The next few weeks were uneventful; no new missions except for rigorous training exercises. I was improving steadily, but was still far from elite. One evening...
"IT'S CHRISTMAS FRESHMEAT; WAKE UP!"
The loud noise woke me with a start and, like every other time, I bashed my head on my coffin's lid. I hate my unlife, I thought bitterly. When my coffin finally opened, Alucard was holding a large bullhorn in his right hand and looking quite amused. I scowled at him and got up.
"What's the big idea? It's the middle of August!" I protested
"Well, it may as well be Christmas," Alucard said, jerking his head towards Walter.
I glanced over and saw Walter standing in front of my table, holding a wooden case and smiling. I couldn't think what was going on until I remembered that Sir Integra told me that Walter would be making custom weapons for me. I darted over, anxious to examine his work. I wonder what's in that case? Something like Mistress' Harkonnen cannon? That'd be so kewl.
"Ah, Mr. Nathan, I've just finished; I think you'll like this," Walter grinned. He opened the case and turned it in my direction. My eyes fell on a beautifully crafted firearm. "This is the 4-gauge double-barreled scattergun, Boomstick. Each barrel has a separate magazine capable of holding six rounds. There are two types of ammunition, high-velocity slugs and standard buckshot."
"Wow, this is just awesome Walter, thanks! But where's the stock?" I inquired.
"It's actually just a pistol grip; Alucard said that it would suit you better."
I shot another look in Alucard's direction but he just grinned insufferably. Walter turned to a tall, relatively slender wooden cabinet that I hadn't noticed before. Flinging the door open, Walter reached up and grasped a cloth-wrapped bundle. Dragging the item out of the closet seemed to take a great deal of effort. When it was all out, Walter flung the cloth aside.
My eyes took in the enormous piece of sharpened steel. It was almost as tall as I was, two feet wide, and three inches thick at its thickest. The main part of the blade was pitch black and the edges gleamed in bright contrast.
"This was made with your newfound strength in mind. This is the Hackmaster. It's made of titanium steel alloy with the edges coated in blessed silver. There is a hollow in the center partially filled with mercury to give more inertia to its swings. It tips the scale at 93 pounds. A conventional scabbard wouldn't be appropriate so I have designed a special electromagnet that will be worn on your back," Walter described.
"What did I tell you about catching flies?" Alucard scolded me.
I blinked and swallowed. I'd always wanted a big sword but this was... Dang!
"I'm glad you're pleased them," Walter said, sounding rather pleased himself.
"I'll leave you to familiarize yourself with your new toys, Freshmeat; I have some business to take care of." Alucard turned and strolled through the door.
"I must be going as well, good evening," Walter excused himself.
I picked up Boomstick and turned it over and over, awed by the masterful craftsmanship. This is awesome! I'll be unstoppable with this! I placed it back in its case like a baby in a crib and looked over at Hackmaster. I took hold of the hilt and was surprised at how easily I could swing it. I tested the edge with my finger and was not only cut by its keenness but burned by the blessed silver. Note to self: don't do that. The electromagnet was on the table, so I tried it on. It fit over my chest in a sort of X pattern with a release in the center.
Walter had left a belt with a holster, so I strapped it on and put Boomstick in it. Hackmaster went on my back and I looked in the mirror, only to see my weapons floating in midair. Duh, vampire! Use the monitor genius. I checked the monitor and struck a pose. Ooh, nice. I've got to show Mistress.
I took off down the hall towards Mistress' room. When I got near, I heard voices so I slowed down. The voices were coming from Mistress' chamber. One was Alucard, and the other was Mistress. Curiosity overcame me, so I tiptoed up to the door and listened.
"Police Girl, you've got to drink my blood NOW!" Alucard's anger was almost palpable.
"But Master, why now?" Mistress questioned.
"This isn't just your problem now. You've taken a servant while you're still my servant; among vampires that's a serious taboo. If you don't drink my blood before the next full moon, your servant will never become true Nosferatu," Alucard explained.
"Isn't there another way?" Mistress pleaded.
"No, the full moon is tomorrow so it's now or never."
"Fine. If that's the only way..."
I sprang away from the door and ran upstairs. What did he mean by 'true Nosferatu'? I wondered. Deciding not to think about it, I went out to the practice area to see what my new toys could do.
I set up a dummy and drew Hackmaster. Wow, I can't believe it's so light! Walter must've been joking about that. I swung at the air a few times, then whipped it around like a rapier. When I was satisfied, I swung downwards on the practice dummy, cleaving it roughly in two. Holy cow! That was a little over the top methinks. I dragged the remains of the target over to a dustbin and walked away. Mebbe I should just test Boomstick; targets at the firing range are supposed to get busted up.
I loaded Boomstick as I went, using slugs in the left barrel and shells in the right. When I got to the 50-yard area, I set up a target dummy and took aim. I fired a shell, and the dummy simply disintegrated. Well, there's not much need for practice with shells anyhow. Grabbing another target, I set it up where its comrade had been a minute before. I shot a slug at the chest area, which promptly exploded. My right hand dropped to my side, still holding a smoking Boomstick. My left was held out in amazement when the dummy's head landed in it.
"Doing Hamlet Freshmeat?" Alucard wondered, popping out of the wall to my left.
I jumped in shock, hurling the disembodied head straight at him. Alucard must not have expected it because he got a faceful of dummy. Alucard emerged completely from the wall with a look of smoldering anger.
"I'll break every bone in your body, some of them twice, and then I'll hurt you," he growled through clenched teeth. I tried to run away, but his right arm just stretched out and grabbed me by the scruff of the neck. He drew his Casull and gripped it by the barrel. I was confused until he proceeded to pistol-whip me about the head and shoulders. When the blows stopped, Alucard's omnipresent smirk was back.
"I feel better now, don't you Freshmeat?" Alucard asked rhetorically. Before I could reply, he continued, "There's something I need you to see, come with me," he commanded. Without waiting to see if I would follow, he trudged away. I didn't dare to disobey, so I fell into step behind him.
Alucard led me back into the dungeon, and then to Mistress' chamber. He flung open the door and shoved me inside. I wasn't sure what I would see, but I wasn't expecting what I did see.
Mistress lay on her bed, surrounded by a black mist. She tossed and turned as if she were having a nightmare. Occasionally she would cry out in an oddly distorted voice. I backed into the door, unsure of what to do.
"She is transforming. She has taken the blood of her master to become true Nosferatu; but you know that, after all you were listening when I told her. This process is far from comfortable, but she's going through this for you. Stay by her side until this is complete; she'll need a kind face to wake up to," with that he phased out of the room.
I moved a chair over to Mistress' bedside and took her right hand in both of mine. Her hand was cold to the touch, then blazing hot, then icy once again. The black mist roiled like someone walking through fog. I decided to try to talk to her, not that she would understand me, but at least I would be doing something.
"What's going on Mistress? What can I do to make this easier? I suppose you can't answer me right now, so I'll just talk. Walter gave me my weapons tonight and they're unbelievable. I've got a huge sword and a really big gun, but not as big as your Harkonnen. I wanted to show you, but Alucard was talking to you about this 'true Nosfe-whatchamacallit' thing. When I was practicing I..." I kept babbling until I felt Alucard tap me on the shoulder.
"It's almost dawn; you need to get to your coffin. This won't be finished until tomorrow night, but she'll be ok. Get some sleep." He gestured me to the door and I obeyed. As I closed the door, I collided with someone.
"Hey! Watch where you're going ya jerk!" I snorted.
"Ze same to you!" He shot back in a French accent.
The man I bumped into was about five-and-a-half feet tall, had his hair in a braid to his waist and an eyepatch covered his left eye. His uniform wasn't the same as mine, but he had a Hellsing patch on his right shoulder, next to one that read 'Wild Geese'. A name badge on the left side of his chest simply said 'Pip'.
"What are you doing down here?" I demanded.
"Not zat it's any of your business, but I have come to see mon Seras," he huffed."She's rather busy right now, come back tomorrow."
"I do not believe you; step aside you American peegdog."
Faster than a normal human could see, I drew Boomstick and pressed both barrels to the bottom of his jaw.
"I don't like your tone, and I don't much like you either. I'll say it again: Mistress isn't accepting visitors, so stick to the pond, froggie," I said through clenched teeth.
He whipped his head aside, darted behind me, slipped his arms underneath mine, and put me in a full nelson. He managed to kick my right hand, stunning it long enough to make me drop my gun. I roared in anger and bowed forward so quickly that Pip hit the wall and released his hold. He sprang back up, fists at the ready. Before we could begin the next exchange, Alucard stepped out of the wall, looking rather put out.
"What in the Nine Hells is going on out here?" Alucard fumed.
"Alucard, this wine-swilling wuss says he's here to see Mistress, but I don't think he should; can I kill him?" I asked hopefully.
"Feel free to try you arrogant swine," Pip sneered.
"Freshmeat, if you kill him then his unit will leave and that will cut our manpower in half. Not to mention the reaming Sir Integra will give you, and the mountains of paperwork." Alucard ticked each reason off on his fingers. Alucard turned to Pip and jabbed a finger at the tip of his nose. "As for you, Police Girl has made it clear time and again that your advances are unwelcome."
"Pfeh, she eez just playing hard to get, she weel be mine," Pip boasted as he sauntered away.
"Yeah right, when Hell freezes over!" I yelled after him, adding a one-fingered salute.
"Are you jealous Freshmeat?"
"No, I just don't like the idea of that psycho makin' moves on Mistress."
"That's being jealous," he countered.
"But... uh... er... ahh I got nothin'."
I glared at Alucard and his omnipresent grin; and huffed back to my room.
END CHAPTER 6
Sorry about the wait for the update folks. Sorry to any Pip fans out there; I don't care for the guy but please bear with me.
Please Review every chapter you read just so I know somebody's still reading! Love to all my readers!