阶
=
介
+
阝
:
The pope (阝) sentenced Joan of Arc (ji) to death and wants to shoot her to outer space using a rocket (介) in front of the elevator (e1). He doesn't have a proper launch ramp, so he just uses some stone stairs (阶).
级
=
及
+
纟
:
Joan of Arc (ji) closely investigates her newly arrived troops just inside the space station's entrance (Ø2). She ranks (级) them according to their level (级): First there is a silk worm (纟) which can at least shapeshift. On the next level, there is Yuwen Huaji (及), who has no comparable super power.