Chapter 10
                              ANSWERS


          Joe Bates drove into the drive at the home of his flying
buddy and fellow engineer, Dave Skinner.  When he got out of his
sports car, he smoothed his clothes, the loose fitting jumpsuit
that hid his new curves.  He slowly walked up to the front door and
rang the bell.  Cindy Skinner, Dave's wife, opened the door and
peered out.  She smiled when she recognized Joe, and opened the
door.  Joe went inside, feeling a bit self conscious as Dave's wife
watched him walk in.  He couldn't conceal the look of surprise when
he saw Dave.

          The last time Joe saw Dave, he was about six feet tall
and weighed two hundred pounds.  Dave was thirty-two years old, and
was not in as good shape as Joe.  A decade of married life had
endowed him a small pot-gut which he couldn't get rid of, no matter
how hard he tried.

          The Dave Skinner who came out of the family room didn't
look anything like that.  This one nervously entered the room was
wearing a woman's white blouse, with loose baggy shorts, also
obviously a woman's.  Since he wore nothing under the blouse, the
dark outline of his now large areolas could be seen through the
thin fabric.  He walked uncomfortably, not yet familiar with much
wider hips, and a shorter gait.  Were it not for his short haircut,
he could easily be mistaken for a typical, almost middle aged,
somewhat plain, sloppily dressed, housewife.  Dave always had the
beginnings of a six o'clock shadow even in the morning, but now his
face was as smooth as a young boy's.  Joe saw that Dave's legs were
hairy, maybe not as heavy or thick as before, but still covered
with soft black down.  It looked unusual to see someone who looked
so female have such hairy legs.  Joe couldn't help but look at
Dave's chest.  Through the thin fabric of the blouse, he could see
that the heavy chest hair Dave had was gone, replaced by a
voluptuousness that was a source of embarrassment for its owner.

     "Hi, Joe, what's new with you?" Dave asked, somewhat sarcasti-
cally.

     "Not much, Dave.  Just thought I'd stop by, and see if you
want to go bar hopping this evening," Joe teased.

     "Nope, I don't think I'm up to it, old buddy," Dave answered. 
He had trouble returning the humor that his pal was using to break
the tension.

     "I talked to Mike while ago, and he's got trouble too, but it
sounds like he's a little different from me, or you," Joe said.

     "What do you mean?  Is he still a guy, or what?" Dave asked,
the sarcasm creeping back into his voice.

     "I can't really tell from how he described his symptoms, but
if he has changed, he isn't as far along as we are," Joe said, not
taking his eyes from his buddy's chest.

     It was strange seeing a matronly body below the almost
familiar face.  Dave's face was little changed, but maybe ten years
younger looking.  He wondered what Dave was thinking about him.

     "Good for him.  He would REALLY make an ugly woman," Dave
said, smiling for the first time.

     "I think I talked him into coming over here.  He should be
here soon," Joe said.

     "Well, you sure look good, Joe," Dave returned, eyeing his
buddy, trying to imagine what he looked like under the loose
clothes.

     "Linda has been helping me try to make the best of this," Joe
said.

     "It looks like you even have lipstick on.  Do you?" Dave
asked, moving closer.

     Joe grinned, and said, "Well, yeah, I do.  I even had a
makeover at the Mall the other day.  With Linda's help, I've been
able to make the best of it.  Some of the things I've done have
actually been kind of interesting."

     "Well, I haven't done much that's interesting," Dave said,
with not a little disgust showing through.

     "We both might as well treat this as an experience, Dave," Joe
recommended.  "As I see it, we're stuck like this, at least until
we can find out what's causing it.  Hopefully, it's not permanent."
He tried to sound more confident than he actually was.

     "It's easy for you, old buddy.  You're not married, with a
family; a wife and kids.  Hell, Joe, look at you.  You're practi-
cally beautiful," Dave lamented.

     Cindy went to him, but Dave pushed her away.  She looked at
Joe.  Joe didn't know what to do, or say.  Dave walked back into
the family room.  Joe followed him to the family room, and he saw
Dave sit on the couch, with his four year old son, David.

     "Joe, are you a mommy now, too?" David asked innocently.

     "Hi, David," Joe replied.  "No, I'm not a mommy.  I just sort
of look like one, I guess.  Your dad and I have a problem with how
we look.  We don't know what's wrong with us yet."

     "You're pretty," David said.

     "Thanks, David.  I guess," Joe replied, looking at Dave.

     The door bell rang.  Joe quickly got up and went to the front
door.  Cindy opened the door.  The familiar hulk of Mike Osborn
loomed in the doorway.  Mike's eyes widened when he saw the new
Joe.

     "Holy cow, Joe!  You ARE a woman, ain't you?"  Mike almost
shouted, his loud voice seeming to be almost unchanged.

     "I suspect so, Mike," Joe replied.  "Come on in."

     Mike walked in and followed Joe back to the family room.  He
walked right over to the couch to look at Dave.  "Damn, Dave, you
seem to have the same problem as Joe," he said.

     "Clever observation, Mike," Dave said.  "It looks like you
escaped whatever happened to us."

     "Well, not exactly, Dave," Mike said, not wanting to talk with
young David listening intently to the unusual conversation.

     "It seems you haven't changed at all," Joe said.

     "Can we go somewhere private," Mike asked.

     "I suggest you all go to our bedroom," Cindy said.

     Dave got up, and awkwardly went into the bedroom, his
substantial butt jiggled and swayed as he walked.  Mike and Joe
followed.  Dave closed the door after them, stopping David, who
wanted in.  Cindy led him away from the door.

     "You think I haven't changed?" Mike asked, pulling his
sweatpants down.

     Mike pulled his royal blue men's undershorts down.  He looked
down at his pubic area, and pushed the hair away from around his
penis, which was now very small.  It could have been no more than
an inch or so long.  There were no testicles evident, and his
scrotum was split down the middle, looking somewhat like a vagina.

     "See, I got problems too," Mike said, displaying his little
penis.  "When I pee, it comes out from under here," he said, as he
lifted his penis up.  He then spread his split scrotum, and pointed
to an area close to the base of his tiny organ.  Joe looked
carefully, but could see no evidence of an opening at the tip of
his penis.

     "Looks like you've gone only part way to what's happened to
me," Joe said, looking with interest at his friend.

     "What do you look like, Joe?" Mike asked.  "You sure look like
a girl on the outside."

     "Yeah, and I guess that's what I am, on the outside," Joe
admitted.

     "Could I see?" Mike asked.  "If I'm gonna be... I might still
be changing, and I'm wondering what I can expect."

     "Well, I don't know," Joe replied, reluctant to show his
buddies his new body and closely trimmed bush.  Not that he was
ashamed of his body and the way it looked, he just felt strange
putting it on display.  He knew that he was the most feminized of
the three of them.  Hell, Mike could hardly pass as a woman if he
tried.  Dave was probably as changed as he was, but his large hips
and buttocks didn't look good on him at all.  Dave didn't carry his
new shape well, either.

     "Aww, show us Joe," Dave said.  "Mike showed us what he looked
like, and he's embarrassed too.  We're all in the same boat."

     "Okay, then I'll show you," Joe said slowly.

     Joe unzipped his jumpsuit, and pulled it from his shoulders. 
He pulled his arms from the sleeves, and let the suit drop down his
hips, and settle around his knees.  Joe looked at his friends while
he stood there in his underwear, his face red with embarrassment. 
Mike didn't even pull his pants up, but stood staring, mesmerized
by the shapely body of his friend.  As Joe carefully lowered his
panties, Dave and Mike's eyes widened when they saw his carefully
trimmed hair.

     "Damn, Joe.  You really are a girl, ain't you," Mike ex-
claimed.

     "I guess I am, Mike, and I'll bet that you are too," Joe said.

     "Well, I sure don't look like that," Mike said, pointing to
Joe's pubic area, "and I feel like a man, no matter how small my
cock is.  At least I still have one."

     "Don't be so sure," Joe said.

     Joe reached down and separated the folds of his genital
opening.  A glistening little nub peeked out as he did so.  He put
his finger next to it, and pointed it out to Mike.

     "This is what my penis looks like now, Mike," Joe said,
carefully saying what he thought to be fact.  "It still feels like
my cock to me, too, but it's not a penis, not anymore.  I think my
penis has become a clitoris, and I think yours has too.  It's just
a little bigger for some reason."

     "I don't know," Mike said, as he watched Joe pull his panties
back up.  "I sure don't feel like a woman.  I feel exactly like a
man.  In fact, look at this."

     Mike pointed to his penis, which could now be seen protruding
through his thick hair.  It was erect, and it stood out, ready for
action.  It was about the diameter of a pencil, and maybe an inch
and a half long.

     "Pull your pants up, big guy," Joe said.  "I can still get
a hardon too.  Tell me, do you get wet down there when you get a
boner?"

     "Yeah, I do," Mike said.  "I don't know what causes it
though."

     "I think it's what happens when a woman gets excited," Joe
answered, "and that's probably what you are now, just like Dave and
me."

     "Joe, I know something is wrong with me," Mike said, "but look
at me.  I just can't be female.  Not with a body like this." Mike's
words were more of a question than a statement of fact.

     "I don't know, Mike," Joe said.  "I just don't know, but I
want both of you to come with me to the hospital.  My attorney
friend Jay Logan put me on to a guy named Dan McQuire.  He is a lab
technician or something, in Forensic Medicine.  He does things like
trace identification from hair, or blood samples, in homicide
cases.  He is working on proving my identity, but some doctors
there want to see me, and run some other tests.  Maybe they'll be
able to help.  I told them I had two friends who also had similar
problems, and they'd like to examine you guys too.  We should go
over there this afternoon if you guys are free."

     "If it'll help get me back to normal, I'll do almost any-
thing," Mike said as he pulled his sweatpants back up.

     Throughout the whole discussion, Dave said little, but watched
his friends as they showed their changed bodies, and discussed what
to do about them.  He finally spoke.

     "What can doctors do, Joe?" Dave said.  "Look at me!  I know
what I am.  I'm a fat, dumpy guy with a woman's body; a FAT WOMAN'S
body, but I've got a wife and two kids.  What can the doctors do
about that?" Dave looked like he might start to cry.

     "Dave, I don't know what they might be able to do," Joe said. 
"I do think we should give them a chance to look at our problem
though.  If we're stuck like this, the sooner we know it, the
better.  If there is a way out, then as far as I can see, they'll
be the people who can help us find it.  We can wallow in self pity,
but that won't get us back for sure." Joe tried to sound confident
for his depressed pal.

     "When do you guys want to go over to see Dan?" Joe asked.

     "Whenever you want, Joe.  I'm ready," Mike said.

     "Well, let's get ready then," Joe said.  "Dave, can you find
something a little better to wear?  At least put a tee-shirt on
under that blouse, or something.  Maybe Cindy can help."  Joe tried
to get his pal to dress with a little more pride.

     "What's the difference?" Dave said, "I'm just too fat.  I'm a
fat, ugly, woman."

     "I don't care what sex your body is," Joe insisted.  "It's
still YOUR body.  Show a little pride, Dave."  He opened the
bedroom door, and walked out.  Cindy was in the kitchen, and young
David was at the table.

     "Cindy, would you help Dave find something to wear?" Joe
asked.  "I want him to come along with Mike and me to Hillcrest
Hospital to see if they can do anything for us."

     "Joe, I've been trying to get him to wear something more
appropriate," Cindy replied, "but he'll only wear what he has on,
or one of his old tee-shirts.  His pants don't fit at all.  I had
those old shorts from when I had Suzie.  He won't even try anything
else."

     "Come with me," Joe ordered, and walked back down the hallway,
where Mike and Dave were coming back from the bedroom.  Joe took
Dave's arm, and led him back to the bedroom.  When Cindy came in
the room Joe closed the door.  "Dave, take that shirt off, and pull
those shorts down," he insisted.

     Dave unbuttoned the blouse, and took it off.  He pulled the
shorts over his big hips and buttocks, and stood there, with
nothing on but men's boxer shorts.  He was quite a sight, and Joe
fought to suppress a grin.

     "Cindy, do you have any underwear that will fit this guy?" Joe
asked.

     Cindy, who was attractive looking but perhaps a little
overweight herself, went to her dresser.  She rummaged through her
drawer until she took a pair of white cotton panties and put them
on the bed.  She opened another drawer, and from the back of the
drawer selected a white cotton bra.  It looked too big to fit her,
but looked like it might fit her husband.  She held the up the bra
by the back strap.

     "This is from before I went on the diet after Suzie," she
explained while her husband just stared.  "It might fit you,
though."

     "Go ahead Dave, try it on," Joe insisted.  "You'll probably
appreciate how it feels if you try it."

     "Joe, I don't think I can wear something like that," Dave com-
plained, his higher voice sounding slightly whiny.

     "Why not?" Joe asked, trying to sound authoritative.  "Are you
afraid you'll look like a woman?  No problem, old buddy, you
already do, so you might as well get used to it."

     Dave took the bra from his wife, and pulled it around his
chest.  Cindy helped her embarrassed husband put it on, and
adjusted the straps to fit his slightly larger shoulders.  The
support made Dave's breasts look much less saggy.  He shook his
chest, feeling the support and comfort the bra provided.  Dave went
to the dresser mirror, and looked at himself.

     "See, it's an improvement already," Joe said encouragingly. 
He went to the bed, and picked up the white underpants, holding
them out to Dave.  "Okay, pal, now take off those baggy shorts, and
try these."

     Dave took the underpants, and held them up by the waist band. 
To Joe, they looked twice as big as the ones he was wearing.  Dave
shrugged his shoulders in resignation, and put them back on the
bed.  He then pulled the boxers down and stepped out of them.  Dave
had never seen a large naked woman before, and was amazed at the
size of Dave's large, soft buttocks.  Dave took the panties from
the bed and stepped into them.  He pulled them up over his large
butt.  When he had them on, he went to the mirror and looked at
himself.  Dave watched as his friend saw himself in women's
underwear for the first time.  He knew what Dave was going through. 
Dave just stood there and stared at himself.  He reached down, and
touched the flat area where his male organ used to be.  Joe
remembered how he felt, the first time he saw himself the same way. 
It seemed so much different with the snug fitting panties on, than
when you were naked, when your pubic hair somewhat hid your new
contours.

     "Cindy, do you think you'd have something to fit this guy?"
Joe asked, breaking the silence, as Dave looked at himself in the
mirror.

     "I'll see," Cindy answered.  "I might have something from
before the diet.  What do you want, Dave, shorts or a dress?"

     Dave stood there.  Cindy repeated her question, and only then
did Dave look at her.  "Ah... I don't know," he said.  "Do you have
something like Joe's wearing?"

     "I don't think so, but I'll see what I have," Cindy replied. 
She went to the closet, and soon returned with some pink pants, and
a loose fitting pullover top.

     "Pink?  Does it have to be pink?" Dave asked.

     "Sorry, it's what I have, and of what I have, I think it's the
best thing for you," Cindy said.  "Try it on."

     Dave took the pink pants and pulled them on.  They fit fairly
well; they were only a little tight across the butt.  He pulled the
top over his head, and straightened it across his chest.  It also
fit better than expected.  With Cindy's old clothes on, Dave looked
like a young, plump, woman with a butch haircut.

     "Not too bad, old pal," Joe said, putting his hand on his
friend's back as he inspected himself in the mirror.  "Maybe we
need to go to spend some time at the health club, though,"

     Dave went to the bedroom door, opened it, and went back out to
Mike, who was sitting on the couch, playing with David.  Mike
looked up when Joe came in and saw Dave in his new clothes.

     "Big improvement, Dave," Mike said.  "You kinda looked like a
slob before." Mike wasn't known for his tact.

     "Well, I think we ought to go see Dan Mcquire," Joe said. 
"Can I use your phone, Dave?"

     "Sure," Dave answered.

     Joe got Dan's phone number from the pocket of his jumpsuit,
and punched it into the phone.  Almost immediately, the phone was
answered.  It was Dan.

     "Forensic," the voice on the other end said.

     "Dan?" Joe said.  "Joe here.  Joe Bates."

     "Hi, Joe.  What Can I do for you?" Dan asked.

     "Dan, I'm at my friend's house," Joe replied.  "I'm with the
other two guys who are having the same problem I am.  Can we come
over and see you?"

     "Absolutely!" Dan answered.  "There are some people here who
can't wait to examine you guys.  I'll call the doctors now.  When
can you get here?"

     "We're getting ready to go right now," Joe replied.  "About
thirty to forty minutes should do it."

     "See you soon, then," Dan said, and hung up.

     "How do we want to go?" Joe asked.  "Do you guys want to each
drive over separately, or does anybody want to ride with me?"

     "I don't want to drive, looking like this," Dave insisted. 
"I'll ride with you."

     They all went out to the driveway.  Mike's big 4WD pickup was
parked behind Joe's car.  Mike got in and started his engine while
Dave and Joe got belted in.  They backed out, and Mike followed Joe
to the hospital.

     When they arrived, Joe led his strange crew directly to Dan's
office.  Dan was there waiting.  He introduced himself and Joe
presented his two shy buddies.

     "Well, I guess we might as well go upstairs and meet Dr. Krell
and Dr. Loe.  They're anxious to meet the three of you," Dan said,
after shaking hands with Dave and Mike.

     They followed Dan to the elevator and rode it to the fourth
floor.  There, Dan took them down a long hall and into some
offices.  They sat down in some chairs, as Dan talked to the
receptionist or secretary behind a desk.  In minutes, they were all
asked to come to the next room.  There, they met a small man with
thick glasses.  Dan introduced him as Dr. Krell, and described him
as a specialist in gender and genetic research.

     "I'm pleased to meet you Dave, Joe, and ah... Mike, is it?"
Dr. Krell said, smiling.  "Don't worry about a thing, I'm not sure
what is going on here, but we are learning new things concerning
genetics every day, and I'm certain we can come up with some
answers in your case."

     Joe could see Dr. Krell looking each of them over very
carefully.  He sort of felt like a lab specimen, as the little man
inspected him and his friends.

     "I have been looking at the records of Joe Bates," Dr. Krell
went on.  "I don't have anything on you two," he said, looking at
Mike and Dave.

     "I just found out about them this morning," Dan said.  "I'll
take them and get their records, as soon as you're done with them."

     "I would like to work with err... Mr. Bates here," Dr. Krell
said.  "You may take the others, and get them to fill out the
paperwork to get their records.  I'll see each of you in a little
while."

     Dan got up.  Mike and a nervous Dave Skinner followed him back
to his office.

     Dr. Krell looked carefully at Joe.  He made Joe a little
nervous.  Dr. Krell saw Joe's concern, and attempted to reassure
him.  "Relax, Joe," the little man said.  "I won't harm you, and we
just might be able to help."

     "I'm okay," Joe said.  "I just wish I knew what was going on
here."

     "You are an engineer, is that right?" Dr. Krell asked him.

     "Yes, I'm an electrical design engineer, and I work for
Honeybone Avionics," Joe volunteered.

     "Well, then, you might understand that there are methods that
we must use, or follow, which are necessary to eliminate as many
variables as possible," Dr. Krell went on.  "I think you realize
that we don't really know what has caused your condition, but if we
can figure that out, it might be possible to reverse it.  The state
of the art in genetic engineering is probably the fastest advancing
area of biological science these days.  I hope we can help you, but
I'm sure YOU can help us."

     "Will I ever get back to normal, Doc?" Joe asked.  "What are
the odds?"

     "It is far too early to tell, Joe," Dr. Krell explained.  "We
want to give you a complete examination, to find out the extent of
the changes."

     "I'm ready for whatever you need to do," Joe said.

     "Good.  That's good," the doctor went on.  "Did Mr. Mcquire
tell you the results of your blood group?"

     "No, I don't think so, he said the results would be in soon,"
Joe replied.

     "Well, they're in, and they are VERY interesting," Dr. Krell
said.  "Mr.  Bates, the DNA tests show your chromosomes to be
female.  You have the normal XX cell structure of a normal genetic
female.  However, your blood shows extremely high levels of
testosterone for a female.  If it has always been at these levels,
I would expect you to exhibit masculine secondary characteristics."

     Joe looked at Dr. Krell in confusion.  "Exhibit masculine
secondary characteristics?" he said.  "Doctor Krell, five days ago,
I was a MAN.  That's about as PRIMARY as it gets.  I think you'll
find, if you'll read my records, that I fathered a child when I was
seventeen.  I'm not a girl who's changing into a man.  I'm a guy,
who woke up Friday morning with female body." Joe was irritated,
and it was starting to show.

     "Joe, calm down, calm down," Dr. Krell said.  "I have read
your records, and I know your history.  I'm just stating the facts
as they appear.  No matter what you have been, if your body and
blood chemistry stay as it is, you will surely begin to develop, or
redevelop the secondary sexual characteristics of a male.  That is,
increased facial and body hair, upper body muscular development,
and other changes.  Perhaps you have already experienced one or
more of them.  That's why we need to conduct a complete physical
examination.  To find out what's going on."

     Joe sat back in his chair, and tried to relax.  He was worried
that the specialists wouldn't understand his problem, and was
probably a little "spring-loaded" for confrontation.

     "I'm sorry, Dr. Krell," Joe said, with resignation.  "I'm
ready for whatever you've got."

     "I'll call Dr. Hopkins," Dr. Krell said.  "He's expecting you,
so I don't think you will have to wait long.  He will be conducting
the physical examination.  Are you ready for it?"  Dr. Krell looked
at Joe, as if to see his reaction.

     "I guess so" Joe said.  "I just had a class two flight exam
last month."

     "I doubt you've ever had one like this, Joe," Dr. Krell said,
smiling.  "Dr. Hopkins is a gynecologist.  He's anxious to do a
full pelvic examination on you."

     The muscles in Joe's crotch tensed as he heard the little
doctor say those words.  He had almost forgotten that he was
different now, much different in some places, and a physical for a
woman included an internal examination.  He hadn't thought about
that, until now.  He wondered what it would feel like, and if it
would hurt.

     "Don't worry, Joe," Dr. Krell said.  "Dr. Hopkins is very
skillful, and he won't harm you in any way, and we might even find
out what is causing your symptoms," Dr. Krell saw Joe's apprehen-
sion, and was trying to arrest his fears.  He picked up a phone on
the desk, and punched a three digit number.  He spoke into the
phone.  "Our patient is ready, Karen," he said.  "Okay, we'll be
down in ten minutes." He put the phone back on the desk.  "They'll
be ready for you in ten minutes," Dr. Krell repeated.

     "Okay, then," Joe said.

     "Tell me, Joe, did you put the makeup on, or did someone help
you" Dr. Krell asked, as if to make small talk.

     "Linda, my err... fiance... was my fiance, is helping me to
cope with the situation," Joe explained.

     "Well, you are certainly attractive," Dr. Krell said.  "If you
don't mind me voicing a personal opinion.  You seem to handle the
change extremely well."

     "I'm getting used to it, a little, I guess," Joe said.  "It's
almost possible to forget it happened, sometimes, but only for a
few minutes.  Even looking at myself in the mirror is a strange
sensation.  I don't know If I could ever get used to looking like
this." Joe cupped one of his breasts with his hand.

     "It must be quite a change," the doctor agreed.  "I don't know
how I would handle something like that if it happened to me.  Are
you experiencing any health problems?"

     "No, I don't think so," Joe said.  "I haven't gotten used to
being wet practically all the time, and I guess... Well, horny...
err... I just get turned on from almost anything anymore.  I don't
have much to see, but I've had more erections, that's what they
feel like, than I ever had before, even when I was seventeen."

     "Interesting," Dr. Krell said.  "It's possible the high levels
of testosterone in your system have played havoc with your metabo-
lism.  That could account for the increased libido.  Of course, the
wetness is the result of sexual excitement.  It would follow that
if you had an erection, as you call it, you might now also
experience vaginal lubrication.  It's a natural female reaction to
sexual stimulation."

     "I know what you mean," Joe agreed.  "I guess I didn't realize
women went around with wet underpants, or worse, when they get
excited." Joe grinned at the little doctor.

     "With the levels of male hormone in your system, it's
understandable that you might excite easily," Dr. Krell said. 
"Tell me, what causes the excitement?  Is it women?  Men?  How do
you feel about your fiance, since the change?  Forgive the personal
questions, Joe, but I have never experienced a subject who made the
transition from male to female, completely, and apparently fully
functioning, in one day.  I've worked with a few male to female
transsexual patients, but for them, the transition literally takes
years, and the result, while sometimes amazing, is nothing like
your situation.  Even your DNA shows that you are female."  Dr.
Krell could scarcely contain his interest in Joe's malady.

     "Well, doctor, the first thing you have to remember is that
this is Monday," Joe said.  "Last Thursday, I was a thirty year old
MAN.  I went to work, flew an airplane for about two hours, went to
the health club, played racquetball with a buddy of mine, and then
picked up my girlfriend, and spent the evening discussing getting
married.  That was four days ago, and I still completely remember
what it was like.  I still appreciate a good looking woman, and now
it's awful easy to see more of them than ever before.  You wouldn't
believe it.  Well, maybe you would.  You're a doctor."  Joe grinned
at Dr. Krell as he spoke.

     "How about men?  Have your feelings toward men changed in any
way?" the doctor asked.

     "I'd like to say no, absolutely not, but actually, I'm not
really sure," Joe admitted to the doctor things he didn't want to
admit to himself.  "My senses seem sharper now.  I feel things
differently.  I smell things I never did before.  My own sweaty
tee-shirt, from before the change, gave me the strangest feeling. 
I don't know if it was sexual, but it could have been,"

     "Interesting," was all Dr. Krell said to that revelation.

     "When you look like this, it's impossible to relate to men the
same way as before," Joe said, thinking of his experience with his
best friend, Jay.  "I've tried, but it just doesn't work."

     "I think we can go down now," Dr. Krell said, and got up from
behind his desk.  "If you don't mind, I'd like to observe the
examination."

     "No, I guess not.  Sure.  Some on," Joe said nervously.  He
was actually somewhat glad Dr. Krell would be there.  He liked the
little man, and felt he could trust him.  He didn't know what was
going to happen next, and felt he knew him, even though they had
just met.  He followed Dr. Krell out the door.  Even with his
smaller body, he was maybe six inches taller than the doctor.  They
got on the elevator and rode down one floor.

     The door opened, and Dr. Krell went out and Joe almost had to
run to keep up with him.  They entered some doors, which were
painted with the words OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY.  As a single
male, Joe had never been in a place like this before.  He could
feel his heart pound as he stood at the desk behind Dr. Krell.  The
doctor said something to an attractive nurse behind the desk, and
she immediately got up and motioned for them both to follow.  She
led them to an examining room.  It had a chair, a stool, a table,
the type with stirrups, and a cabinet full of paraphernalia.  There
was a paper cover on the table, and on the end, the paper was
stained with a few drops of what looked like blood.  The nurse
spotted the soiled paper, pulled it down, and ripped it off,
creating a clean cover.  The nurse then went to a drawer, and
removed a hospital type smock, the kind that is open in the back. 
She gave it to Joe, and told him to undress, pointing to a small
clothes tree in the corner which had three hangers on it.  Then she
and Dr. Krell left the room.

     Joe unzipped his jumpsuit, and sat on the stool at the end of
the table.  He removed his shoes and socks.  He quickly slipped out
of the jumpsuit, and felt very cold standing in his underwear.  He
looked at the little smock, and had to suppress a laugh.  Even with
his smaller size, it was far too small to cover much of his bottom
half, and his rear end would be completely uncovered.  "Right," he
thought.

     He removed his bra and slipped out of his panties.  He put the
little smock on, and wondered what to do next.  He decided to sit
on the edge of the table.  He hoisted his butt up, and was looking
at the stirrups when he heard a quick knock on the door.  Before he
could even acknowledge, a handsome man of about forty years entered
the little room, followed by the tall, dark-blond-haired nurse, and
Dr. Krell.

     Joe sat there, extremely self conscious.  Dr. Krell spoke.

     "Joe Bates, this is Doctor Joe Hopkins.  Joe, meet Joe," Dr.
Krell said, smiling broadly at his little attempt at humor.

     "Hi, Doctor Hopkins," Joe said.  Try as he might, he couldn't
forget he was sitting in a room, with two men and a woman, almost
naked, his butt hanging out from the little smock.

     "Hello, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said in a rather deep voice.  "I
hear you've had a very interesting weekend."

     "Yeah, it's been a grin a minute," Joe snapped back.

     "How about standing right here, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said. 
"Maybe we can figure out what's going on with you."

     Joe stood before the big man.  Dr. Hopkins took each of Joe's
arms and looked at them, one at a time.  He looked at his hands,
his elbows, and took a small light, and looked into his eyes, and
ears.  He turned him facing away from him, and thumped, and pressed
on his back in various places.  So far, it was familiar to Joe.

     "Please remove the smock," Dr. Bates said.

     Joe untied the little tie behind his neck, and pulled the
cloth off of him.  He stood there, naked, and could feel the warmth
as he blushed from showing his body to these strangers.  He moved
his leg to cover his genitalia, embarrassed by Linda's trim job on
his pubic hair.  No one in the room seemed to notice, however.

     Dr. Hopkins firmly pressed Joe's breasts between his fingers. 
He used enough force that the slight pain it caused made Joe wince.

     "Does that hurt?" Dr. Hopkins asked.

     "A little," Joe replied.  "They seem a little sensitive to
me."

     "More than normal?" the doctor asked, and then grinned when he
realized what he said.

     "They've felt the same ever since I've been like this," Joe
said.

     Dr. Hopkins looked carefully at Joe's nipples, and felt each
of his breasts, apparently feeling for lumps.  It felt strange to
Joe, to have such big, strong, hands feeling the soft, sensitive
areas of his body.

     "Please sit on the end of the table," Dr. Hopkins said.

     The nurse went to a small cabinet, and took out some metal
tools.  She lay them on a towel placed on a small rolling table. 
Joe looked at the things on the table, but didn't recognize the
stainless steel, and white plastic tools on the table.  Dr. Hopkins
went to the table and took some surgical latex gloves from a box on
the table.  He carefully put them on.  When he had them on the way
he wanted, he picked up a shiny metal tool which looked sort of
like a huge cork remover with elongated spoons on the end.  He held
it up for Joe to examine.  Joe noticed that there were two of them,
and he picked up the larger of the two.

     "Joe, this is called a speculum," Dr. Hopkins said.  "I use
this to do the internal examination."  He moved the control on the
end, and the "spoons" on the end, spread apart.  Joe cringed as he
thought about where that thing was going.  It seemed far too big to
fit inside him.

     The nurse adjusted the table so that there was a slight tilt
upward to the head end.  Then she pulled Joe back, so that he was
lying back on the table, tilted.  She covered his body with a small
green sheet.  The warmth felt comforting to Joe, but he just knew
everyone in the room must be able to hear his heart pounding.  The
nurse pulled out and adjusted the metal stirrups and then placed
Joe's feet in them.  It was not uncomfortable, but it did seem
strange.  Suddenly, Joe felt the end of the table, the part under
his upper legs, go down, as Dr. Hopkins folded it down.  Joe's butt
was now at the very edge of the table, but the weight of his legs
was taken up by the stirrups.  Next, Joe felt cool air on his
bottom as Dr. Hopkins and the nurse adjusted the sheet so that his
bottom half was exposed.  Joe couldn't see much, since the sheet
concealed what was happening from his view.

     Joe felt a hand touch his crotch.  He felt smooth fingers
touching his genital area, as Dr. Hopkins examined it with firm but
gentle touches.  He could feel his labia being spread wider than he
had ever done, and he felt his penis, or clitoris now, being
examined.  Suddenly the touching stopped, and Joe thought, and
hoped, it was over.  Then, from over the sheet, Joe could see Dr.
Hopkins take a speculum, the smaller one this time, and put some
K-Y jelly from a large tube, on the spoons.  He held the spoons in
his hand momentarily, perhaps to warm them.  Then, Joe could feel
the speculum as Dr. Hopkins placed it at the entrance to his
vaginal opening.  Dr. Hopkins swiftly, but gently, maneuvered the
metal device, until Joe could more sense, rather than feel, that it
was deep inside him.  Suddenly there was a very noticeable pain, as
the speculum was spread.  Joe never felt more vulnerable in his
life.

     As he lay there, covered with a sheet, Joe was unable to see
what was being done to him, but was feeling a slight pain, as the
metal object in his crotch was moved around.  Joe began to think
about something he had read somewhere, that some women tended to
develop special feelings for their doctors.  Now, Joe could
understand why.  These guys saw, and knew, things about your body,
that you couldn't even see yourself.  It was almost like you were
dependent on them to tell you that you were normal.  He never felt
that way about his male body.  This one was far more complicated,
it seemed.  You even needed a specialist, just to check it out.

     Suddenly, Joe felt the speculum collapse and withdraw from his
bottom.  The stretching it had done made him feel strange in that
area, even with the tool removed.  Before Joe had recovered from
the quick removal of the speculum, he felt a finger in his genital
opening.  "What the heck is going on now?" he thought.

     Dr. Hopkins felt around inside Joe, pressing on his abdomen
with his other hand as he did so.  Joe could feel him pressing on
his bladder, and for a moment had a strong urge to urinate.  Then
the hand on his abdomen went to his bottom, and he felt Dr. Hopkins
insert a finger in his other opening.  He probed and felt around,
and Joe found it very uncomfortable.  Then the hands and fingers
were gone, and Joe could see Dr. Hopkins remove the surgical gloves
and toss them into a covered waste can.

     "You can dress now, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said as he took a
clipboard, and started writing on it.

     The tall nurse helped Joe up, and held the sheet as he turned
and stepped off the table.  She gave Joe a box of large, soft
tissues.

     "You can use these if you need them," she said, and she
followed Doctors Hopkins and Krell out of the examining room.

     Joe sat there, wrapped in the small green sheet, his crotch
feeling like it had been ripped apart.  He pulled the sheet away,
and looked at the tender area.  His genitalia and pubic hair were
smeared with the lubricating jelly that Dr. Hopkins used.  Joe
looked at the table where he had been sitting and saw a spot of
blood on the paper.  "No wonder," Joe thought.  He took a tissue
and began cleaning himself up, wiping the jelly from his pubic
area, and found a slight trace of blood around his sore, and
abused, genital opening.

     Joe went to the clothes tree, and took his underwear from the
hook.  He pulled his panties on, and felt a slight twinge of pain
as he moved his legs with the snug fitting panty on, but he felt
better, more secure, or less exposed.  He put the bra on and
slipped into his jumpsuit.  He wondered if he should leave the
room, and decided to wait where he was for further instructions. 
Joe sat in the chair, and squirmed around to find a position that
didn't hurt his ailing bottom.  He had just found a comfortable
position, when the nurse knocked and immediately entered.

     "If you're dressed, Dr. Hopkins would like you to come to his
office," she said, smiling.  "Did you have everything you need to
clean up?  There's a bathroom right inside that door." She pointed
at a door as Joe followed her down the short hall.

     "I think I'm okay," Joe said.  "Kinda sore though."

     "Yeah, it's a little painful the first time," the nurse said.

     Joe followed her back to her desk, and then into an office on
the side of what must have been a reception and waiting area for a
number of doctors.  Now, five or six women sat in the couches that
lined the walls, apparently waiting their turn for what Joe just
received.

     Dr. Hopkins was at his desk when Joe entered.  Dr. Krell was
sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk, and they were
engaged in discussion.  Dr. Hopkins motioned for Joe to sit in
the other empty seat.  He did, but wiggled around, trying to get
comfortable.  His underwear seemed to ride up, or something, and
amplified his minor discomfort.

     "Is there a problem, Joe?" Dr. Hopkins asked.

     "Well, doc, I guess I'm a little sore from your inspection,"
Joe said, with a slight grin.

     "I'm sorry, but I was as careful as I could be," Dr. Hopkins
said.

     "Any news?" Joe asked.  He wondered what the results might be.

     "Well, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said, "I don't know how you feel
about this, but my examination reveals that you seem to be a
normal, healthy, mature female.  I see from your records that you
are thirty years old.  I must say, you certainly don't look that
old, externally, or internally.  Your pelvic examination is
somewhat unusual.  Internally, your condition is more like fifteen
to eighteen years old, rather than thirty.  Your uterus is perfect,
and pink, like a young girl just out of adolescence.  Your breast
development is normal female, with some slight stretching of the
epidermis.  I suppose that is because of the extremely rapid
growth.  Overnight, I understand?"

     "I didn't notice anything when I went to bed, and I looked
like this when I woke up," Joe said.  "Can you do anything for me?"

     "What do you like us to do?" Dr. Hopkins asked, watching Joe's
reaction.

     "I don't know.  I feel like I'm still a man, but I sure can't
resume my normal activities, looking like this.  Do I have to
remain female?" Joe asked the ultimate question.

     "Well, Joe," Dr. Krell began, "you have probably heard of
surgical procedures to change the body's physical appearance to
that of the other sex.  After hormone therapy, usually lasting a
year or more, it is possible to alter the appearance of the
genitalia, so that it has the appearance of the desired sex.  For
a biological male who has the need and desire to have a female
appearing body, the results are often amazing.  It can sometimes
even fool a doctor.  However, for a biological female who wishes to
be male, the surgical procedure is far from perfect.  Any penis
created is basically nonfunctional, with little or no sensation. 
There is no natural erectile functioning, and it's difficult to
make it function even for urination, since it is often prone to
infection.  Many patients don't even elect genital surgery, but
settle for hysterectomy, and mastectomy.  Hormone therapy will
often give a satisfactory outward male appearance, however.  For
you, who actually have experienced a complete, functioning male
body, I think you would be very disappointed with any result, no
matter how it would turn out."

     "So I'm stuck being female, unless I want to become a
hermaphrodite?" Joe asked, wondering if he really understood what
Dr. Krell had just said.

     "Well, Joe, I wouldn't word it like that," Dr. Krell went on,
"but I guess that's one way of describing it.  I don't think you
would be happy with the result.  I know it isn't easy, but you seem
to be adapting to what has happened to you very well.  I don't
think it would be any easier for you, if you elect gender reassign-
ment."

     "So you guys think I should stay like this, huh?" Joe asked,
a strange feeling coming over him.  His face tingled as he
considered his options.

     Female... He had lived four days like this so far.  Sometimes,
it wasn't so bad, but to stay like this?  Could he handle it?  On
the other hand, to look like a guy, but not have a penis, or at
least a functioning penis.  Hell, he might still have to sit
to pee.  He thought of the feelings, the sensations of being with
Linda, but then, he still had that.  It was different, for sure,
but in many ways, even better.  He didn't know.

     "Can I get pregnant?" Joe asked.

     "I haven't done any testing for fertility, but I suspect you
very likely could," Dr. Hopkins said.  "I believe you are now a
mature and functioning female, and as such, you'd better use
adequate contraception if you should choose to become sexually
active.  By the way, your hymen is intact.  I had to stretch it a
bit during the examination, but I believe it remained intact."

     "You mean I'm a virgin?" Joe asked.  He had never thought
about that.

     "Well, I don't know about that," Dr. Hopkins answered,
chuckling, "but your pelvic exam showed an intact hymen.  That's
not too common for a woman of your age.  I have a question for you,
too."

     "Sure, what?" Joe asked.

     "Was your penis circumcised?" Dr. Hopkins asked.

     "Well... Yeah, why do you ask?"  Joe was curious about why he
wanted to know.

     "Well, I observed some unusual scar tissue around your
clitoral area," Dr. Hopkins said.  "I had never seen that before,
but we decided that it might be carry-over from penile circumcision. 
I don't think anyone on record has ever experienced what you have."

     "Will it cause problems for me?" Joe asked.

     "If it doesn't hurt, or cause irritation, I doubt it," Dr.
Hopkins answered.  "Physically, your clitoris is missing the little
hood, called the prepuce, that it normally would retract into, or
under.  The extra exposure may cause discomfort during intercourse,
or when wearing tight clothes.  I don't know.  Since you've always
been like this, since the change, you may not notice anything at
all.  Cosmetically, I doubt anyone but a gynecologist or maybe a
sharp general practitioner would even notice.  I wouldn't worry
about it."

     Joe thought about what he looked like in the hand mirror; the
little sensitive bundle of flesh at the top of his opening.  Linda
didn't look like that, but he decided it was probably the least of
his problems.

     "What about my life, my job?" Joe asked.  "Hell, I'm a thirty
year old man, an engineer, and a pilot.  All my records, my
identification, show me to be male.  What can I do about that?" He
didn't know what he wanted to do, but he knew he needed more
information.

     "Don't worry about that, Joe," Dr. Krell assured him. 
"Whatever you choose to do, it will be possible to change your
records, even your birth certificate, if you need it.  I'm not sure
about your military records, however."

     "So what do I do next?" Joe asked.  He hadn't known what to
expect, but he had more questions now, than answers.

     "Well, I think we need to find out what has caused these
symptoms in you, and your two friends," Dr. Krell said.  "We'd like
to run more tests on you.  Could get you to come to San Diego where
there are more facilities to do research into your condition?"

     "What can you do there that you can't do here?" Joe asked.

     "I don't really know if there is anything anyone can do for
you, Joe," Dr. Krell said, "but we need to find out just what has
happened, and just what caused it.  Then we might, and it would be
a big might, we might be able to somehow reverse your condition. 
If we were to alter your appearance with surgery, I don't think you
would be pleased with the result, and it would surely leave you
disfigured. If you possibly can, I advise that you try to live with
what you now have, at least for a while.  I realize it isn't easy,
but none of your other options are, either.  I would recommend that
you consult a therapist, if you're having any difficulty coping
with the changes.  I might add, you seem to be doing quite well, so
far."

     "If I decide to stay this way, at least for now, what will I
have to do to get my records changed?" Joe asked.

     "If you will come to my office in San Diego, I have all the
information you need, and there is a group of people to help, who
are familiar with the legal requirements for Arizona," Dr. Krell
replied.

     "How did they get familiar with my requirements already?" Joe
asked, since as far as he knew, he was the first person he had ever
heard of with his problem.

     "You might be surprised at the number of gender dysphoric
persons who elect gender reassignment," Dr. Krell answered.  "Only
they take years to get where you are now, but then they face the
same obstacles, after the reassignment surgery.  We see well over
a hundred every year."

     It had never really occurred to Joe there were people on the
street, maybe people he knew, who had once been a different sex. 
He didn't think he had ever seen anyone like that.  He felt sorry
for anyone who felt they had such a problem, since he now knew what
it was like to have the wrong body.

     "I didn't realize there were that many people who changed
their sex," Joe said.  "I wonder why I've never seen any of them."

     "How do you know you haven't?" Dr. Krell said.  "I know of at
least one that you've seen."

     "Really, I sure don't remember seeing anyone like that," Joe
said, slightly amazed.

     "I wouldn't normally say anything, but I know she won't mind. 
I know you've met Dr. Hopkins' nurse, Karen Simpson," Dr. Krell
said with a grin.  "When I first met her, her name was Keith.  That
was just four years ago."

     Joe was shocked, and impressed.  He had never even considered
that the tall, friendly, and very attractive nurse could have been
anything but a natural woman.  She looked, walked, and even sounded
like any other good looking female.  So she was once a guy too.

     "YOU made him... err... her look like THAT?" Joe asked
incestuously.

     "Well, I helped HER get her body in line with what she
considers to be HER normal gender," Dr. Krell said proudly. 
"Hormones did most of the work, and a morning on the operating
table did the rest.  I didn't make her a woman, I just helped her
to get a woman's body." He was obviously proud of his work.

     "But you can't do anything like that for me, huh?" Joe asked.

     "Joe, I think I could make you pass as a man in public," Dr.
Krell answered, "but I am sure that you would not be pleased with
the cosmetic, and function, of the phalloplasty.  It is just a lot
harder to create working male parts, and you had a real penis, so
you would be expecting something like that, and that I absolutely
cannot give you.  Again, I recommend that you try to live with what
you've got.  If it becomes intolerable, then let's talk about
alternatives," Dr. Krell smiled as he spoke.

     "Well, maybe that's what I have to do," Joe said.  "I'll give
it a shot."

     "Good choice," Dr. Krell said.  "Now, I think we need to call
your employer, what is it... Honeybone Electronics?"

     "That's Honeybone Avionics," Joe said, correcting him.  "We
design, and manufacture aviation electronics of all types,
navigation radios, computers, flight management systems, and a lot
of other stuff for Civil and Military aviation."  He was trying to
figure out who to call.

     "If you will give me the number, I'll call them, and explain
what we need from them," Dr. Krell said.

     Joe gave him the switchboard number, and told Dr. Krell to ask
for Jim Matheney, his supervisor.  Dr. Krell dialed the number, and
in a few moments, he was talking to Jim Matheney.

     "Good morning, Mr. Matheney, my name is Dr. Benjamin Krell,"
he said.  "I have three of your employees here at the hospital, and
we have uncovered some unusual symptoms in them.  I feel that the
problems may be job related.  I hope you can help us figure out
what is wrong with them."

     "That really is understating the problem," Joe thought, "but
maybe that's the best way to start."

     "Yes, sir, that's who it is," Dr. Krell said into the phone,
"and I would prefer not to discuss their symptoms over the phone. 
Yes, sir, it would be good if you could come here, to Hillcrest. 
Yes, Dr. Krell, fourth floor.  Two o'clock this afternoon would be
fine.  See you after lunch, then.  Bye."  Dr. Krell had quickly
started the ball rolling.

     Just as Dr. Krell hung up the phone, there was a knock on his
office door.  "Come in," Dr. Krell said.  The door opened, and
nurse Karen Simpson looked in.

     "Dr. Krell, the other two patients are here from downstairs,"
she said, smiling.  Joe looked carefully at her, and was trying to
imagine her as a man.  He couldn't.  Dr. Krell saw him staring at
the nurse.

     "Please have them wait outside for a moment," Dr. Krell told
her.  Joe continued to watch her, and it was slightly obvious he
was curious.  "Karen, do you have plans for lunch?" Dr. Krell asked
the nurse.

     "Not really, I thought I'd just go out, maybe over to Wendy's
for a salad.  It seems I really have to watch my calories," she
said with a quick grin.

     "Well, Joe here is free for a couple of hours," Dr. Krell
said, "and I think he wouldn't mind buying you lunch.  I've told
him a little about you, and I think you two might have something in
common."  It was plain that he and Karen had a mutual admiration
for each other.

     "Sure, Joe, let's go, if you're ready," she said, holding out
her hand in greeting.  "My name is Karen Simpson.  I've read your
records, so I know you're Joe Bates."

     Karen and Joe shook hands like two guys meeting for the first
time.  Joe liked the pretty nurse the first time he saw her, and
now that he knew her unusual past, he wanted to get to know her. 
As he stood next to her, he saw that she was even a little taller
than he was.

     "Nice to meet you, Karen, let's get something to eat," Joe
said, as they walked out the door.

     "Be sure to be back by one thirty, Joe," Dr. Krell ordered as
they went out the door.
Article 81864 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject: TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 11)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:33:28 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Eleven
A CLUE

When Joe followed Karen out of Dr. Krell's office, he saw Mike
and Dave waiting outside for their turn to talk to the doctor.
Mike Osborn looked very uncomfortable next to his rotund partner.
Joe greeted them, and asked what they had been up to.

"Well, I've had blood drawn, they even took hair samples, and
they gave me a CAT scan," Mike replied. Dave was cordial, but did
not add to the conversation. Joe told them Jim Matheney would be
there at two o'clock, and that he would see them in a little while.
Then he followed Karen down the hall to leave the building. They
went out to the employee parking garage, where Karen's car was
parked. She walked up to a glistening white Toyota Supra, with
expensive alloy wheels and very wide tires.

"I'm crazy about cars," Karen said, grinning as she buckled
in. "Maybe I'm a woman, but I still love a good handling sports
car."

"Me, too," Joe said. "I have an RX-7 GXL, and I love it."

Karen's Supra ran great, and she knew how to drive, making the
short trip to Wendy's a brisk experience. "She drives like I do,"
Joe thought, grinning as he watched her go through the gears, her
white uniform skirt hiked well above her knees, exposing more of
her long, white, hose covered legs than most women would allow.
Karen saw Joe looking at her legs, and pulled the skirt down to a
more demure position.

"I know I should be more careful about that," she said,
looking at Joe with a devilish grin. "It's been about two years
now, and I just love it, but I don't always remember to sit like a
lady."

They pulled into the Wendy's lot, and parked the car in the
back, so that the car would be less likely to be subjected to door
dings. They walked inside, and looked at the menu board.

"I come here a lot, cause it's close, it's cheap, and I like
the salad bar," Karen said. "In the last year, I have really had
to watch what I eat, since it all seems to go to my butt, and I
absolutely don't want to be a fat broad." She was grinning widely.
Karen sure seemed happy to be a female.

They ordered. Karen ordered the salad bar. Joe, deciding
that he might as well try to get used to the bird-like portions
that women seemed to eat, did the same. They took their plates,
filled them, and sat across from each other at a little table.
Joe was dying to ask Karen some questions about herself.

"Dr. Krell told me a little about you," he said, not really
knowing how to start the conversation, and not really sure if Karen
would even want to talk about her transfiguration.

"I figured he might," she said, with a smile. "He's a great
doctor, and I know he's as proud of how I've turned out as I am."

"So you really were a guy then?" Dave asked with a trace of
skepticism.

"Well, I was married to a very nice woman for about a year,
and we even had a child together," Karen said. "I tried to be a
guy, and I suppose I was one physically, but I've always felt I was
really a female as long as I can remember. I never felt right
acting like a man, but since I looked like one, I did all the guy
things, and I even enjoyed a lot of them. I still like to do some
of them. Cars and computers don't seem to care of you're an innie
or an outie." The grin never left her face as she spoke.

"Well, you sure fooled me," Joe said. "I never would have
guessed that you were an outie." Dr. Krell was right, he and Karen
were a lot alike.

"Joe, hormones and Dr. Krell's magic worked so well that even
I sometimes forget that I used to look a lot different than I do
now," she said proudly. "For a while, after my surgery, just
looking in the mirror was one of my favorite pastimes. I couldn't
imagine I would ever look like this. It's like a dream come true."

"I'm still in the looking in the mirror phase," Joe said. "Of
course, it's hardly a dream come true for me, but it is interest-
ing, and I guess I'd better try to get used to it."

"You're certainly attractive, Joe," Karen said, "and you have
a big advantage over me, since you've even changed biologically.
You probably won't have to worry about hormones, or anything like
that. Dr. Hopkins thinks you can even menstruate. I wish I could.
A lot of women think of it as an inconvenience, but it's a
significant part of being female. You can probably have children
someday. That's impossible for me now, of course." Her grin
subsided for the first time, but only for a moment.

"I don't think that I'll ever have children," Joe said. "Not
if it meant having sex with a man."

"It's not that bad," Karen said, grinning at Joe. "You
quickly get used to the differences."

"Have you slept with a guy?" Joe asked. Joe didn't feel
strange, asking Karen such personal questions, since they thought
so much alike.

"Yeah, I have. A few times now," Karen answered simply.

"Did you like it?" Joe asked. He was curious about what it felt
like, and wondered if he could ever get up the nerve to try it.

"Well, I was sort of like you," Karen explained. "I never
thought I'd ever want to get intimate with a male. I knew them too
well. I liked being around women. They were so soft, smelled so
nice, and wore such sexy clothes. I didn't want anything to do
with my old world, but after about a year, it sort of just
happened. I didn't plan it, or anything. I met this guy at an
auto-cross, a student pilot from Williams Air Force Base. He was
racing his car, an '86 Corvette. We started talking about cars,
and he asked me to dinner. I had never gone on a date with a guy
before, or anything like that, but almost before I realized it, we
were in bed together. You know how pilots are." Karen grinned, and
winked at Joe.

"What was it like? Was it better than when you were married?"
Joe asked. He felt like an anxious teenager, questioning a more
experienced peer.

"Gee, it's hard to compare," Karen answered. "I never felt
comfortable having sex as a male. It did feel good when I'd
ejaculate though. I guess I do miss that, in a way." Karen seemed
to stare into space as she spoke.

"Don't you climax?" Joe asked. He was thinking about his
recent experiences with Linda. He never missed the ability to
ejaculate. He really wasn't even sure he had lost it, he got so
wet, and his climax was so powerful.

"Well, to be honest, Joe," Karen said, "as far as I can tell,
I look exactly like a normal woman. My breasts developed, my body
has changed so much that even my weight distribution has shifted to
be more like a female. I think you know what I mean. My body...
My genitalia are completely functional. I can have intercourse,
but the sensation is not all that great. It feels sort of numb.
Oh, I guess it's getting better, I could hardly feel anything at
all, for almost the first year, but it's got better. It's still
getting better, I guess, but I've never been able to come since my
surgery. I don't regret the change, and I would never want to go
back, even if I could. Intercourse isn't that big a deal for me.
I can live with it, or without it. I like the closeness. I love
to cuddle." Karen tried to explain her feelings to Joe, who
listened intently to every word.

"Gee, I don't think I have any problem with feelings, or
sensation," Joe said. "Actually I think I have even more feeling
than before. My whole body seems much more sensitive. It even
feels like I still have a penis. It's just kind of recessed now,
and I think I can get off, just by having my boobs touched in the
right way."

"Yeah, mine are sensitive too," Karen said. "At first, after
I started on hormones, when they were just starting to develop,
they were way too sensitive and they hurt all the time, but after
the surgery, they really grew, and yeah, I guess they're my most
sensitive area. Sounds like you've been trying out the new
equipment." She chuckled.

"Well... I have this girlfriend, my fiance actually," Joe
said, "or at least she was.... If I'm gonna stay like this, I guess
I have to stop thinking of her like that. Anyway, Linda and I have
continued sleeping together since this has happened to me. It's
been an experience."

"When I first started down this path, I only wanted to be
around girls, women, too," Karen admitted, "but as time went on,
and I got used to the new ME, I've been more willing to experiment,
to see what it's all about. Joe, I'm... We're women now, and
there's nothing wrong with us experiencing ALL the pleasures of
being female. God knows, there's enough pain."

"Speaking of pain, I have to go to the bathroom," Joe said,
grinning at Karen. "I just know that my sore bottom isn't going to
like it."

Joe got up, and excused himself. He walked down the short
hall, and almost entered the men's restroom, catching himself as he
put his hand on the doorknob. He walked on to the ladies, feeling
like an invader as he did so. In all his experiences so far, he
had not been into a public women's restroom. This would be the
first time.

Joe opened the door. As he went in, he noticed that the room
had a small, padded couch to sit on. There were no urinals along
the wall. He very self consciously went to one of the stalls, and
closed the door. Joe unzipped the blue jump suit, and pulled it
off his shoulders. "Before the change," he thought to himself, "I
could just stand here, whip it out, and be done with it. Now I
have to practically undress." He took the down to around his knees.
He tucked his thumbs into the narrow waistband of the nylon
panties, and pulled them down. As he did, he could see that the
white cotton lined crotch of his beige nylon panties were stained
with a little streak of blood. It was not much, it did not
penetrate to the out side, but it was another reminder that he was
a lot different than he used to be. "You really are an innie now,
Joe Bates," he thought. He was relieved to find it did not hurt
when the urine flowed.

He finished quickly, and found no more blood on the tissue
when he wiped. He hurriedly pulled his clothes back on, and left
the stall. Joe went to the sink and was washing his hands when
someone else, a teenage girl of maybe seventeen, came in and went
into a stall. She did not even seem to notice the nervous woman at
the sink. Joe dried his hands, and went out.

Karen watched Joe walk back to the table. As he sat, she
looked at him with that perpetual grin she had.

"Joe, it must be ninety degrees outside. Why in the world are
you wearing that long sleeve jumpsuit? Aren't you hot?" Karen
questioned.

"Yeah I guess I am a little," he said. "I just feel better,
more secure with this on."

"Well, girl," Karen replied, "if you're going to be one of us,
you're going to have to get used to dressing lighter. If I wasn't
working, I'd be wearing cutoffs and a tank top. We're going to
have to get you some proper clothes, if you're going to make a go
of it."

"I have other clothes," Joe said, grinning. "Linda helped me
pick some out. I'm just not used to wearing that skimpy stuff
yet."

"I saw what you look like under that coverall, and you haven't
got anything to be ashamed of," Karen went on. "If you got it,
flaunt it a little."

"I'm still getting used just to having it. I don't think I'm
quite ready to flaunt it yet," Joe countered, smiling.

"It's about twelve forty-five," Karen said. "You don't need
to be back for about thirty to forty-five minutes. Anything you
want to do?"

"I don't have anything in mind. Do you?" Joe asked, wondering
what the tall blond was thinking.

"I thought we might go over to Dillard's, and find you some
summer clothes," Karen said.

"I have stuff at home," Joe said. "It's only about ten
minutes away, if you want to take me. It's Linda's house, but she
won't home till about three or four."

"I've got some time to kill, and I'd just as well not rush
back to work," Karen said, getting up. She walked out, and Joe
followed her out, telling her the way to Linda's. She listened,
and repeated his instructions back after he gave them, almost like
a pilot's read back of his clearance.

"You read that back like an IFR clearance," Joe said, figuring
that the term would not be understood by the tall nurse.

"I used to be in the Air Force," Karen replied. "I guess I
still have some old habits left."

"You were a pilot in the Air Force?" Joe was impressed.

"No, not a rated pilot," Karen answered. "I was a flight
simulation specialist. I did learn to fly instruments, and get my
private while I was in, though."

"Where were you stationed?" Joe asked. "I was in the Air
Force too."

"I'm originally from Tulsa," Karen said. "I went to school at
Chanute Air Force Base, in Illinois. From there, I was assigned to
Davis-Monthan, in Tucson. That's how I ended up here in the
Phoenix area. I went to school at University of Arizona while I
was in, and for a year after I got out. While I was at D-M, my
mother died. My dad died when I was a little kid. I was kind
broken up about it, and went into a kind of depression. I guess I
always had a problem with my gender, but it really came to the
surface after my mom died. I decided I would look into what I
could do about it. That was not too long after this male ophthal-
mologist, Richard Raskin, decided to have gender reassignment
surgery, and became Rene' Richards. You may have heard of him, or
her, she also was in the news as a tennis player for a while.
Anyway, I took pre-med courses at UA, and spent most of my spare
time studying about transsexualism. I met Dr. Krell some time
later, and this is how I've turned out. I'm a licensed RN, but now
I've got about six years of schooling behind me. I guess, if I got
my act together, I should become a doctor. My family was well off,
and I don't need to work. I've just been working for Dr. Hopkins
because I find it interesting."

They pulled up Linda's drive, and parked on the side, near the
entrance to the pool. Joe got out, and Karen followed. "Nice
place," Karen said. "This is your girlfriend's house?"

"Yeah, she's in real estate, and she got a good deal on this
place," Joe explained.

Joe went to the door, and opened it. They went inside, and
Joe went straight to his room. Karen followed closely behind him.
He went in and went to his closet, and turned on the light. His
few items of women's clothing hung on hangers in the large closet.

"This is what I've got, so far," Joe said. "It isn't a lot,
and if I'm gonna stay this way I guess I'll have to get some more.
I had been hoping that they'd have something that could change me
back."

"Nope, there's no magic pill. I'll attest to that," Karen
said. "Let's see... How about this? It would look great on you."
She picked out the little top with the balloons, the one that Linda
had picked out for him.

"Yeah, I've worn that once already. I guess it's okay, but I
always feel like I'm hanging out of the big armholes," Joe
complained.

"Ridiculous. I'm sure you look great in it. Get that hot
coverall off, and put this on. What do you have to wear with it?"
Karen asked.

"I've got some shorts. I don't have any longer pants, yet,"
Joe said.

"Get the shorts," Karen ordered.

Joe went out into the bedroom, went to his dresser, and found
the white and the blue shorts. He had just put them there that
morning. He placed them both on the bed and sat on the side,
taking his Reeboks off. He pulled the jumpsuit off and lay it on
the bed. He stood there, in his underwear, waiting for Karen to
bring him the little tank top. She came out of the closet, and
looked at Joe.

"My God, you're beautiful," she said as she looked at him,
"and you just woke up the other day, looking like that?"

"Yeah, I guess that's about it," Joe said. "I haven't any
idea what has caused it. That's what I'm trying to find out.
Something apparently happened to me, Dave, and Mike, while we were
flying. We all have similar symptoms."

"Gee, I wish I could have made the change that easy," Karen
said with a grin. "Maybe we should go flying together." She gave
Joe the top, and he slipped it over his head. He looked at her and
showed her the way his bra peeked out the large arm openings.

"Aww, Don't be so paranoid," Karen said. "It's not that
noticeable. You can't really see anything. Guys will think it's
sexy, and women either won't notice, or won't care."

Joe decided Karen must be right. Linda had basically said the
same thing, so it must be true. He grabbed the blue shorts that
Karen handed him, and slipped them on. It was more comfortable out
of the warm, but wonderfully concealing, jumpsuit.

"I guess we had better be getting back," Joe said, looking at his
alarm clock by the bed.

"Give me a minute, I need to use your bathroom before we go
back," Karen said.

Joe pointed to the door to the attached bath. He sat on the
bed and waited for Karen. As he did, he thought about his tall new
friend.

They were so alike, and yet, so different. They had both
started out in life as males, and even had relationships with
women. Now they were both learning to live as women. Karen was
much further along, having been living like this for almost three
years. Joe had only four days behind him, and Karen WANTED to be
this way. He was not a volunteer, but now they were both in
similar situations. They had almost identical interests, and
seemed to get along very well. He was glad to have found her when
he did. Karen might be a good person to have around when learning
to cope with the things he would probably need to learn in the next
few months, but what would Linda think of Karen, or how would she
feel about him having another female friend? Joe was pulled away
from his thoughts by the sound of the toilet flushing.

"Okay, now I'm ready," Karen said, as she reentered the
bedroom.

Joe got up, and arranged his credit cards and ID in the tiny
pockets of the blue shorts. He would have to do something about
where to put this stuff, if he was not going to carry a purse.
Karen saw what he was doing, and laughed.

"I still have the same problem," she admitted. "I just can't
get used to the idea of carrying a purse around all the time, but
there just aren't enough pockets in women's clothes. Luckily,
these uniforms have pretty large pockets," She pulled a few
dollars, and her hospital ID, out of a pocket of her white uniform
dress to demonstrate.

Joe went out, and locked the door. Karen looked at the pool
area. "Linda sure has a nice place here," she said. "How does she
take it, with you looking like a woman now?"

"I don't know," Joe answered. "She says she doesn't care what
happens. That she wants to be with me, no matter what, but I have
always insisted to her that this was a temporary thing for me, and
that I would do all I could to get back nor mal. If I come to her
now, and say that this is how it will be... I don't know. I don't
know how she'll take it, and I don't know what I'll want to do...
as I get used to the idea myself, if that's possible. It still
seems like a strange dream to me. so far."

The drive back to the hospital was quick, and they did not
talk much. As they neared the parking lot, Joe started to get
apprehensive. Although the little top and the shorts he was
wearing were much more comfortable in the heat, they were also much
more revealing. Except for his experience in the health club, he
had never been in a public place with so much of his new shape
exposed. It seemed different when he was around strangers, or,
close friends, but Jim Matheney, and who knows who else, would be
there this afternoon. They'd be in for a surprise when they saw
him like this.

"Oh, well," Joe thought. "I might as well get used to it if
I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life. The rest of my
life..."

It was about one-forty-five when they got back up to Dr.
Krell's reception area. There was nobody sitting in the waiting
area, and Joe wondered where his two friends were. He sat on
one of the couches. Karen sat behind the reception desk and
started to read something, probably the appointment schedule.

"Your friend Dave is at lunch, and Mike is upstairs at
OB-GYN," Karen said. "Dr. Krell is at lunch. He might have Dave
with him. They should be back by two." She got up, and started
down the hall.

"Will I be seeing you again today?" Joe asked, calling out to
her. He did not want her to leave. He felt better having Karen
around because she gave him hope that he could still have a normal
life, even if he stayed the way he was.

"Sure Joe, I'll be back down later," she said. "You'll be
here all afternoon. I'll see you before you leave today."

As Joe sat there, waiting for everyone to return, he used the
time to think. If he was going to be this way permanently, he had
to make some plans. He did not have enough clothes, of course.
His identification problems would be taken care of, he hoped. He
wondered about his job. Surely, if he, Dave, and Mike all had
problems, it must be job related, so he doubted that they would
fire him, or anything like that, but would he even want to go back
there? What would his friends say? The guys who knew him as Joe,
the airplane and sports car nut. Joe, the bachelor. Joe, the guy.

He looked down at his smooth, tanned legs. If they were
somebody else's, he would be one of the guys, critically checking
them out, but these were his. They really did not look all that
much different than they used to, except that they were now smooth
and hairless. He rubbed his upper leg with his hand. It felt
different than before, though. Much softer. He was in good shape
before this happened, and he still had good muscle tone, but now he
also had that thin layer of fat, just under the skin, that makes
females feel so soft. He thought it might be even softer than
yesterday. Maybe he was still changing. The skin felt more
sensitive, too. His light touch felt good; sensuous. He could
feel his breasts, his nipples actually, stiffening. Whenever they
did that, he could feel them when they rubbed the soft material
inside his bra. He liked that sensation, too. It was a sort of
tickling feeling, different than anything he knew as a guy. When
you really thought about it, having breasts was not bad at all, he
considered. It was going to be a little more difficult getting
used to not having a penis anymore, though. Even though it
usually felt like it was still there, it was not. While its
substitute might be interesting, it was certainly a lot less
functional at least for what it was used the most. Like
urinating. It sure seemed like he had to do that a lot more often
now, and of course the darn thing even might have some other
surprises. Dr. Hopkins said he could probably get pregnant. No
immediate problem there, but it meant that he would also probably
have menstrual periods. What would that be like? Would it hurt?
Would he have cramps, and get bitchy, like Linda did, sometimes?
He did not want to think about that, but having blood, and other
yuck, coming out of your body, as a 'normal' occurrence? His
examination today, and the probing, made him painfully aware of
this new orifice. No, he decided. Having a vagina was not all
that great. It might feel good, great even, sometimes, but it was
probably more of a liability than an asset.

"Then again," he thought, "if I gotta be a girl, it's best to
have ALL the parts." He was glad he was not stuck halfway, like
Mike seemed to be. That seemed like a real problem. Maybe he was
lucky to have the body he did. "It could sure be worse," he
thought, lightly stroking a breast with the tips of his fingers.

"Got a little itch there, Joe?" the tall nurse asked, grinning
widely as she walked up to him.

Joe could feel his face turning red. He had been so deep in
thought that he did not notice Karen and Mike come up the tiled
hallway. Mike was walking stiffly, and looked uncomfortable.
Karen motioned for him to sit, and when he tried, Joe
understood what his problem was.

"I've got to go back upstairs," said Karen, excusing herself.
"Dr. Krell should be here any minute. It's almost two."

"Well, how's it going, Mike?" Joe asked. He was trying to
picture him on the examining table with the stirrups.

"Don't ask. You wouldn't believe what they did to me
upstairs," Mike said. He seemed to be in very low spirits. Joe
could imagine why.

"If it's the pelvic exam, I had one this morning, and I know
what you mean. The pain has just recently worn off for me," Joe
said, trying to make Mike feel like he was not alone in this.

"Joe, Dr. Hopkins said it looked like I was a completely
functional female," Mike went on. "He said it's possible I might
even have periods. He stuck a thing, sort of a stretching tool,
into my vagina. My VAGINA! I've got a vagina. Can you believe
it? He even said I had an intact hymen. On top of all this, I'm
a virgin!" Mike was so shaken, it looked like he might cry.

Joe did not know what to do to help his friend. He thought
about what Dr. Krell told him about gender reassignment. Maybe,
for Mike, it would be the thing to do. He knew Dr. Krell would
know what would be the best for Mike. He touched Mike's shoulder,
and Mike looked at him. Tears were welling in his eyes.

"Joe, I just can't be a woman. I just CAN'T! Look at you.
You LOOK like a woman! A good looking one, too. I don't even look
like an ugly woman," he moaned.

"Did Dr. Hopkins have any thoughts as to why your body has
stayed masculine looking?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, he did," Mike said. "He looked at me... at my cock...
my vagina... I guess... and he asked me if I have been taking
anabolic steroids."

"Did you?" Joe asked, knowing the answer before he heard it.

"Joe, I was careful," Mike said. "I didn't take too many.
Just enough shots to get my pecks in shape. I never thought...
Hell, who would? I never thought that it would make me look like
a man when I changed into a GIRL! Joe, I didn't know. I just
didn't know." Mike was almost pleading with him.

"Mike, don't worry," Joe said. "I think you'll find Dr. Krell
can help. I don't know how just yet, but I'm sure he can help."

"Can he change you back into a guy?" Mike asked.

"Well, for me, he recommended that I stay this way, at least
until we can figure out what caused it. For you, maybe he'll
recommend something else. You look a lot more like a guy than I
do, now," Joe said honestly.

"Yeah, a guy who has periods. A guy with a cunt. Joe, he's
just GOTTA help me!" Mike pleaded.

Joe looked down the hall, and saw Jim Matheney walking their
way. "Well, here it goes," he thought. He felt the blood rush to
his cheeks, and tried in vain to arrange the tank top so that his
boobs would not be so obvious.

Suddenly, Jim Matheney realized who it was, sitting there on
the couch. He recognized Mike first, but his eyes did a double
take when he saw the other person. This was one of his engineers,
maybe his best pilot, sitting there, wearing women's clothes, and
if he saw it right, he even looked like a woman.

No doubt about it, Joe Bates looked like a woman. He seemed
much smaller, especially sitting next to the big technician, Mike.
"Holy cow!" Jim thought. "He's got knockers, and everything.
What's going on here, anyway?"

"Hi Jim," Joe said, breaking the awkward silence, as Jim
stared at him, his eyes wide, and his mouth speechless.

"Joe, what the hell is going on here?" Jim asked. "Mike
what's the matter with you? Where's Dave?" He was overwhelmed
with what he saw.

Joe tried to give a quick explanation, saying, "Well, Jim, we
don't know what's happened, exactly. Me, Dave, and Mike here, seem
to have received some kind of chromosomal damage, or something.
Our genes have been changed somehow, so that we're all females now,
at least genetically." He was careful about what he said in front
of Mike. He did not want him to break down again.

"Females? What do you mean females?" Jim asked.

"Women... Girls... You know," Joe explained. "Damn it, Jim!
Look at me! This is not some kind of costume. We've undergone
some kind of transformation. When I woke up Friday, I looked like
this, and I guarantee it was much more of a surprise for me then
than it is for you now."

"All three of you? What caused it anyway?" Jim asked.

"Well, that's what we're trying to find out," Joe replied.
"Since it happened to us three on the GPS test program, it must
have something to do with the Learjet, or somewhere we went in it.
Damned if I can figure it out."

"So you're telling me you've all become females? Then what
about you, Mike?" Jim asked.

Before Mike could say anything, Joe broke in. "Mike has
changed too," Joe explained, "but mostly internally. His secondary
characteristics just haven't developed." He voiced what was his
best guess, not wanting to bring up the steroids.

"Jim, there's something wrong with that damn Lear," Mike said
loudly. "Look what it's done to us. You gotta find out what's
causing it. The company's gotta help us get back to normal."

"Mike, if Honeybone is at fault, they'll do everything
possible to help you. How do you know it's the Lear, anyway?" Jim
asked.

"Jim, we three were the only ones working the ground tests
with the portable transmitter," Joe reasoned. "We were all on the
airplane for the touch and go's too. It has to have something to
do with the Lear, or where the Lear went, on Thursday."

"Where did you take the damn thing?" Jim asked.

"We hardly got out of the pattern," Joe answered. "I know for
sure we never got more than eight DME from Deer Valley." Deer
Valley airport was north of Phoenix and was where the Learjet was
based.

"What can we do?" Jim said. "How do you think we can test it?
I wouldn't want to be the pilot on this one."

"I don't know how we can do it," Joe replied. "Maybe somebody
here has some ideas. I don't know what we gotta do, but I don't
think anyone should fly the Lear till we figure out what's going
on."

"Yeah, but don't worry, when the guys find about this, I don't
think I could drag anybody into that airplane," Jim agreed.

"Jim, I don't know what's going to happen, but it's just
possible that we're stuck like this. What's your opinion on what
Honeybone will do about it?" Joe asked.

"Damn, Joe, I don't know," Jim answered. "I never heard of
anything like this. I do think that they should do everything
possible. They will, if I have anything to do about it. What do
you want Honeybone to do, Joe?"

"I don't know," Joe said. "I know I look different, but I
just hope that the company doesn't decide that I would be better
off unemployed."

"If Honeybone is at fault here, I'll raise all kinds of hell
if they try to get rid of any of you," Jim said. He meant it, too.

Doctor Krell, followed closely by Dave Skinner, came through
the door at the end of the hall. Jim turned around and watched as
his other pilot/engineer came down the hall. Dr. Krell held out
his hand to Jim.

"Mr. Matheney, I'm Benjamin Krell. I guess you see what kind
of situation your guys are in," the little doctor said.

"What's causing this, doc?" Jim asked. "What can be done
about it?" Jim Matheney was a problem solver, and he was used to
getting things done, not just talking about it.

"It is a difficult problem," Dr. Krell said. "I know of
nothing, no phenomenon, which can cause this. It seems as though
their bodies' chromosomes have been altered. We have just started
the analysis, and that's all we have so far. I will have to look
at the results of the other physical examinations, but I know that
Joe here, has the total outward appearance of a normal female."

"Can you correct or reverse this thing?" Jim asked.

"I don't know," Dr. Krell answered. "I don't see how, but I
really need to study the problem some more. I'd like to see what
you have at work; what they were operating in the Learjet airplane.
I'd also like to get them to my clinic in San Diego where I can run
more tests, and where we have more people skilled in this area."

"If you need to go to San Diego, then get over there," Jim
said. "Joe, you can take the 421 if you want. Nobody's using it,
and there is nothing scheduled on it for the rest of the month.
Can you still fly?"

"I don't know why not, Jim," Joe answered. "Maybe I look like
a woman now, but I haven't had the urge to sit home and bake
cookies, or anything like that. Of course I can still fly." Just
the question rankled Joe a bit.

"Sorry Joe, I didn't mean to offend you," Jim apologized.
"It's a little difficult to comprehend that you're the same person.
You sure look a lot different."

"It's okay, Jim," Joe said. "I know I look different. I feel
different too, but inside, it's still me. I'd sure appreciate it
if you'd try to treat us the same as before, much as possible
anyway. It's hard enough to get used to this, without everybody
treating us like we were entirely different people. Our bodies
have changed, but our brains are the same." He hoped that was
true. He was starting to have doubts.

"Joe, can we get you over to San Diego tomorrow?" Dr. Krell
asked. "I'd like all three of you there, if possible. I have
called, and we can begin running tests in the afternoon, if
possible."

"What about the Lear?" Joe asked. He wanted to know what
caused this to happen to him.

"I'd like to go over to where the airplane is later this
afternoon," Dr. Krell answered. "Maybe we can figure out a way to
run some experiments on it. I'll need to see what you are talking
about. You won't have to be involved in that, however. Some of my
people, and maybe Mr. Matheney here, can do that. I want to find
out the extent of your symptoms, as soon as possible."

"I'd like to go over to where the airplane is later this
afternoon," Dr. Krell answered. "Maybe we can figure out a way to
run some experiments on it. I'll need to see what you are talking
about. You won't have to be involved in that, however. Some of my
people, and maybe Mr. Matheney here, can do that. I want to find
out the extent of your symptoms, as soon as possible."

"If Dave and I fly the 421 to San Diego, we might get checked
by the Feds," Joe said. "What do you think they'd say about us?
Our tickets still have an M in the sex column."

"I'll call Fred, and get an opinion from him," Jim answered.
"Maybe he can make a decision himself, or can call Oklahoma City."
They both had a low opinion of their FAA representative's ability
to deal with new situations.

"Well, I've got to get back to my office," Dr. Krell said.
"Dave, I think they're about ready for you upstairs."

Joe looked at Dave. He saw that Mike looked at him too. They
both knew what was in store for their friend. Dave just looked at
both of them, with a confused look on his face. Mike and Joe just
grinned smugly. Dave followed Dr. Krell into his office. Mike sat on
the couch, and began
squirming around trying to get
comfortable. Jim saw him wincing, and asked what his problem was.

"Well, ah... I ah... Jim... Well, you see," Mike stammered,
"they have this stainless steel tool. It looks kind of like a
safety wire pliers with spoons on the end. Well, they take this
thing, and they put it inside you, and they open it up. I'll tell
you, you wouldn't want to try it." Mike, with his face red with
embarrassment, tried to describe his pelvic exam.

"You had one of those, Mike?" Jim said, eyeing the big guy
carefully. "You've changed that much too? I didn't know... I
didn't realize you had changed that much. You look pretty much the
same."

"I'm not the same, Jim," Mike said, a bit of sarcasm creeping
into his voice. "I'm not the same. You should see what I look
like without this stuff on. I may still look like a guy, but right
now I don't feel like one. Right now, it feels like my balls were
cut off with a dull knife. Hell, it kinda looks like it too."

"Well, if there is anything that can be done, it will be
done," Jim promised.

Joe, Mike and Jim sat outside Dr. Krell's office for about
forty-five minutes. Dr. Krell had taken Dave upstairs after
interviewing him. He came down alone about thirty minutes later,
and went into his office. About ten minutes after that, Karen
brought a stiff walking Dave Skinner back down, and took him into
Dr. Krell's office. She came back out alone, and sat down on the
couch with the three of them. Joe introduced Karen to the others.
He did not mention her past.

"This is Dr. Krell's nurse and assistant, Karen Simpson.
Among her other talents, she's an instrument pilot," Joe added.

Karen said hello to each of them, and asked Joe what he was
doing later. Joe looked at Jim.

"I guess we're going to look at the Lear, to see what, or how
we can try to find out what happened," Jim said. "We'll have to
wait for Dr. Krell's word."

"Would you like to come along?" Joe asked. He liked to be
around Karen.

"Yeah, I would," Karen answered. "This whole thing is so
bizarre. I'd like to know what caused it, myself."

She remained sitting on the couch. It was obvious that she
was also waiting for Dave to finish with Dr. Krell. Finally, the
door opened, and a long faced Dave skinner came out. Dr. Krell was
right behind him.

"Would it be possible to see this airplane, and the equipment
they were using?" Dr. Krell asked.

"I'm ready to go whenever you want," Jim answered.

"Dr. Krell, if you have no objections, Joe's invited me to
come along, and I'd sure like to," Karen asked.

"Sure, Karen. It might be helpful to have you along anyway,"
Dr. Krell said.

They all followed Jim out, but when they got to the parking
lot, they stopped to decide how to split up.

"Dr. Krell, I have a company Ford sedan, and it will hold
four, or five, easily," Jim said.

"I'll take Joe, and follow you," Karen said quickly.

"Mike, you and Dave want to ride with us?" Jim asked.

"Sure, why not?" Mike answered. He and Dave followed them to
the Ford in the public lot. Joe followed Karen to her car, in the
employee lot.

Karen and Joe were out first, and they headed straight for
Deer Valley airport. When they came down the road near the field,
Joe pointed out the hangar, and Karen drove right up to it. Joe
was getting nervous again, as he knew there was a guard on duty who
knew him as a male. He did not have his company ID, and he did not
want to have to explain his problem to the guard anyway. He
suggested that they wait for Jim to arrive with the others, in the
Ford.

Before long, Jim drove up, and parked next to the white
Toyota. Joe and Karen got out and went over to the others. They
went to the gate, and Jim showed his badge to the person in the
guard shack. The guard handed them a clipboard, and asked them to
sign in. Joe quickly signed his name, and hoped that the guard
would not look at their names. He was wrong.

"Joe? Joe Bates? We have somebody here by that name," he
said. When Dave, and Mike signed on, he looked at them carefully.
Joe did not say anything, and neither did the others. They quickly
walked through the gate, and into the hanger.

"There's the Lear," Jim said, mainly for Dr. Krell's informa-
tion. They walked over to the sleek aircraft, and Joe spun the
handle, and opened the two piece door. He peered inside. "What's
in here that could have caused this to happen?" he thought. He
looked around at the test gear that was attached to the seat
tracks.

"I believe there is a portable transmitter, or something?" Dr.
Krell asked.

"Yeah, that's over in the lab," Joe answered. "We can go look
at that if you like."

"I believe it may be something worth looking into," Dr. Krell
said. "I have heard that high power radio energy can cause cell
damage, and there is very little information compiled about how it
affects the chromosomes."

"Well, it would be easy to set up, and operate, but how would
we test it?" Jim said. "We have a cage back at the plant which we
could use to isolate the RF from everybody. Maybe we should try
that."

They walked passed the Cessna 421. Karen walked over to one
of the engines, and ran her hand down the leading edge of a prop
blade.

"How long since you've flown?" Joe asked.

"Almost four years," Karen said. "I've never renewed my
medical since I started on hormones. I guess I do miss it a
little."

"Maybe you could come along to San Diego," Jim said. "I'll
get you time in this thing if you want."

"Wouldn't miss it if I can get away," Karen said. "I'll have
to ask Dr. Hopkins."

"Well, if you can get away, I'd like it if you could come
along," Joe said. He liked having Karen around.

Jim and Dr. Krell discussed the possible ways they could run
tests on the equipment. The possibility of using animals was
considered. Dr. Krell said he'd have to study the idea, since he
was not familiar with that type of testing. He said he would
consult some of his colleagues.

Finally, they were finished looking at the aircraft and
equipment.

"Let's go talk to the guys in the lab," Jim said. "I'll show
you the transmitters."

Joe, Karen, Mike, and Dave all followed Jim and Dr. Krell into
one of the labs located in the rooms on the sides of the big
hanger. They went in, and saw the yellow painted chassis which
contained the relatively low power test transmitters used for
functional tests of the new GPS navigation receivers.

"How close to the antenna are you, during ground tests?" Dr.
Krell asked.

"Well, as close as a few feet to as far as a mile," Mike said.
The operation of the transmitters was his area of expertise.

"How can we test this in a controlled environment?" Dr. Krell
asked.

"Back at the plant we have a radiation containment room, a
type of wire cage," Jim answered. "Little or no radio energy
escapes from the cage."

"I think that's what we should use to test the transmitter,"
Dr. Krell said. "Since we are unsure of the area of danger, it
would be best to contain it completely."

"We'll bring a transmitter to the plant tomorrow," Jim said.
"How can we test this? Don't we need a test case, a volunteer?"

"I'm not sure yet," Dr. Krell said. "I can get access to some
animal subjects, and I think we should start there. If it happens
that it seems to be the transmitters which cause the cell changes,
and I would suspect that it is. I think we could easily get human
volunteers if it was likely that they might result in changes like
those on Joe here."

Joe blushed as everyone looked at him. It was probably true,
if there were others like Karen, this machine could be the answer
to their prayers. An operational "Instant Sex Change" machine
would surely be a revolutionary piece of hardware. A far greater
technological advance than the GPS Navigation Program. Unfortu-
nately, he was perhaps a victim of this new discovery, and might
have to live the rest of his life with the result.

"I think we should call the Feds," Joe said. "I want to know
if I'm legal when I fly. I'm worried when I drive, and if I and
Dave have to go to San Diego tomorrow, I want to know what my
status is."

"Well, let's call Fred," Jim said. Fred was the FAA GADO Rep.
who dealt closely with Honeybone.

They went into the empty flight planning office and picked up
the phone. Fred Holmes' office number was on the quick dialer. He
answered almost immediately.

"Fred, we seem to have a little problem that we need an
opinion on," Jim said. "Three of my guys seem to have received
some kind of cell change or something, and we think it might be
something we're doing here on the GPS project. We don 't yet have
any proof of that yet, but we'd like to run some tests on it. We
have a Dr. Krell who specializes in chromosomal problems, and he'd
like our people to come to his office in San Diego. I'd like to
let them go in the 421, but they aren't sure what the FAA's feelings
are on things like this."

Jim stopped talking for an instant, as he listened to what the
FAA man was saying.

"Yeah, it's my two pilot/engineers, Joe Bates, and Dave
Skinner," He said. "Well, it's weird. They seem to have changed
sex, or at least they look like it."

Jim waited, as the man on the other end did something that
took a few minutes.

"No, they haven't been taking any drugs, or hormones, or
anything like that," Jim said. "I don't think so anyway." Jim
looked at Joe, and Dave, who shook their heads to the negative.

"No, they haven't had surgery, or anything like that either,"
Jim said into the phone. "They have just come from Hillcrest were
they were given a clean bill of health. There don't seem to be any
health problems at all. It's just that they have undergone some
unusual changes. They both look sort of like they've changed into
females. That's all we know, so far."

"Yeah, that's all. We've just turned into women. That's
all," Joe thought. "It's a lot different to say it than to have it
happen to you."

"Sure their medicals are current," Jim said. "Yeah, I can
give them a quick check ride. I know that they don't have any
physical problems." Jim was a flight instructor, as was Joe, but he
was also a designated flight examiner.

"Okay, sounds reasonable to me," Jim said. He hung up the
phone.

"Fred says that if you two haven't been taking any drugs or
other prescription chemicals, and haven't been subjected to any
major surgery, he can't find anything in the books to keep you from
being legal," Jim said. "He suggested I give each of you a check
ride. He said that a note from your doctor would be necessary to
get your ticket changed, and to present it at your next physical."

"Well, that sounds unbelievably easy," Joe said.

"I'll give you the papers you need tomorrow, at my office,"
Dr. Krell said.

"If you have an hour, right now, I'll take both of you up in
the 421, and make a logbook entry," Jim said.

"Can you wait?" Joe looked at Karen.

"Sure, no problem," said the tall nurse

Joe and Dave took the little tug and pulled the 421 out of the
hanger. Joe went to the phone and called the fuel truck to top off
the tanks, as Dave started the pre-flight inspection.

When they were ready, the three of them boarded the little
twin. Jim sat in one of the passenger seats, as Joe and Dave
adjusted the crew seats to their new proportions. Soon the engines
were started, and they taxied out to the run-up area. They
checked the piston engines, and called the tower for takeoff
clearance. Jim told them to remain in the traffic pattern.

Jim sat on the left, and made the first takeoff and landing.
Then Dave got the chance to show his capability. Then Jim asked
that they set the left engine to minimum thrust, and Joe made a
simulated single engine landing. Dave also demonstrated he could
still fly the 421 on one engine, and then they returned to the
Honeybone hanger.

"Nothing wrong with your ability to fly," was all Jim said.
They both had their flight bags in their lockers, and they
presented their logbooks to Jim, who made an entry as suggested by
the FAA rep.

When they had the 421 chocked in the hanger, they were ready
to return to the hospital. Jim took Dr. Krell, Dave and Mike along
in the Ford sedan, while Joe again rode back with Karen. When they
arrived back at the hospital, Karen parked the car and they walked
in.

"Let me find Dr. Hopkins, and see if I can take a few days
off," she said. "I don't think there will be any problem. He has
three assistants, and I usually just answer the phones."

It was about four thirty by the time they had talked to Dr.
Hopkins, and made an appointment to meet with Dr. Krell and his
staff, in San Diego, tomorrow at noon. Dr. Krell suggested that
they plan on remaining in California for at least two days. Jim
said it would be no problem for them to take the plane, and keep it
as long as they needed it.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning, about eleven,"
Dr. Krell said. "I'll probably leave here tonight."

Karen, Joe, Dave, Mike, and Jim walked to the parking lot.
They discussed the plans for the trip in the morning. Dave and Joe
decided to meet at the hanger about six o'clock. The rest could
arrive about seven, or seven thirty. Jim said he could not go
tomorrow morning, but if they wanted him there, he'd come up in the
afternoon. They said they could not think of any reason why he'd
have to be there, but they'd call if they needed him. That seemed
to satisfy him. To Joe, Jim seemed to be worried about the
liability that Honeybone might incur with all this, and especially
what Mr. Mayer might think about it. Mayer was Jim's supervisor,
the VP of operations. Joe asked him about it.

"I talked to Mayer on the phone," Jim said. "He said that I
should do everything I could to help figure out what was going on.
He was worried about you guys too. Don't worry, Joe, the company
is going to help you with this." Jim put his hand on Joe's
shoulder, but quickly pulled it away when he felt its feminine
softness.

"Thanks, Jim," Joe said. "I appreciate your concern. I don't
know what's going to become of this, but I appreciate your concern,
and I appreciate what the company is doing to help."

"What you got planned for the evening, Joe?" Karen asked.

"I don't know," Joe answered. "I guess Linda is home by now,
I'll have to tell her I'll be out of town for a couple of days. I
guess I'll have to get some things to take along. It looks like
I'm gonna be this way for a while, so I guess I better invest in
some more girl stuff." A funny grin formed on his face as he
talked.

Joe looked over at Dave, and said, "What about you, pal? Are
you going to need some things if you're going to be away for a
couple of days?"

"Yeah, I guess I do," Dave answered. "I'll get Cindy to help
me find something. I'd like her to come along to San Diego, but I
guess she'll have to stay home with the kids."

"If you want to go with me, give me a call," Joe said. "I'm
staying at Linda's house, at least for now." If he was to stay a
woman, it might be best if he moved away from Linda.

"I wouldn't mind if you came over, maybe about six, or six
thirty," Joe said. "We can go to the mall and get something to
eat. Linda might want to come along. I'd like you to meet her."

Joe went to his car, and Dave go in with him. They drove to
Dave's house. Dave did not say much until they were almost to his
house.

"Joe, Dr. Krell said that I was a genetic woman now, and that
he knew of nothing that could make me a functioning, normal, male
again," Dave said.

"Yeah, I figured he did," Joe said. "That's the same thing he
told me. He said that any operation to make me a male wouldn't be
acceptable to me, and that he thought it would be best for me to
remain the way I am until they can find a way to reverse the
process, or just get used to being a woman."

"Basically the same thing he told me," Dave said. "I told him
I was a married man, and I just couldn't buy some dresses and get
on with a new life. Dr. Krell said he wasn't sure how to handle my
problem, but he would look into it, and he would get therapy for
me. I told him therapy wouldn't help me to sleep with my wife. It
wouldn't explain to my son why his daddy was now a woman. He
didn't have any answers to help me at all."

"I guess they haven't had a situation like yours before," Joe
said, "but Dr. Krell is pretty wise, he might be able to come up
with something that will help you."

They pulled into Dave's driveway, and Dave got out. "I'll see
you in the morning," Dave said, the frown momentarily turning to a
tiny smile as he said bye to his pal.

Joe drove to Linda's house. When he pulled in back, he saw
Linda's car in the drive. Joe got out of his car, and walked into
the house. Linda was sitting at the table in the dining area,
going over some paperwork. She still wearing the clothes she put
on that morning. Joe walked up to the chair she was sitting on,
and put his hands on her shoulders. He started to massage her
neck. She leaned back, and putting her head back, looked up at
Joe.

"Hi there," she said, almost purring as Joe rubbed her neck
and soft shoulders.

"Hi," Joe said. She looked so sexy, and he could see her
black teddy through the neck of her suit.

"Did you find anything out today?" Linda asked.

"Well, I guess I did," Joe said. "I found out that I'm
genetically a woman, which is what I already suspected."

"Can they help you get back?" she asked.

"They recommend that I stay like this, at least until they can
figure out what has caused it and try to reverse the process.
That's all the hope they can provide," Joe said. "So I guess I'll
be a girl, for a while anyway. I gotta try to get used to it."

"We can make the best of it," Linda said. "I think it will be
okay, even if they don't ever find a way to make you a male again."

"Dave Skinner and Mike Osborn have the same problem," Joe
said. "They were with me in the Lear Thursday, and they found the
same symptoms when they woke up Friday."

"You mean that you're not the only one changed like this?"
Linda asked, amazed.

"That's right, and Dave is married, with two kids. He's
really got a problem," Joe replied. "Mike Osborn, you've never met
him, Mike has changed too, but he's a muscle builder, and was
taking steroids. Now, he's female internally, but he still looks
like a guy. Compared to my problem, it's really a bad situation."

"I've got to go to San Diego in the morning. Dave, Mike and
I will fly over in the 421. A Specialist named Dr. Benjamin Krell
has a clinic there, and he wants us to come over so he can examine
us," Joe said.

"When do you have to leave?" Linda asked.

"I've got a six o'clock show," Joe said.

"Will you need anything? How long will you be staying?" Linda
asked.

"Well, I guess I should look through my things, and see if I
have everything I'll need," Joe said. "If I'm going to stay this
way, for a while at least, I guess I can invest in some more
clothes." He knew Linda liked to shop more than any thing else.

"You'll have to go to the mall then," Linda said. "I have to
finish this paperwork. It looks like I've got a buyer on that big
place over on Canyon Road."

"I've met a nurse," Joe said. "She works for Dr. Hopkins, the
Gynecologist who examined me this morning. She's coming over in a
little while. I'd like you to meet her." He hoped Linda would
like Karen but he was not sure how she would feel about him having
a woman as a friend.

"Oh, really? I'd like to meet her," Linda said. "If you
don't mind, I'd like to get out of these clothes and into something
more comfortable."

"Sure, good idea. Karen should be here in about a half hour,"
Joe said.

Joe went to his room. He looked through the few items of
clothing he had. He wondered what he should take to San Diego. He
wondered what he should wear when he flew the 421. He had a Nomex
flight suit in his locker at the Honeybone hanger, but that would
not fit now. Besides, this was more of a personal trip than a work
trip. He seldom flew now, except as part of his job. He was
instructing Jay so that he could get his instrument rating. He
used Jay's plane for that. Jay had a Mooney 201. He used it to
fly from Phoenix to Tucson, Casa Grande, and other points around
Arizona. For that an instrument rating was not really necessary,
the weather was almost always VFR, but since he bought the speedy
little Mooney, Jay's insurance took a big hike, and he was advised
to get his instrument rating. Joe brushed off his instructor
ticket, and was getting Jay ready for his check ride. Jay let him
use the speedy single whenever he wanted, but he seldom felt the
need to fly, except for work. He decided he better call Jay, and
tell him what was happening. He went to the phone by the bed, and
lay down as he punched in Jay's number.

Jay answered, "Hello."

"Jay, this is Joe. What's up?" Joe asked.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Jay answered.

"Well, I do have a bit of news," Joe said. "I saw a doctor
today. He confirmed what I already suspected. I'm genetically a
woman as well as physically. I also found out that two of my crew
on the Lear have also have the same symptoms."

"They've turned into women too?" Jay asked, as if he could not
believe it.

"Yeah," Joe answered. "Dave Skinner and Mike Osborn have
turned genetically female too. We think maybe it's the GPS test
transmitter which has caused it. Jim Matheney and Dr. Krell are
trying to set up some tests to find out what and how it could cause
such a thing. It looks like Honeybone is worried about a lawsuit,
and is doing everything to help, and keep us satisfied."

"Well, they better," Jay said. "If they are responsible they
better be willing to help all they can." Jay was an attorney.

"They're going to do all they can, I think," Joe said. "We
have to go to San Diego in the morning, to see specialists. They
will help us get our records in order there too. Dr. Krell say's
he's familiar with this type of problem since he deals with
transsexual patients."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Jay asked.

"I don't think it will be necessary," Joe said, "unless you
want to go along."

"If you don't need me, I'd better stay here," Jay said. "I've
got plenty to do, and I'll get behind if I go off to California
with you. If you feel you need my assistance just call. I can be
there in a couple of hours."

"Since I don't know what they'll be doing with me, I don't
think you need to come along, at least this time," Joe said.

"Be sure to take all your license, birth certificate, and
military records," Jay reminded him.

"Yeah, I'll have to go to my place to get them," Joe said. "I
don't know if I should move back there, or what. It's beginning to
look like I'm going to be like this for a while, maybe forever. I
don't know how to deal with Linda, if that's the way it's going to
be." He did not know how his buddy would take the news either.

"They can't change you back?" Jay asked.

"Hell, they don't know how I got this way, much less know how
to get me back," Joe answered. "They recommended that I don't
resort to surgery, or anything like that. They said that would
surely leave me disfigured if they did find a way to change me back
to a male, and recommended that I stay this way until they examine
all options. I guess I'd better get used to being like this."

"Well, try to make the best of it," Jay said. "We'll have to
get together again, when you get back in a couple of days."

"Yeah, we will," Joe said. The relationship was changing
between him and Jay, and they both knew it.

"See you in a couple of days," Joe said, hanging up the phone.

He went back to his drawers to decide what he needed when he
heard the door bell. "That must be Karen," he thought and went to
the door. He opened it, and the tall attractive blonde came in.
She was wearing bright pink, sort of fluorescent, shorts with a
white top. Out of her nurse's uniform, she looked even more
attractive.
Article 81868 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 12)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:34:42 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Twelve
SHOPPING AGAIN

"Come on in," Joe called out. "I've been waiting for you."

Karen Simpson entered the house. She was taller than Joe by
about two inches. Joe was shorter since the change, but still felt
a little strange having to look up to a woman. At about five foot
eight or nine, he was still taller than most of them.

"I want you to meet Linda," Joe said, and walked down the hall
toward Linda's bedroom. Linda heard someone at the door too, and
met Joe as she left the bedroom. She now wore shorts, and a light
cotton top somewhat like Joe's.

"Linda," Joe said, "I'd like you to meet Karen Simpson. Karen
is a nurse, and she works for Dr. Hopkins, at Hillcrest. Karen,
this is my girl... my friend, Linda Mitchell."

Karen held her hand out, Linda took it, and shook hands with
Karen. "Pleased to meet you, Karen," Linda said, smiling.

"Joe has told me about you," Karen said. "We hope to help him
with this problem if we can."

"I've never heard of anything like this, have you?" Linda
asked.

"Well, no, I haven't," Karen said. "I don't think Dr. Hopkins
or Dr. Krell have either, but if anything can be done to make him
normal again, they'll find it."

"Linda, Karen and I are going over to the mall to get some
stuff I'll be needing if I've got to spend a couple of days away
from home," Joe said. "Are you sure you can't come along?" He
really did not mind that he and Karen would go alone. He felt that
Karen understood his feelings better than Linda ever could.

"No, you two just go ahead," Linda said. "I'm sure Karen can
help you find the things you need. I have to get this proposal
ready for the morning."

Joe checked his pockets. He had his driver's license, Master
Card, and American Express. That, with about twenty-five dollars
cash, would be enough. He was feeling better about shopping,
knowing that he could spend some money and not have to worry if he
was still employed or not.

"You better drive, if you will," he told Karen. "I'm worried
about getting stopped, with my license out of synch, such as it
is."

"No problem," Karen said. "It'll take a few days, maybe, but
I think Dr. Krell can get the paper work you need to change your
license, and other records, even your birth certificate."

Joe did not know about that. Did he want his birth certifi-
cate to show him as female? The thought of it, the first record of
his very existence, saying that he was a girl. Did he really want
that? Did he need that? He was not sure. He would have to talk
to Dr. Krell about it. If they did find a way to get him back, to
make him a man again, then he'd have to change all that stuff back
again. Of course, if that happened, it would be worth it. As they
drove out of Linda's drive, and down the street, Joe tried to
imagine the scenario.

He wakes up one morning, just like last Friday, but this time,
he looks down at his chest, his hairy chest, his broad, muscular,
flat chest. He reaches between his legs, and touches his penis and
scrotum. He's a man again. Instinctively, Joe reached up to touch
his chest, but instead of hard muscles, and hair, he still felt the
soft roundness of his breasts under the lightweight top.

Joe realized he actually felt relieved. Relieved? What did
that mean? What sort of game was his mind playing on him? He was
really a man, at least mentally, was not he? And yet, he could
hardly deny the feelings of satisfaction he experienced as he
touched his feminine softness. Was his head beginning to accept
the fact that his body was now female? Or had his brain also
become feminized, and he was to be left with only memories of his
former masculinity? Whatever was happening, Joe realized that the
change was starting to affect how he thought about himself. He was
beginning to feel more at ease with his changed body, but it seemed
he might be losing control of what HE wanted. It almost seemed
that he was developing another, a second almost FEMININE personali-
ty. Was it inevitable?

"Where do you want to stop first?" Karen asked. The sound of
her voice returned Joe from his thoughts.

"Gee, I don't know, exactly," Joe said. "I guess I need a bit
of almost everything. I probably have enough underwear, but that's
about it. What should I wear to Dr. Krell's office?"

"If you have the time, I have something at my apartment that
I'd like to show you," Karen suggested.

"Sure I think we have three hours till the stores close.
Unless you shop like Linda, that should be enough time," Joe said,
grinning at Karen.

"The stop at my place should only take a minute or two," Karen
said.

They drove quickly down the street toward the mall, but turned
down a side street a few miles before it. Karen then turned into
the parking area of a very nice complex. The apartments were more
like condos, with large attached garages. The area reeked of
money.

"This is where you live?" Joe asked.

"Yeah," Karen said. "I bought one of these, since I like to
keep my car in a garage I can lock. Enclosed garages are uncommon
around here, and I don't want to buy a house here in the Phoenix
area."

The garage door opened as Karen pressed a button on the
automatic transmitter. She drove in, and Joe followed Karen
inside.

Karen's apartment was a combination of fine, heavy furniture,
and filled bookshelves. Joe looked at the titles and saw that they
were mostly medical books, with a few biographies, and technical
paperbacks on computer related subjects.

"Nice place," Joe said.

"Thanks. I like it," Karen replied. "It reminds me of home.
Come into my bedroom. I have something I'd like to show you."

She went into her bedroom. Joe followed, and Karen went into
her large, walk-in closet. She came out almost immediately with a
wig on a Styrofoam stand. It was the same color as her own hair,
blonde, with a slightly brown cast. It was medium length, and a
slightly different style than Karen now wore.

"I want you to try this on," Karen said. "I know it's not
your color, but I'd like to see how you look without that GI
haircut."

Karen walked over to the dresser, and Joe obediently followed.
She stood behind Joe, and placed the hairpiece on his head. She
made sure that none of his own short hair was hanging out. As she
smoothed the hair in place, Joe watched his reflection in the
mirror. With longer hair, he could hardly recognize himself. The
new, smooth contours of his face, and the emphasis of his cheek-
bones by the hardly noticeable makeup, gave him a totally different
look.

As he stared at himself, trying to be detached, he could not
believe the change in his appearance. Without the short, male hair
style, practically nothing remained to remind him of his former
appearance. He raised a hand and touched his face, and then ran a
finger along his cheek. He could feel it all right, it WAS him in
the mirror. Karen's hairpiece had transformed his face, almost
like the other changes had transformed his body. "Unbelievable,"
was all he could say.

"I thought you might feel that way," Karen said. "You can
wear it if you like. I don't use it anymore."

"I would like to try it, if you don't mind," Joe said, as he
felt the hairpiece, and arranged the hair which completely covered
his ears.

"It isn't the right color, but it still looks good on you,"
Karen said. "I think that style would even look good with your own
hair, when it grows out."

Joe continued to gaze transfixed in the mirror, as Karen poked
through a little chest on her dresser.

"Try these," she said, and clipped some small gold disks on
Joe's ear lobes.

Joe felt Karen snap something on his ears. He looked in the
mirror, and saw small earrings protruding from under his new
longer locks. He did not like the way they felt, but had to admit
they did look appropriate.

"Unbelievable," he said again.

The image in the mirror was completely that of an attractive
young woman. Joe felt as if he was looking at somebody else. His
body image, already stretched to the limit, was now completely
overcome.

"I think you'll pass," Karen teased. "I've got something else
I think you might want to see." She walked out of the bedroom.

Joe followed Karen into the large living area. One wall was
completely covered with bookshelves. Karen went to the shelf, and
took a book down. She handed it to Joe. He looked at the cover.
"GENETICS AND SEX DETERMINATION" it said.

"You might scan this," Karen said. "It may give you some
insight on what might have happened to you, and maybe, what you can
expect. With the unique experiences you're having, you could even
be able to add to it."

She was right. It was possible that no one else on record
made such a complete transition. Whether he liked it or not, Joe
and his friends' situation would probably be one for the medical
books.

"Okay, I'll read up on it," Joe promised. He did want to
learn more about genetics and chromosomes. Biology was always
mildly interesting for him, but now the interest was much more
personal.

"I guess we better get going," Karen said. She took a small
purse, and began walking toward the door to the garage.

Joe went out with Karen, and they get into her car. The
garage door opened, and Karen backed her white sports car out.
They quickly drove the short distance to the mall, and parked.
They walked into the mall, and Karen went to a back-lighted diagram
showing the various stores.

"Where to?" she asked.

"I wish I knew," Joe said. He was not used to shopping for
women's clothes, and really did not like to do it.

"How about a skirt?" Karen suggested. "I saw that you hardly
have anything but dresses that look like they belong to an old
lady."

"What do you mean?" Joe objected. "My new stuff doesn't look
THAT bad."

"We can do better," Karen insisted. "Let's find something to
show your legs a little. You have a really nice figure too."

"I don't know. I really don't think I should get anything too
wild. Give me some time to get used to this," Joe begged.

"You're doing fine, and you look great. I think we'll find
some things that look good, and maybe you'll even like to wear
them," Karen repeated.

Together, they walked into Goldwater's. Joe could smell the
cosmetics that were displayed on the counters near the entrance.
They walked passed the glass and shining plastic, and then through
the hosiery section. Joe looked at the bottom half of mannequins
showing the different styles and colors of pantyhose. He thought
about his own limited experience wearing them, and realized that
from now until a way was found to return his masculinity, they
would probably be part of his wardrobe whenever he needed to dress
more than casually.

He considered how Linda had dressed that morning. That suit
was probably the feminine equivalent of what he normally wore to
work, except when flying, or working in the lab. He wondered what
the other engineers would think when, or if, he came to work
wearing stuff like that. They had a few secretaries, and adminis-
trative women in his section. Since he had worked there, there had
been no female engineers.

Joe and Karen walked into the clothing section. Down the
aisle, Joe spotted a light gray suit, with a gray silk blouse. His
first thought was how Linda would look in it, and then realized
that he should be thinking about what HE would look like wearing
it.

"I want to look at this," Joe told Karen, as they walked past
the outfit. They went into the racks of skirts, and jackets.
Immediately, a saleslady came to their assistance.

"Can I be of help?" she asked.

"Yes, I'd like to try on an outfit just like that one," Joe
said, pointing to the mannequin.

"What are your sizes?" the woman asked.

Joe told her, and she went to the racks, quickly selecting the
style and size Joe suggested.

"What type of blouse did you have in mind?" the lady ques-
tioned.

"Just like the dummy," Joe answered. He thought he told her
he wanted an outfit JUST like the one on display. He felt no
desire to experiment.

The woman looked at Joe. It appeared that she was not used to
a woman who knew exactly what she wanted, without wanting to search
the racks herself. Most unusual.

The woman retrieved a gray silk blouse, and took the hangers
of clothing back into the fitting area. She hung the items on a
hook in a small closet-sized room with a small couch. There really
was not enough room in the cubicle for Karen to stay with Joe, so
she stayed out, and sat on one of the chairs outside.

Joe looked at the clothes hanging on the wall. The silk
blouse was at the front, and he touched it, enjoying the soft,
smooth feel of the fabric. Of course, he had never worn anything
like this before.

Joe pulled the top he was wearing over his head. It was made
more difficult by the extra hair he now had when wearing Karen's
wig. He felt it snag on the earrings he wore. He laid the little
top on the couch, and took the blouse from the hanger. He
carefully placed his arms into the sleeves of the blouse, and
buttoned it. He only fumbled a little with the backward placement
of the buttons, and then did his best to tie the bow that was at
the neck. He had not expected the bow. The blouse fit well, and
the soft fabric followed his shape perfectly. He looked down, and
saw how the fabric almost flowed over the mounds of his new
breasts, and the way the glistening silk attractively emphasized
his form. Joe could not resist touching his chest, feeling his own
softness through the silk. He loved the sensation of feeling the
fluid silk from both sides.

Joe quickly removed his shorts, and tossed them next to the
top. He took the skirt, looked at it, and tried to decide how to
put it on. He decided to unzip the back, and step into it. That
seemed to work ok, and he tried to zip it up by reaching behind his
back. That was difficult, but the skirt was a little loose around
his waist, so Joe spun the skirt around so that the zipper was
almost at the front. He finished zipping it up, and then buttoned
the little tab. When it looked right, he spun the skirt back
around so that the zipper was aligned with his backbone.

The skirt felt a bit loose, but looked good. Joe removed the
jacket from the hanger, and easily slipped it over his silk-covered
arms. He wanted to look in the mirror. He pulled the hair out
from under the collar of the jacket, opened the door, and stepped
out. Karen was waiting for him and smiled widely when she saw him.

"You look great," she said.

Joe stepped to the three sided mirror, and looked at himself.
Again, he was amazed how different he looked with the hairpiece.
The suit looked good on his new shape, too. He was impressed with
his appearance. "I didn't ask to be like this," he thought, "but
I might as well look the best I can."

Joe looked at his legs in the mirror. He had left his shoes
in the cubicle, and his white Reebok athletic socks really did not
go with his outfit. He looked like one of those secretaries in the
city, who wore jogging shoes for the walk from the car or train
station, to their office. He walked over to the mannequin, to see
what else it was wearing. He saw that it wore sheer white hose.
He did not like that color much when Linda wore it.

"I don't like those white stockings," Joe said to Karen.

"That color is very popular," the saleswoman said, "but a
darker color would also look good."

"Get some sheer blue, or I've found dark sand to match my hair
color," Karen said.

"I'll take this stuff," Joe decided, "and I'm going to look
around some more." He was starting to get into this shopping
thing.

Joe looked at the other mannequins for ideas. The others were
either not suitable to his taste, or were too 'evening dress'
styled. He could not think of any place he would be going where he
would wear things like that. His taste leaned toward the tasteful,
conservative, business suit styles. Most of the dresses were far
too feminine for him. It was early spring, and most of the things
were summer styles.

"How about something like this?" Karen asked. "You can't wear
suits when you aren't at work. What if you want to dress up to go
out in your off time."

Karen pulled a sundress from the rack. It was sort of faded
red-orange, and had straps over the shoulders which crossed in
back. It had a slightly low top. It was tasteful, and sophisti-
cated. Joe liked it, but was not sure about the low cut top.

"Gee, Karen, I don't know. Isn't that a little breezy?" he
asked.

"No, it isn't. It's summer. You can't wear long sleeves all
summer," Karen insisted. "If you don't buy this, I might."

"Okay, okay, I'll try it on," Joe said.

He tried to sound like he did not like this task, but deep
inside, he was beginning to enjoy trying on these new things. As
a man, he usually shopped just to replace worn clothes, with little
thought to fashion, or style. Now, trying on new clothes was an
experience in textures, and feel. Women had such variety to select
from in color, style, and fabric. He was beginning to understand
why Linda loved to shop for clothes. Compared to buying men's
clothes, it was a most sensual occasion.

Joe took the red sundress from Karen, and walked back to the
fitting area. He entered the cubical, and hung it in the hook.
He removed his top again, and slipped out of his shorts. He took
the dress from the hanger, and pulled it over his head. Closing
the buttons at the back of the dress was a difficult process, but
he did it. He looked down at himself. The straps of the little
dress did not cover the shoulder straps of his bra. He tried to
tuck them under the dress straps the best he could, and went out to
look in the mirror.

He was inspecting himself in the mirror, as Karen came up
behind him. She touched his back, and snapped the strap of his
bra.

"You're going to have to do something about this," she said.
"You can either forget the bra entirely, or look for one of those
strapless, or crossover types."

Joe thought about it. Without a bra, he felt insecure, and
even more self conscious. When he thought about it, maybe he was
foolish to feel that way, but he realized, the new shape of his
body was more noticeable, to him, and probably everybody else too,
when he did not have one on.

"I'll look for one that works with this," Joe insisted.

He looked at himself in the three-sided mirror. He could not
deny that he really was attractive. He guessed that maybe, because
the change was so new, it did not seem that he was looking at
himself, but that he was seeing somebody else in the mirror.
Almost like he was INSIDE another person. The illusion was made
even more interesting by the fact that this other person was a very
attractive member of the opposite sex. The fact that he could
feel everything the other person felt made the experience almost
overwhelming. Maybe that was how he was able to cope, he consid-
ered. The only problem with the whole thing was, there was no way
to stop the illusion. He had to live it full time. That made it
difficult. If only he had the ability to change from his normal,
old appearance, to the illusion, at will. Then, this might be the
ultimate experience.

"I think you better get it," he heard Karen say. "You sure
seem to like it."

"Yeah, I guess I better," he answered, jolted back to reality
by her words.

Joe went back to the fitting room, and removed the sundress.
He slowly put his shorts and top back on. He took the clothes out
and gave them to the saleswoman.

"Will there be anything else?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll need some kind of slip or something, for the suit,
and I guess I should get another bra. One that doesn't stick out
of the sundress," he said, speaking more to himself than to her.
"I better get a purse, or handbag, or whatever you call it, too,
and I just have to buy a watch. My old one just falls off my wrist
now, and I can't get used to not wearing one."

The woman looked at him strangely. She began ringing up the
things, but kept her eye on Joe. She sensed that there was
something very unusual about this woman, but she could not place
it.

"The lingerie section is down this aisle, and to the left,"
she said carefully. "The better handbags are upstairs. Ladies'
watches can be found in the jewelry section, over there." She
pointed at another counter, two aisles away.

Joe noticed his words were unnerving the saleswoman. He was
becoming more confident now, and decided to play with her head a
little. He looked around. There was no one in the area but him,
Karen, and the saleslady. When she presented him with the bill, he
gave her his American Express card, and when he was finished
paying, he thanked the woman, then went over to the nearby mirror,
looked at himself critically, and took off the wig. The saleswom-
an, who never took her eyes off him, let out a noticeable gasp.
Joe smoothed his short hair, pretended to adjust his bra, and then,
carefully replaced the wig. He walked out of the saleswoman's
section without looking at the woman. Karen, who had been silently
watching what was happening, followed, trying her best not to
laugh. When they turned the corner, walking toward lingerie, she
spoke.

"Joe, I can't believe you did that," she said, laughing. "You
are simply unbelievable."

"You said it, didn't you?" Joe said. "If you got it, flaunt
it."

They went into the lingerie section, and Joe again began to
feel like out of place among the silky, feminine things hanging on
the racks, and hooks. But, he had always liked the look and feel
of these things on a woman, and now, it seemed, he was starting to
enjoy the feel of wearing them, too.

Joe tried to remember what he needed to buy, as he looked at
all the sexy things. He remembered that he needed something to
wear under the suit, as well as the skirts he already had. The
only other time he had worn a dress, he had borrowed a slip from
Linda. She called it a half-slip. Whatever it was, he needed one.
He went over to the rack where they were hanging, and took one. He
held it up to his waist, to see how long it was. He looked up, to
get Linda's opinion, when he saw a guy, who was probably self-
consciously waiting for his wife to try something on, watching him.
He began to blush.

Since he had begun to wear Karen's hairpiece, he had become
much more confident, probably because he looked so female, but his
confidence went out the window when he saw this stranger, who
surely suspected nothing, innocently watching him pick out a slip.
His heart began to pound, and he could feel sweat beginning to form
on his forehead. He took the slip, and went over to Karen, who was
looking at teddies.

"Did you find something already?" she asked.

"Yeah, I... I think I need this," Joe stuttered.

Karen could tell that something was wrong. She looked at him.

"What's the matter, Joe?" she asked. "Do you feel sick?"

"No... No, nothing like that," Joe whispered nervously. "I
just suddenly realized, again, that I'm really still a guy inside.
I don't know what I'm doing here. A guy over there is watching me.
I can't buy stuff like this with a guy watching."

"Joe, think about it," Karen said. "Look at yourself. Put
yourself in his place. He's just watching a good looking woman.
It's probably a little turn on for him, or something, just to watch
you, but there's no crime with that. You probably did it too.
There, look." Karen motioned at the man.

The man's wife came out of the fitting room, with a couple of
slips she had been trying on. The man began talking to her. He
was not even looking at Joe, or Karen.

"There, see? He didn't think you were a guy in drag, or
anything," Karen teased. "My God, Joe, you look more like a woman
than I do."

"Okay, I guess you're right. I'll try to hang in there," Joe
said.

A saleswoman, maybe twenty years old, came over to them. "Can
I be of assistance?" she asked. She saw the half slip Joe was
holding. "Did you want to buy that?"

"Well, I need a slip to wear under a suit," Joe said, hoping
he used the right terminology.

"Did you want a half, or a full slip?" the girl asked.

"I don't know," Joe answered honestly.

"Well, if you want a half-slip, you might also consider a
matching teddy," the young woman said. She was trained to suggest
items.

"I'd like to see the choices," Joe said. His confidence was
returning.

They walked back to the area where Joe had found the slip, and
the salesgirl pulled a white teddy, which matched the slip he still
held. The white nylon fabric had no lace, or decoration, but
looked silky, and sexy, just like Joe liked it. The crotch, which
closed with three little snaps, hung open. Joe just had to try it
on.

"Could I try it?" Joe asked.

"Certainly," the young woman answered. She handed Joe the
hanger containing the silky wisp of cloth.

Joe gave Karen the bags he was carrying, and took the slip and
teddy into the fitting room. This one was like the first women's
fitting room he had ever been in. The doors were really like
shutters. They did not go all the way to the floor or top of the
door opening. The middle part was just wooden slats, mounted like
louvers. The person inside could see over the door if they were
tall, and could even see through the slats of the door across the
aisle.

Joe hung the hangers on the hook provided, and began removing
his outer clothing. He started to remove his shorts, but had to
sit to pull his Reeboks off first. He did that, and when he stood
to pull his shorts off, he noticed a woman enter the cubicle across
from him. It made him think of the first morning, only four days
ago, when he came to the mall to buy some clothes, confused, and
almost scared to death. That's when he got his first view of a
woman, in an adjoining cubicle, also trying on undergarments. That
time, the strong male urge he still possessed, almost made his
heart explode. He was not yet used to seeing so much of his new
peer group.

As he continued to undress, Joe watched as the young woman in
the other cubicle removed her blouse. She carefully hung it on the
wall hook, and then unfastened the strap of her pink bra. She
removed it and tossed it on the padded seat. Through the wide gaps
in the door slats, Joe could see the woman's breasts.

He waited for the familiar feeling of his penis, that was what
it still felt like to him, swelling as it became aroused. That
would shortly be followed, since the change, by a somewhat
uncomfortable feeling of wetness, as his new vagina started to
lubricate and made the crotch of his underwear wet. He watched and
waited. There was nothing.

The woman scratched an itch on her left breast with her right
hand. The innocent action caused the breast to jiggle like Jello.
Joe tensed the muscles in his groin. Before, this scene would have
caused a pants ripping erection. Now, although the sight was still
interesting, he felt about the same excitement as if he was
watching his friend Jay change clothes next to him at the health
club. What was happening to him?

Concerned, Joe touched the crotch of his panties. They were
warm, maybe a little damp, they were always a little damp, but they
were not soaking wet, as they would have been on previous days.
Was he losing his old desire? Maybe, as Dr. Krell suspected, his
libido was enhanced by the extra testosterone, left over from when
his gonads were testicles. The ovaries he had now would, of
course, eventually cause his sex drive to change, and probably
become somewhat cyclic. If he was really female, it was probably
inevitable.

Joe gently stroked the smooth nylon that covered his soft
crotch. It felt good, not in an erotic way, but rather he liked
the slick feel of the fabric, which felt so different from the
cotton jockey shorts he had always wore before. He looked over at
the woman. As she placed her arms into the straps of the new bra,
Joe could see the outline of her bosom. "Her boobs are no bigger
than mine," he thought. "In fact, mine are better. No wonder she
doesn't turn me on. I'm getting used to seeing female anatomy every
time I look in the mirror." He went back to his task of trying on
his new underwear.

Joe pulled the teddy over his head and down his body. It was
silky and a bit loose around his chest, but below the light elastic
waistband, it was made of a stretchy, lycra fabric. He reached
between his legs, grabbed the little crotch strap, and snapped it
closed. There was no mirror in the cubicle, so he could not see
himself. He looked down, and was satisfied that it fit ok. He
grabbed the slip, and stepped into it. He really wanted to see
himself in a mirror, but that would have to wait. Satisfied, he
took the silky things off again.

That was when he remembered. He still needed to get a bra
without straps. He quickly put his shorts back on, and slipped the
top over his head. Joe decided that he would not need to take his
shoes off anymore, so he put them back on, and tied them. He
grabbed the silky items, and left the cubicle. He put them on the
counter by the cash register and went over to where Karen was
standing, casually looking at slips.

"What kind of bra do you think I should get?" he asked.

"What kind do you like?" she asked.

"I don't like a lot of lace, and stuff like that," he said.
He had always liked the simple, silky, sheer underthings better
than the lacy stuff, even when he did not have to wear them
himself.

They went over to the wall where all types, and colors of bras
were displayed, arranged by brand name. Karen went to the
Maidenform section, and selected a sheer cupped bra, with straps
which were convertible from crossover in back, to looping around
the neck like a swimsuit. It met Joe's requirement in that it had
no lace at all. The nude colored bra had cups so sheer they were
almost transparent.

"How about this?" she asked. "You wear a B cup, don't you?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Joe said. "I think I'm 34B." He took the
bra from Karen. He held the flimsy thing up. He saw the sheerness
of the cups, and grinned sheepishly as he looked at Karen. "Well,
this is about as seethrough as it gets, isn't it," he said,
grinning.

"It's underwear, Joe, you won't see it under your clothes,"
Karen said.

"Yeah, but I'll know it's there," Joe objected.

"That's the whole idea, isn't it?" Karen returned, and winked
at him.

He thought about it. She was right. The only reason for the
design of this little item was because it made a woman look good.
Maybe feel good too. He might as well get it. "Okay, I'll buy
it," he said simply.

"You better try it on," Karen suggested. "I don't know about
you, but I hate a bra that doesn't fit right."

"Okay, I'll try it, then," Joe said. He did not mind. He was
really wondering what he'd look like in it, anyway.

Again, Joe went back into the cubicle. He removed his top
again, and took of the white bra. The coolness of the air
conditioning quickly made his full nipples stiffen to little points
that reminded him of pencil erasers. He was always amused by the
way his new, larger, nipples reacted to sudden changes in tempera-
ture. Maybe they did the same thing when he was male, but they
were so small that he had never noticed, if they had. He was much
more aware of things like that since he became female.

He picked up the new bra. He looked at the straps, tangled as
they were. The convertible bra was configured to crossover in
back. That's probably what he wanted, he decided, so he left it
that way. It was a back close type, the first of that kind he had
ever tried on. He stuck his arms in the proper places in the
tangle of straps, and pulled the sheer cups to his breasts. He
reached behind his back and hooked the back strap without as much
difficulty as he thought he would have. The shoulder straps had
little adjustment clasps, and he adjusted them slightly. He felt
the cups, and decided that they fit him perfectly.

He looked down at his chest. His nipples and areolas were
plainly visible through the almost transparent fabric. It looked
awfully sexy, even to him. "Wearing tee-shirts was never like
this," he thought. It might be fun wearing this thing. Reluctant-
ly, he removed it, and put his other clothes back on.

Joe took the bra and put it with his other purchases on the
counter. He went over to Karen.

"It fits great," he said, grinning widely. "The darn thing's
almost seethrough too. I kinda like it."

"I just thought you might," Karen said knowingly.

"Can you think of anything else I need from this department?"
Joe asked Karen.

"Gee, I don't know what you might need, Joe. I think you have
all you were really short of, but is one slip enough?" she asked.

"Probably not. If I start back to work again, I guess I'll be
wearing stuff like this almost every day," Joe said. He was
beginning to look forward to wearing the things women seemed to
take for granted.

"Yeah, it's hell, isn't it," Karen teased. It was almost like
she understood what was going on in his head.

They went back to where the slips were displayed. Joe found a
full slip with a stretchy, fitted top bodice. He liked it
immediately. He located one in a silver/gray color, like the one
he borrowed from Linda. The brand name was Olga.

"I think I want this," he said.

"Well, I think you should get it, then," Karen said, in a
similar tone.

Joe took the slip to the counter, and took out his credit
card. As the girl was ringing up his latest purchases, he asked
Karen, "I still need a purse or something to carry stuff in. What
do you think I should get?"

"Let's go look at what they have," Karen answered. "You'll
need at least two types. One for outfits like that suit, and at
least one, something simpler, to use for every day. I have a
little clutch purse. It's big enough for money, and ID. It's
better than lugging a purse around all the time, too."

The salesgirl, who could hear their conversation, looked at
both of them curiously, but said nothing.

"I think I should get some shoes to go with the suit," Joe
went on. "I'm getting to like shopping for clothes, but I think I
still don't like trying on shoes. I can barely walk in even the
lowest heels."

"I think a simple black pump would be right for the suit,"
Karen said. "Maybe you should practice wearing them around home.
That's how I learned to walk in them."

The salesgirl, completely confused by the unusual conversation
of these two older women, was getting her register entries messed
up as she listened.

"Remind me to get a wristwatch, too," Joe continued. He was
lost in his own thoughts, and did not notice the girl's increasing-
ly obvious interest in their conversation. Karen did, though, and
she decided to spice up the conversation a bit.

"Yeah, your wrist is probably a lot smaller now," she said,
watching the girl's reaction.

Joe looked at Karen. He was surprised at her last statement,
but understood when he saw the way the girl was looking at Karen.
He might as well play along.

"The old one almost falls off my arm," he added, holding his
wrist. Of course, it was true. His large aviator's Seiko looked
strange, and far too large for his now feminine sized wrists and
hands.

He signed the ticket, and thanked the confused girl, who
looked like she would have loved to ask what they were talking
about. They left the lingerie section, and went to the jewelry
counter. Joe wanted a new watch. He needed one that would fit his
smaller wrist. He looked at the ladies' styles, not really finding
one that he liked, until he found a ladies' diver's watch, made by
Citizen. It was sort of like a miniature version of his aviator's
watch, with a sweep second hand, but small enough for his wrist.

He bought the watch, and then they walked to the department
that had purses, wallets, and all types of handbags. Karen helped
him pick out a couple of lower priced handbags, and also a better
one which matched his new suit. He also selected, at her sugges-
tion, a little clutch that he could use when he did not want to
take a purse. He knew he needed these things, but to him, they
were no substitute for a man's wallet, and pockets to carry it in.

They then went to the shoe department, and Joe found a type
which Karen said was perfect for his new suit. Joe tried them on,
and found the heels, which were lower than the other pairs he
bought the first day, were much easier to walk in. He bought them
from a salesman who hardly took his eyes from him, the whole time.
Joe felt the blood rush to his face whenever the guy was around.
He was a good looking man, but to Joe, who to this time had never
had so much obvious male attention, there was not any mutual
attraction. Joe tried to ignore the guy as he made small talk. He
hoped the guy would not push the issue since he had no idea how he
should react. They walked out of the store, and Karen could not
resist rubbing it in.

"That guy wanted your bod," she teased. "How do you like
being a sex object?"

"I don't know," Joe answered. "I guess I... I'm glad I don't
look like Dave, or Mike, but I sure am not ready to flirt with
men."

"You're doing fine, Joe," Karen advised. "You're doing just
fine."

They started to leave the department store, when the
upside-down mannequin legs reminded Joe that he should get some
pantyhose to match the clothes he just bought. He went over to
that section, and Karen followed.

"I hate wearing these things," he said to her. "It makes
taking a whiz an even bigger ordeal."

"It is more difficult while wearing them," Karen agreed. "Of
course, you could wear individual hose, if you like that better.
I have both, and they each have their own advantages. With short
skirts, pantyhose is the only way to go. You don't have any really
short skirts."

"Let's see what they have," Joe decided.

They looked at the various types, and colors, and Joe picked
out two pairs of stockings, the type that stay up by themselves,
with a light elastic around the top. He certainly did not want to
wear a garter belt.

They were leaving the store when Joe saw a rack containing
sunglasses. He always wore sunglasses when he flew in the
daylight, but his smaller features made his old ones hang at the
end of his nose. He went over to the rack, and started looking at
the smaller and women's types. He found finally found some
reasonably good ones that fit his size, and still did not look too
feminine for his personal taste. He bought them, and they left the
store.

As they were driving back to Joe's, or Linda's house, Joe
decided to tell Karen about the way he felt as he watched the woman
changing, back in the store.

"I don't understand it," he said. "Ever since the change, I
obviously look different, but my feelings about women, about sex,
have been the same as always. Sometimes, it's been uncomfortable,
almost embarrassing, for me. I was just starting to get used to
the way it feels like I'm peeing my pants when I get excited, and
that's been pretty often, too. It seemed like my underwear was
always wet. Linda could cause it to happen. Barb, my best friend
Jay's girl friend, she could cause it. It was just like I was
still a guy, but worse, since I now I'm allowed in women's dressing
rooms, and all that. Any guy would get worked up in that position,
and I did. But a while ago, while I was trying on that slip, I
could see a woman changing clothes in the compartment across the
aisle. I watched her try on underwear. Nothing. It didn't do a
thing for me. No hardon, no wetness. Nothing. It was like I was
watching Jay change clothes. What's happening to me? Did you
notice the same thing after you had your operation?"

"Gee Joe, I don't think you can compare my transition to yours
at all," Karen answered. "For me, it took years. I was on
hormones for almost two years before I had my reassignment surgery.
By then, I already had quite a bit of breast development, and I was
living as a woman full time. I wasn't sexually active, and I guess
I wasn't ready to accept men yet. I did like to be around women,
but I didn't really want sex with them. I think the hormones
caused that. After the surgery, I did wonder what sex with a guy
would be like, since now I had the right plumbing, but I didn't
really have a strong urge to try it. Even now, after I've done it
a few times, I can take it or leave it. I don't know if that's a
normal female reaction, or not, though. I do feel different, at
different times during the month. I have to take hormones every
month, for the rest of my life. I don't have a period, like a
genetic female, like you probably will, but I do experience hormone
induced mood swings, and changes in desire, very much like I would
if I had all the female internal organs. I just don't think my
experience is comparable to yours, though."

"I guess I don't have a lot of choice, if I'm really female
now," Joe concluded, "but it sure feels strange when the old turn
on's suddenly don't work anymore."

"Maybe you'll get new ones to compensate," Karen said,
grinning, and winking at him.

"That's a scary thought, too," he returned.

"If you're going to live as a woman, it would probably be for
the best, wouldn't it?" Karen asked logically.

"Yeah, I guess that's true, but I'm not sure what would be
worse, not ever making love to a woman again, or having sex with a
guy," Joe answered.

"Well, that depends on your point of view, doesn't it, and it
looks to me like yours has changed," Karen added.

"Yeah, it has. It sure has, at that," Joe said.

"You're doing great, Joe Bates," Karen said. "Just keep it
up. You might find you actually like your new point of view."

"Oh, I know," Joe said. "I already like some of the things
about being a woman. I actually enjoyed trying on clothes today.
I never thought I'd say that. I guess that's part of the change
too. I don't know. Everything feels and looks so good. I can't
describe it. If I could change back and forth at will, this whole
experience would be fantastic."

"Well, I think most women, and probably, most men, too, if
they could try it, would say that. Anyone who's been on both sides
would say that neither side is definitely better. They both have
some advantages," Karen agreed.

"You seem to have thought that the female side was better,"
Joe said.

"I always felt that I WAS female," Karen replied. "Changing
my body to match my head, even if it couldn't be a perfect
changeover, was worth the misery, I guess. Once you've done it,
you can't get back anyway. Not that I would want to even if I
could."

"I guess if I'm stuck like this, I'll manage, but if they find
a way to get me back, I'd take it in a minute," Joe said.

They drove back to Linda's house. Karen parked in the drive,
and helped Joe carry his bags and packages into the house. Linda
was sitting at the table in the breakfast area. "Well, you two
seem to have bought out the store," she said, as she saw them
enter. "Joe, the hair looks great," she added when she saw the
hairpiece Karen loaned him.

"I guess I have enough for the trip," he told Linda. "Karen
loaned me this." He touched the long hair with his hand.

She looked at him, and grinned.

"I bought a suit sort of like the one you wore this morning,"
Joe said.

"You liked it so much, you went out and bought one, huh?" she
said. "Starting to like this girl stuff, are you?"

"Well, I decided if I have to be one, I might as well be one
I'd like to look at," Joe teased back.

"You have to try it on and show us," Linda insisted.

"The suit is very nice, but you should see what Joe looks like
in this," Karen said, pulling the red sundress out of its bag.

"Oooh, I like that," Linda said. "I wonder if it will fit
me."

"Oh, sure. I get some new clothes, and already, my girlfriend
wants to borrow them," Joe kidded.

"You've got to try them both on," Linda insisted again. "Get
in there, and change."

"Okay, okay, I will, if you insist," Joe said, trying to sound
like he did not want to, but he was anxious to try it all on again.
"What's happening to me?" he wondered again.

He took the bag containing the suit and the silk top while
Linda and Karen took the rest of the packages into his room. They
laid it all on his bed. He stood there a little embarrassed while
they waited for him to try it all on. "What the hell," he thought.
"They both know what I look like all over." He pulled his top over
his head, and tossed it on the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed,
and pulled off the Reeboks and the sweat socks. He unfastened his
shorts, stood and stepped out of them.

"Try the sundress first," Linda asked. "I just love it."

Joe looked at the little red dress. He remembered that the
straps did not hide the straps of his bra, so he unsnapped the hook
between the cups, and took it off. He dug into one of the bags
until he found the one with the crisscross straps. He quickly put
it on, realizing that both of the women were watching him intently.
He looked at Karen, but she just looked back with her usual big
grin. Linda's eyes were fixed on the almost transparent cups of
the new bra. Self conscious, he pulled his panties up snug, and
grabbed the little red dress from the bed. He put it over his
head, and Linda helped him fasten the buttons at the back. He had
done that for her a few times, but she had never done it for him,
until now. Then, Karen and Linda both stood back, and critically
eyed him.

"Joe, you're gorgeous," Linda said. "For somebody who still
feels like a guy, you sure look fantastic as a woman."

"I'm doing my best with what I've got," Joe said. Awkwardly,
he turned about, trying to act, the best he could, like a clothes
model, as he remembered them. He was experiencing an unusual
combination of embarrassment and pride.

"You look so different, with the different hair" Linda said.
"It really looks good."

"Okay, try the suit on," Karen said. "If I'm going to San
Diego with you tomorrow I've go to go home and get ready too."

Joe reluctantly unbuttoned the red dress, and pulled it over
his head. He really liked the way he looked in it. He put it on
a hanger and hung it on the door hook. He went to the bed and took
the silk top, and pulled it over his head. As he awkwardly tied
the bow, he spoke.

"It's almost worth it to go through all this just to be able
to wear this," he said, and rubbed his breasts with both hands,
through the silky fabric.

"Control yourself, you dirty old man," Linda teased. "We're
not here to watch you feel yourself up."

Joe winked at her, and took the skirt from the bed, and
stepped into it. As he did before, he spun it around, zipped it,
and buttoned the tab. Then he spun it so that the zipper was in
the back. Unlike the fullness of the bottom of the sundress, the
suit had a straight skirt that felt much different. Although the
waist band was loose, the hips were more form fitting. He turned
around once, so they could see what he looked like, and then put
the jacket on. He pulled his hair out of the neck of the jacket,
and again turned around slowly.

"Well, what do you think?" he asked to no one in particular.

"You look great," Karen said.

"Yeah, fantastic," Linda agreed. "What else did you get?"

"Oh, just some more underwear, slips and stuff like that," Joe
said.

Linda went over to the bed and started looking into the rest
of the bags. She pulled out the slip and the teddy, and held them
up.

"You really took me up on my suggestion, didn't you?" Linda
asked.

"I had to get something, and I know what I like when I see you
wear it, so why not? Yeah, I guess I did," Joe answered.

"You look just great," Linda said again. "It would almost be
a shame if they can change you back." Joe wondered if she was
really teasing, or if she meant it.

"Well, I've got to get going," Karen said. "I have some
laundry to do before I go to bed. I'll see you at the hanger at
six in the morning?"

"Yeah, that's about it," Joe answered. "I think we can make
Lindberg Field in about two, two plus thirty, depending on the
winds."

"Ok, see you in the morning," Karen said.

"Bye, and thanks a lot," Joe said. He hated to see her leave.

"Pleased to meet you, Karen. Come by anytime," Linda called.

"You'll be seeing more of me, I'm sure," she called back.

When Karen left, Joe went back into his room. He took off the
suit, and was standing in his underwear, trying to figure out what
things he should take along, when Linda came through the half open
door to his room.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure, you know you're always welcome," Joe replied.

Linda came up behind him, and put her arms around him. He
took one of her hands and kissed it. She put her other hand on one
of his breasts, and pinched the nipple lightly, through the thin
fabric of the bra. Feeling the slight pain, Joe spun around
quickly. He took her in his arms, and kissed her on the lips. It
was pleasant, she was so soft, and she smelled great, but it was
not the old zing that he always felt before, when he had Linda in
his arms. He tried to show the same enthusiasm as always but it
was difficult. He was beginning to think of Linda as a friend, as
a buddy, not as a lover. No matter how sexy he thought she was,
she was not making his juices flow anymore. What was happening?
Article 81865 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 13)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:35:18 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Thirteen
SAN DIEGO

Linda could sense that something was wrong. She backed away
from Joe, and just stood there, confused.

"What's the matter, Joe?" she asked. "Did I do something
wrong?"

"No, you haven't done anything wrong," Joe answered. "I don't
know what's wrong. I'm having such strange feelings. I don't know
what's going on. I can't explain it. I first noticed it today, at
the mall. I watched a woman undressing, and I didn't even feel
anything. Nothing. It was weird, and I can't explain it. I was
hoping I wouldn't feel the same about you, but right now, I just
don't get the old urge. Since the change, I have been feeling
hornier than ever, but now, suddenly, it's gone. Don't get me
wrong, I still love you, but I'm just not sexually aroused." He
sat on the bed.

"Maybe it's just temporary," Linda said, as she stroked his
back.

"Yeah, maybe it is," Joe said, "or maybe my head's changing.
Maybe I'm destined to be female in body and in mind, too. I don't
know. I don't know." He began to sob.

Suddenly, he realized what he was doing. He was sitting there
feeling sorry for himself, and he was crying like a girl... like a
woman. What was happening? Linda saw it too, and was surprised at
this reaction. She could see that Joe was changing. He was
becoming more emotional. She put her arm around him.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked. "I want to help in
any way I can."

"I'm sorry," Joe said. "You've been so good to me so far.
Just help me to deal with this. I just don't know what's happen-
ing."

"We'll both get through this, don't worry," Linda said.

"I've got to finish getting ready for tomorrow," Joe said.
"Help me to get enough stuff to hold me for about two days."

"Sure, we'll get you packed in no time," Linda said. "What do
you plan to wear in the morning?"

"That's a problem," Joe replied. "I like the sundress, but I
don't know if it would be a problem flying with that full skirt."

"How about the new suit then?" Linda continued. "That would
probably be the equivalent of what you'd wear as a guy."

"You think so?" Joe asked, wiping his eyes. He liked the
suit.

"Sure, and you look good in it, too," Linda said. "We'll pack
the red dress, and your shorts, too. I think you should also take
another skirt and blouse along. If you can't find anything in your
closet, you're welcome to look in mine."

Joe went into his closet, and took a white blouse, and the
blue A line skirt he wore on the first day. Linda folded and
packed them in his B-4 bag. She went to his drawers, and took out
some underwear, as well as pantyhose and athletic socks.

"I bought some nylon stockings today," Joe said. "I hate to
wear pantyhose, 'cause I have to go to the bathroom so often." He
got the nylons from the bag, and showed them to Linda.

"You'll probably want to wear these in the morning then," she
said, holding up the blue ones.

"Yeah, If you say so," Joe replied. He was happy to have her
pick out his clothes. He liked her tastes, and her eye for color.

"Well, I guess you're about ready. There are just your bath
items yet," Linda said.

"I'll get them in the morning, after my shower. I hope I can
get you to help with those cosmetics again in the morning," he
asked.

"Sure, but I guess that means I have to get up at four
o'clock," Linda said.

"I do have a show time of six," Joe admitted. "I don't know
how long it'll take for me to get ready."

"Set the alarm for four, at least," Linda groaned.

"I guess we better hit the sack early then," Joe decided.

"I'm going to wash my face, and take a bath," Linda said. "If
you're planning to shower in the morning, I suggest you wash that
makeup off, anyway. I have cleansing cream in my bath, if you
don't have any yet."

"Okay, I'll take it off," Joe said.

Linda went back to her bedroom, and Joe removed his underwear.
He decided that he should wear something, and remembered the little
terry romper he bought at She-Sports. He got it from a drawer,
stepped into it, and pulled it over his boobs. He walked to
Linda's room, and went into her bathroom, where she was standing at
the sink, in her panties, while the tub was filling. He watched
her. She looked so sexy standing there, in black panties, getting
ready for her bath. The bra she had just removed had marked her
skin with the same little pink lines that Joe noticed around the
edges of his breasts. Joe watched her with interest, but felt
little excitement, as he watched her remove her makeup, her breasts
bouncing as she rubbed her face.

Soon she finished, and she looked up at him.

"Show's over, Joe," she teased. "Time for your lesson in
makeup removal."

She showed him what to do, and he did as he was told. When
his hair got in the way, he removed the wig. He looked at his now
more familiar face. As the light makeup came off, he saw his
former features seem to return, but not completely. Usually, by
this time of the day, his beard was beginning to show as a
noticeable stubble. Now, it was still smooth as a baby's behind,
and felt almost as soft, too. He found the makeup was far easier
to take off than it was to put on, and he finished quickly. The
tub was ready, too. Linda removed her undies, and stepped into the
bubbles.

"I think there's room for you, if you want," she said
enticingly.

It was tempting, but Joe just did not feel like messing
around. "Maybe another time," he said. "I better get to bed."

Taking his hairpiece, Joe left her room, and went back to his
own. He took the remainder of the things laying on the bed, and
either put them away, or laid them aside, to wear in the morning.
He saw the underwear he wore that day, and considered whether he
should wash it out in the sink. No, he decided, I'll do it later.
He just did not feel like hand washing panties right then.

He opened the bed, and sprawled out on it. He had left the
overhead light on, and had to get up again. He reluctantly got
back up, and was going to switch off the light, when he noticed the
book that Karen had given him to read, laying on the dresser. He
took it, and switched on the light next to the bed, then went over
and turned off the over head light. He lay back down on the bed,
and covered himself with the sheet.

He picked up the book, and looked at the cover. "GENETICS,
AND SEX DETERMINATION," it read. He opened it, and started to
read. The book's subject had always held a mild interest to him,
but now, of course, it had a special significance. He started to
read, and quickly became engrossed in the subject matter. He had
been reading for some time when Linda quietly came in his room and
sat on the edge of his bed.

"What are you reading?" she asked.

"Oh, this is a book Karen suggested I read," he answered, and
continued reading, trying to finish the chapter.

Linda sat there, watching him, and looking around the room.
She looked down at the pile of his clothes lying at the side of the
bed, and saw Joe's underpants. They had sort of rolled up when he
had pulled them off, and the narrow crotch section was face up, and
visible. She saw the little stain of blood and picked them up.

"Joe, have you noticed your discharge?" she asked him.

Joe was still trying to finish the chapter before he put the
book down. "What discharge is that?" he returned. He was not
really listening.

"Look at your underwear. Are you starting your period?" she
asked.

"Period? I'm not having a period," he said, as he finally put
the book down and looked up at her. He saw that she had the
underwear he wore that day.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It looks like you're starting to
spot." She showed him the bloody stain. Mixed with the normal
vaginal secretions, it appeared to her like the light menstrual
flow at the start of a period.

"Oh, that," he said, grinning. "Hey, I'm a virgin. What do
you think about that."

"What do you mean, you're a virgin?" Linda scoffed. "What are
you talking about?"

"It's true," he said, still grinning at her. "Dr. Krell
examined me today. He said I had an intact hymen. That makes me
a virgin, technically at least."

"So where did the blood come from? Did he break your intact
hymen?" Linda asked. She thought he was teasing her.

"Well, Dr. Krell put a speculum inside of me when he gave me
a pelvic examination," Joe said. "I think maybe he stretched it a
little. I know it sure hurt like hell, but he said that he was
able to keep it intact. It bled a little bit, though. Do they do
that to you every time they examine you?"

"So you had a pelvic exam today, huh?" Linda asked. "What did
you think about it? What did they find?"

"Well, it's a lot different than any physical I ever had
before," he answered honestly. "Dr. Krell said that I looked like
I had normal female internal organs, and yeah, he said he thought
I probably would have normal menses. That's what he called it."

"So you really are a woman," Linda said, as if she did not
really expect it to be true. "Did he tell you anything else?"

"He said he could tell that I was circumcised when I still had
my penis, because he found unexplained scar tissue around the
clitoris. He said he figured that was it was probably the result
of penile circumcision," Joe explained.

"I didn't see any scar tissue on your genitals," Linda said.

"Did you really look?" Joe asked. "I know that females all
look slightly different in that area. I know I don't look exactly
like you. I think you have more tissue over your clitoris compared
to me."

"Does it feel different?" she asked.

"How would I know?" Joe replied. "I can tell you this, it
feels way more sensitive than my penis did, but only if something
touches it. When it's left alone, it feels just like it did
before. Since it has the same nerves, and I guess, the same number
of nerves. To me, it feels like it's much bigger than it appears.
I think it's like a cold sore in your mouth. It seems bigger than
it looks, I guess, because the nerves are so closely spaced,
compared to before."

"Can I look?" Linda asked. "I want to see the scar tissue he
told you about."

"Sure, I guess so," Joe answered. He sat up, and pulled the
sheet away, parting his legs, and gently spreading the moist folds
of tissue. The little glistening bud of flesh protruded near where
the folds sort of joined.

"So this is really your penis now?" Linda asked. She was
inspecting him with intense interest.

"Well, It feels like my penis. It's not a penis anymore,
obviously, but it still feels like it, to me anyway," Joe repeated.
"My guess is, it's the same parts, nerves and such, just arranged,
or repackaged, and a lot different looking, obviously. You
probably have the same parts, too."

"You think so?" Linda asked. "You really think a clitoris
feels like a penis?"

"From my experience, and that's all I go to go on, it sure
does," Joe answered. "Almost exactly the same, as long as nothing
touches it. Then it's much more sensitive than my penis was."

"Overall, then, is it better, or worse?" Linda asked, curious
to know.

"Just what are you trying to find out?" Joe asked her. It was
becoming obvious that there was a reason for her questioning.

"I'd just like to know what it feels like. I've always
wondered what it would be like to be a guy... to have a penis, and
everything," she answered, slightly embarrassed. "I've always been
curious what it felt like for you, when we made love."

"It felt great. Absolutely great," Joe said, and put his arm
around her.

"Do you miss it, then? Do you miss your penis?" she asked.

"Do I miss it?" Joe replied. "Sure I do. Every minute, but
not because I constantly have the urge to have sex. Hell, until
today, I've been hornier than ever, and I've hardly had a chance to
know it was gone when we've been together. Of course, I'm having
new feelings now, some of them seem even better than before." As
Joe spoke, he thought of their times together, before, and after
the change. He thought of the new sensations, and his apparently
heightened senses. He missed it, but there were compensations.

"So, if you had a choice then, would you want to be a man, or
a woman," Linda asked.

"For Pete's sake, Linda, that's a hard question to answer,"
Joe said. "Of course I would rather be a man. It would simplify
everything, but if I had been born a woman, and suddenly turned
into a man, I'd probably want be a woman again. It's not what
FEELS better that causes it, it's how you're raised. There's
nothing wrong with being a woman, of course I'm still having
problems with having to sit to pee, but damn it, otherwise it feels
pretty good. I'm starting to like wearing the clothes, too. I
never thought I'd say that, and I sort of like the sensation of
having these boobs too, even if I'm still usually embarrassed by
them."

"Do you like Karen?" Linda asked.

The question surprised Joe. What was she thinking about now?
Maybe he was starting to think like a woman, but he still had a
long way to go.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"You've just met her today, you said, but you two seem to get
along so well together. It's like you were old pals," Linda
answered.

"It's different with Karen. She understands my problem," Joe
said carefully.

"What does that mean?" Linda asked. "I'm trying to understand
it, too. What does she do that I don't."

Joe decided to tell her about Karen.

"Does Karen look different... unusual to you, in any way?" he
asked.

"Unusual? No, I don't think so. She's a bit tall, that's
all," Linda answered, wondering what he was getting at.

"Four years ago, Karen was a medical student at UA. Her name
was Keith then, and she was a guy. She underwent hormone therapy,
had an operation, and now she's a woman," Joe revealed.

"The woman who was here, tonight, in this house, she was a
MAN?!" Linda asked, completely amazed.

"Yeah, that's right," Joe answered. "About two years ago, she
had surgery in San Diego, and now she's physically, and legally, a
woman. She can do about everything except get pregnant."

"I've heard about that operation, but I never knew anyone who
underwent it," Linda said.

"Now you do," Joe said. "Dr. Krell says he has performed many
operations like Karen's."

"Can he do something like that for you?" Linda asked.

"I asked him about that, and he said it was possible, but that
he didn't advise it. At least not yet," Joe answered. "He
suggested that I try to live like this for a while at least, so his
team can try to find a way to change us back by reversing whatever
process caused it in the first place. If he were to change me
using surgical procedures, and then they did find a way to get us
back, it would leave us mutilated. Anyway, he said that the female
to male operation isn't as satisfactory. I wouldn't be pleased
with the results, that's how he put it."

"Well, if it was half as good as Karen's, it would be
acceptable, wouldn't it?" Linda asked him.

"Maybe so," Joe explained, "but he told me it's not nearly as
easy to transform female genitalia into functioning male equipment.
He said it often didn't even work for urination. It might look
passable, but it was easily infected, and it had usually no feeling
at all. I can't get very excited about the idea of having a numb,
useless piece of flesh hanging between my legs, just so that I
could say I was a man. Besides, I'd still be smaller, and look
different than I used to."

"So you're going to stay female?" Linda asked.

"I don't know," Joe said. "Well, yeah, for a while anyway.
At least until Dr. Krell attempts to find a way to get us back. I
don't think I have any other choice, really."

"What about Dave, and what's his name... Mike? What will they
do?" Linda continued. "Will they stay as they are, too?"

"I think so, but I don't know for sure. Dave is married, and
his little boy doesn't understand. Mike still looks more like a
man, even if his internal parts are feminized," Joe answered,
matter-of-factly.

"Why is Mike so different?" Linda asked.

"Well, of course it's only a possibility," Joe said, "but it's
probably because he was taking anabolic steroids when he went
through the change. I've seen him, and he sort of looks like a
hermaphrodite. He still has his male body shape, but he's got a
beaver, and he said Dr. Krell told him he thinks he has normal,
female internals."

"Heavens, that must be horrible," she said. "How is he taking
it?"

"I don't know," Joe said. "He seems to be doing okay, I
guess. I don't know if he's really thought much about it. He's
still in the denial stage. He sort of refuses to admit that it's
happened. I think it's just starting to sink in for all of us.
Dave is the one I'm most worried about. He hardly talks. I don't
know what to think about him."

"I'll give Cindy a call, while you're gone," Linda said.
"Maybe I can help her."

"That's a good idea," Joe said. "I have another idea. Let's
get to sleep. It'll be four a.m. soon enough."

"Can I sleep with you?" Linda asked.

"I'd love it," Joe said honestly. He set the alarm, and
switched off the light.

Linda snuggled up close to Joe. Joe held her close, and could
feel his breasts touch hers. They stroked each other's backs, and
cuddled until they fell asleep.

It seemed like only moments later that Joe heard the noisy
buzzing of the cheap alarm clock. He turned it off, and lay there,
trying to find the strength to get up. He finally did, and
struggled in the dark to find the bathroom door. He went in,
shutting the door before turning on the light. He had to pee, and
sat and relieved himself.

Joe quickly showered. He rubbed his legs, checking them for
stubble. They were not bad, but his underarms had stubble, and
needed a quick cleanup. With the shower running, he used his shave
cream, lathered, and quickly did the job. "Much easier than doing
my face," he thought.

After Joe finished in the shower, he got out, and dried off.
He watched himself in the mirror over the sink as he did so. He
was now familiar with his new body, and looked at it critically as
he rubbed his soft skin with the towel. A strange feeling of
contentment came over him as he examined himself. His breasts no
longer seemed alien to him, and as he softly touched them, he could
hardly remember looking any other way. His body image was becoming
female. He could feel it happening. Is this what HE wanted? Was
there anything he could do about it even if he wanted to?

As he was drying, and examining himself in the mirror, He
could hear Linda get up, and leave his bedroom. The sound of his
girl friend caused him to finish drying off, and continue to get
ready. He took out his toothpaste, and brushed his teeth. Even
they seemed different, probably because of the somewhat smaller
size of his face. He looked at them in the mirror, and saw that he
still had the same fillings in his back teeth, as far as he could
tell.

Joe finished brushing, and as he was putting the dental things
in his shaving kit, he saw the after bath powder. He decided to
apply some of that, since the scent reminded him of Linda.

"I guess it's my smell now," he thought to himself. He took
out his deodorant, and applied it to his smooth underarms. It
stung slightly, since he just shaved. He was trying to decide what
to do next when a sleepy looking Linda tapped on the door.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure. I can use your help," Joe answered, and opened the
door.

Linda was wearing a satin robe, and simply went over to him.
She examined his naked body carefully. "You're simply beautiful,"
was all she said.

"I could use your advice," Joe said. "I still don't know
exactly what to do with this makeup."

"You're going to have to learn," Linda admonished. "I won't
be there tomorrow morning."

She took the shaving kit, where Joe had put his supplies, and
arraigned the things she needed on the counter. Working swiftly,
she used each item, and then dropped it back into the leather case.
As she worked, Joe was transformed back into the clean, understated
look he had the day before. He looked at his image in the mirror,
and smiled with satisfaction with his appearance.

When Linda finished, she left the bathroom, went to Joe's bed,
and lay down. Joe gathered up the remaining supplies into his
shaving kit, and followed her. He put the kit into the side
compartment of his B-4 bag. "I guess I should get a more feminine
looking bag," he thought to himself. He had used the handy B-4
since he was issued it in the Air Force, and had never used
anything else.

He went to the dresser, and found that Linda had laid out his
clothes the night before. She had selected black, high leg, bikini
panties, and one of his seamless cup, nude color bras. He took the
underpants, and easily slipped them on. He had never worn them
since Linda had suggested he buy them the other day. He looked at
his reflection in the mirror, the leg openings reached almost up
the waist band, and made his legs look even longer. Since he was
thin, and rather tall for a woman, it made him look rather leggy.
He liked the look, and turned, so that he could see his backside in
the mirror.

Linda saw what he was doing, and said, "Okay, okay, we both
know you got a nice butt."

"Hey, can I help it?" he said grinning. For some reason, he
was feeling very pleased with himself this morning.

He took the bra, and deftly put it on. He was now familiar
with the procedure, and the feeling, of wearing women's clothing.
Feeling strangely sexy, he took the silk blouse, and put it on,
covering his already silky breasts. As he buttoned the blouse, he
was again amazed at how luxurious the silk felt on his body. Even
if he never got back to normal, this sensation alone would almost
make it all worth while. He resisted touching himself, knowing
Linda would tease him if he did.

Joe picked up the grey skirt, and stepped into it, turning it
around, as he had done the last time, so that he could zip and
button the smooth fitting garment. As he spun it back around, he
saw himself in the mirror again. He looked good, but still needed
the hairpiece, to make the transfiguration complete. He took it
from the dresser, and carefully put it on his head, covering his
male hairstyle, and the last remnant of his former appearance. No
one could confuse him with a male, and he was beginning to realize,
he was glad they could not.

"You forgot your nylons," Linda reminded him.

"Rats! I guess I have to take the skirt off," Joe said, and
started to spin the skirt around again.

"No, I think you can just pull the skirt up, and pull the
nylons on," she suggested. "Be careful, they're very sheer. Don't
snag them on your nails."

Joe took the dark colored nylons from Linda, and sat on the
bed. The slight roughness of the blended wool skirt reminded Joe
that he was not wearing the slip he bought either. He wanted to
try it, so he removed the skirt, and unbuttoned the blouse. He
loved any excuse he could find to feel the silky fabric. He found
the little slip with the fitted top and pulled it over his head.
The stretchy fabric covered his curves with even more slickness.
He took the nylons and carefully pulled them up his legs, after
Linda showed him how to roll them and then place his foot inside.
When he had the nylons on, and pulled the slip down, his legs felt
almost as sleek as the silky blouse. He put the blouse back on,
and again pulled the skirt on. He sat on the bed, and marveled at
the feeling. It felt like he could just slide off the bed.

Joe found his new watch, and fastened it to his wrist. He
took the new gray shoes and slipped them on. With their low heels,
he had little trouble walking in them, but he wondered how they
would work on the rudder pedals.

He took the jacket and decided that, for now, he would not
wear it. Linda found the handbag he had purchased the night
before, and handed it to him. He looked at it in confusion.

"Put your wallet, and any other things you're always complain-
ing about not having room for, in it," she suggested.

He took the bag, and put all his things in it. Joe stood up,
and went to the mirror. He looked attractive, and sophisticated.
He felt very sexy. The feeling of the new clothes made him feel
different, more content with himself, than he had ever been before.
"I guess it's the clothes," he thought. What else could cause it?

"Well, I guess I'm ready," Joe said. "It only took about an
hour."

Linda stood next to him at the mirror. In the heels, he was
almost as tall as before. He put his arm around Linda, and pulled
her to him. They just stood there, and hugged for a minute.

"I'll be waiting for you," Linda said, looking in his eyes.

"I'll miss you too," Joe said, and gave her a peck on the
lips. "It just doesn't feel the same anymore," he thought to
himself.

Joe picked up the B-4 bag, and started to carry it to the
door. It was not packed to bursting, like if often was when he
went away for days, but he still had to struggle a bit to carry it.
I just do not have any upper body strength, he realized.

Linda opened the door to the patio, and Joe went out to his
car. He opened the back hatch, and put the bag in, and then went
around and got in. He put his belt on, and started the engine. He
let it warm slightly, and then turned around, and drove out the
drive. It was about forty-five minutes till six.

After the short drive to the airport, Joe went to the guard
shack, and showed his Honeybone ID. The guard looked at him, but
must have been told of his unusual situation, because he let him in
without a problem, almost staring a hole in him with curiosity.

Joe went directly to the flight planning room, and entered the
proposed flight into the PC. The computer automatically compiled
an IFR flight plan, checked it, and printed out a weather report.
It would even automatically file, but Joe had not selected that
option. If the weather was good, he was considering VFR and maybe
letting Karen fly, if she wanted.

The weather looked good, as usual, and he was pouring a second
cup of coffee, when Dave walked in the room.

Dave was wearing a jumpsuit, not all that different from the
one Joe had. It was gray, with a wide belt which served to
de-emphasize his somewhat large backside. It made him look a lot
better that he had the day before. Dave took a cup, and went over
to the planning table, next to Joe. Joe filled his cup with the
hot brew.

"Hey, you're looking good!" Joe said. "I like the jumpsuit."

"Yeah, I saw yours, and decided that it was the best thing,"
Dave said. He still had a sarcastic twinge to his voice, and it
was uncharacteristic of him.

Joe handed the weather printout to Dave. "It looks severe
clear, until the LA basin, as usual," Joe summarized. "I think we
could go VFR, and maybe let Karen get the feel of it, if it doesn't
bother you."

"Sure, that's fine with me," Dave agreed. "I wouldn't mind
getting an hour's snooze."

"How's it going?" Joe asked. "Is it getting any easier for
you?"

"Easier? How could it?" Dave replied. "I guess I'm getting
more accustomed to the changes, and all that, but I don't know how
to deal with Cindy."

"Maybe Dr. Krell's people will be able to help us today," Joe
said.

"If he can't make me a man again, I don't know what he could
do that would help me," Dave lamented.

They both looked up when they heard the outside door close,
and in a few moments, Karen Simpson entered the room.

Karen was wearing an attractive pants suit with a sharp,
tailored look. Joe smiled a greeting to her, and motioned to the
stack of styrofoam cups at the coffee bar by the wall. Karen
smiled back, and getting a cup, came over to them, and held out the
cup as Joe filled it.

"Well, you sure look good," Karen said, complimenting Joe.
"Gee, Dave, are you going through the jumpsuit phase now?"

"Yeah, maybe I am," Dave said, forcing a slight grin. "Good
morning, Karen."

"Good morning to both of you," she said. "Is it safe to fly
this morning?"

"Yeah, I think we can make it," Joe said. "You want to get a
little stick time?"

"Could I?" she said. "I haven't flown in years."

"We'll see how rusty you are," Joe said. "Early as it is, we
can probably go VFR into SAN without a problem."

"Procedures are where I know I'll have the most difficulty,"
Karen said. "I haven't spent much time in high density areas."

"I can handle the radios," Joe said.

They heard the door slam, and Mike came in the planning room.
As before, he was wearing male clothing. He acknowledged their
greeting, and went for his coffee cup, seemingly not interested in
joining in the conversation.

They finished their coffee, and Dave phoned in the VFR flight
plan, and they went into the hanger. Joe opened the hanger doors,
as Dave started a garden tractor that served as a tug.

Karen helped Dave put the tow bar on the 421, and Dave pulled
it out, into the early morning light. In the bright light of the
hanger floods, they performed the walk-around preflight, as Mike
placed their bags on board. When they were satisfied that the
fuel, oil, and external hardware was visibly flight-worthy, they
got in, and before long, Joe had the engines warming.

Joe sat on the left, and Karen took the right seat. They
adjusted their headsets, and set the communication and navigation
radios. The tower did not operate till 0800, so they called and
looked for traffic, and then took off.

As the wheels were going into the wells, Joe called departure,
and confirmed that they were picked up on radar. The lightly
loaded twin quickly climbed to seven thousand five hundred, and
from habit, Joe requested, and received, VFR flight following.
Karen handled the plane well, holding headings and altitudes to IFR
tolerances.

"It doesn't look like you're out of practice at all," Joe
complimented.

"I love to fly," Karen said. "With all that has happened to
me, in the last few years, I guess I forgot just how much."

The flight went along uneventfully, with Dave and Mike
snoozing in the back, Karen doing the driving, and Joe observing,
watching for traffic as the sun came up behind them.

Before long they entered the low visibility of Southern
California. The radio chatter picked up, until it was one
continuous stream of instructions, as controllers vectored IFR and
VFR traffic in one of the busiest areas in the country. The sun
was bright as they spotted San Diego's Lindberg Field about eight
miles ahead. They were cleared for a straight in landing, and Joe
let Karen have the landing, giving her speeds and power settings,
as she configured the aircraft for landing. Even though she had
not flown for years, and then mostly single engine aircraft, she
handled the Cessna twin like she had flown it many times.

"You're doing great," Joe told her again. "How many hours do
you have anyway?"

"Actual logged hours, about three-fifty," Karen answered, "but
remember, I worked with simulators in the Air Force, and learned to
fly instruments then, some time before I got a license. I was
trained as a primary instrument instructor. I probably have
thousands of hours in simulators of various kinds, single seaters
mostly, but some in trainers, like the T-37, and T-38. Compared to
a lot of simulators, this thing flies like a dream."

She landed, and taxied to the FBO Joe suggested. They parked
where a young girl in tight shorts directed, and shut the engines
down. They got out and stretched as they exited the tight confines
of the Cessna.

"You can smell the ocean," Joe said. It was so different here
from the dry air of Phoenix.

"Yeah, I like San Diego," Karen said. "I kind of think of it
as the place where I was reborn." She was referring to the
surgical procedure which changed her gender.

"I hope I can get that kind of feeling about this place in a
few days," Mike said, pulling the bags out of the plane.

Joe went to the counter, and asked the guy about the car he
had made reservations for. The young man behind the counter gave
him a set of keys with a Budget Rent a Car tag, and pointed out the
window at a maroon Town Car. Joe hated big barges like the
Lincoln, but they needed the room for the four of them and their
bags.

"Okay if I drive out on the ramp for the bags?" Joe asked.

"Sure, ma'am. Just enter 338 and the gate will open," the
line boy said. "Drive out, and I'll put the bags in the car for
you."

Joe was not used to this kind of service. He wondered if the
FBO was changing its image, but then he realized, he was not
wearing a skirt the last time he was there. He had not thought
about it, but women did get treated differently from men.
Sometimes better. He kind of liked it.

When they got their bags loaded, they went to check into the
hotel. The Honeybone scheduler had reserved rooms at the Hyatt
Regency, a nice place, more upscale than they usually got at
company expense. Usually, Joe and Dave performed their own
bag-drag, but this time, they let the bellhop take them to the
room.

They followed him up and Joe found that his room was next to
Karen on one side, and Dave on the other. Mike's room was directly
across the hall.

They put their bags away, stopped to clean up a bit, and then
went out to find Dr. Krell's clinic. Karen of course, was familiar
with the area, and guided them right to it. They met Dr. Krell
again, and he introduced them all to two other medical doctors, and
a number of lab technicians and nursing personal.

In the small waiting room at the entrance, Joe recognized a
few patients who were obviously making the transition from male to
female. Two were easy to spot, since they were both very tall, and
towered over all the other seated persons. Joe went over to an
empty seat next to one of the two tall women. He smiled a greeting
as he sat down. The woman spoke, with a deep voice, too deep to be
coming from a female.

"Well, this place has suddenly become very popular," she said,
referring to the fact that four of them came in at the same time.

"Yes, I suppose it has," Joe answered, uncomfortable with
small talk.

"Do you know Dr. Krell?" the deep voiced woman went on.

"Yes, I met him yesterday in Phoenix," Joe answered.

"Is he working with your husband?" she asked.

"My husband?" Joe asked in amazement. "Why would you ask
that?"

"I saw you walk in with that guy over there," she answered,
discreetly pointing at Mike. "I figured that you were here for
counseling, because of your husband's condition."

Joe smiled. "She thinks I'm here with Mike," he realized.

"No, I'm not married," he said.

"Don't tell me a woman as lovely looking as you is gender
dysphoric?" The woman went on.

"Do you think everyone who sees Dr. Krell has that kind of
problem?" Joe questioned. The talkative woman just would not let
it go.

"Dr. Krell is one of the best gender doctors around," she
said. "I don't think he takes any other patients anymore."

"So you're gender dysphoric?" Joe asked, turning the question-
ing away from him.

"Yes, I am," she said. "I've been on hormone therapy for
eleven months."

"Oh, I didn't realize," Joe lied. "You're a Transsexual?"

"Of course," she said, eyeing his body enviously. "Probably
most of the patients here are. I hope to be ready for reassignment
surgery by fall. I've almost completed my electrolysis. That's
one of the time consuming parts. I've been in the real life test,
that's where you have to live as the sex you feel you are. I've
been in that for four months now. You don't know how difficult it
is for a person raised as a male to learn to function as a female.
You're so lucky to be born so beautiful."

"If you only knew," Joe thought. He did not know what to make
of this unusual person. So he just smiled, and she continued
speaking.

"My name is Laura. Laura Dix," she said, presenting her hand
to Joe.

"Glad to meet you, Laura," Joe said, shaking her hand lightly.
It was much bigger than his. "I'm Joe Bates."

"Joe, huh. Sounds like a guy's name," Laura said. "Women can
have men's names, they can wear men's clothes, and so many other
things. Nobody notices, or if they do, they think it's cute. It
was cute if you were a tomboy when you were small, but I was a
sissy for wanting to be with the girls."

"Yeah, it is unfair, isn't it," Joe agreed.

"So what is your real name? You don't look like a Josephine.
Is it Jo Ann, Jo Ellen?" Laura asked.

"My name is Joel," Joe said, "but I've always been called
Joe."

"Well, Joe, what brings you to Dr. Krell?" Laura continued.

"I'm hoping he can help me," Joe said reluctantly. "I'm
really a man." He decided that shocker would stop the questions.

"A man? But you're so beautiful," Laura asked in amazement.
"Why would you want to become a man?"

"Why do you want to become a woman?" Joe returned.

"Yeah, okay, you're right," Laura agreed. "I think I am a
woman, and I just want to look like one. It has nothing to do with
what we look like."

"You might be right," Joe said. He was beginning to have
doubts about that, however.

The receptionist called Laura's name, and she got up and went
in. Joe was sitting on the end of the row of seats, and he began
to look around the waiting room. Besides Dave, Mike, Karen, and
himself, there were two other persons in the room. One was a small
young man, and the other was a man of medium build. Joe wondered
if they were also Transsexuals. Probably, he considered.

As they waited, the receptionist came into the room, and gave
Mike, Dave, and Joe clipboards which held a number of forms, and
questionnaires for them to complete. Joe filled out the form. It
had everything from his name and address, to what kind of medica-
tion he was, or had been taking, his sexual preference, and even
frequency of intercourse. Some of the questions were rather
difficult to answer, considering the circumstances. He did his
best to answer truthfully, but could not imagine what they really
were trying to find out by some of the questions.

He looked over, and saw Dave struggling with his paperwork.
Mike seemed to work with it without expression, writing quickly,
without hesitation.

When Joe had his complete, he took it up to the little sliding
glass window where the receptionist sat.

"Thank you. Dr. Krell should be with you before too long,"
The young lady wearing a white nurses uniform said, smiling at him.

They sat there another forty-five minutes, and then the door
opened, and the assistant called Joe. He stiffly got up, and
followed her into an examining room, not unlike the one where he
was introduced to Dr. Hopkins. He wondered what was in store for
him this time.
Article 81866 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 14)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:35:41 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Fourteen
THERAPY

Joe had only been sitting for a moment when the assistant came
back into the room and asked Joe to follow her. She took him to
the open door of an office, where Joe saw Dr. Krell, seated behind
his desk. He motioned for Joe to come inside.

Joe entered the office, and sat. Dr. Benjamin Krell was a
small, friendly looking man, perhaps sixty years of age. He smiled
when he saw Joe, and motioned for him to take a seat.

"You're looking splendid, Joe. I hope you had a good flight,"
he said.

"Yes, we did. Karen flew the whole trip. She's a good pilot,
and I think she has re-caught the flying bug," Joe said, grinning.

"Karen is a remarkable person," the little doctor said. "Do
you know she probably has as much research experience in the area
of Gender Dysphoria as anyone? She soaks it up like a sponge."

"We get along rather well," Joe said. "She seems almost to
know what I'm thinking sometimes."

"I thought you both might hit it off, from the first moment I
met you," Dr. Krell agreed.

"What's on the agenda today?" Joe asked, eager to find out
what the day would bring.

"Well," Dr. Krell explained, "there is a lot of paper work for
you complete, and I believe we have more physical examinations, by
my staff, in store for you. I hope we can get all three of you
completed today, but it may run over to tomorrow. I also have a
short class I want you all to attend, regarding the care of your
changed body. It was created for my reassignment patients, but I
really think you would benefit from it too. Susan, the nurse who
conducts it, might not be available until tomorrow, though."

"We were all expecting two days here," Joe said. "Another
physical, huh." He expected it, but did not look forward to it.

"I'm sorry, Joe," Dr. Krell said, "but it's really necessary
for us to know, in complete detail, the extent of the changes
you've gone through. At the same time, we're waiting for the lab
reports to come back, with the results of hair samples we took on
all of you."

"What do you expect that to show?" Joe asked.

"I'm not really sure," Dr. Krell answered. "I believe that
all your living cells have been changed, but the others, your hair,
and finger nails, might still have the old chromosome pattern. I'm
curious to see the results of that. It may be like rings in a tree
trunk, and we can use that to spot the exact time your change
transpired."

"So you think it happened instantaneously?" Joe asked. "One
moment I was a guy, the next I was like this?"

"I don't know, Joe. What do you think?" Dr. Krell asked.

"Well, I don't know about the initial physical change," Joe
answered. "I guess I was sleeping when that occurred, but I think
I'm still changing. I'm almost sure I am, mentally. I can't
explain it. I... I... Sometimes I just start to cry, and feel
sorry for myself. I never did that, but now.... I don't know.
Mostly though, I feel great. Generally, I think I feel better than
I can ever remember. It's a good feeling, actually." Joe tried to
describe the strange emotions which were now affecting him.

"Are there... Do you think there are still physical changes
taking place?" Dr. Krell questioned.

"I'm not sure. If they are, they're subtle," Joe said,
rubbing the softness of his left breast. "Sometimes, I think that
my skin is still getting softer. Maybe I'm just getting used to
having breasts, but they don't feel quite as sensitive as they were
at first. They're still pretty sensitive, though."

"Have you noticed any unusual discharge? Anything unusual
about your genitalia?" Dr. Krell went on.

"Gee, doc. I've only been like this five days," Joe replied.
"Every thing seems unusual. I don't know. I did notice some blood
on my underwear last night. I think that was from the examination
yesterday, though. It felt like you stretched me, or cut some-
thing, down there." Joe had a sheepish smile on his face as he
spoke.

"Well, I'm assuming you were active sexually as a male," Dr.
Krell explained, "but it's obvious that, since you've become female
you are not. You have a hymen, that's a bit of membrane, or skin,
that partially closes the vaginal orifice. Your's is intact, and
quite thick, and strong. It's the thickest I've seen. I suspect
that's because of your age, and the circumstances under which you
acquired it." He smiled.

"Would I have any trouble with intercourse?" Joe asked. He
felt a slight flush of embarrassed come to his face as he asked.

"Are you considering becoming sexually active?" Dr. Krell
asked, not particularly surprised.

"Oh, no. I don't think so, at least not now, anyway," Joe
stammered.

"Well, when the time comes, and don't be surprised if it does,
I don't think you'll have any trouble with your hymen," Dr. Krell
advised, smiling. "You'll probably be undergoing a number of
examinations in the near future, and that will probably stretch it,
at least a little more. We'll try not to tear it. By the way,
it's normal to experience a little pain the first time a female has
sexual intercourse. I've been told it subsides quickly, so don't
be concerned about it."

"I can't believe I'm even thinking about stuff like this," Joe
said. "Yesterday, I wouldn't have considered even asking about
it."

"If you're going to live as a woman, as healthy, and I might
add, attractive as you are," Dr. Krell said, "it will probably only
be a matter of time before such an opportunity presents itself.
You would be doing yourself a disservice to ignore the possibili-
ty."

"I'm trying to keep an open mind," Joe said, "and it seems
that even that keeps changing."

"It is a woman's prerogative, isn't it," Dr. Krell teased.
"Don't forget though, if you do decide to become sexually active,
be sure to use some form of contraception. Unfortunately, that
isn't part of the normal hygiene class, since that isn't a concern
with reassignment patients. I'll remind Susan to cover that for
you, but be sure to ask, if she forgets."

"What would you recommend as a contraceptive, for someone who
was sexually active, that is," Joe asked shyly.

Dr. Krell grinned, saying, "For someone who was thinking of
becoming sexually active... For a mature, thirty year old female,
I would recommend her partner use a good condom, backed up with a
contraceptive jelly, or foam. She could be fitted with a dia-
phragm, but of course, that would be easier after her hymen was
broken."

Joe looked the little man in the eye. "I'll keep that in
mind," he said. He noticed Dr. Krell was beginning to refer to him
as a "she."

"Tell it to me straight, doc. Am I ever going to be male
again?" Joe asked.

"Unless we can somehow reverse whatever happened, and we don't
even know what that is," the doctor said, "I think it's unlikely
that you will ever have a normal male body again. That's the way
it looks to me. I suggest you try to get accustomed to what you
have now. If we can get you back, it won't make any difference,
and if we can't, well, you seem to be doing pretty well." Dr.
Krell smiled at Joe.

"I admit it is getting easier, as time passes," Joe agreed.
"I guess I can do it, if I must."

"I think we should schedule you for some therapy," Dr. Krell
suggested. "It could help you cope with the changes."

"Do you think the changes could be affecting my head... the
way I think?" Joe questioned. "I'm not sure, but I seem to feel
different now, about so many things. I think my brain is changing.
I have trouble maintaining concentration. About women, my
girlfriend, I don't seem to feel the same there anymore. Could the
changes cause that?"

"Yes, it's possible, I suppose," the doctor answered. "There
is still a lot to be learned about the differences between the
sexes, besides just the anatomical differences. What has happened
to you and your friends, may help to expand the present knowledge
in this area."

"I have always enjoyed expanding the limits of technology,"
Joe lamented, "but don't think I really want to expand my interest
to medicine, at least not like this."

"I realize that this is difficult for you," Dr. Krell said,
"but you'll have to play the cards you're dealt. We'll do
everything we can to make the problems you face as small as
possible."

"I appreciate everything you're doing for me, and for the
others. It's amazing how quickly everything fell into place," Joe
said.

"When we got the call for assistance from Hillcrest," Dr.
Krell explained, "everyone here jumped at the chance to work with
your problem. It's like a wish come true for a genetics research-
er. Someone who has actually changed their genetic sex. Amazing!"
His voice rose as he spoke.

"Yeah, it's amazing all right," Joe said, "and it feels
strange too." He smiled.

"Well, let's see what we can do for that," the doctor went on.
"For you the first thing this morning will be another pelvic
examination. We'd like to take some photos, so we can study them
without needing to have you around all the time. It shouldn't take
too long."

"Pictures, huh," Joe said, sort of thinking out loud. He
never thought he would be the subject of pictures, even if it was
for medical purposes.

"Don't be concerned, Joe," the doctor advised. "The photogra-
phy will only take a moment, and just be part of the examination.
We sometimes video tape entire surgical procedures. They are
excellent teaching aids, and are never used for anything else."

"I'm not worried about that," Joe said. Actually, he was, a
little. He trusted Dr. Krell, but he could imagine how tapes, or
pictures, might be used by medical students.

"If you're ready, I'll take you to the examination room," Dr.
Krell said, getting up from behind his desk.

"I guess I am," Joe said, standing up and smoothing his skirt.
It seemed his slip had suddenly been charged with static electrici-
ty, and he could feel it clinging around his nylon stockings.

Joe followed Dr. Krell out of his office, and down the hall.
Dr. Krell's clinic was not huge, but from what Joe could determine,
it had at least six examination rooms. The doctor entered one that
had an open door, and pointed to a fresh gown, as before, made of
a disposable paper material. He left the room.

Joe looked around the room. In the center was an examination
table almost identical to the room yesterday. Joe saw the little
stirrups on the side. In a cabinet with glass doors by the wall,
Joe could see the gynecologist's tools of his trade. He saw the
speculum, and all the other things used during examinations. His
crotch muscles tightened, as he thought about the examination just
yesterday.

Joe hung his suit jacket on a hanger provided, and sat in a
chair to remove his shoes. He unbuttoned and unzipped his skirt,
and stepped out of it. He lay the skirt over the back of the
chair, and then unbuttoned his blouse. When he took that off, he
carefully placed it on another hangar. He then reached down and
pulled the full slip over his head, laying it on top of the skirt.

He suddenly felt remarkably sexy, standing there in a bra,
black bikini panties, and silky nylon stockings. He unhooked the
bra, and slipped it off, the cool air on his now bare breasts
causing him cover them with his hands. He had to remove his
stockings, and decided to sit on the edge of the paper covered
table to do that. When he had them off, and carefully placed on
top of his slip, he then pulled the panties off. He took the paper
gown and put it around him, thankful for even the minimal coverage
it provided. He remembered the hairpiece. Did he need to remove
it? He decided he had better, and placed on top of his slip. His
short hair now felt strange. He was getting accustomed to the
longer length of the wig touching his ears and neck.

Joe then sat on the table, waiting for whatever was to happen
next. He must have been sitting in apprehension for only five
minutes, when Dr. Krell and two other men with white lab coats
entered the room, accompanied by the nurse who had initially
brought Joe into the first room.

Dr. Krell introduced the men to a highly embarrassed Joe
Bates.

"Joe, this is Dr. Tom Craig," Dr. Krell said. "He's our staff
Urologist."

Dr. Craig smiled, and extended his hand to Joe. "Glad to meet
you, Joe," he said.

"And this is Dr. David Benedict. Dave's our gynecologist,"
Dr. Krell continued.

Dave also held out his hand. "I hope we can help you out,
Joe," he said. "Your situation is most interesting."

"I hope you can, too," Joe said, with a smile. It was hard to
feel like an equal, when you were wearing a paper shirt that did
not even quite cover your butt, while everyone else in the room was
completely dressed. The fact that they were doctors did not really
help at all.

"Well, I guess we best get on with it," Dr. Krell said, to
break the slight tension. "Joe, would you remove the gown please?"

Joe could feel the blood rush to his cheeks as he unfastened
the little Velcro fasteners at his neck. He pulled his arms out of
the short, paper gown, and handed it to the attending nurse. He
stood before the doctors, completely naked, his heart pounding.

"Amazing," Dr. Benedict said. "He appears completely
feminized, and you say he woke up this way, transformed overnight?"
The doctor seemed to be talking to the others, as if Joe was
incapable of answering for himself.

"I examined him. If I had not been already been told
otherwise, I never would have known he had been male," Dr. Krell
said. "The only anomaly I can find is some scar tissue around the
clitoris. My theory is that it's residual trauma caused by
circumcision of the penis. He confirmed that he had been circum-
cised as an infant."

"Interesting," Dr. Craig said. "We can confirm a number of
theories while studying this patient. I believe this is the first
recorded spontaneous, human gynecomorph. I hope we can learn what
caused it."

"I sure hope you can, too," Joe volunteered. He did not like
the way he was being treated like a lab animal, unable to under-
stand what was going on.

"Oh, I'm sorry Joe. We're so excited by this opportunity to
study your case that I'm afraid we get carried away," Dr. Benedict
apologized.

"I understand," Joe said. "Just try to remember that I'm
here, and I think I'm still capable of understanding the English
language."

"Understood," Dr. Craig added. "Just remind us, if we seem to
get off track."

"Joe, I have an illustration I'd like to show you," Dr. Craig
said, handing him what looked like a page copied from an anatomy
textbook. Joe immediately recognized the drawing. It was that of
the male genitalia, and it had each individual part listed with its
anatomical name, with a small arrow pointing to it. Joe wondered
what it was for. "These are the male external reproductive
organs," Dr. Craig went on. "I believe you recognize them."

"Sure, but what's it for?" Joe asked.

"I'm going to take this small tool, and touch you with it.
When you can feel the touch, I'd like you to tell me where it feels
like I'm touching you. Please use the illustration to name the
locations," Dr. Craig explained, holding out a small, pointed,
stainless steel probe. "We're trying to confirm the corresponding
nerve endings, as they were, and as they are now."

"Okay, that seems easy enough," Joe said. He wondered how far
inside him they were going to put the pointer.

"Please get up on the table, Joe," Dr. Craig asked. "You can
put the gown back on."

The assistant handed Joe the paper gown. He slipped his arms
in the holes and fastened the Velcro fastener at his back. He sat
on the table, and then lay back as the assistant adjusted the table
to support his upper back and head. She then covered Joe's lower
body with a green surgical drape, and positioned the stirrups so
that he could put his feet in them, spreading his legs apart as he
did.

He was now in position, and he felt the coolness as the
doctors pulled the drape away from his bottom. As before, the
drape kept him from seeing what the doctors were doing. The
assistant handed Joe the illustration. He lay there, and looked at
the drawing. He saw the penis. It was further defined as the
glans, dorsum, and prepuce. The scrotum was also shown in detail,
including even a little cutaway showing the layers of skin. He had
never realized that the male anatomy was that complex, and now he
did not even look like that anymore.

Suddenly, Joe felt a hand on his pubic area. Two cool fingers
spread his soft inner lips. He could feel his crotch muscles
contract, as if they were trying to keep that most sensitive area
concealed. He felt a finger touch his clitoris, and heard Dr.
Krell speak.

"As you can see, the prepuce is mostly absent, but this
scarring is probably what remains of where it emanated," the
friendly doctor was saying.

"Okay, Joe. As I touch you, please call out what area it
seems like I'm touching. If you can't give me a corresponding
location, try to tell me the closest equivalent," Dr. Craig said.

Joe could feel the pointed probe. It felt as if it was softly
rubbing along the bottom of his penis. He called that out.

The probe moved down, now feeling as if near the base of his
penis. He told Dr. Craig that, not finding a name on the illustra-
tion for it.

The tickling sensation went lower, toward his scrotum. He
tensed his muscles there, as if to draw the sack tighter, and felt
the somewhat different sensation of his vaginal sphincter closing
tighter. The new parts were similar, but they did not feel EXACTLY
the same. He told Dr. Craig he was now touching his scrotum.

He felt the probe move back up, it seemed along the top side
of his penis. He wondered where Dr. Craig was touching. He could
not remember feeling that area since the change. He told Dr.
Craig.

"It feels like you're rubbing the top of my penis now," Joe
said. "Just where are you actually touching?"

"I'm touching the area dissecting your labia minora, and labia
majora," Dr. Craig explained, "between your inner and outer vulval
lips."

"Amazing," Joe thought. It felt just like it was touching the
top of his penis.

The moving touch kept going, seeming to go to the head of his
penis, but now it was now on very sensitive area, far more
sensitive than he could ever remember his penis to be. He called
out.

"Your touching the glans, I think," Joe said. "I can't tell
if you're on top or on the bottom. It's kind of sensitive there."
It tickled, and he wanted to move his pelvis around.

"I'm near the clitoris," Dr. Craig explained. "I realize it
must be a bit sensitive."

"You got that right," Joe said, closing his eyes and trying
his best to resist the urge to move his hips. The tickling
sensation was starting to feel rather pleasant.

Then the tickling stopped. Opening his eyes, Joe could see
Dr. Benedict preparing a small camera. He disappeared behind the
drape, and soon the room blinked with the flashing of the camera.
Joe just lay there, eyes closed, embarrassed, as they photographed
his private parts. It was not exactly like posing for Playboy, he
thought.

Joe momentarily opened his eyes, he saw Dr. Benedict retrieve
a small speculum from the glass cabinet. Here it comes, he
thought.

Soon, he could feel touching around his genitals again. He
felt his lips get pulled apart, and something hard touch him. It
moved around a little, and then he felt it seem to slide along his
opening. He could sense that it was inside of him. Strange, he
thought, I can't really feel it in there, but I can sure tell it's
there. He could feel it stretching his opening, and where it
touched the outer parts. He was just beginning to try to imagine
what it would feel like to have a guy's penis inside him, when he
felt the somewhat painful sensation of the speculum spreading open.
It hurt, but not as bad as the last time. He put his hand to his
mouth, and bit down on his thumb.

Joe felt the speculum move around inside him, and saw the
flash of the camera. Before long, the speculum was collapsed and
withdrawn. When it was out, Joe had an intense urge to rub his
crotch, but he did not want to put his hands under the drape, and
did not want these guys to see him do it.

"I think that will be enough for now," Joe heard Dr. Benedict
say. "You can get dressed."

"That wasn't so bad," Joe thought. He sat up, and pulled his
legs out the stirrups with the help of the assistant.

"We'll see you in a few minutes, Joe," Dr. Krell said as the
three doctors left the room.

Joe reached down and carefully massaged the tender tissues of
his crotch.

The assistant saw what he was doing, and smiled. "Here are
some towels. They'll help a little," she said, seeming to know
what he was feeling.

"Thanks," Joe replied. "I'm still getting used to this."

"I don't think you ever get used to it," the woman said.

Joe cleaned the small amount of lubricating jelly from his
vulva. He looked at the towel. There was no sign of blood. It
did not hurt either. He carefully probed around with his index
finger. He was wet and slippery, and the finger went in easily,
much easier than ever before. He looked up to see if the nurse was
watching, but she was paying no attention to him. She was
gathering up the things used in the examination. Soon, she too
left the room.

Joe was sitting on the edge of the examination table with his
hand over his pubic area, and one finger just inside his genital
vestibule. He had never been inside much farther than this, and
was surprised at how different it felt. The water soluble
lubricant used in the examination had made everything extremely
slick. He felt around, feeling the bumps and ridges in this new,
unfamiliar part of his body. He could feel a small lump, which he
knew by the feel was his urethra. It was just after the ridge of
his now somewhat prominent pubic bone.

He went further in his exploration, and entered his vaginal
opening. He could feel a restriction, some tight tissue. This
must be my hymen, he considered, and carefully examined it with the
tip of his finger. The opening in his hymen seemed large enough to
penetrate with his finger, so slowly, cautiously, he went further.
After the initial restriction at the entrance, it was all clear,
but it was difficult to go much further without stretching it even
more. It did not hurt, but Joe did not want to tear it. How would
he explain it to the doctors, if that happened?

He just sat there, examining himself. When he decided he
could not get any farther inside with his finger, he stopped. He
tensed his crotch muscles, and felt the tightening with his finger.
The sensation when he bore down on his own finger felt strange, but
sort of pleasurable.

He was getting more familiar with his body. At first, he was
almost afraid to even look at the new parts, but now, after the
doctors' examinations introduced him to new sensations, he decided
that he needed to know what it was all about. These new areas
might be different, but they were still part of him. He withdrew
his finger, and, holding it to his nose, smelled it. Funny, he
thought, it does not seem to have any particular odor. He thought
of Linda. He loved her sweet, female scent. He wondered why he
did not smell like that.

Finally, Joe decided he better get dressed. He stood up, and
pulled off the gown. He was feeling particularly good about
himself as he went over to the chair where his clothes were lying.
He took his underpants, and stepped into them, loving the feel and
the snug fit of the black panties. He easily slipped the bra on
and clasped the plastic latch between his breasts. Yeah, he was
beginning to accept... to appreciate his new body... how it looked,
and how it felt. He might still be Joe Bates, Engineer, Pilot, and
Sports Car Nut, but he was not really a male anymore. He was
beginning to realize it, accept the differences, and maybe even
enjoy them.

Joe quickly dressed and replaced his hairpiece. There was a
small sink in the examination room, with a mirror above it. He
looked at himself and adjusted his hair and clothing. When he felt
he was ready, he went to the door and went out. He walked back up
to Dr. Krell's office, but he saw, through the open door, that Dr.
Krell was busy talking to Dave. He went out to where he saw the
nurse who was present during his exam.

"Should I stay in the examination room?" Joe asked.

"Well, no, you don't have to," the woman said. "I think Dr.
Krell will want to talk to you as soon as he's finished. You can
go back to the waiting room, if you like."

"Okay, I'll wait there," Joe said. He hoped that "Miss Dix"
was not out there.

Joe went out and took a seat. Mike was nowhere to be seen,
and only one person, who had just entered before Joe was called,
was in the room. He looked through the stack of magazines, mostly
woman's, on the small rack next to his seat. He selected Cosmopol-
itan, the cleavage of the woman on the cover catching his male
trained eye.

He thumbed through the magazine, noticing with heightened
interest the ads for feminine hygiene products, contraceptives, and
underwear. He thought about it. It was almost like this was the
female equivalent of an automotive magazine. All the products
designed to make what you had look better or work better. For a
guy, it was his car. For a woman, well, she had this exotic body
to maintain. Yeah, he thought as he thumbed through the sexy ads
for clothing, lingerie, tampons, and pregnancy detection kits, this
is a woman's Car and Driver.

He started reading an article about Pre-Menstrual Syndrome.
He was wondering what having a period would feel like when the
nurse called his name again. Darn, he thought, he wanted to finish
the article. He looked at the magazine cover, and saw it was the
current issue. I'll have to pick that one up, he thought as he put
the magazine in the rack, and then followed the nurse back to Dr.
Krell's office.

In the office, Dr. Krell sat behind his desk, with Dr.
Benedict sitting in one of the seats on the other side. Dr. Krell
motioned for Joe to have a seat next to the gynecologist.

"The hairpiece is very attractive on you," Dr. Benedict said.
Joe realized that the man had only seen him undressed, and without
the wig.

"Thanks," Joe said. "Karen loaned it to me." Joe figured the
doctors there must all know Karen.

"Joe, we have the results of the lab tests of the hair
samples," Dr. Krell said. "You might be interested to know that,
from DNA tests we found that your hair, at least, still shows a
male chromosome pattern. Of course, as it grows out, that may
change. I would think all the dead cells of your body have not
changed, only the living cells. That is easily sufficient proof of
your identity. It doesn't change anything, but it does confirm that
a so far unknown phenomenon caused cell changes in you and your two
coworkers' bodies. The change, or damage, we might call it, has
caused the chromosomes to distort, to make your genetic structure
to appear to change from XY, to XX, what normally would be the
female form. I suspect that you are not truly female, that is, you
are not a precise genetic representation of what you would have
been, had you been conceived as a genetic female. However, the
differences are so slight, so inconsequential, from a practical
matter, that it would probably take an electron microscope to tell
the difference. I suspect also, that the difference, slight as it
is, is far too small to prevent the normal gynecological functions
from occurring. Joe, it appears that you, for all practical, and
physiological purposes, are now a functional female."

"Well, I'm glad all the physical examinations and genetic
tests agree with what I see when I look in the mirror," Joe said.
He understood that Dr. Krell was just giving him the complete
medical synopsis, but what he really wanted was the answer to what
caused the whole thing to happen in the first place.

"Now that we know WHAT has happened, we must concentrate our
efforts on why it occurred," Dr. Benedict said.

"And while that's happening, we will do everything we can, to
help make your situation bearable," Dr. Krell added.

"Is there anything I can do to help discover the cause?" Joe
asked. He wanted to get back to work to try to discover what, in
or around the Learjet, or the GPS transmitters, could have caused
his plight.

"We want you, Dave, and Mike to remain here until tomorrow, so
that you can attend the class we will present tomorrow, probably
about nine or ten o'clock," Dr. Krell advised. "After that, you,
and Dave at least, can go back. Mike may be asked to stay another
day. We'll know by tomorrow at noon."

Joe wondered what that might be about, but decided that it was
none of his business. "What else is there today?" Joe asked. He
was getting anxious to get on with it.

"Well, if you have decided change your legal status to
female," Dr. Krell answered, "there is some more paperwork to fill
out. We have obtained copies of all your records, so we probably
have most of the information we need. We'll just need your
signature after we prepare the forms."

"That's all it takes?" Joe asked incredulously. "A few signa-
tures? I write my name on a piece of paper, and suddenly, I'm no
longer a man? I'm a woman, just as if I had been born that way?"
Joe was amazed at how simple it sounded.

"You must realize, that this place specializes in such transi-
tions," Dr. Krell explained. "You must also understand that the
position you find yourself in, is where a person desiring surgical
reassignment arrives only after years of chemical and mental
therapy, and extensive cosmetic surgery. What happened to you is
unprecedented."

"Too bad I didn't want it to happen," Joe said. "For an
accident, whatever caused it, it did one hell of a job."

"Don't think we haven't noticed," Dr. Krell said. "If we can
find the cause of the phenomena, we might even be able to put it to
good use."

"Who's paying for all this, anyway?" Joe asked the question
that had been at the back of his mind for some time.

Dr. Krell handed Joe a paper. Joe looked at it, and saw it
was a FAX, from Honeybone Flight Systems. It stated that Dr. Krell
was to use whatever resources necessary to find the cause of the
problem caused by the GPS equipment. It stated that more informa-
tion would follow. That sheet, Joe realized, meant that Honeybone
was concerned, not just for a few of their workers who got injured
at work, but also about the legal, and maybe even medical ramifica-
tions of what happened last Thursday. It was as close to a blank
check as ever existed at Honeybone.

Dr. Krell looked at his watch. It was almost one o'clock.
The morning had gone past very quickly, and they were all hungry.

"I'm afraid I can't join you, Joe, but I think Mike or Karen
are around, and they probably have missed lunch too," Dr. Krell
said, smiling.

Joe got up, and walked to the door. He turned. "I'll see you
this afternoon?" he asked.

"Oh, sure," Dr. Krell said. "I'll be here. I have to see how
things are going with your friend Dave." He went down the hall, and
entered one of the examination rooms.

Joe went out and asked the nurse where he could find Karen
Simpson.

"I'm sure she's in the classroom," the nurse said. "Go down
the hall, and I'm sure you'll find her."

Joe went walking down the hall in the direction the nurse
pointed. When he came to an open door, he looked in, and found a
small classroom. Karen was sitting in one of the chairs, in
discussion with three other people. Joe recognized one as Laura,
the tall transsexual he had talked to when he first entered the
clinic. Karen saw him, and motioned for him to come in.

"Everyone, this is Joe Bates," Karen said. "He's here because
of something that happened to him last week."

"Hi, Joe," Laura Dix said.

"Hello," Joe said. "Nice to meet you all."

"Karen, now you've got us interested," Laura said. "Joe, what
happened to you that made it necessary to visit this place?"

"Well, I don't yet know what caused it," Joe explained simply,
"but they tell me that I've changed genetically, and physically,
into a female. That's it. I'm here to discover the extent of the
changes, and maybe figure a way to become male again."

"What? You look like that, and you want to be a guy?" Laura
asked. "I'd give almost anything to look half as good as you do."

"Yeah, but as we discussed earlier, I'm a guy, not a woman.
I want a male body, just like you want to look female," Joe said,
wondering if he really meant what he was saying.

"It's amazing, isn't it," Karen observed. "What we think we
are, really has little to do with our appearance. The ultimate sex
organ is the brain. What the BRAIN thinks we are, is what we
consider ourselves to be, or should be."

"Enough of this deep thought," Joe interrupted. "Do you want
to get a bite to eat?"

"Gosh, it is lunch time," Linda said. "Time passes so quickly
here."

"Anyone else want to go?" Joe asked. "I think we can fit six
in the Lincoln. I want to try to find Mike. Dave is with the
doctors."

"I'll go with you," Laura said, getting up.

"Anybody else?" Dave asked.

The others declined, and Joe, Karen, and Laura left the room,
to find Mike. Joe went to ask the nurse, when he saw him sitting
in the waiting area. Joe walked over to him.

"Are you ready for something to eat, Mike?" Joe asked.

Mike looked up at Joe. He did not look very happy. Joe
wondered what new information they had for his friend.

"Yeah, I guess I still have to eat," Mike said, not very
enthusiastically. He got up, and followed them out the door.

It was an unusual crew who entered the little restaurant.
Mike led them and the three "women" followed behind. They took a
seat at a small square table. The waitress came over almost as
soon as they sat down. They ordered, Joe trying to remember to
order less than he felt he wanted. Mike ordered a steak and baked
potato. No female portions for him.

Mike seemed uncomfortable sitting with his obviously female
looking friends, even though he was now, at least biologically, a
woman too.

"Mike, did they give you any satisfaction this morning?" Joe
asked.

"Hell, I don't know. They looked at my crotch, at my chest,
they showed me a picture of male parts, but they didn't really give
me any help as to how I should live with myself," Mike said,
looking very sad.

"Can I ask you a question?" Joe asked. He wanted to find if
Mike was experiencing the same mental changes he was.

"Sure, ask away," Mike said.

"The other day, when we first discovered we all had this
problem," Joe questioned, "I still felt, inside at least, like I
was still a male. It just seemed like somebody had messed with my
body and changed its appearance. But now, since yesterday at
least, I've been experiencing other changes, changes in my head, I
guess, strange feelings. I guess I'm beginning to accept this
body. Hell, I think I'm even starting to like looking like this.
I was wondering, are you starting to feel like that, too?"

"Joe, look at yourself," Mike said. "You look like a woman.
You're attractive, and even the other day it even seemed like you
enjoyed what happened to you. I can't possibly feel the same way.
What I want, or how I feel... It makes no difference. I can't
please a woman anymore, and whether I want to or not makes little
difference. Even if I accept that I'm female now, I couldn't
expect a man to want me, not the way I look. I'm caught in the
middle, and there's no way out." He sounded desperate.

"Maybe you need therapy to deal with your problem," Karen
said. "After you find out how you want to go... what your options
are... Then, maybe, Dr. Krell can help you. If you want to remain
a male, I think they can help you with surgery. I've known a few
patients who have come to him with female bodies, and with
hormones, and surgery to create an artificial phallus, they are
very convincing as men. With you, you hardly need the hormone
therapy."

"Yeah, yeah, we went through that already," Mike said. "Dr.
Krell said that since I had been a male, and have... err... had a
functional penis, I wouldn't be happy with anything he could
create. Right now though, I'd give anything to get my cock back.
I can't spend the rest of my life with a cunt."

"If that's how you feel, I'm sure he can help," Laura chimed
in. "Dr. Krell is the best. I've checked them all out, and he's
the best."

"I hope you're right," Mike said. "I just want to get on with
my life. I don't see how I can do that, looking like this."

The waitress came, bringing out their orders. Joe was getting
hungry, and the small portion of grilled chicken breast looked
good, but hardly enough to satisfy him. They all got down to the
serious business of eating.

"Karen, what can we expect from this hygiene class Dr. Krell
told me about for tomorrow?" Joe asked. "I think an assistant
named Susan teaches it?"

"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about that," Karen said. "He
started that just after my surgery. In fact, I probably helped it
to come about. Before, reassignment patients had a hodgepodge of
information to get, and to remember. I guess it all got accom-
plished, but in my case, for example, I developed an infection just
because I didn't know any better, and I was a registered nurse,
even then."

"What's it all about?" Joe asked again.

"As I'm sure you realize, there are some physical differences
between males and females," Karen said. "Women's bodies are more
complicated, and in some ways, more delicate. Just wiping your
butt the wrong way can cause a vaginal infection, as I found out
soon after my surgery. You have breasts now, and she'll show you
how to examine them correctly. She'll answer any other questions
you have, or might have, after watching the films. I think you'll
find the whole thing interesting."

"I see. It's sort of an owner's manual class," Joe said.

"I suppose that's a good description it," Karen said,
grinning.

"How about Susan?" Mike asked. "Is she a real woman, or one
of Dr. Krell's modifications?" There was a bit of sarcasm in his
voice.

Karen looked straight at him, but kept smiling. "Susan
Stevens is a real woman," she said. "She's married, has two kids,
and is a caring wife and mother, as well as a dedicated therapist."

"I'm sorry, Karen," Mike said. "I didn't mean anything by it.
I guess I just have a short fuse."

"Forget it," Karen said. "I understand that you're under a
lot of stress. I would be too."

With that they finished eating, and when the waitress brought
the check, Joe took it and paid it. Honeybone would pay this bill.

Joe drove them back to the clinic. When they went inside,
Dave was sitting in the waiting room. Joe sat down next to his
friend. Mike sat next to Joe, but Karen and Laura went on in, to
resume their conversation in the little classroom.

Joe looked at Dave.

"How's it going, pal?" he asked. "Did you get anything to eat
yet?"

"It's going okay, I guess," Dave said, smiling weakly. "No,
I haven't had anything to eat, but I'm not hungry anyway."

"Did Dr. Krell say what else we had this afternoon?" Joe
asked.

"Just some paperwork," Dave said. "Joe, I don't know what to
do about that."

"What do you mean?" Joe asked.

"Joe, Dr. Krell said I could fill out paperwork to change my
legal status to female," Dave said, "but I can't do that and remain
married to Cindy. I realize I'm not a man anymore, but I don't
want to leave Cindy and the kids."

"Did he say that you had to?" Joe asked.

"He said I couldn't stay married to a woman, if I changed my
legal sex," Dave lamented. "State law won't allow same sex
marriages in Arizona, and that's what we would have if I sign the
papers."

"What about California?" Joe asked. He thought he had once
read about homosexuals getting married in California.

"I don't know," Dave said. "I never thought about moving."

"If you got a divorce, based on your situation," Joe said,
"and then you and Cindy remarried in California, why couldn't you
continue to live where you do now? If there is a residence
requirement, or something, I think Honeybone will help with that."
Joe considered the possibilities.

"Maybe that's it," Dave said. He seemed relieved.

"How are you feeling?" Joe asked. "Was the physical easier
today?"

"Yeah, it was, a little. Strange, isn't it, how the new parts
feel so much like the old ones?" Dave said, looking at Joe as he
said it.

"Same thing I noticed," Joe said. "Sometimes, it seems like
I could just reach down and find that my penis is there again."

"It isn't though," Mike said. "We're stuck with these cunts,
no matter what they feel like."

Dr. Krell's administrative assistant called out to them. "Can
you come in now?" she asked. "We can have you completed in about
an hour, if you have everything you need." They followed the woman
into a small room, where there was a table and chairs. "Please
wait here," the assistant said.

Joe, Dave and Mike sat at the little table, waiting to
complete the paperwork that would make them females in the eyes of
the law.
Article 81867 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 15)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:36:05 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Fifteen
DECISIONS

Before long, a middle aged man entered the room. He was
followed by Karen Simpson. The man was carrying three manila
folders. He took them and placed them on the table in front of
Joe, Dave, and Mike. "Hi, my name is Norman Peterson," the man
said. "I'm an attorney, and I've been asked by Dr. Krell to help
you with the legal ramifications of your problem."

"Joe Bates," said Joe, extending his hand. Mike and Dave did
the same, introducing themselves. Norm Peterson seemed to know who
they were already.

"Dr. Krell told me a little about your problem," he said.
"While I guess I'm getting familiar with the many different
situations that exist here at the clinic, I must admit, however,
this is the most unusual one I've seen."

"Norm, here, is Dr. Krell's attorney. He's familiar with the
requirements of most states' laws, including Arizona's," Karen
added.

"I have some questions to ask you," Dave said immediately.

"No problem," Norm said, "but I think it would be best to work
with each of you individually. It might be easier to talk in
private."

"Okay," Dave agreed. "Good idea."

Norm explained California law on changing one's legal status.
He explained what had to be done to get a revised birth record, and
changing all other legal records. He explained that with proper
endorsement by qualified medical representatives, just about all
records could be changed, with the exception of records kept by the
Department of Defense. Those were truly permanent, and he knew of
no way to change them. He did not offer alternatives to changing
status legally, figuring that everyone there had already decided on
that course of action.

After talking for about ten minutes, going through a seemingly
well rehearsed format, Norm said he was finished, and ready to talk
to each of them individually.

Dave wanted to go first, and the others took their manila
folders and left the room.

Joe went back to the waiting room and sat. Mike sat next to
him, with Karen on the other side. No one else was in the waiting
area.

"Sounds like he expects us to all want to become women," Joe
said, breaking the silence.

"He sure does," Mike agreed. "I have no intention of doing
that, at least not until all hope of getting back is used up. Even
then, I don't know if I would want to be a woman."

"I wonder if we really have a choice?" Joe asked, to no one in
particular.

"Well, I do," Mike declared. "My records say I'm a man, and
nobody can change that unless I agree."

They sat there in silence. Joe went to the rack, retrieved
the Cosmopolitan magazine, and found the story he had started
previously. He started to read. Karen peered over his shoulder,
and saw what he was reading.

"PMS, huh?" she asked. "Are you worried that you might get
bitchy one of these days?" Karen seemed to know how to lighten up
the moment.

"Well, I guess it has to be a concern now," Joe said serious-
ly. "I really do wonder what it would feel like."

"I'd like to know, too," Karen said, "but you... both of
you... will probably get to find out."

"Well, I'd gladly give you MY opportunity, if I could," Mike
said. "I have no desire to go on the rag."

"I don't know how I feel about it," Joe said honestly. "If
I'm stuck like this, I guess it has to be considered a natural
function, something to get used to."

"There's nothing natural about any of this!" Mike objected.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but until we can figure out what can be
done, we might as well do the best we can." Joe tried to calm his
friend down. It was strange how tolerant of their situation he was
becoming.

Before long, Dave came out, carrying papers in his hand. He
came over and sat with them. The nurse called Joe.

Joe got up, and followed the nurse back into the room with Dr.
Krell and Norm. They were sitting on one side of the table, and
motioned for him to sit on the other side.

"Well, Joe, and what is your choice? Do you wish to remain a
male too?" Dr. Krell asked. It was obvious that the interview with
Dave had not gone well.

"Sure, I'd like to remain male, but it doesn't look like I
have that choice, do I?" Joe said, grinning slightly.

"You don't have to sign these papers," Norm said. "I'm not
sure what we can do about your legal status if you don't, but
nobody can force you to do anything you don't want to do. With the
way you look, I suspect you might have difficulty trying to
convince anyone that you're a male, but that is one of your
options, if you want."

Joe crossed his leg under the table. The two men could not
see his legs, and he slid one of his hands along his smooth, nylon
covered leg. He rubbed the slickness as he thought, "If I sign
this, I'll legally be a female, and most of my records will reflect
the change in status. If I don't, I'll legally be a guy, but with
this woman's body, not fitting in anywhere. What choice is that,
really?" He took the pen in his hand.

"Will my school records, my driver's license, pilot's license,
and all other records reflect the change?" he asked warily.

"That is correct," Norm said. "We will help you change all
the records that it is possible to change. The DOD stuff will have
the change noted in your record, but they will not change what is
already there."

"My birth certificate? How will that be changed?" Joe
questioned.

"An amended certificate will be issued, and that will be in
your file. You may personally keep the original, if you desire,"
Dr. Krell answered.

"What if I can change back? What if you figure out how to
make me a male again?" Joe wondered aloud.

"If we can discover a way to get you back, and we will keep
trying, it will be simply a matter of repeating this same process,"
Dr. Krell advised. "Whatever status you prefer will make no
difference on our course of action in that matter."

Joe ran his hand up his leg, beneath the soft silk of the
slip. He got to the top of the hose, and felt the warm softness of
the skin of his inner thigh. He really liked the way it felt.

A nervous Joe Bates took the pen, and signed the first paper,
he folded it back, and started to read the next one. It was a form
used to change his legal name. He had not considered that.

"What's this? I haven't even considered a name change," Joe
said. "Do I have to do that?"

"No, of course not," Dr. Krell said. "I just thought you
might want it, however. Of course, Joe is not that unusual as a
feminine name, especially if you shorten it to Jo, jay-oh, when you
sign your name. I don't see any problem with keeping the legal
name Joel."

Joe skipped that paper, and went to the next one. It was a
form for requesting a new operator's certificate, and he signed it
immediately.

"Since that has your picture on it, you will have to go to the
DMV and get issued a new license. With this paperwork, it will be
like renewing your certificate. No tests, and no questions," Norm
told him.

Joe looked at the next form. It was an FAA form for request-
ing a replacement pilot certificate. He signed it after he read
through it.

"I don't have a lot of experience with that one," Dr. Krell
said. "I have talked with the FAA Flight Surgeon at Oklahoma City,
and he explained what was needed. You will get a new certificate
in the mail. All your ratings remain the same."

The next group of papers was DOD related. Joe read through it
carefully. It was some forms filled out by Dr. Krell, as well as
about a six page summary of what had happened to Joe and his new
status as female.

"I'm not sure what effect this will have on your security
clearance status. I would think it would have none, but I have no
precedent," Norm said.

The last paper was for changing his birth record. He really
had concern about that. No matter what happened, or how he decided
to deal with his body's physical changes, Joe still felt that deep
down, somewhere inside, he was STILL a male. If his birth
certificate said he was born a girl, could he still feel that way?
He thought of the way he now looked, the way he now felt, and how
even his personality seemed to be changing. He did not even know
how he would feel tomorrow. It was likely he would be even more
feminine, since he was still feeling the changes happening. It was
probably inevitable, and he might as well admit it. He took a deep
breath, and signed the paper.

"You can take the rest of these things with you," Norm said.
"I'll have these things copied, and give you the forms you will
need. That's all for now."

Joe got up, and shook Norm's hand. It was difficult to get
used to having such small hands. All the other men seemed to have
a much stronger grip now. Joe went back out into the waiting room
as the receptionist called Mike.

Joe sat down next to Dave. Dave was looking through his
paperwork.

"What did Norm advise?" Joe asked his friend.

"Well, he figured I was just going to sign the papers and that
would be it," Dave said. "When I explained my concern, he was
sympathetic, and all, but he didn't really have any good advice.
He thought it would be best if I changed my legal status to female,
as far as my relationship with Honybone. But when I asked about
Cindy, then he thought I had better wait. I guess it's going to be
up to Dr. Krell's guys to get us back."

"Yeah, I signed the papers," Joe said. "Dr. Krell said if
they do find a way to get us back, I can go through it all again.
It's amazing how simple it is."

They sat and waited for about twenty minutes as Mike had his
interview with Norm. Finally, Mike returned to the waiting room.
He had a smile on his face.

"Good news?" Joe asked, curious to know the cause of Mikes
obvious joy.

"Dr. Krell said he would accept me for reconstructive surgery,
if that's what I really want," Mike said. He was almost back to
his normal friendly personality.

"When does he plan to do that?" Dave asked, showing interest.

"He said I had better wait until they have exhausted attempts
to return us using the equipment back at Honeybone," Mike said.
"That might take a month or so. I guess I can wait that long. As
long as there is light at the end of the tunnel."

"I hope he can do something for me," Dave said. "Can he give
you a working penis?"

"He said that they were making advances every day, and that I
might at least have some feeling. Anything's better than this,"
Mike said, placing his hand on his crotch.

"Don't give up on getting back the way we came," Joe said.
"There are still a lot of things we don't know about that." He did
not want his buddies to blow the chance for a normal recovery.
Changing themselves by surgery would eliminate any chance to
reverse the process without causing deformities.

"Don't worry about it," Mike said. "Dr. Krell won't let us do
anything until all possibilities of that are exhausted." Mike
sounded like he did not expect much from that possibility.

Dr. Krell came out and walked over to his three patients.
"Well, I think we're finished with you for today," he said. "Come
back tomorrow morning, about nine-thirty, and Susan will be ready
with her little seminar."

"Is Karen free?" Joe asked.

"I'm sure she is," Dr. Krell answered, "but you'll probably
have to track her down."

Joe went back down the hall, and found Karen back in the
classroom, still talking to three of Dr. Krell's patients.

"Dr. Krell says we are through for the day," Joe said. "Do
you want to come with us, back to the hotel?" he asked Karen.

"Sure, I'm ready any time you are," she said, gathering up her
purse and a book.

They walked back out to the waiting area where the others were
standing. They gathered their things and walked out to the car.
As they were driving to the hotel, Karen looked at Joe. "When do
you have to back tomorrow?" she asked.

"We don't have to be in until nine-thirty," Joe replied. "I
guess we just have the classroom stuff to do, and then we can go
back to Phoenix."

"You got everything done today?" Karen asked, seeming to be
surprised.

"I suppose so," Joe said. "I don't know what you were
expecting, but the interview, a physical exam, and changing my
legal status to female seems like plenty for one day to me."

"Yeah, I guess looking at it that way, it was a big day for
you," Karen considered.

"You don't know how big it was," Joe said. "Except for last
Friday, I've never had another day to compare with this."

Karen turned into the drive at the hotel. "What do you guys
want to do this evening?" she asked, looking at Dave and Mike
sitting in the back seat of the big Lincoln.

"Get some food, and stay in my room," Mike said.

"Me too," agreed Dave. "I don't want to go out in public like
this any more than necessary."

"How about you, Joe?" she asked looking at him. "You want to
sit in your room and mope too?"

"Well, I am hungry, but I don't know about anything else. I
don't think I'm ready for it," Joe said.

"Hey, you're officially a woman now, like it or not," Karen
argued. "You look passable, that's for sure, and you're learning
how to act like one very quickly. This is the place to learn, away
from home where you won't find anyone who would recognize you."

Joe thought about it, and realized she was right. He did not
want to go out, but if he was going to be this way for a while, or
forever, he had to get used to it, and there was no better place
than away from home to make the inevitable mistakes.

"Well, okay, I'll go with you, if you think I should," Joe
conceded.

"How about you two? Mike, you don't look any different, come
on along," Karen asked again.

"I'll think about it," Mike said. "I don't feel too good
right now, though."

"What's wrong?" Karen asked.

"I don't know," Mike said. "I don't know. Hell, I've been
feeling all kinds of strange sensations. I don't know which ones
are normal, and which ones are a problem. My belly hurts, and my
chest... my nipples, they hurt when anything touches them. My
shirt feels like it's rubbing them raw."

Joe knew what his buddy was feeling. He had the same feeling
when he wore his tee-shirt the first day. He had not seen Mike's
chest, but Joe guessed his friend had some changes there too, even
though the clothes he wore concealed it.

"Mike, are you developing breasts too?" Joe asked. "Are they
real sore?"

"Well... no... I'm still... I'm not..." Mike stammered.

"Damn it, Mike!" Joe exclaimed "You don't have to act macho or
anything like that. We're all in this together. It's nothing to
be embarrassed about... at least around us." Joe was irritated at
the way his friend was denying the problem.

"Okay... Okay... Yeah, I guess I'm getting tits too," Mike
admitted. "I got a cunt, and now I'm getting breasts. I admit it.
Are you happy now?" He almost shouted at Joe.

"Mike, don't feel so sorry for yourself," Joe said. "I know
you don't like what has happened, none of us do, but denying it
won't fix the problem any quicker. You know that."

"What the hell do you want me to do?" Mike asked. "I'm not
beautiful, like you are. I can't put on women's clothes, and fit
right in, like you have. What do you want me to do?"

"Mike, if you need help coping... if there is anything I can
do... don't be too shy to ask," Karen said. "I think I can help
you get through this. I have some experience with it, you know."

"I don't know what I need," Mike said. "I think my body is
still changing. I don't know. I just don't know what's going on."

They all got out of the car, and went up to their rooms. As
they walked down the hallway to their room, they agreed to call
each other in about a half hour, to decide what they would do.

Joe entered his room, and sat on the bed. The early morning
wake up, and the events of the day, had left him tired. His old
strength was not the same anymore. He had not exercised for a few
days, since his racquetball game with Jay, and he missed that. He
would have to get back on some type of exercise program, no matter
what he looked like.

It was awkward lying on the bed in the suit, and he did not
want to wrinkle it, so Joe decided to change clothes. He knew he
would not want to wear it anymore this late in the day anyway. He
sat up and removed the gray heels. He was now used to walking in
the low heeled shoes, and knew he looked good wearing them, but
they sure were not the most comfortable shoes he ever had on. He
placed them by the bed, and stood to remove the skirt.

When he had the skirt on a hanger, he started to remove the
silk blouse. He started to unbutton it, and as he did, his hands
brushed against the softness of his breasts. It felt great, just
to touch himself. It was not a sexual thing really, but it sure
was sensual, and he found he could not resist fondling the
softness. The silky blouse over the slip, and his bra, made his
breasts feel wonderful. He had always loved the feel of women's
breasts, but it was even better to feel them from both sides. The
soft touch, and the thin, slippery fabric, made it easy to see, as
well as feel, that his nipples had become hard and stiff.

The sensation was quite intense, and Joe was starting to feel
the familiar dampness that now accompanied his "erection." It was
the first time he had experienced the pleasurable sensation for a
while, and he was relieved to find that it could still happen. He
had been beginning to worry that he was going to lose these new
feelings.

Joe quickly removed his blouse, and slip. He slipped out of
the nylon hose, carefully placing everything either on hangers, or
carefully piling them on the dresser. He looked over at the full
length mirror, and saw himself standing in his underwear. He was
becoming used to the feelings, the clothes and all the other things
about being a female. He wondered when he'd ever get used to his
reflection in the mirror. "It's a lot different than Jockeys and
a tee-shirt," he thought to himself. He started to remove his bra,
but decided against it. He liked the secure feeling it gave to his
breasts. Joe went over to the TV, and turned it on, looking at the
little placard to find the channel for CNN. When he found it, he
went over to the bed, and lay down without pulling back the spread.

Joe lay there, watching the news, and idly rubbing his left
nipple through the thin material of the bra. If he ever got back,
if he ever became a man again, he would certainly miss this
experience. Of course, right now it did not look like that was
going to happen any time soon, and he realized that he was starting
to hope he could stay this way, at least for a while. He had never
been more aware of his body, and now it seemed like everything that
touched it made him tingle.

As he watched the news, he found himself watching the
news-readers, both men and women. He found that what he looked at
was changing. While he used to ignore the men, he now looked at
them critically, even their clothes. He had always eyed the women,
but now, he found himself looking at what they were wearing, rather
than just trying to undress them in his mind, as before. He tried
to determine why he was now feeling this way, but had no answer.
"Maybe I'm starting to accept the fact that I don't have a penis
anymore," he considered.

With that thought, he tightened the muscles in his crotch, and
felt the now familiar sensation as his vagina tightened. It was a
pleasant feeling, at least as good as if his cock was there,
twitching. He reached down, and placed his hand on the slick
fabric covering the soft, flat area between his legs. Touching
there felt good, and with his hand, he could feel that the wetness
was beginning to soak through the cotton lining. It was making
even the outer surface of the black panties damp. He was enjoying
the caress of his hand on this sensitive area, when he was
interrupted by the ringing of the telephone on the night stand.

"It must be Karen wanting me to get going," he thought as he
picked up the phone.

"Joe here," he answered.

"Joe? I'm glad I found you," the voice on the other end said.

"Who is this?" Joe asked. It obviously was not Karen.

"It's me, Jim Matheny," the voice said. "I just got some more
news, and I think you should hear it."

"Go ahead, shoot," Joe said. He wondered what they had
discovered.

"I was over at Firebird, and I was talking with the line
chief. He asked when we would be running the GPS tests again," Jim
said. Firebird was the FBO that supported Honeybone's flight
department with fuel and any other services. They were based at
Deer Valley Airport. "I told him that I didn't know for sure,
since it looked like there was a possibility that the equipment we
were using might be causing injury to our personnel," Jim went on.
"He asked what kind of injury, and I explained that it might be
causing cell damage, which had unusual symptoms on the persons
affected. I didn't want to go into detail, you understand."

"Go on please," Joe interrupted. "What did you find out?"

Jim continued, "Well, he asked who go hurt, and I told him
that you, Dave, and Mike did, but that you were not in any danger."

"Yeah, okay, okay, go on," Joe said, anxious to hear whatever
news he had.

"Well, when he heard that," Jim explained, "he thought for a
minute, and said that he thought that one of his line boys, a
college student named Tim Werner, was hanging around you guys last
Thursday, while you were calibrating the transmitters."

Joe thought about it. He did remember Tim being with them
while they were working. Tim was going to college, and working at
Firebird part time so that he could make a little extra money, as
well as hang around airplanes. Tim was an intelligent, friendly
kid, maybe twenty, or twenty-one, and was about the same size as
Joe. He was always hanging around, watching what they were doing,
hoping to bum a ride in the Learjet.

"Bob, the line chief, said he hadn't seen Tim since Thursday,"
Jim continued. "He was supposed to work Friday morning, and all
day both Saturday, and Sunday. He didn't show up, and he didn't
call. Bob called his apartment, but nobody answered. Bob said Tim
was a very reliable guy, and he couldn't figure out what happened
to him. I asked Bob if he knew Tim's address. He did, and I
suggested that we go over there and check for ourselves. I figured
that if something happened to Tim, like happened to you guys, he
might hole up, and be too embarrassed to come out. Well, we went
over to his apartment, and knocked on the door. Nobody came to the
door right away, but Bob saw Tim's Camarro on the parking lot, so
he figured he was in there. We kept ringing, and knocking, and
finally somebody came to the door. It was a girl, wearing jeans
and a tee-shirt. She had short hair, though, like you guys, and
she looked a lot like Tim."

"Oh, shit, another victim!" Joe said aloud.

"Yeah, I believe so," Jim said. "I asked the girl... She
looked like a girl... I asked Tim if it was him. He said yes. He
was too embarrassed to come out of his apartment looking like he
does, and of course, he thought he was the only one that had the
problem."

"Where is Tim now?" Joe asked.

"He's still at his apartment," Jim answered. "He didn't want
to come out, or go to the hospital. Bob and I brought him some
burgers. She... err... He said he was hungry. He's scared to
death, Joe."

"He needs to get over here," Joe said. "If he sees us, at
least then he'll know he's not alone."

"That's what I was thinking," Jim said. "I can't get him to
go on an airliner, and I don't have a plane available to get him
there. Can you maybe fly back, and pick him up?"

"Yeah, I guess I can," Joe said. He thought about the flight
back, and had another idea.

"My pal Jay Logan has a Mooney 252," Joe said. "I'll call
him. He knows Tim, since he keeps his plane at Deer Valley. I
think I can get Jay to fly over and bring Tim to us. We're getting
a briefing tomorrow which might help him too."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Jim said. "Tell your
friend to fuel up at Firebird, and Honeybone will pick up the
expenses, and you do what you can to help that kid."

"I'll call Jay, and tell him to get in contact with you.
Where will you be for the next few hours?" Joe asked.

"I'm at Firebird, and I'll stick around as long as I need to,"
Jim answered.

"Okay then," Joe said. "I'll call Jay. If I can't reach him,
or he can't get away, I'll fly back with the 421. I think I can
get hold of Jay, though."

"Thanks Joe. I knew I could count on you," Jim said.

"No sweat Jim. I appreciate the backing you've given us," Joe
said honestly.

"Damn," Joe thought, "another victim." Were there others?
How many people would have their lives screwed up like this? He
hung up the phone momentarily, and then picked it back up. He
dialed the number of his best friend Jay. The phone rang three
times, and then the familiar sound of his buddy's voice on the
other end.

"Hey, pal, what you got planned for this evening?" Joe asked.

"Not much, I guess," Jay said. "I just got home, and was
getting ready to find something to eat."

"How would you like to drive your plane over here to Lindberg
Field?" Joe asked.

"Sure, I can do that. You have something you want me to look
at?" Jay asked.

"No, nothing like that," Joe answered. "My boss, Jim Matheney
just called. They've found another person with my problem. A line
boy named Tim Werner."

"Oh, shit! Yeah, I know Tim," Jay interrupted.

"Well, he was watching us, Thursday, and I guess he was in the
wrong place at the right time," Joe said. "Can you fly him over
here? Honeybone will pick up expenses."

"Sure, I'll take him over there. I need the time anyway," Jay
agreed.

"As soon as you can get ready, get over to Firebird. They
should have Tim there by then. I'll meet you on the ramp at Jim's
Air, on Lindberg," Joe said.

"Okay, see you in a few hours," Jay said. The phone clicked
off.

Joe thought about what he had just heard. If Tim had been
affected, that meant that they were probably exposed to whatever
changed them while they were on the ground. That information would
probably be a significant breakthrough. It also meant that the GPS
was almost certainly responsible for the problem, since there was
unlikely to be any other common denominator. Maybe there was hope
yet.

Joe lay back on the bed. The news from Jim had his adrenaline
flowing again. Maybe he should call Karen. He thought about it,
and realized that she was just on the other side of the wall.
There was a locked connecting door, and he went to it and opened
it. On the other side was another door. He knocked on it, and in
a few seconds Karen opened it.

She stood in the open doorway, and asked what Joe wanted. She
had taken off the clothes she had been wearing too, and had on only
a bra and panties.

"What's up, Joe?" she asked.

"I just got a call from Jim Matheney, at Honeybone," he said.
"Jim says that they've found another person who has been changed.
It's a line boy who was watching us set up and calibrate the GPS
equipment BEFORE we flew."

"That's interesting," Karen said. "That means you all were
probably exposed on the ground, right?"

"Yeah, I think it does. That narrows down the cause, at least
a little," Joe said. "I talked to Jim, and my pal Jay is going to
fly the line boy, his name is Tim Werner, to us here in San Diego.
If all goes well, he will be here in about three hours, maybe
less."

"That's a good idea," Karen said. "That'll give Dr. Krell a
chance to look him over and see if he's okay, as well as maybe help
him with the adjustment."

"Right," Joe replied. "Jim said he's really scared, and
embarrassed. I know how he feels. I know it'll help him just to
find he's not the only one."

"How old is he?" Karen asked.

"I don't know for sure, but he's a college student. I'd say
twenty... twenty-one or so," Joe guessed.

"It must be quite a shock," Karen mused, "waking up and
finding you're changed that suddenly. That you aren't a man
anymore."

"You bet it is!" Joe confirmed. "I'm just now starting to
accept the idea of looking like this for a long time, maybe
forever."

"What do we need to do for him here?" Karen asked.

"I don't know," Joe said. "Why don't you come on in, and
let's talk about it."

Karen came into his room, and Joe closed the door. He
followed her back into the room, looking at her figure which was
easy to see since she wore only light blue nylon panties, and on
top, only a matching bra. She turned and saw that Joe was staring
at her butt.

"Like what you see?" she teased, grinning.

"Well, no... I mean... Yeah... I mean... Well, you know...
It's hard to get used to seeing pretty women running around in
their underwear, and keep from staring. I'm sorry," Joe apolo-
gized.

"No, don't be. I'm pleased to find I'm worth looking at,"
Karen said, laughing, "and I love that description."

"It's true," Joe said truthfully. "I'm really impressed at
how you look. If I didn't know, I'd never guess your past."

Karen, although she was almost six feet tall, was very
feminine looking. Only her wide shoulders looked out of place,
giving her the look of a swimmer, or athlete. Her breasts were
average, well developed, and about the same size as Joe's. Both
she and Joe had smaller than average hips, but Karen's were maybe
narrower, though her upper thighs were, perhaps, a little heavier.
Hormones were redistributing her body fat to follow the female
form.

Joe, though he was now genetically female, still had very
little extra body fat. His hips were a bit wider than before the
change, but it was due mostly to changes in his skeletal structure,
rather than changes in amount of body fat. In that respect, Joe
was more like a young girl, just through puberty. He had the
curves, but was only starting to acquire all the fat distribution
of a female.

"I wasn't always this way," Karen said. "When I started on
hormones, It seemed like nothing happened for months. Then my
breasts started to grow, but just a little. It really wasn't until
after my surgery that they really came on. In the last year, I've
found that I have to watch what I eat. I think my butt will really
spread, if I let it." She bent her fanny around so Joe could see
it.

"Nothing to complain about as far as I can see," Joe said,
grinning. "It looks like Dr. Krell does good work."

"Dr. Krell didn't cause this to happen," Karen said, smiling,
and rubbing one of her buttocks. "Hormones did. Dr. Krell is
responsible for this." She turned around, and patted her crotch.

"The other day you said you didn't have much feeling in it,"
Joe said. "Does it look real?"

"Well, I don't know," Karen answered. "You've got a real one
now. Would you like to see it, and compare?"

Joe thought about it. The whole thing was intriguing.
Surgically changing sex. She looked so female. He was curious
about what she really looked like.

"Well... Are you sure you don't mind?" Joe said reluctantly.
"I don't want to seem nosy, but I am curious."

"Heck, it's only fair," Karen said. "I saw what you looked
like when I assisted the other day. I guess I can't complain if
you see me. Besides, we're both women, aren't we?"

"Yeah, I guess we are," Joe agreed.

Karen pulled her underwear down, and stepped out of it. She
put her arms out slightly, and turned around. Then she faced Joe,
and put her feet slightly apart.

Joe looked at Karen in amazement. Even without her panties,
she still looked completely female. Her pubic hair was trimmed
into a triangle, probably so that it would not protrude from tight
fitting swimwear, but not nearly as close as Joe's. Joe wondered
what Karen had in place of a clitoris. He knew that was the key to
the pleasant sensations he experienced now.

"Did they give you a clitoris?" he asked.

"Sort of," Karen said. "They tried to take some of the skin
from the underside of my penis and place it where your clitoris is.
I guess Dr. Krell did the best he could. It looks real enough, I
suppose. I can feel it too, but just barely. Can't say it does
much for me sexually." She reached down and with two fingers,
spread her pubic folds.

Joe looked at her carefully. Unlike his own, Karen's
genitalia had smaller inner lips, and those were much smoother,
without as many crinkles and folds as his had. It also seemed to
be very dry. By comparison, it seemed to Joe, he was always wet.
Sometimes uncomfortably so.

"Is it always dry like that?" he asked. "It seems like I'm
always soaking my underwear."

"I'm sure I don't have the lubrication you have," Karen said,
"but it's adequate. If I were going to have intercourse for a long
time, I would probably need some K-Y jelly or something, or I'd get
sore. The same would happen to you, I suspect, but it might take
longer."

"How do you think it would work if Dr. Krell gave me a new
penis?" Joe asked, looking at the doctor's work.

"Gee, I don't know," Karen answered, stepping into her
underwear and pulling it back up. "I've talked to a few genetic
females who had reassignment surgery to male. Some were pleased,
and others... Well, they wished they had left what they had alone.
I think it's a still few years behind the male to female operation.
Since you had a real penis, you'd be even harder to please."

"Since I've had this body, and I've been getting used to the
way it feels, I think it would be hard enough to go back to my old
body, much less settle for one without any feeling at all," Joe
said, thinking out loud.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Karen agreed. "Dr. Krell does
too, and I don't think he's too keen on changing you guys back
surgically."

"Mike seems to think he will," Joe said. "He says he won't
change his records to female no matter what."

"I know, and if I were Mike, I'm not sure I wouldn't feel the
same way," Karen observed. "It's impossible, I think, to make
anybody become the other sex, or to keep them from changing, if
that's what they really want. It's whatever is in your head that
counts."

"I think even that's changing for me," Joe said. "The other
day, all I wanted was to get my old body shape back, but now, I
think I'm still changing. I think I could stay like this. If I
had to, that is." Joe tried to explain to Karen the confusion that
seemed to be inside his head.

"Interesting. I'm sure that the gender clinic will want to
know about what's going on in your head. Don't be afraid to bring
it up," Karen advised.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Joe argued. "That's easy to say. How do I
tell somebody that, yeah, I'm really a guy, but no, I don't want to
be changed back to a man? How do I do that? Besides, I don't know
if that's really the way I feel, or if female hormones, or
something, are just making me think that's what I want."

"I don't know Joe," Karen answered. "I can only guess. I
know when I started on hormones, I became much more emotional,
crying for no reason, stuff like that. No doubt, they do affect
your head. After surgery, when my testosterone was much lower, I
began to feel a new contentment. Maybe that's what you're feeling.
I don't know. I doubt if anyone could do more than guess."

"Yeah, if I'm stuck like this, I suppose it's just as well
that I'm starting to like it," Joe said, a smile forming on his
face.

"It's not all bad, is it?" Karen agreed.

"No, it's not all bad, that's for sure," Joe agreed.

"I guess we better call Dave and Mike, and let them know
what's going on," Karen said, going over to the phone.

Karen rang Dave's number, and when he answered, she told him
to open his door, and come into Joe's room. Then she dialed Mike,
and told him that Jim Matheney called, and that he should come to
Joe's room too. She hung up the phone, went over, and unlocked the
door on the other side of the room from her own. As she was doing
that, they could hear the rattle of the lock, as Dave opened the
second door. In a few seconds, the door opened, and Dave looked
into the room.

Dave looked surprised to see Karen and Joe standing in their
underwear. Dave was still wearing his jumpsuit. Before they could
say anything, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Joe
went to the door, and opened it slightly. It was Mike, and Joe
opened the door to let him in.

Mike came into the room and stood there, staring at Karen and
Joe. He suddenly realized he was staring, and started mumbling an
apology.

"No reason to apologize," Karen said. "It's time you admit
that you've changed too. We're not embarrassed for you to see us.
Are we, Joe?"

"Uh... No... No we're not," Joe said. He was not embarrassed,
but he was uncomfortable. Mike was still dressed like a man, and
no matter what he looked like underneath, he seemed like he was
one. He felt self conscious standing in his sexy underwear around
a "guy."

"Sit down, everybody," Karen said. "Joe has some news. Tell
'em Joe."

Joe sat on the edge of his bed, and cleared his throat. "I
just got off the phone with Jim Matheney," Joe explained.
"Thursday, when we were calibrating the transmitters, a line boy,
Tim Werner, was watching us. Today, they found him hiding in his
apartment. He has been changed, too. I don't know the extent of
his changes, but we'll be seeing him in about two or three hours.
My friend Jay Logan is bringing him over in his Mooney. Jim wants
us to help him, and make sure that he gets whatever assistance we
do from the clinic."

"So we were affected on the ground," Mike said, "and Tim got
zapped too."

"Yeah," Joe replied. "Jim says that Tim is really scared. We
all know what he's going through. Does everybody want to go along
to the airport to pick him up?"

"Sure. Yeah. Of course," they all agreed.

"Okay then. Do we want to get something to eat before we pick
him up, or wait until afterward?" Joe asked.

"What do you think?" Dave asked. Dave seldom spoke lately,
and it sort of surprised Joe when he did.

"I think we should eat first, because Tim should probably meet
with us before he spends much time in public. I think they almost
have to drag him out of his room," Joe said.

"Hell, I don't blame him," Mike said. "I wonder if his tits
hurt like mine do." He gently massaged his chest through his shirt.

"Some lotion will help the irritation," Karen said. " Take
that shirt off, and let me see."

"No, no, it's all right," Mike insisted.

"Take the shirt off," Karen ordered.

Mike looked at the tall woman. He started to say something,
but stopped, and began to unbutton his shirt. He removed it, and
pulled his T-shirt over his head. On his hairless, muscular chest,
the objects of his pain and embarrassment were very evident.
Mike's well developed pectoral muscles now seemed even larger, due
to the small, but definitely feminine, breast development. His
nipples and areola were fairly large, easily as big as Joe's, and
they were quite erect. The rough men's shirts Mike wore had rubbed
the tender tissue raw, and they looked sore. Embarrassingly, Mike
took a nipple between his fingers, showing Karen, and the others,
the small amount of blood that oozed to the surface of the thin,
irritated skin.

"These darn things really hurt," he said, rubbing it with the
palm of his hand.

"Just a minute," Karen said, going into her room for some-
thing.

In seconds, she was back, with a small plastic bottle with a
pump. She squirted some of the fragrant white liquid onto the tips
of her fingers, and she rubbed it on Mikes tender areas. Mike's
face became red as he allowed Karen to massage the soothing body
lotion into his skin. The softness of his breast tissue looked out
of place on his trim, muscled body. Mike had the slightly
androgynous look of a female body builder.

"There. Now, if you'll just wear a bra, or at least, a silk
undershirt, you'll find that you won't have any problems," Karen
admonished. "Mike, you'll have to stop denying the changes that
you've had. At least keep from hurting yourself."

"Yeah, yeah," Mike said. "That stuff feels pretty good. What
is it?"

"It's Jergens lotion," Karen said. "Here, take the bottle."
She handed Mike the bottle as he was putting his shirt back on.

"I guess we better get going if we are going to find something
to eat, and still make the airport," Joe said.

Joe looked at Mike. Now that he knew how Mike looked, he
realized that he could see the slight bulge of Mike's breasts, as
well as the definite points of his nipples poking at his shirt. He
had not noticed it before. It gave him a new understanding about
the problems Mike was facing.

"Where do we want to go?" Karen asked.

"I'd like a steak," said Mike. "Lets go to Mongo's."

"That sounds good to me," Dave chimed in.

"Suits me, too," Karen agreed. "I think I'll pass on the
steak, but they have a great soup and salad bar."

"Mongo's it is," Joe said. "Now, let me get dressed."

Everyone went back to their rooms. Karen left the door open
between her and Joe's room. Joe noticed it, but did not say
anything. He looked at the clothes he brought, and decided on
shorts, and a new top. The casual look was all right in a place
like Mongo's.

The group went to Mongo's, and when they finished, they were
ready to go to the airport and pick up their new friend.
Article 81869 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 16)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:36:35 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Sixteen
CHANGES

It was about two hours and forty-five minutes from Jim's call
to Joe, when Joe and the gang pulled into the FBO parking area at
San Diego International Airport. Karen, who was driving, parked
the car and Joe, Dave, and Mike followed her into the attractive
waiting room of the upscale fixed base operator. Since it catered
mostly to business travelers, it had nice couches, a TV viewing
area for waiting crew, and even places for waiting pilots to catch
a snooze.

Joe went to the counter. In a moment, he got the attention of
a cute young woman, who was working on a detailed bill for food,
fuel, and other services for the Falcon 50 visible in the big
picture window behind her.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" she asked Joe, who rankled at the way
she said it. He felt weird being referred to that way, especially
by pretty girl.

"Yes," Joe said. "Has a Mooney 252 arrived yet? I'm waiting
for a friend."

"No, it hasn't," she said, "but you're welcome to have a seat,
and help yourself to some coffee." She pointed to a little alcove,
where there were coffee, tea, and a large ice machine.

"Thanks," Joe said. "I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know
as soon as you hear it coming in."

"I sure will," the girl said, smiling.

Joe went back to his friends. "We might as well have a seat,"
he said. "They're not here yet, but I think they should get here
soon."

They all found comfortable seats, and Joe picked up a magazine
and started reading about a new commuter airliner.

Joe was sitting there reading for a while, when his bladder
reminded him he had not emptied it lately. He got up, and went to
the ladies room. Inside the attractive restroom, he entered a
stall, and was relieving himself, when he heard the ladies room
door open. He finished, and as left the stall, he saw it was the
girl behind the counter. She had apparently finished her shift,
and was changing from the little hot pants outfit to something less
revealing. Joe smiled at her as he went to the mirrored sink. The
girl had removed her shorts, and blouse, and was standing there
with nothing covering her fantastic tan but a tiny string bikini
and a little wisp of a bra which her firm breasts hardly needed.
She was truly beautiful, and Joe had difficulty avoiding staring at
her in the mirror, as he pretended to fix his hair. Joe could feel
the old excitement building again.

What is going on? Joe wondered as he watched the girl change
clothes. Yesterday he thought he no longer felt any attraction for
women, but he could not deny the feelings that were making his
heart beat faster, and his underwear uncomfortably wet. Joe did
not know if he was glad he still had his attraction for women, or
if it would simply be an inconvenience, now that he was legally a
woman himself. Maybe it was strangely exciting, but it meant going
into a restroom and then getting turned on by seeing your new peer
group partially clothed, doing all the things women do. Was it a
good thing? He was not sure.

The girl was buttoning her blouse as she joined Joe at the
mirror.

"Are you going on a flight?" she asked, in an attempt at small
talk.

"No," Joe answered awkwardly, "my friend is just stopping by.
He's bringing another friend from Phoenix."

"Oh, yeah," the girl said. "I was in Phoenix last month. I
like the beach better. It's too dry there."

"It is dry," Joe said.

Joe gave himself one last look, and quickly left the restroom.
Being a woman was going to be difficult. He hoped that the wetness
of his underwear would not show through to his shorts. His panties
felt like they were riding up uncomfortably, too. He tried to
discreetly pull them out as he walked back to the waiting area.

Joe joined the others waiting for the plane. Almost as soon
as he was seated, the girl from the ladies room came up to Joe.

"We just heard a Mooney call ground for taxi to our ramp," she
said.

"Thanks," Joe said. He got up and looked at the others.
"Jay's here, I think," he said.

They all went over to the window, and watched for the little
plane. Before long, it rolled into sight. Another girl, wearing
the same little outfit as the girl that parked them, stood on the
ramp waving two yellow flags to tell the pilot where to park. The
Mooney pulled up to the girl, and its propeller snapped to a stop.
In a few moments, Joe could see two people walk to the front of the
plane. Joe went to the door, and went out to the plane, closely
followed by the others. He was amazed by what he saw when he
reached the plane.

Tim Werner had been a handsome guy, about six feet tall, and
maybe one ninety pounds. When Joe reached the Mooney, he saw his
pal Jay, and somebody else. The other person was smaller than Jay,
so he was shorter than five ten, and although it was over eighty
degrees, the other person was wearing a gray sweatshirt. Joe went
up to the person wearing the sweatshirt, and immediately recognized
him/her as Tim Werner. He did not really look exactly like Tim,
but the resemblance was there. If it was not that he had the same
relatively short hair as Tim had, Joe would have thought the
attractive young girl was Tim's sister.

Tim recognized Joe too, at least he thought he did, looking
carefully at the pretty woman who walked up to him.

"Joe? Joe Bates? Is that you?" Tim asked.

"Tim?" Joe responded, holding out his hand.

"Joe what's happened... What happened to us?" Tim asked.

"That's what we're trying to find out here," Joe said,
smiling. "There are some doctors here who specialize in gender
related problems, but they've never had any like us, unfortunate-
ly."

"Are we going to be like this forever then?" Tim asked. "Am
I always going to look like this?"

"Tim, I wish I knew. We can talk about it back at the hotel,"
Joe said. Joe went over to Jay, who was critically looking at his
airplane. "Anything wrong?" he asked.

Jay looked at the pretty woman who came up to him, not
immediately recognizing her as his best friend, Joe Bates. "Yes,
I seem to have an electric fuel pump that keeps popping its circuit
breaker," he said, only realizing who he was talking to as he spoke
the words. "Joe? Is that you, Joe? You look so different. I
don't think I'll ever get used to you having a body like that...
and now the hair... Holy cow!" Jay exclaimed.

"No matter what I look like, it's still me here, Jay," Joe
said. "It's still me. Just a wig, that's all." He pulled at a
lock of his hair.

"Think you can do something with this pump?" Jay asked.

"I doubt it," Joe answered. "I don't have any tools, and
you'll probably need a replacement pump. Do they have support for
Mooneys here?"

"I don't know, but I'll ask," Jay said. "I doubt I'll get
anything this evening."

"Let's find out," Joe said. "If you can't, we'll get you a
room at the hotel for the night."

A line boy came up, and asked what he could do. Jay asked if
they had an A&P, and if they could get parts to fix his plane.

"The mechanics won't be in until 0800," the young man said.
"We might get somebody to come out, but it'll cost you."

"No need to call out a mechanic," Joe said. "Stay the night,
and I'm sure they can fix it quick, tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll let the plane sit tonight," Jay decided. "I'll be
out in the morning."

"Okay, sir," the line boy said. "We'll put it on the
maintenance ramp, so they'll get right to it in the morning."

"Let's go back to the hotel," Joe said. He looked for Tim,
and found him talking with Karen, Dave, and Mike. "Can we all fit
into the Lincoln?" Joe asked. "There are six of us now."

"I think we can manage," Karen said.

They all went back to the parking area, and Joe got in the
back seat, with Jay between him and Tim. There was enough room,
but they were seated closely together, Joe's hips touching Jay's.
Joe felt strange having this new, wider part of him actually
touching his friend. He was acutely aware of the changes in his
body, as they touched a male for the first time since he acquired
them.

They drove back to the hotel quickly. Joe wondered if Tim was
hungry.

"Do you want to get something to eat?" Joe asked his new
friend.

"No, I had something before we took off," Tim said. "I don't
seem to get hungry very often now... among other things." He
seemed a bit relieved to see others sharing his strange affliction.

"You'll probably find that your metabolism has changed, or
will change," Karen said. "That may change your eating habits."

"It certainly has changed about all my other habits," Tim
said. "I hope I can get changed back, 'cause I don't think I could
ever get used to being like this."

"When did you first notice the change?" Joe asked Tim.

"Well, Thursday night I started feeling real funny," Tim
answered, "and my chest started to hurt. I didn't think much of it
and I went to bed. I woke up at about four in the morning. I had
to piss real bad. When I touched my cock, I it seemed it was
really short, or something. I went into the bathroom, and then I
realized something had happened to it. It felt all right, but it
didn't look normal. I didn't know what to do, so I watched and I
saw and felt myself slowly changing... Turning into a girl, I
guess... I don't know... Joe what could cause this to happen to
us?" Tim's now feminine sounding voice was breaking as he spoke,
but he still had a male inflection.

"As far as we know, something in the GPS system causes
chromosome damage, somehow causing the cells to sort of revert to
a default, female XX form," Karen said. "I don't know if it is
possible to cause further changes, or to find a way to reverse
change that has occurred. It would take some form of selective
cell modification capability. Up until now, consistent cell
modification has been beyond our capability, except at the most
simple level."

"So we're stuck like this?" Tim asked.

"We don't have any way back, so far," Joe said.

"Dr. Krell would like you to stay as you are, without
reverting to surgical intervention, until his staff can determine
that cell modification is not possible," Karen went on.

"Surgical intervention? What's that?" Tim asked.

"They can give you an artificial cock," Mike said. "That's
what I'm going to do, as soon as they run out of ideas, trying to
change us back."

"They can do that?" Tim said, suddenly becoming very interest-
ed.

"Yes, it is possible," Karen said, "but the results are not
very consistent, and even at best. It wouldn't be anything like
what you had. You might look like a male, but your new penis
wouldn't function for intercourse. Maybe not even to urinate."

"It couldn't be any worse than this," Tim said. "Hell, I'm
wet all the time, and it itches like crazy."

"It shouldn't itch," Karen said. "Are you keeping yourself
clean?"

"I don't know. I guess so," Tim answered. "I'm pretty
sensitive in that area. Just touching it, or having my clothes rub
it gives me a boner. At least that's what it feels like. Like a
boner... and wet balls."

"I think that describes it," Joe agreed. "According to Dr.
Krell's people, our bodies are now those of completely normal
females. I guess this is what it feels like to be a woman."

"I don't want to be a woman!" Tim said. "I'm a guy, and I
want to stay a guy. They've got to get my cock and my balls back."

"Don't get your hopes up, Tim," Dave chimed in. "What
everybody is trying to tell you is that you're a girl now, and
you're probably going to stay that way, so you better get used to
it."

"Is that really the way it is, Joe?" Tim asked incredulously.
"Is that the way it will be?"

"I don't know, Tim. Dave might be right," Joe agreed. "You
had better try to make the best of the situation."

"The best of the situation? How do I make the best of looking
like this?" Tim asked. "How do I get used to these tits?" He
pulled up his sweat shirt, exposing his fully developed bosom.

Jay looked down at them, and then tried to look away. Tim's
body had obviously developed into the female form, and Jay was very
conscious he was now the only male in the car.

"Keep your shirt on, Tim," Karen admonished. "I know you
don't like what happened to you, but try to maintain decency.
You're embarrassing Jay."

"I'm sorry, Jay," Tim said. "I just don't think of this body
as real. It doesn't seem like it's even my body anymore."

"No problem," Jay said. "You are impressive looking, I must
say."

"Yeah, I suppose I they look pretty good," Tim mused, "but it
doesn't seem like it's me. I'm a guy. I don't have tits. I can't
go around looking like this."

"Dr. Krell will help," Karen insisted. "He'll help you cope
with the problems you're facing." They were just arriving at the
hotel as Karen spoke. She pulled the car into the parking area,
and they all got out.

"We'll have to get two more rooms," Joe said. "I hope we can
get them on the same floor."

"It looks pretty full," Karen observed. "They might not be
able to be on the same floor as we are."

They went to the desk, where Jay, and Tim attempted to check
in for the night. The receptionist at the desk looked at his
computer, and said he was sorry, but they were booked solid for the
rest of the week. Jay looked at Tim, and they turned and looked at
Joe.

"What do we do?" Jay said. "They don't have any rooms left."

"What? They're booked up?" Karen asked. "Well, I have an
extra bed in my room someone can use."

"I do, too," Joe said. "One of you can stay with me."

"Gee, I don't know. Do you think it would be a good idea?"
Jay asked.

"What do you mean?" Joe asked. "We're adults, aren't we? You
can stay in my room. We've stayed in the same room before. We
were roommates in school."

"Yeah, but you didn't look like that, old buddy," Jay said,
grinning.

Joe felt the blood come to his cheeks, as he realized what Jay
meant. They may still be best friends, but for them to share a
room together would not be the same now. The realization irritated
Joe. "I don't care. I can handle it, if you can," he said.

"Tim, you're welcome in my room," Karen said.

"Well... uh... I... ah... Ok, ok, I'll do it," Tim stammered.
He had a little trouble accepting the idea of sleeping in a hotel
room with a woman he had just met.

They went up to the rooms. Everyone stopped in the hall, and
there they decided to meet at seven-thirty for breakfast. Then
they went into their rooms.

When Joe went into his room, Jay following closely behind, he
noticed that the interconnecting doors were still open. He could
see Karen and Tim go into their room, and asked Karen to come over.
She did, and Tim followed.

"Tim, did you bring some other clothes?" Joe asked.

"I just brought some jeans, and some tee-shirts," Tim said.
"I want to wear this sweatshirt outside. I don't want anybody to
see me like this."

"Like they told me, you better get used to it," Joe said. "If
you try, you might find that it isn't so bad." He went to his bag,
and dug around, looking for something.

"Here, try this on tomorrow," Joe said, handing Tim a white
cotton bra and some underwear. "I brought some extra, and I think
they'll fit you, too. Try 'em, they won't make you look stupid.
You might even find you like the way they feel." He grinned at the
confused young man.

"Gee, I don't know. I can't wear stuff like that," Tim
objected.

"Don't worry about it, Tim," Karen said. "I'll help you with
it." Karen took the clothes from Joe, and left the room, standing
in the doorway until Tim followed her through, and then she closed
the door.

Joe and Jay stood looking at each other nervously. Joe closed
up his B-4 bag, and spoke.

"I guess you didn't bring any other clothes either," Joe said,
smiling in embarrassment at his pal.

"No, I didn't," Jay said, a big grin forming on his face. "I
didn't think I would be staying over, and I don't think I want to
borrow any of your underwear either."

"Don't worry, you don't have to," Joe said. "I just want to
help Tim get used to the change. Having Linda around sure helped
me with it."

"Joe, it's amazing how you've adapted," Jay said. "You look
great, and you seem to be doing fantastic."

"Do you really think so?" Joe asked. "I'm trying the best I
can. I have to admit, it does seem to get easier the longer I stay
this way."

"Have you found out any news? Is there really any hope of
getting back?" Jay asked.

"I don't know, Jay," Joe said. "They haven't found anything
yet. It looks like it'll be difficult, if it's not impossible. I
changed my records today, so I'm legally a female now, I guess."

"Really? You're legally a woman now?" Jay said. "If that
ain't a kick in the head. My old roommate, Joe Bates... A woman!"

"Yeah, that's the way I see it too," Joe replied. "A kick in
the head. I can't believe its happened to me... That I look like
this... That I might someday become an old lady... Jay, I don't
know if I want to be an old woman!" Joe started to become emotion-
al, and looked like he was going to cry. Jay came up and put his
arm around him. Joe started to put his arms around Jay, and was
starting to cry on his shoulder, when he realized what he was
doing, and froze. He pulled back, and looked at his pal.

"I'm sorry, Jay," Joe said. "I didn't mean to do that. I
don't know what came over me. I feel so strange sometimes."

"Hey, no problem. I'm here for you. You do whatever you feel
like. I understand. You're different now. You can't help it,"
Jay said, trying to make Joe feel comfortable around him.

"It's true," Joe said. "I do feel different. I don't know if
I can help it or not, but sometimes, I just get overcome with
emotion. I was never like that before."

"You were never a woman before, Joe," Jay reasoned. "Maybe
that's what the problem is."

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the problem, but what's the answer?"
Joe asked his friend.

"If you're a woman, and you might have to stay a woman, maybe
you should just let your feelings go, sometimes," Jay suggested.
"I'd understand. I think everyone else would too."

"I know they would," Joe said. "Everyone has been so good
about understanding our problem. I thought we'd be considered
freaks, or something, but so far, everyone has been fantastic.
It's made the situation almost bearable."

"Well, I'm here for you," Jay said, taking Joe's hand. "We
were buddies before, and we can stay buddies."

Joe felt strange taking Jay's hand, but the warm, strong hand
made him feel better. He squeezed it, and Jay returned the
squeeze. "Could I ask a favor, and would you promise not to be
offended?" Joe asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Sure. Anything," Jay responded.

"Would you... Would you hug me?" Joe asked.

"I'd be honored," Jay said, pulling Joe to him.

They stood there, arms wrapped around each other. They were
both feeling a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure as they held
each other tightly. Joe was surprised at how strong and muscular
Jay felt, and how good it felt to be held in the strong arms of a
man. Jay was surprised at how soft and fragile Joe felt in his
arms. He certainly looked like a girl, but now holding him in his
arms, he could feel Joe's breast's pressing against his chest, and
could smell his feminine scent. It seemed his pal really was a
woman now.

"Gosh Joe, you even smell like a woman, did you know that?"
Jay asked, breaking the spell.

"What do you mean by that?" Joe asked. "Do I smell strange,
or something?" He wondered what kind of an odor Jay was smelling.

"No, you sure don't smell strange, that's for sure. You smell
great," Jay laughed.

"Maybe it's the bath powder. I noticed that it has a scent.
I thought it reminded me of her," Joe thought out loud.

"Well, I like the smell, whatever it is," Jay repeated.

"I guess we better get to bed," Joe said, trying to change the
subject. He did not know how to handle this male-female thing yet.

"Yeah, which bed do you want?" Jay asked.

"Either one is fine with me," Joe answered. "Do you want to
shower?"

"Yeah, I guess I better," Jay said, "but you can use the
bathroom first, if you want."

"Well... Okay, I will," Joe said. "I have to get this makeup
off. Linda told me I shouldn't sleep with it on." The words
sounded silly as soon as he spoke them.

"Well, you had better wash it off then," Jay said.

Joe started to go into the bathroom, and then he realized that
he did not have his shaving case. He rummaged through his B-4 bag
until he found the things he needed. He went into the bathroom,
and shut the door. It was now felt strange being around a man,
even if the man was your best friend.

In the bathroom Joe took off his blouse, and shorts, and then
removed his underwear. He washed his face, and washed away his
makeup. He brushed his teeth, and then sat on the stool to pee.
As he sat there, he looked at his underwear, and decided to wash
them out in the sink. It only took a second, and his bra and
panties were hanging on the towel rack to dry. Then he realized
that Jay would be in there next, and would see his feminine things
hanging there. He wanted to take them with him, but they were now
dripping wet. When he started to leave the bathroom, he realized
that he was naked, and Jay was out there. What was he going to do?

Joe looked around, and found a large bath towel. He pulled it
off the shelf, and wrapped it around his curves, tucking it in on
the side. Now he was ready to face Jay again. He screwed up his
courage, took his clothes in his hand, and opened the door. He
went out into the main room, where Jay had turned back his bed and
was lying there, watching the news.

Jay looked up when he saw Joe. "You're done already?" he
asked. "I thought women took forever in the bathroom."

"Maybe they do," Joe said, grinning. "I guess I just haven't
figured out what all I'm supposed do in there yet."

"It appears that you're doing all the right things," Jay
complemented.

"Your turn," Joe said. He wanted to get his terry romper from
the B-4 bag, and put it on.

"Okay," Jay said, and went into the bathroom.

Joe went to his bag, and found the terry romper. He took it
and put it on the bed while he removed the towel. He was just
reaching for the romper, when the bathroom door opened and Jay came
out.

"I wonder if you might have an extra tooth bru..." Jay looked
at his naked friend.

Joe froze in position, wanting to reach for the towel, but not
wanting to move, and take his hands away from his breasts.

"Err... Excuse me... I didn't realize... I... ah..." Jay was
un-customarily speechless.

Finally, Joe found he could move again. "I... err... I was
just putting this on," he said, picking up the little romper.

"God, Joe, you're beautiful, you know that?" Jay said, walking
over to his friend. "Can I look at you?"

"Well... I... err... I guess so. Sure, why not?" Joe stood
up, and let his friend look at his changed body.

"I could tell that you were softer the other day at the health
club, when you wore the leotard. I thought then you looked pretty
good, but I didn't realize how good. How can you stand having a
body like that?" Jay asked his pal.

"Gee, Jay, what do you think I do? Fondle myself all day? A
lot of people look like this," Joe said.

"Well, if I looked like that, I probably would," Jay said, a
wide grin forming on his face as he watched Joe put the romper on,
his boobs bouncing sexily as he pulled it over them.

"Get in there, and take a cold shower," Joe said, a grin
coming to his face too. "Look in my shaving kit, I might have a
new toothbrush."

Jay returned to the bathroom. Joe heard the water start to
run, and before long Jay was finished. He came out of the bathroom
wearing only his jockey shorts. Joe looked at his friend, the
bulge of Jay's maleness now seemed strangely interesting to him.
He found he could not take his eyes from Jay's crotch. Jay saw he
was looking, and faced him.

"You really are a woman now, aren't you, Joe," Jay said. "Are
you finding me as interesting as I find you?"

"I don't know, Jay," Joe said. "I guess I am changing. I'm
trying to decide how I feel about men... about sex. I thought I
wasn't interested, but... I don't know... I just wish I could
control what's going on in my head." He put his head in his hands.

Jay came over to where Joe was sitting on the side of the bed.
He reached down, and took Joe's hand. He pulled him up, and took
him in his arms.

"Would you be terribly offended if I kissed you?" Jay asked,
looking down into Joe's eyes.

"Holy cow, Jay," Joe said. "I don't think we..."

He was interrupted by Jay placing his lips on his. It did not
feel strange at all. Joe let himself melt in the strong arms of
his friend, and felt Jay's tongue try to enter his mouth. He
parted his lips and teeth, and let Jay do whatever he wished.

As they kissed, Joe could feel his body responding to the
caress that Jay was giving his back. He felt the wetness of
excitement, and felt his breasts becoming sensitive to the touch of
Jay's bare chest. Jay must have felt Joe's hardening nipples too,
because he suddenly put his hand down into the top of the little
romper, and took one of Joe's breasts in his hand, fondling and
caressing it, causing a sensation Joe had never experienced before.

Joe had made love since becoming a woman, but only with Linda.
Since she was a woman, Linda knew how to touch all the right
buttons to make Joe's body feel good, but Linda could not match the
strong, forceful feeling of Jay. It was a mixture of pleasure and
roughness, and it made Joe's knee's weak. He put his head back
enjoying the sensation as Jay kissed his neck. Joe felt his crotch
tighten as Jay's tongue tasted his neck.

Joe had been wondering what it would be like to be with a man,
but he could not have imagined what he was experiencing. He found
he loved it when Jay touched him. He wanted to be touched all
over. He seemed to be losing control of his own body, like it had
a mind of its own. Joe found that he wanted Jay. This new body of
his wanted Jay inside him. It was like he now had this hollow
spot, and it just had to be filled. He could tell that Jay wanted
him, too.

"Jay... ah... Do I... Can I ask another favor?" Joe asked.

"God, Joe, anything. Just name it," Jay said, as he caressed
Joe's breasts, which were now completely exposed, the little romper
was down to Joe's waist.

"Jay... would you... could we... I... ah... I just want to
feel you inside me," Joe said, finally getting it out. It seemed
he was having trouble breathing, his breath coming in little gasps,
as he felt himself being overrun by passion.

"Would I?" Jay said. "I don't think you could stop me!" He
stopped the caressing, and stood back, looking at Joe.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jay asked his friend, who
seemed more excited than any woman Jay had ever been with.

"God, yes... I want you... I want to feel you... Please!" Joe
begged hearing his body pleading for release. He was no longer in
control.

Jay started to remove his undershorts, and when Joe saw his
penis, his eyes got huge. Joe knew that Jay was not a big stud, or
anything, and probably could not even be considered well hung, but
when he saw Jay's manhood, the thought of it going inside him
changed his urge from raw desire to fear. It did not look like
anything that big could fit inside him. At least not without
hurting him seriously. He remembered the pain he experienced in
the doctor's office.

"Ah... err... I don't know, maybe we shouldn't," Joe stam-
mered.

"What's wrong?" Jay asked. He was standing there, his
erection was ready to explode.

"Should we really be doing this?" Joe asked.

"Why not?" Jay questioned. "I'm a man, and you're... You're
a woman now, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Joe answered. "It's just that... I don't
know... I mean... What if I get pregnant?" He remembered what the
Dr. Krell told him.

"Can you do that?" Jay asked, showing surprise.

"I think so," Joe answered. "They told me I probably could,
and that I should take precautions if I decided to do something
like this. God, I never thought I would be wanting to do this."
He was torn between this new, powerful desire, and basic concern
for his well being.

"Just stand by a minute," Jay said, and went into the
bathroom. He returned with a couple of condoms in their foil
packs.

"Where did you get those?" Joe questioned.

"They were in your shaving kit," Jay answered, grinning.

Joe remembered. Sure, he always kept a few in there, in case
he needed them, just for times like this. Of course, he never
considered he would use them this way.

"Okay, okay, we'll do it. I just have to know what it feels
like, but please, you've got to be gentle. It looks like that
thing can hurt me," Joe said, looking at Jay's stiff appendage.

"I'll be gentle," Jay promised. "You can be on top, if you
want."

Jay lay back on the bed and opened one of the foil packets.
He took the rubber out and unrolled it on his erect penis, as Joe
watched in interest. He had never seen another man putting on a
condom before, and he was surprised at how strange it looked. He
must have had a funny look on his face, because Jay commented,
"Haven't you ever seen somebody putting one of these on before?"

"Hell, no. Have you?" Joe returned.

"Of course... Well... err... No, I guess I haven't," Jay
considered.

"Let me tell you then, it's not the sexiest thing I've seen
tonight," Joe said, unable to suppress a big grin.

"Let's get on with it," Jay said. "Unlike you, I'm under
pressure to perform." He grinned.

Joe slid the romper down, stepping out of it, and ran his hand
along his own crotch, in an attempt to tease Jay.

"Don't worry, I think I can remember what makes your willy
feel good. We can keep the pressure up," Joe said, trying his best
to sound seductive. Joe was aware of the effect a female body had
on a male's, and noticed that his actions were having the desired
effect on Jay's libido.

Not really sure how to go about it, but anxious to know what
it would feel like, Joe got on the bed with Jay; then crawled over
and straddled his hips. As he stood there on his knees, Jay's
erect penis was almost touching his belly. He reached down, and
timidly took it in his hand. It was warm. He did not remember his
own penis feeling that warm when he touched it. He was impressed
by the silky texture, and the almost instant hardness of the thing.
With his fingers wrapped around it, he squeezed it and instinctive-
ly moved his hand up and down. He had never touched another man's
penis before, and he found it was very different from touching his
own. The lubricant on the condom made everything very slippery.
Jay let out a little gasp.

"Now don't get carried away," Jay warned. "I think I'm almost
ready to shoot off as it is. If you want to try it on for size,
you had better lay off the preliminaries."

Joe looked down at the hard flesh. He lifted one of his knees
and began rubbing the tip of Jay's penis along the moist folds
between his legs. It felt fantastic, but he was still apprehen-
sive. The big thing would probably split him in two. Jay pushed
his hips up, trying to push against Joe with his penis. When Jay
did that, Joe would raise his crotch up, and his movements were
keeping Jay from entering him.

"Come on Joe, put it in, won't you? You're driving me nuts,"
Jay pleaded.

"I'm working on it. You'll get your chance," Joe said. "I've
got to do this at my own pace, and I don't want to rush it."

Finally, Joe took Jay's penis, and placed at what he figured
was the opening to his vagina. He took a deep breath, and let his
body slowly descend on Jay's hardness. Jay thrust upwards, and Joe
felt it starting to go inside him.

Joe tensed for the pain he knew would come. Suddenly, he felt
Jay's hands on his hips, pulling him down, impaling him. Joe could
sense that Jay was inside, but was surprised to find that it did
not hurt for him to be there. It did not hurt at all. It felt
sort of strange actually, not particularly good, but not bad
either. "Was this it?" he thought.

Then Jay started pumping, moving around, and sliding in and
out. Now that felt great, he could not resist matching Jay's
movements stroke for stroke. Looking down, Joe noticed his breasts
were bobbing along with the movement, and it embarrassed him. He
dropped forward, and lay down on top of Jay, closing his eyes. He
let himself be carried away by the new sensation. At the top of
Jay's movement, Joe was enjoying a pleasurable friction on his
clitoris, and that was followed by a strangely wonderful feeling of
fullness he could not describe. It was fantastic, and he wanted it
to continue forever.

After only a minute or so of this new sensation, Joe could
feel Jay tensing up beneath him. He knew from experience what was
happening, and tightened his own muscles, remembering how good it
felt to have a snug vagina gripping your penis. He was surprised
to find how pleasurable it was for him too. Why didn't women do it
more often, if it felt this great? He wondered.

"I'm sorry Joe, but I'm going to cum," Jay said. "You're just
so tight, and feel too good."

Joe hugged him, pressing Jay's crotch into his own, and tried
to crimp down on Jay's penis as tight as he could. Jay's legs
became stiff, and he squeezed Joe so tight he could hardly breathe.

"Back off a little, man," Joe gasped. "You're crushing me."

"You're fantastic, Joe," Jay said.

Now Joe could feel the twitching of Jay's penis, as it
squirted his load. Joe tried to feel it inside him, but then
remembered the condom. Strangely, he found himself wishing that
Jay was not wearing one. "What's wrong with me?" he wondered. "I
don't have some secret desire to get pregnant, do I?"

Jay's muscles released, and he let himself go limp. Joe could
feel his penis, which was still inside him, getting smaller and
softer. He did not want the moment to end, but realized that it
was not Jay's fault. He raised his pelvis, and felt a little pop
as Jay's penis came out of his still wanting vagina. He rolled off
of Jay, and lay on his back beside him.

"That was good, Joe," Jay said. "I think maybe the best I
ever had."

"Oh, yeah?" Joe looked at him and grinned widely. "I'm glad
you liked it, but I'm beginning to realize what sex is all about
for a woman."

"Is it better than for a guy?" Jay asked, becoming curious.

"Maybe it's just because it's my first time... from this side,
of course... but yeah, I think it feels better, but it doesn't
last long enough," Joe said.

"I'm sorry," Jay apologized. "I was just too excited... You
felt so good... I couldn't hold back any longer. You remember how
it is, don't you."

"Sure, I remember," Joe replied. "I remember all too well.
I remember all the times I did the same thing, and didn't realize
how it left the woman... The way she felt... The way I feel right
now. Can we do it some more?"

"Well, I'm not seventeen," Jay said, smiling. "Give me a
little while and we can go again."

Joe looked down at his pal's organ. It was no longer erect,
but it was still wrapped loosely in the condom. The condom was
slightly tinged with pink, which Joe realized was a mixture of the
lubricant, his secretions, and blood. Then he suddenly realized he
was not a virgin anymore. His hymen was torn completely now, as
evidenced by the pink condom. He tensed the muscles in his crotch,
and felt a small irritation. He touched himself with his hand,
placing a finger inside his opening. The narrowing he felt that
morning was gone. Feeling himself, he also realized that he was
still excited, and his clitoris was begging to be touched.

Jay watched Joe inspecting himself, and found the sight highly
erotic.

"You're beautiful, do you realize that?" Jay said. "Would you
mind if I touched you?"

"I think I'd love it," Joe said. "I still want you inside.
I can't explain the way it feels. It's really good."

Jay touched one of Joe's breasts, and softly caressed it. "I
think I can be ready to go again soon," he said, and looked down at
his own softness. He saw the used condom still on it, and started
to carefully pull it off.

"Look at this pink stuff," Jay said. "I don't remember it
looking pink when I put it on."

"I was a virgin, then," Joe grinned. "Now, I'm not."

"You were a virgin? I took your... Really?" Jay stammered in
awe.

"I guess I got to lose my cherry two times," Joe teased. "The
second was much easier, for me than the first." He remembered his
first awkward time with a girl.

"I didn't realize you were a virgin," Jay said, sounding
sorry.

"What did you think?" Joe replied. "When I changed, every-
thing seemed to reform to what it would be if I were born a female.
There aren't any physical changes when guy loses his cherry, but
there can be for a girl." Joe put his hand over his crotch.

"What should I do with this?" Jay asked, holding the gooey,
cum filled rubber.

"Flush it. I don't want it," Joe said, smiling.

Jay got up, and took the condom to the bathroom. Joe heard a
flush, and Jay came back to the bed. His penis was still limp, and
Joe realized then that he had probably never seen another man's
erection, up close and personal, until today. The difference in
size between the aroused and limp state was amazing. Joe wondered
if he'd ever have a penis again. He was not sure if he cared.

Jay stood by the side of the bed, just looking at Joe's body.
As he did, Joe saw Jay's penis began to stiffen. He reached over,
and put his hand around it, pulling Jay to the bed with his cock.

"Don't rip it off," Jay teased.

Joe squeezed him tightly, and felt him getting harder by the
second. He slowly ran his hand up and down along the shaft, until
Jay seemed about the same as he was before.

"Looks like you're about ready for action again, tiger," Joe
said.

"You just don't give a guy a minute, do you," Jay teased. "It
must be really good, the way you're acting."

Joe considered what Jay was saying. Maybe he was acting a
little horny, but he had not climaxed yet, and Jay had. As a male,
he was used to performing until he found release. Now, he was
dependant on the endurance of his partner. It was a new position
to be in, and he was not used to it. Right now, he just wanted to
feel Jay inside him, and find relief. With Linda, even since the
change, she had treated him more like a man, always concerned with
his sexual release, and of course, with her, there was no erection,
or lack of one, to be concerned with.

"Humor me, will you?" Joe asked. "I'm not used to this, and
I guess I don't really know how to act."

"You're doing okay," Jay said. "You're doing okay." He
closed his eyes as Joe stroked his penis.

"Let's do it again," Joe said, getting the second rubber from
the stand, and ripping the wrapper open.

"I'm with you," Jay said. "Do you want to put it on me?"

"Lie back," Jay said.

Joe took the rubber and rolled it on his friend's appendage.
When it was in place, he lay back on the bed beside Jay, and cupped
his breasts with his hands, trying to tease, and entice his pal.
"Come and get it," he said. He spoke as seductively as he could,
but talking like that made him feel kind of silly.

Jay rolled over, and put his lips right on Joe's left breast,
taking the whole nipple in his mouth, and suckling like an infant.
The action surprised Joe, but he discovered it felt very pleasur-
able. As he worked on Joe's breast with his mouth, Jay started
fondling Joe's crotch with his hand. The combination felt
fantastic, and Joe began to writhe with pleasure.

"Feels pretty good, huh?" Jay asked, watching Joe move with
pleasure to his touch.

"Yeah... Ah... Yeah, it does," Joe answered. His eyes were
closed, and his breathing had become short gasps.

"Do you want me to continue, or are you ready to get down to
business?" Jay asked.

"I... Ah... I don't know. Keep doing this for a while," Joe
breathed.

Joe could feel his pleasure reaching a crescendo. He found
that what he wanted was for Jay to enter him, but he did not want
him to stop what he was doing with his hand. He rolled on his
side, and pulled Jay's penis toward his crotch. Jay maneuvered
into position to enter him, and removed his hand from Joe's vulva.

"Don't stop what you were doing with your hand," Joe begged.
It was embarrassing to ask, but it felt so good.

Jay kept his finger near Joe's clitoris, but with difficulty,
he was able to get his penis into Joe's opening at the same time.
Joe was moving around so much that Jay just lay there, and held
himself in position. In a few minutes, Joe tensed up, and became
stiff as a board. Jay could feel a rhythmic tightening and
loosening, as Joe experienced orgasm.

Joe lay still, gasping for air. Jay started to move his hips,
but he was immediately stopped by Joe.

"Ohhh! Don't move... Don't move!" Joe begged. "I can't stand
it!"

The feeling of Jay's touch on his clitoris now felt excruciat-
ingly painful. When he was with Linda, she instinctively knew when
to touch him, and when to stop. Jay's more aggressive approach to
intimacy was ok until he reached climax, but afterward, any touch
to that area became intolerable.

Jay pulled away from Joe, and lay on his back beside him.

"I hope you you've had enough," Joe said to his friend. "I
don't think I can take any more for a while."

"No, I'm fine," Jay said. "It was fantastic! If anybody had
asked me if I'd ever go to bed with you, I'd have punched them out,
but you were fantastic."

"Yeah, I never thought I'd want to do this, but it was almost
like I was out of control," Joe said.

"I have that effect on women," Jay grinned.

"The hell you do," Joe said, poking him in the ribs.

"Anyway, it was fantastic," Jay repeated. "I don't think it
ever felt like that before. It was like you could read my mind.
You knew just what would feel good."

"I guess I did know," Joe said. "Remember, a week ago, I was
on that side of the fence. I still remember it."

"Is it better on that side?" Jay asked his attractive friend.

"I don't know, exactly," Joe told his friend. "It's good...
It's great, but I don't know if it's really better. Just differ-
ent. You feel pretty good, too, you know that?"

"I had a suspicion from the way you were acting," Jay
answered.

"You should feel it," Joe said. "It's like somebody turned up
the gain on all my senses. It's not bad sometimes. I think maybe
I could learn to like it."

"Sounds like you might get the chance," Jay said.

"Yeah," Joe mused. "I know. I don't like to think about it.
It's easier if I think of it as temporary. I don't want to
consider what my life might be like if I have to stay like this."

They lay there talking. The subjects ranged from cars to
planes, even women. Eventually, they fell asleep. Joe lay next to
Jay. He had no desire to go to the other bed.
Article 91947 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 17)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:37:02 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Seventeen
LEARNING

It was still dark when Joe woke up. He could feel an arm
across his chest. He wondered what time it was, and looked over at
the glowing display of the clock radio on the nightstand. It said
five a.m. Joe wondered if it was accurate. He decided it must be
close.

Joe Bates lay deep in thought. What was it now... Tuesday?
He had been this way only five days, and already, here he was, in
bed with a man. Not just any guy either, but his best friend, Jay
Logan. He thought about last night. Neither of them had planned
what had happened, but what did come about was beyond his wildest
expectations.

Only yesterday, Joe had signed papers changing his legal
gender to match his new anatomy. That alone would have been enough
for most guys. Then, that same evening, he ended the day by
sleeping in the same bed, and actually having intimate relations
with, his long time best friend. What was next? What was
happening to him? Here he was, in bed with Jay, and he realized,
he was actually enjoying it. Was he now homosexual? He considered
the possibility. Of course, he still thought of himself as male,
at least in his head. But, there was no denying that his body, and
now, even his body image, was becoming quite feminized. He
couldn't deny it any more than he could change it. Joe hadn't
asked to be this way. He had no control over the new
feelings...the new urges that the change had given his body.

Joe peered over at Jay. In the semi-darkness, he could see
the faint outline of his friend's face. He watched Jay breathing,
and wondered what they might say to each other in the morning. The
whole thing was a strange combination of familiarity and curiosity,
a mixture of old, and, at least for Joe, very new sensations. He
was surprised at how natural everything had seemed. He never
thought he would have the nerve to get this near to a man, but now
it had happened, and it didn't seem so unusual at all. As he gazed
at his pal, he felt a strange contentment begin to overtake him.
For some reason, he was glad that he had been able to share this
new experience with Jay.

Suddenly, Jay stirred slightly. He coughed, and moved his
arm. His hand was now directly on Joe's right breast, and although
he was obviously still asleep, he instinctively stroked it once,
and cupped his hand over it. This sensation felt strange to Joe.
When he wasn't walking or moving around, he usually couldn't really
sense the new tissue on his chest. Even when he did, it sort of
felt like a lump of soft fat, bouncing and jiggling with any
movements that he made. But it didn't feel particularly sexy, or
erotic. It was now just another part of his body, if anything, a
source of embarrassment, at least for someone who still considered
himself a man inside. That was most of the time. As Joe became
more familiar with his changed body, he had begun to accept the
presence of the soft mounds on his now quite hairless chest. He
was even starting to like the way he looked, enjoying the feel of
soft, feminine clothing which defined his new curves. At those
times, those little fleshy bulges became more... a mark of his new
femininity, a source of pride, and sometimes... pleasure. Usually,
when Joe touched his own chest, the sensation was nothing special.
But, when anyone else touched him there... well, that was differ-
ent. As Joe lay there, contemplating the touch of Jay's hand, he
felt his crotch muscles tighten involuntarily. Strange the way it
does that, he thought. He tensed the muscles himself. He couldn't
feel any difference there from yesterday, even though he knew he
had changed ... perhaps more psychologically than physically ...
with what had happened just a few hours ago.

Joe ran his hand over the soft hair on his now somewhat
prominent pubic mound. Lower down, between his legs, it was still
damp and matted. Touching there felt good, so he kept his hand
there, gently rubbing the still somewhat unfamiliar, silky soft,
folds of tissue which replaced his male parts. Even when it was
your own, a female body felt so different than a male, he consid-
ered. Now, everything about it was soft and pliable. His male
body had been so much harder and rougher. Even his pubic hair,
which was now closely trimmed, felt much softer, finer than before.
I guess I can get used to this, Joe thought. Seems I'll have to,
in any case. Then, he fell asleep again, the contented smile still
on his face.

************

The sun was shining around the edges of the drawn curtain when
Joe woke again. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Jay was
awake, watching him. He returned the look, and smiled.

"Who'd have thought this, huh?" Jay said, returning the smile.

"Yeah, who," Joe repeated. He yawned, and raised his arms
over his head to stretch. It was only then he realized that he was
still wearing the hairpiece.

"I don't know about you, but it was quite an experience for me
last night," Jay said. "You were fantastic."

"Well, I guess we both just did what comes naturally," Joe
replied. "I suppose it helps that I know how it feels like from
your side." He grinned with embarrassment.

Jay kept looking at Joe. He reached over, and gently ran a
finger along Joe's soft breast, watching its pink tip change from
a soft, full cone to a firm point as he did so. Joe found that
Jay's light touch tickled the sensitive skin, and he involuntarily
shook his chest slightly, which made his breasts jiggle.

"That tickles," Joe said, feeling an embarrassed blush warm his
face.

"Joe, I still have trouble accepting what has happened to
you," Jay said. "You're so beautiful, it's hard to believe that
what happened was caused by an accident."

"But it's still me, Jay, don't forget that," Joe reminded him.
"And if that's a problem for you to accept...you should spend a day
in my shoes."

"What do you have planned for today?" Jay asked.

"Well, we all have to go to the clinic at about nine. We have
some kind of class, or briefing. I think its about hygiene ...
stuff like that. We might even talk about contraception too, I
think," Joe explained.

"So the doctors think you can actually get pregnant?" Jay
asked with curiosity. "How do they know that?"

"I don't know," Joe answered. "I suspect they are making an
assumption, based on what they found during the physical examina-
tions."

"What did they find?" Jay continued.

"Nothing, I guess, just that we all seemed to have undergone
a more or less complete transition to a female appearance.
Apparently, even my chromosomes are now XX, rather than the male
pattern XY. That means that even my body's cell structure has
become feminized."

"I suppose it's hard for you to live with, but it sure
improved your appearance," Jay said, a big grin on his face.

"You're just horny," Joe said, punching Jay's hairy chest
lightly with his fist. "Seriously, it is hard to adjust to the
differences, but...I will admit, it's not all bad though. And I
can still feel changes happening... physical, as well as... I
guess... mental. I think it's actually affecting the way I think."

"Well, we both have said, on more than one occasion, that
women process information differently from men. Maybe it's really
true," Jay said, becoming serious again.

"Yeah, I suspect it is," Joe reasoned. "But I still have the
same kind of thoughts... sort of anyway... but I'm certain I'm more
emotional now. I still like the same things... maybe feelings
about sex excepted... but I know I'm looking at things... reacting
to them differently. It's quite a strange thing to experience
actually."

"Do guys really turn you on now?" Jay asked seriously. "Did
you really want to have sex with me, or did you just want to know
what it would feel like?"

"I don't know," Joe said. "Last night, I could feel myself
being taken over by something... I don't know what... I just had to
do it... I don't know if that's the way it is for all females, or
if my male head was having a strange reaction to the new hormones
that must be getting to it... I don't know. I can tell you it felt
great. It really did. Thanks for being there when I needed you."
He grinned.

"My pleasure," Jay said. "If you find you need to do it
again, just let me know. I'm always willing to help you with a
problem like that," Jay's face displayed a wicked grin.

"We'll see," Joe said, making an attempt at an innocent smile.
"We'll see."

"Do you think we should get up?" Jay questioned. "It's almost
seven."

Joe modestly pulled the sheet over his chest.

"Yeah, I guess I should." He said. "I have to shower, and
it's taking me longer to get ready now. Actually, I haven't even
done it all by myself before."

"You can go in first," Jay said. "Can I use your razor to
shave?"

"Sure." If you don't mind that I'm using it on my legs," Joe
said, grinning. "You can put a new cartridge in, though."

"Ok. I'll do that." Jay returned the grin.

Joe got up, and began to look for his terrycloth outfit. He
found it embarrassing for him to be around Jay while nude. Jay
reached down to the floor on his side of the bed and retrieved the
little light blue cover up.

"Cute," He said, as he handed it to Joe, who quickly stepped
into it, and pulled it over the soft mounds of his chest.

"I know, I know. It's hard for me to get used to this stuff
too," Joe said. "But I'm a little smaller and shorter now. My old
clothes just didn't fit at all, and I've got to wear something.
This is what fits."

"You really look great," Jay said again. "If you have to be
a woman, at least be glad you're so attractive. It would be a
bitch to be changed into an ugly girl."

"You know, that's an unusual thing about it," Joe related.
"When I first see myself in the mirror, I don't always immediately
recognize that it's me. I guess I'm not used to what I look like
yet. But when I see myself as I dress... put makeup on, or
whatever, I don't really feel all that attractive... I just feel
like me. Sometimes, when I put this stuff on, I feel like I'm just
dressing in drag."

"Well, trust me, old buddy, you're a looker," Jay said.

"I'll try to remember that" Joe said, and turned and walked
into the bathroom, pulling the door closed.

In the bathroom, Joe looked at the items on the counter.
There were little complimentary bottles of shampoo and conditioner.
Also, there was a packet of bubble bath, and soap. Joe remembered
the pleasant feeling when he soaked in the tub with Linda, and
decided he would try a bath rather than a shower. He put the
stopper in the tub, and started the hot water running. Pouring the
packet of bath beads into the flow, he watched the bubbles begin to
form. While the tub filled, he decided to use the toilet. He
removed the little terrycloth coverup and dropped it to the floor.
He sat on the stool to relieve himself. He was curious if the
changes to his body caused by losing his new virginity would change
the way the flow left his body, but decided that he really couldn't
tell any difference. The procedure required to urinate was already
much different than when he had a penis. He didn't... he couldn't
aim... but just sat there, and sort of let it happen. But the
result was the same.

He quickly finished, and saw that the tub was almost filled
with warm water thick with bubbles. He looked at the tub, and
thought about what he was doing. This time last week, he wouldn't
even have considered doing anything like taking a bubble bath. But
then, last week he didn't have this soft, sensitive body to deal
with. He stuck a toe into the water to feel the temperature. It
felt hot, but tolerable, so he went to the counter, took a wash
cloth and the bar of Caress bath soap, settled into the bubbles,
and let the warmth engulf his body.

Joe took the soap and begun rubbing it over himself, making
his soft skin soapy slick. He soaped his chest, enjoying how his
breasts felt when they were covered with the sudsy water.
Suddenly, he realized he was still wearing the wig, and carefully
removed it with wet hands. As carefully as he could, he tossed it
over onto the counter top. With the wig off, his scalp felt cool,
since it was now covered only by his relatively short, male,
hairstyle. He scratched his head. The shorter hair now felt
unfamiliar. He went back to soaping himself, and carefully washed
his genitalia. When his soapy fingers found his clitoris, he spent
perhaps a little more time than necessary making sure that the
little nub of flesh, which now seemed to contain all the sensitive
nerves that had been in the head of his penis, was spotlessly
clean.

When Joe felt he was finished, and the bubbles were waning, he
got up, and hopped out of the tub. His slick, wet, hairless body
was still covered with soapy suds. Joe wondered how he could get
the stuff off. He remembered why he liked showers better, and
reached for one of the large, thick bath towels on the rack. The
absorbent towels quickly took the water off, and the soapy residue
actually seemed to make his skin softer. As he dried his legs,
stubble, which had formed since the last time he had shaved, could
be felt. What would he do about that?

He decided to let the water out of the tub, and when it was
gone, he took his razor, and shave cream from his kit, and stepped
back into the tub. He put some cream on his legs, and then a
little under his arms, Then he started the shower and began
shaving. From longtime habit, he felt his face, and the softness
he felt there reminded him that he no longer had to worry about
shaving that part of his body. The hair on his legs didn't seem to
go as high up as the first time he had shaved there, either. He
had some sharp stubble on his calves, but only light down was
forming on his upper thighs, in sharp contrast to the hairy legs he
had as a man. Then, of course, he had also had a dark thicket of
hair on his chest too. That had been replaced by firm breasts,
with only a few hairs around much larger areola. Joe had plucked
those out when he first saw them, and they had yet to return.

When Joe finished shaving his legs and underarms, he rinsed
the shave cream off under the shower and turned the water off. He
got out of the tub and again dried off with the thick towel. When
he finished, he looked at himself in the mirror over the sink.

What he saw was now familiar to him. Only the short hair
was left as a reminder of his former appearance. To be sure, his
face still had some resemblance to his male look, but now his
reflection was more like that of his sister, if he had a sister.
His trim, shapely body looked much younger than its thirty years.
He wondered why, and decided that since he had just developed
feminine secondary sexual characteristics, time and gravity hadn't
done their work on his new shape yet. Everything...his skin, his
hands...everything about him seemed to have shed ten years. He
even felt younger, much more flexible. But, he could tell that he
had lost significant strength. His body was still well toned, but
the large chest and shoulder muscles he once had were replaced with
the thinner, trim, upper torso of a young female. Examining
himself in the mirror, Joe was again amazed at what he had become.
He bent his left arm like a muscle man, and looked at his small
bicep muscle. He reached over with his other hand, and felt it.
It was not big, but it was still firm. He had no flab on his body
anywhere.

Joe took the cosmetics out of the bag, and carefully tried to
fix his face. He intentionally made sure not to use much makeup,
preferring a well scrubbed, healthy look.

When he was more or less satisfied, he was ready to dress. He
looked at the underwear that had dried overnight. Should he put
the same stuff back on, he wondered? What would he be wearing
today? He couldn't remember what Linda had packed for him, so he
put the terry romper back on, and, taking his clean underwear, he
went back out into the main room.

Jay was still lying on the bed. He had turned on the TV, and
was watching CNN. Joe went to the closet, and looked over what he
had to wear today.

"Are you finished in the bathroom?" Jay asked.

"Yeah, you can go in if you want. I'm trying to figure out
what to wear today. Linda picked my clothes, and I guess she
expects me to wear this dress. I don't have anything else here but
a suit, this, and some shorts," Joe said, holding up the red-orange
sundress.

"That looks like it would look good," Jay said, getting up,
and walking naked into the bathroom.

Jay went in, but didn't close the door behind him. Through
the open door, Joe watched his friend stand in front of the stool
and urinate. It reminded him that he wasn't like that...he wasn't
a man anymore, and he felt a slight twinge of envy.

Well, if I'm going to wear this, I'll have to find the right
stuff to wear underneath, Joe thought, trying to take his mind off
things he couldn't change. He went to his B-4 bag, and located the
bra with the wide set straps, which wouldn't show from under the
straps of the sundress. He then found a matching panty, and took
the things over to the bed. He didn't remove the cover up, but
pulled it down to his waist as he put the almost transparent bra
on. Wearing it felt strangely sexy, just as when he had tried it
on in the store. Joe found that wearing women's clothing, even
underwear, sometimes seemed so frivolous. But, for some reason, it
made him feel good about himself again.

Next, Joe stepped out of the romper, and quickly pulled on the
nylon, nude colored, panties. He found a half slip, and pulled it
over his hips. He decided he would see how he looked without nylon
hose, since that would be much cooler.

Slipping into the red dress, Joe struggled to fasten the
buttons at the back. When he finally got them closed, he checked
his reflection in the mirror. The dress fit his shapely contours,
and was quite feminine looking. Without the wig, his face seemed
somewhat out of place above his attractive figure. He needed the
hairpiece to give him the look he wanted. Joe carefully moved his
own hair around, trying to find some way to comb it that might make
the length seem even a little feminine. He decided that, at least
for a while, he would need the wig.

Joe walked over to the open bathroom door. Jay was in the
shower, and the curtain was drawn. Joe went into the bathroom,
grabbed his wig, and quickly left the steamy room.

He placed the hairpiece on his head, and found that it needed
a little brushing to get it back into the shape it was in yester-
day. The steam had caused the wig to get slightly curly, and it
was difficult to get into place. Joe needed his hairbrush, which
was in his shaving kit.

With the disheveled wig on his head, Joe went back into the
bathroom and began looking for his brush in the little cosmetic bag
Linda had prepared for him. As he was doing that, Jay turned off
the shower, and slid the curtain open. He looked at Joe, who felt
a bit embarrassed, standing next to his wet, naked pal. Jay looked
at him, and grinned widely.

"Hey, you look good in that, Joe," Jay said, as he stepped
from the tub. "The hair makes you look even more beautiful. I
even like that unruly look."

"I'm trying to get rid of the 'unruly' look," Joe said. "I
left the wig in here, and the steam hasn't helped it any. I hope
I can get it back into shape."

"Don't worry, I know you'll look fantastic either way," Jay
advised.

Joe quickly left the bathroom. He stood in front of the
mirror, and brushed the hairpiece until it was as close as he could
make it to how it had been.

As he examined himself critically, he remembered the little
ear rings. He found them, and snapped them on his ears. He didn't
like the way they felt, but they did set off his face. The little
golden disks contrasted well with his tanned skin. He smoothed the
dress down his hips, and adjusted the way it fit around his bosom.
He was doing that when Jay came out of the bathroom.

"I know I'm impressed," Jay said. He had seen Joe feel and
squeeze his boob while adjusting his bra.

Joe didn't say anything. He was too embarrassed.

"The dress looks good on you," Jay said. He came over to
where Joe was standing. Coming up behind Joe, he reached up
touched one of the small earrings Joe had carefully snapped on,
which were just visible below his hairpiece.

"These are nice too," Jay said. "Where did you get them?"

"Linda sent them with me," Joe said. "I wore them yesterday,
too. They're hers. I don't have any of my own, so far."

"Are these your clothes?" Jay asked.

"Yeah. I bought this the other evening, before we came out
here. Karen helped pick it out," Joe said. He spun around, so Jay
could look at him.

"She has good taste," Jay said. "Is Honeybone paying for all
this new stuff?"

"Well, no, not so far. I haven't given it much thought. I've
just been getting what I need...whatever I need. I haven't thought
much about who should be paying for it," Joe answered.

"I think, if you keep the receipts, and keep a record of all
the expenses you incur, you'll probably find them more than willing
to cover them. I'm sure they're worried stiff about the legal
ramifications of what has happened to you guys... er, girls... ah
women." The attorney in Jay was again struggling to come out.

"I guess I've still got most of my sales slips," Joe said.
"I'll ask Jim about it when we get back."

"I really think you should," Jay said. "Especially if you're
going to stay this way."

"What does that mean?" Joe asked curiously. "If I'm going to
stay this way."

"You know... if you're going to remain a woman... you might
find that a lot of things about your life are going to change...
and you might be needing all the financial help you can get."

"Jim said that he thought Honeybone would let us keep our
jobs," Joe said. "Whatever I look like now, I still have the same
skills... the same education, as I always had. I may not be quite
as strong as before, but I can still do everything I have to do."
Irritated, Joe heard his voice rise as he spoke.

Jay quickly dressed wearing the same clothes as he came with.
When he was ready, he turned to Joe.

"Are you going to check out this morning?" Jay asked.

"I guess we should," Joe answered. "I'll see what Karen
thinks." He went to the phone, and dialed the room next door.

"Karen, Joe here. Are we going to leave from the clinic?" Joe
asked.

"Yeah. I think so," Karen said. "I don't know what they will
want to do with Tim, but he can probably leave with us, too."

"How's he doing?" Joe asked. He wondered how the newest
victim of the change was adjusting.

"Well, I think ok," Karen answered. "He took a shower, and
now he's trying on some clothes. I think he's facing the same
problem adjusting as you are. I think he likes some things, but is
having a problem accepting it, especially if it might be perma-
nent."

"Yeah, I know exactly how he feels," Joe said knowingly.
Everything was much easier to take, if you could think of it all as
temporary.

"I think we should bag up," Karen said. "If we do have to
stay tonight, we can check in again."

"I'll call Dave and Mike," Joe said. "I'll see you in about
a half hour, for breakfast." He hung up the phone.

Joe called the others, and told them to get ready to check
out. He hung up the phone again, and got his things together. He
picked up the B-4 bag, and was starting to carry it out, when Jay
took it away from him.

"I'll carry that for you," Jay said.

With a bit of irritation in his voice, Joe started to object.
When he looked at his friend's face, he saw a strange expression
... one he had never seen before.

"I... I can carry this. Joe said faintly.

"But, you know I can do it easier," Jay said, the look still
in his eyes. "And anyway, I want to."

Suddenly, Joe realized that the relationship with his best
friend was now very different. They may still have the same
interests, and hobbies, but now... there was at least one big
difference... they had slept in the same bed. They had made
love... as a man... and a woman. They had been close friends, but
now, they were also lovers. It was very obvious that Jay could not
ignore the fact that his best friend was now an attractive woman.

Joe and Jay found seats in the lobby. Before long, Dave
joined them, and he was soon followed by Mike. Dave was wearing
another jumpsuit, this one in a yellow color, which fit his new
shape quite well. Although Joe was becoming familiar with what had
happened to his own body, it was still always a little shock when
he saw what had happened to his friends.

Mike was still wearing his male clothing, but his braless
chest was now quite evident, his prominent nipples poking at his
shirt, bobbing as he walked toward them. Joe wondered if Mike was
still changing and developing, or if it just seemed so, now that he
knew what his friend looked like. Mike seemed oblivious to his
appearance.

Mike greeted them, and found a seat on the couch, next to Joe.
"I don't know," Mike said quietly to Joe. "I was watching ESPN,
and I found myself feeling strange... I was actually watching the
guys... they... I had trouble concentrating on the game... what the
hell is happening? Am I turning queer? I don't know what's going
on with me." He looked at Joe, as if he had the answer to the
confusion.

"Yeah. I know what you're saying," Joe agreed. "I guess
we're all finding new things about ourselves every day." It was
hard to put into words, what was going through his mind.

They had sat there only a minute or two, when Karen walked
into the lobby, followed closely behind by a very self conscious
looking Tim, who was wearing a feminine looking top, and pants
which were almost too snug around his now larger hips. The clothes
were probably Karen's, and it was apparent that Tim was a bit more
well endowed than she was. He had never worn a bra before, and he
self consciously tried to conceal his bulging breasts, which now
seemed even larger, supported by the bra, by awkwardly holding an
arm across his chest.

Tim stood next to Karen and greeted the others, who remained
seated.

"You look real good, Tim," Joe said, trying to build the young
guy's ego, but not really knowing how to go about it.

"Yeah. Real good. I feel like Dolly Parton," Tim said,
cupping a breast with his hand for emphasis.

"It isn't that bad," Joe countered. "It just feels that way
because you're not used to having them yet. Before long, you'll
forget they're there."

"Do you?" Tim asked simply.

"Well...no, I guess I don't," Joe answered truthfully. "But
I think I have adjusted to them being there."

"Then maybe I will too, sometime," Tim continued. "But right
now, it's embarrassing as hell." He took a seat on the couch.

"Let's get something to eat," Joe suggested. "We can discuss
what we want to do as far as checkout."

"Good idea," Jay said. "I know I've got to get to the airport,
and see that the plane is fixed. I have to be in Phoenix by this
afternoon."

They went into the hotel coffee shop, and ordered breakfast.
As they waited, they decided on the plan of action.

"Ok then, as soon as we're done here, we all check out, and
then we drive Jay to the airport. I'll call Dr. Krell, tell him
what we have planned, and confirm the best times," Karen said.

"What will they do with me?" Tim asked. He had no idea what
was in store for him.

"I think you'll find out what it's really like to be a woman
today." Dave said, breaking his now customary silence.

"They'll probably give want to take some blood samples, and
give you a physical." Karen explained to the young man.

"Yeah, and I'm sure you've never had one like they're gonna
give you," Mike said. " They'll be poking things into openings you
probably don't realize you have."

"Don't worry, Tim," Joe said. "We've all survived it. It's
not that bad." He was trying to quell the look of concern that was
on Tim's quite attractive features.

"Will I have to get undressed around people?" Tim asked.

"Well, yeah, but don't worry, you'll find that Dr. Krell won't
think you're strange, or do anything to embarrass you. He'll only
try to help you to cope with what's happened," Joe explained.

"I hope he can do more than help me cope," Tim said. "I don't
want to have to get used to the way wearing a bra feels, I want him
to make me not have to wear it." He pulled at the straps, which
apparently were digging into his shoulders.

"If he can, he will," Karen said. "And if he can't, nobody
can."

"Well, let's get going," Joe said. "We have a lot to do
today. Go up and get your things and check out. I'll meet
everyone at the desk in fifteen minutes."

They all went back to their rooms. Joe and Jay, since they
had already brought Joe's bag down, went out into the waiting area.

In a few minutes, they all met and checked out. Then they
took their things to the car and drove Jay to the airport.
Article 81854 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject:  TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 18)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:37:23 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 2
Chapter Eighteen
ANSWERS II

The Town Car pulled into the FBO parking area. Jay and Joe
quickly got out and went to the desk. The others, Karen, Dave, and
Mike, remained in the car.

Jay went over to the desk, and began speaking to the girl
there.

"No, sir, they haven't started working on your plane yet." She
said.

"Can I talk to the mechanic?" Jay asked.

"Sure. I'll call him." The girl said, picking up the phone.

In a few moments, a heavy set, middle aged man came from the
door to the hangers. He walked up to Jay, and shook his hand.

"Hi. We'll be getting to that Mooney in about fifteen
minutes." He said. "I think we'll have you two back in the sky
before ten."

Jay looked at Joe and grinned, but said nothing. As Jay
described the symptoms he had the night before, the service manager
listened intently. When Jay was finished the he spoke.

"It sure sounds like a pump has packed up," he said, and went
back into the hanger.

The girl behind the desk spoke. "We have coffee and rolls
over there," she said, pointing to an area with a coffee pot and
a couple of boxes of doughnuts. "Please make yourselves at home."

"Well, it looks like you'll be ok," Joe told Jay. "I'd better
get going."

"If you get back tonight, give me a call," Jay said.

"Yeah, I will," Joe said. He was noticing something very
different in how Jay was relating to him. He wasn't sure how to
take it.

Joe left Jay at the desk and went back to the parking lot. As
he walked, he could feel the gentle breeze on his legs, and felt it
billow under the little sun dress. The feeling was very different
from anything he had felt before. He had only been outdoors
wearing a dress a few times before, but then he always wore
pantyhose or stockings. This morning he wore only panties under
the dress. His legs were bare, and the breeze made him feel sexy,
almost naked. Joe smiled to himself, enjoying the feeling as he
got back in the Lincoln with his friends.

"He'll be OK. I think we can go," He said.

Karen was driving, and quickly got back on the road to the
clinic. In about eight minutes, they pulled into the small parking
area beside the clinic. They all went in and checked in with the
receptionist. Then they took seats until they were called.

In less than five minutes, the receptionist called Tim, who
followed her into Dr. Krell's office. She then came out and spoke
to them, looking mostly at Karen.

"Why don't you take them into the classroom, if you like?
Susan has some tapes for them to watch. They might be in there
already," the receptionist said.

The others followed Karen into the little classroom. On one
of the tables were three video tapes. Karen went over and looked
at them.

"How about 'OURSELVES'?" Karen asked, holding up one of the
cassettes. "I believe it's meant for girls going through puberty,
but I perhaps you'll find it interesting too. It's probably quite
relevant."

"Yeah, it's just what we need," Mike said sarcastically,
"adolescent health films."

"Never know, you just might learn something, Mike," Karen
answered back. She went to the VCR, and put the tape in.

On a large color monitor, they watched as the educational film
ran. It was obviously meant for young women, but it carefully
explained the workings of the female, and male, organs of reproduc-
tion, showing them as fairly accurate drawings, rather than
photographs. As the female organs were explained, the four former
men watched intently as the anatomy they now possessed was covered
in considerable detail. A cartoon-like segment showed a girl as
she developed into a young adult, from pubic hair, to breast
development, and menstrual periods. Then it showed a cartoon of an
adolescent boy and his journey to maturity, explaining it from the
point of view of a young woman. Joe found it quite different to
watch this now, from the last time he had watched a somewhat
similar movie. Then, he was thirteen, and a curious young male.
He looked over at Mike, who was also showing a lot of interest in
the tape. As his eyes moved to his pal Dave, he noticed that while
he too was transfixed by what he watching, his right hand was idly
kneading the soft bulge of his left breast as he watched. Dave
must have felt Joe's eyes on him because he looked over, and saw
Joe smiling as he watched him. Embarrassed, he folded his hands on
the table.

When the tape finished, Karen went to the VCR and rewound the
cassette. She held up the other two. "Do you want to watch these
now, or take a break?"

"Let's watch 'em," Mike said quickly. "What are they about?"
His attitude had changed quickly.

"Well, this one is about clothing, and cosmetics. It's an
introduction to the Real Life Test. Dr. Krell has this to show his
reassignment patients," Karen answered. "It's pretty long."

"What's the other one?" Dave asked. His interest had
obviously been piqued by the first tape.

"This covers contraceptive methods. It's actually intended
for medical students or doctors, but you all of you can probably
appreciate it. It's thirty-two minutes long. I don't think I've
seen it either," Karen answered.

"Well. We don't need that one," Dave said. "At least I
won't."

"It might be worth watching," Karen returned. "You are all
probably fertile females now, and you had better understand what
that means."

Joe understood all too well the significance of his situation.
He thought about last night, and how it seemed he was almost beside
himself, seemingly unable to control his new desires. He couldn't
remember ever being that overwhelmed by masculine passion.

"I'd like to see it," Joe blurted out. The others looked over
at him and grinned.

Mike spoke. "You ready to try out the new equipment?"

"We might be this way for a long time... maybe for the rest of
our lives," Joe said, matter of factly. "We might as well face
that reality."

"Joe's right. I don't know how you feel right now, but you
might change your mind as time passes." She put the tape in the
machine, and pressed play.

This film was obviously meant for a mature audience. It was
a no nonsense review of birth control methods, showing the
advantages, disadvantages, and performance statistics of each form,
from condoms to oral contraceptives. While watching it, Joe
decided he would ask Dr. Krell about a diaphragm. He wondered how
he could bring the subject up.

As the tape finished with a review of the various methods, the
instructor, Susan Stevens entered the room. She took a seat next
to Joe, but said nothing. Joe could detect the pleasant scent of
her perfume. When the tape finished, she walked to the front of
the room.

"Good morning." The nurse said. "My name is Susan Stevens.
I'm a registered nurse. I've been married for ten years, and I
have two children. I've been informed as to what has happened to
you, and I'm here to help. Feel free to ask any questions you
want. You won't embarrass me. I'll try my best not to embarrass
you. Susan Stevens was a very attractive woman, perhaps in her
early thirties. She sat on top of the small desk in the front of
the room, and her fitted white uniform did little to hide her
attractive figure.

No one wanted to be the first to speak, preferring to wait for
others to break the ice. Susan looked at each of them, the
friendly smile never leaving her face. "I work here at the clinic
on a regular basis, so I see many examples of gender dysphoria. I
must admit, however, I've never heard of a case such as you three
have experienced. I've seen your files... quite interesting.
Before I joined you here, I was in the examination room with Dr.
Krell as he checked over your friend Tim. It is really quite
amazing."

The others just looked at her, saying nothing.

"Come now. You've been like this what... five... six days?
You must have some questions about yourselves, your anatomic
changes, in that time."

Surprisingly, Dave spoke first.

"I'm a married man; the father of two kids. How do I explain
to a four year old son why I look like this? And my wife, how do
I relate to her?" The feminine tone of his voice had a bitter
edge.

Well, I'm not sure about what can be done about your marriage.
Dr. Krell has people looking at the problem. For the immediate
future, how does your wife feel about it? Does she reject you?"

"Well, no."

"Then don't reject her." Susan went on, "I don't know how you
feel about her, or will feel about her as time goes on, but if you
can... if you still have feelings for her, tell her. Let her know.
I think she'll understand. Give her some time."

"Yeah, but look at me. I can hardly please her, looking like
this," Dave lamented.

"Give her a little credit. I doubt that sex is at the top of
her priority list right now. She's probably most concerned for
your feelings, and with trying to help you cope. Talk to her. Ask
her. Just don't push her away."

"But what about my kids?" Dave asked again.

"Answer the questions when they ask. Don't tell them more
than they want to know. You might find that at such a young age,
they'll accept almost anything as normal."

Dave shook his head in agreement.

"What does a period feel like?" Mike blurted out. "Will I
know it's going to happen before blood comes out?"

"Well, that's a tough one." Susan looked at Mike with an
understanding grin. "From personal experience, sometimes I feel
like hell for a day or two before my flow, and sometimes it comes
as a complete surprise. Most likely, you'll know something is
going to happen before it does. You'll probably retain water, and
your breasts often feel very tender because of that. All women are
different though, and it will probably take time to learn your own
body's pattern. Also, I don't know about a situation like yours,
but when adolescents get their first menses, it's often irregular
for some months, then it settles into a more or less predictable
pattern. Of course, there are always exceptions. Are any of you
menstruating now?"

They all looked at each other, and shook their heads.

"Well, don't lose any sleep worrying about it. It really
isn't that bad."

The discussion moved to questions about hygiene, and self
examination; how to keep their new female parts healthy and working
properly. Mike was asking most of the questions. It was obvious
that he had been at a distinct disadvantage compared to Joe and
Dave, both of whom were assisted with the changes by the women
already in their lives. Mike asked what he could do about his
sensitive nipples. Susan gave him advice similar to Karen's, and
suggested that he wear a bra or a silk camisole under clothes. Mike
said he didn't know how to buy, or wear a stuff like that. Susan
said that they should view the other tape, and Karen told him she'd
help. The conversation continued until Tim came into the room and
took a seat. Susan greeted him, and quickly went over her self
introduction again. She quickly went over the questions which had
already been discussed, and asked Tim if he had anything to ask, or
to add.

"I feel strange... well... kinda horny or something... I don't
know...," Tim said, with great embarrassment. "Often... sometimes,
I feel like I'm getting an erection. I know that can't happen,
it's obvious when I see myself that it would be impossible now.
But, I... I feel like I still have my cock, but know I don't. It
seems all I can do now is wet my underpants. What the hell am I
supposed to do?"

Susan replied calmly, "Tim, I think you must try to get used
to the way you ARE. I've seen what you look like. You aren't
deformed, or anything. Sure, your genitalia are changed... to be
sure, but you are still normal... for a genetic female, and it
appears that's what you have become, at least that's what your body
is now. We can try to help you get accustomed to the
differences...adapt to what you have become."

"Yeah, I know. I just came from Dr. Krell's office. You saw
what he did to me in the examination room. Just now, he told me he
thought I was healthy, and normal, FOR A FEMALE! A girl! He said
I was a probably a girl! You can't possibly realize how hard that
is for me, just to walk outside looking like this." Tim's now
feminine voice showed his frustration. "I'm a guy... I just turned
twenty-one. Hell, I just had sex for the first time last year...
and now... my cock is gone, and I've got tits... real ones... and
it seems that nobody can do anything about it."

"Please. Calm down," Susan said with authority. "I realize
it's difficult. Mike here, and Dave, and Joe too... They have the
same adjustments that you do. We don't know for sure that it's
permanent, at least not yet. But even if it happens to be, you're
going to have to quit feeling sorry for yourself. You say you're
still a man. Well then... quit whining."

The hard way Susan spoke to Tim surprised Joe. He looked over
at the young man with the body of a young woman, as Tim wiped the
tears welling in his eyes. Joe knew the way Tim was feeling... the
emotional roller coaster they were all on. He reached down, and
took Tim's hand in his own. It felt very soft. He gave it a
squeeze, which Tim returned.

Tim looked at Joe with desperate eyes. "Joe, what am I going
to do? What will my parents say when they find out what's happened
to me?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure they'll understand when they find out
what happened. This certainly isn't your fault. Ease up. You
just gotta ease up," Joe said, continuing to hold Tim's hand.

"I don't know. I just don't know." Tim said. He was holding
Joe's hand tightly, and Joe could feel him shaking. It amazed Joe
just how feminine Tim now looked and felt.

"We've all got to help each other get through this." Mike
said. He now had suddenly become more accepting to their plight.

The receptionist came to the door to the room, and said
something to Susan. She went back to the front of the room.

"Why don't you all watch the last tape, and I'll take some
more questions, and then Dr. Krell wants to see Tim again. The
rest of you will be free to go," Susan said.

"Will Tim be able to leave for Phoenix with us?" Joe asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe, if you don't leave until later in the
day. Do you have reservations?" Susan asked.

"We have our own plane, and can leave whenever we are
released," Dave said.

"Well, that's convenient," Susan said, obviously impressed.

She put the last tape in the player, and they all watched. It
had obviously been made at the clinic, and Joe recognized many of
the people in it, including Susan and the nurse-receptionist.

The tape was unusual, but informative. It covered such
diverse subjects as choosing and applying cosmetics, how to measure
for, and purchase clothing and undergarments, how to sit, tips on
how to walk in women's shoes, and skirts, detailed procedures for
performing a breast self exam, and even the proper method they
should use to wipe themselves to prevent vaginal infection. It
apparently had been created for voluntary gender reassignment
patients, and it included a section on postoperative care. The
pictures displayed made Joe wonder why anyone would subject
themself to such a terrible hardship. They had to be really
displeased with the anatomic features they were born with, to be
willing to undergo such pain and suffering, both mental and
physical.

They watched in silence, and when the tape was rewinding, Tim
spoke. "I guess that's our fate, huh? We might as well get used
to it. Nobody really knows how to bring us back... and we're stuck
like this forever," he said, with uncharacteristic sarcasm.

"I don't know, Tim. You might be right. Then again, we won't
know unless we give Dr. Krell and the doctors a chance to find out
what caused it. Since we don't really know that yet, there is no
way to say it's permanent. As everyone has told you, it would be
best if you can learn to adapt to the situation. You might not
like it, I realize that, but, you're not in pain. You still have
perfect health, and there is no reason you can't try to adjust.
Everyone is trying to help... everyone wants to find out how to
change you all back. If it's possible, and I think it is, it will
happen. We just can't predict when that might be." Susan again
spoke to Tim with that somewhat harsh tone. Joe realized that she
was right. It would do no good for any of them to mope, and feel
sorry for themselves. That wouldn't change a thing.

"If there are no other questions, you three are free to go.
Please take an information packet with you." Susan pointed to the
four large manila envelopes on the table behind them. "Tim, You
need to meet with Dr. Krell again."

"I'd like to talk with Dr. Krell, too," Mike said. "I have
something to ask him before we leave."

"I'll ask," Susan said, leaving the room.

"Well, she was certainly the prettiest drill sergeant I've
ever seen," Joe said.

"She's right though," Mike said. "We might as well do the
best we can, if we're gonna be stuck like this for a while."

"That's certainly a change," Dave said, looking at Mike, his
raised eyebrows showing his amazement at Mike's new attitude.

"Yeah, I know. But while I was watching the film... I don't
know... I guess I just realized... maybe it really isn't so bad to
be like this. Maybe I'm just getting used to it, or something, but
for some reason, I'm starting to like the way I am. It's not so
bad," Mike said, saying the words to himself as much as speaking to
the others.

Joe looked at Mike. He wondered what had come over his
friend. Just yesterday, Mike had been so resentful of what
happened to him, and now... It was the same feeling that had come
over Joe a few days ago... a feeling of acceptance... a strange
contentment. Joe realized that he was no longer even concerned
whether he could ever get back to normal. It was as if his
definition of "normal" had changed... was still changing. Would
this happen to each of them?

Tim followed Susan out the door, and Mike followed them both.
They went to Dr. Krell's office, and soon Susan and Tim came out,
leaving Mike to talk with the doctor.

In maybe fifteen minutes, Mike came out. He walked to the
waiting room and told Tim that Dr. Krell wanted to see him. He
then took a seat next to Joe.

"Well, I did it," Mike said. "I signed the papers."

Joe knew exactly what he meant. Yesterday, he, too, had
completed the paperwork for changing his records to match his new
gender. Even with the strange change in attitude that had overcome
him, it was still a big step to take. He and Mike were now
legally, as well as physically, women. Only Dave and Tim had not
made the switch, and Tim was in Dr. Krell's office right now.

Susan arrived, and Karen came out of Dr. Krell's office.

"You three are free until four thirty. Tim will be busy until
then. If you want to go out for a while, that would be ok. Tim can
go to lunch with me," Susan said.

"It's about ten. What would you like to do?" Joe asked.

"How about helping me with some of those clothes I'll need."
Mike suggested shyly. He still had trouble saying the words.

"Yeah, we could do that," Karen said. "The mall is open.
It's only a few miles away."

"Ok, then, let's go," Joe said.

The three went out and got into the Lincoln. With Karen
driving, they proceeded to the large shopping mall.

"Mike has done it; he's signed the papers. I still can't
believe it," Joe repeated to no one in particular, as they drove
along.

Mike had been the most "macho" of the group. He had also been
the most unusually changed of the four, since he had been taking
steroids at the time of the genetic "accident" which had affected
them. His body had feminized, but, probably due to the foreign
substances in his system at the time of the change, he had retained
more muscle mass than the others, and some parts of his body had
developed somewhat ambiguously. His genitalia had metamorphosed to
the feminine form, he now possessed a normal vagina, but the
clitoris was quite large, though not nearly large enough to
function as a penis. His chest was wider than most women's, but
his body hair had now reverted to a feminine distribution, and his
apparently still developing breasts were now about the same size
and shape as Joe's, though on his larger torso they seemed to be
smaller.

They pulled into the parking lot and walked into the uncrowded
shopping mall. Mike, who was still wearing male clothing, was
getting nervous as he walked alongside Joe.

"Do you think this is a good idea?" he asked. "What will they
think when they see me?"

"Don't worry about it." Joe said. "Nobody knows you here.
And besides, once you get those clothes replaced, you won't raise
an eyebrow."

"You really think so?" Mike said.

Joe looked at Mike. His friend was now maybe five foot
eleven, or so. He had been at least six feet tall before, a big
guy. He was still big, at least as tall now as Joe had been before
the change. But big as he was, there was now little doubt that
Mike Osborn was a female. The shirt he was wore was not tailored
for the breasts which seemed to want to tear the buttons out. At
times his sore nipples would make themselves evident by appearing
to try to poke through the fabric. Mike's hips... even with his
wide chest, there was little doubt, from the look, to the way he
slightly swayed as he walked, that they were the hips of a woman.
His bluejeans, which had been quite snug fitting on his male shape,
were now strangely tight in some areas, baggy in others. The blue
fabric was lighter beside the zipper, where the bulge of his male
appendage had worn it. Now it was now loose and baggy in that
area, testament to the change that had occurred.

"I think you'd have more trouble passing as a man than a woman
now," Joe said honestly.

Mike seemed relieved. Joe knew how he felt. No matter what
he looked like in the mirror, Joe had felt extremely self-conscious
when had gone to buy clothes, especially the first time. The
feeling that all around him thought he was a male attempting to
dress in drag was almost impossible to overcome.

They walked passed a Victoria's Secret store, and Mike stopped
at the window. He looked at the silks and satins. The display
included a sexy sleep set, many styles of lacy bras, and colorful
panties of all types. Even though Joe was now accustomed to
wearing female things, even to the point of enjoying it, he still
didn't like the lacy stuff. His taste ran more to the soft slick
silks and colorful satins and nylon fabrics. When his body was
male, he had loved the sophisticated, sexy look of a woman's body
in snug fitting, unadorned, shiny, nylon panties. Of course, now
that he had actually worn those things, he found he liked the feel
of the softer, more absorbent cottons better. They looked almost
as good, and his now more sensitive skin loved the soft feel of
cotton.

"Find something?" Karen asked Mike.

"I don't know... I'm just looking... Gee, I don't know if I
can wear stuff like this, no matter what I'll look like," Mike said
quietly to Karen, an embarrassed smile on his face.

"Maybe you should consider something a little plainer for your
first," Karen advised, trying to ease his concern.

"Yeah. Let's go inside," Mike said, showing a sudden burst of
confidence.

The four of them went inside the store, which was decorated to
look like a Victorian era shop, and was scented with a potpourri of
floral odors. Silks and Satins hung everywhere. There were
drawers filled with panties, matching bras, and all types of ladies
lounging and night wear. Karen, who had obviously been there
before, went to a table which displayed many styles of panties.
She picked up a white cotton hipster which was styled a bit like
men's briefs, but had leg openings cut almost all the way to the
wide elastic waist band. She held them out to Mike.

"How about these?" she asked.

Mike took them and held them up. He looked at the very narrow
band separating the leg openings, and grinned with embarrassment.
"I hate to think that these would fit me."

"They're pretty stretchy," Karen said. "I think they will."

"Ok. I'll take them then." Mike agreed. "I guess I'll need a
few pairs, won't I."

"Yeah. You might look for some other styles you'd like. They
don't all have to be plain as those."

As Mike and Karen were looking at the selection, an attractive
young sales woman joined them.

"Are you finding what you want?" she asked. She had obviously
thought that Mike was a guy, shopping with Karen. She realized her
mistake when she saw the mounds under his shirt. She looked at
Mike carefully, trying to figure this tall man-woman.

"I'm just trying to buy some underwear," Mike said to her with
an embarrassed smile.

The saleswoman was embarrassed at her mistake. But... he
looked so male from a distance, she thought. His hair. His size.
She excused herself awkwardly, and started to help another shopper.

While Karen was helping Mike, Joe began looking at the many
feminine things offered for sale. On a table, he saw a shiny black
thong bikini panty, with a matching bra. It made him think about
the sexy black things Linda wore the other day. He wondered how
his new shape would look in these. Only one way to find out, he
thought. Joe went through the selections until he found both items
in black, and in his size. He found the bra first, and then found
the tiny panty. The bottom consisted of an elastic waist band,
with a thin triangle of fabric cut to just about cover the pubic
area with very narrow strip which went around the back and
connected with the waist band. The back strip would probably be
completely concealed in the cleft of his butt. Joe found himself
wondering what Jay would think about the outfit. He suddenly
realized that he was thinking more about how Jay would like it,
than how he himself felt about it. Another change in his personal-
ity? He realized that he was thinking about quite a bit that
morning.

He took his selections over to where Mike, Karen, and Dave
were continuing to shop. Dave just walked along with the others,
not saying much, pausing now and then to feel or hold some item.
He showed little interest in buying anything for himself.

Karen looked at what Joe held in his hand. She grinned
broadly. "Couldn't resist, huh?" she said to Joe.

"Hey, if I gotta be a girl, I might as well try it. Right?"

"Right." Karen agreed. "I bought something like that, first
chance I had after my operation. Just to celebrate being able to
wear it." Karen went on.

Mike, his selection of underpants in his hand, had moved on to
another table on which many styles of bras were carefully ar-
raigned. He held one up and looked at it curiously.

"How do I know what size to wear?" He asked.

"We'll have to measure." Karen said. She went to the desk
where the sales woman was standing, now watching the curious group
out of the corner of her eye. At Karen's request, she handed her
a measuring tape. Karen came back to the table.

"Let's go in here, Mike," she said, taking his hand.

She led him to one of the two dressing cubicles. In a minute,
Karen came out, and sorted through the assortment, searching for a
bra. She didn't find what she wanted, so she went to the saleswom-
an, and spoke to her. The woman went to a drawer in the many
cabinets by the wall, and began showing Karen various bras also
stored there. Karen selected one, white, plain, and made of
cotton, and took it into the dressing cubicle where Mike waited
patiently. In a few minutes, they both came out of the cubicle.
The white outline of the bra was evident under the shirt Mike wore,
and his uplifted breasts now strained even harder at his shirt
buttons.

They went over to the drawers and Karen held up different
styles and types of bras, with Mike shaking his head in agreement
or dissatisfaction at one type and the other. They soon had about
three choices, and they went back into the cubicle. Another five
minutes passed, and they came out again. Mike's face was red with
embarrassment as he went over to where Joe and Dave were standing.
He was still wearing one of his selections... it could be seen
where it stretched the fabric of his shirt apart between the
buttons. He now needed a top that fit his new shape.

"I think the next stop should be for a new shirt," Joe said,
grinning, and pointing at Mike's chest.

"Yeah, I guess so." Mike said. "I didn't realize I was this
big." He continued. "It does feel kinda good though... not so
loose." He shook his chest.

"I know exactly what you mean." Joe said. It hadn't taken him
long to appreciate the secure feeling he got when he put on his
first bra.

They paid for their selections and left the store. The next
store they came past was Penney's. They went inside, and strolled
into the women's casuals section. Joe looked at Mike, and decided
that they might have to move to an area with larger sizes. There,
Mike found a number of stretchy tops that fit his somewhat unusual
contours. Mike also found some slacks, and some denim jeans. He
didn't even bother to look at skirts or dresses. As they were
leaving, they passed the exercise wear. Mike, whose life had
always revolved around athletics or body building, stopped to look
at the colorful bodywear.

"I always thought this stuff was sexy." Mike said. "I never
guessed that I might be able to wear it myself someday."

He looked at the exercise wear, holding up stretchy bodysuits
and colorful sweats. When a young sales woman came up and offered
assistance, he asked about sizes, and colors, showing no embarrass-
ment. The girl helped, seeming unfazed by the big woman with the
short hair, who didn't have any idea what her sizes were. Watching
Mike, Joe realized that he himself would have no trouble being
taken for a natural woman. If Mike could do it, any of them could.

After trying on various items, even coming out of the dressing
room to get their opinion, his still hairy legs, and armpits not
withstanding, Mike purchased a number of leotards, some in cotton,
others in shiny spandex. He really seemed to like wearing the form
fitting clothing. Joe had to admit, Mike's new shape was somewhat
attractive, in a female body-builder kind of way. He just needed
to do something about his short hair, which made him look like a
dyke.

"You need to do something about that hair," Joe said, as they
left Penney's.

"I know how to help with that, too," Karen said.

They went out of the mall, and went to a little shop outside
the main part of the mall, in one of the little places along the
periphery. It specialized in wigs and hairpieces for men and
women. Karen told them that she knew the owner, Barbara Simon, who
had been one of Dr. Krell's patients. They went inside, and Karen
introduced them to an attractive, middle aged woman. Joe looked at
her, and wondered if she had once been a man also. If she had, it
was impossible to tell. She looked, and even talked just like a
normal woman. If she was a guy, Joe thought, Dr. Krell was good at
his work.

Karen explained what their problem was, and the woman seemed
unfazed. She immediately went to the back and brought out some
examples, mounted on velour covered heads. She sat Mike down, and
tried a few on him, the third try was a perfect match... It changed
Mike's appearance dramatically. Mike looked at himself in the full
length mirror, but didn't say a word. He rubbed his hand along his
cheek, as if needing to prove to himself that the reflection was
his own.

Mike purchased the hairpiece, and Karen asked Barbara if they
could use her dressing room to change clothes. She agreed, and
said she actually had no special dressing area, but they could use
the back room. Mike went back to the car, got his new purchases,
and they all went into the back of the small shop. There, in front
of everyone, Mike removed his old shirt and pants. He took off his
male underwear, and replaced them with the white cotton hi-leg
briefs he had just bought. The new underwear, cut to fit his new
shape, looked quite attractive. He couldn't resist touching and
stroking the still unfamiliar sleekness of his crotch. Joe
remembered that he had done the same thing, the first time he had
worn panties. Male underwear, with the baggy crotch, bunched up
like a diaper. They didn't look, or feel, like clothing cut with
the female form in mind.

Standing there, in his new bra, and panties, Mike asked if
there was a mirror he could use. Barbara opened a closet door,
exposing another full length mirror. Mike went to it, and for a
few minutes, stood there staring at himself, sometimes touching...
feeling, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Finally, he
went over to the clothes. He selected a top and pulled it over his
head. He pulled the new jeans on, again returned to the mirror,
turned and critically examined himself. As all this was happening,
the others said very little. All understood what Mike was going
through.

Finally, Mike turned to them, as if he again realized they
were there. "What do you think?" He asked.

"You look beautiful," Barbara said. She meant it. It was
true.

"A complete turn about," Karen said.

"I can't believe its you," Dave said, teasing. "You almost
look good."

Mike paid for his purchase. They thanked Barbara, and said
goodbye. Joe helped Mike carry his things to the car. As he
followed behind him, Joe found himself looking at Mike's backside,
as a guy might do to any attractive woman. The feminine cut of
Mike's new clothes emphasized his wider hips, and Joe realized that
though he was still big, and maybe his shoulders were now a little
too wide, his friend had become a very good looking woman.

They drove back to the clinic. When they went in, they found
that Tim was still with Dr. Krell. The receptionist said she'd
find out when Tim would be finished. She soon came back, and said
Dr. Krell would see them all in a few minutes. They waited, and
Dr. Krell came out and asked them all into his office. He nodded
approval at the transition Mike had made. When they were all
seated, Dr. Krell sat down behind his desk, and began to speak.

"I'm sure that you all would like to know what has happened to
you. We here at the clinic, indeed all over the country, have
found your situation quite interesting. I realize that for each of
you, the problem is much more personal. I know that, and I
sincerely hope you realize that many people are doing everything
within their power to help. We have been running analysis of your
examinations, your blood tests, and I believe we have determined
what has happened. We are also narrowing down the cause. It
appears that the change of your genetic make-up has been caused by
exposure to some form of radiation. The one thing in common
throughout all this has been the equipment that Joe, Mike, and Dave
were working with. Tim also just happened to be in the wrong place
at the right time. The folks over at Honeybone are setting up an
experiment in the lab there. They have a large, screened room, a
cage, which will keep the emissions from the equipment from
escaping. It has all been set up there, and they will soon be ready
to begin running tests. I'm sure you will all want to be there.
I want you to be there."

Dave raised his hand to speak. "Can we go home this after-
noon?"

"I'll be getting to that." Dr. Krell said, smiling. He knew
they wanted to get home.

"This afternoon, I would like to get another blood sample from
each of you. After that, you are free for the remainder of the
day. Tim has agreed that, like Joe, and now Mike, he would
probably be able to function best if he changed his records. I
have them in process, but they will not be ready for him to sign
until tomorrow morning at the earliest, around noon, the latest.
It would be great if you stay until then." Dr. Krell said.

They wouldn't be going home today after all. Joe raised the
question they all were thinking about.

"Do you have any new ideas how to get us back to normal
again?"

Dr. Krell frowned. "I wish I could say I did, but I'm afraid
that wouldn't be true. The damage to your chromosomes was so
subtle... it is only within the last three years that we could even
determine exactly the changes that have taken place. Something,
probably some form of radiation, has damaged the 'Y' chromosome
that you were born with that determines the genetic code, and
thereby, the genetic sex of the body. That damage has made the 'Y'
chromosome appear to look and function just like it was another
'X'. That lack of a functioning 'Y' is what has caused the changes
you each have undergone. That much we are sure of. Exactly how it
happened, I think we can find out. Repairing the damage... well...
maybe someday. I doubt if it will happen overnight. When we can
do it, I think then we'll have enough knowledge of genetics that we
can solve quite a few problems, many of them much more life
threatening than what's afflicting you four."

"Are you saying we're going to have to stay like this?" Tim
asked.

"We have only begun to address the problem," Dr. Krell
answered. "I wouldn't want to estimate when we'll have the answer.
At this time, however, we do not have a solution."

It was exactly like Joe expected. They had no way back, but
they were being asked not to give up hope. A few days ago, Joe
would have been devastated by what he had just been told. Only the
thought that the situation was temporary, and for a reasonably
short time, had made it bearable. But something, within the last
two or three days, something had happened... changed, he wasn't
sure what it was, but now, he really didn't care. As he sat there,
he realized that if Dr. Krell had told them that they had already
found a cure, and that all he had to do to be "normal" was take to
a pill... he wasn't sure what he would do. It had only been five
days... already he becoming conditioned to think about himself
differently. The changes that had occurred to his body... changes
that had made it so soft, so much more sensitive, would he want to
give that up? And for what? A bit more upper body strength... the
ability to pee standing up?

"All of you except Dave will sign the reassignment papers, and
you should have no legal difficulties. I am recommending each of
you to a therapist, to help you to adapt, but I must say, you all
seem to be doing quite well already. I want to study that, too.
You all have adjusted so well... As for you, Dave, We'll come up
with a solution, I don't know what yet. I want to talk a bit more
with you tomorrow, and get together with your wife, too... Perhaps
we can work something out." The unanswered questions made the
little man shrug his shoulders sadly.

"How about an operation?" Dave asked. "Can't you just change
me back surgically? Look at Karen... she used to be a man, too,
you turned her into a woman."

"That's not quite true, Dave." Dr. Krell answered. "I didn't
turn Karen into a woman. As far as Karen was concerned, she WAS a
woman. I just helped to make her body look on the outside what she
felt in her mind she already was inside."

"So what's so different about me?" Dave asked logically. "I
know that I'm really a man. My wife knows that I'm a man. Why
can't you just make me look like a man again?"

"If it were really that easy, I'd do it today," Dr. Krell
answered. And if I did that, and tomorrow we found a way to get
you back... Dave, you couldn't go back. I'm not sure what you'd
look like, but I don't think you'd like it. Your genitalia might
look less masculine than they do now."

"I doubt it could look less masculine," Dave retorted. "I
know a pussy when I see one."

"Perhaps reassignment surgery will be best for you." Dr. Krell
returned. "But don't rush it too quickly. I'm afraid when you
find what we would have to do to your vulva; the limitations of the
surgery, I think you need to see what we can do for you before you
agree to surgery."

"Whatever you could do, if it would make me look, even a
little, like a man again, it would be worth it," Dave answered
cooly.

"I will give the matter some thought." Dr. Krell agreed.

He rose up from behind his desk. "And now, if you would all
take seats in the waiting room, I'll have the nurse take samples,
and then you can go for the day." The busy man had spent all the
time he could with them.

They were each called in turn, and quickly were finished. As
they were waiting for Dave and Tim to finish, Joe and Karen called
the Sheraton, and tried to get their rooms back for another night.

"Well, if there are no others, we'll take them." Karen finally
said.

The area was packed with vacationers, and conventioneers, and
the Sheraton had only two rooms available.

The receptionist, who was good friends with Karen, listened to
the conversation. She interrupted Karen.

"If you have just two rooms, let your friends double up, and
you can stay with me at my apartment," she suggested. "You've
stayed there before, it's close, and you can go home with me. I'll
be here at the same time tomorrow morning."

"Is that ok with you?" Karen asked Joe.

"Sure, Why not?" Joe said. "I can drive the Lincoln, and I
know where the hotel is."

"It's settled then," the receptionist said.

Tim, who was the last to finish, came down the hall. He was
holding a cotton ball in the crook of his arm. "I'll tell you one
thing. Having such sensitive skin sure is lousy when they stick
needles into it all the time." He was grinning, and rubbing the
soft skin of his arm.

They told Tim about the hotel arraignment, and then left Karen
and went to the parking lot.

"Can I bunk with you?" Mike asked Joe, as they walked to the
car.

"Sure. What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much really, I just thought maybe we could talk
a little."

"Ok. Fine with me."

They got in the car for the drive to the hotel.
Article 81857 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject: TG: Joe Bates (Chapter 19)
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:37:53 GMT
.sp
.fi
.ce 3
CHAPTER Nineteen
THE CAUSE 
Part One

The group in the car was quiet as they drove to the hotel.
The short briefing by Dr. Krell had given them all something to
think about. Each had always feared that their condition might end
up being permanent, but until Dr. Krell's admission, they had held
out hope that something could be done right away. Now they were
being told they could expect to stay as they were for an indefinite
period. The realization of what it all meant was just setting in.

Tim broke the silence. "God, I never thought I'd be worrying
about having periods, or getting pregnant, or anything like that."

"I never considered that I wouldn't get to be a father." Joe
added. "Even if I could have children now, I don't know if I'd
want to be a mother."

"At least you aren't a father already," Dave added. "I am,
and now... I'm told can be a mother too."

It was obvious that the tapes they had watched earlier that
day at the clinic, as well as Dr. Krell's statements, had made an
impression on each of them.

"Well, it'll still take some getting used to, I guess. But,
you know, I'm sort of starting to like looking like a girl... I
think it's fun," Mike added.

"Those clothes seem to have changed your attitude as well as
your appearance," Tim said to Mike.

"Yeah, I know, but I think the hair is what really makes the
difference," Mike said, smiling happily. "I don't even recognize
myself when I look in the mirror."

"I guess I'll need to get one too," Tim said, referring to the
wig Mike was wearing.

"Why don't we stop at Barbara's shop?" Mike said. "She's
probably still be open. It's only four-thirty."

"Ok. We can do that," Joe agreed. Longer hair had made such
a difference in his and Mike's appearance, as well as confidence,
that he figured Tim shouldn't have to wait either.

Instead of going directly to the hotel, they went to the
little shop by the mall. It was still open, and Barbara had two
customers in the shop when they entered. She recognized them as
soon as they entered, and greeted them with a friendly smile.

"I'll be with you as soon as I can." She said.

They sat waiting for maybe twenty minutes while the other
customers, two older ladies, completed their fittings and left the
shop. Barbara came over to them.

"And what is this?" she said, looking at Tim. "Do you people
have a machine to do this?"

"I believe we do." Joe said. Without completely realizing it,
Barbara's attempt at humor had probably been quite accurate.

Barbara asked Tim to sit, and then he tried on various styles
of hairpieces. The only one that matched his original hair color
was a somewhat short, pixy cut, but it was definitely attractive on
Tim's now quite feminine facial features. As it had been with
Mike, the change in appearance was almost unbelievable. As each of
them concealed the last vestige of their maleness, the masculine
looking short haircut, they looked feminine in all respects. Tim
sat in front of the mirror behind the table, and gazed at his
reflection. It was his turn to be transfixed by the face of a
pretty young girl staring back at him.

"I think it looks very nice." Barbara said. "But if you want
another style, it'll have to be another color, or else you can wait
three days."

"Oh no, I don't want to wait," Tim insisted. "This will be
fine. I like it." He didn't want to have to wait to have the look
he was seeing in the mirror.

Joe paid Barbara since Tim didn't have enough money for the
hairpiece. As he paid the money, he realized that Tim probably
didn't have much money, and was probably at a distinct disadvantage
to the others when it came to buying the clothes he needed. Joe
thought about what Jay had told him, and kept the receipt. He
asked Tim if he needed some more clothes.

"Well, everything I have on right now is borrowed, either from
you or Karen." Tim said.

"Then I think we need to get you some more." Joe suggested.
"I'll pay for them, and I'll give Honeybone the bill."

"Do we have to do it now?" Tim objected. He was embarrassed
to shop for women's clothes.

"It's really not so bad, Tim. I thought it would be horrible
too, but once you start, it's really kinda fun... the things are so
soft and slick, and they fit so well. I now understand why girls
like shopping for clothes. It's totally different from what I
thought." Mike was sounding almost excited as he talked about his
own experience shopping that afternoon.

"Besides, pal, you signed up. You're legally a girl now
anyway." Joe couldn't resist teasing the young man who now,
especially with the new hair, looked so cute... so attractive. Of
course, he knew better... he was in the same position... but maybe
it was just that he still had at least a bit of his old masculine
mischievousness, and he just couldn't resist teasing the cute Tim.

"Yeah, I know, but it's just not easy to accept not being a
guy... and it's even harder to try to think of myself as a girl.
I always think other guys are staring at these boobs, or ogling my
butt," Tim said.

"And they are, too," Joe said, grinning. "You know that.
This time last week, you would have been looking at a butt like
yours too."

"Yeah, I guess so... it's kinda strange... now that I'm this
way, women just don't seem nearly as sexy to me as they used to.
I wonder why that is?" Tim asked.

"Maybe it's because you don't just look like a girl, you
actually are one," Joe reasoned. The same thought had already
crossed his mind.

"I guess I do seem like a girl now, and maybe I've even turned
into one. I suppose I probably have, but when I close my eyes, and
when I think of who I am and what I look like, I still feel like
I'm a guy inside." Tim mused.

"Yeah? Maybe so, but not on the outside," Dave added. "Any
one of you has a body that most of the natural women out there
would die for."

"Hey, don't forget, I didn't ask to be this way," Tim said.
He wasn't sure if it was envy, or resentment, showing in Dave's
voice.

"I know, but damn it, you three have it easy...all you have to
do is get used to the new parts and then, you can just get on with
your lives. I've got a family. I can't just put on a wig, buy
some clothes, and then learn to be a woman. But don't forget, the
same thing has happened to me, too; I have the same feelings...
What the hell am I supposed to do?" Dave was almost sobbing.

They got in the Lincoln, and Joe drove the short distance to
the main mall.

"It'll work out, Dave. They'll figure out something for you."
Joe said.

"Oh, yeah? What?" Dave snapped. "Right now, it looks like
the most I can hope for is some kind of fake cock which apparently
won't have any feeling. Even Dr. Krell doesn't seem to think much
of that idea."

"Is that what you want?" Joe asked. "Maybe you should stay a
woman, if that's what you really want."

"Hey, I don't know what I want." Dave answered. "I don't have
any idea what I want."

"Then whatever you do Dave, don't let them cut on you unless
you can't stand it any other way," Joe advised. "If you don't mind
me asking, have you and Cindy slept together?" Cindy was Joe's
wife.

"We were in the same bed, but we never touched each other. I
can't expect her to become a lesbian, or whatever, just because
this... this thing has happened to me."

"Don't worry about what to call it," Joe said. "You are both
still married to each other and what you do together can't be
perverted or anything like that."

"Hey, old buddy, I know I'm not gorgeous, but there's not much
I can do in bed with my wife, or any other woman. I've undergone
the same changes you have. I probably have the same feelings you
have, too."

"Do you want to sleep with Cindy? Would you like to make love
to her?" Joe asked.

"Sure, she's my wife; I still love her."

"Then do it. Don't worry about what others might think. It's
nobody's business anyway. She'll accept you. You probably even
smell better than you used to," Joe teased.

"Aw, Joe, what can we do?" Dave asked. "You know I'm not a
man anymore, and I'm not sure I even feel like one."

"Don't be an idiot, Dave," Joe insisted. "By now... especial-
ly now... you know what will make her feel good. Just do that.
She'll probably want to do the same for you. You might be
surprised how much fun you both can still have. Heck, now you
won't have to worry about birth control either."

"How do you suddenly know about all this stuff?" Mike asked.

"I live with Linda, remember?" Joe said, winking at him.

Joe opened his door, and got out. They went into the mall at
the same entrance as that morning. Mike took Tim by the hand and
led him right to Victoria's Secret.

"You just gotta get some of this stuff," he said. "It just
looks and feels so sexy. I just love it." Mike had really made a
complete transition.

Tim was less sure of himself, but Mike, who was still much
bigger and stronger, just pulled him into the store. They were
acting like teenagers, out the first time without their parents.
Tim was already wearing a bra, and Joe knew it was his size, since
he had loaned it to him the day before. He told Tim what he
thought his new sizes were, and Tim reluctantly started looking and
selecting items to try or buy. Mike was acting as the expert
advisor the whole time. The sales girl from earlier in the day was
still there, and it was obvious she recognized the group. She
looked carefully at Mike, sure she recognized him, but was wracking
her brain to figure what was so different about this big woman.
She now looked far less masculine. The hairpiece, and the womens'
clothing had made a big difference in Mike's appearance. But the
girl just couldn't place what the difference was.

Tim finally picked out some underwear, probably more to please
Mike than himself, and then he even followed Mike into the fitting
room to try some bras on. Joe could hear Mike talking to Tim the
whole time they were in the small room. He couldn't get over how
Mike was acting. This big macho guy now seemed suddenly fascinated
with the details of being a woman.

Maybe it's a good thing, Joe thought. He considered his own
feelings and reactions to what had happened to his own body, and he
realized that maybe he wasn't that much different than Mike. Would
this acceptance of their new sexuality touch each of them eventual-
ly, he wondered?

After Mike had helped Tim find his selections, and Tim had
tried on each item that was practical to try on, they went on to
other stores. Tim, having just turned twenty-one, had much
different tastes in clothes than the older "women." Even Mike, who
was only twenty-six, had much different ideas about what looked
good on Tim's attractive form. It soon became obvious from the
type of things he stopped to look at and the kind of questions he
asked, that Tim liked the short skirts and tight, stretchy tops
that were "in." Although he was embarrassed to wear them, those
kinds of things were what he thought he needed. Of course Mike,
whose taste in fashion never went past exercise wear, knew or cared
little about things like that. When Mike showed less interest, Tim
began to look at the things he thought he liked. As he was
looking, a sales girl, probably about his own age, came over to
help Tim. The former young man certainly needed her assistance,
but he could hardly speak. It was very difficult for a
twenty-one-year old male to ask a twenty-one year old female to
help him select a skirt and top for himself, no matter what he
looked like. It didn't make any difference to Tim that the
friendly young lady was actually somewhat jealous of his shapely
figure.

The sales girl was finally able to get this stuttering
customer to tell her what she was looking for. This tall, very shy
girl didn't even know what sizes she was looking for. When she
finally helped her pick out some selections, she even seemed
reluctant to go into the dressing rooms. She kept looking back at
her three older friends, one of whom looked like she had her hair
cut like a man. When the girl finally came out of the fitting room
(it took forever) so that she could see herself in the full length
mirror, she seemed quite embarrassed to be seen in the short skirt,
even though she looked fantastic in it. She acted like she had
never worn anything like it before, even though she had one of the
trimmest shapes the sales girl had ever seen. When she looked at
herself in the mirror, the girl seemed almost like she was looking
at someone else, she touched her hair, her hips, even felt at her
breasts, as if she had never noticed them before. It was strange
to watch her as she turned about, observing herself in the three
sided mirror. Then the other three women came over and looked,
too. They all seemed to be seeing this young lady for the first
time. Finally, one of the women spoke.

"I think it's you," Joe said.

"I just can't believe it. I feel like I have to pinch myself
to believe this is me." Tim exclaimed.

Oh, come on, thought the sales girl. You do look good, but
not that good.

"I think it's just right for you," the sales girl said. "And
I think a some black shoes would go nicely with it." She pointed
to the mannequin, which was wearing almost the same choices.

"Oh, yeah... I guess I'll have to get some shoes too..." Tim
muttered. He was still admiring his new look.

"They're down on the lower floor," the sales girl said. "Will
there be anything else?"

"Yeah, I'll need some more... I guess a few more..." Tim said
absently.

The sales girl looked at him. What was with this girl?

They spent another hour selecting things with the young sales
girl, and then went walking throughout the mall shops, each of them
looking, sometimes trying something on, sometimes even buying. The
only one who didn't seem to be having fun was Dave, who looked,
sometimes touched, but never tried anything on, and refused to buy
anything. Mike was able to get both Tim and Joe to get some
colorful exercise wear for themselves. Joe already had some, which
he had bought the first day, but Mike insisted, and Joe was in the
buying mood.

Finally, loaded down with packages, most of them Mike's and
Tim's, they struggled back to the car. Driving back to the hotel,
it didn't sound anything like four men in the car, as Joe, Mike,
and Tim discussed the different things they had seen, as well as
the things they had purchased.

When they went in, they got their rooms and had their bags
brought to the rooms. As agreed, Mike roomed with Joe, and Tim and
Dave were together. Joe went into his room, placed his bags of
purchases on the end of the bed, and dropped down on it in
exhaustion. He had long ago decided that the pumps he was wearing
surely had not been made for walking in. Though they looked great,
they lacked the comfortable support of the more substantial men's
footwear. He kicked them off, pulled the sun dress up to his hips,
and began to massage his sore feet while enjoying the cool air on
his tired legs. When he looked over, he saw that Mike was watching
him, eyes wide, grinning. Suddenly he realized that by pulling his
dress up so high, he had exposed his bottom, and the sight of his
panties had caught Mike's eye.

Mike realized he was staring when he saw Joe cover himself in
embarrassment. He quickly apologized.

"Gee Joe, I'm sorry. I know we're both women now, but I
couldn't resist looking when I saw you lying there like that.
It... you were just so sexy looking, I just couldn't help look-
ing..." He stuttered with embarrassment.

"Hey, don't worry about it." Joe said grinning. "I know how
you feel. I find myself looking at you sometimes, too. And Tim...
ain't he something."

"Yeah, SHE sure is." Mike agreed. "Do you think we should
start calling ourselves women? I mean, if we want everybody else
to treat us like women now, I guess we should do the same our-
selves."

"Yeah, I guess we should, but it's sure a hard thing to do.
I still think that deep inside, I'm a guy. I guess I'm sort of
getting used to the idea of looking this way, but it still seems
strange to think of myself as a 'she,' Joe said, as he sat back up
on the bed and smoothed the dress over his knees.

"Same here," Mike agreed. "But you know, if Dr. Krell called
right now, and said he had just discovered the secret to get us
back, I don't know if I'd rush to go and do it. Isn't that weird?
What's going on anyway? Why am I suddenly starting to enjoy this
so much?"

"Don't worry, you're not the only one who feels that way. I'm
starting to like it too. It must be the different hormones, or
something."

"So do you think we're really turning into women?"

"Well, let's see, we just came back from a shopping spree
where you and Tim looked at more clothes in one afternoon than I
did in a year, and I even liked it too. Now I'm sitting here
wearing a dress, and I just realized I need to pee. If, after this
afternoon's little shopping trip, I still have any doubt that I've
turned into a woman, I'm fairly sure I'll be reminded of it when I
go in the john and pull down these panties I'm wearing." With
that, Joe got up and went into the bathroom.

When he came back out, Mike was standing in his underwear,
looking at each of his purchases, and laying each item on the bed.

"You know, I think just looking at this stuff gives me a
hardon," Mike said, grinning.

"It is some nice looking stuff." Joe agreed. "But you've
gotta do something about those hairy legs." He started to look
through the bags which contained his new purchases.

Joe found the little black bra and panty set. He held up the
little wisp of black nylon which was the little thong bikini. It
didn't look like it would cover him, even with the changes. Mike
saw it too, and grinned.

"Come on Joe, try it on."

"I don't know..." Joe really wanted to put it on, but he
didn't really want to put himself on display.

"I just know you'll look great wearing that stuff," Mike
continued.

"Aw, all right.. I would like to see how they fit," Joe
admitted. He carefully unbuttoned the red sun dress and stepped
out of it. Looking down at his chest made him smile. His nipples
were quite visible through the thin, almost transparent fabric of
his bra. It was still a strange experience having tits, he
decided, but he was beginning to get used to the idea, sort of. He
reached behind his back with both hands, unhooked the back strap,
and felt his bra loosen. He squirmed out of the tangle of straps
and then scratched under his soft mounds at the red marks made by
the underwires. Joe dropped the old bra and picked up the new
little black one. This one had the catch between the cups, and he
could see what he was doing as he fastened it. He adjusted the
cups over his breasts until they felt just right. This new lighter
bra felt as if it might provide somewhat less support that the one
he had just removed. It sure did look sexy though, but in a very
different way than the sheer one.

"You have such a great body," Mike said softly. Admiration,
as well as perhaps a bit of envy, was quite evident in his voice.
"It sure makes me wish I hadn't taken those steroids."

"You look ok, Mike," Joe said truthfully. "They don't seem to
have affected you that much."

"Maybe it doesn't look like it much, but I feel like I'm still
a guy sometimes, like my cock is still there. It's an almost
embarrassing feeling sometimes." Mike rubbed the front of his
panties, where his penis should have been.

"Actually, I think that sensation might be normal. I feel the
same way too. I'd bet that even natural women feel like that.
They probably just don't realize what it is."

"Yeah, you might be right, but I know I've never seen a woman
with a clitoris as big as mine."

"And I guess you've seen 'em all?"

"Well, I've seen a few. So you're still sleeping with Linda,
even now?"

"Well... er, I ah, yeah, I... we have slept together," Joe
cautiously admitted. "And it was pretty good too."

"But, what did you do with her? How... what can you do now?"
Mike asked innocently.

"Maybe I'm not a man anymore, and maybe I don't have male
equipment, but I still know what women like, maybe even better now
than before. And I can tell you, these new parts aren't missing a
thing when it comes to erotic sensation. It feels like all the old
nerves are still there, maybe moved around a bit, and I think
they've even had the gain turned up a little, too." Joe grinned as
he spoke.

"You've noticed that too? I was thinking that I must be
really screwed up after having my cock shrivel up, and then still
being horny all the time. The urge does seem to be tapering off a
little bit lately though."

"Yeah. For me too. Dr. Krell said that maybe I was getting
familiar with the new sensations, and that maybe my testosterone
level would start to decrease. It was far too high for a female,
he said."

"Do you... er.. have you ever thought about what it would be
like to sleep with a man... to have sex with one?" Mike asked.

"Well...I'll admit, the thought has crossed my mind." Joe
wasn't about to say anything about last night.

"I don't know if I could do it... I mean... some other guy's
cock... all that... but I don't know. I just can't seem to get the
idea out of my mind. I find I'm constantly wondering how it would
feel."

"I suppose it just might be pretty good," Joe answered. "Dr.
Krell says all our organs are normal, even the stuff that's
changed, and that everything should work just like any normal
woman's. Heaven knows they're sensitive enough, that's for sure."
He was actually relieved to hear that somebody else was experienc-
ing the same feelings he had been having lately.

"Yeah, but the thought of laying next to another guy, I don't
know if I could that. It would have to feel weird."

"Maybe it wouldn't, once you got... you know... into it."

"Yeah. Maybe you're right. I just don't know though."

"There's no need to rush something like that," Joe mused. "It
looks like we might have plenty of time to get used to the idea."

"Yeah, it does look like that, doesn't it. I have trouble
with the idea of spending the rest of my life as a woman. Hell, I
just can't see myself looking like my grandmother."

"It is hard to accept, isn't it?"

"So far, everything has been interesting, sort of. It even
feels somewhat exciting, and I'm even learning to like some of the
things about this. At first, I thought I was really going to miss
having a cock, but... you know... I really don't... except for
taking a piss. I just don't think I'll ever get used to peeing
like a girl," Mike said, rubbing the soft little bulge between his
legs.

"It is different, isn't it? I guess I miss that part of being
a guy too."

"Of course, there are some compensations. Have you ever made
yourself come yet?" Mike wasn't one to mince words.

"Well...yeah, I suppose I have..." Joe said cautiously. He
wondered what Mike was leading up to.

"Pretty wild, isn't it?" Mike was grinning. "First time I
washed myself, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. And
it just keeps coming back for more. Hell, I almost rubbed myself
sore. I still feel a little tender down there."

Joe pulled his panties off, and tossed them on the bed. He
picked up the little thong bikini, stepped into it and pulled it
over his hips. The tiny wisp of black cloth covered most of his
pubic area, narrowing to a thin crotch strip that went between the
legs and riding up the back in the cleft of his buttocks. He could
feel it where it touched sensitive areas. His entire rear end was
essentially bare. He looked down over his breasts, and saw that
the front of the bikini at least covered his bush, but even with
his close trim, some pubic hair showed around the edges. Joe
pulled the tiny "V" of cloth away from his crotch, and let it
spring back, which helped to cover some of the hair. It felt very
sexy just wearing it, and Joe thought it probably looked that way
too. He liked it immediately.

"That looks really great," Mike exclaimed. "Damn it Joe, you
are just so damn beautiful."

"I know I've changed, but I don't know about beautiful. And
this thing feels like its riding in the crack of my behind. I
guess it is." Joe still felt awkward getting compliments on his
new appearance.

"Well, it's true, you really are beautiful. Tim is too, in a
'teenage' kind of way, but you. Man, if I still had my old body,
I don't know..." Mike grinned a wicked grin as he said the words.

"Well, don't forget, you look pretty good too." Joe returned
the compliment, feeling his face reddening. "You seem to be still
changing. Am I right?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm pretty sure my boobs are still
growing, or filling out, or something. I'm not sure, but I feel
like I'm still getting softer all over." Mike ran his hand over
his breasts as he spoke.

"Maybe the steroids only slowed the change, but can't stop
it."

"Well if it was going to stop the change, it's too late now.
I not only look pretty much like a female, I even think I feel like
one, at least most of the time."

"Well then, shave those hairy legs, will you?" Joe teased.

"Yeah, I will." Mike began going through his small bag,
looking for his shaving kit. When he found it, he went into the
bathroom, and shut the door. Joe could hear the toilet flush, and
the shower start to run. As Mike cleaned up, Joe removed the sexy
feeling new underwear and put his old things back on. He found
some shorts and a light blue top, and put them on. Using the
remote, he snapped on the television, lay back, and watched the
news.

In a while Mike came back out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped
around his body. He had removed the hairpiece, and with the towel
hiding his curves, again looked a just bit like his old self. Mike
had obviously shaved his legs bare only moments before. Joe
watched him as he dressed, and smiled when Mike removed the towel.
It was strange to see the familiar head of his friend, above a now
quite hairless, and very curvy, female body. He realized that his
own reflection was probably quite similar.

Mike stepped into and pulled on one of his new stretchy
bodysuits, and covered it only with colorful nylon shorts. He was
obviously enjoying the way he now looked, eyeing his reflection in
the mirror over the dresser as he put the things on. Joe had to
admit that Mike was becoming quite attractive.

"Want to work out with me?" Mike asked. "There is a great
exercise room downstairs."

"Aw, I don't know. I know I should, but..." Joe protested.

"Come on, you know you need it too. And I'd sure like the
company."

"Ok. I'll go with you." Joe went to his bag and took out the
exercise clothing he just bought.

When Joe was ready, they went down to the exercise area.
There were three guys there, and Joe and Mike found that they were
immediately the primary object of attention of the others in the
room. Joe went to a stationary bicycle and climbed on, and Mike
tried his new muscles on the weight bench. As Joe sat there
pedaling, he watched Mike strain to find his new lower limits.
Then one of the young men came over, and climbed on the other bike.
At first, the guy said nothing, seeming to feel out the situation,
but in a few minutes, he spoke, obviously very nervous.

"This is a nice place, isn't it?" the young man asked, making
small talk.

Joe looked over at him. "Yes. It is nice." Joe smiled. He
tried to sound and act as feminine as he could, but was feeling
terribly self conscious.

"Is that your friend over there?" the guy continued.

"Yeah. He... she's my roommate." Joe answered.

"She can sure lift. She looks pretty strong."

If you only knew, Joe thought. But he said, "She's been
lifting for quite some time."

"Are you gonna be over in the lounge later?" the guy blurted
out. It was obvious that he was even more nervous than Joe, but
not much.

"I don't think so. I have to get to sleep early." He wasn't
ready to fight off the lounge lizards.

"Oh, you should come down. The place is swinging every
night."

Then you won't need me there, Joe thought. "I just don't
think I can." Joe turned back and looked at Mike, who was now
dealing with one of the other guys.

"Sure you can. What did you say your name was?" The guy
wouldn't be shot down. Joe found he admired his tenacity.

"I didn't say, but it's Joe," Joe answered, trying to appear
more friendly than he was feeling just then.

"Joe? What's that short for? Jo-ann?"

"No. My name is Joel. But I've always been called Joe."

"Joe sounds like a guy's name, but it sounds good on you. My
name's Mike."

"Thanks, Mike." Great. Another Mike, Joe thought.

"What's your friend's name?" Mike was running out of things
to say, but was desperately trying to continue the conversation.

"She's... er... her name is Mik... ahh... Michelle... I call
her Mike, too." Joe stammered.

"That's interesting," Mike said. "We have the same names."

"Look, Mike, I don't think I'll be at the lounge tonight. I'm
really sorry," Joe said, trying to sound kind, as well as
apologetic.

"Ok. But you'll be missing out on a good time."

Joe rode on in silence, and Mike continued pedaling, too. Joe
was aware that the young man next to him was watching him move out
of the corner of his eye. He had done the same thing himself,
eyeing a good looking girl, using that image to keep his mind off
aching muscles.

Joe felt a bead of sweat trickle from under the hairpiece, and
then run along his ear. He reached up, and pulled the hair away
from his face. He would have liked to remove the wig, but knew
that would have caused a real stir. He just kept pedaling,
enjoying the feeling only vigorous exercise can produce.

After twenty minutes on the bike, he found that his new body
was getting tired. Before the change, he could have kept this pace
for an hour. He stopped pedaling and went over to Mike, who
appeared to be enjoying the company of the other guy, who was
hanging around him like a puppy.

"I think I'm going back to the room," Joe said. "I'm tired
and I need a shower."

"Ok. I think I'll hang around here for a while yet," Mike
said.

"Later," Joe said, and walked out of the room rubbing his face
with a towel.

"Bye, Joe," Mike the guy said. "Come back down later, if you
can."

"Yeah. See you later, Mike," Joe said, and walked over to the
elevator.

Joe went to his room, and went straight to the shower, and
started it running. He had worked up a good sweat, and his clothes
were quite wet, but he noted that, even when he was sweating, he
still smelled different from the way he did as a guy. He quickly
removed his clothes, and in a few moments, he pulled back the
curtain and stepped in, enjoying the warm spray on his back, but
remembering to shield his sensitive breasts with his hands whenever
he faced the spray. He lingered in the warm spray for a while, and
then hopped out of the shower, drying off quickly. He was now
starting to get familiar with the new curves and crevasses his body
had gotten with the change. He left the hairpiece off, and,
finding his terrycloth romper, he slowly pulled it on. Joe then
pulled the spread back from the bed, and collapsed on it. Joe's
tired, soft body, smelling fresh from the shower, felt good, but
very sleepy. He closed his eyes.

It seemed like Joe had only been sleeping a few minutes when
he heard Mike enter the room. He opened his eyes, and saw his
friend, his new leotard soaked with perspiration, come in and go
straight into the bathroom. The door closed, and almost immediate-
ly, Joe could hear the shower start to run. He looked at the clock
radio. He was surprised to find that he had been sleeping over an
hour. Joe closed his eyes again, and again he was awakened by
Mike. When he came out of the bathroom, he was again wearing only
a bath towel.

"Joe... I just met a guy... you saw him... Gordon... he thinks
I'm a real girl... He wants me to come down to the lounge later,"
Mike said, sounding almost like he asking Joe for permission.

"Are you going to go?"

"I don't know. Do you think I should?"

"Well, do you want to?"

"Yeah, I think I do, but maybe I don't. I don't know...I'm
scared. What if he finds out that I'm really a guy?"

Joe looked at his friend standing at the foot of the bed,
wearing only a bath towel. "Mike, open the towel, and let it drop
to the ground."

Mike opened the large white towel and let it fall to his feet.

"Now look down. What do you see?" Joe asked.

"I don't get it, what do you mean?" Mike asked, confused.

"Unless you TELL him, there is NO WAY he'll know that you USED
to be a man. You aren't one now. You don't even look remotely
like one."

"Yeah. Yeah. I guess you're right."

"By the way, I told your guy's partner, the one who was trying
to hit on me, that your name was Michelle, but that I always called
you Mike," Joe warned.

"Oh yeah. I didn't even think of that. I even told him my
name, that I was Mike Osborn."

"Did he say anything about that? It sounded too weird when I
told the other guy, whose name was Mike too, that I was Joe, and
you were Mike."

"Michelle huh? Michelle... Michelle... I kind of like it.
You know, I never thought of using another name, but maybe I
should." Mike beamed with a strange happiness.

"Well Michelle, are you going to go to the lounge tonight?"

"Will you go with me?" Michelle asked.

"Nope. I'm going down to the restaurant and get something to
eat, and then I'm going straight to bed. That Air-Dyne wore me
out," Joe said, yawning, and raising his arms over his head.

"But if I go, what should I wear?" Michelle asked.

"Man, I don't know. You only bought jeans and shirts, and all
that exercise stuff. Call Karen. She'll help you out."

"What's her number?"

"Hey, I don't know. She went home with that receptionist.
I'm not even sure what her name was."

"I'll look at what I've got here," Michelle said. "Maybe I
can find something ok to wear."

"Don't ask me," Joe said. "I have enough trouble of my own.
I'm the last person to ask for fashion advice."

"Aw, Joe, you're easily the best dressed of all of us,"
Michelle said. "You always look great."

"It's Linda and Karen. I don't have any idea what I should
wear. I just wear what they tell me to wear."

Watching Mike/Michelle standing there, naked, looking through
his/her bags, Joe thought he should remind Michelle about some-
thing.


"Don't forget what Dr. Krell and Susan said. If you decide to
try out the new equipment, make sure you and Gordon use some
protection. If anything happens, it'll be YOU getting pregnant
now."

"Aw Joe, don't worry about that, I have absolutely no
intention of sleeping with anybody," Michelle said.

"But it's not sleeping that causes the trouble." Joe thought
that he was sounding like Michelle's father, or more likely, her
mother.

Joe remembered how he had felt when he was with Jay, and
"Michelle" seemed at least as infatuated as he had been then.

"Ok, Mother," Michelle teased, as she pulled a new pair of
panties on.

Mike/Michelle carefully put on one of her new bras, and again
went to the mirror. She looked at herself critically. "You know,
I'm not too bad looking, I guess. But I sure hope my boobs get at
least a little bigger yet."

"I didn't know you were a 'tit man'," Joe teased.

"Aw, Joe, you know what I mean. I have such big shoulders,
bigger breasts would play them down a little."

"Now you're really sounding like a woman."

"But it's true, isn't it?" Michelle asked. "They would,
wouldn't they?"

"I don't know, maybe they would. You already look ok to me."

"Yeah, but what would a guy think?" Michelle asked, and then
realized what had just been said.

"Well excuuuse me," Joe mocked. "I'm sure I don't have any
idea what a GUY might think."

"I'm sorry, but you know what I mean. I mean like Gordon."

"Oh, yeah. Gordon." Joe continued. "I'm sure Gordon likes
women with big tits."

"Lay off, Bates," Michelle said in a way which might have
sounded menacing, if it hadn't come from someone wearing a pink bra
with matching panties.

"Yes ma'am," Joe mocked, but he stopped the teasing. It was
so amazing, seeing what had happened to this big guy just one week
after his chromosomes had been jumbled, or whatever. He knew the
same thing was happening to him, too.

Michelle found a pair of jeans and picked one of the tops they
had just bought. His clothes might be ok, if the lounge was real
casual.

"It'll have to do," Michelle said, arranging the hairpiece and
brushing it with Joe's hair brush. "I don't know about this long
hair, though."

"Let's get something to eat, what do you think?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, I am getting hungry." Michelle agreed. "We should call
Dave and Tim, I guess."

They called the other room, and made arrangements to meet down
stairs in a half hour. Joe got dressed in shorts and a top, and he
and Michelle left the room.

Article 81858 of alt.sex.stories:
From: an236635@anon.penet.fi (Sapphire)
Subject: TG: Joe Bates ( ch 20 )
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 1995 03:38:24 GMT

CHAPTER 20
The Cause (PART 2)


Joe called Tim and Dave's room. They agreed to meet in
fifteen minutes, downstairs in the hotel lobby. When they arrived,
Tim and Dave were already there. Tim was wearing some of his new
purchases and now, along with the physical changes brought about by
the metamorphosis and his new hair style, the young man's very
feminine body looked exactly like what Joe thought of as "cute."
Dave,
of course, still wore the now familiar yellow coverall. It seemed
to Joe that Dave's hips and butt looked a little larger each time he
saw him, but his friend didn't seem to notice.

"Where do you want to eat?" Joe asked.

"I don't have a preference," Dave responded. "Right here will
be fine with me."

"Yeah, Sounds ok to me too." Mike added.

"How about it, Tim?" Joe asked. "Is this place satisfactory
to you?"

"Sure, absolutely." Tim said. "I only hope I can afford it."

"Don't worry about paying for it." Joe said. "I'm putting
this on expenses. I'll cover yours too."

"Great!" Tim said.

Everyone followed Joe and Mike into the quite formal dining
area of the hotel. They stood at the podium, and in a moment the
head waiter came to them. He looked at the group of women with a
critical eye.

"Good evening, ladies," he said. "Will there be just four of
you?"

"Yes," Joe answered.

"Follow me, please." He continued.

Joe, Dave, Mike and Tim followed the waiter single file to a
dimly lit table in a quiet area of the restaurant. He positioned
the chair out for Joe, who looked at him a moment, until he
realized what was going on, and then carefully sat. Using Joe
as an example, the others followed suit.

"Your waiter will be with you momentarily, ladies." The
waiter smiled and left.

"Well. That was sure the royal treatment," Mike said.

"Oh, I don't know," Joe said. "It's probably just the way
they treat women here. Maybe we'll just have to get used to it, if
we can." He grinned.

"It is kind of nice," Tim said. "I guess not everything about
this is bad."

"How's it going, Tim?" Joe asked. "Are you getting used to it
yet?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so." Tim answered. "That is, if it's
possible to get used to something like this happening to you."

"Well I guess I just have to be the first to tell everybody,"
Joe announced. "Our Mike here has decided to answer to the
name, Michelle. And... he's... no, she's... even going on a date
tonight," Joe teased.

"A date?" Tim asked incredulously.

"Don't listen to him," Michelle said. "I'm not going on a
'date', that's just his bullshit."

"But what about the 'Michelle'?" Tim asked.

"Well I don't know. I was thinking maybe it might not be such
a bad idea. It's very like my name, and it doesn't sound so
strange when I tell people who don't know about me my name.
Telling people my name is Mike sounds strange now, don't you
think?" Michelle asked.

"No worse than Tim, or Joe." Dave answered.

"Tim and Joe can do whatever they want." Michelle said. "I'm
going to try it for a while at least, and see how it works. Maybe
you guys should consider other names too. If we're going to have
to live like this, we might as well blend in as well as we can and
make the best of it."

"I wonder what name I could use?" Tim thought aloud.

"How about Tina?" Michelle suggested. "I used to know a girl
with that name. She looked a little bit like you do, too."

"Naw, I don't like it," Tim said. "I don't care what you guys
think I look like, I don't want a 'cutesy' name like Tina. My
sister's name is Becky. I wonder what she'd say if... when she
sees how I look. Hell, I think I've got bigger boobs than she
does." He suddenly went quiet as he considered his now changed
relationship with his sister.

"How old is she, Tim?" Joe asked, trying to keep him talking
and not feel sorry for himself and what had happened to him.

"She's about a year older than me," Tim answered. "I just
turned twenty-one, and she'll be twenty-two next month."

"Does she still live at home?" Joe asked.

"Well, right now she's at home, but she'll be moving to
Flagstaff as soon as school's out," Tim said. "I don't know if I
want her to see me like this."

"If you plan to go home, I don't think you'll be able to hide
it," Michelle said.

"Don't remind me," Tim said. "I don't know how I can ever
tell my dad what has happened to me. I think he'd just die."

"Maybe not," Joe said. "I take it you haven't told them yet."

"God, no," Tim said. "I have been hoping that somehow I'd be
able to change back. You know... wake up, and look like a guy
again."

"It doesn't look like it'll be that easy." Joe said. He was
glad that he didn't have to face his own father, who was deceased,
looking as he did. He didn't know about telling his own mother
that her only son was now her only daughter.

"Yeah. I think you're right" Tim said.

The waiter came to the table with menus. He asked if anyone
would like a drink. Joe asked for a beer. Mike thought that
sounded good and did the same. Dave asked for scotch. Tim said
nothing, but the waiter stood waiting for the young lady to order.

"I'll have a Michelob, too" Tim finally said, looking up from
the menu, and seeing that the waiter was waiting for his response.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask for your ID," the waiter
said, apologetically looking at the young girl.

With extreme embarrassment, Tim took his wallet from the small
handbag he had just bought that afternoon. From it he retrieved
his driver's license, which still had his male photograph, and of
course, there was still an "M" in the block labeled sex. The
waiter looked at the card, and then back at Tim. He looked again,
and with a totally confused look, he gave the ID back. He said
nothing, probably so unsure as to what was going on that he thought
it best to do nothing. This young lady... and it was quite obvious
that Tim was female... was either an idiot trying to use her
brother's driver's license, or something very weird was going on.
He decided it best to leave it alone. He had asked for ID, that's
all the manager had ordered him to do. Let the cute kid have a
drink if she wants one.

In a few minutes, the waiter returned with their drinks and
asked if they were ready to order. They were, and in turn, they
told him what they wanted.

When the waiter left, Joe took a swig from his glass. It
still tasted great, but he knew from experience that one or maybe
two of these now had the effect of twice that number. Tim drained
his glass in very few swallows. It took more than just becoming a
girl to change the way he downed a brew. He put the empty glass
back on the table.

"You better watch out," Joe advised. "If you're at all like
me, I think you'll find that you can't hold anything like you did
before."

"Aw, it went down just the same," Tim said, a big grin forming
on his face. "Besides, you're paying the bill, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I'll pay for it," Joe said. "But I'm not
sure I could carry you upstairs anymore." He grinned, flexing his
arm and rubbing his firm but small biceps.

The service in the hotel restaurant was good, and almost
immediately the waiter noticed Tim's empty glass. With some
surprise, he asked if Tim would like another.

"Sure. Keep them coming," Tim responded, the words sounding
funny coming from such a feminine voice and person.

Tim was well into his second Michelob when Joe finished his
first. Mike and Joe were hardly drinking at all. Before Tim could
order another, the waiter brought out the salads. They started
eating immediately, and again, Tim acted more like the twenty-one
year old guy he was born as than the soft, feminine person he had
become.

"I guess didn't realize how hungry I was," Tim said, hungrily
wolfing down the salad.

"You're acting like you haven't eaten in a week." Joe said,
watching him in amazement.

"I haven't eaten very much lately I just haven't been hungry,
until now."

"You're going to have to watch how much you eat, too," Joe
advised. "Karen said that it's really easy for a female to gain
weight. And every bit if it goes to the hips and butt."

"I don't think I have any problem with that, do you?" Tim
asked. Like Joe, the change had left his body with very trim hips,
especially for a woman, and a firm derriere, and he knew it.

"Maybe not today, but if you don't watch it, it'll grow on
you," Joe said.

"Just look at my ass if you want to know what it can be like,"
Dave added. "I didn't really lose my gut, I'm just sitting on it
now," he said, somewhat sarcastically.

"Exercise with me." Michelle said. "We'll have that butt off
in no time," he said to Dave with a grin.

"I'll have to think long and hard before I could step inside
a gym looking like this," Dave replied.

"Hey, but it's kinda fun," Michelle said. "You wouldn't
believe the sights in the locker room." He winked at Joe. As far
as Joe knew, Michelle had never even been in a women's locker room
yet.

They finished their meal, but not before Tim downed two more
beers. When they were ready to leave, it was becoming obvious that
Tim was feeling the effects. His speech was becoming a little
slurred, and he was speaking much louder, his inhibitions almost
completely gone. When he got up, he clung to the back of the chair
for support. Joe saw his young friend had a problem.

"Having some trouble, Tim?" Joe asked with a chuckle.

"I ah...no. I'm ok," Tim insisted. "I'm just a little dizzy,
that's all."

"Yeah. We can see that," Dave said. "You're shit-faced,
Tim."

"I admit, I do think I feel a little buzz. But really, I'm
just fine," Tim again insisted. "I think I better just go up to
the room for a while."

"That's a good idea," Joe agreed. "Are you going to go with
him, Dave?"

"Yeah, I'll take little miss muffet up to her room," Dave
said, trying to hold back a laugh. It was quickly becoming obvious
that Tim could barely walk.

It was all Dave, with Joe's help, could do to get the very
tipsy Tim to the elevator. Tim kept objecting to their assistance,
and sometimes did so quite loudly. When Joe's hand accidentally
touched Tim's breast, slightly pinching it between him and his arm,
Tim objected loudly.

"Hey, lay off the boobs," Tim said. "You think just because
I'm a little drunk I can't feel you touching me?"

"I'm not trying to touch you," Joe said with a snicker. "I'm
trying my best to help you walk."

They finally got Tim to his room. They sat him on the bed and
then stood there a moment, wondering what to do next.

"Now what?" Tim asked. "You two just going to stand there,
and look at me?"

"We're trying to decide what to do next," Joe said laughing.

"Ok then, stand there. I'm going to go take a piss," Tim
decided.

He tried to get up, but was having difficulty rising from the
bed. Joe grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

"Can you make it to the bathroom?" Joe asked.

"I'd aprresheat it if you'd help me get in there," Tim
conceded.

Joe assisted Tim to the bathroom. When he got to the stool,
Tim stood there, and fiddled with the zipper at the front of his
shorts. He finally got the zipper down, and with his finger,
started to probe around inside his shorts, as if looking for
something. Joe watched him, trying to figure out what he was
trying to do.

"Just what are you up to now?" Joe finally asked.

"Well, what does it look like?" Tim said. "I'm trying to take
a piss. If I can just get my damn dick out, that is."

His foggy, confused mind had apparently forgotten about the
changes which had occurred.

"I don't think that's going to work, Tim," Joe said. "Maybe
you better just pull your pants down."

The results of the probing and Joe's words started to bring
Tim back to reality. He unbuttoned the waistband of the shorts and
pulled them down. He stood there, looking down at the blue panties
he wore. He looked over at Joe, and then back down at himself.
Finally, he broke out in laughter.

"You know what?" Tim asked. "I forgot I was a girl. I was
thinking I was still a guy, and I was trying to piss standing up.
For a second there I was just having trouble finding my cock. It
felt like it was just somehow caught between my legs or something.
Ain't that rad? I thought it was just caught or something." He
kept laughing, seeming to be amused by how his new body had tricked
him.

Joe and Dave watched as Tim pulled down his underwear and then
awkwardly sat on the stool, then they left the room.

"Think you'll be ok with him?" Joe asked Dave.

"Sure. If he doesn't come out in a few minutes, I'll go in
after him." Dave said. "You know, if a few beers made him forget
about this, even if for a minute, I think I envy him. I might just
go out and get a six-pack myself."

Joe grinned at his friend. "If you think it'll help, go ahead
and try it, but you know as well as I do, it really won't change
anything. And just don't get so screwed up that you can't get up
tomorrow."

"Don't worry," Dave said. "I'll probably just stay here and
nursemaid our little miss muffet."

"I'm going back to the room and hit the sack. I don't know
why I'm so tired."

"Maybe it's because you didn't get much sleep last night,"
Dave said, grinning.

Joe went back to his room, wondering what Dave meant by that
last statement. Did he know what he and Jay had done the night
before?

Mike (Michelle) was standing in front of the dresser mirror,
looking at him (her) self, and trying on each of the tops she had
bought that day.

"What do you think? What should I wear?" Michelle asked
hopefully.

"I think what you have on is as good as any," Joe advised.
"Maybe you should get some other things tomorrow."

"Yeah. That won't help me tonight though."

"What time are you going down there?"

"I guess about eight. I'll go down in a half hour. If
nothing is going on, I'll only stay an hour or so."

"Are you sure you're really ready for this?"

"Hell, I don't know, Joe. I thought it was a good idea when
Gordon asked me. I'm more than a little nervous now, though."

"Don't go if you don't want to," Joe advised. "Nobody's
expecting you to do anything like this so soon."

"I might as well give it a try," Michelle said. "As you said,
nobody can tell I'm not a natural woman, and it'll be a challenge
to try to act like one."

"Just don't get in any deeper than you really want to."

"Hey, I'm a big bo...girl. I can take care of myself."
Michelle grinned at her slip up.

Joe quickly removed his clothes, including his underwear; then
pulled on the comfortable little terry romper. He snapped on the
TV with the remote, and then pulled back the spread from the bed.
He lay down, bunching the two pillows up behind his head.
Remembering the hairpiece, he took it off and carefully placed it
on the nightstand. The air felt cool on his head as the condi-
tioned air blew through his short hair. He ran his hand through
it, wishing it were as long as the wig so he could forget about
wearing that. In due time, he knew, all in due time...

Finally, Michelle left, and Joe was left alone. He tried to
watch a movie, but was soon fast asleep.


********************************


Mr. Bates.... Mr. Bates.... Joe could hear someone calling
his name. He looked around. He was in a room a bit like a hospital
room, or maybe a laboratory of some kind. A young, very pretty
nurse was standing over his bed, shaking him and calling his name.

"What do you want? Is something wrong?" Joe asked.

"I was trying to wake you," the woman answered. "You've been
sleeping for hours. I was beginning to wonder if you were ok."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Joe answered, taking stock of his senses as
he woke. He pulled the sheet back, and saw that he was wearing a
hospital gown. He accidentally brushed his chest, and didn't feel
the familiar softness of his breasts. That's strange, he thought.
He placed a hand under the gown, and as he felt his bare chest, he
realized that it was again covered with hair, and the only bulges
evident were those of his well developed pectoral muscles. It
seemed that his soft breasts had departed as quickly as they had
appeared. What's going on here, he wondered again? The nurse saw
his surprise, but remained silent and watched as he inspected his
body.

Joe reached down and carefully felt between his legs. There,
instead of a tiny, sensitive, clitoris imbedded in the cleft of a
moist vulva, he discovered a semi-erect penis, and under that, a
testicle-filled scrotum. Since he had by now become familiar with
his new feminine shape, these male organs seemed unfamiliar, and
strangely huge.

With a start, Joe rapidly sat up in the bed. This movement
surprised the nurse, who jumped back quickly. He swung his legs
over the side of the bed, and stood up. With that, it was obvious
that he had also returned to his former height. He ran his hands
over his chest, his hips, and again touched himself between his
legs, finding it difficult to believe what he was feeling. But it
was perfectly clear, his body had become male again.

The nurse, who had been watching in interest, finally said.
"Mr. Bates, I think you better get back into that bed. I'll have
to call the doctor."

"What is going on anyway?" Joe asked, confused. "How did this
happen to me?"

"But don't you remember?" The nurse said. "They've discovered
the way to change you back to normal. They tried an experiment on
you yesterday, and as you can see, it worked. But you better lie
back down until the doctor can check you over."

"But I'm ok...can't you see that?" Joe insisted. He could
feel the new strength in his muscles as he stretched his arms over
his head.

"I'll call the doctor right now," the nurse said, as she
backed out of the room.

"I want to put some real clothes on." Joe told her as she left
the room.

Joe then went over to the dresser near the wall. When he
opened a drawer, he found it contained only his female
underwear...panties and a bras...no outer clothing at all. He went
to the small closet. When he opened it he again found only his
women's clothes. He took out a hanger which held a top and pair of
shorts. It obvious that these things wouldn't fit him now, even if
he dared try putting them on. He went back to the bed and sat
on the edge, quite confused.

He was sitting there only a minute when the door to his room
opened, and woman entered. Joe was surprised to see it was his
girl friend, Linda.

"Linda! Look at me, I'm a man again!" He exclaimed.

"I heard Joe, and I came right over." Linda said. "Are you
happy about it?"

"Sure I am. Aren't you?" Joe asked.

Linda walked over to his bed, and slowly pushed him back,
until his head was again resting on the pillows. Seductively, she
put her soft hand under his hospital gown, and grasped his penis.
She slowly, gently ran her fingers up and down along the stiffening
shaft, and Joe closed his eyes, enjoying the familiar old
sensation... a feeling he thought he would never again experience.
As she stroked him, Linda placed her lips on his. Joe could smell
her and taste her sweetness as they kissed deeply. He reached up
and tried to put his arms around her, but she kept pushing them
away, so that he couldn't get them around her. Finally, he gave up
trying to hold her, and just let her pleasure him. In a very short
while, he experienced the release of orgasm, and then felt Linda
slide into the bed alongside him. He put his arms around her
incredibly soft body, and held her tightly. He suddenly became
very tired. With Linda firmly in his arms, Joe fell fast asleep.
It seemed everything was working out after all.


**************************************


Joe woke as he heard a key fumbling at the door to his room.
>From the glow of the TV, he could see someone enter and go over to
the other bed. When the light on the side of the bed snapped on,
Joe could see that it was a woman. He looked down at Linda, and
saw that he was hugging his pillows. The "other woman" was
Michelle, coming in from his/her evening out. Joe looked down at
himself, and saw, as well as felt, that his boobs were back...he
was still a woman. As a final confirmation, he tensed the muscles
in his crotch, and could tell by the now familiar sensation that
his new penis had only been a dream.

"Are you awake?" Michelle asked, looking over at Joe.

"I am now," Joe said. "But you wouldn't believe the dream I
just had."

"Sorry I woke you." Michelle removed her top; then softly
scratched her breasts as the bra came off.

Joe looked over at the clock, it was two-thirty.
Mike/Michelle must have had a good evening. "Well, how'd it go?"
he asked.

"Not so bad...not really bad at all," Mike/Michelle said, a
smile forming on her lips. "You know, I think I'm really gonna
like this."

"Anything you can tell me about?" Joe asked. He was curious
how his friend did on his first social evening as a woman, in mixed
company.

Michelle smiled broadly. "I though I'd kill somebody if they
suggested I'd ever dare kiss a man, but tonight I actually did just
that...just a little peck just outside that door, and my heart is
still pounding from it."

"So you kissed Gordon, huh?" Joe asked. "Was it as good as
kissing a woman?"

"Hey, you know, it wasn't really that much different,"
Michelle answered, still smiling. "But I'm not sure if I'll ever
get used to all the touching."

"What touching?" Joe asked.

"I think Gordon really is a "tit man," Michelle answered,
grinning. He kept trying to sneak a feel of these things whenever
he had a chance."

"Did it bother you?" Joe asked, about ready to laugh at his
friend's description of his introduction to womanhood.

"Well, I guess it didn't 'bother' me. At first, I would just
push his hand away, but he persisted, so I decided to let him go...
get a good feel if that's what he wanted... and then see what he
would want to do next."

"What did he do?" Joe asked, his interest becoming piqued.

"Nothing. Nothing except feel my boobs...touch them all
over...and I admit, it did start to feel kind of good, too. I
think if he had just kept it up, he could have done anything else
he wanted. I thought I was going to leave a puddle on my seat. I
finally had to go to the bathroom and freshen myself up." Michelle
grinned. "I found out something else too."

"What's that?" Joe asked.

"I think females get 'blue balls' too," Michelle said
indelicately. "And tonight, I had them...bad."

"Sorry to hear it," Joe said, almost cracking up. "And what
did you do about that?"

"Nothing, what could I do?" Michelle asked. "When I finally
went to the bathroom, it was so crowded, I could hardly 'do' myself
there. I'm ok now though."

"Well, I'm sure glad to hear that." Joe chuckled.

Michelle went into the bathroom, and came out a few minutes
later. She put on one of her old t-shirts to sleep in. Like Joe,
Mike had always slept in the nude before, but now preferred to wear
something while she slept.

Joe snapped off the TV, and lay there in the darkness, trying
to get back to sleep. He began to think about the dream he had
been having. It had all seemed so real. He could feel it, just as
if he had really been changed back. It was the first time since
the change had occurred that he had experienced the feeling of
having his maleness, and he realized that though he had become
resigned to his present fate, he still missed his old status. He
closed his eyes to the darkness and tried to sleep, hoping that at
least the dream would return.


*********************************************


Joe was awakened by the sound of the clock radio as it blasted
out a Beatles tune. The first thing he did when he woke, as was
becoming a habit, was feel between his legs, never giving up hope
that he might awaken in his old body. But as usual, his fingers
only brushed along the moistness of his vulva. He continued to
stroke the silky softness lightly, enjoying his light touch to that
sensitive area.

Swinging his head around in the darkened room, Joe looked at
the red glow of the LEDs on the radio. Seven-thirty already. The
night had gone by quickly. He looked over at Mike/Michelle, and
saw that she was also stirring, not wanting to get up, but knowing
it was that time.

Joe crawled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. He
started the shower running and pulled down the terrycloth romper,
stepping out of it, and then sat and relieved himself as the water
temperature stabilized. He finished on the toilet, and felt the
shower stream. Satisfied, he took his soap and wash cloth, and
stepped in. He finished quickly and stepped out to dry off. When
he finished doing that, he wrapped himself in a towel and went out
into the main room. He decided to dress before applying makeup.
Michelle was still in bed, the covers pulled over her head.

Joe shook the bed with his foot. "You got the bathroom,
sleepy head."

Mike/Michelle pulled the covers off her face, and gave Joe a
mean look. "What time do we have to be at the clinic?"

"I think we should get there at least by nine-thirty. That's
only an hour and a half from now."

Michelle sat up in bed, and then reached down, and carefully
felt her breasts. Joe smiled as he watched his friend inspecting
her body. "Find something you like?"

"I was just checking, trying to tell if I'm any bigger this
morning. I'm not sure, but I think they're still getting a little
bigger every day." Mike/Michelle smiled, somewhat embarrassed.

"Well, Gordon will like that."

"Hey, what the hell, we all have to deal with this thing in
our own way, right?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Joe agreed. "If your way is to
want to look like Dolly Parton, that's ok with me."

With that, Joe went to his bag, and pulled out the little
black bra and panty set he bought yesterday. As he stepped into
the tiny panty, he considered what Michelle just said. He knew,
from last night's dream, that deep down inside, he still wanted to
be a man, and he still liked women, too. But the reality of the
situation was that he wasn't a man anymore. At least he no longer
had a male body. He wasn't so sure about his brain. Even if that
had become female now too, at least it still contained all his old
male memories. And the new hormones that were now coursing through
his veins... well, they were making living in the body he now
possessed tolerable... no... more than tolerable...enjoyable. And
now it seemed he found that wearing this kind of stuff was fun, so
why shouldn't he do it? It was how he dealt with this "thing," in
his own way.

Joe had finished putting on his sexy underthings when Michelle
came out of the bathroom wearing the T shirt. She went to her bags
and pulled out some underwear. Joe looked at his friend. "Are you
done in there?" Joe asked.

"You want to go in there again?"

"I want to put on some makeup."

"Oh, yeah? Can you show me how to do that too?"

"Well, I'll do my best," Joe said, and then went to the closet
and took out the suit. Just seeing it caused him think of Linda.
He removed it from the hangers, and, after donning a slip, he put
the businesslike outfit on. When he moved, Joe felt the thong
back of the little panty between his buttocks, and that constant
reminder of what he wore underneath gave him a strangely good
feeling.

"What you really need is for somebody who knows what they're
doing to help you. Remember, I'm just a beginner at this stuff
too. I'm sure Karen would be glad to help."

"Yeah, I'll ask her I guess. But I'll watch what you do
anyway, if you don't mind."

"No problem. I just hope you don't pick up any bad habits by
watching me. Yesterday and today are the only times I've ever done
this without help."

"It looked ok to me yesterday. You must be doing it right, I
guess."

Joe went to the bathroom mirror, and proceeded to do his face.
When he was finished, he helped Michelle do the same, using his
cosmetics. The colors were not as favorable for Michelle's
complexion, but were satisfactory.

"You should go to the mall, and get a makeover," Joe said.
"It's ridiculously expensive, and they sell you all kinds of stuff,
but they will show you what you need... what looks best for you.
And it wasn't even embarrassing... for me at least."

"What do you mean by that, Bates? Do you think I'd have a
problem?" Mike/Michelle was still somewhat insecure about her
appearance.

"No, nothing like that, you dope, I just wasn't sure if you'd
be embarrassed to have a woman teach you to wear makeup. I guess
I still have a problem thinking of you as you are now. You've
changed so much...we all have."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. A while ago, when I looked at
myself in the mirror, it wasn't really me staring back, was it? If
it wasn't that my head has changed too, I don't really know how to
describe what I mean, I don't think I could handle this. Sure, at
first it's kind of interesting, exciting even, to wake up looking
like a woman, but it doesn't take long to realize that this isn't
just some fancy costume we're wearing, it goes all the way to the
bone. We don't... we can't just take it off at night."

"At first I thought just getting used to the physical differ-
ences would be the hardest part, but hell, that's nothing. Well,
it's almost nothing." Michelle rubbed her crotch. "I think the worst
of this is the different way other people relate to you. I was
still taller than a lot of those guys in there last night, and I
think I could have even whipped a few of them, even while I'm like
this. But to those guys... in their eyes... most of 'em anyway, I
could tell that they just saw me as a dumb woman. Somebody to
treat 'nice', buy a few drinks, and maybe, if they got lucky, take
up to their room. I guess I can get used to that. Most natural
woman do, I suppose, but that will be the really hard part, as I see
it." She looked at herself in the mirror, as Joe finished putting
on the finishing touches.

Michelle looked into Joe's eyes, and saw they were wet from
tears welling in them. "Are you gonna cry on me Bates?" Michelle
asked, trying to sound like the tough guy he used to be.

"Damn it Mike...er Michelle, I can't help it. What you just
said, it's the same kind of thing I've been feeling. I guess it's
the hormones, they do make having the bod more fun, I guess, but I
think they've turned me into a sob sister, or something...almost
anything makes me cry, it seems." Joe wiped his eyes, smearing the
light makeup he had just applied.

"I guess we better reserve judgment on the 'fun with the bod'
until those hormones do what they're going to do and we get our
menstrual periods," Michelle said. "That's another one of my big
concerns about all this. God, I never thought I'd ever be worrying
about periods... at least not my own period. All the blood and
all, I don't know if I really want to go through that."

"I thought you were getting all taken up with this 'female'
thing," Joe said. "Now you say you're afraid of having a period?"

"No. Not afraid. I just don't want to have one, that's all."

"Well, assuming we're both normal, for women that is, I guess
we'll have one every month for the next fifteen, or twenty years.
Unless we happen to fool around and get ourselves knocked up, that
is." Joe grinned.

"That's another thing," Michelle said. "I don't know a damn
thing about being a mother... having kids... none of stuff like
that."

"Hey, do you really think you would be any smarter if you were
born looking like this?" Joe asked. "I really doubt that natural
women are privy to some secret knowledge, things we can never
learn."

"Maybe you're right, I don't know. I just know I wasn't
taught to put on makeup, and my mom sure never taught me anything
about periods either. Now here I am, with a body that seems to be
getting more female every day, and when I think about that, it's
pretty damn scary," Mike/Michelle admitted.

"Yeah, I agree with you, when I think about it, I'm not sure
I can handle it. But, if we just take it a little at a time, maybe
we can get through it."

They finished dressing, and then repacked their bags. By then
it was time to meet the others downstairs. They went down to the
coffee shop, and found that Dave and Tim were already there. Tim
looked a little rough. His big blue eyes were bloodshot, and he
was holding his head in his hands.

"How's it going, Tim?" Joe asked.

"Don't ask. I don't know what happened. Four beers NEVER did
this to me before."

"You're a different person now, you know," Joe reminded him.
"A lot of things are different. You better remember that."

"Yeah, I know, I know. I just didn't think it would be that
different."

They quickly ordered and ate their breakfast. Tim only sipped
orange juice, and downed a glass of alka-seltzer. When they were
finished, they again checked out of the hotel and drove to the
clinic. When they arrived, it was still a little early, and they
were not quite ready for Tim and the others. Finally, Tim was
called in, and he left the others sitting in the waiting room. Joe
gathered a stack of magazines, and started reading.

In a little less than an hour, Tim came back out, a strange
smile was on his face. "Well, it's done, for better or worse."

"What do you mean?" Joe asked.

"I signed the papers. I guess it's official. I'm not a guy
anymore," Tim said, sitting down next to Joe.

"Welcome to the club," said Joe. "I'll let you know what the
dues are."

"I guess we're done here," Mike said. "I haven't seen Karen
yet, though."

"Yeah, I thought she'd be here by now," Joe considered. He
got up and walked to the receptionist's desk. "Where is Karen?"

"Oh, don't you know, she's back in the classroom, waiting for
you to finish. Why don't you go back and find her?"

Joe went down the hallway, looking in each open door until he
found Karen, sitting at a table, reading a book. "Gee, I thought
you overslept or something. We're ready to go back to Phoenix, I
guess."

"Ok." Karen answered. "I got here pretty early, and I guess
I got tied up inside this book." She closed it, and replaced it on
the shelf.

They walked up to the front, and when they got there, they
found Dr. Krell was waiting for them. "I'll be there tomorrow
morning. They have been getting things ready, and I think we're
ready to try some experiments."

"Ok. We'll see you tomorrow morning," Joe said. "Do you know
where to meet us?"

"Honeybone will send someone to pick me up at the airport."

After they said their thank-you's and goodbyes, everyone again
loaded into the Lincoln for the ride to the airport. When they
arrived, Dave went to the plane to preflight, while Joe went to
check weather, and file. In maybe ten minutes, Joe was back at the
plane.

"Severe clear as usual, except for a little smog," Joe said.

"All ready to go," Dave said.

They piled into the Cessna 421 for the flight back to Arizona.
Joe took the right seat, and Dave made the takeoff. When they were
at cruise, Joe looked back at the others in the cabin of the plane.

"Do you want to fly?" he asked Tim.

"Sure," Tim said, "I thought you'd never ask."

As Dave flew, Joe carefully crawled out of the right seat. It
was more difficult than he realized, since he was wearing the snug
fitting skirt. Even though his changed body was more flexible, he
found that he was now more limited in his movements by the clothes
he often wore.

Wearing pants, Tim easily maneuvered himself into the right
seat. When he was belted in, Dave gave him control of the
aircraft.

"You got it," Dave said. "Keep that needle centered." He
pointed to the colorful horizontal situation display on his side of
the panel. Since the 421 was usually used as an avionics test
aircraft, the panels could be easily changed out, and had been
replaced a number of times since Dave and Joe had been flying it.
The right side was also equipped with basic instrumentation, but
did not have the sophisticated electronic display of the left side.

Tim, who was a private pilot, had only flown singles, and the
Cessna twin was the largest he had flown. He did a good job of
keeping the needle centered, and held the planes altitude to IFR
standards.

Before long, they were approaching the Phoenix area. Dave
handled the radios, and Tim followed the instructions of the
controller as he gave them new headings and altitudes to fly, as
they approached Deer Valley airport, north of Phoenix. They were
told to follow a Beech Baron, and Joe could see it about five miles
ahead. He could tell by its yellow color, and the accent of its
pilot as he spoke to approach, that the Baron was a Lufthansa
trainer from Goodyear airport southwest of Phoenix.

"Can I land it?" Tim asked.

"Think you can?" Dave replied.

"Yeah, I think so." Tim said. "If I can get the seat high
enough to see over the panel."

Since he had undergone the change, Tim had become smaller than
he had been as a male. He had perhaps lost only a little more
height than the others, but it seemed to come from his torso (his
legs were almost as long as before), the change in size was most
evident when he was seated. Now he needed the seat raised in order
to see over the panel as he landed. Dave took the controls as Tim
fumbled with the recalcitrant seat mechanism. Joe found it
humorous to watch the young man, his breasts jiggling provocatively
as he struggled to move the seat. Finally he was able to make the
stubborn seat move forward and upward, and he was finally able to
see out the front of the plane on landing. He held up a funnel
shaped object to which a hose was connected, which led under the
seat. This was the relief tube. On the 421, this tube was
connected to a venturi, and it allowed the pilot to urinate without
leaving his seat. Joe had used it only once, when he flew the
plane solo to Minnesota. He wondered if it was even possible to
use it now. He decided that it would at least be very awkward.
Even if he could physically do it, it would now be necessary to
pull his underwear down. That would be a trick in the small
cockpit. Not very dignified, and certainly not at all ladylike.

Tim carefully tucked the tube back under the seat, then
looked back at Joe.

"Looks like you got it." Joe said, giving him thumbs up.

"Yeah, finally," Tim said, rubbing his left breast where it
had been pinched by the seat belt as he worked on the seat. "Seems
like these damn things are always in the way." He grinned.

"But they make the clothes fit so well," Joe teased. He just
couldn't resist kidding the young man.

Tim gave Joe a dirty look. Tim liked Joe and he knew they
were just teasing him because he was youngest, and also maybe
because he did have the most breast development of them all, except
maybe for Dave. And so far, Dave didn't count.

Even though he had been feminized like the others, Dave didn't
try to look or act feminine in any way. He had conceded enough to
wear a bra, but it was more to keep his substantial bosom from
bouncing uncomfortably than to emphasize it. He always wore
coveralls or other figure concealing clothing. He wasn't bad
looking; he could actually be quite attractive if he tried, but he
intentionally did nothing to bring attention to his new body shape.
He even tried to lower the tone of his voice when he talked, trying
to make his now feminine voice sound as masculine as he could. He
would sometimes forget, and the difference was humorous sounding,
somewhat like a young man going through puberty, but reversed.

Deer Valley Airport became visible in the windshield, maybe
ten miles ahead. Approach cleared them to tower frequency, and
Dave reduced the power, so that they could slow and configure for
landing. Soon, the sound of the flaps moving to the first setting
could be heard, followed soon by the gear. When they were on
dogleg to final, Dave selected landing flaps, and gave Tim the new
airspeed to fly. Tim followed the instructions carefully, and flew
smoothly, with a look of intense concentration on his attractive
features. Without any assistance from Dave, Tim landed the Cessna,
his first multiengined touchdown. He grinned from ear to ear as he
taxied the plane to the Honeybone ramp.

"Good job," Dave conceded. "I couldn't have done better
myself."

The engines stopped turning, and Joe went back to open the
door. They were greeted by the maintenance crew. It was only
eleven thirty in the morning, and they were expected.

"Morning, Joe," the mechanic said. The mechanic's name was
Tom Garson. He had known Joe for some time and, like Joe, was a
sports car nut. It was the first time he had seen Joe since the
change had occurred and he looked the engineer over carefully,
while trying not to seem overly curious.

"Hi, Tom."

"You're looking good," Tom said absently, trying to sound
nonchalant.

"Ain't that the truth," Joe agreed, a big grin on his face.
"But I can get used to it if you can."

"Sure, no problem here." Tom said. "But it is hard to believe
that it's really you there."

"Believe it, it's still me," Joe said, as he began removing
the bags from the plane.

Tom pushed Joe aside and began doing the heavy work of moving
the bags. Not that anything was really that heavy, but Tom's
instincts prevented him from letting a woman perform that kind of
exertion. There was little doubt to Tom that the person next to
him was anything but a woman. Her/his clothing, appearance, size,
shape, even the way she was straining to lift her bags, it was
obvious that Joe Bates really had become a female.

At first the intrusion irritated Joe, but then he realized
that nothing was intended by it. It was just his own appearance
which had caused Tom to react that way, and he might as well try
and get used to it. Tom loaded the bags on a little cart, and
pulled it in the hanger office. Joe went over to Dave, who was
filling out the trip report.

"What else do we have to do today?" Dave asked.

"I don't know, but I doubt it would be much," Joe replied.
They walked together into the office. The mechanics would refuel
and service the Cessna.

When they entered the office, the dispatcher was at his desk.
He looked over Joe and Dave carefully. "Joe... Joe Bates?" he
asked, somewhat embarrassed to have to ask such a question to
someone he had known for years.

"Yeah, Ted, its really me." Joe smiled at the embarrassed
man.

"I figured you'd look a little different, but gosh, I didn't
realize..." He didn't know what to say.

"Yeah, I know." Joe agreed. "Believe me, it's not easy for us
either. But, inside, we're still the same guys

"Yeah, ok, well...anyway, Jim Matheney wants you to call as
soon as you land," Ted said. "He'll be at his office all day."

"Thanks Ted," Joe replied, going over to the phone, and
realizing that Ted, and everyone else in the room could not take
their eyes off of him or Dave. Dave sat down at a desk to phone
home, while Joe used the wall phone. He dialed the number to Jim's
office, and his boss immediately answered.

"Jim."

"Hi Jim. Joe here. We're back, safe and sound, relatively
speaking."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. What did you find out?"

"Nothing much really. They examined us again, and I guess
they decided that we're not in any danger. But I don't know how
long we'll have to stay this way. Looks to me like it might be for
some time."

"Yeah. Dr. Krell has been talking to me. He's hoping to get
some clues from what we do here. We have the cage set up with the
transmitters. Everything can be operated from outside the cage."
Jim said. "I just don't know what they plan to put in the cage...
animals, I guess."

"Yeah, probably. Eventually, they'll presumably want to try
us."

"I've heard of a lot of the things that radio energy can
cause, but I never thought it could cause anything like what
happened to you guys. How's it going, Joe?"

"Well, I guess it gets easier as time passes. It really
doesn't hurt, or anything, but it is a hard thing to get accustomed
to."

"I guess so. I just don't know how you can do it."

"Really not much choice, I guess," Joe said. "Life's a bitch,
and then you die."

"Do you have time to stop over here before you go home?" Jim
asked. "Dave too, if he's still there."

"Sure, we'll be right over. What do you have in mind?"

"Oh, nothing much really. I just wanted you to see what we
have set up and get your opinion on it before we meet with Dr.
Krell, tomorrow."

"Ok. We'll be there in maybe thirty minutes. Is that ok?"

"Absolutely. See you soon."

"Bye." Joe hung up the phone and went over to the desk were
Dave was sitting. "If you have the time, Jim would like us to stop
by at the shop before we leave for the day."

"Yeah. I can do that. Any idea what he wants?"

"I think he just wants us to look at what he has set up for
tomorrow, before Dr. Krell arrives."

Karen, Mike/Michelle and Tim came into the room, and Joe told
them what he was going to do. He asked Tim and Mike if they could
be at the Honeybone offices tomorrow morning. Mike agreed that he
could, but Tim didn't know where it was. Dave told him he'd take
him over if he'd drive to his house. Tim knew where that was from
their discussion the night before.

Joe asked Karen if she thought she could be there. She said
she wasn't sure yet, but that it might be possible, since it was
likely that Dr. Benedict would want to be there too, and she would
probably go along.

They said their goodbyes, and Joe took his bag to his car.
Dave followed, and they drove to their meeting with Jim at the
office. When they arrived, Jim showed them the test installation.
The transmitters, each with their small antenna, were set up in a
large, almost cage-like "room" made of wire mesh. The fine weave
of the wire screen was there to shield observers from any effects
of the radio energy by containing it within the room. The size of
the mesh was small enough to block transmission of any frequencies
the system was likely to generate. There were closed circuit video
cameras with recorders and monitors set up, to record all responses
of the test subject, whatever, or whoever that might be. Joe
wondered who would volunteer for such an strange assignment, but
then, after he considered it, he figured that probably many of Dr.
Krell's patients would be more than willing to undergo such an
experience. Indeed, if it could consistently cause what had
happened to him, people would pay money for it. It would be an
interesting task... and the outcome of it would certainly affect
his life as much as anything he had ever done.

They agreed to meet in the morning at the test lab, at nine.
Joe and Dave left Jim, and each went home. Dave went to Cindy, his
wife, and Joe back to Linda's house. Tomorrow would be a big day
for both of them.