(Stay close to the wall,) Jake reminded them all, once they'd managed to make it through the maze of light-blocking slats inside the final vent. (Hug the wall and demorph.)

(Right,) he said, as, one by one, they all jumped into the blind darkness of the room used to store the Pemalite crystal.

"There could be six Hork-Bajir standing right in front of us, and we'd never even know it," Marco whispered, once he'd demorphed at least far enough to be able to use his voice.

"That's a nice thought," Rachel said, sounding about as annoyed as she ever had.

(Even a single photon of light would set off the light-sensors,) Ax said. (This is complete darkness.)

"And, according to Erek, if we stepped two feet away from this wall, we'd run into a maze of ultra-sensitive wires," Jake reminded them all. "Any contact, and the alarm goes off. We have to travel forty feet without touching a wire; without touching the floor, the ceiling, or the walls."

"All right then, let's get started," Tommy said, feeling at least some of the tension draining out of him, now that they all had a concrete goal.

"Someday we'll think this is funny," Marco said, his voice sounding like he was trying and mostly failing not to clench his teeth. "You know, if we survive."