code: def _get_axis(self, array, axis, slice_num,
                    extended=False,
                    transpose=True):
          
  
          slice_list = [slice(None)] * array.ndim
          slice_list[axis] = slice_num
          slice_data = array[tuple(slice_list)]
          if transpose:  # for proper orientation
              slice_data = slice_data.T
  
          if not extended:
              # return just the slice data
              return slice_data
          else:
              # additionally include which dim and which slice num
              return axis, slice_num, slice_data
docs: Returns a fixed axis