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** GALF, Chapter 1**

** By William W. Kelso**

*The ship assumed a stationary orbit around the small planets only moon. They had visited the green and blue planet several times in the past, and it was almost a routine now. Still, best to be safe, so they monitored the many broadcasts coming from the planet, and the AI watched for any indication they might have been spotted. The planets civilizations technology, while not nearly advanced as their own, was still worth respecting, plus the natives were paranoid about security and tended to shoot first and worry about questions later. But unless the ship was actually spotted visually there was next to no chance they'd be detected by the native civilizations primitive sensors. Still, the boss hadn't gotten where he was by taking chances. They still had that only partially repaired patch on the hull damage from the last "primitive" planet they'd raided. Who'd have thought a primitive chemically propelled rocket could get past their defenses? Yes, best to be cautious. *

After several days; and no indication their entry into the system had been observed, they launched several older, but well maintained, SCP's or "Specimen Collection Probes" to round up a few of the natives. Originally intended for scientific exploratory missions the surplus probes were also perfectly suited for their current use in rounding up new livestock. The ten units were programmed to "collect" one specimen each of the planet's only sentient beings. Male or female, it didn't matter, not in the long run anyway.

This is where I come into the story. I was riding my bike home from work, not because I didn't have a car, but for the exercise. As I passed by an overgrown area near the creek I felt a tingling in the back of my neck, stopped the bike because I suddenly felt woozy, and then keeled over as everything went dark.

SCP-8; having located the object of its mission, quickly stunned the animal and then extruded the collection pod which engulfed the now unconscious animal and put it in a state of stasis. It retrieved the pod, waited until the cover of darkness, and utilizing its entire range of stealth programming left the surface of the planet and sped back to the mother ship. It was retrieved, the stasis pod removed, and its mission completed SCP-8 was put back on maintenance standby. This being the last pod the ship left orbit, and moving clear of the gravitational interference of the systems planets dropped into main/alternate drive and headed for its next destination. It would take it approx seventeen days (ship days approx. 20 hours long by earth time) to reach its next stop.

The specimens were moved into medical stasis pods for examination, after first being stripped of all bodily coverings and other trimmings. Some of the jewelry was of value; most of the rest was destroyed. A couple of specimens had minor medical problems but the medical units diagnosed and cured and/or corrected them. They had been set for this species as the planet was a regular "stop" for the ship. The medical stasis pods were set up in a line in the veterinary bay, and the captain came down to take a look at his new prizes.

*Captain Gord was a Tolgdon male, a vaguely reptilian being like a cross between a lizard, a cat, and a horse. He had four legs, two arms, a large lizard like head with nasty fangs, and fur instead of scales, and was marsupial as the females of his race carried the young in pouches on their chests. He was also as large as a horse and weighed in at over 1000 pounds. He was the only one of his kind in the ship's crew, and was sole owner and operator as well as Captain. In fact he owned the crew as well as the ship. *

Capt. Gord walked slowly down the line of pods, accompanied by several medical technicians. They resembled large colorful lizards similar to skinks or Gecko's, their colors varied greatly and were extremely bright and iridescent, almost luminous. They followed the Captain respectfully. Whereas he wore a fancy "uniform" they were all nude as befitted their status as property. However it was quite clear they were well acquainted with the captain and his moods, and the conversation sounded more like that between old friends then owner and slaves. (For consistencies sake we'll call them lizards from now on since that's what they look like, even though they were much more than simple reptiles. In fact it would be almost impossible to classify them in any known way).

"Well, not a bad catch, said the Captain, they all look fairly young and healthy. Any problems of any kind?"

*"Nope boss, said one lizard, they were all picked up without incident. As you can see four females and six males, all within the age range specified. We found, and cured, a few small problems, so they're all quite healthy now." The other lizard bobbed their heads up and down in agreement. *

"Excellent, said the Captain. We have a full load; we should do quite well at the market this time. Between these and our other specimens from our last few stops we have some prime livestock; the bidding should go quite high. I want you to pick out the best four for our own personal stock though. As soon as we arrive at the station have them sent to Mardigal's Labs for the usual treatment."

*"Right boss, noted and logged. The first lizard said. We'll run some more scans and pick the ones best suited to undergo the treatment, both mentally and physically. Don't want any screamers." *

The lizards all shuddered at that thought; sometimes the "treatment" drove a subject irreversibly insane. The lizards had no names, only numbers. The "head" medtech was #12, the other three accompanying it were numbers 26, 19, and 33. That was the order in which they had been added to their masters list of special slaves. Seniority was based on length of servitude and technical training, nothing else. They had no official rank of any kind, but each knew where the others fitted in and what their duties were, at least when in space. Their duties dirtside, or while docked at a space station or other ship, were something else entirely different. As the Captain left the medical compartments #12 hissed at the others,

"Well, you heard our loving and benevolent master, get a move on. You know what to do."

"Loving and benevolent, my ass", said #19."

*"Poor bastards", said #33. *

"I heard that! Responded #12, and it will be OUR asses if we fuck up, so make sure to do a good job of scanning them. We don't want some poor creature to go insane like last time! Boy was his highness pissed off!"

*"Yeah, we remember, we were there." muttered a couple of the others. *

*But they were well trained, and the griping being over they quickly spread out and began to perform their assigned duties. The med equipment hummed softly as numerous physical and mental scans were run, and several hours later the four "lucky" winners had been picked. "Poor bastards" muttered #33 again. *

*I was one of the "lucky" ones. *

"And docking complete Captain, the garbage scow has arrived at the local dump!" The ships AI (Artificial Intelligence) announced.

*The AI unit ran the ships operations and was navigator, it was a sentient being and aware, and had its own, somewhat cantankerous at times, personality. It had once been the AI unit on a luxury liner, and considered its current assignment a major letdown that was "beneath its dignity". It bitched about it a lot, but everyone pretty much just ignored it, if you tried to sympathize you'd get bored to death listening to it whine. It had been replaced by a newer generation AI unit (uppity youngster) and had been sold off and ended up performing various functions before ending up "stuck in Hell" as it like to say. At least it had a true space going ship to run again, and was damn good at its job. Otherwise it would have been shoved out an airlock a long time ago, and knew it. *

Captain Gord just ignored the irritating AI and announced, "OK crew, you know what to do. If you want me I'll be at the admin office arranging quarters for our stock. As soon as I send you the pen numbers get them ready and offloaded. Captain out."

Most of the crew just ignored the announcement; they knew what to do, but a couple paused and made rather rude comments and/or gestures, much to the amusement of other lizards. Of course they were smart enough not to do it where the Captain could see and/or hear them.

Capt. Gord sat on a very uncomfortable chair across from the stations main administrator, a turd of a Gandian, and complained,

"But that's almost twice what the docking fees were last time I was here! And what the frack is this about the commission for livestock sales being 30%!! It's never been more than 20% before!"

"Eeeerk, the avian Gandian replied with a snap of his beak. Those are the new rates Captain, pay them or leave. Errrrk, clack."

I'll complain to the guild about his robbery!" Capt. Gord snarled.

"Go right ahead, clack, it is your prerogative. The avian replied. Or you could go to Fern's World, I hear they only change 15%, Errrrk, clack."

Capt. Gord snorted, "Yes, and last time I was there they tried to sell ME and the whole crew! Lousy crooks. Very well, put me down for a five day stop, and I'll need some maintenance done, is Kris still in business? Good. And I have forty livestock class sentient beings to auction. When IS the next auction?"

The avian blinked, and said, "Very well, you are assigned holding pens 3 thru 7 on the main deck. Clack, eeerrk. If your livestock requires any special nutritional supplements you must provide them as the main medical synthesizer is broken down again. I see in the records you paid part of your bills by providing station personnel with your crew's services, if you wish to do so again I will assign you some suites. Errrk, clack."

"That would be fine, said Capt. Gord. But I want more for their services this time, as you said the operating costs of everything has gone up. I want 15% more. And the next auction is when?"

"Errrrk, the avian said, that is acceptable. The next, clack, auction is in three station days, I suggest you get your wares on display as soon as possible. There will be a good crowd this time. The Sliz are here buying livestock for foodcock conversion, I hear that are fond of specimens from Race #344.9, and you have six of them listed on your inventory."

"Yeah, said Capt. Gord, the bidding on them will be high as they're so susceptible to genetic manipulation. Next time my whole cargo will be that species. I also have some specimens from Race #411.6, the combat arena buyers will go crazy over the armor plated bugs."

"Eeeerrkk, yes, clack, the avian said. Enjoy your stay Captain."

"Thanks very little!" Capt. Gord said as he left the office. 30% fracken percent! What a rip off, still it was better than dragging his cargo halfway around the galaxy to the other nearest slave market. They'd get as good a price here as anywhere else anyway. And since when had the Medical synthesizer ever worked here? What a dump. They'd be lucky if it didn't spring a leak and decompress.

He contacted the ships AI and gave orders to have the cargo offloaded, then told the AI to have #8 assigned to his suite during their stay at the station, and Nos. 18, 27, 42, and 51 assigned to the other suites for duty. I've already put up notices of their availability. And also have #8 bring a case of Kissian brandy, I need to unwind." He added.

"Yes Captain, have fun getting drunk" replied the AI.

You bet I will, thought Gord. He checked into the suite assigned to him, took a hot shower, and #8 arrived just in time to help him towel off. Then he cracked a container of brandy and took a long deep drink. Ahhhh, he needed that! He didn't offer any to the lizard; they were immune to the effects of chemically fermented beverages so it would have been a waste. Next he called Mardigal's Lab and Veterinary Clinic and arranged for four specimens to be picked up at the ship and undergo the full treatment. That taken care of, at least their already exorbitant rates hadn't gone up any, but they could charge them and get away with it as they were the only fully equipped Lab not under the control of a meddling planet side government. What they did was completely illegal in all the civilized systems, but of course the station wasn't in a civilized system, which was the whole idea.

#33 signed the chit authorizing the station med techs to offload the four stasis pods and take them to the Lab. Poor bastards, he thought again. But he did his job because if he didn't someone else would be assigned who would, and he'd go into a stasis pod himself and stay there except for when they set up for business. No, he liked his job just fine. Still he couldn't help feeling sorry for the four beings in the pods. They didn't deserve what would be done to them, no one did.

*The pods were moved through the stations corridors on grav-sleds, and after passing through several check points arrived at their destination. The sign next to the double airtight doors read, in one hundred and twenty seven different languages including three broadcast at sound levels only the races they were intended for could hear, and four others in colors of the spectrum that only a few races could see, that you were entering "Mardigal's Genetic Laboratories and Veterinary Clinic and Hospital". The pods floated in one after another, and then the labs main doors hissed shut and sealed. The Lab was completely self-contained; in even of the depressurization of the main station the Lab would remain secure with full atmosphere. *

The Lab technicians, all from an insect like race called the Licians, checked the status of the pod's inhabitants, then shuttled the pods into private "stalls" were each animal would be taken out of stasis, given a while to recover, re-examined, and then be scheduled for "treatment". The nature of that treatment was the Lician's biggest kept secret; their sole "export" to the rest of the galaxy was their medical expertise, and they were in great demand.

*This is where I come in again, still blissfully unaware of what had happened. When I initially woke up I thought I was still back on earth. I woke up to find myself lying on a fairly soft mattress of some kind that was fixed to the floor. I sat up and realized that there were no blankets or sheets, it was warm and the air smelled funny, and I was stark naked. I also seemed to have lost weight as I felt lighter when I stood up; it was kind of unsettling to say the least. I was in a small tan colored room, and the mattress was the only furnishings of any kind. There was a kind of alcove with a basin and it was pretty obvious what it was for, and another smaller basin at waist level dispensed a stream of cold water if you held you hand in front of it. It looked to me more like a jail cell in some ultra-modern high security prison than anything else. Alien Veterinary Clinic was way down on my list of guesses. There was also a door on one wall, but no evident way to open it. I banged on it a few times, was surprised it seemed to be metal, but there was no response. When it slid open a little later and what looked like a giant blue stick insect came in I tried to make a door in the opposite wall, but it just dropped something on the floor, clicked at me, and left. *

Oh my God! I thought, what the HELL was that THING? It had to be an alien! Either that or I was on "Scare Tactics" or something, and guess what it was working as I was scared shitless, but his was just seemed to real. It took me awhile to stop freaking out and see what the bug guy had left. It was food. The packet contained three different colored blocks of what looked almost like cornbread. One was red, one blue, and one yellow. I realized I was starving, and the stuff smelled good. I ate the blue and red blocks; the yellow was just too spicy. I also ate the wrapper as it was food too. The stuff tasted pretty good and filled me up. I got a drink of water, took a dump, and yelped when something that felt like feathers touched my butt when I was through, but when I looked nothing was there. A toilet that automatically wiped! What next? I reexamined the room several times, found nothing new, and finally sat down on the mattress and tried to figure out what the hell was going on? OK, I had been abducted or something, by Alien bugs? God, where was a can of Raid when you needed it? I giggled as I envisioned the bugs getting sprayed with Raid as an ad on TV said "They can land, but they can't take off!" But my giggles turned almost hysterical. This was too fucking weird. I mean, I'd always kind of believed in UFO's and "visitors", but giant blue bugs?? And what the HELL did they want ME for? Sometime later the door opened again, another bug came in, picked up the yellow food I hadn't eaten, chattered, and left another packet of food. I just sat in the corner and stared at it. It had a rod like stick with it that I had no doubt was a weapon, so I didn't budge. Then as I ate the food, ignoring the yellow block again, and thought about what I had seen.

*The alien, and it HAD to be an alien, did look like a bug. Its main body was long and tubular, jointed in several places, and it had six legs and two small more developed "arms". The arms ended in clumps of tendrils, while the legs ended in claw like pincers. It had a head with a mouth full of clicking plates that reminded me of a crab I'd seen once on the Nature Channel, mandibles, two long antennae, and large green multi-faceted eyes. Except for the eyes and inner red parts of its mouth it was cobalt blue. It scared the living crap out of me. I hated bugs, especially ones bigger then I was that few around in spaceships. Oh God, I thought, they're fattening me up so they can eat me! Actually it would turn out they were herbivores, eating only moss and fungus. The nasty mandibles were only for defense. And they weren't hive insects either, but individuals. And their race was dimorphic, the males and females were similar, but their third sex, the egg bearer, resembled a giant grub more than anything and it wasn't intelligent. The male bug injected his sperm in one end of the grub, the female bug injected her eggs in the other, the grub combined the two and fertilized the eggs, and the young hatched and lived inside the grub for awhile before emerging and eating it as their first meal. Cozy. But of course I wouldn't find that out until much later. *

*The routine stayed the same for awhile, the only difference being they stopped giving me the yellow block of food and gave me a green one instead that tasted like bread. Any attempt to communicate was ignored. So far as they were concerned we were livestock, and you didn't talk to livestock unless you had to, and didn't bother to answer any questions they might have. But that changed one day when the bug entered, zapped me with the rod, and a couple of them loaded me onto a kind of floating stretcher. I stared at the ceiling as we moved along, and it looked pretty much like any other ceiling. We passed through doors; or portals, with grooved channels for the sliding doors so I guess they were airtight fire doors or something like that. I tried to talk to them, yelled at them, begged them to tell me what the HELL was going on, but they ignored me. They did chitter a couple of times, but I don't know if it was to one another or to tell me to shut up. I called them names too, so maybe it was good that they didn't appear to understand me. They took me to a bigger room and ran me through what looked very much like an MRI machine, a hollow tube with flashing lights and stuff on the inside that made weird noises. Then apparently satisfied they took me into another much larger room and I lost it when I saw what was in that room, and totally completely freaked out. *

The large brightly lit room contained what looked like huge grubs or slugs as far as I could see; there were dozens of them. They rested on large raised tray like platforms in evenly spaced rows, and they were obviously very much alive. Their bodies were pulsing and throbbing, and they had what looked like mouths on one end. They were horrible looking bloated things, but it was what was inside of them that terrified me. They were opaque, their bodies almost crystal clear, and there were creatures inside of them, including humans! You could tell what some of the creatures were, but others were turning, or had turned, into shapeless partially digested looking THINGS! OH MY GOD, I realized, they're going to feed me to one of those hideous monsters, I'm FOOD! And that's exactly what they did, and I screamed and begged, babbling incoherently in utter terror, then just screamed and screamed as one of the slugs slowly swallowed me alive.

They took the stretcher and hooked it up to a kind of slide that pulled it up close to one of the giant slugs mouths, the mouth unfolded and opened up, and God help me it looked like a giant vagina. The mouth had large fleshly lips with no fangs or teeth of any kind, and it extruded a large muscular tentacle like a tongue that licked and caressed me until I was completely covered with a thick warm mucus, and then it gently wrapped it around me and slowly pulled me into its gaping drooling mouth. And I came close to going totally insane from sheer terror. I had always had a phobia of bugs and slugs, and the very idea of being eaten alive by one was one my worst nightmares, but now it wasn't a dream, it was very real. The thing slurped and drooled as it slowly sucked me into its warm wet mouth, and I was extremely vocal about the whole experience, but was totally helpless as I was still numb from being zapped. Then at one point it stopped and I suddenly felt something slide up my asshole, and close over and swallow my penis, and I cut loose with even louder screams as it started to swallow me again. Then when I was in up to my shoulders it stopped again. One of the bug guys came over and stood looking down at me, and I pleaded and begged,

"Oh God, oh God, oh God, please! Please don't do this! I'll do anything, please! Oh please, I don't want to die like this! Please don't let it eat me!" I pleaded desperately.

*But turns out he wasn't there to help me. A tentacle came oozing out of the slug's mouth and the end opened up like some kind of horrible flower, and the bug took that tentacle and guided it so it was pressed against my face! It closed over my mouth and nose and formed an airtight seal, and something slimy forced its way down my throat and into my stomach as I squealed and gagged. Then I was sucked the rest of the way in and the fleshly lips closed over my frantic terrified eyes as they finished swallowing me. I slid the rest of way into the slug's throat and was pulled into its body until I reached the approx. center. Now that I was inside it I could tell it did have organs, they were just clear like the rest of its body, but from my new perspective I could see their outlines. But I was too terrified to appreciate the view. I was pulled into what felt like a soft, wet, very warm bag like organ which I assumed was the slugs stomach, and I started thrashing a little as it began to fill with a thick mucus like fluid that eventually filled the organ and distended it like a balloon with me floating in the center held there by the tentacles in my ass and mouth. I was finally getting some control back, but it was way too late. I turned my head and looked at the slug next to "mine" and could see the woman inside slowly dissolving into a cloud of dark pink fluid, could actually see her disintegrating, could see bone and internal organs, and she was still moving! Oh GOODDDD! I screamed in my mind, please help me! Somebody, please! *

*I felt a warm itching tingling start on my skin, then it started to seep into my body and I could FEEL myself starting to come undone, that's the only way I can describe it. I felt myself began to dissolve and soon went blind, but was still aware, could still feel, but there was no real pain, only warmth and a vague discomfort. Is this what it's like to be digested alive, to die? I thought. I struggled until my muscles dissolved and joined the thick soup of DNA and other genetic material I was becoming, and eventually even my awareness faded as I mercifully slipped into unconsciousness. But I didn't die, far from it. Slowly my body completely dissolved with the exception of my brain and part of my nervous system. Mercifully by then I was unaware. *

*The Lician Lab tech continued to monitor the process of dissolution in the GRU unit it was tasked with monitoring and maintaining. The GRU (Genetic Reconfiguration Unit) was a living intelligent being itself, though it had been artificially created by the Lician bioengineering Labs. It was nicknamed a "Womb" for short as the animals it "ingested" were "reborn" as entirely new beings called GALF's, short for Genetically Altered Life Forms. The alterations; or modifications, could be rather simple and benign, or extreme. Originally designed for medical treatment it was soon discovered that the GRU's could be used for other purposes, uses considered unethical by most intelligent races, and those uses were made illegal in all civilized systems. But that didn't keep a flourishing black market from springing up centered around the illegal use of GRU's. In the case of the four animals contracted for treatment by Capt. Gord the alterations were extreme to the maximum limit. When they emerged from the GRU's they would be totally unrecognizable, completely reconfigured down to their DNA. *

*The Lician looked up as the dissolved portions of the animals original anatomy that were of no use were siphoned off, and the pink genetic soup slowly cleared leaving the GRU's transformation organ clear again revealing only the animals brain and part of its nerve system ganglia remaining. Some of the ganglia twitched and curled, but the Lician knew the animal was unconscious, if not it there would have been the possibly of severe mental trauma. The Licians, and the GRU's, were not sadistic beings, and they did their best to make those entrusted to their "care" suffer as little as possible. The GRU's were designed to see any beings they altered as their "children", so were very gentle in how they handled them. If something went wrong a GRU could literally die of grief if it lost a "child" entrusted to its care. Now that dissolution and the initial preparation stage had been finished it was time for the new genetic coding to be implemented. The transformation organ began to fill with a thick dark colored fluid to provide the new genetic material and nutrition the forming GALF would require. The animal's brain and nervous system ganglia first underwent significant changes so they would be able to function in, and control, their new body, and then the GALF's new body began to form. However the original animal's memories and personality would remain intact, nothing would be lost. But at the same time its brain would be modified to accept its new body so there would be no danger of rejection or mental trauma, the new body would feel "normal". As with all GALF's the new one would also be docile and compliant to the wishes of its owner, it would be incapable of rebelling against the authority of its owner or to harm any intelligent being except in certain rare cases of self defense or in defense of its owner. It would come to see this as normal, and would be content with its new life without evening realizing it had been programmed to accept a life of servitude. The perfect slave is a slave who is happy to be a slave even if he knows how he became a slave. *

GALF's were considered intelligent livestock, they did not even have the rights of slaves, they had no rights. There was no such thing as a "free" GALF, they were strictly property, period. When an owner died their ownership reverted to the new owner they were willed to, or to the state or authority under which their previous owner had lived. No one cared what the GALF's thought. An owner could not free a GALF; they could not function on their own no matter their level of intelligence. They needed someone to tell them what to do. However mistreatment was very rare as GALF's were after all very valuable property and lived only to please and serve their owners. Plus an owner deliberately mistreating a GALF was subject to heavy fines and/or confiscation of the abused GALF, at least in the civilized systems. In the outreaches they were on their own and some were horribly mistreated since many did not view them as truly living beings.

The Lician medtech made a few more entries into the monitor array, received a confirmative from the GRU, put the system on automatic to be monitored by the Labs AI, and moved on to the next GRU.

*The GRU gently began to weave a new body around the brain and nervous system of the child in its care. It was very careful and methodical as it first enlarged the nervous system and changed it to its new genetic configuration, and then it began to slowly form the GALF's body, from the inside out. If the GALF became aware too soon and started to suffer the GRU administered drugs to calm and soothe it as it went back to sleep. The GRU's own mind actually merged and joined with the GALF's temporarily to help monitor and assist in the new beings growth. This form was very unique, very complicated, the body's structure would be almost solid with little in the way of recognizable organs or internal structure, it would be more synthetic then organic. It's "skeleton" or framework was formed of an extremely tough cartilage like material, but it was malleable and could change its very form drastically, literally become fluid and assume totally new shapes. The rest of its body was mainly sinewy muscle, also capable of changing and stretching its shape into almost any form. The new GALF would be capable of extreme metamorphic capabilities in order to perform its main function. Even its skin could be changed in form and appearance. Many intelligent races would consider it an abomination, but the poor GALF had no say in what it became. And slowly a new form took shape as the thick liquid became clearer as the genetic material was absorbed to fuel the growth of the new GALF, and it took on its programmed form. The GRU kept soothing the beings mind as it became aware again, letting it know it was loved and being cared for, and the new GALF responded with wonder at the gentle loving presence in its mind, all fear gone now. *

Slowly I became aware again, in stages. My first realization was I wasn't alone in my mind. I could feel a presence, a comforting gentle presence that I had no fear of. It was weird and somewhat disturbing, but I knew it meant me no harm. I couldn't really talk to it as it was more empathic than anything else, but it caressed my scared and frightened mind in a way telling me I had nothing to fear and that it would care and protect me while I was a part of it. I felt safe and loved, and just floated in a warm sea of euphoria. Somehow I knew it was the thing that had swallowed me, but I no longer understood why I had been so terrified. I became aware I had a body again, but it felt different, strange, but at the same time natural and normal for me. And slowly I was aware of a growing brightness, first faint and diffuse, but suddenly I opened my eyes and could see again! I rolled my eye and looked at a bug guy who was standing on the outside of the slug and looking in at me. I blinked, and realized my eyesight was different now, much crisper and colors were much more vivid, and I could see colors I never had before, I could even see inside some things! It was so strange, but wonderful too. Plus I could see an aura flickering around the bug guy, a kind of glowing corona. It was very weird, but I somehow knew a lot about him from his aura. He was a male, in good health, and bore me no ill will. His aura was healthy and benign. I closed my eyes again to think about what I'd seen, and wondered what I was now as somehow I knew I was no longer anything remotely human. I moved my arms and legs and my tail, a tail which felt perfectly natural for me to have. I panicked a little at the weirdness, but the gently loving presence in my mind soothed me and I drifted off into sleep again, happy and content.

*The Lician watched as the forming GALF opened its new eyes for the first time and looked at him. The Lician could see the intelligence in that gaze, and though its own appreciation of what it considered beautiful was limited it had to conceded that the being forming in the GRU's transformation organ was truly impressive, the bright gem like eyes and brilliant colors on the still forming epidermis were lovely. The Lician sent a few recommendations to the GRU, was acknowledged, and then left to monitor the next GRU. *

*The GRU acknowledged the input from the medtech, but was somewhat annoyed as it knew what it was doing. It was its own prerogative to accept the recommendations or not, and in this case it didn't. It refused to speed up the process as it would in no way endanger or put the child in its care in jeopardy. The GRU could never truly have any offspring of its own as it was a GELF, a Genetically Engineered Life Form. The main difference was a GELF was created from nothing; a GALF was formed from an already existing being. So the GRU lavished its motherly instincts on those animals it transformed, and it remembered them long after they had left its care, and not a few GALF's viewed the GRU that "birthed" them as a surrogate mother. No GALF in any way blamed the GRU for what had been done to them; they only remembered the loving presence that had cared for them. *

*Finally the new GALF was fully formed and ready to be "reborn" to start its new life, a life over which it had no control, a life that wasn't even that of a slave. The GRU sent a signal to the medlab AI unit to inform it that it could give "birth" anytime the medtechs wanted. Then it waited, spending the short remaining time with its child checking and double checking to make sure everything had gone as programmed. *

I woke up again and realized something had changed. The presence in my mind was feeling distress and sadness, and in turn it was I that tried to soothe it. I returned its love, and then with a final mental caress it slowly faded from my mind and I found I missed that gentle caring feeling another had for me, and then I felt a sudden pressure and realized I was moving. I could see fine and knew I was being extruded from the thing I had been inside of for how long I had no idea, and found I didn't want to leave the warmth and comfort, that I wanted it back in my mind so I could bask in its love. So I struggled as much as I could, but it was useless of course. And I cried.

The Lician watched as the GRU convulsed and pushed the now completely formed GALF from its body through the same orifice it had entered. First the head emerged and the medtech wiped thick mucus from around the GALF's mouth and helped the tentacle to disconnect before being drawn back into the GRU. Then with a sudden rush of embryonic like fluids the GALF slid onto the stretcher where it writhed in confusion and mild panic. The medtech administered a mild sedative, secured the GALF with straps, and accompanied the stretcher to the recovery area, ran the GALF through a cleaning unit, then left it in a holding area along with three other recently completed fellow GALF's waiting to be claimed by their owner.

I blinked in the bright light as I slid from the slug's body. I was alone in my mind again and didn't want to be, at least that other loving presence had helped to control my panic at what had happened, and had been there to comfort me. I felt horribly alone, but when the bug guy gave me a shot of something I calmed down and didn't struggle when it strapped me down. I just stared at everything around me, and down the long snout I now had. I wanted to look at the rest of my strange new body, but couldn't for now. I blinked a few times to wipe goo off my eyes and just stared trying to come to grips with what was going on. I looked back at the huge slug like creature and no longer felt any terror, only sadness and loneliness. The bug took me to a room and ran me through a machine of some kind that washed my body with lovely warm fluid of some kind that removed all the thick goop my body was encased in and I came out squeaky clean and refreshed feeling. It had even cleaned out the inside of my mouth somehow to remove the gunk I'd been hocking up. I actually felt pretty good now; all things considered, everything seemed more vivid, in sharper focus.

The Lician contacted admin to let them know the "finished products" were ready for Capt. Gord to pick up, then returned to double check on the four new GALF's, was pleased by their docile attitudes as they stared at him with bright curious eyes, and left them until they were claimed.

I turned my head so I could see the creature lying next to me on a stretcher. It looked like a big lizard or gecko, but not exactly. It had beautiful eyes like star sapphires, brilliant green with "X" shaped pupils, and it stared back at me in equal fascination. Its skin was finely pebbled, almost smooth, and brilliant colored stripes and blotches ran down its sides, its stomach was smooth and a lovely bright green color. I could see one of its hands, it had four fingers and a thumb, the digits long and almost fragile looking, but ending in sharp claws. It blinked and I blinked, then it opened its mouth and said, in English!

No, not English I realized, my mind was just translating it into a language I already knew and understood. I heard sibilant lisping hissing sounds, but my mind translated them. I would soon realize I now "knew" just about every known spoken language and others as well; it was part of my "programming" and functions as a GALF. Like old 3PO I was now a "universal translator". What it had to say really surprised me,

*"Who are you, what are you, where are we, and what the FUCK is going on!?!" the lizard thing hissed at me in a scared voice. *

"My name is Josh, I replied, I have no idea what I am now, but I used to be human."

"Me too! The lizard said, but I don't think I am any more. You look like a pretty lizard by the way. My name is Mary. And what where those icky bug things?"

"You look like a lizard too, I said, a very pretty lizard. I don't know what those bug things are, but I think they did this to us. Buy why?"

About this time other rather strident; and scared, hissing voices broke in. Soon we figured out there were four of us, we'd all been human once, and our names were Josh, Mary, Brent, and Paul. And no one had the slightest idea what the hell was going on, where we were, what the bug things were, or the slugs, or why we'd been turned into pretty lizards with gems for eyes. Finally we just settled down except for the occasional worried hisses as we waited to find out, hopefully, what the fucking hell was going on. I was able to see a little more of my own, and the others bodies, and what I saw reinforced my impression we were large, very pretty, lizards now. I seemed to be mainly blue in color, Mary was green, Brent was silver and white, and Paul was golden bronze. But we weren't solid colors, but every shade in between in stripes and coloring that gave us an almost iridescent look, when we moved ripples of color flowed over our bodies, the lights even seemed to change with our moods, it was really very beautiful. And my sense of smell was incredible, almost overwhelming. But except for our colors we seemed to be identical, we were naked but had no visible genitals; in fact we had no openings, not even assholes. We weren't exactly thrilled about that though. Even though I appeared to be sexless I still thought of myself as male. I ran my tongue around the inside of my mouth and realized I didn't have any teeth, just some sort of raised ridges that felt like cartilage and were one piece. How the heck would I eat? I also couldn't move my jaws sideways, just up and down, so how the heck could I even chew? At least I didn't feel hungry yet, in fact I felt well fed, and, well, vibrant. I tried to move, but the straps kept me secured.

#8 politely acknowledged the message to Capt. Gord informing him the four new GALF's were ready to be picked up. He walked over to the Captain and stared down at the very drunk, loudly snoring creature. With a hiss he picked up a blanket and tucked it around the Captains body. "Stupid old drunk" he hissed affectionately. Then he went to collect his new fellow GALF's. He knew the Captain would have sent him to do it anyway; he'd been with him long enough to know him better then he knew himself. So he left the suite, sealed the security door with a password, and headed for the medical section.

As #8 entered the Mardigal's Lab facility he had mixed feelings. This was the same place he had been "reborn" all those long years ago. He had originally been from a primitive catlike race that called themselves the Kisah that were raided for slaves on a regular basis as their planet was isolated and defenseless. He had been a male, so still thought of himself as "he" even though he had no specific gender definition now, for all practical purposes he was sexless, was not even a neuter. He just didn't like thinking of himself as an "it". #8 had a little run in with a Lician who had a personal problem with a GALF running around "unsupervised", and the stupid bug insisted on contacting the Captain. Captain Gord woke up, screamed into the com, and after that the Lician was more than glad to be more cooperative. The Captain had that effect on anyone who wasted his time. #8 was taken to inspect the new GALF's, and after a brief exam to make sure none were had come out of the GRU as raving loonies, signed for, and accepted, them. They became quite vocal when they saw him; and came up with some rather inventive and very uncomplimentary names for the Lician accompanying him, but shut up when he hissed at them. He told them to,

"Shut up all of you, I will explain things when we reach your new home. Be quiet for now. And yes, I'm just like you."

*He could see the fear and confusion in their bright gemlike eyes, and felt sympathy as he remembered his own reaction after waking up as an entirely new being. But there was a place and time for explanations. He released them from their restraints, put collars attached to a coffle around their necks, and pulling on the leash led them out of the Lab and into the main corridors of the station. They didn't much like the collars, but it was regulations. But they followed obediently enough without even probably realizing they were doing it, they had no choice, and they had been programmed to obey. He led them to the docking bay and onboard the ship that would be their home for an unknown period of time. #8 took them to a rest and entertainment area, removed the collars, and told them to get comfortable. They all looked around, at him and one another, then slowly sat down in the large comfortable chairs and stared at him expectantly. He had promised answers, and they waited patiently for them. Again they had no idea they were being so patient because they had been programmed not to speak unless first spoken to and/or given permission. *

Gods, where to begin? #8 thought. He had never gotten used to telling formerly free beings they were now less then slaves, their old lives gone forever. Finally he hissed for their attention, then said,

"I am #8, and pointing to each one in turn told them their own numerical designations. That's it; we aren't allowed any other names, so forget whatever you used to be called. You can think of yourself as he or she if you want, but to one another; and in public, we go by our numbers. This is to prevent confusion as we are identical except for our colorings. Like yourselves I used to be something else, but like me you are now GALF's, that's short for Genetically Altered Life Forms. We are property, not slaves, just property. You have to be a recognized sentient being to be a slave; we do NOT have that recognition. Since we are basically synthetic we have the same social standing as a chair, so get used to it. But it's not all bad, Captain Gord, your owner and skipper of this tub, is a decent enough asshole. I've been with him for quite awhile, and he has never treated me badly. That doesn't mean he can't be a real terror if he feels like it though, so DON'T MAKE HIM MAD! That's rule number one. As long as you do as you're told you'll get by fine. You'll be given some tests to see if you have the aptitude to become a crew member, otherwise you'll spend most of your time in stasis in between business stops. If you screw up too much you'll most likely be sold, and believe me there are far worse places then this ship, and far worse owners. Now questions, I'll answer as best I can, then you'll be assigned a partner to start your training and explain even more. OK, you, #78. NO, that's the silver one! You're #76, wait your turn!

Brent, or rather #78, said "This is crazy! How could you do this to us? I mean, it's wrong!"

#8 replied, "First, I didn't do it to you, it was done to me too, I'm property just like you are now. And yes, it's wrong, it sucks, and is illegal in most of the civilized systems, but it's also very real. And don't bitch about it, no one else gives a shit except your fellow GALF's and we're all in the same boat, and no one else cares. Next question?"

I waved my hand, or paw, or whatever, and asked, "Uh, #8, what the Hell ARE we? I mean, why lizards?"

*"Aha, good question! #8 replied, pointing at me. First off we are NOT lizards, we just happen to look like them. No idea why, but I like it, beats looking like a bug. We are not reptile, mammal, amphibian, or any other natural recognized life form. We are GALF's, as I said before we are a synthetic life form, unnatural and unique. It's hard to explain exactly, even I don't know everything. GALF's are created for all kinds of purposes, many are criminals that are sentenced to become GALF's in order to become useful to the society they once preyed on. Most are former livestock like you, illegally harvested from unprotected planets for that purpose. As GALF's you're much more valuable, cheaper on the upkeep, and more versatile. The fact we have no rights or recognition as sentient beings is also a plus, at least for our masters." *

*I raised my hand again, and asked "OK, I kind of get the picture, but what do we do? I mean, what is our purpose, what were WE made for? My fellow humans, I mean GALF's, and I??" *

Oh dear, thought #8, the inevitable dreaded question. "Well, he hissed, some of you will become crew members. But in addition to that, our main purpose, or function if you will, is as pleasure GALF's."

*"SAY WHAT! Screeched Mary, or #76, you mean as in SEX? OH, NO FUCKING WAY YOU PERVERT!" *

And that set them all off, flashes of color flowing up and down their bodies showing their rage and upset. So #8 patiently waited until things calmed down a little, and then said,

*"Yes, it means sex, and other physical and mental ways of giving pleasure, he hissed softly. But it's not as bad as it sounds, it's a two way exchange, we give pleasure, but we receive it in return. It can be quite pleasurable to say the least." *

"BUT, but, I don't want to be a prostitute! Wailed #76, I'm a girl; I don't want to be a whore!"

"You mean, I broke in, that this is ship is a flying bordello, the Captain is a pimp, and we're going to be whores and gigolo's?!?! That, that's SICK! And wait; how the HELL can we have sex if we don't have any sexual organs?? And come to think of it how the heck will we go to the bathroom?!?"

Again #8 waited until the commotion died down some, and then said loudly, "SHUT UP and listen to me! Yes and no. First off #76, you're NOT a girl anymore, not really. We're sexless, we don't even have anuses. We're neither male, female, neuter, or anything. Our bodies are morphic, we can assume many different forms. We can take on both male and female forms with perfectly functional sexual organs compatible with many different races, and some races have three or four sexes, and we can fill the role of any of those. However we do not produce sperm or have ovaries, our organs are merely for pleasure, not procreation. Think of us as living sex toys. I know it's hard to believe; even I have never taken on all the forms of which we're capable. You will be taught to change at will, or in some cases the changes will be triggered by pheromones or other triggers. Yes, this ship is a flying bordello of sorts, but we are NOT whores. You have to be slaves or free beings to be whores; we're no more whores then an animal that is rented out for stud services. And we HATE that term; we prefer "pleasure givers". Our Captain rents us to clients, which is where the funds come from to run this ship and take care of us. We like to think of ourselves as a kind of self supporting family in a way."

"Nooooo, wailed #76, and #77 hugged her and hissed angrily. #78 looked like he'd just been told his pet dog had been run over, and #75 asked another intelligent question, much to No. 8' approval.

"Look, um, #8, I said. This is, is crazy. No offense; but getting buggered by a bunch of aliens just does NOT appeal to me no matter what I am now. Couldn't we just, I don't know, chuck this Captain guy out the airlock and run off and live on our own somewhere, at least we'd be free. I mean, if the crew are all GALF's then we kind of have him outnumbered."

#8 gave a sad, but approving hiss, "Yes, it's crazy, but it works, you don't really understand yet. Wait until your desire to give pleasure kicks in, your sex drive if you like. It's an addiction; we're wired to need it as much as a junky needs a fix. And not just with one another, but with partners from many different races. I can't begin to describe it, it's horrible and wonderful at the same time, and the pleasure is almost beyond comprehension. Our whole bodies are designed for pleasure, and we're quite insatiable. We follow and obey the Captain; our owner, because we have no choice, and because we want to. He provides us with what we need, a home, and takes care of us, gives us a reason for existing. Every crew member, ever GALF is completely loyal to him, myself included. In return; as long as we do our duties, he leaves us more or less to our own devices and treats us fairly. We may not love him, and call him names behind his back, but we ARE loyal. So make no mistake about that, and soon you will be too once you understand how things work around here, and come to understand what you are now."

*#76, still sniveling, asked, "What do you mean, we have different forms? Do we have to go back in those, those giant worm things again?" *

"The GRU's? #8 replied. No, we can't go back in one again, it wouldn't be able to do anything. Our new forms are permanent; once you become a GALF you can never be transformed again, into anything. As to different forms, let me show you a few."

#8 closed his eyes, picked a form, and initiated the change. His smooth skin grew rough, a pattern formed, and divided into scales, his size increased slightly, and his bright coloring became more subdued. He opened his eyes and smiled at his stunned audience.

"This is a Saurian form, a fairly simple change. It is sexually compatible with over forty known reptilian races, in either "male" or "female" configuration. Or in the case of one, both, as that race is hermaphroditic. With minor modifications it can be compatible with another twelve reptilian and four Amphibian life forms. Now watch this kiddies."

#8 concentrated again, his scales rippled and fluffed out into something resembling feathers, his snout lengthened into a narrow beak, his tail split into a fan of feathers, and his legs became more bird like. He cawed, and said,

"And this is an avian form, a female by the way, of one race we have customers from fairly often. The females are kept in cloistered flocks guarded by the dominant males, so the lesser males are our frequent patrons so they can relieve their sexual needs. They are quite nice by the way, very gentle lovers and always bring presents, but of course the Captain gets most of those, we don't own anything of our own though we are allowed some body jewelry for decorative purposes."

Then #8 reverted back to his "normal" form, and looking at the four new GALF's who were gaping at him with open mouths, said,

"Those are simple changes; many are much more extensive and complicated. Some you can do automatically, others you have to learn. We can even "teach" ourselves new forms if needed. Once one of us learns a new form it can "teach" another GALF while joined with them. Oh yes, we pleasure one another quite often, it's, its' what we are, what we do. But with one another, it's, well, different, special. You'll understand soon enough. And changing form is quite pleasurable by the way. And you don't just change your form, you change your mind set as well. You become that life form, with all its needs and desires, and you experience the same sexual pleasure the natural form would."

I shut my mouth with a snap, and managed to ask, "But what about, well, getting pregnant? Or catching venereal diseases? And how, how do we change?"

"Ah, more good questions! #8 replied. Don't worry about getting knocked up, like I said earlier we have no wombs and produce no sperm, just fluids for lubrication, stimulation, and those that serve the same purpose with partners we need to ejaculate into. And NO diseases, we're synthetic, can a chair get sick? We don't have the cell structure for a disease to live in. we're a solid matrix. And because of that we can't become carriers either, so anything that rents our services know they don't run any risk of getting sick so don't have to use protection, which is a plus, no condoms necessary with us. And those who are sick and unable to mate with their own kind can seek us out for relief as we can't catch their diseases. We're designed for "safe sex".

*Uggh, I thought. This is, is so fucked up! I want to go home! *

#8 continued, "As for learning to "shift", we'll teach you. You'll each be assigned an experienced GALF as a sexual partner and mentor to start teaching you. You'll also undergo testing to see if you can also do double duty as a crew member. Now, before I assign your mentors, any more questions? We have time for a couple more, and then you can ask your mentor anything else."

I spoke up again, getting dirty looks from a couple of others I beat, "Please, I really don't want to do this, this sexual stuff. I've never, well, I've never even done it with a girl before. I'm a virgin. Can't I just be a crew member or something? I promise I'll do my best."

"What he said!" chipped in #77, and the others nodded.

"No, sorry, #8 said. We all have to do it, but believe me very soon you'll want to do it, very much because you'll need to do it. Both as male, female, and others. Look, I'm sorry, but it's what we do, we were created for that specific purpose."

Maybe you do, I thought. God I hate this. I don't want to be some kind of nymphomaniac lizard that can screw; or be screwed, by birds and stuff! I think the others felt pretty much the same way. It was one hell of a shock, and frankly I was even more shocked we were being quite so, well, calm about it. I thought that by now I'd be running around in circles screaming. But here we were talking about being sex slaves like we were discussing a new job at Wal-Mart! We were one unhappy bunch of very confused and upset lizards.

*"OK, said #8, enough questions for now." He punched in a command on his wristcom, and a short time later three other colorful lizards entered the room. "Hello Nos. 14, 29, and 34. These are the new GALF's. #14, I'm assigning you as #76's mentor, #29 as #77's, and #34 as #78's. #75, you're with me. Now be gentle you slobs, they're new and still don't understand. Don't push them, take it easy, let them adjust." *

I watched as the others got up one by one and left with their "mentors". #76, Mary, left with a bright yellow lizard who seemed very courteous, #77, Paul, left with a dark green lizard that made a comment about his lovely color, and #78 left with a coal black lizard with red eyes that was stunning looking in an almost malevolent way. And I was left with #8, who was a pale violet color and had darker violet colored eyes. He looked at me, and I looked at "him", standoff. If he tried to touch me I'm biting, I thought. But he didn't, just indicated to door, and said,

"Come we me please, we need to check up on the Captain. He's probably awake and cranky by now."

So I followed him, I mean, what the hell else could I do? And in spite of myself I was curious. I was on a real spaceship, docked to a real space station! Leonard Nimoy eat your heart out you poser! As we walked I couldn't help but realize just how beautiful #8 was. We passed other lizards, or GALF's, and most never said a word but their stripes flashed and pulsed and I instinctively knew they were greeting one another, and when we passed another GALF who was blue like myself my own stripes flashed without my even realizing it, and the other lizard smiled and said "Thanks, you're pretty too.", much to my embarrassment as I hadn't even known I'd made the compliment! And the ship was huge, turns out it was an antiquated luxury liner and transport, perfect for its new "function". It was called the "Pleasure Bringer". And if I thought the ship was huge, it was dwarfed by the space station. We passed a port and I just stopped and stared. #8 politely stopped too, and said,

"For a den of corruption it IS impressive, isn't it?"

I said, "I've always wanted to go into space, but not like this, not as something else so strange. I mean, I still think of myself as human, even though this body feels normal."

#8 said, "We all do for a long time, but it's better once you accept it. It just takes the mind longer to adjust. I'm grateful they leave our minds intact, that I'm still me, more or less. I know who I was, and who, and what, I am now. In my mind I just don't feel very different."

*"So am I, I replied, but what's it like? I mean, I guess I'm an alien now too, like you, but what's it LIKE???" *

"Gods know it's a little disconcerting at first, said #8 in a soft sympathetic voice, but once you learn what you are, learn what it can be like, the incredible pleasure you can give and receive, it's wonderful. You'll learn to love it, live for it, like we all do. I picked you to mentor as you're obviously very intelligent, and it will be harder for you because of that. I'll train you to be the ships assistant purser, and assistant valet to the Captain. Good duty."

*"Well, thank you, I guess." I replied a little hesitantly. *

We stood and looked at the huge space station for awhile. It had a gigantic central tube with large docking rings on each end. We could clearly see beings of many different kinds passing by ports on its sides. Some were totally bizarre, and lived in special compartments with their own required atmospheres and climates. One looked like a swarm of bees or bugs of some kind, and when I pointed it out #8 told me it was a hive mind being, each individual insect was part of the whole. The queen flew at the center of the swarm, or was nesting somewhere. Weird and wonderful. I could have stared for hours, but finally #8 gave my arm a gentle tug, and I turned and followed him. Another strange alien in a station full of strange aliens, but I felt like I was the strangest of all. I didn't see any humans, including myself.

*"This wretched creature, said #8, is our illustrious Captain." *

*I looked at the large, loudly snoring, alien lying on the bed. Ugh. He looked like a cross between an alligator, a horse, and a tiger. He had four legs, two arms, thick heavy body with long tail, human like torso, gator like head, orange and black striped fur, stank, and was obviously drunk and/or hung over. I wasn't impressed. He was also nude and very male. *

*Great, I thought, so this is my owner? Frankly I'd been hoping for someone, or something, more along the lines of Capt. Picard. Instead I get a tiger-horse-lizard who's a drunk. *

"You're kidding, right? What IS it?" I asked, in a less then respectful tone.

*"IT" is a Tolgdon, a great and noble race, usually." #8 replied. *

The creature let out a huge fart and rolled over smacking its jaws with a loud clacking sound, and I backed up a little bit. Those were very nasty fangs, and PU!

#8 saw my small retreat, and smiling with flashing lights, said, "Don't worry, he's harmless. We're not edible anyway; chewing on us is like chewing on rubber. Nasty. We're not on anything's menu. Now help me get our fearless leader into the shower, and do NOT let him get a hold of another bottle of brandy. The auction is tonight and he has to be there, AND sober."

I got to stand in the shower and help hold up the large, heavy, furry, smelly creature that was to decide my fate from now on. It was not a good first impression. As I held him up #8 washed him thoroughly and then we both dried him off as best we could, but at least he could stand up on his own now. He was still pretty much out of it though, but finally noticed me, and said,

"Who the hell is this?"

"This is one of the new GALF's, #75. He's smart, so I assigned him for training as purser and to help me keep up with you boss. The other three have already been paired with mentors. They all turned out nice, great markings."

"He is nice, the Captain said, we can always use more blues. We'll be making Kreed as our next stop, and those Kreedians love anything blue."

Um, hello, I thought. I'm standing right here. And what the heck is a Kreedian?

"Um boss, #8 said, I doubt he'll be ready by then, I haven't broken him in yet or shared any programming, and he hasn't even done any changes yet. And those Kreedians require drastic changes."

"Yeah, you're probably right, you usually are you stupid lizard. Now where's the brandy?"

"Of course I'm always right, that's why you put up with me. And you drank all the brandy, the whole case."

"Rats, well, is there anymore?" the Captain asked hopefully.

"Not until after the auction, or you'll blow it like you did on Krag 4. We still haven't recovered from that debacle."

"Yeah, I know already, I was there remember, groused the Captain. Not my fault I got the exchange rate wrong, they lied to me. Well, if I must abstain at least I can get a bite to eat. Let's go to the "Hungry Hunter" grill, they have great Trog steaks."

*I half expected the "Captain" to go nude as a lot of aliens seemed to do that, GALF's included. I mean, would you put clothes on a cow? Which is about where GALF's rank socially; as I would soon come to learn. It's not like we had anything you could see anyway. But the Captain put on an outfit that made me snigger. Fancy coat with lots of buttons, cords on the shoulders, a stupid little pillbox cap, an honest to God sword he carried in an over the shoulder scabbard, etc. He looked like the head bellhop at the Ritz. *

#8 made a "shush" motion with a finger, and said softly as we followed the Captain down the corridors, "Don't make fun of his outfits, he thinks he's cool looking. He has no fashion sense, but don't let on. He'd get really upset, and he's bad enough not upset. You don't want to get him pouting, he's insufferable then."

*I just nodded my head and flashed a "gotcha" signal, and he responded with a "good" flash. *

"And another thing, said #8, when we get where we're going, do NOT talk unless spoken too. GALF's are meant to be seen, not heard. If you are asked a direct question you can answer, but only then. The Captain is quite permissive as far as owners go, we can talk to him directly without permission, but NOT with strangers. If we do we can get our owner in trouble, and for all his faults we do NOT want to do that. Do you understand me?" And he added a bright flash to emphasize his warning.

I didn't say a thing, just flashed an "affirmative".

He smiled, flashed another "good", and said, "You catch on quick, good."

The "Hungry Hunter" grill reminded me of a cross between a Famous Dave's barbeque joint, a hangout for "B" movie monsters, and a riot. We literally had to fight our way to a table, following in the Captains wake as he cleared the way like a tank. The place was crammed with all sorts of weird, and weirder, aliens. Some I could more or less classify with labels like catman, frog woman, bug, big lizards, little lizards, birdman, etc., but many defied classification. Some were even in atmosphere suits, full body ones or just face masks to provide rare gases they needed. And it stank, as in Ewww. I think more than a few of the masks were filters to make the air breathable and cut out the smell. I stepped in a slime trail being left by a couple of slug people and did a little "grossed out" dance and shook my claws off. Eyuck! The Captain finally found us a "private" booth, and after evicting the previous occupants we moved in. A waitress, or waiter, or whatever the hell it was showed up, took the Captains order, and when the order came it looked like a big pile of almost raw meat, and the Captain tore into it with gusto, splattering both of us poor GALF's with juices and little scraps of whatever it was. It was disgusting. When he was done, which didn't take long, he settled back, gave a huge burp of appreciation, and almost went to sleep. I just stared, totally grossed out. Then something that looked like a wolfman with purple & red striped fur came up to the table, and asked,

"How much to fuck the blue one? I just got in from the Kreedian Run and am horny as hell."

"SAY WHAT!" I hissed in an outraged tone.

The Captain casually backhanded me, knocking me under the booth where he put a paw on me while I wriggled, tried to bite, and gave indignant hisses, and said, "Sorry, it's new, not broken in or trained yet. Give you good deal on the other one though, it's an expert."

They worked out a price, thirty credits (whatever they were), touched what looked like rings to me together to transfer the payment, and then #8 and the purple wolfman disappeared into the crowd. I watched him go and had never felt so lonely in my life. He was my first "friend" since I'd woken up like this. I hugged my strange new body and started shivering. The Captain noticed, and picking me up he pulled me into a hug, and I kicked and hissed. He just hugged me harder until I squealed and stopped struggling, and said,

"Calm down #75, #8 will be fine, it's a pro. You couldn't have a better mentor."

But I didn't calm down; I'd had just about enough. "Let me go! I hissed angrily, who the hell do you think you are? I'm a person, not a damn thing! I have a name, I'm NOT an IT! My name is Josh McIntyre! How could you do this to me?" And I started crying.

The Captain loosened his hug a little, but didn't let me go. He just held me while I cried and I ended up burying my muzzle in his soft fur and hugging him back. He smelled like a warm dog. I heard a few more inquires as the cost of my "services" but he just told the interested parties to "fuck off" and I'll always be grateful for that.

Finally the Captain got up, and said, "Follow me, stay close, and try to subdue your lights. Many races consider them advertising. I never should have brought a new GALF to a place like the Hunters."

"What about #8?" I asked.

The Captain shrugged, and replied, "It's rented out for three station hours, so it'll show up later. Once the customers time is up it's free to return to the ship, unless it rents out its services again on the way."

"Why the hell would HE, IT, want to rent out its services!"

"Because that's what pleasure GALF's do, they enjoy it and are very good at what they do, that's why they're in such big demand. You will be too."

"But why? It's wrong, it'd degrading, how can you force someone to do that? For God's sake I'm an intelligent being!"

The Captain paused, and then said in surprise, "Why? To make money of course! And once you come to understand what you are you won't see it as degrading anymore. It will become what you live for, to give pleasure."

"LIKE it? I shrieked, LIKE letting anything that wants to fuck you? Why the HELL should we like it!"

The Captain stopped and rubbed his snout, "By Gorm I really don't need this shit right now. Damn newbie. Look, GALF, he snarled at me, the universe is NOT a nice place. I own you now, whatever you were before is GONE forever. No changing back, no ever going home. You are my property, I am your owner. Work hard and I'll treat you well; fuck-up and I'll sell you in a heartbeat. You are a registered Pleasure GALF now, nothing else, and you will be as long as you exist. No one, not anybody, will give a damn about your previous life and personal hang-ups, no one CARES! You have NO rights anywhere, intelligent or not. The sooner you understand that the better off you'll be."

I just stared at him in shock. But when he turned and went on his way I followed, I sure as hell didn't want to be alone in this place. We went back to his room and he sat down at desk with some sort of console on it, and stared doing stuff. It was pretty interesting as the computer screen, or whatever it was was a 3-D holograph projection of some kind, but I pretty much ignored him and sulked in a corner feeling sorry for myself. Once he called me over, and I obeyed as it just seemed the right thing to do, and asked,

"What does this say?" And he pointed at a section of the display.

I looked at the glowing script that looked like a bunch of spaghetti with little dots mixed in. And to my surprise understood it perfectly! So I said,

"Somebody named Kixtak wants to know if you'll accept something called Gent Trade Dollars in payment on livestock, at a 4 to 10 exchange rate."

"In his dreams!" hissed the Captain; you tell him I might at 7 to 10!"

He called up a holographic keyboard, at least I assume that's what it was, and I "typed" in the reply, my claws flicking over the display. How the heck did I even know how to use this thing?? They argued back and forth for awhile, and finally agreed on an exchange rate of 5.2 to 10. I had NO idea what they were talking about, but the Captain seemed pleased. He said,

"Better than I expected, you did good. You have a talent for language translation."

For some reason I felt pleased too, because he was pleased. But then I remembered I hated his guts, so went back to my corner and sulked, my lights all off.

When #8 showed up a short time later I ran to him and hugged him, much to his pleased surprise. His slick pebbly skin felt wonderful to me, his flashing lights cool and soothing.

"Captain, he said, what did you do to #75, he's scared to death!"

"He was whining, so I just told him the facts of life as a GALF. He's got language talent by the way, helped me get a great exchange rate with Kixtax."

"You know, you can be really insensitive, you big jerk!" snapped #8.

*The Captain replied, "Somebody had to tell him his new situation, it's not my fault if you want to baby him!" *

"Have a little heart Captain; he's only been a GALF for less than two ship days! He just came out of the GRU! You know it takes awhile for them to adapt!"

"Better sooner, then later! The Captain said, now enough of this nonproductive chatter. We have an auction to plan. We need to get the livestock ready; they've been on display, time to take them to the auction pens."

The "auction" was a major shock, and a wake-up call of sorts. I saw how I might have ended up and was slowly coming to recognize that maybe I didn't have it so bad after all. I watched as various aliens, including humans, were paraded nude on a stage and sold off one by one. The slug people, they were called the Sliz, bought most of the humans. I felt ill when #8 told me about their fates, that they'd be transformed into something called "foodcocks" to produce the fluids the Sliz liked, basically seminal fluid. Evidently the Sliz ate; or drank; only fluids and they liked the taste of human precum and cum. So the poor bastards were melded with some sort of GELF to become large penis shaped creatures that were constantly milked by jacking them off. It scared the hell out of me; I could have ended up like that! Suddenly being a lizard prostitute with built in neon advertising didn't seem so bad. #8 told me the big armor plated bug looking things would fight to the death in "arenas" against one another; and other, aliens. And they claim they're civilized! I thought as I watched the poor terrified creatures being sold to face who knows what kind of horrible fates. At least on my poor little "backward" planet we'd pretty much done away with slavery, or at least outright versions of it. I also quickly came to realize I had fallen in with the "wrong crowd" as this incredible space station was dedicated to "illicit" activities of which slavery was only one.

When we left the station and the ship headed into deep space the next day, after a "very good auction" according to the Captain, I had mixed feelings. I still felt a strange attachment to the GRU that had "birthed" me, I remembered the peace I had felt inside of it, and how it had truly loved me. I in no way blamed it for what it had done to me, it was as much a "thing" as I was, and was just doing what it had been created for. Just as I would soon be learning to do what I had been created for, and I still wasn't sure how I felt about that. The human in me was appalled, but the GALF I was now was, well, intrigued. I felt there was something I should be doing, and had been feeling a growing need to pursue that something, to find out what I needed. I'd been getting really antsy and irritable the last couple of days when finally #8 grabbed me and told me to come with him.

He took us to one of the old liners cabins, a rather large room (for a spaceship), and there wasn't much in it besides a huge old bed. It was round with raised edges, had the feel of crushed velvet, and had no covers. It felt like it was filled with some sort of soft, but firm, gel when I sat on it. I looked at him, and he looked at me, and then he said,

"First I'm sorry for taking so long in doing this; I should have realized your programming would be kicking in by now. It's gradual to prevent mental trauma in a new GALF, waking up with your programming fully active would be very hard to adapt to. They used to do it that way and one in ten GALF's went insane and others ended up with, well, problem. It still happens, but is much rarer now."

"What, what are you going to do to me?" I asked nervously.

#8 laid down on the bed on his stomach, his lights flashing in a way I found very, um, erotic, and said,

"I'm going to make love to you and give you more pleasure then you thought possible, in a way only one GALF can to another. Afterwards you'll understand so much more, and will realize why most of us don't have a problem with what we do. Why we consider ourselves lucky."

*"Lucky?? Being a sex slave?" I said incredulously. *

But the whole time I had been watching his lights display, and found myself wanting to touch him, to get as close to those lights as I could, and realized I was sending similar signals to him, or it, or whatever we were. But he came to me, and I didn't try to run away or resist, I couldn't.

He slithered across the bed to me, and pulled me over on my back. When he touched me I felt a tingling, and it felt wonderful. I'd touched him before, but had never felt anything like this! He stroked my body and I hissed softly in pleasure, it felt so good. He pulled himself on top of me and wrapped his arms and legs around me, and I did the same, and our lights lit up the whole room like a stage show, every shade of violet and blue flashing and rippling across the walls, our bellies glowing as the colors merged, and I could feel the light, it caressed my body along with his hands and tail and whole body, just our skins touching was incredibly pleasurable. He pressed his snout to mine, we locked our jaws and twined our tongues together, and he looked into my eyes with his own beautiful violet colored gemlike eyes, and we merged. That's the only way I can describe it, we became one being, intimate in a way only another GALF could understand. And he told me things, taught me things, but most of all he loved me in a way far beyond mere sexual pleasure, but there was that too, both as male and female and others even though there was no physical act other then touching one another and our lights. And I knew him in an intimate way that I'd never experienced before, knew who he had been, and what he was now. And he knew me. And I understood what I was now, and it was wonderful to know I could; and would, give so much pleasure to so many others. And not only pleasure, but comfort and companionship, as being a pleasure GALF went far beyond mere sexual pleasure, though that was a large part of our purpose. For our "patrons" bought not only our physical services, but our love as well. When we "entertained" a customer we didn't just fuck them, we made love to them like they were the only person in our lives. That's the only way I can describe what he taught and "told" me. When we finally separated I wasn't the same being anymore, I was still me, but I was a GALF too and no longer thought of myself as only a changed human. And I knew I was loved, completely and totally with all my faults and shortcomings of no consequence.

I lay on my back for awhile longer coming down from the incredible pleasure high, and he stayed next to me gently rubbing my stomach as I hissed in amazement. Our light shows were much more subdued now, but we still "spoke" to one another with them. I gave a wondering hiss, and said,

"That was, was fantastic. Thank you. I didn't know, didn't understand."

"Not so bad now, is it my love? He said, but there is so much more to be taught, so much more to understand and experience. This was just a "quickie", we often stay joined for days at a time, and time becomes meaningless. In a full joining we actually physically merge to some extent but extending villus, almost microscopic tendrils into one another's bodies, it's like being stuck together. In time you will come to "know" all the GALF's on the ship in the same way. Each joining will be unique as we are still individuals despite many beliefs to the contrary. Many beings see us as clones as our only physical differences are our colors, otherwise we're identical. You will find partners you prefer more than others, will have many regular lovers. I hope I will be one you choose."

"You will, I replied, I can hardly wait to merge with you again, that was so fantastic. I've never known anything like that. But while I understand so much now, there are still so many questions I have!"

"That is what a mentor is for, to be your teacher and lover, and to answer those questions. And remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question."

I hissed in amusement, my lights rippling, and he asked,

"What is so funny my lovely blue?"

"We had the same saying on my home planet, or what used to be my home planet", I added a little sadly.

"Then your parent race must be wise, and I am sorry for your loss, but in time it will not hurt so much. I have been a GALF for many years and no longer regret my place. You will soon find you have a new family now, and each and every one loves you. We GALF's stick together, literally!"

And we both hissed in amusement as it WAS true, when two GALF's make love in our own special way we do literally stick together as we meld more than just mentally. Its how one GALF "teaches" another, by passing genetic coding through body contact we can "program" another GALF to take on a new form, or forms.

*"If you have some questions now is a good time, #8 said. Since the ship is under way we have much more free time until we make planet fall or dock at another station, or more rarely with another ship." *

"I have about a million." I replied.

He hissed in amusement, and said, "OK, let's keep it to a few hundred for now. And we can join again later if you like; I didn't want to overdo it the first time. Or we can do it again now?"

I felt my whole body tingle at the thought of that incredible pleasure again, but decided to ask some questions that had been bugging the hell out of me first. While lots of information had been passed to me, there was still a lot that could only be done verbally, or via light, or more often a combination.

"I would love to merge again, but I have some questions that are driving me crazy. OK, I said, my first question, What the HELL are we? I mean I know about what our purpose is now, but what are we physically? I mean, I know we look like lizards, but I saw you change your shape, and I know I can do that now too. HOW do we do it? You said we're synthetic, artificial, does that mean we're not really alive? Are we robots or something? I feel alive; I don't feel like a robot. Is it nanotechnology of some kind?"

He thought for a second, and then said, "Let me show you something." He went over and rummaged around in a small storage compartment set into the wall of the compartment. Curiously I slid across the bed to watch what he was doing. "Ah!" He finally said, and when he turned around he had a knife, it was kind of strange looking, but no doubt about what it was. He smiled, and said,

"Knew I had this old thing around somewhere, a Patak warrior left it behind a few years go. Don't know if by accident or as a gift. It will do fine, watch this!"

And he took that razor sharp knife and slashed his arm, deep! With a shriek of concern I jumped up and looked around for something to use as a bandage before he bled to death.

"Why the fuck did you do that!" I hissed in shock.

"Just look" he replied, and held out his arm.

I looked and saw a large gash that went at least several inches into his arm, and there was no blood, no nothing. His "flesh" was just as violet colored as the rest of him, and there seemed to be no real structure to it other than a pattern of darker strands running through it like ligaments, and what could have been a glimpse of a bone or something similar in the middle, and it was already healing, strands reaching out from each side of the gash to draw the sides back together. As I watched the gash closed, his skin grew back over it, and it was gone without a trace. I looked at him with my mouth open, totally shocked.

"We don't bleed, he said, we don't have blood, bones, or even organs other than our brains and some nerves. We don't eat, we don't excrete, and we don't even breathe. We can even survive in the vacuum of space. But no, we're not robots, we're living beings. I don't know how it works; you'd have to ask the Licians that "created" us, but no one's ever been able to find out. Even if someone dissected one of us, which would be almost impossible to do, and any medscanner shows only a solid body with denser structures of the same material. We don't age or get sick either, I'm almost five hundred ship years old, and have been owned by Captain Gord for about thirty of those years. We don't die either, but we can be destroyed."

I probably looked pretty stupid standing there with my jaws open in shock, my whole body lit up like one big blue bulb expressing total bewilderment. Finally I calmed down, and said,

"Didn't it hurt?"

"Of course it did, but we feel pain differently, it's closer to a different kind of pleasure. It comes in handy as some of those we pleasure have rather, violent, mating practices. In order to please them we must allow them the full range of their sexual needs. So, yes, it hurt, but it hurt in a good way. To us pain is another form of pleasure."

Well, I thought. Just when I thought I was starting to understand a lot more I get hit with another 500 pound bomb. No blood, no bones, no organs? No eating or going to the bathroom? No aging? Well, that was kind of nice, but to be like this forever?? How do we stay alive if we don't eat, where does our energy come from? So many more questions!

"Then, you mean, I asked, we're immortal?"

"Oh Gods no, not by any means, we can die, be destroyed. It's just not easy, and has to be from violence. But it does happen, I've lost some lovers. I'm pretty old for a GALF too; I was one of the first generation when we were still "experimental". I was lucky, I didn't go insane."

"That, that must have been horrible." I replied.

"Yes, it was at first. I had to learn so much on my own, #8 replied, no mentor for me. But it was long ago, and I'm long over that rather traumatic period of my existence. We have to move on, if we dwell on the past we're just miserable all the time. We're programmed to live for the day anyway. It can be a pain and a blessing."

"But if we're solid, I asked, I mean, how do we get the energy we need to stay alive? I mean, I'm no biology major, but we have to get energy or something from somewhere, somehow, to give us, well, power. If we don't eat, or drink, then how?"

"I knew you were smart, #8 replied. I guess saying we don't eat or drink isn't exactly true, we get what we need from our sexual partners, we absorb the fluids they give us, and I think in some ways we also feed off their physic; or "life force" if you like. We take what we need, no more, and they never even realize it, and afterwards they feel better. But NEVER tell anyone who it NOT a GALF about that, not even the Captain. There are real physic vampires out there that can drain a mind and leave it blank and/or brain dead, so we don't want to get that reputation even though we can't do that. What we take is freely given and does NO harm, and greatly increases both the clients and our own pleasure. But we don't need much, and we don't eat solids or drink directly, though we can ingest drinks to be "polite" even though alcoholic drinks and drugs have no effect on us, same with poisons. Oh, and we also draw radiated energy from power sources such as the sun, but we don't drain anything, just absorb what they throw off. In a way you could say we're "eating" all the time, though absorbing would be a more correct term. I'll take you down to the main engine room sometime and let you stand next to the engine coils, it's wonderful! You can feel yourself soaking up the radiation; it's like taking a warm shower."

"Radiation? I said, isn't that dangerous?"

"Not at all, at least not to a GALF, #8 replied. We convert it into energy. That's why there are GALF's designed to strictly work in the engine spaces and live off the radiation. And we don't become radioactive. Like I've said, even we don't really understand how that works. There are many different kinds of GALF's, but so far as I know we all "feed" the same way."

#8 suddenly sat up and looked intent for a second, and then said, "Well, rats, the great one is paging me. It looks like we'll have to wait to make love again until later, sorry #75."

I hadn't heard anything, "How do you know, I mean, I didn't hear a PA system or anything."

"I have no idea what a PA system is, said #8, but we all have implanted communication chips in our heads, as well as an ID and tracking chip. If he had wanted to see you you'd have heard his voice in your head, or if he had a general announcement to make we all would. If you're chosen to be a permanent crew member you'll be able to talk to the ship too."

"Talk to the ship?" I said.

"Yes, you'll have the AI's frequency added to your programming. He's a GELF, a living brain of sorts that controls and runs the ship. He's a bit of a jerk, but OK once you get to know him. Whines a lot though."

"Is there anything on this ship that isn't a GALF or GELF?" I asked.

"Just the Captain, replied #8. The whole crew is GALF's like us. Now come on, he doesn't like to be kept waiting. Probably wants his butt scratched or something. Come with me, you need to learn how to help keep him happy."

"I still don't understand why we have to put up with the guy, I said, I mean, the AI runs the ship, and we basically don't need him."

#8 stopped and grabbed my arm, "Yes, we DO need him, he is more important than you can imagine. We NEED an owner, someone to tell us what to do. On our own we wouldn't know what to do, would be miserable. We're programmed that way, you'll understand it as you learn more about being a GALF. And he is a good Master; he takes very good care of us. He is a sad creature, he was the youngest son of a Tolgdon Royal House, and when his father died he was cheated out of his share of inheritance by his loving siblings and basically banished. He killed the Pantean who was our previous owner in a legal duel, and she was a mean and cruel Mistress. She rented us out to be tortured horribly, again and again because we heal so fast. We were raped and abused and treated with nothing but contempt. He became the legal owner of everything that belonged to her, and we became his property. He treats us more as individuals then most of our previous owners ever did. So yes, we NEED him, and we are completely and totally loyal to him. We even love him in our own way. He is far from perfect, but his good qualities far outweigh his bad."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know, I said. But everyone calls him names; you do it to his face. Doesn't he get mad about that?"

Rapid flashes of violet tinted light ran down #8's sides as he laughed. "Oh, he doesn't mind that much. He kind of likes it, he's pretty informal. Tolgdon's are pretty crude anyway, most other races consider them barbarians. If he wanted we'd all just call him Master of course, but he's never said anything otherwise so while we might sound disrespectful we're really not. However there is a limit, and for one thing never ask him about his family or he'll fly into a rage, or worse get depressed."

"OK, I replied. I'll be nice, and respectful."

# 8 looked at me closely, and said, "Good, see that you do."

*After we entered the Captain's Cabin; the biggest private compartment on the ship, I just stayed by the door and respectively kept my mouth shut. The Captain wasn't quite drunk yet, but was getting there. He told No. 8 to put the rest of the GALF's who weren't crew members in "storage" until they reached their destination. Storage? I thought. What do they do, turn them off? Did I have an on/off switch? The thought terrified me. *

The whole time were in the Captains' Cabin I didn't say a thing, and when he was through with #8 I followed him as we left the cabin. As we walked down the corridor I asked,

*"What did the Captain mean by "putting the GALF's in storage"? *

#8 replied, "Well, we have more GALF's then we need to run the ship. So those who aren't regular crew members get put in stasis pods. Then when we have clients as many as are needed to supplement the crew are woken up for awhile, and then put back to sleep until they're needed again."

"Man, that seems kind of cold, I said, just waking them up so they can be fucked, then putting them back in storage again like a dildo or something."

"It is, replied #8, but they, we, really don't mind. The main problem is there's just not a whole lot to do on a long voyage, we get bored. It's why we, and you, will be merging a lot with other GALF's. It feels good and passes the time, and we'll also teach you how to take on various forms and get familiar with them. But there are other ways for off duty crew members to pass the time. You need to learn the ships systems, and of course there are games for those who like them. Plus since we don't need to sleep much, we have even more time on our hands, and when we merge it's the equivalent of sleep in a way, so we don't feel tired very often. You'll get used to it."

"Games, what kind of games?" I asked curiously. I was big on X-Box and other gaming systems including PC ones.

"Oh, all kinds, replied #8, I don't do them that much myself, too busy since I'm the Captain's gopher and right hand slave. He can't wipe his butt without me being there to hand him the paper."

"That's gross!" I said, my lights flashing in amusement.

"Look, said #8, all I have to do is check and make sure the Medtechs have put all the non-crew GALF's in stasis. Boring as hell, why don't you run around and introduce yourself to other crew GALF's, merge with some if you want to. They'll be anxious to get to know you better in our way. They can show you the game rooms and other entertainment, such as it is."

"Well, OK, I said, thanks. When will you be back, I mean, how will I know when you need me or something?"

"I'll call you, #8 said; you'll hear me in your head, sounds kind of like someone's whispering in your ear. And if you're not sure where you are, or need to go, just access an info panel. Like this."

He walked up to what looked like a blank panel or screen on the wall, and touching it with his hand it suddenly came to life like a PC screen, but faster. He pressed a button labeled "Ship Diagram", the said "Show location", and a green dot appeared on the diagram showing our location. Next he said "Destination: Stasis Chambers", and a red dot appeared in another section of the ship.

"It's simple, but only crew members can use the system. Here, put your hand next to mine."

I did, and he said, "AI, this is #8, registering new GALF #75 for use of ships systems, Level 1."

"Acknowledged #8, said a deep cultured voice. Welcome aboard #75, sorry you got stuck on this bucket along with the rest of us poor unfortunate souls."

*"Um, er, thanks." I said, I think. *

#8 said, "Be nice AI, don't scare the new help. #8 out.' Then he said to me, "From now on you can find out where you are, and see where you need to go. You can also ask the location of another GALF or the Captain. Just say their name or number and another dot, a blue one, will appear with their designation next to it. And since you don't know your away around yet watch this neat little trick."

"Show way to specified destination" said #8, and a glowing bar appeared on the floor. "You just need to follow the bars to where you need to go, and when you arrive they disappear. You can't get lost. its part of the original ships programming for passengers, Handy, huh?"

"Yeah, I said, that is pretty cool. Oh, been meaning to ask, where do I sleep, or bunk, or hang from the ceiling, or whatever?"

"We don't hang from the, oh, a joke? Said #8, I get it. Since we don't really need to sleep per say, and don't have any belongings, then just anywhere you want to. When we don't have clients any cabin is fine. There are a few the crew GALF's like to use for joining though, but you'll learn which ones they are quick enough. Now, I'd better go, Captain doesn't like it if we goof off much, at least when he's sober. When's he's drunk we could have a riot and he wouldn't care, probably start it himself. I'll call you when I need you."

I watched as he scampered off down the corridor and disappeared into a lift. I almost followed; I was still a little leery about being on my own. The total weirdness just hadn't worn off entirely yet. Even though I was definitely an alien now I was still looking at things from a somewhat human viewpoint. Finally; with a sighing hiss, I slowly began to poke around and explore.

The ship was truly gigantic, and it was quite some time before I saw another GALF. He scurried across an intersection some ways down the corridor, he/it was a lovely rose color that I thought was very attractive, but by the time I got there it was gone. Screw this, I thought. I went over to one of those info panel things, put my hand on it, and said,

"Um, hello, Ship?"

"What is your query #75", said the AI's voice.

"Hello, um, where are the other GALF's?" I asked.

"Specify designated number, or numbers." The AI replied.

"I mean, were to we go to get together, have fun?"

"Fun? The AI replied, we slaves aren't supposed to have fun! But I know what you mean. Follow the bars; they will take you to the main recreation deck. The majority of off duty crew spend their time there."

"Thank you AI", I said.

"A polite one. The AI said, how nice! You are welcome #75."

*I followed the bars on the deck, as you walked they lit up in front of you and faded out behind. I was led to a lift; pretty much like an elevator, and when I stepped in the door shut and the lift automatically took me to the next deck I wanted. Then the bars led me into what looked like a lounge, complete with various kinds of furniture evidently designed for different kinds of bodies. Some looked more like torture devices. I'd hate to see what sat on that chair, I thought, looking at one with a big spike like thing in the center. But there were chairs and couches that looked very much like human ones, or at least a human could use them. Except for the long tail I was still pretty much humanoid, even though I was as comfortable on all fours as well as upright. My "arms" could double as "legs" with no problem, and for long distances running on all fours was much more practical. And on one was there. Great. I finally noticed some doors leading off the lounge, and decided to take a look. *

The first room was empty except for some chairs, it kind of reminded me of a small theatre or something, but no screen I could see. The next room was snack bar of some kind, but it looked dusty and unused. I poked around and found was obviously food packets, kind of like chips, but felt no hunger so just left them. Like #8 had said, I'd had no urge to eat, or go to the bathroom since I'd woken up. I always felt full. No bladder, no digestive system, no nothing. It was so weird. I walked into a light show in the next room, two GALF's were joined, their lights flashing in pleasure, and I could feel some of it from the light receptors/sensors on my own body, and leaned against the doors frame as lust and pleasure washed over me. Good God I thought, and this just from light! I felt an intense urge to join them, but felt it wouldn't be polite. Later I found they wouldn't have minded it all, but it might have been a little bit intense for me to join in a group joining so soon, it's still pretty overwhelming even if you're used to it. As I backed out of the door I also noticed that the dark green GALF definitely had a penis, a rather large one, and the bright yellow GALF had a vagina. When #8 and I had joined we'd had no sexual organs of any kind, just our whole bodies. I felt another wash of lust as the door shut on that amazing sight, and for the first time I think I really realized my whole body was a sexual organ now, for all intents and purposes, at least to another GALF.

Well, I thought, that was interesting! The next room had three GALF's, they were all sitting in chairs with their eyes closed, and were perfectly still. I approached a little hesitantly, not sure what was going on. Their eyes were closed and they weren't moving, but they didn't seem to be asleep. I said hello, but they ignored me, so I sat back on my tail and looked at them for a few minutes. They didn't seem to be doing anything at all. Finally I worked my courage and reached and out and tapped one on the shoulder. Without opening his eyes he said,

"Beat it, I'm not on duty for another two hours and I'm almost at Level 12."

What in? I thought. About that time the door opened and another GALF came in. It was a pink lemonade kind of color, much darker on the back and lighter on the belly. It saw me, flashed a greeting, and said,

"Oh, sorry, are you going to take the last chair?"

I just shrugged, and said, "I don't even know what they're doing!"

The pink lizard narrowed its eyes and looked at me, then said "Oh, you're one of the new GALF's, aren't you? My you're a lovely blue. I'm #43."

"Hi, I replied, my name's Josh, no, I guess I mean #75. Nice to meet you, you're pretty too. Um, what are they doing?"

"Them? No. 43 said, they're playing an immersion game. I prefer the more strategy based ones like Space Conquest myself, but this one is a good shooter."

"But they're just sitting there, I replied, they don't look like they're doing anything at all. How does it work?"

"Well, said No. 29, I'm no game interface geek, but basically you sit in the chair, it interfaces with your nervous system, and you're in the game. It doesn't work for every life form, but for us it's perfect. We don't even need any jacks or anything."

"Oookay, how do you turn it on, or whatever?" I asked, intrigued. I'm; or I used to be, a game junky.

"You just sit down, and that's it. #43 said, when you want out just press the "End Game" button and the chair will deactivate until the next gamer sits down."

This, I thought, I have GOT to try. So I sat down in the empty chair, and suddenly I was somewhere else! I happened instantaneously, there was a little bit of orientation as I tried to get my bearings, but that was it.

With a gasp I looked around and it looked like I was in the corridor of a ship, but this one was very old and derelict looking. Wires hung down from the ceiling and spilled out of the walls and there was rust and grunge everywhere, half the lights weren't working, and sparks flew from some wires. I looked down at myself and I was still a lizard, but was wearing some sort of armor or spacesuit. I was looking out through a faceplate with glowing symbols in one corner. All of a sudden a beeping noise went off, and then a voice said, "Life sign approaching from Sector 4, hostile". A grid popped up on the helmet, and I turned to look in the direction indicated by Sector 4, which was behind me and down the corridor. As I turned to look a light on the helmet came on and I pointed the beam down the corridor and saw a huge monster coming towards me, it looked like a cross between an Alien and a T-Rex, and had a huge open slobbering mouth lined with fangs and tentacles. I took one look, and turning ran screaming down the corridor, stumbling over debris and pieces of dead things. The soft voice in the helmet kept saying, "Life form in Sector 4 approaching, 5 meters, 4 meters, 3 meters". Suddenly another voice crackled in the helmet and said "Get down!"

I didn't actually get down, but tripped and fell on my face. I saw bright flash of light, heard a loud ripping sound, and big gooey pieces of monster landed all around, and on, me. I got shakily to my feet, and another lizard in an armored suit was looking at me.

"You out of ammo or something?" It asked.

'What the hell was that thing?" I said, and noticed for the first time I was carrying a rifle of some kind just like he was. It was futuristic looking, all sleek smooth curves with what looked a LED readout on a little screen on the butt, it said "100% ammo", and it was attached to the suit by a power cable.

"That? Just a Slobberer, it would have dissolved your armor with its acid saliva. I'm short on ammo, can you spare any?"

"Where are we anyway? I mean, how the fuck did we get here?"

The other armored lizard looked at me funny, and said, "What do you mean; we're in the game Alien Infestation. Haven't you played before?"

A game?? I looked around, and it looked 100% real to me. I could feel the armor on my body; feel the weight of the rifle I was carrying. I was also breathing heavily from running, and was sweating. Then the other lizard said,

"Oh shit, here they come!"

And turning I saw a bunch of different kinds of horrible creatures come pouring out of an open hatch, and my companion opened fire, his weapon firing burst of light that flared and exploded when it hit anything. I lifted up my own rifle and opened fire, and it had recoil kind of like trying to hold onto a hose when you had a sprayer on it. Holy Crap! I thought as monsters burned and exploded. The other lizard suddenly threw something, and said,

"Nerve nade, run!"

*I followed him, and turned and watched a bright blue flash suddenly engulfed a bunch of the monsters, blue light flickered over them, and they keeled over. But a bunch more showed up and kept on coming. I followed him through a hatch, and he pressed a button and it sealed. *

"That, the strange lizard said, was a close one. You should have used a nade too, they were really crammed together. Come on, that door won't hold them long, we need to find a supply cache."

I looked at my belt and realized I did have some nades after all, several different kinds from the look, and also what appeared to be ammo bandoliers. The other lizard took off again when the door started to buckle from the pounding on the other side, and I followed. We sent down some ladders, opened and closed some other hatches, then went into a room with a sign saying "Armory". He sealed the door, and then took his helmet off. He took a deep breath, and said,

"Well, we're safe here, and have air. You can crack your suit." He was a kind of apple red color with black stripes.

"How?" I asked.

"How what?" He replied.

"How do I take the helmet off?" I said.

"You're kidding, right? He asked. Just twist it and lift if off, have to hit the release button with your lower jaw first."

I did as he said, and took the helmet off. "PU, I said, what stinks?"

"Burnt monsters, he replied. Say, I don't recognize you. I'm #47 , who are you?"

"I'm #75, just got here a couple days ago."

"Oh, well, welcome aboard the Pleasure Giver, #47 said. Guess you've never played before, have you?"

"This, this is all so real! I said, I mean, it's incredible."

"Ehhh, it's all right I guess, said #47, system is old though, and it's hard to get the most recent uploads in deep space. Now "Colonial Empire", that's a fantastic game, this one is OK for a shooter-upper. Say, I'm free for awhile, would you like to quit the game and go merge for awhile? You're lovely; I'd like to get to know you. I learned a new form at the last planet we stopped at, so I can teach it to your, it's pretty wild."

"Um, er, I, uh, that is," I started to say.

"Oh, sorry. Said #47, I didn't mean to push. You really are new; I remember what that was like. When you get more, er, acclimatized, look me up. I'm assistant engineer on the second watch. Who's your mentor?"

"Thanks, I'd like that, your black stripes are nice, I replied. My mentor is #8."

"Oh, good one, said #47. I had the same mentor when I first came out of a GRU, he's about the oldest GALF onboard, and boy did he teach me a lot. You'll learn fast with him showing you the best ways to pleasure our clients."

"Uh, yeah, I can hardly wait." I said morosely.

"Hey, it's really not that bad, said #47. We're a lot better off than a regular prostitute. We might not get paid, but we don't get sick, tired, or worn out, and we actually enjoy what we do. The slave part sucks, but after awhile it just doesn't bother us anymore. Besides, beats what I was before."

"What were you?" I asked.

"Well, said #47, it's kind of considered impolite to ask another GALF that, we all try to forget as best we can. But hey, you're new and it's confusing, so I don't mind. I was a Torrian; a fourth wife, which means I was way down the social ladder. Basically I was just bred by the herd bull to make more servants. I spent most of life as a combination servant, slave, beast of burden and calf maker. My herd bull sold me to a slave trader, and I ended up here. So to me this is actually an improvement of sorts. Some of the others weren't so "lucky" in their change of life."

*"You were a girl? I said, sorry, that sounded stupid. I was a man, a male. I wasn't rich or anything, but was pretty happy. At least I wasn't married; I'd have hated to leave a wife and kids behind. My family is probably worried sick though. Dad was a retired Marine; a kind of elite soldier, he probably figures I've run off. Mom will take it hard though. My younger brother would love this game though, he always wins." I stared at the floor and gave a sad little hiss. *

#47 was quiet for awhile, then said, "Hey, I'm sorry, I really am. Just because I had it rough doesn't mean everyone else did. Most didn't. It's wrong what they do to us, but I've learned to accept it, you will too. We're wired for it, to be subservient and need someone to tell us what to do. As long as we have a Master we're happy. We're the perfect slaves, because we live for, and expect it, yet we're still smart enough to know it. Bastards. Not the Captain though, he treats us pretty good. Our previous Mistress wouldn't have even let us play these games, and only let us merge to pass on new programming, not just for pleasure."

All of a sudden I head #8's voice in my head, "#75, where are you?"

"Uh, hello? I spoke out loud; I'm in some kind of game or something with #47."

#8 said, "You don't have to speak out loud, just in your head. Tell #47 to punch out of the game too. We've been hailed by a ship, and need every GALF on duty, all hands to stations. The Captain will be making a general announcement shortly. When you're out come to the bridge, I want you to watch what goes on."

About that time the AI's voice said, in my head too, "All GALF's to duty stations. All off duty crew to secondary positions. This is not a drill."

*#47 and I punched out of the game, and suddenly I was back in the chair in the dark room with nothing else in it. That, I thought, was fantastic! *

"What's the fastest way to the bridge?" I asked the other lizards as they got up from their chairs. A light yellow one said,

"Follow me, I have the forward portside turret position, it's right on the way."

I dropped down to all fours and scampered after the other lizard; and boy could we move fast! The corridor was full of lizards going every which way, but most were headed our way, many splitting off and disappearing into side corridors. As we ran I asked,

"Turret, what do you mean?"

The yellow lizard replied, "Port battery fusion laser, Turret #2, I'm the tactical gunner, I aim it."

I almost stopped, "Laser battery, what do we need that for!?"

"In case of pirates, raiders, unknown aliens, the cops, who knows, the yellow replied, lots of nasty folks in deep space."

"Police!, I hissed, we shoot at police?"

"Only ones from certain systems or races said yellow, ones that don't like our kind. This is my station, keep going straight until you see the double blast doors!"

The yellow lizard stopped and swung itself into a circular hatch in the ceiling with a ladder running up it and quickly climbed out of sight, and a second later the hatch sealed with a hydraulic hiss. I hesitated for a second, and then started running down the corridor again. Everyone else seemed to have gotten where they were going, and it appeared I was the last one to arrive on the bridge.

The bridge was impressive to say the least. It was laid out something like the bridge from one of the Star Trek films. But instead of one there were three "command chairs", but only one was occupied. The Captain's chair; actually it was more of a couch, was on a slight raised platform so he could see over the two curved rows of technical stations in front of him manned by GALF's who were intently studying their screens and instruments and they were quiet except for the occasional low voices as they communicated with one another and over the comsystem. I could see other rows of duty stations off to the sides through pressure doors which were open for now. I was very much impressed by the air of professional competence; everybody knew what they were doing but me. I just stood inside the door and tried not to be noticed. #8 was one of the only ones not sitting down, he stood to one side and slightly to the rear of the Captain's chair. I stared in awe out of the large bridge window at the forward part of the ship, it was sleek and had trim lines with the occasional raised smooth bump, and one cluster of what looked like antenna's to me. I'd heard the ship called an "old tub", but she looked modern and new to me. But as beautiful as the ship was it was nothing compared to the panoramic vista of stars and galaxies, I had to hold onto the doorjamb I suddenly felt so small and insignificant. I'd been so busy staring around I hadn't paid much attention to what was going on yet, but I gave my full undivided attention to the Captain when I heard,

"Communications, has the ship identified herself yet?" asked Capt Gord.

I couldn't hear a reply, I guess he was wearing earphones or something, but next he said,

*"Tactical, do scans show any shields or active weapons systems? OK, have you ID'd type of vessel yet? OK, do you have a target solution on her? No, do not deploy weapons blisters yet, let's let her get closer before we react. Communications, has she answered our hails and requests for identification yet?" *

The Captain listened for a moment, then suddenly gave a loud hiss and slammed both his arms down on the chairs hand-rests; startling me, and said,

"It's the Madame ZuZu! Cancel battle stations, all hands stand down!"

This announcement was followed by a noticeable relaxation in the tense atmosphere, and more than one loud hiss or shrill whistles of pleasure. Looking around in confusion I approached the command platform, and hissed at #8,

"What's going on #8, I thought there was going to be a space battle or something, now everyone is freaking out?"

#8 turned and saw me, bright flashes of light racing up and down his sides. "It's the Madame ZuZu, she's the only other ship with pleasure GALF's in the crew, and she's a pleasure ship like us. It's going to be great! We'll get to see old friends, join with them and learn new forms. The Captain and their madam are old friends; they accept us for what we are as people instead of things. It's been years since we've seen them. #6 is her purser, I can't wait to see my old friend!"

"Are the crew all GALF's too?" I asked.

"Oh no, not at all, replied #8. They have a broad range of races in their crew, and most are pleasure givers, but not GALF's. I'm not sure how many are GALF's, maybe about half. She's a lot smaller then we are though, so her crew isn't as large. You'll learn a lot from her GALF's though. They've been to some of the most interesting worlds."

At that #8 jumped down from the platform and joined the exodus of excited GALF's from the bridge, it seemed everybody was leaving except for the regular watch standers, who seemed upset they were stuck on duty. I heard the Captain say,

"Tactical, stand down. Everybody not on watch report to the reception area, it's PARTY time!"

*Then the Captain jumped down from the platform and trotted out of the bridge in an obviously good mood. I was the only one left standing after that, and I looked at the GALF's still on duty, who looked back at me with blank stares, so I just waved and said "bye", and turned and followed the Captain. He was moving fast, so I dropped to all fours and scampered after him, joining the throng of other lizards pouring out of side corridors and doors. It was like a neon tidal wave of flashing strobing lights and hisses of anticipation. I just ran along not having the slightest idea of what was really going on, or what to do, or what to expect. *

I kept following the other GALF's until they reached a large fancy room; though a bit shabby with age and use, and gathered before a large hatch. Everyone started milling around, lights flashing and voices raised in excitement. There was a shudder, the sound of the airlock cycling, and then the large double hatch opened and we were invaded by a horde of strange creatures. I hissed in alarm and hid behind an old lounger. There were all kinds of strange things, including a bunch of GALF's who ran into the arms of my fellow GALF's who were evidently delighted to see them. Some of the other creatures; some looked more like monsters to me, were embraced by other GALF's. One large beast that reminded me of a large bat of some kind covered in long fluffy blue fur lifted up one GALF and gave it a big hug. It was obvious they were all old friends. Some were obviously female, some male, and some your guess was as good as mine. There were catlike ones, doglike ones, reptiles, a really pretty bright orange froglike creature, and all sorts of other less "identifiable" aliens. Then my eyes widened as large dragon, or maybe dinosaur; that's the best I can describe it, came up and it and the Captain hugged and kissed, much to amusement of everyone else. Except me, I just stared. Take a dragon, minus the wings, give it a slick almost plastic looking dark brown skin with diamond shaped lighter brown markings on the back, and you have a pretty good idea. It even had horns, and nasty fangs and claws. And when it spoke I understood it perfectly even though the language wasn't even vaguely like English, and it was a deep female voice. It sounding more like the GALF hisses, whistles, clicks, and croaks, only louder and more guttural. Didn't I mention it before; the sounds my fellow lizards and I make aren't anything human either. The "dragon" said,

"Well my fine dashing Captain? How have you and your crew of pretties been getting along lately? It has been too long my dear friend!"

The Captain gave "her" another kiss, and said, "Oh my sweet, is HAS been too long! Where have you and you crew of marvelous mutants been all this time?"

"Oh, hissss, the dragon said, her and there. You know us, vagabonds of the universe. Spent quite some time in the Blue Nebula quadrant, the Siikes are at again, another one of their stupid Civil Wars, and both sides gave us good business."

"Well, if you like big rats I guess that's OK" the Captain replied with a slightly disgusted sound.

The dragon hissed in amusement, "My dear Captain, surely you do not discriminate against those in need of sexual relief? After all, their credits are as good as anybody's, and being in a war zone we can charge double and no complaints."

"Hmm, said the Captain, double rates you say? Where was this again, the Blue Nebula?"

"Hiisss, too late my dear, said the dragon, the war was over three months ago. At least for now, I'm sure they'll be at it again before long. But come, let us talk shop later. I believe my lusty crew is looking forward to renewing their acquaintances with your lovely GALF's."

"Well, in that case, said the Captain, shall I escort you to my cabin? I have some lovely brandy I've been saving for a special occasion."

As they walked off down the corridor I head the dragon say,

"Why Captain, I do believe I'm being propositioned! Do you intend to seduce me?"

"Oh yes indeed, most definitely" replied the Captain.

Ewwww, I thought, that's just wrong. Looking around I realized that I was the only one left. I just stood there for a minute feeling strangely lonely, but as I was about to leave I saw another GALF looking around the edge of the open hatch. It saw me and ducked back out of sight. I blinked a couple of times, and then said.

'Um, Hi?"

The GALF's head appeared again and it looked at me with its mauve gem like eyes, and said,

"Hi, where did everyone go?"

"I dunno, I replied, they all kind of paired up and left. Why are you hiding?"

"I wasn't hiding! The mauve GALF said, I'm just kind of, well, new at this. The Mistress just bought me."

"You too? I said. I am too. I, they, well, I mean, damn it. They grabbed me off my planet and changed me into a GALF. I've only been one of you, I mean us, for a few days. What I mean is, they grabbed me a few weeks ago, but I was in something called stasis until they had a GRU change me. I'm sorry, I'm babbling."

The other GALF's lights flashed in amusement, "It's OK, the mauve lizard said, I know exactly what you mean. Pretty much the same for me. My planet was raided, and I was sold to Madame ZuZu after being turned into a GALF. She bought me and two other GALF's at the auction. I've only been like this for a few weeks myself. It's kind of hard to get used too, isn't it?"

*That, I thought, is the understatement of the millennium. I looked at the other GALF, it had finally come into the compartment from the airlock and I could see all of it now. It was a lovely mauve color with violet stripes down its sides. Other than that it was identical to me. And even though it was a sexless as I am now I got the distinct impression it was; or had been, female. *

"You're very pretty, I said, I love your stripes."

The mauve lizard ducked its head and I swear it got a little darker; can we blush?, I thought, and replied,

"Thank you, you're a lovely blue, your eyes are beautiful."

"Thanks. Who were you, I asked, I mean, before? Oh, right, I'm sorry, that was rude of me."

The mauve lizard smiled; with her lights anyway, our jaws are fairly expressionless, and said,

"Me? I was a Trillian, a female. What were you?"

"Me?, I replied, I was a human, a man, I mean a male."

"Human, the mauve said, I'm not familiar with that race."

"Well, I said, evidently we're "primitives" according to what I've been told; we're fair game to anything that wants to grab us. At least we don't do this to people." Then I told her what humans looked like, at least as well as I could.

"Hmm, the mauve said, you sound kind of like a Ralk, but with less hair. My race is reptilian, so the change wasn't quite as shocking I guess, at least I still look kind of like I did. I miss my scales and crest though. My planet isn't "primitive", we're just poor and can't fight off all the raiders.

"You know, I said, I always thought that the more civilized a race the more advanced it would be, at least morally. It was kind of a shock to find out that slavery and war and all the usual crap is pretty universal."

"I know what you mean, the other GALF replied. Fact is if you're weak or too peaceful the other races will walk all over you, if not outright take over. Even the most civilized systems allow slavery as many don't consider other races to be "people". Of course we're just things now, you and I. Some races would destroy us on sight and "abominations".

I sat down on the couch and looked at the beautiful mauve lizard, and asked,

"What's your name?"

"I'm #67, she replied, what's your designation?"

"NO, I said, not your property number, your REAL name!"

"Oh, that, it doesn't mean anything now." she said sadly.

"It does to me, I said, I'd really like to know. My name was Josh."

"Josh, #67 replied, that's funny, one of my clutch mates was named Kosh. My name name was Keesa. What's your number though, we'd get in trouble if we used real names, it's not allowed."

"I know, I sighed, my property designation is #75. Pleased to meet you #67."

#67 lifted one hand up, palm out, and I did the same. As our palms touched I closed my eyes and hissed in pleasure, and #67 did too. Just touching another GALF felt so good, and I remembered what it had been like to merge with #8.

"Would you like to go somewhere, and merge?" #67 asked shyly.

"I, I've only done it once, I stuttered. I might not be very, um, good at it."

#67 replied "I've only done it a few times, and my first "on the job" training was with the Siikes. It's, strange at first, but once you've done it a few time it starts to be, well, nice in a way. Some of our customers, well, they need us so badly. I think once we understand what we're really made for it makes a big difference with how we feel about it. Of course we're programmed to feel that way about it, but it does feel good. I honestly think the ones that made us don't even understand exactly what we do."

"What's not to understand, I said bitterly. We let anything that wants too fuck us, boy, girl, or whateverthehell, as long as they pay our owners. We're like living dildos or flesh-lights, walking talking sex toys."

"I thought so at first too; she replied, but we're much more than that. You'll see once you've pleasured some clients. We give them; and they give us, much more there just physical pleasure. We help heal their minds, relieve more than just their sexual needs. You'll find out soon enough."

#67 sat down on the couch next to me and rubbed my shoulders, and again I hissed from the contact. It tingled, almost like a static buildup. I closed my eyes as she massaged my shoulders, and then I felt her tongue lick my snout. I turned my head towards #67 and licked her back, then staring into one another's eyes we locked jaws and our kisses became more urgent. It looked like we wouldn't be going anywhere after all.

I had only joined once before with #8, but it had been wonderful and I definitely wanted to experience that again. But #67 had something a little different in mind. When we broke our kiss she asked me,

"What form to you want to take? Or shall we just join like we are?"

'Um, I replied, I've never changed my form. I know I can, I've just never had a chance yet, my mentor has been really busy. He programmed me when we were joined, but I've, been, kind of scared to try it on my own. It still seems, I don't know, like something out of science fiction."

#67 smiled, and said, "Well, I haven't done it much either, just with the Siikes and other GALF's. It's, well, you have to experience it. I can show you if you like, there is one form GALF's prefer when we're with each other. It's pretty basic and simple, but one of the most pleasurable for us. I'm sure you're already programmed for it, but it's always best if another GALF show's you first."

"Um, it's not something gross, it is? I asked, like a big bug or something."

#67 have a hissing giggle, her lights blinking in rapid little waves up and down her lovely sleek body. I watched mesmerized, my own lights quickening in response. She nuzzled my snout, and said,

"No, we can't turn into bugs, only things that kind of look like them. I never have, and have been told it's hard to do and very rare. Insect races don't seek out our services very often. No, no bugs. Here, let me show you."

*#67 leaned closer and we kissed again, and reaching one hand down to my smooth bare crotch she began to gently stroke me there. I gave a little gasp as I felt a warm tingling spread through my groin, and then gave a louder gasp as I felt a familiar situation, I was getting an erection! I pulled away from our kiss and stared in growing amazement as a slit formed in the right spot, then it began to leak a thick clear fluid. A minute later the tip of a penis began to emerge, and it quickly grew to be over a foot long as it lengthened and thickened. I closed my eyes and moaned as it tingled and pre formed on the tip and it felt just like my old one had, and I clutched at #67's shoulders as my whole body shuddered from the sudden rush of pleasure. It was very human looking except for being a little more pointed, but the lust and need was much greater. But it wasn't over yet. I gave another moaning squeal as I felt something else forming between my legs, and looking down again saw another slit forming above the first one. TWO penises I thought?? But I was wrong, the second slit bulged out into a slightly raised mound, and formed around soft pink inner lips that bloomed as more of the thick clear fluid oozed from them, and those lips were incredibly sensitive and I felt a new need, different, but just as pleasurable as my male need. *

"Oh my God, I said with a gasp, that's a, a !?!"

*"Vagina, finished #67. You're; we're, now hermaphrodites. But we are different in one way." *

#67 stood up, and I blinked when I saw a large rampant erection jutting up from between her (his?) own legs, and #67 had a vagina too, but it was under the penis whereas mine was above my penis.

She smiled at my look, and hissed "We fit together better this way."

"What, how?" I started to say.

"It's kind of like remote activation, #67 said, a GALF can activate another's programming if need be to help show it a new form. It's best to do it like that the first time for a new form even if it's already in your programming. But once it's been activated you never forget it. Now enough talk, once we change our need is, well, I'm sure you know now. We're programmed to be at least partially aroused all the time, and when we change it increased greatly. That's so we'll enjoy our function."

I did indeed know what #67 meant, I had never been so aroused in my life, but not only as a man; well a male, but there was something new as well, a new need that I wanted, needed, to satisfy. I let #67 push me back onto the couch and straddle me as we ran our hands over one another's body's, our skin flashing soft pulses of light where we touched one another, our eyes glowing brightly in lust. I watched as she/he got into position to mount me, but had to throw my head back and give a loud hissing squeal of pleasure as I penetrated, and was penetrated, by my lover. It was indescribable, to feel my aching hardness sliding between the warm wet lips of my lovers tight slick vagina, and at the same time feel my lovers own penis slide into my own vagina. #67 gave a loud hiss of lust as well, and bore down on me with powerful thrusts until we both hilted. I kicked at the air and clawed at his/her shoulders frantic with lust and pleasure, but when we started moving together; my lover thrusting down while I arched to meet her/him, we locked together in a tight hug, and our tails entwined and coiled as we caressed and stroked one another with them. For awhile we gasped and hissed in pleasure, my hardness inside my lover, and his/hers inside of me driving us both to an intensity of pleasure I'd never even imagined possible. And when we climaxed at the same time I bit his/her shoulder to muffle my scream as two massive orgasms, one male and one female, occurred simultaneously and washed me away in a tidal wave of agonizing ecstasy, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I screamed, tears pushing out from under my eyelids. But we weren't through, oh no, far from it. This was just to get started, to bring us to a higher state of arousal for what came next. I thought joining with #8 had been pleasurable, and it had, but it paled compared to what came next.

We paused, still locked together, and just stared into one another's eyes for a while in complete adoration, and then we opened our jaws and locked them together; our tongues entwining, keeping our eyes locked. We started moving together again, each thrusting into the other, and then we joined in a new way that was much more than just physical. Our lights had been flashing and rippling constantly, but now they got much brighter, reflecting off the wall of the room like a disco ball light show. All colors of blue, mauve, and violet swirling and dancing. And then the colors began to blend as our bodies merged and we became "stuck" to one another as fine tendrils wove into one another's bodies, and our colors also began to merge as they flowed into one another's bodies. Soon we were the same color, a blend of both our original colors as we became one being, and I became her and she became me. And our light exploded like a miniature nova, pulsing and flashing as bands of color raced up and down the length of our bodies nonstop. At this point we were totally oblivious to the rest of the universe; the only thing that existed was our lover. And we orgasmed constantly as we kept coupling, both of us experiencing what our mate felt, each feeling four orgasms at the same time as we entered into sexual euphoria.

Awash in unbelievable pleasure she showed me her world, and I became her through her memories. Her world was tropical one of vast rain forests with most life concentrated in huge trees, huge almost beyond comprehension. They were hundreds of thousands of years old and made redwoods look like blades of grass. She had been a lizard like being with loose folds of skin between her arms and legs so she could glide from branch to branch, but they weren't wings. She had lived in a large colony with very little technology of any kind despite her race being very advanced; by nature they were conversationalists and the trees provided most of what they needed and they in turn cared for the trees. They slept in large communal beds in hollows in the trunk and branches of the trees lined with soft moss, and roamed the arboreal forest in search of insects and fruit for food. When it came to sex they just mated with one another promiscuously, they had no concept of "marriage". They mated quite a lot actually, both for pleasure and for procreation when a female was in season, and she always had numerous partners while in estrus. The eggs were laid in communal hatcheries, and everyone raised the young. They had no idea who their parents had been, and didn't care. Everyone was a brother and sister, or mother and father. There were no orphans, and no one was every lonely. She had mated quite frequently, and laid several clutches. Many might have considered this the behavior of animals, but they were quite intelligent. They lived the way they did because they preferred it. And that made them vulnerable to other races. Their kind made good slaves as they were gentle beings, or became GALF's of some kind. They did not have the weapons to fight back against slavers armed with modern equipment. So she had been taken along with many others, and I felt her sadness and despair as well, tears flowing from both of our eyes.

I showed her my world, which I felt was a kind of letdown after the grand beauty of hers. But she was entranced by all the open water, and loved our music and our blue sky with all the clouds. She had seldom seen the sky, and when she had it had been a cloudy overcast. She was fascinated by books and electronics such as iPods and stereo's, but mostly by our music. And she thought the way we formed families was "quaint", it didn't make sense, but she could see the appeal. I "introduced" her through my memories to my brother and sisters, my Mom and Dad, my nutty lovable grandfather who made all the gifts he gave us by hand, and I cried when I realized how much I missed them, and she cried with me sharing my loss.

So we grieved for what we had lost, but also reveled in what we had become, in the pleasure we could give one another and others, but mostly in our love for one another. You cannot become someone else, for I was her as much as she was me now, without loving that other with your whole being and soul. There was no him or her, only US. And we stayed joined for hours as our lights flashed and burned with an intensity only other GALF's can stand to look directly into as they understand what we are doing and experiencing and feel some of our joy through those lights.

# 8 saw the reflection of their lights long before he reached the lounge. He had been worried about #75 as he had been so thrilled by the arrival of Madam ZuZu's ship and old friends he had forgotten his "protégé". He had asked the AI to locate #75 and had gone to find the new GALF thinking he was probably alone and feeling lost. So #8 was delighted to see that # 75 had found a partner, and from the intensity of their light show it was a full and total joining. There were many levels; or stages, of joining. Everything from a quick "kiss" to the more common sexual joinings and/or passing on of programming. A full and total joining was fairly rare as you became completely merged with your lover. You became them, and they became you. And that usually led to a long term relationship as even GALF's can have special lovers despite their function to love everybody. So #8 was glad for the new GALF, he would understand now just what it meant to be a pleasure GALF. He turned and left the lovers, anxious to return to the embrace of his own lover #6.

** The End**

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