Who Am I? Redux

Disclaimer: I didn't Create Hellsing, I don't own it.

Chapter 3: Running Down a Dream

The sun was starting to peek over the horizon, spilling across the ground in the cool morning. Max took a deep breath and let it out, watching the clouds of it drift thru the air. Getting up before dawn had become routine for him over the years, as was the six mile run he was about to start. Keeping in shape was important for someone in his line of work, and that was doubly true when it pitted against things that were far beyond human on a regular basis. The daily run also gave him a chance to think, to mull over any problems he may be having.

He took one more deep breath and lurched forward.

The problem on Max's mind this particular morning was the same one that had plagued him for the last several. The problem of the guest he and Jack were currently tending to. They where operating in London under the radar, ordered to avoid all contact with Hellsing personnel at all costs, and here he had taken one of their people prisoner.

Prisoner, was that really the word for it?

They weren't keeping the girl against her will, so could she really be called a prisoner.

Had he known what she was he would have just left her in the rubble for her own people to dig out.

But then again, he always had a weakness for blondes.

He let out a breath and quickened his pace. Another week tops and the operation would be finished and he and Jack would be heading home, unfortunately she didn't come with a 1-800 number to call if she got lost. The Big Guy was hell bent on believing that sooner of later (most likely sooner) that her master would come for her along with a few dozen Hellsing commandos to take her back. If that happened they where fucked.

Jack had been right; taking her in had been a stupid idea. Six months they had been in London and for six months they had managed to stay ten steps ahead of Hellsing. Normally by the time their people showed up on scene there was nothing left but the remains of a couple of beasties and a lot of spent brass. Kept the Brit's chasing ghosts and shadows wile they were able to keep moving, tracking the damned fish men things thru the city.

The fish weren't Max's problem, at least normally they wouldn't be. Zero had dropped the ball during the extermination operation in San Francisco and a single one had slipped onto an outgoing freighter. And one of those fish was all it took to cause an infestation, bastards could asexually reproduce. Each nest they hit housed half dozen eggs or so, nothing a well placed C4 charge couldn't take care of. He worried that before this was over the mother load would show up, one nest with more eggs then he even wanted to think about.

A shiver ran down his spine, brought on by both the thought of all those damned fish and the morning chill.

The warm putrid stench of human waste hung thick in air, stinging her eyes. Even thru the gas mask she had to fight back the urge to vomit. These fish men, Deep Ones, they had been referred to in the briefings, obviously couldn't smell a damned thing. Why else would they be living in such a fowl smelling place as the London Sewers?

The narrow tunnel had opened into a larger round chamber; the other members of the fire team began to fan out, in search of some trace of the target.

"Bloody hell…"

She didn't need to ask what had prompted the comment from one of the soldiers, she could see it clearly enough. Slumped along the ledge of the of the pool, black ichor seeping from wounds dotting it's body, was the scaly pale form of one of the Deep Ones. Several spent bullet casings dotted the concrete not far from the body. Again, this same thing had happened a dozen or more times in recent months. She frowned under the mask.

She sloshed away from the body picking up one of the shells, dropping it instantly; it was still warm.

The shooting couldn't have happened more then a few minutes ago judging by the temperature of the brass, and that would mean…

"Keep on your toes boys," she shouted over her shoulder, "Who ever did this could still be close."

The other dozen men that made up the squad began to fan out; looking for any trace that someone could still be in the area.

Off to her left, back the way they had come, rapid footsteps, two sets, defiantly not with her.

She took off; discarding the belt fed machine gun she had been carrying. The shouts of her squad mates fell on deaf ears. She had to know, had to find out, who kept doing this.

A quick flash in the tunnel ahead, the crack of a gunshot and a bullet whizzed harmlessly past her head.

Now they where shooting at her?

Two more shots, both struck the wall to her left side.

She was getting closer, she could make out two forms now both male, and one was about a foot taller then the other and looked to be built like a house. The other one was slimmer and faster, keeping a good ten feet ahead of his partner.

"Move it old man!" one of them shouted in a slightly gravely voice.

She was closing fast another thirty feet and…

Something beeped, followed by a thunderous explosion.

Seras awoke with a start, almost falling off the couch. It seemed she had dozed off watching one of the movies Max had been nice enough to go rent for her. Something about a war between vampires and werewolves and a man who was capable of becoming half of each, she'd have to re watch it later since the credits where now rolling.

A cold sweat had formed, gluing the thin t-shirt she wore to her back. The dreams where getting more intense. Jack had told her to pay close attention to her dreams, they could be fragmented memories.

She slipped off the couch, heading towards the bathroom, the details of her dream running thru her mind. Someplace underground, the sound of water sloshing about with each step and by god the horrid smell.

The overhead flouriest lights snapped on and she let out a slight gasp. The face in the mirror, or lack there of, still shocked her. The absence of reflection seemed rather suiting, she knew nothing of her past, so why should she know what she looks like?

The faucet let out a squeak as she turned the handle, catching the cold water in one cupped hand before splashing it onto her face.

Something from the dream floated into her mind. The two men who had shot at her, the height difference between them had been exactly the same as the height difference between Max and Jack, and the one who had spoken sounded like…

No, it wasn't possible, it was just a dream, there was no way they would do something like that her.