At dusk, a plane lowered a glass case containing the massive stone into the circular pit at the center of the room.
Everyone carefully inspected the machinery to ensure it could operate normally.
Mike and May walked in and looked over the various machines in the room. "A room full of antique equipment. It kind of looks like your office, Captain."
"What are the odds of success?" May asked.
"I don't know, but success is possible."
"Mike, push that lever for me.
"No, the one that pulls down. The one beside it—push it up."
Fitz directed Mike through operating the levers, then eagerly pulled down the main switch.
In an instant, gears of all sizes began turning, and the needles on the gauges started swinging rapidly.
The entire room seemed to come alive, emitting the chugging noise of a tractor.
The ground began to tremble slowly, and the giant stone in the pit finally changed, turning liquid like boiling water.
Holding a flashlight, Fitz cautiously stepped closer and shone it onto the black liquid surface. "It can remain open."
"Light. I need more light."
"What do you need light for?" Aaron bumped Randolph's arm. "It's pitch-black no matter how you look at it!"
"It should be a signal. If the light can pass through the portal into that world, and his girlfriend happens to see it, she might be able to come out on her own."
"Oh!" Aaron nodded in sudden realization, but then something occurred to him. His eyes widened sharply. "Fitz, turn off your flashlight, now."
Fitz seemed not to hear him at all. He merely stared blankly at the pitch-black portal, as though Simmons would leap out of it the next second.
"Shit!" Aaron cursed under his breath, immediately stepped forward, snatched away the flashlight, and threw