Zuka (World Guide, Creature) (Patreon)

Feminine sapience transformed into pure, gelatinous pleasure, unfettered by the needs and concerns of a mortal body. That's the theory behind the little crystalline blobs known as zuka, at least. Existing in a state of constant, euphoric ecstasy, their captive souls are forever trapped in a state akin to that of unending foreplay, on the cusp of orgasmic release. Only the handling of another sapient being can send them tumbling over the edge.

The alien Zarata originally created the zuka, and their male equivalent, the zuxa, nearly five hundred years ago, as a means to dispose of the populations of neighboring, sparsely populated colony worlds who dared make petty war against their homeworld of Zembax. Largely pacifistic, yet extremely determined to protect their way of life, any colony so presumptuous as to attack them would be first defeated, non-combatant age and/or ability colonists forced to leave, and then its combatant age population transformed into zuka and zuxa. Such takings were considered part of the risk of living in the legal limbo of interstellar space at the time, an attitude which wold come back to bite the Feyli Empire when they failed to respond effectively to the initial phases of rowa expansion centuries later.

Physically, every zuka is an identically sized, 30cm blob of transparent, usually colored, softly luminous slime.  When placed on a hard surface, it flattens into a low, hemispherical shape. It can ooze about in a slow, haphazard fashion on any reasonably level surface, but lacks the ability to adhere to and climb any incline more than a few degrees.

All zuka were once sapient females, or other sexes of essentially feminine inner nature. Their color is based on a number of factors. These include physical strength, endurance, agility, health, basic intelligence, and basic wisdom. Loosely speaking, these represent fundamental genetic attributes and their development. The intensity of a zuka's color is dependent on overall intellectual and physical charisma, learned skill, overall societal value, and social standing (as classified by their creators, the mysterious aliens known as zarata).

As a rough guide to those who find themselves about to be transformed, each factor might be considered to add a certain number of points to the color and intensity scales. Low = 0 points. Average = 1 point. Above Average = 2 points. High = 3 points. Extraordinary = 4 points. Totaling the points generally results in a value reflecting the color & intensity of the resulting zuka.

Zuka Color Chart:

• 0-5: Clear
• 6-9: Red
• 10-15: Yellow
• 16-20: Green
• 20-22: Blue
• 23-24: Purple

Zuka Intensity Chart:

• 0-6: Pale
• 6-10: Moderate
• 11-14: Vivid
• 15-16: Deep

In addition to varying color, zukahave varying abilities, many of which are oriented toward the pleasure and enjoyment of other sapient species. The number of special abilities a particular zuka might have is determined by it's color. Clear zuka have one ability, and each step on the rainbow above them gains one additional ability. The total number of different abilities is unknown, and largely a matter of conjecture. A sampling of those known to exist is listed below. All require direct physical contact with the subject of the ability.

• Aphrodisiac.
• Calming.
• Dream enhancement.
• Enhanced lactation facilitation.
• Enhanced sexual stimulation.
• Inhibition limiting.
• Intellectual arousal.
• Intoxication.
• Limited healing.
• Limited local clairvoyance.
• Limited telepathic empathy.
• Meditative trance.
• Observational focus enhancement.
• Stress relief.
• Wisdom enhancement.

The actual transformation process which converts a sapient female into a zuka is relatively straight forward. The subject enters a special transformation chamber and stands in the center. The transparent door allows other to watch as a null-gravity field causes her to float off the floor, while energy coils at the top and the bottom of the chamber energize. These effect the actual transformation, which slowly causes the subject to become a large, amorphous blob of slime.

The initial transformation into slime takes between three and five minutes, and is extremely pleasurable, both physically and mentally. Even the least enthusiastic prospective zuka can't help but be caught up in the sublime, fluid sensations of full, physical liquefaction. Once this process is complete, the blob is sucked into an overhead opening, where it undergoes a 'distilling' process.  Much of the blob's mass is drawn off over the course of two or three minutes. The resulting zuka is then dispensed into a clear sphere, consumed by unending pleasure, and ready to accept the attentions of their future owners.

Zuka do not seem to need any physical nourishment. It is theorized that they exist in a constant cycle of creating and then feeding upon sexual energy, though why they don't seem to lose energy over long periods of time without external stimulation is a total mystery. Another, more recent theory, suggest that they garner energy in the same trans-dimensional fashion as biogel, though without the need for technological accessories. In this respect, it may more resemble the ancient key'vin'ta purple slime, though lacking the need for constant addition of new, sapient fuel to keep the power flowing. Strangely enough, zuka are both immune to the effects of purple slime, and the physically transformative effects of biogel. This is a major point in support of the latter theory, though further study is required.

One remarkable note about zuka transformation is its ability to subsume symbiotic organisms. Non-intelligent organisms simply become slime along with their host's body. This property can, and has, been used to provide hosts of unwanted, irremovable, and inevitably fatal symbiotic organisms, to obtain a potentially more desirable life outcome. Intelligent organisms are fully united with their host, becoming one in both mind and in zuka body.

Zuka transformation is just as capable of subsuming biogel cladding as it is any other symbiotic organism. Indeed, it can even transform beings who have previously been completely transformed into biogel. This does not break the transformed individual's link with the biogel Unity, though it does prevent the Unity, or it's controlling soul Omega, from doing much more than being aware of what it senses, and how it feels. Owing to this, and the above noted theory on sustenance, the Destiny Omega has visited Zembax in an effort to obtain a transformation chamber to use for further study. This has not been forthcoming, though the Zarata Council has agreed to allow specially appointed representatives access to study zuka, provided they provide a sum of at least thirty new zuka of yellow or greater quality a month in return for the privilege. This duty is being currently being supported by the new Ri'shati Class Destiny Epsilon, a light freighter sized, biogel powered vessel fitted mainly for courier service.

The Zarata typically keep zuka as high class toys and pets. One can often discern the more subtle aspects of a Zarata's social standing by noting the number, color and intensity of the zuka in their possession. Zuka are found in the possession and use of both Zarata sexes, though their male counterpart, the zuxa, tend to find themselves exclusively in the hands of aristocratic Zarata women.

Outsiders are rarely gifted zuka, though they are freely loaned to distinguished visitors. Again, the color and intensity of the loaned zuka is a reflection of the opinion the loaner has of the recipients own social standing and qualities.

For the average person, the only places that zuka can be experienced are on the Zarata homeworld of Zembax. Numerous resorts cater to travelers, offering all sorts of pleasures at rates far lower than the equivalent prices to be found within the Feyli Empire. Most of these resorts cater exclusively to female guests. A few cater specifically to males. Others cater to both sexes, and are typically marketed to couples who might be inclined to become zuka and zuxa together.

Several zuka of varying special abilities are provided to each resort guest, hand picked to math the guest's perceived qualities as potential zuka themselves. Each ornately appointed suite includes a transformation chamber plated in polished copper, silver, or gold to match the suite's particular décor. Sensuous imagery of particularly attractive prior guests undergoing pleasurable transformation into blobs in an identical chamber are constantly played on video screens embedded in the main room's glowing, flowing gel-walls.

The Zarata expectation with respects to their zuka resorts is that constant exposure to zuka, transformation imagery, and even subtle, subliminally acting sounds, within an environment catering to blissful, carefree vacationing, will induce guests to transform themselves into zuka. In this, the Zarata have been highly successful, and each week, more than sixty percent of present resort guests enter their private chambers, or the communal chambers provided throughout each resort, and become zuka.

For those who might venture out of the resorts, there are plenty of opportunities to be snared, coaxed, and cajoled into being transformed. Ever the social climbers, major and minor aristocrats alike will happily invite prospective zuka into their homes, in hopes of adding them to their collections, thereby enhancing their social status. There are few rules to this conduct, save that they are not permitted to forcibly coerce, threaten, or physically compel their guests in any way.

Zuka are periodically offered as diplomatic or good-will gifts to particularly significant figures. Outright gifts are rare, however. Most often the gift involves someone of significance to the recipient being transformed, and the resulting zuka becoming the offered gift. In situations where that might produce certain awkward feelings with respects to handling what might well be a close family member, the Zarata will keep the new zuka and give an identically colored one as the gift.

Genuine gel-walls are the only aspect of zuka transformation available off Zembax. These are crafted from the excess mass of slime created during the zuka transformation process. While technically not alive, they move and flow all on their own, their luminous colors never mixing. Owing to the cost of the real thing, numerous imitations can be found throughout known space. Vixanti Corporation, and now Gelitech, have proved willing to pay the premium, and gel-walls can be found aboard all Destiny named vessels starting with the Destiny Beta.

The cost of staying at a zuka resort is a measly ¢50 per night, per guest. Special packages are offered for a major port 2ndclass round trip and two week stay at a price of only ¢1,000 for up to two companions, or a 1stclass, two week stay for¢1,850. With transit to a major port costing between ¢200 and ¢800 from just about anywhere in the Feyli Empire, this makes for about as inexpensive and exotic, alien world vacation as there is.

Rainbow gel-walls can be acquired at a cost of ¢2,500 per square meter. Specific color combinations can be obtained at the price of ¢8,000 per square meter.