The Hellboy Chronicles: The Elemental Equation

Chapter 5: The First Mission

Chapter 5

The First Mission

2 Years Later...

"Happy Birthday!" Her adopted family exclaims.

In the last 2 years, Roxy has grown in a full woman. She has filled out, no longer the skeletal looking thing she was from the mistreatment at the laboratory. Her hair has grown to her waist and has regained its unique bright reddish hue. She frequently wears it in a high ponytail allowing the ends to drape over both shoulders. Her physique has become more feminine, but defined from frequent training and exercise and from superb nutrition the BPRD provides all its agents. Her uniform of choice is a black tank top, black shorts and combat boots which enhances her strong, toned figure. Her confidence in her herself has grown exponentially in the last 2 years. Along with practicing of controlling the elements which seem to come naturally once she figures out how to call forth upon them, she has been spending time working on combat skills. She has taken lessons on shooting guns which Agent Clay who has surprisingly been a great teacher. She can do fine in hand to hand combat if she were to get in a situation, but her strategy for a mission, if she ever gets to go on a mission, is to stay at a distance. She would prefer to engage in the action from afar using the skills she's strongest at. She'll leave the close combat stuff to Hellboy. He prefers it that way.

A beautiful cake is presented to her. Upon the cake are 18 lit up candles. She casually brushes her hand over the candles, a small gust of air whooshes over them and they extinguish. "Thank you so much. Come on, let's eat this!"

"You could've just blown them out..." Hellboy chuckles at her.

"Oh, what's the fun in that?" Roxy laughs.

"I have a birthday gift for you. Or maybe more an announcement." The professor cuts in clapping his hands in front of him. "I've discussed with Dr. Manning of all your studying and you're consistent practice and he's agreed, if you're wanting, to have you come on as an official agent of the BPRD."

"Really?" Roxy exclaims.

"On the condition that you make sure my agents remain safe." Dr Manning says from behind her. "And perhaps to keep the monkey a little more under control." He nods towards Hellboy.

"Hey, careful now." Hellboy points to Manning.

"I'm sure Hellboy is a capable agent on his own. I'd be more of the back up." She replies to Manning. Hellboy smiles at her appreciating the vouch for him.

"You're more than that, Roxy. You've patched me up quite a number of times." Hellboy says to her.

"Only AFTER a mission. There were plenty of times I wondered what even happened. You're making me nervous thinking about it now." Roxy laments.

"You'll be fine." The professor reassures her. "You've proven yourself."

"You're intentions are pure and noble. I'm excited to work next to you." Abe Sapien embraces her.

"Well, OK then. When do we go out next?" Roxy asks excitedly.

Location: Abandoned Tomb area, Undisclosed location

Hellboy's, Abe's, and Roxy's aircraft lands in a deserted field. The field is barren and flat. There are no trees or any large foliage. Grass grows in random clumps. There appears to be no civilization for miles. The field gives off an energy of loneliness and desolation.

"Well, this is pleasant." Hellboy smirks.

"No crops could grow here." Abe says as he scrolls through a small tome.