Archive-name: Changes/bates10.txt
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Archive-title: Joe Bates' Story- 10


                                 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 surprize 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, and, 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 areola 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 sarcastically.

   "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 buddies 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. He said.  "Well, yea, I do.  I even had a make-over 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 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, were 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 practically 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 down on the couch, with
his four year old son, David.

   "Joe 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.

   There was a ring of the door bell.  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 Calvin Klien 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 n o testical's 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."  Mike 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."

   "Yea, 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 was reluctant to show his buddies his new
body, and his 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 mo st 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.

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

   "Ok, 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 exclaimed.

   "I guess I am Mike, and I would 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.  But 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." Joe carefully voiced what he thought to be fact.

   "I don't know, I sure don't feel like a woman. I feel exactly like a man."
Mike said, as he watched Joe pull his panties back up.  "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. I can still get hard on too." Joe said.  "Tell
me, do you get wet down there when you get a boner?"

   "Yea, 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, 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.  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 identification,  but some doctors
there want to see me, and run some other tests, maybe they  will be able to
help.  I told them I had two friends who also had similar problems, and they
would like to examine you guys too.  We should go over there this afternoon,
if you guy's are free."  Joe said, and grinned.

   "If it'll help get me back to normal, I'll do almost anything." 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?  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.  I do think we should
give them a chance to look at our problem though.  If we are stuck like this,
the sooner we know it, the better.  If there is a way out, then as far as I
can see, th y will 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.  Dave can you find something a little better
to wear?  At least put a T-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 you're body is, it's still YOUR body.   Show a
little pride, Dave."  Joe insisted.

   Joe 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?  I want him  to come
along with Mike and Me to Hillcrest Hospital, to see if they can  do anything
for us."  Joe asked.

   "Joe, I've been trying to get him to wear something more appropriate, but
he will only wear what he has on, or one of his old T-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."  Cindy said.

   "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." Joe 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.  "It
might fit you though."  She said to her husband, who just stared at it.

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

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

   "Why not?  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."  Joe tried to speak with
authority.

   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 D ave'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 improvement already." Joe said encouragingly.

   Joe went to the bed, and picked up the white underpants. He held  them out
to Dave.

   "Ok pal, now, take off those baggy shorts, and try these." He said.

   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 and over his
large butt.  When he had them on, he went 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
even when you were naked, when your  pubic hair somewhat hid y our 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.  I might have something from before the diet.  What do  you
want, Dave, shorts, or a dress?"  Cindy asked.

   Dave stood there.  Cindy repeated her question, and only then did Dave look
at her.

   "Ah.. I don't know, do you have something like Joe's wearing? " Dave asked.

   "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 pull over 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 good, 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 o n, Dave looked like a young, plump, woman, with a butch
haircut.

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

   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."  he said.  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 here. Joe Bates."

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

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

   "Absolutely.  There are some people here who can't wait to examine you
guy's.  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 guy's 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 the Dr. Krell, and Dr.
Loe.  They're sure 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 forth 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 w ere 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
his 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 er... Mr. Bates here.  You may take the others,
and get them to fill out the paperwork to get their records."  Dr.  Krell
said.  "I'll see each of you in a little while."

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

   Dr. Krell looked at carefully at Joe.  He made Joe a little nervous.  Dr.
Krell saw Joe's concern, and attempted  to reassure him.

   "Relax, Joe.  I won't harm you, and we just might be able to help." the
little man said.

   "I'm Ok."  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, we want to give you a complete
examination, to find out the extent of the changes."  Dr. Krell explained.

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

   "Good.  That's good." The Dr. 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.  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 an  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?  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 they are,
you will surely begin to develop, or redevelope 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, I'm ready for whatever you've got." Joe said, with
resignation.

   "I'll call Dr. Hopkins, 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 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.... If it would hurt....

   "Don't worry, Joe, 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 apprehension, and was trying to arrest his fears.

   Dr. Krell 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.  "Ok, 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.

   "Ok, then." Joe said.

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

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

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

   "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.
looking at myself in the mirror is even 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?" He asked.

   "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..er.. I just get
turned on from almost anything anymore.  I don't have much to see, but I have
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 has played havoc with your metabolism.  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 said, and
grinned at the little doctor.

   "With the levels of male hormone in your system, it's understandable that
you might excite easily.  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 transexual patients, but
for them, the transition literally takes years, and the result, while
sometimes amazing, is nothing like your situation.  Even your DNA indicates
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
racketball with a buddy of mine, and then picked up my girl-friend, and spent
the evening discussing getting married.  That was four days ago, and I still
totally remember what it was like.  I still appreciate a good looking woman,
and now it's awful easy to see m ore 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 Dr.
asked.

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

   "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.  I've tried, but it just don't work."  Joe said, thinking  of his
experience with his best friend, Jay.       "I think we can go down now." Dr.
Krell said, an d got up from behind his  desk.  "If you don't mind, I'd like
to observe the examination.

   "No, I guess not, sure come on."  Joe said, nervously.  He was actually
somewhat glad Dr. Krell would be there.  He kind of 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 Dr. said something to an attractive nurse behind the
desk, and she immediately got up and motioned for them both to follow. She
lead them to an examining room.  It had a chair, a stool, a table, the type
with stirrups, and a cabinet full of paraphanalia.   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, an d pulled it down,
and ripped it off, creating a clean cover.  The nurse the 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 t
he 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 Reboks, 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 to 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 smiled
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.  I hear you have had a very interesting weekend."  Dr.
Hopkins said, with a rather deep voice.

   "Yea, 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 Dr. 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 please."  Dr. Hopkins said.

   The nurse went to a small cabinet, and took out some metal tools.  She
layed 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.  I t 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 laying 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 things, 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 was 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 Dr.'s
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 was smeared with the lubricating jelly
that Dr. Hopkin s 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 h ad 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 continued, pointing at a door as  Joe
followed her d own the short hall.

   "I think I'm ok." Joe said.  "Kinda sore though."  He added.

   "Yea, 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 down 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.  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 your 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 15 to 18 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?"  Dr. Hopkins said.

   "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?" He asked hopefully.

   "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, You have probably heard of surgical procedures to change the
bodies 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 non-functional, 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."  Dr. Krell said.

   "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, but I guess that's one way of
describing it.  I don't think you would be happy with the result."  Dr.  Krell
went on.  "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 would elect gender reassignment."

   "So you guy's 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 down 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."
Dr. Hopkins said, looking at Joe, and grinning.

   "You mean I'm a virgin?"  Joe asked, He 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... Yea, Why do you ask?"  Joe was curious why he wanted to know.

   "Well I observed some unusual scar tissue around your clitoral area.  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.  Dr . Hopkins said.

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

   "If it doesn't hurt, or cause irritation, I doubt it.  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.
Cosmeticly, I doubt anyone but a gynecologist, maybe a sharp general
practitioner, would even notice.  I wouldn't 't worry about it."  Dr Hopkins
said.

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

   "What about my life, my job....Hell, I'm a thirty year old man, an
engineer, a pilot....all my records, my identification, show me to be  male.
What can I do about that."  Joe asked.  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.  "What ever you
choose to do, it will be possible to change you 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,
perhaps we could get you to come to San Diago, where there are more facilities
to research 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, 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 we did find a way reverse whatever happened to you.  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."  Dr. Krell advised.

   "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, as far
as he knew, he was the first person he ever heard of with his problem.

   "You might be surprised at the number of gender disphoric persons who elect
gender reasssignment." 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 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 Kieth.  That was just four years ago."

   Dave 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..er..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.  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 bod y."  Dr. Krell said proudly.  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, but I am sure that
you would not be pleased with the cosmetic, and function, of the phaloplasty.
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.  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." Joe
explained.  He was trying t o 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, and 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, and I would prefer not to explain their
symptoms over the phone.  Yes sir, it would be good if you could come here, to
Hillcrest. Yes,  Dr. Krell, forth 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 down stairs." 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, 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."  Dr. Krell said.  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 a
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 guy's meeting for the first time.  Joe
liked the pretty nurse the first time he saw her, a 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.

--