Chapter 8
While Alucard and Seras were resting at the castle, Ferguson, Pickman and a small host of Hellsing soldiers continued the search for the missing troops. Their efforts proving fruitless, the small search party returned to make shift bunker. The exghausted group dropped their gear to the ground with frustrated sighs.
"I don't undestand it sir. We've searched and searched the entire area and there's no sign of the troops anywhere. We can't go searching the whole bloody country you know." Pickman said wiping his brow.
"I don't understand it either Pickman. Where's Steadlum? I thought he would have returned with us by now." Ferguson replied looking around.
"Sir, if I may speak freely..." Pickman began.
"Permission granted." Ferguson said.
"I have suspicions about Steadlum, and so does Seras Victoria. And I'm sure she's probably told Alucard about those suspicions." Pickman replied.
"I admit I've felt a little uncomfortable about him myself, but so far he's done nothing against Hellsing procedure. But if it will make you feel any better I will report your suspicions to Sir Integra. For now all we can do is keep an eye on him without making him suspicious." Ferguson answered.
"Hmmm, speak of the devil. Here's Steadlum coming now." Pickman whispered.
"Steadlum, where have you been? You should have returned with the rest of us several minutes ago." Ferguson enquired firmly.
"I apologize sir. I got lost for a moment." Steadlum answered.
Pickman gave Steadlum a stern glare knowing something wasn't right. "Son of a bitch is lying. Seras was right. Something bout this guy is rubbing me the wrong way." Pickman thought to himself.
"Very well. See that you keep up with the group next time." Ferguson said acting as if nothing was wrong. "I must go report to Sir Integra now. Keep an eye on things. We'll have to go into the village for more food rations after I make my report."
Ferguson left the tent for some privacy. He didn't want Steadlum to hear the fact that suspicions had been roused. He felt somewhat uncomfortable about leaving Steadlum and Pickman in the same room together. Pickman was a reserved man most of the time, but when his temper was aroused he could beat a man into unconciousness. But for the moment he'd have to risk it. The report needed to be made and if needs be he could put them both in the brig til they cooled off.
"Report Ferguson. Have the missing soldiers been found yet?" Integra's voice crackled over the radio.
"I'm afraid not Sir. I can't understand it. We don't have the means nor time to search the entire country of Romania. Even if we dispatched Alucard and Seras to find them we'd still be vunerable. There have however been some suspicions roused about one of the men." Ferguson answered.
"Suspicions?" Integra asked.
"Yes. Pickman and Seras Victoria have suspicions about Captain Steadlum. To be perfectly honest I seem to feel a little mistrusting of him myself. He seems to dissapear at odd times and when he comes back he always has some sort of excuse. I need permission to scout him out and see if there is any merit to these suspicions."
"Permission granted. Don't do anything right now to tip Steadlum off. If you feel the need, you have permission to have him interrogated. If the normal means don't work, then give him to Alucard." Integra replied.
"Sir, isn't that a bit drastic? Alucard is not fond of this particular fellow as it is. Steadlum's attitude toward Seras has made him enough of an enemy to her and Alucard." Ferguson said.
"For the time being it will only be for questioning. Alucard knows better than to go any further without my consent. He knows what will happen to him if he kills without an order from me. Your orders are to observe Steadlum. If he does anything else that seems suspicious tell me immediately." Integra ordered.
"Yes sir." Ferguson answered turning off his radio.
"SIR!" A loud yell echoed through the still night air.
Ferguson rushed back to the main tent to find completely surrounded by ghouls. And those ghouls looked all too familiar to the F.A.U. leader.
"Those are Hellsing uniforms. Those are the missing soldiers!" The head captain exclaimed seeing the mindless zombies advancing on the tent.
"Pickman!" Ferguson yelled.
Inside the tent Pickman was gathering what little there were left of the soldiers in an attempt to fend off the undead invaders. Steadlum took advantage of the ensuing chaos to sneak out of the tent. He left Pickman and the ragged group to fend for themselves. Pickman turned around briefly to see Steadlum rushing out of the tent.
"Where the hell are you going Steadlum? You fool! Those ghouls will tear you apart!" He yelled. He looked around seeing hands beginning to push against the tent. "Come on men!" Pickman yelled gathering up his weapons.
Ferguson turned on his radio. "God in heaven, please let Seras's radio be on." He pled to himself.
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Alucard and Seras were just making their way to the main hall of the castle. Seras got changed into her black combat outfit. Alucard looked at her as she holstered her mini jackul and put on her headset. "I've got a feeling we're going to be seeing some action tonight." She said looking up at him.
"I thought we had that already." Alucard replied with a mischevious laugh.
"That wasn't the sort of action I was referring to Alucard. It's been too quiet. No report of FREAK or ghoul activity in nearly two days. That just doesn't seem right." Seras answered.
"Hmmm, I agree. I could use a good round of chaotic destruction, especially if I run into Iscariate's lap dog again. I was disappointed I didn't have more of a chance to feel him out completely. It was so much fun playing with him." The elder vampire chuckled.
"Hmph. Trying to make me jealous are we Alucard?" Seras asked sarcastically.
"Now would I do such a thing?" Alucard asked fluttering his eyes madly.
"That depends...what are you looking to get out of it if I were?" Seras questioned with a wicked half smile.
"Well, there is a little matter bout that offer to spank me you know..."
"I might take you up on that offer." Seras chuckled. She yelped when she felt a sudden playful but startling smack on her backside.
"That help you make up your mind police girl?" Alucard's voice echoed. Seras saw he was no longer standing beside her.
"Oh he is going to pay for that one." She said to herself rubbing her bottom. As she put on her headset she could hear Ferguson's voice frantically calling her name.
"Sir? What is it? What's wrong?" She asked rushing toward the main entrance where she could sense Alucard was.
"Seras, we're under attack! The missing soldiers have all been turned into ghouls and set loose upon us!" Ferguson shouted.
"Where are you now?" Seras asked frantically.
"The main bunker! We need you and Alucard! We're outnumbered!" Ferguson yelled. Seras could hear gunshots in the background on her radio.
"We're on our way!" Seras yelled into her headset. "Alucard!" She called.
Hearing his name shouted down the hall Alucard turned to find Seras rush toward him at breakneck speed. "Ferguson and the remaining troops are under attack! The missing soldiers were turned into ghouls!" Seras exclaimed. She and Alucard exited the castle.
"Hang on!" Alucard shouted as he took off with Seras clinging to his waist.
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"Sir we're running out of ammo!" A soldier yelled.
"Keep fighting them! Blind them, break their limbs, anything you can!" Ferguson shouted. "Where is Steadlum! He wasn't supposed to leave!"
"The bastard ran out on us! I knew something about him wasn't right!" Pickman answered while ramming the end of his gun into a ghoul's face. "Damnit! The things just keep coming! Where the hell are Alucard and Seras?" He stammered battering another ghoul with his rifle. He stumbled and ended up on his back with the same ghoul about to attack him. Before he could scream the ghoul's chest suddenly exploded into a flurry of ash. There stood Alucard with his trademark psychotic smile.
"Hmmm, have I missed out on most of the fun already?" The red clad vampire asked aiming his gun to his left and blowing another ghoul away.
"Bout bloody time you two got here!" Pickman shouted.
"Shit! I forgot my canon!" Seras cursed.
"Luckily I didn't police girl." Alucard said as he removed the cumbersom weapon from his back. "I thought you might be needing this." He said handing the harconen cannon to Seras.
"Thanks!" She shouted taking the huge weapon and loading it. "I hope I'm doing this right. I haven't had a chance to read all the way through the manual yet." She muttered to herself as she loaded a rather large shell into the chamber.
She aimed the weapon at an approaching trio of ghouls. "Let's hope this thing works Walter." She thought to herself as she pulled the massive trigger. She felt herself pushed back a good three feet as the shell exploded from the barrel. While two ghouls were left standing, the one in the middle as well as five behind it had been reduced to ashes.
"Bloody hell! Walter wasn't kidding about this thing!" Seras exclaimed. "It's a good thing I am a vampire. This thing would have blown me back twenty miles!" She shouted as she reloaded and prepared to fire once again.
"Seras behind you!" Pickman shouted seeing another five ghouls creeping behind her. Seras turned and aimed her gun with amazing ease.
"Out of the way!" Seras shouted to the remaining human soldiers before they got blasted to kingdom come. She pulled the trigger and watched the hand sized shell rocket through the ghouls. They instantly turned to ashes. Alucard was also having a grand time reducing the vampire puppets to dust. With demonic glee he tore his hand through several chests and pumped other zombies full of blessed silver from his Jackal and Casul.
Just as he watched a ghoul disentigrate a flash of silver streaked through the air. Alucard suddenly felt his right arm go numb as blood started to gush from it. He looked down and saw a blessed silver blade now embedded in his flesh. He only smiled wickedly knowing who it was.
"So, I see Iscariate's lap dog has returned to get his ass handed back to him again. I've been waiting for you to emerge from your little hiding place." Alucard said with an arrogant laugh.
"Well well, heritics and the undead all in one place. It looks like I'm going to be very busy indeed." Anderson replied with as much ego as his vampiric opponent.
"They aren't what you came for. Let us continue our little contest unless of course you've lost your nerve Judas priest!" Alucard shouted.
"I was hoping you'd say that vampire." Anderson replied with a toothy grin.
"Shall we then?" Alucard asked cocking his Jackal.
Alucard and Anderson faced off again. This time there was no pretense or formality. The two foes just rushed at each other in a hail of blades and bullets. Seras looked up from blasting ghouls to smithereens for a moment to see her sire and his arch rival going at each other tooth and nail. She continued blasting ghouls until she suddenly found she'd run out of ammo. "I don't guess Alucard remembered to bring extra ammo. Oh well, guess I'll just have to take the rest of them out the old fashioned way." Seras said to herself unholstering her gun. As more ghouls approached she rushed forward tearing through them with her hands. The trick became so easy for her she began dusting off two ghouls at once using both her hands. Alucard peered over his shoulder for a brief second. His grin widened.
"Looks like my little police girl has turned into quite the exterminator." He thought to himself. He pumped Anderson full of silver while Anderson once again turned Alucard into the undead equivalent of a pin cushion. The vampire only smiled maniacally seeing the blades protruding out of his arms and chest. He started pulling the blades out of his flesh. He growled and bore his fangs tuning out the severest of the pain.
"You certainly can take punishment can't ye? I wonder how long it's been since ye've had a bath vampire!" Anderson said pulling out what appeared to be a huge mace can, only it wasn't filled with mace. Anderson pressed a button and a spray of liquid shot out hitting Alucard in the face. The vampire suddenly felt a blinding and seering pain against his flesh. He screamed in agony and fell to his knees trying to get the stuff off his skin.
"And that's no ordinary holy water either. It's a gel based fluid blessed by the holy father himself designed especially for filthy creatures such as you. Alucard jerked his head up, his red eyes blazing. Half his face was now seered and charred by the gelatinous concoction. He wiped furiously at his face trying to get the stuff off. But the more he pawed at it the more spread under his clothes. And the more it spread the more it caused him pain. This was torture unlike he'd ever felt before. Usually holy water was more of an irritant than a deterant for a vampire like Alucard. But this didn't fall away from his body like water did. And his flailing about only caused it to spread more.
Seras heard his wail of pain and looked behind her to see Anderson standing over him with a silver stake in his hand. Pickman also caught view of the scene and rushed toward Anderson.
"Get away from him you bastard!" He shouted as he emptied his gun into the regenerator. Anderson only laughed as he felt the bullets go through him. Such a thing was nothing to the Vatican's paladin. He turned and hurled a silver blade toward Pickman. Seeing the weapon coming Pickman ducked and rolled out of the way. He grabbed one of the blades laying on the ground and lept at Anderson. He managed to take a swing slicing off one of Anderson's hands.
"Take that you brute!" Pickman shouted as Anderson grabbed the stump that was his hand.
"Get...away from him. He's a regenerator!" Alucard gasped.
Pickman saw Anderson pick up a blade with his remaining hand. Though he was able to get out of the way without losing his arm, he didn't come away completely unscathed. Anderson's blade managed to make a deep cut in Pickman's right arm. Pickman let out a cry of pain and grasped his arm as blood began to pour from the wound.
"Alucard! Pickman!" Seras cried seeing them both in dire straights. Her momentary distraction gave the remaining ghouls enough time to grab her. She went down with about ten ghouls pawing and groping at her. She struggled as their faces came closer and closer to hers. Fangs elongated in bloodlust, fangs that sought to rip asunder the tender prey now caught in their grasp. At first Seras felt a rush of terror as the empty eyed faces drew closer and closer. Then something happened.
In the midst of the chaos what sounded like a roar cut through all the frantic noise. One of the ghouls holding Seras down suddenly went flying through the air. Then another ghoul got his throat ripped out by a rather delicate looking gloved hand. Pickman, Alucard and Anderson all peered at the site. The band of ghouls were quickly disbanded when Seras threw them all off at once. Only she didn't look like herself anymore, at least to an extent she didn't. Gone was the sweet smile and big friendly eyes. They'd been replaced by a demonic fanged grin and sinister ruby orbs. In the midst of his pain, Alucard managed enough strength for a wicked smile. His protoge' was truly coming into her own.
The ghouls, not being intelligent creatures started advancing toward Seras once again. Only this time they would not have the chance to grab and pin her down. She lunged forward thrusting her hand into the ghoul's stomach. Then she pushed her hand upward effectively ripping the torso clean in half. The remains fell to the ground turning into dust. The next ghoul met an even more painful fate. Seras felt an arm wrap around her neck. She smiled an evil smile and reached down between her legs. She grasped the ghoul by its family jewels and then proceeded to rip them clean off.
Pickman felt like he was going to throw up after watching that move. As the ghoul fell to the ground flailing madly, Seras calmly put her foot upon its head and proceeded to stomp down. The skull imploded from the pressure and yet another ghoul turned to dust.
Ferguson watched with both amazement and revulsion as Seras literally tore the other ghouls apart. Some had their hearts ripped out, others had their heads torn off, while yet others had their insides pulled from their bodies. The site was enough to make Alucard forget about his pain for a few moments watching Seras make literal short work of the remaining ghouls.
"How glorious she is in battle. No hesitation, no remorse! She's enjoying every moment of the carnage! At last my queen is blossoming before my very eyes!"
Ferguson tore himself away from the horrorfying scene and ran for the crumpled tent. He grabbed a large keg of water and headed toward Alucard. Anderson also allowed himself to be temperarily distracted by the display of gore and violence. How a young woman like Seras could look so sweet and unassuming, and yet cause such a horrific display. Ferguson carried the barrel of water over to where Alucard lay.
"This water be damned and all blessing removed!" He shouted before dumping the contents of the barrel upon Alucard's body. The fluid which caused Alucard so much distress finally began to wash away from his body. Once he knew the vampire would be able to recover, Ferguson ran over to Pickman and helped him on his feet. Anderson caught site of Pickman and Ferguson fleeing from the regenerator.
Anderson turned his attention back to Alucard who was still haunched over. Only this time instead of cries and groans of pain, there was a maniacal laughter emiminating from the vampire.
"What are ye laughing at ye filth?" Anderson demanded.
"An eye for an eye Judas priest." Alucard chuckled. Then he suddenly raised his head and opened his mouth. Blood suddenly shot fourth covering Anderson's face. Anderson dropped his blade and screamed trying to wipe the vile substance from his face. He choked and spat to keep that same blood from entering his body.
"You bastard!" Anderson screamed as he sputtered and choked. Seeing he was in quite the predicament, Anderson fled to find a place to wash off the blood.
"Your sins will wash off easier than my blood will father Anderson." Alucard laughed to himself. He looked and saw Seras standing amidst the few arms and legs left from her rampage. She gasped and heaved amazed and somewhat shocked at the carnage left in her wake.
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Steadlum had been watching from the bushes careful to stay out of site. He looked less than pleased with the outcome of the battle. "Damnit." Steadlum cursed under his breath. He took out his radio. "Report." A voice said.
"It's all gone wrong. The Hellsing soldiers that were turned into ghouls have all been destroyed. Alucard's fledgling has become more powerful since the last battle. She tore many of them apart with her bare hands. Even more were destroyed with a canon the Hellsing weapon's maker supplied her with. And the Vatican Priest also got away." Steadlum reported.
"Were there any human survivors?" The voice asked.
"Two. Pickman and Ferguson survived. What the hell am I supposed to do now?" Steadlum asked fearfully.
"Stay out of site. If you are caught, the vampire will not be able to read your mind if you took that little potion you were supplied with." The voice replied.
"I've got to go. Steadlum out."
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Seras ran over to Alucard when she had regained her wits. "Alucard! Are you all right? What did that bastard do to you?" Seras asked kneeling next to Alucard who was still on his knees.
"I'm weak. I need...blood. I've expended too much...energy." Alucard gasped.
"You can take mine. Take as much as you need." Seras said exposing her neck.
"No. I need fresh...blood." Alucard gasped as his voice became soft.
"Pickman!" Seras shouted. She looked around. She saw Ferguson and Pickman walking toward her from the crumpled tent. Pickman had his arm wrapped in make shift bandages.
"What's wrong? Is Alucard all right?" Pickman asked.
"No! He's expended too much energy and his blood has gotten dangerously low. Transfusion blood isn't going to do. He needs it fresh. Is there anyway we can break the rules just once so he can get what he needs?" Seras asked with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Seras, we can't have Alucard going around sucking villagers dry. But the village has a doctor. We can talk some villagers into donating enough blood to give Alucard enough strength to heal his wounds. Pickman, you go with Seras and Alucard back to the castle. I'll bring a doctor and a few villagers to donate blood. There's a vehical that should get the three of you to the castle quickly enough. I'll meet you three at the castle as soon as possible." Ferguson said.
"Please hurry. Alucard doesn't look very good." Seras said in a worried tone.
"Come on Seras. Ferguson will get Alucard what he needs. Right now you and I need to get Alucard back to the castle." Pickman said. Seras nodded and draped one of Alucard's arms over her shoulder. She helped him get to his feet long enough to get him into the military jeep. Seras stayed in the back with her former master while Pickman started the jeep and drove for the castle.