Combined Forces
by
Julie O
Chapter Twelve
Bébé was slowly getting used to her new name. At least she had a name now. She could expect the Matron any minute now and she conducted a last minute inspection. She was up to five-inch heels and was walking better in them all the time. Her maid's outfit was so soft and feminine. The ruffled chiffon petticoats felt so good against her legs. The top of the dress was cut low and showed off her breasts. Granted they looked bigger due to the push-up bra, but Bébé was proud of them. The Matron was very pleased with the way she was changing and that made Bébé happy.
Bébé's cell was more like a room now. The walls were now covered in cheerful floral wallpaper. There was a regular bed, instead of the cot. The sheets were also a bright floral pattern. She also had control of the lights now! The Matron explained that things would return to the old ways if Bébé disobeyed her. Bébé had no intention of doing that.
Speaking mostly French was difficult, but she would master that phase of the training too, if it kept the Matron happy. Her vocabulary had grown amazingly after Matron had given her all those lovely French books on personal care, makeup, hair styling, etiquette, and social graces, along with the big French dictionary. Having something to read was delightful, and she was learning so much. She felt sure that French women were sexier and more sensual than any others, and she hoped she could live up to that image. She found that when she spoke English she now had a French accent. She had felt it was silly and was initially worried that she would be punished for it, but the Matron was actually pleased by it. In fact, the Matron encouraged her to make it more noticeable. Bébé discovered that now she couldn't speak English without the accent. That would make the Matron very happy, she thought
Bébé checked her hair and makeup again. She liked both the curls and color of her hair. She now had light brown curly hair and it bounced delightfully when she walked.
Bébé also liked her sexy thick lips. As she inspected herself in the mirror, she thought she was a pretty cute girl. It was hard to imagine that she once thought of herself as a boy.
Margo was watching Bébé's constant preening and attention to her appearance. She was turning out even better than Margo had thought possible. Her new owner would be getting an excellent maid. There was barely a trace of her old personality. Of course Bébé's new life would include a wide range of duties, including sexual slave, but she would be trained for those duties later.
Today she would give Bébé several more books and magazines. The books were romantic novels, where the heroine falls deeply in love with a man, and submits totally to him. The books were written especially for her slaves. Margo figured that Bébé would love the fashion magazines too. Of course all of them were in French.
The other thing that she was giving Bébé today would be a pierced penis. Margo would put a steel ring through the head of her little penis, called a Prince Albert, and a second ring under her scrotum, called a guiche. When they healed, the penis could be locked down between her legs. She would also pierce sweet Bébé's nipples. This was too enjoyable to allow anyone else to do it.
She then checked in on the girl, now named Kalie. Her appearance had been further modified to meet the requirements of her new owner. She had been given breast implants and was now a very buxom E-Cup. Margo had talked the man out of anything larger. Her hair was now bleached blond and styled into a cute pageboy cut. Her lips were also thicker and fuller due to the collagen injections.
Her new owner had a fetish for Dutch girls and was very specific about how Kalie was to look. Margo was letting the girl recover from the surgery and the multiple labial piercings. The rings could be locked together to form a natural chastity device. Margo planned to give Kalie plenty of time to heal. The last thing she needed was to have a slave get sick.
Kalie was sitting in her bed, watching TV. Actually she was watching taped shows and movies from the Netherlands. Like Bébé, her accent was coming along nicely.
Margo had one last thing to do, and that was to select the next slaves. Marcus had provided a list of potential candidates. He was a sneaky bastard, but he did a good job, thought Margo. There was a photo and biography for each teen. Margo was looking for some very specific characteristics. She immediately identified the girl she wanted. She was a gorgeous redhead. Natural redheads brought top dollar. Marcus was now scouting out teens in the Washington, DC area.
The boy would take some time. Originally the client had wanted an oriental t-girl, but he had changed his mind. He now wanted a very light-skinned white boy, modified to look oriental, specifically Japanese.
Margo had a plastic surgeon that could do a decent job on the face. She needed a short, thin boy who spoke some Japanese. His body would be modified to look like a young girl, including small pert breasts and smooth skin all over. The owner had a fetish about Japanese schoolgirls. Margo didn't care as long as they paid. This one was a special order and would cost him almost four million, including the surgeries. She found two good candidates and faxed a copy of their photos to the client. He would decide which one he wanted.
She looked at her watch and decided to go see young Bébé.
"Bébé, are you ready for your inspection?" she asked as she entered Bébé's cell.
"Mais oui, Matrone," replied Bébé, cheerfully, as she rose and curtseyed.
Margo nodded. She loved the increasing accent!
After the inspection, she ordered Bébé to strip. Margo sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Bébé carefully and sensually undressed. Margo was pleased as Bébé took great care in hanging up her uniform. She smiled as Bébé kept looking over to her for approval.
Soon the young teen was naked and standing in front of her. Margo was pleased with what she saw. Bébé's breasts were developing nicely. Her body was smooth all over. Margo especially loved that Bébé's pubic area was so smooth, thanks to hours of electrolysis. Margo admitted to herself that she had a fetish for smooth skin. Her next slave would be completely smooth.
"Bébé, I want you to lay down here. I don't want to hear any crying from you or you will be punished. Do you understand?"
"Oui, Matrone," replied Bébé.
"These rings I am about to give you will show everyone that you are a loved and obedient slave," explained Margo, as she prepared to pierce Bébé's penis. "Remember, my sweet, no crying and no screaming."
Margo watched as Bébé struggled to hold in the pain as she installed the Prince Albert. There were tears, but no screams. Margo was impressed.
The second piercing between her legs almost caused Bébé to cry out, but again her fear of the Matron outweighed her physical discomfort.
"I have two more rings to install. Are you ready, my sweet?" asked Margo, knowing the answer. "Tell me in English."
"Yes….Matron," struggled Bébé, in heavily accented English.
Margo smiled. Bébé was struggling with English as if she was just learning it.
Within a few minutes, Bébé's nipples were also pierced. The young slave had held up quite well and absorbed the pain. Margo instructed her on how to keep the piercings clean. She warned Bébé that she would be punished severely for any infection and could expect to be inspected daily until they healed.
"Good girl, you behaved yourself well, and I'm very proud of you," Margo complimented her. "As a reward, you may have tomorrow to rest and relax with your reading and your videos."
"Merci bien, Matrone."
Margo could see the girl smile with delight, despite her discomfort. It was a very satisfying afternoon for Margo.
Chapter Thirteen
There were no more personal attacks and things returned to normal in the office. Donna was a little frustrated over the lack of progress in her investigation. Ally sat her down in her office and told her to set it aside until Monday.
"I expect to see you at the dinner tomorrow night, Donna," stated Ally.
"I wouldn't miss it. I like to see everyone dressed up," replied Donna.
"Not to pry, but who're you going with?" asked Ally.
"I've been dating a man named Ed. He's a Lieutenant in the Navy. We met at a coffee house near my apartment. He's nice," smiled Donna.
"That's nice. I look forward to meeting him," stated Ally. "Look, don't worry about the investigation. Both Rich and I believe that something is going on and the clues will eventually come to light."
"Thanks, Ally," replied Donna.
The next day, Ally was nervously doing her makeup. This was her first big agency function and she knew that she would have to make a good impression. Selecting a dress was a major issue. She was very self-conscious about the scar and most dresses were too revealing. The ones that weren't were downright ugly. Thankfully, Carol found a nice satin jacket that would hide the scar. It went perfectly with a beautiful black velvet dress.
"Next year, you won't even care about the scar," promised Carol.
"Maybe, but this year, I'd just as soon hide it. I'll be getting enough attention as it is, thanks to that idiot, Grace," replied Ally.
Carol nodded. There weren't a lot of same sex couples in the agency and that alone would draw some attention to them. That, combined with Ally's recent injury and the problems in the office would make it seem like a spotlight was on Ally, thought Carol.
"No matter what, just remember you have good friends that care about you," stated Carol. "Don't forget that I love you too!"
Ally smiled and blew Carol a kiss.
Carol and Ally arrived at the hotel ballroom and walked slowly in. Ally wanted to find some friendly faces as soon as possible. There was a reception line that they had to pass down first. At the end of the line was the Director and he always personally greeted every agent.
As they moved through the line, Ally whispered to Carol. "How does he know all of us? I mean there are hundreds of us!"
"I don't know either, but he does. Some say he has a perfect memory."
In a few minutes they reached the Director.
"Good evening, Agents Martin and Burns. I'm so glad you made it here tonight. How's your recovery coming along, Agent Burns?"
"I'm getting better every day, thank you," replied Ally.
"Glad to hear it. I was deeply concerned when I heard you were wounded."
Ally smiled and could tell that he was being truthful.
They left the line and headed across the room. Carol had spotted Steve and Maggie and they joined them for drinks.
"Ally, Beth can't stop talking about you," announced Maggie.
"Beth is pretty impressive herself," replied Ally.
Ally tried to ignore it, but she could tell that many people were staring at her. Maybe it was just her imagination, but the others noticed it too.
"I think they're looking at me and the fact that I have three lovely women around me!" quipped Steve.
That helped break the tension and they all laughed.
"No, seriously, I think they're all looking at me," laughed Steve.
"Yes, they must think how nice we all are to humor you," replied Maggie.
They left the line and headed across the room. Carol had spotted Steve and Maggie and they joined them for drinks.
"Ally, Beth can't stop talking about you," announced Maggie.
"Beth is pretty impressive herself," replied Ally.
Ally tried to ignore it, but she could tell that many people were staring at her. Maybe it was just her imagination, but the others noticed it too.
"I think they're looking at me and the fact that I have three lovely women around me!" quipped Steve.
That helped break the tension and they all laughed.
"No, seriously, I think they're all looking at me," laughed Steve.
"Yes, they must think how nice we all are to humor you," replied Maggie.
Ally and Carol excused themselves and made their way through the crowd, towards their assigned table. They saw Donna and a handsome man standing close together. That must be Ed, thought Ally.
Ally immediately liked Ed. He was thirty, six- feet tall, athletically built, with reddish brown hair and blue eyes. He was a Lieutenant Commander in Naval Intelligence and was presently stationed at the Pentagon. Ally could understand why Donna was so smitten with him, as he had an easygoing, friendly manner, and a great smile.
As they walked over to their table, Ally whispered in Donna's ear. "I like him."
Donna turned and smiled. "So do I!" she whispered back.
Ally looked around at the rest of the group at their table. Rich and his wife, Alyce, were sitting to their left. Michelle, and her husband Warren, were sitting across from them, and Donna and Ed were to their right. Everyone got along as if they had known each other for years.
The dinner was very pleasant and the food wasn't bad, although Ally thought the wine wasn't that good. The company more than made up for the wine. Ally totally forgot about Grace and work for an evening.
"By the way, Ally. I really liked that last bottle of wine you gave Michelle," stated Warren.
"Ally, you may not believe it, but Warren has become such a wino that we're going to northern California for vacation. He actually wants to tour some of the vineyards!" explained Michelle with a huge smile on her face.
"That sounds wonderful," replied Ally
"Yes, it will give me a chance to surprise you with a nice vintage!" replied Michelle.
The conversation shifted to vacation spots. Ally noticed that Ed was holding Donna's hand the whole time, whispering in her ear now and then. They looked deeply in love. Ally was delighted to see her co-worker and friend so happy.
Ally felt very lucky to be surrounded by so many good friends. She smiled as she saw Steve and Maggie walk over after dinner to join them for coffee.
"We just escaped from the most breathtakingly boring group of people in the agency. We decided to sneak away and spend some time with a more lively bunch!" quipped Steve, as he pulled up a couple of chairs.
Ed and Donna moved their chairs down to open a spot for the Williams.
"You're always welcome," replied Ally. She introduced Steve and Maggie to the rest of the group.
"They weren't really that bad," confessed Maggie, "it's just that most of them are so trained not to talk about work, and they think that it applies to everything else."
"The poor waiter couldn't get the rest of the table to admit if they wanted dessert or not!" laughed Steve.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that I want some chocolate mousse," quipped Rich, in a serious monotone voice.
Everyone at the table broke out laughing.
After dinner they had a DJ and he played a variety of music. He occasionally dedicated a song to someone's wife or husband. Ally and Carol danced several times together. They caught a few dirty looks from some of the people there, but neither cared, as they were having too good a time. Ally also danced with several men, including Rich, Steve, Ed and even Robert Ledyard.
Ally noticed that Donna and Ed danced as closely as possible much of the time. Both looked like they were off in another world.
A little while later, Ally finally got a chance to talk to Donna alone as they walked over to the restroom.
"Ed was surprised that you were my boss. He thinks you look way too young and too cute to be my boss," laughed Donna.
"I thought he had good taste," replied Ally, with a smile. "I'm very happy for you!"
"Thank you, Ally. I know that you mean that!" answered Donna, before hugging Ally.
It was a lovely evening until the DJ made an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have another dedication. This next song is for Ally Burns," he announced.
Ally wondered what he was talking about and looked around the table. Everyone seemed as genuinely surprised as she was.
"The song is sent from Brian with love," continued the DJ
The song came on and, as Ally recognized it, she froze in anger and fear. The song was Mack the Knife.
Carol was likewise incensed. "I'll be right back!"
She started to get up when Rich stopped her. "Allow me." He got up and walked towards the DJ, followed quickly by Steve.
Ally was fighting back tears. It was an extremely cruel joke, that is, if it was a joke. Carol shifted close to Ally and tried to comfort her, as did Donna and Maggie.
"Don't let them see you get upset," whispered Carol.
Ally bit her lip and fought hard not to cry. Without thinking about it, she rubbed her right shoulder.
Rich pulled the DJ aside, "Who told you to make that dedication?" he asked with a controlled anger.
Steve stood next to him, seething in silence.
"I don't know. Someone handed my assistant an envelope with the dedication in it, and $50.00. What's the big deal? It's a great song," explained the DJ.
"Where's the card?" asked Rich.
The DJ handed Rich a crumpled up card. The dedication was typed out on it.
"Where's your assistant?" asked Steve.
"She's over there," stated the DJ, pointing towards a young woman next to the stage.
Rich and Steve walked over to the woman. They noticed Robert Ledyard walking over in their direction.
"Can you tell us who gave you that last dedication?" asked Rich.
"I don't know. I've been getting them all evening," she explained.
"It's rather important. Try to remember, please," explained Steve.
"I think it was some older woman. But I really didn't get a good look at her. Why?" she asked.
Rich smiled. "We just want to thank her for the thoughtful dedication."
They walked over to Robert. "Nothing positive. The girl remembers an older woman making the request. It could be Grace. You want me to find her?" He handed the card to Robert.
He shook his head. "I saw her leave with her husband right after the music started. We'll end this Monday. The Director heard it and isn't pleased."
Steve and Rich nodded and headed back to the table. By now the DJ was playing some Sinatra.
"Well?" asked Carol. She was still furious.
Rich explained what had happened.
"I would like to leave, now," stated Ally softly, as she stood up.
Carol stood next to her and put her arm around her.
"I'll walk you out," stated Rich.
"We'll join you," added Maggie.
In fact, their entire table got up to escort Ally out of the ballroom.
Ally nodded. "Thanks." She was really fighting back the tears.
The good thing was that, as they walked towards the exit, she got a lot of supportive looks from friends and co-workers. She smiled and tried to act like nothing had happened.
Ally didn't say a word on the way home. Back in their home, she started to vent to Carol, who was turning on the fire.
Carol turned, looked at Ally and shook her head no as she put her finger to her lips. She turned off the lights, so that only the fire was illuminating the room. Her last act was to turn on the stereo.
Ally stood there in silence. She wondered what Carol was up to.
As the music started, Carol pulled Ally close and then began to dance slowly. The song was Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey and it was one of their favorite songs.
Carol held Ally close as they rocked slowly to the music. Tears began to run down Ally's face, as she released her emotions. It was a soft gentle cleansing cry, releasing her fears, anger, and frustration.
Van Morrison's lyrics filled the room. "She's as sweet as tupelo honey. She's an angel of the first degree. She's as sweet as tupelo honey. Just like honey from the bee."
Carol held onto Ally as if to remind her that she would always be there for her. The crying was very freeing. Ally felt Carol's hands caressing her back as they danced. Ally saw their shadows floating on the wall, moving as one.
Ally smiled as she heard the lyrics and realized why Carol had selected the song. Van Morrison repeated over and over "You know she's alright, you know she's alright with me. She's an angel"
The tears shifted to those of love and joy. Carol was telling her that she loved Ally for who she was, and not to worry about the ignorant. They rocked together as the cares drifted away. Ally would remember that moment for the rest of her life.
"Thank you," whispered Ally into Carol's ear. "I love you too!"
Later that night, Carol was stroking Ally's hair as she slept next to her. Carol knew that there would be other ignorant people for them to deal with. She so wanted to protect Ally from them all, but she knew that wasn't possible. She would allow the system to work and let her superiors handle Grace, but woe to anyone who tried to hurt her Ally! Carol leaned over and kissed her lover on the cheek and went to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Grace totally denied having anything to do with the stunt at the dinner. Robert knew she was lying, as he had proof that she was the one who made the request. He found it amazing that Grace didn't think an entire room of federal agents could deduce that she was responsible. He also had a positive ID of Grace by the DJ's assistant. Rich had left the party and returned with a photo of Grace.
The issue was what to do next. There was no denying that Grace had her supporters. He had noticed a few snickering as Ally made her exit. They saw Ally's departure from the party as a victory. Fools! Anyone with half a brain couldn't help but admire the way Ally made a dignified exit that night. Change takes time, he thought. But he would do his part to try to speed it up. He had the Director's permission to conduct an agency wide training session. He scheduled it for the following Tuesday. A memo was coming down from the Director stating that it was mandatory. Marlene had agreed to repeat the brief the following day and to allow it to be taped for those agents unable to attend.
Robert was pleased and a bit amazed by the Director's interest in the case. He was also impressed in the Director's interest in Ally. He smiled at the fact that when he was a younger agent he too had caught the Director's eye and it had helped him rise quickly in the agency. Well, if Ally's being a department head bothered some people, he couldn't wait to see their reaction in a few years when she was promoted to a higher position.
When Travis Coleman had brought in Ally, many thought it was just an experiment in political correctness. Robert laughed at that idea. Travis didn't give a damn about being PC, he only wanted results. That's why he'd sent Carol out to recruit Al. Travis didn't care that it was Ally that Carol brought back, just as long as she could do the job. The task Ally was given was monumental; she was given a moribund department, with no success or even a real purpose. In less than a year, Ally had transformed it into a superb crime-fighting machine. He admired her selection of personnel. She picked people based on their qualifications and willingness to do the job. They immediate achieved a level of success that attracted the attention of many in law enforcement. It also contributed to Travis being promoted. He was now in charge of the Seattle office.
Still, even with her department's success, many in the agency hadn't thought Ally was a "real agent". That all changed with her participation in the capture of the MNF serial killer. Robert had seen Ally at work and what he had seen impressed him. He also admired her for going forward with the gender change. Now that he was her boss, Robert planned to groom her for higher positions. He wouldn't allow a frustrated, narrow-minded person like Grace interfere with these plans. He smiled at the fact that Ally was much more of a lady than Grace would ever be!
Robert had seen a bit surprised when he saw Ally and Carol with Maggie and Steve Williams at the party. That was another mark in her favor. He had known Maggie and Steve for years and he was one of the few people in the agency they socialized with. Both Maggie and Steve were very selective about whom they chose for friends. They were also very selective about who in agency had contact with their daughter. They must trust Ally a lot to leave Beth with her, as they had the other day.
His daydreaming was broken up by the sound of a knock on the door. He saw Grace standing outside his door. She wasn't going to like what he was about to say, but that was tough.
"Agent Campbell, come in and take a seat," he ordered.
She obeyed and sat down in front of his desk.
"Before you say a word, I want to remind you that lying to a superior officer is considered grounds for dismissal. I have proof that you were behind that moronic and cruel stunt at the party. To avoid this becoming anymore of a problem, I'm giving you an option. I want you to think about your response before you say one word. Do you understand?" he asked.
Grace nodded. She seemed very subdued. Robert figured she'd got the word that the DJ and his assistant had identified her.
"Good. I think you need a change of scenery. One of our regional offices has an urgent need for an experienced agent. I am offering you the position and you'll volunteer to go. You will report to the office in thirty days," he stated as he handed Grace her orders.
He watched as the color went out of her face as she read the orders.
She looked up at him and was about to complain when he interrupted her. "The only other option is for you to face charges of harassment, which would most certainly lead to your immediate dismissal. It's your choice."
She was trembling slightly as the gravity of her dilemma sank in. "I'll take the transfer," she answered in a soft voice.
"Thank you for volunteering. Good choice. Grace, this is your last chance. Use this as an opportunity to focus on your career. The Director feels you have potential to change; if he didn't, you'd be up on charges right now," explained Robert.
"What about Ally? Will she retaliate?" asked a shaken Grace.
"No. She agreed to let us handle this internally. She is willing to let it drop, without any further litigation. You're very fortunate, as she has a solid case against you," stated Robert. He was pleased that Grace had finally used the correct pronoun in regards to Ally.
Grace nodded and re-read the orders. She was being transferred to the regional office for the northern Great Plains, in Bismarck, North Dakota!
Grace got up to leave and break the news to her husband that she was being transferred to the US version of Siberia. Robert interrupted her departure. "I know that you have your supporters. Let them know that they won't be as lucky as you, if they pull any similar stunts," he stated.
Grace nodded and walked out.
Robert called the Director and told him that Grace had accepted the banishment. He hoped the word would get out that no one could harass a fellow co-worker and get away with it.
Next he called Ally and told her that Grace had accepted the transfer. He was pleased that Ally had set aside her own anger and thirst for revenge for the overall good of the agency.
"Ally, trust me when I say this, you made the right choice," explained Robert. "I'm very proud of you."
"I understand," replied Ally. She wanted her pound of flesh, but was pleased with how the agency had handled it. She shuddered, thinking about spending winters in North Dakota. She barely could stand the computer lab!
Chapter Fifteen
"Have you made contact with the Philadelphia area candidates yet?" asked Thomas.
"Yes, I spent the last few nights with Sally. She was very obedient and eager to please. I doubt the candidates suspected a thing," replied Margo.
"Once again, you're right. What a great way to interview the potential slaves! Using an Internet chat room as the meeting point and a slave as your microphone," laughed Thomas.
"Microphone? I like that. Yes, that is a nice touch. I tell the slave and they relay my questions to the targeted candidate. They have no idea that they are interviewing for a life as a sexual slave," remarked Margo.
"What makes it all the more ironic is that we're using a website that is recommended to parents by the schools!"
They both broke out laughing.
Marco's contacts worked for a legitimate college prep company. Since they had access to schools, they could search for potential slaves. Marco would provide his contacts with a list of targeted students. They would be given a free log-in ID number to a very reputable website, used by students prepping for college tests. Margo's computer would alert her when one of the students checked into the room. She would then use one of the completely trained slaves to help her interview the potential slave. Even if someone were monitoring the room, they wouldn't suspect what she was doing.
"I would like to know how Marco keeps his contacts inline," remarked Thomas.
"He has dirt on all of them, real dirt; drugs, sexual perversions, things like that. Things, which would get them into prison for a very long time. What's ironic is that he's the one who corrupted them in the first place!" laughed Margo.
"Where did you meet him?" asked Thomas.
"I found him in a file back when I was working for the government. He's a very useful person to have around. He's a real professional. He believes in honor. As long as I pay him the agreed amount, he'll be loyal to me," stated Margo.
"Hmm…. a mercenary with a sense of honor. Very refreshing!"
"By the way, I have a job for you. I think you'll enjoy it. Marcus felt one of his old contacts was about to have a sudden attack of guilty conscience and tell the authorities. Marcus has him in the trunk of his car. He was going to kill him, but then I remembered that I never gave you a birthday present. The person is male, aged 31, slender build, brown hair, blue eyes, and very vulnerable. I'm sure you could have some twisted fun with him," stated Margo
Thomas had a totally evil look on his face. "Would your conditioning process work as well after they have been changed physically?" asked Thomas.
"Absolutely. What do you have in mind?" asked Margo.
"I'm thinking a whore or a stripper. I want her a total bimbo slut," stated Thomas. "Maybe Marcus can then use her to blackmail future 'assistants'?"
They both laughed.
Margo was pleased. Thomas needed something to do in his spare time. After they grabbed the next two batches of slaves, they would have a year to train them and then they could take their well-earned vacation.
"Do you know which ones you want?" asked Thomas.
"I have them narrowed down. I should have the list ready for Marcus by the end of the week."
Up in Philadelphia, there were two high school students who weren't aware that their lives were about to take a very twisted turn.
Chapter Sixteen
It was Wednesday, and Rich, Bob, Donna, Maria, and Ally were sitting in one of the conference rooms reviewing the data they had on the missing teens. Ally would have liked to have David there too, but he was out on loan to the Miami Police Department. She had to admit she was a bit jealous that he was in Miami while it was 23 and snowing outside. On the whiteboards were written common characteristics of the missing teens. Nothing really stood out as a shared factor.
"We have a pattern, that teens disappear from prep and private schools. There are only a few disappearances, usually on the same day, then no more in that area for a year," stated Donna.
"There has to be a connection," remarked a frustrated Maria.
Ally looked at the lists. The teens were all excellent students. They were all carrying a heavy academic load, heavy on college level classes. Some were bilingual and some were musicians. Then she got an idea.
"You know, we're looking at this from the wrong way," stated Ally.
"What do you mean?" asked Rich.
"There's a connection, but we need an expert to see it," continued Ally.
They all looked at her, waiting for her to finish her thought.
"Why not bring in a few teens from schools like these and have them look at the data?" suggested Ally. "Maybe they'll see something we've missed."
Rich smiled. "That might not be a bad idea."
Donna looked at Ally and smiled.
"I think I know someone who can help," announced Ally.
Ally spent the next twenty minutes on the phone talking to Maggie. She explained the case and what she needed from Beth. Maggie invited Ally over to her office to discuss the idea.
Ally felt a bit nervous as she entered the Spec-Op world. She was a bit disappointed that it didn't look any different than her wing of the building.
"Somehow I figured it would be very futuristic!" laughed Ally.
"That's what everyone thinks!" responded Maggie.
Ally went over the case with Maggie and laid out the help they needed from Beth.
Maggie nodded. "Ally, I think Beth will love helping you. I do need to brief you on something."
Ally nodded and wondered what was up.
"Beth has already actively participated in several operations."
Ally sat there trying not to look totally amazed. She knew Beth was special, but this went beyond her wildest dreams. "Okay, anything else?"
Maggie smiled approvingly. "I figured that you wouldn't ask more details. You're too professional for that! Keep that up and you may end up over here with us!"
Ally smiled. She wasn't sure if Maggie was kidding or not.
"I have a favor to ask. I have to go out of town and Steve is also working a case. Could you do this Friday and then keep Beth over at your place over the weekend?"
Ally beamed. "Maggie, that's no problem at all!"
"Beth's old enough to be left alone, but I would prefer that she stays with a friend, and she thinks very highly of you," continued Maggie.
"Carol has been out a lot lately herself and I hate to be alone. We'll have a great time together!"
Maggie felt relieved. "I'll drop Beth off at your office Friday morning, if that is okay?"
"Sure. That will be great."
"I'll leave it up to Beth if she wants to tell you about the missions," stated Maggie. She then paused for a second. "By the way Ally, I am also proud to call you a friend."
Ally smiled back. "I feel the same way!"
Chapter Seventeen
Friday morning, Ally was sitting in her office with Donna and Beth. Donna was briefing Beth on the case. Ally smiled as she noticed Beth was wearing her agent ID.
"We want you to go through the data and note anything you see that seems unusual or that connects the missing teens," explained Donna.
Beth nodded.
"Okay, you two need to get to work," stated Ally.
Beth looked at Donna, who nodded, then together they stated, "Yes, Mom!"
Ally tried not to smile, but failed. Beth would fit in here perfectly!
As the day progressed, Ally kept to her normal routine. Around eleven she made her rounds and checked in on the progress of all her agents. As important as the missing teens case was, Ally couldn't lose track that her department was working many other cases.
Ally checked in on Donna and Beth and found that they had been very busy. The walls of the conference room were covered with poster paper. Each paper had the characteristics of the teen written on them. The white board in the front was a list of common factors.
Ally was impressed and let them go back to work. Back in her office, she was working on yearly agent reviews when Robert called her.
"Ally, please come up to my office. I have someone I want you to meet," stated Robert.
"Be there in five minutes," replied Ally.
On the way up, she wondered what was up.
Inside Robert's office was a short, thin woman in her 30's. She was dressed in a long skirt and a red wool sweater. She wore her long brown hair in a ponytail and had a very pleasant smile.
"Ally, please come in. This is Marlene Hamilton," introduced Robert.
"Pleased to meet you, Marlene. I've read a lot about you," stated Ally. She had done a web search on Marlene and found that she was a champion for transgendered rights. "I was very impressed with how you handled that case in Pennsylvania last year."
"Well, Ally, you have checked up on me. I must admit that I am equally impressed with you!" exclaimed Marlene.
"Marlene will be giving training to the agency Tuesday. She just wanted to meet you first," informed Robert.
"I was hoping we could grab some lunch together. Robert has informed me of the case and what was done. I find some poetic justice in the punishment. I spent a month in Bismarck one afternoon," laughed Marlene.
Ally and Marlene grabbed some lunch and retired to Ally's office.
"I was caught off-guard when Robert called me. I had been asking to talk to law enforcement agencies for years, but this is my first real chance," explained Marlene. "By the way, he thinks very highly of you."
Ally felt a bit embarrassed.
"I also want to thank you for the great work in catching that psychopath. I was talking to some transgendered activists about the case. None were aware that you were TS," stated Marlene.
"I see myself as an agent first."
"Of course. Now let's talk about your case."
Marlene explained how she would define the different terms to the group and then move to legal rights. The rest of the time would be question and answer.
"You won't be the one answering the questions, Ally, that will be my job. But you can expect some questions in the days after the lecture."
"That's fine," remarked Ally.
"Just remember that, while some of the questions they'll ask you may seem idiotic, they mean well," explained Marlene.
Ally laughed.
They spent another hour talking. Ally really liked Marlene and felt that they would become good friends.
"I read about that scholarship contest in that town in Pennsylvania. I wish there had been something like that where I went to school," remarked Ally.
Marlene nodded. "Golden Hill is a special town. You'll be pleased that they're starting a program like it in Oregon this fall."
"That's really cool!" replied Ally.
"I need to go. I'll see you on Tuesday," stated Marlene.
"I'm looking forward to it," smiled Ally.
Ally walked Marlene out of the building and then checked in on Donna and Beth.
They were both beaming as she walked in.
"We may have it!" exclaimed Donna.
Ally closed the door and sat down. "Well?"
"Beth got a hunch. We dug into their records a bit deeper and we found it," stated Donna.
"Enough with the dramatic delay. Get to the point!" quipped Ally.
"The connection is the college boards. All the missing kids were studying for their boards when they disappeared. We found that they were all in online study groups. The problem is that there are several of them," explained Donna.
"How do they know about the websites?" asked Ally.
"The companies are always on campus leading up to the testing periods. They're there to sell their sites. They often give a free trial period first, and then you must pay for the complete service," explained Beth.
"This is a good start. I'll call Rich and set up a meeting with the rest of the team. Good job. You two make a good team. David's going to be jealous!" quipped Ally.
"Good! Serves him right. He e-mailed me a picture of him on the beach this morning!" laughed Donna.
"By the way, Beth. You're on the team for now, so you're welcome at the meeting," stated Ally.
Beth just sat there and smiled. She was so excited that not only was she being treated as an adult for a change, but that she was actually contributing to the case.
"Ally, before you go, Beth worked out a couple very interesting profiles of the missing teens," stated Donna. "I think you should take a look."
Ally stopped, smiled at Donna and then turned to Beth. "Well, Agent Williams, show me what you've got."
Beth smiled and showed Ally two charts on the wall. One was for the missing males and the other for the females.
"Donna asked me to look for things these kids have in common. Your team was looking for specific commonalities. But they didn't look for things that make them stand out from the total student body of a school. Notice the fact that there are no athletes of either sex among the abductees? Neither are there any debaters, or students who have expressed any interest in law or law enforcement or the military. There are none who have held major student leadership positions," stated Beth
She paused as Ally studied the charts, nodding in agreement.
"Please continue, Beth," stated Ally, never taking her eyes off the charts.
"See that students with strong foreign language, humanities, arts, and social studies interests are more prevalent than students with math or science interests? That the kids are all computer literate, but none of them are real computer geeks? That none of the boys is over 5'6" or looks strongly masculine? That all of the girls are much more attractive than average? That none of them have bad complexions? That none of them are visibly members of any minority population?" continued Beth.
"Write this up. Excellent work, Beth!" smiled Ally. She noticed that she would have fit the profile when she was in high school.
An hour later, the taskforce was crowded into the briefing room examining Donna and Beth's work.
Donna explained their theory concerning the case and the college testing companies.
"We need to get into the databases of those companies," remarked Bob.
"I agree, but can we trust them? These abductions are obviously being done by a gang. It would make sense that they would have someone on the inside of one or more of these companies. Any request for information could tip them off," stated Rich.
"What do you suggest?" asked Ally.
Rich looked at Ally, then Beth. "Beth, I know your status and with it goes the full responsibility that goes with the title of Agent. I expect you to follow all security rules," stated Rich.
"I fully understand, sir," replied Beth. "You can trust me."
Rich smiled. "I know that, Beth. Thank you. I think we need a little look inside their archives. I recommend we get Cathleen involved."
Ally smiled and nodded. Cathleen was the new hot computer programmer and hacker for the agency. She had gotten the job, by hacking into the agency e-mail system and sending her resume directly to the Director. He immediately hired her.
The group agreed to reform as soon as Cathleen's search was complete.
Ally looked at her watch and saw that it was almost four. "I need to finish up my weekly report. I assume I can find you with Donna, Beth?" smiled Ally.
Beth nodded and smiled.
Ally went back to her office and worked on her weekly status report for Robert. The phone rang and Ally answered, as she continued to type. It was Rich.
"Cathleen has the list of names and social security numbers. She says she'll have results soon," stated Rich.
"She's good," replied Ally.
"I also want to tell you that I was damm impressed with Beth. She doesn't seem at all like a typical teenager."
"No, she doesn't. She wants to follow in her parents' footsteps and join the agency."
"Hmm. I foresee a future battle between you and I over who gets her!"
Ally laughed, but she was thinking the same thing. She'd take Beth right now if it were possible.
"I'll get back to you regarding Cathleen's information. Have a great weekend," stated Rich. "By the way, Beth did a masterful job on those profiles. They'll be very useful. I already passed them down to research and they'll have a profile program worked out shortly. We may find more missing teens to match to this case."
"I will, thanks. Beth's staying with me and I'll have a whole weekend to win her over!" quipped Ally.
"Curses! Foiled again!" joked Rich.
Ally smiled and finished her report and sent it to Robert. She then went into the operations room and saw off her staff. Ally always wanted to see them personally as they took off for the weekend.
"Ed and I are going skiing this weekend," stated Donna.
"Have fun and be safe. That goes for all of you!" stated Ally.
"Yes, Mom!" they chorused.
Ally smiled. "Come on, Beth, let's grab your stuff and head over to my place."
Beth nodded. She turned and hugged Donna goodbye.
Chapter Eighteen
Ally and Beth walked out to the parking lot and got into Ally's silver Acura.
"Is Carol going to be there tonight?" asked Beth.
"Not tonight. She'll be back home tomorrow," replied Ally. "Do you like pizza?"
"Love it!" exclaimed Beth.
"We have a great pizza place nearby and they deliver," added Ally.
"That doesn't bother you?" asked Beth.
The MNF killer had disguised himself as a pizza delivery guy.
"No. I don't worry about that; although I could kick myself for making such a stupid mistake," remarked Ally.
"Were you afraid?" asked Beth.
"No. Shocked and stunned at first, but then I felt surprisingly calm. It's kind of hard to describe," replied Ally.
"I was," stated Beth.
"You want to talk about it?" asked Ally.
Beth smiled. "It's a long story, and you might not believe me."
"I'm a good listener, and from what you know about me, you know I'm open-minded!"
"I'll wait until we get the pizza," replied Beth.
"It's up to you," remarked Ally. "I don't want you to feel pressured."
"Thanks, Ally. I know that I can trust you."
They arrived at Ally's home and ordered the pizza; pepperoni with extra cheese. Ally started a fire in the fireplace and they sat down near it. The pizza arrived on time, and Beth agreed that it was very good. They sat on the floor near the fire and used the coffee table to place their drinks and the pizza on.
"Ally, no matter how you react to what I'm going to tell you, you must promise not to tell anyone about it. Promise me, please!" begged Beth.
"I promise, Beth," pledged Ally. She could see how serious Beth was about this, and played it very straight.
"I guess the best place to start is the beginning," stated Beth nervously. "I used to be a man, specifically a twenty-six year old Navy Officer named Ben Carlson."
Ally's eyes widened in clear disbelief, but she remained silent and gestured to Beth to continue.
Beth described how she had been transformed into a genetic female by a process developed by a warped genius named Dr. Martz. Martz was initially trying to recreate his deceased daughter.
If that wasn't enough, Beth was dragged into several conspiracies to gain access to the Martz Process. In addition to all this, she had had to adapt to being a teenage girl.
Ally sat there in silence as Beth told her incredible tale. Somehow, being stabbed didn't seem like such a big deal now. Instead of treating Beth's story as a prank or joke, Ally felt so sorry for everything Beth had been through and held her in much higher admiration than before. Beth was much stronger than anyone could imagine.
"So, that's my story," finished Beth. She had been talking for over an hour.
Ally reached over and hugged Beth. Beth wrapped her arms around Ally and hung on tight. They were both crying.
"I just wanted you to know about me. I feel a special bond between us. I hope you don't mind, but I see you as an older sister," explained Beth, as she wiped tears away from her eyes.
"I like that idea, Beth! I'm an only child and always wanted a sister!" replied Ally.
They looked at each other and the tears started again. This time they were tears of joy.
Beth was beaming now. "I thought I could trust you, but I was also afraid that you might push me away."
"Beth, I wouldn't do that to you. But I understand your fears. They're very natural."
"I guess I get a little possessive at times. I mean I lost so much. I also gained a new family and now some great new friends. I just worry about going through all this alone. I don't know how I would have gotten this far without my new parents."
"I can understand that. I feel the same way about Carol," added Ally.
"I used to hate the Martz Process for all the problems it caused. I was pleased when they couldn't reproduce it. Now I wish they could," explained Beth.
"Why?" asked Ally
"I only wish that the process could be used one more time. I wish that you could become whole," stated Beth.
Ally felt her eyes tearing up again. "I appreciate the thought, but I'm on the path I was destined to follow."
"But, wouldn't you love to be physically female?" asked Beth.
"Yes, more than you can ever imagine. But, the cost is too great. The damage that a process like that could cause is monumental. Someone always seems to take something designed for good and twist it into something evil," explained Ally.
"Maybe you're right. But you deserve to be happy!"
"I am happy, Beth. I'm living as a woman. I have a great job and, most importantly, I have someone in my life that I love dearly and who feels the same way."
"I believe you, Ally. Still I would love to see you complete!"
"Well, soon, thanks to the miracles of modern medicine I will be."
"Yes, but you won't really be physically whole. You won't be able to have children. I will. It isn't fair!" replied Beth.
"Beth, many women cannot have children. Would I love to have what you have? Absolutely. But the cost is too high. I love my present life!"
"But you have to deal with people like Grace!"
"Life isn't perfect. Yes, I have to deal with close-minded people. But I'm gaining respect in my job because of my skills and abilities. I can't imagine losing what you lost."
Beth sat there and nodded. "It was hard at first. I still think about them a little, even though I have a great family."
"Only a little?" asked Ally, with a slight smile.
"Okay, I miss them a lot. But, there is no chance I could ever see them again. The son they knew is dead. I have changed a lot in the past two years."
"So, you've always felt whole?" asked Ally.
"Yes, even before the change was complete. Dr. Martz did something to make my transition easier. I can barely remember what it felt like to be a male, even though I have most of Ben's knowledge."
"That's my biggest wish, to be whole. The duality I felt when I was Al was oppressive. I could function, but I wasn't really happy."
"Is that why you threw yourself so thoroughly into your job?" asked Beth.
Ally smiled. "Have you been talking to Jenna? Yes, I found a freedom in my job that didn't exist in my life. Granted it was mostly online, but it was freeing. I was so fortunate that Carol came out to see what the secret to my success was," explained Ally.
"Did she suspect right away?" asked Beth. She was lying on her stomach, her hands propping up her head.
Ally was now on her side facing Beth. "She said she suspected something. As we progressed in the investigation, she discovered my secret. Actually, it was more a secret in my own mind. Turns out many of my old co-workers knew that I was hiding something."
"I imagine that they didn't care, because they liked you so much!" replied Beth.
"True. They also respected me as a professional. I doubt they would have been as open-minded if I had been a bad cop. I guess another reason they accepted me was that I was so much younger than them. Initially, they saw me as a 'kid brother'. I graduated college early. I also volunteered for all kinds of hard duty and that also helped win them over."
"How old were you when you graduated college?" asked Beth. She was sitting up now.
"I was nineteen, - well, almost twenty - when I graduated with a double major in pre-law and psychology."
"Wow!" How did you do that?" asked Beth, excitedly.
"First off, I entered college at sixteen. I tested out of a lot of classes and took a full load during the summer. I'm blessed with an excellent memory, so it wasn't too difficult. I did sacrifice the socializing aspect of college and I do regret that."
"I went through college once, and while it was fun, I would prefer to get through it quickly. I want to get started with my career as soon as possible," stated Beth.
"Beth, in case you haven't noticed, you've already started your career. I imagine you're in a hurry to grow up again, but enjoy the here and now," advised Ally.
"Maybe you're right, but high school is so boring! I have a perfect GPA and am so bored! That's why I started acting, it was something to do!" sighed Beth.
Ally smiled. "I agree with Maggie, it's a good place for you to learn your feminine social skills. I have so much to learn, as Carol is constantly reminding and correcting me."
"You two are such a great couple. I'm happy that you're in love!" smiled Beth.
"Love? I don't think that's a strong enough description of what we have. We were both missing something in our lives. We're whole together. So what about you?" asked Ally, figuring everything was now fair game.
"I had a boyfriend for a while, but he moved to London. We still trade e-mails, but he has a girlfriend over there," stated Beth.
Ally nodded. "Anyone new strike your fancy?"
Beth laughed. "I do get asked out a lot, but they're so immature!"
"You don't have to get married. Go out on dates. You might surprise yourself and have fun!"
"Mom says the same thing!"
"Seriously, Beth, enjoy yourself. You have a whole life ahead of you to be serious!" quipped Ally.
"I may just do that. So, even though you're with Carol, are you attracted to men too?" asked Beth.
"My, little sister, you're nosey!" laughed Ally. "I don't know. I felt some attraction to a police detective when I was down in Atlanta. I still feel a little funny about my feelings."
"I still have a sexual attraction to women. I haven't acted on it either. I'm not sure if it's residual from my being born male."
"Could be. I imagine it can be a bit confusing at times."
"I feel better now that I have a sister to talk with. Mom has been great, but there are things I feel funny talking to her about. I know she doesn't mind and is willing to listen to all my problems. I just like the idea of having someone else, who has some similar feelings."
"You know, Beth, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!" drawled Ally, in a bad Bogart imitation.
"Don't tell me you love old movies too!" exclaimed Beth
"Absolutely!" smiled Ally
Ally showed Beth her collection and let her pick out a movie as she nuked up some popcorn. They spent the rest of the night watching a double feature of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon.
Chapter Nineteen
A totally different form of entertainment was occurring at Margo's facility. Margo was supervising the sexual training of several of her slaves. This was the last stage of their training.
There were several other out there who provided sexual slaves. What made Margo the Rolls Royce of slave producers was that she personalized each one for the client.
Once a slave had been purchased, Margo conducted a lengthy interview with the client. She would then program the slave to meet the requirements as closely as was possible to the demands.
Many clients wanted virgins, but ones who were sexually knowledgeable. Margo accomplished this by exposing the slave to long sessions of pornography and of course reward and punishment.
Margo rarely needed punishment. By now the slaves were so conditioned that they would do anything to please her. They spent much of their days preoccupied with sex. Some were given sex toys to practice with. She guaranteed that they were virgins, unless the client requested something else.
Margo looked in on one of the feminized boys. She was practicing oral sex on a large life-like plastic cock. She spent hours on it, and occasionally was allowed to sexually pleasure herself as a reward. She had been conditioned to ignore her gag reflex and could deep-throat a very large dildo with little difficulty. She was also wearing a very special butt-plug that was remote controlled. Margo could turn it on to give the girl a nice reward. It was hard to believe that this sexy young woman had once been a sixteen-year-old male honor student. She was now a voluptuous French maid who was very oversexed, but also extremely obedient. In a few days, she would be the property of a wealthy CEO in Canada.
What was really exciting was how fluent the slave was now in speaking French, especially strong sexual language. The client had insisted that she have a really slutty vocabulary and who was Margo to argue?
Margo switched back to the young girl. She was also practicing her oral skills. Margo marveled at how deeply she could take the dildo down her throat. She would make her owner very happy.
This slave was being prepared to be the trophy wife for an older man. He wanted to impress his friends with a young sexy wife. He told Margo that he would use the slave to sexually satisfy his trusted employees, and business clients, as he watched. So, she would get a lot of use.
The last slave being trained was very special. The client wanted a sissy-boy. A boy who looked like a young girl and acted like one, but was also fully aware that he was a feminized boy. The client loved the humiliation aspect of the slave's circumstances.
The slave's body had been modified so he looked like a young girl. His breasts were small and high on his chest, but with very sensitive nipples. His face was so cute and feminine, almost like a doll. He had pert lips and high sexy cheeks. He was a real darling.
He was trained to act like a schoolgirl and would, in fact, be enrolled in a nearby girl's school. The constant fear of being discovered as a sissy would make him even more dependent on his "uncle". The client also had a thing about schoolgirl uniforms.
She had trained this one to be very emotional. He cried very easily and giggled like a real girl when he was happy.
The boy was trained to be very sexual, both orally and anally. He would be the "niece" and the client was the uncle. This was the second slave this man had purchased from Margo. The first had matured too much and was sold into slavery in Europe. Margo insisted that she approve all resales of slaves. She didn't want one to be accidentally discovered.
Margo had commissioned many porn videos to train her slaves. She had an extensive library of customized videos that she showed to the slaves. What was amusing to Margo was that Thomas had marketed the videos and had turned a nice profit. She selected a nice one for the sissy-boy. It showed a similar boy pleasing several men at once. It wasn't her taste, but that didn't matter.
She then thought about what qualities she wanted in her new slave. She had narrowed down the physical requirements and was debating what she would do to improve her. There was something fascinating about keeping the girl totally shaved, including her head. First, Margo could change the slave's look easier. Two, it would make the slave look like a store mannequin, which for some reason excited her.
Margo worked on the profile. After Marcus captured the two in Philadelphia he could look for the future slave along with the other two.
Thomas walked in with a satisfied look on his face.
"Surgery a success?" asked Margo. She hadn't seen Thomas in several days. He was having fun with his latest patient.
"Yes, very much so. She is sedated and will stay that way for a week or two. Her face will be exquisite. I gave her very classic looks. She will have to beat men off with a stick!" exclaimed Thomas. He poured them each a drink.
"Not after I'm done with her!" laughed Margo.
Thomas smiled. "Her breasts are huge and I removed the ribs without any complications. I also did some lovely surgery on her hips. She will have a very sexy figure."
"She'll be in shock when she wakes up," remarked Margo.
"She went to sleep with the knowledge of what was going to happen to her," revealed Thomas.
"You didn't!"
"Just before I started surgery, I told her what I planned to do. The look on her face was priceless!" confessed Thomas.
"I'm jealous! You didn't share that with me!"
Thomas smiled and handed her a videotape.
Margo smiled a wicked smiled. "Can I look at it now?"
Thomas leaned down and kissed her. They were soon locked in deep passionate kissing. The tape could wait for now.
Chapter Twenty
"Good morning, Ally," stated Beth, as she walked into the kitchen.
Ally looked up from the paper and smiled. "Good morning, Beth. Did you sleep well?"
Beth nodded and sat down at the table.
"I figure we'll go out for breakfast and make plans then. Carol will meet us at the diner," explained Ally.
"I thought she was out of town?" asked Beth.
"They finished up late last night. Carol decided to grab a room for the night," replied Ally.
"Cool. So what are we doing today?"
"We'll decide that over breakfast," stated Ally.
Beth was wearing overalls and a red sweater. Ally was in jeans and a green turtleneck top. The weather outside was cold and damp. They got into Ally's Acura and headed to a good local diner for breakfast
"Looks like the groundhog was right this year. I don't see any sign of spring," remarked Beth.
"I'm so sick of winter!" sighed Ally.
"That's right, this is your first real winter," remarked Beth.
"It's March now. Where's the warmer weather?" asked Ally.
"I hate to tell you this, but March can be a really ugly month," informed Beth.
"Any other good news?" quipped Ally.
"I'll try and think of some," remarked Beth with a smirk.
They headed down the road. Traffic was light and it was a pleasant drive.
"Don't worry about your secret. I won't tell Carol, unless you want me to," added Ally.
"How do you think she'd react?" asked Beth.
The car was at a stoplight and Ally turned and gave Beth a big smile.
"Oh, yeah. I guess that was a dumb question. Of course, she'd be cool about it!" stated Beth, as she answered her own question.
"However, I'd save it for later on tonight," advised Ally with a laugh.
Beth turned to Ally and smiled. "Really?"
They both started laughing
They arrived at the diner and Ally broke out in a huge smile when she recognized Carol's car. Beth noticed Ally's reaction.
As they walked into the diner, Beth turned to Ally and spoke. "I hope I meet someone someday that I care about as much as you love Carol."
"Is it that obvious?" smiled Ally.
"Please!" laughed Beth.
Ally beamed and turned to Beth, "You will."
Carol was sitting at a booth and jumped up and greeted them. She gave Ally a long hug and a kiss.
Beth noticed that Ally and Carol's affection for each other barely raised an eyebrow. Then she noticed that there was a rainbow flag above the cashier.
The food was excellent and they decided to spend the day downtown at the Smithsonian.
After dinner, while resting their tired feet, Beth told Carol her secret. As expected Carol totally accepted Beth's story. It was too farfetched to not believe.
They capped off the evening with a movie classic that Beth hadn't seen before, Bogey and Katie Hepburn in The African Queen.
Sunday morning, Carol made pancakes and they enjoyed a long and leisurely breakfast.
Maggie arrived shortly after noon and took Beth home.
"So would you submit yourself to the Martz process?" asked Carol.
"I don't think so. Beth told me how she changed, and not just physically. I like who I am, it's just that the body needs some adjustments. I would be afraid that I would be a different person," explained Ally. "I don't want to lose you."
"Don't worry about that. I love you too much. But I appreciate your concern for our relationship."
"It's an amazing prospect; to be genetically changed to the proper gender," stated Ally.
"I just can't help thinking of how it could be abused," countered Carol.
Ally nodded in agreement. "Yes, anything like that would be abused. Too bad."To be continued
*********************************************
© 2003 by Julie O. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all
articles, text, images, logos, and compilation design) may be printed for personal use only. No
portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or
otherwise made available without the express written consent of StorySite and the copyright holder.