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He had a few additional ideas. "Obie, you've studied the denizens of the Well World. I'm aware that the Lata and a number of other creatures can live off anything organic. Can you adapt subject's system to do that?"

"It's getting better," the computer noted. "Oh, yes. Do you want wings, too?"

Tempting as that was, he passed it up. "No, but can you design subject to be immune to Lata and Yaxa venom?"

"Done."

"How about Yugash takeover and even severe electric shock?" he asked, pressing it but at the same time truly reveling in this casual godlike activity at his command.

"The prevention of takeover by a Yugash is relatively easy," the computer replied after a moment. "Immunity to electrical shock is much more difficult. Since I assume that you are merely looking for a defense against Renard, might I just design in a tolerance for voltages of slightly greater amplitude and duration than the Agitar are capable of?"

"Good enough." Yulin's mind was racing again. Then he remembered one attribute of at least four Well races that would be very handy about now.

"Obie, among others, the Zupika can blend in with any background. Can this be programmed into the subject, usable on a voluntary basis? I assume true invisibility is impossible."

"Invisibility's impossible if you want to remain a creature of solid matter," the computer replied. "As for ability to blend—well, it might not be as perfect as the natural form, but I think it's possible. Yes, I can do it."

"Then add that attribute to subject."

"Is that all?" the computer asked mockingly.

Yulin's head cocked slightly to one side. "No, one more thing. Add that subject is male, will breed true in these attributes, and is capable of almost indefinite multiple male orgasms."

The computer actually sighed. "I should have guessed. That's three things, but they're locked in."

"Closing instructions," he concluded. "Subject will have all of Ben Yulin's current input memories and personality—nothing of that is to be changed! However, subject will feel comfortable, normal, and natural in the new body and will know its operation, capabilities, and limits."

"Coded," Obie acknowledged.

"This is a closed transaction," Yulin ordered. "You will be unable to complete any other transaction until it is completed, and your next transaction must be coded by me personally. Clear?"

"Clear," the computer responded. "Lock and run. Now."

Yulin walked down the stairs carefully, still dizzy, still nauseous for want of Dasheen milk. He made it to the circular platform and stood upon it. The overhead dish swung out, locked, then bathed him in a metallic blue glow. The image of the Dasheen bull stiffened, flickered, then winked out.

The two women tied up in a corner struggled to free themselves while their adversary was inside the machine, but could not.

Eight seconds later another image flickered in the glow, then solidified. The blue glow disappeared. The dish swung back.

The women stared. Ben Yulin had always been a handsome, somewhat exotic man; now, every muscle developed and bulging, he looked like an Adonis and a David wrapped up in one.

But this one moved, smiled at them, and checked his fingernails. He stepped down, walked over, touched a fingernail to Nikki Zinder's skin. A tiny needle, a hollow tube of cartilage, injected a clear fluid into her. She struggled a second, then stiffened, and seemed to sleep. Another finger flexed, and her better-looking daughter also succumbed.

He untied them, ordered them to rise. Nikki Zinder was first on the platform; her daughter stood zombie-like, in front. He returned to the console, punched some more numbers.

"New transaction, Obie," he said, feeling better than he ever had in his life, so confident that he was now a god that worries faded.

"Go ahead, Ben," the computer came back at him. "My, I did a nice job!"

Yulin actually laughed. "Yes, you did," he approved. "Now you have a similar set of jobs. Subject is Nikki Zinder. New encoding modifications for subject."