10 __Joe_Bates_Saga__________________________________________________________ 10. Chapter : Answers Joe Bates drove into the drive at the home of his flying buddy and fellow engineer, Dave Skinner. When he got out of his sports car, he smoothed his clothes, the loose fitting jumpsuit that hid his new curves. He slowly walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Cindy Skinner, Dave's wife, opened the door and peered out. She smiled when she recognized Joe, and opened the door. Joe went inside, feeling a bit self conscious as Dave's wife watched him walk in. He couldn't conceal the look of surprise when he saw Dave. The last time Joe saw Dave, he was about six feet tall and weighed two hundred pounds. Dave was thirty-two years old, and was not in as good shape as Joe. A decade of married life had endowed him a small pot-gut which he couldn't get rid of, no matter how hard he tried. The Dave Skinner who came out of the family room didn't look anything like that. This one nervously entered the room was wearing a woman's white blouse, with loose baggy shorts, also obviously a woman's. Since he wore nothing under the blouse, the dark outline of his now large areolas could be seen through the thin fabric. He walked uncomfortably, not yet familiar with much wider hips, and a shorter gait. Were it not for his short haircut, he could easily be mistaken for a typical, almost middle aged, somewhat plain, sloppily dressed, housewife. Dave always had the beginnings of a six o'clock shadow even in the morning, but now his face was as smooth as a young boy's. Joe saw that Dave's legs were hairy, maybe not as heavy or thick as before, but still covered with soft black down. It looked unusual to see someone who looked so female have such hairy legs. Joe couldn't help but look at Dave's chest. Through the thin fabric of the blouse, he could see that the heavy chest hair Dave had was gone, replaced by a voluptuousness that was a source of embarrassment for its owner. "Hi, Joe, what's new with you?" Dave asked, somewhat 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 buddy's chest. It was strange seeing a matronly body below the almost familiar face. Dave's face was little changed, but maybe ten years younger looking. He wondered what Dave was thinking about him. "Good for him. He would REALLY make an ugly woman," Dave said, smiling for the first time. "I think I talked him into coming over here. He should be here soon," Joe said. "Well, you sure look good, Joe," Dave returned, eyeing his buddy, trying to imagine what he looked like under the loose clothes. "Linda has been helping me try to make the best of this," Joe said. "It looks like you even have lipstick on. Do you?" Dave asked, moving closer. Joe grinned, and said, "Well, yeah, I do. I even had a makeover at the Mall the other day. With Linda's help, I've been able to make the best of it. Some of the things I've done have actually been kind of interesting." "Well, I haven't done much that's interesting," Dave said, with not a little disgust showing through. "We both might as well treat this as an experience, Dave," Joe recommended. "As I see it, we're stuck like this, at least until we can find out what's causing it. Hopefully, it's not permanent." He tried to sound more confident than he actually was. "It's easy for you, old buddy. You're not married, with a family; a wife and kids. Hell, Joe, look at you. You're 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 on the couch, with his four year old son, David. "Joe, are you a mommy now, too?" David asked innocently. "Hi, David," Joe replied. "No, I'm not a mommy. I just sort of look like one, I guess. Your dad and I have a problem with how we look. We don't know what's wrong with us yet." "You're pretty," David said. "Thanks, David. I guess," Joe replied, looking at Dave. The door bell rang. Joe quickly got up and went to the front door. Cindy opened the door. The familiar hulk of Mike Osborn loomed in the doorway. Mike's eyes widened when he saw the new Joe. "Holy cow, Joe! You ARE a woman, ain't you?" Mike almost shouted, his loud voice seeming to be almost unchanged. "I suspect so, Mike," Joe replied. "Come on in." Mike walked in and followed Joe back to the family room. He walked right over to the couch to look at Dave. "Damn, Dave, you seem to have the same problem as Joe," he said. "Clever observation, Mike," Dave said. "It looks like you escaped whatever happened to us." "Well, not exactly, Dave," Mike said, not wanting to talk with young David listening intently to the unusual conversation. "It seems you haven't changed at all," Joe said. "Can we go somewhere private," Mike asked. "I suggest you all go to our bedroom," Cindy said. Dave got up, and awkwardly went into the bedroom, his substantial butt jiggled and swayed as he walked. Mike and Joe followed. Dave closed the door after them, stopping David, who wanted in. Cindy led him away from the door. "You think I haven't changed?" Mike asked, pulling his sweatpants down. Mike pulled his royal blue men's undershorts down. He looked down at his pubic area, and pushed the hair away from around his penis, which was now very small. It could have been no more than an inch or so long. There were no testicles evident, and his scrotum was split down the middle, looking somewhat like a vagina. "See, I got problems too," Mike said, displaying his little penis. "When I pee, it comes out from under here," he said, as he lifted his penis up. He then spread his split scrotum, and pointed to an area close to the base of his tiny organ. Joe looked carefully, but could see no evidence of an opening at the tip of his penis. "Looks like you've gone only part way to what's happened to me," Joe said, looking with interest at his friend. "What do you look like, Joe?" Mike asked. "You sure look like a girl on the outside." "Yeah, and I guess that's what I am, on the outside," Joe admitted. "Could I see?" Mike asked. "If I'm gonna be... I might still be changing, and I'm wondering what I can expect." "Well, I don't know," Joe replied, reluctant to show his buddies his new body and closely trimmed bush. Not that he was ashamed of his body and the way it looked, he just felt strange putting it on display. He knew that he was the most feminized of the three of them. Hell, Mike could hardly pass as a woman if he tried. Dave was probably as changed as he was, but his large hips and buttocks didn't look good on him at all. Dave didn't carry his new shape well, either. "Aww, show us Joe," Dave said. "Mike showed us what he looked like, and he's embarrassed too. We're all in the same boat." "Okay, then I'll show you," Joe said slowly. Joe unzipped his jumpsuit, and pulled it from his shoulders. He pulled his arms from the sleeves, and let the suit drop down his hips, and settle around his knees. Joe looked at his friends while he stood there in his underwear, his face red with embarrassment. Mike didn't even pull his pants up, but stood staring, mesmerized by the shapely body of his friend. As Joe carefully lowered his panties, Dave and Mike's eyes widened when they saw his carefully trimmed hair. "Damn, Joe. You really are a girl, ain't you," Mike exclaimed. "I guess I am, Mike, and I'll bet that you are too," Joe said. "Well, I sure don't look like that," Mike said, pointing to Joe's pubic area, "and I feel like a man, no matter how small my cock is. At least I still have one." "Don't be so sure," Joe said. Joe reached down and separated the folds of his genital opening. A glistening little nub peeked out as he did so. He put his finger next to it, and pointed it out to Mike. "This is what my penis looks like now, Mike," Joe said, carefully saying what he thought to be fact. "It still feels like my cock to me, too, but it's not a penis, not anymore. I think my penis has become a clitoris, and I think yours has too. It's just a little bigger for some reason." "I don't know," Mike said, as he watched Joe pull his panties back up. "I sure don't feel like a woman. I feel exactly like a man. In fact, look at this." Mike pointed to his penis, which could now be seen protruding through his thick hair. It was erect, and it stood out, ready for action. It was about the diameter of a pencil, and maybe an inch and a half long. "Pull your pants up, big guy," Joe said. "I can still get a hardon too. Tell me, do you get wet down there when you get a boner?" "Yeah, I do," Mike said. "I don't know what causes it though." "I think it's what happens when a woman gets excited," Joe answered, "and that's probably what you are now, just like Dave and me." "Joe, I know something is wrong with me," Mike said, "but look at me. I just can't be female. Not with a body like this." Mike's words were more of a question than a statement of fact. "I don't know, Mike," Joe said. "I just don't know, but I want both of you to come with me to the hospital. My attorney friend Jay Logan put me on to a guy named Dan McQuire. He is a lab technician or something, in Forensic Medicine. He does things like trace identification from hair, or blood samples, in homicide cases. He is working on proving my identity, but some doctors there want to see me, and run some other tests. Maybe they'll be able to help. I told them I had two friends who also had similar problems, and they'd like to examine you guys too. We should go over there this afternoon if you guys are free." "If it'll help get me back to normal, I'll do almost 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?" Dave said. "Look at me! I know what I am. I'm a fat, dumpy guy with a woman's body; a FAT WOMAN'S body, but I've got a wife and two kids. What can the doctors do about that?" Dave looked like he might start to cry. "Dave, I don't know what they might be able to do," Joe said. "I do think we should give them a chance to look at our problem though. If we're stuck like this, the sooner we know it, the better. If there is a way out, then as far as I can see, they'll be the people who can help us find it. We can wallow in self pity, but that won't get us back for sure." Joe tried to sound confident for his depressed pal. "When do you guys want to go over to see Dan?" Joe asked. "Whenever you want, Joe. I'm ready," Mike said. "Well, let's get ready then," Joe said. "Dave, can you find something a little better to wear? At least put a tee-shirt on under that blouse, or something. Maybe Cindy can help." Joe tried to get his pal to dress with a little more pride. "What's the difference?" Dave said, "I'm just too fat. I'm a fat, ugly, woman." "I don't care what sex your body is," Joe insisted. "It's still YOUR body. Show a little pride, Dave." He opened the bedroom door, and walked out. Cindy was in the kitchen, and young David was at the table. "Cindy, would you help Dave find something to wear?" Joe asked. "I want him to come along with Mike and me to Hillcrest Hospital to see if they can do anything for us." "Joe, I've been trying to get him to wear something more appropriate," Cindy replied, "but he'll only wear what he has on, or one of his old tee-shirts. His pants don't fit at all. I had those old shorts from when I had Suzie. He won't even try anything else." "Come with me," Joe ordered, and walked back down the hallway, where Mike and Dave were coming back from the bedroom. Joe took Dave's arm, and led him back to the bedroom. When Cindy came in the room Joe closed the door. "Dave, take that shirt off, and pull those shorts down," he insisted. Dave unbuttoned the blouse, and took it off. He pulled the shorts over his big hips and buttocks, and stood there, with nothing on but men's boxer shorts. He was quite a sight, and Joe fought to suppress a grin. "Cindy, do you have any underwear that will fit this guy?" Joe asked. Cindy, who was attractive looking but perhaps a little overweight herself, went to her dresser. She rummaged through her drawer until she took a pair of white cotton panties and put them on the bed. She opened another drawer, and from the back of the drawer selected a white cotton bra. It looked too big to fit her, but looked like it might fit her husband. She held the up the bra by the back strap. "This is from before I went on the diet after Suzie," she explained while her husband just stared. "It might fit you, though." "Go ahead Dave, try it on," Joe insisted. "You'll probably appreciate how it feels if you try it." "Joe, I don't think I can wear something like that," Dave complained, his higher voice sounding slightly whiny. "Why not?" Joe asked, trying to sound authoritative. "Are you afraid you'll look like a woman? No problem, old buddy, you already do, so you might as well get used to it." Dave took the bra from his wife, and pulled it around his chest. Cindy helped her embarrassed husband put it on, and adjusted the straps to fit his slightly larger shoulders. The support made Dave's breasts look much less saggy. He shook his chest, feeling the support and comfort the bra provided. Dave went to the dresser mirror, and looked at himself. "See, it's an improvement already," Joe said encouragingly. He went to the bed, and picked up the white underpants, holding them out to Dave. "Okay, pal, now take off those baggy shorts, and try these." Dave took the underpants, and held them up by the waist band. To Joe, they looked twice as big as the ones he was wearing. Dave shrugged his shoulders in resignation, and put them back on the bed. He then pulled the boxers down and stepped out of them. Dave had never seen a large naked woman before, and was amazed at the size of Dave's large, soft buttocks. Dave took the panties from the bed and stepped into them. He pulled them up over his large butt. When he had them on, he went to the mirror and looked at himself. Dave watched as his friend saw himself in women's underwear for the first time. He knew what Dave was going through. Dave just stood there and stared at himself. He reached down, and touched the flat area where his male organ used to be. Joe remembered how he felt, the first time he saw himself the same way. It seemed so much different with the snug fitting panties on, than when you were naked, when your pubic hair somewhat hid your new contours. "Cindy, do you think you'd have something to fit this guy?" Joe asked, breaking the silence, as Dave looked at himself in the mirror. "I'll see," Cindy answered. "I might have something from before the diet. What do you want, Dave, shorts or a dress?" Dave stood there. Cindy repeated her question, and only then did Dave look at her. "Ah... I don't know," he said. "Do you have something like Joe's wearing?" "I don't think so, but I'll see what I have," Cindy replied. She went to the closet, and soon returned with some pink pants, and a loose fitting pullover top. "Pink? Does it have to be pink?" Dave asked. "Sorry, it's what I have, and of what I have, I think it's the best thing for you," Cindy said. "Try it on." Dave took the pink pants and pulled them on. They fit fairly well; they were only a little tight across the butt. He pulled the top over his head, and straightened it across his chest. It also fit better than expected. With Cindy's old clothes on, Dave looked like a young, plump, woman with a butch haircut. "Not too bad, old pal," Joe said, putting his hand on his friend's back as he inspected himself in the mirror. "Maybe we need to go to spend some time at the health club, though," Dave went to the bedroom door, opened it, and went back out to Mike, who was sitting on the couch, playing with David. Mike looked up when Joe came in and saw Dave in his new clothes. "Big improvement, Dave," Mike said. "You kinda looked like a slob before." Mike wasn't known for his tact. "Well, I think we ought to go see Dan Mcquire," Joe said. "Can I use your phone, Dave?" "Sure," Dave answered. Joe got Dan's phone number from the pocket of his jumpsuit, and punched it into the phone. Almost immediately, the phone was answered. It was Dan. "Forensic," the voice on the other end said. "Dan?" Joe said. "Joe here. Joe Bates." "Hi, Joe. What Can I do for you?" Dan asked. "Dan, I'm at my friend's house," Joe replied. "I'm with the other two guys who are having the same problem I am. Can we come over and see you?" "Absolutely!" Dan answered. "There are some people here who can't wait to examine you guys. I'll call the doctors now. When can you get here?" "We're getting ready to go right now," Joe replied. "About thirty to forty minutes should do it." "See you soon, then," Dan said, and hung up. "How do we want to go?" Joe asked. "Do you guys want to each drive over separately, or does anybody want to ride with me?" "I don't want to drive, looking like this," Dave insisted. "I'll ride with you." They all went out to the driveway. Mike's big 4WD pickup was parked behind Joe's car. Mike got in and started his engine while Dave and Joe got belted in. They backed out, and Mike followed Joe to the hospital. When they arrived, Joe led his strange crew directly to Dan's office. Dan was there waiting. He introduced himself and Joe presented his two shy buddies. "Well, I guess we might as well go upstairs and meet Dr. Krell and Dr. Loe. They're anxious to meet the three of you," Dan said, after shaking hands with Dave and Mike. They followed Dan to the elevator and rode it to the fourth floor. There, Dan took them down a long hall and into some offices. They sat down in some chairs, as Dan talked to the receptionist or secretary behind a desk. In minutes, they were all asked to come to the next room. There, they met a small man with thick glasses. Dan introduced him as Dr. Krell, and described him as a specialist in gender and genetic research. "I'm pleased to meet you Dave, Joe, and ah... Mike, is it?" Dr. Krell said, smiling. "Don't worry about a thing, I'm not sure what is going on here, but we are learning new things concerning genetics every day, and I'm certain we can come up with some answers in your case." Joe could see Dr. Krell looking each of them over very carefully. He sort of felt like a lab specimen, as the little man inspected him and his friends. "I have been looking at the records of Joe Bates," Dr. Krell went on. "I don't have anything on you two," he said, looking at Mike and Dave. "I just found out about them this morning," Dan said. "I'll take them and get their records, as soon as you're done with them." "I would like to work with err... Mr. Bates here," Dr. Krell said. "You may take the others, and get them to fill out the paperwork to get their records. I'll see each of you in a little while." Dan got up. Mike and a nervous Dave Skinner followed him back to his office. Dr. Krell looked carefully at Joe. He made Joe a little nervous. Dr. Krell saw Joe's concern, and attempted to reassure him. "Relax, Joe," the little man said. "I won't harm you, and we just might be able to help." "I'm okay," Joe said. "I just wish I knew what was going on here." "You are an engineer, is that right?" Dr. Krell asked him. "Yes, I'm an electrical design engineer, and I work for Honeybone Avionics," Joe volunteered. "Well, then, you might understand that there are methods that we must use, or follow, which are necessary to eliminate as many variables as possible," Dr. Krell went on. "I think you realize that we don't really know what has caused your condition, but if we can figure that out, it might be possible to reverse it. The state of the art in genetic engineering is probably the fastest advancing area of biological science these days. I hope we can help you, but I'm sure YOU can help us." "Will I ever get back to normal, Doc?" Joe asked. "What are the odds?" "It is far too early to tell, Joe," Dr. Krell explained. "We want to give you a complete examination, to find out the extent of the changes." "I'm ready for whatever you need to do," Joe said. "Good. That's good," the doctor went on. "Did Mr. Mcquire tell you the results of your blood group?" "No, I don't think so, he said the results would be in soon," Joe replied. "Well, they're in, and they are VERY interesting," Dr. Krell said. "Mr. Bates, the DNA tests show your chromosomes to be female. You have the normal XX cell structure of a normal genetic female. However, your blood shows extremely high levels of testosterone for a female. If it has always been at these levels, I would expect you to exhibit masculine secondary characteristics." Joe looked at Dr. Krell in confusion. "Exhibit masculine secondary characteristics?" he said. "Doctor Krell, five days ago, I was a MAN. That's about as PRIMARY as it gets. I think you'll find, if you'll read my records, that I fathered a child when I was seventeen. I'm not a girl who's changing into a man. I'm a guy, who woke up Friday morning with female body." Joe was irritated, and it was starting to show. "Joe, calm down, calm down," Dr. Krell said. "I have read your records, and I know your history. I'm just stating the facts as they appear. No matter what you have been, if your body and blood chemistry stay as it is, you will surely begin to develop, or redevelop the secondary sexual characteristics of a male. That is, increased facial and body hair, upper body muscular development, and other changes. Perhaps you have already experienced one or more of them. That's why we need to conduct a complete physical examination. To find out what's going on." Joe sat back in his chair, and tried to relax. He was worried that the specialists wouldn't understand his problem, and was probably a little "spring-loaded" for confrontation. "I'm sorry, Dr. Krell," Joe said, with resignation. "I'm ready for whatever you've got." "I'll call Dr. Hopkins," Dr. Krell said. "He's expecting you, so I don't think you will have to wait long. He will be conducting the physical examination. Are you ready for it?" Dr. Krell looked at Joe, as if to see his reaction. "I guess so" Joe said. "I just had a class two flight exam last month." "I doubt you've ever had one like this, Joe," Dr. Krell said, smiling. "Dr. Hopkins is a gynecologist. He's anxious to do a full pelvic examination on you." The muscles in Joe's crotch tensed as he heard the little doctor say those words. He had almost forgotten that he was different now, much different in some places, and a physical for a woman included an internal examination. He hadn't thought about that, until now. He wondered what it would feel like, and if it would hurt. "Don't worry, Joe," Dr. Krell said. "Dr. Hopkins is very skillful, and he won't harm you in any way, and we might even find out what is causing your symptoms," Dr. Krell saw Joe's apprehension, and was trying to arrest his fears. He picked up a phone on the desk, and punched a three digit number. He spoke into the phone. "Our patient is ready, Karen," he said. "Okay, we'll be down in ten minutes." He put the phone back on the desk. "They'll be ready for you in ten minutes," Dr. Krell repeated. "Okay, then," Joe said. "Tell me, Joe, did you put the makeup on, or did someone help you" Dr. Krell asked, as if to make small talk. "Linda, my err... fiance... was my fiance, is helping me to cope with the situation," Joe explained. "Well, you are certainly attractive," Dr. Krell said. "If you don't mind me voicing a personal opinion. You seem to handle the change extremely well." "I'm getting used to it, a little, I guess," Joe said. "It's almost possible to forget it happened, sometimes, but only for a few minutes. Even looking at myself in the mirror is a strange sensation. I don't know If I could ever get used to looking like this." Joe cupped one of his breasts with his hand. "It must be quite a change," the doctor agreed. "I don't know how I would handle something like that if it happened to me. Are you experiencing any health problems?" "No, I don't think so," Joe said. "I haven't gotten used to being wet practically all the time, and I guess... Well, horny... err... I just get turned on from almost anything anymore. I don't have much to see, but I've had more erections, that's what they feel like, than I ever had before, even when I was seventeen." "Interesting," Dr. Krell said. "It's possible the high levels of testosterone in your system have played havoc with your 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 grinned at the little doctor. "With the levels of male hormone in your system, it's understandable that you might excite easily," Dr. Krell said. "Tell me, what causes the excitement? Is it women? Men? How do you feel about your fiance, since the change? Forgive the personal questions, Joe, but I have never experienced a subject who made the transition from male to female, completely, and apparently fully functioning, in one day. I've worked with a few male to female transsexual patients, but for them, the transition literally takes years, and the result, while sometimes amazing, is nothing like your situation. Even your DNA shows that you are female." Dr. Krell could scarcely contain his interest in Joe's malady. "Well, doctor, the first thing you have to remember is that this is Monday," Joe said. "Last Thursday, I was a thirty year old MAN. I went to work, flew an airplane for about two hours, went to the health club, played racquetball with a buddy of mine, and then picked up my girlfriend, and spent the evening discussing getting married. That was four days ago, and I still completely remember what it was like. I still appreciate a good looking woman, and now it's awful easy to see more of them than ever before. You wouldn't believe it. Well, maybe you would. You're a doctor." Joe grinned at Dr. Krell as he spoke. "How about men? Have your feelings toward men changed in any way?" the doctor asked. "I'd like to say no, absolutely not, but actually, I'm not really sure," Joe admitted to the doctor things he didn't want to admit to himself. "My senses seem sharper now. I feel things differently. I smell things I never did before. My own sweaty tee-shirt, from before the change, gave me the strangest feeling. I don't know if it was sexual, but it could have been," "Interesting," was all Dr. Krell said to that revelation. "When you look like this, it's impossible to relate to men the same way as before," Joe said, thinking of his experience with his best friend, Jay. "I've tried, but it just doesn't work." "I think we can go down now," Dr. Krell said, and got up from behind his desk. "If you don't mind, I'd like to observe the examination." "No, I guess not. Sure. Some on," Joe said nervously. He was actually somewhat glad Dr. Krell would be there. He liked the little man, and felt he could trust him. He didn't know what was going to happen next, and felt he knew him, even though they had just met. He followed Dr. Krell out the door. Even with his smaller body, he was maybe six inches taller than the doctor. They got on the elevator and rode down one floor. The door opened, and Dr. Krell went out and Joe almost had to run to keep up with him. They entered some doors, which were painted with the words Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a single male, Joe had never been in a place like this before. He could feel his heart pound as he stood at the desk behind Dr. Krell. The doctor said something to an attractive nurse behind the desk, and she immediately got up and motioned for them both to follow. She led them to an examining room. It had a chair, a stool, a table, the type with stirrups, and a cabinet full of paraphernalia. There was a paper cover on the table, and on the end, the paper was stained with a few drops of what looked like blood. The nurse spotted the soiled paper, pulled it down, and ripped it off, creating a clean cover. The nurse then went to a drawer, and removed a hospital type smock, the kind that is open in the back. She gave it to Joe, and told him to undress, pointing to a small clothes tree in the corner which had three hangers on it. Then she and Dr. Krell left the room. Joe unzipped his jumpsuit, and sat on the stool at the end of the table. He removed his shoes and socks. He quickly slipped out of the jumpsuit, and felt very cold standing in his underwear. He looked at the little smock, and had to suppress a laugh. Even with his smaller size, it was far too small to cover much of his bottom half, and his rear end would be completely uncovered. "Right," he thought. He removed his bra and slipped out of his panties. He put the little smock on, and wondered what to do next. He decided to sit on the edge of the table. He hoisted his butt up, and was looking at the stirrups when he heard a quick knock on the door. Before he could even acknowledge, a handsome man of about forty years entered the little room, followed by the tall, dark-blond-haired nurse, and Dr. Krell. Joe sat there, extremely self conscious. Dr. Krell spoke. "Joe Bates, this is Doctor Joe Hopkins. Joe, meet Joe," Dr. Krell said, smiling broadly at his little attempt at humor. "Hi, Doctor Hopkins," Joe said. Try as he might, he couldn't forget he was sitting in a room, with two men and a woman, almost naked, his butt hanging out from the little smock. "Hello, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said in a rather deep voice. "I hear you've had a very interesting weekend." "Yeah, it's been a grin a minute," Joe snapped back. "How about standing right here, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said. "Maybe we can figure out what's going on with you." Joe stood before the big man. Dr. Hopkins took each of Joe's arms and looked at them, one at a time. He looked at his hands, his elbows, and took a small light, and looked into his eyes, and ears. He turned him facing away from him, and thumped, and pressed on his back in various places. So far, it was familiar to Joe. "Please remove the smock," Dr. Bates said. Joe untied the little tie behind his neck, and pulled the cloth off of him. He stood there, naked, and could feel the warmth as he blushed from showing his body to these strangers. He moved his leg to cover his genitalia, embarrassed by Linda's trim job on his pubic hair. No one in the room seemed to notice, however. Dr. Hopkins firmly pressed Joe's breasts between his fingers. He used enough force that the slight pain it caused made Joe wince. "Does that hurt?" Dr. Hopkins asked. "A little," Joe replied. "They seem a little sensitive to me." "More than normal?" the doctor asked, and then grinned when he realized what he said. "They've felt the same ever since I've been like this," Joe said. Dr. Hopkins looked carefully at Joe's nipples, and felt each of his breasts, apparently feeling for lumps. It felt strange to Joe, to have such big, strong, hands feeling the soft, sensitive areas of his body. "Please sit on the end of the table," Dr. Hopkins said. The nurse went to a small cabinet, and took out some metal tools. She lay them on a towel placed on a small rolling table. Joe looked at the things on the table, but didn't recognize the stainless steel, and white plastic tools on the table. Dr. Hopkins went to the table and took some surgical latex gloves from a box on the table. He carefully put them on. When he had them on the way he wanted, he picked up a shiny metal tool which looked sort of like a huge cork remover with elongated spoons on the end. He held it up for Joe to examine. Joe noticed that there were two of them, and he picked up the larger of the two. "Joe, this is called a speculum," Dr. Hopkins said. "I use this to do the internal examination." He moved the control on the end, and the "spoons" on the end, spread apart. Joe cringed as he thought about where that thing was going. It seemed far too big to fit inside him. The nurse adjusted the table so that there was a slight tilt upward to the head end. Then she pulled Joe back, so that he was lying back on the table, tilted. She covered his body with a small green sheet. The warmth felt comforting to Joe, but he just knew everyone in the room must be able to hear his heart pounding. The nurse pulled out and adjusted the metal stirrups and then placed Joe's feet in them. It was not uncomfortable, but it did seem strange. Suddenly, Joe felt the end of the table, the part under his upper legs, go down, as Dr. Hopkins folded it down. Joe's butt was now at the very edge of the table, but the weight of his legs was taken up by the stirrups. Next, Joe felt cool air on his bottom as Dr. Hopkins and the nurse adjusted the sheet so that his bottom half was exposed. Joe couldn't see much, since the sheet concealed what was happening from his view. Joe felt a hand touch his crotch. He felt smooth fingers touching his genital area, as Dr. Hopkins examined it with firm but gentle touches. He could feel his labia being spread wider than he had ever done, and he felt his penis, or clitoris now, being examined. Suddenly the touching stopped, and Joe thought, and hoped, it was over. Then, from over the sheet, Joe could see Dr. Hopkins take a speculum, the smaller one this time, and put some K-Y jelly from a large tube, on the spoons. He held the spoons in his hand momentarily, perhaps to warm them. Then, Joe could feel the speculum as Dr. Hopkins placed it at the entrance to his vaginal opening. Dr. Hopkins swiftly, but gently, maneuvered the metal device, until Joe could more sense, rather than feel, that it was deep inside him. Suddenly there was a very noticeable pain, as the speculum was spread. Joe never felt more vulnerable in his life. As he lay there, covered with a sheet, Joe was unable to see what was being done to him, but was feeling a slight pain, as the metal object in his crotch was moved around. Joe began to think about something he had read somewhere, that some women tended to develop special feelings for their doctors. Now, Joe could understand why. These guys saw, and knew, things about your body, that you couldn't even see yourself. It was almost like you were dependent on them to tell you that you were normal. He never felt that way about his male body. This one was far more complicated, it seemed. You even needed a specialist, just to check it out. Suddenly, Joe felt the speculum collapse and withdraw from his bottom. The stretching it had done made him feel strange in that area, even with the tool removed. Before Joe had recovered from the quick removal of the speculum, he felt a finger in his genital opening. "What the heck is going on now?" he thought. Dr. Hopkins felt around inside Joe, pressing on his abdomen with his other hand as he did so. Joe could feel him pressing on his bladder, and for a moment had a strong urge to urinate. Then the hand on his abdomen went to his bottom, and he felt Dr. Hopkins insert a finger in his other opening. He probed and felt around, and Joe found it very uncomfortable. Then the hands and fingers were gone, and Joe could see Dr. Hopkins remove the surgical gloves and toss them into a covered waste can. "You can dress now, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said as he took a clipboard, and started writing on it. The tall nurse helped Joe up, and held the sheet as he turned and stepped off the table. She gave Joe a box of large, soft tissues. "You can use these if you need them," she said, and she followed Doctors Hopkins and Krell out of the examining room. Joe sat there, wrapped in the small green sheet, his crotch feeling like it had been ripped apart. He pulled the sheet away, and looked at the tender area. His genitalia and pubic hair were smeared with the lubricating jelly that Dr. Hopkins used. Joe looked at the table where he had been sitting and saw a spot of blood on the paper. "No wonder," Joe thought. He took a tissue and began cleaning himself up, wiping the jelly from his pubic area, and found a slight trace of blood around his sore, and abused, genital opening. Joe went to the clothes tree, and took his underwear from the hook. He pulled his panties on, and felt a slight twinge of pain as he moved his legs with the snug fitting panty on, but he felt better, more secure, or less exposed. He put the bra on and slipped into his jumpsuit. He wondered if he should leave the room, and decided to wait where he was for further instructions. Joe sat in the chair, and squirmed around to find a position that didn't hurt his ailing bottom. He had just found a comfortable position, when the nurse knocked and immediately entered. "If you're dressed, Dr. Hopkins would like you to come to his office," she said, smiling. "Did you have everything you need to clean up? There's a bathroom right inside that door." She pointed at a door as Joe followed her down the short hall. "I think I'm okay," Joe said. "Kinda sore though." "Yeah, it's a little painful the first time," the nurse said. Joe followed her back to her desk, and then into an office on the side of what must have been a reception and waiting area for a number of doctors. Now, five or six women sat in the couches that lined the walls, apparently waiting their turn for what Joe just received. Dr. Hopkins was at his desk when Joe entered. Dr. Krell was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk, and they were engaged in discussion. Dr. Hopkins motioned for Joe to sit in the other empty seat. He did, but wiggled around, trying to get comfortable. His underwear seemed to ride up, or something, and amplified his minor discomfort. "Is there a problem, Joe?" Dr. Hopkins asked. "Well, doc, I guess I'm a little sore from your inspection," Joe said, with a slight grin. "I'm sorry, but I was as careful as I could be," Dr. Hopkins said. "Any news?" Joe asked. He wondered what the results might be. "Well, Joe," Dr. Hopkins said, "I don't know how you feel about this, but my examination reveals that you seem to be a normal, healthy, mature female. I see from your records that you are thirty years old. I must say, you certainly don't look that old, externally, or internally. Your pelvic examination is somewhat unusual. Internally, your condition is more like fifteen to eighteen years old, rather than thirty. Your uterus is perfect, and pink, like a young girl just out of adolescence. Your breast development is normal female, with some slight stretching of the epidermis. I suppose that is because of the extremely rapid growth. Overnight, I understand?" "I didn't notice anything when I went to bed, and I looked like this when I woke up," Joe said. "Can you do anything for me?" "What do you like us to do?" Dr. Hopkins asked, watching Joe's reaction. "I don't know. I feel like I'm still a man, but I sure can't resume my normal activities, looking like this. Do I have to remain female?" Joe asked the ultimate question. "Well, Joe," Dr. Krell began, "you have probably heard of surgical procedures to change the body's physical appearance to that of the other sex. After hormone therapy, usually lasting a year or more, it is possible to alter the appearance of the genitalia, so that it has the appearance of the desired sex. For a biological male who has the need and desire to have a female appearing body, the results are often amazing. It can sometimes even fool a doctor. However, for a biological female who wishes to be male, the surgical procedure is far from perfect. Any penis created is basically nonfunctional, with little or no sensation. There is no natural erectile functioning, and it's difficult to make it function even for urination, since it is often prone to infection. Many patients don't even elect genital surgery, but settle for hysterectomy, and mastectomy. Hormone therapy will often give a satisfactory outward male appearance, however. For you, who actually have experienced a complete, functioning male body, I think you would be very disappointed with any result, no matter how it would turn out." "So I'm stuck being female, unless I want to become a hermaphrodite?" Joe asked, wondering if he really understood what Dr. Krell had just said. "Well, Joe, I wouldn't word it like that," Dr. Krell went on, "but I guess that's one way of describing it. I don't think you would be happy with the result. I know it isn't easy, but you seem to be adapting to what has happened to you very well. I don't think it would be any easier for you, if you elect gender reassignment." "So you guys think I should stay like this, huh?" Joe asked, a strange feeling coming over him. His face tingled as he considered his options. Female... He had lived four days like this so far. Sometimes, it wasn't so bad, but to stay like this? Could he handle it? On the other hand, to look like a guy, but not have a penis, or at least a functioning penis. Hell, he might still have to sit to pee. He thought of the feelings, the sensations of being with Linda, but then, he still had that. It was different, for sure, but in many ways, even better. He didn't know. "Can I get pregnant?" Joe asked. "I haven't done any testing for fertility, but I suspect you very likely could," Dr. Hopkins said. "I believe you are now a mature and functioning female, and as such, you'd better use adequate contraception if you should choose to become sexually active. By the way, your hymen is intact. I had to stretch it a bit during the examination, but I believe it remained intact." "You mean I'm a virgin?" Joe asked. He had never thought about that. "Well, I don't know about that," Dr. Hopkins answered, chuckling, "but your pelvic exam showed an intact hymen. That's not too common for a woman of your age. I have a question for you, too." "Sure, what?" Joe asked. "Was your penis circumcised?" Dr. Hopkins asked. "Well... Yeah, why do you ask?" Joe was curious about why he wanted to know. "Well, I observed some unusual scar tissue around your clitoral area," Dr. Hopkins said. "I had never seen that before, but we decided that it might be carry-over from penile circumcision. I don't think anyone on record has ever experienced what you have." "Will it cause problems for me?" Joe asked. "If it doesn't hurt, or cause irritation, I doubt it," Dr. Hopkins answered. "Physically, your clitoris is missing the little hood, called the prepuce, that it normally would retract into, or under. The extra exposure may cause discomfort during intercourse, or when wearing tight clothes. I don't know. Since you've always been like this, since the change, you may not notice anything at all. Cosmetically, I doubt anyone but a gynecologist or maybe a sharp general practitioner would even notice. I wouldn't worry about it." Joe thought about what he looked like in the hand mirror; the little sensitive bundle of flesh at the top of his opening. Linda didn't look like that, but he decided it was probably the least of his problems. "What about my life, my job?" Joe asked. "Hell, I'm a thirty year old man, an engineer, and a pilot. All my records, my identification, show me to be male. What can I do about that?" He didn't know what he wanted to do, but he knew he needed more information. "Don't worry about that, Joe," Dr. Krell assured him. "Whatever you choose to do, it will be possible to change your records, even your birth certificate, if you need it. I'm not sure about your military records, however." "So what do I do next?" Joe asked. He hadn't known what to expect, but he had more questions now, than answers. "Well, I think we need to find out what has caused these symptoms in you, and your two friends," Dr. Krell said. "We'd like to run more tests on you. Could get you to come to San Diego where there are more facilities to do research into your condition?" "What can you do there that you can't do here?" Joe asked. "I don't really know if there is anything anyone can do for you, Joe," Dr. Krell said, "but we need to find out just what has happened, and just what caused it. Then we might, and it would be a big might, we might be able to somehow reverse your condition. If we were to alter your appearance with surgery, I don't think you would be pleased with the result, and it would surely leave you disfigured. If you possibly can, I advise that you try to live with what you now have, at least for a while. I realize it isn't easy, but none of your other options are, either. I would recommend that you consult a therapist, if you're having any difficulty coping with the changes. I might add, you seem to be doing quite well, so far." "If I decide to stay this way, at least for now, what will I have to do to get my records changed?" Joe asked. "If you will come to my office in San Diego, I have all the information you need, and there is a group of people to help, who are familiar with the legal requirements for Arizona," Dr. Krell replied. "How did they get familiar with my requirements already?" Joe asked, since as far as he knew, he was the first person he had ever heard of with his problem. "You might be surprised at the number of gender dysphoric persons who elect gender reassignment," Dr. Krell answered. "Only they take years to get where you are now, but then they face the same obstacles, after the reassignment surgery. We see well over a hundred every year." It had never really occurred to Joe there were people on the street, maybe people he knew, who had once been a different sex. He didn't think he had ever seen anyone like that. He felt sorry for anyone who felt they had such a problem, since he now knew what it was like to have the wrong body. "I didn't realize there were that many people who changed their sex," Joe said. "I wonder why I've never seen any of them." "How do you know you haven't?" Dr. Krell said. "I know of at least one that you've seen." "Really, I sure don't remember seeing anyone like that," Joe said, slightly amazed. "I wouldn't normally say anything, but I know she won't mind. I know you've met Dr. Hopkins' nurse, Karen Simpson," Dr. Krell said with a grin. "When I first met her, her name was Keith. That was just four years ago." Joe was shocked, and impressed. He had never even considered that the tall, friendly, and very attractive nurse could have been anything but a natural woman. She looked, walked, and even sounded like any other good looking female. So she was once a guy too. "YOU made him... err... her look like THAT?" Joe asked incestuously. "Well, I helped HER get her body in line with what she considers to be HER normal gender," Dr. Krell said proudly. "Hormones did most of the work, and a morning on the operating table did the rest. I didn't make her a woman, I just helped her to get a woman's body." He was obviously proud of his work. "But you can't do anything like that for me, huh?" Joe asked. "Joe, I think I could make you pass as a man in public," Dr. Krell answered, "but I am sure that you would not be pleased with the cosmetic, and function, of the phalloplasty. It is just a lot harder to create working male parts, and you had a real penis, so you would be expecting something like that, and that I absolutely cannot give you. Again, I recommend that you try to live with what you've got. If it becomes intolerable, then let's talk about alternatives," Dr. Krell smiled as he spoke. "Well, maybe that's what I have to do," Joe said. "I'll give it a shot." "Good choice," Dr. Krell said. "Now, I think we need to call your employer, what is it... Honeybone Electronics?" "That's Honeybone Avionics," Joe said, correcting him. "We design, and manufacture aviation electronics of all types, navigation radios, computers, flight management systems, and a lot of other stuff for Civil and Military aviation." He was trying to figure out who to call. "If you will give me the number, I'll call them, and explain what we need from them," Dr. Krell said. Joe gave him the switchboard number, and told Dr. Krell to ask for Jim Matheney, his supervisor. Dr. Krell dialed the number, and in a few moments, he was talking to Jim Matheney. "Good morning, Mr. Matheney, my name is Dr. Benjamin Krell," he said. "I have three of your employees here at the hospital, and we have uncovered some unusual symptoms in them. I feel that the problems may be job related. I hope you can help us figure out what is wrong with them." "That really is understating the problem," Joe thought, "but maybe that's the best way to start." "Yes, sir, that's who it is," Dr. Krell said into the phone, "and I would prefer not to discuss their symptoms over the phone. Yes, sir, it would be good if you could come here, to Hillcrest. Yes, Dr. Krell, fourth floor. Two o'clock this afternoon would be fine. See you after lunch, then. Bye." Dr. Krell had quickly started the ball rolling. Just as Dr. Krell hung up the phone, there was a knock on his office door. "Come in," Dr. Krell said. The door opened, and nurse Karen Simpson looked in. "Dr. Krell, the other two patients are here from downstairs," she said, smiling. Joe looked carefully at her, and was trying to imagine her as a man. He couldn't. Dr. Krell saw him staring at the nurse. "Please have them wait outside for a moment," Dr. Krell told her. Joe continued to watch her, and it was slightly obvious he was curious. "Karen, do you have plans for lunch?" Dr. Krell asked the nurse. "Not really, I thought I'd just go out, maybe over to Wendy's for a salad. It seems I really have to watch my calories," she said with a quick grin. "Well, Joe here is free for a couple of hours," Dr. Krell said, "and I think he wouldn't mind buying you lunch. I've told him a little about you, and I think you two might have something in common." It was plain that he and Karen had a mutual admiration for each other. "Sure, Joe, let's go, if you're ready," she said, holding out her hand in greeting. "My name is Karen Simpson. I've read your records, so I know you're Joe Bates." Karen and Joe shook hands like two guys meeting for the first time. Joe liked the pretty nurse the first time he saw her, and now that he knew her unusual past, he wanted to get to know her. As he stood next to her, he saw that she was even a little taller than he was. "Nice to meet you, Karen, let's get something to eat," Joe said, as they walked out the door. "Be sure to be back by one thirty, Joe," Dr. Krell ordered as they went out the door.