Cyrus had stayed inside all day. Not only was he grading his students' reports, he was writing up his next lecture. And working on that machine. And perhaps most importantly, he was making sure that any attempted pranks on his person or property would be confronted immediately.

But he felt strange. This was more than feeling sick. It was like no other sensation he had ever had before. Something beyond him was affecting him, and finding out what it was was more important than making sure his door wasn't egged.

He eased out into the hallway, leaving Houndoom and Crobat behind to watch the apartment.