Dr. Zachery Smith grinned as the young job applicant Harry West struggled in the net. The man had foolishly
accepted a cup of drugged coffee from the assistant zoo keeper. He was now naked, and bound in a heavy mesh
net. There were animals in cages all around him. Dr. Smith selected one animal and injected it with
tranquilizer. When the animal slumped. He opened the cage and extracted it. Then he carried over to where
West lay struggling.
"Ah, you're awake. Good," Dr. Smith said, "Since you are a biology major, you should appreciate what is
happening to you. You cells and this animal's cells are preparing for hybridization. Your body, DNA, mind,
soul, even your very essence will merge with this animal's to create the maximal evolutionary stage for this
species. Imagine a world with intelligent anthropomorphic animals living side by side with humans, or perhaps
ruling Civilization and keeping the humans as pets and domesticated animals."
"Aoog!"
"I take it you disagree, but then you have no choice in this and when you have been hybridized, your human
memories will seem like distant dreams," Zachery Smith said as he injected the young man with another syringe.
"This one contains a curare based anesthetic, it renders you immobile, but leaves you conscious," he explained
as he undoes the netting binding West while carefully wearing rubber gloves. He drags the man and animal into
a transparent vented crate, and lays them huddled together. He then locks the crate.
"Don't think of breaking this. This is made of the same window material as the tiger and gorilla enclosures,
but it will allow me to record your transformation on video."
"Mmmpf," was West's muffled reply.
The doctor laughed, and turned on the video recorder.