At the Hellsing manor, Alucard seated in his chair on the sub basement. Not too long ago, he had just been visited by Walter, who had just left after briefly speaking with him about Millennium and Seras. Alucard was presently alone and seated on his chair until he sensed someone approaching him. To little of his surprise, it was Lady Dimitrescu.
He sighs, "You've been visiting me often these days, Lady Dimitrescu, without displaying the slightest sign of apprehension. Impressively, I say."
"No, I am afraid of you, especially when you remove those restraint levels," Alcina answered with a smile, "That much power in your hands can be dangerous, but I know you have control over it, hence why I visit you either way and regardless of whether the restraint levels are in place. Or it's just I trust you."
"...Fair enough."
"So... I saw Integra give some of her blood to Seras and surprisingly she accepted it without hesitating, therefore I believe her vampire side is prepared for what's about to happen in the coming hours."
"And the rest?"
"Wild Geese are readying themselves up, and Rodeo is currently discussing with the others on something. Not sure what it is, but Rodeo claimed that my daughters and I are not part of it and that we should be here at the manor on the defensive in case the enemy launches an attack."
"I see."
"...Alucard, what if you and our combined effort won't be enough to deal with the Forsaken? "
"We'll just have to wait and see."
"Look, he has an army that has no end to it, and his new allies—for all we know—might as well have cosmic origins. What if his dark aether corruption gets to you?" Alcina asked, her face showing signs of worry.
"Let him try, he will regret it," Alucard snorted while grinning viciously.
"Alucard, if he turns you into a puppet of the dark aether, you will be a powerful weapon to him, and be used against us." Alcina cautioned.
"It will not come to that, I promise you."
Alcina heaved a deep sigh and nodded, "Alright, let's change topics, the way you talked with the Queen today. What was that about?"
"What?"
"You know, calling her beautiful and all."
Alucard couldn't hold his chuckle, "Why do you ask?"
"Just answer."
"The Queen is an old friend of mine and has known me from Arthur Hellsing and his organization for a long time ever since vampires started appearing and dealing with those who had a hand in creating vampires, especially when it came to Millenium in WW2. You see, I have a way of seeing beauty."
Alcina felt curious, "How exactly?" she wondered.
"Alcina, a thing is not beautiful because it lasts, but how it starts before it finally ends. I cannot die and age, but... immortality is not true beauty. True beauty comes from you growing, developing, gradually diminishing until ultimately passing away, because that is the rule of nature that must never be broken and always be followed, because that is the beauty of life and death, a detail that is wonderful to behold in humans... something I wish to return."
"...Do you despise your immortality?"
"In a sense, yes, since immortality is something that one earns, and I didn't earn it. I simply utilized it to survive my death, even though I have done reprehensible things in the past, I do not deserve it. I want it gone. I want a worthy human to strike me down and destroy this immortal body, and perhaps... be at peace by accepting the great death, like every human experiences at the end of their lives, but when will that time come, well I'm not sure."
Alucard cast a dejected glance towards the ground as he reflected on all the things he had done. It wasn't until he felt a gentle touch to his head, gazing up to see Alcina patting him and giving him a reassuring smile.
"I think you deserve to have that peace and humanity that humans do, but that doesn't mean you have to blame yourself for your decisions in the past."
"What about you? Do you not hate your immortality?"
"Miranda didn't give me the option to refuse the Cadou's offer of immortality, but I've accepted it, and as long as my daughters are with me and I see them happy, I can be happy. No matter how long I live with this immortality."
Alucard smiles, "You are something else, Lady Alcina Dimitrescu."
"And you are someone who I can understand and talk to, great vampire Alucard."
"...You know, Alcina, even though you're immortal like me, you are still beautiful in your own way, because of your generosity and sincerity. The traits a human has."
Alcina smiles, "Thank you, Alucard, but you too are beautiful in your own way, because you have emotions, you just don't express them the way you want to, but when you do, you show humanity, no matter how much of a vampire you call yourself."
Alucard put out a smile. This time, it's not a smile over something that was not killing, that was not destruction, that was not bloodshed or war. It was a true and genuine smile, something he hadn't used most of the time.
"...Alcina, I've had loved ones before in the past, and I've given them many things as a gift for their kindness, honesty, and... perhaps something more. I wish to give that to you."
"Oh! Sure, you may."
Placing his hands within his coat's pocket, Alucard removed a small rectangular box from it as Alcina Alcina examined with interest and curiosity.
"I told Walter to make it during the days you've been here," Alucard stated as he presented the box to Alcina, "Open it."
Listening to his words, Alcina opened the box to find sunglasses inside. It had a shape resembling Alucard's own orange-colored shades, but with a few minor differences to it. The lens of the sunglasses was golden yellow and its structure seemed to be made of pure platinum, it had multiple well-designed and very visible yellow engravings of the letter A. The sunglasses were designed in a way to fit Alcina flawlessly when she put them on, just as she did.
"So how are they?" Alucard asked.
"They are wonderful, Alucard," Alcina answered with a smile, "Thank you."
They exchanged smiles as they exchanged looks. As time went on, they abruptly found themselves locked in a stare into each other's eyes. Crimson red and golden eyes clashed at one another as both worlds meet.
Additionally, as they continue to stare at one another, a certain emotion that they had been holding back grew as time passed.
"So…" Alcina opened her mouth, glistening down at Alucard with a new emotion that was hinted deep within her pair of fiery golden eyes, "While you gifted me this wonderful gift, I do have one in return, wanna know mine~?" she smiled, seductively.
Although it was certainly an unusual feeling for Alucard to feel this new emotion when he saw that smile, it didn't bother him. Instead, his smile widened as he felt her hand resting against his skin, and he leaned slightly into the touch.
"I couldn't agree more to know," he murmured. "So… what was it?"
Alcina's eyes sparkled like twin golden pools. "I have some ideas~" Her smile became more teasing, and she gently traced her fingertips down his neck to his collarbone. She hooked her index finger inside the collar of his shirt, tugging lightly at the top until her finger reached the spot where his top button was fastened.
Shing!
Then the claw on that finger extended, not by much, just a few inches in length as opposed to the meter-long blades that they became when they were fully extended, and she flicked her hand down in a single, swift motion, slicing cleanly through the cloth of his shirt and scattering the buttons, which melted away into shadows as soon as they hit the floor.
Alucard's shirt was left hanging open all the way down the front, exposing the pale skin of his chest and stomach underneath. A thin, vertical cut traced from his collarbone to his navel where her claw had dug into his skin, but it swiftly closed up and disappeared. He gazed down at himself for a moment in surprise, before laughing and grinning widely as he looked back up at her.
"Well, you certainly don't waste any time," he quipped. "Fine by me." His eyes flashed brighter, and he shrugged off the torn shirt before indicating her with a wave of his hand. "I would return the favor, but I wouldn't want to ruin such a lovely gown… so may I help you with that?"
Alcina chuckled. "Such a gentleman! If you insist." She turned to face away from him and swept her hair forward over one shoulder to uncover the zipper that ran halfway down the back of her dress. "Go ahead… if you can reach it, of course." She glanced back over her shoulder with a mischievous grin and winked at him on the last words.
"Oh?" Alucard smirked. "All right, then." His outline glowed in shades of red and black, and as he took a step forward, he suddenly grew, rising up until his head was on the same level as hers.
Alcina's eyes widened slightly. "You can change your height?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"After spending so much time as a vampire, the usual limits of mortal forms mean very little to me," Alucard replied with a shrug, a distinct note of amusement in his voice as he stepped up behind her and gently tugged down the zipper of her dress, before helping to slide the sleeves down over her shoulders.
"Changing the shape or size of my body on a whim is hardly a challenge. Although…" He grinned and pressed his lips lightly against her neck in a soft kiss, before taking a step back. "I can assure you that my ego isn't quite big enough for me to stay that way for no good reason."
Chuckling, Alcina nodded in understanding as she tugged down the sleeves of her dress and slipped her arms out of them.
"Understandable," she agreed. "I can do the same if I choose: on the rare occasions when I need to travel to conduct business in person, downsizing by a few feet is helpful in avoiding any undue attention." Her eyes smoldered as she turned around, giving her white gown a final tug and allowing it to slip down the length of her body and pool around her feet. Her undergarments were made of simple white lace, the same color as the dress, and did very little to hide the body beneath them.
"In this case, though… I think it best that we see each other as we truly are. Do you agree?"
Alucard's eyes widened noticeably as his gaze flicked up and down Alcina's form, taking in every inch of her, before his eyes shifted back up to meet hers. "I couldn't agree more, my lady," he breathed.
"Good." Alcina's grin widened, and her hands cupped Alucard's face while the latter followed. Soon, they both leaned forward to draw each other into a kiss...
"...Uh, Alucard?"
…Only to interrupt when a voice snapped them back to reality.
"!!!!!"
Looking towards the direction from where the voice came from, Integra can be seen and Walter staring at the two with both surprise and confusion on their faces.
"Am I... interrupting something?"
A millisecond wasn't even the correct word to describe the speed the two did as they were back to their normal selves in an instant, especially with their clothing back on and Alucard reverting back to his normal height, as if what they did earlier never happened in the first place.
Integra and Walter both look at Alucard and Alcina, who cast a sidelong glance to each other while whistling casually.
"No master, she was just checking the new sunglasses she got and I was just watching her try them on."
"..." Integra stood there in silence, shifting her gaze to Alcina who had a nervous grin.
"It's true." She said innocently.
"...You know what, I don't even want to know, but we have a problem. Sir Penwood just called saying that one of their aircraft carrier ships, the Eagle, has been taken."
"So they've started making their move," Alucard says with a grin, "My orders master?"
"You're coming with me and Walter to the Military HQ."
"Very well then."
As Integra and Walter soon left the sub-basement, Alucard turned to face Alcina and apologized, "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened at that moment, and-"
Cutting his words mid-sentence, Alcina unexpectedly gave him a kiss on his cheek which caught Alucard by surprise.
"It's alright, Alucard. Now go with your master, she needs all the help she can get from her allies at times like these," Alcina smiles, "Thanks for the gift again, and be safe."
Alucard smiles in return, "I will."
As soon as Alucard follows Integra and Walter out the cellar, Alcina slams her palm into her face and groans.
"Uggghhhh, what was I doing?" She exclaimed, feeling really embarrassed.
Letting out a sigh, Alcina removes her new gifted sunglasses and looks at them briefly with a smile before deciding to leave the sub-basement.
——————————————————————
On the rooftop of the Hellsing manor, Rodeo was sitting with the full moon illuminating his surroundings. With his armor on, he peered down the roof and observed Integra, Alucard and Walter entering a car and driving away from the manor... and he knew why.
"Rip Van Winkle."
Then he heard footsteps and turned around to see Karl standing there with his hammer perched over his shoulders, wearing his original clothing and hat on. Along with that, he had his electro-uber backpack as well with him.
"So kid, when do we start?"
Rodeo merely answered, "Right now," before inquiring, "Did you tell the others to head for London as we planned and left the note?"
"Yep."
"Good. Now let's fly, we are following Alucard."
Motioning with a nod, Karl carries a sizable piece of metal sheet with him. As they stand on the object, Karl utilizes his magnetic power to elevate the metal sheet a few meters off the ground, and as they do so, they both accelerate rapidly into the night sky.
——————————————————————
"What do you mean they're gone?!"
Seras exclaimed loudly as she, Pip, the wild geese mercenaries, Alcina and her daughters were in the dining room discussing the note that Karl left for them at Pip's room door under Rodeo's orders, which Pip had later picked up.
"The note literally says that Miranda, Moreau, Donna and Angie are heading for the city while Rodeo and Karl will head for wherever Alucard will go. So yes, they are gone."
"But why?"
Alcina frowned, "...The Forsaken."
"Oh great," Pip facepalmed, "He left because he is paranoid regarding a world-destroying cosmic entity and he wants to stop him from doing anything sneaky."
"Whatever! That doesn't matter right now!" Alcina stepped forward in front of everyone, drawing their attention to her, "Now listen up. We are going to defend this place from any attacker that shows up, whether they are Millennium or the Forsaken with whatever we have, so I hope you all armed yourselves to the teeth!"
Pip chuckles, "Oh Lady Dimitrescu, you have no idea, but yes, we are armed to the teeth."
"Good, let's hope we make it out of this alive."
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure we will." Daniela said.
Alcina smiles, "Thank you dear."
'I hope you stay safe, Rodeo.' Seras thought.
——————————————————————
In the military headquarters at the city of London, Integra and Walter were inside the control room, discussing with Sir Penwood and dozens of operators monitoring the numerous screens in the control room, displaying the maps and radar readings.
"We lost communication with the HMS Eagle eighteen hours ago. She's currently anchored in the Atlantic ocean and approximately 300 kilometers off the coast of Pauling." Sir Penwood explained, displaying a satellite-taken image of the Reich symbol painted with blood on the Eagle's flight deck to Integra, "We believe she's flying their colors."
"Millennium." Integra muttered with a scowl.
"That's why we called you here. The situation with the Eagle has moved outside the Royal Navy's jurisdiction."
"What's the status?"
Sir Penwood turned to face a British officer and ordered, "Tell her."
"Yes sir," The British officer replied while staring at Integra, "As the general said we've lost contact. The Eagle has ignored all emergency calls but satellite photos have confirmed not only the symbol but also that there is an individual on the deck holding a parasol. Two SAS platoons are currently approaching the Eagle via helicopter in order to assess the situation and bring things under control."
Integra squinted at Penwood, "General."
"Yes sir Integra?"
"They're defenseless against what's out there," she warned, "Cancel the operation and order them to return immediately."
Suddenly, one of the assembled officers gasps, "We've lost both helicopters sir!"
"Did the Eagle's weaponry open fire?!"
The Operator checks, only to let out an expression mix with surprise and perplexity on his face, "No sir. Someone fired them from the deck... it was a single musket shot."
"That's ridiculous!"
By this time, Sir Penwood was beginning to perspire slightly and was visibly shaking, until he noticed Integra getting up from her chair and questioned her, "What are you going to do, Sir Integra?"
"We've received direct orders from her Royal Highness, we've determined that this incident to be the work of vampires and will take independent action."
"!"
"There you have it, Sir Penwood. Anything to add?"
"...No. Good hunting, Sir Integra. You and hellsing are free to act."
"Good. Also warn the other bases in London to be ready in case the Forsaken pull something off."
"Certainly."
Following that, Integra and Walter exited the control room and began to make their way down a hallway.
——————————————————————
Walking down the hallway, Integra and Walter started discussing with each other regarding the HMS Eagle matter.
"We're talking a hefty game, Sir Integra. Three hundred kilometers into the Atlantic and they seem to be able to annihilate anything we send them," remarked Walter, "It's textbook. They're trying to lure us in. The ship is literally a floating fortress."
"But we can't ignore the damn thing. How do we deal with a ship full of ghouls? Moving vampires across large bodies of water is problematic. So what do we do with our vampires or Rodeo & his allies? We could send them in our own battleship."
"..."
"Would that work?"
"No, preparation and voyage would take far too long and we can't count on them to stay put forever and if we move Rodeo or his allies out the Forsaken will no doubt notice, and it will create some major problems. Perhaps a faster vessel?"
"Walter, they have high caliber anti-aircraft and gatling guns. A speed boat would be lost in a hail of bullets. What about dropping in from above?"
"No, the Eagle is well stocked with anti-aircraft ordinance so we can't get a plane anywhere near it. Perhaps an airplane with a lot of decoy chaff?"
"No, they still won't fool those damn magic bullets."
Suddenly, Alucard emerged from the floor and asked, "So what you're saying is... against their stockpiles of missiles and magic bullets, your only hope is to get me onto the flight deck of that ship. Isn't that right?"
"...It may not be possible."
"Wait! It's brilliant." Walter stated, "I know an aircraft that can get you on board however I think they're might be only one in existence."
With a wide devilish grin on his face, Alucard understood exactly which aircraft Walter was referring to.
The SR71 Blackbird.