by JoshuaDurron » Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:10 am
"Thank you, miss. That will be all." After she had left, and he was sure she was out of earshot, he began his task with care.
Hereti manipulated the switches carefully, setting this and that and the other thing all to the appropriate connections, and then picked up the headset.
Before initializing contact, he pulled out a small disk and dropped it into the appropriate slot. A program was imbedded into the file he sent preventing it from being traced past the first realy point, which was a randomly determined dummy location. The location of the remaining seven relays he was using to contact would shift every five minutes, to prevent unforseen difficulties. Once he was sure that all the appropriate security measures had been taken, he innitiated contact.
A moment later, he was facing his superior officer in the Belmont's organization. He wasn't looking forward to explaining all this...
"Agent Hereti reporting, sir."
"Status of your assignment, Hereti?"
"Complete... but comprimised."
The gruff face on the other side of the screen scowled. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"The shaman I was tracking was found and neuteralized... but it seems that he was part of another, larger organization of unknown nature. While I was here, I became embroiled in a battle that involved ghouls they, or someone associated with them, had unleashed." The lie was close enough to the truth that Hereti felt relatively comfortable with it.
"I see. I don't see your problem. You assignemnt is complete, the situation no longer concerns us. Return to your contact and-"
"You don't understand, sir..." Hereti inhaled deeply and continued. "It seems that there is another organization here. I've gathered that they are called 'Hellsing'. Their detatchments oversee the safety of London from threats, much like we see to the safety of our regions, and keep guard over the Belmont's charge."
"Hereti, that name is not to be spoken in these communications. Ever. Do I make myself clear?" Hereti flinched, having forgotten that important point of protocol. His CO pressed on in the split second pause that resulted. "And furthermore, if this Hellsing organization is handling the situation, that just means you have all the less reason to remain in London."
"Quite the contrary, sir. They've taken me into custody, and will most likely have a great deal to say about my leaving before this incident ends."
"WHAT??!!!" The man's voice skyrocketed towards the ceiling. Hereti flinched again. If he hadn't proven to be so good at what he did, he had no doubt that he would have been kicked out of his organization long ago. Handling his superiors was not his strongest point, especially since he was often compelled to disobey their orders in the interest of protecting his people.
As he reflected on this, his superior was in a sputtering rage. He finally calmed down enough to ask a rational question, however. "Wait... if they've taken you into custody, why are you contacting us?"
"Well, custody might not be the right word. But they have enlisted my aid, as well as the aid of the Vatican, an apparent old rival of theirs, in the ending of this crisis." Hereti's asking about the Vatican's man had proved to be a good idea after all. "They've asked no questions about who I work for, and have proven quite willing to work with me on this case, provided I cooperate with them. Failing to do so could be... difficult for me."
"I see..." The man let out a long sigh, obviously thinking about the matter. It took another five minutes of discussion to settle all his questions to his satisfaction, and Hereti had to tell more than one more outright lie to accomplish the task. But in the end it was done. He switched off the screen and retrieved his disk, placing it back in the appropriate pocket.
For the time being, he was part of, or rather he WAS, the Belmont's official Hellsing detatchment. With a sigh, he stood up and headed back towards the juncture he had left Sanders at.