"Fris was feeling nervous, and he knew perfectly well that this was not an emotion he should have been experiencing right now. He was completely at ease in his field of expertise, and the pounding in his chest was probably only because I was trying to broadcast his mental state live. Being seen through had never been a good thing. Besides, Rodriguez had always been, in his mind, half a lunatic who ought to be sent back to a psychiatric hospital for a checkup at any moment. Having someone like that pry open the window to his soul and stare directly at every thought in his mind was more dangerous than ever. I still regret it a little. Yes, I caught that fleeting thread. Don't think you can hide it from me, Fris. You started this game, and you still haven't come up with a less embarrassing way to end it. This contest was destined to last all night. Considering our sun was no longer going to rise, it was destined to be a long night. Schiller, shut up! I wasn't entirely sure whether he had thought that or said it aloud, but I still had to emphasize it again—using first names was far too intimate."
"Schiller, go get me the box on the left shelf in the storage room." Victor looked up from a pile of laboratory equipment.
"I'm not going." Schiller shook his head. "That thing is a flash-freeze trap. The moment I touch the box, I'll be frozen solid."
"If I shoot you, you'll be frozen solid too." Victor glared at him coldly.
"Finally showing your true colors as Mr. Freeze?" Schiller smiled. "At your service, Mr. Mad Scientist."
Schiller walked out. Victor leaned weakly against the cabinet beside him. One of the students said, "Professor, even