The shorter of the two male skunkmorphs who staggered out of the transformation chamber turned to the taller and said, through gritted teeth (and gritting teeth is really hard for a skunk) "When this is over, Johnson, you and I are going to have a long talk. Skunks, for God's sake. Skunks."
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"First of all," Naomi began hotly, "If you remember some of our encounters before your ascension, this 'subservient to monkeys' thing is greatly exaggerated. Secondly, the contract specifically stated that the gender transformations are to be 'enforced' on the losers even if unwilling, which violates the idea that transformations are to be given only to the willing--maybe I was wasting my time, but I always, always tried to persuade males to upgrade, I never abused my authority to force a transformation on anyone. Thirdly, these aren't just female transformations--there were several references to 'special adjustments' that weren't apparently included on the contracts, so you can add deception to coercion."
Naomi's passion was one of the things that Charlotte loved about her, but right now wasn't the best time, the wolf thought. The exits to the room were now blocked by huskies and jaguarmorphs with the unmistakeable look of professional security, and unlike park huskies these were armed with guns.
The Minotaur raised his voice. "These ladies will be staying with us indefinitely. Show them every hospitality, but don't allow contact with the outside." He rose from his seated position. "This conversation is over, ladies." The Minotaur left the room.
"This way, ladies." said a big jaguarmorph who seemed to be in command.
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The medevac team found Zack by homing in on the locator chip every husky had implanted. Zack wasn't going to give them any information, though, not in his present condition. He had passed out from the pain. With extreme care they loaded him on the evac copter, hoping to get him to regen on time. "OK" said Harry over the com "Once he gets out of regen, patch him through to me immediately." Please make it, Zack, he thought. This place won't be the same without you.
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It took a while for Terry to get back into the rhythms of a conversation that wasn't about having sex or how great a recently concluded sexual episode had been or comparing notes on bucks with the other rabbit does. As she answered Wally's questions, she felt parts of her brain that had shut down, as long ago as the horrible encounter with the wolf, start to work again. She asked Wally a question about how things were going on the outside, and saw the enormous grin of relief on the buck's face. In a few minutes, the two were deep into a discussion about how to do a documentary on a place where it was impossible to smuggle a camera.
Then they had sex, because, you know, rabbits.
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Oh, God, thought Goldie. Why does it feel so good being held? What's that funny feeling between my legs? Was Harry right about Gender Change Syndrome? Does Sam actually like a horrible person like me? Or am I really that horrible? Maybe I actually have changed, a little?
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Slowly, agonizingly, Susan dragged herself into the main part of the cave. She could even see the outside world off in the distance through the cave entrance, for the first time in what seemed like eternity. But she knew she couldn't get any further. Every nerve in her body was screaming with pain. Nothing to do but wait, either for the demon that was torturing her to return or for the huskies.