Teacher's Pet
Sam paused at the glass door to the Science Lab and peered inside. Each student sat up on an assigned stool and maintained an almost disturbing unnatural posture—tarsal claws lay flat on counter tops and jewel-like compound eyes stared straight ahead. If it wasn't for the constant swaying of their feathery antennae, they could have been easily mistaken for discarded pupae husks.
Sam pushed through the door and placed his briefcase on the lectern. The silence was profound. Something was up. He was tempted to ask, but figured he would soon find out anyway.
He sat.
A thunderous explosion lifted him off the chair. He landed on his feet thanks to his mechanical reflexes and inertial controls. Through a purple haze, he saw vague outlines of his students springing from their seats, chittering so vigorously that some were doubled over.
Sam paused at the glass door to the Science Lab and peered inside. Each student sat up on an assigned stool and maintained an almost disturbing unnatural posture—tarsal claws lay flat on counter tops and jewel-like compound eyes stared straight ahead. If it wasn't for the constant swaying of their feathery antennae, they could have been easily mistaken for discarded pupae husks.
Sam pushed through the door and placed his briefcase on the lectern. The silence was profound. Something was up. He was tempted to ask, but figured he would soon find out anyway.
He sat.
A thunderous explosion lifted him off the chair. He landed on his feet thanks to his mechanical reflexes and inertial controls. Through a purple haze, he saw vague outlines of his students springing from their seats, chittering so vigorously that some were doubled over.