[RL with Birkin]

Stein stepped through the portal the young man had opened for him without hesitation, and looked around. He honestly had no idea what exactly to expect, other than a laboratory of some kind, and he wasn't disappointed.

There was a twinge of nervousness despite his boldness. Walking blindly into someone else's territory, especially someone Stein knew to be of like mind to himself, wasn't necessarily a smart idea. Then again, Stein was more than capable of taking care of himself. He didn't have a weapon with him, but he could easily kill with his bare hands, if necessary.

He reached up with one hand and rotated the bolt stuck through his head a couple of times, considering his options, then picked a direction and started walking.

Sooner or later, he'd either run across some interesting experiment, or find Birkin himself. Win win.