When the minotaur was being designed at Genetic Inc., one of the big debates was over the stomach. Some people wanted a "realistic" bovine four-chambered stomach, but the marketing people said that cud-chewing was going to be a dealkiller for too many people who might otherwise be interested in the form. So a realistic digestive system was out, at least for the present, but some still wanted the bovine morphs to be able to eat grass. The solution was to breed a new type of intestinal flora--gut bacteria--that could easily break down cellulose and turn it into useable nutrients without requiring multiple digestive processes.
Today was Ashley's abdominal surgery day, when the stomach would be prepared for the bacteria needed to digest grass and leaves. But the bigger project was going to be the implantation of the male internal organs, most importantly the prostate and the testicles (the testicles would stay on the inside until the construction of the external genitalia, at which point they would "descend" to the new scrotum formed out of Ashley's labia.) The organs themselves had been cloned outside the body following Ashley's new genotype and were now ready for implantation.
The surgery was performed by Dr. M'tarnat, a cybernetic organism. Xy--no one knew whether, or even if, Dr. M'tarnat was male or female, which was the way xy liked it--was a senior surgeon at Genetic Inc. and used a variety of metal, plastic and organic prosthetics as well as, on occasions, xyr own hands. Dr. Erlanger, overseeing the operation remotely, was once more impressed by the speed and precision with which Dr. M'tarnat worked. The operation took twenty-five minutes from the first incision to the closing suture.
The implantation of the new glands, testicles or ovaries, was always a significant moment in a transgender procedure. For Dr. Erlanger, it was the moment when Ashley stopped being "she" and became "he." It also meant that the dose of male hormone being administered could be cut down, now that the testicles could take over that function. Both it and the growth hormone were having an effect, as the hair was now covering the body on the table, which was perceptibly larger, with the shoulders widened and the hips narrowed a trifle. The hairless breasts still perched on Ashley's hairy chest looked out of place.
"Get some rest, kid" said Dr. Erlanger unnecessarily, as Ashley continued completely oblivious to everything going on "cause tomorrow is brain-and-skull day."