The world around Monica abruptly changed. Natural sunlight resumed shining upon her while she adjusted herself to her new location, eventually realizing she had returned to the quadrant's sandy surface.
Moreover, Monica soon saw that she wasn't alone. George was right next to her, sitting on the white sand while showing a knowing smirk.
"Were you also abandoned mid-conversation?" George asked, the slight confusion on Monica's face already providing a partial confirmation.
"Did something happen?" Monica wondered, not knowing how seriously she should take the event.
"I don't know," George admitted. "Khan said something about a bird and then just vanished."
"A bird?" Monica repeated before faint echoes of a screech reached the area, making her search for its source in the clear sky.
George reacted in the same way, but a frown appeared on his face, followed by a confused mutter. "I know that sound."
