Jon blinked. Zoe was a...well, he didn't really know if there was a name for it, though doubtless some nerd on the internet could provide him with a Latin term. Zoe had the lower body of a giant scorpion, merging into her human half where the head would normally be. She didn't have the pincer-claws, but the eight legs, segmented, chitinous body, and long, curved tail with the giant barb on the end were unmistakable. Like the centaur tech, she was unclothed, but she seemed okay with it.
Zoe looked down at herself, and her jaw dropped. "Oh my God," she gasped, "this is so fucking AWESOME!" She experimented, first with a leg, then with her tail, figuring out how they moved. The tech gave an impatient cough, and Zoe stepped down from the platform. "Jon," she said, after consulting her notes, "you're up next. Place your hand on the scanner, please."
Jon wasn't quite sure what to do. He wasn't really all that keen on becoming some strange hybrid creature, but with everyone expecting him to, it seemed like it would be awkward not to. Besides, he had the stone back at home if anything went wrong, right? Steeling his nerve, he placed his hand on the scanner, then dashed into the chamber.
