Now figuring out the right time to tell him. He couldn't do it now, too risky. If he shouted out now everyone would come running and he wanted to only to tell Dad first then the others if he could convince him. Johan was coming back so he slid the Elucidator back into hiding. His mouth parted getting ready to talk but before any words came out everything went dark.
"Matt? Katherine? JB? Chip?" Johan asked nervously.
"We're here." He heard Dad in the blackness. Now he was back in the time hallow. Everyone was partially spread out in the room.
"What happened?" Chip asked as the regrouped. Matt got back on his feet to join them.
"What was everyone doing the exact moment we left?" He questioned. "I know Johan was walking back to me.""I was fishing." Chip shrugged.
"I thought I saw a hut but it turned out to be a tree and bush." Katherine chimed in. They all turned their attention to the silent Dad.
"JB what about you?" She asked squinting at him. He looked down at the floor for a moment then back up at them.
"That was the instant I realized that the Elucidator was missing." He said in the low voice. While the others were in shock Matt recoiled slightly. Is that why we're back here?
"I don't want to spend the rest of forever in here!" Katherine wailed."Did you drop it?" Chip asked.
"Was it Gary and Hodge?" Johan fired another question. The questions kept firing as Katherine moaned who she hated being stuck in here.
"I don't know what happened!" Dad raised his voice above the others. Everyone went silent again. "All I know is I don't have it anymore." Should I tell them I have it? It'll calm them down but I'm going to be in for it big time! Now all but him was asking the others questions and possible causes.
"You didn't lose the Elucidator!" Matt raised his voice now. All eyes were on him. Taking a deep breath he continued,
"I have it." He brought the Elucidator. "I took it when I fell into you. I needed it to help me gather evidence." Matt explained looking directly at his dad. He just stood there for a moment letting all absorb in. Dad walked up to him grabbing his shoulder roughly guiding him to the corner with the bags. Matt looked up to see he was beyond mad.
"What the heck possessed you to do something like that?!" He demanded.
"I told you; I needed evidence." Matt explained. He tried to explain further but he was cut off.
"Do you have any idea on how incredibly stupid and dangerous that is?! That Elucidator may be the only thing that can get us home! Not to mention that could get you thrown into time jail for the rest of your life! You are so lucky that we are in the middle of a crisis so the time agency didn't see what you just did! Heck you're lucky I'm not reporting you myself!" Dad went on a rampage but Matt stood there waiting for him to get it all out.
"Matt give the Elucidator!" He demanded sticking his hand out. Matt looked at the hand for a second weighing his options. Give it back and Dad will never know that Basil is alive and be grounded for the rest of his life, or hold on to it and make Dad watch it and never see daylight again. He tighten his grip around the Elucidator.
"No." Matt said flatly looking right in his eyes. Now he had the look of disbelief along with rage.
"What did you just say to me?" Dad eyed him sharply.
"No. Not until you listen to me." He said. Now he looked mad enough to kill him. Dad swiped at the hand holding it but he pulled it back out of his reach.
"Matt this isn't a game!" Dad rolled his hand into fists. Matt took a step back and ran to the other side of the room. He lit his ring and used one of his gun to take aim on the Elucidator in his hand.
"I know that! But you need to listen to me." Matt shouted at him.
"What are you doing? You know that Elucidators are indestructible." Dad shook his head.
"I sincerely doubt that the tests have included Sun flames." Matt called back. Of course he wasn't going to pull the trigger but he needed Dad to listen to him.
"JB just hear him out!" Katherine shouted at him. Dad looked at the trio then at him, his anger dissipating.
"Alright show me." He said calmly. Matt slid the gun back into place and walked up to the wall.
"Project the image of the cave I was just asking about. Add the time stamp." He told it. Instantly a picture of an empty cave appeared on the wall. On the bottom corner was the very exact time.
"See this is the exact second we left the cave after Basil was thought to be dead. He's not there because he's not dead." Matt said looking directly at his Dad's face. It was complete shock and disbelief but he could see the hope in it.
"How is it possible?" He muttered.
"Who cares?! Basil's alive." Matt told him. Dad dragged him in his side looking at the wall.