Hellsing: Resurrection (WIP)

Chapter 9: Max's Crucible

The Hellsing manor was quiet in the early morning, but inside her office, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing was already hard at work. The reports from the latest mission were scattered across her desk, alongside detailed evaluations of the damage done and the threats neutralized. She had barely taken a moment to rest since their return to London, but that was typical of her-there was always more to consider, more to plan.

This morning, however, her attention was focused on something unusual. Neatly laid out in front of her was a new piece of equipment: a custom-made harness, designed specifically for Max, her loyal dog. It was dark green, sturdy, and practical. The word "HELLSING" was emblazoned across the reinforced handle, and the Hellsing insignia was stitched prominently on the side. Attached to the harness was a small medical pack, useful for carrying supplies on missions, and the harness itself had light armor built into vital areas to protect Max from harm. The spiked collar was both intimidating and functional, offering protection for his throat-a weak point in any battlefield.

Integra studied the harness thoughtfully. Max wasn't vital to Hellsing operations, not in the way Seras or Alucard were, but he had proven his loyalty, and there was potential there. She had seen the benefits of having a trained animal in the field. Seras, for all her power and abilities, couldn't always track a vampire if it was trying to hide or flee. Her keen vision was excellent for spotting enemies across distances, and her sense of smell was sharp when blood had been spilled, but if the vampire was on the run, with no fresh trail of blood to follow, even Seras could be at a disadvantage.

But a dog? A dog had instincts. A dog could find the stench of a vampire long after the blood had dried, long after the trail had gone cold. Max could be that advantage-trained to track the foul creatures even after days had passed. And more than that, if Max proved to be a successful "investment," there was the possibility of expanding Hellsing's resources with a dedicated K9 unit, something that could benefit not just Seras, but the human agents as well.

With that thought firmly in mind, Integra pressed the intercom on her desk.

"Send in Agent Caldwell."

A few moments later, the door to her office opened, and Agent Caldwell entered. He was one of her most trusted senior agents, a man seasoned by years of fighting in the shadows. His experience made him a natural choice for training new recruits, and now, perhaps, for training something a bit more unconventional.

"Sir Integra," Caldwell said with a respectful nod, standing at attention.

Integra didn't waste time with pleasantries. She gestured to the harness on her desk. "I've had this made for Max," she began, her voice crisp and authoritative. "It's more than just a symbol of loyalty. I believe he can be trained to track vampires."

Caldwell raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. "Track vampires, ma'am?"

Integra nodded, her sharp eyes focused on him. "Seras can track a vampire through the bloodshed it leaves behind. But if the vampire is fleeing-if it's trying to hide-her sharp vision and instincts might not be enough. A dog, on the other hand, can track a scent for days, even without fresh blood to follow. Max could be a valuable asset in situations where Seras, or even our human agents, might struggle to locate a target."

Caldwell's expression shifted to one of understanding. "I see. A dog's sense of smell is unmatched. He could follow a trail well after the vampire has tried to disappear."

"Exactly," Integra said, pleased that Caldwell understood the importance of the task. "I want you to train Max. Begin with scent recognition-teach him to distinguish between human and vampire scents. Once he's learned that, move on to tracking. If Max proves to be effective, I'll consider expanding this into a proper K9 unit to assist our human agents."