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Melioration: The act or process of improving something or the state of being improved; a condition superior to an earlier condition.
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Chapter One
My name is Security Specialist Kendall Alan Karcher, Jr. As an officer for Finesse City Security, I have to adhere to strict uniform policies: a cadet-blue shirt, navy slacks, black socks and shoes. A seven-pointed brass star shield similar in appearance to a California Highway Patrol Officer shield is my badge. I also wear an ID card with my face photo plastered on it

Tonight something seems off kilter and it's bugging the hell out of me. It's not because I have a trainee tonight, because my job is training patrol officers. Officer Johnston isn't the source of my feelings of high strangeness at all; she is a welcome ride-along. She is good company and she isn't bad on the eyes either.

I am fifty-three, old enough to be her father. She just mentioned to me that she just turned twenty-one so I realize that I must be more like her grandfather than her uncle. Hell, time sure flies once one reaches their thirties and beyond. I'd give anything to get my twenties back.

Tonight is proving interesting. It has to be one of the foggiest nights of the year. Although this route can be accomplished utilizing surface streets, two or three times we'll have to use the interstates and that causes me to curse under my breath. I try to never use off-color language around my trainees, especially the pretty ones like Jessica.

One of Finesse City's largest client sites contains twenty-five buildings and several small park areas utilized for lunch-time picnics by employees of the various companies here. One occasion several months back, I could have sworn I saw a ghost setting at one of the tables. She dressed as if she was going to a party in a little black dress and beautiful red hair. I wanted to get a better glimpse of her but when my headlights hit her she disappeared into thin air.

We have just come time to that park area. We have to hit the RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) disks that let the Finesse “big boys” keep track of each officer's integrity. If any us underlings fails to hit a disk, we risk hell from the old turd who relieved the former supervisor who was more forgiving in that regards.

I steer the brand new white 2010 Toyota Tacoma that is my squad vehicle along the road until we are closest to the RFID disk. I have stressed the fact to Officer Johnston that we must hit each and every chip on our manifest. If she wasn't with me, however, I probably would have skipped it to cancel out the chance of running into the ghost girl.

Officer Johnston and I exit our vehicle and I show her the location of the disk. For me the disk wasn't really high on the pole. I stand six-foot three-inches tall and can reach almost seven-feet into the air. My companion, however, is lucky if she can touch it seeing as she is almost a foot shorter than I am.

I place the RFID disk scanning reader against the disk. A beep and a vibration signals that we have registered our presence there. As I remove the scanner from its mark, I feel eerier than I have in my life. It's like I feel like passing out or something. I am able to recover but things just don't feel normal.

Officer Johnston and I turn to walk back to the vehicle. I am startled when I see the Toyota because it has changed. It is still a Tacoma but instead of being white, it is now black with white doors and logo has mutated into one more elegant than our plain-vanilla information. Instead of block letters, it utilizes a wonderful script where that would be appropriate. I rub my eyes.

Oddly, I don't feel that the vehicle is the only thing that changed. As I hold my hand out in front of me to examine the readout on the RFID disk scanner,, my nails are longer and lacquered a deep shade of a very pretty red. This startles me. I only wear nail lacquer when I am at home alone in my condo. When I apply it myself it is okay, but my nails are beautifully manicured.

I glance over to Officer Johnston and she smiles at me. She shows no sign of being startled. I do not know what the rest of me looks like so I start explaining RFID disks to her. As I began to speak, it is someone else who is speaking and not me. My raspy bass utterances have been replaced by a luscious soprano tone. I cleared my throat to speak again. Soprano.

Soprano?

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I struggle to keep my trainee from sensing my angst. I glance at her, noticing that her uniform has changed. She is wearing a black blouse, black skirt, dark nylons and sensible black pump. Her shield remains the same seven-pointed star but she now wears a brass name tag, “J. JOHNSTON” and no photo ID badge.

I rub my eyes again. As I bring my hand back toward my body I notice black smears on my knuckles and finger pads. Officer Johnston mentions that I just ruined my makeup. She offers to help me touch it up, we just need to find a ladies' room.

Ladies' room?

Why would I go into a ladies' room? I am a guy. I don't use ladies' rooms.

I raise my arms and notice that I am no longer wearing a long-sleeved cadet-blue shirt or navy slacks. Like Officer Johnston, I am wearing the exact same uniform as she. My arms and hands seem smaller and much shorter. My fingers are long and slender, not the short stubby ones I've grown up with.

I feel like I'm coming undone.

I reach up to my head and discover that, where I had began the night sporting a shaved head covered by a Finesse City Security baseball cap, my head is covered in longish hair done up in some sort of braid.

I feel for my badge and discover that I now have breasts. I make like I am straightening out my shirt and inch my way downward to discover I have hips. I have an ass too, and a fairly ample one by the feeling of it.

I try to keep from crying. If what was happening to me is for real, and not a dream or hallucination, my tears would only mean that all of his makeup would have to totally be redone.

I've also noticed, after hitting the RFID disk, that I seem shorter. I turn around to show Officer Johnston, again, how to hit the disk. I have a hell of a time reaching it. What is happening to me? I don't want to cry but it is really hard keeping from doing so.

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When we return to the vehicle, it talks to me, I think.

...OFFICER KARDASHIAN, SHALL I START MY ENGINE?...

I am really starting to freak at this point. Who in the heck is Officer Kardashian? I am a big fan of Kim Kardashian, but she is a famous and beautiful reality TV star.

I stand by the door for a moment wondering if the truck was going to speak to me again. And since when do trucks talk? There was Knight Rider but that was a TV show when I was a teenager.

Since the truck says nothing, so I open the door and the interior is much different than before. The steering wheel is nowhere to be found on either side of the vehicle.

Huh?

What gives?

There are seats to set on and a pair of fairly large monitors, one facing me and one facing Officer Johnston. I am looking at my screen when a picture of Kim Kardashian appears on it.

I can't watch television now, I've got to train Officer Johnston. She must think I've totally lost it.

...SHALL WE PROCEED ON WITH THE MANIFEST, OFFICER KARDASHIAN? SHALL YOU DRIVE OR DO YOU WISH TO SWITCH CONTROLS TO YOUR TRAINEE? PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE ME TO DELIVER YOU TO THE NEXT DISK?...

The computer will not shut up.

“Am I Officer Kardashian?”

Officer Johnston giggles and affirms that I am, indeed, Officer Kardashian, her training officer.

“Of course I am.”

I make like I know what I'm doing.

“Just checking this thing out to see if it's working.”

I start to explain that we just got these vehicles and the previous ones were old-fashioned drive-it-yourself-without-aid-from-a-computer type vehicles. I had no idea if what I was saying was true but Officer Johnston seemed to be soaking it all in.

“Tell me what you have, Tacoma.”

The Tacoma reads out instant information about it's performance: the fuel tank was full, engine temperature was normal and tires were in good condition. It also knew the officers in its possession: two females, one thirty years old and the other, twenty-one.

“Who am I?”

...FINESSE CITY SECURITY SPECIALIST KIMBERLY NOEL KARDASHIAN. PATROL ROUTE TRAINER. 30 YEARS OLD. 5'3” TALL. 117 LBS. 35D-26-40. BROWN EYES. BROWN HAIR. PRESENT BODY TEMPERATURE: 99 DEGREES. WITHIN PARAMETERS. TRAINING OFFICER JESSICA ANNE JOHNSTON, AGED TWENTY-ONE YEARS...

“Thank you Tacoma. That will be all. I'll drive.”

But how?

No steering wheel.

No sooner do I said that I'll drive than a steering wheel materializes in front of me.

Huh?

Wow!

“Tacoma, what is today?”

...OFFICER KARDASHIAN, IT IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010. CURRENT TIME IS 2234 HOURS...

“Thank you, Tacoma.”

Officer Johnston looks at me and giggles.

“You are such a neat training officer.”

I smile.

Officer Johnston, is checking her makeup on her computer screen.

“Too bad they haven't advanced these Tacomas so far as to be able to apply your makeup for you.”

Now I was the one giggling at her remark.

“Has anything changed about me?”

“No.”

“Are you sure, Jessica?”

“You're just as cute as when we met at beginning of shift.”

“Compliments will earn you Brownie points!”

We both giggle.

“Let's finish this site and we can take a break.”

“Then I can help you fix your makeup... if you still want my help!”

“Thanks Jessica! I would. Besides, I like the way you did your eyes. Fix mine like that and I'll tell the old man you are the best trainee I've ever had!”

She smiles.
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Chapter Two
Jessica helped me completely redo my makeup so that my eyes now look nearly as pretty as hers.

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We are on our way to the next site, Finesse City Stadium. This is one of the instances where we must take the interstate. Surface roads take too damned long.

I decide to let the Tacoma do the driving for us while I check out some emails on my screen. Jessica is watching my eyes nearly bug out of my head. I won't let her see what my inquiries because they are concerning me, or rather Officer Kardashian.

I am doing a little research on Finesse Security Enterprises and am finding it to be nearly the same organization as the one with which I am familiar in my zone. The same “big boys” run it and we have the same grumpy old man that I've grown to know and love. I don't know about my fellow guards yet or if they retained their original gender.

“EPA TO FINESSE CITY STADIUM IS TWO MINUTES, THIRTY-SEVEN SECONDS.”

The computer startles the hell out of me so much that I nearly jump through the roof of the truck. This causes Officer Johnston to giggle.

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We arrive at Finesse City Stadium where our local teams play. The California State University at Finesse City Mohawks, The Finesse Junior College Gladiators and The Finesse City Powerhouse, a United Football Association franchise, are the main tenants here.

Finesse Security bid on the contract and won it almost two years ago. We have three posted security officers here each shift. I see one of the officers scurrying about the site hitting RFID disks, checking security monitors and ticketing vehicles which have stayed around too long in the expansive parking lot. I point him out to Jessica who is checking her makeup again on her monitor.

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I explain our duties on the site and show Officer Johnston where the RFID disks are here at the stadium. I take her to security office to introduce her to the posted officers on duty this shift who are watching the monitor banks.

I am told that the site manager is somewhere in the seating areas of the stadium, so I reach for my phone to call her. I then realize that I have no phone and haven't used one since my radical shift of identity.

I begin to panic.

How am I to communicate without a cell phone?

I turn to one of the male officers and realize that he is checking out my ass. This startles me because I'm still thinking as a guy would and men don't check out other guy's asses.

He realizes I know what he's doing and quickly turns from me back to his monitor.

“Sorry Kimberly. You just... uh...”

He realizes he might be digging himself into a rather large hole and quits apologizing.

“It's okay Officer Thompson. Just don't make it a habit.”

“Yes ma'am.”

I outrank the officer and have been with the company since my twenty-first birthday. I guess Officer Thompson respects me for that.

I still can't get over not having a cell phone. How do I get hold of Dispatch if I need them?

I scratch my head and Officer Baronette walks in the monitoring room.

“Officer Kardashian, how's it going? You girls having a good one?”

Officer Baronette appears no differently than she is in my normal plane of existence. She is a perky redhead who has her hair up in a French braid that is partially hidden beneath her baseball cap. She has irresistible freckles that dot her face and she tries to hide with foundation. I've tried to date her before but we never hooked up.

“Giving you hell, Kimberly?”

“Huh?”

“The old man giving you hell?”

“Oh. Yep. Same old, same old.”

“Bummer. Got a new trainee?”

Officer Baronette is sizing up Officer Johnston and I know that she'll provide her opinion next time I am alone with her.

“Yep. This is Officer Johnston and she's the best I've had to date!”

Jessica smiles and Christina Baronette takes note with a twinkle in her eye. I've been training patrol officers for over a year and I really do mean wha I say about her.

“Thank you, Officer Kardashian!”

Jessica smiles.

“You're welcome, Officer Johnston. This is Officer Baronette. She's the site manager here. She's in charge of keeping people out of the stadium when there's not a game going on. She manages all of security here when a game is going on.”

I familiarize Jessica with Officer Baronette's duties and ours then we leave. So far so good. Officer Baronette doesn't react to the fact that I'm female now. Oddly, my mannerisms and voice inflections have adjusted too, so much so that I believe I am a woman too.

Go figure.

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We finish about three-quarters of our manifest and find ourselves back to my point of transformation. It is still as foggy as hell as we approach the RFID disk on the light pole by the picnic table.

I've let Officer Johnston do everything since the halfway mark of our shift. She's been driving and interacting with whatever officers might be on site at our properties.

We get out of the Tacoma and walk to the light pole. I begin to feel strange again. I cannot shake the feeling and watch Jessica lift her arm up and make contact with the RFID disk. At her moment of contact I get really woosie and I black out.

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As I awaken, I am surrounded by Officer Johnston, roving officer Greg Morton and the old man I am necessitated to call my boss.

“You alright, Karcher?”

Fred Harm tries to soften his words. He is my new supervisor and the guy whom I think is usually full of you-know-what. I always clench my teeth pondering what caliber of person could go through life with the last name Harm.

Fred does seem worried.

“You okay, son?”

“Uhm... yeah... I'm okay. Just a little dizzy.”

I realize that I'm being referred to as a “son” and slowly get up.

“Take it easy Kendall. You've been out for almost thirty minutes.”

What? Out for thirty minutes?

Wow.

Thirty minutes?

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I am on my feet and I smooth out my uniform. Cadet-blue shirt. Navy pants. My head is bald and I am wearing a baseball cap.

No boobs. No skirt. No ass.

Wow.

I guess its good to be me.

“What time is it? How long do we have left on the shift?”

“It's 0446 hours, Officer Karcher. We're off in a little more than an hour.”

Officer Johnston answers but she is eying me to decide if I am okay.

The old man, Harm, asks how I am feeling and I say everything is okay.

“You two are through today. Go to the office and turn in your reports then go home and rest. I can't let either of you miss training on tomorrow's shift. You'll be paid for the full shift.”

At least Harm was trying to be cordial. He sounded gruff, as usual, but he was at least trying to show that he can be human.

“Johnston will drive, you hear?”

“Yes sir.”

“Johnston, call me if he blacks out again, you hear?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Harm. I will, sir.”

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We walked to the Tacoma. It is white with an uninspiring logo on the side. There is a regular steering wheel on the driver side and no computer screens.

I am back in the real world, I guess.

Happy to be me.

I guess.

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Chapter Three

A month has passed since Jessica Johnston completed training and she is out patrolling on her own route. The old man is pleased with her performance and that reflects back on me in really good ways. I am almost to my five-year mark as an officer for Finesse City Security and I am up for my annual performance review. Anything good will definitely earn me another pip and change in rank from lieutenant to sergeant.

Things have been happening in a fairly uneventful manner throughout most of this month. I've had a couple of tows, which seem to be the most exciting thing in my career lately, when I'm not training new officers or turning into Kim Kardashian.

I love training officers and it is my life-blood. I'm really not sure how I feel looking like a beautiful woman because, after all, I am a guy. I transform myself quite regularly when I am at home and alone by myself. I have to be quite frank with you, I look like Kendall Alan Karcher, Jr. in a dress and makeup and nothing at all like Miss Kardashian.

The weather here in Finesse City is usually foggy in December and especially when it approaches Christmastime. It has been unseasonably clear for almost a month. I'm glad because the one-and-only time I changed gender physically was in the fog. Maybe that's what did it to me. Maybe not.

It is Officer Johnston's night off and the roving officer is sick. All other patrols are filled and we have no one to fill Central South so I get to do it myself.

Guess what?

It's foggy.

Such luck.
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I approach my vehicle and it is familiar, just like every other night. It is solid white with the funky logo that no one seems to be able to read. It is a 2010 Toyota Tacoma. Light bar on top, It is automatic drive and it does not drive itself. And it doesn't talk to me.

But it has.

And that's what kind of scares me tonight.
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I am through with the check of the office park and the hospital. All is okay.

I am off to my place of melioration. I enter the spot that had allowed my change to occur that night, the dreaded light pole. I get out of the truck, walk to the RFID disc and tap my scanner to it. I survey the park with my flashlight and turn to my vehicle.

Nothing has changed.

Nothing.

I drive to my next hit, a medium-sized shopping center in the valley. Nothing has happened.

Nothing changes.

I'm on to my way to my next hit, a six-story office building containing our one-and-only hit which is an education center. I am entering the office and proceed to the Internet Technology room which contains several monitors surveying rooms in the complex. I am looking at one of the monitors and I see Kim Kardashian.

And she is me.
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I look the same as I did when I trained Officer Johnston. I am a carbon-copy of the reality television star. I have always had a fond attraction to her, but why do I look like her now?

I had planned on a restroom stop in this building since the restrooms are always clean and stocked with plenty of toilet paper. Funny how not having it when you need it can ruin your whole day.

I had planned on just going into the mens' room, unzipping my fly and pulling willy out but my anatomy has changed a bit. A girl using the inappropriate facility is something I don't want to try and explain to a janitor so I go into the ladies' room. Sure enough, I have the things that make a girl a girl.

I finish up, wash my hands and head for the elevators.

When I arrive where the elevators had been a new contraption awaits me. It looks similar to a transporter form Star Trek and I know the drill. I stand over the spot marking my transport and I am materialized to the ground floor.

I walk to the doors and they don't open, they dematerialize as I pass through them and materialize after I am outside. I have no pass key so I reason that I am wearing some sort of controlling device but cannot find one anywhere on my body.

I am at my vehicle and it is definitely different but not exactly like it was when it changed while I trained Officer Johnston. It was pewter in color this time and had no indicia on it nowhere. It had the same welcoming beacon.

...WELCOME OFFICER KARDASHIAN... I AM READY AND AT YOUR SERVICE...

I remember the voice but it sounds more realistic and feminine. As I talk back to it, I realize that it is my voice.

“Thank you Tacoma. On to Finesse City Stadium, please.”

...CERTAINLY, MADAM...

The Tacoma is still a Toyota and the monitor screens are the same. One monitor faces toward me and the other faces toward the passenger. However, there seems to be no steering wheel option and the vehicle totally steers itself.

“What happened to the option for me to drive, Tacoma,” I ask.

...THERE HAS NEVER BEEN SUCH AN OPTION WITH TACOMA 2010, MADAM. 2011 WILL REMAIN AS IS...

“Why is that, Tacoma?”

...VEHICLES PRIOR TO 2101 HAD STEERING OPTION BUT ACCIDENTAL DEATHS TO INNOCENT HUMANS CAUSED OPTION TO BE DELETED. VEHICLES WITH STEERING OPTION WERE DESTROYED 01-01-2010...

“All vehicles, Tacoma?”

...YES, MADAM. IT BECAME ILLEGAL TO POSSESS STEERABLE AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION VEHICLES BY WORLD EDICT...

“Thank you, Tacoma.”

I say nothing else in regards to the fate of vintage automobiles. As I wait for the Tacoma to get me to Finesse City Stadium, I decide to check out my identification cards. As I remove my ID from it's wallet, the monitor in front of me is displaying personal information on its screen.

A rotatable three-dimension photograph of me is displayed. I look at the screen and down at my ID and it is an exact duplication. I am embarrassed because the screen shows me unclothed and is pinpointing areas of pain I am experiencing. It also displays my current body temperature, my vital statistics and other physical information.

“Quite probing,” I say to myself.

...MADAM, YOU ARE FINESSE CITY SECURITY SPECIALIST KIMBERLY NOEL KARDASHIAN. PATROL ROUTE TRAINER. 30 YEARS OLD. 5'3” TALL. 117 LBS. 35D-26-40. BROWN EYES. BROWN HAIR. PRESENT BODY TEMPERATURE: 99 DEGREES. WITHIN PERAMETERS. TRAINING OFFICER JESSICA ANNE JOHNSTON, AGED TWENTY-ONE YEARS. PRESENT BODY TEMPERATURE IS 98.6 DEGREES, WITHIN ALLOWED PERAMETERS. PAIN IN RIGHT SHOULDER, LEFT NIPPLE AND LOWER LUMBER...

“Thank you, Tacoma. When did they come up with the technology to do all of this?”

...MADAM, IN THE MIDDLE 1940s. THE ROSWELL ALIENS HAVE BEEN KIND IN PROVIDING US MUCH USEFUL TECHNOLOGY. THEY HAD QUITE LITERALLY BECOME MANKIND'S SAVIORS...

“But the aliens crashed at Roswell. What do you mean, Tacoma, they provided us with useful information?”

...ROSWELL ALIENS DID NOT CRASH, MADAM, AND THEY BECAME RESPECTED AMBASSADORS FOR PLANET TARA...

“Tara?”

...TARA. CLASS “M” PLANET. THIRD PLANET FROM SOL. MILKY WAY GALAXY...

“Tara. Wow. We call it Earth.”

...HUMANS OF EARLIER TARA CALLED OUR PLANET 'EARTH' BUT CORRECT DESIGNATION IN THE CORRELATION OF PLANETS IS NOW 'TARA'. PRINCESS PALIN IS RULER OF TARA. LONG LIVE PRINCESS PALIN...

“Sarah Palin?”

...YES, MADAM. SARAH PALIN IS RULER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. SHE IS DUE MANKIND'S HOMAGE...
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Chapter Four
I'm trying to take in what the Tacoma is telling me. For me, in my reality, Barack Obama is President of the United States and Sarah Palin isn't princess of anything except, maybe, FOX television. Sarah Palin was John McCain's running mate for Vice President against Obama. Palin is a television commentator, not ruler of Earth.

I pinch myself hard, with my nails.

“Ouch!”

Everything is real. It must be. There is a bloody welt on my arm. The injury magically appears in the computer's database. The Tacoma asks me if I need a bandage and I say I'm okay.

“Tacoma, did you say that Sarah Palin is ruler of heaven and earth?”

...YES, MADAM. THAT IS CORRECT...

“I thought this planet is Tara. You said she is ruler of heaven and Earth?”

...MADAM, 'EARTH' DESIGNATES THE SOIL WE SUBSIST UPON. 'TARA' IS THE PLANET'S NAME...

“Tacoma, is this Finesse City, California?”

...YES, MADAM. OUR PRESENT LOCATION IS FINESSE CITY, CALIFORNIA. EXACT PRESENT LOCATION IS ONE-MINUTE TWENTY-EIGHT SECONDS FROM FINESSE CITY STADIUM...

I'm trying to take in what the Tacoma has told me. If there is a ruler of heaven and earth, and she is Sarah Palin, where do I stand in the scheme of things? Am I designated to be a security officer for the realm?

I have yet to have contact with anyone except the Tacoma. I have contacted Dispatch once since morphing into Kim Kardashian but she is the usual officer on duty at 0046 hours. I haven't been able to talk, face-to-face with anyone. I should be able to talk with at least two of my peers as the Tacoma pulls into a security-designated parking space at the stadium.
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I hit two of the fifteen RFID disks on site before seeing another officer on her transportation platform. She spots me on mine and proceeds to my location. She is a blonde and about the same age and build as me.

“Officer Kardashian! Hi! How are you tonight, ma'am.”

I search for her metal name tag and register the information.

“A little off-schedule, Officer Wilde. How are you?”

“Same old, same old.”

She giggled and excused herself to finish her disk scanning. I hit four more disks before I reach the security office. I enter the room and check the screens which might signal activity anywhere on the stadium site.

The officer on duty has yet to turn and face me. She knows who I am, though, since my data has appeared on her monitor. Thank God it isn't the naked graphic that can be seen on my driver license or the Tacoma monitor. Both of those require I be within significant distance to activate.

The officer turns toward me and it is Christina Baronette. She appears exactly as I remember from my last transformation and in my reality.

“How are you, Kimberly?”

“I'm good, Christina, only I've got a splitting headache.”

“I'll have one of my girls get you a couple of aspirins.”

No sooner had she offered the aspirins, than a young officer appeared also holding a glass of water. I take it and thank the officer and my friend, Officer Baronette.

“Bitch Palin.”

I hear Christina Baronette mutter under her breath. She sees me register surprise and apologizes to me.

“I'm sorry, Kimberly. Please forgive me.”

“For what?”

“You know, if we say anything negative about Mother, she can have our heads.”

I am not allowing what she said to sink in.

“Mother?”

“Yes. If we say anything negative about Mother Palin, even under our breath, we have to apologize to anyone in our vicinity so that will be gone forever. If we do not apologize we may be reprimanded or, if the offense is severe enough, we can be put to death.”

What kind of reality had I shifted into this time? Not only do I have to deal with being or looking like Kim Kardashian but now I have to integrate into my mind the fact that Sarah Palin is ruler of everything and she can have our heads for anything we say against her.

“Officer Minter, please relieve me. I need to show Officer Kardashian one of the gates.”

Officer Baronette asks me to accompany her outside the security office and we start to walk into the middle of Finesse City Stadium playing field not to the gates. The middle of the field is one of the only places there isn't a listening device per United Football Association rules.

“Ain't it a bitch?” I try to add a little levity to my coworker's apology. “She could hear you say something that softly, Christina? Heck, I barely heard what you said.”

“Did you forget how sensitive this monitoring equipment is, Kimberly? Don't you remember that they are talking about putting permanent bugs into our skulls? Didn't you tell me you just got your orders to report for your transplantation?”

I cannot remember. In my reality we don't even have self-powered Tacomas or monitors that know everything about you as it happens.

“Sure. Ain't it a bitch?”

“I hear you're in line for another promotion, Officer Kardashian! Congratulations!”

“Thank you, ma'am.”

“Assistant to the assistant of the Chief Operating Officer! Some day you'll be one of the old men!”

We both started giggling.

“That's far off, Chris. Hopefully I'll look prettier than any of them!”

“You already do!”

“Anyway, I need to move on. I'll never get to be an old man if I stay around here!”

“Gee, thanks, babe!”

We giggle and I return to the Tacoma. I've hit all my RFID disks and I'm through here.

God help me and the other old men. At least, in this state, I'll be the prettiest of the old men!
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...WELCOME OFFICER KARDASHIAN... READY AND AT YOUR SERVICE... SHALL I START MY ENGINE?...

“Yes, Tacoma. To the Mars and beyond!”

...CERTAINLY, MADAM, BUT WE ARE INCAPABLE OF NON-TERRAN TRAVEL...

“Then on with the manifest, Tacoma! That will do just fine!”
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The remainder of my shift is not very eventful, I can't even write a parking ticket.
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I am wondering when I turn back into my male persona. Last time this happened, I became Karl Karcher again once I touched my scanner to the RFID disk. That did not happen and I am only minutes from the office. I am beginning to worry.

I arrive at the office park which houses our security company. It is a rather small building and that necessitated moving into several of the other units on the site. We are awaiting the day when our permit goes finally clears and we can move to a brand-new building more centralized than this one.

For now, I park the Tacoma in the office park designated for our vehicles and scurry between one suite that houses a small radio station and a Speedy Man printing service. I am still in the body of Kim Kardashian.

I sign the electronic roster which registers that I am off duty. I find my vehicle which is a silver Ford Esprit. Every other vehicle in the lot is either a silver Ford Esprit or a black-and-white Toyota Tacoma. I can tell my vehicle because it is parked in my assigned space and it has also called to me by name. That is something I might need to get used to.

I read on my vehicle monitor on my way home that Mother Palin sent out an edict in early 2005 banning anything but Esprits for civilians and Tacomas for service vehicles. Three other forms of vehicles exist but they are heavy transport, light cargo transport and Office of the Motherdom business.
.....................
.
I near my condo and wonder what I will find inside. The building looks somewhat the same but is in newer paint and with a better color scheme. I haven't made a call home because, if anyone is there, I didn't know if they'll recognize my voice.

The gate has no key but it recognizes me.

...GOOD DAY KIMBERLY...

The gate swings open and I search my purse, again, for keys. There are none so I am walking to my front door. Once there I notice that there is neither a door knob nor a lock of any sort. I stand motionless for a moment and am startled by another voice.

...GOOD DAY KIMBERLY... I TRUST YOUR EVENING WAS GOOD... YOU ARE ONY ONE HERE... MISS KYLE WILL RETURN SOON...

The door opens as if I am on the Starship Enterprise with the same wooshing sound. As I enter my place it looks much like I left it last evening. The only thing I'm really interested in is my bed. I am zonked.

I take of my uniform and begin to places the items in my hamper. I am soon down to my bra and panties and shiver because last night I wore boxer shorts and a black tee-shirt instead. I turn on the shower so that it warms before I step in.

I remove the rest of my things and step inside. I let the water tickle my body and start to smooth soap all over my skin. The warmth of the water felt good and I let it play with me for several minutes. I grab a poofy sponge and suds engulf me.

As I rinse I smooth my skin with my hand, feel between my legs and I'm a man.

The bathroom door opens and I am not alone.
.....................

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Chapter Five
When I finally realize that I am my good old Kendall Karcher self, I realize that my girlfriend has joined me in the shower.

“Isn't she something, that old Mother Palin?” I ask.

“Honey, you may not agree with Sarah Palin, but why call her names?”

“Oh,” I regained myself. “No... Lexi, I had a dream that Sarah Palin was ruler of heaven and earth.”

I told her about my dream but made no mention that I was Kim Kardashian in it. She thought it was amusing that the Tacoma drove itself because she was always ragging on me about my driving. She also thought it was neat that she could fix her makeup looking into the monitor but thought it was creepy that it knew all about you and could show you stark-naked.

“It was a trip, Lexi. I could actually tell the Tacoma where to proceed and I could take a short nap on my way there. It took some getting used to not having a steering wheel.”

“Oh, sweetie, knowing you, you could probably find something to occupy yourself with, not having a steering wheel in the way, and all.”

I didn't mention that, in the “dream” I was female, that I was wearing a skirt and I definitely did find something to do besides driving. I wonder if she'd get jealous if she found out that I was with another woman and the other woman was me? I cannot risk her finding that information.

==========

I am extremely lucky. I have a beautiful girlfriend who seems to be totally devoted to me. I'm totally devoted to her and I guess you could say that I love her. We've been talking marriage for about a year but neither she nor I can come to agreement on a date or location. Lexi wants to be married in her family church but I want to do it in Las Vegas.

To my way of reckoning, if we get married in her church, we still have to spring for a vacation of some sort that would serve as our honeymoon. We both love Las Vegas, so why not tie the knot there? We'd have her folks and mine there as our guests and all of our friends will jump at any opportunity for a road trip. It only takes six-hours, by car, from Finesse City and about forty-five minutes by plane.

Lexi's baptized name is Alexis Genevieve Atchenson. She is twenty-four years old and is the fulfillment of my dreams for my ideal life-mate. She and I am the same height and I'm only ten-pounds more in weight. She has gorgeous blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. She is built like a brick house. She adores her parents and she says that they believe I am good for her.

We met at Finesse City Security although she had been working there many years before I joined the company. She's ten-years younger than me but she doesn't care when it comes to age. She says you're only as old as you feel and when I'm with her I feel like a teenager and not a thirty-four year old graphic designer wannabe.

Security had not been my original occupational goal but the economy forced me out of graphics and into a job where I could help people. I had just recently reached the position I currently serve, to train new hires to become successful Finesse City Security Officers. I have to admit that I kind of really do love my job.

Lexi left Finesse City Security last year to go back to school. She had been in the office and worked as a personnel specialist. She liked Finesse but she wanted to advance in the company but had hit the ceiling as far as promotions go. She could either marry one of the four old men or get one of them to adopt her. Adoption was out of the picture and she loves me.

She is a student at Finesse City State University and has a year until she graduates. She has often tempted me with the notion that when she graduates she can get a job anywhere we'd like to move. She says Vegas is at the top of her list and I'd be okay with that move too. Finesse City Security has a branch in Las Vegas and I have broached the idea of moving there to the old men. They say it is a definite possibility because they think highly of me as an officer and a man.

So, you know, Las Vegas may soon be Lexi and my new home. For now it's Finesse City, California. The only thing Finesse City has over Vegas is its beaches. There is Lake Las Vegas and Hoover Dam and such but I definitely dig Lexi in a bikini on Finesse Shores.

==========

I was just thinking. My last experience as Kim Kardashian was pretty interesting. It's been several weeks and nothing as happened of any sort as far as transformations go. It seems that every time I jump, I am her but in a different situation.

Most recently, I got as far as home and the shower, but what happens if I do not change back? I believe that I could live with the change and adapt to it, but am I dooming Kim to a life as me? How do I know if she is truly the person I am becoming? I know it says her name on my badge and I am, in the least, her twin if not her in actuality.

My head is spinning.

==========

Months pass and I do not change. For one thing, it has not been foggy. Also, I have not been to the park area that initiated my first melioration.

I am getting along well with Lexi. I love her so much I cannot put my feelings into words. We've come to an agreement on our wedding arrangements. We'll be married in Las Vegas but not in a cheep wedding chapel. We've made arrangements to have our wedding in a small Baptist Church far enough to be away from the Strip but close enough to our hotel to allow us quick access there.

Lexi has never been married but I have. I have a son and two daughters that live with their mother. I am in an amiable relation to my ex-wife and she allows me liberal visits with the children. My ex really didn't want to get married but she found me dressed in her things once and she went off on me like I was a tramp or something.

I've been a closeted crossdresser for as long as I can remember. I just try to forget about it but when I do it usually comes back with a vengeance. Don't get me wrong, I'm a man who loves being a man but I also like trying to experience what its like being a woman every once in a while. When I do it is head to toe, from the skin out.

I don't think I have a fetish. When I am dressed up I don't get a hard-on. You might think that's why guys dress up in feminine things, and some do, but not me. I tried, and I can't get even semi-erect. When my ex found me, she thought I was a real woman. What made her so mad was that she thought I was a floozy picking up on her man. When I finally convinced her that it was me, all she did was cry.

We tried to make our marriage work after that, but it was doomed to fail. I ceased dressing for the remaining year of our marriage but she couldn't cope and we parted as friends. The kids were really young and probably didn't know that their mother and I divorced because of my indiscretion. I have been in their lives without pause for the years that have separated me and my ex.

Lexi has no idea that I enjoy being a girl sometimes. I really don't want to lose her so I keep my other side in the closet. Now that I've had these two bouts being Kim Kardashian, I'm really, really wanting to dress up. It's a viscous circle and one I cannot allow to begin again.

God help me.

==========

It'll be two weeks when Lexi and I get married. She is so excited and I can't blame her because I'm excited too. We've got all the loose ends tightened. Everyone who promised to be there have their airline tickets in hand and their hotel rooms booked. Most are staying in the Bellagio which happens to be Lexi and my hotel too.

The flowers have been ordered. The minister is booked. Lexi has three attendants and one bridesmaid. There is a flower girl and a little boy ring bearer. My four best friends are planning a bachelor's party “Vegas has never seen before”. Matt Bender is my best man and he is the best man because he won the coin toss.

Olivia and Ralph Atchenson have welcomed me as their son and my parents adore Lexi. At dinner, Dad is saying “why didn't you pick her in the first place, Bub” while Mom pokes him in the side and is whispering “Lexi's sweet but so was Rachel, Bill.” I hear them and smile. I know that they love Lexi and they know that sometimes things just don't work out.

Still, it is two weeks before we become united as husband and wife and I am worried. I haven't seen hide nor hair of Kim Kardashian and I hope that she stays where she is until long after the wedding and our plans and our children and our plans for our lives have had a chance to be.

==========

I will work this week and on to Wednesday. On Thursday we will fly from Finesse City to the city of lights. We have one day to rest and enjoy the spa and then Lexi and I will be husband and wife.

What bugs the hell out of me right now is that I heard the weather forecast and it heralds a strong chance of fog.

==========

.
.
Chapter Six
I have three new hires to train in the six nights until vacation and my wedding. The weatherman has said that the week will be clear and we have little chance of fog, so becoming Kim Kardashian will probably not happen. Las Vegas is always clear so she shouldn't follow me there either.

I'm a bit of a workaholic and am glad to have something to keep my mind occupied. I have never been as antsy to get something done before. I hadn't been as anticipatory with my first wedding as I am with mine and Lexi's. I loved my ex, and in a way I still do, but this time seems enchanted.

Lexi has called me several times and always ends with the same “I love you, Ken doll.” I used to hate that growing up because the kids would tease me about my name but it sounds so cute and endearing coming from my future Mrs. Karcher.

..........
.

I am training Officer Luanne Reeve on a route that encompasses most of downtown Finesse City. We get to check out skyscrapers, for the most part, and will interact with several posted guards if we run across them. I note the guards I see and the old men take care of disciplining the ones I don't see. I feel a little guilty because if I was posted in a building as large as some of the ones we patrol, I might not ever see anyone for days.

We have arrived at one of the newest buildings in downtown Finesse City. It is an upscale hotel where a lot of Hollywood types hang out. Being so close to Mexico, our city is attractive to the pretty people and such. We haven't seen any celebrities but we have found the posted guard, Officer Bill Henning.

“Much of a night, officer?” I ask. “Seen any stars?”

“No sir! Well, it depends on which stars you are talking about. Heavenly bodies or Hollywood heavenly bodies!”

I chuckle and they catch on then start laughing with me out of respect.

“Naw, just the usual tenants and residents. Good evening ma'am.”

I thought that Officer Henning was making reference to my trainee when he said good “evening, ma'am” but I realize now that he is talking to me. But didn't he just call me “sir”?

I glance down at my hands and they are different. I glance further to where my pants should be and I am wearing a skirt. Further down I have nylons and sensible heels. I realize I must be Kim Kardashian.

..........
.

I had not noticed the change because this building was still unfamiliar to me. I have noticed on the two times before that certain aspects of each site change but this apartment/hotel seems the same to me.

I am standing, talking to Officers Henning and Reeve when we are passed by a couple heading for the bar. I overhear part of the conversation and the woman has whispered in her man's ear “she looks like her” and I wonder if she is talking about me.

I lift my arm hoping to check the time and I find a charm bracelet instead.

“Do either of you have the time?”

Both officers chuckle.

Officer Henning offers, “Touch your chest, Kimberly.”

I put my hand against my chest and I hear a voice, like a computer.

...TWENTY-TWO-FORTY-THREE-HOURS OFFICER KARDASHIAN...

I am floored.

This hasn't happened before.

I turn to face Officer Henning and he is talking to me like I'm a guy again.

“Kendall, you have a watch.”

I look at my wrist and it is male again and I have a Rolex firmly affixed to it. I have dense am hair and it is in stark contrast to my arm when I am in Kim Kardashian mode. I can also see that I am wearing uniform pants and not a skirt.

“Does anyone have some water?” I ask.

“Is a diet Pepsi okay?” Officer Henning asks and I nod my head positively. “Are you okay, Kedall?”

“Yeah. I think it's the wedding arrangements taking their tole on me.”

“Well if you need to sit down, we can go to my office.”

I thank him and say that Officer Henning and I need to be on our way. We are a bit off schedule and I don't want to set a bad example for the newbie.

“Come on, Luanne, we can make up time. I'll show you how.”

She nods and we leave.

..........
.

I've told you all that I know. I have never had a feeling like that before. I don't know if I really transformed into Kim Kardashian for a brief moment or if my mind is playing strange tricks on me. Anyway, I let Officer Reeve drive. Maybe my mind will be in better repair if I relax for a couple of minutes.

..........
.

It is a brilliantly clear June evening and the stars are sparkling brighter than I've seen them here if Finesse City. We are not lucky enough to see the Milky Way, but many of the brighter stars and planets are clearly visible. I point to the constellation Orion as we walk to our first RFID disk.

My boss likes to place RFID disks kind of high, I don't but he does, so I stat to stretch my arm up to reach it. I cannot so I get up on the tips of my toes and still cannot. I'm six-foot three l so I believe it strange that I cannot reach it. What about the shorter officers?

“Here, let me get that for you, Officer Kardashian.”

Officer Reeve takes the RFID scanner from my hand and she successfully reaches the disk.

Huh?

Did she just call me Officer Kardashian?

I stretch out my arms and they are hairless. My hands are tiny but my fingers are long. I am, again, wearing a skirt and sensible dress shoes. I feel up toward my head and my hair is long.

I should be bald.

“Officer Kardashian, may I ask you something?”

I nod. “You may.”

“Why are you a security officer... I mean, you're gorgeous enough to be a supermodel maybe.”

“You're gorgeous too, Luanne,” I interrupt. “so why are you wanting to be a guard?”

“It's in my heart, ma'am. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to help people and this seemed like a good way to fulfill that part of me. Maybe being a security guard is yours too but you're totally hot. You could make a lot more money letting people take your picture.”

I start blushing.

“I love security, Luanne, and being able to train young officers so that they may be able do their best has always been my goal. It's been my desire for almost forty-five years.”

“But ma'am, you can't be more than twenty-five.”

“Uhm, I meant over twenty-years. I was talking to my grandpa before I came to work. I guess I was thinking of him.”

“Is he a security guard? I mean, my grandpa os and he loves it.”

“No. My grandpa died in Vietnam. He died before my Daddy was born.”

“I'm sorry, Officer Kardashian. I didn't know.”

“Of course you didn't, dear. No offense is taken. I do my job to honor him.”

“Did you ever think of applying as a Finesse City Police Officer?”

“Yes. I was going to go to college to study criminal justice, but then I met a girl and we became really good friends. She worked at Finesse City Security.”

“I understand. Friendship forms a lot of our lives.”

“We're getting married.”

“But you're a woman and she is, isn't she?”

“She is. We're waiting for same sex marriages to be legalized.”

“Are you a lesbian... oh! I'm sorry. That's none of my business.”

“We are, and I don't mind your question. No offense taken.”

“You seem like a nice lady, Officer Kardashian. Your girlfriend should consider herself blessed.”

“She tells me she's blessed all the time I'm with her.”

"What are you and your girlfriend going to do, though. Mother Palin has practically made being homosexual an executable offense. Don't you remember hearing about it?"

"We did, but we believe that if there is a way, the maker will provide that way for us."

"That's so neat!"

............
.

I tell her about Lexi but I make up the part about being lesbian. If things work out as I planned... as Lexi and I planned... I will be marrying as a groom and not as a bride. I'm totally into girls but I've never broached the idea of being in a relationship with my girl as a girl/

Officer Reeve tells me that she is a lesbian too. She tells me about her girlfriend and shows me a picture of her when we get back to the Tacoma. It's amazing the things these trucks will do.

As we are talking, the monitors and automated steering flutter in and out of existence and eventually disappear. I quickly check myself as a steering wheel materializes in my hands. My arms are hairy and I'm Kendall Karcher again.

.
An apology... I have made a couple of typos concerning character names. The male character in this story is "Kendall Karcher". I may have been typo-riddling him into the name "Karl". I hope to re-proof read the manuscript and correct the mistakes. Also, when this story was originally conceived, "Kim Kardashian" was "Katy Perry". If I inadvertently refer to Kendall's feminine manifestation as "Katy" this is the origin of that typo. Please bear with me... I promise, from now on, to be an ardent proof-reader for your reading enjoyment!
.
.
Chapter Seven
It is two days before Lexi and I will be married. I came clean to her last night about what is happening to me. She seemed to take it in stride but swore to me that if anything happened at our wedding, she couldn't guarantee she'd become my bride. She likes me as Kendall alright, but she doesn't know what she'll do married to a woman no matter how gorgeous that lady might be.

I remind her that I have no control over my melioration but promise that I will try my utmost to stay a man. I tell her that I'd feel funny to being a woman married to a woman. I guess I could adapt to being a lesbian but I want to be her husband. I want to be her ideal man.

I also come clean to her about my bouts of crossdressing. I tell her I am happy being a man but when I do dress, I also feel happy that way. I tell her that I had had a dress or two stowed away for the times I felt compelled to dress up to the nines but that I purged those things from my wardrobe shortly after I met her. In all, except for the times I've been Kim Kardashian, I have been femininity-free.

“Do your folks know about this, Kenny?”

“I think my mother knows but I have no idea about my dad,” I said without stuttering. “Momma caught me dressed up in one of her sexier dresses one Saturday when her and Dad had been out all morning. She opened my bedroom door without knocking and I was dressed whole-hog as a girl. I didn't look very good but she didn't laugh. She just said she could help me improve my look some day if I wanted her input.”

“So she's cool about it?”

“I guess.” I am truthful with Lexi. “She hasn't pushed me into letting her improve my look and it's been at least twenty-years. I used to have long hair back then and it was pretty wavy. It could have made a cute hairdo but I shaved my head the next day and haven't grown my hair back since then. Now I'd need a wig to pass as a woman.”

“Do you have any pictures, honey?”

“Only my yearbooks from high school. Momma and Dad weren't big picture takers and I avoided cameras like the plague.”

“I'd like to see you with hair sometime,” Lexi is sincere. “Maybe you could grow it back?”

“I don't know, Lexi. This style is easy-care.”

“But you look like Mr. Clean. You've even got a ring in your ear.”

I was one of those guys who had my ear pierced when I was in high school. I always wore a stud to keep the hole from closing. What's the old saying? Right is right; left is wrong? I never quite memorized it and I think I got the wrong ear pierced way back then. I caught a licking from my friends and ended up piercing the other ear to be politically correct. Now I wear studs in both ears.

“When you turn into Kim Kardashian, are you bald?”

“Naw. I've got really pretty long dark-brown hair.”

“I wish I could see it.”

“I don't know if that's possible, sweetie. I don't even know if I leave this zone and morph into her zone or what.”

“Weird.”

“I'm glad you're taking this so well, Lexi.”

“I am now, Kenny. Just don't push it. I fell in love with you as the man.”

“I'm the man!” I start laughing.

Lexi giggles. “And you're quite the handsome man, my dear.”

“Lexi, I hope nothing happens when we're in Vegas. I want the wedding to go well for you and me. I love you so much.”

“And I love you too, my Ken doll.”

We kiss for a long while. Soon heavy petting ensues, then we strip each other of our clothes and find ourselves in bed. She is so soft against my body. I'm rough and muscular which is in sharp contrast to my Kim Kardashian moments. I melt into my fiance and she sighs.

All is bliss.

…..........................
.
...GOOD EVENING MISS KIMBERLY, IS YOUR EVENING TO YOUR LIKING?...

Huh?

I was just in bed with Lexi and now I hear the Tacoma talking to me. Or was it the gate to our unit or our front door? I am in a quandary.

“My evening is going fine... at least it was.”

...AM I INTERRUPTING YOU MISS KIMBERLY?...

I didn't want to sound to obvious. “Yes.”

...I'M SO SORRY, MISS KIMBERLY...

“Computer, are you my Tacoma or what are you?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, I'M YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR. YOU'RE LOOKING INTO ME...

Wow. I need some makeup.

I couldn't believe it but I really am looking into the mirror. I see Kim Kardashian smiling back at me. Even without makeup, she is gorgeous. I'm thankful for this: if I have to be someone other than me, and if I have to be female, I can't do much better than being Kim Kardashian, sort of. Katy Perry would be nice too, but I'm getting used to Kim Kardashian's body.

“Am I alone, mirror?”

...NO, MISS KIMBERLY, MISS LEXI IS HERE TOO...

Oh God. I just told her I wouldn't involve her in this if I could help it. I hope she isn't pissed off.

“Where are we, computer?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, YOU'RE IN NEW LAS VEGAS...

“New Las Vegas? What happened to old Las Vegas?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, LAS VEGAS WAS DESTROYED BY MOTHER PALIN TWO DECADES AGO, TEN YEARS AGO SHE CHANGED HER MIND AND ALLOWED IT TO BE REBUILT AND NOW WE HAVE NEW LAS VEGAS...

“What year is this, mirror?”

…MISS KIMBERLY, IT IS 2011 PALIN...

“2011 Palin?”

...2011 PALIN, MISS KIMBERLY. IT IS 2011 A.D. PALIN ERA. HUMANS SIMPLY SAY 2011 PALIN. HUMANS DROPPED THE A.D. PORTION TWO DECADES AGO WHEN SARAH PALIN TOOK RULE...

“Sarah Palin is... oh! I remember. Sarah Palin is Mother Palin.”

...YES MISS KIMBERLY. MOTHER PALIN IS SUPREME...

“I guess.” I try to grin and I change the subject. “Miss Lexi and I am here for what reason, mirror?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, IT'LL BE YOUR WEDDING DAY TOMORROW AFTERNOON...

“But I thought Mother Palin was against lesbians marrying each other?”

...MOTHER PALIN CHANGED HER MIND, MISS KIMBERLY. MOTHER PALIN OFTEN CHANGES HER MIND...

“Have you seen Miss Lexi, mirror?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, I PRESUME THAT MISS LEXI IS STILL IN BED...

“So much for seeing the bride before the wedding.” I giggle, “Does Miss Lexi seem happy to you, mirror?”

...MISS LEXI IS VERY HAPPY, MISS KIMBERLY. SHE SMILES WHEN SHE'S TALKED ABOUT YOU TO ME...

“She does?” I wink at the mirror, “What does she say, mirror?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, I AM FORBIDDEN TO REVEAL THE CONVERSATIONS OF OTHER HUMANS. IT'S IN MY PROTOCOL...

“Please?” I get my best pouting lip out and let go on the mirror. “Please?”

...MISS KIMBERLY, I CAN ONLY STATE THAT SHE SMILES ABOUT YOU MORE THAN I'VE SEEN ANYONE ELSE SMILE INTO ME...

“Thank you, mirror.”

...MISS KIMBERLY, YOUR SMILE APPROACHES THE SMILE QUALITY I SEE EXHIBITTED ON MISS LEXI'S FACE WHEN SHE'S SMILING ABOUT YOU...

“Thank you, mirror.”

As I turn from the mirror I realize that I am totally naked. I have not a stitch of clothing on. Oh well, I suppose our mirror has seen more than a few naked women in it's existence. And I've been told I have an exquisite bottom!

…..........................
.
When I arrive back in the bedroom portion of our suite, Lexi is in bed. I pull the sheet aside so that I may rejoin her and she's naked too. I snuggle up to her and nuzzle her neck. She moans in a delightful way. I tell her that I love her and she purrs.

“I love you, Lexi! Thank you for wanting to be my life mate!”

“I love you too, Kimmie, and I'm looking forward to our life together.”

I am unaware if she knows what I know. I'm not even aware if she's followed me to this zone or if she is my mate in this different life.

“You're not ashamed to marry another girl, Lexi?”

“Sweetie, I love you. You've always been the girl of my dreams. You're the one that I crave; the one I want to melt in to so we may become as one. I am honored to be your life mate.”

“Lexi?”

“Yes, Kimmie.”

“You know that I love and adore you.”

“I do.”

“I've haven't been acting peculiarly lately, have I?”

“No, Kimmie, you've been stressed about our wedding, although I don't know why. You did a wonderful job planning it and getting all of our guests here to Vegas. Sweetie, you even pulled off something I thought no one could ever do; you got Mother Palin to be at our wedding!”

“Mother Palin?”

Gulp.

What have I done?

.
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Chapter Eight
When I wake up it seems that I am back in my world, the year and surrounding I am accustomed to. I cannot find Lexi so I am unable to discuss my dream with her. I keep mulling over in my mind what she might say about me being a woman and her loving me and soon becoming my bride. I am still blown away by the time I had in New Las Vegas with her as Kim Kardashian.

In this world we, Lexi and I, are leaving to go to Finesse City International Airport for our flight to our world's Las Vegas in a little less than three-hours. I cannot find her so I guess she is off doing last-minute things for our wedding. I still don't know why I am zoning between alternate worlds... I presume they are alternate worlds... and don't know how it will be married to my girl in both worlds.

I decide to watch a travel video we received from our hotel to scope out a plan for things to do post-wedding. We are staying in Las Vegas for seven days after the guests return home and I believe that becoming accustomed to the lay of the land is a good thing.

We have tickets for a show on each of our nights after the wedding. I am in possession of three tickets for the most popular Cirque shows and one for a female-illusionist revue. We'll see everything from The Beatles to Elvis to Kris Angel, one “skin show”, Penn and Teller and some “beautiful women who are really men”.

“Can they really pull it off?” I wink to myself in the mirror and wonder what the illusionists feel when they are dressed in a cross-gender manner. Do they get turned on or are they like me and feel that it is a part of them that extends beyond fetish? I see the pictures and they are good.

The Joan Rivers specialist has supposedly had surgeries to make him more Joan-like. I see a Britney clone and one that does Diana Ross and I can't tell that they are really men. I start thinking about what it would be like if I transform into Kim Kardashian right in their midst. Would they see her or would they see me, Kendall Karcher, Jr.?

I start staring at myself in the mirror. I see me but I also see a very faint image of Kim transposed over me. I am startled.

This has never happened before!

…..........................
.
Lexi is here now and I ask her how she's doing.

“Do you have butterflies, sweetie?”

She takes some time to answer. “Are you trying to hide something from me Kenny?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“I guess it's my intuition, hon.”

“I'm trying to hide my butterflies, but I really want to marry you.”

“What is it, Kendall?”

“I had a dream, I think.” I don't want to tell her how genuinely real my incident seemed. I don't want to run her off. “I was Kim Kardashian again.”

“Kendall...”

“Baby, I can't help it. She comes when I don't even expect it.”

“Are you sure? Can't you take a tranquilizer or something? Isn't there a medicine you can take?”

“I don't think so, Lexi.”

“I don't want you to change into her and ruin our wedding.”

“I don't want to ruin it either, sweetie.”

“Kendall...”

“What, Lexi?”

“Kendall...”

“I'll try to keep it under control.”

“Kendall...”

“What, baby?”

“Look at yourself in the mirror.” Lexi starts crying.

I look in the mirror and I am Kim.

…..........................
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I am running around the room wondering if this is a dream. I pinch myself and I am already awake. Lexi is bawling and I'm trying to tell it'll be okay in time for the wedding.

“Quit running around.” Lexi has stopped crying and doesn't sound angry. She just seems worried and concerned. “You really do look like her.”

“I know. It's uncanny.”

“If you don't change back, what are we going to tell your parents? Do they even know?”

“They don't.” I start crying. “How am I going to make them understand?”

“Kenny, it's not your fault... I guess.”

“If I could stop it, I would, baby. I love you as Kenny. What am I going to do?”

“Do you love me when you're like this or does all the loving stop?”

“Honey, I always love you, wherever I am, whoever I am.”

“Do you like being her?”

“I don't know. I guess it's kind of fun. It's different.”

“What would you do if you have to be her forever? Would you still love me?”

“Always. I'll always love you, baby. If I had to be Kim Kardashian forever, I could do worse. I'm kind of getting used to this body.”

“Kenny?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Do you think the real Kim is you now?”

“I never thought of that. She must be awful disappointed...”

“Kendall Alan Karcher, Jr... she would be hard-pressed to find anyone else as good as you.”

“But I'm a little chubby in my real body...”

“More of you to love...”

“And I don't have any hair...”

“It's in style...”

“But it must be hard for a woman as gorgeous as her to become a man as plain as me.”

“Sweetie, she could do worse.”

We both start laughing. By the time we are through I have changed back to my good-old Kendall-Karcher self.

…..........................
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.

We are at Finesse City International Airport getting ready to board the flight to Las Vegas. I seem to be holding stable as far as male personas go. We haven't discussed what will happen if I change to Kim mid-flight and I am more than pleased that it didn't happen while we going through the body scanning machines. Although security is much more difficult these days, I was sort of relieved that it gave me time to soul-search.

Neither Lexi or I have been sequestered to another part of the terminal, so we consider ourselves blessed. We made arrangements for most of the flowers and wedding things to get to Nevada through a local wedding service. She has a carry-on bag and I have some things stuffed into a Finesse City Terror sports bag. We have a suitcase each and Lexi has a giant suitcase that only holds her cosmetics.

Lexi's mother has her wedding dress because it's not good luck for me to see her in it until our day finally arrives. My parents and hers have become good friends over the duration of our relationship and they left for Las Vegas two-days ago. My father and hers wanted to take in some golfing and our mothers were to get in touch with the church people.

…..........................
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Our flight touches down almost fifty-minutes after we left Finesse City and I am still Kendall. Lexi looks relieved that I have not shifted genders on her and we are hailing a taxi. Nothing happens on our trip to Encore, our hotel.

We make it through check-in and are walking to our rooms. We have separate rooms because Lexi is superstitious and doesn't want anything to happen to spoil the wedding. She figures that if I try to make it into her room she will send me out on my nose from this evening until tomorrow afternoon once we are man and wife.

We are meeting our parents and the wedding party for dinner at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Before we leave to hail a taxi, Lexi decides I need to talk to her parents and mine.

“You need to tell them, Kendall.”

“But they'll think I'm crazy, sweetie. Can't we tell them after the wedding?”

“I don't think that's a good idea.”

“But you changed in front of me, what if you do the same in front of them and our friends?”

“How long have I known you, baby?”

“Five-years.”

“In five-years, how often have I transformed into a woman in yours or anyone else' presence?”

“Only yesterday.”

“I don't think it's going to happen in Vegas, baby.”

“Kendall, I don't want to be embarassed.”

“I won't embarrass you, baby.”

“Well, okay. We need to tell them some time, Kenny.”

“I promise that when we get back to Finesse City, we'll sit down together and fill them in on what has happened to me.”

“We better... you better...”

“I promise, baby.”

I kiss my fiance on the lips as our taxi pulls up to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Our party is waiting and we have one of the most wonderful dinners of our lives.