Chapter 6

Replacement

A man walks into my room. He paces up and down in front of me. He's waiting for something.

He's waiting for me, I realize with a start. He doesn't realize that this 'Abraham Sapien' he's supposed to meet here isn't strictly speaking, human.

"Hello"

The man jumps a foot, and looks over at me. I reach sideways and pull my little rubix cube out of its slot.

"Are you the new director?"

The man glares at me, and puffs noisily at his cigar. Why is it that I am surrounded by smokers? Tobacco is disgusting.

"Are you the new director?"

I repeat the question politely, as though he hadn't heard me.

"I am Mr. Disey, yes. And you are... ?"

"Abraham Sapien"

His eyes widen. I catch his thought floating towards me

This monster is who I'm supposed to have as my second in command? Holy...

I have had enough.

"Yes, I'm you're 'Monster Second in Command,' I'm basically here to provide you a link to the other monsters you'll be working with. I also make sure none of them eat you, and they know not to destroy your things, although that hasn't been a problem for a few years, Dalton Disey..."

I bring my hand up to the glass, and begin reading him, ignoring his obvious panic.

"Dalton Disey, born in Greenwich, England, moved to the United States twenty years ago, divorced with two children..."

I continue on, until the man finally runs from the room.

I hope he stays out.

In a little less than an hour later Hellboy storms in.

"What did you do, Abe?"

"Hmm. Depends."

"Damn it, Blue. You're in it deep. You're being replaced."

What? I've been what?

Oh, I didn't say that out loud.

"What?"

Why does my voice sound so weak?

"The new director wants you out. He's pressing charges if invasion of privacy."

Why can't I understand what he's saying?

"What?"

"Abe, you're going to be fired!"

I shake my head, expelling a stream of bubbles. Where will I go? Am I going to leave the bureau? What's going to happen to me?

Don't worry, it'll be fine.

A disembodied voice, with a slight Scottish accent floats into my head. No, it's not going to be fine. They're going to kick me out of the bureau.

What bureau?

What do you mean what bureau?!? My Irish Lady Sean Connery is vaguely confused.

I mean what bureau. I don't know any bureaus. I've never met another telepath before.

Hellboy leaves the room, leaving me floating in shock.

What's wrong, anyways?

They want to kick me out of my home, because I did a reading of someone who was uncomfortable with it.

That wasn't a nice thing to do.

He wasn't a nice person. He thought I was some sort of pet.

Oh. I know that feeling. Are you sure you didn't over react.

I know that fit was fifty percent the drugs in my system, but I just don't care. It felt good to actually do something for once. And if I had to make the same choice, I'd do it again.

Would you really?

Yes. I think I would.

Good. Then don't let yourself feel sorry. Now, why were you so sad earlier?

You felt that?

I did, but only as emotions. You woke me up, I was crying so hard. But it took me a while to contact you, I could only sense where you are when you broadcast a particularly strong emotion.

My sadness earlier, this disembodied voice could only be talking about my feelings about father. My father, who I betrayed. Who I let down, and who I let die, who Rasputin murdered that night in the library.

Oh. I'm sorry. I never had a father.

She heard that? Of course, she's getting my thoughts. I didn't have a father either, not until Professor Broom adopted me. And he didn't even know how much I cared about him. Who was killed, taken away from us because he trusted me?