"Thanks to the locals, we know both where Jemeth is and the best way to attack him." Walter gestured to the map behind him. "Mr. Fargason has worked up what he feels is the best strategy." He stepped aside as Fargason stepped over.

A combination of very good intelligence work and the input of Alucard and Seras pointed them in the right direction. The DPSD did not accompany them. The Somalis probably remembered events in the early mid 90's against the United States military. Sir Integra agreed with that assessment, so Hellsing would be going alone. Some of the troops were quite nervous about going to Somalia, but a strange turn of events met them as they'd landed. One of the controlling warlords of the area, with bodyguards of course, approached them on the runway. He had a feeling about who they were, and why they had arrived.

He and other warlords had kept close watch of Matthew and the other vampire after they'd arrived, and had suggested to their populations that forcing them to move elsewhere might be a good idea. The two had weathered all attacks, causing much harm in the process. This warlord carried with him a proposal from the lot of them, which in itself was amazing considering they hardly ever worked together. They wanted Mathew and that other vampire gone. If Hellsing would do that, they would ensure the local populace did not attack them while they were there. Hell, they even offered a place to set up a base of operations. Sir Integra agreed, for no other reason than convenience. But they had kept guards on patrol at all times, just in case.

After a bit of recon, and more information gathered from their contact to the warlord, they had a plan. 'Well,' thought Alucard, 'we think, at least. Let's see if there are any holes in Fargason's plan.' They were actually pretty rare, but they still happened. He was still human.

Fargason walked over to a map posted on the board. The approximate location of the target was drawn onto it. "There are two main entrances to this facility that we can detect, a 'front' door and a 'back' door." He pointed to each. Direction was arbitrary at that moment, so long as it was kept constant. "Unfortunately, we have no idea what is inside. I would suggest we split our forces into two units, Alucard and Seras each joining one. That way, we have the best possible chance of keeping them from escaping."

Alucard broke in. "I doubt escape is their intent this time. They have no forces left to distract us."

Sir Integra locked him in her stare. "So what would you suggest?" she asked in her typical 'say it or shut up' manner.

"Seras and I should focus our attention on Jemeth. I believe he is the more dangerous of the pair. The rest of the troops can focus on the second." Of course, Alucard didn't believe for a second that Jemeth was any threat to him. His next smirk he kept from his lips. This part of the plan he couldn't say…yet… He could feel Seras's appreciation of his using her name rather than 'Police Girl.' He'd used it a bit more frequently now than before, but it would be a long time before he'd finally let her forget that particular nickname… if he ever decided to, that is.

"And if that vampire has a contingent of ghouls? We know some of the local raiding parties have disappeared."

Now he did smirk. 'Ah, Integra. Playing the devil's advocate card again?' "Then one of us will rejoin the other troops while the other continues the search. But the sooner we find Jemeth, the sooner this is all over."

She thought it over, giving Fargason a quick glance asking if he had any major objections. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. She looked back over. "Very well," she replied. Back to Fargason. "Mission approved. Launch when you are ready. May God and her majesty be with you."

"Amen."

///

So there they were. The sun falling behind them, the forces of Hellsing were gathering in the sandy hills near their objective. A trio of Vultures, on loan from the DPSD, had carried them swiftly and silently from their new temporary base to their staging area. Once the sun fell, they would strike.

Seras shifted her Harkonnen in her hands, remembering just how bloody heavy the cannon was. Posted on her hips were her twin fully automatic glocks, and on her thigh was Joshua. On her back was the box of 30 millimeter shells. One group of human troops stood nearby. She felt Alucard's presence, somewhere nearby but hidden from view. They would enter with one group of troops, then start a search of the facility until they found Jemeth. That would be their last chance to bring him in.

But if they had to silence him, Seras would be the one to do it. Strange as it felt, it seemed right that it should be done by a friend… and his master. Everything was loaded and ready to go. They were just waiting for the signal from Fargason.

Some of the troops had spotted groups of Somalis nearby, just watching them. Hopefully the warlord kept his word…

A runner approached. He spoke to Harrison, leading this entry group. "Move out!" he commanded.

Seras led the way. Not wanting to draw any more attention than they already had, the troops silently made their way down the hill and to the now barely visible door. But Seras's enhanced vision cut through the growing twilight and found the door seam. She held up a fist, the soldiers behind her stopping. She sensed Alucard moving toward her, getting ready to enter with her.

Loading an incendiary explosive round into Harkonnen, she hefted the rifle up and aimed. Then, she waited. But not for long. There was an explosion somewhere nearby as the other entry team blew their door and started in. Seras fired. Harkonnen gave a deafening report and threatened to push Seras over backwards, but Alucard was there giving her invisible support. The door was blown to pieces. Dropping the cannon, as the interior corridors would undoubtedly make use of the six-foot long cannon impossible, she drew her pistols and ran for the door.

The troops followed, their MP5s up to their shoulders but aimed downward in case of an accidental discharge. No one wanted friendly fire issues that night. As they entered, they found… nothing.

The inside of the base had sandstone walls. It wasn't really narrow, but not very wide either; enough for three people to walk side by side. Lights were strung along the ceiling, giving dim but sufficient illumination to the hallway.

Harrison split his forces into three squads, each taking a direction; ahead, left, and right. Seras looked at Alucard, who gestured ahead. Over time, they separated from the Hellsing squads and started to sweep the base. It was strangely reminiscent of when she and Matthew would search for an enemy vampire.

Suddenly, an inhuman wail pierced the silence. 'Oh my God…,' Seras thought. 'They're using more of that enhancing serum.'

'Indeed,' Alucard replied. 'They must have grown even more desperate than we had thought.'

They continued down the sandstone hallway, turned the corner, and quickly ducked back as bullets blasted holes in the nearby wall. 'Hmm,' Alucard noted, 'quick reaction.'

Seras ducked low and peered one eye out. There were three of them, one armed with an AK-47 and the others with pistols. 'Somalis,' she thought.

Her radio buzzed. "This is Harrison," Harrison's voice came, carrying a calm that can only be acquired from long experience with battle. "We're under attack from enhanced ghouls. We could use some help over here."

She brought the radio to her lips. "Understood. We're on our way." She got up to leave.

But Alucard landed a hand on her arm. "No, Seras. I will go help the others. You continue the search for Jemeth."

Seras looked up at him. "But, Alucard, you have a better chance at locating him than I do."

"But you have a better chance at defeating him than I do." His eyes looked sharply into hers, trying to express the full meaning of his words. "Trust me, Seras."

For a moment she was silent. Finally, she nodded. "All right. Go help them."

He smirked. "Good hunting," he said. He ran down the hallway toward the ghouls, Jackal and Titan blazing. The trio dropped in piles of ash and parts, and Alucard vanished.

///

Harrison's squad had found a larger room of some kind. Maybe a meeting hall, or even a trophy room like the one in Australia. Either way, it was high, long, wide, and filled with ghouls. One of his men had fallen before they even knew what had hit them. The others had made cover wherever they could and started returning fire. Harrison looked up and spotted a pair of ghouls trying to flank them. He took aim, but a pair of near explosion like gunshots punctuated the air behind him. The two ghouls were blown apart. Harrison turned to see Alucard's pistols sticking out of the wall. The elder vampire followed them into the room. "I hear you have a ghoul problem," he said.

Harrison had been expecting Victoria, but if Alucard decided he wanted to tumble with them Harrison was game. He gave the vampire the situation report, to which Alucard simply nodded and said, "I'll take care of it."

Alucard turned to the battle and opened fire, sending a number of ghouls to the ground in ash before the rest could react and move to cover. Their foes driven back, the Hellsing troops moved up to join Alucard's advance. A pair of overly enthusiastic troops ran ahead of Alucard. With a sigh, he formed an extra pair of arms to reach out, grab them, and haul them back to safety as several streams of AK-47 bullets met where they had just been standing.

The extra arms lanced forward again, grabbing the MP5s the troops had dropped in their hasty departure. With a smirk, Alucard opened fire once again.

The remaining ghouls were felled quickly, one by a sandstone column Alucard shot out with the remaining ammunition in the two MP5s.

Tossing the MP5s back to their owners and pulling the extra arms back into himself, he turned to Harrison. "Thank you," he said. "We've got it from here."

Alucard gave an ever so slight nod. "If you're going to drag me here again, make sure it's actually worth the effort."

"Oh," said a new voice from behind him, "I think I could arrange that."

Alucard slowly turned around. The newcomer with short light brown hair and a long face stood at the doorway. Alucard could sense a corrupted power within him. He smirked. "So, it appears Matthew wasn't stupid enough to use that serum after all. Though if you did, it seems he has no taste in lackeys."

"I'm no lackey!" the other exploded. "I'm Alex, leader of the Global Fangs! Remember that name well, even if it is only for a few minutes, for it is I who will send you to Hell!"

"'Leader' of the Global Fangs? Who, exactly, do you lead? Yourself and the mouse in your pocket?" One of the main flaws with the serum was how violent it made the user. Provoking Alex would make him rash, more prone to making a mistake.

Sure enough, Alex let out a battle cry and charged, slamming a shoulder into Alucard and shoving him over. Alucard let the blow propel him down, and rolled back to his feet. He turned to face Alex again. "Is that all you've got? I've seen better parlor tricks performed by a dog!"

Alex didn't reply, simply charging again with a look of power hunger on his face. Alucard initially sighed, deciding that Alex would get to use that trick one more time… when he noticed the silver bladed knife in his hand. He smirked. 'So,' he thought, 'the trick evolves… slightly…' This time, he didn't let Alex hit. He fell backwards as Alex reached him, rolling along his back and bringing his feet up. He gave Alex a good, solid kick, sending the enraged vampire tumbling to the flight of stairs on the far side of the room.

As Alex stood, Alucard saw the knife was broken. Throwing the blade away, Alex drew his pistols and took aim. He fired, and now it was Alucard's turn for a demonstration in speed. He dodged Alex's bullets, staying just far enough ahead to enlist another yell, this one in pure anger.

Alucard found himself in a bit of a debate. On the one hand, he was wondering if this piece of filth would actually live up to his promise and become something of a real challenge. On the other, he wanted to see how Seras was doing against Jemeth. His thoughts were pulled back to the battle as, suddenly, Alex appeared before him with pistols aimed square at his chest. He smirked. Alex actually did learn something. Which meant things could get interesting fast.

A quick mid-air change of direction kept Alucard out of line with Alex's bullets. They passed him harmlessly as Alucard whipped past Alex and gave the back of his head a solid kick. Once more picking himself off the floor, Alex turned to face Alucard. "Now whose resorting to parlor tricks?" he yelled.

'Ooo, I can't let him get away with that one,' Alucard thought. With lightening speed, Alucard whipped out Titan and put a bullet through the offending scum's kneecap. The leg blew in half, sending Alex to the floor. Alucard hit Titan's slide release and the pistol disappeared into his trench coat. "Was that straightforward enough for you?"

Alex growled, squeezed his eyes shut in concentration, and watched as his leg partially reformed. 'Partially' meaning it looked like a limb that had been buried for a couple months, then dug up and grafted on. But it was enough to give him mobility again. He pushed off, aiming and firing another volley of rounds.

In the back of his mind, he could feel Seras as she was fighting. He'd felt her engage Jemeth not too long before. Suddenly, he felt it as she was hit. He wasn't sure where or how badly, but she was hit. He had to end this battle now. He brought up Jackal as Alex pulled his triggers once again. Both pistols gave a resounding click. Alex's face, in that last moment, contorted in a mix of surprise, fear, …and relief. Alucard fired his last bullet into Alex's skull.

He turned and sprinted out the door, reloading his pistols and trying to track down Seras's exact location so he could teleport to her. If Jemeth killed her… all his supposed powers wouldn't save him from Alucard's wrath.