A/N: so here's chapter three. Thank you to those who reviewed and favorite!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 3: Return to the Bureau
When the garbage truck was only a few minutes away from the bureau its occupants began to get ready to exit the vehicle. Abe walked over to Roxanne who was still messing with whatever she had taken from her sleeve, with a frown on her face and a faraway look in her eyes.
"Roxanne?" Abe said quietly stepping closer. Roxanne's head snapped and Abe caught sight of a black fluid like substance shooting from her hand and back up her right jacket sleeve.
"Yes Abe?" she asked. Though he was very curious as to what had gone up her sleeve Abe decided to leave it be. For now.
"I just wanted to let you know that we will be arriving at the bureau within a few minutes and we should prepare to disembark." He said offering her her backpack.
"Thank you Abe." She said with a smile as she accepted the bag.
"I feel I should warn you though, our director Dr. Manning, he's very closed minded and stubborn. So there might be some slight problems when we first arrive."
"If my going with you causes problems for you all then I can leave. I have no problem with going." She said honestly. Abe was about to reply but was interrupted.
"If Manning has a problem with you staying then I'll have a talk with 'em." Hellboy said brandishing his stone hand with a grin as Liz and Johan came up behind him.
"Really I don't want to cause any trouble." Roxanne said.
"Nonsense Miss. Stryker. You vil be no trouble at all." Johan assured.
"Are you sure?" She asked looking at the four of them.
"Positive." Liz said with a warm smile.
"Well alright. How much longer do you think it will be until we arrive?" She asked. Abe then looked out the window and saw the truck was pulling through the bureau gates.
"We're here." He said. The others continued gathering their belongings when Abe noticed a wave of fear mixed with worry coming from his right. He turned his head and saw Roxanne, her posture ridged as she starred out the window.
"Roxanne." He said coming up behind her.
"Yes?" she asked turning to face him. Abe placed a kind hand on her shoulder and spoke.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes." She responded not meeting his gaze. He gave her a disbelieving look and she began to speak again.
"It's just that…" She sighed and ran a hand down her face before continuing. "The last time I was brought to facility like this it was under very depressing circumstances." Abe was about to ask what she meant when the truck began to reverse into the docking bay.
"Just come out behind me." Abe said looking over his shoulder at Roxanne. She nodded and shouldered her backpack facing the door with a confident look on her face. Then the back door lowered and the four agents and their guest stepped out and into the bureau. They had only taken a handful of steps before Dr. Manning rounded the corner walking towards them.
"Well it looks like you managed to bring them in so-"He then stopped in his tracks when he saw Roxanne. "Who the hell is that?" He asked glaring at the team before him. Abe was the first to speak.
"She is the one the trolls were attacking." He said.
"So you four just decided to bring a civilian to a top secret government facility?" He shouted his face getting red. "Couldn't you have just done a memory wipe and left her?"
"If we had left her there would just be more trolls and god knows what other monsters after her tomorrow." Liz said.
"How do we know she's the one the trolls are after? How do we know she doesn't just look like whoever the trolls are after?" Manning argued.
"Because I've had trolls and other monsters sent after me since I was sixteen years old." Roxanne said stepping forward.
"Oh really? You're all trying to tell me that a little girl like her has been fending off monsters by herself since she was sixteen? I highly doubt that." He said talking to the others as if Roxanne wasn't there.
"It is true Dr. Manning. By the time ve had arrived on ze scene Miss. Stryker here vas just finishing defeating ze trolls." Johan defended.
"How on earth could she possibly do that?" Manning said once again ignoring Roxanne's presence.
"Simple. She's got powers." Hell boy replied.
"What powers?" Once again Manning addressed the agents and Abe could feel the irritation coming from Roxanne, though when he looked back at her she was completely calm, her expression was blank as she stared at manning. A sudden jolt of movement and a yelp from behind him caused Abe to turn around and see that they were all floating in the air on a very large slab of black granite that had been pulled up from the floor.
"What the Hell is going on?" Manning shouted his voice high with fear as he clung to the granite. At this point Hellboy burst out laughing, Liz was trying to smother her laughter behind her hand, Johan was making an odd wheezing sound, and Abe lips twitched in what could be considered a smile for him. The rock floated in the air for a moment before slowly descending back down where it fell back into place as if it had never been moved.
"What was that?" Manning demanded looking at the agents in front of him. Just then Roxanne pushed past the four that had formed an unconscious barrier between her and Manning.
"That Dr. Manning, was a very small demonstration of my power. You see, I'm Geokinetic. I can manipulate earth with my mind." To prove her point she raised her right hand from behind her back and a small chunk of the floor floated up to rest in her palm. It then fluidly twisted itself around her hand and in between her fingers before coming to rest back in her palm where it began to form various shapes and designs: a star, a rose, a music note and more. The rock then left her hand and rejoined the floor as she placed both of her hands behind her back looking at the stunned Manning. Abe was shocked; this was not the same scared girl they found in the alley nor was it the worried one he had watched in the truck. This girl seemed confident, and completely relaxed. He reached out slightly with his mind to feel Roxanne's emotions and found that she was still frightened and worried, but she was masking those feelings and projecting the calm confidence everyone was seeing. He then remembered how in the alley she had regained her composure so quickly when she had looked close to tears. Very interesting He thought. Just then Manning seemed to regain his professionalism.
"I don't believe we've been introduced Miss. I'm Tom Manning Director of the B.R.P.D." He said extending his hand toward Roxanne becoming very polite suddenly.
"My name is Roxanne Stryker." She said shaking his hand.
"Stryker?" Manning asked. "As in the M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System?"
"No, as in my father the late General Robert Stryker." She replied.
"Ah. So you said that the trolls are after you?" Manning said quickly changing the subject. Roxanne nodded. "Well considering how late it is you'll have to give your statement tomorrow or the day after depending on how busy we are. Until then you can stay in one of the spare rooms." He then turned toward Abe.
"Abe, show her the spare room next to yours and give her a tour." He then addressed everyone again. "Good night." He spun around on his heel, walked down the hall and disappeared around the corner. As soon as he was out of earshot Hellboy started snickering.
"That was great kid! I haven't seen Manning that scared in years!" He said clapping Roxanne on the shoulder. Roxanne shrugged.
"I don't like it when people talk about me as if I'm not right in front of them." She said with a mischievous smile.
"Still, I don't think he was that scared when he first saw me using my powers." Liz said with a smile, warping an arm around her boyfriend.
"Vell he knew vat you could do and vas probably expecting you to use them Agent Sherman." Johan put it.
"Right, well why don't we all go down to the kitchen and get something to eat?" Abe suggested. Everyone agreed and the five set out for the kitchen. When they arrived Hellboy said that he was going to let the cook know they were ready to eat, took off his trench coat and slung it over the back of a chair before walking through a pair of silver doors into the kitchen. He came back a minute later and took his seat at the large circular table with Liz on his right, Abe on his left, Johan to the right of Liz and Roxanne who took the seat between Abe and Johan placing her backpack under her chair. Abe noticed that when she sat down she moved to take off her jacket but then stopped suddenly.
"Would you like me take your Jacket?" Abe asked.
"No thank you Abe." She said with a polite smile. He nodded and from the corner of his eye noticed Roxanne fold her arms over her chest slightly, place her right hand protectively over her left bicep. Apparently though, Abe was the only one who noticed the odd gesture. She's hiding something, Abe thought but what?
"It's great not being confined to our rooms all the time now." Hellboy said leaning back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. He then looked over at Roxanne. "So kid, why don't you tell us why those trolls were after you?"
"Well-" She began, but was quickly cut across by Liz.
"I don't think now's the best time to talk about that Red."She said as she absently placed a hand on her growing stomach.
"Alright then. Why don't you tell us about that "Hell hole" you said you spent eight years in when we were back in the alley?" Red tried. Roxanne opened her mouth again to reply when she was interrupted for the second time.
"Red, That topic is highly inappropriate for the current time and place, even more so than the one you already tried to bring up. It's wrong for you to ask such a personal question." Oddly it was Abe and not Liz who spoke. Hellboy was clearly shocked at the response his friend gave but realized he was right. So turning to Roxanne he spoke.
"Uhh, sorry I guess. They're right it's not any of my business." He said awkwardly.
"It's perfectly alright." Roxanne replied with a smile. "The answers to both those questions are one in the same, and I have no problem sharing them with you four, but it's a fairly lengthy story and I don't believe now is the time for it."
Red was about to start talking again when the doors to the kitchen opened and two large carts of food pushed by two kitchen assistants in white uniforms emerged, followed by a short ageing man in a black chef's uniform.
"Good evening everyone!" he announced cheerfully. "When Hellyboy told me we were having a guest tonight I had to come and see it for myself!" He said smiling kindly at Roxanne who gave a slight smile back. "Good evening madam, I am Chef Wayne Scott, the head chef here at the B.P.R.D." He said with an extravagant bow.
"Hello Chef Scott, I'm Roxanne Stryker." She replied extending her right hand to him.
"And what a pleasure to meet you it is Miss. Stryker!" He said accepting the offered hand but instead of shaking it he gave it a large kiss. Relinquishing her hand Chef Scott then turned to address everyone as the Kitchen assistants began to distribute plates of food.
"For Hellboy, Liz, and Miss. Stryker we have Filet Mignon with Garlic mashed potatoes and Pepsi to drink." As he spoke a very large plate containing the aforementioned food with a bucket sized cup of soda was placed in front of Hellboy who cheered, and much smaller plates and cups with the same contents were set in front of Liz and Roxanne.
"For Abe we have the finest rotten eggs that could be found." A small bowl with two rotten eggs was set down before Abe.
"And for Johan your ectoplasm supplement." A jar filled with a white swirling gas and a hose attached to it was then given to Johan.
"If any of you need anything just let us know. Bon Appétit!" Chef Scott said with a flourishing wave of his hands before turning and following the cart pushing assistants back into the kitchen. When the kitchen doors slammed shut. Roxanne turned to look at everyone else who had amused looks on their faces.
"Is he always so…Exuberant?" she asked.
"Mo, mes ust uh fow mof." Hellboy said with his mouth full of food.
"It's impolite to talk with your mouth full Red." Liz said as she began to cut up her steak.
"What I believe Agent Hellboy vas trying to say is that Chef Scott enjoys sho-ving off and since he hardly gets ze chance to, he vas very excited about it tonight. Am I correct in vat you ver trying to say Agent Hellboy?" Hellboy nodded and continued to shove food in his mouth when he noticed Roxanne was the only one who haden't touched her food yet.
"Hom mon hid, het hup. Ets ot unna ite." He said with his mouth full yet again.
"Red quit talking with your mouth full." Liz reminded becoming exasperated.
"Anyone care to translate?" Roxanne asked.
"I will." Abe said as he put down one of his eggs. "He asked why you haven't started eating yet. Is there something wrong with the food?"
"Hi idnt tay at!" Red Shouted almost spraying Abe with half chewed food.
"Red!" Liz shouted. "Stop talking with your mouth full! This is the third time I've had to tell you, are you five or something?" She asked aggravated. Hellboy swallowed his food and grinned at his girlfriend.
"Maybe." He replied. Liz opened her mouth to speak but Hellboy quickly cut across her.
"And I didn't say what Abe said I did, he was putting words in my mouth."
"I don't see how he could put anything in your mouth considering how much food was in it." Liz muttered with a small smile. Hellboy shot his girlfriend a glare before continuing.
"What I said was; 'Come one kid, eat up. It's not gonna bite.'"
"Oh there's nothing wrong with the food and I'm going to eat it, I was just thinking." Roxanne said.
"Think later, eat now." Hellboy said before shoveling more food into his mouth.
"What were you thinking about?" Abe asked ignoring Hellboy's comment.
"That it's been a long time since I've seen food this good and, that no one's been this kind to me in an even longer time." She said as she began to eat.
"Just don't let Scotty-Boy hear you talk about his food like that, his head's already big enough." Hellboy said with a smile.
"Abe, Johan do you mind if I ask you guys something?" Roxanne questioned.
"Of course not." Abe said with an idea of what she was going to ask.
"Ask avay my dear." Johan replied also knowing what she was going to ask.
"Please don't get offended but…Why is it that you two are given what was given to you?"
"You see my dear," Johan said. "My suit is filled vith my essence mixed with ectoplasm, and occasionally ze ectoplasm needs to be replenished." He then popped open the cap on his finger and attached the hose to it, and the mist from the jar traveled into his suit. When he finished Abe began to speak.
"I eat two rotten eggs every day because when I was found it was the only thing I found appetizing. Now I can eat normal food, I just prefer eggs." Roxanne nodded as she processed the new information. The rest of dinner was quiet and uneventful and when everyone was done they thanked Chef Scott and left the Kitchen.
"Well it's pretty late so Liz and I are gonna go to bed. Night guys." Hellboy said as he and Liz walked off toward their room hand in hand.
"I vill also be returning to my room now. Good night Agent Sapein, Miss. Stryker." Johan then did an about face and walked away.
"Well Roxanne why don't I show you to your room?" Abe asked Roxanne.
"Alright Abe, lead the way." She said picking up her backpack from the floor. Abe then began to walk down the hallway leading Roxanne to her new room. They were just about to round a corned when two FBI agents came running around the corner and one slammed into Roxanne knocking her backpack out of her hand and almost sending her crashing to the floor with it. "Sorry!" He shouted as he ran off after the other now laughing agent.
"Those two are constantly racing each other and one of them always runs into something." Abe muttered. Abe looked over at Roxanne who was now kneeling on the floor next to her backpack with its contents sprawled all over the floor.
"I'm so very sorry about that, those two are highly trained FBI agents but they act like school children." Abe apologized as he knelt down to help her gather her belongings.
"No harm done." Roxanne said with a shrug as she stuffed several articles of clothing into the bag. As Abe helped Roxanne he noticed that a vast majority of her belongings were books. They were mostly fantasy/sci-fi books but he spotted a few poetry and adventure books, there was even a small survival guide. When saw a small picture frame face down on the ground near him Abe worried that it may have been damaged. When he picked it up he found that the glass had shattered and the metal frame had a crack in it. He then took a moment to look at the picture itself. After only a moment it was clear to Abe that he was looking at a picture of Roxanne and her family.
The picture had four people in it: a man and a woman who had an arm wrapped an arm around each other, the man's right hand was resting on the shoulder of a young Roxanne who was standing in front of him, and she was hugging a little boy wearing glasses to her with her left arm. They were all standing in the woods in front of a large tent with smiles on their faces. As Abe examined the picture he notices the facial resemblance between Roxanne and the little boy made it painfully clear he was her little brother, even though he had the same sandy blond hair and blue eyes as the woman behind him, who Abe could tell was their mother. While it was clear Roxanne's brother favored their mother in looks it was blatantly obvious that Roxanne looked exactly like the man standing behind her; her father. They had the same light brown hair (Though his was graying slightly), piercing green eyes, facial appearance, and matching mischievous smiles. Abe recalled Roxanne telling Manning earlier that night that her father was a general, and even in a casual photo such as this it was clear through his posture, stance, and overall presence that he was a military man. Abe took all this in from the picture in about five seconds. Looking up he cleared his throat.
Roxanne?" He said quietly when she looked up from shoving one of the last books in her bag he held out the picture in its damaged frame to her. She took it from him and looked it over. "I'm sorry." He offered weakly. Abe was expecting Roxanne to mend the crack in the frame but was startled when the glass rose off the ground and re-assembled in front of Roxanne before sliding into place in the frame.
"How did you do that?" Abe questioned. "Glass is made up of mostly silicon, not sand." Roxanne smiled.
"True, glass is made up of mostly silicon, and I admit that if this was glass I would have a problem. But this," She said tapping the substance covering the picture. "This is quartz. I actually made sure I got a metal frame and a quartz covering for this picture just in case that happens." She said with a smile as she placed the picture in her bag and closed the top.
"That's very clever." Abe said standing up and helping her to her feet. "Now like I was saying, your room is right around the corner." The two began to walk and Abe led Roxanne to a dark oak door to the left of the large gold library doors. Abe opened the door and showed Roxanne around the large room.
"Obviously that's the bed, the bathroom is through there, the couch, T.V. and coffee table are there" he continued to point out the various areas of the room, and when he finished he saw Roxanne was emptying the contents of her bag into neat piles on the bed. He walked over to stand beside her.
"Would you like any help unpacking?" He asked.
"Sure, thanks Abe." She said with a smile. He then picked up a pile of books.
"Where do you want these?" He asked.
"Over on the table is fine." She said as she pulled several leather-bound notebooks out of her bag and placed them in the desk near the bed. Out of the corner of his eye Abe saw Roxanne walk over to the bed again, pick up a few articles of clothing and scowl at them. But before he could tell what they were she walked over to the dresser, opened the bottom drawer, shoved them in, and closed the drawer. As she walked back over to the bed he heard her mutter; "I have no idea why I even kept those."
Abe decided it would be best to ignore the comment. As Abe walked over to place more books on the table he noticed Roxanne had a very small amount of clothes, only two weeks' worth at the most. Why would she have so many books and so little clothes? Don't most women prefer clothes to books? He thought. When he voiced the questions Roxanne smiled.
"Most women do prefer clothes to books Abe, but I'm not like most women. Those books are just a few of my favorites and I couldn't bear to leave them behind. So I packed two weeks' worth of clothing along with some other essentials, and jammed as many books into the bag as I could."
Abe understood Roxanne choosing books over clothes, because he would do the same. Though he was very curious as to where it was that Roxanne had left, and why she left he decided that was a topic for another time. Roxanne quickly finished unpacking by placing the picture of her family on the table next to her bed.
"Thanks for helping me unpack Abe." She said.
"You're welcome Roxanne." H e replied with a smile. "Do you need anything else?"
"No thank you, I'm fine." She said.
"Well if you should need anything my room is the one directly to your right." He said pointing to the far right wall.
"Alright, I'll see you in the morning Abe. Good night." She said with a smile.
"Good night Roxanne." He said walking out of the room and into his. When there he climbed into his tank and as the gentle waves lulled him to sleep he couldn't help but wonder when he was going to unravel the mystery that was Roxanne Stryker.
A/N: at over 4,000 words this is by far the longest chapter I have ever typed for anything. It's about two to three times the size of a normal chapter and took three days to write so I hope you all enjoyed it. And for those of you who didn't know the M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS) is a type of tank. Heres the link for those of you who want to see a few different pics. Just take out the spaces.
h t t p : / / w w w . o l I v e – d r a b . c o m / I d p h o t o / I d _ p h o t o s _ s t r y k e r . p h p
I freaking love this tank and want to own desperately! (I bet I'm one of the few sixteen-year old girls to say that.) Anyway enough of my ramblings! PLEASE REVIEW!