FATR: Short, but much more interesting than the last one. After this there are only two chapters left. I got the fusion reaction info from two websites which are posted in profile, seeing as how I cannot post websites here. Terra is my character. Mine! Well, you could use her with specifically requested permission if you really, really wanted to, but you must ask so I know what it is you plan to do. I'm not usually this protective of my OCs but Terra is sort of a... well, a bit of an inside... cameo... thing. If you read "Opening the Gate" you may have a vague idea where this is coming from. If not? Well, just enjoy the story for what it is and stop worrying. It's like the symbolism I've been sneaking into the story. It's sort of to make the composing of the story more challenging for myself. I mean, you get the extra fun of trying to figure it out, but it really doesn't much affect the plot. Any way... on with the chip chip!

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Rosie is the glue that holds him together, almost like his mother had held him together. How pathetic. My son, whipped by his woman. I knew your mother raised a pussy, I'm just surprised you didn't turn into some kind of faggot.

Otto covers his ears against his father's voice, but it doesn't help because the voice is in his head. I'm not a pussy, you're an asshole. This pretty little filly makes a move on you and you don't even have the balls to go through with it. I'm married, dad. That may not have meant much to you but- Come on, tubby, don't try to make this about me. I thought I had a son, not some sentimental girly-

"Just shut up!" Otto yells. "Shut up!" The voice comes no more. Otto sighs in relief and looks around under the seat for the flashlight he keeps for emergencies. When he can't find it there or in the back seat he checks the glove box. There it is. Too bad I left my umbrella at home. Rosie warned me to bring one. Why didn't I listen? His stiffening fingers close around the handle and one thumb presses the button. Aided by the portable light, Otto makes his way to the front of...

The audience amid the applause.His gaze traveled around the room, taking in the faces. Just as he had predicted, a few of the students seemed to be off in lands of their own. However, many of them looked genuinely intrigued, awed even. One of this latter group seated in the front row really caught his attention. She looked like she could possibly be Irish, with the milky skin and flaming hair. He knew her hair color because a single ringlet trickled down the side of her face to her jaw line, refusing to remain imprisoned under the green, intricately beaded and sequined scarf on her head. It was her eyes that really grabbed him, though. They were an almost radioactive green that seemed to pierce into his very soul. Though his eyes only laid on her for brief time, it was still long enough for one of her sparkling green eyelids to dip in an impish wink. The implications carried in that wink startled him and his eyes were quick to move on. The applause died out and he began. "Good afternoon, fellow scholars," he smiled. He noticed the forest nymph put her elbow on the desk and place her chin in her hand. She was leaning forward, her body language disclosing her interest. In fact, she seemed almost too interested... "I am Dr. Otto Octavius. I hope my lecture will enlighten each one of you in some way." Glancing around he smiled and added jokingly, "Well those of you who choose to listen. One cannot learn if he or she is not open to the experience." There were a couple polite chuckles from his more avid fans, but the girl in the front row just kept gazing on intently. He shifted his weight, trying to mask his unease, and began his speech. "The field of science is a vast and mysterious territory. It is so vast, in fact, that any one human cannot possibly explore the entire expanse in one life time. Therefore, we must all choose to specialize in specific areas. I will begin with nuclear fusion." The girl in the front row crossed her legs. She was wearing black capris, from what he could see, and sparkly green platform sandals. They were very strappy, with a slight heel. "Also known as a thermonuclear reaction, nuclear fusion occurs when two nuclei join to form a larger nucleus. This releases an immense amount of energy." As he spoke, the fairy leaned back, opened a spiral note book, and plucked a pen out of the wire binding. It began to move across the paper in lazy, looping motions. "If this power can be harnessed, it will create a virtually limitless energy source. It would be entirely environmentally friendly and perfectly safe. Any malfunctions would result in an immediate system shut down." The redhead switched pens and kept drawing. She glanced up to see him watching her and sent him a discrete yet lecherous grin. He cleared his throat and turned his eyes to his notes, though he didn't really need them. "The sun and stars are fueled by this process. There are many ways for reactions such as these to occur, though the optimal reaction takes place between Deuterium and Tritium. Deuterium is an abundant, naturally occurring element extracted from water. Tritium (1) is much rarer." His eyes wandered past the redhead again, inexorably drawn by curiosity. Her eyes locked on him again as her almost childlike hands crossed over the lined paper of the notebook. He really hoped no one, especially not Curt, noticed his eyes flicking over there so often. He knew the thoughts this imp was trying to put into his head were dangerous and wrong, but the harder he tried to ignore her, the harder those piercing eyes tried to lure his gaze. "The temperatures required for this reaction are well above one hundred million degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the elements pass into the fourth stage of matter, known as plasma. In this stage of matter, the electrons and atomic nuclei are split apart." Otto decided to keep his eyes on the faces in the back rows and along the back walls as he continued his lecture, but he could still feel those unnatural eyes sowing the seeds of sin deep into his psyche.

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FATR: I leave you with these two thoughts: What does "schnitzzelfrothboudon" mean?

Table vs Chair- who would win and why?

(1) Imagine my surprise and glee when I found out this wasn't entirely made up for the sake of the movie. It does not occur naturally. It is synthesized from Lithium within the reaction itself. It apparently is not as rare as the movie tells us. That's action/sci-fi for yah. Again, the links are in my profile.