Archive-name: Changes/bates19.txt Archive-author: Archive-title: Joe Bates' Story- 19 CHAPTER 19 THE CAUSE (part 1) 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 admittance, they 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." He said. "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 ain't a father already." Dave added. "I am, and now...I 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 kinda fun." Mike added. "Those clothes seem to have have changed 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 recognise myself when I look in the mirror." "I guess I'll need to get one too." Tim said refering 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 he and Mike's appearance, as well as confidence, 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 down, and then tried on various styles of hairpieces. The only one that matched his original hair color was a somewhat short, pixy cut, but it was definitly 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 hairpeice. 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 reciept. 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 embarrased 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 good. I now understand why girls like shopping for clothes...it's totaly different than I what 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, but 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 kinda 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...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 have 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...then, you can just get on with your life. 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 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 don'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 what ever you do Dave, don't let 'em 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." Dave answered. "Don't worry about what to call it." Joe said. "You are both still married to each other...what you do together can't be perverted or anything like that." "Hey, old buddy, I know I'm not gorgous, 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." Dave returned. "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." Dave answered. "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 too." 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...especially 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 suprized how much fun you both can still have...and 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, lead him right to Victoria's Secret. "You just gotta get some of this stuff." He said. "It just look's and feel's 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 in 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 women's 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, who now seemed suddenly fascinated with the details of being a woman. Maybe it's a good thing. Joe though. 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 eventually? He wondered. After Mike had helped Tim find his selections, and 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...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 kind of things were what he thought he needed. Of course Mike, who's 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 inthe 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 nice with it." She pointed to the mannequin, which was wearing almost the same choices. "Oh, yea...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 anothe 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 exercize 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 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. Jeo 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 footware. He kicked them off, and 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 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 appoligized. "Gee Joe, I'm sorry. I know we're both women now, but I couldn't resist looking when I saw you laying there like that. It...you were just so sexy looking, I just couldn't help looking..." 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 ourselves." "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, smoothing 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. Ain't that wierd? 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. Joe said. "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?" Mike asked. "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. Now, 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, laying each item on the bed. "You know, I think just looking at this stuff gives me a hard-on." 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." He asked. "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 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 ajusted 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 don't look like it much, but I sure do feel like I'm still a guy sometimes, like my cock is still there. It's 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." Joe said. "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." Mike retorted. "And I guess you've seen 'em all?" Joe said. "Well, I've seen a few." Mike said. "So your 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 ain't a man anymore...and maybe I don't have male equipment, but I still know what women like...maybe even better now than before." Joe said. "And I can tell you, these new parts ain'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 have had the gain turned up a little, too." He grinned as he spoke. "You've noticed that too?" Mike asked. "I was thinking that I must be really screwed up, after having my cock kinda shrivel up, and then still being horny all the time. The urge does seem to be tapering off a little bit lately though." Mike announced. "Yeah. For me too." Joe said. "Dr. Krell said that maybe I was getting familure 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 admitted. He 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." Mike wondered out loud. "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...and heaven knows, they're sensitive enough, that's for sure." He was actually relieved to hear that somebody else was experiencing 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." Mike continued. "It would have to feel weird." "Maybe it wouldn't, once you got...you know...into it." Joe countered. "Yeah. Maybe you're right. I just don't know though." Mike said. "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, don't it." Mike agreed. "I sure 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 kinda hard to accept isn't it." Joe admitted. "So far, everything has been interesting...sort of...it even feels kinda exciting, and I'm even learning to like some of the things about this. At first, I thought I was really gonna 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." Joe agreed. "Of course, there are some compensations." Mike continued. "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 to. "Pretty wild, isn't it?" Mike said, 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, 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 sorta "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 don't know...but I feel like I'm still getting softer...all over." Mike ran hand over his breasts as he spoke. "Maybe the steroids only slowed the change, but can't stop it." Joe considered. "Well if it was going to stop the change, it's too late now." Mike said. "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 said. He 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, and 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 familure head of his friend, above a now quite hairless, and very curvy, female body. He realized that his own reflection was probably quite similer. 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 exercize room downstairs." "Aw, I don't know...I know I should...but..." Joe protested. "Come on, you know you need it too." Mike said. "And I'd sure like the company." "Ok. I'll go with you." Joe answered. He went to his bag and took out the exercize clothing he just bought. When Joe was ready, they went down to the exercize 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 said, smiling. He tried to sound and act as feminine as he could, but was feeling terribly self concous. "Is that your friend over there?" The guy continued. "Yeah. He...she's my roomate." Joe answered. "She can sure lift." The man returned. "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." Joe answered. "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." The guy continued. Then you won't need me there. Joe thought. "I just don't think I can." Joe repeated. He 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?" He asked. "No. My name is Joel. But I've always been called Joe." Joe replied. "Joe sounds like a guy's name." The guy went on. "But it sounds good on you. My name's Mike." "Thanks Mike." Joe answered. Great. Another Mike, He thought. "What's your friends name?" Mike asked. He was running out of things to say, but was desparately 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 apoligetic. "Ok. But you'll be missing out on a good time." Mike said. 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 exercize 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 was seeming to enjoy the company of the 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 than 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 familure with the new curves and crevases his body had acquired 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 persperation, come in, and go straight into the bathroom. The door closed, and almost immediately, Joe could hear the shower start to run. He looked at the clock radio. He was suprized to find that he had been sleeping over an hour. Joe closed his eyes again, and again he was awakend by Mike. This time when he came out of the bathroom, 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 gonna go?" Joe asked. "I don't know. Do you think I should?" Mike questioned. "Well, do you want to?" Joe returned. "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?" Mike asked. 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." He said. 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." Joe said. "Yeah. Yeah. I guess you're right." Mike agreed. "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." Mike said. "I even told him my name, that I was Mike Osborn." "Did he say anything about that?" Joe asked "It sounded too wierd when I told the other guy, who's 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 said, beaming with a strange happiness. "Well Michelle, are you going to go to the lounge tonight?" Joe asked. "Will you go with me?" Mike, now Michelle, asked. "Nope. I'm going down to the restaraunt 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 exercize stuff. Joe said. "Call Karen. She'll help you out." "What's her number?" Mike asked. "Hey, I don't know. She went home with that receptionist. I'm not even sure what her name was." Joe replied. "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." Joe said. "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 something. "Don't forget what Dr. Krell and Susan said." Joe reminded. "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 said, thinking that he was sounding like Michelle's father, or more likely, her mother. Joe remebered 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 criticly. "You know, I ain't too bad looking, I guess. But sure I hope my boobs get at least a little bigger yet." She said. "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." Michelle decided. "Now you're really sounding like a woman." Joe said. "But it's true, ain't it?" Michelle asked. "They would, wouldn't they?" "I don't know, maybe they would." Joe said. "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." Michelle said. "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 mam" 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. He clothes might be ok, if it was real casual in the lounge. "It'll have to do." Michelle said, arainging 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 araingments to meet down stairs in a half hour. Joe got dressed in shorts and a top, and he and Michelle left the room. Next....PART II of "THE CAUSE" CAUSE II CHAPTER 19 (PART 2) THE JOE BATES STORY Joe called to Tim and Daves 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 what Joe thought of as "cute". Dave of course still wore the now familure yellow coverall. It seemed to Joe that Dave's hips and butt looked 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 restaraunt. He positioned the chair out for Joe, who looked at him a moment, until he realized what was going on, and then carefully sat down. Using Joe as an example, the others followed suit. "Your waiter will be with you momentarily, ladies." The waiter said, as he 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 gotta be the first to tell everybody" Joe announced. "Our Mike here, Mike 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 incredously. "Don't listen to him." Michelle (Mike) 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 kinda thinking...maybe it might not be such a bad idea...it's kinda like my name, and it don't sound so strange when I tell people...people who don't know about me...my name. Telling people my name is Mike sounds kinda 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 guy's 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...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 dont like it." Tim said. " I don't care wha you guy's think I look like, I don't want a "cutsy" name like Tina. My sister's name is Becky. I wonder what she'd say if...when she see's 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 schools 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." Mike/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 havbe been hoping that somehow I'd be able to change back...you know...wake up, and look like a guy again." "It don'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 mom that her only son was now her only daughter. "Yeah. I think your 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, apologicly looking at the young girl. With extreme embarassment, Tim took his wallet from the small hand bag he had just bought that afternoon. From it he retrieved his drivers license, which still had his male photograph, and of course, there was still an "M" in the block labled 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 brothers drivers license, or something very wierd 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 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 your 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, your paying the bill, aren't you?" "Yeah. I'll pay for it." Joe said, grinning. "But I'm not sure I could carry you upstairs anymore." He grinned, flexing his arm, and rubbing his firm but small bicep. The service in the hotel restaurant was good, and almost immediately the waiter noticed Tim's empty glass. With some suprize, 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. "Your acting like you haven't eaten in a week." Joe said, watching him in amazement. "I haven't eaten very much lately." Tim answered. "I just haven't been hungry, until now." "Your 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 derrier, 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 sarcasticly. "Exercize with me." Michelle (Mike) 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 accidently 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 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 dificulty 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 prrreacheat 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 forgot about the changes which had occured. "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 don'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." Dave said. "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." He said. "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." Joe said. "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 the tops she had bought that day. "What dou 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." Michelle said. "What time are you going down there?" Joe asked. "I guess about eight." Michelle answered. "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?" Joe asked. "Hell, I don't know Joe." Michelle mused. "I thought it was a good idea when he...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 ain't 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." Joe said. "Hey, I'm a big bo...girl. I can take care of myself." Michelle said, grinning at her slip up. Joe quickly removed his clothes, including his underwear, then pulled on the comportable 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 conditioned 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 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...it looked 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 acidently brushed his chest, and didn't feel the familure 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 suprize, 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 familure with his new feminine shape, these male organs seemed unfamilure, and strangly huge. With a start, Joe rapidly sat up in the bed. This movement suprized 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 lay 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 down on the edge, quite confused. He was sitting there only a minute when the door to his room opened, and woman entered. Joe was suprised 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 familure 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 along side 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 familure 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 said as she 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, and 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 friends 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 thats what he wanted...and then see what he would want to do next." "What did he do?" Joe asked, his interest becoming peaked. "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 em...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 prefered 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 occured 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 LED's on the radio. Seven-thirty already. The night had gone by quickly. He loo ked 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 temprature 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." He said. Mike/Michelle pulled the covers off her face, and gave Joe a mean look. "What time do we have to be at the clinic?" She asked. "I think we should get there at least by nine-thirty." Joe said. "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?" He asked. "I was just checking, trying to tell if I'm any bigger this morning." Michelle answered. "I'm not sure, but I think they're still getting a little bigger every day." Mike/michelle smiled, somewhat embarrased. "Well, Gordon will like that." Joe teased. "Hey, what the hell, we all have to deal with this thing in our own way, right?" Michelle protested. "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 nights dream, that he had last night, that deep down inside, he still wanted to be a man...and he he still liked women too. But...the reality of the situation was...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 coarsing through his veins...well, they were making living in the body he now posessed 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?" Michelle asked. "I want to put on some makeup." Joe said. "Oh, yeah? Can you show me how to do that too?" Michelle asked. "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 business-like outfit on. When he moved, Joe feel the thong back of the little panty between his buttocks, and that constant reminder of what he wore underneath gave him a strangly good feeling. "What you really need is for somebody who knows what they're doing to help you." Joe said. "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." Michelle said. "But I'm gonna watch what you do anyway, if you don't mind." "No problem." Joe answered. "Just hope you don't pick up any bad habits by watching me. Yestarday and today are the only times I've ever done this without help." "It looked ok to me yestarday." Michelle decided. "You must be doing it right, I guess." Joe went to the bathroom mirror, and proceded 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 rediculously 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 embarassing...for me at least." "What do you mean by that, Bates? Michelle asked. "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 yould be emmbarrased 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." Joe said. "Yeah, I know what you mean." Michelle agreed. "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 don't take long to realize that this ain'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 differences would be the hardest part, but hell, that's nothing...well...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's gonna 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 said, wiping his eyes, smearing the light makeup he had just applied. "I guess we better reserve judgment on the 'fun with the bod' till those hormones do what they're gonna 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 ate 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." Michelle answered. "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 said, grinning. "That's another thing..." Michelle said. "I don't know a damn thing about being a mother...having kids...none of that 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 surw 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 scarry." 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." Joe said. They finished dressing, and then repacked their bags. By then it was time to meet the others down stairs. 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 hand. "How's it going Tim?" Joe asked. "Don't ask." Tim said. "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." Tim lamented. 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." He said. "What do you mean?" Joe asked. "I signed the papers...I guess it's official...I'm not a guy anymore." He said, sitting down next to Joe. "Welcome to the club." Joe said. "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 receptionists desk. "Where is Karen?" He asked her. "Oh, don't you know, she's back in the classroom, waiting for you do finish." She answered. "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." Joe teased. "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." He said. "They have been getting things ready, and I think were 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." Dr. Krell said. After they said thier thank-you's and good-bye's, 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 take off. 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 that 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 was 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. 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, as 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 multi- engine 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 mechanics 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 occured and he looked the engineer over carefully, while trying not to seem overly curious. "Hi Tom." Joe replied. "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 its really you there." "Believe it, its 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 a few years. "Yeah Ted, its really me." Joe said, smiling 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, its not easy for us either. But inside, we're still the same guy's." "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 thier 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." Joe said. "We're back, safe and sound, relatively speaking." "Well, I'm glad to here that. What did you find out?" Jim asked. "Nothing much really. They exmanined 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." Joe told him. "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." Joe said. "Eventually, they'll probably 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 something like what happened to you guy's." Jim went on. "How's it going, Joe?" "Well, I guess it gets easier as time passes." Joe replied. "It really don't hurt, or anything, but it is a hard thing to get accustomed to." "I guess so." Jim said. "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." Joe replied. "What do you have in mind?" "Oh, nothing much really." Jim answered. "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 oh, maybe thirty minutes. Is that Ok?" Joe said. "Absolutely." Jim answered. "See you soon." "Bye." Joe hung up the phone. Joe 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." He said. "Yeah. I can do that." Dave replied. "Any idea what he wants?" "I think he just wants us to look at what he has set up for tomrrow, before Dr. Krell arrives." Joe said. 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 thier 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. Bennedict would want to be there too, and she would probably go along. They said thier good-bye's, and Joe took his bag to his car. Dave followed, and they drove to thier meeting with Jim, at the office. When they arrived, Jim showed them the test installation. The transmitters, each with thier 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 transmisson 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 consistantly 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, there at the test lab, at nine. Joe and Dave left Jim, and each went home. Dave to Cindy, his wife, and Joe back to Linda's house. Tomorrow would be a big day for both of them. **************************************** --