“But you don’t. You don’t belong in both worlds any longer. You’re far more female than male. Just like I’m more male than female now. It’s what we both wanted,” he said staring at her.
“It’s what dad wanted. Not us. We were forced into this.”
“No. I wanted this,” said Helen. “I hated being a man. I hated the clothes, I hated the body, I hated it all.”
“Then why keep your penis?”
“I-I don’t know. I like having both. Can’t I be both?”
“I don’t think so,” said Butch shaking his head. “I always knew I was meant to be a boy like you. Or like you were. We should have been identical twins. All the shit dad filled my body with, it sped up the process.”
“Well, it didn’t for me. It messed up my body.”
“That’s why we’re still working on the formulas, Helen. We’re the perfect example of how things aren’t always easy. I’m a man now. I was all woman and now I’m all man. You were a man, and now you’re half and half.”
“Don’t say that,” said Helen looking away. “I’m me. Just me.”
“Don’t fuck this up, Helen. This is our chance to make millions and do what we want to do. We can keep training or we can go away. We can live peacefully somewhere where no one will bother us.”
She walked toward her bedroom, the towel still draped around her body. As she opened the door, Butch noticed a figure lying face down in her bed. A male figure.
“That’s dangerous,” he whispered.
“He liked it. He liked me being both.” But shook his head.
“You are Helen. I am Butch. Don’t confuse the two.”
She stared at the beautifully round ass of the naked man in her bed. He’d been thrilled at the idea of making love to her as both man and woman. Helen stared at her brother.
“How could I forget. You remind me every day.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
It was late Sunday afternoon before Erin, Riley, and Suzette appeared from the labs. They were exhausted yet showed signs of excitement as well.
“They did it,” said Erin. “They were able to figure out how the fish, how the other animals do it and replicated the amino acids, antibodies, and hormones that cause it to happen. I’m not sure it’s permanent, or even good, but they figured it out.”
“Shit. What now?” asked Luke.
“That’s on you. The drugs they’re giving those kids is illegal. These are not legal formulations or substances at all. They are definitely illegal. So, based on that, you could arrest them.”
“But?” frowned Hex.
“But what they choose to do to their own bodies is not something we can try them for. They get a choice.”
“Not if it’s done illegally,” said Cam.
“No. Not if it’s done illegally. It would have to be done in a state where it’s allowed by law and follow the legal requirements. Or, they could do it in South America or Europe where it’s done routinely.
“I think what you want to do is shut down their illegal distribution of the drugs, and illegal and mandatory delivery of the drugs, to those kids in their program.”
Luke and the others nodded at the three women.
“We couldn’t have figured this out without you guys. I have no clue what to do with the knowledge of it all but we wouldn’t have figured out any of this.”
“Maybe,” nodded Suzette, “but you still would have done the right thing. When the time comes, you’ll know what that is.”
“I’m glad she has confidence in us,” said Hex. “I’m more confused now than ever before.”