The Doctor's mind raced as she sought a way out. She couldn't let the sphere fall into the Caelus and their benefactors, Cognitech Dynamics's hands, but she also couldn't allow the museum to be destroyed. As they reached the main hall, an idea struck her.
Skidding to a halt, the Doctor turned to face their pursuers. "Hello, boys! Fancy running into you here.", she quipped, clutched the sphere tightly.
"Now, let's not be hasty," the Doctor said, her voice steady despite the danger. "This little bauble's been collecting dust in a museum for centuries. Surely we can chat about this over a nice cup of tea?"
"Drop the artifact," the lead operative commanded, her voice cold and authoritative. Her weapon, as well as those of her fellow operatives aimed on both The Doctor and Ryder. Ryder kept his Vazin stun pistol up and steady.
"You don't understand what you're dealing with," the Doctor said, her voice resonating. "This knowledge... it's not meant for your kind. Not yet."
The lead operative approached slowly, her weapon steady. "And who decides that?" she challenged. "You?"
The alien's expression was one of pity and concern. "Possibly."
"Doesn't matter," stated the lead operative. "We've got you surrounded. There's nowhere left to run, Doctor." The operative lifted her rifle up, scoping it with her eye.
"Oh, I've always got options," replied the Doctor, her hand stealthily dipping into her pocket.
"Such as?", demanded the operatives as she and her team slowly drew nearer to where the Doctor and Ryder stood.
"Plan B, for starters!" Flashing a dog whistle she had gripped in her hand, before putting it to her lips and blowing.
"Is that it?" Scoffed the operative.
The Doctor merely flashed her an enigmatic smile, as a strong breeze began to stir up out of nowhere. The operatives surrounding the Doctor and Ryder were taken by surprise, considering they were inside of a museum. The breeze began stronger, followed by the faint sounds of ancient, grinding engines. As the sound grew louder and louder, the weird haze began to shimmer around the Doctor and Ryder. Finally, the haze solidified into a tall blue wooden box with a pulsing lamp on top of its stacked roof.
Shaking herself from her stupor, the lead operative glared and yelled, "Open fire!" All the operatives aimed and fired their guns at the tall box, but to no avail, as the grinding, mechanical sound started up again. The box's top lamp pulsing rhythmically in time with the sound. Before their eyes, the operatives watched as the box began to gradually fade away like a mirage.