Approaching the back technical entrance of the laboratory, Liam and William switched off the headlights and waited for their parents. Tom, an armed guard, walked up to them.

  ?"I assume, gentlemen, asking you for cigarettes is useless? I'm sure you don't smoke," he said.

  ?"No, Uncle Tom, we don't smoke," Liam replied.

  ?Tom sighed.

  ?"By the way, what are you doing here so late?"

  ?"We need to restock our water for tomorrow," William answered.

  ?"Here in this godforsaken desert, you can endure anything, but when there are no cigarettes, it’s very depressing. Good job, boys. Don’t smoke and don’t start, or you’ll suffer like me."

  ?He scanned the desert in the twilight and, muttering dissatisfiedly under his breath, walked away.

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  ?A few minutes later, the heavy doors opened quietly. Nicholas appeared in the doorway and beckoned them inside. Liam and William, holding the canvas, carried in their amazing find. Passing through the technological corridors of the laboratory, they entered the central hall. Dr. Marcus was already entering a program into his brainchild. It was an impressive, bulky device resembling a fantastic cannon, hung with various sleeves, hoses, and wires.

  ?Nicholas, reaching out toward the canvas, said:

  ?"Well, hand your find over to me!"

  ?Taking the canvas, he involuntarily recoiled from the weight and exclaimed:

  ?"Whoa! What colossal density in such a small object!"

  ?He quickly headed toward a massive polymer wall. Nicholas pressed his palm to the touch panel, entered a short biometric command, and with a soft hiss of air, the cabinet doors slid smoothly apart. From inside, illuminated by a cold white light, a special pedestal slid out noiselessly.

  ?Carefully, using both hands, he placed the mysterious crystal into the focus of the measuring platform. Immediately upon contact, the platform locked with a click. The silent doors of the polymer cabinet slid shut just as smoothly, securely isolating the crystal inside. The isolation cabinet, obeying a command, rolled noiselessly along hidden guides directly toward the bulky CBHM apparatus.