The Sci-fi / medicine is described as our friends prepare for Vee's for surgery

Mare's Tales – Chapter 15 – by: Beverly Taff

Our main avenue of attack now lay down the genetic engineering road. It
was to prove a long and difficult one with thousands of blind alleys
and disappointments. Jacky, the biochemist directed our researches and
we simply followed her instructions. We plodded laboriously up and down
the genomes as we patiently identified likely looking genes and then
located them on the various chromosomes of either man, mouse or horse.
The most important creature in the early stages was the mouse. Thank
God for Mice! They are the fastest breeders for producing usable lab
material. Each series of experiments required the modification of ovum,
sperm or both to confirm any findings or theories by reproducing a
correctly mutated animal.

Running parallel to these experiments, of course, were experiments with
horses. Eventually we had several genetically mutated animals running
around the paddocks. One mare even reproduced human milk, which its
foal could thrive on because it was omnivorous and could handle a human
diet.

After many long weary nights that ran into years, we five girls were
finally ready for the great step. We had horses that were genetically
suitable for grafting onto humans. It was to be the most exciting and
also the most frightening step; the creation of a centaur. That
mythical creature of Greek legend was now biologically possible.
Fantastic though it was, our team had every reasonable expectation of
it succeeding.

We had the micro surgical skills for the neuro-surgery. We had
genetically designed horses, which had been bred, to be individually
suitable for ourselves and we had two very nervous but excited
recipients.

There were long discussions deep into the nights as we thrashed through
every possible complication we could think of. Our correspondence with
other researchers amounted to a virtual library of files and books,
which we laboured over day and night in our search for flaws. Jenny's
computer discs ran into thousands and all loaded with vital knowledge,
the sum of our researches.

The day had come when we were to finally step over the threshold into
new scientific and legal territory. We made videos of Vee's and Jenny's
declarations to accompany their affidavits agreeing to the experiments
upon their bodies.

Veronica, being the legal expert, agreed to 'go first'. She explained
her wishes eloquently and persuasively in the video. We all felt it was
the best legal protection we had. Additionally, there was a lot less
surgery to do on her legs and thighs. Her new centaur-like forelegs
would readily be attached to her stumps above the knees.

We had bred a pretty little palomino pony about ten hands high to be
veronica's genetic partner. The pony's golden mane and tail was in fact
a genetic extract of Veronica's soft long blond hair and her coat was a
pale downy velvety texture that gave a soft golden hue to the body. It
was really too fine to give any body warmth or protection to the skin
which was actually a genetic mutation of Vee's own soft bronzed skin.

The golden coat felt soft and feminine to the touch so that the horse
felt almost human when it nuzzled up to you. If you closed your eyes
you could almost be mistaken for thinking you were stroking Veronica.
The horse's name was Juno and it was exactly what Veronica had wished
for. She couldn't resist caressing Juno with her stumps as she cared
for her and contemplated a future life shared.

After much soul-searching we finally agreed to invite Dr James over
from Miss Lanes academy. We swore her to secrecy as we introduced her
to our plans. She was so shocked and then excited by our work, that
she couldn't wait to join the operating team. She asked hundreds of
questions about the plan and raised some very valid points that we were
forced to address. One or all, we answered her questions immediately
and satisfactorily.

"After all Dr James, if any person requires a legal sex change, they
are required to live as the opposite sex for at least a year. We have
been involved in this for a few years now and we have knowingly and
actively contributed to the whole exercise far more than any sex-change
patients and their surgeons. No judge anywhere could accuse us of not
knowingly and willingly agreeing to the operation, nor could that same
judge say that we will not benefit from the same operation.

If it's successful, we will be mobile and free to go where we want,
when we want," argued Veronica.

"That's as may be," countered Dr James, "but think of the riots you
will cause when you are seen in public."

"No more than any other circus freak," I added, "The Siamese twins that
I visited in America all agreed that, once the local people got used to
their peculiarities, they accepted you. If Jenny and Vee live with us
then the village people will soon come to accept them. Even now when we
go on shopping trips, the locals know them and treat them very well."

"But they will be virtual prisoners here. Just imagine the paparazzi
press coming down here with their sensationalist cameras; peeping
through the trees and creeping over walls all the time."

"Well if they become celebrities then they will soon learn to live with
it," added Cynthia, "Anyway, think of Beverly's problem. What will
happen when they discover that she is the mother and father of her
twins. That's bound to become public one day. I can assure you Dr James
that we have come to terms with all our various problems and we are
quite determined to push on with this."

Dr James shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "Yes, I've come to that
conclusion as well. It's all right for you though; you've been
intimately associated with this whole project right from the start.
It's come as complete surprise to me and you must agree, it takes some
getting used to."

We nodded our heads. This last agreement by Dr James more or less
signalled her acceptance of the project and her future participation in
it. We made our way from the labs to the big house. The operation was
scheduled for two days hence so I was Vee's last chance of a meal
before being prepped. We enjoyed a lovely dinner that had been
thoughtfully prepared by Dot.

Our lovemaking that night had peculiar atmosphere. Vee seemed to take
perverse delight in her disabilities as she wriggled and squirmed
helplessly under our various attentions. It was almost as though she
was mentally preparing for her rite of passage in the coming days.

Morning came, and with it the last day for Vee to duck out. She had to
forego all food and simply drink some special preparations to clear her
intestines and prepare her metabolisms for the forthcoming body-
shock.

As Vee took to her room to mentally prepare, we met over dinner to
discuss the operation. I was to be involved with the neuro-
microsurgery, primarily connecting and splicing the two spinal
chords of girl and pony. It would involve some very long and
complicated surgery removing most of the horse's neck vertebrae
without damaging the brain. The brain and protective scull case
was to be relocated near Vee's lumber vertebrae where Dr James had
removed her intestines.

This was to be, without a doubt the most complicated surgery as Vee's
and Juno's spines were conjoined.. It was important to keep the horse's
brain and body connected because of all the important glandular and
hormonal balances. All the digestion was to be handled by the horse's
omnivorous system but the colon was to be connected to Vee's anus so
that she would control defecation from between her 'forelegs'.

"After all," I smiled, "we don't want her to -'shit in the street'- do
we?"

We all giggled as we remembered Cye's words so long ago when the whole
project had been mooted. We then had to explain the joke to Dr James.

"Well enough of that Ladies," I continued. Most of the sensory and
motor functions will be enjoyed and controlled by Vee. Juno and Vee
will share most of Juno's old sensory functions, but Vee will control
all the motor functions associated with these. The horse will also
share the digestive sensations with Vee so it will in fact still be
'alive'

There will, of necessity, be a lot of cerebral interaction between
Veronica and Juno but I have no idea how much of Vee's 'consciousness'
she will share with Juno."

Jacky described that she had 'grown' many meters of compatible nerve
tissue for 'rewiring' work. We agreed that, if there were time, we
would endeavour to interconnect Vee and Juno's cortexes, although it
was to have a fairly low priority. It would be interesting to see it
the human and horse could 'read each others minds'. I continued
describing the allocation of other tasks.

Whilst Dr James and I are busy with the 'wiring', Cynthia and Jacky
will be busy with the 'plumbing and engineering."

The advances we had made in these fields alone would merit a Nobel
Prize for medicine. The changes to the digestive canal would entail
some considerable alterations to the back of Vee's pelvic girdle as the
intestines were redirected out and back, into Veronica's trunk. The
same would apply to the urine canals. Veronica would create quite a
splash when she went for a pee, for the horse's bladder was to be
evacuated via Vee's slightly enlarged uthrea. Further difficult
surgery would solve the connections between Vee's pelvis and Juno's
scapulas.

The only function remaining at the horse's tail end was to be sexual
and this would compliment Vee's own sexual organs. It meant that
Veronica and Juno could both enjoy sex as a human and as a mare. It was
going to be interesting to discover if the lower orders of animals
actually enjoyed orgasms. Veronica would be able to tell us if Juno
shared her orgasms.

Dr James digested this and was silent for quite a while as she chewed
pensively on her food. The rest of us had discussed all this many times
over and knew the details off by heart. The remainder of the meal was
spent discussing techniques and advising Dr James on the various
methods and researches we had developed over the years. As we finally
rose for coffee, Dr James eventually spoke.

"Well I'm flabbergasted girls you certainly have done some incredible
things here. Do you realise that you've taken science and medicine
forward light years."

"Yes," agreed Jacky, "but we've left ethics and morality dark years
behind. It remains for the law to catch up- if it can." She added
quietly.

Jenny shook her head contemptuously.

"To hell with the law. If I can move around on my own again then I'll
be more than happy. Sod the law; bunch of old duffers with their dusty
books anyway."

"Don't ever let Vee catch you saying that Jen," laughed Jacky.

The mood became silent again as we thought of Vee alone in her room.

"Never mind," I interjected, "Vee tells us we haven't definitely broken any
laws yet, but we've sailed pretty close to some ethical winds. We are a fully licensed research laboratory and some of the conditions of that licence might be construed to breached, however it's debatable."

I spoke with more conviction than I felt but Dr James supported me.

"It would appear not Beverly. That's what excites me. The prospects are
amazing. Think what this could do for quadriplegics and paraplegics."

"Early days yet Dr James. We have not been able to use a single human
embryo or sperm and all the human tissue we have used has been our own.
If medicine really wants to take our knowledge and help people
generally then they are going to have to totally revise the laws on all
this. Mind you, I think we are some way down the road to developing
some sort of useful 'human' limb with hands for later grafting onto
Jenny and Vee. As I've said already though; early days yet."

"Yes," added Jacky, "for all our researches here. We have still only
mapped out a fraction of the mammalian genome accurately. We actually
only targeted those genes essential to our plans. What's more, the bits
we have mapped are sometimes totally unconnected and have no
identifiable 'end-keys' to fit into other parts of the genome. Without
Jenny's incredible computer skills, we would never have come this far."

If a limbless torso could have 'preened' itself then that was exactly
what Jenny was doing now. Dr James smiled at her as she spoke again.

"Well Jenny, you always were the most brainy of the gang. I hope that
Veronica's operation goes well and we can turn our attentions to you.
What will you be doing tomorrow when all this is going on?"

"I'll be monitoring all the life support machines and clinical sensors.
Just as any other anaesthetist would be doing in any other operation.
I'm not completely helpless you know!" snapped Jenny.

Dr James had touched a raw nerve. Jenny was hypersensitive about the
success of Vee's operation and still bitter about her disabilities.

"I'm sorry Jenny. That was tactless and crass of me. I'm feeling very
tired and my mind's not working right. Is it O.K. for me to go to bed?"

We nodded and she left. Dot showed her her room whilst we made our way
to our bedroom. Veronica had shut herself away in another bedroom so we
were in no mood for any fun.

We were all feeling tense and fully aware of the burden facing us in
the morning. Although we slept together we didn't fuck together that
night.