*evil grin* Muhaha. My first big fic. Long, spawling, convulted, this is the motherload of spoilers.
Because it's so long...this might ramble about. It's not going to go in order. *thinks* These actually sometimes turn into comments on the fic itself...
About the title:
*laughs* Why in the world am I discussing this? Because when I first
started writing this fic, I was obsessed with the book The Hot Zone
by Richard Preston. It played heavily in my inspiration for this fic.
Of course, now I've done a ton of research, spanning the immune
system, ancient Egypt, hieroglyphics, bioweapons, Ebola history...but
this was the start. Highly advise that you read The Hot Zone,
along with Demon in the Freezer and The Cobra's Eye.
So...the title Lethally Hot comes from the title The Hot
Zone. Because Ebola is hot. Biologically hot. ...Lethally hot.
[Djanil: And to Toboe LoneWolf, sexily hot too.
Toboe LoneWolf: Oro?!?!?!]
On the number seven:
^__________^ Love it. Numero seven. "Seven, the number of perfection
and completion." The number seven is known as the perfect number
because of its references to the Bible along with many mythological/
fantasy/ literature stories. Now, as for how many times I refer to the
number seven one way or the other:
- The immune system (originally). (See chapter 16 & Immune System essay)
- Seven proteins in Ebola. At the time of writing chapter 4, seven proteins had been found.
- Seven Millenium Items.
- Seven memories.
- Seven field biological suits. Chapter 5. ...what?
- The name "Ravager" has seven letters.
- The symbols denoting the beginning of the memory section decrease from seven to one. I used one tilde [~] for each memory. The first memory had seven tildes, the last had one. (On ff.net, these are bolded circles.) Counting down the memories...
- The name "Athelas" also has seven letters.
- Seven pawns in the game senet.
- Seven group members.
- The riddle(s) on the door(s) comes from Matthew 7:7 .
- Seven elements.
- Reference to "pulling a 21," where 3 × 7 = 21.
- Last chapter posted on 10-7-05. 10, considered a "complete" number, and seven, the perfect number. ...What? It's a perfectly legal answer! I did post it on that date! *laughs*
Side Note 1: On the number six: As one reviewer pointed out,
the number six is the mathematical and "proper" perfect number.
References to number six: Rooms 101 to 105, where Kaiba, Joey & the
others are "sleeping," and where the digits of 105 add up to the number
six;
Side Note 2: On the number three: The number three is often held
to be the magical number. It's found more frequently in literature
since it requires less objects to write about. (Djanil: Of course Toboe
LoneWolf goes for the whole haul and does seven of 'em...)
The Pharaoh's Name:
First off, if you haven't already, I highly advise you read the Atem vs Atemu and Yami's Names and Titles essay(s).
Just exactly why do I use Pharaoh Yami rather than Pharaoh Atem? The
prenomen, or throne name, is the one that was mostly used in Egyptian
affairs. The commoners would refer to this name rather than the birth
name, the nomen. The Pharaoh was the living Horus on earth, a god: his
personal name would not be used lightly in conversation and such. Thus,
I reserve that name for the most intimate moments, with long-time
friends and desperate times. Now, why Yami and not something more
Egyptian-like?
"They have turned their face away from us because you have turned from the old ways! Taking on a foreign name of darkness and sealing the monsters from us! You are cursed, Pharaoh!"--Chapter 7
When a new Pharaoh was crowned, he took on a new name; his throne name. This name in the 18th dynasty usually refered to the god Ra: Truth of Ra, Strength of Ra, etc. What I have chosen for the Pharaoh's prenomen is Yami-Ra: Darkness of Ra. A combination of Japanese and Egyptian. Japanese, which is foreign. Also, from time to time I have the Pharaoh use Arabic or Japanese words; these come from his visions from the Puzzle, visions of the future. Darkness of Ra (a true Egyptian name would be kekewy-ra) refers to his association with the Shadow Games. Though just like us, Egyptians used nicknames too, and Yami is the "nickname" of Yami-Ra. That, and Egyptians were probably uncomfortable calling thier king "Darkness of Ra" ...
"Ah yes, Pharaoh Yami, so-called King of Games. You must forget your younger past and move into a bright future."
I moved another pawn off the board. "I'm already forgetting."--Chapter 7
*winks* By taking on a throne-name, it is as if he is casting off
his mortal body with its mortal name, his birth name. Atem, as his
birth name, is fading. Also, it hints of what is to come: Yami will
come to forget everything.
On the other names...I used Ammon (the Hidden) as a reference to the
shadows and how Yami was hidden for 3000 years. Tehuti (God of earth;
sky; air and sea), or the god Thoth, as a reference to Yami's
knowledge. Athelas...as Healer.
The Memory Millenium Item Doors:
Hmmm. This came about on a thought of how to extend the fic farther
than "get memory, save life, end."
If you've noticed, each door had a "primary" person to help find and
open the door. First, those that had Millenium Items (Yugi, Ryou,
Shadi) used theirs to find the door. Afterwards there was a primary
"door-finder." At this point, the doors were locked, and a small riddle
had to be solved. They are locked because their respective Millenium
Items were not present. Also, at least for me, each door was "linked"
to thier respective person, and what the memory unlocked was also
linked to the person. For example, Kaiba found and unlocked the
Millenium Rod door, which released the killer T cell. Along with this,
there was -- barely -- a hint of each item's respective "element,"
stated in chapter 11.
Here's a table showing in order the relationships:
| Item | "Finder" | Riddle | Immune System Part | Element |
| Puzzle | Yugi | N/A | Helper T cell | Light |
| Ring | Ryou | N/A | Antibody | Wind |
| Ankh | Shadi | N/A | Microphage | Water |
| Eye | Tristan | "Those Who Ask, Receive." | Suppressor T cell | Ice |
| Tauk (Necklace) | Tea | "Those who seek, find." | Macrophage | Earth |
| Scales | Joey | "Those who knock, open." | B-cell | Fire |
| Rod | Kaiba | "Oh Doubter, touch, and believe." (Among others) |
Killer T cell | Darkness |
About the monkeys:
*laughs* Oh, these. You probably know that monkeys are often used in
research. (Random fact: Actually, if you're doing circulation studies
you use a pig; if you're studying the immune system you use hamsters.)
Why are they here? Again...The Hot Zone. The monkey house.
On Sybil:
Sybil, Sybil. Now she is a "cameo" from Duelist Combat. Well, the only thing that's the same is the name and the young girl character, the rest is totally different. The name came from a mini-contest I did in Duelist Combat, Mugendai won, and she chose the name "Sybil," which means "prophetess" in Greek. Kinda freakily appropriate.
Anyways, Sybil played a more in-depth role than just the mom-scene in chapter twelve and the angel-scene in chapter fifteen. You see...she was also the "voice" that spoke to Ryou and Yugi, first in chapter twelve, then in chapter thirteen.
:Listen well, Little One. My time is short. Now is the time to act. Awake! Sleep no longer! The winds of fate are changing. What is to be is not what it once was. ... Now forget, Little One. Forget until you are ready to remember again.::A servant only, nothing more. Heed my words. You were Chosen for a reason. Call forth your inheritance, and all will be well. ... All will be well. Stay true to your heritage and all will be well.:
In chapter thirteen, the voice aka Sybil echoes these statements, reminding them to act.
Finally...she is an angel. Therefore what she was saying in chapter twelve was that she was sent. Her "Daddy" is God (or whoever you consider to be ruler over angels and the such). Sent to comfort the mother, strengthen Yugi, and support Ryou.
And yes...as an angel, she will probably make cameos in other fics from time to time. ^_~
AND FINALLY...
The Lethally Hot Cast Party! -- Here it is, the reminiscences of the cast and crew of Lethally Hot! [WILL BE POSTED LATER. WATCH BIO/BLOG FOR DETAILS.]
The Lethally Hot Cut-Outs! -- Scenes that never made it, or were rearranged or rewritten, or placed in a different place than originally thought-of...
Lethally Hot Review Replies -- Replies to Reviews
