极

jí = ji + Ø2

extremely / pole (geography, physics) / utmost / top

极 = 及 + 木 : As Joan of Arc (ji) and Yuwen Huaji (及) pass over the north pole (及) at Christmas just inside the space station's entrance (Ø2) they decide to celebrate this moment by having a little contest. Between them there is a rather large Christmas tree (木) and they decide that whoever climbs to its top (极) first is the winner.

极 character breakdown

极
- 及
  - 乃
    - 丿
  - ㇏
- 木
  - 八
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨

及

jí = ji + Ø2

and / to reach / up to / in time for

及 = ㇏ + 乃 : Mnemonic symbol: Chinese General 宇文化及 (yu3 wen2 hua4 ji2) from the seventh century.

及 = ㇏ + 乃 : Just inside the space station's entrance a poltergeist is harassing Joan of Arc and Yuwen Huaji by pointing with his fingers at them.

木

mù = mu + Ø4

(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood / unresponsive; numb; wooden

木 = 八 + 十 : Mnemonic symbol: a Christmas tree.

Malte Monkey (mu) is setting up a Christmas tree (木) in the bathroom of the space station (Ø4). He decorates the tree with eight-balls (八) and puts a holy cross (十) at the top of the tree.