“Oh. The sir is really- it’s not necessary.” He was even blushing, chuckling a bit to hide some of his awkwardness. He wasn’t sure of the woman’s age but her entire attitude after she’d dropped the innocent disguise made him think she was more deserving of that than he was.

“But I suppose you’re right. I mean, that’s how it always happens in the novels isn’t it? A well-meaning scientist, something goes wrong… maybe opening a portal to bring us here was their last hope? Their last attempt?”