“Let’s start with the case that contains the antidote,” continued Al.

“Oh, shit! Where the hell is it,” Zoe nearly screamed.

I don’t know how I’d not noticed that I had misplaced the case. The last time I had it, me and Zoe were seated at the cafe’, and I had it on the ground, held between my feet. In all the hubbub, I had forgotten to pick it up again.

“Do not worry, Zoe,” said Al. “After you two ran off, I took the liberty of hiding the case back in here.”
As he said this, Al reached under the desk, and casually pulled out the silver case.
And before I got the chance to ask him anything, he repositioned it so that we could see the 3 X ’s I had etched into the metal.

All I could manage to say was: “Holy shit.”

Zoe was much more talkative in her astoundment.
“I must say, dude…I am impressed.”

“Thank you,” said Al.

“I…uh…I concur with that statement!”
(One of my more facepalmy moments, right there.)

Al continued.
“And now, we must discuss how Letrodacta is destroying the universe.”