeze,' he thought, 'this guy's here less than three hours and we're already listening to him? And I'm a fucking messenger boy? Damn, we're getting desperate. He crosses us, I'll kill him. Even if it's the last thing I do.'

///

Akira zipped her bag shut, her packing complete. Considering she hadn't brought much with her, it didn't take long. In less than an hour, she'd be hopping in a van and going home. She, of course, wished the best of luck to Roland and the DPSD, but since they didn't need her she wanted out.

Slinging her bag over her shoulder, and stepped from her temporary quarters into the tunnel. They were at reduced lighting at that part of the base, as few people were moving around at that hour. With no upcoming missions, they'd mostly stood down. Moving to one of the main tunnel junctions, Akira saw Roland walking toward her. He gestured down the hall, and after he caught up with her the two started toward the underground garage.

"I'll make sure you're kept up to date on what's happening. I know you'll want to know what happens with Jemeth," Roland said.

"Thanks," Akira replied. "I appreciate it. What happens now?"

They rounded the corner to the brighter lit garage. Ahead, a sergeant stepped into a waiting van and started it up. A pair of humvees sat to the side, under repair. The usual assortment of tools, fluids, and greases decorated the area. "Now, we wait for intel to come in. It's not like the truth is going to drop on top of us or something."

As if in reply, the floor trembled as an explosion sent flames down one of the elevator access shafts. Something from above, a chunk of the hatch, dropped onto the van, crushing the back half of it. The sergeant, wisely, leapt from the van and sprinted away.

Roland had reacted quickly, grabbing Akira and backing off fast. Those forces that pulled security detail were already reacting, charging with M-16s for the nearest personnel lift. One squad remained below, and the gunfire soon after told Roland exactly what was coming in…

Roland led Akira further into the base as the lights switch to full power, then flickered a bit as another explosion rocked the base. One of his platoon members was exiting the armory when Roland and Akira arrived. He held an extra M-4, which he tossed to Roland. The big black man spun around, shouldering his weapon. There, slowly approaching, were several ghouls. He switched to semi-auto and fired one bullet at each ghoul. All dropped in piles of ash and pieces. He saw the side door which had been blown open. Seemed their attackers had broken into one of the emergency lifts too.

As if on que, a vampire burst through, gathered his bearings, and leapt toward Roland. Roland fired, but the vampire, a lot faster than any other Roland had had to deal with, managed to dodge the rounds. He changed his aim, led his target better, and put a silver bullet through the creature's brain. It fell to ashes, but another burst through the cloud. Roland snapped the rifle up again, but the vampire fell apart before he could fire.

He turned to see Akira Nasori holding another M-4 to her shoulder, a look of steel on her face.

Roland simply nodded in thanks, which Akira replied, and led the way back down the corridor. Seeing how well she could fight, he knew that with her at his back there was nothing to worry about.

///

Flames gave an occasional flicker of light to their hilltop as smoke rose into the sky. In the distance, the pops of gunfire could be heard. "You're not going down there?"

Matthew looked over at Alex. "No, I'm not. They may not know I've joined you yet. Better that they not know for a little longer."

"So," Alex said, "like Breka, you're just covering our escape."

"Not quite," Matthew replied. "They're not going to sit idly by and let you get away with it a second time. They're going attack, probably faster than they can really support. We'll draw them into our little pit of chaos and beat them when they're weakened. If they know I'm around, they'll take their time, gather forces, and come out there too strong for us to deal with."

"That's why you wanted to see our files. See who was expendable."

Matthew was silent for a moment, considering his words. "As they said in a sci-fi series I used to watch, 'Some must be sacrificed if all are to be saved.' Their sacrifices will not be in vain."

"I hope you're right." Another explosion bathed the hilltop in orange light. "Come on. They're waiting for us."

///

The attackers vanquished and fires put out, Roland finally stopped long enough for a medic to dress his wounds. Akira had gotten though it without a scratch, and had silenced many ghouls that night. He hadn't spoken with her yet. She mainly stayed with him, off in her own world as she dealt with what she had been forced to do.

He looked up as a groaning whine reverberated down the tunnel. As soon as the medic cleared him, he stood and walked toward it. Akira looked up from the floor and fell into step behind him. The noise was from one of the lifts, damaged but still operational. Several troops joined Roland and Akira at the base of the lift as it reached the floor and stopped.

Standing on it was Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing.

Flanking her were the two remaining Hellsing vampires, her 'butler' Walter, and several troops. There had to be more; probably still topside. "Sir Hellsing," Roland said, "I'm glad you made it in. If you'd told us you were arriving we would have had a more proper greeting ready. As is stands, you missed a hell of a party."

"I'm sure," she replied coolly. "I don't stand on ceremony, Mr. Mitchell. Just take me to General Oscar."

"Of course." He looked to one of the men beside him. "Sergeant, escort Sir Hellsing to General Oscar."

The sergeant replied affirmative. Asking Sir Hellsing to follow him, he started down the tunnel. Sir Hellsing followed, still flanked by Walter and her troops. The two vampires remained before him. He had little choice but to talk to them next. "Can I help you too?"

The one on his left, a woman in a blue uniform, spoke first. "I'd like to talk around the base for a while, try to get a feel on if Matthew was here, and where he might be heading next."

Roland shrugged. "You're welcome to try, but I don't think he ever came inside if he was even here at all. This was a Global Fangs attack."

"The Global Fangs?" That was the taller man in a red trenchcoat, wide brimmed hat, and mirrored yellow sunglasses.

"Yeah," Roland replied. "We found enough of a mark on some of them to ID the group. Why?"

"I hadn't thought he would join with a group we crushed, that he would more likely form his own." He smirked. "I stand corrected."

Roland paused a moment. "Still, feel free to look around topside. I'll let the sentries know."

"Thank you," the woman said. The man said nothing, simply gesturing outward. The control stud depressed on its own, and the lift started up.

Grateful they were gone, Roland shook his head and started back to the tunnels of the base. This time, Akira walked beside him. Out of nowhere, she spoke. "When I shot that vampire, it felt good. It felt like I was getting back at the things that took Matt from me. How does it feel to you?"

He considered a moment before responding. "My family was killed by vampires. When I started hunting them, I felt I was getting vengeance for them. Later on, that became a side note. These days, I fight the guy next to me; for the people I lead into battle against these creatures. It's actually more satisfying than vengeance alone."

"I wouldn't know… yet…" Akira fell silent a bit longer as she worked out more of her thoughts. "After college… Maybe then I'll join. I guess it partly depends on what happens with Matt."

He nodded. "I understand. I'll make sure you have a way to contact us. And we won't bug you unless and until you're ready."

///

'You know the basics of sensing,' Alucard's voice came into Seras's mind. 'But that is mainly based in the now. Stretch out your senses and look for what is left of what was there before.'

Seras wondered around the foothills above the DPSD main base while Alucard, still instructing her in the finer arts of vampirism, patrolled closer to the base. A couple guards had asked what they were doing, but for the most part they stayed out of the way and hadn't shot at them. She'd stretched out her senses, trying to read anything she could from her surroundings. "I'm already stretching them out. There's nothing here," she said to the air, knowing he would hear her clearly.

'Nothing now,' he came back. 'Release your power from its bonds. Use it to see further, deeper than before. You'll find what we're looking for.'

She still hesitated, but not as long. Gradually, she lessened the bonds holding her dark energies in check, and felt it flow into her. She could feel her senses sharpening, felt herself being pulled back to a new vantage point… She gasped. "Oh my… I can see it…"

Seras heard Alucard's laughter. 'Yes! YES! You see!'

"Be quiet," she said, waving her hand as if brushing off someone standing behind her before bringing it up to the side of her head. "I need to listen… There were two watching from here… Matthew was one of them. It was a feint, trying to draw the DPSD into a fight sooner than they could prepare for… They're moving… to Columbia."

'Yes,' Alucard's voice replied. 'To Columbia.'

She looked up toward the base. "You knew already?"

'Yes,' he said again. 'But I wanted you to hear it too. Come back. We will tell them what we've heard, and they'll make up the plan from there. But be ready. We may be facing Jemeth soon.'