Hellsing: The Dark Times Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Storm Rising

The storm clouds over the island of Crete grew darker each passing minute as occasional lighting strikes light up the darken land. This did not seem the scare the man on a balcony of a richly lavish house. With his face turn skyward, he patiently waited for the first drops of rain. He wore a black trench coat with the insignia of a long defeated force that once occupied the land before him on his right arm, the red armband with the Swastika of Hitler’s Germany. The man scratches the side of his face and adjusted the peak cap on his head. Another man walked up behind him and cleared his throat.

“Colonel Redeker, the host asks for you to return inside at once. Eric Stanford will be here in five minutes.” Said the man. Redeker turned around and faced the man.

“Dear Sir,” Redeker begans with an accent that is not from Germany at all, “I am enjoying the incoming storm. It is going to be a wonderful sight. I do not want to miss the first rain fall.”

The other man walked away muttering what sounded like that, “damn South African” as Redeker returned to stare at the sky and grinning as more thunder sounded. Then the first drops of rain began to fall and onto his face. Redeker stood watching the lighting strikes, sighed happily, as he turned around, reached into his pant pocket, pulled out tissue and blows his nose. He made sure that none of the snot got onto his gray mustache. He pushed open the glass door and walked into the house. The conference room had a polished high finance look of hardwood and plush chairs. A man sat at the head of the table in a dark suit and tie looking nervously wringing his hands. He looked over to opposite end of the table there four people stood. One was wearing glasses with a lab coat covering medical scrubs underneath. He had brown hair and was constantly checking his watch. Behind him stood a tall man in a green trenchcoat of the German Wehrmaht of World War II with his green military hat pulled down so that all you could see was his white hair and glowing red eyes. His massive hands rested on the grips of two C96 pistol with extended barrels. Next to him stood was slightly shorter person whose face was concealed by a scarf and a wraparound sunglasses. The person’s bulk was not well concealed and one may notice that it was a woman standing there. The final person was wearing the uniform of the SS of Germany, holding a cane in one hand and a briefcase in the other. The man’s face was tangle of scars tissue that gave him a permanent scowl on his face. Redeker threw the used tissue away and walked over to the other plush chair in the room.

“You know, the storm is going to be a beautiful sight to behold. It is would to be a sad thing to miss.” Said Redeker taking off his hat, ran a hand through his gray hair as he placed it on the table. The rain began to rap on the roof as a heavy torrent came down. A loud noise was heard downstairs that sounded like a car doors closing. A few minutes later, a guard opened the door for three people. Leading them was a man who wore a red beret on his head, still damp from the rain. The green sweater was that of the British military wears and over it he wore a chest rig for magazines with his rifle which is slung over his shoulder. A peculiar looking revolver sat in a holster attached to his leg. Behind him walked in a woman in a rain coat that was in the process of taking it off. She wore a form fitting jumpsuit and had a weird looking hatchet attached to her hip. Finally behind her came a sinister looking person. Immediately noticeable was that half his face was gone, replace by sinister looking metallic parts. His left eye was replaced with a purple glowing fake eye. Both arms were of metal and one leg was replaced with a new one. He wore a sadistic smile. The man in front spoke first.

“I am sorry we are late. The storm was just moving in and the roads aren’t really designed to be driven in the rain.” said the man in the beret.
The man in the suit looks up and motioned them to take their places.

“I suppose you know why we are here?” asked the man still wringing his hands in a nervous manner.

“Quite ready to talk about anything you want, but first I want to show the power of both organizations of Millennium and Armacalyptica to show you that your money is not wasted, Mr. Burke. Captain post.” Ordered Redeker. “Now Eric, my friend, is Regina ready to go?” continued Redeker.

Eric just placed his hand on his forehead.

“I just got here, please let us get settled in.” requested Eric adjusting his seat.

“Mr. Stanford, I demand a demonstration before I provide anymore money!” Demanded Mr. Burke. Eric sighed and turned to his bodyguard Regina who was seated next to Eric.

“Do you want to do this?” he whispered to her. Regina nodded her and brushed her dirty blond hair from her face. She stood up and took a wide stance while, the Captain took off his long trench coat. The tension grew as the soon to be combatants stared at each other. Then both faces of the fighters began to distort into something unhuman. The Captain made the first move charging with his fists raised. Regina threw up her arms across her body and blocked the strikes. The faces of the two showed their true race of Lycans. They both growled and rip each other apart. They both swung at each other with claws and tried to bite each other. They both drew blood and it splattered on the table. The wounds quickly healed as if they had never been there. The two fighters stood facing each other staring each other down.

“That will be all, Captain, I think Mr. Burke is convinced enough.” Said Redeker turning to the man in lab coat, “Wouldn’t that be the case, Dr. Ernest?”
Redeker motioned across the table to Mr. Burke sweating with wide eyes. Dr. Ernest chuckled heartily and reached into his lab coat and pulled out a cigarette and lighter.

“It appears the Stanford is annoyed, Paul, I think we may want to give him an apology or something.” suggested Dr. Ernest as he stuck the cigarette in his mouth and lighted it.
Redeker looked over at Eric whose, head was in his hands with a very annoyed look.

“Captain, stand down and come back, you both are capable warriors.” Redeker said gestering his hand towards himself smiling. The Captain’s facial features returned to that of a human and bowed his head slightly to Regina. Regina did so as well and returned to her seat. Mr. Burke stared in awe at what he had witness and shook with fright. Eric was looking at Regina making sure she was all right and turned his attention to the table.

“You may not have heard the report but it appears that our fears are confirmed. It turned out that PRA, Hellsing, DMS, Iscariot, and the Irish Rangers have all come together and formed an alliance.” Said Eric.

Mr. Burke began to panic even more.

“WHAT!?!? They organized! You promised me that they would fight amongst themselves and not unite! You are playing with my money and leave me to those people! They probably have one of those damn Predators UAV drones locking on to this house as we speak!” yelled Mr. Burke rushing to the window looking for a non-existent drone. A cheap BIC lighter bounced off his head and as he let out a loud yelp and fell down to his knees, covered his head with his arms shaking with fright.

“Stand up, you’re fine, they will not launch a missile at us. They have no clue where we are.” Responded the female whose face was still covered in scarf tossing another BIC lighter from hand to hand.

“How can I trust you with these matters if you never show your damn face to anyone!” yelled Mr. Burke rubbing the sore spot on his head. The woman reach behind her head and undid the knot, takes it off and puts it in her black cargo pants. She then moves her sunglasses and placed them on her head. She had short blond hair and a smallish face. But the most distinguished feature were the two scars on both cheeks that have been made by a bullet. Mr. Burke panicked even more.

“It’s you, you’re that missing Vatican nun from Iscariot. I’d recognized those scars from anywhere.” Gasped Mr. Burke.

She growled with a large sinister smile on her face and glared at him with daggers in her red eyes.

“Lieutenant Heinkel Wolfe was captured and became one of us, she is a regenerator and a vampire.” Said Redeker standing up and walking over to the cowering Mr. Burke. He lifted him up and dusted him off. Redeker leaned in and whispered into Mr. Burke’s ear.

“You see she was brain washed for our cause. Now you, Mr. Burke, you will die today.” Whispered Redeker. Mr. Burke eyes went wide as he fumbled for a device in his pocket. He grasped it and pressed the button. Immediately running footsteps were heard and the door was kick open by the body guards of Mr. Burke. The lead guard carried a SPAS-12 shotgun and the others carried heavily modified MAC-10’s aiming at Redeker. The bald SS man reached into his pocket catching the eye of the head guard, who swung around and pointed the shotgun at his head. He pulled the trigger and blew off the top part of the SS man’s head. As he was turning around and pointing the gun at Redeker when his hand, on the fore grip of the weapon, disintegrated into a red mist. He jerked the shotgun up and fired harmlessly into the air. The body-guard turned his head to the source in time to see Eric out of his chair with a Colt Peacemaker in his hands. Eric cocked the old pistol and fired again into the head of the guard, blowing out the back of his head. Eric holstered the pistol and pulled the rifle off his shoulder and flipped off the safety on his M16 and began to fire at another person who brought his sub-machinegun up drilling him back wards into the wall behind him. Regina pulled the hatchet off her belt and held it down side ways and pointed the tip at a guard charging up the stairs. She pressed a button on the handle and the tip flew out with a clump of small green spheres. The blade embedded itself in the chest of the guard tripping him and causing him fall down the stairs. An explosion came from the bottom floor as the grenades on the blade detonated. The cyborg, now out of his chair, laughed manically to himself as he threw himself on top of one of the guards and proceeded to rip him limb from limb. One final bodyguard remained and he was smart about his fighting. Instead of charging in, he stayed back and used the door frame as cover, firing bursts from his MAC-10. He did not see Heinkal sneak up to the door and reach out grabbing hold of his wrist. She drew her pistol and shot the hand holding the gun. The guard screamed in pain but refused to die. He reached into his coat and pulled out a long knife and shoved it deep in Heinkal’s chest. Heinkal looked at the blade sticking out of her chest, pulled it out, and cuts off the man’s only remaining hand. But still he tried to fight.

“This one refuses to go down without a fight. He might be old but I am going to enjoy eating this guy.” Snarled Heinkal lowering her head to the man’s throat.

“I hope you enjoy getting AIDS, you sick monster.” Said the injured man calmly with a weak smile on his face. Heinkal frowned and threw the man onto the table. Dr. Ernest was the only one sitting at the table calmly smoking his cigarette to the filter. He looked around as if he had been sleeping through the gun battle. He shook his head and reached into his lab coat, pulled out a chrome color flask, unscrewed the top and took a small swig. Redeker fell into a hysterical laughter.

“That was such fun, wouldn’t you agree Mr. Burke?” said Redeker still holding onto Mr. Burke. Mr. Burke looked around in shock at his home ruined, his guards all dead except for one. He looked Redeker in the eye.

“Why? Why did you do this? I was willing to help fund everything.” Croaked out Mr. Burke. Redeker laughed again.

“You see my boy, we don’t need your money or support. You were just a tool to use and besides, someone in your ranks betrayed us by setting up this meeting. Matter of fact it is that bleeding man on the table over there.” Said Redeker pointing to the wounded man laying on the table. “Heinkal, if you are still thirsty come over and feast on Mr. Burke’s blood. Captain burn Baldy’s body,” said Redeker motion to the mostly headless body on the ground. Heinkal steped up and smiled evilly at Mr. Burke and in a flash tore open his neck and rolled her eyes back in pleasure. Redeker walks over to Eric who was currently reloading his pistol.

“Well Mr. Stanford, you can take care of this man. Now me and my people shall take our leave. Will meet again.” Said Redeker to Eric. Turning he gestured his hand to Captain and Heinkal to follow him. Heinkal wiped the blood off her face and once again drew her pistol and put a round into Mr. Burke’s head so he would not return as a ghoul. He walked by Dr. Ernest who was still sitting in the chair with his hands behind his head and feet on the table snoring with an half empty flask in his lap. Redeker gently kicked the chair waking the doctor up.

“Come Doctor, we are leaving.” Said Redeker. Dr. Ernest yawned and stretched his back and got out of the chair.

“You know that I love the sight of dead bodies and blood stain furniture.” Dr. Ernest sarcastically remarked bending over to pick up the dead SS cane and placed it under his arm. The body was swept up by Captain and the all went down the stairs and into the storm. The cyborg was still tearing the dead corpse making minced meat. Eric grew annoyed and shouted at the cyborg.

“Albert!” Eric shouted, “What the hell are you doing to that body?” Albert turned around coated in blood with a fistful of shredded body in each hand.

“I am preparing dinner tonight. Hamburger is on the menu.” Said Albert giving a psychotic grin.

“Go wait downstairs and close the door behind you.” Ordered Eric pointing to the door. Albert stilled gave the grin as he slowly walk to the door keeping eye contact with Eric. As he got to the door turned around.

“Do you want me to take him with me?” Albert asked referencing the wounded man laying on the table bleeding.

“GO!!” yelled Eric. Albert cracked his neck and started down the stairs. The blood that coated him started to take effect on the cybernetics as they begin to labor as he walks down the stairs. The door slammed shut after Albert, leaving Eric and Regina all alone. Eric turned to Regina who was staring at the wounded man. The man kept a fiery gaze on the both of them. Eric let out a sigh and sat at the edge of the table and stared at the blood stained wall for a moment. Regina walked over to him and sat next to him. She wrapped an arm around Eric and putted her head on his shoulder and held his hand. He looked down at her wrap his arm around her head and laid his head on hers. They sat there like that for a moment as the storm outside increase in crescendo.

“What do you want to do now?” asked Regina looking into his hazel eyes.

“Well I suppose we talk to the guy on the table behind us.” Said Eric. Regina nodded and kissed him on the forehead. They both got up and turned to the man.
“Alright. Let’s get this done and over with. Here’s what’s going to happen. You tell us what we want to know and I promise to kill you quickly.” Said Eric crossing his arms across his chest. The man spat in front of him and grunted with pain.

“I suppose my cover is blown. I was sent by DMS to try to kill you all. None of these people were part of the plot. I failed but maybe I put the fear of God in you all. Hell is coming for all of you.” Said the man. Eric looked on the man, then pulled him closer and started to pat him down. He found the man’s wallet in one of the pockets and look through it. He found a driver license and a Knights of Columbus membership card in the wallet. He also found a picture of the man’s family.

“You are a member of the Knights of Columbus. I have a lot of respect for your organization. Growing up, the local chapter tried their hardest to recuse me and my sister from my abusive parents.” Said Eric as he closed his eyes so tight that they start to tear up. His hand moved to the scar on the side of his face and then snapped his eyes open.

“Regina, help me get him to his knees.” He ordered Regina. They helped the man to his knees and Eric knelt down before him. He took the man’s mangled right hand and put the man’s family picture between his fingers.

“I want you to look at your family. I want the last thing you see on this earth is your family. Consider it as a thank you for your courage trying to stop us. Don’t worry, you will not feel any pain.” Said Eric. Eric then got up and position himself behind the man. The man started to tear up as Eric took his knife out of it’s scabbard and put it at the base of his neck. With one quick thrust he ended the man’s life, quick and painless. Eric wipes the blood off his knife on man’s shirt and returned the knife to the scabbard as the body drop with a thud and the man outstretched hand holding onto the picture. With a sniffle, Eric turned back to Regina.

“Lets go. You know how restless Albert gets.” Eric said as the both exited the house.
Meanwhile, not far away Redeker was walking up the dock with Dr. Ernest. The rain had let up a bit but the lighting still ascend across the sky. Dr. Ernst looked on as Captain and Heinkal board a small ship. A tall dark figure stepped out of the shadows behind a shed. He wore something similar to a priest, but the figure was not a holy man of God.

“Well Colonel how did the meeting go.” Asked the figure in a German accent. Dr. Ernst shuddered from the figure appearance as he and Redeker turned to face the being. Redeker smiled.

“It went really well. You should have been there Martin.” Replied Redeker. Lighting flashed across the sky as it lit up the figure with unholy light. The figure was non other than Martin Luther resurrected from the grave half a century ago to serve the Third Reich.

“Well now. So I missed the excitement then.” Said Luther.

“Come, let’s all go home. I will tell you all of it on the ship.” Said Redeker. They all went up the gangway just as the ship started to depart into the heart of the storm.