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This is the sequel to my story "Reformation." This story may not be re-posted without the permission of the author. COVERT CONVERSION By Lana B PROLOGUE Commander George Hathaway sat at the head of the long table in the basement room of the CIA Building in Langley, Virginia and watched as the members of his team took their seats. He saw Howie Filson, Archie Rosen and Frankie Dominick sit down on the comfortable leather chairs for the meeting that Hathaway had called. As the three men pulled their chairs toward the table to achieve comfortable positions Hathaway opened the black leather file on the table before him and reflected on the circumstances which had led him to call this meeting. Hathaway was the Commander of the Covert Security Council (CSC), a clandestine adjunct and advisory board to the Executive Staff of the CIA. The purpose of the CSC was to address the CIA's critical failures and assess their underlying reasons. And, most significantly, to formulate corrective action. Hathaway had hand-picked Howie Filson, Archie Rosen and Frankie Dominick for the CSC to assist him in carrying out its mission. Filson and Rosen had been two of the CIA's top former field operatives and had held important management positions in the agency when Hathaway had selected them to serve on the Council. And Dominick had been an active field operative when Hathaway nabbed him. Dominick was one of the best operatives in the CIA and Hathaway had done some considerable arm- twisting to pry him loose from his superiors in the field. The CSC's first assigned mission was to improve the intelligence gathering techniques of its field agents in order to enhance the quality of the information and intelligence they gathered. This was the year 2021 and it was recognized by the agency's hierarchy that the old- school methods of acquiring intelligence were outdated in the ever- changing context of the world scene. Over the past several years the CIA had failed to acquire critical intelligence on several occasions leading to some serious setbacks in a number of foreign policy initiatives. The CSC had already devised a plan to introduce female operatives into the field as a means to achieve its end of acquiring critical intelligence in a timely manner. It was decided that women were uniquely qualified to position themselves into proximity to targets and to the friends, associates, relatives or lovers of targets. Women were less likely than men to arouse suspicion. They were not expected to be spies. And they could conceivably seduce critical information from a target. The CIA's record in recruiting qualified female field operatives was dismal. There was not one female operative in the field at the moment. But the widely-held belief was that this unfortunate situation was not the agency's fault. Conventional wisdom held that women simply were not willing to place themselves at risk. And this theory found considerable support from past missions where female field operatives had completely decompensated and blown their covers in perilous situations. To overcome this rather substantial impediment the CSC determined that it would undertake to genetically convert a male field operative into a female and place the subject back into the field. And with the irreplaceable assistance and expertise of Dr. Henry Kruger, eminent physician, biologist and geneticist, a serum was devised to achieve that result. Dr. Kruger's serum attached itself to a male's Y chromosome and, over a six to eight month period, modified it into a second X chromosome. And as the Y chromosome progressively changed into an X chromosome the male subject progressively converted into a female. In a manner of speaking the male subject became the woman he would have been if he'd been born female. Dr. Kruger's serum had been tested on two unwitting male civilians with resoundingly successful results. These two men were converted into beautiful women and Hathaway was now ready to use this powerful new genetic technology to address and remedy a serious agency deficiency. Hathaway was ready to start the meeting. "Okay gentlemen, let's begin. At the last meeting I asked you to recruit one of our field operatives. Do you have someone for me?" Archie Rosen spoke up. "We found four viable and willing candidates Commander. But we all agree that one of them is by far the most suitable subject." "What's his name? And why's he the most suitable candidate?" "His name's Carl Taney Commander," Howie Filson answered. "He's 29 years old and he's single. And he's one of our best field operatives if not the best. He has an impeccable record. Fourteen covert missions and every one successfully accomplished. He's the operative who acquired the intelligence that led to the agency's sabotage of that North Korean nuclear reactor last year." "No kidding? That's impressive," Hathaway noted. "And he's willing to take the serum Commander. But he believes there's an antidote," Frankie Dominick advised. "There is an antidote. It's been tested successfully on laboratory animals. As I mentioned at our last meeting we just don't have the time to test it on a human subject. I want to use this technology now to commence a mission vital to our national interests. Time is of the essence. Dr. Kruger's assured me there's a ninety percent chance the antidote will work on a human. That has to be good enough gentlemen. I want to see this candidate. Where is he now?" "He's out in the hall Commander. We thought you might like to meet him," Dominick answered. "Good. Bring him in Frankie. I'd like to talk to him alone." Filson and Rosen took their cue and left. Dominick returned a moment later with Carl Taney in tow and introduced him to Hathaway. Dominick started for the door and Hathaway said, "I'd like you to stay too Frankie." "Sir?" "You're a part of this mission Frankie so have a seat and relax. You too Carl." Both men sat down and Hathaway looked at Taney. "I understand you've got quite a record for getting results Carl." "I just do my job sir." "Yeah, but you do it better than anyone else. I've got an urgent mission I need accomplished soon. And I hear you've volunteered for it. Is that right?" "I did Commander." "And you realize that you'll be taking a serum which will actually change your gender?" "Yes." "You're willing to do that? Why?" "I've been told the mission is vital to our national interests. I love my country Sir, and I'd do anything for it. Besides, there's an antidote that'll reverse the effects of the serum after the mission's accomplished, right?" "That's right Carl." Frankie Dominick winced in his mind when he heard Hathaway's assurance since he knew the antidote had not yet been tested on a human subject. He also knew that he couldn't tell that to Carl. And that saddened Frankie because he liked Carl. He and Carl had attended the agency's training academy together and had become very good friends. Frankie didn't want any part of a plot to deceive him but it looked like he was getting sucked into it. "Don't worry, the antidote will work," Frankie silently assured himself. "Well as long as there's an antidote then I'll do it Commander." "Okay Carl. It's a deal," Hathaway said and smiled. "May I ask what the mission is Commander?" Frankie asked. "I'm not at liberty to say anything about it right now other than to tell you that you're both involved as principals. You'll get a full briefing when the time's right. Right now I want to go over a few logistics for the next six months." "Logistics for the next six months Commander?" Carl asked. "Yeah. I'm talking about the six month period during which you'll undergo a progressive change of gender. For obvious reasons I'm pulling you off the job Carl. This is highly classified information and no one can see you go through this transformation. Where do you live Carl?" "I have a garden apartment about fifteen minutes from here." "How about you Frankie?" "I have a small house about twenty minutes away Sir." "Is it private? Do you have nosy neighbors?" "I have a stockade fence around the entire perimeter. And I really don't have much contact with any of my neighbors." "Good. And you're not married Frankie?" "No." "Do either of you have girlfriends?" They both shook their heads. And they both wondered why they'd been asked these questions. "Perfect. I want you to sublet your apartment Carl. Give it up if you have to. You'll move in with Frankie. You can conceal your transition better in the privacy of his house. And Frankie can help you with the adjustment. He'll give you all the support you'll need. Any questions gentlemen?" They had no questions and Hathaway arose. Frankie and Carl followed suit. Hathaway said, "Report to Dr. Kruger in the Medical Division tomorrow Carl. He'll get you started. Okay?" "Yes Commander." As the two men walked toward the door Hathaway assessed Carl Taney. He was a handsome man with short-cropped blond hair and finely-chiseled masculine facial features. He was about six-feet tall and 180 pounds. "That won't last long," Hathaway thought and smiled. PART ONE- CROSSING OVER Dr. Kruger read the file and looked up at the handsome man sitting across from him. "So you're Carl Taney?" "Yes." "And you've agreed to this procedure?" "That's right." "Do you know what will happen to you after I administer the serum?" "I'm told it'll change my gender." "That's right. You will become female. Do you have any questions?" "Just one. There's an antidote, right?" "Absolutely." "Okay Doc. Let's start." *** Carl lay down on the bed and the nurse raised the rail. Dr. Kuger inserted the needle end of the intravenous tube into his inner forearm and secured it with adhesive tape. Carl looked up and saw that the other end of the tube was attached to a small plastic bag hanging from a six-foot metal stand. Dr. Kruger twisted a small valve on the tube and fluid from the bag coursed into it. Carl watched the fluid traverse the tube until it reached the end. He felt his heart jump as he saw the fluid enter his arm. "This will take a few hours Mr. Taney. Try to relax. Please don't touch the tube." "Okay Doc." Dr. Kruger and the nurse left the room. Carl watched the tube and became bored. Before he knew it he was asleep. *** Carl awoke and looked at his arm. He saw the band-aid. He felt drowsy and yawned. Dr. Kruger entered the room. "Ah. I've seen you've finally awoken Mr. Taney." "How long have I been asleep Doc?" "Two days." "Are you serious?" "Yes. How do you feel?" "A little tired." "Well, rest for an hour or so Mr. Taney. Then you may go." *** For the next two days Frankie and Carl moved all of Carl's possessions into Frankie's house. And Carl posted an advertisement to sublet his apartment on the bulletin board at work and a day later he found a taker from the administrative support department. The young lady had just gotten her job at the agency and was thrilled to have stumbled on to the apartment. Carl had just finished putting all of his clothes into the closet and dresser. He sat down on the edge of the bed and scanned the modest bedroom on the ground floor of Frankie's home. He contemplated. He wondered about the covert mission he'd soon be assigned. Carl had successfully accomplished every mission his superiors had given him and he was getting a little bored. Some of them were a bit repetitive. He was looking forward to doing something new and different. Frankie walked into the room and broke his concentration. "How do you like the room Carl?" "It's nice Frankie. You've got a nice house." "Thanks. I've got to get back to work now. Make yourself at home Carl. I'll see you later." And Frankie left to return to the boring internal administrative work he'd been assigned for the next six months. *** A month and a half had elapsed since Carl had moved into Frankie's home and his bodily hair was all gone. Over the past six weeks Carl's hair had fallen out in large patches. Every time he showered the drain was full of hair. He could actually lift the hair off his arms and legs and feel the roots softly slip their bonds. Carl stood naked before the wall mirror and gazed at his full-body reflection. He looked and felt different without hair on his body. He could now feel the air softly whisper over himself as he walked. It gave him goose-bumps. He moved closer to the mirror and examined his image. He saw that even his beard was gone. Besides his eyebrows and eyelashes the only hair that remained was on his head. "I guess this is the first step," he said and wondered what would be next. Six weeks later... Carl sat on the couch and watched the ball game on television. The Baltimore Orioles were being trounced by the New York Yankees. He was a huge Orioles' fan but couldn't take any more of the slaughter so he retrieved the remote and turned it off. He looked at his wristwatch and saw that it was 4:00pm. He knew that Frankie would be home from work in about two hours so he decided to take a shower before he started on dinner. He walked to his bedroom and stripped before the wall mirror. Gazing at his image he viewed his budding breasts. He gazed in fascination at the slightly erect nipples and the darkened and expanded areoles from which they sprouted. And he glared at the small soft mounds of flesh behind them that provided their support. "I'm going to need a brassiere soon if I don't need one already." Carl scrutinized himself and noticed a few subtle changes. His face looked softer and rounder. And he could also see that his waist had thinned slightly and his hips had sprouted a tad. He'd developed some curves. He looked and felt smaller too. He could readily gauge his loss in height by comparing himself to Frankie. They'd both been about six-feet tall but standing next to his friend Carl could now easily see that Frankie was two or three inches taller than him. Carl pulled himself from the mirror and walked to the bathroom. He noticed the scale and stepped onto it. He saw that he weighed 155 pounds. He'd lost 25 pounds so far and wondered how much he'd weigh at the end of the process. Carl stepped into the shower. He tried to ignore the pleasant sensation as the warm water cascaded over his tiny breasts. A month later... Carl looked down at the scale which told him he weighed 140 pounds. He stepped off it and walked toward the wall mirror. He felt his breasts tug and sway as he approached it. Looking at his reflection it was obvious that he'd taken on the appearance of a girl to a substantial degree. His facial features had feminized and his hair had grown to the point where it fell to an inch or more below his ears completely obscuring them. He looked into his face and witnessed the smaller and slightly upturned nose. He viewed his puffed-up lips and high cheekbones. He observed his thinly high-arced eyebrows and lush eyelashes. And he gazed at his pointed chin which gave his face an oval form. It all came together to make him look quite female. He looked down at his breasts and saw how large they'd become. He'd worn bras with A-cups for the past few weeks but they now felt too tight. He realized he was well on his way to B-cup territory. Carl's gaze turned downward and he saw that his waist had tapered to an appreciable degree. He'd measured it with a tailor's tape yesterday and discovered that its circumference was 26 inches. He moved his head down a bit and viewed his swelled hips. He swiveled to his left and gazed at his newly padded derriere. There was no doubt about it. He had real curves now. In all the right places for a girl. He swung back around and glanced at his genitals. He'd been well- endowed but not anymore. His penis couldn't have been longer than three inches at best. And his scrotal sac had withered so that it no longer swung when he walked. Carl reached down and felt his balls. They were still there but they were much smaller. He glanced at his complete image and softly said, "Well, Dr. Kruger's serum is living up to its promise. I'm transforming into a woman. For sure." Carl walked to the dresser and removed a bra from the top drawer. He slipped it on and felt its snugness. "I'm going to have to get a larger size bra. I think it may be time for a little shopping." He then slipped on the jeans, polo shirt and sneakers Frankie had bought him last week. All of the clothes felt loose on him. He returned to the mirror and glanced at himself clothed. He decided that he looked like a girl dressed like a tomboy. Carl's concentration was broken by the knock on the door. He turned around and saw Frankie standing in the doorway. "Hi Frankie." He heard his voice crack. "Hey Carl." Frankie walked toward his friend. "How's it going?" Carl looked up at his friend. "Okay I guess." He noticed that Frankie had to be at least five inches taller than him. "You know I was thinking Carl, it may be time to buy you some new clothes. Clothes that fit you a little better." "I was thinking the same thing Frankie." *** Frankie pulled his Ford Taurus into the empty parking space and he and Carl exited the car and walked toward Sears. Once inside Frankie leaned down to Carl and hesitantly said, "I think we should...er...head over to the ladies' department." "I think you may be right about that Frankie." Carl seemed to be less embarrassed about it than his friend. They arrived in the ladies' department and gravitated to the underwear section. Frankie removed three bras from the shelf and tossed them into the shopping cart. He'd carefully checked their size to ensure they were B-cups. And he found some cotton panties and selected a few pair of them too. Carl walked across the aisle and saw the pantyhose display. "I guess it's time for me to start wearing some of these," he softly said and he retrieved five packages from the display and tossed them into the cart. Carl pushed the cart over to Frankie a few feet away. "I don't think it makes much sense to buy too much stuff because it probably won't fit me in two months when the process is complete. What do you think?" "Good point Carl." So he limited the rest of his purchases to three pair of jeans, two pair of cotton slacks, five cotton blouses, a pair of sneakers, and a pair of black leather shoes with broad one-inch heels. They both agreed that Carl now had a sufficient wardrobe to tide him over for the next several weeks. A month later... Carl gazed at his full-body nude reflection in the wall mirror and assessed the latest changes. Looking into his face he saw that he'd become pretty. His golden blond hair now fell to the top of his shoulders and elegantly framed his oval countenance. For all intents and purposes he looked like a pretty girl. He observed that his breasts were now substantial. They'd continued to grow and now filled the B-cup bras he wore to full capacity. He glanced at his slim waistline, swollen hips and fully padded rear end and realized that he now had the prototypical hourglass figure that so many women strived to attain. He'd measured himself a few days ago and had discovered that he was 36-22-35. If there was anything that betrayed his feminine image it was his penis. It was still there but it couldn't have been longer than an inch. He wondered how much longer he'd have it. But he didn't have to wonder about the longevity of his balls, though, because they'd disappeared two days ago. He thought he could feel them inside his body now but he wasn't entirely sure. But they surely were nowhere to be found inside his scrotum. For that matter Carl didn't think his scrotum could even accommodate his testicles anymore because it had severely shriveled. It seemed as if it were climbing onto his groin and attempting to mount itself there. He noticed that a vertical line had developed down its center. And he also noticed that he was smaller in height. Frankie was a good six inches taller than him now which meant that he was about 5'6" tall. And when he weighed himself this morning he saw that he was down to 125 pounds. Carl slipped into panties and bra and he retrieved a washed pair of pantyhose from the bathroom curtain rod. He rolled the nylons up his legs and over his waist. He'd been wearing pantyhose for almost a month now but still perceived the sensations they caused as surprisingly delightful. Carl dressed in a pair of dark blue cotton slacks and a white cotton blouse. He stepped into the one-inch heels. All the clothes felt a little too large. He walked to the wall mirror to inspect himself. As he studied his reflection he realized that he presented the image of a girl. And he knew that the changes precipitated by Dr. Kruger's serum were nearly complete. In a month or so his transition would be finished and he would be female. Carl fully realized that he had to start working on his presentation. He'd be going on an important mission soon and he'd portray a woman. And in that vein he knew that he had to start looking the part. Which meant that he'd soon wear dresses, high-heels and makeup. "I foresee a shopping trip coming up soon," he softly announced. Carl sat on the edge of the bed and contemplated. He was excited about his upcoming mission. And he was curious why he needed to portray a woman to successfully accomplish it. "I'll find out soon enough." Carl extended his arms and glanced at his hands. He easily observed that even his hands had changed in appearance. They looked smaller and softer. And his fingers looked so slender now. Even his nails had changed in appearance. Whereas they'd been square before they were now oval. The overall effect made his hands look very feminine. Carl had stopped clipping his nails several weeks ago and he'd filed the tips into rounded points. He'd noticed that nearly all the women he'd seen took such great pride in their nails and he resolved to follow suit. He knew that he'd soon need to blend in seamlessly as a woman and he was prepared to do everything he could to attain that end. He'd risk nothing to blow his cover. A month later... Carl sat on the toilet and watched as the urine shot down from his small pee-hole. The one that had been left behind as his penis continued to shrivel and shrink over the past few weeks. The urine stream dribbled to a halt and stopped. Carl noticed a few wet spots and he tore some tissue off the roll and dried his vulva. The one that had been left behind as his empty scrotal sac climbed up and onto him and reconstituted itself into his new labia and clitoris over the past few weeks. And as Carl dried himself he gazed at his new vagina. The one that had been left behind after a small hole had popped open between his legs and bore deeper and deeper into the pits of his lower abdomen over the past few weeks. Carl flushed the toilet and walked to the bedroom wall mirror. Looking at himself now there was no doubt that he was anything but a woman. "It took six months but it's done now. Just as advertised." Besides the development of his vulva and vagina over the past month the only other change that Carl could discern was a slight loss of size and mass. Judging his height in relation to Frankie he figured that he was about 5'5" tall now. And the scale told him he weighed 116 pounds. Thankfully his breasts grew no larger. Carl slipped into a matching set of white cotton panties and bra and he opened a package of nude pantyhose. He sat on the edge of the bed where he rolled the hose up his legs and around his waist. He gazed at his nylon-sheathed legs and was nearly taken aback at how shapely they'd become. Carl had always liked to look at a nice pair of legs and now all he had to do was look at his own to satisfy his little fetish. It was weirdly erotic. A slight chill ran down his spine at the thought. He walked to the closet and scanned his new wardrobe. He and Frankie had gone shopping at the mall a few days ago and had spent nearly $10,000 of the agency's money on a new wardrobe for Carl. They'd bought a vast array of dresses, skirts, blouses and shoes. The clothes looked so foreign to him. He turned around and walked to the corner of the room and set his gaze on the small vanity Frankie had bought him as a gift. It was covered with cosmetics, perfumes, brushes and jewelry they purchased when they'd gone shopping for clothes. Carl sat down on the small chair and looked in the mirror. His face looked pretty even without makeup but he knew it was time to make himself up. Girls wore makeup and he would now too. It was part of the disguise he'd use to accomplish the mission and he knew that he needed the practice. Carl had read several articles in women's magazines on the art of applying makeup and he tried to recall all the advice and tips he'd seen as he applied the cosmetics. He put on foundation and mascara. He ran the pencil over his eyebrows and the small brush over his eyelashes. He then coated his lips with red lipstick. He gazed at his reflection and was pleased with what he saw. The makeup certainly made him appear attractive. He looked like a real girl now. Carl picked up the brush and ran it through his long blond hair which was parted down the middle. He saw that his hair now fell about an inch past his shoulders. He extended his arms and looked at his hands. His nails had grown out nicely over the past several weeks and they exceeded his fingertips by about a quarter of an inch. He picked up the emery board and shaped them into soft oval points and then he coated them with bright red polish. Carl gazed at his nails as the polish dried and thought that his hands looked attractive. They appeared very feminine. His disguise would fool everyone. He arose and returned to the closet where he selected the light blue sleeveless cotton dress. It had a high neckline which appealed to him. It was the first time he'd wear a dress and he didn't want to overdue it. Carl slipped the dress over his head and pulled it down onto himself. He hoisted the rear zipper and felt the dress cling to his body. He reached down and retrieved the dark blue 3" leather pumps. He stepped into the shoes and became instantly taller. As with the dress it was the first time he'd worn high-heels and he practiced walking in them for fifteen minutes. He felt reasonably comfortable in the shoes and made his way over to the wall mirror where he soaked it all in. He shook his head in wonder as he saw the pretty blonde staring back at him. He felt a sense of incredulity at the notion that he was the pretty blonde. He now fully realized he'd have no difficulty passing as a woman. Carl looked at the wall clock and saw that it was 5:00pm. He knew that Frankie would be home from work in an hour so he walked to the kitchen and began to prepare dinner. He had plenty of time on his hands so he'd begun to prepare meals for the two of them a few months ago. Besides he'd always liked to cook. It relaxed him. As Carl worked on dinner he reflected on the events of last six months. As he'd slowly transitioned he'd fought the cabin fever that had struck him. He'd spent virtually all of his time in Frankie's house. He was thankful there was a nice patio in the backyard where he'd read books and magazines as he sunbathed. He had a nice tan for his efforts. And Frankie had played his part in helping relieve Carl of his boredom. At least when he wasn't working anyway. Frankie watched television with him and ate dinner with him. They played cards and video games together. Frankie did what he could to help Carl break the monotony. Carl heard the front door open and close as he stirred the vegetables in the pan. He heard the approaching footsteps and he turned around and greeted his friend. "Hi Frankie." His voice cracked. Frankie gazed at Carl and his eyes lit up. He'd never seen Carl in a dress and makeup before. "Carl? I can't believe it. You look, you know..." "What Frankie?" "Well, I don't know. Pretty I guess." "Yeah? Thanks." Stating the obvious Frankie said, "You're wearing a dress. And makeup too." He felt foolish as soon as the words were out. "Yeah. I figured it was time Frankie. If I'm going to play a woman on this mission I thought I should start practicing the role now." "Well I don't think you need too much practice Carl. I think you've already nailed it down." "Oh I don't know about that. I feel awkward wearing this stuff. I've got to accustom myself to it. Know what I mean?" "Yeah. I can see your point. I'm going to wash up." "Okay. But hurry up. Dinner's ready. I don't want it to get cold." Ten minutes later they sat across from each other at the kitchen table and ate the lemon chicken and fried vegetables Carl had prepared. "This is really delicious Carl." "Yeah? Thanks. I'm glad you like it." Carl smiled. Frankie saw Carl smile and thought that he looked so pretty. He'd watched as his friend slowly transitioned over the past six months and had become accustomed to the progressive changes in his appearance. At least he thought he'd become used to it. But tonight he'd been awe- struck when he set his eyes on Carl. He looked absolutely gorgeous. He'd easily fit the description of a blond bombshell. Frankie snapped himself back to reality. "By the way, Dr. Kruger came to see me today." "Yeah? What did he want?" Carl's voice cracked again. "Well, he asked me to tell you to come in and see him when your, you know..." "What Frankie?" "Well, when your...uh...vagina develops." "Well that happened a few days ago. So I guess I'll see the doctor." Frankie easily noticed that Carl hadn't been embarrassed at discussing the matter of his vagina. Unlike Frankie. He didn't know what to say and impulsively blurted, "Congratulations Carl." He wanted to reach out and retrieve the words as soon as they left his mouth. "Uh...thanks. I guess it's the final step. It shouldn't be too much longer before we embark on our mission Frankie." "Yeah." Frankie watched as Carl cleared the table and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. He looked so sexy in the dress and heels. Frankie hadn't been with a woman for over eight months and he was getting aroused as he watched his friend. He forced his eyes away from Carl. *** Carl was on his back on the examining table in Dr. Kruger's office. He was naked and his legs were spread apart. He could feel the cold steel of the stirrups that were secured over his ankles. "Now this may feel a little uncomfortable Carl but it won't take too long." Dr. Kruger then inserted the speculum into Carl's vagina and he peered intently into Carl's cavity. The small light on his headband provided ample illumination. Dr. Kruger had been right. The procedure was uncomfortable. Carl was eager for it to be over with. He oddly felt as if he'd been violated. "Ah. Very nice. Very nice indeed," Kruger proclaimed in satisfaction. He finally removed the implement and Carl sighed in relief. "Now let's have a look at your breasts Carl," and Kruger felt, kneaded and manipulated his patient's breasts. He was equally satisfied with that part of Carl's new anatomy too. Kruger unfastened the stirrups. "Why don't you get dressed and see me in my office Carl." Carl put his underwear and dress back on. "Man I'm glad that's over with," he whispered as he slipped into his heels. He walked out of the examining room and made his way into Kruger's office next door. "I'm happy to tell you that everything is fine Carl. The transition was perfect. You're a full biological woman now." "Uh...good." "I expect that you should experience your first menstruation in the next day or two." "Menstruation?" "Yes. Your period." "My period? No one told me that I was going to have periods Doc." "But of course you will. You're a complete biological woman now." "But I didn't know..." "Listen Carl. It's something that goes with the territory. It's all part of the experience of being female. Just go with the flow. Uh...no pun intended." Carl had an uncomfortable look on his face. "The next day or two you say?" "That's right. And here. You're going to need these now," and Kruger handed him the package of tampons. "These might come in handy as well Carl," and Kruger gave him the small plastic bottle of birth control pills. "And here's a brochure that'll tell you how to use these things Carl." For the first time since his conversion had commenced Carl was embarrassed. *** "How did everything go with Dr. Kruger today Carl?" Frankie asked as they sat at the kitchen table and ate dinner. "Okay I guess. He gave me a clean bill of health." Frankie sensed that Carl didn't want to discuss the matter any further so he didn't push it. "By the way, Commander Hathaway saw me today. He said he'd like to come over and check on your progress." Frankie didn't want to tell Carl that Hathaway had told him he'd consulted with Dr. Kruger after Carl's examination. "Come over?" "Yeah. Visit us here. I invited him over for dinner Saturday night. Maybe you can prepare a nice meal. I'm hoping that he wants to discuss the mission." *** The next morning Carl sat at the kitchen table in his pink silk robe and waited as the coffee he'd just prepared brewed. He'd had difficulty sleeping and had awoken at 7:00. Frankie walked into the kitchen and was startled to see Carl, who'd never gotten out of bed before 8:00 since he'd come to live here. "What are you doing up so early?" "I...uh...couldn't sleep." Frankie could easily see the troubled look on Carl's face. He didn't want to pry but he was concerned. And curious. "Do you want to talk about it Carl?" Carl was embarrassed but he wanted to vent. "Do you know what Dr. Kruger told me yesterday?" he rhetorically asked. "He told me I'm going to menstruate. I'm going to have periods. And I can apparently get pregnant. He gave me birth control pills. Did you know about this Frankie?" Frankie really didn't know. And truth be told he didn't not know either. He'd never asked about the complete effects of the serum. And no one had told him. He really hadn't given the matter that much thought before. He didn't know how to answer Carl but he knew he had to say something. "Well, that's a medical detail Carl. I'm really not in the loop on the medical aspects. That's Dr. Kruger's jurisdiction." Frankie nervously awaited Carl's reaction. "I thought this process would just make me look like a woman. I didn't know it would turn me into an actual woman. With all the biological baggage that goes along with that." Frankie noticed that Carl's troubled look was quickly turning into one of depression. "Listen Carl, that's just the way the serum works. Hang in there. We'll get through the mission and you'll take the antidote. And then it'll all be over. Okay?" Frankie again hoped the antidote would work. "Yeah. Okay Frankie. I made coffee." *** Frankie left for work and Carl remained seated at the kitchen table. He sipped at his third cup of coffee. "I'm going to have periods? I can't believe it," he whispered. The coffee consumption caught up with him and he felt the need to urinate. He arose and made his way to the bathroom. The urine stream dribbled to a halt and Carl tore some tissue off the roll to dry himself off. But when he returned his gaze to his groin he saw the thin trail of blood that had oozed out of him and slowly coursed down his inner thigh. "Oh shit. It's started already? I can't believe this," Carl protested and he immediately noticed his high- pitched voice. He brought his hand up to his throat in surprise and noticed his Adam's apple was gone. He felt in equal parts resentment, anger and humiliation. But he collected his wits and resolved to treat the situation with calmness and dignity. He thought back to the brochure he'd read in bed last night and recalled the information about menstrual cycles, tampon usage and birth control pills. He wiped his leg with the tissue and walked to his bedroom to retrieve a tampon. Carl sat on the edge of the bed with the tampon in his right hand. He marshaled his mental strength and made a firm decision to be apathetic as he proceeded with the task at hand. But when he inserted the tampon into himself his face reddened and a sense of humiliation completely engulfed him. PART TWO- THE BRIEFING George Hathaway sat on the couch in the living room of Frankie Dominick's house and sipped at his after-dinner coffee. He'd just eaten a delicious lasagna dinner and was stuffed to the gills. Carl sat on the other end of the couch and Frankie sat on the leather recliner. Hathaway turned to his left. "That meal was delicious Carl." "Thank you Commander." Hathaway could not help but stare at him as Carl acknowledged the compliment. He couldn't believe his own eyes. Carl looked like a beautiful girl. Hathaway observed that he had long blond hair, red lips and a pretty face. He wore a light blue sleeveless silk dress and matching high-heels. His legs looked very sexy in the nylons that covered them. "And I've got to say that you look very nice in that dress Carl." Carl blushed slightly. "Thank you Sir." He brushed some hair off his face and Hathaway noticed his long red nails. "We were wondering whether you were going to tell us about the mission Commander?" Hathaway turned to Dominick. "It's funny you mentioned that Frankie. I was just going to give you and Carl the briefing. I know that you two have been waiting for this moment. And you've probably wondered why I've taken so long to tell you what it's all about. For security reasons I couldn't share the information with you. Until now." "We understand Commander." "Good. Well, here it is. Pierre Lindstrom is the Deputy Defense Minister of Switzerland. We've known for some time that he's been passing classified information and documents to our enemies. He's given this material to members of the terrorist organization al-Rashid and to the Syrians and Libyans. And we believe that the bombings of our embassies in Athens and Jerusalem were the result of this. We also believe that the recent assassinations of two agency field operatives were related to this." "What type of information is Lindstrom passing Sir?" Dominick asked. "Spy satellite photographs, computer encryption codes, embassy security protocols, and names of operatives and their covers." "Holy shit. How's he getting this information Commander?" Hathaway turned to Carl. "That's a good question. We believe that someone in our embassy in Geneva is giving it to him. We would've taken Lindstrom out by now but we need to know who's passing him this stuff. That's where you two come in. Your mission is to find out who in our Geneva Embassy is in cahoots with Lindstrom. And if you do, then you have the authorization to dispatch Lindstrom. With prejudice. Understood?" Frankie and Carl nodded. "But you only have two months. That's all we can afford. If you don't find the rat in two months then we'll recall you and eliminate Lindstom with one of our local operatives. The Director isn't willing to risk any further bombings or assassinations. Understood?" Frankie and Carl nodded again. "Good. Here's your cover. You're Frank and Carla Blake. Brother and sister. You've just inherited the ownership of Swinton's Chocolate Company. The main office and principal factory are located in Carouge, a city about 15 miles from Geneva. You've just moved to Carouge to run the family business. Our people in Geneva have set up the whole thing for you. The paperwork, your living arrangements, the whole nine yards. Further details will be furnished by our local operatives. Understood?" Frankie and Carl nodded once more. Hathaway turned to Carl and stared into his pretty eyes. "Lindstrom's a bachelor Carl. He fancies himself as quite the ladies' man. We think that if you can get close to him..." "Are you asking me to seduce the information from him Sir?" "Well, that's why we had you go through this process after all Carl." "I understand Sir. I'll do my part to put an end to this." "Thank you Carl. But there's one little thing that troubles me." "What Sir?" "This new equipment of yours. You haven't used it before." "What do you mean?" "As I've indicated Lindstrom's a real Lothario. He has more notches on his bedpost than there are beans in Boston. You won't be able to pull this off if you act like you're inexperienced. I want you to try your new equipment so that if you get to Lindstrom you'll act like you know what you're doing." "Try out my new equipment? With who?" "That's up to you Carl. But I won't authorize this mission until you certify that you're no longer a virgin, so to speak. Understood?" "Yes Sir." Hathaway turned to Dominick and studied his face. "You know Carl, Frankie's not a bad looking guy." *** The following Sunday morning Frankie and Carl sat in their robes at the kitchen table and sipped at their coffees. They each waited for the other to say something. Carl finally spoke. "Well after all this time we finally got our mission." "Yeah, but we can't start it until...you know..." "Yeah. Until I test my new equipment." "Yeah." A moment of awkward silence ensued and Frankie said, "You know Carl, you can just tell Hathaway you did it. You don't have to..." Carl cut him off. "No. I don't want to lie. And besides Hathaway may have a good point." "Oh." They sipped their coffees for a few minutes and Carl said, "You know Frankie, I can't see myself picking up some strange guy in a bar or something. Maybe it's a good idea if you would, you know..." "Help you test your new equipment?" "Well, yeah." "Are you sure you want to do that?" "I know I want to do this mission Frankie. It sounds important. That bastard Lindstom's putting our peoples' lives at risk. He's got to be stopped. And we can't start until I certify that my...uh... equipment's in working order." "Okay Carl. If you're sure." "I'm sure. Let's do it tonight. We'll get it over with. You know, put it behind us." "Okay Carl." Later that night... Frankie and Carl sat on opposite ends of the living room couch and watched the baseball game on television. The Orioles were getting pummeled again. They sipped at merlot in long-stemmed wine glasses. "How about a refill Frankie?" "Okay." Carl retrieved the bottle from the coffee table and walked to Frankie. He poured wine into Frankie's glass and then his own, emptying the bottle. Carl sat down next to him. They continued to watch the game and sip wine. The Orioles were down by seven runs. "This is brutal Carl. I don't know how much more of this I can take." "Why don't you see what else is on?" Frankie grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels. He came across the movie "The Way We Were." "Let's watch this Frankie. It's decent. Have you ever seen it?" "I don't think so." They watched the film for fifteen minutes. It became obvious to Frankie that it was a romantic movie and he felt strangely uncomfortable. Carl finished his wine and he bent forward and placed the glass on the coffee table. He leaned back and inched himself closer to Frankie. Carl then moved his left hand toward Frankie and found Frankie's free right hand resting in his lap. Carl grasped it and rubbed it with his thumb. Frankie brought his left hand up and finished the wine. He placed the glass on the coffee table. All the while Carl continued to rub Frankie's right hand. Frankie knew what Carl was doing and he was relieved. He was glad that Carl had made the first move. Carl had broken the ice which meant that Frankie didn't have to. The rubbing sensation felt very good on Frankie's hand. Carl's skin was so soft and his long nails felt erotic. "He feels just like a girl," Frankie thought. And he considered for a moment and realized that for all intents and purposes Carl was a girl. Frankie impulsively rubbed back. He gazed down at his friend and realized that he looked very attractive. The red lips, the smooth complexion and the long blond hair all combined to make Carl actually look pretty. And he looked so sexy in the tight red silk dress that hugged him like cellophane and highlighted his curves at the bust, waist and hips. Carl's shapely nylon-sheathed legs ending in the high- heels completed the illusion with an exclamation point. Frankie became aroused. Carl looked up at Frankie and their eyes met. They moved their heads toward one another until their lips came together. They softly kissed. Carl opened his mouth and slowly advanced his tongue forward. Frankie reciprocated and the kiss turned amorous. They embraced. Carl broke the kiss. "Why don't we go into the bedroom Frankie?" "Sure. Did you take a, you know..." "Birth control pill? Yeah." Carl grasped Frankie's hand and led him into his bedroom where they sat on opposite sides of the bed and undressed. They slipped under the covers and resumed kissing. Frankie was seriously aroused. He hadn't been with a woman for over eight months and was more than ready for action. He lowered his left hand and found one of Carl's breasts. He gently stroked it and heard his friend softly sigh. He lowered his right hand and stroked its partner. Carl's body tingled all over. He felt strange and wonderful new sensations in his breasts. The void between his legs dampened. Frankie's manhood was erect to the breaking point. He could feel it throb as if it had its own heartbeat. Carl felt the heat between his legs develop and grow. It intensified in yield and strength. He sweltered in desire. Frankie mounted Carl and entered his soft cavity. He slowly thrust to and fro and Carl swayed his hips in response. They accelerated their motions and rocked faster and harder. The fireball between Carl's legs scorched his essence. He panted wildly as the conflagration expanded. And just as Frankie shot his warm seed into his friend's depths the burning inferno between Carl's legs erupted and sent its flaming embers throughout his body. Carl shivered and quaked as his nerve endings tingled in luxuriation. Frankie fell onto his back and breathed heavily. Carl was similarly affected. After a few minutes their labored breathing mitigated. Carl turned toward Frankie and said, "That was nice." "Yeah." "Well I guess my new equipment works." "I'll say." They softly laughed. Frankie and Carl were as exhausted as they were fulfilled and five minutes later they were both sound asleep. *** Frankie was the first to awake in the morning and he gazed at Carl sleeping next to him. He recalled the events of last night. He'd slept with his friend and associate to test his new plumbing. He'd participated in the grand experiment. It was resoundingly successful. "And it sure felt good too," Frankie whispered. He felt himself blush. Frankie climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom where he stepped into the shower. He turned on the water and washed himself. The sound of the running water awakened Carl. He realized that Frankie was in the shower. He reflected on last night's activities and smiled. "Well my new equipment's certainly in working order. And it sure felt good too." He felt himself blush. *** Hathaway sat behind his office desk with his legs crossed. He gazed at Frankie and Carl sitting in the leather chairs across from him. They looked a little different than the last time he'd seen them. He couldn't put his finger on it but something had changed. "So can you give me the certification I need to green-light the mission?" "Yes Commander," Carl answered. "My equipment works fine. I'm no longer a virgin, so to speak." Hathaway noticed Frankie's slight blush and immediately knew what had changed. He smiled at the thought of his two agents in bed together. He believed they'd created a bond that would facilitate a successful result for the mission. "Okay men. Then let's roll." PART THREE- SWISS MISS John Gamble slowly drove the black Volvo down Avenue LaSerle on the outskirts of Carouge and scanned the luxurious homes. "I'm looking for number 268. Let me know if you see it. I think it's somewhere around here." The street was dimly lit and it was difficult to see the house numbers. Carl Taney sat next to Gamble and scrutinized the houses through the car's closed window. Frankie Dominick peered at the dwellings from the rear seat. Carl and Frankie had first met John Gamble just an hour ago. Gamble's official job title was administrative liaison for the U.S. Embassy in Geneva. But in reality he was the CIA's chief field operative for the western district of Switzerland which encompassed the principal cities of Bern, Basel, Lausanne and Geneva. On Commander Hathaway's instructions Carl and Frankie had reported to John Gamble at his Geneva home as soon as their plane had landed. Gamble's embassy position was, in essence, a cover for his real job as a CIA agent. And the agency took great pains to protect his cover. Even Alex Glendale, The U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, was unaware of Gamble's true vocation. "I think that's it," Gamble announced as he slowly pulled the car to a halt in front of the large Tudor. "I believe you're right. I think it's 268," Carl said as he squinted at the house's porch. Gamble stepped on the gas and pulled the car into the driveway. He slowly guided the vehicle toward the detached two-car garage. It became obvious they'd reached their destination as they all saw the number 268 on one of the house's front pillars. The car came to a halt and they exited the vehicle. Carl and Frankie removed their suitcases from the trunk. "May I help you with that Carla?" Gamble asked. He'd not been briefed on Carl's true identity. It was Hathaway's wish that no one other than Frankie Dominick know about Carl. His gender conversion was deemed highly classified information. "Thank you." Gamble took Carl's luggage from him. They walked to the front door and Gamble set the suitcases down on the stoop. He fished the house key from his pocket and opened the door. They all entered and Gamble flicked the light switch. Bright light illuminated the spacious ground floor. They stepped into the living room where Gamble and Carl sat on opposite ends of the couch and Frankie settled onto the recliner. Gamble crossed his legs and said, "Well, this will be your residence for the next two months or until you accomplish the mission, whichever comes first. I understand you've already received a full briefing from Commander Hathaway. Is there anything I can tell you?" "Not unless you know who's passing our information to Lindstrom," Frankie said. "I wish I knew. We've been trying to find that out for months. It's got to be someone in the embassy. It's your job to find the traitor now. At least for the next two months anyway." "What's the story with this chocolate company we've 'inherited' John?" Carl asked. "As you know that's your cover. Swinton's Chocolate Company is actually owned by the agency. Its title is registered to a dummy corporation. We've made it appear that the corporation's president and vice- president were Sam and Anita Blake, your fictitious parents. We've also made it look like they've recently died in a car accident. You two have now inherited the company. Congratulations." "A chocolate company? That sounds a little bizarre." Gamble turned to Frankie. "Not really. This is Switzerland after all. And the Swiss love their chocolate. There are hundreds of chocolate companies in this country. And by the way, Swinton's chocolates are in demand all over Europe. They're that good. And the company's a very lucrative concern too. Its profits actually defray a good portion of the agency's operating expenses in Switzerland." Gamble reached into his pocket and came away with a business card. He handed it to Frankie. "That's the company's address. Report there tomorrow. Gil Mackey, one of our operatives, is the manager. He'll get you settled in." "I understand Lindstrom likes the ladies John," Carl said. "That's right. He's a real wolf." "I need to get close to him. Can you come up with a plan?" Gamble looked at her and considered how pretty she was. "Is it your intention to seduce him Carla?" "All options are on the table John." "You know Carla, this guy's a dangerous man. You need to be careful." "I can take care of myself. And Frankie's the best backup around. We'll be fine. Just come up with a way for me to get close to him." "Okay. It's just that we don't see many female field agents. I can't remember the last time we've placed a woman in the field over here. Especially a woman as attractive as you." *** Gamble left and Frankie and Carl unpacked. Frankie chose a bedroom on the ground floor and Carl selected one on the second floor. They found the refrigerator and pantry well-stocked and Carl prepared salads and Spanish omelets. They were hungry and ate in silence. After dinner they watched television. They found several stations which played movies in English and ended up watching a John Wayne western. They sipped chilled white wine as they enjoyed the film. The movie ended and they decided to call it a night. They were both tired from the long flight. They returned to their bedrooms and fell asleep within five minutes after their heads hit the pillow. The next morning... Frankie and Carl were up and around by 9:30. They left the house and walked to the two-car garage. Frankie opened the garage door and they saw the two Volvos. "The agency seems to be fond of Volvos over here Carl." Frankie opened the door of one of the cars and saw the key in the ignition. They climbed in. A half-hour later Frankie pulled the car into an empty space in the rear parking lot of Swinton's Chocolate Company in downtown Carouge. He'd gotten lost twice but had been placed back on track by a couple of pleasant gas station attendants. They stepped into the building and asked the receptionist for Gil Mackey. "Tell him Frankie and Carla Blake are here to see him," Frankie said. A few minutes later a tall man with jet black hair walked into the reception area and greeted his guests. "I'm Gil Mackey. Glad to meet you," and he shook Frankie and Carl's hands. "Come with me please." They followed him to the elevator and they took it up to the penthouse office suite. The office suite was nothing short of luxurious. It was spacious and well-appointed with expensive mahogany furniture. Mackey led them down a corridor and Frankie and Carl peeked into a few of the offices as they passed. They saw the company's executive employees working on their computers and talking on the phone. They came to the end of the corridor and faced a large mahogany door. Mackey unlocked it and led Frankie and Carl inside. "This is the executive office. It's yours until your business here is done. Make yourself comfortable. Is there anything you need?" "A little coffee would be nice," Frankie replied. "I'll send up a pot. Would you like a tour of the factory down below? You know, to see how we make our world-class chocolate?" "Maybe later Gil," Carl answered. Mackey left and Frankie settled down on the black leather chair behind the big oak desk. Carl sat down on one of the felt chairs in front of the desk. They both scanned the large office. It had a full wet bar and a bathroom with a shower stall. Frankie nodded his head in approval. "I've had apartments smaller than this office." The phone rang, startling them. Frankie picked up the receiver and briefly chatted. He rang off and looked at Carl. "That was Gamble. He says he has something for us. He's coming over." There was a knock on the door which Carl answered. It was a woman with a silver wheeled cart. Carl looked at the pot of coffee and pastries and invited her in. *** John Gamble arrived just as Carl and Frankie completed their breakfasts. "What've you got for us John?" Carl asked. "Pierre Lindstrom has a 20-year-old kid sister that he thinks the world of. Her name's Hilary. And she loves to pamper herself. She has a standing appointment at Madame Lucille's every Wednesday morning at 8:30. She likes to get in and out before the crowd arrives." "Madame Lucille's?" "It's a beauty salon in downtown Geneva right off the lake Carla. I figure that maybe you can get an appointment there this Wednesday. Maybe you and Hilary can hit it off. What do you think?" "Sounds like a plan to me John. Thanks." *** Carl sat in the comfortable chair in Madame Lucille's as one beautician worked on his hair and another tended to his nails. Securing the appointment had been surprisingly easy. Not many patrons were interested in appointments before 9:30am. "How do you like it ma'am?" the hair attendant asked as she stopped brushing Carl's hair. "Very nice. Thank you." And Carl wasn't kidding. His long blond hair had been elegantly styled. It made him look very attractive. He turned to the young redhead seated next to him. "What do you think? The redhead looked at Carl. "It's very nice. I wish I had blond hair like yours." "Thank you. But you can't be serious about wanting blond hair. Your red hair is so pretty. It goes so well with your green eyes." "You're too kind." Carl observed her slight blush. "By the way I'm Carla Blake." "I'm Hilary Lindstrom. Nice to meet you Carla." "Same here Hilary." Carl and Hilary chatted about hairstyles as the beauticians finished their work. The conversation wound down and Hilary said," I'm going to Eckardt's for coffee and pastries Carla. Would you care to join me?" "Id love to Hilary." *** Carl and Hilary sat at the booth in the small cafe and sipped their coffees and munched their croissants. Carl smiled. "This is a nice place Hilary. It's very quaint. I like it." "You've never been to Eckardt's before Carla?" "No. But I just got into town a week ago." "Really?" "Yeah. My parents died in a car accident a few months ago and my brother and I inherited their chocolate company in Carouge. We're running it now." "I'm so sorry about your parents Carla." "Thanks." "Which chocolate company?" "Swinton's." "Really? I love Swinton's. They're my all-time favorite chocolates." "I'll have to remember to bring you a box Hilary." They finished their food and resolved to return to Eckardt's next Wednesday after their early morning appointments at Madame Lucille's. A week later... Carl and Hilary sat across from each other in the booth at Eckardt's and sipped at their coffees. The waitress rolled the cart to a stop at their table and they sampled a few of the small rich pastries. "Hmm. These are so good Carla." "I know! By the way, your nails look lovely. The manicurist did such a nice job on them." "Thanks Carla." Hilary extended her arms and admired her long red nails. "Oh! I almost forgot. I brought you some chocolates," and Carl reached into his purse and retrieved the one-pound box of Swinton's milk chocolates. He handed her the box. "Thanks so much Carla." "My pleasure." They sipped their coffees in silence for a moment. "Did I tell you that my brother's the Deputy Defense Minister of Switzerland Carla?" "No. Really?" "Uh huh. You know this Saturday night he's hosting a party at the Defense Ministry to honor the 70th birthday of Allistair Ohmstrom. He's the Swiss Defense Minister. Would you like to come? You can bring your brother if you'd like." "That sounds nice. Okay Hilary." *** Frankie handed the Volvo's keys to the parking valet and he opened the passenger door. He grasped Carl's gloved hand and helped him exit the car. As they approached the Defense Ministry Frankie scrutinized Carl. He looked absolutely stunning in the full-length red-sequined gown. "He looks so feminine now. And he's so pretty too," Frankie thought. It was hard to believe that just eight months ago Carl was a six-foot tall muscular man. He was anything but that now. They closed in on the building and Frankie adjusted his tie. "How do I look Carl?" "You look fine Frankie." And Carl had meant it. He gazed at his friend and considered that he looked very handsome in the black tuxedo. They handed their invitations to the sentry who scrutinized them intently. He looked up and motioned them in. They entered the building. They were directed to a long corridor which they traversed with a crowd of other well-dressed guests. The corridor finally spilled into a large ballroom where the party was obviously being held. They each grabbed a glass of champagne from the tray offered by the waiter. Carl sipped at the drink but Frankie finished his in a few gulps. He grabbed another from a passing waiter. Carl looked at him curiously. "Hey Frankie. Take it easy. We just got here." "Just trying to loosen up in the middle of all these stuffed shirts." "Yeah, but you've got to drive us back home later." "You can be my designated driver tonight Carl." "I'm not too sure I can drive in these heels. And if this gown were any tighter I'd pass out from asphyxiation." "Carla! Carla!" Carl turned around and saw Hilary Lindstrom closing in on him. She looked magnificent in the full-length white satin gown. And her long red hair elegantly flowed down the sides of her face and spilled onto her shoulders and upper back. She reached Carl and grasped his hands and kissed his cheek. "I'm so glad you could make it Carla!" "Well thanks for the invitation Hilary. I'd like you to meet my brother Frankie Blake." Frankie shook her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Hilary." He couldn't take his eyes off her pretty face. Her rich green eyes contrasted so sharply with her bright red hair. And Frankie didn't notice a single freckle on her face, a rarity for a redhead. "The pleasure's all mine Frankie. You've got such a nice sister. Have a nice time tonight. Let me know if you need anything. I've got to run now. You know, mingle I must. See ya." Carl noticed how Frankie had gaped at Hilary. "I wonder if it was as good for her as it was for you." "What are you talking about?" "Nothing. So do you think she's pretty?" "Pretty doesn't begin to describe her. She's ravishing." "That's what I'm talking about Frankie." Frankie looked at Carl curiously. *** Twenty minutes later the guests were all seated and treated to a sumptuous seven-course dinner. And in between the courses one political luminary after another regaled the audience with a speech about the life-long achievements of Defense Minister Ohmstrom. Ambassador Glendale delivered his homage in the prime slot right before the entree of broiled lobster tail was served. Dessert was finally served and the guest of honor arose and thanked one and all. The number of people he owed and thanked was longer than an Academy Award winner's list. From soup to dessert the whole process had taken a little over two hours. The tables were cleared away and a fifteen-piece classical orchestra set up on a small stage in the rear of the ballroom. The musicians played a waltz and a few couples danced. As the band played on more couples stepped onto the dance floor. Carl and Frankie stood on the perimeter of the room and watched as the couples danced. Frankie considered asking Carl for a dance but before he could marshal the courage Hilary approached them. She was holding the hand of her brother. "Hi Carla. Hi Frankie. I'd like you to meet my brother Pierre Lindstrom. Pierre, this is Frankie and Carla Blake." Lindstrom extended his hand and he and Frankie shook and exchanged pleasantries. Lindstrom turned to Carl who extended his hand for an anticipated shake. But instead of shaking his hand Lindstrom softly grasped it and bent down. He then softly kissed Carl's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you Carla. My sister has told me so much about you. And now I have finally met you." "The pleasure is mine Pierre. I've seen your pictures in the newspaper. They don't do you justice." "Thank you Carla. That's so nice of you to say." Carl smile and batted