We'd entered the level and then paused for a break, but pretty much, yes - the first thing that happens once you're out the door is that vague cube enemy just rockets towards you and probably cleaves through you both.

It's a weird change to the game, suddenly being on this plinth of cheese without any of the slope torture that characterizes the later half of the game... the Megadrive version does have an outer space level, but frankly I'm glad that the game makers chose to stop where they did in this version!