Wings of the Damned
Sapphirewyren
Chapter 2: Here and There Again
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing
Author's Note: I don't know if I already mentioned this, but chapters are going to be coming out more slowly because now I'm writing them and them typing them and then being lazy. However, think this allows me to be more creative (I think), we'll see how it goes. Also, no Masters Degree for me because I couldn't get student loans, but I will get it in the future. However, this means that you will be getting more stories Now on to the next chapter!
In an undisclosed Lab within
Vatican City
Enrico Maxwell knew he had died, betrayed by Anderson, alone and unimportant. Whenever people thought about him, especially those who were on the front line in the Battle of Millennium, he was a traitor who had become drunk with power, who executed innocent people and a mad man. Indeed the picture they painted of him was not a pretty one. While in Hell, he suffered a punishment far worse than the painful death; his lack of importance. Every minute of everyday endless people walked by him refusing to acknowledge that he was even alive. Even as he tried to talk to them, they shoved passed him as if he was no more important than a beggar. Day after day it was like this. And suddenly, he was yanked out of it. No more suffering, no more pain. Was he to go to Heaven now? Paradise with God?
Enrico opened his eyes and squinted at the bright light that suddenly flashed into his eyes. When his eyes were finally adjusted to the room, he took in his surroundings, it looked more like a hospital than Heaven. Enrico found that he was lying in a bed and he was hooked up to a machine that measured his pulse and vitals. If this was Heaven, it was certainly a strange version of it, nothing at all like the Bible or hymns described. Just then two men walked into the room, one man was a pock faced redhead and the second was an older man with graying hair, thin and walked with a limp. The older man who was Dr. Thorton walked over to Enrico, "I see that you are awake. That means my experiment was a success!"
"Experiment? What do you mean?"
"I have bought you back to life."
Enrico sat up, "What kind of abomination have you done?"
Dr. Thorton was surprised by Enrico's anger. Most people would be happy to be alive again, "What do you mean 'abomination'? Do you realize what I have done? I have given you life! I have turned mere bones into a living person! No one else had done that! No one ever will! You should be thanking me!" However, Enrico did not see things that way, "You have sinned! You have played God! It is not for man to give life!"
Dr. Thorton barked out a laugh, "I have played God you say? I AM GOD!"
"Blasphemer! You are dust! You are a heretic who has committed a grave sin!"
Just then laboratory door opened and several more men walked in, one of them being the Pope. "Now, now what is all the yelling about? Enrico Maxwell, you are needed for a much higher purpose than lying in a coffin in an obscure grave. God has seen it fit for you to fulfill that purpose."
Enrico gave the Pope an incredulous look, "You expect me to believe that?"
"Clearly you can see that for yourself. You are breathing, you are living. The doctor does blaspheme by saying that he is God, the Father just used a man of his talent as a vessel to do His Will. You are much too important a man, to be lying dead. There is much to do and much you do not know, but you will have all the information in time, Cardinal Maxwell."
Enrico was about to go off on the Pope again when he just realized that he had been called 'Cardinal'. The Pope turned to the two of his aides, "We will let Cardinal Maxwell get properly ready and dressed. I am sure he is hungry." The aides placed some clothes on a nearby table. After everyone left the room, Enrico took the time to process what just happened. Perhaps this was the will of God, so far he felt fine, no strange side effects, and certainly no Satan coming back to claim his soul. Yes, that was it. This was the will of God, he would become important and this time he would it right. This time, the whole world will know his name.
Forty minutes later, cleaned and fully dressed, Enrico found himself in the Papal Palace's dining room being introduced to other high ranking Cardinals as a priest who had spent years in remote places praying and looking for God, a modern-day John the Baptist. The only ones who knew the truth were Dr. Thorton, who was being paid to keep his mouth shut, as well as being protected; the Pope and two of his most trusted aides, Mario Salvietti, a short gray-haired man with bright blue eyes and a large belly and Giorgio Verrechio; a balding man who was very muscular and had blazing green eyes. Now Enrico was a part of this papal inner circle, a most important position indeed. After saying grace, the Pope said to Enrico, "I am going to reinstate Section XIII, the Iscariot Organization." This was better than Enrico would have hoped for. He will be able to destroy the satanic creatures once more and there would be no Hellsing to bother him! That dream was dashed when Cardinal Salvietti said, "Hellsing did not agree to our terms, so they are of no use to us now." Enrico nearly choked on his food, "Hellsing still exists?"
"Yes, they have been around for over 400 years. They were very good until 16 years ago under the leadership of a man named Sir Leonard Reginald Taylor. He was removed last year because he was an idiot" sneered Cardinal Verrechio. Enrico turned to the muscular priest, "Was? What happened to him?"
"He was replaced by some crazy blond woman, what was her name? Integer? In….something."
"Sir Integra Hellsing" came the frosty voice of the Hellsing commander. All the men in the room sat in stunned silence at the intrusion on what was supposed to be a private meal.
"How did you get in here?" demanded Cardinal Salvietti.
"This is a private meeting, Sir Hellsing," said the Pope mildly.
"When I heard that Dr. Thorton bought a man back to life, I had to see for myself. But I must say I am rather disappointed, it was not a man he revived but a pig."
Some of the cardinals stood up, "Where is security?" one bellowed. "Get her out of here!" shouted another. Integra rolled her eyes, "You damn papists are too bloody loud."
A baritone voice from behind her chuckled, "It seems like you've upset them, master." At seeing the crimson-clad vampire materialize, the cardinals became quiet, realizing that he was the reason why the security guards had failed to show. Enrico was not completely shocked at seeing Alucard, but Integra, who should have been dead a long time ago. How was she alive? It certainaly was not the Vatican's doing, not Dr. Thorton's. The Pope took control of the situation by dismissing the cardinals except for his two aides and Enrico. "Now what is it you want Sir Hellsing? I have a feeling you already knew what Dr. Thorton had done, by what means I have no clue."
"I am just here to give Enrico a warning."
"You will address him as Cardinal Maxwell" demanded the Pope. Integra raised an eyebrow, while Alucard burst out in laughter, "He's been alive for five minutes and already he has been promoted to the position of Cardinal. Is that how the Church works now?" The Pope decided to refrain from answering.
"Fine I'll humor you: Cardinal Maxwell, you were bought back to life by most ungodly methods and since your disgusting carcass is sitting right in front of me with an idiotic look on its face, I consider you a threat to Great Britain, especially considering what you did the last time you were there." Integra took out a Beretta M9 and pointed it at Enrico's head. "As commander of the Hellsing Organization and protector of my country, I can't let you live." The Pope help up his hands, "Isn't this overreacting a bit?" The Hellsing turned her laser-like glare on the Holy Father, "I am sure you are aware of what he did before you allowed this piece of trash to crawl out of the grave!"
"We need his expertise in fighting vampires since you didn't agree with our terms!"
Integra scoffed, "What 'expertise?' This ass did nothing but run his mouth!"
Alucard chuckled, "Things would have been more interesting if you built a regenerator." Cardinal Salvietti laughed nervously, "Why don't we put away the guns and talk like civilized people. His Holiness has seen that Cardinal Maxwell has experience with these monsters that is all, there is no ulterior motive." Integra put her gun away, walked over to where Enrico was sitting, slammed his head into his plate of food, leaned close and hissed, "Here's my warning, you papist bitch: I will be watching you. In every reflective surface, you will see my face. I will be in your nightmares. You won't be able to piss or shit without seeing me in the toilet water! If you do ONE thing other than killing vampires, I will have a hard time deciding whether I should let Alucard eat you or simply putting a bullet right between your eyes. I will make sure that you wish you never came back to life. Am I clear?" Enrico stuttered, "Y—yes." Integra raised the newly minted Cardinal's head and slammed it down again, "Yes what?"
"Yes, Sir Integra."
"Good boy."
Alucard cackled at his master's brutality, "Sometimes. Master, I believe that you are scarier than I am."
Integra headed towards the doors, but stopped before going through, "I see that you are sitting quite comfortably in that chair, Your Holiness, so I take it, you didn't follow my advice in taking the nearest crucifix, turning it sideways and shoving it up your ass?" The Cardinals gasped at such crude language directed at their leader, while Alucard laughed out loud, leaving with Integra. The Cardinals sat for a few moments in silence, before Cardinal Verrechio said, "What on earth on did you do to piss her off?" While Enrico wiped the food off his face, the Pope said, "Never mind that, we are here to talk about plans on dealing with the vampires." After the meal, which ended quickly due to fear and loss of appetite, the men sat in the Pope's office. "I know when the Iscariot Organization was in its heyday, you enjoyed some luxuries, unfortunately, due to political and economic strife in this country, those luxuries cannot be met. Tomorrow Cardinals Espada and Cardinal Romano will show you the troops that make up the Iscariot Organization." The way the Pope said that left an uneasy feeling in Enrico, but he didn't say anything. If he could get either Salvietti or Verrechio alone he would ask. After a lot of paperwork and document signing the Pope said, "We must consult the United Nations about the reinstatement of Iscariot Organization."
"Why would the U.N. care?"
"Years ago, the United Nations saw it fit to become involved when vampires became rampant in several different countries. Many countries did not know how to handle vampires and still don't know how. That's why the Hellsing Organization is so widespread now. Many governments supply Hellsing with manpower, money, and technology in return for Hellsing's knowledge of vampire extermination. Of course, they must use Hellsing to destroy the vampire threat. The Pope continued, "Now every country that wants to put together a vampire/monster extermination organization must be approved by the United Nations Security Council." This wasn't the type of news Enrico wanted to hear, "Wasn't Hellsing supposed to be a secret organization?"
Verrechio shook his head, "The time for secrecy is over. It's no secret that there are vampires and lab-made monsters, so the organizations that kill them see no reason to be so secretive. Though I'm sure that not all governments make it known to their citizens about Hellsing." That made sense, it also meant that the Iscariot Organization would work out in the open.
"What would the meeting with the U.N. be about besides reinstatement?"
"Mostly jurisdiction where Section XIII can and can't operate, most likely in Italy and its surrounding islands," said Salvietti in a bored voice.
The Pope ended the meeting with a prayer as it was getting late and the cardinals retired for the evening. As Enrico prepared for bed, he smiled at the good news that he had received. He was excited about getting to know Rome again and a bit apprehensive. For one it was now the year 2551, not 1993 and therefore bound to be structural differences. The evening Mass was the same, just some minor translations, nothing too crazy. Perhaps it wouldn't be too different, the Vatican certainly seemed similar, just as the Mass had been. If he was lucky or blessed enough the meeting with the U.N.S.C. would go smoothly and Hellsing would not be there to humiliate him. Tomorrow would be a good day, what could go wrong?
Vatican City- Arch of the Bells
The fog and the moonless sky left the city in near pitch black darkness. As he made his way towards the Arch of the Bells, the ancient structure loomed above him. The bell had stopped ringing an hour ago, yet their song still vibrated through the air around him. Under the dark arch, he could see the flash of a lighter that lit a cigar in the mouth of the tall shadowy figure. A cold voice cut through the still night air like a serrated knife through bread, "Anything to report?"
"Nothing that you don't already know, Sir, except that Maxwell will be attending a meeting with the U.N. via HoloCam and that the Pope, named him to be his successor, though not publicly." Integra gave a derisive snort, "Isn't there supposed to be a vote?" After the Pope's death, the cardinals gather to a meeting called the conclave to vote, headed by the Dean of the Sacred College. The man shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, "Well this was done to protect Cardinal Maxwell from…"
"From what?"
"It's more from whom."
"And who would that be?"
"From you, Sir."
Integra chuckled, that Pope was a shrewd one. He knew not even Hellsing would harm Enrico if he had a shot at the papal title. One would not kill the pope's possible successor and expect things to be hunky-dory, even if he did crawl out the grave. The Hellsing Organization probably would not even able to accuse Enrico as being an undead threat let alone take any action. The Hellsing director frowned, perhaps she had played her hand too soon with that 'warning'. Maybe she should have had a private chat with the newly resurrected cardinal. "Did the pope let Maxwell know?"
"Yes, the man puffed up like a preening peacock."
Integra grinned, "The Pope is a fool. He has sealed his own fate." The man knew exactly what Integra meant, "Shouldn't you warn him about Enrico?"
"And make an ass of myself? His Holiness wouldn't believe a word I say; besides, I have no reason to save his hide. He knew exactly what kind of man he had revived. Furthermore, if his death is the only way to put that pig back in the grave, then so be it. No war is without collateral damage. Report to me immediately if anything new should arise." With that Integra disappeared into the night fog. The man rushed back to his residence, he was not about to let all his hard work be for nothing. Things were about to get interesting but he was not sure he wanted to be in the middle of it.
Chapter End
Author's Notes: Well what do you know I posted another chapter before Wednesday. I'll get started typing the third chapter. Feel free to check out my other series. I hope you enjoyed.