15th Hour // Voice

[ctu_savior]

[Jack's voice sounds strained and distracted]

I need to talk to someone here who has experience with... the supernatural.

[He takes a deep breath]

With ghosts, spirits, specifically.

[There's a pause with nothing but the sound of Jack breathing and muttering something]Thank you

Comments

[Private]

[ctu_savior]

Seras...

[sigh]

I've done some pretty bad things, Seras. And I've let a lot of people down. I'm looking at a lot of them right now. They're standing here, staring at me. Reminding me.

Every sacrifice I've made, I've done because I thought it was necessary to protect innocent lives. I don't regret that, but I do regret the cost. The people who know me tend to get dragged into things, end up paying prices that they shouldn't have to. Some of them die, some of them... become different people, get changed by being involved. Sometimes it's my fault, sometimes it's something I can't prevent, but one way or another they get hurt.

You are... one of the most loyal, faithful, kind people I've ever met, human or vampire, I don't care. I don't want to see anything change that because of something I get you involved in one day. But that day is going to come, it's part of the job. Things happen... that we never imagined happening, and we find ourselves having to make choices we never thought possible. It's just a matter of how and when.

So Seras, when you say you trust me, I need you to know exactly what that means, and the risks you are taking. Because I trust you too, and if you give me your trust, I will accept it and be grateful for it. But chances are, I'm also gonna use it. Do you understand?

[Private]

[newbvampire]

But you did it for the right reasons, sir. Right? Isn't that what a commander is supposed to do? I know you didn't want them to die, but if they hadn't then innocent people would have been killed. I'm a police officer, sir and a member of Hellsing. I'm supposed to protect people. I...I don't want to die, but if I have to keep people safe t-than I guess that's alright. I know you wouldn't just...throw me, or anyway else away.

So yes sir, I understand and I still trust you. I don't want to let you down, sir.

And thank you, sir. For what you said about me. Also, I'm sorry, sir. For the ghosts, sir.

[Private]

[ctu_savior]

[One can almost hear the smile in Jack's voice.]

You don't have to worry about letting me down, Seras. That's the last thing you should be concerned about. I know that you are willing to lay down your life for this, and I respect that. But there are other things you can lose, things that I don't want to see you have to sacrifice.

[He sighs]

Look, I don't think I know how to explain this. So I'll show you.

[Suddenly, the communicator's video turns on, showing the darkened interior of Jack's apartment kitchen. Shadows are everywhere. The picture is a little shaky, but the face Jack is focusing on is clear, staring out from the shadows, unblinking.]

His name was Carl Mossman. He was a civilian, a bank manager. Information had been hidden in his bank that implicated the President of the United States in a terrorist conspiracy. The President had declared me a fugitive, I was being hunted by every law enforcement agency in the country, so I had to go outside the law. I broke into Mister Mossman's home in the dead of night, threatened his wife, kidnapped him, made him help me break into his bank. There was no other way. Once he found out why we were doing this, he helped us, willingly, despite what we'd done. But before we could leave with the evidence, mercenaries working for the conspiracy found us. They surrounded the bank, there was a firefight. I got away with the evidence.

[The camera is turned around to show Jack's face.]

Carl didn't make it. An innocent man got killed because of my actions, a good man. And he's not the only one. I could spend the entire day showing you faces like his, Seras. They're surrounding me right now. That's why you don't have to worry about letting me down, because these are the kinds of things I have done, this is what you could end up being a part of. And you deserve better than that.

[Private]

[newbvampire]

Thank you, sir.

Y-you were trying to get the people responsible, sir. I know it doesn't make everything alright, but you had good reasons and I know you did what you could to keep him alive. You didn't kill him, sir. Those mercenaries did.

Something like that might happen again sir, but maybe if I'm here to help you, I can back you up and we can get everyone out alive instead.

[Private]

[ctu_savior]

[Jack smiles wearily]

Thank you Seras. I-

[He cuts off, looks around for a moment.]

Thank you.

I have to go, I'll let you know when it's over.