A/n: Hello! So I know I've been doing a grave injustice by leaving this story hanging and unfinished for so long. And I can't promise to have another update within the next week, but I do have this now, so I thought I'd upload it and see if anyone is still reading! :)

Enjoy!

Somewhere in Univille

"Ok, take the next left. Wait, what are you doing? You're gonna pass the road! Turn left HERE, Pete!" Claudia barked at their driver.

"Turn left onto what? There is no left turn there!" Pete exclaimed, continuing along the road they were on, passing the non-existent left turn.

"Stop. Back up! We have to turn left there. It's the only way," Claudia persisted, jerking the steering wheel.

"What the hell Claud!? You'll get us killed! Fine, I'll go back!" He acquiesced, stopping the car and putting the gear into reverse, bringing the car back to the spot where Claudia wanted him to turn left.

"See? Nothhhhhiiiingggg!" he complained.

"What's going on?" Helena asked from the back seat where she had dozed off on Myka's shoulder.

It was 10:30pm and they were in some unknown road in Univille, South Dakota. Pete was driving, with Claudia navigating in shot-gun, while Helena, Myka and Caturanga shared the back seat. As soon as their flight had touched down at the airport, almost four hours ago, the group had immediately rented a car and started their long, arduous journey, using the GPS system on Claudia's cellphone as a guide.

"Just trust me ok, Pete? This is the only way to get to the facility where this thing is being held," Claudia insisted. "This is the only way to help Myka," she added in a smaller voice.

Pete studied the expression on his young friend's face for a moment before nodding and angling the car to head into this mysterious left turn. As they car turned on to the dirt road, Pete switched the lights to high beam and the occupants of the car all trained their attention through the windscreen, hoping to see something other than dirt and darkness.

After another hour of Claudia navigating them through left and right onto more non-existent roads, the beam of light from the car shone on what seemed to be a large old warehouse in the distance.

"That's it! That's the place, guys," Claudia beamed excitedly.

"I dunno, Claud, that place looks like it's been abandoned for ages and it's giving me the creeps," Pete expressed worriedly.

"I know that's it Pete. And I know just how to get in."

Pete stopped the car a short distance from the building and Claudia flipped open her laptop, typing furiously on the keyboard before exclaiming, "It's time. Let's go. It'll only stay open for a short while before the emergency system kicks in."

"What? How do you..?" Pete started asking. "Now's not the time for questions. We have to move now!" Claudia instructed, taking charge of the group and leading them up towards the warehouse. She moved around along the surface of the wall with a small tracker device before stopping and pressing gently against the old metal. Nothing seemed to happen at first, but before they knew it, a small door was becoming evident where Claudia's hand was resting. She pushed further a bit more to open the door, entering and holding it open for the others.

Inside Artie's Office

The instant the outer door opened, Artie became aware of the unwanted intrusion. His hand immediately reached for the containment lever which would cause the bombs in the umbilicus to detonate, thereby destroying the intruders and safely sealing off the warehouse.

"Hold on, Arthur," a voice instructed him from behind.

"Mrs. Frederic! The warehouse is being invaded!" He argued, his hand still gripping the lever tightly.

"Let them come Arthur. Their intentions are not malicious. They need our help. They need your help. Besides, I have been watching this group for some time now," the authoritative woman explained.

Artie mumbled something inaudibly before reluctantly releasing the lever.

"Care to expand on that?" He asked, turning to face the woman.

"Arthur, some of these teenagers are going to recognise me as their Middle school teacher, which I actually was for a short time. But I've always kept a close eye on this bunch. These "intruders" as you call them, are the ones that are going to be your future agents. One of them will even become the next Caretaker of the warehouse. They have every right to be here. Granted, they are a bit early, but most certainly not unwelcome or unwanted," she explained further, a knowing smile on her face.

Artie opened his mouth to protest, but chose against it, knowing better than to try to argue with the sagely woman. Instead, he nodded his head and they both turned to face the door as they waited for their visitors to join them.

Inside the Umbilicus

"Wow, this is really white!" Pete marvelled, his hands gliding along the thick metal pillars that stretched from floor to ceiling.

"Don't touch those, Peter. If my memory serves me right, the warehouse entry was described as being guarded by strong silent sentinels that would shake the night and brighten the sky like the sun at high noon if ever intruded upon. So best to not touch anything," Caturanga warned.

The young man nodded in agreement, bringing his arm back to rest at his side. They progressed slowly along the corridor, looking out for signs of possible danger. The group finally arrived at a large door at the end of the corridor. Claudia, who was nearest the door, turned to look back at the others, as if to ask what to do. Pete stepped forward, "I'll open it. There could be anything behind this door. You guys stand behind me."

The girls and the elderly man took their positions behind Pete before he started turning the knob cautiously. It opened with unexpected ease and swung inwards, revealing an untidy looking man and what looked like their middle school teacher, Mrs. Frederic, both looking intently at them.

The five intruders stared at the sight before them. The room was filled with computers and all other kinds of gadgets cluttered around, and dead centre were these two unlikely individuals. They didn't know to make of this.

The woman broke the silence first, "Welcome, to Warehouse Thirteen."

"Yes, welcome, wait, what?" The man exclaimed, confusion written all over his face.

"Mrs. Frederic?" Myka asked, moving further into the room.

"Yes, Myka, and this is the warehouse custodian, Mr. Arthur Nielsen," the woman responded matter-of-factly, gesturing to the gruff-looking man beside her.

"What, what are you doing here? And why?" Myka pressed on, needing answers.

"I will answer all your questions later, Myka. But I believe there is something else you came here for? Something requiring our assistance?"

Caturanga, who had been mostly quiet all evening, spoke up now, "It is an absolute honour to be here in your company in this Warehouse that I've been hearing about since I was a little boy. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would get this most delightful opportunity." the old man beamed before continuing on. "We believe Myka has been affected by an artifact that is currently in your possession. The artifact keeps throwing her into alternate realities, changing the people and circumstances in her life every time she goes into a deep sleep state. I have tried the neutralize the effects of this artifact in a previous reality where it was in my possession, but despite my efforts, I was unsuccessful. Our searches for the artifact in this reality lead us to your doorsteps."

"What do you mean by you tried to neutralize the effects of the artifact? With what?" Artie asked curiously.

"With this," Caturanga said, lifting the sample of his neutralizing goo and handing it to Artie.

Ok, that's all for now. Hopefully I can finish up the next chapter soon! Enjoy!