"How is he?" An anxious voice quietly snapped at the doctor currently poking and proding the creature lying on the gurney before them. Seething at the audacity of the Vatican to attack her own, she vowed they'd pay. As soon as Alucard was well and fully healed she planned on issuing execution orders for any of the foreign, religious sector left behind. They would die for this insult! Now, icy eyes stared at the doctor giving his report.
"Well, Sir Integra, this doesn't look good, putting it mildly."
"What do you mean this doesn't look good? They only shot him and he's a vampire for God's sake! He should've already regenerated by now. What's happened to him? Why is he not healing?" Thrusting her arms into her trouser pockets the young, aggravated heiress chomped on the end of an unlit cigar.
Removing his stethoscope from his patient's chest cavity, hanging it around his neck, the older man sighed. Running his hand through gray, thinning strands his breath expelling heavily as he debated how to break the news to the impatient woman. But Integra decided it for him.
"Just give it to me, doctor, no sugar coating please", she firmly told him. Her eyes strayed back to the creature who, in her eyes, seemed taller than the mountains, a controversial personality bigger than life, and lord forbid her next thought, but he was one of her closest friends. He'll be fine. Just give him until tonight, that's all he needs. Her thoughts were intterupted by the physician once again.
"This is serious, Integra." Looking down at the creature who appeared so human, who at the moment, his pale body hooked up to various lines of IV's, pulse ox and heart monitoring equipment, Alucard for the first time appeared frail and no longer infallible. "It won't matter what time of day or night he recovers is what I'm telling you." Gesturing for the pacing blond to have a seat he said, "Alucard, for whatever reasons, and whatever, however, the cause...has changed."
Ready to strangle the doctor for going easy and not being more forthcoming, Integra hissed, "What is going on with my damned vampire?! That's all I want to know! The how's and why's can follow." Leaning against the wall, hands still in her pockets, she inhaled deeply waiting for the doctor to finish his explanation. Listening to the steady beep of the monitors a horrible notion struck her. Was that? No. Surely not. Could he be? A pain struck deep as she hoped against all hope her notion was false. Not wanting to make assumptions she took in all the report given to her.
"Integra", he started while pointing to each individual instrument and monitor while explaining their purpose, "... as you can see for someone who's supposed to be dead, which, as you know, requires the absence of a pulse and heart beat... Alucard has now acquired both." Pausing a moment the doctor knew the next part would not be taken well at all. "He's no longer a vampire, Integra. He's altogether something different now. He's...human."
"What?!" Integra roared with all her vocal might. "He's human? When and how the hell did that happen?" Anger turned to fury and rage. Paladin Anderson was responsible for this she felt it in her heart. He'd been present at the operation last night. So several of her employees had reported. Damn that insufferable prick! A veritable thorn in her side, as was the organization he was part of.
Shocked that more than likely she'd lost the best weapon, and her closest friend, they had she muttered, "I need a drink." Head spinning, Integra against a pressing blackness; fought as the first stages of shock set in.
"As do I, " replied the doctor stunned by the man before him. He'd have a tough go of things once he wakened, realizing how drastically his status had changed. Imagine being the most powerful vampire for several centuries and suddenly being changed into human literally overnight. Those circumstances alone would cause mental trauma to anyone. But this wasn't just anyone. It was Alucard. One of their own. A creature used to having his way, killing creatures of all kinds while enjoying his immortal state. How would Hellsing survive a blow of this magnitude? Hell, how would Alucard survive this?
He watched as Integra straightened her posture and crossed over to Alucard's side. She tenderly touched his hand, then his face. Softly she stated, "I'm going to find out who did this to you and I'm going to make sure they suffer! I promise you, Alucard." Placing her fingertips lightly against his cheek she apologized repeatedly for this horrible wrong done to him. "They'll pay, Alucard. They'll pay." Tears slipped down her cheeks, falling onto the face of a man sleeping deeply, his body fighting to mend itself. She was afraid. A rare occasion indeed. Integra could count on one hand the times in her life she'd been truly afraid of something, and now was one of those times. Alucard as a vampire she could handle, but Alucard as a man...they'd been thrust into a completely new; unfamiliar territory.
Taking hold of his hand, she sat by his bed; laying her head down on their entwined fingers, emotions overwhelmed her and for the first time in a long time Integra wept.
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"Father Anderson?"
Turning from his niece's bedside his expression wearied and worried. "Yes?"
"How is she?"
The newcomer seemed to have a genuine interest in Seras' health and present condition. Shoulder-length brown hair fell in loose waves to his shoulders, blue eyes stared at him anxiously and ernestly. Tall and slender, he took Anderson's hand briefly shaking it while awaiting news of the young woman.
"Father Brandon. Why are you here?"
"Obviously I heard about the events that transpired while in England and I was worried about Seras. We'd spoken a few times, although I know she never mentioned me to anyone."
Skeptically, Anderson shook his head and stated matter-of-factly, "No, she didn't."
Smiling, he replied, "I requested her not to." And sensing that his fellow paladin was on the verge of asking why he said, "We were both new here and needed a friend. The two of us briefly talked about how she felt that she didn't fit in here and she longed to be elsewhere." Shrugging his shoulders he stated, "That was it. And the moment I heard of her injuries I wanted to ensure she'd be alright. What's her condition? If you don't mind me asking?"
"She's fine. Healing well for now and that's all we know." Seras' uncle was hesitant to tell this supposed friend of Seras anything. A feeling of mistrust washed over him the moment they'd shaken hands. Who was he really? Narrowing his green eyes thoughtfully, Alex resolved to check out this "Father Brandon". Something seemed not quite right.
Father Brandon asked, "Will you let me know if her condition should change?"
Alex nodded silently.
The other man muttered his thanks, turned on his heel quitting the room. Something was definitely unsettling about him. But what?
Alex stared down at his niece pale and still, her chest performing the required breathing motions pushing oxygen in and out of her damaged lungs. All the while he questioned himself about the previous night's actions. He hadn't cared a thing about Hellsing's vampire, but his niece...she was a part of his life. He'd known her since she was born, watching as she grew; developing into a beautiful, strong woman. He'd been forgiven twice for betraying her, but would she allow a third trespass? It was for her that he'd done it! He'd have sold his soul to keep that abberation from Seras! Whatever it took...that's what he'd have done.
One of their doctor's interrupted his introspection. Rising from her bedside he followed the man to another part of the room, allowing them to have their discussion outside of Seras' hearing.
"Father Anderson", the physician acknowledged.
"What's going on with my neice? Why hasn't she healed already?" Sneaking a glance in her direction he hissed, "She should've been up and going by now!" Crossing his arms, the insanely tall blond waited for the answers.
"We've tested her blood several times over as instructed per you. Several anomalies exist within her unique makeup." Pushing a lock of his black hair behind his ear he asked, "Do you remember the night Seras was bitten by a werewolf?"
"Yes. What of it?" Alex was quickly growing impatient with the doctor. Were all doctor's this slow in getting to the point? If so it was a miracle more patients didn't die as a result of their snail's pace!
"Apparently, something had been keeping the lycanthrope virus dormant. Kind of like it was caging it, rendering it unable to emerge and not allowing her to turn." His eyes burned with the challenge presented him; the amount of knowledge learned would research-wise be invaluable to him and other researchers. " Anyway, you stated that Seras had been hit with your unit's newest ammunition acquisitions, correct?"
"She was. Seras was struck by several, mainly from my weapon."
"Seras was either incredibly lucky or you missed on purpose. Not that I don't know the answer already." Holding his thumb and forefinger barely a half-inch apart he spoke in a serious tone, "That much, Alex. That's how close you came to losing her. The bullet only nicked her heart instead of penetrating it. Had that occurred you would've, this very day, been busy planning her funeral."
"From what we're able to derive so far...the effects of the bullets obliterated whatever seal held the wolf virus at bay. Now there's nothing holding it back. It can surface whenever it wants. The reason for this discovery is the multiple comparisons of blood samples taken before and after last night. The main anomaly after last night has become non-existant, in fact it's vanished, according to our most recent data. Due to that, we've assumed that is what kept the virus from becoming active and allowing Seras to transform. We've also theorized that this same previously prevalent element in her blood kept her regenerator abilities from enabling. So whatever you wiped from her system will bring down a house of cards, figuratively speaking. Seras is more vulnerable now than ever. Now, we have no way of determining, until she wakes, the effect everything will have on her link with the vampire. Whether it still exists or if it has died..." His words trailed off as his mind began the mental calculations and theories that would lead to a solid conclusion.
Smirking, the paladin sneered, "Don't you mean former vampire?"
Neither knew that their conversation was clearly heard by the young woman a few beds down. And they were unaware that she'd retained enough of Alucard within, despite the Vatican's interference, made apparent by the ease with which she listened to their words. Eagerly she awaited the moment she could leave the infirmary and discover what else she had retained form him. At the same time she sadly wondered what they did to him. The contact between them sorely missed. The way he whispered to her...seducing her...something was missing. He was missing. Their link usually vibrated constantly, alive with the emotions shared between them, but today it was silent. Dead. And for the first time she wondered if he'd made it alright. Reaching out again, she attempted contact. Still no answer. Blue eyes wept tears of frustration and what she hoped was premature grief. She hoped he was alive...somewhere...somehow!
Desperately she tried again to feel him, contact him, through their link ...nothing. Something was wrong. Seras felt it in her heart and in the absence of his voice. She missed it dreadfully! Something, no everything was wrong! Mentally panicking, she was frightened because she could neither sense or feel him. What had Section XIII done? More importantly, what had her uncle done? Had he killed the only one she'd ever loved? Feeling as if she were about to drown, the waters of fear and pain washing over, flooding her mind with nothing but the pain of loss. She felt she'd lost Alucard forever. He must be gone... That in itself had to be the explanation. If he wasn't then how were they managing to suppress a being more powerful and cunning than themselves?
Closing her eyes, tears flowed freely at the loss of him, their connection and the ability to touch him, mentally, when she pleased. Chest aching, hurting, Seras continued to cry over his loss. He was the first to touch her deep inside without attempting to get into her pants first. He'd seduced her with his thoughts and ghostly touches. And what would she do now without him? Soaking her pillow in tears, tears of regret, tears of loneliness; exhausted beyond words, Seras fell into a deep, dreaming sleep.
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Meanwhile back at the infirmary at Hellsing:
Integra sitting tensely at her desk and smoking a cigar nearly jumped from her seat as her red phone rang. Picking it up, immediately alerted to events taking place in the infirmary she listened carefully as the doctor yelled into the phone, "Integra, you must come immediately! Alucard is conscious and he is pissed!"
The heiress flinched as she heard violent swearing, trays crashing, nurses, doctors and Alucard all yelling adding to the horrible cacophony. Shouting into the receiver, she stated, "On my way." Jumping up she ran full speed towards the medical wing passing a surprised Walter on the way. Not bothering to stop or turn she shouted, "Walter, follow me to the infirmary! Alucard's awake and raising hell!"
Switching directions to follow his employer the butler calmly asked, "And this surprises me how?"
Integra and Walter rushed into the infirmary directly into Alucard's room, the source of crashing metal and crude obsenities. Shocked, she breathlessly questioned the doctor, "What is going on here?"
Taking in her servant's nude, disheveled appearance, the blond, frigid eyes bulging at the proof of Alucard's attitude and bravado, wondered where his gown happened to be. Not that he had anything to be ashamed of, but his form would assuredly cause problems among the female staff if he didn't cover himself.
Enraged, the patient yelled, "What the hell is going on, Integra? This...person so kindly instructed me that I've become human. Is this true?"
The rage in his eyes, the fury in his clenching jaw, his tall , tense stance, Alucard was reacting in a very human manner. If only he knew...
He started in her direction until she barked at him to stop and wrap himself in a sheet before approaching her. Seeing him in that light was something she never wanted in her head. Besides, he supposedly had fallen for a young woman named Seras. And Alucard was nothing more than a brother to her. There'd never be anything else between them. Never.
While Alucard slept recovered intel was brought to her attention and it wasn't pretty. The woman who'd captured his interest, and his dark interests was no more. The soldier reporting stated the young woman had been struck repeatedly with bullets. He'd seen her body riddled with them. He'd seen her fall, blood spurting from her lips as she cried out Alucard's name. The man swore he saw her breathe her last, her chest ceased to rise, the light gone from her alluring eyes. Seras had indeed died. She'd suffered cruelly at the hands of those Integra hated and despised. But to die in that situation was uncalled for; unnecessary.
Integra knew how Alucard would react the instant she informed him of his lover's passing; it'd be worse than when he woke on the gurney showing the power of his rage. And now she had to break the horrible news to him, hoping, in the deepest recesses of her heart, that his temper stayed off the seismic scale, and there'd be no attempts to tear them and the infirmary to tiny pieces!
A male nurse rushed in with an old, red robe. The color, ironically, a mockery. It was as crimson as his former eyes. The color of blood, the color that all vampire's exhibited in their eyes after the initial change. That'd be another blast to the kicker for him alright.
Pulling on the robe, Alucard demanded answers. And she was prepared to give them to him. The vampire, Alucard, couldn't harm her due to their blood bond, his enslavement and punishment for former deeds. But the man, Alucard, still appeared strong enough, capable enough to harm her if he pleased.
Her eyes roamed over the small portion of his chest revealed with the slightly parted edges of his robe, strongly muscles rippled as he moved and she knew then that he must feel helpless. He woke to an existence he hadn't lived in centuries, his body limited in ways that hadn't existed for years on end. What would he do?
"Alucard", she calmly began, "it is true. Whatever ammunition those Vatican bastards hit you with last night seems to forced your body to change, making it revert back into being human, a condition you've lived without for a long time. Now things as they stand are completely different. You're no longer have the ability to regenerate or use the powers once at your disposal." Her light blue eyes worried watched him for she was preparing to drop the bomb. Brace yourself, Integra, here goes nothing, she thought.
Apprenhension, confusion etched on his face, his concentration centered for a moment and he asked, "Integra, where's Seras?"
He'd wondered why she wasn't here. The last thing recounting in his memories was that of him making his way to her after that damned demon met his well-deserved end. Glancing down, his hand automatically went to his heart, the flesh there covered with layers of gauze, small spots of blood dotted the white, pristine surface reminiscent of splattered blood upon freshly fallen snow.
What happened to Seras? Where was she? He had to know she was safe. For if anything happened to her it'd be akin to the very moment he'd lost Lucy to Van Hellsing and the other hunters. Losing her had been a tremendous blow. After her death he'd refused to allow anyone near his heart again. And he'd wanted no one but her. Following her death...that's when Alucard truly became a beast, the monster of legends, the demon from hell no one wanted to face until Hellsing captured him. That's where it'd all began.
A light sheen of tears welled in the heiress' eyes. Emotions usually kept in reserve, Integra only exhibited feelings such as frustration and rage, all the emotions that were in the negative range. Occasionally she smiled, only it wasn't heart-felt. Wishing for a stout whiskey and a smoke she plunged into icy waters.
"Alucard, I don't know how else to tell you this but last night...Seras was killed. Numerous members of Section XIII gunned her down while firing at you. Reports indicated she didn't survive and died on the battlefield. I'm sorry, Alucard."
Further attempts at explaining failed. Her voice, watching his face contort in pain and sadness, choked under such powerful, strangulating emotions. She'd not known the young woman, but the fact that Seras had enthralled her servant wasn't taken lightly. She must've been something to captivate his interest. And she'd been stolen from him, cruelly, the chance for happiness, or contentment at the least, snatched abruptly from his hands.
Eyes, once red, now a brilliant blue, watered with the blow forced upon him a second time. "No. This can't be." His anguished, disbelieving whisper pierced her heart. Looking up to see the seriousness which covered Integra's face, Alucard felt dagger slash his heart yet again. His chest heavy with sorrow, a solitary tear fell slowly from his left eye signaling his torment. "Not again. Please not again!"
"I'm truly sorry, Alucard. Seras was lost during the fight, after the demon had been dispatched, her own people destroyed her." Feeling at a loss, herself, Integra moved to his side, showing genuine concern, she embraced him briefly. "I don't know what else to say, or do, Alucard. Help me out here." Moving towards him she stopped as he glared at her, furiously growling his rage and displeasure.
"Leave", he snarled.
His tone had changed, darkening, growling at the evil his enemies had done. Seras. Destroyed by her own. And he'd not been able to help her. He'd been unable to save her. He'd miserably failed her as he'd failed Lucy! History was the damnedest thing sometimes...it seemed regardless of the actions taken...sometimes history always repeats itself. No matter what you do, or try to do while holding back the tide, everything still manages to go wrong.
Integra watched as Alucard became enraged. The fury of his temper would ensnare them all. A storm was coming. The air around them grew cold and tense. Veins in his forehead and hands popped out, standing away from the skin, enlarging from his pounding heart and raised adrenaline levels.
"Get out!" Alucard yelled at them to go. He wanted to be alone. At the same time he wanted to obliterate, destroy everything in his path. They, the Vatican, had taken Seras from him and they would pay however he could make them pay. It would be done!
Backing away from her servant slowly, cautiously, her body reacting autmatically in preservation mode, she muttered under her breath, "Everyone...out now!"
Afraid to question her orders, and afraid of the pissed man on the verge of a murderous rage, the doctor, two nurses and Integra quickly abandoned the room leaving the former vampire to freely express his pain, sadness and rage.
Standing at the small rectangular-shaped window in his door, she flinched as objects were flung around the room clattering against walls or hitting the floor noisily. She heard him shout, "Why? Why her? Why couldn't it have been me?"
Repeating those phrases over and over, his fit ended approximately two hours later. His stint as a vampire may have ended, but he still had plenty of stamina! The sound of mourning and tears assailed her ears. This was too much for the heiress to comprehend. She was used to him being a smart ass, a creature filled with overconfidence and pranks, never showing emotions unless it was joy over killing a competent foe, or the mirth he put forth towards an upcoming battle, one worth his power and talents.
Putting her hand against the glass, she murmured, "Alucard, I'm sorry we couldn't save you both." His anguish was her own. And she felt miserable in the absence of her link with him. During the night, she'd felt something snap and instinctively she believed the moment she'd called out to him; receiving no answer, she felt certain he was dead. And then to see his bruised, badly beaten and shot-up figure stretched out on that gurney...it was a sight she never wanted to see ever again. The visual tortured her beyond words every time she closed her eyes. And because of this very reason she refused to sleep, refused to rest, to keep that hellish image from her mind.
"Damn it! I can't take this anymore", she hissed. Turning the knob to his room Integra entered, her heart breaking as she spotted him hunched over in the furthest corner forlorn and lost, shadows heavily resting under his eyes. Not wasting any time, she went to him. Sitting down on the floor next to him she hugged him; feeling somewhat comforted in the nearness of him while suffering from the the severance of the precious link between them. How could a higher power ask this of them? She was aware of the numerous, evil atrocities Alucard had committed previously, but hadn't his good deeds outnumbered them enough to qualify for nullification?
The two of them, master and servant, sat still for the longest taking comfort in what the other had to give. Eventually exhausted, they fell into darkness sleep claiming them for its own.
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Section XIII HQ:
Daren burst into his father's room. "Father, we need you to come quickly!"
Alex, who'd been pouring over several tomes of vampire lore, rose from his seat. "What is it?" Eyes narrowed behind the wire glasses he wore. Wearily rubbing his eyes behind his glasses he patiently waited for whatever urgent news brought his son here and so quickly.
Chest heaving from the speed he used to get there, the blond said, "It's Seras! She's gone crazy and we believe the lycan virus is taking hold. She's already seriously injured seven members including a couple of the medical staff."
Green eyes flashed fire. "We must go. If that damned virus has surfaced she needs to be repressed and quickly. But first we need to make a stop and pick up something. We don't need another lycan tearing through the Vatican", he shouted as they took off running down the hallowed halls. Not again, he moaned. First they'd lost one of their own priests and he couldn't bear to lose Seras to this as well.
Meanwhile back in the infirmary isolation room Seras hunkered down against a wall, animalistic rage in her eyes and features. They'd attempted more tests, more injections and treatments. Her body immediately launched into self-preservation mode. Her sytem fighting itself amongst the lycan virus, various chemicals injected into her by that stupid physician, and what they didn't know yet...Alucard was still alive and well inside her. She may not be able to see him or hear him, but she felt a small part of him dwelling inside, carefully hidden from the monsters subjecting her to this tormenting hell.
"Get away from me!" Her voice normally dulcet and sweet, turned ugly, hateful. She growled at one of the assistants who dared approach her, hypodermic in hand. Turning her heated, reddish-blue gaze at her, she snarled, "You want to live another day then back off!"
The girl stepped back positive Seras would enact her threat if she moved any closer. She had no idea how they'd suppress this volatile creature. What she witnessed next would haunt her until she died.
Seras smirked as all the previously injected treatments and chemicals designed to obliterate the last remnants of her ties to Alucard, while finishing the last of her regenerator sessions oozed through the pores of her flesh. Green, blue, and other colored liquids, flowed fluidly down her skin hitting the floor, dripping, falling to the floor with many splattering sounds as her body purged the toxins from her system.
Shocked and horrified, someone muttered, "What is she doing? And how the hell did she do that?"
"Easily enough", Seras replied. "I've grown weary of your tests and your damned treatments", she snapped. "And here is your just reward." Opening her mouth to yell a mournful howling sound vibrated from her vocal chords instead.
Tension in the room spiked. Fear, a living, breathing apparition plagued them all, spreading out to touch all those in the locked room. Fear, adrenaline, hearts pounding; the smell of their fear permeated Seras' senses driving her insane, the maddening aroma's intermixing, taunting, beckoning, begging her for just a taste. One. Taste. That's all it wanted. One taste to fill it's hungering form. Come on, it whispered, it calls you...you want this. Their blood calls to you, the voice teased instigating her malevolent emotions, pushing her further over the edge.
Suddenly, the regenerator's limbs quickly elongated. Her arms, fingers, legs, feet and face stretched beyond the normal human shape. A muzzle pushed out from her nose, teeth became sharpened, fangs, saliva dripping from the razor sharp canines portruding slightly from an inhuman mouth.
"Oh, dear God!" The girl with the needle exclaimed.
Eyes appraised the girl coldly, shadowed evil swirled rapidly in their depths. "God? He can't help you now." Hair began sprouting all over her skin, clothes abruptly shredded landing on the cold floor. "I'm the hand of justice. You all deserve to die." The transformation complete, the creature reared back, a roar bellowed deep from within the confines of it's chest cavity. Lycan Seras rose on her extended hunches bringing her to a height of around seven feet. For the moment, she was almost taller than Alucard's natural height, and that was no small feat.
All the occupants in the room ran toward the door screaming, panic ensuing. There wouldn't be any escape until someone unlocked the isolation door and only three people had the key. One, was the head doctor supervising this treatments, who hung limply in Seras' bloodied jaws. Two, the research tech who'd been close to the doctor when hell had broken loose. And the third key...the minute, plastic card, the remaining escape, the last bid for freedom, rested in the hands of the petite, red-headed nurse who'd carried the needle attempting to shoot the contents into Seras prior to her emergence.
Shaking hands gripped the card firmly; she swiftly swiped it through the reader. Lights flashing green, the latches released with a hiss. The door sprang open allowing her and several others to escape, but she had to close it as quickly as it'd opened. The monster, Seras, tearing, clawing and biting through everyone in her way had made it to the door. The research tech was left alone in a room full of bodies and a pissed off werewolf.
Bracing her hands against the door, the nurse bowed her head as the tech's screams echoed in the room. Without warning his body slammed forcefully into the observation glass two feet away. Startled, she screamed with the impact, grateful the glass didn't shatter. "Thank God for that special glass they installed", she muttered tearfully. Body shaking from the amount of adrenaline and fear coursing through her veins the young girl listened carefully, waiting for some signs of the werewolf, or for Seras herself, to have reverted back to her humananoid state.
Moments crept by, her anxiousness increased. Swallowing the large, hard lump lodged in her throat, she gathered the courage to look out the square, clear surface allowing extra observation through the huge, metal door. Her brown eyes bulged in fright, her mouth opened in a scream but nothing came out. There, at the door was the monstrous creature, blood covering every inch; dark, red slightly viscous fluid, due to the coagulation, fell from the creature's fangs. Seras, still in wolf form, reared back; using her abnormal strength pounded on the entrance to the isolation room. Her blows forced the hinges to give a little, and the nurse just knew she was going to die. Kneeling on the floor she prayed to God that someone would save her from the creature inside. That's not how she imagined her life would end, so now she could only hope and pray for someone, anyone, to save her.
Out of nowhere a hand shoved her roughly aside, it's owner barking, "Out of the way, ma'am. Unit seven move in!"
Several men in black fatigues moved past her, one grabbing the key from her hand prompting her to scream, "No! You'll let it out! You can't go in there! She'll kill you all! Please, don't go", she begged. Her pleas fell on muted, if not deaf, ears. Card key in hand the leader swiped it, the door sprang open to reveal nothing but empty space and darkness.
Stepping throught the threshold, signaling the rest to follow, he entered the bloodied isolation room. All together the group simultaneously slid their night vision goggles from their forehead over their eyes. They weren't prepared for the macabre greeting left behind. One soldier commented, "Damn! She bloody massacred them!" He stated the obvious, otherwise he remained unaffected.
"Silence. She's in here somewhere."
The way the isolation rooms had been designed there were the obvious such as beds and bathrooms, but this room was special. There were multiple cabinets and closets holding the surplus of extra supplies. It was part of the lab itself. So unfortunately, there were ways of hiding or escaping should there be need.
"Men, fan out! Search everything in here." The commander was dubious that this werewolf could hide from them. Hell, she was over seven feet tall! How could a creature that tall hide so well? The area in question well-lit from the overhead lights now dark; only light from the observation area was allowed to stream in. So where could she be? A bad feeling settled in the pit of his stomach making him wish he hadn't had that spicy chili for supper. But it was that or hurt his wife's feelings and him being the intelligent guy that he was he knew it wasn't smart to hurt his wife's feelings. That was plain stupid and could lead to a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. And getting cut off from other things as well.
One of the men taking point opened a door revealing storage space. Taking stock of everything through his goggles a blur of motion flew towards him. Yelling, acting accordingly to instincts his finger pulled heavily on the trigger, firing off several rounds of armor piercing ammo at a high rate. The blurred object in question...
"A damned cat? No way!" His buddy slapped him on the back jokingly telling him, "Man, this ain't the time nor the place to play Cat Skeet. You gotta lay off the caffeine. Seriously."
"Screw you, Peterson!" The young man fired back, embarrassed and rankled by the situation and his friend's lack of sympathy. "It could've happened to anyone."
"Yeah right, Davis." Smirking, Peterson teased, "It's funny that it always seems to happen to you. How odd is that?"
The two soldiers bickered until their commander ordered them to cease all chatter and arguments or risk being thrown in the brig post- mission.
"Yes sir", they duly acknowledged.
With their conversation halted, the pair looked at each other in confusion when several clear, thick, stringing threads fell from the ceiling above their heads. Heads tilting upwards, eyes searching in slow motion, their adrenaline pumped harder, faster. There, attached snugly above their heads; claws dug into the ceiling was the object of their hunt. Yelling at their commander, all present opened fire.
Dropping from the ceiling, landing gracefully, the werewolf ignored the gunfire and the bullets tearing her flesh. With a great swipe of her claws, she raked them across their face and chests, the first two soldiers were taken out in less than fifteen seconds. Licking the blood from her claws, mouth salivating, she eyed the rest while preparing her next attack.
"If that's the way you want to play bitch then that's the way we'll play" the leader shouted. Hitting the clip release, the spent clip fell to the ground and he quickly popped another in. Securing the new ammo into place, he cocked the powerful weapon sending the first of the special bullets into the metallic chamber. Locked and loaded. "Eat silver bullets!" Squeezing the trigger, a round flew from the barrell aimed directly at Seras. Maliciously grinning, the head of the soldiers watched in amusement knowing what happens to lycans hit by silver bullets. They die a rather gruesome, painful death.
An object flew by his head rapidly spinning in the air. His eyes widened in stunned disbelief. A sword had flown seemingly from nowhere, the silvery blade whirling with incredible speed, cutting down his bullet before it could reach his target. What the hell? Temporarily ignoring his target cost him for the next thing he knew pain assailed his body and he fell into darkness.
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Standing on the terrace outside Integra and Alucard sat side by side in the hopes that fresh air would do them both improvement. Staring at his profile, the urge to weep crept over her again. I can't do this, she admonished herself, my father would certainly not approve, but at the same time how can I remain detached while watching Alucard suffer?
Sighing, his long, black hair stirring in the breeze he sardonically smiled at the irony of his whereabouts. He was outside watching a most beautiful sunset giving rise to the birth of the oncoming night. The entire situation ironic. He'd wished every night since meeting Seras that the two of them could observer a sunset together. But there was no chance of that happening. Ever. Damn those Vatican fools!
Feeling so out of control, Alucard slammed his fist against the stone railing surrounding the terrace. Everything had rapidly spun wildly out of control. First things first...how to retrieve his lost vampire abilities and strengths. Then...revenge. Those involved in killing Seras would learn the meaning of torture and pain old world style. Alucard style.
Giving the sunset one last glance, he turned to Integra saying, "I'd like to return to my room if you don't mind. I'm feeling rather exhausted."
Knowing what occupied his mind, she nodded. Grabbing his arm lightly she escorted him back inside and away from the fading light.
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Standing over the lead commando, Seras slammed her claws down, penetrating the skin on his abdomen. Sadistically she enjoyed his screams, her animal nature wanted more, craved more. Bending down to finish the job, she winced as something broke her skin. Her head shot up. Snarling at the unwelcomed interruption, her eyes flashed, hatred fueling her intentions.
"Seras, I don't want to have to do this. Submit to us. Allow us to help you back to your old self."
The newcomer patiently waited for her to come to a decision. His finger poised on the trigger of the tranquilizer gun he carried. He stayed at the ready. All his former experience told him she wouldn't go the easy way. His instincts backed up that line of thought.
Defying the blond man's orders, Seras leaned down biting a chunk of flesh and organs from her captive's belly. Inwardly, she laughed at their brashness, their daring. She couldn't believe they thought themselves strong enough to confront her and win.
Angrily, green eyes narrowed. Regretfully he sighed. Firing three darts in consecutive shots, he watched as they pierced her skin. Pain filled howls echoed strangely within the room. Minutes later, he watched as the lycan transformed. Hair withdrew into the pores in her skin, lims shrank to normal size, muzzle and teeth retracted leaving a naked, unconscious Seras in it's wake.
Shaking his head, sadly he caressed her cheek, wistfully whispering, "I'm truly sorry, Seras. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want this for you." He allowed tears to fall in the seclusion of their setting. Morosely, apologetically, he said, "I'm sorry I could've save you from this. All I wanted was to save you..."
Hastily removing his coat, he covered her body, hugging her close. For an instant he thought it'd have been better had they left the link between Seras and Alucard alone. No matter how strongly he hated and despised the vampire, it was him that had kept the lycan virus captive, making it inactive. All of their membership had been wrong in assuming otherwise. Now Seras would have to pay the price for their stupidity and lack of foresight.
Smoothing her bloodied hair from her face, he place a light kiss on her quivering flesh. Rising to his feet, Seras held tightly in his arms, the paladin left the room in the direction of the infirmary. There were many an explanation to be sought and blame to be placed. It'd be another long night. There'd been too many of those here lately. Alex was tired. Mission after mission, little time for rest, and the situation with Seras left him walking a fine, precarious line.
Running down the hallway, precious cargo held closely to him, lights illuminating his face, grave and weary. Entering into the designated place, he laid her gently on a gurney and summoned a doctor. Within seconds a doctor arrived bedside and began his tedious exam, but not before ordering Alex from the curtained cubicle.
What had happened tonight? What the hell had gone so wrong? These were questions that would have to wait until his niece regained consciousness. Waiting on the physician to conclude his work, exhaustion crept up on him, eyelids drooped, head nodded, fighting it for all he was worth, Alex finally gave up, surrendering to the sleep which eagerly beckoned him.
Finishing the last portion of her exam, the doctor injected her with a strong sedative twice the normal strength. "We need to ensure she's completely out while we relocate her. We can't have a repeat performance from tonight."
Peeking around the curtain; ascertaining Alex was sleeping deeply, he pulled his head back in the cubicle. Giving his assistant orders, he stated, "Call containment and have them relocate her to our deepest sub-level isolation wing. They'll know exactly where to put her." His eyes glared hard at the nurse assisting him, "And do not, for any reason, give Anderson any clues to her whereabouts, nor is anyone to tell him of her condition. This is out of his hands now. Understand?"
"Understood, sir."
"Good. Now, go call the containment unit. You're dismissed."
Fifteen minutes later, the containment unit arrived, six men strong, heavily armed; bearing a metal container resembling a coffin. They verified her sleeping status before moving her to the metal transport. They were taking no chances. Period. Placing the container on a rolling cart, they pushed her past her sleeping uncle and down the hall. Entering an elevator they put in a secret code leading them to the lowest level of Section XIII. A place where only the most top ranking members knew existed. Wheeling her down a darkened hall, they approached her new lodging. Opening the door they pushed her inside and the door clicked shut behind them.
A/N: Hot damn, I'm done! Ludifer, you set me up good girl! I had a rough time deciding where I wanted to stop. Guess what? Now it's your turn! Hahaha :)