The following document is a rough draft of a novel that has been
copyrighted. Its contents are meant to be freely distrubuted and are not for
publication on any pay site. I want this to remain Free to anyone unless they
wish to have paper publishing rites and then only by permission of the
author, Leslie Josette Gill.
To anyone who reads this work, it is in progress. Much research is needed in
several areas. I wrote what seemed to be correct from what I know about
Television and some of the subject matter.
The point of view for this story was originally from Al/Leslie's. I
have changed it to the point of view of the doctor's in the first part of the
book and Leslie's in the second.. If you spot a mis-step. flag it and I will fix
it.
(the story is so large it is broken into 2 parts, this is part 2 of 2)
Drug Induced Genetic Mutation. DIGEM
A Medical Si-fi novel.
By Leslie Josette Gill
(continued from part 1)
Chapter 9
All references to Leslie will be "She". Its the way TV's look at
themselves.
When the guys returned to the hotel room, there had to be some
doctoring done. Jerry cleaned the wounds the other two received before
tending to himself. They decided to wait for "Alice" before doing anything
else.
"What did I do wrong?" Dean asked.
"You didn't do anything wrong. The asshole who wanted to gay
bash was the problem."
"I am not gay."
"I know that. He didn't."
"Oh. I guess I am not completely orientated to this male body yet. I
don't know the body language fully yet. I bet it was my size too."
"No, the guy wanted to beat up on some poor soul and you just
happened to be the smallest person in the bar."
"I can see that I will not like men that well. I mean associate with
them socially."
"Give it time. You will get it right. That is what we are doing here,
learning."
The girls had had a blast. They had been accepted as real women
instead of queens that night. That in itself was a complement to the
completeness of the changes caused by the drug. Leslie on the other hand
was bored out of her mind. She didn't like bars. She preferred to go out
and eat and watch people in a neutral environment. At the hotel in the
quarter, She talked to me half the night.
We talked about Mary and how it had all started. She knew Mary.
She had seen her perform. She was so good that Leslie didn't even know
she was a trans.
There was a pounding on the door. "Doc, we need you." It was
Jerry. "We got in a fight at one of the bars in the Quarter. Some asshole
called Dean a fagot. We had to do something about it. I got a few bruises
but the other guys got some cuts and scrapes. Can you come over to the
room?"
"Sure, I'll be right there."
It was something to behold. There were the guys trying to be macho.
It wasn't working. Dean was crying with pain and Keith was nursing a fat
lip.
"It looks like you guys got hit a few times. I hope you got in some
licks too."
"Oh yes, I got a few in."
"He swept the floor with the asshole who started all this shit."
"Hummm, sounds like you had some fun. Dean, let me look at that
cut."
"Ok Doc, I'm sorry I'm crying, but it hurts."
"Men cry too, Dean. I think you learned a valuable lesson tonight.
One that you will not soon forget."
"Yes, I have to learn some kind of self defense."
"Some kind of martial art would be good. Your physical size means
you need an edge."
Leslie's world would be topsy turvy from now on. She could see all
the fun she was going to have with this crew. Alice tended to the problem at
hand and looked at the damage. It was minor and would heal completely.
Keith's and Jerry's were the same.
"You three had better be glad that you got out of that place before the
cops came."
"We are indeed."
"Well we all have something to learn now days." I mumbled.
Leslie was coming to the clinic at Little Rock. Her life would change.
She had decided to take a medical leave of absence and let the company take
up most of the medical costs of the new treatment. After all she was going to
die without the therapy.
Leslie had been in and out of hospitals all her life. Working in them
was a constant battle to not get caught up in making them her only interest.
She had gotten involved in little theater and community stuff just as a defense
against burn out. She had worked for this company as an engineer for over
4 years when she was diagnosed with cancer. They could not explain how
she had managed to contract the stuff. After all, the X-ray stuff was an
unknown. So they blamed her safety practices and closed the files. But she
had obtained an attorney. She had to. Her gut would not leave me alone
until She did. Now that she had an attorney, she found out just what my
company had done to her. They had managed to lock her out of her benefits.
If the cancer was an accident, she could have gotten to help. But by
classifying it as negligence, they got out of paying the benefits. Typical
corporate behavior. Protect the corporation.
Leslie's attorney was in the process of giving her old boss gray hair
when she found the evidence that Leslie's cancer was accidental. She
worked with nuclear medicine and radioactive elements. They found that the
type of machine that I serviced radiate large amounts of energy unknowing to
the operator. For it to be a problem, you had to pull the covers. She did that
a lot. She got cancer.
Leslie's company manager was a total asshole. But when faced with
a lawsuit, he could be down right hospitable. This day, he was. She took a
full year of leave. Because the accident that caused the cancer was not her
fault, workman's compensation was going to continue to pay my salary and
benefits for the full year. Leslie's boss didn't understand that She would be
changed into female when the treatment was finished. They would never see
Al again. But they would meet Leslie. It would be someone they would
have to meet. Al was going to disappear forever.
Fran and Helen were doing OK. They chose the quiet life. They
moved back home. Fran didn't want to go back to work. But it would be
necessary. Frank's retirement was based on a medical 100 percent disabled
status. Someone in the company (3M) decided to revoke that status since
Fran was now physically OK. Fran would have to work in a different part of
the company now. She could not do the work she was used to anymore.
Fran would go back as a quality assurance director. She had been at this
plant for a long time and knew more about the operation of this plant than
anyone else there. So the plant manager was very nice to the woman who
came back in that day at the plant.
"Frank, OOPS, Fran, I am glad to see your back and in good health.
Do they say that you will live a full normal life now?" the manager asked.
"Yes, and with fewer problems. The drug that created what you see
here is also a protector. I will have fewer problems as a woman physically
that being a man."
"Can you handle what your coworkers will say to you?"
"Look, I didn't ask for this to be done to me. I am not one of those
transsexuals. I am still me. I don't want anyone treating me as an invalid or
something."
"You might get that treatment anyway. You are now a woman."
"I know. Its going to be a minor problem though. I am going to be
very thick skinned."
"Good. Lets go see your new office."
"Office,?"
"Yes, Quality assurance is a management position and you will have a
secretary. You will need her too. This job requires paperwork and going
out on the plant floor a lot. I didn't give you an easy job. You have
knowledge that can't be replaced. So I plan to get the most out of you that I
can. I hope you can handle it."
"I will look forward to it. I need a challenge. I am tired of sitting on
this new fat female ass."
"Uhhhhh Hump"
"I'm sorry, I still have some problems with acting like a lady. Give
me a little time and I will get it right. You have no idea how awkward I feel
right now."
The manager smiled. "I can't possibly imagine how you feel. Good
luck."
"I think I am going to need it." With that, Fran went to get used to
the new office and get acquainted with her secretary and job.
Alice Harvey was a secretary in the pool working at 3M. She had
been there for several years. She had no idea what to expect from the new
boss. No one had ever talked to her about Frank.
The plant manager walked in with this lady. Alice, this is Frank, uh
OOPS, Fran. Alice raised an eyebrow and decided to play along.
"Hello, its going to be a pleasure working for you. I haven't been
given any background on you or your expertise. Can you fill me in?"
"Sure." Fran said. The plant manager spoke up. "I'll leave you girls
to talk and get acquainted. Good luck Fran."
Fran told Alice Harvey the whole story. Alice wanted to laugh then
cry. But then she looked at Fran and said, "What can I do to help you?"
"Just keep me straight and do the female thing and interact with the
people around here. I can do the job the plant manager wants me to do. I've
been working here for over 20 years. I just need help with the new role. I
wasn't born a lady. I didn't want this. I just want to get along and prove I
can do this."
"OK, you got it."
"Good. I think we can do this."
The two got to work right away. Helen even came by to see Fran.
Helen wasn't happy about a secretary such as Alice working with Fran. Fran
thought it had to be some kind of jealousy. But what could Fran do about
another woman. She was now one. It had to be a mute point.
"Fran, you have to stop sitting like that."
"Like what?"
"Sitting with your legs spread open. That sends a very bad message
to those who see it. It means your available for something other than
business."
"Oh, I had no idea. Is this better?" She closed her knees together and
sat with her ankles crossed.
Alice asked, "How long have you been away from the plant?"
"Its been a year and a half. When I was diagnosed with the cancer, I
took a leave of absence to see what could be done. Then I was pronounced
terminal with only 2 months to live. My doctor told me about the
experimental program that did this to me. I will live the rest of my life as a
female. And like I've said before, I do not like it. Its a nuisance."
"If I have this right, you would be dead now if it wasn't for this
program, right?"
"Yes, that's right. But look at what it has done to me and my kids.
They are afraid to come around because they think I am a freak. I am not a
freak."
"Let me tell you, Fran, I had no idea that you weren't female before.
I would have never have known unless you had told me."
"Thanks, but I will always consider my soul a man. This was only
necessary to sustain my life. I guess I will have to live this way from now
on. But that is OK, I would do it again. I will not give up."
Fran went out on the floor. The men who saw her starred and
looked at her. After all, women on the floor was almost unheard of. It was
dangerous and took special training. Everyone wanted to know who the
Lady was.
One of the men came up. "Its me Charlie. I'm Frank." The mans
mouth opened and he was speechless.
"We thought you were dead."
"They found a cure. I went to an experimental program to stop the
cancer. They did this to me."
"Your a woman now. Oh yea, that guy that is changing people's sex
to cure cancer."
"Yes, and it wasn't my choice. It was the only way to save my life.
So I am back. And if any of you swinging dicks treat me like a lady, I'll kick
you where your brains are. I am still the asshole you knew as Frank. And I
am still an asshole. But now you can call me some new names. Just don't
let me hear them."
Word spread like wild fire. Frank was back. Or was he? She? Time
would tell.
---------------
Lorrie was going to go back to work also. Larry Powel was a great
asset to the company he worked for at one time. Lorrie would be also if she
could fit in with the office politics and the co workers. Lorrie would go back
to designing computer hardware and electronic systems to support computer
offices. Larry had been gone over a year. He had worked even though he
knew he had cancer. So now she was back. The company management
would have taken Larry back as a chimp if he could do his job at the same
level he had before he had left. Yes, they cared that it would create some
problems for the workers and office staff, but it was their problem.
Lorrie showed up for the first new day of work in a very nice dress
for success business dress. The hair was long and the nails were done and
everything was in order. Heels and all. They didn't know Lorrie. The
change was so profound that even the security guard had to have ID. to let
Lorrie in. It was a total shock to everyone who had worked with the old
Larry. The new Lorrie was the same person. But not outwardly. The girls
in the office would have to get used to this.
The first day of work took some reorientation. She had kept up with
the technical journals and was not too far out of date on systems. 486's and
586 systems were beginning to be old hat. There were new ALPHA
processors that would do all kinds of timeshare and high level functions. But
the systems that Larry worked on were put together from scratch. The
company now was using generic workstations and specialized software.
That was no problem for Lorrie. Work was going well and Lorrie was ready
for a system project. It took her only 1/2 the time to do it that the other
system engineers took. The boss was smiling again. But the others in the
office had problems. The old jealousy was back. So because of the rivalry,
they were looking for an excuse for Lorrie not to work out.
The women were involved in the conspiracy. They would not
cooperate with Lorrie when she asked for some coffee or to type up a
proposal. You're one of us now, do it yourself. So Lorrie would. Yes it
slowed her down. One day, the big boss came by and asked how things
were going.
"I have to do everything myself. I don't mind you understand. I
realize that I'm different now. But it would sure be a big help if people
would cooperate."
"How can I help?"
"Get me some cooperation out of the coworkers around here. I don't
want to bitch to loudly but no one will help me." Lorrie could here it now.
The queer is a crybaby. Can't handle the pressure any more.
The big boss said "Don't worry about any of this. You will be here
long after these folks are gone. You are more valuable."
"Thanks."
Later that day, Lorrie had had too much coffee and headed to the
bathroom. There was a his and hers. She went in to the hers as normal and
some of the other women were in the bathroom. The stares and hand ringing
was obvious.
"We would like you to use the other bathroom."
"I am now a real woman. I can't go in the men's. It would not be
proper."
"We don't care, you make us creepy."
That was it for Lorrie. She had had enough. "You bitches need to
see something. I am not a freak. I didn't ask to have this done to me. I have
to live as a woman now for the rest of my life. I am real. Just as real as you.
Right down to the monthly period. I got one too."
"I don't believe you." one of them said.
"OK, Call everyone over here. You want to know if I am real or a
freak. Just look at this." She started to take her clothes off.
"The breasts are real." She invited several to come and check them
out.
"Come on and touch. You are the one's who say I am not real.
Come and check them out." Several came up and touched. One even
grabbed them and gave a squeeze. Then she took off the rest of the clothing.
Right down to the bare ass. They all looked at her in total disbelief.
"See, I told you. I was transformed into a woman at the DNA level.
Everything is real and functioning. I lost my upper body mussel tone and
build. I gained lower body strength. And I got the ass and hips any other
woman would have. I am real. Can't you see. No, I haven't changed in my
brain. I am the same person I always will be. The body is female. I can't do
anything about it. Now, will you let me use the ladies rest room? I got to
pee!" They all mumbled and apologized and left. She put her clothes back
on and took care of her business. She touched up the makeup and thought to
herself, The things people think now days. Doc, you were right when you
warned me about people.
After she had done the bathroom stunt, things only changed
somewhat. She still had an acceptance problem. But the question of what
restroom to use was answered. They still were shy, but tolerant. The work
was going better and better every day. She was getting better and better at the
new software and hardware configurations. She was working at the level of
4 people by herself. Suddenly it occurred to her, I work twice as hard as
anyone here just to be equal to the slowest man in the place. It was time for a
conference with the boss.
The boss came by one day just to check on her and how she was
doing on the job. She was ready for him when he walked in the door.
"I need to talk to you."
"Oh Oh, what's wrong. Are the girls refusing to get you coffee
again?"
"No, they are more helpful. I think things need to change around
here. You guys are paying the girls only 80 pecent of what you pay the
men. I came back at my old salary and the guys are making even more than
me."
"That is not true."
"Bull shit, here is the proof. I taped into the main computer and
accessed the employee records of everyone in the company. Men who have
been here half the time the girls have are making more money."
"You did what? That information is confidential. It is an offense that
is cause for termination."
"So, Its time we talked about this. I have suspected that there was a
double standard here for a long time. You could say I have a different point
of view now."
"Look, I don't care how valuable you are to the company, I may have
no choice but to fire you for illegal access to the main frame. I can prosecute
if I want to."
"Good, I can't wait to get into court and have the records in question
admitted as evidence in a court of law. I will have your balls. So will every
female employee here. Its called sexual harassment and discrimination."
"Lorrie, honey, you know that the men need the money more than the
girls. You of all of them should know. You used to be one."
"You know, that is right. By the way, if you call me honey again,
you will know how I feel, cause I will castrate you myself."
"Be careful of threats Lorrie."
"I am not threatening you. I have more evidence to submit to you."
All of a sudden, the poor manager turned around to see all of the office staff
looking through the door and cheering. They all came in the office and
cheered Lorrie.
"This is a private conversation."
"Not any more." one of the girls shouted.
"We overheard everything and if you don't comply with Lorrie's
wishes, we all walk. You will never get a good design department again.
The industry will boycott you and we will make sure you have maximum
problems from the legal system and the courts."
Lorrie had won one. But she was no fool. The wheels were turning
up in management. They would figure out how to keep her out of the
computer and how to shut her up. But she had a very strong advantage
now. She had the total cooperation of the entire female staff on the floor of
the building and a growing support of the rest of the building. The men
would have nothing to do with any of the female staff for the next few days.
They were aware that they were on thin ice.
Then it came. The call went out from management of a general
meeting in the company lobby. It was the only room big enough to hold a
company wide meeting. Then it would take two shifts to get to everyone.
Lorrie had been called to a meeting before the main one. She swallowed
hard and expected a curve ball.
It came. They produced the contract She had signed when she started
the job she had in the beginning. As Larry, she had agreed to honor all
company policies under civil penalties. Also, if by his action, the company
had a loss of funds, he could be libel for the cost to the company. Also if by
his actions, company information was disclosed to anyone, he could be
prosecuted in federal court. She was then handed a court order to stop
discussing anything to do with company records and that if they had cause to
believe that she was involved in any employee action, they would prosecute.
She said nothing and asked to be excused monetarily. She made a phone
call. She had been expecting some kind of action. She called her attorney
and he in turn made some inquires to the news media. She would use her
situation against the company. The news media would eat up this story.
The attorney advised Lorrie to use the news media and be ready to serve the
company with a pre-planed summons into court. The attorney basically
stated that public opinion would pull the odds to her favor and in a stalemate,
the public would decide the case for them by forcing them to keep up P. R.
It was a good strategy. It was an unusual ploy to tip her hand this early.
But she really didn't want to hurt the company. She just wanted to work
unharressed. If they understood just how far she was willing to take it, they
would back off. Or so she hoped.
The attorney was ready with the paperwork and came right over. It
took a total of 10 minutes. She walked back into the room with a summons
of her own. She handed it to the boss.
"OK, we go to court. You take your best shot. I have nothing to lose
here. I can only gain in this situation. I want to remind you that in a down
and dirty fight, PR. is everything. I am a walking PR nightmare and I know
it. You know it too. So here it is. Take your best shot. I am not backing
down."
It would take a few minutes for the attorneys to look at the summons
and the suit that she was bringing against the company. She knew that they
might have a good shot at winning against her. But in a PR battle, she was
unbeatable. The negative publicity would haunt them for years. It didn't take
long.
Before they even would discuss the entire situation, they wanted to
have a few assurances. They wanted no publicity first. Second, they wanted
to get the staff working again and with no problems. Third, they wanted to
control the salary situation so that they wouldn't have to up every female's
salary and pay back pay.
"OK, I need to have a discussion with the girls." She took off and
meet with the girls. It was the consensus that they only wanted to rock the
boat only slightly. They wanted to keep the jobs they had and have salary
equity. So as long as the company agreed in writing that all inequities would
be settled to the satisfaction of all, they had a deal.
Lorrie walked back into the room where the management and staff
were gathered.
"We are fully prepared to blow this company out of the water. We
only want one thing, Equity. We have enough evidence to put it to you. But
ultimately, we want to continue working. Just treat us fairly and you will
have no problems."
"How soon do you need equity?" one of the men asked.
"Right now. Do you know how much that will cost? We will not be
able to handle the cost to the business."
"The company is in better shape that you would want me to believe."
"What?"
"Yes, I also have those records too. I maintain access to records you
don't want anyone to see. I have always been able to crack your systems.
What do you think I am, a total idiot? I am supposed to be one of the best
computer systems engineer in the country. I am always going to be able to
get into your records. So it would be an act of good will to continue to allow
access. If I suddenly lost access, I would become very suspicious of you.
Look, all we want is to be treated fairly. That has not happened yet. You do
that and all will be well. By the way, I will make sure that you don't stab us
in the back. I will be watching you closely."
They all mumbled and reluctantly agreed and decided to go in front of
the workers gathered in the hall.
"We have made an agreement. Female and male workers will now be
treated equally. Equal work for equal pay. Lorrie here has volunteered to
monitor and police our salary systems and act as a mediator for the company
and the working staff. This has nothing to do with management. They will
continue to bid and compete for their salaries."
Was this over? By no means was it over. One thing was obvious.
Lorrie had been accepted by the women. It would be a continuing process.
What the company would do later after the storm was over was
unpredictable. Time would tell.
-------------------------------
Fran was getting along with most of the workers who used to know
Frank. It was uneasy at first. But when it was obvious that Fran was the
person they all used to know, it went well. Fran was female in appearance
enough that no one questioned what bathroom she should use. The other
secretaries in the complex had heard rumors, but none of them openly
challenged Fran or management.
One day while out on the floor, Fran observed a serious situation.
One of the containers of HCL (a very strong acid) had started a leak. It had
been caused by a fork lift and a new guy who didn't know the rules. It was
immediately reported. What she didn't observe was another container of
some other chemical had also sprung a leak. The two were not compatible
and would cause a fire if mixed. She had noticed it too late. There were
workers in the area and could not possibly know how much danger there
was at the moment. Fran did and hit the panic system. The two way radio
went crazy with requests for where the emergency was and who hit the
button. Fran went into action. She didn't have time to get on the radio. Men
would die that day and she had work to do.
The fire was contained 10 minutes after the alarm had been sounded.
Fran had been able to save every man on the floor except one. He had been
in the area where the drums of chemicals were stored. There was no way for
him to have survived the explosion. Fran had been burned badly enough to
be sent to the hospital. Mostly her hands and arms. Nothing else. Some of
her clothing had been burned. It was a little embarrassing to everyone there
because her blouse and upper clothing had to be removed as they had caught
fire. She was not burned, but she had nothing on. She didn't even think
about the fact that her breasts were exposed. Finally one of the paramedics
came over with a blanket and covered her. Nothing was said, but who was
going to tell her when she was single-handedly responsible for saving 10 or
more lives that day. When asked about it later, she said, "I did my job. That
is what I am here do do." One of the management people came over and
inquired why she had not gotten on the radio to tell them where the problems
were.
"I was too busy getting the men that survived out of the fire. I didn't
have time to talk on that stupid radio." None of the management were going
to challenge her. She had turned a major fire into a minor one with only one
death. It could have been a lot worse. She was going to the hospital.
Now the side effect no one expected started to show. Her burns
almost healed immediately. Anyone else would have had serious burn scars
and a long painful recovery. Fran seemed to recover in a week. The doctors
wanted to look at this as, from the original records, they expected a long
recovery period. She was different and they wanted to know why........
----------------------------------
I was now an international figure. The formula NOL-5 F and M was
being used all over the world. Leslie was now in the clinic at Little Rock in
the process of changing into a woman. The hotel was comfortable. I had
expanded the facilities and could take 15 or 20 people in the clinic at once.
The formula was being used by 100,000 people now and the number was
increasing rapidly. People were being saved. The formula was almost fool
proof. It worked when no other solution would. The research on the drug
could not offer any new information on the effect. DNA level changes and
mutation into the opposite sex. One to one and 1/2 years and the mutation
was complete.
Caroline Rodgers and me were an item. I was a millionaire 50 times
over now. The royalties on the drug were increasing monthly. I didn't have
to work now. But I was not going to stop working at my practice in plastic
surgery or the cancer research. After all, I had been on the cover of Time
magazine and every medical journal in the world. Time was quite good to
me.
Caroline was now living full time with Me. I also had bought a nice
building in New Orleans. Right in the French Quarter. I had the money. I
even hired Mary to run it. She had turned out to be a good manager. Free
rent and a nice salary to maintain the building and rent the apartments out to
who ever wanted one. The top floor was always reserved for me and
friends. It was a block of 4 apartments. It was perfect too. Private and big.
I moved all the female things to the apartment building and kept everything
there. After all, I didn't want anyone to catch the famous cancer doctor, in
drag. I could hide in the quarter.
Caroline was continuing the primate studies. Zoo's all over the
country were asking about curing animals with different kinds of cancers and
how the formula worked. Some animals were too big for the small facilities
the clinic had. So blood work would be handled remotely and recommended
dosages would be prepared for the animals at the zoo. Several elephants and
horses received the drug with perfect results.
I was amazed how well Caroline accepted Alice and all the friends
Alice had. But Caroline explained one day that it was easier to accept a
transvestite boyfriend who stayed close to her than one who would go fishing
or hunting or something else that would keep the pair apart. Work was a
different matter. Both had full time professional requirements. Work was a
priority and both needed a certain amount of independence.
Billie continued to stay with me. She was a valuable resource and I
needed her to continue to deal with the government on several issues. All
kinds of questions were put to Us that made trips to practically every state
necessary. Questions on the previous research and effects of the drug on
different kinds of cancers happened all the time.
Billie was a happy person. She was the most flamboyant female I
had ever been around. She would wear things only other people dreamed of
wearing. One day, a very tight leather skirt and very high heels and the next
day a very conservative dress with a very low cut neck line. (One of the old
problems that had not been fixed was that male to female patients on the drug
developed very large breasts.) Billie had a beautiful set and loved to show
them off. But she was loyal to Robert and they had talked about getting
married. She just liked to dress, well say, sexy. This would be the wedding
of the year in the quarter. They would have to book a very large building to
hold this wedding.
Caroline was still trying to hook me. I was resisting but there was
some weakening. Finally, I opened up to Caroline and told her why he
didn't just ask.
"I am a transvestite. I can't stop being what I am. I can't help feeling
that that might cause us problems. Can you live with someone like me with
no limitations on the cross dressing?"
Caroline thought about it for a minute and answered, "Look, I love
you. I don't have a problem with any of this. I know that you are straight
(Heterosexual) and would not mess with any one else. As long as I didn't
catch you hooking on the street corner, we don't have any problems."
Allen chuckled and answered, "You don't have anything to worry
about. What if I look better than you?"
"I will always know who and what you are. There will be some days
where I will not be in the mood for Alice. But don't worry. Those days will
be few. Just do me one favor."
"What is it?"
"Be discreet and don't get caught outside the Quarter in drag."
"OK, sounds fine by me. I might dress in safe environments with
Billie around to run interference. By the way, how do you feel about
Billie?"
"Billie is my buddy. Don't worry, that is how I will keep up with
you. If you get out of hand, Billie will tell me."
"I have a great idea, why don't we make it a double wedding?"
"With Billie and Robert."
"I think it would be fun. Only one thing, on our wedding night, No
Alice."
"Agreed."
"We do the wedding straight. I can just see the press all around."
"Yea, you are right. Looks like a double wedding. Let me call
Billie."
Billie was excited to no end. A double wedding. "Wow, this is
going to be a blowout. Doc, who is going to wear the wedding dress?"
"She will. I got to do this straight. The news media will be crawling
all over us."
"OK, let me get started with the arrangements."
Billie was right, it would be a blowout.
Chapter 10
A New Orleans wedding.........
Even by normal standards, this was going to be a big show. Billie
and Caroline were very busy. The plans were for 3 months away. Every
time I asked Caroline what the plan was, her answer was "Don't worry, you
have enough money for it." That statement scared me. But, I knew that she
wouldn't spend all my money. I was worth at least 55 million dollars. That
was increasing every day. So money was not an issue. Any one who didn't
have a lot of money would be kinda nervous with that statement. I decided
to cool my jets.
Other things were happening. There were questions being asked
every day over the effects of NOL-5. No one could alter the effects NOL-5
created and have a cure for cancer. One lead to another. It seemed to me that
everyone was approaching the problem from the wrong direction. The cell
mutation was the key to the cure. Without the mutation, the cure would not
occur. It seemed to me that some kind of mutation was necessary for cells to
reject the cancer. It was elegant and complicated.
The patients who were on NOL-5 were doing well. Only a few
problems were documented. There were several cases where the drug was
not given in time for the desired effect to occur. There was a time window.
But there was a couple of problem cases. There were a couple of deaths that
could not be explained. The patients were terminal. So they were going to
die. It is a cruel world. So they were expecting some kind of problems. I
took every death personal. Why? How come there were deaths related to
the drug? I thought. Even two is unacceptable.
The answers came slowly. The doctor who had administered the
drug to the two patients in question stated that the drug was administered
unaltered. But after some research and a chemical analysis, it was
discovered that the drug had been altered. And at the very worst timing.
The deaths would still count against him because the doctor in question
wouldn't "fess up". But I could live with the results.
There was also a new disturbing trend. The TS community were
finding ways to get a form of cancer and be allowed to take the drug to
become female. It was much cheaper than surgery and the effects were
much better. The only reason I even knew about this was because of my ties
in that community. Inside information. The other doctors had no idea what
was going on. I didn't know who or how the cancers were being generated,
but it had to be stopped. This was a very serious health risk. And this drug
was supposed to be the last hope. It was becoming the drug of choice in
serious cancer treatment. I had lost control of its administration.
Things were happening very quickly. Too quickly for my taste.
Problems were occurring with patients and drug administration that were
maddening. Doctors were not telling their patients that the drug was totally
addictive and that discontinuation of the drug would lead to death. A few
were going to sue. "Good. Serves those doctors right."
Leslie was doing very well. The girls that were in the program didn't
need to help her with the body language or the other female things. She
knew from observation in the past what to do and how to do it. She was
going to be the easy one. But no matter how good you are at mimicking
something, you are never as good as the original. So she was always
listening to constructive criticism.
Leslie had started to log her weekly thoughts like all the other patients
were. Billie always seemed to be around doing something. But the wedding
seemed to occupy her thoughts more that work. Leslie offered to help take
up the slack while she did other things. She seemed to appreciate the help.
So Leslie became Billies assistant. Billie showed me the files and the index
system on the computer.
"Everything is on the computer. All our patients and their files are
there. So don't show them to anyone. As my assistant, you will be exposed
to confidential info. Don't discuss any of this with anyone." She of course
understood. After all, She dealt with medical records and confidential info
before. It gave her something to do around the "Hotel".
Marilyn always seemed to be snooping around the building. Every
time the patients looked around, there she was. They also knew that if she
was around, I had to be here. NOL-5 had gone world wide. They had no
idea how many people were on the drug. It was being used in some cases as
the first line of treatment. Of course, that was not the intent of the drug. But
there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
Lorrie, Keith, Jerry, Dean, and Fran were doing extremely well.
Fran had won all kinds of awards due to the actions she took with the fire.
What was even better was the fact that she instituted a plan of action to
prevent the same thing from happening again.
Lorrie, after the bathroom stunt, and the employee action she took for
the women of the office, was an instant hero. She was so valuable to the
company that she expected no reprisals from her company. But she wasn't
stupid. She was keeping a log of everything said so she would be prepared
to contact her attorney. They were a little shy of the attorney she had
retained. He was too fast for their taste. She called and he was there in 10
minutes.
Keith was having fun too. As Kate Johnson, "she" had to be better
than any of the men who were selling corporate advertising. Several times in
the past, she was asked to "entertain" prospective clients. She felt like some
kind of paid escort, sex and all. They couldn't do it to "him" now. It was a
totally new set of rules. He was going to have a lot of fun. He had decided
to wait until someone played those games on one of the females he knew
didn't like it. (Yes, some of the women did like to be escorts. It was easier
than competing with the men for accounts.) He knew he wasn't going to
have to wait too long.
Dean had come back to the school that he had once worked in as
Maureen. To his utter amazement, there were absolutely no problems as
long as he didn't actually teach students. There had been several PTA
meetings about the subject and all were in agreement that administration was
the best place for the new man. He could deal with it. But a certain little dog
was seen pissing on tires in the parking lot (on leash). Those little herding
dogs had strong smelling piss.
Dr. Allen Gurber had began to notice a change in society's view of
men and women. There were many landmark lawsuits charging sexual
discrimination. Men who had been turned into women could easily see
when someone was discriminating against them. I had been called to testify
as an expert witness for the court. It was a confusing issue. I had already
been involved with several cases where the same thing came up. Men and
Women both were challenging societies views on the roles of both. (More
on this later.)
The military was having a royal fit over the Gem issue. They
couldn't control who they allowed to serve in the military. Gays and
lesbians still were not allowed to serve in the military. So when the military
came up on a Gem, they just gave the individual a medical discharge. In
some circles, the Gem issue would be used try to force the military into
allowing Gays and Lesbians in the services. (More on this too, later.)***
Back to the wedding. Billie and Caroline were being fitted for the
wedding gowns. Poor Robert had no idea how to accept all of this. But he
was doing better than me. I had the money for the whole wedding. So I was
going to pay for it all. They had their base of operations in New Orleans in
the top floor of the apartment building. Billie and Robert were already living
on the top floor. She was doing allot of paperwork by computer modem and
phone calls. I on the other hand was doing the paperwork in Little Rock.
There were 20 patients in the "Hotel" But they were all approaching term.
In 3 weeks, Leslie would be the only one in Little Rock.
Leslie got the phone call a week later. I wanted Leslie to come back
to New Orleans. She had a good idea what I wanted. She had some
expertise in medical electronics. She suspected that I wanted to move the
operation completely to New Orleans. But She would wait and see what I
said. It was going to be a meeting of everyone who was involved with the
program.
I had everyone who mattered in the room. "I know all of you have
come a long way with me. I would like to know how you all would feel
about moving perminately to this city."
Leslie spoke up. "Allen, what are you going to do with your lab and
practice?" I am thinking about moving the whole thing down here."
"What about Caroline?"
"I have asked her and I think she needs to speak up."
Caroline cleared her throat. "I have decided to see about moving
everything down here also. We have been looking for a place to practice.
We are also looking for a property similar to this one where the city will
allow animals for veterinary purposes. We think we've found a place in the
French Quarter in one of the old warehouses. Allen has found several for
sale from the RTC and is going through a Realtor now." Leslie spoke up
again.
"Doc, You got a lot of money, but not that much. What is going on
here?"
"OK, here is the scoop. I have been offered a very lucrative deal by
Tulane medical center to come to New Orleans and join the staff. They will
pay to move my equipment and provide a place in house for the research to
continue with their blessing and name power." The unspoken question was
"what about us?"
And the next question was "What are you going to do about Alice and
her friends? Tulane med. center will not understand too well if you are
caught with your friends and as Alice."
I had thought a lot about all of this and his answer was "Look they
know me as Dr. Hormone or Dr. Sex change. If I turn up in the quarter as
something other than a doctor, so what?"
Caroline had something to say about this though. "I had rather not
have to tell my friends back in Little Rock that my husband, the mad doctor,
is a transvestite or queen. After all, you are single-handedly changing society
and it would be nice if you were the paragon of virtue your medical degree
demands."
"That means that I can't get caught."
"In so many words, Yes."
"OK." and that was the end of it. I would make sure that I wouldn't
get caught.
Leslie had gone back to Little Rock to get the equipment move ready.
I had been busy. I had found a large old warehouse in good enough shape to
run my lab and Caroline's animal practice. It looked like it was also big
enough to operate the "Hotel" too.
The administration at Tulane Medical center were excellent in the way
they were treating my entire staff. There was one catch. "We believe that our
security is adequate to protect you while on the grounds of the hospital and
medical school. Your private security person is quite unnecessary and well,
unwanted. She attracts attention and a little more high profile than we would
like." This made me rather uncomfortable. "I did not expect this world
renouned clinic would discriminate against someone's gender. She is going
to be responsible for my private lab and clinic facilities. And if I need her
here, she will be here. Package deal! She has been very good at keeping
the staff and myself secure." They silently shook their heads in agreement.
It would not be an easy thing for them to accept.
The wedding was getting closer. The guest list included every big
wig from the hospital, all Doc's previous patients, some of the city politicians
and most of the queens in the quarter. Mary was in the middle of all the
arrangements. All the girls we were friends with were involved in the
wedding. I ran into her while things were busy and stopped to talk.
"Know anyone who what's to buy a house in Little Rock?" I have to
let it set for a while. I hate to sell good property."
"I wish I were that rich."
"How is things?"
"I have been kinda busy. I am starting a new show for the club I'm
working for and the rehearsals are a bitch. Between the new hotel and that, I
am kinda busy"
"The show is at the same place as before?"
"Yep, Its going to be a big deal too."
"I will plan to come see you. Expect me soon." Doc hung up the
phone and made a note.
The wedding was Less than 2 weeks away. Caroline and Billie had
the dresses and most of the brides maids stuff. The men were going to go
basic black. It would be a very traditional wedding, priest and all.
Caroline and me had been talking quite a bit. We decided to not make
any prenuptial agreements but agreed to some limitations on different things.
My cross dressing would be limited to planned outings only. After all, if it
wasn't well planned, I might get caught.
Caroline was a card player. She invited several friends over
periodically and would make it a party. I agreed to not interfere with that
time. She would be open minded as to bedroom dress. We would be very
open and communicate. I didn't expect the marriage to be perfect, but, If we
continued to talk like this, We would make it.
-------------------------------------
Keith Johnson was starting to get back into the swing of things. He
had gone to all of Kate's old customers and basically explained the situation
to them. Some were positive. Some were negative. He had expected some
negative reactions. But an unusual trend was occurring. Somehow, several
customers were specifically asking for the person who just went through the
cancer treatment. Word was out. It seemed that executive women from other
companies wanted to buy advertising from Keith. They felt that he had a
unique prospective for what both men and women wanted and how to sell it
to them. He became so successful that it was causing much jealousy among
the men of the office. He suffered several vandalism incidents where records
were destroyed. The term "GEM" had been scrawled over his desk and
chair. He ignored it and continued to work. He wasn't worried as the
building had good security and the guilty party would be caught and dealt
with. It was so stupid.
One week after the first incident, he had managed to outsell every man
in the building and was the lead account manager for the company. He was
offered a partnership in the business. It was a great day. He walked out to
the garage to get his car and go home. Something was wrong. He walked
out hesitantly toward his car when he spotted the men. He was sure that
they were waiting for him. He tried to get back to the elevator. They were
too fast. Before he could fight back, a hood was placed over his head. His
clothes were removed. He expected the beating. It was brutal and painful.
What he didn't expect was what happened next. One of the attackers spoke.
"You will never be a real man. We don't care if you got the equipment, you
ain't a man. So we decided to make sure you will never get the chance."
Keith heard a knife open and one of the men grabbed his penis and scrotum
and before he could react, he felt a very sharp pain and lost consciousness.
Leslie got the phone call in Little Rock. I was totally shocked. "Who
did it?"
The policeman answered, "We don't know. The body was found in a
pool of blood. We need to talk to Dr. Gurber. There was an instruction card
in his wallet to contact this number for information as to next of kin and
medical information."
"Where is the body?" was all I could say. Leslie called me and told
me what had happened. I was on the next plane to Memphis, Tennessee to
meet with the police and coroner. It was a sad day and a message of things
to come.
I went clinical with the coroner in Memphis. "How was the body
found?"
"It was found with the genitals severed and stuffed down his throat.
Please give me some information on the drug you prescribed to this patient."
"Sure, its a basic mix of hormones and a Some other things. I
brought a sample."
"Good, by the way, you do know that we believe that this was a hate
crime?"
"Yes, I suspected as much. When will you release the body?"
"In a day. We needed information on the drug and a personal
identification."
I was thinking to myself. "In a week and a half, I will be married.
But now I got to set up a funeral." It turned out later that he had funeral
insurance and all would be taken care of. It would be a private service with
only close friends and relatives.
It was a hate crime. Pure and simple. Was this what the other
patients could expect from modern society? I could only wait and see. It
wouldn't take long for something else to happen.
It was starting. Others had been attacked. The police were calling the
clinic from all over the country. The new hate symbol was the shape of a
diamond. It identified a person who had gone through the change. It was
sickening. The typical cancer patient was above average intelligence and high
levels of drive and self discipline. It was no wonder that many of these
people were succeeding in businesses and were different. So there was a
level of jelicocey. They were also an unknown. People fear the unknown.
There were several bills submitted to the legislature to identify a "Gem"
patient. They would have to have some kind of symbol or identifier to let an
employer or police person know that this was a genetic mutation. I was
lobbying congress and the senate. I was also involved in a court fight over
sexual discrimination against many of the GEMS patients.
America was being forced to comply completely with the
discrimination laws. One of the things happening to public restaurants was a
unisex bathroom arrangement. California was the first state to ban male and
female facilities as such. There were two rooms. One had a urinal. The
other was just stalls. The other change was a much stronger law to prevent
lude and crude behavior in and around these places. One had to go with the
other. We laughingly called them the "head cops". But they had their own
problems.
The police all over the country had to accept any patient that had gone
through the process as a means to save their lives. Police work would
change radically. The line between female and male was blurring. It was
going to be a new world to live in.
The church was having a large problem. This was the biggest
surprise to all of the GEM patients. Baptist churches would expel any male
to female patient who decided to live full time female. They could not come
to church in female clothing. But it caused another difficult problem. Most
of the male to female patients would develop large breasts. This was the
biggest unpleasant side effect of the change. A religious person would honor
the Baptist churches wishes and come to church in "male" clothing. But the
braless chests would attract lots of attention. There had to be a compromise.
But they were radical about maintaining a "sexual continuity".
The catholic church had a more liberal policy. They would allow
modest female dress for those who were in a changed condition. But the
other side was that they would not allow these people to dress in any kind of
way to attract attention to themselves. This meant no flashy dressing or tight
clothing in public. It had been called a sin to do so. This was causing much
problems for the folks in the French Quarter. Most were catholic. The
queens really just freaked out. Most of the priests down there just kept
things as status quo.
The other religions across the country and all over the world just tried
to ignore the situation completely. But it was a harder question day by day.
More and more people were on the program. The federal government had no
choice but to allow class 3 status to the drug. It was the safest cure for the
cancer desease ever found. It did other things.
There was a good side effect becoming evident in Gems patients.
They were desease resistant to other nasty bugs. They didn't get a common
cold easily. Communicable diseases were almost unheard of in a gems
patient. If a gem patient had a sight medical problem that was genetic, it
would correct itself 35percent of the time. There were a bunch of studies in
progress to look for any of the side effects this drug caused. Then there was
Fran's case. She healed very quickly. Research continued......
--------------------------------------
Two days before the wedding, I was just sitting in the apartment with
Robert talking and reflecting on the new world he had began. "Doc, did you
ever think that you would be the savior of the modern world?"
"No, I didn't ever think I would be in this pickle. I am now a rich
man. But that isn't what I wanted to do. I wanted to find a cure. I did, but
what a cure. I probably would do it again. I can't think of anything I would
do any different."
"Well, I never thought I would be marrying a woman. I have always
been gay. It never occurred to me that I would be here now. Well, at least, I
don't have to pay for this party. Doc, how much is this going to cost
anyway?"
"Don't ask, just lets say, I never spent this much money in my life.
Without the money from my drug, I couldn't do this. Lets enjoy it. God, I
need a girls night out."
"That would be a good theme for a party in the quarter. Why don't
you get Leslie and some of the other girls to set something up?"
"I am supposed to be good and not do anything without planing it
first."
"So plan it. Call her up and see if you and some of the others could
go out and let your hair down."
"Good idea."
I had just bought a bunch of things for the wedding and Caroline was
in a good mood.
"Sure, why not. Just be sure that you have someone with you when
you go out. I would hate for anything to happen right now."
"Don't worry, its just going to be a little walk in the quarter. Nothing
flashy."
"I know, this could be your little party before the wedding."
"Hey, I didn't think about it. Did anyone else plan any surprises
before we plan this thing?"
"Allen, I have no idea what is going on. I would keep a low profile
on the night before the wedding, but tonight would be a good girls night
out."
"Thanks for the warning." She didn't say anything else.
I got the call to get ready for an outing. I needed to get out and have
some fun. So the little get to gather was a welcome thought.
Alice hadn't been out in a while. After all, it wouldn't be a good idea
for anyone from the hospital to see their newest specialist in the quarter as a
queen. She would use the latex makeup tonight because she needed to
change her features enough so that no one could recognize her. The effect
was startling and convincing. I did a remarkable job and believe me, no one
would recognize me except my closest friends (queens). I went extremely
sexy. The outfit was not whore, but very sexy.
Leslie had been on the program not quite a year. She was complete.
She had the normal very large breasts. (She liked it that way too.)
Leslie was well known in the quarter too. So She decided to show
off the new equipment a bit. The little purple thing She had found was made
of spandex. She had to be careful of how she sat down, but it was modest
enough to not get propositioned in public. (Just barely.)
There were 6 of us that night. It was a sight to behold. We all looked
like gutter girls. We would have to stay together as a group or we would
have trouble. We crashed so many places that night that I think they are still
talking about us and that night.
"What in the hell are you sluts doing out tonight?" asked one of the
taxi drivers.
"Alice here is getting married in a couple of days and tonight is her
little party."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, and we are going to shut down the quarter tonight!" The taxi
driver didn't ask any questions. He just said, "where to?"
I am personally glad that it was a weekday that night, because the
tourists were not out in force. It was mostly locals. I didn't drink that much,
so I made sure that we all got back to the apartment complex OK. Leslie got
drunk and didn't remember too much. But when the guy in the bar we were
in tried to jump Leslie's bones right there in the place, it was time to go
home. After all, a girl has her pride you know.
We all were suffering headaches and hangovers the next day. I
looked frightful. I still was wearing the night before's face. Sleeping in
makeup was the worst thing you could do for your face. And this two days
before the wedding. Today was rehearsal. The dinner after was going to be
a hoot to. Nothing about this wedding was going to be ordinary.
I appeared from the apartment all cleaned up and in his normal suit.
But Leslie could detect something a little different. "Allen, you still wearing
your underwear, aren't you?"
"Opps, I didn't know it still showed. I better go change."
"Look honey, if you plan to stay legit, keep the two lives separated. I
know first hand. I got caught once when I got hurt on the job. The hospital
kept their mouth shut, but it was embarrassing."
"I just felt great last night and wanted it to last."
"Girl, don't I know just how you feel. I did that all the time. But I
never thought I would be here now."
"What are you going to do when you complete transition?"
"I had something in mind. I might be looking for a job here locally
with the hospital or even you."
"You know, I haven't even thought about it. I do need someone to
do maintenance and upkeep on my equipment and you could also run some
of the hotel operations and other work for me too. I would have 3 on the
payroll."
"You know, that is not a bad idea."
"Let me talk to Caroline about it and I will let you know, Leslie."
"Great, and I wouldn't have to go through the sexual discrimination
that all the others are going through. Not that I would take the easy way, but
it would help me until I got on my feet."
"OK, I will let you know."
It was time to assemble in the church for rehearsal. The priest looked
around and saw all the different people in the wedding party.
"Everyone get in their places. Where are all the brides maids and
chaperones?"
"They are all here sir." Allen answered.
"OK then, everyone take their places." What was throwing the priest
was that some of the brides maids were not in their normal condition. That
meant that some of the brides maids were obviously men. The priest was
not quite ready for this. Even though He knew this way before this day.
But I got to give it to him, he just kept on going.
After it was all over, we all went to a local restaurant and had the
traditional rehearsal dinner with each of the parties. I think we had more fun
than we were supposed to. But the conversation did turn to some serious
things that evening.
"Allen, what are we going to do about all the violence going on out
there against us?" one of the other patients asked. I had a speech prepared.
It sounded like one any way.
"People, I have been thinking about things quite a bit. Most of our
people are above average and achievers. So they are going to do better than
the average person. If you are good, then your good. But the general public
just doesn't understand that this was something that was done to just save a
life. They can only see a man or a woman in the opposite role and they don't
like it. There is little or no understanding. I have tried to educate the public.
But it just didn't work. So I have decided to try a new approach. It's radical
too. You know how the gays have started groups like ACT UP? We are
going to start a group like it. I haven't thought of a name for it yet, but it is
time to get politically active. I know we have some powerful friends in
Washington, but, it hasn't helped with the discrimination and violence. If
someone passes a law that makes MY patients or anyone else's wear or mark
themselves just because they are a GEM, then we should fight it. Don't wear
or allow any kind of marking. Lets do like the transsexuals and get the birth
certificates changed. Don't tell them that you are a GEM. Tell them your a
real girl, or guy. We can protest and try to build a political group of our
own. What the hell, everyone else is doing it, why can't we?"
Leslie looked at him and spoke up. "Allen, that would be great. But
how long before we have enough power to do anything?"
"Look at the number of patients on the drug now. I am rolling in
money from the use of the drug. There are more and more GEMS every
day. In another year, we will have 2 percent of the population on the drug.
Sooner or later, we will be able to stop some of the bullshit."
Leslie saw a good opportunity for a pun... "Doc, that is no way for a
lady to speak."
"You got me."
Billy spoke up. "OY Vay, that was a bad pun."
"By the way, you punsters have got a good thing going. Lets keep it
up. I kinda like poking fun at stuff, including myself. You can never take
yourself too seriously."
We all went to the apartment and hotels to get some sleep. The
wedding was at 1:00 PM the next day. New Orleans would not soon forget
this day.
Caroline's mother and fath