“Hey, is anyone there?” The voice was only slightly distorted by steam tunnel echoes.

Sera sighed. “This is going to be…interesting,” she muttered. Then, louder, “Billy Cougan? That you?”

“Sera? Hey, haven’t seen you down here in a while.” The footsteps grew louder as the figure approached.

“And he still won’t,” James muttered. Sera glared at him, then switched her headlights back on. Fur followed suit.

A moment later, Billy stepped into view, shielding his eyes against the glare. “Hey, could you cut the lights? I can’t even see you guys.”

“For now I think it’s best that way,” Sera said. “What brings you down here?”

“The stuff that’s happening under the CompSci building,” Billy replied. “Hadn’t you heard?”

“I’ve been kind of out of the loop lately,” Sera said. “What is it?”

“Some new construction,” Billy said. “Weird thing is, we haven’t been able to find out what for. The building permits were never filed.”

James and Lisa exchanged glances. “I think maybe you’d better take us there,” Lisa said.