"Random kinetic energy emanation peltings are a side effect of knowing me," Robbie said as he stepped out into the middle of the hallway. Since Brainy was making jokes about it, Robbie felt much less guilty about... well, using Querl somewhat in an effort to make it easier to pretend that everything was automatically fine again.

Even now, he rationalized this. He wasn't trying to make himself feel better, not really. This was about making everyone else feel better by taking the edge off his discomfort, and Querl would reap the most benefit by actually getting to have fun tonight (lab work wasn't fun). See, Robbie told himself, there was a plan after all.

The smile he gave Brainy was a lot less nervous than he felt. "This is a kidnapping. Sort of. I need a tour guide, and you forgot to sub-atomically adhere your butt to a chair. Come along peacefully, and it's not a kidnapping?"

Robbie paused, purely for effect. "You never should've wished me luck."