Warning: This story contains sexual material and transgender themes. If you're not 18 or over, or are offended by such material then don't read it! This story can be posted on Fictionmania or any other free sites however, I do ask that you notify me first before doing so.

 

The Life and Death of Al Parker                 by: Kelly Davidson

 

Part 3 - Beyond the lines of Friendship

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This story is based on the story called, "I, my sister" and was written by Diana Christy (07/97). I would like to thank Diana for allowing me to use parts of her story in mine. I would also like to thank Arcee and Darkside for their support and suggestions that I needed to finish this story. A special thanks to Elaine for all her hard work in proofing the story and her suggestions on a number of different issues. I couldn’t have written this story without their support. Thanks guys!

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Chapter 1 -- The plan

Tom sat in his motel room staring at the blank wall across from him. He didn't have a clue on how he was going to get Jennifer, or rather Al, out of this situation safely. He had gone through half a dozen plans in his mind and each one he deemed wasn’t feasible. But from these plans he did realize one thing, Dr. Jensen was going to have to die. There was no other alternative that he could see. If he let her live then their lives, as well as many others, would always be in danger. Yet knowing that fact didn't help ease his conscience. He had never been part of murdering someone before. Even when he had been on the police force he would never have shot at anyone with the intent to kill. Now he was being forced to go against his own principles to save others. It didn't sit well with him.

Then there was Al. It was clear he was on the brink of committing suicide if he didn't do something fast. The only thing stopping him was the control Gerald and Dr. Jensen had over his mind, and maybe a deep desire to even the score with everyone involved. But once that was over, so would his desire to live one more minute trapped in Jennifer Anderson's body. It was odd to think that way but the fact was, Al Parker was trapped in another person's body, even if at one time it had been his own. Tom wondered if the situation could be reversed or altered somehow. Of course what Al really needed was outside help but first he had to find something else for him to hold on to.

`Wait, maybe that wasn't right,' he suddenly thought to himself. `Maybe what Al needed was an extension of the current situation.' Tom smiled as he kicked the idea around in head. Yes, this idea may work if he played his cards right.

Slowly but surely Tom began to devise a plan to free Al from his situation. It all centered around when Dr. Jensen got back from her trip. Al would have his revenge and more by the time this was over. And the good doctor's project would be finished for good.

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Al kept looking out the window every chance he could. Tom was out there, waiting for the right moment to rescue him. The last two days had seemed like an eternity to him, especially since most of his time had been spent with Gerald. Normally Al would have spent the majority of his time cleaning the house and fixing meals. But with Dr. Jensen gone, Gerald put a hold on the housework so Jennifer would have more time serving his selfish needs. But tonight, if everything worked out as Tom planned, Al would be free from his grasp for good.

Gerald reached out from behind and lifted up the hem of the silk dress Al was wearing. He gave Jennifer a devilish grin. "I see you're wearing the dress that I like so much. Let's say we go back into your bedroom and find out what else you have on that I like."

Gerald took the maids hand and Al followed bodyguard back to his bedroom like a mindless robot. But Al didn't care this time; it was all part of Tom's plan.

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Tom took one more look at the mirror before leaving his room. Although he considered his chance of success as being better then average, he also knew there was a good chance he might fail. Such failure meant the end of life, as he knew it.

"Well, it's too late to turn back now," he told the reflection in the mirror. He was now committed to see this through.

Tom drove to the house in silence, not even listening to the radio. He didn't want anything to distract him as he went over the plan one more time in his mind. Everything had to be perfect.

After parking his car on a side road where it couldn't be seen, he jogged slowly up to the gate. Carefully he looked around to make sure no one was watching him. The last thing he needed was a witness seeing him go in.

Convinced everything was safe, Tom punched in the code Al had given him and the gate slowly began to open up. When it opened wide enough he darted inside and hit the close button. The gate closed back up and locked. `So far so good,' he thought

He made his way up the driveway, darting between trees in case Gerald happen to be looking out the window. When he was close enough to the house he saw the light on in the kitchen; a signal Al had left for him indicating that Gerald was distracted and the coast was clear.

Quietly he unlocked the front door with a key Al had given him and stepped inside. A careful check revealed Gerald was with Al in his room. He looked at his watch -- there wasn't much time left. Tom walked down the hallway toward the lab.

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Sarah Jensen was happy to be home. Her trip to Washington had been very long and tiring. More than that, it had been very upsetting. Her boss was a butthead who didn't understand any of the potential that project "Phoenix" represented. The entire time she was there, he had made it a point to remind her that she worked for him, and the only thing she should be concerned about was project "Peace".

"It seems," he told her in front of a group of other paper pushers, "that you’re not devoting all your time and effort to this project. Remember that you work for me. I paid for your office, your bodyguard, and your computer equipment plus all the research material you needed to get this project started. It's time you considered that and started producing."

Sarah would have been more open to his criticism if he hadn't been such an `ass' about it and belittled her in front of ten other people. But he wanted to pound the point home that she was his employee and he was the boss, not the other way around.

"Stupid male-ego jackass!" Sarah shouted as she opened up the gate. "I'd like to see you get as far as I have with your limited intelligence. You couldn't even turn on my computer without screwing that up. My work isn't like building a house. There were no blueprints to what I am doing. It's all based on theory, guesswork, and trial and error. Getting results takes time, months, sometimes years. What the hell would you know about hard work anyway?"

The doctor parked her car in the garage and got out. She didn't bother with her suitcase; that was Gerald's job. She was a little surprised to find no one in the living room waiting to greet her.

`The two lovebirds must be busy again,' she said to herself.

Well no matter. She would talk to them later when they were through. Just as the doctor was getting ready to head upstairs she heard a noise coming from the hallway – a low tapping sound. Dr. Jensen peeked around the corner and was surprised at what she saw. She reached into her purse and pressed a button on her box.

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Chapter 2 -- Schedule of events

Gerald noticed the light on his security box indicating that the gate was opening up but he was too busy at the time to care. After all, the doctor didn't need him to greet her at the door. It wasn't like they were married. Then the warning buzzer went off, indicating there was trouble and the doctor needed help fast.

"Holy Crap," Gerald yelled as he struggled to put on his underwear and grab his gun at the same time. He ran out of the room leaving Jennifer alone in the bed wondering what was going on. Then it hit Al.

"Oh my God, its Tom. They found him." Al grabbed Jennifer’s silk robe and followed Gerald out of the bedroom.

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Tom was on his knees trying to pick the lock on the lab door when he first noticed it. It was that funny feeling you get when you know you were being watched. He looked up to see the doctor standing there in the hallway with a gun pointed right at his head.

"I suggest you stay right there and don't move," she warned him. "I'm a expert shot." About that time Gerald showed up behind her, his gun also drawn.

"Are you okay Dr. Jensen?"

"I'm fine Gerald. But it looks like we have a visitor." About that time Al arrived and Tom could see the panic on his pretty face.

The bodyguard looked at the intruder carefully for a moment before a light went off in his head. "You! I know you. You're the guy from the store who was hugging my girlfriend. What the hell are you doing here?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Tom replied back pleasantly.

"Oh, I can do THAT!" Gerald answered angrily. He took a step forward, his gun pointed directly at the intruder's head. Sarah stopped him.

"There is a better way Gerald. Since he wants to see what's inside my lab so badly, why don't we let him. Stand up you and step aside."

With two guns pointed at him, Tom did as he was told. Dr. Jensen unlocked the door while Gerald stood guard over him. After the door was opened, Gerald pushed him into a chair near the doctor's desk and strapped him down. The Doctor put her gun back in her purse and turned to face him.

"You're in a lot of trouble my friend. I suggest you tell me what you are doing here or else. We can do this my way or…the hard way." Sarah made a motion to Gerald who moved closer to Tom in a threatening manner.

"I'm looking for my friend," he told them calmly.

"I see," Sarah said, a little amused by his answer and calm demeanor. "And you think your friend is in this house. I can assure you he or she is not. But just to humor you, what’s your friend's name?

"Al Parker," he replied back with a smile.

The doctor felt as if her body had been slammed into a brick wall. That was the last name she expected to hear. Al Parker had led her to believe he was a vagrant without any friends. But this man they’d caught wasn't a vagrant. In fact he was dressed like a regular person. So why would he be interested in a dirty, smelly, useless tramp unless...unless Al Parker really wasn't what he said he was? But that would mean he had been able to lie to her while under her control serum. Sarah looked over at Jennifer who was standing there fidgeting.

"What makes you think your friend is here?" she continued.

"Because this was the last place he was seen alive," Tom answered.

Gerald, who was furious about another break-in happening under his nose, asked the next question. "Who are you and what is this Al Parker's connection to you?"

"My name is Tom McClain. I run a detective agency in Seattle and Al Parker is my partner. A few months ago a man by the name of Klein Walker sent him on a mission to steal some information from you. I didn't find out about all this until recently. Once I started searching for him, I was able to track his movements here."

`At least if I fail Klein Walker will get his,' Tom thought.

`Detective agency!' Sarah was shocked at what she had just heard. All these months of believing her serum had worked without a hitch were shattered. Now she was finding out there were some very serious glitches with it. What else was wrong with her research?

"A PI you say," Gerald spoke angrily. "Well, you picked the wrong house to investigate my friend and I'm going to make sure you realize that."

Tom ignored the bodyguard's threats and focused his attention on the doctor who seemed to be having a hard time dealing with what he had just said.

"I need to know what happened to him Ms Jensen. I want to know if he’s still alive. You have to tell me."

A small smile replaced the doctor's shocked look. She turned to a cabinet and started pulling out some stuff from it.

"I'll do better then that Mr. McClain, I'll show you exactly what I did to your friend. This Al Parker must really mean a lot to you, seeing that you would risk going to jail for him."

"Al was like a brother to me," Tom stated firmly. "I would give up my life to save his." He saw Al lower his pretty head in shame.

"Like brothers, uh?" Gerald grinned. "Soon you'll be more like sisters to each other." He let out a small chuckle but Dr. Jensen gave him a stern look that made him shut up. She mixed something into a glass and set it in front of him along with a loaded syringe.

"I'll give you a choice Mr. McClain. You can either drink what’s in the glass or I can give you this shot. What's in the drink won't harm you, it's just a small sedative to help you relax. So which method do you prefer I use?"

"Just Tom, please Doctor. And I hate needles so I'll make a deal with you. I'll drink what's in this cup without any complaints if you allow me to ask a few simple questions. Do we have a deal?"

"Of course Tom. Just as long as you understand that I reserve the right to refuse answering any question you may ask. Gerald, please remove the restraint from his right arm."

The bodyguard did as he was told. Tom picked up the glass and lifted it high in the air, as if toasting his host, before drinking it down. Once done, Gerald re-attached the restraint.

"That will be all Gerald," Sarah told him. "We’ll talk about this later."

"Doctor, I don't think I should leave you alone with him," he protested.

"Nonsense. I have my security box in case I need you. Beside, you still need to get dressed," she said, pointing at his underwear. It was a good excuse to get him to leave because she didn't want him hanging around to hear what she was going to say next.

"Alright doctor, I'll be right outside if you need me." Gerald still wasn't convinced that leaving her alone was the right thing to do. After he was gone, Dr. Jensen sat down at her desk and lit a cigarette.

"Before we continue, I need to ask you something Tom. How much do you know about what’s going on here?"

"Not much," the private investigator lied. "I know this is some kind of genetic research lab but I'm not clear about it's purpose. If I had to guess, I would say you are experimenting with human DNA to reproduce another human being, like cloning frogs or sheep."

"Close but I'm still years away from that. No, it's much more complicated than that Tom."

"I'm really not interested in what you're doing here doctor. All I want to know is where my friend is. Is Al Parker still alive?"

Sarah eyed her new test subject carefully as she took another long drag from her cigarette and blew the smoke into the air.

"He's alive. No real harm has been done to him. In fact, I would say he looks better now than before I first met him." She glanced over at Jennifer who was now staring at Tom -- panic and despair clearly in her eyes.

"No real harm, that's good to hear." Tom replied. `Right! All you did was changed his gender and turn him into your slave you self-centered bitch'.

"Where is he doctor? I want to see him."

"You've been looking at him all along Tom," the doctor replied back with a cold, thin smile. "Only he no longer goes by the name of Al Parker, he now prefers the name of Jennifer Anderson."

Tom acted surprised even though he knew the truth before she had spoken it.

"Al? Al, is that really you?"

"I'm afraid he doesn't respond to that name anymore Tom. You see, it wouldn't look right for a pretty, young lady to respond to a man’s name so we had to, for lack of a better term, block that from happening."

"Jennifer, is what the doctor telling me the truth?" The maid sadly nodded.

"As you can see Tom, she’s very convincing. But it appears she was able to fool me on a number of things. I'll have to be more careful the next time."

"Let us go Doctor," Tom pleaded with her. "You've got what you wanted. I promise, if you let us go you’ll never hear from us again."

The doctor looked at the private eye sharply. "If only it was that easy! Unfortunately I can't do that. Jennifer's ability to lie to me despite being told to tell the truth has raised questions about the effectiveness of my drug. So you see, I need her more now then I did before we met. And I also need you too Tom." The doctor stubbed out her cigarette and walked back over to the cabinet.

"What for doctor? You already have a maid and a girlfriend for your bodyguard. From what I can tell, your he seems pretty happy with the current arrangement you set up for him. Oh, now I see, you're lonely too." Tom's hands began to feel heavy from the effects of the drug.

"Don't flatter yourself Mr. McClain," Sarah Jensen snapped sarcastically back at him. "The last thing I need is a male gigolo messing up my life. No, I have other plans for you. Tell me Tom, do you prefer blondes, brunettes or redheads?"

"Why blondes of course doctor." Tom hesitated for moment then continued. "Blondes do have more fun." He watched his friend react to the last comment and shook his head slightly.

"Good!" the doctor replied. "I was supposed to perform a sex change next week and was told the new person needed to be a blonde. The donor's DNA I'm using is supposed to be very pretty."

"Is that what your research is all about doctor? Changing men into women? Sounds like a feminist thing to me."

Sarah sat back down at her desk and lit another cigarette.

"Oh, I don't mind telling you Tom. In a little while you won't be able to repeat to anyone what I'm about to say. You see…this procedure is just a by-product of the serums real purpose. What I'm really trying to do is develop a drug that will re-generate the body cells again and again. Do you understand what that means?"

"Eternal youth," Tom replied.

"And eternal life," she added. "A person who takes this drug, maybe once a year, would look the same 1,000 years from now as he or she does today."

"But there’s a problem, right doctor?"

"Yes," Dr. Jensen said with some annoyance. "The nervous system can't handle more then one treatment of my serum. And while I'm able to create healthy, working organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys -- they don't stay that way for very long. After a few weeks they simply give out."

"But if you’ve been able to work out the re-generation process, surely this problem wouldn't take too long to fix."

Tom couldn't move his legs. The drug was starting to paralyze parts of his body.

Sarah took another puff on her cigarette. "A year or two at the most. But unfortunately I have a boss who sees my project in a whole different light. You see, my drugs can be used both ways, to preserve life and to take it away. Just as it can re-generate a new, healthy organ, it can turn a healthy organ into a dead one. One drink and the correct code and its instant heart attack time. My boss refers to it as project Peace." She rolled her eyes while saying the project name.

"But if you can do that now why delay the..."

"Because Tom, he's a stubborn jackass," Sarah said before Tom had finished talking. "He wants to see the serum modified. He wants it to work over a period of time instead of instantly. He wants...who knows what he really wants. The point is I'm spending all my time on project Peace instead of what I really want to do. And I'm so damn close too."

"I must hand it to you doctor, your research has impressed me." Tom made a motion toward Jennifer.

"As I said Tom, she is only a by-product. But if you're impressed now, just wait until you see what I have planned for you. You see, my boss is not only a jackass, he's also a skirt chaser." She gave him a cold smile.

"I see. And you plan to," Tom flashed her a quick smile back, "enlist my help in getting him to see things your way." He could feel the drug's icy grip taking over his body.

"You're very cleaver Tom. I would use Jennifer but...well, lets just say Gerald has become very attached to her. But don't worry, I'll make sure he gives you a few lessons before your trip to Washington."

Tom tried to get out a reply but his lips froze in mid-sentence. The doctor stubbed out her cigarette and smiled smartly.

"I'm sorry I have to break my promise to you Tom, but there are a couple of shots I need to give you. However, I'll make it up to you. I will give you one last night as a man with Jennifer unrestricted. I couldn't allow that with Al Parker unfortunately but then, he wasn't the most pleasant person to deal with. You I actually like. It’s a pity things have to end this way."

Dr. Jensen picked up a syringe from the table and walked over to where he was sitting.

"Jennifer, come here. I want you to see how this is done. You may need to do this one day."

"Yes doctor." Al answered obediently placing his hand in the pocket of the robe he was wearing. He positioned himself behind Dr. Jensen.

"Lets see, where is that...." The doctor never got to finish her sentence. Al grabbed her from behind and forced a handkerchief over her nose and month. The doctor struggled to get back to her desk where her security box lay but Al held on tightly and in the process both ladies fell to the floor. A moment later the doctor's body went limp. Tom prayed Gerald hadn't heard the struggle going on. He didn't know the lab was soundproof.

"Tom, are you okay?" Al asked. All Tom could do was move his eyes.

"Don't worry, it should wear off soon and I'll be right here with you." Al grabbed his hand and held on to it tightly.

By the time the doctor came around, Tom was back to his normal self. She felt a prick on the back of her neck and reached her hand around to start rubbing it. That was when she noticed someone was standing over her. She looked up and saw Jennifer looking down at her with a smile on his face. "It’s my turn now doctor."

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Tom wouldn't let Al harm the doctor despite his vocal objections. "You'll get your pound of flesh, I promise Kiddo." The remark shut Al up for the moment and he turned his attention to the doctor.

"I want you to get me another vial of this control serum doctor." Sarah did as she was told, unable to do otherwise.

"Okay Jennifer. Here’s what..."

"That's not my name Tom," Al yelled at him angrily. "My name is" there was a struggle on Al’s face, "Jennifer Lynnette Anderson. Damn it, why can't I say my real name?"

"Okay Jenn...Al. Look, for right now let’s use your female name. This isn't the time for me to get confused and ruin everything. We still have lover boy to deal with."

"Okay?" Al reluctantly agreed.

"Good. Now here’s what I want you to do. Take this drug and...."

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Chapter 3 -- Gerald's turn

Gerald waited impatiently in the living room for something to happen. "Damn Dr. Jensen and her independence!" he muttered to himself.

The bodyguard knew what was going on. He had figured it all out a long time ago. Dr. Jensen was devoting more time to her own research and had enlisted the aid of her friend, Susan Bennett, to finance it. Once he found out about the inheritance money Susan's daughter was supposed to receive, it don't take long to figure out what was going on. That and the fact Dr. Jensen's boss, Dennis Butz, had already talked to him several times about the lack of success she seemed to be having lately concerning project Peace.

Despite being assigned to assist the doctor in her research -- she still insisted on doing things her way, without his help. Well this time he should be in there, protecting her. But what did she need to be protected from? The intruder was tied up and Jennifer was fully under her control. What danger was she really in?

No, that wasn't what was bothering him. What was really eating at him was the fact that Dr. Jensen had captured this intruder, not him. This time he had literally been caught with his pants down and once again Dr. Jensen had been there to not only see him fail, but had bailed him out. Damn, he should have realized something was up when Jennifer started paying that much attention to this man at the store. Instead he had been sucker into a false sense of security by her charms which had caused him to failed to do his job, a job he was very good at.

That was why he had been given this assignment, because he was the best of the best in his class. Yet over the past few months he had failed to protect the project not once but several times. If it wasn't for dumb luck, his failures would have been exposed and he would be looking for a new job. Even now Dr. Jensen was in her lab questioning the intruder instead of letting him do his job. Gerald's ego was in need of a major stroking and there wasn't anyone around to do it. He heard the lab door close and the sound of footsteps coming towards him. It was Jennifer.

"Hi Tiger." Al said with a big smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you showed up. Are you still naked underneath that robe?" He eyed her like a hungry cat watching a mouse. "You know, we really didn't get a chance to finish what we started. Maybe we can do that now." He reached out and pulled her down on top of him.

"Silly sex-starved boy, not with the doctor in the next room I can't. Besides, I only came out here to change. The doctor wants me back in the lab to help out. But while I'm here, let me fix you a drink."

"How is the doctor doing in there?" Gerald asked curiously. "Is she getting any answers out of him?"

"You mean `HER'!" Al giggled as he emphasized the word "her". "No, actually she hasn't asked `Her' anything. I think she intends to let you question `HER' when the time comes."

`Good!' thought Gerald. At least the doctor still trusted him to do his job.

"So what does Miss-what's-her-name look like?" Gerald asked in curiosity.

Al handed Gerald a drink. "Her new name is Cindy and she is one blonde knockout. In fact, I'm a little insecure about being around her. I'm afraid she may win your heart and then you’ll lose interest in me."

"I don't think you have to worry about that...you're still good in the sack. Besides, I've always wanted two love mates at the same time." He smiled at the thought and downed his drink in one gulp.

"Oh, you have, have you. Well, maybe I can convince you to let me be your favorite. You know, the doctor is kind of busy right now." Al opened up the front of the robe revealing Jennifer’s naked body to him. "See anything you like tiger?"

"Come here so I can get a closer look," he replied with a devilish grin on his face.

Gerald started kissing Al’s perfumed neck as he lay down on top of him. He began to feel a little weak but pushed the thought away because he had more important things on his mind. By the time he realized what was going on it was too late. Al clamped his hand over his mouth so Gerald couldn't say anything. He mumbled out something, most likely Jennifer’s keyword followed by a command, but Al was unable to make any real sense out of it. When Al was sure the bodyguard was fully paralyzed he lifted himself off him and tied the robe back on to cover Jennifer’s body. Tom appeared next to Al.

"So you like blonde's Gerald. I'll see what I can do with the doctor but be careful," Tom hesitated for a moment, "blondes do have more fun." Al's demeanor suddenly changed.

"I'm glad that's over," Al shouted. "I told you I was going to pay you back asshole. I told you I was going to GET EVEN WITH YOU. I TOLD YOU..."

Tom softly cut him off. "Al…that can wait. First things first." He handed him a cotton ball and a syringe. Al found the mark and injected it into Gerald. Now the only one left in the house not under the control of the serum was Tom.

There was an emotional release inside Al once this was done. The hell that he had been experiencing these past few months was finally over. Al looked at Tom with tear-filled eyes and in a shaky voice said, "I better get dressed now. I'll be right back."

It was the way he said it that concerned Tom. The tone of voice signaled great danger. While Al claimed that he was fine the voice told a different story.

Tom waited until after Al left and turned to Gerald. "Zomlix! You will remain seated and not try to talk. You will never repeat your keyword or say Jennifer's keyword again. You will not try to harm Jennifer or me in anyway. You will remain calm and relaxed. Zomlix!" Gerald's eyes glazed over and then returned to normal. With that done Tom followed after Al.

Upon entering the bedroom he found Al lying face down on the bed crying. Tom felt so bad that he forgot about his own anger at the moment. Al would need a lot of love and understanding before he could continue on with a life as Jennifer. He sat down on the bed next to Al and gently touched him.

"Hey, it's okay Al. This nightmare is over now. Soon we’ll be on a plane heading home. I already have our plane tickets to take us back to Seattle."

"I'm...I'm not going Tom." Al replied between sobs. "I don't want...want to go. I don't want to live...not like this. I can't live like this. I want you to command me not to move and then set the place on fire. Destroy this house and everyone in it so they can't do this again to someone else; so there won't be any more victims like Keith Bennett or me."

Tom grabbed Al by the arms and faced him. "Are you CRAZY Kiddo? Do you have ANY idea what it took to find you? Do you really think I spent all this time tracking you down so I could watch you die in some FIRE? WELL YOU'RE WRONG, I DIDN'T! We have a few scores to settle still and one of them is with Klein Walker."

"Then do it without ME!" Al cried out. "I can't go on. I don't want to go on. Let me DIE!"

"Listen to me Kiddo. You're going to make it, do you hear me. I need you buddy. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I NEED YOU! All these months have been HELL on me too. Al, it's going to get better, I promise. I'm going to take care of everything."

"How?" Al sobbed.

"By starting with the good doctor and Gerald." It was time to execute the second part of his plan.

 

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Chapter 4 --In and out

While Al got dressed Tom went back to the lab to talk with Dr. Jensen. She was still sitting in her chair as he had told her to do.

"Okay doctor. Trijola! I'm going to ask you some questions and I want you to answer me truthfully. I do not want you talking unnecessary or asking me any questions. You will only answer my questions with truthful answers. You will also remain calm while answering me. Trijola! Now, can you change Jennifer back into Al Parker?"

"Yes. But if I did she would die," the doctor replied back calmly.

"Isn't there anything you can do?"

The doctor shook her head. "No. Once the process is done it's permanent. Even if I had his DNA sample, which I don't, the process of returning Jennifer back to her old male self would result in death. Her nervous system couldn't handle the stress a second time."

 

"I see." Tom rubbed his chin. That idea was no good, time for plan B. "How young can you transform an adult person into a child and still have it be safe?

"Perhaps as young as two but to be safe I wouldn't make an adult person any younger than three years old. The DNA sample would have to be that of a normal size three year old, otherwise there would be problems with organs and skin restructuring."

"Okay, then let's start looking in your files for a normal, three year old child. A blonde, three year old female child Dr. Jensen."

The doctor went over to her filing cabinet and in a few minutes had pulled out half a dozen folders. Tom looked through them and gave her the one he thought was the best.

"Now, lets start working on the physical side of this process. I need one for this child," he handed her the sample from the file, "and another for this one." Tom handed her a file from the top drawer of her desk.

"That subject is a part of project Phoenix," Sarah replied.

"What’s project "Phoenix?" Tom asked curiously.

"It's a project to transfer one persons memory's into another persons mind. If successful, it will allow you to change the recipients body and memory's to match that of the donor's." Tom was stunned.

"Do you mean you can replace a persons memories with someone else's? Why didn't you just give Jennifer an entire new set of memories? Why only recreate the body but not her mind?"

"I'm not that far along with the project," the doctor answered. "At best I can only transfer about 5% of a person's memory and even then most of the real old memory's wouldn't be there. I also needed tissue samples from a certain part of the brain -- which wasn't available in her case. The only thing Jennifer received from the original DNA donor was what we call her learning process. Since the real Jennifer Anderson had done the same thing so many times it was a part of her body function."

"Like brushing your hair or walking a certain way," said Tom. "So that was how you were able to control Al like you did. You made her learning traits the dominant features in her behavior. Al couldn't have acted any other way."

"That’s correct," Sarah confirmed.

"Okay, let me get this straight. With a sample of memory brain tissue you can transfer a person's memories, at least the most recent history, into another person's mind?"

"Yes -- but that wouldn't have worked on Jennifer. The real Jennifer Anderson died some months before. Her brain cells are dead and totally useless now. This sample has to come from living brain cells with the same DNA as the body DNA. In other words, you can't mix the two. The memory DNA and body DNA has to come from the same person. Using two different DNA's, one for the memories and one for the body, would kill the subject. The exception to this mixing process is when you change a person's body DNA without changing the memory. There are no side effects that I know of."

"That you know of doctor?" Tom responded sarcastically. "How comforting to hear you say that." He paused for a moment. "Alright then, is there any way to remove Al's memories from Jennifer's mind?"

"Death is the only way," the doctor answered matter of factly -- too matter of factly for Tom's taste.

"Death is not an option here doctor." He noticed she seemed to have something else she wanted to say.

"Okay doctor, I hear you. Trijola! You will speak as your true self. You will remain calm while talking to me and will not try to leave the room. Trijola!"

"Tom," Dr. Jensen started off. "I really didn't want to hurt you. I could tell you were a man who knew how to get things done -- not like my overly muscular bodyguard who doesn't have a clue. Look, I know we got started off on the wrong foot but you have a place here."

"As a blonde knockout to please your brain-dead bodyguard? No thanks doctor."

"Of course not Tom. Look, I had to do what I did because of Gerald. If you had come to me in person, without getting him involved, we could have worked something out. But by doing it the way you did, you forced my hand. I had no choice but to control your movements and change you."

"But now you do have a choice, right doctor?" Tom asked doubtfully.

"Yes. You have proven your worth to me. You have shown me that you can think things out, something Gerald lacks. I could insist to my boss that you replace Gerald and he would go for it. Or I could change your body so you would look like Gerald! Think of it, you would have his body and all his privileges but still be you. And I would give you complete control over your body, I promise."

"But there is more." she added. "I'm offering you a chance to live forever as a young man. With my research and your help we could make this project a success. Think of it, we could repair millions of broken bodies. No one would have to suffer with pain or illnesses any more. We could bring happiness to the entire world. Total peace. Think about what we could do together."

Tom was thinking. Did he have the right to let the doctor die when she could do so much good to mankind? Was he throwing away paradise for the entire human race? Was he committing a crime against the entire world?

"TRIJOLA! You will STOP talking and ONLY answer questions WHEN ASKED! You will not talk to Tom about this again. TRIJOLA!" Tom turned to Al who was standing in the doorway glaring at him angrily.

"ARE YOU GETTING STUPID OR WHAT? Don't LISTEN to her, LOOK AT ME! THIS IS THE PEACE SHE IS TALKING ABOUT! ONE QUEEN BEE SITTING ON HER THRONE while the rest of the world SERVES HER! She isn't out to SAVE the world Tom -- she's out to enslave it, like she enslaved me. This is HER PEACE TOM! I'M THE FUTURE SHE’S TALKING ABOUT!"

The truth hit Tom like a ton of bricks. Al was right. The doctor wasn't doing this research to help others -- it was for more selfish reasons.

"Thank you Al, I see your point. We're almost done in here, how is lover boy doing?"

"Oh, he's almost ready," he replied with a slight smile.

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

Chapter 5 - Bar room blitz

Dr. Jensen drove off in her car followed closely by Tom in his vehicle. Al and Gerald stayed at the house to wait until it was time for them to show up. Tom had to caution Al several times not to do anything to Gerald while they were alone. Still, as he left to follow Dr. Jensen to their next stop, he worried if he had done the right thing.

Dr. Jensen fought for control over her body but after a few minutes realized it was futile. She then changed tactics and thought about how the serum worked. An idea popped into her mind and she realized there was still a chance to work herself free, providing she had the time. Unfortunately, time was something Sarah figured she didn't have much of. She was positive Jennifer didn't plan to let her live much longer.

Pulling up to the `Joe's Bar and Grill', the doctor knew what she had to do. Once inside she ordered a drink and quickly gulped it down. No sooner had she put the glass back on the counter than she ordered another and downed that one as well. The bartender raised his eyebrows. If the doctor kept this up she would be unable to drive herself home.

Tom walked into the bar and took a seat in the corner where he could keep on eye on both the doctor and the clock. He observed her put away another drink but wasn't to concerned; it was part of his plan. He didn't know that it fit into Sarah's plan too. By the time Gerald and Al arrived, the doctor had just finished off her tenth drink and was definitely under the influence.

The bartender made eye contact with Gerald and motioned him over. He whispered something to Gerald who nodded his head in agreement. After they were finished talking, the bodyguard walked over to where the doctor was sitting.

"Come on Dr. Jensen, I think you’ve had enough. Let me drive you home."

"You can take me home but I'M DRIVING," she told him in a slurred voice.

Dr. Jensen grabbed her purse and staggered out the door followed closely by Gerald who was making sure she didn't fall over. Jennifer stopped long enough to tell the bartender they would be back later on to pick up Gerald's car. Tom waited five minutes after they left before getting up and also leaving. He drove his car to the designated spot located half a mile away on a deserted side road. Gerald and Jennifer were already out of the car waiting for him.

"Get Gerald in my car," Tom told Al. He looked over at Sarah Jensen painfully. "I want to say something to the doctor before we go. Leave us alone for a minute, will you?"

"Sure Tom, just don't get any ideas. I owe her. Come with me Gerald." The ex-bodyguard followed Al back to car like a faithful puppy dog. Tom stared at the doctor knowing what was going to happen and hating every moment of it.

"I want you to know doctor…I'm very sorry about this. I really wish it could have ended in a different way. Please forgive me."

The doctor didn't say anything. Instead she gave him a quick smile as if to say `I understand'. Al appeared behind him with her purse and Gerald's wallet.

"I'll take it from here Tom. Why don't you go back to the car and wait with Gerald." Al was concerned that her friend might change his mind and spare the doctor's life. He really didn't have the guts to kill someone; not that Al Parker did either but that was before Dr. Jensen had put Al through this hell. Al had suffered too much from this mad doctor's nightmare experiment to let anyone stop him from getting his revenge. It was Dr. Jensen who had abandoned him to Gerald's perverted sexual fantasies without even a second thought so why should Al care how she felt. Tonight was payback for everything Sarah Jensen had put him through.

After throwing Gerald's wallet into the front seat, Al pulled out a pint of blood taken out of Gerald's arm. He proceeded to pour the blood all over the front seat and dashboard. Next Al did the same thing to the back seat with a pint of his own blood. Once that was done, Al walked around the car rolling down all the windows.

"You won't need to wear these where you’re going," Al taunted the doctor as he unbuckled her seatbelt. "Now, listen to my directions carefully. I want you to drive to lookout point..."

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

Tom watched the car make a U-turn and drive off in a hurry. It would be the last time anyone would see Dr. Jensen alive again. Al got into the passenger side of the car. He turned to smile at Gerald and said, "Are you ready Tiger? Then let's begin. Zomlix!..."

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

Dr. Jensen didn't have much time. The serum wasn't permanently attached to her DNA yet and the large amount of alcohol she consumed had weakened its effects. She concentrated on gaining control of her hands to shut off the car while her foot pushed down hard on the accelerator and the car leaped forward. She was less than a mile from a hairpin curve where her car was to have a most spectacular ending. At the curve there was a deep embankment with a river at the bottom. The speedometer reached 60, then 70, then hit 80. She could see the guardrail ahead that protected the curve. At that speed the car would burst right through it. Her hand began to move but very slowly.

Sarah Jensen knew she had seconds to live. Turning off the key wouldn't stop the car in time and she was going too fast to make the corner. Her hand reached down and pulled on the door handle. The car door opened up and Dr. Jensen started to fall out of the car just as it struck the guardrail. She felt her body being thrown through the air and then everything went black.

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

"Zomlix! Body and hair....Zomlix!" Tom stared into the rearview mirror in pure amazement. Watching Gerald's body change was shocking. Everything about the process looked so unreal. He glanced over at Al who was smiling and enjoying the moment. Months of pain, anger, and frustration caused by Gerald were starting to work their way out. But the best was still to come.

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

Chapter 6 -- Investigation

Utah law required that the Highway Patrol investigate every accident on a state highway that had a fatality. Normally Kevin wouldn't have been called to an accident so far away but the local patrols were already busy with two other crashes and the local post had asked for his help. It took Kevin almost 30 minutes to drive to the crash site. When he arrived, two deputy sheriff officers greeted the trooper.

"Hi Kevin. I'm surprised to see you out here. You must have had some drive."

"Hi Bob. Dave." He shook both officers' hands. "The local patrols were backed up so they called me. What have you got?"

"So far one female, who we believe is the driver," Bob started off. "She was ejected from the vehicle and landed over there." The deputy shined his flashlight at the place where she had been found. "She's at the hospital now but I doubt if she will last the night. Her name was Sarah A. Jensen. She lives in the area."

The deputy was interrupted by the tow truck driver, who asked if it was all right to start pulling the car up the hill. Bob gave him the okay and the three officers walked over to the embankment to get a better look of the recovery process. Even from the roadside Kevin could see that the car was a mess.

"We think she had two passengers in the vehicle with her. I've sent volunteers down the river to search for them but so far they haven't found anything."

"What makes you think that there were two other people in the car Bob?" Kevin asked.

"We found a purse and wallet outside the vehicle that don't belong to the victim. Dave, you got those driver's licenses on you still?"

"Yea, right here Bob." The other deputy sheriff pulled them out of his pocket. "The two people missing are a Miss Jennifer Anderson and a Mr. Gerald Rogers." Kevin's head turned sharply when he heard the names.

"You okay Kevin?" Bob asked.

"Yea...I'm fine. It's just that I pulled them over not to long ago for speeding. I let him go with a warning."

"Too bad they didn't get the message. We estimate the car was doing at least 80 mph when it hit the guardrail. To top it off, the lady we sent to the hospital had been drinking heavily. I'll bet you a week’s salary that she's at least twice over the limit," Dave stated in disgust.

"Eighty miles per hour and stinking drunk. This would be a great Driver's Ed movie if we had all the bodies," Bob added.

"Where do you think the other bodies are?" Kevin inquired.

"We think they were thrown into the river," Bob explained. "The car flipped end over end a couple of times and then spun sideways before landing partially in the water. We found a shoe inside the car and another near the river. One of them was a man's shoe and the others belonged to a female however -- they were too small to belong to the woman we sent to the hospital. Most likely the shoes came off their feet while they were being ejected from the car."

"And there’s also a lot of blood on the passenger side and back seat, as well as on the dash and doors," Dave added. "It looks like they got tossed around pretty good before being thrown out. Here, take a look."

He pointed his flashlight inside the car that the tow truck driver had just pulled up. There was blood everywhere inside except on the driver's side.

"Looks like the driver was thrown out before it started flipping," Kevin observed.

"Yea, we think so too. Oh, we found this on the woman driver." Bob handed Kevin a book of matches.

"It's from a local bar not too far from here. I already had Dave ask the local police to check it out. Mr. Roger’s car is parked outside the place. The bartender didn't see them get into the car with Ms. Jensen but Miss Anderson did say they were leaving Mr. Roger's car behind and would be back later to pick it up. I guess they decided to take a drive and get some air." Bob pointed to the windows that were rolled down.

"Stupid people," Dave added. "The bartender said that Mr. Rogers and Miss Anderson weren't impaired in any way but they let the one person who was drunk drive for them. Just plain stupid."

Something bothered Kevin about the Dave's statement. Except for being a bigot, which was it's own form of stupidity, Mr. Rogers didn't seem like an idiot. For him to get into a car being driven by a drunk driver and leave his brand new car behind didn't make sense. Surely he would have insisted on driving the doctor home himself.

"Where is this bar Bob?" Kevin asked. "After we clear up this mess I want to talk to the bartender myself."

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

"Thank goodness for 24 hour stores," Tom said to Al. Gerald needed some new clothes since his old ones were now too big and the wrong style.

"Wait here with Gerald, I'll be back in a bit." Al got out of the car and walked into the store. It was close to Easter and the store still had a great selection of outfits to choose from.

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

"I'm Officer Brown from the State Highway Patrol. I’m investigating a road accident and I would like to ask you a few questions if this is a good time."

"Sure officer," the bartender said while he continued to clean a glass. "My name is Jimmy Boyd. I heard about the Doc, Gerald and Jennifer being killed. What a tragedy but I did warn him."

"What do you mean?" Kevin asked.

"Well, Miss Jensen came in and started drinking down one Mind Twister after another. That's our specialty drink here, I created it myself," Jimmy added proudly. He waited for the officer to finish up his notes before continuing.

"Anyway, about 30 minutes later her friend, Gerald, and his girlfriend, Jennifer, walked into my bar. By this time the doctor was, a term I like to use -- completely shit-faced, and was in no condition to drive. So I called Gerald over and told him someone needed to take her home. I offered to call a cab but he told me he would take care of it himself. The three of them left and that was the last time I saw them."

"Did you happen to see which one was driving the car when they left?"

"No, I'm sorry officer. I just assumed it would be Gerald but I didn't actually see him get behind the wheel of the car. It was kind of funny in a way. I've never seen the doctor drink so much in all my life. It was almost as if she was trying to get drunk as quickly as she could."

Kevin thought the bartender's last statement over for a moment before asking another question. "Did anyone else leave with them?"

"No not really. There was a stranger wearing a Seahawks cap that came in shortly after she did. Come to think of it, he left a few minutes after they did. But he wasn't with them; he sat over there in the corner. First time I've seen him in here before."

Bells starting going off in Kevin's head. Tom was wearing a Seattle Seahawks cap when they last met. "Can you tell me what this man looked like?"

The bartender gave Kevin a pretty good description of someone who looked a lot like Tom. The patrolman pulled out a picture from his wallet. "Is this the man?"

"Yea, that sure looks like him. Is he a friend of yours?"

"Sort of. Thanks for your help Mr. Boyd. I'll let you know if I need anything else from you." Kevin went outside and sat down in his patrol car. He gripped the wheel hard, part out of anger and part out of fear about what his instincts were telling him.

"Damn it Tom, what did you just do?" He hated to think this could be a case of another good ex-cop gone bad. Tom was his friend and now a suspect in a....what? A possible murder case? That was for Kevin to figure out. He called his patrol office to tell them he was clear and headed back to his district.

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

Chapter 7 -- New plans, old plans

"It took you long enough," Tom said to Al. Even though it was in the middle of the night, the parking lot was well lit, and Gerald was dressed in a way that was sure to have raised suspicions if anyone had seen him. The last thing they needed was to try and explain the situation to the police.

"Get used to it Tom! Besides, I wasn't sure on the size and I had to get some assessors. Now lets get moving." Al got into the back seat and pulled out an outfit from one of the big bags he had.

"What do you think Tiger?" Gerald's eyes went wide with horror.

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

The phone rang very early in the morning at the Butz's residence. Dennis was an early riser but even 3am was a little too early for him. He fumbled around for the phone in the dark and picked it up.

"This had better be good...WHAT?"

The lady on the other end explained that she was a dispatcher for the Sheriff’s department and that a friend of his had been involved in a serious auto accident. When the investigating officer had checked her purse he found this number, informing them to call in case of an emergency.

"How bad is she?" Dennis asked. "I see. Yes, thank you officer." He wrote down the name of the hospital where she had been taken. "Yes, I'll be on the next plane to Salt Lake tonight...eh, this morning. Thank you again officer. Have a good night."

He hung up the phone and sat upright in his bed. Today was going to be a very long day. His wife asked him what was wrong to which he replied it was government business. That was enough to please her and let her know that he couldn't talk about it.

Dennis Butz put on his robe and made his way downstairs to his office. He unlocked the safe and pulled out his personal phone book. Once he found the name he was looking for he picked up the phone and dialed. A sleepy voice answered on the other end.

"Doctor, this is Dennis. We have a code black in Salt Lake City. I repeat, a CODE BLACK! I need you to get on a plane and fly out there. I am going to activate project Phoenix as of right now. Yea, I know. Look, don't argue with me, just DO IT. I'll work out the other details here...Yes I have a person in mind. Just get me what I need and don't create any suspicions. Say an old family friend asked you to check on her, okay? Right! I'll have a plane waiting for you, be on it within the hour. From what I've been told we don't have much time. Give me a call when it's done. Bye."

Dennis hung up the phone and took in the gravity of the situation. If Sarah Jensen died before his person got there, project Peace would die with her. He picked up the phone to make sure the private jet would be waiting for the doctor when he got to the Denver airport. Then he went back upstairs to get dressed.

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

They walked through the terminal quickly. To everyone in the building the three of them appeared as a normal couple. An older male, his younger and pretty wife, and the cutest three-year-old anyone had ever seen. She was wearing the frilliest dress that Al had been able to find and was clutching tightly onto a doll in one hand while holding on to her mother’s hand with the other. Many of the people in the airport stopped and commented to each other on what a pretty little girl she was. They didn't realize inside this cute, little girl was actually a full-grown adult male by the name of Gerald Rogers.

At the check-in counter the blonde attendant took their names and bent down to talk to the little girl who had caught her eye. "My, don't you look pretty tonight princess. Would you like a sucker?" The little girl shook her head shyly causing the attendant to laugh.

"She’s so cute in that outfit.".

"It's her Easter outfit," Al explained. "She wore it to a wedding and gave me such a fit about taking it off that I decided to let her wear it home." She patted Gerald on the back, who moved closer and hid his face in Al's blue jeans.

"Such a shy thing," the attendant chuckled. "What's her name?"

"Tracy." Al answered half-smiling.

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

The first chance Officer Brown got he placed a long distance call to Tom resident’s but there was no answer. Kevin knew there were dozen's of other places Tom could be besides Salt Lake City, but he would have felt better if the private eye had answered the phone. Checking on a hunch, he called the airport to check on the flights out of Salt Lake to Seattle. There was one that had left about a half-hour ago. The attendant checked the passenger list for the officer; Tom's name was on it.

Unable to rule him out, Kevin left a message with the crash investigator to have the Dr. Jensen's car checked in the morning, especially around the rear bumper. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Maybe these people didn't crash on there own. Maybe someone helped them.

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

Chapter 8 -- Homecoming

The flight from Salt Lake City was completely uneventful. At that time of the night most of the lights inside the plane where turned off so the passengers could sleep. Despite sitting in the dark, Tom stayed awake and thought about the upcoming events. There was so much left to do.

He looked over at Al who had managed to fall into a fitful sleep. He wasn't out of the woods yet. Turning Gerald into Tracy had bought him time, but it wasn't the solution to saving Al’s life. If he didn't get him help soon Al would kill himself. His friend needed to accept what had happened, that he was now permanently Jennifer Anderson and could never be Al Parker again. Tom wasn't sure how to accomplish this task but he did realize two things. First, it would take more than one person to get Al to accept himself as Jennifer and two; he was way over his head on this one. What he needed was to find someone who could help. He had an idea on who that someone might be. When they landed Tom loaded everyone into his car and drove to a nearby hotel.

"We're not going home?" Al asked in a surprised voice.

"Not right now Kiddo, I'm beat. In fact we're all beat. Lets get some sleep first." Tom's real reason for going to a hotel was so Al wouldn't be around any sharp objects tonight. He deemed it too risky until Al got some real help.

He could have ordered Al not to harm himself and he did considered doing just that. Doing so would have put his mind at ease and it made good sense. But he also knew that this would be a fatal mistake. If he did issue an order, even for Al’s own good, the results would be disastrous. Al would start comparing him to Dr. Jensen or Gerald and ruin any chance of him gaining his trust. What Al needed was someone he could trust to protect him while at the same time not feeling that they were trying to take advantage of the situation.

Tom got a room with two queen size beds. He set Tracy on the couch and covered her up with a blanket. She looked so peaceful sleeping, like an angel. He wondered what kind of dreams Gerald would be having tonight.

"Take that bed Kiddo," Tom said, pointing to the one farthest from the outside door.

Al nodded and went into the bathroom to remove his clothes. A moment later he came out wearing only a pair of panties and the T-shirt he had worn on the plane. Al lay down on the bed and turned off the light. Tom stripped down to his underwear and got in the other bed. Then he waited. It didn't take long.

For the first few minutes Al tossed and turned in the bed. Then he heard Al sniffing as he tried to hold back the tears. Finally he got up and walked over to Tom’s bed.

"Tom?" Al said in a tearful voice.

"It's okay Kiddo, I understand. Get in." Al lay down next to him and buried his face deep into his chest. Tom’s T-shirt became wet as the floodgates opened up again.

"I don't want to be alone...not tonight...not ever. Please hold me, please don't let go of me," Al wept.

"I won't Kiddo. It's okay now." He wrapped his arms around Al and gave him a re-assuring hug, while fighting off his own desires within. Al may have been like a brother to him but he certainly didn't feel like one now. Tom tried to think of other things as he held on to him tightly. Al felt so soft and warm lying there against him.

He thought about telling Al in a joking way that he needed a cold shower but quickly changed his mind. Al didn't need to hear comments like that. What his friend needed to hear was that someone cared for him as a human being, not as some sex object. Tom did care for him of course and was over-joyed to have Al back again. But he was also a normal, heterosexual male and well, Al was now in the shape of a warm, attractive female and that made things a little difficult for Tom.

"You can sleep here tonight," he told Al. "I'll hold on to you and won't let go Kiddo. You're safe here, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you again." He pushed away his own thoughts for a moment and tried to concentrate on what was really important here.

"Tom, I need to do something for me."

"Sure Kiddo, anything. What is it?"

"I want to call home. I need to talk to my parents."

"Kiddo, your parents are dead, just like mine. Don't you remember?"

"I know that Tom," Al sniffed. "I mean Jennifer's parents. Ever since this...this happened to me I've had a desire to call them. I guess it was part of the learned responses I inherited. Whenever Jennifer was out someplace she must have called home to tell them she was safe. It's been driving me nuts and of course Dr. Jensen wouldn't let me call them. Now that I'm free I can make that call, to let them know she’s safe. But I don't know where to find them."

"I don't either Kiddo," Tom lied. "But I'll get you the information. Now, get some sleep, we have a big day ahead of us." Al was exhausted and five minutes later he was sound snoring softly in his arms.

Tom wondered how he was going to pull off this request. Well he would figure that out later. First there was a lady they needed to see in the morning, maybe two women if things worked out. Al moved slightly and Tom felt his soft warm body pressing against his. He really did need that cold shower.

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

"I'm Dr. Schnegg. I'm here to see a patient by the name of Sarah Jensen. She was brought in a few hours ago."

Troy Harper had been told to expect a specialist in the Jensen case. He wondered whom this Miss Jensen was that would cause a high price doctor to fly out in the middle of the night to check on her.

"We've been expecting you Dr. Schnegg. I'm Dr. Harper." Troy held out his hand for the other doctor to shake it. "I've been taking care of her just as you requested. I'm afraid there isn't much hope Doctor. Her brain was severely damaged in the crash and even with the life support systems we have her on she won't last more than a couple of hours. I’ve already had to resuscitate her twice. Clinically she's brain dead and there’s no hope I'm afraid."

Dr. Schnegg looked at the chart and smiled at his colleague. "You've done well Dr. Harper. Now if you will allow me, I need to examine her myself in private. It was her request that I do this you see." He handed him a legal document that Dr. Harper quickly scanned over.

"Of course Dr. Schnegg. Everything seems to be in order." Dr. Harper handed the legal paper back to him. "You will find her in room 311."

Dr. Schnegg took the paper back and thanked him for all his help. He walked into the room with his bag and closed the door behind him. Ten minutes later he re-appeared.

"Terrible blow," he stated. "I see no reason to let her suffer anymore, do you Dr. Harper?"

"None Dr. Schnegg." Troy felt good about being asked. Even though Dr. Schnegg was now legally in charge of his former patient he still had the decency to ask him for his opinion. This doctor had real class.

"I agree Dr. Harper. If it's okay with you, I would like to remove some of the life-support systems, at least the ones that will allow nature to take it's course without causing her to suffer any more."

"I think that’s the humane way to handle this situation Dr. Schnegg. I'll get a nurse to help you."

"Thank you Dr. Harper," Dr. Schnegg replied. "These moments are never easy to handle alone."

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

"Well, did you find anything?" Kevin had waited almost two hours past his shift to see what Pat Knight could find.

"Nothing conclusive Kevin, the car is a mess. It does appear that the auto was kept in good shape before the accident, no rust spots anyway. The back bumper was messed up pretty badly but I did find some dents that may not have been caused by the accident."

"Could that have been caused by a..." Pat answered the question before he finished.

"I'm sorry Kevin, but that’s impossible to tell for sure. The bumper is pretty well twisted and any evidence wouldn't stand up in court. If you want my expert opinion, this dent right here was caused by another car." He pointed to the small dent on the driver's side of the bumper.

"However, when that dent happened is anyone's guess. It could have been last night at the crash site or last year in a parking lot. There isn't anyway for me to tell."

"Okay, thanks Pat. I have an idea on when it happened."

Kevin walked out to car, his mind still on the accident. Under normal circumstances he would have written this crash off as the result of a drunk driver who was speeding and missed the curve. But he knew things that troubled him and while Pat's report didn't prove anything, it didn't disprove anything either. Because of the speed involved and knowing Tom had been interested in at least two of the three people involved in the crash; it was equally probable that someone had been chasing the car and forced it off the road. But could that someone have been Tom?

Just as he was just getting ready to leave, his supervisor came out to give him the news; Sarah Jensen had died less than half an hour earlier. He told Kevin to go home and get some rest first. He would pull the report and place it in his mailbox to fix when he got back in tonight.

Kevin drove home in a foul mood. Now there were three people who were dead, or so he thought. It was up to him to determine if it was really an accident or murder.

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

Chapter 9 -- Pain, anger and tears

After Tom dropped Tracy off at the baby-sitter’s house he drove Al to their next appointment.

"Where are we going Tom?" Al inquired

"To see someone." Al gave his a puzzling look but he said, "trust me on this Kiddo."

A few minutes later they pulled up in front of a worn out building that was located in a poor part of Seattle. The sign on the outside indicated it was a woman's shelter.

"Why are you bringing me HERE?" Al demanded to know.

"Because you need to be here Kiddo. You need to talk about what happened, to help you heal."

"That's BULLSHIT TOM!" Al shouted out. "Once we take care of Klein Walker then I will be HEALED. I'm past accepting who I am. I'm...happy now. All I needed was to be was free of their control, to be myself. Now I can live again, even if it is as Jennifer Anderson."

Tom saw through the smoke screen. Al was closer to taking his own life now than when he had first found him as Jennifer. True, they still had a score to settle with Klein Walker but once that was over so would his desire to stay alive.

"Look, trust me on this Kiddo. If it doesn't work out then fine, you don't have to come back. But do it for me."

Al became angry and turned away so he wouldn't have to face Tom. "You're treating me as a woman TOM. I'm not a WOMAN! I'm not like any of these women who need to be here. I don't need to talk all this out like they do. I'm still a MAN INSIDE! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT? I can HANDLE it MYSELF! Stop treating me like a woman who has been abused."

Tom swung him around and looked deeply into his eyes. Al was biting his lip and trying not to cry. "I'm not Kiddo, I swear I'm not. I'm treating you like a person who has been through HELL. If you like we can find a male counselor to talk to you. But personally, I think you’ll feel more comfortable with someone who knows how it feels - who knows what that HELL IS LIKE. I can listen to you buddy but I can't help you, I don't know how. THEY CAN! Please, do this for me."

Al wiped the tears from his eyes and put on a brave front. "Okay, I'll go in but if I don't like what’s going on, if it doesn't help me out, then I'm leaving. Is that clear?"

"That's all I am asking you to do Kiddo. If this doesn't help we will leave together. Come on, Redina is waiting for us."

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

Redina Wolfe was a 26-year-old black woman who had been raped by two white men on her way home from a store 10 years earlier. While most of the black community was in an uproar about what they considered to be a racial attack, Redina knew better. Rape wasn't about color any more than it was about making love to someone. It was a crime that involved one person having the power to do something over another person.

Rape didn't have any bounds and it affected everyone regardless of their race, religion or gender. One of the hardest things for Redina to deal with wasn't with the women who had been raped - it was their men. Most felt like they had failed to protect their loved ones despite not even being in the location where the rape took place. Not only did they feel guilty about what happened, most wouldn't even admit how they felt or talk about it. Unlike the women Susan saw, their nightmare would continue until they faced the truth or left the relationship. At least the women she dealt with learned to cope with what happened to them and not let it ruin their life.

The police picked up the two men who had raped her a few days later. At the trial their lawyer had done his best to discredit Redina but she held firm. In the end, the two men were convicted and sent to jail for three years. Prior to the trial, Redina`s mother had seen some disturbing changes in her daughter's personality. Determined not to let this event ruin her daughter's life, her mother had brought Redina to this same shelter and that day had changed her life forever.

Before she had been a self-centered, 16-year-old who didn't care about anyone else besides herself or her friends. But after talking to the shelter's counselor, Redina started reaching out to help others. When she turned 18, she started counseling other women who came in and found her niche in life. After a few years, she was running the shelter and it was rare for her to take a day off. Tom's friend on the police force had told him that Redina was the best counselor around. She would need to be.

While Al sat down in a chair Tom went up and told the volunteer receptionist whom they were there to see. Moments later a dark skinned woman appeared next to the Tom. The older woman glanced over at Jennifer and realized she was looking at a train wreck. The young woman's hair was unkempt, her face was free of makeup, her eyes where bloodshot from crying and her clothes were unkempt. Clearly this woman wasn't concerned about how she looked and she looked like hell.

"Mrs. Wolfe, before you talk to my friend, I’d like to speak with you first. I think there is something you need to know before you can begin."

"Very well." She gave the younger woman a smile. "I'll be right with you Jennifer." She led Tom back into her office and closed the door.

"So, what do you need to tell me Mr. McClain?"

"What I am about to say you may find hard to believe but please, trust me, it's all true. However, you can't repeat this to anyone otherwise her life and mine would be in grave danger."

"Mr. McClain, I can assure you that I will keep anything you or Jennifer tell me in confidence. And believe me, I've heard some pretty wild stories since I've been here."

"Not like this Mrs. Wolfe." Tom started out by telling her how his friend had been caught and turned into Jennifer Anderson.

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

Dennis Butz stared at the man through the one way mirror and carefully considered his next move. The man's name was Robert White and he was a cold-blooded murderer. In a short but terrifying six-month period he had managed to rape and kill three young women and was suspected of at least four other rape/murders. The problem for the prosecutor had been there wasn't enough evidence to convict Robert White in the last four cases. It really didn't matter -- the first three murders had been enough to have Mr. White sentenced to death.

Since the trial Robert White had been fighting that sentence with all his might. Dennis knew the murderer was scared to die, even though he wasn't afraid to kill others. But this scumbag would die eventually, even if it took a few more years. That was what he planned to play on. Dennis motioned to the guard to let him into the room and took a seat across from the convicted murderer.

"Who in the hell are you and what do you want?" Robert White demanded to know. "If you're a cop or reporter I ain't answering no questions."

"Me?" Dennis started out. "I'm your best friend. I'm the one who is going to pull your ass out of the fire. My name is Dennis Butz. For now let's just say I work for the government."

Robert let out a brave, arrogant laugh. "Is that so Mr. BUTT's! Well now, how do you plan to "pull my ass" out of this mess if I may ask?" Dennis ignored the insult for now, his revenge would come later.

"It's Butz, not Butt's. And it's Mr. Butz to you, Robert, unless you want to rot in your cell until the time comes for them to strap you down. Now, are you interested in getting out of here today or not?"

The words sparked Robert's interest. He was being offered a way out of this hellhole? "Okay MR. BUTZ, I'm listening. What do you want and how does it get me out of here?"

"It's like this Robert. I need you to take the place of an employee of mine who was killed last night in a car crash. This doctor was working on a top-secret project that had some pretty high funding. You're the perfect height and weight to take this person’s place." Dennis didn't mention that his employee was a female.

"Me, take his place? I don't know anything about doing research! And if it's that important of a project I doubt if I would be much help."

"Someone else would do the research for you Robert." `That isn't to far from the truth,' Dennis thought. "All you have to do is allow us to alter your appearance so you will look like this dead researcher. I’ll take care of the rest."

"How do I know this guy isn't some ugly son of a bitch? Show me his picture so I can see what this dead doctor looked like," he demanded in a defiant tone.

Dennis Butz slammed his hands on the table in anger. "There are NO pictures Mr. White. I'm offering you a chance to get out of here...TODAY! If you want to jerk me around then I will find someone else. There are three other people on my list, let’s see what they have to say about a get out of jail free card. If you want to rot in here that's up to you. Personally, I would listen to what I’m offering. A luxurious home in a warm, sunny place. Fine food, nice clothes, and all your sins, for lack of a better term, forgiven. You’ll be free to go and do as you please as long as it's within the law. And I don't have to tell you this but I will. Not only was this person loaded, they also happened to be very attractive. So you get everything, the money and the good looks."

"And women?" Robert asked while looking for the attached strings. "How about women? Do I get those as well?"

"If you want, sure. As many lovers as you desire and whenever the mood hits. I don't care about that aspect. To be frank Mr. White, I just need your body. I have a legal document here placing you into my care. Sign it and in thirty minutes not only will you be out of here, but you will also be a free man as well. So, what do you want me to do?" Dennis held the paper out in front of him. Robert White grabbed it and signed his life away.

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

Al tried looking at a magazine but was too nervous to read anything. Even though he hated smoking he really could have used a cigarette right now to calm down.

`What am I going to say this to person?' Al wondered. `Damn it, why did Tom bring me here in the first place? This person can't help me. No one can.'

Al fidgeted in the chair a little and wondered what was taking them so long. Tom wasn't telling this lady about him being Jennifer, was he? Oh God, he hoped not. But deep down inside Al knew that he was. Tom was doing what he thought was best, even if he didn't agree with it.

 

`He wants to treat me like a woman who has been raped and abused,' Al thought. `But this woman has no idea what I went through. I'm a man, not a woman...not mentally that is. I don't think or react like a real female. No female could begin to understand what I've been through or how it felt.'

He wanted to leave this place so badly. It would have been easy for him to get up and walk out that door since Tom had released all restrictions over him. He was free to do as he pleased. But if he left, where would he go? He didn't have a home anymore.

Besides which, Al needed Tom to hold on to. Tom was like a security blanket and Al needed his friend to protect him from all the dangers outside. What he needed was time - time to clear his mind and figure out what he was going to do. But that was easier said then done. Al felt more confused and afraid now than before Tom had rescued him. The world had become a very cold and cruel place since his transition into Jennifer and he was totally unprepared for it.

`Damn it, I've never been so afraid before. Why can't I get over this? And what the hell is taking Tom so long?' He looked back at the front door and thought about leaving again but couldn't get up to the courage to move.

Finally, after about 10 minutes, Tom walked back into the lobby with Redina. The dark skinned lady smiled and said, "Jennifer, lets talk some."

Tom came over to where Al was sitting. He got up and grabbed him by the arm. "Tom, lets go. I don't need to do this...really. Please, just get me out of here."

Tom looked directly into Al’s face. It was filled with pain and fear, more than Al could bear. He really needed help badly.

"Please Kiddo, do this for me. At least give it a try." He gave Al a small hug to reassure him. "It's okay, Redina is very open-minded. Just give her a chance. You need this buddy, trust me please."

Al gave the Tom a worried look. "Will you go in with me?"

Tom shook his head. "You have to do this yourself Kiddo. Go on, I'll be right here when you need me. I promise I won't go anywhere until you come out."

Slowly Al released his grip on Tom and followed the counselor into her office. Once the door was closed Redina gave her a weary smile. Male or not, here was a person who needed a rescue boat like the one she had needed 10 years earlier.

Al looked around the office, unable to even look directly at the woman's face. He felt ashamed, embarrassed, angry and a whole range of other emotions as well. Yet Al couldn't let them out...didn't know how to let them out. So nothing did come out and he held it in and it HURT. GOD, HOW IT HURT.

"How are you feeling Jennifer?" Redina asked, trying to break the ice between them. Getting started was the hardest part of the process.

Al shrugged his slim shoulders and stared down at the floor. "I guess...I guess Tom told you about what happened...about who I really am?"

Redina nodded, "yes he did, but I'm not interested in that right now Jennifer. Tell me about Gerald and what he did to you all those nights." She saw the floodgates begin to open up in the younger woman. Here was the first step. The road to recovery was a road filled with pain, anger and tears.

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

Chapter 10 -- False Freedom

It only took 27 minutes, not thirty, for Dennis Butz to arrange the release of Robert White from prison. Fifteen minutes later they were on a private jet heading west. The ex-prisoner sat back in an over-stuffed seat drinking a gin and tonic from the bar on the plane. He had a wide smile on his face that went from ear to ear. It was all starting to sink in now. Not only had he beat the death sentence the judge had imposed on him, he was also a free man. However, appearances were deceiving. In this case neither his freedom nor his revoked death sentence was real.

"I have to admit Mr. Butz, I thought you were giving me a load of bull crap when we first talked. But I like the service so far." Robert White raised his glass and gave Dennis a salute. "Were are we going now?"

"To your new home," Dennis said with a sight smile. "I know you will enjoy it. Soon we’ll start the process of your new life."

"Good. I can't wait to get out of these prison rags and into some nice clothes again!" Robert turned to eye the young, attractive female agent who was fixing him another drink.

"Don't worry Robert. I had Trisha here pick out something nice for you to wear once we get there."

"I found the outfit very appealing to me," the female agent spoke honestly as she handed Robert White a new drink with something extra added. "I can't wait to see you try it on."

"And I can't wait to try it on for you," Robert chuckled. "Maybe we could have dinner afterwards."

`Man, it's been a while, hasn't it? Dennis Butz did say I could have all women I wanted with this deal. I hope I haven't lost my touch,' he thought.

Trisha just smiled as Robert took the drink from her hand and drank it down. If he hadn't been paying so much attention to the female agent, he might have noticed his drink tasted a little different. In a few minutes he was fast asleep in the chair. Dr. Schnegg came into the main compartment carrying his black bag.

"Here are the papers Doctor. It's all legal now, just the way you like it," Dennis Butz told him. Dr. Schnegg nodded and pulled out a syringe from his black bag.

"Help me roll him over onto his stomach," the doctor told them.

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

"And then he started touching me. I tried to stop him...wanted to stop him...but I couldn't. And he made me ENJOY it...I didn't want to...I tried to fight it, I really did...please believe me that I TRIED not to enjoy it but...but he MADE ME! And then he called me names and made me feel so...so...so DIRTY. Oh GOD, I'M FEEL SO DIRTY!"

Redina watched the tears flow freely from Jennifer's eyes . The counselor reached over and wrapped her arms around the broken woman.

"It's okay Jennifer, I know how you feel," she said softly. "I felt the same way afterwards. But you’re the victim here sister, do you understand? YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. Let it out now Jennifer. Let go of this pain you’re holding inside you."

Al put her head on Susan's shoulder and started crying louder and harder then he’d ever done in his life. All the pain, anger and guilt that had been trapped inside for so long was coming out. In the waiting room Tom heard Al's crying and looked at his watch, it had taken almost 20 minutes. He took a deep breath and smiled at what he heard. It was the sound of freedom. His friend had reached rock bottom. Now there was no where for Al to go but up.

Thirty minutes later the two ladies walked out the door. Al's eyes were bloodshot but his face was clear of the pain that it once held. Where there had once been stress lines on Al’s female face was now replaced with calmness. Al wasn't free from the demons yet, that would take time. But at least now he had some strength to deal with them.

"I would like to talk to you some more in a couple of days Jennifer," Redina told Al. "And I would also like you to attend one of our support groups. Here is the information." She handed Al some papers.

"Thank you so much Redina." Al said weakly, wrapping his arms around the dark-skinned woman. The counselor gave Tom the thumbs up while she hugged the teary eye woman back.

As they left the building Tom debated about the next part of his plan. Should he wait? No, the other woman needed to move on with her life as well. It would be painful for Al but once it was over they would both be stronger. The longer he waited, the harder it would be on the both of them.

"I need to make a phone call Kiddo. I know this may not seem like the best time but I need to meet with someone. It may not be a bad idea for you freshen up a little at my apartment." Al nodded but he was thinking about the dream he had, where Al Parker had been pushed into the dark, bottomless pit to be replaced by Jennifer. "My turn" Jennifer had said. "My turn."

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

Chapter 11 -- Unhappy Reunion

"We're here," Tom said. Al looked out at the restaurant and saw a familiar face.

"Sally? Oh my gosh, it's Sally, Tom. God she looks so good. I can't wait to hold her again." He noticed Tom was frowning at him.

"Al, you can't tell her who you are," he said firmly.

"WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T TELL HER! Tom, I MISS her. I LOVE her. I wanted to MARRY THAT GIRL AND SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH HER."

"I know buddy, I know. But listen to me for a moment. Sally has been living in HELL not knowing what really happened to you. She loves you and if you told her the truth she would accept you...for now. But Kiddo, you’re not the man you once were. What kind of life can you offer her?"

"Plenty Tom. I could still..." Al stopped talking. Anger flashed in his eyes as he was unable to find the words needed to complete the sentence.

"Look Al, I'm not against gay relationships and you know that. But I think we both know Sally couldn't handle one. She would try but in the end she would be miserable and so would you. Al, this woman has a shot at putting this nightmare behind her and starting over with someone new. But the only way that’s going to happen is if you’re willing to do the right thing here. It's up to you Kiddo but ask yourself this -- how much do you really love her?"

"I love her a lot you son of a BITCH!" Al yelled. "Do you think this isn't painful for me, seeing her there and knowing I'm not the person I used to be. You take me to where she is and then tell me I can't let her know who I really am. You're asking me, NO, TELLING ME to make her think I'm dead so she can move on with someone new. WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITHOUT HER IN MY LIFE? I LOVE HER TOM! GOD, I LOVE HER!" Tears began to form in his eyes.

"Al, listen to me. Sally needs a chance to live a regular life with a man she can have children with. Kiddo, sometimes it's hard but if you really love someone that much...sometimes you have to let go of them for THEIR OWN GOOD. What happens when it doesn't work out? For the rest of her life Sally will feel guilty about not accepting you as you are now. If you tell her the truth, she will never have a happy, normal life again. We BOTH KNOW THAT, DON'T WE? We both know I'm RIGHT!"

Al knew he was. The question was, how much did Al Parker, what was left of him, still love her? Enough to let her nightmare end so she could have a normal life once more? Or only enough to be selfish and hold onto memories that could never be repeated?

"Let's go," Al said coolly.

Sally spotted Tom walking over to her with a younger, very attractive woman and stood up. "Tom, you said you know what happened to Al."

"Actually it’s not me. This is Jennifer Anderson and she knows what happened. I'll let her tell you."

Al stared into Sally's worried, but pretty face. What should he do? What should he say? How much did he really love Sally?

"Did you really love him?" Al asked.

"Very much so," Sally replied.

"I'm sorry." Sally’s face turned sour.

"No! NO! TELL ME HE'S STILL ALIVE." Sally buried her face into her hands and started crying. Al went over and held on to her. He couldn't go through with this; he had to tell her the truth. But what was the truth? Was Al Parker really alive? Was he still alive the way she needed him to be?

"How did it happen?" Sally asked with a sob.

"I can't...I can't talk about it right now," Al began. "It's all too painful for me to recall. But his death wasn't painful. I was there when it happened. He loved you. The last thing on his mind was you Sally. He told me to tell you something if I ever found you."

"What was it?" Sally asked in-between sobs.

"That he loved you so very much, both in body and in soul. That he had hoped to spend the rest of his life with you and have kids together and grow old with you, but he knew it wasn't meant to be. So he told me to tell you to move on and find someone else. He wanted you to be happy and not dwell on what happened to him. He wanted you to make someone else as happy as you had made him. Only in that way could you prove how much you really had loved him and allow him to finally rest in peace.

Sally sat there not knowing what to say. Al on the other hand was trying hard to keep control of himself. Letting Sally go, the woman Al Parker had loved so much that it hurt to be away from her arms, was killing him. The two women grabbed on to each other and started crying while Tom sat back and watched. Al had done the right thing. Now after 4 months of pure hell and putting her life on hold, Sally could move on. And so could Al, in his own way.

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

Chapter 12 -- Odd man out

Robert White was horrified at what he saw. Dennis Butz had promised him many things and so far he had delivered on all of them, only not in the way Robert had expected. The house he was staying in was fabulous, filled with many nice things that he could only have dreamed of owning. The bank account he was shown had more money in it than Robert could have made in three lifetimes and the food was first class. But it was the clothes, all those fine clothes Dennis Butz had promised him that he objected to. Seeing them for the first time made him understand what was really in store for him.

"Please, I don't want to put it on. Stop what you are doing please."

"But you said you couldn't wait to try this outfit on for me," Agent Trisha replied back in a pouting voice. "I'm very disappointed to hear you say that. I guess this means dinner is off too."

"I've changed my mind," Robert White said, his voice filled with panic. "I didn't know what you expected me to wear. Stop this, all of this, I beg of you."

"Did the women you murdered in cold blood also beg Robert?" Dennis Butz asked sternly as he walked into the room."

"BUTZ, whatever the HELL you have in mind I want it stopped. Change my body back to the way it was and take me back to JAIL. I HAVE..."

"Right's?" Dennis finished the sentence for him in an acid tone. "Not anymore scumbag. Have you forgotten about the contract you signed with me? You gave up all your RIGHTS to me. In a nutshell, your ASS is mine to do with as I please."

"YOU LIED TO ME!" Robert White shouted.

"NO, YOU DIDN'T ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!" Dennis snarled back. "Everything I promised you I have delivered on. A nice house, good food, money in the bank and –" Dennis picked up a pair of lacy panties from the bed and held them in front of Robert's face, "nice clothes." He stuffed the panties into Robert's hand and smiled. "Like I said, everything I promised you would get I have delivered on."

"Okay, you misled me. I want to break the contract NOW."

"Sorry, you can't. It clearly says that once we start changing your appearance the contract can't be broken." Dennis ran his finger up Robert's small blooming chest causing him to shiver. "So you see, there is nothing you or I can do to stop this. In a few days the families of the women you MURDERED will get a letter from me. In it I will write how you tried to escape and were killed in some horrible fashion. These families will probably send me a thank you card. Justice will be done for them, for the women you murdered in cold blood, and to you."

"Why me? Why not someone else. There must be worse criminals than me you could use," Robert asked.

 

"True, but most of them have either families or friends who see them frequently. You, on the other hand, haven't had a visitor since you arrived in prison. Your parents are dead, your sister hasn't talked to you in over seven years, and in the two years you have been incarcerated you still didn't have any close friends on death row. You, Robert White, will not be missed. That makes you the perfect candidate."

"Do you really think I will go along with this?" Robert asked in a last ditch desperation. "I'll tell everyone I meet who I am and what you’re doing."

Dennis looked at him in amusement and chuckled. "I don't think so Robert." He turned to the female agent and said, "we will start up project Phoenix tomorrow once the transformation is complete. Do you think you can handle him by yourself Trisha or should I have a guard come in?"

"Oh, I don't think Roberta will be giving me any problems boss. Besides, I don't want to embarrass him anymore then he needs to be but thanks for offering." Dennis waved his hand at her and gave Robert one more smile before leaving the room. Trisha turned to Robert also wearing a wide grin. She was going to enjoy this.

"Now Robert, let's get you dressed. Come over here and put on your new clothes. I can't wait to see how you look in this dress." Robert's feet started moving him toward her as commanded.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" he shouted.

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

Al didn't say anything as Tom drove them home. He stared out the car window at the all the people on the sidewalk going here and there. How normal everything seemed to be. Finally he got up the nerve to ask Tom what was really troubling him.

"I'm really dead, aren't I? I mean Al is. He doesn't exist in this world anymore?"

"I'm afraid not Kiddo. I didn't now how to tell you that."

"And what you did to me back there at the restaurant, that was for Sally's benefit, wasn't it?" There was a hint of anger in his feminine voice.

"Yes," Tom answered matter of factly. The time had come to confront his friend.

"That was a cold-hearted thing you did to me back there, Tom! Do you know how close I came to telling her the truth? Why did you do that? WHY?" Al demanded to know.

"Because I HAD TO," Tom snapped back. He pulled the car off to the side of the road and faced Al. "That poor girl has been twisting in the wind ever since you disappeared. I couldn't let her go on one more day thinking that Al Parker may still be alive; that one day he would pop back into her life. I knew she loved you and if she didn't hear the words that she would keep on loving and holding on to your memory. Her life would remain on hold until this chapter in her life was over. I couldn't let this go on any longer for her sake."

"But why ME?" Al asked angrily and on the verge of crying again. "Why didn't you tell her I was dead. Why didn't you tell her how much I loved her?"

"Because you needed to LET GO TOO!" Tom yelled back, allowing his anger to finally come out. "I'm sorry Kiddo, but you are NOT the person you used to be. I LOVE YOU Al! You're family to me and I can't tell you how happy I am to have found you alive. But let me explain to you what kind of hell YOU PUT ME THROUGH.

"For the first few weeks after you disappeared I didn't eat or sleep very well. I lost more then 10 pounds the first two weeks; TEN POUNDS worrying about what had happen to you. You left without a word and worse, you went behind my back to do a job for that devil, Klein Walker. You DIDN'T EVEN CARE HOW I WOULD FEEL ABOUT THAT!

"Do you want me to tell you about the nightmares I had Al? Or HOW that feeling of guilt ate inside of me every GODDAMN day; viewing one dead body after another, half of me hoping it wasn't you while the other half hoped it was so you wouldn't be missing anymore? Do you want me to tell you about all the leads I hunted down that turned out to be dead ends and how DAMN FRUSTRATING IT WAS? DO YOU? I've done my share to help you out. I've paid YOUR TAB AT LEAST THREE TIMES OVER. Now you want me to tell your girlfriend, who loves you more then anything else in world, that you're DEAD so YOU WON'T FEEL ANY OF HER PAIN? NO, I'VE DONE MY SHARE. IT'S YOUR TURN NOW BUDDY! IT'S TIME YOU START PULLING YOUR WEIGHT AGAIN! YOU CAUSED THIS FUCKING MESS, NOT ME! IT'S TIME YOU PICKED UP AFTER YOURSELF! IT'S TIME YOU FACE THE PAIN YOU CAUSED OTHERS TO FEEL!"

Tom paused for a moment to re-gather his emotions. This blowup had been coming ever since he discovered Al's connection to Klein Walker. Now that his anger was out of the way, it was time make peace. He took a deep breath and continued in a calmer tone.

"I love you Al, I really do. You've always been like a brother to me and I’d do anything for you. What I did back in Salt Lake City proves that. I risked my life to save yours and I would do it again if I had to. But don't ask me to carry you anymore...not when you’re able to walk by yourself. It's time you got on your feet buddy. It's time you started living again."

Al stared out the window and thought carefully about what Tom had just said. How true his words were. He had no right to get mad at his friend for what he did. This wasn't Tom’s fault; it was his. Nothing could change that fact. Too many people had suffered as a result of his actions. It was time to face that fact and become responsible for what had happened. Sally deserved a normal life instead of wasting it by hanging on to the hope Al Parker would be back. And Al shouldn't expect Tom to handle every one of his problems because it was too painful. He was the one who had caused all this pain.

"Tom, I'm sorry for getting mad at you."

"I know Kiddo. I'm sorry too for yelling at you the way I did."

"You rescued me and I'm grateful," Al began slowly. "My words can't begin to describe how grateful I really am. I should have told you that sooner. I've been very selfish these past few days…I'm sorry."

"It's okay buddy, I understand. You've been through hell Kiddo. A normal person would have cracked by now."

"Tom."

"Yes Al?"

"Don't call me Al or Kiddo anymore. That person really is dead...I can accept that now. My name is, is...Jennifer. Please call me that from now on."

Inside Tom breathed a sigh of relief. Al or rather Jennifer was back on the road to living again, not just existing in someone else's body.

"Okay Jennifer. Oh, I almost forgot, I have something for you. A present you might say." Tom reached into the back seat and handed her a box he had been saving for the right moment. This seemed to be it

"What is it?" Jennifer asked opening up the box. Inside was a folder containing a bunch of papers.

"It's from TJ, you remember him don't you? It's all the information he has on Jennifer's parents...your genetic parents."

"How...how can I contact...?"

Tom turned and smiled at Jennifer "I'm still working on that Kiddo...sorry Jennifer."

But his friend didn't hear the last part. Jennifer was too busy going through the papers and photos in the file. For the first time Tom saw a beautiful smile on her face that wasn't being controlled. Things were starting to look up at last.

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

It was Kevin's co-worker who told him what happened. Karen Jones had made a call to Florida to break the bad news to Jennifer's parents only to get a very unexpected response. At first she didn't believe what she had been told, it was just too bizarre. But after checking out the facts with the Lakewood police there was no way it couldn't be true. She found Kevin in the conference room doing some paperwork.

"Hey Kevin, I'm glad I found you. That Jennifer Anderson woman who you think died in that car accident the other night. She was killed while riding in a car with a drunk driver."

"I know that Karen!" Kevin replied, a little annoyed that his co-worker would be telling him the obvious. "The hospital tested Miss Jensen's blood level, it was two and a half times over the limit

"No Kevin, you don't understand. Jennifer Anderson was killed while riding in a car with a drunk driver last year in Florida."

"Get out of here!" Kevin replied, figuring it was yet another one of the female trooper’s endless pranks that she was always pulling on him. "If that's true then this accident would make it the second time she died. I've only known one person who came back to life after they were dead and she didn't look like him."

"Look Kevin, I swear I'm not making this up. I don't know who that was in the car last night but I'm telling you that Jennifer Anderson died in a car crash last year."

Kevin laid down his pen and rubbed his head. This accident seemed to get stranger by the hour. "Okay Karen, how do you know that?"

"I was able to track down what I thought was the victim’s parents by using the social security number on the drivers license you gave me. I called the parents this morning to inform them that their daughter had been killed in an accident only to have the father curse at me and tell me that I was a little late telling him. He told me his daughter had been killed in a car crash last year. I thought maybe he was in shock or denial but he insisted I was wrong and hung up on me. So I decided to check with the police department in Lakewood and they confirmed what he told me. Jennifer Anderson was killed in a car accident last year when the drunk driver she was riding with drove his car into a tree."

"Did you ask the father for a picture of Miss Anderson by chance Karen?"

"No, I'm afraid not Kevin. He hung up before I could say anything else and I don't think he will be too helpful if I call him back. But I did fax the officer a picture of Miss Anderson from her driver's license. He said the girl in that photo looked just like the Jennifer Anderson who was killed in Florida."

Kevin pondered this new development. What the hell did all this mean? A girl who was already dead dies again in the same type of accident? Impossible, she looked pretty alive when he had pulled her over earlier. So why would someone want to take up the identity of a young lady who was already dead? Kevin bet Tom knew the answers to these questions. It looked like he was going to have to make a trip to Seattle and talk to him.

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Chapter 13 -- Payback time

"And that’s my plan for Klein Walker and Keith Bennett," Tom finished. "I'm sorry Jennifer, it's the best I can come up with. I know that I'm asking you to do a lot. If you can't deal with it I’ll understand. It’ll just take more time for me to come up with another plan."

Jennifer thought about it. What Tom was asking her to do was a lot but at least he was asking. Then she thought about Keith Bennett and what he must being going through right now. Could she continue to let him suffer when she had the power to stop it? They couldn't change him back; his fate was set in stone the same as hers. But at least they had the power to free him, to let him live his life as Cynthia the way he wanted to and not as an extension of his mother's second childhood.

 

"I'll do it Tom but I'll need you to help me." Tom understood what she was saying. "However, I do have one condition. I get to pick out the getaway disguises. Is it a deal?"

Tom was surprised that she had agreed so fast to his plan; he had expected at least a little argument. "Sure, that's fine with me. You realize we need to get started on this right away."

Jennifer nodded. "I know. Lets do it now before I change my mind, okay."

 

"Sure, I understand. Ekala!..."

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

Klein Walker took his usual seat at the bar and scanned the room. It didn't take him long to spot the beautiful woman in the corner, all alone no less. She was much younger then him but that didn't matter to Klein. This woman was exactly how he liked them; pretty, blonde, and wearing a short skirt that showed off her gorgeous legs. She must be new in town; he hadn't seen her before. Klein called the bartender over and told him to send another drink to her table.

"Watch this boys," he said confidentially to his two bodyguards.

 

The waitress took the drink over to the woman's table and pointed to where they were sitting. The blonde hair lady mouthed the words, "thank you," at him and smiled.

"That's my cue boys. Stay here and watch the master in action." Klein picked up his drink and waded over to the attractive blonde.

"Hi, my name is Klein Walker. You must be new here, I haven't seen you before."

"Hi Klein," the woman replied in a deep southern voice. She extended her hand seductively to him. "My name is LuAnn Stone. I'm in town for some business and I was beginning to think that this would be a boring night for me."

"So did I until I saw you," he replied back.

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

The motel was located on the other side of the parking lot from the bar. Tom peered out the window and worried. He hated not being inside the bar where he could keep on eye on Jennifer. But that would have been far too risky for what he had planned.

A thought crept into his mind. Maybe Klein wouldn't be interested in Jennifer. No, that was crazy, of course he would. Jennifer had pulled out all of her female magic tonight to be as desirable as possible. If Klein didn't find her irresistible then he was brain dead. In fact, Tom had taken a cold shower after she left to cool down. She looked hot tonight. No, Klein would be interested. All he had to do now was wait; something he found very hard to do when his friend could be in trouble.

Almost 30 minutes after Klein had entered the bar he came out with a blonde lady holding on to his arm. His two bodyguards were close behind, scanning for any sign of trouble in the parking lot. Here is where the real danger began. Everything had to go just right or someone would be dead.

The four of them headed over to LuAnn's motel room as planned. Tom closed the drapes and turned on the TV so they would think the room was occupied. Then he waited. It was all up to Jennifer now.

When they reached the room, one of Walker's bodyguards went in first to make sure everything was all right. Klein explained rather boldly that he was a very important man and couldn't take any chances. The bodyguard checked the doors between the two rooms and found them locked. Just to be safe, he shoved a chair underneath the knob so it couldn't be opened. Convinced that the room was safe, the bodyguard motioned his boss and his new girlfriend inside.

"Can I fix you boys a drink?" she asked.

"My men don't drink while on duty, isn't that right guys?" The two men shook their heads and eyed the lovely lady who was about to become another mark on their boss's belt. "But hell, I'll take one. Why don't you boys go outside and smoke while LuAnn and I get better acquainted."

The men nodded and left the room. Klein picked up the key and handed it to one of the bodyguards as he left. When they were gone, he closed the door and locked it. He felt secure knowing that his men were just outside within shouting distance in case there was trouble. LuAnn handed him the drink.

"Here you go sugar! Drink up." The fat man took the glass and gulped it down in one chug.

"Wow, you must have been thirsty sugar." LuAnn said. "Do you want another?"

"Not right now you pretty lady. All I want for the moment is YOU!"

Klein Walker pulled the blonde woman into his arms and started kissing her hard. As he was doing this, his hands moved up her short, black dress. She didn't resist him. Instead she returned his kisses and started moaning deeply at his advances. He pulled her down onto the bed in anticipation of what was to come next. She got on top of his 300+ pound frame and with one quick stroke pulled off her dress like it was on fire.

"Does this interest you sugar?" she asked while showing off her large chest that was pushing out of her tight, lacy bra.

"You bet it does pretty woman." Klein growled. Her southern voice was driving him crazy. It had been years since he had scored with a southern belle, especially one as pretty as this. He would definitely have to get her number after this was over and fly her back up sometime.

Klein reached out for her lacy bra only to notice his hand felt a little heavy. He brushed it off as a normal reaction from all the drinks he had at the bar. But then he realized he was feeling a little strange. LuAnn picked up on it.

"Here, let me help you." She moved her chest closer to his face and Klein caught the sweet scent of perfume between them. But he wasn't thinking about her breasts anymore. Something was wrong with his body.

`Damn it, why does my entire body feel so heavy,' Klein asked himself? `Am I having a heart attack?' No, he didn't feel any pain in his chest but...panic set in.

"Get off me, I'm not feeling very well." He tried to move but his entire body felt stiff. He opened up his mouth to say something else only this time all that came out was a garbling sound.

"Lay still sugar, I'll be right back." LuAnn gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked over to the door that separated the two rooms. She removed the chair and opened up her door then she gave a quick knock on the other. It opened up and Tom walked into the room.

"Hi Klein. How have you been?"

The fat man looked at Tom with wide eyes knowing that he was in big trouble. He tried to say something but nothing came out.

"Don't try to speak Klein. It only makes it harder on your body. Oh don't worry. The drug LuAnn gave you won't kill you. In fact, you'll be back to your normal self in say...oh 10 minutes. Well, almost back to your normal self. We need to make a few small adjustments." Klein Walker stared back at Tom wondering what was going to happen next. One thing for sure, he would kill this SOB himself after all this was over.

"Oh, by the way, what do you think of LuAnn? Quite a dish, don't you agree? But then we all know, `blondes do have more fun'." LuAnn's smile turned to anger as if a switch had been turned on inside her. She leaped on top of Klein and placed her hands tightly around his throat.

"You fat son of a bitch...you set me up and left me for dead. I'll kill you for that." With all her might she squeezed tightly around his fat neck. Tom rushed over and pulled the angry woman off him.

"Jennifer, calm down. Remember our plan. We need him alive."

"Just give me another minute Tom, please," she begged. "Just enough to let him feel the cold hand of death coming to get him."

"We don't have time for that Jennifer," he told her softly. "Now calm down and help me flip him over."

It took both of them to flip Klein's over onto his stomach. Jennifer was being less than gentle with him and Tom had to warn her about it.

"Where are they?" Jennifer asked.

"Right here." Tom handed her the first injection.

Klein felt the cold touch of an alcohol ball followed by a slight pinch in the back of his neck. A minute later there was second pinch and shortly after that there was a third.

`What the HELL are they doing to me'? he wondered.

"Do you think the memories will still be there?" she asked.

"The doctor said they would be, some of them anyway. It's all experimental but I'm sure at least part of it will work. We'll know more once we triggered the memories."

Tom issued Klein a command to talk quietly and not move unless he was told too. When the drug finally wore off, he ordered the fat man to sit up.

"What do you want Tom? Money?" Klein asked in a whisper. "I can give you plenty, more than you can spend in two lifetimes. Just release your control over me and I'll give you everything you deserve."

"Like you did to Detective Taylor and his son?" Tom answered angrily. "Do you really think you can buy yourself out of this? Don't be foolish Klein, money doesn't matter to me."

"Then what does?" he asked in surprise. "If you don't plan to kill me, if it's not about getting even or about money, then what do you want?"

"Who said it wasn't about getting even Klein?" Tom grinned sharply at the fat man. "I said we needed you alive, I didn't say anything about not getting even. But before I tell you what I want, there's someone you need to meet. You remember Al Parker, don't you? He's changed a little since you last talked. Of course he has you to thank for that." LuAnn, AKA Jennifer, had taken off her blonde wig but Klein still didn't see the resemblance.

"Al...Al Parker? Is that really you? But your..."

"Dead!" she answered for him. "Yes, thanks to you I’m dead! I thought you should see first hand what they did to me you fat little worm. They caught me and turned me into a woman but I never told them why I was there. I thought you would come and get me out of that hellhole but instead you abandoned me and left me to rot. If it wasn't for Tom I would still be in that HELL-HOLE."

"As you can see Klein," Tom interrupted, "Al still has a lot of built up anger towards you. But don't worry, I won't let him hurt you. We, rather I, need you alive and well."

"Let me go RIGHT NOW and I'll let you both live," Klein threatened. "I'm too big to sneak past my men and in case you forgotten, they're right outside the door. Sure we can wait but if I don't walk out that door in the next couple of hours they'll come in looking for me. You're just as trapped as I am McClain. Give it up now if you want to live."

"I have a better idea Klein," Tom replied. "Why don't I show you first hand how the serum works."

Klein Walker looked at Jennifer in fear but Tom read his mind. "No, not like that even though you so richly deserve it. I have something else in mind. Now keep quiet and listen up..."

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Chapter 14 -- Walk on the wild side

By the time Tom was done no one would have recognized the person standing in front of him was actually Klein Walker. He was almost 200 pounds lighter and several inches taller. Jennifer walked in from the other room where she had been changing. Her hips and stomach were padded, making her appear 50 pounds heavier then she really was. Gone was her short dress and blonde hair she had worn before; it had been replaced by a long skirt and a short, red wig.

"What do you think?" she asked Tom.

"I think I liked you better as a blonde," he joked. "No one will recognize you now. How does Klein look?"

"Very impressive." Jennifer got closer and looked directly into his face. "He looks exactly the way he should."

"Good, then lets put on our disguises and get out of here. Come with me Klein." The three of them walked into the next room.

"Your outfit is in the brown bag on the bed Tom," Jennifer told him. "But first, look what I brought for our friend to wear."

She pulled out a short, pink dress covered with white lace and a large, fluffy petticoat. Tom watched the reaction on Klein's face and chuckled.

"Very nice but I think something a little bit more conservative would have been better. He's going to stick out like a sore thumb when we leave."

"Better him than us," Jennifer shot back.

Tom nodded in agreement and picked up his bag. To his surprise, instead of finding a pair of pants and a shirt, he pulled out a short, black skirt and a pretty tan sweater. He held them up for Jennifer to see.

"What's this? Did you give me the wrong bag or something?" he asked in bewilderment.

Jennifer flashed him an evil grin. "Welcome to MY world Tom!"

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

The two bodyguards leaned against their boss's car that was now parked near the room he was in. They noticed the light in the room next door go off.

"Must have gone to bed," one bodyguard commented to the other.

The other bodyguard noticed someone peaking out the window. "Something's up Sam." Both men immediately focused their attention on the door as it began to open up.

The first person to step out was a heavy-set woman. She looked at them cautiously and whispered inside, "it's okay, don't be nervous. They won't hurt you." She grabbed a hand and gently pulled out another person dressed in a short, pink dress, white heels, and a wide petticoat that made the short skirt spread out. Then another person stepped outside wearing a tan top, a short, black leather skirt, and a pair of shiny black and tan 2-inch high heels. The bodyguard read them instantly.

"It's a bunch of QUEERS!" he told his partner. He shouted out to them, "Hey you...in the pink outfit. Your SLIP IS SHOWING!" Both men broke out laughing.

"Ignore them," the heavy-set woman commanded while leading them away.

The bodyguard couldn't resist one more shot as they were leaving. "Hey lady, why don't you lose some weight! Maybe then you could find some REAL MEN to date!" He noticed the guy in the pink outfit look back at them. "I wasn't talking to you little lady. Hell, you're the PRETTIEST in the bunch! I bet you get LUCKY tonight!" The men started hooting and laughing in an uncontrolled manner.

`YOU