lopri even tried on occasion to be nice to hinev and his group , that elite-born scientist mindier , kudenka , whom lopri hated because the man was a natural leader , also a brilliant scientist by all accounts , energetic , enthusiastic , and noble-hearted , cernik , the boisterous young astro-chemist , and of course niflan , the outsider , who had switched from general science to aeronomy and astro-navigation against his familys wishes .