Rolling with the fall, Irene "Rally" Vincent quickly got back on her feet, facing her opponent. "Not bad," she said, smiling. "Maybe next time you should aim first before attacking!" In England, hunting FREAKs was easy stuff; not as strong, although nastier. However, when facing a true vampire, which Rally was doing at the time, was different - they don't tend to fight fair, especially when facing another true vampire. "Well maybe next time y' should stand still an' wait f'r me t' 'it you... traitor!" he snarled, crouching for another attack. "You know, it's you and that other vampire's fault that you've been preying on all those children. Then you probably wouldn't have called attention to yourself, then you wouldn't be in the fix you're in right now!" Rally countered. Privately, though, she thought to herself, 'This is just great! I just happened to be running a little errand for Walter, and I run into the creep that's been killing all those kids - one who just happens to be a true vampire as well! This is just not my night!' PREVIOUSLY, A HALF-HOUR EARLIER... It was the night before November 5, the holiday celebrated throughout England as 'Guy Fawkes' Night', also known as 'Cracker Night', 'Fireworks Night', or 'Bonfire Night', when a plot to kill King James I, as well as the rest of Parliament, was foiled when a stash of gunpowder was discovered by Yeoman Warders while doing a search of the basement of the chamber of the House of Lords. The holiday got its name from one of the principle figures in the caper, a Catholic named Guy Fawkes, and since then by royal proclamation, the night the plot was foiled was celebrated by fireworks, burning effigies, as well as bonfires lit throughout the land. Also as a consequence of the events, Yeoman Warders from the Tower now search the Lords Chamber before each opening of Parliament. The preparations for the next night was no different at the Hellsing manor, where a contingent of the Wild Geese were busy piling logs in a huge pile outside the mansion grounds. Inside, the kitchen was particularly busy. Moria Hedgley, who had friends in the Black Country, was putting the final touches on her interpretation of groaty pudding, a favored dish there. She planned to serve the dish, a mixture of beef, buckwheat groats, onions, leeks and beef broth, to the Geese, as well as candied apples she had made. However, Walter C. Dolnez had a particularly annoyed look as he took out one of the containers that was sitting in the pantry and looked inside. "Humph... now this certainly will not do," he said to himself, finding the contents nearly empty. Finding a waste receptacle, he threw the container inside and exited, avoiding the bustle. As he made his way in the great room, he happened to see Rally ascending from the lower levels. "Ah Miss Vincent," Walter began, "just the person I'd like to see." "Really?" Rally asked. "What for?" "I have encountered a particularly annoying problem and I was wondering if you would be the one to solve it." Walter then centered himself before continuing. "With all the preparations going on here and since I am needed to supervise them all, I was wondering if you could drop over to the market and fetch me a good-sized bottle of black treacle." "Black treacle?" Rally repeated, confused. "Yes, I was getting ready to bake my recipe for parkin cake for tomorrow night and found we were out. I already have the flour, oats, butter and ginger, but had neglected to buy more for tomorrow night. I suppose it was used in making black toffee last week," Walter explained. He then got out his wallet and handed the dusky vampire at least £10 in bills. "Now this should cover the amount for at least 2 liters of black treacle. Feel free to keep any change for your trouble." Rally was still confused. "Walter... what's black treacle?" she asked. "It's a dark syrup, made from what's left over from processing raw sugar, and is used in most baked goods," Walter explained. All he got from Rally was a questioning look. "It is also called molasses," he added dryly. "Ohhh!" Rally said, catching on. "Why didn't you say so?" "I believe I DID," Walter answered, looking annoyed. Rally blinked, seeing the old butler's mood. "Hey take it easy, Walter," she said, holding up her hands defensively, "there's no need to go medieval all over me! I'll drop by the store, get your treacle and get back as soon as I can." Her mood changed slightly as she added, "And besides, I wanted to see if I can get any clues about that vampire that killed and turned those kids... you know, the ones me, Moria and Master had to take down." "Oh yes, about that tragic bit of news," Walter said, "how are you coping with that?" Rally was silent for a bit. "I'll recover," was all she said as she walked through the door. XXX Twenty minutes later, Rally found herself walking home, a plastic sack in her hands. "Hope this is Walter's favorite brand," she said to herself. "I still like to know what parkin cake is. I can ask him at least." However, Rally couldn't help but to notice that she was being followed. 'It's gotta be him,' she thought, not turning around. 'Let's see if I can lure him in.' She maintained her course back to the mansion, never letting-on that she noticed. Then she heard the sound of breaking limbs and spun-around to counter. Stopping in his tracks was a man, apparently in his early '20, with tattered clothing and a fierce look in his blood red eyes. "I've 'eard from me late master th't there was a company th't uses vampires to go 'unting other vampire, an' looks like I was right. Y' wouldn't 'appen t' be one o' th' 'Ellsing Organization's pet vampire, now willya?" "I'm nobody's pet, bucko!" Rally shot back. "No one owns me; I serve the Hellsing Organization out of obligation!" Her face then betrayed a smirk as she added, "You must be one of the vampires that have been killing children in these parts. I know Alucard had took care of one of them, and from what you've told me, you must be the one that got away!" She then set down her bag, crouched-down and motioned the vampire towards her. "So how about it - wanna tussle?" And so for the next five minutes, the two vampires were at it, neither gaining ground. Hoping for an edge, Rally shifted to her more nightmarish form - her skin going to a slate-gray, her normally short hair growing waist long, her fingernails growing long claws, and all the teeth in her mouth becoming sharpened. Screaming, she lunged forward, with the other vampire engaging her in a 'test of strength', both their hands tightly clasped. "Now I know you're new at this!" Rally snarled. "You don't even know what you're really capable of if you're still in your normal form!" "Well I can tell y' I'm more than a match f'r you, you traitor bitch," the other vampire spat back. "OH YEAH!?!?" And with that, Rally pulled backwards and began spinning the other vampire around, catching him off-guard. With herself as the center, she twirled the offender around faster and faster. When she was satisfied with the speed she gained, she released her opponent - who screamed when he found himself impaled through the heart on a bare tree limb. Taking some time to recover, Rally reverted to her normal form, then turned to a clump of bushes covered in shadow and said, "You know you could've given me a hand, Alucard. Then maybe I wouldn't have wasted so much time with him." "Now why would I do that, Rally Vincent?" purred the No-Life King, who seemed to melt-out from the shadows. "You were doing so well, I thought that, if I helped, I would ruin your fun." He then stopped in front of Rally and added, "And besides, I figured that it would be therapeutic, ridding yourself of all that guild from earlier." Rally sighed, her face with a sad smile. "I hate it when you're right, you know," she said. Turning back, she walked back to the impaled vampire, who was still writhing on the limb. "I had to let it out somehow." Rally's opponent, still conscienous, just glared at her, then at Alucard. "Y' w're th' one th't killed me master, y' bloody bastard!" he growled. "So, are y' 'appy, 'Ellsing bootlicker? Y' must enjoy bein' th' tamed pet of th't stuck-up bitch Sir 'Ellsing!" "Shut your mouth, insolent pup!" Alucard snared, producing the Jackal from his red trenchcoat and aiming it at the offending vampire. "You're in no position to make insults!" Satisfied, he turned to Rally and said, "Do me a favor and get rid of this false giant!" Rally nodded, reaching for her CZ-75 within the shadows of her jacket. Then she hesitated. "Wait a minute... I've got a better idea, Alucard." "Oh?" Alucard implored, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?" "Oh I'll tell you... as soon as I make sure this asshole," pointing with her head to the vampire, "doesn't listen in... at least until I want him to hear." Then concentrating hard, she telepathically made her suggestion to the No-Life King. The other vampire tried to listen-in with his mind, but Rally had established a locked message, for Alucard's mind only. For a few minutes, the red-clad vampire did nothing. Then a big, evil smile came across his features. Then he laughed - a long, loud, terrifying laugh that caused the impaled vampire to cringe. "Brilliant, absolutly brilliant!" Alucard crowed. "I love the way you think, Rally Vincent!! Yes, he'll make a splendid addition to tomorrow's events!!!" "Uh... wot are y' talkin' about?" the other vampire asked uneasily. "Oh you'll find out," Rally enigmatically said, producing a roll of duct tape from her coat. "First, we have to make sure you don't pull that branch from your heart." Alucard then walked over and picked-up the bag Rally had set down earlier. "At least Walter will get his groceries for tonight, albeit a few minutes late." He peered into the bag and added, "And his favorite brand, too." "Why thank you," Rally replied as she began to bind the other vampire's hands. XXX To be sure, the arrival of Rally and Alucard caused quite a stir within the Hellsing mansion, the No-Life King holding Rally's purchases, and Rally with the rogue vampire slung across her shoulders. When the guard post reported what happened, many of the Wild Geese dropped what they're doing and took up positions at the sides of the two, all armed. However, Rally didn't seem that all alarmed. "Hi guys," she cheerfully said. "Sorry I'm late." "To say the least," Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who had Walter, Moria and Seras Victoria at her side, replied, meeting the two. "Just what exactly happened?" she demanded. "I ran into the other vampire that killed those kids," Rally said. "Walter, Alucard has the treacle I bought." "Yes, so I see," Walter said, still eyeing Rally and her burden. "But Rally," Seras said, "why haven't you destroyed that vampire you're carrying?" "Yes. Explain yourself," Sir Integra said firmly, casting Rally a disapproving stare. "Now don't be too hard on her, my master," Alucard said. "This parasite will be dealt with accordingly - but in the manner Rally Vincent suggested to me." "Really?" Sir Integra replied, her eyebrow raised. "Care to enlighten me on this?" Rally glanced over to the vampire she was carrying, then dropped him to the ground. The branch was still in his heart, but the ends had been broken off. Both his hands had been bound in duct tape, and the same substance was wrapped around his eyes. "I guess it's alright if he knows what he's going to be facing," she said, walking up to the Hellsing leader. She then related her plans for the prisoner to Sir Integra, who smiled approvingly. The rogue vampire, on the other hand, had a look of object terror on his face. THE NEXT NIGHT... Aerial fireworks were going off around the parameter of the Hellsing mansion as the night's festivities gotten underway. All around the roaring bonfire, several of the Wild Geese were throwing foil-wrapped potatoes at its base as others feasted on the steaming pot that Moria was serving to them. Walter had finished his parkin cake and placed it on a table that was set on the mansion grounds. Sir Integra had strolled next to her butler, taking in the festive atmosphere. "You know," she told Seras, who was walking besides her, "I had serious doubts that Rally's idea might not work - until Alucard had noticed a rather embarrassing omission to the night's events." "Well Rally was mindful about tonight when she brought up the subject to Master," the Draculina offered. "Then you made your suggestion and it solved everything." "And I must admit," Moria added, glancing across the grounds, "it is rather stunning." The rogue vampire was a good distance away from the bonfire. His forearms were stiffened with a section of 2x4, his person now dressed in a facsimile of the garb of Father Alexander Anderson, right down to the cardboard bayonets taped to his hands. A length of chain was slung around both armpits and he was hung from a pole stuck into the ground and his body was drenched in paraffin oil. "With all the preparations for tonight, no one ever thought to put together a effigy to burn." "Y' BLOODY BASTARDS!!!" the vampire yelled, his eyes still covered. "I HOPE ALL OF Y' GO TO 'ELL!!!" "But then again," Sir Integra observed, "an effigy does not usually elicit retorts the way this one does." She then walked up to the vampire and said, "We could have thrown you in the bonfire, like Rally originally suggested, but I was afraid that our infirmary would be filled with men who wanted to have their stomachs pumped-out because your taint had contaminated their jacket potatoes. So yell all you want - it will be all for naught." Sir Integra then took a small torch and lit it from the bonfire. She then handed it to Rally, who for most of the night was staring at the vampire. "Rally," the Hellsing leader said, "I believe the honor of the highlight of this night should fall to you." She then leaned over and whispered, "Believe me, it will be extremely therapeutic if you do." Rally didn't say anything, only taking the torch from Sir Integra. She then closed the distance between herself and the rogue vampire, whose struggles intensified. He could hear the crackling of the fire on the head as he spat, "Y' bitch! Y' rather side wit' the 'umans than yer own kind!" "'My own kind'?" Rally countered bitterly. "Because of you and your master, I had to clean-up the mess you two had left - which was worse because they were children!" Her features softened, although her audience couldn't see it. "Do you know how hard it is to shoot kids, all because they had been turned to vampires against their will? I remembered the last one I killed... he was only 5 years old, and both his parents were killed before he was turned!" A single bloody tear streamed across her face as she added, "He asked me if I would take him to heaven where his mother and father was." Her voice cracked, "And I did it!" "As if I bloody care!" the rogue vampire scoffed. "Y' bitch... an' th' rest of yer lot... y' all go to 'ell!" Rally then touched the torch to the vampire's feet, and felt the satisfaction of hearing him scream in pain as the flames consumed his body. "You first," she whispered, a grim smile gracing her face.
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