Choi rolled her head on her shoulders. "In response to your first question…" As Choi spoke, a loud and constant rumbling grew quickly from behind the helicopter. "The ships below are not for our protection."

The rumbling grew to a deafening level, and then roared past. Willard snapped his head toward the window in time to see three fighter jets.

"Those are for our protection." Choi stood and moved to the central window, through which Willard had been gazing. "The ships are protecting that."

Willard looked out the window and followed Choi's pointed finger to what looked like an oil platform. Then he saw several more. At the center of the conglomeration of platforms was a massive construction that looked like a floating city. But he knew this was no ordinary city. It had all the bells and whistles of a scientific facility; satellite dishes, multiple antennae, generators, solar panels, and more than anything else, it was clean—gleaming white.

But what stood out most about the gigantic platform was a shimmering blue streak that rose up out of the center and disappeared into the sky. Willard lost view of the line several times as it would momentarily blend in with the blue sky or ocean, but a reflection of sunlight or a white cloud would reveal the line rising into the sky, beyond Willard's vertical view.

Brow furrowed, Willard said, "What the hell is that?"

"I don't understand," Robert said, "Where are we launching from? I don't see a shuttle or a launch pad and I sure haven't heard of a space launch from sea."

"Is that what I think it is?" Peterson said.

"What do you think it is?" Robert asked.

Peterson stepped away from the window and locked his eyes onto Choi. "Is that the space elevator?"

"One of them, yes."

"Space elevator?" Connelly said. "They're for bringing equipment into space, not people. Why are we here? TES is already in orbit."

"OK, now I'm nervous," Robert said. "So let me ask my first question again…. Where are we launching from?"

"We're not launching," Choi said.

Connelly's eyebrows shot to the top of her forehead and her voice became defiant. "What?"

"Your anxiety is misplaced. The mission is continuing as planned."

Connelly's shoulders dropped.

"Tell me we're not taking the space elevator…into space," Robert said.

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Dr. Samuels."

Robert sat back, looking pale. "You okay, man?"

"I don't like elevators," Robert replied.

"It will be a quick ride, I'm sure," Willard said.

"This elevator is sixty-two thousand miles high," Choi said.

Willard's face fell flat. "Oh."

Robert lowered his head. Connelly rubbed his back.

"Something going on?" Harris said as he stretched his face and blinked his tired eyes.

Choi turned to him and said, "We're there."

Willard looked back out the window and followed the blue streak from the platform and into the sky. This tiny blue streak would bring them to space, and hopefully, back. Willard smiled. "Intense."

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