The scientists looked alarmed, and all of them turned to look at Dr. Smith. He was the only one who looked calm. “If you leave today, you have an agreement.”

Once again, the men and women in lab coats seemed to go crazy. They all started talking at once, some shouted. “Silence!” Dr. Smith yelled, and the room quieted.

“The seers must have seen this outcome. I won't argue. If that is their only stipulation, then I'll agree. We agree. This is too important to waste the opportunity. Like the man said, they could destroy any goodwill that the people in that dimension have for us, and a catastrophic event could happen.” The doctor looked at the other scientists meaningfully. “Four is better than none.” He looked at Alex, “Are you willing to go today?”

Alex looked at Bree, who nodded, then Trin, then Urie. Once he'd received their assent, he dipped his head a couple of times. “Okay.”

Dr. Smith swiped his finger through the air, typed something, then flicked his hands in the direction of all four ambassadors. Each of their 3C's pinged as fifty million credits were deposited in their accounts.

Immediately, Alex sent the full amount to Nick, along with a notification that the man had become Alex's beneficiary. He also sent Nick the emergency override passcode to his home.

Nick looked startled when his 3C went crazy with notifications. As he was looking through them all, his eyes teared up, “You guys...” All four of his teammates had done the exact same thing without talking to each other.

Trin slapped Nick on the back and grinned up at him, “If we come back, it looks like we'll be expecting you to be our sugar daddy till we get back on our feet, mkay?”

Urie hugged the man, picking him up off his feet before saying, “Don't forget us, bro.”

Bree tugged Urie's hands until he released Nick, and when the man landed, Bree pulled Nick down for a hug of her own. “Take good care of that baby and the wife. You better name the little one after us.” She grinned, tears in her eyes as she took a step back.

Nick's lips quivered, and his eyes were red, but no tears dripped down his face. He gave them a brave smile, “She or he will be named Eclipse. I know that Nieliegh will agree.”

“Speaking of,” Alex said as he pulled Nick into another hug, “I know you'll still want to work. Knowing you, you'll try not to touch the funds we gave you. So, go to team Arachnid. Tell Randolf that I'm only going to let him borrow you until we're back. The powers know that he's been trying to steal you ever since he saw your work at the beginning of the season.”

Before Nick could respond, Trin interrupted, “Serves you right. You'll have to look at that spider logo all the time even though you have arachnophobia.”

They all chuckled, keeping them from crying at the idea of one of their own going to another team.

Nick ruffled Trinity's hair, much to her dismay, “Don't worry, every time I see it, I'll have my 3C give it your face.”

Urie snorted, and even Trin wrinkled her nose but had to laugh as she imagined it. “Quick take a picture,” Trin said and stuck out her tongue, flared her nostrils, and crossed her eyes.

Nick pressed on the air, then nodded, “I'll use that one. It's so... you.”

Trin gave him a hug, hiding her face in Nick's chest. “You better,” they heard her say, the words muffled and wobbly.

Urie glomped onto the two, then Bree joined in, followed by Alex until they were one big ball of hugs. This goodbye was more difficult than any of them had expected it would be.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“It's time,” Dr. Von Strauss said. “I'm sorry, but the transference device can only work during a certain time of day. If we wait any longer, some of you might not make it during the available window. We are not certain if those who don't go this time will be transferred to the same location as the day before.”

“So what you're saying is that if we don't all go now, we might get separated,” Bree shrewdly reiterated, condensing his words into something much easier to understand.

“Yes, yes, please hurry,” The doctor led them to a door.

“ Nick Sai 17421, please refrain from moving. Transporting to the lobby in three, two, one...” The disembodied voice called throughout the room. Before the others could get in one more goodbye, Nick was whisked away from sight.

Alex let out a quiet breath of relief. He no longer worried that the scientists agreeing to let Nick go was a ploy. He followed the doctor out of the room and into the chamber beside it. The room was three times the size of the first one, but only one thing sat in the center of the room. It...

“Holy snickers and a skeleton, it looks like a sarcophagus,” Trinity whispered.

Her words were valid. It was shaped exactly like a sarcophagus, and it was covered in runes and pictorials just like the thing from ancient Egypt they'd all learned about in virtual school. The only difference that Alex could see was the fact that it didn't have a person's shape on it, depicting the person inside.

“I promise it isn't a sarcophagus. It is a transference device. The location you are going to has the ability to use magic. It doesn't look like they have any science advancements at all. We've added a few things to the device to protect you, but everything else is literally a... well, a spell,” Dr. Von Strauss said even though the last word seemed to have tasted bad.

The lid of the device opened, and they looked inside. More symbols and text covered everything from top to bottom. There wasn't anything else inside it.

“What safety? There is nothing,” Alex stated, “it's just a box with writing on it.”

Dr. Anders piped in, “Oh, see here? And here and here?” She pointed at a squiggle, a triangle, and something that looked like an outline of a CPU chip.

“Yes?” How were those supposed to keep them safe?

“Well, after you transfer, you should still have the ability to use your 3C's. The nanotechnology should still be in place,” She beamed at them as if it was something special.

It took Alex a moment, his eyes widened, “What do you mean we should still have the ability to use them?! Shouldn't that be a forgone conclusion?”

Dr. Smith took over the conversation, patting the air downward in a calming motion, “It's just a precaution, nothing more. Now, we must hurry so you can all go to the same area. Who is the one who plays a mage? He should be the first to go.”

“That was Nick, I'll go first,” Alex said, and climbed into the sarcophagus and laid down.

“But tha-” Dr. Anders shut up as Dr. Smith glared at her.

“Shut the transference device!” The lead doctor demanded, then nodded to Alex as the lid was closing. “Good luck, young man.”