Story Time

[Guest Miss_Construe]

"Naming Ritual"

The nameless figure steps onto the platform. The hulking and brooding form tells of a life too long lived under a heavy burden.

"Are you sure this is what "

The nameless figure cuts the disembodied voice short, "Just do it!."

"You need to understa "

Once again a deep, growling voice interrupts "We've been through this. I've signed all the waivers and acknowledged all of the risks. By not doing this I AM dead, now start!" The stranger's face darkened as suspicion of betrayal entered his mind. The scars on his wrists shown white as he clenched his fists, not knowing rather from the coming pain, or their trepidation.

The nameless stranger looked up into a lit booth, seeing Dr. Aegis, staring at the nameless figure on the platform, her expression showed her fear and concern for her client all too well. Dr. Aegis's staff was busied with preparations for the experiment. This was not the first human they had attempted this with, but they had never tried it with someone so dear to Dr. Aegis. Before he refused his name she had helped him through so much pain and watched as he grew back into himself. The trouble was that 'himself' was never really an apt description. When 'he' was most unguarded with her 'he' would actually be 'her.' At first she suspected multiple personalities due to childhood trauma, but that never seemed to fit. Then one day 'he' asked "so when do I stop feeling like I should be a woman instead of a man?" The pieces fell together and formed a complete image of the woman that her client truly was. She now admits to herself that it was more like she was along for the ride, an observer who could only offer support. In that moment she began to feel useless. She then felt the letter from Amy in her pocket. Amy told her how much Dr. Aegis's support meant to her. "I look forward to meeting you" she thought, and focused her efforts on completing the experiment.

Amy, the truth of the nameless stranger, looked around. She wished she could say that she was here out of determination, but desperation was more the truth.

This has to happen. They can't turn back now. I waited my whole life, but now the waiting isn't my fault. Please I've come so far. Don't let it end here.

Though those thought raced through her mind she couldn't show any of it. Dr. Aegis and her staff were not Amy's concern, but everyone that told her that she was 'he.' Not any more. Excitement filled every fiber of her being and radiated out about her. She willed the machines to start.

The room sprang to life as the platform and a multitude of instruments and devices began their dance.

Over the course of 12 days in 8 hour sessions the machine slowly transformed the nameless beast into Amy. Every day Amy seemed to gain excitement. Almost as though she enjoyed the sessions themselves. When asked about it she stated that this was her rebirth, she expected pain. the results are what drove her.

Pain killers were found to cause horrific side effects. Dr. Aegis took Amy's advice and associated it with child-birth, but her mind raced to the individual who died. Cardiac arrest due to the pain. The procedure is essentially surgery without anaesthesia. The thought of even contemplating inflicting that type of suffering on another caused tears to well in her eyes. Next she thought of how great the pain must be to choose such torment. She didn't even want to contemplate such an existence.

After the procedure was finished, Amy was placed into hospital care. Though her DNA would always carry the Y instead of the second X, all else was female. Not just female, but 'cis' female. No pills. No male bones. No remaining muscle bulk (used to feed cell proliferation during morphology shift).

The ability to read the bodies map was the big breakthrough. The need for constant feedback from that system was why pain relievers were not possible.

Amy opened her eyes slowly, trying to find something to focus on and finally decided on a rather uninteresting ceiling. Her groans alerted the hospital staff that she was awake.

During Amy's final visit with Dr. Aegis, she comments to Amy how her personality has softened, but not changed.

"It was always just me" Amy replied with a warm smile. Satisfied that both women are happy they both go there separate ways.

As Amy walked out of the lobby for the last time Dr. Aegis's eyes followed her. "I do some darn good work." Her smile broadened "Dr. Henry owe my team a lunch (and me a diner)."

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plot hole galore. Dr. Aegis probably represents a great number of people for the story Amy and this Amy. Writing this is actually way too much fun.

Amy