"You're going to become a Sphinx."
"Like in Egypt?" Sarah asked.
"Similar," said the nurse. "The Greeks also had a Sphinx, which had a woman's head and breasts, a lion's body and a bird's wings. They were supposed to be very wise and mysterious. One guarded the gate to Thebes and wouldn't let anyone in unless they answered a riddle."
"I'm going to guard stuff?" asked Sarah, incredulously.
"You will be purchased by a human family and you will serve as a sort of companion and guard for them and their home," said the nurse. "You will be given the personality of a loyal guardian, lovingly serving them in any way they ask and protecting them from harm. In return, you will get love and affection, as well as a home. You will also be a fully functional hermaphrodite, so that you can have sex as either a male or female, which means that you can also be both a father and a mother. Oh, and another thing: sex with humans. You'll find humans sexually attractive and they, in turn, will find you attractive. You'll be able to have sex with humans of either gender and both you and your human partner will get pleaure from the act, though you will not be able to get each other pregnant."
Sarah was quiet. This was a lot to digest. The nurse handed a folder to her. "This will describe the process to you in more depth," she said. "At the end there will be a section where you can choose what your new form will look like. And don't worry. Everyone who has had this proceedure has loved it. My sister has had it, and she just adores her new family."
