Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker
Chapter 03

"Sorry to delay you two, but I needed to confirm something." The supervisor puffed out, as he caught his breath.

"Sure, what do you need to know?" offered Ted.

"It's about Beth and her memory loss; I need to know does it affect her working? I mean she hasn't lost any of her current experience on the project we were working on?" the man asked, plainly embarrassed by the questions.

"No, most of what I've lost is personal information, up to a year ago." Beth replied. "There are huge gaps, but I'm pretty sure all my working knowledge is intact," she added with conviction.

"Fine, that's all I needed to know," the man apologized. "Please forget I asked, it was just for personal reassurance. I'll see you later, at Flaxton. With that, he rushed away to catch up with another executive.

"You okay now Beth?" Ted asked solicitously, guiding her towards her car.

"Yeah, I'll be fine…wow! She's a little beauty," she gushed, as Beth suddenly spotted the little red Mazda Miata.

Beth foisted Maggie off to Ted while she opened her purse to get out the keys. She opened the car and got in, tucking her skirts in to avoid leaving them half outside the door. Ted handed her Maggie who scrambled into the back with a quick leap. Ted knelt down by the driver's door, watching her with a half smile as Beth fiddled excitedly with all the controls.

"Sure you can manage this powerful beast?" Ted joked, patting the hood, suggestively.

"Eat my dust sucker," laughed Beth. She started the car and squealed the tires as she peeled out of the car park.

Ted laughed, feeling much better at the amiable banter and Beth's improved disposition. He walked back to his car and then drove out, following along in the route of the now long vanished Miata. At Flaxton, Ted met up with a rather smug looking Beth sitting on the hood of the Miata, like some exotic showroom promotion glamour girl.

"What took you so long? I was here ages ago," she smirked. "That car of yours can't keep up anymore?" she giggled.

"Well seeing it's lunch time, I thought I'd stop off and pick up a bite to eat. Care to join me? I bought enough for two."

"Hmmm, that's the best offer I had all day, how can a girl refuse?" Beth laughed, feeling kind of euphoric.

Right now, she wasn't thinking about keeping up appearances or whether she should be concerned about possible homosexual thoughts involving Ted. At the moment, she was a person like Ted was a person, just best friends having lunch together on this fine sunny day.

Ted found a blanket in his car, and together with Maggie, they found a small private grassy area among the trees bordering the Flaxton property. Beth spread the blanket while Ted opened the bags he'd brought along. Beth lay down on her back, not minding Maggie playing idly with her hair. Ted handed her a bread roll filled with smoked salmon chunks and tomato and lettuce. She rolled over on her side watching Ted pull a second one out for himself. Maggie complained loudly as she smelt the salmon, feeling left out.

"Here, you four legged fish disposal unit." Ted snorted, with a grin. "Your meal is here," Ted offered, opening up a small tin of sardine cat food. Maggie made quick work of the sardines and left the others to eat in peace as she went about the more important chore of licking her fur. Ted gave Beth a chilled can of 7 up to wash the meal down. Beth relaxed and felt like she could stay there all day when the hooter went off, signalling the end of the plants lunch break.

They both scrambled up, Ted threw all the wrappers into one bag, and headed off with the blanket, back to the car, telling Beth he'd meet her inside. Beth hurried along finding it awkward to manage her heels in the grass. Inside, she waited for Ted, even thought she'd been here before as Colin and knew the way around, she felt the need for Ted's comforting presence. She hoped Jenna was at work today, even though she usually left her three year old daughter Cathleen in the plants crèche, sometimes she would be absent due to childhood illness.

Ted arrived at last, and together they went to their newly assigned stations. Beth although having the same qualifications as Ted, now due to 'apparent age,' and supposedly less experience was now subordinate to Ted. Colin had been at Ted's level, both in pay and responsibility, now, with her change of identity, she would be on a lesser salary, and couldn't make the decisions she used to. She would have to get Ted's approval before any action on her part could be started.

Ted went around, the area he would be in charge of, checking and greeting some of the personnel that were already been working there. Beth met with her fellow researchers, most of whom she already knew. Getting settled took a few hours, in which she was mainly checking the procedures that had already been existent. She noticed that her presence was attracting the attention of the males in her section, and as she didn't know how to respond, she busied herself among the many women working there.

Ted managed to slip into the private lab that Jenna worked alone in. Jenna was preoccupied by the sample under the microscope she was using, and hadn't noticed Ted's quiet entry. She jumped, letting out a little gasp, when he nudged her shoulder.

"Ted!" She exclaimed, a huge smile on her face. "How are you? I heard about the disaster at Shelton. Poor Colin, I know you two were close, it must be a great loss."

"Hello Jenna, I'm glad to see you again, but not under these circumstances." Replied Ted, giving her a hug as she stood. "Colin's loss has hit me hard, he was my best friend."

"Yeah, I know, I always wondered when the two of you were going to get married," laughed Jenna.

"WHAT! You thought we were gay?" was Ted's shocked denial.

"Well... let's see," Jenna started ticking points off with her fingers. "Colin never really dated much, and those were mostly one night stands. Two, you dated a little but could never seem to hold on to them for very long, although Beth was looking promising there for a while. Three, you, and Colin spent a lot of time together at each other's places. It all added up," Jenna winked.

"To nothing, admittedly we were good friends, but that doesn't mean we were gay. In fact Beth and I are together again. Hopefully forever this time." Blurted Ted. In his haste to deny the gay accusations, Ted had committed Beth into being his fiancé, a fact that suddenly dawned in on him with Jenna's next words.

"Congratulations Ted, I'm so happy for you, so when's the wedding? I hope I get an invite, oh wow, I must tell the girl's," she said, sealing his fate.

Ted gulped, realizing what he'd blurted out, in defence of his masculinity. Knowing, that if Beth got wind of what he'd said, he would be toast.

"Jenna, I didn't mean that exactly how I said that," he spluttered hastily. "It's just we are seeing each other, a lot." He trailed off, thinking how pathetic it sounded. "There are no plans for marriage at this stage." He added, hoping to quash Jenna's need to tell everyone.

"Ah, but you love her right?" Jenna asked pinning him with her searching gaze.

"Well, yes, but that doesn't mean we are sleeping together," protested Ted, feeling trapped in his honest reply. He realized that he did love Beth or Colin as Beth. Was he indeed gay? Sweat trickled down his neck, as Jenna looked at him and winked.

"Well when you do, I hope you'll hold your end up," she paused then grinned, looking at his blushing face. "And make her an honest woman," she added to his growing dismay.

Ted said nothing, knowing that with each word he was digging himself in deeper. Finally he just asked her not to spread rumours around about their relationship, before escaping from her clutches.

Jenna smiled, thinking it was about time Ted settled down; maybe she should talk to Beth and see if she couldn't work her magic to get them back into a serious relationship.

Ted was nervous, should he mention to Beth about his conversation with Jenna? Or leave it, and hope things would blow over. Making a decision, he went back to where Beth was checking readouts from out of several monitoring devices. He pulled her over to his new office and closed the door.

"Beth, I've stuffed up, I went to see Jenna, and we got talking. We got talking about your death...I mean Colin's, and she said something that shocked me, and in my haste I said something that gave her the impression we were engaged to be married...look I know I'm stupid," he quickly added as he saw Beth's mouth open in protest. "I tried for some damage control, but it might still get around. Jenna is pretty closed mouthed, but with these sorts of things, if you even think it, it seems to be head line news in hours."

"How could you? What in the hell were you thinking? Beth hissed angrily, knowing if she shouted, her voice might be overheard. "Just what was it she said to shock you into saying such a thing? I thought you were my friend," she snarled.

"She mentioned how sorry she was to hear of Colin's death and how it would have affected me, she as much as said we were gay."

"What! She said that?" Beth asked incredulously.

Ted started from the beginning and how he in his rush to refute Jenna's claim that he'd implied that he and Beth were together again. Beth sat fuming, deep in thought. Ted went to comfort her, but she shrugged him away, saying she had to go somewhere and think. Ted apologized again and told Beth he/she was still his friend and would do everything in his power to get her life back, even if he had to lose his love again.

"You love me, or this body?" asked Beth determined to uncover the truth.

Ted was silent, trying to sort out his feelings, not wanting to blurt out just a simple yes.

"I didn't realize that I had loved the original Beth till I saw her recreated in you. She was...is my ideal image of the woman I wanted to share my life with. When I first saw you after the moulding, I saw only her, oh I knew you were there inside, but I saw my love alive and well again. The fact that it was really Colin didn't seem to matter...at first. When you were forced to act as my girlfriend, it seemed like a dream come true. You seemed to be happy, being Beth and somewhere deep inside I was hoping that you might decide to stay as Beth. That meant I had a chance to win your love so we could live together as man and wife. I guess Jenna was right. I am gay. I loved Colin as a friend. It didn't go further then because you were not physically my type. Now though you are exactly my type, and I can express that love without it seeming gay."

"Oh!" was Beth's stunned response.

"Yeah, oh. I guess I loved Colin on the inside but not the outside, now I can love Colin on the inside and the outside. Ted took Beth's chin and gently raised it with his hand so she could see into his eyes. "I won't let what I feel about you make any difference in my search to return you back to Colin, if that is what you wish. We will share every bit of information we can find to make that happen. I know I may lose the person I love, but then I didn't really have you in the beginning." With that, Ted turned and left the office.

Beth was stunned, as she walked in a daze back to her station. She returned to the readouts she had reading, but couldn't even take in the information, as her mind went on its own spiralling path. Ted loved her... that was something that seemed too much to take on board at the moment. She didn't see Jenna coming up behind her and jumped when Jenna snaked an arm her waist, and whispered in her ear.

"Penny for your thoughts dear."

"Huh?" Oh fine, she answered, dazedly.

Jenna laughed, with a sweet tinkling sound. "I see love hasn't affected you at all," Jenna added, her voice full amusement.

"Oh sorry, I was a million miles away," confessed Beth, blushing as the import of Jenna's words sank in. "I was just thinking of..."

"Ted?" Jenna interrupted, with a grin.

"Yes...but it's not what you think." Beth tried to finish.

"Hmm, have you set a date yet?" persisted Jenna.

Beth sighed; she understood how Ted must have felt under the gaze of those green penetrating eyes. She gave up trying to explain, knowing she needed this woman on her side to help with the tests.

"No not yet, Beth replied, reluctantly. Her mind was a blank, trying to come up with another story was beyond her capabilities at this point. She was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of Ted, who had returned with a large thermos sample container, which steamed slightly, showing it was full of liquefied gas.

"Jenna, can I speak to you in your lab, I need to store this in your cryonics unit."

"Sure, come on, we can do it now. Frozen embryos?" She laughed, looking at the pair of them with a raised eyebrow.

Ted brought the samples he'd taken in the destroyed plant, along with the sample of the liquid he had collected when Beth had been in the mould. Several samples of polymer had been collected from where it had pooled in convenient containers, like half broken containers or tins where the polymer had covered them in its outflow. Ted had labelled them thus,

Polymer sample: near grate

Polymer sample: near Maggie

Unknown liquid: from moulding

Ted had labelled the flask with organic sample, and then asked Jenna if she could take a blood sample from Beth, saying it was in case there had been any affects from the polymers on her body. Jenna didn't question this, as it was part of a normal routine for employees to be checked for adverse reactions to the products they produced. Having taken the sample it was labelled as well and stored in Jenna's special refrigeration unit.

"Okay, what do you want me to check for?" asked Jenna, as she disposed of the used hypodermic.

"Not sure at this stage, I'd like a complete work out on the blood and check out the DNA pattern. Find out what the unknown sample is, and there's a piece of tissue I'd like to have checked in the thermos. Do a DNA check on that as well. One thing; this is hush hush. Do me a favour, and don't mention the tests or the results you find out to anyone other than me or Beth, okay?"

"Sounds intriguing, what's in it for me?" Jenna grinned.

"How about a romantic night out for two? Dinner, and then out to the opera... for you and Richard of course," Ted added quickly.

"Okay, but I expect Cathleen will need a baby sitter, are you going to volunteer? Or Beth?"

"That cute little rug rat? Sheesh I could name twenty women here that would jump at the chance of looking after her," Ted smiled.

Jenna laughed, "you weasel, always trying to get out of things," she joked, smiling at Beth. "You'd better watch that honey, and don't let him get away with anything. He needs a good woman to keep him on the straight and narrow."

Both Ted and Beth blushed, and not for the reasons Jenna thought as she gently poked Ted in the ribs and told him to scat, she had work to do.

As they were leaving Jenna said she should be able to get the blood work done this afternoon and she'd call them when she'd finished.

Beth grabbed Ted's arm, as they started back, putting on a smile as several people approached them in the corridor. As soon as they were alone again, Beth hissed to Ted, pulling him to a halt.

"Ted, as soon as she starts on that blood sample, she will know something is wrong, I wouldn't put it past her to check to see if I'm pregnant."

"Well if you are it isn't mine," smirked Ted.

"Ted you bastard, stop with the jokes already, it's getting more than I can handle." Beth angrily retorted, thumping him on the chest with her small feminine fists.

Look okay I'm sorry, hey!" He exclaimed, backing off from her furious attack on his body. "I'm just as worked up as you, okay? I was just trying to lighten the mood. I know she will find out, that was a given if she is to get to the bottom of this. I just didn't want to tell her until she was committed. Once she calls I'll explain to her. We need her you know?"

"I understand that, but please lay off the jokes, especially ones that remind me of who I look like," Beth's anger had changed to frustration and from there to tears, as the mounting pressure to act the happy girlfriend started to take its toll on her diminished male outlook.

The rest of the afternoon dragged, Beth tried concentrating on readouts, but her work was boredom incarnate, and she only made a half-hearted attempt to complete the checks. Ted was on the move, having to ensure that every department under him was doing what they were supposed to. It was just on 5 pm when a call came; most of the employees had left or were about to leave. Ted went and told Beth to come to the lab.

Beth was trembling, unsure what the news was going to be but suspecting it wouldn't be good. She had brought Maggie along from the basket she had been sleeping in. Ted didn't say anything to Beth about what Jenna had called for, but his worried look spoke volumes.

"Okay you two, you have some explaining to do." Were Jenna's first words, as they entered her lab.

"What do you mean?" Ted bluffed, trying to delay the inevitable.

Jenna scowled, looking at them closely, trying to determine if they were as innocent as they were trying to make her believe.

"Well… either Beth is transitioning, or she is suffering from some severe hormonal imbalance in her pituitary gland. Her DNA is skewed too. It's as if there're two sets. One of which is in the process of overwriting the other." She announced. She saw both of them blanch and Beth started to crumble. Whatever was going on, the way they had reacted to her report had been a terrible shock. Instinctively, Jenna offered the trembling Beth a seat, and got her a shot of brandy from her 'emergency rations.'

"I haven't checked all the samples, but I did manage to look at the unknown sample. It's mostly saline, but the strength is unusual. Its not medical saline, the salinity is the same as found in the human body. There was one other thing in it," she paused, before continuing, looking for their reactions. "There was a significant level of testosterone in it." She concluded. She sat back, eyeing the pair, while waiting for an explanation.

Beth had thrown back the brandy as her life seemed to crumbling away. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize the implications. She felt like she was standing on the edge of an abyss, and someone was pushing her closer.

Ted was stunned; he had guessed from the appearance of his gruesome find that the possibility of some sort of DNA breakdown may have occurred. Whether it was going to affect Colin in the long term, Ted had kept to himself, not wanting to destroy Beth's hope of a cure. Now the results were back staring them in the face.

"Jenna? What we are going to tell you must remain a secret… from everyone…including Richard, okay?" Ted implored.

As if hearing his name, in walked Jenna's husband, his six and a half foot frame completely hiding the toddler following behind.

"Hi honey…oh sorry, I didn't realize you had company," he apologized, giving her a quick kiss. "I thought you'd be ready to go, so I brought Cathleen out from the crèche. Ted! Beth! Hi, I heard you were going to be working here," Richard said as he recognized the visitors. Richard went over and shook Ted's hand, and gave Beth a smile of welcome.

"Sorry, I'm interrupting something important?" he queried, looking at Jenna for confirmation.

"Yes, look I shouldn't be long; can you take Cathleen out to courtyard and keep her occupied for me?"

Cathleen, who had been peeking out from behind Richards's legs, spotted Maggie.

"Look da da, a pretty kitty, can I play with her…prease?" she pleaded, looking up for approval. "I be's very careful wid her," she begged, looking at her mom with wide eyes.

"You'll have to ask your aunt Beth," Jenna replied slowly, she looked at Beth with a question in her eyes.

Cathleen walked slowly to Beth, who managed a weak smile as the cute toddler put out a hesitant hand to touch Maggie. Maggie opened an eye then turning her head, she licked at the inquisitive fingers. Cathleen's giggle was the signal for Maggie to squirm in Beth's grasp.

"Looks like Maggie wants to play, be gentle honey and I'll see you soon okay?" Beth agreed.

"Otay, Aunty Beth, me's be good frens wid Maggie, I play heaps and gibed lots an lots hugs." With that, Maggie was transferred into the girl's grasp; Richard smiled at Beth as he led his giggling daughter out of the room.

"Okay will someone tell me what's going on? Beth, are you trying to become male? If so, that's fine. I'll not say a thing."

"Yes…no…oh shit, Ted please explain to her. I can't do this anymore," she started to weep.

Jenna looked confused, "yes…no" What did that mean? She pondered.

Ted finally shook himself. He stood behind Beth's seat, holding on to her for support, as he began to explain. Jenna's eyes widened as the tale unfolded. Various emotions flew across her face. Surprise disbelief, wonder, sorrow, and finally determination.

"Your saying Beth is really Colin, but she isn't male, at least not any more."

"But…but," Beth sputtered, trying to formulate a coherent sentence.

"My guess is that the original DNA from Beth was broken down to its base code possibly because of some kind of gene decoder/encoder element in one of the polymers. Ted, your theory that all three solutions broke it down is flawed, I'd guess it was the one from the far vat, once it mixed with the others, the polymer containing the DNA was changed. Otherwise Colin would have been eaten away as well."

"Of course, how did I miss that point," sighed Ted. "Whatever it was that had the original Beth's DNA pattern then got into Colin's blood stream through the head wound, like some sort of virus, a virus that started changing Colin's DNA to match its own."

"Well done, I think you have nailed it on the head. I think that had that other polymer not been in the mix or Colin had been covered by only the same two solutions as Maggie, then he would have had the same abilities to bounce back to his original shape as well."

"Wait, you're saying that I'm becoming Beth inside as well?" moaned Beth.

"Sorry, but that's what the tests show. You have a large amount of female hormones flooding your body. It probably started as soon as it had been in contact with your body. Looking at the hormones levels I would hazard a guess that you have been getting very emotional as your body is changing rapidly." Jenna confirmed, giving Beth a sad smile.

"You don't think there's a way to stop it or shape my body into a male shape?" asked Beth with a pleading look on her face.

"Well even it you took testosterone supplements, I doubt it would do any good, the process going on is replacing it faster than you can produce it from your testes, once those have become useless and you start getting ovaries they will atrophy and then disappear. Have you attempted to squeeze those breasts away?"

"No we were trying to keep the illusion of my being Beth alive till we had an answer. Why? Do you think the shape changing effects have been halted?" asked Ted curiously.

Let's see, shall we, I have a feeling Beth is here to stay," with that final note, Jenna walked up to Beth and undid several buttons on Beth blouse and inserted her hand. Beth felt Jenna slide her warm hand onto her breast and gently apply pressure. Beth felt no pain and the warmth felt rather nice, but after several minutes with the breast pressed almost flat against her chest, the breast returned to a normal shape, once Jenna had released it.

"My suspicions are confirmed, any alterations that were originally made were all related to becoming more feminine like. Take the stockings thing and the shoes being able to fit and the dress as it squeezed you into a smaller size. This is consistent with you becoming more Beth like. No changes, like pulling out your penis again or reducing those breasts will work. It looks like the agent has a blue print of your final shape and only allowed changes that sped up the process. The moulding of your body, while a great idea for a disguise unfortunately played right into its arms. All it needs to do it bring the internals into line with the exterior." Jenna explained.

"So I'm fucked then," asked a distraught Beth.

"In more ways than one," offered Jenna. "There's one good thing to come out of it, and you can thank Ted for that. You were moulded into Beth's shape before she was missed, now you can live her life without anyone being the wiser, once the changes are complete, you couldn't be discovered as a fraud, even by a doctor. I'm guessing you can become pregnant if you so desired."

"Harrumph, thank Ted, yeah, I'm sure that makes me feel much better." Grumbled Beth.

"Look get this straight, you were going to end up looking like Beth. Would rather have a long period of change where you slowly got more girl-like. Think about it, you'd be a freak, a man changing into a woman. You wouldn't even have the option of saying you were a transsexual and starting to transition. Not when you end up looking like Beth's identical twin. The press would hound you; the scientific community would to pull you apart to see how you worked, and what if the government secret service got wind of it. Don't you think they would love to find a way to become another's duplicate? Think of all the spy scenarios, with agents becoming the enemy. No that would too hard to even contemplate," she shuddered. "This way you can live a pretty much normal life on the other side of the fence as it were. Get married, have some children. You might even end up with a cute one like Cathleen," beamed Jenna, as she thought of the joy her daughter had given her.

Beth realized the truth of Jenna's words, and gave her a weak smile. Apart from the obvious change in gender status, she was lucky that she didn't have to go through the public humiliation and persecution her change would generate. Even the possible threat from government agencies that might do anything to her to find out the secret to her change would be avoided.

She was set up for life if she was careful. Beth had plenty of money, a house, and car that were paid off. All she had to do was live some one else's life, for as long as she lived. The thought of becoming a woman for real, had an element of anticipation, to find out exactly how the other half lived. Thoughts about periods and the possibilities of being an eventual mother seemed unreal as yet, not something a born male could really take in.

Ted was watching Beth intently, waiting to see how she coped with the news of her eventual womanhood. He hovered close in case she started to freak, but for the moment she just seemed sort of distant.

"Look I have to go okay?" Jenna stated, as she gathered her things together. "We will talk later and see what the other samples tell us. I'll keep mum on what happened, but I need to go deeper into this. Beth? I want you to come round to my place tomorrow, it's Friday so we can leave early. We really need to talk, woman to woman.

To Beth the words, "woman to woman," struck deep into her psyche. She would be one soon, given the data from her blood tests. She stood unsteadily and thanked Jenna as she picked up her purse and made as to leave. Jenna went and hugged Beth, whispering that things would be okay. Beth hugged her back, hoping she was right. Ted took Beth's hand as they followed Jenna to where Richard was looking after Cathleen. Beth didn't pull away from Ted as she felt the need to hold on to someone, anyone. Her mind was distracted from dwelling on the fact that she and Ted looked completely natural walking hand in hand by the little blonde Cathleen chasing after Maggie. Maggie had squirmed out of Cathleen's grip once Beth had appeared and scampered over, her tail held high. Cathleen caught up to Maggie, just as the kitten readied herself to leap into Beth's arms again. Beth had crouched, seeing the kitten advance and smiled at Cathleen's obviously joyful face.

"Aunty Beth? Can I plays wid Maggie amorrow? She was wealy good, ands I tooks good care of her."

"I'm sure something can be arranged, I'll see if the crèche will allow Maggie to stay with you, okay?"

Cathleen's eyes grew large, before she grabbed Beth in a tight hug.

"I loves you aunty Beth, oh, and Maggie too," she whispered in Beth's ear.

Beth felt something melt in her heart, Cathleen's heartfelt words had broken past some invisible barrier that she hadn't realized, even existed. A rush of emotions flooded her body as she clung desperately to the child.

"I love you back honey," Beth whispered back, astonished at the realization she meant every word. The depth of feelings for the child seemed to have welled up from some deep buried mothering instinct that had just been awakened.

Richard came over and gently disengaged Cathleen and lifted her up in his arms. He then kissed his wife as they made their way to the car park. Ted waited as Beth picked up the impatient kitten, before walking with her to her car. He waited while she got in, watching her arrange her skirts so the door wouldn't trap them, as it closed.

"You okay Beth?" Ted asked anxiously. "You don't want some company tonight? I could get some Chinese takeout if you want." He asked, solicitously.

Beth thought about it for a moment then shook her head.

"Sorry Ted, not tonight. I need to get my head around this news and try and come to terms about it, thanks anyway, I appreciate your concern, maybe tomorrow, I'll let you know okay. Will you pick me up in the morning?" she asked softly.

"Sure, seven thirty okay?"

"Hmmm, yes okay, see you then." Beth started her car and drove off sedately, unlike earlier.

Ted watched her go, wondering how he would have coped, had their positions been reversed. He had been surprised at her reactions when Cathleen had hugged her. He was sure that her emotional state was very close to the surface as he had seen tears well up in her eyes as if she was about to weep. He would love to talk to her about how she felt with her mind being saturated with a foreign hormone and causing her thinking to change.

Beth mentally thanked Ted for the good idea of getting Chinese for dinner. She didn't want to be bothered cooking anything that night, so she stopped off on her way home to pick up some more cat food for Maggie and get some Chinese takeout. Once home she slipped off her heels thankfully and went into the kitchen to open a can of chicken-n- jelly for Maggie. She then went into the lounge with her meal and turned on the telly as she opened the Styrofoam containers. A free fortune cookie revealed its typical pearl of wisdom.

"All journeys start with the first step."

'Yeah, mines a real doozy, with a foot wearing a high heel,' Beth thought with some despondency, as she sat eating her meal. Later, after disposing of the empty containers, she went into her bedroom intending to lie on her bed and think. She removed her outer clothes, and checked her body for any sign of the internal changes in progress. She looked beautiful and sexy; a person Colin would love to have dated. Now she would be that date in any relationship. It was a crucial moment in which she could move either forward as Beth or sink into a depression of self-denial that would ultimately lead to Colin's destruction. She struggled to make that agonizing decision, standing there half naked in front of the mirror.

Colin resurfaced. It was his decision, not Beth's, as to whether he lived or died. Colin looked at his body and weighed up the pro's and con's, after a few minutes of soul searching, he decided it was death. Filled with determined resolve he looked about for the agent of his death. Not seeing anything in the bedroom, he pulled on a delicate peach coloured robe that had small pom-poms dangling from each of the long sleeves. Tying off the belt, he started his search. Into the bathroom he went to look in the medicine cupboard. Rummaging around, he spotted it nestled there. He took the shiny metal instrument of torture and went back into the bedroom.

He sat at the vanity looking into the mirror and compared his face with a recent framed 6x8 picture of Beth that was sitting there. It looked at the metal object and sighed, he had heard it hurt using it, but he was determined not to baulk at a bit of pain. Bringing the tweezers up to his eyebrow, he began to pluck.

Godamnit! That hurts, was Beth's first reaction. With the decision made, Colin died, making way for Beth to resume her life. Somewhere in the back of her mind a niggling thought had been plaguing her, something that said her appearance didn't match the original. She'd seen Beth and her photo, but hadn't picked up on the fact that her eyebrows were much thicker than the thin arches Beth had. Luckily no one else had noticed, or only felt something had changed, but were not sure what.

It was only now with her intense concentration of her decision to become Beth, that she had noticed. When Maggie decided to squeeze into the doorway to look for her mistress, Beth took a break. Blinking away the tears caused by the plucking, she scooped the welcome distraction into her lap. Maggie started purring, signifying that all was well with her world. Beth petted Maggie for a moment, before resuming her painful chore. As her hands moved the small pompoms danced, attracting the attention of the kitten. Maggie watched as the balls bounced playfully near her nose, she batted at the pompoms still a bit turgid from her meal. A pounce from Maggie captured one of the balls, dragging Beth's arm away from her face.

"Hey! You scamp, leave my balls alone." Hearing what she had just said out loud, Beth giggled, before breaking into laughter, seeing the irony of it all. She put Maggie on the floor, much to the kitten's disgust, before checking in the mirror. Pleased that her face reflected what she saw in the photograph, she put away the tweezers with a great sigh of relief.

Leaving Maggie to her own devices, Beth went into the bathroom to turn on the Jacuzzi. Adding some bath salts that smelled of jasmine, she got in and luxuriated there letting her cares wash away. Checking her body, she still saw no signs of hair re-growth, a fact that pleased her no end. It looked as though that was going to be one feminine ritual she going to be spared.

Sleep that night was punctuated with several prophetic seeming dreams. In one of which he as Colin was lying on his back looking up at a rectangular patch of sky, then faces started peering down at him from the edge of what he realized was a grave. When the dirt started falling, although it didn't actually touch him, he felt its weight as the sky was gradually blotted out. In the next dream he was Beth, wearing a black dress and veil, she was looking at the plain granite headstone into which were carved the words.

'Here lies Colin stockman, murdered by Beth Winslow on the....'

Beth woke up in a sweat. Heart pounding from the fading echoes of the dream. Trying to calm herself down, she reasoned out why it wasn't a murder of Colin. She was still Colin in a way; she still had his memories, and his values. It was more of taking on a new challenge. To become a female called Beth to try and continue on her life as best she could. It was life from life, a new beginning. Although it was still very early in the morning, she decided to get up and get dressed. Going to the bathroom to relieve herself and get a wash, she opened her satin robe to once again check her body. Her nipples seemed rather sensitive today and she suspected changes were afoot. Looking at her breasts she saw the areole was larger and no longer looking like it did after moulding. Touching the nipple made her shiver as the sensitive nubs hardened under her touch. 'They are becoming real breasts,' she thought wonderingly. She would have liked to inspect further down between her legs, but decided to leave that. It was too much of a distraction, and one she wasn't sure she wanted to deal with just yet.

Moving back into the bedroom she opened her closet to pick out the days clothes. She selected a very smart jacket/dress combination in a navy blue with it was a light blue blouse with a ruffled front that seemed to go with it. According to her limited experience in mix and match. She wore matching blue panties and bra in a slightly darker blue satin fabric that felt heavenly on her smooth skin.

She wondered why it was easier to co ordinate her feminine clothes than it was her old male clothes, was it Colin's prior penchant for looking at the ladies, judging them by what they wore or his occasional wistful thoughts about what it must feel like to be wearing such lovely clothes. Dragging her thoughts back to the present, she smiled thinking she had all the time in the world now to find out.

Having plenty of time, she started doing her makeup, trying to get it perfect. She was learning, but it still took several attempts to get it looking reasonable. Satisfied her face didn't scream 'beginner,' she went and ate a leisurely breakfast. One thing the dream did, was finish filling out the will details that Colin 'had' done some months 'before.' Having predated it and signed it in Colin's signature, Beth then signed it as a witness, adding in a matching date one-month prior. The will stated simply that all properties and monies were to go to Ted, his lifetime friend. This would avoid any suspicion from the police, as everyone knew they were close. Beth sealed the envelope that Ted would put in Colin's house to be conveniently discovered later.

Maggie padded in on silent paws and meowed inquiringly. Then headed out to the front door once more announcing her arrival there.

"You want to go out?" Beth asked the kitten as Maggie rubbed suggestively up against the door.

"Okay Maggie you can go out but don't be long," Beth suggested.

Opening the door a bit she let the kitten out. Just as she was about the shut it again, a flare of light across the street caught her eye. She closed the door quickly and moved into the lounge. Leaving the light off, she peered past a slightly opened curtain. Another car was parked across the road with one man inside, who has just lit up a cigarette. She could see the fag end glow intensify as he drew on it. Getting a naughty idea, she decided to ring the police and report a stalker.

'That will put a crimp in your plans to keep me under surveillance,' she thought peevishly, getting tired of being under suspicion. Having made the call to the police, saying with a tremulous voice that she wanted to report a stalker, the police were very courteous and even sounded genuinely concerned. After giving her name and address, she turned back to observing the car and its occupant. She waited, expecting it to leave once the dispatcher relayed the message to move was sent over the radio to the driver.

She was surprised, as a few minutes went by then a black and white slid silently up behind the parked car. Two officers slipped out quickly, approaching the front doors of the vehicle on both sides in the well-practiced manoeuvre all police use on suspected criminals. They had a hand on their weapons as they knocked on the window, signalling the driver. Beth couldn't see what was happening as the officer was blocking her view. She noticed the there was some conversation and that the driver hadn't been ordered out of the vehicle. Watching avidly, Beth saw the officers look towards her house and then nodded to one another. Getting a bad feeling about this, Beth was thinking about calling Ted on her cell phone, when she saw one of the officers get back in his car while the other started walking over to her home. The driver of the parked car remained where he was, and didn't look like he was moving any time soon. Pulling back, she pondered what was the reason for such a determined effort to keep her under surveillance. The unmistakable staccato knock, that police all over, must practice to get to sound so authoritative, startled her out of her musings.

"Beth Winslow, this is the police, can we have a word with you please?"

Scared and nervous, Beth went to the door and opened it up a few inches.

"Yes, I'm Beth Winslow. What can I do for you?"

"Can I come in please, this shouldn't take long. It's about your call."

"Okay," she answered, opening the door wider. The officer was tall, about 30 years old with a rugged look to him that she thought was kind of attractive. Shocked at her thoughts, and the hidden implications of, "attractive" associated with "male," she blanched in shock. The officer used to seeing shocked women in these situations, paid no mind to Beth's pale face.

Beth, looking into his grey eyes, felt like she was drowning, and her stomach was doing flip-flops, and for some reason her nipples tingled. She could feel her heat racing and her crotch grew moist. She started to panic, wondering why she was feeling like this. She started to feel disorientated and dizzy as her mind was running a million miles a second. The officer, seeing her tremble, then held out a hand and guided her to the nearest seat. Giving her reassuring noises that she wasn't to be alarmed.

The officer waited while Beth tried manfully? womanfully? to pull herself together. Beth was shocked more by her body's reaction to the officer than to the possible reasons for his visit.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me just then," she answered honestly.

"I see it all the time Miss Winslow, it is Miss, isn't it?" the officer asked inquiringly. At her nod, he went on. "A beautiful woman like yourself, alone and thinking she saw a stalker, has every right to be shocked and scared," he finished.

Beth was again in turmoil; her mind was operating on two levels. Part of her mind was taking in the conversation and the other half was trying to come to terms with how her body was reacting. Being called beautiful had in some way pleased her. Being flattered and getting turned on from the sight of a handsome man, was something only a woman would experience. She smiled at the officer in an almost automatic response to his flattery, while she was grasping at the beginnings of understanding. She was a woman, well almost; the internal changes had reconnected her nerves to the new female parts that were forming the new Beth. All this was taking just seconds to flash across her mind, as she tried to concentrate on the officer's explanation.

"The car across the road isn't a stalker. Apparently you have come to the FBI's attention. I spoke to the agent in the car, a Mr. Smith." The officer grinned at the tired old joke, raising an eyebrow in mock disbelief. Apparently you are of interest to them, but I wasn't able to get any more information from the guy. I did check his badge and confirmed it was genuine, so you have nothing to worry about on that score. I suggest you contact the FBI direct, unless you know why they might be keeping you under surveillance?" he suggestively asked, hoping to get an answer.

"No, I don't really, I was in an accident a few days ago, but nothing to warrant the FBI getting involved," a puzzled Beth answered.

"Well I'll be going then," the officer said, curiosity plainly written on his face.

"Thank you for coming, I'm sorry it was a wasted call," Beth thanked the man.

"All part of the service Miss, better safe than sorry." The officer responded with a smile as he walked to the door. As he opened the door, Maggie flashed past in a feline blur, intent on checking her food bowl. Needing the distraction, Beth went and got out some food for the kitten. Beth made up her mind to ring Ted and went to the phone before pausing. If the FBI were getting involved then it was possible that her phones were tapped. Instead she picked up her cell phone and went into the kitchen to make the call.

"Hello Ted, it looks like I'm being investigated by the FBI now, I spotted a car outside this morning and rang the cops, telling them it was a lurker. But what really wanted to call you for, was can you pick up a bouquet of flowers for me? I was going to pick some up last night for Jenna but I forgot. You can bring them round here on the way."

Ted could hear the radio playing in the background, while Beth was talking. It made it hard to make out her words clearly. The words FBI came over loud and clear, and he nearly panicked himself, wondering if they had slipped up somewhere. Guessing the radio was to cover the conversation, from directional microphones or even bugs, Ted chose his words carefully.

"Sure that's not a problem; I'll get a bunch of roses at Meko's on the way over. The FBI you say...hmmm. I wonder what they are up to. Not that we have anything to hide," he lied smoothly. "I'll be around in 30 minutes okay?" he said, trying to sound calm.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to find out when I get to work. I can tell them my story and that should be it. You really have nothing much to add," she subtly suggested. "All you saw was where I was when you rescued me," she hinted, hoping Ted would pick up on it.

"True," Ted answered, showing Beth he understood the deeper meaning. "I'll ask around as well, and find out what's going on. Sure you don't want me to pick you up?"

"No thanks, remember Jenna wants to talk with me later at her place. We are taking the afternoon off."

"Right, okay I'll see you in a little while then, byeeeeeeeeee."

Ted knew there was more to the request to pick up the flowers than what Beth had said. She obviously wanted to see him for something, before going to work. He also suspected there was more to her taking her own car to work. Was it in someway distance him from any trouble should it arise. He hated being in the dark, but knew the cards had to be played out. He just hoped he had enough aces up his sleeve.

Beth hung up, feeling a little better now. She tried to think of all possible scenarios, for the FBI's interest. This mental exercise helped take her mind off the visit by the police. Waiting for Ted her mind went back over the incident with the police officer and her unusual reactions to his masculine presence. Unusual for that part of her that was Colin. Even thinking about it now, calmly, she wondered why she wasn't repulsed by her thoughts and her behaviour, given that it wasn't long ago that she was a male herself. She was interested in seeing if her reactions to Ted had changed and whether she would get physical aroused.

Sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, Beth watched Maggie preen her coat after her breakfast and thought to herself that if she wanted to raise a kitten, then she needed to get organized.

She'd need a basket, bowls a few toys and a scratching pole for her claws. Not to mention the different types of cat food. Maggie sensing she was under scrutiny, looked up, and mewed plaintively at her legs. Beth picked her up and relaxed a bit while she stroked Maggie's warm body. Maggie went tense and looked out the hallway, moments before Beth heard Ted's knock and his soft call through the door.

Beth put Maggie down and straightened her skirt, before picking up the envelope with the will of Colin's in it. She went to the door and half opened it, looking past Ted's shoulder towards the car across the road. Using Ted's body as a shield as he pecked her on the cheek with his lips, she slipped the envelope inside his jacket. With the pretence of straightening his jacket, Ted stepped back and made sure the will went safely into his inside jacket. He handed her the flowers, and made as to leave.

"Ted... Make sure you get all the paperwork done and I'll see you later okay?" Beth said quietly with a little emphasis on the word paperwork.

"No problem, I'll see to it first thing. I'll call you later okay?" Ted then turned and walked back to his car, before driving off.

Beth had definitely felt something happening to her when Ted had kissed her, something warm, which made her tingle to her toes, making her flushed. As she had watched Ted walk away, she found her eyes drawn to his butt, and an inappropriate thought that it was 'cute,' made her glad Ted couldn't see the blush that suffused her face.

She gathered her purse, checking that she had all the basic essentials for a workingwoman, before picking up Maggie, and heading out to her car. Driving off, she observed that the FBI car was following behind her at a discrete distance, but she wasn't going to try and lose it like they do in the movies, hopefully Ted would find out what was happening.

At work, after being greeted warmly by her…well Beth's co-workers, she went in to see Jenna who was still settling Cathleen down into the crèche. Beth's arrival was met by a group of very excited children once they spotted Maggie. Beth made sure it was okay to leave the kitten there with the woman who ran the crèche, before walking with Jenna, back to her lab.

"Jenna, I need to talk. I've been getting these weird feelings," Beth explained. "I don't know how to deal with them. I think that I'm turning homosexual or something."

"Oh? What makes you think that?" Replied Jenna with an odd look on her face.

"When I look at men now they make me go all melty inside," Beth said worriedly.

"That's not homosexual, that's heterosexual, what most woman feel when they see an attractive guy," laughed Jenna. "Remember you are becoming a real woman with the mindset of a normal woman, of course you will feel attraction to the opposite sex, it's only natural honey," consoled Jenna, while giving Beth a quick hug.

"But, but I don't want to be attracted to men," grumbled Beth. Feeling like she was on an elevator with a broken cable.

Jenna led Beth into her lab and sat her down on a chair while she perched on the desk. She looked at Beth for a moment, choosing her words carefully.

"Beth, don't be scared of having feelings like a woman, it doesn't make you less than you were before. The reverse if anything, I'd say."

"Huh? More?" asked Beth, puzzled over Jenna's words.

"Of course, you still have Colin's memories, and values. All he learnt is still in your head. You're still him where it counts. Just the shell is changed. If this genetic change goes the way I think it will, your brain will alter, becoming female, in its structure. This means the way you think will change, it doesn't mean your going to forget being Colin, rather that you gain an understanding of what it's like to be a woman, along with all it entails."

"Oh! I guess I knew that, it's just starting to hit me how different things will be," Beth answered.

"You needn't be worried about fancying men; it's a natural progression of your growing femininity. Beth I want you to look at me for the next few minutes okay? I need to show you something."

With that, Jenna went over to her filing cabinet and bent over to reach into the bottom drawer. Her short tight skirt that showed her curvaceous behind was pointed right at Beth. Jenna turned, still in a crouch that gave Beth a generous view of her cleavage, before she stood up and looked at Beth with a grin.

"Well? Did you get an eyeful of my body," she asked.

Beth blushed which told Jenna all she needed to know.

"What did you feel when you where looking at my display?" Jenna asked with a wink.

Beth considered for a moment, before answering, knowing the answer was important.

"I liked the way your skirt showed off your ass and the curve of your body was accentuated."

"What about my breasts?" Jenna pressed.

"Hmmm nice. You fill out that top nicely. So what is the point to this?"

"Did it turn you on as it would when you were still Colin?"

"Oh!" said Beth, caught out by the question. She thought back and then realized that she wasn't excited or turned on by what she had seen. Colin would have had a hard on that would be handy as a substitute tent pole. But Beth could appreciate the same view for its attractiveness, but the sexual response was not in the picture. The thought worried her.

"No… it didn't make me feel like I did this morning. I can still appreciate the view." Here Beth blushed, before continuing on. "But the fire in the loins is gone." Beth started to tear up.

"Hey, don't turn on the water works hon," Jenna comforted the shaking woman. Now think of a male that you know…Ted perhaps," Jenna said with a wink. "How does that make you feel?'

"Jenna!" Beth protested, trying to evade the question in hand.

"Answer me, honestly now," Jenna persisted, quirking an eyebrow.

Beth sighed, and gave some serious thought to how she felt about Ted.

"Well we were always good friends, but I never had any sexual attraction to him when I was Colin. Today though, things have changed. He kissed me this morning, and I went weak kneed. My insides felt weird like I had butterflies in my stomach. My heart started pounding and my breathing quickened." Beth tried to explain in a nut and bolt fashion. "My skin went all tingly and I could feel goose bumps all over my body," she concluded.

"And…?" Jenna asked, patiently waiting for the unspoken to be voiced.

"I…found him attractive," Beth reluctantly ground out, as if she was pulling teeth.

"He is kinda cute," agreed Jenna with a giggle. "Look I know it's a shock, but you'll have to get rid of the notion that it's wrong. You are a woman, and he is a man. It's simple chemistry. In time you'll find yourself thinking that you have been a woman all your life, as the new body image becomes second nature. It will colour your memories, and you may even find that memories of your life as Colin will have your feminine POV."

"You mean I'll see myself as a woman when I think of things I did as a man?" A shocked Beth asked.

"Yes in time, but don't be alarmed. You will just need to concentrate on the memories to see them in the right point of view." Offered Jenna in reassurance. This afternoon, I'd like to give you a physical, to see how far you've progressed."

Just as Beth nodded her acceptance, the phone rang. Jenna answered, listening for a moment, before handing it to Beth.

"Hello?"

"Hi Beth it's me Ted. I'm at the old plant. I've found out why the FBI is involved."

"Tell me, I was followed here to work," Beth replied.

"It seems they suspect sabotage, they think you had something to do with the death of Colin."

"Oh boy."

"Don't worry, I've talked to the agent in charge, a Mr. Smith and he's sending an agent to pick you up so you come here to explain everything okay?"

"Another Mr. Smith? I can see they have no imagination, do they think people are stupid or something. Okay I'll be ready." Beth finished, before giving the phone back to Jenna.

Just as Beth was going to ask Jenna about her seeming expertise on the subject of gender identities, the door opened suddenly, revealing a man in a dark suit. He looked at them both for a second before turning to Beth and taking her arm in a rather forceful manner.

"FBI. Please come with me, Miss Winslow," he said sternly, not giving her a chance to object, as he pulled at her arm.

"Hey! You, stop manhandling our staff like that." Jenna demanded angrily. She stepped closer to the man and put out a restraining arm to try and block their exit.

"Don't interfere with me, lady, I have my orders," the man growled threateningly. He pushed Jenna aside, pulling Beth along helpless in his grip.

"Hey! There's no need to be so rough, I will come along voluntarily." Beth gasped out, as she winced at the pain of his tight grip.

The man said nothing, pausing only long enough to slap a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. Beth was scared, but angry too, and she let the FBI agent know what she thought of him.

"You're an overbearing, thick-headed, rude, obnoxious fool, who hasn't the sense to know how to treat a person. You'll be hearing from my lawyer for this treatment." Beth snarled.

Jenna called security as soon as the handcuffs came out. No one was going out of here in cuffs in front of the rest of the staff, not if she could help it. Before the agent had pulled the still protesting Beth further down the corridor, two of the plant's security guards had arrived. They looked at Jenna, who nodded in the direction of the agent, before they accosted the agent. The agent blustered and showed them his ID badge, trying to impress them with his authority. They were notably unimpressed, and demanded the cuffs be removed, saying this was unacceptable. Beth hadn't been charged with anything and was going to remain right here until things were sorted out.

The agent reluctantly released Beth and stormed out, saying they would hear more from him. The guards just winked at Beth and told her not to worry about him. Jenna took charge of the shaken Beth, taking her into the cafeteria for a coffee. Jenna was worried, although she managed not to show it, in front of Beth. Beth had explained what Ted had told her over the phone, about being accused of killing Colin.

Jenna knew this was not the case, but felt that having the FBI involved was going to complicate matters. If they got wind of anything suspicious, they would dig and pry through every avenue to get at the truth. To Beth, she remained calm, reassuring her that things would sort themselves out.

Ten minutes later, three men approached the two women who were nursing empty coffee cups. One was George the chief administrator, and looking at the other two, who were obviously FBI representatives, they recognized one of them as the agent that had accosted Beth before. The other, with no nonsense look about him, was obviously the first agents superior. This man was older with a hint of grey hair showing at his temples. When the girls looked up, they saw a smirk on the younger agents face as he saw their shocked expressions. The older man had an impassive look that told them, he wouldn't be any kind of pushover.

Just as they neared, Beth stood and waited. The younger agent took several rapid steps, leaving the others behind. He grabbed her arm and forced it behind her back, reaching for his cuffs.

"I told you that I'd be back," he sneered, openly. "Now behave or I'll really have to get rough." He jerked on her arm as emphasis.

 

To be continued in Chapter 4

 

Since 06/14/04