raven1

That's wonderful Albert! I hope it is great weekend for you and Steve! Forty-six years is beyond impressive. Were you and Steve high school sweethearts?

I agree, Castro should stay very far away from Sage!

Where Sage warned of cracks in the Puritans' society, I see chasms. Neither they or their enemies are much different. They certainly don't have the right to criticize Earth's authoritarians (or wannabe authoritarians), greedy corporations or lack of equality.

Some weird stuff happening with the chapters and comments, so I hope my comments match the content of this chapter. Sage was shocked by the news Adam had created a "perfect" mate. Of course I agree with Sage's evaluation of the whole process. I also wonder what one mate will be able to change for the billions of Puritans. That Purity has enemies that are determined to eliminate the Puritan race doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is why this was not told to both Adam and Sage. I am glad that both are "fixed" after they survived the bombing.

Interesting conversation with Fred, who doesn't sound very crazy at all. Fred's logic is sound. Adam seems to enjoy designing his mate. The big problem is that the design is physical. A perfect mate is more than just what you see. Where are the experiences, common interests and the ideas of trust, respect and loyalty in the mechanical equations of the Puritans logic?

Love speculation🤔, so with James permission...Hand and Mind were not connected until the southern destination sent input to the mind. Surprised the mind connected to the hand with orders to withdraw, leaving both the hand and its intended destination disappointed. BTW James, hormonal teen boys are not smutty, just horny.

Snarky humor rules!!!!!! You are totally in the red zone with the rest of us trying desperately to catch up.

I follow a Thai cook from much the same background in the USA, although she now lives in the best part of Canada, Vancouver, BC. Pailin is fun to watch. Her blog is call Hot Thai Kitchen with great videos and funny anecdotes. Well organized site of tips and recipes.

The universe created by Grumpy Bear is a wonder and delight. Worlds Apart is the latest in the series and an excellent romance and adventure. Filled with love, danger, angst and excitement you'll love the surprising twists, turns and cliffhangers in the plot. Siku seeks a mate, but first finds a soul mate who is an unusual and constant companion in his continuing search for his mate. That's not the only unusual thing that will surprise you in this wonderful story. What is not surprising or unusual is the fun and laughs of this well written tale.

You may have telegraphed that Nameer would find a mate in the Epilogue, but that was still a huge surprise. I could hear in my mind's ear "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" during this chapter. I am so looking forward to the next story you write in any universe you chose to write in. I have had a great time reading this and the other werebear stories.

They're off and speeding. Interesting new factoid. Kage is old enough to be Elijah's father! It is interesting how the dynamic between the three changes when the start the trip. Tyler and Elijah remain much the same, but with Tyler and Kage it now seems more relax and less confrontive. Kage is more honest with himself and admits to jealousy and feelings for Elijah, but still isn't upfront and honest with Elijah. Elijah is definitely more relaxed around Kage and very sexual. I did like the discussion of shifting and found Tyler's questions intelligent and focused. The sex was hot, and the midnight swim was so erotic. As always, the conversations were well written with a lot of snarky humor.

Hi Alber! Glad you are on board. It may just be my computer, but the link above doesn't work for me. That the link is timed out??? Weird huh!

I see the computer glitch is still with this story. The comments again don't match the chapter content. The tour of the incubation chamber was interesting. However, I did have a problem with this. The teachings of the parents seem imbedded in Adam. What is happening on Purity is not the same as an abortion. The logic of both Relshek and Adam are both screwed up. Adam is not using the correct term and that is his screw up logically. This is not Earth with second class citizens because they are female and made slaves to the male sex and perverted religious belief. Women who are condemned by rape to a life like Adam had on Earth. Children who grow up deformed, diseased and in homes filled with remorse and hate. Relshek is also using screwed up logic. Puritans have the resources as well as the need for new members of their population that is being decimated by a so called pandemic. Why waste resources by destroying these grown up people who only need to finish the process? Why waste however many years just to start again. Adam has a lot of DNA to contribute to finish the designs of these people, and there are a lot of prospective parents who would be able to complete their designs that include that DNA.

Still do not like Sage, but he is providing Adam with some insightful and logical advice. I feel sorry that Adam does not have love in his life. Maybe Brandon can look up Stuart and somehow reconnect Adam and Stuart.

Thanks @drsawzall, I needed a refresher on faith. It is easy for me to get outraged at the religion, and forget the true words so horrendously twisted by "people of the faith".

Like @Philippe, I should site all the other comments, because they all have very valid points, including Philippe's analysis. Puritans evolved into 8 different species before they became dependent on their technology and incubators and Optimus. If it worked before, why is it not working now they can design their own offspring or mates? Could the pandemic be the result of conflicting design elements selected by the parents? Why would that escape their research and the intellect of Optimus? Could it be the result of an evil Optimus? Brandon now seems to be a character that will play a part in the future of the story. I will be interested on how the Earth characters will become aware and involved with story in the future. I am happy that Brandon is very different from his parents. Considering how he was raised, why is he so knowledgeable and accepting of gays?

I don't have words disgusting or vile enough to describe people like Adam's mother. On remark did spark an interest Adam's dad. I had to wonder what was meant by that comment. The settlement of the boys was very unsettling. I do not like Sage, but at least he is intelligent, observant and has the courage to stand up to the Puritan's BS. Relsek's lame, paranoid explanation of murdering 67 people is beyond pathetic and evil. (I hate the use of terminate to describe something so horrific as murder.) Puritan logic is so f..k up I think the universe is better without their presence. Maybe the universe is trying to terminate the Puritans. Adam's dad is not different than mom. This from people who espouse that God is love? There is so much religious crap like this, I sometimes question if there is a god. The family conversation would have been funny if it was not filled with the hate of the two parents. Brandon is Adam's brother and seems to be at odds with the screwed up thinking of the parents. What is his bright idea?

Oh, OK. I thought you were going to blame it on Yayo. Orange regularly makes sure I get up in the morning to feed her. She is gentle, but I just can't ignore her use of claws on the bottoms of my feet, no matter how softly she does it. Drives me crazy.

Nanny Drew strikes again. What I want to know is why Drew is up at 3 a.m.? 🤔

Most everyone who cooks seems to make their own broths for cooking. At the local markets (outdoor markets, not stores), I can buy chicken broth or sometimes pork broth, however. These are better than the cubes. There are several of these markets in Chiang Mai, and I love to shop at a couple. Others I avoid because of hygiene issues. This solves some of the problems, but still need bases for cooking beef, vegetable and seafood recipes.

It's a skill I would like to have here. Even the big stores don't sell soup stock, just the bullion cubes. Even those are only pork or chicken, so i need to learn to make others by myself. Besides the cubes often have too much salt or no flavor if you water them down enough to balance the salt. ☹️

I got to push the ❤️ reaction on this chapter. The shower was smoldering, but quickly followed by Maddox realizing he didn't know how to flirt with a gay man. The mutual wank was the part that prompted my . It was very erotic and followed by a double attack of anxiety. The hint that these two are destined for each other is how they perfectly mirror each other's behaviours, reactions and variety of emotions in sync. Excellent chapter! PS Maybe these two should try out for synchronized s...wimming.

My mom would have also been very impressed by you. I have to thank her for my over large belly with her "waste not, want not" and "think of all the starving kids in China" arguments. I just realized while writing this, that the first argument sounds like something Yoda would say. Now it is more like, "May the calories be with you."

Hi Spike! I agree with you. Page should share his recipes for leftovers. They are great when you are cooking for only one or two people. Aod and I always have leftovers that often sit in the refrig until they turn green. 🤪