JB continued to stare at Matt like he was becoming an alien. Then his eyes flashed open wide. For a moment Johan was afraid something stabbed his back and he was about to die.
"Matt I think you just cracked it!" He flashed a huge smile at him. They looked at him totally confused. JB shook his head almost giddy.
"Damaged time is a time frame that has been so messed up from time traveling that it shuts time travelers out. But if Basil really does have some sort of tie with space and time is so messed up it is possible he somehow entered a damaged time and that's why we can't find him." He sounded happy to explain. "If time has become that unstable it is theoretically possible for us to enter a damaged time too. That must be why we felt so bad landing." That didn't make a whole lot of sense but he didn't have a better explanation. Johan stood on his wobbly feet.
"Wait are you saying we're in damaged time?!" He asked shocked. JB nodded his head.
"So like when the plane holding all thirty-six babies landed?" Katherine asked eyeing JB. He nodded but his smile began to fade.
"Yea, but the thing is there are multiple spots of damaged time. So I can't say I know exactly where we are." JB shrugged apologetically.
"If we're still invisible why don't we go look for people to give us an idea where we are." Katherine suggested like it was obvious. Johan instantly saw the flaw in her plan. They lost invisibility.
"Katherine we're not invisible anymore." Chip said carefully. Johan looked at his surroundings. They were in another ally like back in 1490 but the bricks were more modern than then. When were modern bricks invented? Johan wondered.
"No problem. JB can just change us back." She explained like it was a duh moment. JB shook his head slowly. No, he couldn't reactivate the invisibility. Matt stood up and started walking towards the exit.
"Matt what are you doing!" JB asked shocked.
"Going to get answers." He answered.
"But we don't have invisibility. If this isn't the twenty-first century that could cause massive damage!" JB argued.
"We're already in damaged time! Besides if it was one of us that was missing Basil wouldn't sit around scared about things that haven't even happened yet. He'd be doing everything he can to find us!" Matt argued back then continue his trek towards the opening. He truly just wants to find his brother. Would Katherine be this determined to find me? Would I be? Johan admired.
"Matt wait!" JB ran after him. Matt barely slowed his pace to let him catch up. They stuck their heads around the corner. JB looked back smiling at them while Matt slipped around the corner. Johan ran up to look for himself. Then he smiled himself. There were cars on a street and people in modern clothes.
"Ok now what?" Johan asked as they walked on the sidewalk.
"We figure out some way to find out the date." JB said.
"Ok so where's the nearest newsstand." Katherine swung her head up and down the street. Where ever they were it was hot and humid and only getting worse.
"Guys look!" Chip stopped them in front of a store window displaying TV's and the news was on. Johan spotted the date down in the corner.
"It's February the twelfth 2008." He turned his head to see JB turn pale.
"So we are in damaged time." Chip said under his breath.
"JB what's wrong?" Katherine asked her voice full of concern.
"Why this day?" JB seemed to be talking to himself.
"Dad do you know where we are?" Matt questioned.
"We're in San Diego." He said quietly.
"So?" Johan prompted.
"This was the day Basil was supposed to have died." He turned even paler. That shut everyone up. The day Basil was supposed to have died? He knew should be used to this from all his adventures through time but this felt different. Then the time-space fabric seemed to have hiccuped. The sun disappeared along with the store and sidewalk. Now they were standing in the darkness of night watching a group of adults load something into a car in front of a bar.
"Whatever happens do not interfere!" JB whispered loud enough for them to hear. Johan instantly knew why. They were watching what originally happened to Basil. Two people were done messing with the back and one guy was nearly done tampering with the steering wheel. He dropped something heavy on the car floor, closed the door and bolted for the sideline. The engine roared and tires squeaked as it speed for a brick wall. Katherine gasped as the car slammed into the brick wall, totally smashing the front. Smoke emerged from the destroyed hood then flames started breaking out. It was madding not able to run down there and help. Flames erupted from the trunk now. It only took a few moments for the car to go up in flames. The entire time the adults stood on the side laughing and hi-fiving each other. Johan wanted nothing more than go down there a punch them in the jaw a few times.
"And to think Basil was the son of two of those people." JB said with a tight voice.
"I hate seeing this but at the same time I'm a bit glad." Matt said in a low voice. "If this didn't happen, if Dad didn't save him, I would have never been able to become brothers with Basil." Matt watched the fire with tears rolling down his face. JB pulled him in for a side hug. Everything changed again. They were in an exposed cave that over looked a sea of grass. Something in corner of his eye moved. He was still seeing it was the boss that he saw in their time.
Basil finally made it the base of the cliff. There was no path up to the cave, just a straight climb up. Maybe being light will keep the rocks in place. He started the climb. To keep his mind of the danger he thought about where the others might be right now. Did they stay in the twenty-first century or did they travel again? If they did how would I be able to find them? Or will they find me first? Why can't I get a straight answer anymore? He was about halfway up when the rock he just grabbed on to broke off the cliff face. The shock of it was enough for him to lose his balance. He fell backwards back to the hard ground. His hand snagged a jutting piece before he fell too far. That was too close! He reposition himself on the cliff. Looking back up, he fell only about five feet. His heart was still beating frantically in his chest, adrenaline rushed through his veins. Ok that was terrifying but I have to get to the top! If I ever come here again I'm bringing a ladder. A small pain rippled across his stomach. It wasn't deathly painful like the other times. He looked towards the moon for some comfort. Was it him or was the moon moving backwards. Soon he was covered in a mid-evening glow, the moon bold in the middle. He didn't bother checking when it stopped, he already knew all his organ were gone now. Only a few feet more and he would be at the cave. Dad's voice filled his ears,
"What are you doing here?! What's happening?!" He shouted. Who's he yelling at? Gary? Hodge? He questioned. The boss? Whatever the reason was, he was glad to hear his voice. First a hand grabbed the flat surface of the cave then his head. He was at a far end of the cave. Matt, Dad, Johan, Katherine, and Chip were on the other side. The boss standing between them.