Psalm of Darkness: Hellsing Institution (Order 02: Victim of Changes)

[Seras Victoria]

Continued from, <a href=http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12189>Order 01</a>: ~Not Human~


Order: 02 ~Victim of Changes~


<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM01.txt align=right hspace=5>It was a dark night as the two were on the rooftop across from a prestigious restaurant. Seras was lying down with a rifle out in front of her set up on a bipod, while an older man stood a short distance behind her. Just close enough, so that he could see the entrance to the restaurant.

Two people walked out of the door where Seras and her commander were watching, and shortly after they did, a woman approached them crouched near the ground. She was no ordinary woman.<br clear=right>

The commander spoke.

“Target confirmed. In the name of God, the ones who have been turned to the living dead without a will shall be granted eternal night, Amen.”

He paused for a moment after his small prayer, then spoke again.

“You are cleared to shoot Victoria.”

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM02.txt align=left hspace=5>She closed an eye and lined up her rifle's site. Her finger moved over the trigger but did not pull. Thoughts were racing through her mind.

”That is a Vampire? From here she looks normal enough.”

She hesitated to take the shot her commander had ordered, but he didn’t say anything else, at least not yet.<br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM03.txt align=right hspace=5>Seras continued to have second thoughts while the target moved closer to the people who had just exited. The Vampire in red reached out and grabbed the woman by the feet and started to pull her towards.

Still.......Seras did not take the shot she had been ordered to.<br clear=all>

[Captain Carisul]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM04.txt align=left hspace=5>He stood stoically watching what his new charge would do when faced with the order he had given her. Seeing that the target had now endangered a normal human and could turn her into either a ghoul or another Vampire in only a few seconds caused him to react immediately. He reached to the headset he wore and pressed a button.

“Galice fire.”<br clear=left>

The Captain turned toward the rooftop across the street and a flash of light could be seen as well as the sound of the shot being heard as another operative took the lethal shot.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM05.txt align=right hspace=5>Blood splattered all over the woman that the Vampire had assaulted. The Vampire fell off to the side hissing and wailing as she died a quick second death. Maggots spilled on the street from her wound just before the rest of her remains became ash that blew away in the evening breeze.

Not more than a second later, a clean up crew consisting of men dressed in the same uniform as the Captain were on the scene, escorting the woman and her companion away and taking care of the mess left by the target's elimination.<br clear=right>

The Captain said nothing to Seras. He activated his headset again.

"Mission completed."

Then he just turned and walked away. Seras soon followed after.

[Seras Victoria]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM06.txt align=left hspace=5>Back at the rather large estate that housed the Hellsing Institution’s members in two separate wings, the Captain, now out of his headgear, spoke a few words to Seras.

“When you were a member of DV-11, they babied you didn’t they?”

She looked ashamed and didn’t respond. The Captain went on.<br clear=left>

“No member of Hellsing Institution will be babied, though they do say those who hesitate on their first mission last the longest.”



He smiled at her then walked away to speak with Integral.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM07.txt align=right hspace=5>Seras stood there silent. She was mad at herself for failing in her first mission while at the same time surprised that he hadn't reprimanded her more so than he had. She vowed to herself.

"I will not fail again!"

She watched as the captain spoke with Integral and wondered what he would tell her about her own failure on her first sortie.<br clear=all>

[Walter]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM08.txt align=left hspace=5>As Seras wondered about the captain and Integra’s discussion, her thoughts started to stray to exactly where she would be staying here at the Institution. And almost as if on cue, she heard a voice behind her that caused her to turn around in surprise.

“Good evening. I believe introductions are in order. My name is Walter and on behalf of Hellsing Institution, you are in my charge during your time here.”<br clear=left>

She turned around to fully face him and respond.

"I'm Seras Victoria. I guess I do have a few new things to get used to."

"Well one thing for sure is the fact that milady shouldn't handle siverware."

He turned and started to walk towards the doorway on the wing of the facility that looked more like a mansion than a training and barracks facility, as the other wing did.

"Follow me please."

Her reply was to his turned back, just as she started to follow.

"Well I never was one to use a silver fork."

He just smiled and continued on his way, leading her into the large home. She followed with jaw dropped in awe of the size of the place. They went downstairs into what looked like a cellar with stone walls and no windows. Walter opened a door and pointed the way inside.

“This will be where you reside from now on milady.”

Seras smiled at him and walked inside, finding a single room also without windows. The few it used to have along the hallway were filled in with bricks. There was a table in its center, a four posted canopied bed against one wall, and a doorway into what was probably the bathroom. She murmured to herself sarcastically.

“A lot of sunlight is sure to find its way in here.”

She smiled and shrugged off her own comment then excitedly plopped herself down on the bed, while Walter stood in the doorway still.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM10.txt align=right hspace=5>”Oh! I’ve always wanted to have a big fancy bed like this one.”

Just as she laid down her hand brushed against a small remote control that lay on it and the canopy started to lower down from the top and cover the top. Her muffled voice came from inside.

“This is…is…is…a coffin, isn’t it?”<br clear=right>

Walter smiled and replied loud enough so that she could hear.

"The most appropriate thing for milady when she is sleeping during the daylight hours."

“If you need me for anything just call on me.”

He turned and left her alone in the room. The large steel door closed behind.

[Seras Victoria]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM11.txt align=left hspace=5>She laid on the bed for a while after Walter left, she though she might try and get some sleep, seeing that this was a time when she would normally be doing just that. She found herself tossing and turning and unable to get comfortable with the lid open. She tried it with the coffin top down, but couldn’t sleep that way either. She finally opened the top and thought to herself.

”I guess sleeping at night isn’t for me anymore.”<br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM12.txt align=right hspace=5>Her thoughts wandered back to the time at the chapel when Alucard had made her the way she was now, a Vampire. Unconsciously she raised a hand to her neck where he had bitten her and smiled. Her life had been saved that night, saved from the Minister and his evil intentions, but was she really any better off as a Vampire in Alucard’s and Hellsing’s service. Her head nodded as she smiled. She certainly thought so.<br clear=right>

[Integra Hellsing]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM13.txt align=left hspace=5>Seras was restless and decided to go upstairs and have a better look at the house she was staying in. She walked through the windowless hallway and up the stairs into the great room she had first come through . Two men stood by the main door that led outside and each of the bowed slightly as she caught sight of them and they her.

She smiled in return.<br clear=left>

Then Seras noticed a sound, it was faint and she found it odd, as she looked up to the balcony that was all the way across the room and considerably higher than she was, that she had even heard the footsteps. There she saw Integra, whom she really hadn’t met formally yet, but knew was in charge, walking up to and then standing by the railing. Integral spoke.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM14.txt align=right hspace=5>“Don’t go sucking human blood without thinking young Vampire.”

Integra’s voice was stern and commanding in its tone, the expression on her face conveyed the same emotions. Seras quickly and decisively answered.

“I most certainly will not!”<br clear=right>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM15.txt align=left hspace=5>Before Seras had a chance to respond any further with introductions, Integra walked off. Seras stood there somewhat stunned looking up where Integra had been standing. She started wondering if she was really going to like Miss Hellsing or not. She thought to herself.

"The air is just a little tense around her." <br clear=left>

[Alucard]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM16.txt align=right hspace=5>After having spoken to Seras briefly, Integra walked back to her own room on the upper floor and sat down at her desk. She withdrew a cigarette and lit it. Just as she did Alucard walked in through the solid wall as if he were no more than a ghost. She didn’t even turn to face him.

“Don’t let it become a habit….making humans into Vampires Alucard.”<br clear=left>

Alucard smiled and responded simply.

“It was a choice she made of her own free will Master.”

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM17.txt align=left hspace=5>Integra turned and faced Alucard, her eyes displaying the usual cold and harsh temperament. It was plain to see that she was not at all pleased to have another Vampire in her house.

“Train her well in our ways.”

Alucard didn’t speak in reply, only nodded his head, to which Integra responded by continuing their conversation, albeit in a different subject matter.<br clear=left>

“I have another mission for you Alucard.”

She opened a file on her desk that contained pictures of grizzly scenes of slaughter and wanton destruction of life and property.

“It appears that we have a small group of people causing some mischief as they move northward. They have murdered many and left behind writings in blood that plainly defile god. They are presumed to be Vampires with the evidence we have thus far."

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM18.txt align=right hspace=5>Alucard smiled and replied.

“Sounds like a few very careless and stupid Vampires are having what they call fun.”

Integra closed the file and took a long draw from her cigarette, while Alucard went on.

“It shall be taken care of tomorrow evening my Master. The female officer will not fail this time.”<br clear=right>

Alucard took a few steps backwards and faded into the wall he had entered through, leaving Integra alone in her room again.

[Seras Victoria]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM19.txt align=left hspace=5>After some exploration and familiarization of her new surroundings, Seras went back to her room in the basement of the home. She found herself aching for something to eat, and to her surprise found something waiting for her on the middle of the table in the center of her room.

There in a bucket of ice sat some medicinal blood. Without even realizing it, she licked her lips and started to reach out for it.<br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM20.txt align=right hspace=5>Her hand froze about halfway there and it struck her that she was about to drink blood. She was repulsed and horrified as she thought about it and as a reflexive action, she swung her hand across the table, knocking the bucket of ice and blood from its place onto the floor.

“NO!”<br clear=right>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM21.txt align=left hspace=5>She raised her hands in front of her and clenched a fist, shaking it.

“I am not a monster who feeds on blood. I can’t believe I almost…”

She stopped in mid sentence and realized that there were a great deal of things she needed to adjust to. She was going to be living a completely different lifestyle.<br clear=left>

But she still couldn’t bring herself to drink the blood that was now in its bag lying on the floor.

[Jessica]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM22.txt align=right hspace=5>At the same time as the events at the Hellsing Institution on the other side of the city there were other events taking place. Two young people were in a home that wasn’t their own, having what they would call fun. There were two, a young man and woman. Each of the two had blood on their hands and faces as they talked. The young woman spoke first.

“This will make us immortal won’t it?”<br clear=right>

The young man replied with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

“A few more lives taken, giving us more blood to drink will do just that.”

Jessica answered him again, just before she kissed him.

“And then we can love each other forever.”

The boy, Ruffie, answered with a murmur as their lips met.

“mmhmm”

The kiss ended and Jessica crouched down in front of Ruffie and the next thing that one could hear was his zipper coming down. Ruffie smiled, showing his fangs and said.

“Killing does that to you to does it?”

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM23.txt align=left hspace=5>Jessica didn’t answer him with words, she just kept doing what she had begun. Ruffie pulled out his gun and proceeded to spray down the bodies littering the floor with even more bullets as he had an immense look of pleasure and wickedness on his bloody face.

Across the room lie the hand of a small child clutching her stuffed animal that had already been damaged from the violence of earlier. At the moment Ruffie opened fire, it was torn to even smaller pieces by the shots.<br clear=left>

[Seras Victoria]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM24.txt align=right hspace=5>After a good day’s rest Seras decided that today would be a god day to join the other Hellsing troops in some targeting practice. She arrived at the indoor practice range and found a locker with her name on it. She reached inside and withdrew the standard issue rifle that was inside. She turned around to make her way over to where the actual range was when Galice confronted her. He held out a much larger rifle, he was holding with both hands, and said.

“Why don’t you try this one?”<br clear=right>

“That looks much too large for me.” Came Seras’ somewhat bashful response.

Galice just grinned and answered. “Trust me, this is more your style.”

Reluctantly, Seras traded weapons with him taking the one he held out with only one hand poised and ready to grab hold with her other as soon as Galice took the rifle she had already been holding. She found herself shocked.

“Why does this rifle feel as if it is lighter than a feather?”

“It’s a very heavy weapon, but for one like you should be easy to handle." Galice said with a glint of disdain in his eyes.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM25.txt align=left hspace=5> Seras moved over to the firing range and lined up on her target. She pulled the trigger and fired off several short bursts of fully automatic weapon’s fire, hitting her target sporadically in its side, but still well enough to be called accurate and deadly to a normal person.

Just as she finished firing, she heard Galice behind her.

“That is not how you kill one of the undead!”<br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM26.txt align=right hspace=5>She turned around to face him, her face not showing any shame or disappointment, only an eagerness to hear what he said next. He reached out and pointed right at her heart.

“That must be the target you choose to kill the undead and not endanger any humans that may be nearby.”<br clear=right>

At that very moment, before Seras had a chance to respond, an announcement bellowed out over the facility’s public address system.

”Galice unit report to the briefing room immediately in preparation for tonight’s sortie.”

[Jessica]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM27.txt align=left hspace=5>The motley pair had also spent the day sleeping and were now on the run. They were being pursued by officers of local law enforcement, having been discovered at their last stop amidst the carnage they had wrought.

Jessica turned around and let loose a hail of gunfire at the vehicle chasing them, smiling and laughing the entire time.<br clear=left>

“You won’t stop us from playing out our love eternally!” She taunted.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM28.txt align=right hspace=5>The vehicle behind them caught fire, then exploded and crashed, stopping all other traffic that was behind it as Jessica watched with a pleased look. She was right this time. Their pursuers wouldn’t stop them. She had managed to quell their efforts and the efforts of those following close behind them. But the night had only just begun. She turned back to Ruffie as they sped along.

"I love you...forever!"<br clear=right>

[Integra Hellsing]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM29.txt align=left hspace=5>At the now almost completely empty underground firing range, Integra took the opportunity to get some target practice of her own. Her shots were all true and precise, hitting almost the exact same spot every time she fired. The heart of the paper target she was aiming at. She emptied her entire clip into the target, set her pistol down and removed the headset she used to protect her hearing.

She flipped the switch to bring the target in close and examined her accuracy, with the typical look of stern indignation she wore on her face at almost all times.<br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM30.txt align=right hspace=5>She heard a voice behind her, the voice belonged to Walter.

“The Galice unit has moved into position. Bonnie and Clyde’s elimination will be completed 120 minutes after operation start time.”

“Vampires with levels so low they don’t even know what they have become.” Said Integra. “Such things never existed in the past.”

“Indeed.” Answered Walter.<br clear=right>

“Do you wish to be on active duty again Walter?” She asked him.

He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

“Taking care of Miss Hellsing is an important and un-exchangeable duty.”

[Alucard]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM31.txt align=left hspace=5>In a grass field the air was still and Alucard stood alone.

“Target acquired.”

He raised his hands upwards as he began to speak.

“Restriction control method number five, lifting the seal.”

There was a change in the air, and in Alucard. <br clear=left>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM32.txt align=right hspace=5>Wind began to blow fiercely, kicking up leaves and dust. Alucard seemed to transform into a creature of shadow, similar to the shape of a bat.

His form grew in size and then as quickly as it had changed along with the still night air, he was gone, the wind was still and the hunt was beginning.

Alucard was going to have some fun.<br clear=right>

[Jessica]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM33.txt align=left hspace=5>Jessica and Ruffie were still traveling along, no longer being pursued, or at least that was what they thought…until…

The area around them completely changed. Insead of dark night sky surrounding them there were red walls. It looked as if they were in a tunnel of some strange making, but it had just suddenly appeared around them from thin air.

“What the hell?” Came Ruffie’s words. There was fear in his eyes.<br clear=left>

He faced forward again having been speaking back towards Jessica behind him, and as he did he saw a figure in a red coat standing in front of them as they traveled along. He growled and then yelled.

“I’ll run you over!”

Alucard raised his gun and fired a single shot, disabling the vehicle that Ruffie and Jessica had been driving. The motley pair came to a skidding stop and both climbed off. Ruffie pulled out his gun and pointed it at Alucard.

“You will die now!”

Before Ruffie could fire Alucard vanished from where he had been standing. Had he been an illusion, or was he able to move so fast even Vampire eyes could not keep track? He appeared right behind Ruffie and spoke in his ear with his deep powerful sounding voice.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM34.txt align=right hspace=5> “You are a disgrace to our kind young one, slaughtering innocent women and children only for the thrill and taste of their warm blood. Do such acts make you feel powerful?”

Jessica was facing Alucard and looked as if she had seen a ghost. Ruffie spun around with gun aimed, but Alucard had vanished again before he did.

“Who are you?” Demanded Ruffie.<br clear=right>

[Alucard]

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM35.txt align=left hspace=5>”I am your judge, jury, and executioner.”

Came Alucard’s response as he stood before the pair of young Vampires. Jessica cowered behind Ruffie, not sure what was going on and very scared of the man in red and the things she was seeing.

“Your disgrace to our kind will end now.”<br clear=left>

Ruffie wasn’t scared, he was mad. Alucard reaxhed into his coat and started to withdraw his gun. Ruffie squeezed the trigger of his weapon and rained gunfire upon Alucard, shredding one of the Vampire’s arms from his body at the shoulder. Alucard fell to the ground armless and Ruffie laughed.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM36.txt align=right hspace=5>The severed arm lifted the gun within its hand and squeezed off a round as Ruffie stared at the action with wide eyes full of surprise. The shot went right through Ruffie’s chest and he crumbled to the ground in a wake of nothing but ash. Jessica quickly turned and started to run.

“Ruffie!!! No!!!”<br clear=right>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM37.txt align=left hspace=5>Jessica vanished down the tunnel and the illusion around started to drop and fade. Alucard sat on the grass, his arm already moving to reattach itself to his shoulder. He wiggled his fingers some and spoke out loud, but at the same time mentally to Seras.

<font color=red>”Do not fail this time female officer.”</font><br clear=left>

[Captain Carisul]

“Target is approaching, distance five hundred yards." The captain paused for a moment before speaking his prayer. "In the name of God, the ones who have been turned to the living dead without a will shall be granted eternal night, Amen.”

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM38.txt align=right hspace=5>She was poised and ready some distance away from where the interaction had taken place between Alucard and the pair referred to as Bonnie and Clyde. The captain stood nearby, and as she reached out for the scope to affix to her rifle in reaction to his words, he spoke again.

“You won’t be needing that.”<br clear=right>

”But five hundred yards?” She thought to herself and looked down the open sights of her rifle and to her surprise, he was right, she could see Jessica clearly running towards them, even at such a great distance.

“Seras Victoria, shoot!” Came the captain’s command.

Much like during her first mission, Seras thought to herself. ”That’s a Vampire? She looks like a normal girl.” But this time she did her duty, she pulled the trigger and took the target out. Jessica turned into ash in the field she had been running through, shortly after Seras’ shot pierced through her heart.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM39.txt align=left hspace=5>Alucard’s words had helped to motivate Seras this time, but she still felt as if she may not have done the right thing.

Seeing her target become only ash on the grass reassured her that she had not killed a human being, but had in fact done the duty that she was sworn to as a member of the Knights of Hellsing.<br clear=left>

The captain reached up to his headset and relayed the information.

“Mission completed. Target A, Clyde, eliminated by Alucard, target B, Bonnie, by Seras Victoria.”

[Seras Victoria]

Not much later, back at the Hellsing estate. Seras was heading back to her room to reflect on the night’s events.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM41.txt align=right hspace=5>Her eyes went wide as she heard a voice in her head.

<font color=red>”You have done well female officer.”</font>

She stopped walking and answered aloud, sounding a little irritated.

“I do have a name. It is Seras Victoria!”<br clear=right>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM42.txt align=left hspace=5>He appeared as if from nowhere stepping up in front of her. His face displayed a satisfied smile. He completely ignored what she had said and went on.

“This choice you have made has turned you into something better than you could ever imagine you would be, female officer.”<br clear=right>

She remained silent, not sure what to say. It was true that she was adjusting to a great many changes but she wasn’t really yet sure if they were for the better or not. Alucard took a few steps backwards and vanished just as he had appeared, into the night air as if a ghost.

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/integrawhellsing/integra1/clubM43.txt align=right hspace=5>She then heard him speak again in her mind.

<font color=red>“Drink the blood.”</font>

She found herself shocked that he seemed to know that she had yet to drink the meals left for her in her room, but she reacted by lowering her head into a bow, with her fist clenched at her side.<br clear=right>

“Yes…Master.”

<center>End Order 02: Victim of Changes
To be continued...