The P.O.E. & a Gateway in the Basement

Chapter Ten

Two twenty-eight year old white males are sword fighting in their living room. Most people would say that they are fighting... maybe trying to kill each other. But since they are field agents that are on break from the Protectors of Earth; they call it training. They are about even when it comes to swordsmanship skills. But both of them could still use a lot more practice. Besides, the more you train the better you get. They begin to hear a ringing noise coming out from inside the kitchen. So they have to postpone the training so Brett can answer the telephone. So Frank re-sheathes his & Brett's sword then plops himself onto the couch. He takes a sip of his refreshing iced tea and decides that it is about time they take a break anyways. Brett walks out of the kitchen a little excited about something.

"So who was on the phone?" Frank asks. Brett sits down upon the couch, right next to his best friend.

"It was Nick and he says that he and Rebecca are on their way here to pay us a visit. Apparently they want our help with a mission they are on."

"It's about time! We have been sitting here on our asses for way too long." Frank cracks his knuckles.

"Since it has been a couple of years since we have seen Rebecca & Nick. I believe I am going to break out some alcohol." Brett stands back up and re-enters the kitchen.

"We have been saving that liquor for a special occasion. But it doesn't matter anyways because I have something better." Frank reaches under the couch and pulls out a tray of marijuana.

"What? Seeing Rebecca & Nick once again after two years isn't special enough, or something?" Brett enters the living room with a huge bottle of rum and six glasses.

"I'm just saying, man. Of course it's cool with me. Why are you setting up all ready? Are they that close?"

"Actually they aren't as far away as you would think." Brett looks out the window and sees a car pull into their driveway, right behind his car. As he walks towards the door, he notices that Frank is blowing smoke out of his lungs.

"Don't give me that look. When we aren't on a mission how much do the Protectors of Earth actually let us do?" Frank does not like it when people, especially his friends judge him.

"You got a point. When we go on a leave of absence we are closely monitored and aren't allowed to really go out much. It's very disappointing." Brett opens the front door. Seeing that Rebecca & Nick are now out of their vehicle and heading up towards them, with two people he does not know. He decides that having the door open will make it more obvious where he and Frank currently reside.

"Hey Brett... it's been way too long. What have you been up to lately?" Rebecca gets to the front door where Brett is standing and smiling and wraps her arms around him.

"Not too much. Actually we have been waiting for you to call us. It's about time that you and Nick need our help on a mission." He stands by the door, leaving it open until all four of them are inside, then he closes it. "So... who are your two new friends?" He extends his right hand out so he can shake their hands as Rebecca introduces them to each other.

"Jacob & Britney... this is my very old and good friend Brett. Brett this is Jacob & Britney."

"How are both of you doing on this fine afternoon?" Brett shakes their hands one at a time. "So... are you two field agents? Or are you victims?" He begins to start a conversation.

"We are both victims of Balthazar's terror. He decided to enter our realm through a gateway that is inside the basement of our apartment complex."

"We also found out recently that Jacob's father and Britney's mother were field agents."

"Were they? What kind of missions were they assigned to?" Brett is curious as hell. In his enter lifetime he has never met anybody whose parents were field agents and their children are not.