Underground: Night Has Fallen

Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42

CHAPTER 43

EPILOGUE

Underground: Night has fallen by Todd Bunt

©2017 Todd Bunt

All rights reserved.  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.  For permissions contact:

Tmbunt@hotmail.com

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EBook ISBN: 978-1-54-390830-5

PROLOGUE

The rain pelted down upon a lone figure running through a dark and muddy field.  Night had fallen, but it was hard to tell when since the black clouds had obscured the sun passing through the sky. 

Mud splashed up the man’s legs as he dashed for his lift trying to make it to his car sitting some twenty yards from him.  With one missed step, he had already lost his phone to the night but he had his keys in his hands ready to unlock his car and get to some safety.

As he closed this distance, he could see his car now sitting where he had left it.  He had not been sure if he was running in the right direction when he started but somehow, despite the fear, he had run the right way.  He had been out here investigating a sighting of something strange.  He had thought he knew what he was looking for but he was not ready for what he had found.  The years of retirement had not helped him this night.

Up a small hill got him to his car and safety.  He put the keys in the lock, in one motion unlocked the car, and opened the door.  He slipped into the seat, closed the door and pushed the lock into lock position.  He was safe for now.  He took a moment to calm his breathing. 

Through the window, he watched the rain batter the windshield with the lightning casting random shadows in front of him.  He knew he had lost his phone somewhere out there so he could not call anyone, to tell his team what was wrong.  What would his wife think of him this night?  She had warned him about going out alone but he thought he could handle it.  Well he was proven wrong tonight.  As he sat there, he could hear the night but behind the rain and the thunder, there was a different noise.  A noise that sounded like keys being dragged along the skin of the car.  Searching he found that he had left his keys in the door.  Ah, crap! He exclaimed.  He had doomed himself now. 

He frantically looked to where the noise was coming from.  It seemed to move along the side of the car toward the front grill.  He could hear it bang and jingle, as it made its way across the front of the car just out of his sight.  He was breathing heavy again.  He could hear his heart pounding in his chest.  There was nothing, he, Clyde Black could do. 

The noise stopped by the front passenger’s side fender.  What would he do now?  He was just here to look into some murders that had looked suspicious.  He had not brought his weapon with him.  It was supposed to be an in-and-out.  That is not what happened.  It all went to shit when he entered that house.  He did not know that the doctor was there.  Hell, the doctor had been removed from being a danger, years ago.  How was Clyde to know that this was a trap?  When he saw the doctor, Clyde ran.  He knew that he needed to get away for he was not prepared for this danger.  Clyde had hoped that he had lost the doctor back at the house but from the sound of keys, it was obvious that he had not totally lost him. 

Clyde reached under the steering column and started fishing for wires.  He was going to hot-wire his own car and get out of here.  Finding the wires he needed, he started to play with them.  Bang, went one of the tires.  He was not getting out of here fast now. 

He looked up through his windshield to see if he could see anything out there.  He was greeted by the site of his keys dangling from the pincers of one of the ugliest things Clyde had seen in years.  He was looking at one of the doctor’s pets.  A Psycopede.  It was a mutated centipede made for taking over people’s minds.  Usually it would sneak up on its prey and grab it from behind, but here it was sitting on the hood of his car dangling his keys in front of him. 

There was a crack of lightning and Clyde saw the Psycopede’s master, Dr. Arthropoda.  He was a skinny man standing there in the dark and rain under an umbrella.  To those not knowing about him, he looked harmless, but Clyde knew of the Doctor and also knew how dangerous he could be.  Clyde and his group had confronted the doctor many times and Clyde had thought they had taken care of him years before.  They had not found the body but the fall that the doctor had taken should have killed anyone.  This night Clyde found out that the doctor did survive, and now Clyde was in danger.

The doctor had been a researcher of insects, but when he started to manipulate the DNA of some insects to make new and more controllable creatures, he was released from his job.  He was making monsters and not insects that could help humanity.  He went mad and started to commit crimes, starting with his former employers.  He brought their building to its knees, literally.  He designed a bug that destroyed the place he used to work to the ground.  This is what brought the doctor to Clyde and his group’s attention.  For years, they battled back and forth until one night not unlike tonight the doctor, in the act of escaping, jumped from a cliff never to be seen again.  Oh, that he would have stayed gone.

The doctor walked up to the front of Clyde Black’s car.  From where he stood, Clyde could make out the doctor and identify that he was not imagining him.  With a smile, the doctor looked at what his Psycopede had caught.  Mr. Black, how good to see you.  I am sorry I have not gotten ahold on any of you earlier but you know.  I was not feeling good.  Now I thought I would come and look up old friends.  Why do you not come out here to talk to me?  You know it is inevitable that you will not get away this time.

Clyde was not getting out of his vehicle.  It would only take a second and then all would be lost if one of the Psycopedes got him.  He was just going to sit here.  Maybe someone would come along and he could get away.  He had to wait.  Sorry Doc, I think I will stay out of the rain today if you do not mind.  It is good to see you healthy. Not really, Clyde thought.  I was wondering if I may get a chance to go see my family.  I am late for dinner you know. 

The doctor sighed.  I am sorry Mr. Black, and could I call you Clyde?  We are old friends right?  He walked over to the driver side door and looked in.  I think you will be going to see your family soon.  I have a gift for them, and I want you to deliver it for me.  There was something knowing in his voice.  He was playing with Clyde and not in a good way.  You should open the door.  I will give you your phone and keys so you can get on your way.  I will even help you with your tire.  What to do you think?  There was no way Clyde was going to open anything for the Doc.

I am sorry I cannot do that.  I think you can understand why.  If you would just leave, I will try to get as far as my car will get me in this rain.  It is better this way.  Clyde was feeling the impending doom creeping up on him.  He knew in the current condition he would not get far from here.  The doctor probably had other minions hiding in the rain.  If Clyde tried to get away, something else would attack.  He could only think of one way out at this moment, and it would mean he would not see his family in this life.

A noise came from the back of the car.  It sounded like something had ripped some metal free.  The doctor’s minions were trying to get in.  It would not be long now before they would get him.  It made him sad that he would not see his son and daughter grow up.  He would miss his wife’s kisses and voice.  He could not let the doctor get his revenge on his family and friends. 

Clyde had kept one of his last resort pills on him just in case.  He had never even thought of ever using it but today he had possibly needed use it.  As he brought the pill up to look at it in the little amount of light he had, he could see out of the corner of his eye that this was not making the doctor happy. 

The doctor banged on the window to get Clyde’s attention.  No you cannot do that.  Stop.  No.  He looked back and forth for his minions.  Could one of them get to him before he took that pill?  From the back window, the doctor could see the second Psycopede make its way into the back seat.  It was making its way to Clyde. 

As Clyde Black took the only salvation he had from this mad man’s dreams of revenge, there came a pinch on the back of his neck.  The pill dissolved almost instantaneously as he lost control of his body.  The Psycopede had taken the control of his body as it connected to his spinal cord.  This is how it worked.  It would use one set of pincers to connect to the cord and paralyze its victim.  Then it would use its second pair of pincers to make an incision along the spine.  As the victim felt this, it would feel the Psycopede slowly embed its self under the skin and attach to the spine for total control.  This one would not get to finish.

Clyde started to convulse and shake as the drug took its affect.  It would look like a heart attack to most everyone.  It was made this way.  It was not long before Clyde was beyond the control of the doctor’s pet. 

The night swallowed the lone car as it sat in the rain.  It had one flat tire and an occupant that must have passed while he waited for help.  His family was safe, and he was at peace.  The police that found the car would never know why.  However, his friends would know. 

CHAPTER 1

Dyson, catch the ball man, yelled the quarterback.  The sun was beating down on the field.  It was Dyson’s first practice for the team since his friends convinced him to play.  Dyson had always been a very athletic kid.  His father had been training him in martial arts and sword combat since he was able to walk.  However, his father would not let him play football or any sport he thought brought too much attention to his talents.  None of the other kids of his group understood this, not even Dyson.  Nevertheless, Dyson made up his own mind this year and he was going to play, because that is what his friends played.  They always tried to do things together.

Mark Black was the quarterback’s name.  He had a real talent for throwing objects and putting them where he wanted.  This made him the star of the team with prospects for college scholarships.  He was only a sophomore in high school but he was outperforming all the upper classmen trying for the position.  Dyson and Mark had been friends for as long as both of them could remember.  However, Dyson never got to play football in school because of his dad’s rule about sports.  They did everything together, even getting into trouble.  It had taken Mark all summer to convince Dyson to play behind his father’s back.  Now the time was here and it was time to win the season. 

The next cohort for the group was a bruiser of a kid named Butch Tolliver.  He stood 6′2″ and weighed 260 pounds as a freshman, and now this year he was bigger.  He was a lineman and there was no getting by him when he did not want you to.  He was seen stopping two people with a single block and he had not moved an inch.  He was one of those guys you wanted in the dark alley with you in the bad part of the town.  Just one look made most people question even talking back to him.  But not his friends.  Hell, they all knew he was a quiet person with great patience.  Football was something he was good at, but schoolwork was not his strongest point.  That is where his friends came in.  They all chipped in to get his grades up so he could do what he loved to do.  Another thing different about him besides his strength and size was a necklace that his adopted dad made him wear.  He never took it off.

The only one in the group that did not play was Sean West.  He was more of a brainy member of the group.  Always working on solving the problems the group ran into.  He had a knack for that.  He was also the one they all went to, to get help with their homework.  Make no mistake, he could play the game and kept himself in shape to keep up with his friends.  Nevertheless, the game did not challenge his mind so it was not as much fun for him.  For him football was better strategizing the play instead of running down the field.  He knew the game because his friends played and could give you the stats on almost every player ever to live, but the strategy is what interested him.  He had one of those minds that could be given a problem and he could figure the best way to solve it.  One of his earliest memories was of his father giving him a cube puzzle.  He remembered how it looked and even the way he felt when he looked at it; the cube seemed to tell him how to solve it.  That is just how he saw the world.  Problems seemed to tell him how to fix them. 

The ball sailed from Mark’s fingers like a bullet from a sniper’s rifle.  There was no doubt, where the ball was heading.  All it would take would be for Dyson to be there.  Mark had confidence in Dyson.  He was betting on him to be there in time to catch it.  Butch was on the defense for this play and thought he would cover Dyson to keep him from the ball.  Unfortunately, Butch was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or maybe it was the right place? For Dyson moved like a jungle cat and slinked, his way past Butch as if he was not there, had the ball within a second and was on the run.  Butch had no way of catching up to Dyson because of the speed difference, but that was the same for all of the team.  Whoosh and down the field went Dyson easily sailing into the in-zone for the touchdown. 

The team was cheering; the coach was thanking the almighty for the chance to win the season this year.  Nevertheless, the four boys cheered some along with everyone else and then went back to the business of the game.  They always seemed to know what they needed to do and where they needed to go.  Maybe it was that they grew up together.  Maybe it was that their families lived and had been together since the beginning of their time.  No one could put a finger on it but these four were like a well-oiled machine when they were together and with the same goal.

As for the home life of these four, it was stated they all grew up together.  They all lived in a private housing community, which only had their families living there.  Their parents had all known each other for decades or longer, and strangely enough this area did not get strangers.  No mail or newspapers were delivered here and no solicitors came around to their doors.  It was as if this housing community was not even part of the rest of the world.  The boys had one main rule at home, which friends were not allowed to come over to visit.  The boys did not care much about this since they did not need anyone else but themselves.  They had woods, a lake and fields, everything for a young mind to venture into and explore.  Time seemed to stand still here in their own world. 

Sean’s dad was a scientist of some sort.  He never talked about exactly what he did and kept that life separate from what he did at home.  It sometimes bothered Sean not knowing the details, but up until now, it was not a big thought at the front of his mind.  Sean had had an older brother named Jackson.  Unfortunately, he had died when Sean was very young.  Sean did not have any memory of his brother.  On the other hand, even how he had passed away.  Sean’s dad kept that information quiet too, and none of the parents talked about the whole incident.

Mark’s family consisted of his mother and his younger sister Beth.  His mother was a stay-at-home mom who was always there to support and take care of the two.  Mark had to grow up to be the man of the house at an early age.  Except for what his mother told him, he did not remember his dad at all since he was very young when he passed.  He tried to live his life to make his father proud of him.  His mother kept the exact details quiet on how his father died except that he had died a hero saving the families that lived in the housing community.  Mark’s sister was a year younger to him but you could almost say they were twins.  They not only looked and acted alike but also had the same drives to please the memory of their father.  She and Dyson were in gymnastics together, as that was the only sport Dyson had permission to participate in.  She had been crushing for a while on Dyson, as did most of the other girls at school.  Although the girls looked at all the boys with some form of awe, Dyson had that animal magnetism that the other boys did not have.  She did not hang out much or played games with the boys.  She kept to her studies and training and went to visit her best friend Jenny. 

All the children were trained in some form of combat or physical activities at home.  Mark did archery as he had a knack for hitting his targets with projectiles thrown or shot from his bow.  He was not so much interested in guns, but knives and archery equipment were like his own extensions, transforming his thoughts into action.  Butch was a wrestler and pugilist.  He also was extremely strong, inhumanly strong.  Part of his training at home involved picking up cars, but only around the houses.  If someone were to see him do that at school or around town, well, trouble would ensue.  Sean participated in some martial arts but it never seemed to pique his interest.  He did get into a form of reactionary combat.  If he was attacked, he could sometimes see the attack before it happened and he would plan his response accordingly within seconds of the exchange.  Dyson, on the other hand, seemed to be constantly in training with his dad.  Wake up in the morning, train, get home from school, train, get ready for bed, and train.  His dad was ruthless in his training.  He would sneak-attack his son when he least expected it, and if Dyson failed to defend or be ready for it, it was back to training.  However, Dyson drank up the training and pushed himself to beat his dad one day.  Most of the time it was bladed weapons that they trained with, and mainly swords were Dyson’s thing.  If Dyson had competed in fencing, he would have come home with trophies that would fill a room and even a couple of medals if he wanted them.  Nevertheless, his father did not let him compete because of his rule about sports.  He said it brought too much attention to Dyson and that was not what he needed. 

Father of Dyson was name was Hunter Neely, and he did big game hunting in Africa.  He would be gone for days, weeks or months sometimes with his friend Umbatta.  This is what the boys were told, and with the big game his dad would bring home, that is what seemed to go with the work description.  Umbatta was a very close friend of the family and sometimes stayed at the house when he was in town.  Dyson’s father and Umbatta went back.  However, like the other secrets of the housing community, his dad never told Dyson how or when the two of them had met.  Umbatta was a native of Africa.  He lived in a small town Sean’s father did some work for years ago, another story that was like mist and was never really told or seemed to exist.

After their football practice, the boys left to make the long trek home.  The day was still warm and full of possibilities for the four boys with adventure in their heart.  While leaving the school grounds they caught a glimpse of someone following them.  Acting as one mind, they looked for a path that would not be easy for their pursuer to follow them on.  Between buildings, through yards, over fences, back and forth they went to shake off their pursuer.  But at every other turn they still had the feeling of being hunted but could not see their foe.  On and on this went for thirty minutes until they were sure they had finally lost the tracker.  Now it was time to hide and wait to see if it was clear to continue.  Each of them took positions of cover in the small wooded area of town and prepared for an ambush if it was needed.  As they sat, listened, and watched for a possible target, their pursuer, the world calmed down.  Everything seemed to slow down.  Remember to slow the breathing.  Listen and slow the heart so you hear what is around and be aware of that is going on, they had been told in their training for years.  The squirrels made their way through the trees, the birds sang their songs, and the world went by as they waited.  They were trained to wait to make sure that they had shaken off a tail if they had one.  No other sounds came to them but nature is passing.  Crack! Where did that come from? Thought the boys.  Silence fell again and they strained to hear the faintest footfall.  Gotcha!  A slim figure emerged from the foliage.  All four turned to defend themselves to find Elizabeth, Mark’s sister grinning like a cat that had caught the mouse. 

So you thought you would lose me, did you? Elizabeth exclaimed with hands on hips, her dark brown hair tied back to keep getting caught in the sneak-and-pounce that she had executed with precision, something her dad or a professional would have been proud of.

That is not the question.  The question is why are you following us?  Do you not have anything else to do but bother us? Or is it to try to get Dyson’s attention again? scolded Mark as he unwound himself from the bush he was hiding in.  All you seem to do is follow us.  I thought you would be getting yourself ready for the first day of school in a week.  You always take hours trying to find the perfect dress to make the perfect impression at school.

Elizabeth taken back by the dress comment said, It does not take me hours to find the perfect clothing for the first day.  I had that picked out earlier. That evoked a snicker from the boys. And yes, I was following you.  I saw Dyson was playing football with you.  Is he really going to be playing this year?  That would be wonderful, she said with a dreamy expression in her eyes and a bounce in her stance. I would watch him play any day.  Please let me cheer for you Dyson.  You will be the best.  I am so glad your dad let you play.  This will be the best season ever.  Maybe we will win it all this year.  Your dad did let you play, right?

He doesn’t know yet and do not go telling anyone about it.  Dyson is old enough to make this decision for himself.  If you do tell, I will tell mom about you going out the other night, Mark said, with a motion of the hand to the group to move out.  Mark seemed to be the de facto leader of the group.

Dyson said, Please do not tell Beth.  You know what will happen.  I just want to have some fun while at school and football will be that this year.  I am hoping I will never have to tell my dad about it.  However, I know that my dad probably already knows about it.  Since he always seems to know everything that is going with me, especially when I am doing something I should not be doing.  Well then, I guess I will find out when I get home.

With a snap of the head and hurt in her voice Elizabeth said, Who do you think I am?  I have no intention to get you in trouble with your dad.  Have I ever done that?

I can count on my fingers the times you have done it to me, Mark input.  His sister seemed to love to get him in trouble.  Well he too got back at her but that was only retaliation for her tattles.

They started the walk back home without a tail following since the tail was with them on the return trip.  Elizabeth just kept on with her brother.  It was something that usually got them both in trouble, but there was nothing the rest could do to stop the incoming storm, that was the two of them fighting.  Mark, you are my brother so you do not count.  You are always trying to get me in trouble.

Always trying to get you in trouble? What are you talking about? As this row went on, the rest of the boys left them to finish the fight without them.  What was it worth to listen to them go back and forth on and on?  They would meet them at home, which was an easier way to deal with it.  It also kept them from being dragged into the middle of the fight that was not their business.  The sounds of the two combatants faded away as the distance grew, and the beauty of the day started to shine.  The sun was out; the wind was gently blowing with a sense of promise of great things to come. 

They knew that when they got home it was training, food and then fun.  Maybe by then Mark and Beth would be done.  They would be finished because their mother will contact them when she sees the other boys home without them.  Then they may not be able to do anything but chores, since that always seemed to be their punishment.  They really needed to learn to get along.  They were brother and sister, and that would be important in the future.

Dyson was hoping Beth was not going to be in trouble.  Yes, he knew, as did everyone else that she had a crush on him and he did not mind her around.  Yes, she was their junior by about a year but she was fun to have around.  He tried to keep that under wraps because he did not want to invite Mark’s ire.  After all, they were such good friends and he did not want to lose that.

The boys split up and went to their respective homes for their regular night activities.  It was as if their parents got together when each of them were born and came up with the direction for their lives.  It usually started with them getting home and studying something that never seemed to be important to the boys.  If school was in session, it was homework first and then something that did not make sense to them at the time.  It may be about language, some history they did not learn in school, how to hunt, how to fix vehicles and anatomy … stuff like that.  All they wanted to do was go be kids like everyone else.  It was as if they were being prepared for something but what, was the question.  After the studying, it was off to do some training on physical stuff.  Martial arts, archery, swordplay, knifing, running for miles, weight lifting … it never ended.  During the summer, they additionally did chores around the housing community.  However, after that it was their time. 

Tonight was different for Dyson.  You guessed it; his dad did know.  Dyson, I heard that you are doing something new? Want to tell me about it? His dad did not look happy.

Not much dad.  Just out with the guys, messing around. That was the wrong thing to say.  He should have come out and told him the truth.  It would be worse now.

That is not what I heard.  I seem to have heard it was something to do with football practice?  Could my sources be wrong?  Maybe I should ask around more or stop over at practice and see for myself?  Asked his dad as he paced around the floor with his hands behind the back and an expression of I-know-you-are-lying—and-that-will-not-be-tolerated on his face.  "I know I talked about there would be no football for you.  It brings your talents too much into the open for all too see.  I thought that I made it clear that that was a bad thing.  In addition, I thought my boy would not lie to me.  Am I right?  Am I?"

Dad I want to do this.  I have fun with this, and this is what I am going to do.  I am old enough to make this decision and I made it.  Let me have some fun please.  Mark and Butch play.  Why not me?  Dyson asked looking like it will be a lost cause and he may have to take a step back with this.  It would make him look bad to the others.  Nevertheless, he wanted to play.

Let’s put it this way.  If I let you play, you will not give 100 percent of your effort.  I know it goes opposite of what I have told you.  I have pushed you to strive to 110 percent plus in your efforts.  His dad grabbed a book from the shelf and slowly paged through it.  Looks like he is controlling his rage, I have seen him do this before, Dyson thought.  I will put this as training for you.  This will make you have not exceed in public and control yourself.  I know you want to go out and be the best at it, but if you want to play, this is my condition.  If you cannot follow it, you will have to quit the team.  You will do well at the game but you will not be the best.  I want you to be average to blend in with the other players.  Is this understood?

How odd for a parent to ask their kid to not be the best but second best.  However, if this is what it takes to play, then why not? Thought Dyson.  It would be hard not be the best since that is what he strived to be at all things and that is what his dad had drilled into him.  Sure dad.  I agree with your condition to playing the game, but why?  All my life you told me to be better, faster, and tougher.  Now you want me to be average and not stick out and be the best at it.  I do not understand why, Dyson asked, trying to find the answer to this long-standing question.

It is not for you to know at this time.  However, when you find out, it will all be clear.  I will have my eyes on you and I will know if you are disobeying me.  Now do you have some studying to do that is a holdover from last night?  Alternatively, do I need to give you something new to learn?  Well once you do get to it and get your practice done, if you still want to go to the movies tonight…

Dyson had forgotten all about the movie.  He still had some Greek to do.  Then he could get a good practice and off he would go.  He was surprised that his dad had reminded him about it, but he let it go at that so he could go out tonight.

Over at his house, Mark was in a typical argument with his sister.  She loved to goad him on, and he never caught on that she was just pushing his buttons.  Unfortunately, their mother liked a quiet home.  She was a very soft-spoken woman, but if you got her riled up it was not fun to be around her.  She was kind of the de facto mother for all the boys.  The other boys did not have mothers around and did not know why they were not there so she filled that role.  She did not mind and treated them all fairly and equally.  Her own kids were a different story.  One was always antagonizing the other, which broke the peace she always strived for at home. 

The boys always knew her as Mom or Whisper.  The name Whisper came into being sometime before they were born but it seemed to fit her. 

Today Mark and Beth were at it again, and it had to stop.  Mark and Beth please stop that arguing.  You know I want you to get along, and this is not getting along.

But Mom she was bothering me and the others, and she needs to stop interfering, Mark said bringing his attention to his mom. 

Elizabeth stopped to put her two cents in. I was just practicing my stalk on them.  I got them, and they did not find me.  I was just testing them.  She had her smile on her face to try to look innocent.

Whisper collected herself.  Control was what was needed at this moment.  Ok Beth, good job on sneaking up on them and not getting caught, but it is not for you to test them.  You know it bothers your brother when you interfere with them, so please do not.  Mark I want you not argue with her anymore.  I know I have told you this a thousand times before, but please, you need to work together.  You are family and family is all you have.  You need to trust each other and think of what the other wants and needs and not antagonize them.  I do not want to hear any more arguing tonight.  Ok?  You both need to get to your studies and get your training done.  Mark, you and the boys are still going to the movies tonight so you have only a short time to get everything done.  Beth, before you ask, no you cannot go with them.  They need their time and that is that.  I am sorry you do not have any female friends here.  I can take you to your friend’s house.  Now get to work or neither one is going to get to go out.  That was that, and Mark and Beth knew not to push. 

Both of them sat down and started their studying.  He did want to go out tonight, and his sister was not going to keep him from it.

Sean had a different problem when he got home.  He had all of his homework done.  He got home to find his dad still gone, probably at work.  This meant that he had the house to himself.  He had done his homework while watching the others play ball.  He had even got his reading done for the next couple of weeks.  Most of the school work he was given bored him and did not really challenge him. 

The house was quiet for the most part.  You could hear the beeping of a computer chugging away at some problem somewhere.  There was a slight whirling sound coming from somewhere else, probably some experiment his dad was working on that he brought home with him from work.  There were food containers here and there.  Probably left, from his eating while doing something and he forgot to put them away.  Sean took care of that for him and started to clean up the place.  Messes bothered Sean.  It usually meant chaos, and Sean liked order to his world.  He moved around the house gathering items that were out of place and started putting them where they belonged.  It helped him to relax and sort out his thoughts. 

After cleaning the house, which was a common action for him to do when he got home, he felt hungry so he went to the kitchen and made dinner.  He was not sure, when his dad would be home or if he would be home tonight.  It would be a quiet night, but he had plans to hang out with the guys.  The new superhero movie would start tonight.  They had been waiting all summer for it to come out, and their parents were going to let them go to the opening even though it would run late.  The food that he had made was nothing special but it was easy to make and easier to clean up after.  He did not want to get too full; he did want some popcorn at the movies.

His phone beeped, indicating he had a message.  Opening his phone, he noticed that the message was from Butch.  Oh boy.  He knew this meant that Butch was having problems with his studies tonight.  So that gave him something to do till he left.  They had not even started school for this year but he was already having problems with what they were assigned for summer studies.  This was going to be a rough year.

Gathering his stuff together, he left a note for his dad and headed over to the Toliver’s’.  He thought he might as well get Butch caught up now instead of later.

Butch entered his home, the one he grew up in.  Derik was not his biological dad but he raised him and treated him as his son.  Derik was somewhat strange for a parent.  He had items all over the house from different cultures and religions.  It made the house look like a magic shop.  There were herbs in jars, strange stones on the shelves, statues of long lost gods and symbols from long dead languages.  Most of the other boys thought it was creepy to come in here, as you could not be sure what you would find around the next corner.  Derik always seemed to come back with a new item almost every day.  Some of the items Butch knew the history of and some he was instructed never to touch or go near.  Butch heeded that warning.  Most of those items were just too creepy to get near anyway. 

Derik had left earlier that day to run an errand and would be back later.  He had mentioned something about picking up some people but he was not completely sure if that was what he had heard.  Butch was on his own for now.  He had some studying to do before they all went out tonight so he got started.  He found out quickly that it was over his head right now.  It took him longer than the rest of his friends to get the concepts in class sometimes.  He relied on his friends to help him keep up, Sean more than the rest.  He was not dumb, just that schoolwork was not his strong point.  Give him something physical and he was fine but book learning was not what he felt confident with. 

Once he had done what he could but could not get any further, he knew what he needed to do.  Picking up his phone, he texted Sean to see if he could get help.  If he did not get it done, he would not be going with them tonight.  He left a simple message, Help.  He put down the phone and waited for the cavalry to arrive.

A short time later, there came a knock at the door, which heralded Sean’s arrival.  Opening the door he found Sean there waiting to come in. Dude, come in, and thank you.  It is not much but some of this stuff Derik has me doing seems out of my league.

Sean came in and plopped his bag on the table as he had done so many times before.  What is he having you do this time?  Sean opened his book bag to retrieve his tablet to help Butch with his homework.

It has to do with this strange math he found in South America dating back to the Mayans.  I know it is probably easy for you but the concept is over my head.  Derik told me this was just to start me in familiarization of the subject, but I do not know if he wants me to understand it or just know about it.  Please help.  Butch looked lost on the subject and in need of some major help.

Sean took the formulas and looked them over.  He had never seen this math problem before.  It was not the three-dimensional mathematics that most people were used to.  It dealt with not only the basic length, width and depth that was taught in school but this math also used time and sonic vibrations to accomplish something.  This intrigued Sean for it was a challenge for him and that is what he liked.  Butch I do not think he wanted you to know what it was or does but to know what you are looking at.  This here is your basic length, width and depth.  However, here, see this symbol.  It stands for time.  I saw it in one of your dad’s books one time.  This here is the symbol for sound or sonic vibration.  I am not sure what this is supposed to do but I sure as hell want to find out.  Can I make a copy of this and look it over later?

Butch looked nervous at this request. You know Derik and his formulas.  I do not want him to get upset with me.  Let me ask him first. Ok?  He has so many weird and dangerous stuff here; I do not want it to be a problem.

This saddened Sean but he could see that there could be some truth to it.  "No problem Butch.  I will wait