After school the next day, Rai, Michael, and Kat took the bus to the Hyperforce Museum.

Unfortunately, judging by the sign on the door, it didn't look like they were going to get in.

" Closed- until further notice," Kat read aloud. " Aw....," she said, pouting.

Rai walked over to a nearby window and peered into the gloomy, darkened interior. There were dusty paintings hanging on the wall, and moth-eaten cloths covered the display cases; through a door on the far side of the room was what looked like a library of some sort. Rai thought he saw a movement in the library, but he couldn't be sure.

" Whatcha lookin' at? " asked Kat, peering over his shoulder curiously.

" Uh...nothing," Rai told her, but he continued to look in the window for any more signs of movement. He leaned on the wooden windowsill to get closer.

Kat decided to get closer to, and leaned on the windowsill as well. It creaked ominously.

It was then that Michael came over. " What're you two nerds lookin' at?" he asked, and then he proceeded to lean on the windowsill, too.

There was a loud sound of splintering wood, and the whole thing gave way, sending all three of them onto the sidewalk in a heap.

" WHAT THE-" shouted Michael.

" GET OFF ME!!!" cried Kat.

Rai, pinned facedown on the bottom of the pile, could only mumble something about " stupid termites."

" Well....hello there," said a new voice, coming from the direction of the museum doors.

Michael and Kat both stared at the old man at the door in amazement. Rai, though, was still pinned  facedown to the pavement.

" Uh...uh...hello," replied Kat, after getting over her surprise. "We, uh, came to visit the museum, but we thought it was closed....."

 The man looked to be between sixty and seventy years old, with graying hair and numerous wrinkles lining his face. He also sported a well-trimmed beard that was the same color as his hair.

" It is closed, actually." The old man sighed. " I used to be the curator of the museum, but now I just live here." He grinned. " I rather enjoy living around all these dusty old artifacts."

Kat tried to say something in reply, but nothing came out.

Oblivious, the old man continued on. "It really is a grand old place. Would you like a tour?"

" Uh...that would be...nice..." Kat replied, still slightly startled.

Michael nodded.

From the bottom of the pile came the sound of Rai mumbling something that sounded like, "I CAN'T BREATHE!"

Kat and Michael, realizing that they were still lying on top of their friend, hurriedly stood up. Rai, now free, gasped for air, then stood up as well.

" Oh, my!" the old man said suddenly. "We haven't been properly introduced! I'm Ben Jiro, curator of the Hyperforce museum. And what are your names?"

Kat gaped again. The old man's eccentric attitude was apparently more than she was used to handling.

" Um...I'm Kat, and this is my brother Michael," she told him, motioning towards her brother.

" Very nice to meet you!" the old man said cheerfully. Then he turned to Rai. "And..." an odd look came over the old man's face for a moment, but was quickly gone, "...And you are?"

" Um..." Rai regarded Ben suspiciously. Why had he had such an odd look? " ...I'm Rai."

" Well, very nice to meet you too!"  Ben said merrily. Perhaps too merrily. " Well, then, come on in!"

And with that began the " Tour de Hyperforce."