There's No Place Like Hawkins//Stranger Things. SH

FIFTY ONE

The Sauna Test

"It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office." Robin said, laying a huge map showing the mall's layout on the table. "Starcourt Mall. The complete blueprints."

"Not bad." Dustin complimented.

Robin pointed to a place on the map. "So, this is us, Scoops," she moved her hand to the other end where Cat was standing, "and this is where we want to get."

"I mean, I don't really see a way in." Steve said.

"There's not, if you're talking exclusively about doors." She lifted up the map to reveal another, although slightly different, one underneath.

"Air ducts." Both Catherine and Dustin said at the same time.

"Exactly." Robin grinned. "Turns out, this secret room need air just like any old room." She grabbed a whiteboard pen and began to trace a line on the paper, starting at the secret room. "And these air ducts lead all the way... here." She drew a circle around their current location.

***

Steve stood on the ladder as he used a screwdriver to take of the cover to the air vent. He handed the cover to Catherine, who handed him a flashlight in return. She placed the cover on the floor by her feet as Steve inspected the vent.

The plan was for Dustin to climb through the vents and to the secret room where he would then open the door for the others. Cat highly disagreed with the plan. She promised her mother that she would take care of her brother, and letting him crawl through vents to a hidden room filled with Russian weapons was not the way to do it.

"Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know if you can fit in here. It's, like... super tight." Steve sighed.

"I'll fit. Trust me. No collar bones, remember?"

"Dusty, I don't know about this..." Cat anxiously bit her nails.

"I'll be fine." Dustin reassured her, patting her arm. He waited until Steve had climbed down the ladder before he ascended up it towards the vent.

"Uh, excuse me?" Robin said, confused. "What's this about 'no collar bones'?"

"Oh, he's, uh... Yeah, he's got some disease." Steve attempted to explain. "Chry, uh... It's chrydo, um..." He nudged Cat's shoulder. "You explain."

Cat turned to Robin. "I forget what it's called, but, basically, he's missing bones and stuff."

Steve clicked his fingers. "That's it. Yeah. He can bend like Gumbo."

"You mean Gumby." Robin corrected.

"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo."

Dustin, who was halfway in the vent, interrupted the teens' conversation. "Steve, just shut up and push me!" He yelled.