Discovery part 1 by Ronald Faltus

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Soon after his experience in Mexico, he told his parents about his desire to become an archeologist, which they politely accepted as a childhood fantasy, one that would be forgotten once something else peaked is interest. But as the years passed Gareth persisted, altering his course selection through his teen years to include history and ancient languages. His parents, especially his father, were unnerved by Gareth's growing dedication to studying archeology. His father was a top executive in a major properties holding company, and it was a business trip that brought him and his son to Mexico City in the first place. It was an expectation of his father that some day Gareth would complete Business College, and follow his legacy. When it came time for Gareth to formally apply to a university, the underlying tension broke. Gareth and his father ended up going around and around for weeks arguing about his future. Finally his father through down the ultimatum, go to business school, or get out and never come back. Gareth defiantly accepted the latter, pack a few things and left. Gareth hadn't spoken with his father since that afternoon ten years ago.

The hard packed dirt grudgingly gave way to his trowel as Gareth pealed away centuries of sediment. Carefully he worked across the surface, evenly leveling off a square meter area. The sonar indicated that the slab lay at a fifty degree angel set against the slope of the hill. It was just step enough that his boots had to be balanced on two stakes that he planted on the hill side to keep him form slipping. The constant pull of gravity was forcing them to dig into the arches of his feet, further increasing his discomfort. Not that he acknowledged any pain; he was on the threshold of the discovery of a life time. Beneath the last few centimeters of dirt, was what he hoped was an intact chamber, sealed for countless lifetimes. Anticipation ran though him, guiding his movements, focusing his attention on pealing away the last few layers.

After leaving his childhood home, Gareth applied to Cromwell University, the foremost school of archeology. His high marks thus far in his education were more than enough warrant his acceptance, and even garnered him a partial scholarship. But with Cromwell being such a prestigious college, the total sum of his education was phenomenal. Even the money that his mother sent him behind his father's back only put a small dent in the tuition. So in order to afford his education, Gareth was forced to work full time in addition to taking a packed class load. This crammed schedule left him with next to no free time, but for six years he persevered, immersing himself in his studies. As difficult as it was, it played off in the end. Gareth graduated at the top of his class and his thesis on Mesopotamian cultures was well received in the scientific community, even though some though it to be a touch behind the times. Upon leaving the University, Garth had the knowledge and clout to pick his own assignment.

His drive and determination still served him though the first years of his career, eventually garnering him his own small team and his past success had provided his superiors with enough confidence to allow him to run his expeditions any way he wanted.