72
73
‘Come on,’ you say to yourself, ‘Sasha 
asked for your help. You should go 
and see what you can do!’
You take a deep breath and slowly get to your 
feet. The supervisor doesn’t move. Doesn’t make 
any sign that he has heard you. You creep toward 
the door, not turning round, making sure that you 
are facing the supervisor at all times. Finally you 
feel the door behind you and your hand gropes 
for the button. You press it and you can’t believe 
how loud the mechanism is as the door swishes 
open. The supervisor whirls round in his chair to 
stare straight at you, a look of surprise and anger 
on his face. He leaps to his feet as you tumble 
backwards through the doorway. He starts to run 
at you as you slap your hand onto the close button. 
You raise your arms to defend yourself as you 
watch the race between the supervisor and the 
closing door. The door wins and you start breathing 
again – panting as you sag backwards against the 
wall behind you.
SLAM!
Chapter 2E
Mission Security: Chen
You sit still. Frozen. Scared. You think of the words 
of Josef from Earth Mission Control.
“Don’t make them angry.”
You look at your security supervisor. He’s just sitting 
there. Still staring at the screens but with a blank 
expression – like he’s looking but not really seeing. 
He’s making a wheezing sound that sometimes 
sounds like a growl.

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