They’re seated at opposite ends of the classroom, assigned to separate lab clusters, kept as far apart as physically possible. The instructor took that measure after the last lab fiasco, when Koschei talked Theta into launching their project, a black-body object, into the lab cluster in front of them. The girls scattered, screaming, and one of them ended up losing all her hair from radiation poisoning.

So, separate tables it is.

Today’s assignment involves entropic fields and the stability of interdimensional portals. Theta has taken charge of his new study cluster, murmuring encouraging words to his partners as they collaborate on the spiderweb of machinery they’ve built over the course of the morning. It’s intricate and delicate and works perfectly, the entropic field holding steady.

Across the room, Koschei’s study cluster stands to the side of their table, arms crossed, faces thunderous. He waves them away any time anyone comes near the bizarre contraption he’s assembled — certainly nothing like the lab notes said it should look, a far cry from the simple elegance of Theta’s machine.

Koschei stops his tinkering. With a manic gleam in his eye, he stares across the room at Theta, who pays him no mind. Koschei grins and touches a button on his machine.

A deafening crack sounds, as though the city dome itself has broken in two, and the smell of ozone floods the classroom.

Without warning Koschei appears out of thin air on top of Theta’s table, smashing Theta’s machine to bits. Metal, glass, and exotic polymer shards go flying. Theta’s lab cluster fling themselves backward, screeching and covering their faces.

Koschei blinks once, then beams at Theta. “Interdimensional portal! Who needs the entropic field?”

Theta stares up at him, then bursts into laughter.

(Source: aajolras, via tennantsbluebox)