Big D put the sphere back into his bag, and pulled out the bottle of medicine he had found in his cell after he woke up from drinking the drugged coffee. He took two tablets out, and handed them to Fluey.

"Take these," he said. "They'll help your headache."

Fluey took the pills and swallowed them. Big D was right. His headache was gone in a matter of seconds. Big D then looked around the room, looking for something of use when he found both a computer on the table, and a safe in the other corner. Naturally it was locked.

"Why am I not surprised?" Big D groaned, and then turned to Fluey. "Tell me, has Agent Multi taught you and Agent Coil anything about picking locks?"

"Only not to do it when your older sister is home," Fluey said. "Multi said Windy caught him once and blackened both his eyes at the same time."

"Oh well. Guess I'll have to do it myself then. Actually, I think I'm getting the hang of it."

Fluey gave the chief a weird look, and just watched as Big D got to work picking the lock on the safe in the room. He managed to get it unlocked in a matter of seconds.

"That's pretty good, chief," Fluey said. "Let's see you do that with a bobby pin."

"Don't push it, young man," Big D said, taking a CD from the safe. He loaded it into the computer, and waited for it to load. A three dimensional image of the cube and the sphere appeared. Big D read the notes on them.

The cube is an ancient artifact. It is an unknown object containing information of incalculable knowledge. We believe it primarily contains information regarding future events. The sphere is an ancient device which provides access to the information recorded in the cube. Only one copy has been found. Attempts at reproducing the artifacts have been met with failure. Attention: very dangerous. Long term exposure produces a lethal outcome. Mission: retrieve it, and bring it to headquarters.

"What do you think this means, boss?" Fluey asked.

"My guess this was written by the Russian Underground," Big D said.

"Probably," Fluey said, shrugging. "By the way, what did they mean when they told you not to look into the sphere?"

"Never mind," Big D said. "Come on. I think it's time you and I discover the secret of station eleven. We've come this far already, we might as well go all the way. It might be the only way we can get out of here."

Fluey nodded, and he and Big D were off. It was a long walk, but the path they were on led the duo to a blocked off portion of what appeared to be an evacuation zone.

"Stay here," Big D said. "I'm going to see if I can find something to unblock the door."

Fluey nodded, and Big D started looking around. He turned on the lights, and found several scientific equipment there. But the keyboard was missing from the computer. Sparks were flying from the chord where it should have been.

"Fluid, come here!" he shouted. "I need you!"

"What's up?" Fluey asked.

"You know more about this kind of technology than I do. Help me get this computer up and running."

"Piece of cake. Got any electrical tape on ya?"

Big D pulled out the roll of tape and handed it to Fluey. The teenager then grabbed the keyboard, and used the electrical tape to reconnect the wires. Then he booted it up, and began typing.

"Okay," he said. "It says here the entrance is blocked by a security system. We'll have to find the password to get into it."

"And just where do we find a password?" Big D asked.

"Hang on a sec," Fluey said, grabbing a piece of paper from the wall. "These instructions say the password to the terminal can be found on a set of cartridges. Stand by, Big D. I'll find them!"

Fluey then began searching the room, and managed to dig up five cartridges. He loaded them into the computer one by one in order to find the correct password. It looked like it was in sound wave form.

"How do we figure this one out?" Big D asked.

Fluey stared intently at the screen, and then snapped his fingers.

"Got it!" he shouted, and he typed in a word. "See these boxes next to the sound wave? They've got letters next to the sound files, and these letters match the sound wave password perfectly."

"Good work, Agent Fluid," Big D said.

Fluey pushed the enter key on the keyboard, and the two of them heard machines grinding. They figured the gates were now opened.

"Yeah, man!" Fluey shouted. "Come on, chief!"

"Not quite yet," Big D said, looking at a glowing purple cube in the room. Then he pulled out the sphere.

"What are you doing?" Fluey asked.

"I need to focus on the sphere. It may help us."

"But, chief . . . . ."

"Just trust me."

Big D directed the sphere at the cube, and didn't see the future this time. He saw the past. He saw how the sphere arrived at the city. It was dug up by a team of scientists. But before Big D could see anything else, he was overcome by a burning pain in his body. He honestly felt like he was having an out of body experience.

"Chief!" Fluey shouted, sounding panicked. "Chief, are you all right?! What's happening?! What's the matter?!"

"Fluid . . . . ." he said, struggling. "The pills! I need . . . . . the pills! Not the ones I gave you! The other ones . . . . . hurry!"

"Other pills?" Fluey asked. "What other pills?"

"Hurry, Fluid, hurry!" Big D yelled.

Fluey looked around the room, and finally found the pills the chief was talking about. He grabbed them, and gave them to Big D, who immediately swallowed them.

"Thank you, Fluid," Big D said, standing up. Then he looked over at the cube. It was black, and completely useless. "I guess these things can only be used once."

Big D looked around the room a little more, and found a pill box.

"Empty," he said, looking at the label. "I'm not sure what the ingredients are, but my best bet not all of it is meant for human consumption. Hold onto this, Fluid, and give it to Dr. Johnson when we get back to HQ."

"Right, chief," Fluey said, taking the pill box. Then, they returned to the gates, just as they finished opening. They stood there and stared at it.

"Do we have to do this, Big D?" Fluey asked. "This place is making me nervous!"

"It's too late to turn back now," Big D said, firmly. "I want to know what's going on here."

Fluey took a deep breath, and nodded. Then, he and Big D walked through the gates. They entered a dark room, and Big D turned on the flashlight.

"That just figures," he said.

"Looks like the lamps are unplugged," Fluey said. "Give me a second."

Fluey connected a couple of wires to a power source, and then turned on the lights. They found some sort of laser fence in front of them, blocking the way.

"That thing could fry us in two seconds flat," Fluey said. "Man, I wish I had my transformer. Then I might be able to get through this."

"Leave them to me," Big D said, taking out the gun. "And stand back."

Fluey took a couple of steps back, while Big D fired the gun at the lasers on the wall. Once they were destroyed, he began picking up pieces of paper and some weird metal objects scattered around the floor. He and Fluey put the pieces of paper together. On the paper was a drawing of what appeared to be some sort of star. And the points of the star matched the shape of the metal objects.

"Ahh, that's what those metal objects are," Big D said. "A key of sorts. They must open this door."

"This is all really confusing, chief," Fluey said.

"I'm afraid I can't explain it myself," Big D said. "Come on. We have to keep moving."

Big D pulled the odd metal keys out of his bag and walked over to the gate. Fluey followed him.

"Help me piece these together," Big D said, handing Fluey the paper pieces he had found. "They're supposed to look like this."

Fluey nodded, and he and Big D immediately got to work. Once they finished, Big D inserted the "key" into the wall, and the gates started opening, but they were jammed.

"Maybe you ought to use the crowbar, and I'll push on it," Fluey said.

"Good thinking," Big D replied, pulling out the crowbar. The two of them got to work pushing on the gates as hard as they could, trying to unstick them. After a few tries, they managed to open it.

"Whew!" Fluey shouted. "That was hard work."

"Yes," Big D said. "Come on. We've got to finish this."

Big D and Fluey then entered the excavation zone, awed by the ancient architecture surrounding them. Fluey suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's the matter?" Big D asked.

"I keep hearing whispering," Fluey said, nervously. "Am I losing it?"

"No, no, I hear them, too," Big D said. "I can't explain what it is. Come on. We must keep going."

The duo continued moving along, climbing up an endless staircase until they reached an ancient temple, which looked like an anthill to Fluey. They entered, but stopped after a few moments or so. They were beginning to feel tired and disoriented.

"Chief, once we find out what we want to find out," Fluey said, "how do we get home?"

"I'm . . . . . not sure," Big D said. He and Fluey began to look around. Fluey found a couple of belts and picked them up.

"What do you think these are, chief?" he asked.

"Whoever lived here probably used these to carry around the sphere and the cubes," Big D said.

"So they were carrying around the future?"

"That's about the size of it."

"Geez . . . . . . that's kind of a creepy thought, knowing everything about your future . . . . . knowing everything before it happens, like your future family, your future job, the exact date of your death . . . . ."

"Fluid, please. I do not wish to hear any more."

Fluey nodding, and he and Big D continued looking around the temple, taking a look at various artifacts. Cubes were scattered all over the place. Fluey sat down after about an hour of searching.

"What's the matter?" Big D asked.

"I'm tired and starving," Fluey said. "You have anything left in that bag of yours?"

"Unfortunately, no," Big D said. "We'll be out of here soon, so just hold on. I'm going to look around at these cubes."

"You're not gonna use one, are you?" Fluey asked. "You heard what that creepy Narnia lady said!"

"I'm aware of that," Big D said. "But there doesn't seem to be a way out of here, and we could very well starve to death. I'm not about to let you suffer here."

"But . . . . but what if it doesn't show you the way out? We don't have any more of those pills left, you know! What'll happen if you look at that thing and don't take any of the pills?"

Big D sighed, and put his hand on Fluey's shoulder.

"I have to," he said. "There's no other choice."

"But chief!"

"No buts. I promised myself I would at least get you back home, and I am going to do just that."

Fluey shook his head vigorously. He couldn't let Big D do this, but it was too late. The chief aimed the sphere at the cube, and looked into it. A frightful image appeared in it. It appeared to be a mushroom cloud, and a large one at that.

"The future," he said. "This is the future if we escape and bring knowledge of the sphere's power into the world. Utter destruction. Humanity is not ready for this. Knowing the future can only bring . . . . . . global disaster."

"Chief?" Fluey asked.

The pain suddenly started. Big D tried to fight it off.

"The way out . . . . ." he said, still looking at the sphere. "Show me . . . . the way out!"

"Chief!" Fluey yelled. Big D groaned. The pain he was feeling was excruciating. He looked over at his grandson and gripped his hand tightly.

"I'm sorry . . . ." he said. "I've . . . . . failed you . . . ."

"Big D, please, please hold on!" Fluey begged. "You've got to hold out! You've just got to!"

"I can't . . . . . it's too much . . . ."

"Chief, come on, you've gotta . . . . please, just . . . . ."

"No . . . . too . . . . . late for me . . . . . you must . . . . . try to find . . . . . the way out . . . . . by yourself . . . . . get back . . . . . home . . . . ."

"Chief!"

"You . . . . . must . . . . . escape . . . . . one . . . . . more . . . . thing . . . . . . take care . . . . . of your . . . . . sister . . . ."

"Chief, no!"

Fluey's begging and pleading was not going to do any good. Big D lay down on the ground then, and closed his eyes. The last thing he heard was Fluey letting out a petrified shriek, and darkness over came him.

Big D could feel his soul separating from his body as the pain began to lift. He was able to see himself laying on the floor of the temple, and Fluey kneeling next to his lifeless body, looking stunned, hurt, and angry all at once.

"I'm sorry, Fluid," Big D said, even though he knew Fluey couldn't hear him. "But it was the only way."

Big D suddenly felt himself being pulled through the walls of the city, right into the heart of it. He traveled through the ground into the temples and tunnels, until he was surrounded by a light. When it subsided, he found himself in a strange room.

"Where am I?" he asked, looking around. He saw a sphere lying on the floor, and he picked it up. He looked into it, but didn't feel any pain this time around. Something began forming in the sphere as well. It was Fluey, leaning over Big D's body, and just screaming incoherently in despair, tears cascading down his face. Big D couldn't stand to look at that, and he dropped the sphere. Suddenly, a ghost like apparition appeared before the chief.

"The sphere," it said. "Outsiders stole the sphere. It must remain here. The sphere must never be removed from this place again."

"I see. Well, we've brought it back, so . . . . ."

"No one should know more about their future than they have to. By looking into the sphere, you have seen the future. You must pay."

"Pay? How? What do you mean? You wouldn't destroy the world just because . . . . ."

"No. The world would be destroyed if the sphere ever got into the hands of evil. The sphere must be kept here. And it must be guarded. You will remain here and guard the sphere and it's secrets for eternity."

"But . . . . . but my grandson . . . . ."

"We will return you to life. Your grandson will be returned to the outside of the city. Your friend, Ms. Glamorski, is on her way down now. We will show you the way out, and then, you will show her. And she will take your grandson back to where he belongs. But you must stay and protect the sphere, else there be more victims . . . . . those killed by the sphere . . . . mankind is not ready for these secrets."

Big D took a deep breath. He didn't know what else to do. He didn't have a choice in the matter. A light surrounded Big D and his soul was returned to his body. He sat up, only to find Fluey laying over him, unconscious. It appeared that he had cried himself to sleep. Big D wiped the tear tracks away, and stroked his hair.

"Mr. Dawson?" a familiar voice asked. Big D looked up, and saw Natasha Glamorski enter the temple.

"Ms. Glamorski," he said. "Right on time."

"Vhat do you mean?"

"I can't explain it. I'm afraid I can't explain anything. Except you must take my grandson, and leave this place. I'm afraid I have to stay here. I can't tell you why. And I most certainly don't wish to tell my grandson why. In a way, I'm glad he's unconscious right now."

Big D then lifted Fluey into his arms, and held him close. This was the last time he'd be seeing his grandson.

"Follow me," he said to Natasha.

Natasha followed Big D down a path. At the end of it was a tunnel, leading to the city, as well as an escape route. Big D heaved a sigh, and handed Fluey to Natasha.

"Please take him back to Megatropolis," he said. "And do not tell him anything about this last meeting of ours. When he wakes up, tell him you followed us, and found us. Tell him there was nothing you could do for me, and you managed to find a way out."

"But vhy are you not comink vith us?" Natasha asked. "I do not understand."

"I'm afraid I can't explain it. It's far too long and far too complicated. Please promise me . . . . . he must not know I'm alive. And tell my granddaughter and the others the same thing as well. No one must know."

"How come?"

"If my grandson discovers I'm alive, he'll only try to come back here, and he may try to use the sphere himself. I want him as far away from this place as possible. I need you to do a couple of things for me before you head back to Megatropolis. In one of the buildings in the city is a video tape. I want you to find it and give it to my granddaughter. Tell her to watch it, and tell her she's now officially the one in charge of the organization."

"I promise, Babushkins. But vhat vill you be doink here?"

"I can't tell you. But you must know this. I will be here for all time. Now please . . . . . go. Leave the city and never look back."

Natasha merely nodded, and walked away, carrying a still sleeping Fluey with her. She left the city, found her car, and drove off in it, with Fluey sprawled out in the backseat, just sleeping it off.

"I am sorry your ordeal has not ended happily, dahlink," Natasha said. "But, I vill get you on the next plane to America and Megatropolis, and then you vill vonce again be back vhere you belong."

Fluey woke up some time later, feeling groggy and disoriented. His eyes felt puffy, and his head was throbbing. He didn't even know where he was. His vision was a bit fuzzy. When it cleared, he found himself alone in what looked like the SSHQ infirmary.

"This is really weird," he said. "How'd I get back here? What happened? Could that whole thing been just a really intense nightmare? No . . . . no, it couldn't have been just a nightmare . . . . if it was, I'd be at home . . . . . wouldn't I?"

Fluey started feeling dizzy, and he started to lie back down. His head was killing him. As he thought it over a little, the door opened, and in walked Dr. Phelps. Phyllis was right behind him.

"Thank goodness you're all right!" she shouted, running to Fluey, and hugging him tightly. "We've been so worried about you!"

"How'd I get here?" Fluey asked, feeling completely confused. "One minute, I'm in this weird temple and the next . . . . . . holy Mesopotamia! Big D! I almost forgot about . . . . . oh man, he's not really . . . . . I mean, is he . . . . . I mean . . . . ."

"Okay, okay, take it easy," Dr. Phelps said. "Take a deep breath and calm down a little."

"Calm down?!" Fluey shouted. "How can you expect me to calm down?! What happened? Where's the chief, anyway? Please, please tell me all that was just some crazy nightmare!"

Phyllis and Dr. Phelps looked at each other. Phyllis then bit her lower lip, and turned away. Fluey noticed her reaction, and grew pale.

"You . . . . . you mean it wasn't a nightmare?" he asked. "All of that really did happen?! Big D . . . . . . he's . . . . . he's . . . . ."

Fluey couldn't bring himself to say it. Phyllis turned to Fluey then. Her eyes were watering and a few tears began to slide down her cheeks. That was all it took. Fluey shook his head in disbelief.

"No . . . . no, it can't be true," he said. "It just can't be true!"

Phyllis embraced her brother, and held him close, trying to comfort him, but it wasn't easy. Dr. Phelps stood back, and waited until Fluey calmed down a little.

"Let me explain what happened, Fluey," Dr. Phelps said.

"O-okay . . . . . ." Fluey said, shakily. Phyllis gently pushed him back into the bed, and pressed a cold washcloth to the teenager's forehead, to sooth his headache, which had only gotten worse in those few minutes.

"Now, we don't know a lot of what happened," Dr. Phelps went on. "You and Big D had been gone for several weeks, and we hadn't heard anything. It was about one in the morning when this Russian woman, Natasha Glamorski, came into HQ with you, and you were fast asleep. She had come to the office a week after those other Russians had come into the building and opened fire."

"Yeah . . . ." Fluey said, realizing something else. "Coiley, and Multi, and Skittles, are they . . . . ."

"They're fine," Dr. Phelps assured Fluey. "They're just fine. Coiley and Multi are recuperating at their own homes, and Skittles is down in the K-nine unit for right now. But she'll be back to herself in no time."

"Well . . . . . I guess that's good . . . . ." Fluey said.

"In any case, security called Dr. West down," Dr. Phelps continued. Dr. West was the head doctor on the SSHQ night shift. "He immediately sent you in here, and called me. Ms. Glamorski explained what she could, and said that, unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to save Big D."

"So . . . . . he's really gone?" Fluey asked.

"I'm afraid so," Dr. Phelps said. "I'm sorry."

Fluey didn't respond. He just turned away from both Phyllis and Dr. Phelps.

"We'll get through this," Phyllis said. "You and I are going to have to stick together on this one."

"I kinda just want to be alone," Fluey said, not even looking at his sister.

"All right," Phyllis said. "Let me know when you're ready to go home, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," Fluey said. He noticed his voice caught in his throat, and he hoped Phyllis and Dr. Phelps didn't notice. He heard the door close, and took a deep breath.

"It had to have been a dream," he said. "I . . . . I'm still dreaming, I just know it. Big D can't be dead! He just can't be!"