All right, first things first. There is NO TG or CG content in this. It's bloody, dark, and rather unpleasant. It's also important in setting the stage in the latter stages of the Tale of Jet and Quartz, and adds a great deal of depth to one of the major characters in that tale. If it looks like this is going to bother you, then skip this, and spare me the angry e-mails. You have been warned.

Spider Man
By Missy Crystal

Some people are born men and others have being a man thrust upon them. Petula Barker was an ordinary research assistant until she accidentally injected herself with spider venom. Three days later, she woke up as Peter Barker. After he is caught dressed in her clothes and carrying her purse, he is arrested and has to convince the police that he is really she or vice versa. A female to male transformation story for the often neglected side of our transgendered community.

The Unexpected

THE SENTENCE
Chapter #4
By
Jillain Spears

When we last seen our heroine little Jillian, she was in a car, with her new aunt Judy & little Lynn on their way someplace? Ah yes, where else, but back to the MALL? What? Oh no, not pre-school too? Join us as we find out what other surprises await our poor little girl.

"THE SENTENCE"
chapter #3
by
Jillian Spears

When we last seen Little Jillian, Holli her sister was just about to get home from school. It looks like Jillian’s troubles seem to be getting worse. Mom & Holli soon find out about the days outing, the diapers, and everything else. Mom thinks Jillian needs to learn another lesson. Our poor little girl is in for a lot more surprises it seems.

Lieutenant Ivar Bandle daily regretted the contract that lured Dawson's Bunch to the planet of Darson. Now his platoon finally had a mission to be something other than a glorified security guards. However, all is not as it seems and soon he, his men and a sylph named Sascha are on the run. All that is left for them is to march or die.

Note: Story has not changed since it was posted during the Stardust Anniversary Science Fiction Contest.

Deep Cover

Prologue

Harkness Holdings had just posted another astounding quarterly earnings statement that left Wall Street analysts breathless with excitement. The chattering financial commentators were agog. Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal were all touting the quarter-by-quarter meteoric rise of Beauregard “Beau” Chadsworth, Harkness’ CEO, and his team who’d taken the moribund company and pushed it to the heights of Wall Street stardom. Harkness’ share prices reflected the unbounded confidence of investors big and small. From the get-rich-quick types to the most cautious investors, Harness was what they all wanted.

Beau Chadsworth was the darling of the talk show hosts who outdid one another in their fawning praise. In the post-Enron scandal era, Harkness was basking in its squeaky clean image. And Chadsworth, for his part was all becoming modesty. He was quick to point to the success and support of his team, Jack Levin the COO and Bridget O’Leary the CFO and their subordinates. Then there was the Chadsworth Foundation, already being talked about in the same breath as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so recently bolstered by the largess of Warren Buffett.

All was golden in the second and third quarters of 2006. Or so it seemed.

When Kate and Rob wake up in each others bodies they have no idea why, how, or even who they are now. To make matters worse they have very little time to sort it all out.

Join them for a roller coaster ride around the seedier parts of London, and a visit to the Home of English Rugby, and pray that Kate does not have to play rugby, because that would be a disaster.

With thanks to Hope and BOUSER for the editing.

This is a follow on to Luciana. It would help if you've read that.

Can someone who is not who they were be trusted? Will retracing your steps solve anything, when nothing is the same... and should you try? It is not always possible to walk away even if you want to. The past is always there.

There is some darkness, violence and general nastiness... so as before, be forewarned.
Apologies if the Italian phrases are not exactly correct. Blame Google.

BERMUDA TANGLE

A second-person-viewpoint narration of a Pagan journey through a year-and-a-day of the familiar, to find the mystery behind the mysteries. Yes, this is a magical gendershift story.

Someone wants private investigator Nick Llewellyn to disappear, and they've devised a twisted way to accomplish that. Now he has just twenty-four hours to find out who is behind it - twenty-four hours until he ends up dead on arrival.

Transformation

by Jackie

HI, my name is Jasmine, or at least it is now. It used to be George a couple of
years ago, but things have changed a lot over those years. I used to be an

A tale of child wronged, who through the love of father is uplifted to succeed beyond all but their own hope and dreams.

Note: If you found this story as a result of reading the Adventures of a Merchant tales, then I would like to warn you that even though it too is fantasy based, it is a very different story in tone.

Synopsis:

What happens when a male is invited for a sleepover at a girl's house?

The Sleepover

by Barbara Lynn Terry

Story:

Part 2 of 2.

This follows directly from Pt 1. The continuation and conclusion of the tale.

Two people form a relationship that takes a few turns from where either of them expected things to go.
There is a bit of violence here, but not too graphic.

A few expressions and phrases may be unfamiliar to some. Where I thought appropriate I have marked with an asterisk and a meaning is placed at the end.

Thank you to Dimelza Cassidy for much needed advice on 'Blues' bike. Any errors are down to me not asking the right question.