Free All Beasts Together (The Commander) by Randall Farmer

Transforms in a juice transfer situation, engaging in sex afterwards.  Pregnancy.”
    “And, due to the damage to my innards and my regeneration, instant period as well, and spontaneous abortion of whatever appalling Monster this thing of hate was trying to become,” I said. Definitely some sort of Monster on the way.  Baby Little Red Nugget was far too large to be a normal baby in the making.  Normal babies weren’t so large as to be visible just two days past conception.  “First period I’ve had since becoming a Transform, by the way.  Given all the ‘Focuses can’t become pregnant’ crap I’ve heard, I was hoping at least to get something out of the information.”  Yes, yes, I had figured out why I bled for so long from my vagina.  It had only been a year since my last period.  I hadn’t forgotten the basics.
    I did wonder what had happened to my diaphragm, though.  I had a bad feeling it was lodged somewhere in my intestinal cavity.  Without Dr. Zielinski’s help , that’s where it would stay.
    I went on and gave the rest of my story.  I didn’t mention the Arm juice burning trick.  I expected the two of them would know exactly what lurked in Pittsburgh and they did.  I had prepped myself well.  With my Arm-enhanced memory, I relived the story as I spoke, traumatic.  Low juice took care of the real traumatic parts because I had already forgotten them.  I needed the preparation.  I didn’t want to become hysterical in front of a Focus, or freeze up, or turn violent, or start talking about voices in my head, or pinball game dreams or some other low juice hallucinatory nonsense.  Not in this situation.  Not with my life on the line.
    In the end, I plopped Enkidu’s hand down on the autopsy table.  Damn, I didn’t want to give up that hand.  I hoped they valued the trophy as much as I did.
    “Hand of Chimera, still alive.  Sort of.  I formally offer this as the death price for my failure of control over the juice.”  I slid Enkidu’s hand over toward Lori, almost like giving away a piece of my soul.  She gave it an ‘ick’ look and a fish-eyed half-smile.  I could have done without Ann’s mental comparison of my activities to th ose of her pet cat.
    “Thank you .” Lori steepled her fingers, unhappy. “The offer of the hand is ingenious, but I’m not sure those whom I represent would accept it as payment in full.  Unfortunately, I can’t judge other than you were the one at fault, Carol.”
    So this was it?  Th e decision hadn’t taken long.  I could go quietly, or decide to take Lori to hell on the way by.  “So.  What now?”
    “I’m going to recommend nothing more than probation, a black mark on your record, for not being able to stand up to your own urges.  In my opinion, there were extenuating circumstances involved: you were dead on your feet due to a Chimera attack that should have never occurred.  In a place as civilized as the Quad Cities no proper Transforms should have to fear Chimera attacks.”
    Well, what an interesting way of saying the Focuses weren’t able to protect their people.  I sensed deep political undercurrents here and I found them disturbing.  The Focus Network was cavalier about human life.  Transform life, too.
    “So the equation nets your Network down one perfectly fine male Transform and your benefit is you get to keep me alive and learn of the Chimera Enkidu.”  I paused.  “You know, I don’t think I want your job, Lori.”
    “I don’t want your job, either.  You did kill a tagged Transform and public acknowledgement of your misdeeds must occur.  Your punishment is thus: the Network has given you the job of figuring out how Arms can be kept in line and worked with as true partners.  We don’t expect it to be finished by next Tuesday.”  A false grin flashed over her face.  “We don’t care what method you come up with, as long as it doesn’t end up with dead Focuses and tagged Transforms strewn across the