On command, the floor beneath Dr. Yin opened and she was sucked down into a tube-like black hole. The floor closed with a sucking sound as quickly as it had opened, as if Dr. Yin had disappeared down a Slurpee straw. SLLLURRRRPP! 

“So, Dr. Yang, let me ask again—” “We are ready for transport, sir,” Dr. Yang said, staring ahead at the wall, her back stiff and straight. She motioned to Chief and the team, and they followed her as she walked toward the transport stage with the five X’s on the floor. 

“Please position your team on the X’s,” Dr. Yin said, addressing Chief. “You stand on the center X while we fire up the prototype.” 

Chief fixed his eyes on the X’s. He was in a hard spot now. Dr. Yin had clearly said that all precautions for a safe transport were not in place. But what choice did he have? Their failure to capture Stevie’s phone while back in the States had landed them this highly dangerous situation. If he refused, he’d be leaving his team high and dry, and he’d end up down the Slurpee straw along with Dr. Yang. 

“OK,” Chief said briskly, nodding to each of the Suits on his team. “You heard her. Step onto the X’s. We’ve got a mission to complete.” 

Harvey, Stan, and Marvin took their places, but Joe remained where he was.

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