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Subject: {ASSM} RP <*> Biolab 13, Cycle 03 - Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 01 1-3/? - The Journey Begins  (M/wolfess zoo nosex)
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Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:10:04 -0400
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Released to the public domain
----------

M/wolfess zoo nosex
---

Biolab 13 - Cycle 03
Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 01 - The Journey Begins
Chapter One - The Ad
---

People Wanted:
Do you enjoy the outdoors?
Do you work well when unsupervised?
Do you enjoy the idea of working with animals?
For more details:
Contact  'Bio-Partners': partners@biolab.nml
---------

That was it.  No address.  No phone number.  I didn't need them. I already
knew about the Bio-Partners.  Ever since I was a kid I had known I wanted to
go to space.  My one undeniable skill is that I get along well with most
animals.

* * *

Oh, I tend to forget that some people think I can write reasonably well.
Apparently not well enough to offer me any compensation.  Forget writing as a
career.

In our history class we had spent a week discussing the original BioLab
project.  Over one hundred years ago wolves and horses had been 'enhanced'.
After the techniques had been perfected, many other species had been
enhanced.  As part of the history lesson, we got to watch a vid of the
original Pony Girls and then had the option of seeing a live performance by
some of the members of the current Pony Girls chorus line.

That was the day I decided I wanted to be a Bio-Partner.

Somehow.

I'd waited years for one of their rare advertisements.  My patience had been
rewarded.

* * *

"Fill out the forms on this disk.  When you reach the end, you'll be told
what to do."

After I settled at one of the tables with the other candidates, I inserted
the disk and  scanned the list of questions. "Incredible", I mumbled.  "Is
there anything they don't want to know about me?"

After hours of answering questions, I got to the last page.  I thought I was
numb and unable to be surprised - but I was wrong.

One question remained.  One simple instruction.  "Answer the following
question in any way you wish and save your work.  Wait for your instructions
to appear on the screen."

I stared at the question.  'Are you bothered by people who have sex with
animals?'  I slyly glanced at the other people who were answering the
questions.  I couldn't tell if anyone else had reached the last question.

I leaned back and thought about my answer.  As far as I knew, nobody was
aware that I wrote fiction and posted it on the grid. Should I keep my secret
or should I finally admit to what I had been doing?

I thought back to that long ago history class.  I remembered how we had
talked about the early days of BioLab and how the machinations of the
original project leader led to the eventual discovery of the then secret
project.

The lesson was clear.  I decided to be honest.

"No, I am not bothered by the idea.  In fact, until now, I have never
admitted that I use a nym and write, as well as post, such stories on the
grid."

I saved the work and waited.

* * *

My wait was a short one.  The screen flashed to get my attention. I
hesitated.  In spite of all my dreams, now that I had taken the last step on
the path - I wasn't sure if I wanted to know...

Enough!

I stabbed at the accept key.

"This is Sophia.  Thank you for being honest, Fyrenth.  We've been hoping you
would join us.  Remove your disk and bring it through the door.  I'm waiting
for you.  Incidentally, the final question is tailored for each person.
Welcome, Bio-Partner."

I fell back in shock.  I had been certain that *nobody* had linked me to the
writer 'Fyrenth'.

I was in a daze as I removed the disk and went over to the door. My hands
were shaking but I managed to open the door and walk into the small office.
The door sighed shut behind me and I heard the distinctive 'thunk' of a
security lock.

* * *

"Hello, Ted.  Toss the disk in the trash."

I dropped the disk in the trash, braced myself against the wall, closed my
eyes... And sighed.  "I should have expected something like that last
question and now this."

The wolfess sitting on the desk raised her head.  "No.  We deliberately find
ways to startle anyone who gets this far. Resilience and adaptability is
required in a successful Partner. We need to know if a person has it *before*
they take the final step."

"May I sit down?"

"No.  Follow me.  We'll relax and talk during the trip."  She jumped down and
led me through a door.  As we walked down a corridor, she explained.  "This
is only a recruiting station. From here, each person who is accepted is
escorted to The Farm. There, you will be allowed to settle in and eventually
find a partner."

"Until you find your partner, I will be your guide and, if you wish it, your
companion."

Things had happened too quickly.  Instead of answering when she paused and
glanced at me, I nodded.  She resumed walking and I followed her.

* * *

At the end of the corridor a transport was waiting.  "Luxurious", I commented
after we had settled and it started moving.

She sighed and looked out the window before answering.  "Humans who make it
this far are rare.  We pamper them outrageously."

I chuckled at her choice of words.  "We?"

She turned and studied me.  Something was going on behind those brown eyes
and she wasn't bothering to hide it.  "We."  Her ears twitched slightly but I
had no idea what that movement meant.  In a few days I would discover that
her odd ear twitch was her way of laughing or showing amusement.

"Bio-Partners is an operation that is funded and run by animals, not humans.
Does it offend you to learn that for all practical purposes, we 'use' humans?
The partnerships are real and often deep.  That doesn't change reality.  We
need you more than you need us.  Of course we take special care of those few
who are able to treat with us as equals.  It won't be long until you find out
what price you've paid to join us.  This luxury is something we all need and
share."

She sighed deeply and closed her eyes.  "In the coming years you'll learn to
appreciate having a place you can call home - or something like this
transport, a place where you can settle and relax for a brief period."

"No, I'm not offended.  Surprised though."

Without opening her eyes, she commented.  "We don't make an issue of who
controls things.  Ever since the biostructs were granted equal legal status
with humans, we quit listing our species in any public records."

I gazed out the window as I thought about her words.  "You make the rest of
it sound pretty bad."

Her mild retort was simple.  "I speak of reality."

I nodded slowly.  "Fair enough."

We watched the landscape in shared silence.  As evening overtook us, we
talked of many things.

"Sophia?  How did you learn of my nym?"

She smiled.  "Anyone can be traced.  Your style of writing has been analyzed.
Eventually we were able to link it to you. Once we knew who, we waited and
hoped you would  follow up on your plans to apply.  The ad was deliberately
released only in your area and we hoped you would see it and answer."

"You had no way of knowing it but your stories are very popular and many of
the Bio-Partners enjoy them."  She hesitated.  "*I* enjoy them."

She settled with her head in my lap.  I reached down and started petting her.

She continued.  "Many of us are waiting to show you the differences between
your well written fantasies - and reality." She raised her head and looked at
me.  "Are you ready to learn?"

This was all too much for me.  Nothing was happening as I had expected it to
happen.  "I guess so."  I fell silent and tried to sort out my thoughts and
emotions.

"Sophia?  How do you decide who will guide the new applicants?" She had
hinted at wheels within wheels.

"How else?  While you were answering the questions, the air around you was
constantly sampled.  Those samples were passed to a room full of Bio-Partner
teams and unpaired Partners.  Your reactions were discussed and eventually
one of the unpaired Partners was selected from the species your pheromones
indicated that you are most comfortable with.  After we talked it over, we
decided that I was the one who was the most emphatic in feeling that you
'smelled right'."

I shook my head ruefully.  "Nothing is what I expected.  I didn't even get
the chance to see if 'love at first sight' is true. 'Love at first smell'
seems to be closer.  I'm so confused that I don't know what questions to
ask."

Sophia sighed and increased the pressure of her head in my lap. "You don't
smell confused.  Your hands aren't either.  Listen to your body when it
speaks.  It will take special effort for now but eventually it will become as
natural to you as breathing."  She paused and then whispered.  "At least
that's what the already partnered humans tell me.  Part of the time we spend
at The Farm will involve you learning enough so that you will know what
questions you want to ask."

"Direct, aren't you?"

"Honest.  Just as you had to be when you answered the final question."

"You have a point."  I paused and 'tasted' the feel of my next word.  Yes...
It felt right.  "Partner."

Sophia opened her eyes and looked at me.  I could tell she was feeling
something that was special to her.  "Are you sure?"

"You say I am.  It's time I started living my fantasies."

She shivered slightly as she closed her eyes and relaxed. Sometime during the
night, I leaned back and fell asleep.

That was how a glorious sunrise found us.

We were already comfortable with each other and willing to begin walking
through life... 

Together.
------


Biolab 13 - Cycle 03
Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 01 - The Journey Begins
Chapter Two - Transported
---

Since I'd spent most of the night sleeping upright, with Sophia's chin
resting on my leg, my sleep had been uneasy.  I had awakened when she got up
to go to the bathroom.  After she'd finished, she had padded back and made me
get up so she could change the couch I was sitting on into a bed. We
resettled and I didn't wake up again until I smelled food.

We were working our way through breakfast when I realized I hadn't asked how
long the trip would take.

"As long as it takes."  Sophia was relaxed and nonchalant.

"That doesn't make sense.  Any place on Earth can be reached in less than 36
hours."

"True.  If you are in a hurry.  I'm not.  Are you?"  She finished the last of
her food and settled on her haunches.  I knew enough about canine body
language to realize she was smiling with her whole body this time.

"Huh?  Why wouldn't I be in a hurry to get started?"

She looked away and then back.  "Do you remember the final step I mentioned
yesterday?"

"Yes."

"You're in the middle of it.  When you agreed to be my partner, you linked
your life to mine.  Where I go, you go.  To some degree, my work determines
what you will be doing while I am working.  In this case, you'd be learning
on the job.  I'm in security.  My career has been on hold until I could find
a partner."

She hesitated.  "Actually, I've deliberately kept my career on hold. You see,
in my spare time, I'm one of the few biostructs who writes. I wanted a chance
to see if we are actually compatible with each other."

"You mentioned that you want to get into space.  There is an opening for a
security team on one of the geostations.  I meet all the qualifications
except one.  I'm unpartnered."

"I'm sorry, Ted.  That's one of the prices you pay as a Bio-Partner. You can
choose your hobbies and what you do in your spare time.  Your career is
linked to your partner's."

"Do you still want to be my partner?  If not, we go from here to the Farm and
look for new ones.  Say yes..."

"And our next stop will be the Bio Partners' launch facility."

My first reaction was anger.  I felt tricked.  What about my dreams? I
wanted...

What *did* I want?  What did I know?  I'd been so focused on becoming a
Bio-Partner that I hadn't put much effort into figuring out what I would do
once I reached that goal.

Skills?  What skills?  I got along well with animals.  I suppose I had
vaguely figured I would go into some sort of animal related work if I hadn't
been accepted.  I could write but I was realistic enough to know that I
wasn't good enough to live on whatever I could earn as a writer.

The adrenalin surge slowly faded.  I looked down at my clenched hands.  "How
many never finish the last step?"  I raised my head and looked into brown
eyes.

"At your age?  Fifteen percent make it this far.  Of those, roughly fifty
percent never finish the last step.  The odds get worse as the applicants get
older.  They aren't much better for the people younger than you are.  At
best, only twenty percent of the original applicants make it to the last
step.  Those are averages of course.  Some years are better than others.  We
don't make any sort of effort to let people know the truth.  We need all the
applicants we can get. Admitting the high failure rate would only discourage
people from applying."

I nodded.  I was beginning to understand Sophia's comments about pampering
and prices.  "Do all the Biostructs treat potential partners the way you do?"

Her answer surprised me.  "No."

"No?"

Her posture shifted slightly.  She sagged and then raised herself. "I told
you I'm in security.  That means that I and my partner will be routinely
trusting each other with our lives.  Whoever that partner is, they *have* to
be able to think clearly when they are dealing with the stress of an
unexpected situation.  Our lives, and those of many others, might depend on
how we react.  Panic *during the problem* is not a viable option."  She
grinned.  "Afterwards, when the situation is under control and others have
taken over, we can panic as much as we want to."

"I see."  I did, too.  It was obvious Sophia was far more experienced than I
was.  Harder, but she had to be.

I think what frustrated me the most was learning that by agreeing to become
Sophia's Partner, I had unwittingly agreed to let her make my career choices
for me.  I didn't even get the chance to look at different careers and see if
I was interested in them.  As long as I stayed partnered with Sophia, I'd be
in security.

The only way to get a chance to choose my career was to break last night's
promise to Sophia.  I didn't want to do that.  Last night, being next to her
had felt more right than anything I'd ever done before.  I couldn't bring
myself to believe that 'feeling good about being around her' was enough of a
reason to stay now that I knew that if I did, I would never be able to choose
a career based on my own desires.

I tried to figure out if there were any other, and better, reasons for me to
stay partnered with Sophia.  I needed a reason that would help me feel
useful.

Wait.  Something she had said.  What was it?  Something about my hobbies. Had
she been trying to tell me something?

I replayed her words in my mind.  Oh.  Really?  I get to choose my *hobbies*?

That's when I turned my full attention back to Sophia.

"You said 'We've been hoping you would join us'.  Why?"  I held my breath as
I stared at her.

"Because you write.  We want you writing for us.  About us.  As we are and as
we see..."

"Ourselves and the world around us."

I was shaking again but this time it was because I was afraid a long held
dream was going to be offered and then taken away.  "There have to be
partners who write.  You said *you* are a writer."

Surprisingly, she turned away and looked out the window.  "I write. There are
a few others.  Not enough of us."  She sighed.  "There are never enough of
us."

'There are never enough of us.'  Something about that simple sentence
bothered me.  I'd heard it before.  Where?  When?

She can't be!  No way!  Yet...  The phrasing.  How come I hadn't seen it
sooner?

"Tialira?"

Her head jerked around to face me.

I was numb.  Sophia was Tialira.  *My* Tialira.  My virtual lover who had
been there for so many years.  Supportive.  Gentle.  A fellow writer who
waged war against all the false perceptions that still existed.

I rediscovered my voice.  It broke when I finally found the words I wanted.
"Would you have told me?"

She ducked her head.  "I don't know.  I was afraid of how you would react.  I
didn't want you thinking I used that to pressure you into staying.  You have
every right to resent what I've done."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "Several years ago, I made
Tialira a promise.  'If we ever get the chance, I'd like to be with you so we
could see if we really could be close friends after meeting in person.  If we
managed to stay friends, we would see if we cared enough for each other to
become lovers in real life.'  Tialira made the same promise to Fyrenth."   I
shrugged even though I knew she wouldn't see it.  "I made that promise to the
*person* Tialira and the image I had built of her - in my mind.  I knew the
real image would be different.  Life on the grid taught me that If I loved
the mind, the shape of the body doesn't matter."

"Since I still love Tialira, you, I'll have to learn to ignore the package
you're wrapped in.  I don't think I'll have much trouble doing that.  I've
written about it, now I get to live it. "

"That's something I knew I'd be dealing with if I was accepted.  I never
expected to have to deal with it so soon.  I was expecting a gradual building
of a relationship.  I never dreamed that I would find myself with the chance
to confirm one that already existed."

She nodded without looking at me.

I held out one of my hands, palm up.  "Well?  Is this the chance to keep our
promises?"

Her eyes flicked in my direction.  Slowly, one of her front legs came up. She
laid her paw in my hand.

"Yes."
------

Released to the public domain
----------

poem Wolfess/M zoo Wolfess-pov nosex

This is Tialira's poetic retelling of the first two chapters of the story
detailing how she and Fyrenth met in real life.
---

Biolab 13 - Cycle 03
Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 01 - The Journey Begins
Chapter Three - Tialira's Song
---

Words from afar
Blaze brightly
On the screen of my life.

Where is he?
Who is he?
Is he for real?

Lonely.
Oh, both of us,
So very lonely.

Carefully, I search.
I must *know*.
Dare I find out?

I whisper his name.
It gently rolls from my tongue:
"Fyrenth."

I dream of a touch.
Any touch.
*His* touch!

Is he for real?
Could he be mine?
In our dreams, fulfilled?

Gently.
Very gently.
I ask without asking.

Then...
Discovery!
He's real!

Pain.
Agitation.
Unsure.

He's human.
I'm not.
Much danger of failure.

Days
Turn to years
And a promise is made.

"Fyrenth."
In my deepest parts.
I whisper his name.

Would he?
Could he?
Will he?

His scent overwhelms me.
He's near
Yet so far.

Words from nearby
Blaze brightly
On the screen of my life.

"Fyrenth."
I whisper his name
Etched so deeply, on my soul.

Contact!
Welcome!
Will our future begin?

Scents.
Overwhelming.
Tell of chaos within.

Before me.
Beside me.
Together!

"Fyrenth!"
A whisper within.
A dream, reborn.

A future suggested.
In the chaos of now,
A mistake maybe made.

Scents overwhelming
Tell of shock,
And surprise.

My eyes turn away
To help hide...
My fear.

Inward I turn.
Can *he* read *me*
That well?

"Tialira."
He knows!
He knows me!

The scent
Of confusion
Tickles my nose.

But not do I smell
The scent
Of rejection.

"Tialira."
Spoken in darkness
It tells of his love.

Words from next to me
Blaze brightly
On the screen of my life.

More words
Do we share
And speak of our past.

Of promises made
And chances to learn.
We speak of it all.

"Tialira."
"Partner."
"Together, we two."

Fears, unfounded.
Replaced by a future
Well founded.

A gentle touch
Binds us together
And tells of our love.

"Tialira."
"Fyrenth."
With tenderness spoken.

Words from within
Blaze brightly
On the screens of *our* lives.
---

----

"Community togetherness can lead to a consensus outlook that seeks and destroys any dissident element, no matter how small and really harmless"

Dean R. Koontz - "A Darkness in My Soul" - published June, 1972

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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