Katie's POV
Sam called for Tarsa several more times, but he was apparently gone. "Well," I said, "that was certainly interesting. What do you make of it?"
"Sounds like there's a bit of intrigue going on there," said Sam.
"Of course there is," said Dean. "When is there not intrigue going on." So now we have to be able to tell the good guys from the bad. And how do we know this Tarsa is really the good guy?"
"He sounded sincere," said Maggie.
"Sounded sincere?" asked Dean. "He was pushing around tiles, how can that sound like anything?"
"I agree with Maggie on this one," said Sam. "What he said has the ring of truth to it. I mean, think about that toy thing, and how he said we can't always trust his own words. I think he was genuinely trying to help us."
"Well we have someone we can ask," I said. "I'll be right back."
I ran to the garage and through the portal. I didn't even stop to say hi to dad. I ran upstairs and called Eric. I left the message, "Eric, I need you right now, please be there."
In a minute the phone rang back. "Eric, thank you. What do you know about someone called Tarsa?" I asked him without preamble.
"Tarsa?" he asked. "How do you know that name?"
"He found a way to communicate with us. His message was basically to trust him. Can we?"
"Tarsa communicated with you, personally?" He asked, surprise in his voice.
"Yes. Well, his essence did. He used scrabble tiles to answer our questions." I said.
I heard Eric take in a breath. "That is… well, highly irregular, to say the least. So... he's the one who's been there spying on you?" he asked.
"No, he said that was Irskin, or something like that, wait, Eskin, Eskirn.."
"Eskiron?" he asked?
"Yes, that was it, Eskiron. This Tarsa said not to trust him."
"That would be correct," said Eric. "Eskiron is an ass hat, to use a popular phrase of the boys. He's greedy, and he's a climber. He wants Tarsa's position, and will stop at nothing to discredit Tarsa if he gets a chance. If he can take credit for the boys success, he will push Tarsa out and take his place. And that would be tragic for the whole world."
"So what's Tarsa's position?" I asked.
"He's the highest ranking being next to the one you'd call god." Eric answered.
"Jesus Christ," I said, under my breath.
"No, not Jesus Christ," said Eric. "But the analogy holds."
I was astonished at this news. "Why would this top ranking person come and help us?" I asked.
"Ordinarily, he wouldn't," Eric said. "There's only one reason I cant hink of that he would. What else did he say to you?"
"He said there was a secret underground of good people we could trust. They have developed a way of identifying themselves to the boys."
I heard Eric gasp. "Eric, what's happening here? Do you know?"
"Oh my god," he said quietly, "they're going for it… they're actually going for it!"
"Going for what?"
"Listen, Katie, this is very exciting news for me. If they succeed, I might even be able to go home again," Eric said, excitement ringing in his voice. "Tell the boys they can trust Tarsa and the underground. They will give them whatever help they can."
"But what is it they're going for, Eric?"
"Katie, they not only want the target destroyed, but they may very well have found a way to destroy the one who wants the target. Otherwise, I don't think they'd be taking this chance." He paused for a moment. "Are you understanding me?"
My hand was trembling as I answered him, "Yeah, I'm getting you loud and clear."
"When are they planning on going?" asked Eric.
"In the morning," I said, with tears springing in my eyes, and a catch in my voice. "They're leaving in the morning, Eric, and I can't stand it."
"I know, doll," Eric said soothingly. "But I have faith in our boys. And if they succeed in helping the underground with their goal, they will be honored as heroes." He paused for a long sigh. "And I could go home again," he added wistfully.
"Thank you, Eric, I'll keep in touch."
"Tell the boys to break a leg," he said, and hung up.
I rushed home to tell the others what Eric said. Everyone seemed to feel a bit lighter with this news.
Sam said, "Now this really does feel like a quest from Dungeons and Dragons."
"Yeah, right, a very deadly one," said Dean. "But still, it does give the whole thing a little more appeal, like I feel like I have some real incentive to do this now."
"Good," Mom said. "That kind of mindset could very well give you just that much more of an edge."
"Well," I said, "all of this has delayed dinner. Let's go to the kitchen to discuss things while I get dinner on."
The news from Tarsa and Eric really did give everyone a more positive attitude. The boys were talking very animatedly about the possibilities of what they might encounter. In fact, they were almost acting like kids who somehow got themselves involved in secret spy stuff. If the situation weren't so serious, I could have enjoyed their banter more. But me, I still didn't want them to go.
After dinner the boys said they had some things to show us that we would need to know while they were gone. They took us to a small room we'd never been in before and turned on a bunch of switches. It turned out to be a surveillance room, with cameras all around the bunker. Two were showing the area right in front of the front door, which faced west. Two were showing the area in front of the garage, which was to the south. To the north and east there was a wooded area that encroached fairly close to the abandoned building that covered the Bat Cave. Several more cameras were placed to watch those areas as well.
"We rarely use this," said Sam, "But we decided you girls should keep it on while we're gone, just in case." He shrugged. "We don't expect you'll really have any trouble, but it never hurts to be paranoid."
They showed us how to use the equipment, turn the cameras, zoom in, and stuff like that. Then they took us to the video room and clicked on a spot on the wall. A section of wall opened to reveal a safe. They told us the combination and opened the safe. There were thousands of dollars in there.
"Use it if you need it. Looks like we're getting low though."
Maggie said, leave me your account numbers, and I'll take care of that little problem."
Sam and Dean both looked at her with raised eyebrows, and then Dean took out some records from the back of the safe. "Everything you'd need is right here," he said.
Sam said, "I really don't think it's necessary any more for you two to stay in. The Impala keys are on the hook in the garage."
Dean made some funny gestures, and looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back. Maggie went to him and hugged him. "Don't worry, baby, we'll take very good care of your 'baby' I promise." Then she looked at him seductively and said, "But if we do hurt it, you can spank me."
Dean made a low growling noise in his throat, grabbed Maggie and kissed her passionately. "Guys, get a room," said Sam, grinning.
"Yes," I said, grabbing Sam's hand and heading out the door. "Let's all do that."
THANK YOU for reading. As usual, I would love to hear your comments.