Chapter 2: She's in trouble

Abraham was walking back along the corridors toward the library when his pager went off, blue lights flashing and alerting him to trouble. He jogged towards the library, nearly colliding with Agent John Myers as he ran from the direction of Hell Boy's quarters.

"What is it?" Abe asked Myers, reaching the library doors first and pulling one open for the obviously winded agent.

"Not sure, its from The Professors secure line." He replied, both of them shocked to see Hell Boy and Liz had beat them to the library this early in the morning at the sound of their pagers.

"I told ya years ago that She didn't belong on the outside Pops," HB was saying around the perpetual cigar that was almost always protruding from his mouth.

"She didn't have anything to do with this. She didn't do this," Professor Broom said distractedly as he took several guns and a crossbow from a hidden compartment in the library wall, rosary beads swinging from his wrist, the crucifix flashing in the light.

"Who are we discussing?" Abe asked, cocking his head in curiosity. He took in the sight of Professor Brooms pallor and distraction as he took the crossbow and slung a quiver full of arrows over his shoulder.

"Better suit up Blue, I'll explain along the way," Hell Boy replied, hoisting a gun the size of a small cannon. Abe scrambled up to the deck above his tank and disappeared into his bedroom/study, hastily pulling on his tactical wet suit and portable respirator and snapping his goggles onto his head just in case. His mind was whirling as he rejoined his crew below; he couldn't remember the last time he had seen Professor Broom so agitated over a mission, except for when Hell Boy himself was in danger.

"What is this? What's going on?" Manning burst into the library clumsily; looking from Hell Boy to Abe and finally to Professor Broom, a person that he normally depended on to see reason.

"I'm taking the team into New Mexico, there is an urgent situation there. We may be gone for several days, but Kraus will be here should you require assistance," He said nonchalantly, pushing passed Manning; who wore a completely flabbergasted expression. He was so astounded at the Professors unusual manner that he stood rooted to the spot in the library as Abe, Hell Boy, and Liz followed Professor Broom out of the library and down the corridor before he shook himself from his stupor and ran after them.

"Wait! Hey, wait! You can't just take the team on some unauthorized excursion to New Mexico!" he exclaimed, catching up to them and tugging on Professor Brooms arm in irritation. Professor Broom turned in exasperation and Hell Boy audibly grit his teeth in frustration, his patience wearing very thin as it usually did with Manning.

"Water Lily," Professor Broom said, as though the name of the plant explained everything. Just as Abe made to ask if Professor Broom was feeling well, Manning halted his actions at once, closing his mouth and straightening his posture.

"I see," Manning replied tensely, backing away from the team and nodding.

"Just be sure to keep a channel open so we can keep an eye on you, its easy to get lost out in that type of terrain." Manning continued, to the utter confusion of Abe and Myers; though Hell Boy and Liz seemed to understand his remarks. Professor Broom seemed satisfied with his answers however, because he turned away and lead the team down the corridor once more and to the elevator that lead to the BPRD garage and aircraft hangar.

"Um, Red? Anytime that you're willing to start with the explanations would be great." Abe said as they piled into the elevator and descended to the lower levels of the government facility they called home.

"Abraham, I think in this case; I may be able to explain this situation far better than my Son can," Professor Broom replied as they stepped out of the elevator and into the aircraft hangar. Abe had never seen Hell Boy look so solemn as his hulking figure boarded the plane with Liz trailing behind him, placing her hand on his forearm supportively. Abe and Myers followed Professor Broom onto the plane and took their seats alongside him as they went taxiing down the runway post-haste. The Professor sighed and removed his spectacles, rubbing his eyes and gathering his wits about him.

"Twenty-three years ago, I was working with an Apache Medicine Man named Nantan and his Daughter Kushala in the mountains of New Mexico on a case involving a cursed Aztec artifact that was buried there. Hell Boy was about eleven years old at the time and he was a handful and I was afraid of leaving him behind here with only the agents to look after him, but the case was much too dangerous and complex for him to come along. When I arrived in New Mexico, the situation there was already dire; the Aztec Totem's curse had been unleashed on the Apache tribal grounds. The curse was causing their young men to become possessed and to die all within seven days' time and it leapt from victim to victim like a plague. Nantan and Kushala had attempted every healing ritual that they knew of; rejecting assistance from the BPRD until the curse possessed and killed Nantan's only Son and Kushala's twin brother Kuruk. Kushala and Kuruk were nigh inseparable their entire lives; and Kushala didn't take his death well at all. She attempted suicide the night of his funeral and had it not been for Nantan's swift action and gifted healing abilities; he would have lost both of his children that night. When I arrived on their reservation in New Mexico, Nantan was nearly a broken man and the Chief of their tribe had taken the remaining young men and fled in an attempt to save them from the curse. He had told me that Kushala could no longer be left alone to her own devices due to her depression and suicidal tendencies; so, he had locked her in her room after stripping it of anything she could use to harm herself. My main focus was the Aztec Totem itself, but I felt a great sympathy for Nantan's situation as I was a young Father myself; and I began to try to talk to Kushala and see if I could reach her somehow. My intentions were innocent enough at the time but spending eight months in the mountains of New Mexico with Kushala, Nantan, and their people had led me to feel a deep fondness for them all; but Kushala had stolen my heart completely." Professor Broom's voice waivered and he halted in his narration, swallowing thickly

"You fell in love with her…." Abe murmured, feeling the Professor's emotions radiating from him in strong waves, negating Abe's usual need for physical contact to read thoughts and emotions.

"I did. After eight months of grueling research and harrowing attempts; Nantan and I had succeeded in breaking the curse and destroying the Totem for good, but my heart was completely lost to Kushala. Nantan gave us his blessing so long as we were married on their land, and we were only too happy to oblige his wishes. A month after we broke the curse; Kushala and I were married and for the first time in my life; I was seriously considering leaving the BRPD. I had told Nantan and Kushala about Hell Boy and they met him for themselves when he agreed to be the ring-bearer for our wedding. They were accepting of him in ways that no other people in the outside world had ever been and it all seemed to be settled, but the government had other plans. They told me that in no uncertain circumstances would they allow Hell Boy to ever permanently leave the BPRD and that if we removed him, they would find us and kill him. Kushala then suggested she leave her people and come and live here with Hell Boy and I, but none of Nantan's other Daughters had inherited his powers as a Healer,"

"So, she couldn't leave her people," Hell Boy spoke for the first time since they had boarded the plane, his eyes downcast and his voice solemn.

"You should've just let them kill me in that cave Pops. If you had, none of this shit would've happened. You could have just been happy with your wife and Daughter; happy with your family. Instead,-"

"You are my Family Hell Boy, you are my Son. You always have been, you always will be. None of what has happened is your fault," Professor Broom interrupted, standing and embracing his Son to the best of his abilities due to their difference in size.

"Daughter?" Abe and Myers asked at the same time, mouths agape.

"Yes. Shortly after our wedding, Kushala had become pregnant with our Daughter Anahita; who is now the only surviving member of an attack on their reservation. Kushala and 187 other Apaches were inexplicably slaughtered last night; and Anahita has taken refuge in the mountains. We must find her as soon as we possibly can, she's in grave danger."