The campus of Space Academy was quiet that evening. Only a few cadets were still out on the quadrangle, lounging around in the open before returning to their quarters for bed-check.
On the forty-second floor of the dormitory building, two thirds of the newly formed Polaris unit, Tom and Astro, were in heated argument.
"All right, all right, so the guy is brilliant," said Astro. "But who can live with him? Not even himself!"
"Maybe he is a little difficult," replied Tom, "but somehow, we've got to adjust to him!"
"How about him adjusting to us? It's two against one!" Astro shambled to the window and looked out moodily. "Besides, he's putting in for a transfer and there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Maybe he won't now—not after that little speech Captain Strong made this afternoon."
"If he doesn't, then, blast it, I will!"
"Aw, now take it easy, Astro!"
"Take it easy, nothing!" Astro was building up a big head of steam. "Where is that space crawler right now?"
"I don't know. He never came back. Wasn't even down at mess tonight."