For several minutes there was nothing to see, just the hoarse whistling of the crude flute. Then suddenly the top of the basket moved, grew still, and...then moved again. Then the lid fell aside and slowly the King Cobra emerged from the basket as the crowd took several uneasy steps back. The man played the flute a bit faster and the snake gently swayed from side to side, flicking its tongue out and moving in rhythm. The kid had to wonder, was the man controlling the cobra with his music, or was. Trisha glanced down, then she looked back at C. To her surprise, he was almost blushing. "I suppose something a little less risque might be a nice change," she agreed.D chimed in. "We have a professional counselor available if you feel like you need someone to talk to. The agency will arrange whatever skills training you might want."Trisha nodded. "If I have to stay a woman, I'd rather not be stuck with my current...profession." She thought for a moment. "Can I try it...to see if..."C nodded. That group also included Béla’s siblings, in their Martian Drone bodies and her father’s projects as they matured into fully grown hybrids for her siblings to inhabit.It would take almost three years to orbit out to Jupiter. The reason for that, her father explained when she asked him, was they had a finite amount of fuel left, and it had to last several more centuries, as the technology no longer existed for them to make more. For most of their motion, they depended on the local star’s. John only smiled and assured her that she would thank him once she got to know them. Beyond that he would tell her nothing.Alicia was very nervous as she dressed for the night she was to meet John's friends. As John had instructed her, she dressed simply. She chose her favorite bra and matching lace panties over which she wore a little black cocktail dress that came to about mid thigh. John assured her that she looked great and she was going to be hit with his friends.They drove to a part of.