The Price of Defeat

Integra watched with all her eyes as the silhouette of a seemingly immortal being gradually melted and dissolved in the morning haze. Panic was rising in her throat, she desperately wanted to sob like a snotty girl, she wanted to rush straight down and yell at him, slap the vampire in the face, make him live, but… she couldn’t take a step. All those misfortunes that the defeated usually send down on the heads of their enemies are stuck in the throat. But everything was going as it should. Alucard destroyed Walter (the loss was, of course, sensitive, but the butler turned out to be a traitor and dared to defect to the side of the Millennium), began to reabsorb the released souls… But the thrice-damned Nazi and his subordinates… — Oh, my dear Fräulein, do you like the sight of the immortal Alucard… dying? — Montana smiled broadly, flashing his round glasses. Sir Hellsing, roaring with rage, raised her pistol and fired several times at the grinning Nazi. And she was taken aback when, a few centimeters from the brazen grin, the bullets just… bounced off. The woman involuntarily recoiled. — Are you surprised? Could I really afford to be in the company of an enemy, even such a charming one, and without protection? — Max smiled even wider, flashing perfectly straight teeth, and his evil yellow eyes burned with feverish madness. — I’m not going to play by your rules, you dirty Nazi pig! — she barked, but the scream was more like a broken howl. —How rude, Fräulein! Haven’t you been taught politeness and respect for your elders? Especially for veterans. — Such scum as you should have been strangled in the cradle! — Integra raised her voice almost to ultrasound. — Listen here, noblewoman… Soon the whole world will fall at my feet, — the smile seemed to have been erased from the man’s face. — England has already fallen, now it’s the turn of other countries. I will level them to the ground, cover them with the fire of war, plunge into chaos and drown them in blood! And don’t squeal. — Seras, let’s get out of here! — covering her outright flight with a tactical retreat of offended pride, the woman made an energetic movement, turning around, but suddenly the cold muzzle of the Mauser rested against her temple. The Captain, holding a weapon with one hand and a sluggishly fluttering Victoria with the other, froze in mid-step like a silent shadow. —On your knees, Fräulein, — the Sturmbannführer flashed his lenses. — I will not humiliate myself and crawl on my ass in front of you, like this half—finished freak Walter, — Integra said with ringing calmness in her voice after a short pause. — I will not obey and will never kneel before you, Montana, no matter what you do, you vile monster! — Oh no, meine Liebe, you are mistaken… you will get up, and even with joy… And don’t you know that we are monsters… You, me, Hauptsturmführer, Alucard, your dear protégé Victoria, other people… We are all monsters! — the man burst into a joyous laughter. — You haven’t told me anything new, Montana, — Integra hissed through her teeth, trying to restrain the rage bursting out. — But scumbag is different from scumbag. There are monsters that kill just for fun. And people. And there are still people who are destined to rid the world of such filth. And I am one of them. — No, meine Liebe, you don’t even realize that killing monsters by humans is direct proof. Proof that people are the most ruthless monsters, — Max drawled weightily, turning away to the monitors. — Do you consider yourself to be on the right, on the bright side… But your deeds are as monstrous as mine. After all, all these deaths at the hands of Alucard are your decision. —But I don’t associate with traitors, — the woman hissed again. — I don’t want to put the world on edge or plunge it into the abyss of chaos. Alucard will return, because only humans kill monsters. And you, Herr Sturmbannfuhrer, are not worthy to be called even a human likeness. I hate you. I hate you for killing Alucard and many more innocent people in London. And also for betraying Walter. Especially because Walter betrayed me. I can’t even imagine how you managed to bribe him. — Your butler, Fräulein, was not a traitor, — Max inclined his head. — He was just a contact sent to me by your late uncle. Which, if I’m not mistaken, you also killed. Of course, with the feasible help of his faithful servant. Take her away, — Montana said coldly, turning to the Captain. — And you can leave draculina. The werewolf nodded and, lowering the semi-conscious Victoria to the floor, grabbed Integra by the elbow. The doors opened, and Doc entered the headquarters, holding syringes, test tubes and some folders in his hands. Hans glanced at the figure of the boss with a bit of interest, but then moved to the exit. — Herr Doktor, you’re on time, — Montana grinned. — I want to provide you with one very interesting sample… The one who was turned by the late Alucard. I hope you will take the chance to recreate our “the Last Battalion” again. Moreover, the realities of this world are developing in such a way that some modernization is necessary. —That’s right, Sturmbannführer, — Avondale bowed. — Approximately how many soldiers and how much time do I have? The doors closed with a light slam, drowning out the retreating footsteps: the nervous clatter of heels mixed with a smooth and soft tread. — Quantity… It doesn’t matter, Napier. The main thing is higher quality, — Maximilian nodded at Seras, who was gradually coming to her senses, — so much and recreate. And the timing… A maximum of ten years. I’m still planning to come back. But for now, we need to hide where they won’t be looking for us for sure. Provide us with the necessary… staff for this time. And finally put that damn glass away. —Yes, Herr Major, — Doc bowed again. — Why didn’t you take the gun away from Fräulein Hellsing? — When will there be such an opportunity to have fun and experiment, Doc? Besides, I want to test the improved serum before you inject it into me, — the reflection of the lights on his cheeks flickered and blinked. — We are very lucky that Maxwell and Anderson are dead, and no one noticed the data leak from the Vatican.

***

Integra silently followed the Captain in the direction of the alleged prison compartment. She kept trying to figure out why she was left alive and didn’t even take away her weapon. Hellsing chuckled when she realized that she could easily attack the escort, that she could at least try to kill him and escape from here by calling Victoria… But the personal bodyguard of the Sturmbannführer seemed to read her thoughts and tightened his grip on elbow, not allowing her to reach the pistol with silver bullets. Integra understood that this was not an ordinary soldier of the Millennium, who, for the most part, were “cannon fodder”, but some kind of supernatural creature, who fought with Alucard on a par and knocked out a former police girl. And so she did not try to resist. Alucard… Thoughts of the vampire smacked of bitter anger. A damn bastard who walked to his death with maniacal stubbornness, not even realizing that without him his Lady was unlikely to cope with these freaks. Yes, and the Major is good… A prudent bastard. — We’re here, — the Captain announced dully in broken and somewhat old—fashioned English. — Come in, Fräulein. Integra frowned in bewilderment and, without even looking at the the maintainer, stepped into the cabin, which turned out to be medium in size and quite cozy. No hard prison bunks and a metal table bolted to the floor. Only carved wooden furniture, more suitable not for a prison, but at least for her old bedroom in the mansion. It was alarming. She was a prisoner aboard the airship, not a guest and not an ally. This circumstances clearly weren’t a reason to care so much about her comfort. “Or they just don’t want the toy to spoil ahead of time,” — the woman thought bitterly. Thoughts of banal politeness did not even occur to her — in captivity, such thoughts are likely to seem delusional. Sir Integra carefully sat down on a chair and began to think. She desperately wanted everything that was happening to turn out to be a protracted nightmare or, at worst, a vision that was designed to warn of the coming madness. But the painful bruises left by the Hauptsturmführer long thin fingers reminded of the reality of what was happening. And it made her feel unwell. — Alucard! — Hellsing whined plaintively. The realization of the loss was so painful that it turned her inside out. No matter what she said, no matter how she pretended to be a “snow queen”, but in the ten years that have passed since that fateful day when her own uncle almost killed her, as a result of which Alucard, who protected her, awoke, the woman became attached to this monster, even if not as an ordinary person. Suddenly Integra fell silent, staring into the void. She was aware that this time she had really hit it. Montana, a scoundrel and bastard who should have died during the war, was clearly pursuing the wrong goals that he was reciting. He will not miss the opportunity to mock an already defeated enemy, no matter how politely the Nazi. A strange twist of the mind of a mad monster could, of course, help a woman, but it’s unlikely to save her from a fate worse than death. She didn’t want to turn into a freak or a vampire at all, just like she didn’t want to be a test animal for experiments. — I’m not going to obey, Major. You will never win this war, — Hellsing took a pistol from her holster and put it to her throat. — Goodbye, Maximilian Montana. And be damned. —Well, well, Fräulein, — the voice of the Sturmbannführer came from somewhere above. — Do you really want to die so much? —Yes, — Integra replied. — I want to die and not take part in your vile plans. —In vain, — Max chuckled. — It will only get worse, Fräulein, if you do this. — Yes? — Sir Integra laughed hoarsely. And pulled the trigger. — You shouldn’t have done that, meine Liebe, — Montana laughed again. — You have chosen your own destiny… The world of Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing slowly sank into a thick and impenetrable darkness, where there was no pain from the shot, but there was a soothing voice of Alucard.

***

“A bastard werewolf” was the first thought that came to Seras’s mind, trying to escape from the Captain’s tight grip. The returning Hauptsturmführer roughly picked her up and pushed her again, but this time in front of a fat little man with glasses and a wide manic smile on his face. — Ah, Fräulein Victoria, welcome aboard the Hindenburg II, — the Major smiled even wider and gave the prisoner his hand in a desire to help her get up, although he was a few meters away from her. — You are the very charm. I didn’t think that there are such perfect in all respects… pets. — Shut up, you fat asshole, — Seras, who had never been distinguished by good manners and was ready to burst into an angry expletive tirade, glared at the Nazi with fury and rushed forward in an acute desire to bite him, but completely absurdly fit into the thick, but too transparent glass. —Strong, but arrogant, — Maximilian stopped smiling. — Everything is as the Hauptsturmführer said. Isn’t that right, Doc? — That’s right, my Führer, — Avondale grinned leeringly, flashing all six lenses of his glasses. — But that’s until our dear Miss Seras tries to resist. She doesn’t have millions of absorbed souls to return to life even after breaking up into molecules.… Victoria broke into a cold sweat for the first time since turning into a true vampire. She understood the unequivocal hint and therefore fell silent, but still drilled the Nazi with a carnivorous gaze. The Captain came up to her and, grabbing her by the shoulders, lifted her up again and pressed her to him. — By the way, Doc, shall we show our dear guest what her beloved hostess is doing? I am sure she will be glad to see our young Fräulein. Instead of answering, Napier took the remote control and, pointing at the monitors, pressed a few buttons. The map of destroyed London was replaced by an image, because of which the former police girl half-strangled screamed and jerked out of the strong grip of the werewolf. Integra Hellsing was preparing to commit suicide. The girl refused to listen to the last words of the boss. And she did not believe that Sir Integra, who was recklessly brave in a battle with a superior enemy, could decide to take such a step. The Major was still talking about something with Integra, but Victoria did not understand what exactly the man was saying. But soon a shot rang out, and the bleeding woman froze. — No! — Seras finally managed to break free from the Captain’s grip. She started banging on the glass with all her might, seeing no one and nothing. “She’s dead, and you’re free,” — her mind kept repeating, but the girl stubbornly clung to a vague feeling that everything was not so simple. Victoria did not notice how Doc disappeared from the headquarters, and the werewolf knocked her out with a blow to the head.

***

The first thing Integra saw when she woke up was the ceiling. Tall, light, with old blinding fluorescent lamps—Hellsing’s eyes ached and watered, as if they were filled with sea sand. There was a nasty weakness in the whole body, and the itching in the place where the woman shot in a desperate attempt to end her own life in order to avoid the fate of the losing side was alarming. Sir Hellsing remembered exactly that she had fired at point—blank range, that the injuries were fatal, that she had died and heard Alucard’s voice during the death agony. Integra also felt that her hands were tied to the headboard. — Are you awake, Fräulein? — Montana’s disgusting voice sounded right in his ear, making him wince and jerk his hand in an attempt to hit the Nazi with his elbow right on the grinning muzzle. — How do you feel? —Go to hell, Montana, — the woman whispered weakly and coughed. — Go to hell, you bastard… — Oh, meine Beste… Is this how you address your immediate superior? — I’m not your subordinate, Montana, — Hellsing replied. — Shut your mouth and leave. Do what you want, but don’t touch me. Don’t even come near me. — And you don’t even want to know why you’re still alive? — The man raised his whitish eyebrows. — I assure you, Doc has outdone himself this time. — Maximilian ran his left hand over the woman’s knee, hidden only by hospital pajamas and a thin blanket. A wave of disgust swept through Hellsing’s body. — Don’t touch me, — Integra whined, trying to shake off the man’s hand as if it were a fat spider. — And finally give me a smoke… — OK, Fräulein, — ignoring the first request, Montana took cigarettes out of his pocket and put one of them in the woman’s mouth and lit it. — But I’ll still tell you why you’re alive. You’ve heard of regenerators, haven’t you? I know that we even met one… So, Mädchen, you’re one of them now. Yes, it was difficult, the chances of failure were too great, but still the Doc performed a miracle. And now… a little test, since we’re alone here with you. Repeated, I dare say, because you never heeded the warning… The Major removed his hand from the knee of the horrified Integra, put a “Walther” to her shoulder and fired, watching with pleasure how Hellsing’s face was distorted by a grimace of pain, listening to the prolonged cry of the captive and watching the blood from the woman’s shoulder dripping onto the hospital bedclothes. And then — how the wound heals quickly, as if years pass in brief moments, erasing an ugly scar from the body. —The serum works fine, — Max smiled. — I’ll see you again in a few days, Fräulein. In the meantime, rest. I’ll need you again. —Scum, — Integra hissed after the tormentor, flashing her blue eyes angrily. — I do not argue, — the man grinned, looking at the woman with an appraising glance, and went out the door. Having given the order to guard Hellsing, the Major moved towards the headquarters, feeling intoxicating delight. Most of all, he liked the war in all its manifestations. Montana loved war with weapons in his hands, loved war in the political arena, loved when he was resisted… But he fell into true ecstasy only when there was a person capable of challenging and going to the very end, regardless of the victims, as Hellsing did. And Max wanted, madly wanted to fight, to find out whose character is firmer… “True Valkyrie” — was the only thing that came to a man’s mind, and a hot knot was tied in his stomach against his will. This coldness, the desire to win at any cost, and the indomitable flame when little Fräulein was angry… It turned him on incredibly. Maximilian sighed, trying to distract himself from sweet thoughts. It was necessary to think first about where they should go. It is unlikely that anyone has not heard of them and it is unlikely that they will be able to easily hide and lie low. The only thing that somehow pleased the Sturmbannführer was that there were relatively few of them, only a hundred and fifty people. Not enough to start a war, but enough to start recruiting supporters, as well as prepare for a new, even more destructive war. The Major walked towards the headquarters, trying to find an answer to the question, but all sorts of nonsense came into his head, which made the Sturmbannführer feel drunk. He was intoxicated by the fact that everything was going exactly as it should. Max, lost in his thoughts, did not even notice how he reached the headquarters. He bumped into the doctor at the door. — The Major? — Nepier raised his eyebrows. — The serum works, Doc, — Montana stretched his thin lips into an even wider and crazier smile. — I even conducted an experiment. Wounds heal in a matter of seconds. You’ve outdone yourself, Doc. — Glad to try, Herr Führer, — Avondale bowed. — Do you want to inject it now or later? — I think that the sooner I do this, the sooner I will get rid of the consequences, — the man grimaced, taking off his permanent white cloak, sat down in an armchair and rolled up his shirt sleeve. Then, during the Berlin operation, Maximilian was mortally wounded and it was a miracle at least that he waited for the Doctor which helped him recover. Nepier offered cyborgization as a reasonable way out of the situation, because the damage was too serious, but the dying Montana refused it. He wanted to preserve himself completely as he is, without disfiguring himself and not limiting himself to an artificial body. And he also knew that Doc was developing some kind of “regenerator serum”, which, judging by the rumors, took several genetically modified people from some top-secret department of the Vatican, as well as two dozen experimental subjects. Max did not feel sorry for people, conscience as a phenomenon was unfamiliar to him, but the “Secret of immortality”, as Nepier called this serum, was interesting to the Sturmbannführer. Moreover, he had nothing left to lose. The serum then acted as it should, the wounds healed, but there was one side effect: time partly had power over the Major. Of course, not as over ordinary people, but the Sturmbannführer still sometimes noticed age-related changes. Avondale threw up his hands, tried to improve the serum, but without the original composition it was an unsolvable task. But now, years later, Montana finally got what he had been craving for so long. Immortality, though not absolute, but it became quite problematic to kill him, while he did not become the same as Alucard. Hellsing was both wrong and right when she called him a monster. Max was a real human: his heart was beating, he was aware of himself and expressed his will, ordinary human blood flowed in his veins. But the correctness of the head of the organization “Hellsing” was in this statement, because people are real monsters. Only man kills for fun or out of cruelty, the beast kills only out of necessity, and the monster — because he needs to revel in violence, it have necessary to kill. — And now… We should go to East Africa, — Maximilian smiled. — I think we can find a couple thousand new allies there. — Yes, Herr Sturmbannführer, — the usually taciturn Captain replied.