Archive-name: Changes/bates19.txt
Archive-author: 
Archive-title: Joe Bates' Story- 19


                      CHAPTER 19
                THE CAUSE (part 1)

   The group in the car was quiet as they drove to the hotel.  The short
briefing by Dr. Krell had given them all something to think about.  Each had
always feared that their condition might end up being permanent, but until Dr.
Krell's admittance, they  held out hope that something could be done right
away.  Now, they were being told they could expect to stay as they were for an
indefinite period. The realization of what it all meant was just setting in.
Tim broke the silence.

   "God, I never thought I'd be worrying about having periods, or getting
pregnant, or anything like that."  He said.

   "I never considered that I wouldn't get to be a father."  Joe added.
"Even if I could have children now, I don't know if I'd want to be a mother."

   "At least you ain't a father already."  Dave added.  "I am, and now...I
told can be a mother too."

   It was obvious that the tapes they had watched earlier  that day at the
clinic, as well as Dr. Krell's statements, had made an impression on each of
them.

   "Well, it'll still take some getting used to I guess, but, you know,
I'm sort of starting to like looking like a girl...I think it's kinda fun."
Mike added.

   "Those clothes seem to have  have changed attitude, as well as your
appearance."  Tim said to  Mike.

   "Yeah. I know, but I think the hair is what really makes the
difference."  Mike said, smiling happily. "I don't even recognise myself when I
look in the mirror."

   "I guess I'll need to get one too."  Tim said refering to the wig Mike
was wearing. 

   "Why don't we stop at Barbara's shop."  Mike said. "She's probably
still be open.  It's only four-thirty."

   "Ok.  We can do that."  Joe agreed.  Longer hair had made such a
difference in he and Mike's appearance, as well as  confidence, he figured Tim
shouldn't have to wait either.

   Instead of going directly to the hotel.  They went to the little shop
by the mall.  It was still open, and Barbara had two customers in the shop when
they entered.  She recognized them as soon as they entered, and greeted them
with a friendly smile. 

   "I'll be with you as soon as I can."  She said. 

   They sat waiting for maybe twenty minutes while the other customers,
two older ladies, completed their fittings and left the shop.  Barbara came
over to them.

   "And what is this?"  She said, looking at Tim. "Do you people have a
machine to do this?"  

   "I believe we do."  Joe said.  Without completely realizing it,
Barbara's attempt at humor had probably been quite accurate.

   Barbara asked Tim to sit down, and then tried on various styles of
hairpieces.  The only one that matched his original hair color was a somewhat
short, pixy cut, but it was definitly attractive on Tim's now quite feminine
facial features.  As it had been with Mike, the change in appearance was almost
unbelievable.  As each of them concealed the last vestige of their maleness,
the masculine looking short haircut, they looked feminine in all respects.  Tim
sat in front of the mirror behind the table, and gazed at his reflection.  It
was his turn to be transfixed by the face of a pretty young girl staring back
at him.

   "I think it looks very nice."  Barbara said.  "But if you want another
style, it'll have to be another color, or else you can wait three days."

   "Oh no, I don't want to wait."  Tim insisted.  "This will be fine.  I
like it."  He didn't want to have to wait to have the look he was seeing in the
mirror.

   Joe paid Barbara since Tim didn't have enough money for the hairpeice.
As he paid the money, he realized that Tim probably didn't have much money, and
was probably at a distinct disadvantage to the others when it came to buying
the clothes he needed.  Joe thought about what Jay had told him, and kept the
reciept.  He asked Tim if he needed some more clothes.

   "Well, everything I have on right now is borrowed, either from you, or
Karen."  Tim said.

   "Then I think we need to get you some more."  Joe suggested.  "I'll pay
for them, and I'll give Honeybone the bill." 

   "Do we have to do it now?"  Tim objected.  He was embarrased to shop
for women's clothes. 

   "It's really not so bad Tim.  I thought it would be horrible too, but
once you start, it's really kinda fun...the things are so soft and slick, and
they fit so good.  I now understand why girls like shopping for clothes...it's
totaly different than I what thought."  Mike was sounding almost excited as he
talked about his own experience shopping that afternoon.

   "Besides pal, you signed up...you're legally a girl now anyway."  Joe
couldn't resist teasing the young man who now, especially with the new hair,
looked so cute...so attractive.  Of course, he knew better...he was in the same
position...but maybe it was just that he still had at least a bit of his old
masculine mischievousness, but he just couldn't resist teasing the cute Tim.

   "Yeah, I know, but it's just not easy to accept not being a guy...and
it's even harder to try to think of myself as a girl...I always think other
guys are staring at these boobs, or ogling my butt,"  Tim said,

   "And they are, too."  Joe said grinning.  "You know that.  This time
last week, you would have been looking at a butt like yours too."

   "Yeah, I guess so...it's kinda strange...now that I'm this way, women
just don't seem nearly as sexy to me as they used to.  I wonder why that is?"
Tim asked.

   "Maybe it's because you don't just look like a girl, you actually are
one."  Joe reasoned.  The same thought had already crossed his mind.

   "I guess I do kinda seem like a girl now, and maybe I've even turned
into one...I suppose I probably have, but, when I close my eyes...and when I
think of who I am...what I look like, I still feel like I'm a guy inside."  Tim
mused.

   "Yeah?  Maybe so, but not on the outside."  Dave added.  "Any one of
you have a body that most of the natural women out there would die for."

   "Hey, don't forget, I didn't ask to be this way."  Tim said.  He wasn't
sure if it was envy, or resentment, showing in Dave's voice.

   "I know, but damn it, you three have it easy...all you have to do is
get used to the new parts...then, you can just get on with your life.  I've got
a family   I can't just put on a wig, buy some clothes, and then learn to be a
woman.  But, don't forget, the the same thing has happened to me too, I have
the same feelings...  What the hell am I supposed to do?"  Dave was almost
sobbing.

   They got in the Lincoln, and Joe drove the short distance to the main
mall.

   "It'll work out, Dave.  They'll figure out something for you."  Joe
said.

   "Oh, yeah?  What?"  Dave snapped.  "Right now, it looks like the most I
can hope for is some kind of fake cock, which apparently won't have any
feeling...even Dr. Krell don't seem to think much of that idea."

   "Is that what you want?"  Joe asked.  "Maybe you should stay a woman,
if that's what you really want."

   "Hey, I don't know what I want."  Dave answered.  "I don't have any
idea what I want."

   "Then what ever you do Dave, don't let 'em cut on you unless you can't
stand it any other way.  Joe advised.  "If you don't mind me asking, have you
and Cindy slept together?"  Cindy was Joe's wife.

   "We were in the same bed, but we never touched each other.  I can't
expect her to become a lesbian, or whatever, just because this...this thing has
happened to me." Dave answered.

   "Don't worry about what to call it."  Joe said.  "You are both still
married to each other...what you do together can't be perverted or anything
like that."

   "Hey, old buddy, I know I'm not gorgous, but there's not much I can do
in bed with my wife, or any other woman.  I've undergone the same changes you
have.  I probably have the same feelings you have, too."  Dave returned.

   "Do you want to sleep with Cindy...would you like to make love to her?"
Joe asked. 

   "Sure, she's my wife...I still love her."  Dave answered.

   "Then do it.  Don't worry about what others might think.  It's nobody's
business anyway.  She'll accept you...you probably even smell better than you
used too."  Joe teased.

   "Aw Joe, what can we do?"  Dave asked.  "You know I'm not a man
anymore.  And I'm not sure I even feel like one."

   "Don't be an idiot Dave."  Joe insisted.  "By now...especially
now...you know what will make her feel good.  Just do that.  She'll probably
want to do the same for you.  You might be suprized how much fun you both can
still have...and heck, now you won't have to worry about birth control either."

   "How do you suddenly know about all this stuff?"  Mike asked.

   "I live with Linda, remember?"  Joe said, winking at him. 

   Joe opened his door, and got out.  They went into the mall at the same
entrance as that morning.  Mike took Tim by the hand, lead him right to
Victoria's Secret.

   "You just gotta get some of this stuff."  He said.  "It just look's and
feel's so sexy.  I just love it."  Mike had really made a complete transition.

   Tim was less sure of himself, but Mike, who was still much bigger and
stronger, just pulled him in the store.  They were acting like teenagers, out
the first time without their parents.  Tim was already wearing a bra, and Joe
knew it was his size, since he had loaned it to him the day before.  He told
Tim what he thought his new sizes were, and Tim reluctantly started looking,
and selecting items to try or buy.  Mike was acting as the expert advisor the
whole time.  The sales girl from earlier in the day was still there, and it was
obvious she recognized the group.  She looked carefully at Mike, sure she
recognized him, but was wracking her brain to figure what was so different
about this big woman.  She now looked far less masculine.  The hairpiece, and
the women's clothing had made a big difference in Mike's appearance.  But the
girl just couldn't place what the difference was.

   Tim finally picked out some underwear...probably more to please Mike
than himself, and then he even followed Mike into the fitting room to try some
bras on.  Joe could hear Mike talking to Tim the whole time they were in the
small room.  He couldn't get over how Mike was acting.  This big macho guy, who
now seemed suddenly fascinated with the details of being a woman.

   Maybe it's a good thing.  Joe though.  He considered his own feelings 
and reactions to what had happened to his own body, and he realized that maybe
he wasn't that much different than Mike.  Would this acceptance of their new
sexuality touch each of them eventually?  He wondered. 

   After Mike had helped Tim find his selections, and had tried on each
item that was practical to try on, they went on to other stores.  Tim, having
just turned twenty one, had much different tastes in clothes than the older
"women".  Even Mike, who was only twenty six, had much different ideas about
what looked good on Tim's attractive form.  It soon became obvious from the
type of things he stopped to look at...the kind of questions he asked, that Tim
liked the short skirts and tight, stretchy tops that were "in".  Although he
was embarrassed to wear them, those kind of things were what he thought he
needed.  Of course Mike, who's taste in fashion never went past exercise wear,
knew or cared little about things like that.  When Mike showed less interest,
Tim began to look at the things he thought he liked.  As he was looking, a
sales girl, probably about his own age, came over to help Tim.  The former
young man certainly needed her assistance, but he could hardly speak.  It was
very difficult for a twenty one year old male to ask a twenty one year old
female to help him select a skirt and top for himself, no matter what he looked
like. It didn't make any difference to Tim that the friendly young lady was
actually somewhat jealous of his shapely figure.

   The sales girl was finally able to get this stuttering customer to tell
her what she  was looking for. This tall, very shy girl didn't even know what
sizes she was looking for.  When she finally helped her pick out some
selections, she even seemed reluctant to go into the dressing rooms.  She kept
looking back at her three older friends, one of whom looked like she had her
hair cut like a man.  When the girl finally came out of the fitting room (it
took forever) so that she could see herself in the full length mirror, she
seemed quite embarrassed to be seen in the short skirt, even though she looked
fantastic in it.  She acted like she had never worn anything like it before,
even though she had one of the trimmest shapes the sales girl had ever seen.
When she looked at herself inthe mirror, the girl seemed almost like she was
looking at someone else, she touched her hair, her hips, even felt at her
breasts, as if she had never noticed them before.  It was strange to watch her
as she turned about, observing herself in the three sided mirror.  Then, the
other three women came over and looked too.  They all seemed to be seeing this
young lady for the first time.  Finally one of the women spoke.

   "I think it's you."  Joe said. 

   "I just can't believe it.  I feel like I  have to pinch myself, to
believe this is me."  Tim exclaimed.

   Oh, come on, thought the sales girl.  You do look good, but not that
good. 

   "I think it's just right for you." The sales girl said.  And I think a
some black shoes would go nice with it."  She pointed to the mannequin, which
was wearing almost the same choices.

   "Oh, yea...I guess I'll have to get some shoes too..."  Tim muttered.
He was still admiring his new look. 

   "They're down on the lower floor."  The sales girl said.  "Will there
be anything else?" 

   "Yeah,  I'll need some more...I guess a few more..."  Tim said
absently. 

   The sales girl looked at him.  What was with this girl?

   They spent anothe hour selecting things with the young sales girl, and
then went walking throughout the mall shops, each of them looking, sometimes
trying something on, sometimes even buying.  The only one who didn't seem to be
having fun was Dave, who looked, sometimes touched, but never tried anything
on, and refused to buy anything.  Mike was able to get both Tim and Joe to get
some colorful exercize wear for themselves.  Joe already had some which he had
bought the first day, but Mike insisted, and Joe was in the buying mood.

   Finally, loaded down with packages, most of them Mike and Tim's, they
struggled back to the car.  Driving back to the hotel, it didn't sound anything
like four men in the car, as Joe, Mike, and Tim discussed the different things
they had seen, as well as the things they had purchased.

   When they went in, they got their rooms, and had their bags brought to
the rooms.  As agreed, Mike roomed with Joe, and Tim and Dave were together.
Jeo went into his room, placed his bags of purchases on the end of the bed, and
dropped down on it in exhaustion.  He had long ago decided that the pumps he
was wearing surely had not been made for walking in.  Though they looked great,
they lacked the comfortable support of the more substantial men's footware.  He
kicked them off, and pulled the sun dress up to his hips and began to massage
his sore feet while  enjoying the cool air on his tired legs.  When he looked
over, he saw that Mike was watching him, eyes wide, grinning.  Suddenly he
realized that that by pulling his dress up so high, he had exposed his bottom,
and the sight of his panties had caught Mike's eye.

   Mike realized he was staring when he saw Joe cover himself in
embarrassment.  He quickly appoligized.

   "Gee Joe, I'm sorry.  I know we're both women now, but I couldn't
resist looking when I saw you laying there like that.  It...you were just so
sexy looking, I just couldn't help looking..."  He stuttered with
embarrassment.

   "Hey, don't worry about it."  Joe said grinning.  "I know how you
feel.  I find myself looking at you sometimes, too.  And Tim...ain't he
something."

   "Yeah, SHE sure is."  Mike agreed.  "Do you think we should start
calling ourselves women?  I mean, if we want everybody else to treat us like
women now, I guess we should do the same ourselves."

   "Yeah, I guess we should, but it's sure a hard thing to do...I still
think that deep inside, I'm a guy.  I guess I'm sort of getting used to the
idea of looking this way, but it still seems strange to think of myself as a
"she".  Joe said as he sat back up on the bed, smoothing the dress over his
knees.

   "Same here.  Mike agreed.  "But you know, if Dr. Krell called right
now, and said he had just discovered the secret to get us back...I don't know
if I'd rush to go and do it.  Ain't that wierd?  What's going on anyway?  Why
am I suddenly starting to enjoy this so much?"

   "Don't worry, you're not the only one who feels that way.  Joe said.
"I'm starting to like it too.  It must be the different hormones, or
something."

   "So do you think we're really turning into women?" Mike asked.

   "Well, let's see, we just came back from a shopping spree where you and
Tim looked at more clothes in one afternoon than I did in a year...and I even
liked it too.  Now, I'm sitting here, wearing a dress, and I just realized I
need to pee.  Now, if after this afternoon's little shopping trip, I still have
any doubt that I've turned into a woman, I'm fairly sure I'll be reminded of it
when I go in the john, and pull down these panties I'm wearing."  With that,
Joe got up and went into the bathroom.

   When he came back out, Mike was standing in his underwear, looking at
each of his purchases, laying each item on the bed. 

   "You know, I think just looking at this stuff gives me a hard-on."
Mike said, grinning.

   "It is some nice looking stuff." Joe agreed.  "But you've gotta do
something about those hairy legs."  He started to look through the bags which
contained his new purchases.

   Joe found the little black bra and panty set.  He held up the little
wisp of black nylon which was the little thong bikini.  It didn't look like it
would cover him, even with the changes.  Mike saw it too, and grinned.

   "Come on Joe, try it on."  He asked.

   "I don't know..."  Joe really wanted to put it on, but he didn't really
want to put himself on display. 

   "I just know you'll look great wearing that stuff."  Mike continued. 

   "Aw, all right..  I would like to see how they fit." Joe admitted.  He
carefully unbuttoned the red sun dress and stepped out of it.  Looking down
at his chest made him smile.  His nipples were quite visible through the thin,
almost transparent fabric of his bra.  It was still a strange experience having
tits, he decided, but he was beginning get used to the idea, sort of.  He
reached behind his back with both hands, unhooked the back strap, and felt his
bra loosen.  He squirmed out of the tangle of straps and then scratched under
his soft mounds at the red marks made by the underwires.  Joe dropped the old
bra, and picked up the new little black one.  This one had the catch between
the cups, and he could see what he was doing as he fastened it.  He ajusted the
cups over his breasts until they felt just right.  This new lighter bra felt
as if it might provide somewhat less support that the one he had just removed.
It sure did look sexy though, but in a very different way than the sheer one.

   "You have such a great body." Mike said softly.  Admiration, as well as
perhaps a bit of envy, was quite evident in his voice.  "It sure makes me wish
I hadn't taken those steroids."

   "You look ok, Mike."  Joe said truthfully.  "They don't seem to have
affected you that much."

   "Maybe it don't look like it much, but I sure do feel like I'm still a
guy sometimes, like my cock is still there.  It's almost embarrassing feeling
sometimes."  Mike rubbed the front of his panties, where his penis should have
been.

   "Actually, I think that sensation might be normal."  Joe said.  "I feel
the same way too.  I'd bet that even natural women feel like that.  They
probably just don't realize what it is."

   Yeah, you might be right, but I know I've never seen a woman with a
clitoris as big as mine."  Mike retorted.

   "And I guess you've seen 'em all?"  Joe said. 

   "Well, I've seen a few."  Mike said.  "So your still sleeping with
Linda, even now?"

   "Well...er, I ah, Yeah, I...we have slept together."  Joe cautiously
admitted.  "And it was pretty good too."  

   "But, what did you do with her?   How...what can you do now?"  Mike
asked innocently. 

   "Maybe I ain't a man anymore...and maybe I don't have male equipment,
but I still know what women like...maybe even better now than before."  Joe
said.  "And I can tell you, these new parts ain't missing a thing when it comes
to erotic sensation.  It feels like all the old nerves are still there, maybe
moved around a bit, and I think they've even have had the gain turned up a
little, too."   He grinned as he spoke.

   "You've noticed that too?" Mike asked.  "I was thinking that I must be
really screwed up, after having my cock kinda shrivel up, and then still being
horny all the time.  The urge does seem to be tapering off a little bit lately
though."  Mike announced.

   "Yeah.  For me too." Joe said. "Dr. Krell said that maybe I was getting
familure with the new sensations, and that maybe my testosterone level would
start to decrease.  It was far too high for a female, he said."

   "Do you...er..have you ever thought about what it would be like to
sleep with a man...to have sex with one?"  Mike asked.

   "Well...I'll admit, the thought has crossed my mind." Joe admitted.  He
wasn't about to say anything about last night.

   "I don't know if I could do it...I mean...some other guy's cock...all
that...but I don't know, I just can't seem to get the idea out of my mind.  I
find I'm constantly wondering how it would feel."  Mike wondered out loud.

    "I suppose it just might be pretty good." Joe answered.  "Dr. Krell
says all our organs are normal, even the stuff that's changed, and that
everything should work just like any normal woman's...and heaven knows, they're
sensitive enough, that's for sure."  He was actually relieved to hear that
somebody else was experiencing the same feelings he had been having lately.

   "Yeah, but the thought of laying next to another guy,  I don't know if
I could that."  Mike continued.   "It would have to feel weird."

   "Maybe it wouldn't, once you got...you know...into it."  Joe countered.

   "Yeah. Maybe you're right.  I just don't know though."  Mike said. 

   "There's no need to rush something like that." Joe mused.  "It looks
like we might have plenty of time to get used to the idea."

   "Yeah, it does look like that, don't it." Mike agreed.  "I sure have
trouble with the idea of spending the rest of my life as a woman...hell, I just
can't see myself looking like my grandmother."

   "It is kinda hard to accept isn't it."  Joe admitted. 

   "So far, everything has been interesting...sort of...it even feels
kinda exciting, and I'm even learning to like some of the things about this.
At first, I thought I was really gonna miss having a cock, but...you know...I
really don't...except for taking a piss.  I just don't think I'll ever get used
to peeing like a girl."  Mike said, rubbing the soft little bulge between his
legs.

   "It is different, isn't it.  I guess I miss that part of being a guy
too." Joe agreed.   

   "Of course, there are some compensations."  Mike continued.  "Have you
ever made yourself come yet?"  Mike wasn't one to mince words.

   "Well...yeah, I suppose I have..."  Joe said cautiously.  He wondered
what Mike was leading to.

   "Pretty wild, isn't it?"   Mike said, grinning.  "First time I washed
myself, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.  And it just keeps coming
back for more.  Hell, I almost rubbed myself sore.  I still feel a little
tender down there."

   Joe pulled his panties off, and tossed them on the bed.  He picked up
the little thong bikini, stepped into it and pulled it over his hips, The tiny
wisp of black cloth covered most of his pubic area, narrowing to a thin crotch
strip that went between the legs, riding up the back in the cleft of his
buttocks.  He could feel it where it touched sensitive areas.  His entire rear
end was essentially bare.  He looked down, over his breasts, and saw that the
front of the bikini at least covered his bush, but even with his close trim,
some pubic hair showed around the edges.  Joe pulled the tiny "V" of cloth away
from his crotch, and let it spring back, which helped to cover some of the
hair.  It felt very sexy just wearing it, and Joe thought it probably looked
that way too.  He liked it immediately.

   "That looks really great."  Mike exclaimed.  "Damn it Joe, you are
just so damn beautiful." 

   "I know I've changed, but I don't know about beautiful...  And this
thing feels like its riding in the crack of my behind...I guess it is."   Joe
still felt awkward getting compliments on his new appearance.

   "Well, it's true, you really are beautiful.  Tim is too, in a sorta
"teenage" kind of way...but you...man if I still had my old body... I don't
know..." Mike grinned a wicked grin as he said the words.

   "Well, don't forget, you look pretty good too."  Joe returned the
compliment, feeling his face reddening.  "You seem to be still changing.  Am I
right?"

   "Yeah, I think so.  I'm pretty sure my boobs are still growing, or
filling out, or something.  I don't know...but I feel like I'm still getting
softer...all over."  Mike ran hand over his breasts as he spoke.

   "Maybe the steroids only slowed the change, but can't stop it."  Joe
considered. 

   "Well if it was going to stop the change, it's too late now."  Mike
said.  "I not only look pretty much like a female, I even think I feel like
one, at least most of the time."

   "Well then, shave those hairy legs, will you."  Joe teased. 

   "Yeah, I will."  Mike said.  He began going through his small bag,
looking for his shaving kit.  When he found it, he went into the bathroom, and
shut the door.  Joe could hear the toilet flush, and the shower start to run.
As Mike cleaned up, Joe removed the sexy feeling new underwear and put his old
things back on.  He found some shorts, and a light blue top, and put them on.
Using the remote, he snapped on the television, and lay back and watched the
news.

   In a while Mike came back out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around
his body.  He had removed the hairpiece, and with the towel hiding his curves,
again looked a just bit like his old self.  Mike had obviously shaved his legs
bare only moments before.  Joe watched him as he dressed, and smiled when Mike
removed the towel. It was strange to see the familure head of his friend, above
a now quite hairless, and very curvy, female body.  He realized that his own
reflection was probably quite similer.

   Mike stepped into, and pulled on one of his new stretchy bodysuits, and
covered it only with colorful nylon shorts.  He was obviously enjoying the way
he now looked, eyeing his reflection in the mirror over the dresser as he put
the things on.  Joe had to admit that Mike was becoming quite attractive.


   "Want to work out with me?"  Mike asked.  "There is a great exercize
room downstairs." 

   "Aw, I don't know...I know I should...but..."  Joe protested.

   "Come on, you know you need it too."  Mike said.  "And I'd sure like
the company."

   "Ok.  I'll go with you."  Joe answered.  He went to his bag and took
out the exercize clothing he just bought.

   When Joe was ready, they went down to the exercize area.  There were
three guys there, and  Joe and Mike found that they were immediately the
primary object of attention of the others in the room.  Joe went to a
stationary bicycle and climbed on, and Mike tried his new, muscles on the
weight bench.  As Joe sat there pedaling, he watched Mike strain to find his
new lower limits.  Then, one of the young men came over, and climbed on the
other bike.  At first, the guy said nothing, seeming to feel out the situation,
but in a few minutes, he spoke, obviously very nervous.

   "This is a nice place, isn't it?"  The young man asked, making small
talk. 

   Joe looked over at him.  "Yes.  It is nice."  Joe said, smiling.  He
tried to sound and act as feminine as he could, but was feeling terribly self
concous.

   "Is that your friend over there?"  The guy continued. 

   "Yeah.  He...she's my roomate."  Joe answered. 

   "She can sure lift."  The man returned.  "She looks pretty strong." 

   If you only knew.  Joe thought.  But he said.  "She's been lifting for
quite some time." 

   "Are you gonna be over in the lounge later?"  The guy blurted out.  It
was obvious that he was even more nervous than Joe, but not much.

   "I don't think so."  Joe answered.  "I have to get to sleep early."  He
wasn't ready to fight off the lounge lizards. 

   "Oh, you should come down.  The place is swinging every night."  The
guy continued.

   Then you won't need me there.  Joe thought. 

   "I just don't think I can."  Joe repeated.  He turned back and looked
at Mike, who was now dealing with one of the other guys.

   "Sure you can.  What did you say your name was?"  The guy wouldn't be
shot down.  Joe found he admired his tenacity. 

   "I didn't say, but it's Joe."  Joe answered, trying to appear more
friendly than he was feeling just then.

   "Joe?  What's that short for?  Jo-ann?"  He asked. 

   "No.  My name is Joel.  But I've always been called Joe."  Joe replied.
 
   "Joe sounds like a guy's name."  The guy went on.  "But it sounds good
on you.  My name's Mike."

   "Thanks Mike."  Joe answered.  Great.  Another Mike,  He thought.   

   "What's your friends name?"  Mike asked.  He was running out of things
to say, but was desparately trying to continue the conversation.

   "She's...er...her name is Mik,,,ahh...Michelle...I call her Mike too."
Joe stammered. 

   "That's interesting."  Mike said.  "We have the same names." 

   "Look Mike...I don't think I'll be at the lounge tonight.  I'm really
sorry."  Joe said, trying to sound kind, as well as apoligetic. 

   "Ok. But you'll be missing out on a good time."  Mike said. 

   Joe rode on in silence, and Mike continued pedaling too.  Joe was aware
that the young man next to him was watching him move out of the corner of his
eye.  He had done the same thing himself, eyeing a good looking girl, using
that image to keep his mind off aching muscles.

   Joe felt a bead of sweat trickle from under the hairpiece, and then run
along his ear.  He reached up, and pulled the hair away from his face.  He
would have liked to remove the wig but knew that would have caused a real stir.
He just kept pedaling, enjoying the feeling only vigorous exercize can produce.

   After twenty minutes on the bike, he found that his new body was
getting tired.  BEfore the change, he could have kept this pace for an hour.
He stopped pedaling and went over to Mike, who was seeming to enjoy the company
of the the other guy, who was hanging around him like a puppy.

   "I think I'm going back to the room."  Joe said.  "I'm tired, and I
need a shower."

   "Ok.  I think I'll hang around here for a while yet."  Mike said. 

   "Later."  Joe said, and walked out of the room rubbing his face with a
towel. 

   "Bye, Joe."  Mike (the guy) said.  "Come back down later, if you can."

   "Yeah.  See you later Mike."  Joe said, and walked over to the
elevator.

   Joe went to his room, and went straight to the shower, and started it
running.  He had worked up a good sweat, and his clothes were quite wet, but he
noted that, even when he was sweating,  he still smelled different than he did
as a guy.  He quickly removed his clothes, and in a few moments, he pulled back
the curtain and stepped in, enjoying the warm spray on his back, but
remembering to shield his sensitive breasts with his hands whenever he faced
the spray.  He lingered in the warm spray for a while, and then hopped out of
the shower, drying off quickly.  He was now  starting to get familure with the
new curves and crevases his body had acquired with the change.  He left the
hairpiece off, and, finding his terrycloth romper, he slowly pulled it on.  Joe
then pulled the spread back from the bed, and collapsed on it.  Joe's tired,
soft body, smelling fresh from the shower,  felt good, but  very sleepy.  He
closed his eyes.

   It seemed like Joe had only been sleeping a few minutes, when he heard
Mike enter the room.  He opened his eyes, and saw his friend, his new leotard
soaked with persperation, come in, and go straight into the bathroom.  The door
closed, and almost immediately, Joe could hear the shower start to run.  He
looked at the clock radio.  He was suprized to find that he had been sleeping
over an hour.  Joe closed his eyes again, and again he was awakend by Mike.
This time when he came out of the bathroom, again wearing only a bath towel.

   "Joe...I just met a guy...you saw him...Gordon...he thinks I'm a real
girl...  He wants me to come down to the lounge later."  Mike said. sounding
almost like he asking Joe for permission.

   "Are you gonna go?"  Joe asked. 

   "I don't know.  Do you think I should?"  Mike questioned. 

   "Well, do you want to?"  Joe returned. 

   "Yeah, I think I do, but maybe I don't.  I don't know...I'm scared.
What if he finds out that I'm really a guy?"  Mike asked. 

   Joe looked at his friend standing at the foot of the bed, wearing only
a bath towel.

   "Mike, open the towel, and let it drop to the ground."  He said. 

   Mike opened the large white towel, and let it fall to his feet. 

   "Now, look down.  What do you see?"  Joe asked. 

   "I don't get it, what do you mean?"  Mike asked, confused.  

   "Unless you tell him, there is NO WAY he'll know that you USED to be a
man.  You aren't one now   You don't even look remotely like one."  Joe said.

   "Yeah.  Yeah.  I guess you're right."  Mike agreed. 

   "By the way, I told your guy's partner, the one who was trying to hit
on me, that your name was Michelle, but that I always called you Mike." Joe
warned.
 
   "Oh yeah.  I didn't even think of that."  Mike said.  "I even told him
my name, that I was Mike Osborn."   

   "Did he say anything about that?"  Joe asked  "It sounded too wierd
when I told the other guy, who's name was Mike too, that I was Joe, and you
were Mike."

   "Michelle huh?  Michelle...Michelle....I kind of like it.  You know, I
never thought of using another name, but maybe I should."  Mike said, beaming
with a strange happiness.

   "Well Michelle, are you going to go to the lounge tonight?"  Joe asked.

   "Will you go with me?"  Mike, now Michelle, asked.

   "Nope.  I'm going down to the restaraunt and get something to eat, and
then I'm going straight to bed.  That Air-Dyne wore me out."  Joe said,
yawning, and raising his arms over his head.

   "But if I go, what should I wear?"  Michelle asked. 

   "Man, I don't know.  You only bought jeans and shirts, and all that
exercize stuff.  Joe said.  "Call Karen.  She'll help you out." 

   "What's her number?"  Mike asked. 

   "Hey,  I don't know.  She went home with that receptionist.  I'm not
even sure what her name was."  Joe replied.

   "I'll look at what I've got here.  Michelle said. Maybe I can find
something ok  to wear." 

   "Don't ask me."  Joe said.  "I have enough trouble of my own, I'm the
last person to ask for fashion advice."

   "Aw, Joe, you're easily the best dressed of all of us."  Michelle said.
"You always look great." 

   "It's Linda...and Karen....I don't have any idea what I should wear."
Joe said.  "I just wear what they tell me to wear." 

   Watching Mike/Michelle standing there, naked, looking through his/her
bags, Joe thought he should remind Michelle about something. 

   "Don't forget what Dr. Krell and Susan said."  Joe reminded. "If you
decide to try out the new equipment, make sure you and Gordon use some
protection.  If anything happens, it'll be YOU getting pregnant now."

   "Aw Joe, don't worry about that, I have absolutely no intention of
sleeping with anybody."  Michelle said.

   "But it's not sleeping that causes the trouble."  Joe said, thinking
that he was sounding like Michelle's father, or more likely, her mother.  

   Joe remebered how he had felt when he was with Jay, and "Michelle"
seemed at least as infatuated as he had been then.

   "Ok, Mother."  Michelle teased, as she pulled a new pair of panties on.

   Mike/Michelle carefully put on one of her new bras, and again went to
the mirror.  She looked at herself criticly. 

   "You know, I ain't too bad looking, I guess.  But sure I hope my boobs
get at least a little bigger yet."  She said.

   "I didn't know you were a 'tit man'"  Joe teased. 

   "Aw, Joe, you know what I mean.  I have such big shoulders, bigger
breasts would play them down a little."  Michelle decided.

   "Now you're really sounding like a woman."  Joe said. 

   "But it's true, ain't it?"  Michelle asked. "They would, wouldn't
they?"   

   "I don't know, maybe they would."  Joe said.  "You already look ok to
me." 

   "Yeah, but what would a guy think?"  Michelle asked, and then realized
what had just been said. 

   "Well excuuuse me."  Joe mocked.  "I'm sure I don't have any idea what
a GUY might think."

   "I'm sorry...but you know what I mean.  I mean...like Gordon."
Michelle said.

   "Oh, yeah.  Gordon."  Joe continued.  "I'm sure Gordon likes women with
big tits." 

   "Lay off Bates."  Michelle said in a way which might have sounded
menacing, if it hadn't come from someone wearing a pink bra, with matching
panties. 

   "Yes mam"  Joe mocked.  But he stopped the teasing.  It was so amazing,
seeing what had happened to this big guy, just one week after his chromosomes
had been jumbled, or whatever.  He knew the same thing was happening to him
too.  

   Michelle found a pair of jeans, and picked one of the tops they had
just bought.  He clothes might be ok, if it was real casual in the lounge. 

   "It'll have to do."  Michelle said, arainging the hairpiece, and
brushing it with Joe's hair brush.  "I don't know about this long hair though."

   "Let's get something to eat, what do you think?"  Joe asked. 

   "Yeah, I am getting hungry."  Michelle agreed.  "We should call Dave
and Tim, I guess." 

   They called the other room, and made araingments to meet down stairs in
a half hour.  Joe got dressed in shorts and a top, and he and Michelle left the
room. 

   Next....PART II of "THE CAUSE" 


                                   CAUSE II 

                             CHAPTER 19 (PART 2) 
                                       
                             THE JOE BATES STORY 

     Joe called to Tim and Daves room.  They agreed to meet in fifteen 
minutes, downstairs in the hotel lobby.  When they arrived, Tim and Dave were 
already there.  Tim was wearing some of his new purchases and now, along with 
the physical changes brought about by the metamorphosis and his new hair 
style, the young man's very feminine body looked exactly what Joe thought of 
as "cute".  Dave of course still wore the now familure yellow coverall.  It 
seemed to Joe that Dave's hips and butt looked little larger each time he saw 
him, but his friend didn't seem to notice. 

     "Where do you want to eat?" Joe asked. 

     "I don't have a preference." Dave responded.  "Right here will be fine 
with me." 

     "Yeah, Sounds ok to me too." Mike added. 

     "How about it, Tim?" Joe asked.  "Is this place satisfactory to you?" 

     "Sure, absolutely." Tim said.  "I only hope I can afford it." 

     "Don't worry about paying for it." Joe said.  "I'm putting this on 
expenses.  I'll cover yours too." 

     "Great!" Tim said. 

     Everyone followed Joe and Mike into the quite formal dining area of the 
hotel.  They stood at the podium, and in a moment the head waiter came to 
them.  He looked at the group of women with a critical eye.  

     "Good evening ladies." He said.  "Will there be just four of you?" 

     "Yes." Joe answered. 

     "Follow me, please." He continued. 

     Joe, Dave, Mike and Tim followed the waiter single file to a dimly lit 
table in a quiet area of the restaraunt.  He positioned the chair out for 
Joe, who looked at him a moment, until he realized what was going on, and 
then carefully sat down.  Using Joe as an example, the others followed suit. 

     "Your waiter will be with you momentarily, ladies." The waiter said, as 
he smiled and left. 

     "Well.  That was sure the royal treatment." Mike said. 

.     "Oh, I don't know." Joe said.  "It's probably just the way they treat 
women here.  Maybe we'll just have to get used to it, if we can." He grinned. 

     "It is kind of nice." Tim said.  "I guess not everything about this is 
bad." 

     "How's it going, Tim?" Joe asked.  "Are you getting used to it yet?" 

     "Well, Yeah, I guess so." Tim answered.  "That is, if it's possible to 
get used to something like this happening to you." 

     "Well I guess I just gotta be the first to tell everybody" Joe 
announced. "Our Mike here, Mike has decided to answer to the name Michelle.  
And...he's ...no, she's... even going on a date tonight." Joe teased. 

     "A date?" Tim asked incredously. 

     "Don't listen to him." Michelle (Mike) said.  "I'm not going on a 
'date', that's just his bullshit." 

     "But what about the 'Michelle'?" Tim asked. 


    "Well...I don't know, I was kinda thinking...maybe it might not be such a 
bad idea...it's kinda like my name, and it don't sound so strange when I tell 
people...people who don't know about me...my name.  Telling people my name is 
Mike sounds kinda strange now, don't you think?" Michelle asked. 

	"No worse than Tim, or Joe." Dave answered. 

     "Tim and Joe can do whatever they want." Michelle said.  "I'm going to 
try it for a while at least, and see how it works.  Maybe you guy's should 
consider other names too.  If we're going to have to live like this, we might 
as well blend in as well as we can...make the best of it." 

     "I wonder what name I could use?" Tim thought aloud. 

     "How about Tina?" Michelle suggested.  "I used to know a girl with that 
name.  She looked a little bit like you do, too." 

     "Naw, I dont like it." Tim said.  " I don't care wha you guy's think I 
look like, I don't want a "cutsy" name like Tina.  My sister's name is Becky. 
I wonder what she'd say if...when she see's how I look...hell, I think I've 
got bigger boobs than she does." He suddenly went quiet as he considered his 
now changed relationship with his sister. 


     "How old is she, Tim?" Joe asked, trying to keep him talking, and not 
feel sorry for himself and what had happened to him. 

     "She's about a year older than me." Tim answered.  "I just turned twenty 
one, and she'll be twenty two next month." 

     "Does she still live at home?"  Joe asked. 

     "Well, right now she's at home, but she'll be moving to Flagstaff as 
soon as schools out." Tim said.  "I don't know if I want her to see me like 
this." 

    "If you plan to go home, I don't think you'll be able to hide it." 
    Mike/Michelle said. 

     "Don't remind me." Tim said.  "I don't know how I can ever tell my dad 
what has happened to me.  I think he'd just die." 

     "Maybe not."  Joe said.  "I take it you haven't told them yet." 

     "God no." Tim said.  "I havbe been hoping that somehow I'd be able to 
change back...you know...wake up, and look like a guy again." 

     "It don't look like it'll be that easy." Joe said.  He was glad that he 
didn't have to face his own father, who was deceased, looking as he did.  He 
didn't know about telling his own mom that her only son was now her only 
daughter. 

     "Yeah.  I think your right"  Tim said. 

     The waiter came to the table with menus.  He asked if anyone would like 
a drink.  Joe asked for a beer.  Mike thought that sounded good and did the 
same.  Dave asked for scotch.  Tim said nothing, but the waiter stood waiting 
for the young lady to order.  

     "I'll have a Michelob too" Tim finally said, looking up from the menu, 
and seeing that the waiter was waiting for his response. 

     "I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask for your ID." the waiter said, 
apologicly looking at the young girl. 

     With extreme embarassment, Tim took his wallet from the small hand bag 
he had just bought that afternoon.  From it he retrieved his drivers license, 
which still had his male photograph, and of course, there was still an "M" in 
the block labled sex.  The waiter looked at the card, and then back at Tim. 
He looked again, and with a totally confused look, he gave the ID back.  He 
said nothing, probably so unsure as to what was going on that he thought it 
best to do nothing.  This young lady...and it was quite obvious that Tim was 
female...was either an idiot trying to use her brothers drivers license, or 
something very wierd was going on.  He decided it best to leave it alone.  He 
had asked for ID, that's all the manager had ordered him to do.  Let the cute 
kid have a drink if she wants one. 

     In a few minutes, the waiter returned with their drinks, and asked if 
they were ready to order.  They were, and in turn, they told him what they 
wanted. 

     When the waiter left, Joe took a swig from his glass.  It still tasted 
great, but he knew from experience that one maybe two of these now had the 
effect of twice that number.  Tim drained his glass in very few swallows.  It 
took more than just becoming a girl to change the way he downed a brew.  He 
put the empty glass back on the table. 

    "You better watch out." Joe advised.  "If your at all like me, I think 
you'll find that you can't hold anything like you did before." 

    "Aw, it went down just the same." Tim said, a big grin forming on his 
face.  "Besides, your paying the bill, aren't you?" 

     "Yeah.  I'll pay for it." Joe said, grinning.  "But I'm not sure I could 
carry you upstairs anymore." He grinned, flexing his arm, and rubbing his 
firm but small bicep. 

     The service in the hotel restaurant was good, and almost immediately the 
waiter noticed Tim's empty glass.  With some suprize, he asked if Tim would 
like another. 

     "Sure.  Keep them coming." Tim responded, the words sounding funny 
coming from such a feminine voice and person. 

     Tim was well into his second Michelob when Joe finished his first.  Mike 
and Joe were hardly drinking at all.  Before Tim could order another, the 
waiter brought out the salads.  They started eating immediately, and again, 
Tim acted more like the twenty-one year old guy he was born as, than the 
soft, feminine person he had become. 

     "I guess didn't realize how hungry I was." Tim said, hungrily wolfing 
down the salad. 

     "Your acting like you haven't eaten in a week." Joe said, watching him 
in amazement. 

     "I haven't eaten very much lately." Tim answered.  "I just haven't been 
hungry, until now." 

     "Your going to have to watch how much you eat, too." Joe advised.  
"Karen said that it's really easy for a female to gain weight.  And, every 
bit if it goes to the hips and butt." 

     "I don't think I have any problem with that, do you?" Tim asked.  Like 
Joe, the change had left his body with very trim hips, especially for a 
woman, and a firm derrier, and he knew it. 

     "Maybe not today, but if you don't watch it, it'll grow on you."  Joe 
said.  

     "Just look at my ass if you want to know what it can be like." Dave 
added.  "I didn't really lose my gut, I'm just sitting on it now." He said, 
somewhat sarcasticly. 

     "Exercize with me." Michelle (Mike) said.  "We'll have that butt off in 
no time."  He said to Dave with a grin. 

     "I'll have to think long and hard before I could step inside a gym 
looking like this."  Dave replied. 

     "Hey, but it's kinda fun." Michelle said.  "You wouldn't believe the 
sights in the locker room." He winked at Joe.  As far as Joe knew, Michelle 
had never even been in a women's locker room yet. 

     They finished their meal, but not before Tim downed two more beers.  
When they were ready to leave, it was becoming obvious that Tim was feeling 
the effects.  His speech was becoming a little slurred, and he was speaking 
much louder, his inhibitions almost completely gone.  When he got up, he 
clung to the back of the chair for support.  Joe saw his young friend had a 
problem. 

     "Having some trouble Tim?"  Joe asked with a chuckle. 

     "I ah...no.  I'm ok." Tim insisted.  "I'm just a little dizzy, that's 
all."  

     "Yeah.  We can see that."  Dave said.  "You're shit-faced Tim." 

     "I admit, I do think I feel a little buzz.  But really, I'm just fine." 
Tim again insisted.  "I think I better just go up to the room for a while." 

     "That's a good idea."  Joe agreed.  Are you going to go with him Dave?" 

     "Yeah, I'll take little miss muffet up to her room." Dave said, trying 
to hold back a laugh.  It was quickly becoming obvious that Tim could barely 
walk. 

     It was all Dave, with Joe's help, could do to get the very tipsy Tim to 
the elevator.  Tim kept objecting to their assistance, and sometimes did so 
quite loudly.  When Joe's hand accidently touched Tim's breast, slightly 
pinching it between him and his arm, Tim objected loudly. 

     "Hey, lay off the boobs." Tim said.  "You think just because I'm a a 
little drunk I can't feel you touching me?" 

     "I'm not trying to touch you." Joe said with a snicker.  "I'm trying my 
best to help you walk." 

     They finally got Tim to his room.  They sat him on the bed, and then 
stood there a moment, wondering what to do next. 

     "Now what?" Tim asked.  "You two just going to stand there, and look at 
me?" 

     "We're trying to decide what to do next."  Joe said laughing. 

     "Ok then, stand there.  I'm going to go take a piss."  Tim decided. 

     He tried to get up, but was having dificulty rising from the bed.  Joe 
grabbed his arm, and pulled him to his feet. 

     "Can you make it to the bathroom?"  Joe asked. 

     "I'd prrreacheat it if you'd help me get in there."  Tim conceded. 

     Joe assisted Tim to the bathroom.  When he got to the stool Tim stood 
there, and fiddled with the zipper at the front of his shorts.  He finally 
got the zipper down, and with his finger, started to probe around inside his 
shorts, as if looking for something.  Joe watched him, trying to figure out 
what he was trying to do. 

     "Just what are you up to now?"  Joe finally asked. 

     "Well, what does it look like." Tim said.  "I'm trying to take a piss. If 
I can just get my damn dick out, that is." 

     His foggy, confused mind had apparently forgot about the changes which 
had occured. 

     "I don't think that's going to work Tim." Joe said.  "Maybe you better 
just pull your pants down." 

     The results of the probing and Joe's words started to bring Tim back to 
reality.  He unbuttoned the waistband of the shorts, and pulled them down.  
He stood there, looking down at the blue panties he wore.  He looked over at 
Joe, and then back down at himself.  Finally, he broke out in laughter. 

     "You know what?" Tim asked.  "I forgot I was a girl.  I was thinking I 
was still a guy, and I was trying to piss standing up.  For a second there I 
was just having trouble finding my cock...It felt like it was just somehow 
caught between my legs or something.  Ain't that rad?  I thought it was just 
caught or something." He kept laughing, seeming to be amused by how his new 
body had tricked him. 

     Joe and Dave watched as Tim pulled down his underwear and then awkwardly 
sat on the stool, then they left the room. 

     "Think you'll be ok with him?"  Joe asked Dave. 

     "Sure.  If he don't come out in a few minutes, I'll go in after him." 
Dave said.  "You know, if a few beers made him forget about this, even if for 
a minute, I think I envy him." Dave said.  "I might just go out and get a 
six-pack myself." 

     Joe grinned at his friend.  "If you think it'll help, go ahead and try 
it, but you know as well as I do, it really won't change anything.  And just 
don't get so screwed up that you can't get up tomorrow." He said. 

     "Don't worry." Dave said.  "I'll probably just stay here and nursemaid 
 our little miss muffet."  

     "I'm going back to the room and hit the sack." Joe said.  "I don't know 
why I'm so tired." 

     "Maybe it's because you didn't get much sleep last night." Dave said, 
grinning.  

     Joe went back to his room, wondering what Dave meant by that last 
statement.  Did he know what he and Jay had done the night before?  

     Mike (Michelle) was standing in front of the dresser mirror, looking at 
him (her) self, and trying on each the tops she had bought that day. 

     "What dou you think?  What should I wear?"  Michelle asked hopefully. 

     "I think what you have on is as good as any." Joe advised.  "Maybe you 
should get some other things tomorrow." 

     "Yeah.  That won't help me tonight though."  Michelle said. 

     "What time are you going down there?"  Joe asked. 

     "I guess about eight." Michelle answered.  "I'll go down in a half hour. 
If nothing is going on, I'll only stay an hour or so." 

     "Are you sure you're really ready for this?"  Joe asked. 

     "Hell, I don't know Joe." Michelle mused.  "I thought it was a good idea 
when he...Gordon asked me...I'm more than a little nervous now, though." 

     "Don't go if you don't want to." Joe advised.  "Nobody's expecting you 
to do anything like this so soon." 

     "I might as well give it a try." Michelle said.  "As you said, nobody 
can tell I ain't a natural woman, and it'll be a challenge to try to act like 
one." 
     
     "Just don't get in any deeper than you really want to."  Joe said. 

     "Hey, I'm a big bo...girl.  I can take care of myself." Michelle said, 
grinning at her slip up. 

     Joe quickly removed his clothes, including his underwear, then pulled on 
the comportable little terry romper.  He snapped on the TV with the remote, 
and then pulled back the spread from the bed.  He lay down, bunching the two 
pillows up behind his head.  Remembering the hairpiece, he took it off and 
carefully placed it on the nightstand.  The air felt cool on his head as the 
conditioned air blew through his short hair.  He ran his hand through it, 
wishing it were as long as the wig so he could forget about wearing that.  In 
due time, he knew, all in due time... 

     Finally, Michelle left, and and Joe was left alone.  He tried to watch a 
movie, but was soon fast asleep. 


                       ******************************** 

     Mr. Bates....  Mr. Bates....  Joe could hear someone calling his name. He 
looked around.  He was in a room...it looked a bit like a hospital room, or 
maybe a laboratory of some kind.  A young, very pretty nurse was standing 
over his bed, shaking him and calling his name. 

     "What do you want?  Is something wrong?"  Joe asked. 

     "I was trying to wake you." The woman answered.  "You've been sleeping 
for hours.  I was beginning to wonder if you were ok."  

     "Yeah, I'm fine." Joe answered, taking stock of his senses as he woke. He 
pulled the sheet back, and saw that he was wearing a hospital gown.  He 
acidently brushed his chest, and didn't feel the familure softness of his 
breasts.  That's strange, he thought.  He placed a hand under the gown, and 
as he felt his bare chest, he realized that it was again covered with hair, 
and the only bulges evident were those of his well developed pectoral 
muscles.  It seemed that his soft breasts had departed as quickly as they had 
appeared. What's going on here, he wondered again.  The nurse saw his 
suprize, but remained silent and watched as he inspected his body.  Joe 
reached down and carefully felt between his legs.  There, instead of a tiny, 
sensitive, clitoris imbedded in the cleft of a moist vulva, he discovered a 
semi-erect penis, and under that, a testicle filled scrotum.  Since he had by 
now become familure with his new feminine shape, these male organs seemed 
unfamilure, and strangly huge. 

     With a start, Joe rapidly sat up in the bed.  This movement suprized the 
nurse, who jumped back quickly.  He swung his legs over the side of the bed, 
and stood up.  With that, it was obvious that he had also returned to his 
former height.  He ran his hands over his chest, his hips, and again touched 
himself between his legs, finding it difficult to believe what he was 
feeling. But, it was perfectly clear, his body had become male again. 

     The nurse, who had been watching in interest, finally said.  "Mr.  
Bates, I think you better get back into that bed.  I'll have to call the 
doctor." 

     "What is going on anyway?" Joe asked, confused.  "How did this happen to 
me?" 

     "But don't you remember?" The nurse said.  "They've discovered the way 
to change you back to normal.  They tried an experiment on you yesterday, and 
as you can see, it worked.  But you better lay back down, until the doctor 
can check you over." 

     "But I'm ok...can't you see that?" Joe insisted.  He could feel the new 
strength in his muscles as he stretched his arms over his head. 

     "I'll call the doctor right now.  The nurse said, as she backed out of 
the room.  

     "I want to put some real clothes on." Joe told her as she left the room. 

     Joe then went over to the dresser near the wall.  When he opened a 
drawer, he found it contained only his female underwear...panties and a 
bras...no outer clothing at all.  He went to the small closet.  When he 
opened it he again found only his women's clothes.  He took out a hanger 
which held a top and pair of shorts.  It obvious that these things wouldn't 
fit him now, even if he dared try putting them on.  He went back to the bed 
and sat down on the edge, quite confused. 

     He was sitting there only a minute when the door to his room opened, and 
woman entered.  Joe was suprised to see it was his girl friend, Linda. 

     "Linda!  Look at me, I'm a man again!"  He exclaimed.  

     "I heard Joe, and I came right over." Linda said.  "Are you happy about 
it?" 

     "Sure I am.   Aren't you?" Joe asked.  

     Linda walked over to his bed, and slowly pushed him back, until his head 
was again resting on the pillows.  Seductively, she put her soft hand under 
his hospital gown, and grasped his penis.  She slowly, gently ran her fingers 
up and down along the stiffening shaft, and Joe closed his eyes, enjoying the 
familure old sensation...a feeling he thought he would never again 
experience. As she stroked him, Linda placed her lips on his.  Joe could 
smell her and taste her sweetness as they kissed deeply.  He reached up and 
tried to put his arms around her, but she kept pushing them away, so that he 
couldn't get them around her.  Finally, he gave up trying to hold her, and 
just let her pleasure him.  In a very short while, he experienced the release 
of orgasm, and then felt Linda slide into the bed along side him.  He put his 
arms around her incredibly soft body, and held her tightly.  He suddenly 
became very tired. With Linda firmly in his arms, Joe fell fast asleep.  It 
seemed everything was working out after all. 

     
                   ************************************** 



     Joe woke as he heard a key fumbling at the door to his room.  From the 
glow of the TV, he could see someone enter, and go over to the other bed. 
When the light on the side of the bed snapped on, Joe could see that it was a 
woman.  He looked down at Linda, and saw that he was hugging his pillows.  
The "other woman" was Michelle, coming in from his/her evening out.  Joe 
looked down at himself, and saw, as well as felt that his boobs were 
back...he was still a woman.  As a final confirmation, he tensed the muscles 
in his crotch, and could tell by the now familure sensation, that his new 
penis had only been a dream. 

     "Are you awake?"  Michelle asked, looking over at Joe. 

     "I am now." Joe said.  "But you wouldn't believe the dream I just had." 

     "Sorry I woke you." Michelle said as she removed her top, then softly 
scratched her breasts as the bra came off. 

     Joe looked over at the clock, it was two-thirty.  Mike/Michelle must 
have had a good evening. 

     "Well, how'd it go?"  He asked.  

     "Not so bad...not really bad at all." Mike/Michelle said, a smile 
forming on her lips.  "You know, I think I'm really gonna like this." 

     "Anything you can tell me about?" Joe asked.  He was curious how his 
friend did on his first social evening as a woman, in mixed company. 

     Michelle smiled broadly.  "I though I'd kill somebody if they suggested 
I'd ever dare kiss a man, but tonight I actually did just that...just a 
little peck, and just outside that door, and my heart is still pounding from 
it." 

     "So you kissed Gordon, huh?" Joe asked.  "Was it as good as kissing a 
woman?" 

     "Hey, you know, it wasn't really that much different." Michelle 
answered, still smiling.  "But I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to all the 
touching." 

     "What touching?"  Joe asked. 

     "I think Gordon really is a "tit man".  Michelle answered, grinning.  He 
kept trying to sneak a feel of these things whenever he had a chance." 

     "Did it bother you?" Joe asked, about ready to laugh at his friends 
description of his introduction to womanhood. 

     "Well, I guess it didn't 'bother' me.  At first, I would just push his 
hand away, but he persisted, so I decided to let him go...get a good feel if 
thats what he wanted...and then see what he would want to do next." 

     "What did he do?" Joe asked, his interest becoming peaked. 

     "Nothing.  Nothing except feel my boobs...touch them all over...and I 
admit, it did start to feel kind of good, too.  I think if he had just kept 
it up, he could have done anything else he wanted...I thought I was going to 
leave a puddle on my seat...I finally had to go to the bathroom and freshen 
myself up." Michelle grinned.  "I found out something else too." 

     "What's that?" Joe asked. 

     "I think females get 'blue balls' too." Michelle said indelicately.  
"And tonight, I had em...bad." 

     "Sorry to hear it." Joe said, almost cracking up.  "And what did you do 
about that?" 

     "Nothing...what could I do?" Michelle asked.  "When I finally went to 
the bathroom, it was so crowded, I could hardly 'do' myself there.  I'm ok 
now though." 

     "Well, I'm sure glad to hear that." Joe chuckled. 

     Michelle went into the bathroom, and came out a few minutes later.  She 
put on one of her old T shirts to sleep in.  Like Joe, Mike had always slept 
in the nude before, but now prefered to wear something while she slept. 

     Joe snapped off the TV, and lay there in the darkness, trying to get 
back to sleep.  He began to think about the dream he had been having.  It had 
all seemed so real.  He could feel it, just as if he had really been changed 
back. It was the first time since the change had occured that he had 
experienced the feeling of having his maleness, and he realized that though 
he had become resigned to his present fate, he still missed his old status.  
He closed his eyes to the darkness and tried to sleep, hoping that at least 
the dream would return. 


                ********************************************* 


     Joe was awakened by the sound of the clock radio as it blasted out a 
Beatles tune.  The first thing he did when he woke, as was becoming a habit, 
was feel between his legs, never giving up hope that he might awaken in his 
old body.  But as usual, his fingers only brushed along the moistness of his 
vulva.  He continued to stroke the silky softness lightly, enjoying his light 
touch to that sensitive area. 

     Swinging his head around in the darkened room, Joe looked at the red 
glow of the LED's on the radio.  Seven-thirty already.  The night had gone by 
quickly.  He loo ked over at Mike/Michelle, and saw that she was also 
stirring, not wanting to get up, but knowing it was that time. 

     Joe crawled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom.  He started the 
shower running and pulled down the terrycloth romper, stepping out of it, and 
then sat and relieved himself as the water temprature stabilized.  He 
finished on the toilet, and felt the shower stream.  Satisfied, he took his 
soap and wash cloth, and stepped in.  He finished quickly and stepped out to 
dry off. When he finished doing that, he wrapped himself in a towel and went 
out into the main room.  He decided to dress before applying makeup.  
Michelle was still in bed, the covers pulled over her head.  Joe shook the 
bed with his foot. 

     "You got the bathroom, sleepy head."  He said.  

     Mike/Michelle pulled the covers off her face, and gave Joe a mean look. 

     "What time do we have to be at the clinic?"  She asked. 

     "I think we should get there at least by nine-thirty." Joe said.  
"That's only an hour and a half from now." 

     Michelle sat up in bed, and then reached down, and carefully felt her 
breasts.  Joe smiled as he watched his friend inspecting her body. 

     "Find something you like?"  He asked. 

     "I was just checking, trying to tell if I'm any bigger this morning." 
Michelle answered.  "I'm not sure, but I think they're still getting a little 
bigger every day." Mike/michelle smiled, somewhat embarrased. 

     "Well, Gordon will like that."  Joe teased. 

     "Hey, what the hell, we all have to deal with this thing in our own way, 
right?" Michelle protested. 

     "Yeah, I guess that's true." Joe agreed.  "If your way is to want to 
look like Dolly Parton, that's ok with me." 

     With that, Joe went to his bag, and pulled out the little black bra and 
panty set he bought yesterday.  As he stepped into the tiny panty, he 
considered what Michelle just said.  He knew, from last nights dream, that he 
had last night, that deep down inside, he still wanted to be a man...and he 
he still liked women too.  But...the reality of the situation was...he wasn't 
a man anymore.  At least he no longer had a male body...he wasn't so sure 
about his brain.  Even if that had become female now too, at least it still 
contained all his old male memories.  And the new hormones that were now 
coarsing through his veins...well, they were making living in the body he now 
posessed tolerable...no...more than tolerable...enjoyable.  And now it 
seemed, he found that wearing this kind of stuff was fun...so why shouldn't 
he do it? It was how he dealt with this "thing".  In his own way. 

     Joe had finished putting on his sexy underthings, when Michelle came out 
of the bathroom wearing the T shirt.  She went to her bags and pulled out 
some underwear.  Joe looked at his friend.  

     "Are you done in there?" Joe asked. 

     "You want to go in there again?"  Michelle asked. 

     "I want to put on some makeup."  Joe said. 

     "Oh, yeah?  Can you show me how to do that too?"  Michelle asked. 

     "Well, I'll do my best" Joe said, and then went to the closet and took 
out the suit.  Just seeing it caused him think of Linda.  He removed it from 
the hangers, and, after donning a slip, he put the business-like outfit on. 
When he moved, Joe feel the thong back of the little panty between his 
buttocks, and that constant reminder of what he wore underneath gave him a 
strangly good feeling. 

     "What you really need is for somebody who knows what they're doing to 
help you." Joe said.  "Remember, I'm just a beginner at this stuff too.  I'm 
sure Karen would be glad to help." 

     "Yeah, I'll ask her I guess." Michelle said.  "But I'm gonna watch what 
you do anyway, if you don't mind." 

     "No problem." Joe answered.  "Just hope you don't pick up any bad habits 
by watching me.  Yestarday and today are the only times I've ever done this 
without help." 

     "It looked ok to me yestarday." Michelle decided.  "You must be doing it 
right, I guess." 

     Joe went to the bathroom mirror, and proceded to do his face.  When he 
was finished, he helped Michelle do the same, using his cosmetics.  The 
colors were not as favorable for Michelle's complexion, but were 
satisfactory. 

     "You should go to the mall, and get a makeover." Joe said.  "It's 
rediculously expensive, and they sell you all kinds of stuff, but they will 
show you what you need...what looks best for you.  And it wasn't even 
embarassing...for me at least." 

     "What do you mean by that, Bates?  Michelle asked.  "Do you think I'd 
have a problem." Mike/Michelle was still somewhat insecure about her 
appearance. 

     "No, nothing like that, you dope, I just wasn't sure if yould be 
emmbarrased to have a woman teach you to wear makeup.  I guess I still have a 
problem thinking of you as you are now.  You've changed so much...we all 
have."  Joe said. 

     "Yeah, I know what you mean." Michelle agreed.  "While ago, when I 
looked at myself in the mirror...it wasn't really me staring back, was it?  
If it wasn't that my head has changed too...I don't really know how to 
describe what I mean...I don't think I could handle this.  Sure, at first 
it's kind of interesting...exciting even...to wake up looking like a woman, 
but it don't take long to realize that this ain't just some fancy costume 
we're wearing, it goes all the way to the bone.  We don't...we can't just 
take it off at night. At first I thought just getting used to the physical 
differences would be the hardest part, but hell, that's 
nothing...well...almost nothing.  (Michelle rubbed her crotch). I think the 
worst of this is the different way other people relate to you...I was still 
taller than a lot of those guys in there last night, and I think I could have 
even whipped a few of them, even while I'm like this.  But to those guys...in 
their eyes...most of em anyway, I could tell that they just saw me as a dumb 
woman.  Somebody to treat 'nice'...buy a few drinks, and maybe, if they got 
lucky, take up to their room.  I guess I can get used to that...most natural 
woman do I suppose...but that's gonna be the really hard part, as I see it." 
She looked at herself in the mirror, as Joe finished putting on the finishing 
touches. 

     Michelle looked into Joe's eyes, and saw they were wet from tears 
welling in them. 

     "Are you gonna cry on me Bates?" Michelle asked, trying to sound like 
the tough guy he used to be. 

     "Damn it Mike...er Michelle, I can't help it.  What you just said, it's 
the same kind of thing I've been feeling.  I guess it's the hormones, they do 
make having the bod more fun, I guess, but I think they've turned me into a 
sob sister, or something...almost anything makes me cry, it seems." Joe said, 
wiping his eyes, smearing the light makeup he had just applied. 

     "I guess we better reserve judgment on the 'fun with the bod' till those 
hormones do what they're gonna do and we get our menstrual periods." Michelle 
said.  "That's another one of my big concerns about all this.  God, I never 
thought I'd ever be worrying about periods...at least not my own period.  All 
the blood and all, I don't know if I really want to go through that." 

     "I thought you were getting all ate up with this 'female' thing." Joe 
said.  "Now you say you're afraid of having a period?" 

     "No. Not afraid.  I just don't want to have one, that's all." Michelle 
answered. 

     "Well, assuming we're both normal, for women that is, I guess we'll have 
one every month for the next fifteen, or twenty years.  Unless we happen to 
fool around and get ourselves knocked up, that is." Joe said, grinning. 

     "That's another thing..." Michelle said.  "I don't know a damn thing 
about being a mother...having kids...none of that stuff like that." 

     "Hey, do you really think you would be any smarter if you were born 
looking like this?" Joe asked.  "I really doubt that natural women are privy 
to some secret knowledge, things we can never learn." 

     "Maybe you're right, I don't know, I just know I wasn't taught to put on 
makeup, and my mom surw never taught me anything about periods either.  Now. 
here I am, with a body that seems to be getting more female every day, and 
when I think about that, it's pretty damn scarry." Mike/Michelle admitted. 

     "Yeah, I agree with you, when I think about it, I'm not sure I can 
handle it.  But, if we just take it a little at a time, maybe we can get 
through it." 
 Joe said. 

     They finished dressing, and then repacked their bags.  By then it was 
time to meet the others down stairs.  They went down to the coffee shop, and 
found that Dave and Tim were already there.  Tim looked a little rough.  His 
big blue eyes were bloodshot, and he was holding his head in his hand. 

     "How's it going Tim?"  Joe asked. 

     "Don't ask." Tim said.  "I don't know what happened.  Four beers NEVER 
did this to me before." 

     "You're a different person now, you know." Joe reminded him.  "A lot of 
things are different.  You better remember that." 

     "Yeah, I know, I know.  I just didn't think it would be that different." 
Tim lamented. 

     They quickly ordered and ate their breakfast.  Tim only sipped orange 
juice, and downed a glass of alka-seltzer.  When they were finished, they 
again checked out of the hotel, and drove to the clinic.  When they arrived, 
it was still a little early, and they were not quite ready for Tim, and the 
others.  Finally Tim was called in, and he left the others sitting in the 
waiting room.  Joe gathered a stack of magazines, and started reading. 

     In a little less than an hour, Tim came back out, a strange smile was on 
his face. 

     "Well, it's done, for better or worse."  He said. 

     "What do you mean?"  Joe asked.  

     "I signed the papers...I guess it's official...I'm not a guy anymore." 
He said, sitting down next to Joe. 

     "Welcome to the club." Joe said.  "I'll let you know what the dues are." 

     "I guess we're done here." Mike said.  "I haven't seen Karen yet, 
though." 

     "Yeah, I thought she'd be here by now." Joe considered.  He got up and 
walked to the receptionists desk. 

     "Where is Karen?"  He asked her. 

     "Oh, don't you know, she's back in the classroom, waiting for you do 
finish."  She answered.  "Why don't you go back and find her?" 

     Joe went down the hallway, looking in each open door until he found 
Karen, sitting at a table, reading a book. 

     "Gee, I thought you overslept or something." Joe teased.  "We're ready 
to go back to Phoenix, I guess." 

     "Ok." Karen answered.  "I got here pretty early, and I guess I got tied 
up inside this book."  She closed it, and replaced it on the shelf. 

     They walked up to the front, and when they got there they found Dr. 
Krell was waiting for them.  

     "I'll be there tomorrow morning." He said.  "They have been getting 
things ready, and I think were ready to try some experiments." 

     "Ok.  We'll see you tomorrow morning." Joe said.  "Do you know where to 
meet us?" 

     "Honeybone will send someone to pick me up at the airport." Dr. Krell 
said.  

     After they said thier thank-you's and good-bye's, everyone again loaded 
into the Lincoln for the ride to the airport.  When they arrived, Dave went 
to the plane to preflight, while Joe went to check weather, and file.  In 
maybe ten minutes, Joe was back at the plane.  

     "Severe clear as usual, except for a little smog."  Joe said.  

     "All ready to go."  Dave said. 

     They piled into the Cessna 421 for the flight back to Arizona.  Joe took 
the right seat, and Dave made the take off.  When they were at cruise, Joe 
looked back at the others in the cabin of the plane. 

     "Do you want to fly?"  He asked Tim. 

     "Sure."  Tim said.  "I thought you'd never ask." 

     As Dave flew, Joe carefully crawled out of the right seat.  It was more 
difficult that he realized since he was wearing the snug fitting skirt.  Even 
though his changed body was more flexible, he found that he was now more 
limited in his movements by the clothes he often wore. 

     Wearing pants, Tim easily maneuvered himself into the right seat.  When 
he was belted in, Dave gave him control of the aircraft. 

     "You got it." Dave said.  "Keep that needle centered." He pointed to the 
colorful horizontal situation display on his side of the panel.  Since the 
421 was usually used as an avionics test aircraft, the panels could be easily 
changed out, and had been replaced a number of times since Dave and Joe had 
been flying it. The right side was also equipped with basic instrumentation, 
but did not have the sophisticated electronic display of the left side. 

     Tim, who was a private pilot, had only flown singles, and was cessna 
twin was the largest he had flown.  He did a good job of keeping the needle 
centered, and held the planes altitude to IFR standards. 

     Before long, they were approaching the Phoenix area.  Dave handled the 
radios, and Tim followed the instructions of the controller as he gave them 
new headings and altitudes to fly, as they approached Deer Valley airport, 
north of Phoenix.  They were told to follow a Beech Baron, and Joe could see 
it about five miles ahead.  He could tell by its yellow color, and the accent 
of its pilot as he spoke to approach, that the Baron was a Lufthansa trainer, 
from Goodyear airport southwest of Phoenix. 

     "Can I land it?"  Tim asked. 

     "Think you can?"  Dave replied. 

     "Yeah, I think so." Tim said.  "If I can get the seat high enough to see 
over the panel."  

     Since he had undergone the change, Tim had become smaller than he had 
been as a male.  He had perhaps lost only a little more height than the 
others, but it seemed to come from his torso (his legs were almost as long as 
before), the change in size was most evident when he was seated.  Now, he 
needed the seat raised in order to see over the panel as he landed.  Dave 
took the controls as Tim fumbled with the recalcitrant seat mechanism.  Joe 
found it humorous to watch the young man, his breasts jiggling provocatively 
as he struggled to move the seat.  Finally he was able to make the stubborn 
seat move forward and upward, and he was finally able to see out the front of 
the plane on landing.  He held up a funnel shaped object to which a hose was 
connected, which led under the seat.  The relief tube.  On the 421, this tube 
was connected to a venturi, and it allowed the pilot to urinate without 
leaving his seat.  Joe had used it only once, as he flew the plane solo to 
Minnesota.  He wondered if it was even possible to use it now.  He decided 
that it would at least be very awkward.  Even if he could physically do it, 
it would now be necessary to pull his underwear down.  That would be a trick 
in the small cockpit.  Not very dignified, and certainly not at all ladylike. 

     Tim carefully tucked the tube back under the seat.  Then looked back at 
Joe. 
     
     "Looks like you got it."  Joe said, giving him thumbs up. 

     "Yeah, finally." Tim said, rubbing his left breast where it had been 
pinched by the seat belt as he worked on the seat.  "Seems like these damn 
things are always in the way." He grinned. 

     "But they make the clothes fit so well." Joe teased.  He just couldn't 
resist kidding the young man. 

     Tim gave Joe a dirty look.  Tim liked Joe and he knew they were just 
teasing him because he was youngest, and also maybe because he did have the 
most breast development of them all, except maybe for Dave.  And so far, Dave 
didn't count. 

     Even though he had been feminized like the others, Dave didn't try to 
look or act feminine in any way.  He had conceded enough to wear a bra, but 
it was more to keep his substantial bosom from bouncing uncomfortably than to 
emphasize it.  He always wore coveralls or other figure concealing clothing. 
He wasn't bad looking, he could actually be quite attractive if he tried, but 
he intentionally did nothing to bring attention to his new body shape.  He 
even tried to lower the tone of his voice when he talked, trying to make his 
now feminine voice sound as masculine as he could.  He would sometimes 
forget, and the difference was humorous sounding, somewhat like a young man 
going through puberty, but reversed. 

     Deer Valley Airport became visible in the windshield, maybe ten miles 
ahead.  Approach cleared them to tower frequency, and Dave reduced the power, 
so that they could slow, and configure for landing.  Soon the sound of the 
flaps moving to the first setting could be heard, followed soon by the gear. 
When they were on dogleg to final, Dave selected landing flaps, and gave Tim 
the new airspeed to fly.  Tim followed the instructions carefully, and flew 
smoothly, with a look of intense concentration on his attractive features. 
Without any assistance from Dave, Tim landed the Cessna, his first multi-
engine touchdown.  He grinned from ear to ear as he taxied the plane to the 
Honeybone ramp. 

     "Good job."  Dave conceded.  "I couldn't have done better myself." 

     The engines stopped turning, and Joe went back to open the door.  They 
were greeted by the maintenance crew.  It was only eleven thirty in the 
morning, and they were expected.  

     "Morning Joe." The mechanic said.  The mechanics name was Tom Garson.  
He had known Joe for some time and, like Joe, was a sports car nut.  It was 
the first time he had seen Joe since the change had occured and he looked the 
engineer over carefully, while trying not to seem overly curious. 

     "Hi Tom."  Joe replied. 

     "You're looking good."  Tom said absently, trying to sound nonchalant. 

     "Ain't that the truth." Joe agreed, a big grin on his face.  "But I can 
get used to it, if you can." 

     "Sure, no problem here." Tom said.  "But it is hard to believe that its 
really you there." 

     "Believe it, its still me." Joe said, as he began removing the bags from 
the plane.  

     Tom pushed Joe aside and began doing the heavy work of moving the bags. 
Not that anything was really that heavy, but Tom's instincts prevented him 
from letting a woman perform that kind of exertion. There was little doubt to 
Tom that the person next to him was anything but a woman.  Her/his clothing, 
appearance, size, shape, even the way she was straining to lift her bags, it 
was obvious that Joe Bates really had become a female. 

     At first the intrusion irritated Joe, but then he realized that nothing 
was intended by it.  It was just his own appearance which had caused Tom to 
react that way, and he might as well try and get used to it.  Tom loaded the 
bags on a little cart, and pulled it in the hanger office.  Joe went over to 
Dave, who was filling out the trip report. 

     "What else do we have to do today?"  Dave asked. 

     "I don't know, but I doubt it would be much." Joe replied.  They walked 
together into the office.  The mechanics would refuel and service the Cessna. 

     When they entered the office, the dispatcher was at his desk.  He looked 
over Joe and Dave carefully. 

     "Joe...Joe Bates?" he asked, somewhat embarrassed to have to ask such a 
question to someone he had known for a few years. 

     "Yeah Ted, its really me."  Joe said, smiling at the embarrassed man. 

     "I figured you'd look a little different, but gosh, I didn't realize..." 
He didn't know what to say. 

     "Yeah, I know." Joe agreed.  "Believe me, its not easy for us either. But 
inside, we're still the same guy's." 

     "Yeah, ok, well...anyway, Jim Matheney wants you to call as soon as you 
land."  Ted said.  "He'll be at his office all day.  

     "Thanks Ted." Joe replied, going over to the phone, and realizing that 
Ted, and everyone else in the room could not take thier eyes off of him or 
Dave.  Dave sat down at a desk to phone home, while Joe used the wall phone.  

     He dialed the number to Jim's office, and his boss immediately answered. 

     "Jim."  

     "Hi Jim.  Joe here." Joe said.  "We're back, safe and sound, relatively 
speaking." 

     "Well, I'm glad to here that.  What did you find out?"  Jim asked. 

     "Nothing much really.  They exmanined us again, and I guess they decided 
that we're not in any danger.  But I don't know how long we'll have to stay 
this way.  Looks to me like it might be for some time."  Joe told him. 

     "Yeah.  Dr. Krell has been talking to me.  He's hoping to get some clues 
from what we do here.  We have the cage set up with the transmitters. 
Everything can be operated from outside the cage." Jim said.  "I just don't 
know what they plan to put in the cage...animals I guess." 

     "Yeah, probably." Joe said.  "Eventually, they'll probably want to try 
us."  

     "I've heard of a lot of the things that radio energy can cause.  But I 
never thought it could cause something like what happened to you guy's." Jim 
went on.  "How's it going, Joe?" 

     "Well, I guess it gets easier as time passes." Joe replied.  "It really 
don't hurt, or anything, but it is a hard thing to get accustomed to." 

     "I guess so."  Jim said.  "I just don't know how you can do it." 

     "Really not much choice I guess." Joe said.  "Life's a bitch, and then 
you die." 

     "Do you have time to stop over here before you go home?" Jim asked. "Dave 
too, if he's still there." 

     "Sure, we'll be right over."  Joe replied.  "What do you have in mind?" 

     "Oh, nothing much really." Jim answered.  "I just wanted you to see what 
we have set up, and get your opinion on it before we meet with Dr. Krell 
tomorrow." 

     "Ok.  We'll be there in oh, maybe thirty minutes.  Is that Ok?" Joe 
said. 

     "Absolutely."  Jim answered.  "See you soon."  

     "Bye."  Joe hung up the phone. 

     Joe went over to the desk were Dave was sitting. 

     If you have the time, Jim would like us to stop by at the shop before we 
leave for the day."  He said. 

     "Yeah.  I can do that."  Dave replied.  "Any idea what he wants?" 

     "I think he just wants us to look at what he has set up for tomrrow, 
before Dr. Krell arrives."  Joe said. 

     Karen, Mike/Michelle and Tim came into the room, and Joe told them what 
he was going to do. He asked Tim and Mike if they could be at the Honeybone 
offices tomorrow morning. Mike agreed that he could, but Tim didn't know 
where it was.  Dave told him he'd take him over if he'd drive to his house.  
Tim knew where that was from thier discussion the night before. 

     Joe asked Karen if she thought she could be there.  She said she wasn't 
sure yet, but that it might be possible, since it was likely that Dr. 
Bennedict would want to be there too, and she would probably go along.  

     They said thier good-bye's, and Joe took his bag to his car.  Dave 
followed, and they drove to thier meeting with Jim, at the office.  When they 
arrived, Jim showed them the test installation.  The transmitters, each with 
thier small antenna, were set up in a large, almost cage-like "room" made of 
wire mesh.  The fine weave of the wire screen was there to shield observers 
from any effects of the radio energy by containing it within the room.  The 
size of the mesh was small enough to block transmisson of any frequencies the 
system was likely to generate.  There were closed circuit video cameras with 
recorders and monitors set up, to record all responses of the test subject, 
whatever, or whoever that might be.  Joe wondered who would volunteer for 
such an strange assignment, but then after he considered it, he figured that 
probably many of Dr. Krell's patients would be more than willing to undergo 
such an experience.  Indeed, if it could consistantly cause what had happened 
to him, people would pay money for it.  It would be an interesting task...and 
the outcome of it would certainly affect his life as much as anything he had 
ever done. 

     They agreed to meet in the morning, there at the test lab, at nine.  Joe 
and Dave left Jim, and each went home.  Dave to Cindy, his wife, and Joe back 
to Linda's house.  Tomorrow would be a big day for both of them. 

                  **************************************** 
--