C3Verse: Alex's Convention Story 1 Interlude



[SKINSUIT TG STORY] 



{3,000+ Words}



*Disclaimer/Spoiler Alert: Contains Scientific References.



*From the Author: "Hello, I'm Xarek. This is a non-sexual short Interlude to Chapter 1 of Alex's Conventions. It hints at part of my long term plan for Lexi. 

Remember that this takes place in an alternate reality to our own with half the population we had at the same time period, due to a tragedy early in the previous century. Medicine and science have advanced far more than our own reality, giving people a better and healthier future. Though the future is still plagued with various health problems that continue to affect us as well. 

I am by no means a medical professional, but I love researching new things and enjoying what I created. 

If you like where this is heading, please Star it or Comment below." 

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Thursday, May 17th, 2018, Time: 10:22 

The Main Office Building and Research Lab of H.U.M.A.N.E. located in Seattle, Washington 

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Alexander Johnson sat in the conference room chair, trying desperately to follow everything that Dr. Chow was presenting to the gathered board members. 

He was currently inside the boardroom of the head office and Research Lab of H.U.M.A.N.E.; The Humanities Medical And Neuropathic Engineering: Research Institution. 

Founded in the 1960s, the Institution was an advanced research and applied science group that was once at the forefront of medical ideas that helped fuel the modern world into a new age of medicine. One of their primary missions was to discover ways to help those with major injuries re-adapt to life with state-of-the-art mechanical prosthetics, vision and hearing aids, medicines, or bio-materials. The company had even created and tested an artificial kidney in the last three years and were looking to implant one into the first human volunteer test subject in the next couple years.



H.U.M.A.N.E. was based in Alex's home of Seattle, but had a few Research Labs across the globe. The only reason Alex was here right now was because he controlled a majority interest in the company. 

After his grandparents had passed away, he had discovered that his Grandmother loved helping people from the background and was heavily interested in Medicine, having invested a lot of money into it. Now he was invested too, having tried to take up his grandparent's legacy.  

When she was newly married and just slightly older than Alex was now, Alex's Grandmother Anne had been diagnosed with a unique form of epidermis cancer. With the cancer not having a viable treatment yet, this caused her to suffer from skin necrosis and she lost part of her left arm and skull. She had discovered the nearly bankrupt company when looking into SynthHair, an artificial and realistic wig product designed by H.U.M.A.N.E., after her hair also fell out.  

With her husband's financial assets, they funded them to find a cure for her cancer, and continued to fund them until she bought out most of the shareholders to own the majority of the company. It was the largest investment his Grandparents had ever made and was a majority of their income. 

Doctor Elizabeth Chow, the twenty-nine year old Blonde woman with Asian heritage, continued her presentation to the gathered business and medical personnel. "...We have decided to call the Artificial NeuroNerve material: A.N.N.E.S.: Artificial NeuroNerve Engineered Sk-" 

Alex interrupted. "You named it after my Grandmother?" 

Dr. Chow looked taken aback, "I'm sorry Mr. Johnson. I didn't mean to offend your-" 

Alex interrupted her again, his embarrassment making him flustered. "No, no. I don't have a problem with it. I think it is always important to honor those who helped, especially my Grandparents. People need to know what they did for everyone. I know she would have appreciated the gesture and would've been personally interested in this project." 

Mr. Jonathan Bailey, the middle aged CEO of the company spoke up. "Well said Mr. Johnson. Please continue Dr. Chow." 

Despite his words, Mr. Bailey didn't seem too happy that Alex had interrupted. 

Alex's dark skinned personal assistant Misty Sharp gave Alex a knowing, but appreciative smile as she returned her attention to Dr. Chow, who had moved on. 

Alex had been to a few meetings like this one over the past year, and normally tried not to look really bored or completely dumb when it came to knowing medicine and how to manage a business. He wasn't very good at it and everyone knew he didn't fully understand what they were talking about when it came to some of the more medical or scientific terms. He had tried reading the extensive project outline for each meeting he had attended, but it rarely made any sense to the twenty-three year old with barely a Finance degree. 

Misty, a thirty-one year old married woman with a Medical Science and Communications Degree and who was Alex's assistant at H.U.M.A.N.E., was very patient and helpful to him while she tried to teach him about the company he held a majority 67% share of.  

When Alex had read the report Dr. Chow was presenting, he actually found himself entertained by the new product they were trying to create. He had stunned his assistant by his unexpected interest in the project, and had actually been looking forward to the meeting. Because of his Grandmother's lingering deep tissue scars, a curious Alex had researched skin necrosis with her to better understand what had happened to her. This project would have been able to fix her missing tissue. 

He listened intently as Dr. Chow neared the end of her presentation. "....the Artificial NeuroNerve material has been successful on various tests with various animals. We have even managed to figure out how to use it with the Advanced SynthHair Plus we had previously developed, to make SynthFur. The animals with SynthFur grafts showed no sign of rejection and we noted increased reliability in their natural flight reaction responses when a minor threat was introduced. Something like trying to grab them from behind. They even were able to raise their SynthFur as those threats were introduced..." 

Alex knew there had been a major security breach last year at H.U.M.A.N.E., and this project and its Artificial NeuroNerve, Advanced SynthHair Plus, and pre SynthFur technologies were leaked to some unknown entity. Nothing had been discovered as to who now had the data, and their top investigators couldn't find anyone else who was currently researching it. The company's ties with various governments, and the favors such a tie brought, was no help in resolving the issue either. 

Alex had waived a rather large, though inconsequential to his finances, sum of his monthly income from H.U.M.A.N.E. to re-apply it into Better Security after finding out about the security breach. He had admittedly done this to get the people running this company to like him more, and everyone seemed very grateful for the additional security. 

"...We would of course need your approval to begin testing on people," Dr.Chow continued, "But first we need to figure out how to begin the research. We would need to test quite a large aspect of the skin on a healthy subject. The NeuroNerve would have to replicate everything that person would feel. But we are unsure how to go about and test the wide range of touch senses that a person would need to experience. and we need to make sure of it..." Dr. Chow trailed off, and looked surprised at Alex. 

Alex now felt awkward at having raised his hand to comment. He hadn't wanted to interrupt again and seem rude, but now the whole conference room was staring at him with confused, or frustrated looks. 

"I have an idea." He said before awkwardly pressing his lips together and lowering his hand, feeling like a kid who had just stopped a story to ask to go to the bathroom. 

The rest of the board and conference members shuffled uncomfortably while Dr. Chow and Misty gave him a smile. 

Mr. Bailey was annoyed again as he suggested to Dr. Chow, "Why don't you set up a meeting with Mr. Johnson and you can discuss his idea. Is that alright Dr. Chow?"  

Mr. Bailey seemed to want her to let down the unknowledgeable Alex on her own. 

Dr. Chow agreed and Mr. Bailey continued. "Very good. If it works out you can present us with a plan. Anything else?" 

"No Sir. That was all we had." Dr. Chow responded, clearly flustered at Mr. Bailey's abruptness. 

Mr. Bailey stood up and began to leave. "Very good. I'm looking forward to your work in this area. It will benefit our company and the people we aim to help. I think we can adjourn the meeting." 

Everyone was walking out as Alex's ebony skinned assistant Misty smirked at him. "Raising your hand? Really?"  

Alex whispered back, "I didn't want to be rude again. I panicked. I don't know what I'm doing. I feel so awkward here, but I was just trying to help." 

Anything more that would have been said was cut off when they realized Dr. Chow was standing near them. 

"Hi Liz." Greeted Misty as she stuck her pen in her dark, frizzy afro. 

"Hey Misty. Mr. Johnson."  

"Alex, please." Alex never liked hearing people call him Mr. Johnson. He had tried to stop Mr. Bailey from using it but the older gentleman seemed to consistently, or conveniently, forget. 

Dr. Chow spoke to Alex with a kind smile. "I would love to hear your ideas. Would you actually be available right now to discuss it in my office?" 

"Right now? I guess I could..." Then he remembered he had an assistant he should clear this with, and looked at Misty. 

"You don't have anything scheduled, Alex. Go have fun. I have some work to do." 

Misty was also in charge of H.U.M.A.N.E.'s Public Relations. She was mainly Alex's assistant for a decent bonus and to keep him out of trouble. She seemed to like Alex and enjoyed helping him figure out what to do with his company. They were growing to be fast friends. She was very focused and direct, able to handle both of her Jobs well.  

Dr. Chow smiled brightly."Well then follow me."  

They left Misty and the conference room as Dr. Chow led the way through the building to her office that had a window overseeing a lab. She closed the curtains for some privacy as she offered Alex a seat. 

"Thanks for meeting with me Dr. Chow. I may not know completely-" 

"Please call me Liz, Alex." She smiled at him. "I love hearing a fresh perspective on things we do and appreciate new ideas no matter how far-fetched. It helps me to develop them into something I can work with." 

"Well my idea is pretty far-fetched. Anything we discuss remains with us for the time being, right?" 

"Of course. Not only is it company policy, it's my professional courtesy. You do own the company I work for after all." 

"Not all of it." He corrected her. 

Everyone in the building had to sign crazy Non-Disclosure Agreements with how sensitive and secretive the company was as they advanced medical research. A few times now, since Alex had improved Security. His lawyer had tried to help Alex understand what was in the NDAs with some success, but Alex had elected to just not talk about anything H.U.M.A.N.E. with anyone outside the building. He was already used to this because he didn't tell anyone how much he really owned, what he did for a job, and how wealthy he really was. 

"Well," He began. "From what I understand, this NeuroNerve can help people with missing limbs be able to feel what they touch." 

"Correct, if but a small summary of what it is actually capable of." 

"And you want to develop a net that links the nerves to Artificial skin to help burn victims or even cover those prosthetic limbs." 

"Yes." 

"And you need to find a way to test it in a way that is very thorough." 

She smiled and nodded. "We don't want it out there if it doesn't work like we hope it will. The NeuroNerve would need to go through quite the process to get it to where it needs to be. We would probably need a completely healthy subject, which would be difficult to see how the Artificial skin reacts to them, having their skin already intact. We may not be able to see how it is different from their actual skin. It would also be difficult to get definitive results with people who need this when each may have a different kind of injury as each part of the body has vastly different sensitivities. The amount of testing for each individual part of the body would be an enormous undertaking. It'd be easier to just do it all at once with just one subject, but I'm not sure how. What is your idea for this?" 

Alex turned red and bit his lip. 

He realized how crazy he would sound for this, but she looked hopeful to hear his suggestion. 

Hesitantly, he began, "What if you were able to have a normal test subject enter a full suit of this skin that would look completely different than their own?"  

She thought about it for a minute and shrugged. "That is an interesting concept, but it would need to be vastly different. I'm not sure what we could do-" 

"What if it was of a different gender?" Alex interrupted. 

Liz's eyes widened and she began to think about the suggestion, looking past him. A smile began forming on her face. "The best would be a man turning into a woman. Women's skin is naturally more sensitive to the men's thicker androgen induced skin. Especially in the erogenous areas. The NeuroNerve could help with that, allowing a man to feel what a woman feels through a prosthetic skin. The technology is already small enough that it wouldn't be too hard to recreate a full facsimile and work with a test subject to fully expand the research. The subject would have to be fully invested as the research could take many years. But we may be able to do enough with one or a couple of people and get the desired results." 

Her face dropped and she sighed in defeat. "I have no idea how the board would feel about giving someone what could potentially be a ten or more year testing contract. Even after the research was done, they would essentially have to uproot a huge portion of their life as they may undergo serious medical modifications. And the compensation for something like this would need to be huge. I doubt the board would approve something like this." 

"I could do it." Alex thought aloud and realized what he had just suggested.  

"What?" Liz was broken from her thinking and took a hard look at him. 

"I could... potentially be the subject. I'm young, healthy, and don't have much else going on. The only thing I do is go to meetings of various companies. I have a lot of free time on my hands, and my compensation could be minimal. I'd be the ideal candidate, and may be able to even back this project better." 

Dr. Chow stared at him in thought for a very long time. It got to the point where Alex felt very uncomfortable under her gaze, like she was peering into his deepest secrets. 

"Mr Johnson-" 

"Alex." 

"Sorry. Alex, may I ask you a personal question?" 

"Of course." Alex agreed, probably too hastily. He knew she had a psychology degree so she could better work with the patients for her projects, and now he felt like he was in therapy with her. 

"Do you want to be a woman?" 

That was a blunt question, but now he was in too deep to disregard it.  

Sighing, he replied, "No, I don't wish to transition into a woman. I uh... I guess I've been interested in dressing up as one for a while now and looking like one, but still enjoy who I am now." 

"So you are a crossdresser." 

"I guess." 

"Are you homosexual?" 

"No, I like women. I just probably like them a little too much." He had used this excuse before. 

"I see." She frowned. 

"I'm sorry for ruining your image of me." 

"Don't apologize for being who you really are. I'm glad you shared this with me and I don't mind this one bit. I'm actually Pansexual myself." Her frown remained for a little bit until she broke into a huge, excited smile. "This is a really good Idea. If we can get this approved, I'd love to help you become a girl whenever you want to." 

"You like my idea?" 

"I love it! It is a great solution... So, do you dress up often?..." 

Over the next couple hours, Alex told her everything about how he had gotten interested in dressing up. He took Liz to a business lunch and they discussed everything about it. She told him she wanted to see him in the silicone suit and mask so she could get some ideas. They even talked about what he would want himself to look like if he was a woman. 

Alex tried not to get his hopes too high, but Elizabeth Chow seemed very excited and confident this could work. She wanted to try this as soon as possible. If everything was approved, he may have just found a way to become a girl whenever he wanted to, but it would take a long time for that to become a reality. 

Though he expected that they waited would be worth it to have the most realistic skinsuit ever created.  

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"Hello, It's Xarek again. 

I hope you like where this story is going, please comment on what you would like to see going forward."