It's Room. It reads a book out loud to Trip, who marvels at how quickly It picked up reading. He tells It that It could study all sorts of things and not sit in It's room all day. It says that "they" would never let It learn any of the things Trip mentioned. "Then you've gotta convince them. It's not just learning, it's experiencing things. Music, swimming in the ocean -- you do have oceans on your planet?" Trip asks. "Yes!" It says. Slapping on a wimple, Trip encourages It to climb every mountain until It finds It's dream. It really wants to climb mountains. Mother Triperior then makes to leave, saying he's expected at the astrometrics lab. He promises to see It as soon as he can. On his way out, It stops him and says It would like It's name to be the same as Trip's. Trip tells It that his real name is Charles. It decides to be called Charles as well. That's all sweet and syrupy and (tear!)-ish, but I'm still calling It It.

Stratopod Of Messy Male Stuff. The turbulence gets a bit rougher -- just the way Quantum likes it, I'm sure -- and they seem to be in trouble. Quantum can't manage to get them over the top of the huge phallic phlare, and is very anxious about it. He gives up on mounting the phlare and decides on another course of action. Capt. Vissian wonders what he's doing. "If you can't get over a wave, you gotta dive through it!" Quantum announces. So, what -- he surfs now? I guess he does all the water sports. ["Ew." -- Sars, age 5] Quantum's gamble works, and Capt. Vissian is impressed. He asks where Quantum learned that little move. "North shore of Oahu. Body surfing," Quantum smugs. If he likes to play in the water so much, why doesn't he go soak his head? Having proven himself, Quantum hands the controls back over to Capt. Vissian.