The Eleusian Effect
Chapter 5 Furlough

August 10, 2169 1330 Hours

It was a beautiful, midsummer day on Nantucket. I was in a sundress (I took quite a liking to them since I had awesome legs) and drinking a Martian Foom. We have had property here for a few generations, ever since my great-great grandfather was President of the United States. Grampy B loved coming here. According to my Dad, he said it was peaceful yet elegant. Grampy B was instrumental in getting same sex and transgender issues passed. Unfortunately, he knew nothing of national and global economics so he was viewed as a mediocre president. My father respected him but didn’t agree with much of his politics. He was a conservative but not one to always tow the party line. He may not agree with same sex relations but he did want to see them hurt either. I was always a centrist, but my father and I usually saw eye to eye most of the time.

The wind was pleasant as it blew across the patio and through my dress. I was sunbathing a little and I saw someone on the beach. He was tall and rugged and had a dog. He looked familiar but he wasn’t close enough to recognize. He had bronze skin and a sharp haircut. I couldn’t seem to stop staring at him as my Mom came out to the patio. “You remember him?” “He looks familiar but I can’t place him.”

“It’s been awhile. That’s Bill Wallace.”

“That’s Billy Wallace? The kid I played with every summer here?”

“Sure is. Turned into a handsome man, didn’t he?”

“I’ll say!” I was surprised at my extremely feminine reaction. It even surprised me.

“Well, you’re all girl now. Want to meet him?”

“Gee, I’m not sure. I ship out September 1.”

“You don’t need to marry him, dear. Just talk to him.”

“I just might.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“How about I invite him to the mixer tonight? It’ll be just a few friends.”

“Oh Mom, I not sure I’m ready for a social event.”

“You don’t need to tell them anything.”

“Right but what will you tell people? All of a sudden you have a brand new 37 year old daughter?”

“We’ll tell them you are our niece from Somerville.”

“Only if anyone asks.”

“All right, Sweetie.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I didn’t know what was going to happen that night but one thing was for sure; I was never going to tell anyone that Dr. Darius Obama is now Daria Obama. It seemed too overwhelming to try and explain the whole process to casual acquaintances and old friends. I decided to keep a low profile at the mixer. I got up and walked off the patio onto the beach. I wasn’t trying to get Bill’s attention, but somehow, I wanted it. As I walked in the opposite direction of him, I realized quite plainly that I was attracted to him. I was never one to wear my heart on my sleeve, but something in my newly female soul woke up and I felt warm. I kept walking and decided to take my dress off. I was wearing a modest but flattering bikini underneath. No one was around so I felt comfortable doing that. There was an outcropping about 100 yards from the house and it was private. I liked to go over there to read or just think. There was a natural tide pool there and the water is always relatively warm. I found a rock to sit on and pondered how I was going to deal with the people at this party. I decide to take my top off and bathe a little in the pool. I liked the way the water felt on my skin. It was soothing. I closed my eyes and untied my top. I let it float in the water and cleared my mind. It seemed like an hour had passed. “Hello!” I jumped a mile and grabbed my top. “Who are you?” “Bill. Bill Wallace. Sorry I scared you. I will stay over here until you compose yourself.” I put my top back on quickly and got up. I started walking back to the house and Bill followed. “Are you ok?” “Yes. I’m fine.”

“I didn’t know you were there. I’ve been coming to this cove since I was I kid.”

“Me too.” I just wanted to get into the house.

“Really? How come I’ve never seen you?”

“You have!” I caught myself. “I mean I used to come with my cousin.”

“Who’s your cousin?”

“Darius Obama.”

“Ol’ Danger Man! We used to hang out every summer! How is he?”

“Fine! He’s fine. Goodbye.” I dashed up onto the patio and hurried into the house. I was scared and a little embarrassed. I was also aroused. I think I was thrown off because I found Bill attractive and I didn’t want to. The last thing I needed right now was a relationship and as a newly minted female I hadn’t quite figured out my emotions. I couldn’t help thinking about him as I rushed for the safety of the beach house.

August 10, 2169 1800 Hours

“Party Time, Chumps!” It was a favorite joke of my father’s. He loved old Youtube videos and he would quote one every now and then. Usually, he was the only one who got it. The party was larger than I expected, larger than I would have liked. Still, I had gotten over the earlier embarrassment and decided to enjoy the party. I saw many old family friends and acquaintances, none of who recognized me. I was made up to the hilt, mostly because I’d come to enjoy it but also to disguise myself as much as possible. I didn’t know how many people there knew about the Venus Mission or its effects to the Kennedy crew but the last thing I wanted was attention. I thought the name Daria might be too obvious so earlier I researched some family names and decided on something different. The family had a lot of roots in Africa so an African name seemed appropriate.

I came down in a white maxi-skirt with black and white pumps. I had a silver, shimmery blouse that edged my shoulders and a wide black belt with a buckle. I kept my hair down and locked in place with an ionic headband. “You look lovely, Dear!” My mother was so proud. She brought me into the great room and starts introducing me to some old friends as her niece from Somerville. I was glad I was able to educate Mom and Dad about this new persona. “Marla, this is Endana, my niece.” “It’s nice to meet you, Endana.” This woman had given me piano lessons for years. “You look so much like Darius! You two could be twins.” “He’s a few years older than me.” I looked and felt barely thirty years old so I played it that way. The next few hours were pleasant. People were accepting me as Endana and that suited me just fine. I had just finished a decent size dinner and I was sipping a cognac when I felt a cold chill. “You clean up nicely.” The playfully sarcastic tone belonged to Bill Wallace. I spun around and saw him standing there, dressed too well for a small gathering. “I’d hope I would see you here.” “Well then, there you go.”

“You never told me your name.”

“Nope I didn’t.” I was more prepared to deal with him now.

“Sorry again about scaring you earlier.”

“No problem. Endana Obama.”

“Bill Wallace.”

“I remember.”

“Care to retire to the patio?”

“Okay.” I felt less threatened by my emotions now that I had another identity to hide behind. I figured it would be nice to catch up with Bill as much as possible under the circumstances. We brought our drinks out to the patio and sat down. “Beautiful evening.” Bill was obviously working his charm.

“Yes it is.”

“So what do you do?”

“I’m a doctor for GASA. I’m home on furlough until the end of the month.”

“Wow. So you’re headed into space!”

“That’s right.”

“What ship are you on?”

“The Nunya.”

“The Nunya?”

“Yes, the Nunya business because it’s classified.”

We both laughed and Bill said, “I understand. Have you have any interesting missions?”

“Yes, but again, nunya. There are still people that question the morality of us going into space.”

“You’re kidding. We’ve been in space for over a hundred years!”

“I know but ever since faster than light travel became possible, and the Mars colonization, it’s became an issue. The anti-space crowd is afraid we’re going to spread imperialism and our rigid morals across the galaxy.” “You disagree?”

“Of course. The fact we can now travel throughout and even outside our own solar system changes the whole question of existence. Who or what is out there is the ultimate question to be answered. I find it fascinating.” “You’re brilliant.”

“I’m tired. What time is it?”

“It’s about 10:30.”

“Hmm I didn’t do much today. I guess I’m used to being busy.”

“Well, I’d like to continue our conversation, say maybe over lunch tomorrow?”

For some reason that caught me off guard. I’ve never been asked out by a man and since now I am fully female, I rather liked the idea. “Sure. That’d be okay.” “Great! I’ll pick you up at noon.”

“Okay.”

My first date. With my old childhood summer friend. I couldn’t believe it. My female mind was beginning to think about what to wear and how I would enter the room. I was excited, and a little scared. I bounced back into the great room and most of the guests had left or were heading out. My mother was picking up and I couldn’t contain myself. “Mom! You won’t believe it! I got a date!” My Mom’s face went white, then red with joy. She smiled and said, “That’s great Sweetie! With who?”

“Bill Wallace.”

“That’s amazing.” She pulled me into the alcove. “Does he know?”

“Know what? Oh- “I realized what she meant almost immediately. “No, he has no idea.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Well for now. I can’t really have a relationship, anyway. I have to report back to duty in 3 weeks.”

“Sweetie, just be careful. A woman’s heart is a powerful thing.”

“I’ll be careful, Mom. Besides he’s just an old friend. We’ll just get caught up.”

“Okay, Honey.”

I wasn’t tired yet and since it would take a tremendous amount of alcohol to get me drunk, I decided to walk on the beach. I looked out into the evening sea. I thought about space and then I thought of Bill and what kind of future we’d have. The problem was I knew how to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure if I knew how to be a woman. The virus was complete in that I developed a female reproductive system so I guess that the only male part of me left was in my head. I decided I would enjoy my time with Bill but not romantically. I was hoping I could pull that off.

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