"Please no! I'll worship your God!"
Not giving a damn, Anderson mercilessly slain the last Reich soldier into two with his bayonets. For the last few minutes, Anderson, Heinkel, Yumie, Integra and some of the Iscariot paladins had survived the assault from the dark aether forces, Wolfenstein Reich soldiers and Millenium soldiers.
"Heinkel, how many of us remain?" Anderson asked his pupil with a solemn look.
"Three-fourth of us have fallen. Millennium, these aether zombies and this alternate universe Reich's machines are incredibly fierce," Heinkel explained as she looked at her partner, Yumie and the remaining Iscariot paladins, "Get the thermite! We need to burn the vampires to ashes." she ordered, watching as they followed her instructions until she noticed Integra was leaving
"Enjoy your fire." Integra remarked, only to halt herself when Heinkel pointed her handgun at the back of her head.
"Where are you going?"
"To my manor, obviously. My forces are under attack and as their commanding officer, I need to be there. So lower the gun."
"I don't think so. We're taking you into custo-"
Before Heinkel could finish her sentence, she and everyone else heard a noise coming from beneath the ground. In the next second, a manhole a few meters distant from them trembled before a massive salamander-fish hybrid with countless eyes all over its body came bursting out of the manhole and the surrounding street.
Heinkel, Yumie, and all of the Iscariot Paladins jerked their heads in its direction with their eyes widened in both shock and horror upon laying their eyes on the monstrosity.
Laying there with its innumerable eyes gazed upon them that made everyone shudder, the Monster fish suddenly opened its mouth and the upper body of a person emerged from inside, revealing to be none other than Salvatore Moreau.
"..."
"..."
"...Hello."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Stop screaming!" Anderson cried out. And like that, his forces all fell silent, though their faces remained having grave expressions upon looking at the horrifying abomination before them.
"Moreau... Um, what are you doing here?" Integra asked with a serious expression, but Anderson could tell she's feeling very tense being in front of Moreau in his state.
"Welllll…"
For the following minute, Moreau clarified to Integra about everything that Rodeo had planned.
"He what?!"
"Yes, he's not there. Me, Donna, Angie and mother were told to get the people of the city out before Millenium attack, but we got only half of the population out. The others weren't so lucky."
Integra frowned, "So Rodeo and Karl are stranded with Alucard in the middle of the ocean and you, Donna, Angie and Miranda are in the city except for Alcina and her daughters who are back at the manor defending it with Seras and the Wild Geese, even though I gave you all strict orders not to leave the manor." she stated as her frown deepened in the end.
"Sorry."
"Sorry is not going to cut it. I know Seras, Alcina and her daughters are strong on their own but I'm pretty sure the Forsaken would exploit this somehow!" Integra added in an angered tone.
"Integra, this was bound to happen one way or another," Anderson steps in and says, "The boy knew the danger and cooked up a plan. Being angry over it isn't going to get you anywhere, but this Forsaken knows this now and will do everything in his power to get rid of us all and take advantage of this."
"Then let me head back to the manor with Moreau."
"Like we're going to let you go!" Heinkel shouted.
"Let's just tie her up and the fish monstrosity as well!" Yumie added as her eyes glimmered with killing intent.
"Is this what you plan section 13?" Integra inquired as she glanced at Anderson, "What about you Anderson?"
Anderson sighed in aggravation as he glared at Yumie and Heinkel menacingly, "Fools, we cannot compel someone to accompany us against their will, especially someone who is unharmed and who is a friend to the youngster. Besides, we are paladins, not criminals."
"!?"
Hearing this completely took both Heinkel and Yumie back, especially hearing the words coming from Anderson from all people.
"Then me and Moreau will be heading off," Integra said as she started to move forward, but stops a moment later, "But it wouldn't be wise for just us two to go by ourselves and while I trust Moreau's capabilities, he is a fish that needs water from time to time and a big target for our enemies. Will you escort us?" she asked.
"Aye. We'll escort you both."
"EHHHHHHH?!" Heinkel, Yumie and all of the Iscariot Paladins cry out in utter flabbergasted. Not only the words from Anderson shocked them greatly, but his behavior doesn't seem at all like that. What happened to their Anderson?
Afterward, Integra and the mutated Moreau stroll along the street with Anderson and his pupils and paladins trailing closely after, much to their disagreements.
"This is ridiculous," Heinkel mumbled to her colleague with a frown.
"Do you want to get scolded by Anderson again?" Yumie whispered back. However, something is odd about the Japanese Nun. Before, she used to come across as incredibly violent and sadistic, who'll gladly kill sinners without remorse. But now, it was replaced with a gentle, timid and innocent one who seemed to detest violence very much.
The reason is kinda simple… in three words.
She suffers a mental condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Or DID for short.
"No, but I mean they're both under our custody in a way. Right?"
"That's just you thinking that way."
"Shut up!"
"EEP!"
"Anderson, are you sure about this?" One of the Iscariot Paladins questioned their leader, "They might question you for this."
"I do not care if they question me. There is just something about Maxwell's orders that doesn't seem right. Moreau!"
"Hm?"
"Where is this Miranda, Donna and Angie right now?"
"I'm not sure. After the attack happened we couldn't meet up with each other so I'm not sure where they are exactly right now."
"I see."
As they advanced, Integra had something in mind and turned to face Anderson, "...Did Rodeo explain to you about where he is from?" she inquired of the fiercest knight of Iscariot, "I heard from Alucard that he spoke to you back in Brazil."
Anderson let out a nod, "Aye. The boy spoke to me about where he is from and what he's been doing, and yet he is working for your organization."
"Rodeo joined us because he wanted to assist people, but after Millenium and Forsaken, he hasn't come to terms with the fact that in certain lines of work certain sacrifices need to be required and tough choices to be made."
"Look, the boy is a gifted one, Integra. Very gifted. I can feel it deep within my soul. God always has a plan for everyone and the plan was set up for him... on a bigger scale. He is a monster-looking creature that needs to be smite by the wrath of God, yet he is a kind soul who has yet to truly fully understand what the world can throw at him," Anderson explained, breaking into a warm and genuine smile, something his pupils and the Paladins rarely seen, "But I believe he can make it through."
"You seem to have faith in him. You really think he can improve?"
"He's been through several things according to what he has told me, I believe he can. He just needs... a push. When will it arrive? Only God knows."
Gazing ahead at the desolate streets, Integra went deep in thought, pondering for a brief moment before uttering.
"...You may be right."
—————————————————————
In the southern part of the city, Rip continued walking down the streets while Donna and Angie followed her behind by using the most ultimate thing known to video games... Stealth.
"How long have we been following her using stealth?" Angie whispered to her holder.
"For almost half an hour... I think." Donna whispered back to the talking doll.
Up until that point, the two hid behind a car and observed Rip picking up a radio from a fallen Millennium soldier lying on the ground and trying to contact the Major.
"Hello? This is Rip van Winkle to the Deus ex Machina. Anybody can hear me?"
But she only got static from the radio.
"Damn it," Rip muttered with a sigh, "I guess I'll have to head for the Deus ex Machina myself, but…"
Looking up, Rip was able to see the Deus ex Machina floating in the sky along with another Millennium Zeppellin, floating in an area where the road in front of her was leading to. Unfortunately for Rip, the big problem is that the road ahead of her was led to the countless gunfire, zombies and machines. There didn't appear to be as many Millennium soldiers or ghouls in the city due to their numbers being reduced to some degree.
"Guess I'll have to go through this death trap."
With a sigh, Rip was about to move forward, only to hear something coming from the building behind her. Before she could turn around to investigate, the wall of the building burst apart and a Super Soldat came jumping out and barreling in her direction.
"!"
Surprised by the unexpected assault, Rip was about to fire a magic bullet from her rifle, but the Super Soldat's movement was so fast that it punched her face before giving her a chance, knocking her to the ground. Grabbing her head, the combat android hoisted her up and started slowly crushing her head with his bare hands.
All of a sudden, Donna came out of hiding with a bayonet she found and struck the Super Soldat in the back of the head, quickly killing him and rendering him limp, enabling it to release Rip from its grasp.
"Phew."
"Is he dead?" Angie asked as she peeked out of her cover, holding the two hallucination flower pots.
"Yes."
Angie approached the two while Donna offered Rip a helping hand up but Rip angrily swatted her hand and got herself back up.
"I... didn't need the help, Beneviento."
"...You know us?"
At that moment, Angie widened her eyes in realization, "...You're with Millenium aren't you?"
"Of course."
Knowing that she is an enemy, Donna and Angie started backing up from Rip, who looked up and noticed another Robot Soldat with a Zweihander sword in hand, descending towards the two and preparing to cut them down. However, Rip shoved the two aside and swung her rifle in a horizontal motion, while the Robot Roldat swung his sword vertically, resulting in a simultaneous clash between their weapons.
The Robot Soldat backflips away from her and lands on top of a crashed automobile and says, [Not bad of a reaction time... for a vampire.] he spoke in a mechanical German accent and fluent English.
"It speaks!?" Angie gasped in surprise before turning to Rip, "Also why did you save us?" she questioned.
"You saved me. I saved you. In order to get even. Not out of kindness because you saved me. We are still enemies."
"Fair enough."
Rolling her eyes, Rip glanced back at the Robot Soldat and stated, "Most of the machines roaming the streets couldn't talk, nor have a sort of sentience to them. Who or what are you?"
[I am a Roboter Soldaten or Robot Soldat No. 2569. But you can call me Fritz.]
"...I'll take a guess you got orders to kill us and have been following us. Correct?"
[Ja. But I decided to first observe you all before moving for the kill when the time was right.]
"I see, but how can you be this intelligent? You're just a machine."
[You see, Vampire. Not a single soul in the Reich is aware that I have an advanced learning Artificial Intelligence that was bestowed upon me by General Lina Heinrich. I was developed by her in secrecy and implanted it into a Robot Soldat that I am now living inside of. Since then, I have been learning, evolving, adapting to my new environment and understanding the ways of the world. I won't reveal the reason behind her secrecy or share it with the Reich or anybody else, but I will say this…]
Striking his sword down onto the ground, the android declared, [You will fall to my blade. Zweihander. Unlike most of my mechanical brothers, I also had granted some upgrades to my body that General Lina gave me. In simple terms, you are no longer dealing with an average Robot Soldat. You are dealing with me.]
Upon declaring these words, Fritz' robotic eyes flashed with brightened crimson, glaring at the three menacingly like he was trying to shred their souls entirely with just a gaze.
"ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ ゴ"
[IMAGES]
"Then dodge this!"
Lifting her musket rifle to full elevation, Rip unleashed a magic bullet from her primary weapon as it traveled in a zig-zag pattern and sped towards Fritz, increasing its speed at a dangerous level until it reached mach 1500.
"Hmph," Fritz snorted as his robotic sensors calculated the bullet's movement speed in less than a nanosecond. With his sword in his grasp, he simply swung it upward. Even though he swung it effortlessly, the blade appeared to travel at a speed that seemed to be untraceable even for Rip's vampire senses couldn't follow.
In the blink of an eye, the sword splits the bullet in half, sending both pieces of the bullet flying past him and into an oil tanker, causing it to erupt in a glorious explosion.
[Far too easy.]
"OH MY GOD!" Angie gasped while Donna displayed a look of incredulity.
Rip, on the other hand, cried, "First Alucard, and now this machine from an alternate universe Reich. At this point, I'm not sure whether I can trust my bullets anymore T_T"
With his enhanced robotic movement and speed, Fritz rushed in a blur and appeared behind Rip in an instant and was going to cut her head off, only to be stopped when he narrowly avoided a claw swipe from... Miranda.
"Damn," Fritz murmured as he staggered back and kept his sword ready.
"Finally found you two," Moranda said as she turned to Donna and Angie.
"Well you arrived in the nick of time," Angie said as she pointed to Rip, "Also, that vampire works for Millennium."
"I see," Miranda mumbled as she turned back to Fritz, "To think there were intelligent ones among you."
[Correct, but enough talk, as I'm going to cut you down into-]
At that moment, Fritz halted himself as he sensed he was receiving a call on his transmission system.
[Hold on, let me take this,] Fritz says as he picks up the call, [Ja? Ja. Hmmm... Jawohl.] he said with a nod before ending the call, [Well, you all are in luck. I got orders from the General to meet up in the middle of the city since a force of 3000 Papal Knights had arrived. We shall soon reunite on this battleground. Auf Wiedersehen, and be prepared to face me once more.]
With a quick bow, he immediately leaps onto a rooftop and disappears from sight, leaving the group in his wake.
"...Well aren't we lucky :3" Angie said.
"3000 Papal knights, no doubt Maxwell is behind this." Rip said
"No doubt to take you all out along with the Forsaken and his allies." Miranda concluded.
"But those numbers won't matter... against an army of zombies that never ends and machines of highly advanced and destructive nature."
"...Yes, but what are you doing here exactly, vampire?" Miranda questioned her coldly.
Following that, Rip explained regarding the battle they had with the Forsaken's forces and Super Soldats alongside Karl, Alucard and Rodeo in the HMS eagle and how she ended up in the city while keeping the main plan of the Major hidden.
"...How many souls have you extinguished to get to this point?"
"Many... all for the Major's grand plan, but I will not speak of it," Rip answered as she glared at Miranda and questioned in return, "Why work for Hellsing? You three I mean."
"...Redemption for our past mistakes, that's why. I won't kill you, not yet at least since you saved Donna and Angie even though it was only meant for getting even. But we will," Miranda said as she looked at Donna and Angie, "Hold on to my back. We're flying out of here and meeting up with Moreau."
Donna and Angie hold on to her back and before she could take off, Rip asked her something.
"...Why would Herr Rodeo save me? Clearly he knows I work for a group who are the most evil people imaginable, and yet he saved me. He could have left me for dead, let me become a slave for the Forsaken and yet he didn't? Why?"
For a moment of silence, Miranda sighed, " He's different. Different from all of us. He is a person that did not want to become a monster, and yet he wishes nothing more to help others and keep them safe, or give them redemption to some... like us. He knows what you are and who you work for from looks and personality alone and knows very well you were an enemy that can never ever be forgiven. But whether it's his instincts or not, he saved you because of his nature, which he has so much to learn about the world and its darkness, and yet he's still here doing the right thing. That's why he saved you, because he is who he is... a soul doing his natural habit no matter who it is whether friend or foes like us. "
"...You do know a lot about him."
"Technically, this is just my opinion on him, I'm not a hundred percent sure," Miranda corrected as she simply shrugged her shoulders, "But I also suggest you get even with him for saving you when he returns."
Extending her black wings, Miranda flies away while dragging Donna and Angie with her, leaving Rip behind to ponder what she said regarding Rodeo.
"Kindness?" Rip scoffed as she gripped her hands tightly and punched a wall, cracking the hard concrete with her vampiric strength, "If what she said is true, then what a pathetic character he has."
Rip grunts in anger and frustration, rubbing her forehead and takes a deep breath before deciding to sit on top of a rooftop, waiting until she sees an opening in the battlefield and making her way into the heart of the city when that opening comes.
"Herr Rodeo, your little nature. How long will it remain intact in you? One way or another a breaking point will be reached and once it does, what will you do? Lose it or try to bear it? Who knows at this point. I didn't deserve to be saved. Never should have deserved it and yet you did anyway," Rip contemplated as she sighed and looked up at the sky, "Seems like this world is not only filled with mad people with certain destructive goals. You being one of them." she mumbled in a frustrated and irritated tone.