Chapter 4: Reflection

The 'room' was more like a one bedroom apartment. There was a full kitchen, a dining area, living room and a small bathroom. All fully equipped with what you'd expect to find in each of those rooms. The bed room had a queen size bed and a couple of dressers in it. The bedroom had it's own master bathroom. I went in and turned on the light to the bathroom. It was much bigger than the other bathroom. It had a stand up shower and a hot tub. As nice as everything was my only thought was to go to the mirror. I paused before I stepped in front of the mirror, afraid of what I was going to see once I gazed at my new reflection. As a man I was six feet tall and almost two hundred pounds. I wasn't muscular but I kept myself in decent shape, some would call me lanky. I had hazel colored eyes, black hair and an average complexion. Now? I have no idea. I could already tell I was shorter than I used to be just from seeing tall things were to me as I walked by them as compared to how they looked before the change. Not having the courage to look in the mirror yet I held a hand up and examined it. My hands used to have scars from spending a few years as a mechanic in the military and I kept my nails super short. Now they were soft and feminine looking. I couldn't find any of the scars I used to have, including a big scar on one of my knuckles from when I grazed it with a saw blade. My nails had grown a little from the transformation as well it seemed. They were around a half inch long now. At that point I started trembling again. I straightened up and and took the last couple of steps to the mirror and quickly turned to face it. I stared at the mirror and saw a woman with straight, shoulder length black hair that stopped just above her shoulders. I saw wide green eyes looking back at me that above a slim nose with a heart shaped face. Except for the shape of my face and the color of my eyes I could see some resemblance of my old self in the new face. I reached up and touched my cheek and let the blanket covering me fall to the ground. I was fair skinned and had smallish/average sized breasts and a slim hourglass body shape. Most importantly I could see what my sensed were telling me all along but I hadn't had the courage until now to verify. The area between my legs was now just a smooth expanse with black pubic hair and a vagina instead of the manhood I had before!

My trembling once again became weeping as I wrapped the blanket around me again and curled up in the floor. Why was this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? I felt like my identity was flushed down the toilet. What would my friends think? All these thoughts and more kept churning through my thoughts as my weeping calmed down once more. I slowly got up after a few minutes leaving the blanket on the floor and took a shower. I still felt filthy from the gel from the tube and dirt from the lab still crusted on me. The shower felt REALLY good but it took me longer than I was used to with my hair the way it was now. I used to keep it cut in a military style high and tight and it was super easy and quick to wash it. I got out of the shower and toweled off. In one of the counter drawers I found a hair brush and quickly brushed my hair, something else I didn't have to do with my old hair but I didn't want to deal with a bunch of tangles. I went to the closet in the bedroom and found a robe and pulled it on and tied it tight. I stared at the mirror that was on the dresser for a few moments at my new reflection and gave a long sigh.

I then went to the door and opened to see if the food had been dropped off yet and there was a cart right outside door as promised. I quickly rolled it inside and lifted the stainless steel lid off of the plate. I grabbed the plate and took it to the kitchen counter where I hungerly devoured the Turkey croissant sandwich and fresh fruit that was provided for me. As I finished up the last of the food I noticed there was a decorative box on the bottom shelf of the cart. I moved the box to the counter and opened it to see what was inside. There was a set of blue sweat clothes, a pair of blue tennis shoes, a pack of ankle socks, a couple of sports bras and a package of womens' underwear. I stared at the bras and underwear and let out a long sigh. I clumsily put the sports bra on and then pulled a pair of the panties on. At least they were just a plain pair instead of something with frills and lace... Once I had the sweat clothes and shoes on I stepped out of my apartment and in to the common area. The Raven was there staring out a window at the Freedom City skyline.

She turned towards me as I approached and with a tight smile asked, “Feeling better?”

“Well, sort of.” I said softly. “No offense to women, but I really hope that you guys can reverse this.”

She put her hands on my shoulders and said, “I promise you that we will use every available resource at our disposal to reverse what Tesla did to you.” She said earnestly and then added with another tight smile, “And no offense taken.”

“Here is an ID card for you for while you are staying here with us. It will allow you to go to any of the general areas of the tower plus the gym, pool and library. Any other areas you will only be allowed to enter with one of us escorting you.” The Raven said. “Today is Sunday. Take it easy for the rest of the day and feel free to take advantage of the rec areas and the library. I'll come get you a 9AM tomorrow and start running some tests and see if we can undo what was done.” She finished.

“OK, thank you Raven.” I replied wearily. I was still in shock at everything that had happened.

Raven gave me a critical stare and asked, “How are you holding up Scott?”

With a sigh I replied, “I feel kind of numb right now. Being held captive for weeks and now stuck in a body that is foreign to me... I don't know how to deal with all this, you know?” I finished looking out the window, tears running down my cheeks again.

Raven gently grabbed my chin and turn my face to look at her, “We have world class facilities here. If there is a way turn you back we WILL find it.” she declared intently. She then handed me a bag and said, “Here is some more stuff you will need. Please call the front desk if there is anything else you need, OK?  Now get some rest.” She said softly.

I nodded 'yes' and she walked to the elevator and I was left alone with my thoughts. When I walked back in to my room I opened the bag and found a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and a pair of red women's pajamas. I set the toothbrush and toothpaste on the bathroom counter and threw the bag with the pajamas still inside on the bed and went out and sat on the couch. I was on the couch for about an hour when the phone rang. “Hello?” I asked.

“Good evening miss, I'm Chef Alex Ross, what would you like for supper?” He asked politely.

“Uh, What's on the menu?” I asked.

He gave a good natured laugh and replied grandly, “It is up to you to decide what is on the menu miss. Anything you ask for,we will prepare it for you!”

I couldn't help but chuckle in reply. His laugh was contagious. “I guess I'm in the mood for some comfort food. How about a bleu cheese burger and fries Chef Ross?”

“So you ask so shall it be!” He said will flair. “Would 6PM be a good time for us to bring it to you?”

“That would be just fine. Thank you sir.” I said

“He laughed and said, “Oh, no no no! You can call me Chef, Chef Ross or just Alex. Never Sir OK?”

I laughed again and replied, “Ok, OK point taken Just Chef!”

There was a pause on the other end and then he laughed uproariously and then he said goodbyes and I was left to my thoughts again. “Hmm, it seems like I DO remember how to laugh.” I said wistfully under my breath. The Chef had been the first person to make me laugh since my ordeal. My little interaction with the Chef somehow made me believe that things wouldn't be so bad after all.

A knock at the door startled me awake! I had apparently fell asleep on the couch. I groggily got up and went to the door and found a food cart waiting for me. I wheeled the first cart out of the apartment and brought the new one inside. I pulled the dome off of the plate and almost stared drooling from the wonderful smells coming from the plate. I grabbed the plate and went back to the couch. I flipped through the channels and stumbled on a hockey game being played and then ate my supper. Before the hockey game was even over I caught myself nodding off. I turned off the T.V., put the empty dishes on the cart and wheeled it back out of the apartment. I then brushed my teeth and changed in to the pajamas I had left on the bed. As I crawled in to bed I wondered what tomorrow would bring. I was anxious to find out what Raven would be able to discover. My mind was moving a mile a minute and I figured sleep would be a long time coming.

I was asleep in less than a minute after my head had hit the pillow.